Rev. Denise Glavan Heath
Why do you suppose we hold grudges? Is it to prove a point? Isit to punish the person, you are mad at. To get even? To hurt the person, you are holding a grudge against. To hold a grudge means to harbor persistent anger, bitterness, or resentment towards someone for a perceived wrong, often refusing to forgive or forget. When you hold a grudge, you don’t let it go when you feel someone’s wronged you or insulted you. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” Here is something to think about, aren’t you glad God doesn’t hold grudges—boy we would be in big trouble if He did! Maybe we need to do as God does? God Bless. Amen.
What are some of the things you ask God for: to win the million-dollar lottery, a new job, a new house, clothes, how about a new car or truck, or do you ask for good health, to heal a loved one, a miracle? Maybe you ask God for wisdom, knowledge or clarity of mind? To ask means to say something, to obtain an answer to something. John 16:24 reads, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Yes, scripture tells us to ask, but we like Jesus need to say at the end of each of our prayer requests the words that Jesus spoke while hanging on the cross. He said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Thus, we leave all situations in God’s hands trusting Him to see us through. Trusting God to answer our prayer as He wills, not as we want. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
While growing up we always had to say “please” and “thank you”. We had to open doors for those in need. I was told to smile and if I didn’t, I was told an elephant would come and sit on my lip and break the frown right off my face. We were taught to respect our elders—always—saying “yes sir” “no sir” “yes ma’am” “no ma’am”. We were taught to be polite, kind, and nice. I think times have changed. But what hasn’t’ changed is that we all want to be liked and accepted. We even like to hear, on a regular basis, that we are doing a great job and that we are appreciated. The other thing we want to hear daily is that we are loved. Today, may you know that you are loved, you are accepted, and that God believes in you and wants what is best for you! He is proud of you. He supports you. For you are a beloved child of God created in God’s imagine. Believe it, cherish it and remember it. Psalm 136:26 reads, “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” So, remember to tell those you love just how much you love them and appreciate them. That you are glad that they are a part of your life. Be polite, kind, nice, and have good manners. Be thankful and