Saturday, January 31, 2015 'God First"

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Delight yourself in Him. The Lord must be our priority. 

All else in our life must center around Him. We must not fit 

Him in around our schedule but instead fit everything else in around Him. Keep your eyes on Christ. 

Friday, January 30, 2015 "On Mission for God"

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sam-aria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

I read in class today that Christians must be articulate in order to be influential and persuasive. I would add not only in word but in action. We may be the only image of God someone may ever know, hear, or see. Therefore we must be on mission for God where ever He leads us.

Thursday, January 29, 2015 "A Lie is a Lie"

"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue."

 Proverbs 6:16-17

God will never put us in a position where we have to lie. Too often we justify our lies as little or trivial. We even try to diminish our sin by saying it is "just a white lie" or "fib". Even omitting something is a lie. The truth is ... sin is a sin. A lie is a lie. The Bible teaches us "lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight." (Proverbs 12:22)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 'Not Worth It"

I simply stand in awe of the Lord and all that He does in our life. My husband and I pray with expectancy and boldness, and He answers our prayers. He hears our cries. There is nothing I would ever do to jeopardize the relationship that I have with my Father. When we sin, we not only separate ourselves from Him but he will not hear our voice. 

There is nothing nor no one that is worth that.

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." 

Isaiah 59:2 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 "Chase God"

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and 

all these things will be added unto you. 

You chase God and things will chase you.-Joyce Meyer

Monday, January 26, 2015 "The Wrath of God"

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

The Lord is our vindicator. We need only be still. I know it is hard and requires extreme self control when someone wrongs us. How hard it is to guard our tongues and not react in anger. But we must trust the Lord and His promise that "revengance is mine". I pray for those that hurt me or my husband for they do not know the wrath that will be upon them. I am a child of God. He calls me His own. He does not take kindly to those that hurt His own. 

Sunday, January 25, 2015 "How to Be"

Be loyal to one another. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31 Be kind. Be just. Be honest. Do not judge or take sides. Do not show favoritism. Do not gossip. Do not lie. Do not say one thing and do another. Be upfront. Let your yes be a yes and your no be a no. Let your word be your bond. We are all image bearers of God. It is about time we act like Him and reflect His godly character. 

God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he   created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Saturday, January 24, 2015 "I AM."

God is love. 

God is truth. 

God is wisdom. 

God is freedom. 

God is just. 

God is my everything.

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelite s: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14

Friday, January 23, 2015 "Exercising"

Our spiritual Christian walk is just like anything else-it needs to be worked on. We must pray without ceasing and exercise our faith without doubting. The same thing that happens to our bodies when we physically stop exercising will happen to us spiritually if we stop exercising. We lose strength, power, and will. My heart aches when I see others struggle with consistency or balance in their spiritual walks. They lose sense of what is priority. It happens to many of us when we lose our way and fall off the wagon. All the more reason we must stay in the "gym", which is our Word of God. We must ask our "trainer", the Holy Spirit for His presence and guidance. And above all else...

we must seek God daily, trusting Him with our lives, no matter what the circumstances. 

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:35-39

Thursday, January 22, 2015 'God's Grace"

God's grace is sufficient for me. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 "My Father"

I have a Father, He calls me His own. 

"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."1 Corinthians 8:6

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 "Eternal Life"

"As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you."-

Charles Stanley

I cannot imagine my life without the Lord. He gives me the assurance I need to know where I will spend eternity. I know I will one day reunite with my saved loved ones. I will forever live in the Kingdom of God with my Lord and Savior and shall know nothing but love and joy. What does the future hold for the person that chooses to denounce and/or deny Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior? The person that willingly and knowingly decides to do it "their own way" instead of following the path of righteousness? What does their future hold? They may be okay today, but what about tomorrow? Do you know where they will go in this after life? If you do, you need to share the gospel before it is too late. For no one is guaranteed tomorrow. 

The Prayer of Salvation

 Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

Monday, January 19, 2015 'We Are All"

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

We are all created in God's image. We are all a part of His workmanship. We are unique and we are special. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Love others as God loves you. Today is an important day in our history, and we must remind ourselves we are all God's children. 

For God shows no partiality. Romans 2:11

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, January 18, 2015 "Yes!"

Saturday, January 17, 2015 "So it Shall Stand"

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." Isaiah 14:24

He has everything under control. You can rest in that promise. You can sleep without anxiousness. You can stop worrying. 

Trust in God. 

Friday, January 16, 2015 "Reverence to God"

Psalms 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Often times people say to me I make Christianity look "easy". I simply tell them Jesus is all I need, He is all I want, and He is the center of my life. I trust His Word. I know He has forgiven me therefore I do not have guilt in my life. I love Him, I fear Him. I simply stand in awe.

Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Thursday, January 15, 2015 "Your Breakthrough"

Pray without ceasing. Your breakthrough may 

be right around the corner. Never give up on God. Whatever it is you are going through, you will be stronger for it. Hold on and trust!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 "He is Enough"

If God is all you have, you have all you need. 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 'All You Need to Say is Yes or No"

You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. Deuteronomy 23:23

It is so important we keep our word to one another-that we stand by our words. Most importantly we must never make a vow to or before God and not keep it. People do not realize it is best to say nothing, than promise something and not keep it. It is best we simply say yes or no, nothing more, nothing less. (Matthew 5:37) We must stop trying to please all people, at all times. We can not be everything to everyone. Stop, breathe, and think before you commit to anything or anyone. For our words matter to God. 

Monday, January 12, 2015 "What Gets Us Into Heaven?"

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24

I am so saddened by those that believe we can earn our way into heaven. Earning our way by being a good person, going to communion, being baptized, confession, any "holy sacrament". I would like to see where in the Word it says any of those things "saves you". For the one thing I do know is the Word of God is true and it is consistent. It clearly says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 My Word tells me that Jesus Christ saves you. That His death on the cross took place of all of man's sins and whoever believed in Him shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven and live for all eternity. The truth is simple. It is clear and defines.....We are saved by His gift of grace. 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Sunday, January 11, 2015 "What are you Waiting For?"

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

Got Jesus? 

He is everything you could ever hope for and want in this lifetime. He will be your best friend-most trusted confidant. Your Mother and Father in one. He will be the source of your strength and that strength will bring you such joy. That joy in your heart will become peace. My faith is my rock. It keeps me steady and sound. I have built my life on a solid foundation. No quicksand, no muddy waters. No cloudy skies, all clear skies ahead. What are you waiting for? He is at your door-you simply need to open up and invite Him in.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 

Saturday, January 10, 2015 "No Word Returns Void"

Do you share your faith with others? Are you bold or shy? Do you fear rejection and ridicule? Are you scared of being embarrassed or not knowing the answers? They are all honest and common reasons why people do not evangelize or share the gospel. I can promise you when you have the opportunity in sharing, the Holy Spirit will equip you with the words. "Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." Ephesians 6:19-20 Your opportunity is called a "divine appointment" set forth by God placing you in the exact place with this person at the exact time. Never worry about what to say, He is with you. To share God's love with another is a privilege as well as a command. It is an amazing blessing to talk with another about our Father. "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

 Isaiah 55:11

Friday, January 9, 2015 "I am Saved by His Grace"

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

It is my honor and privilege to serve the Lord. No matter what He asks of me, I will not hesitate. I am bold in my faith, and I trust in His plan for my life. I am grateful for His love. All glory goes to my Father. I am saved by His grace. I can never do enough to show Him how much I love Him. 

Thursday, January 8, 2015 "Never Give Up"

Never give up. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Words once spoken to me when I was about to give up on my miracle. I was tired, down trotten and simply broken down but my friend was my strength and the Lord spoke through her. 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Whatever it is you are waiting on, hoping for...remember the Lord's timing is never late, never too early, He is always right on time. Just hold on, your miracle is coming.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 "Would You?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21

The more I give, the freer I feel. The less I have, the more blessed I am. I am no longer enslaved to any thing, to any person, or to any place. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that this is even possible. What I have learned is less in life is more. Things and money can be a noose around a person's neck. We are taught these things bring a person freedom, but it is actually a lie. For the more we have, the harder we have to work to maintain and/or afford them. This then distracts the children of God from doing work for Him because we are too caught up working for our things. The Lord calls us to "go out and be disciples for man". (Matthew 28:19)How willing would you be to sell your possessions for the name of the Father? If the Lord asked you today to free yourself up to serve Him full time, would you? Could you? 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015 "Do Not Announce"

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

 Matthew 6:2

I do not respect those that only give to those that they know can repay. Those that give knowing they will receive. Or they lend knowing the person is "good for it". What about giving to someone, knowing there is no way the person can return the blessing or favor? What about helping someone in need silently without announcing it to the world? The Bible speaks on giving and helping those in need all the time. It is not an option. We are all called to bless others as Christ first blessed us. Don't miss your opportunity.  

Monday, January 5, 2015 "Just Weight"

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, 

but a just weight is his delight." Proverbs 11:1

Established order. 

Balance. 

Consistency. 

All keys to a peaceful and calm Christian life. 

Sunday, January 4, 2015 "I Ask. I Believe. I Wait"

"Pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Never waver in your prayer life. I ask. I believe. I wait. The Lord loves when we show faith and trust in Him. Nothing pleases Him more than our obedience to His Word and our trust in His Word. Be bold in your prayers. Ask not, want not. I remember years ago when we were really struggling and I was in the shower crying. The Lord said to me,"how can I bless you if you do not let Me?" I remember saying to my husband we needed to start stepping boldly to the throne with expectancy. I am saddened by those that do not feel like it is proper to ask the Lord for anything. It is quite the opposite-He wants us to involve Him in every detail of our lives. Don't miss out on His amazing blessings on your life simply because you did not ask. 

Saturday, January 3, 2015 "Believe in Answered Prayer"

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." 

Matthew 7:7

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” 

John 15:7 

Friday, January 2, 2015 "God of Peace"

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

Hebrews 13:20-21

Things are just effortless with God.  You just know when you are in His will because everything is seamless and easy. My spirit tells me something is not of God. I feel agitated, anxious, fearful and/or uncomfortable. It is so important to be led by the Holy Spirit every day, in all situations, big and small. I lift up each day and I give it onto the Lord for each day has been made by Him. I rejoice and I ask that He guide and lead me to all truths. When I do that, I hear His voice and I feel led in my heart. A supernatural peace comes over me and I am still. If you are worrying about something or if you have been holding on to something for too long that has caused you heartache and pain-surrender it today to God. Full submission-no holds bar surrender. I promise you it is like the nestle plunge commercial, where you fall back into the deep end of the pool in full trust... backward into something you  know will catch you and ease your fall. The Lord is our Shepherd, we are His flock. Let His will and grace lead you into this new year 2015. 

Thursday, January 1, 2015 "I Choose"

The definition of blessed is to be happy and/or to enjoy happiness.  I choose in 2015 to be happy, blessed, grateful, joyful, and at peace. I will look to the cross when I am anxious minded, worried, fearful, mad or disappointed. When I am waiting upon the Lord, I will stand firm and trust Him. I choose to enjoy my happiness therefore I am blessed. 

 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 

Deuteronomy 28:1-3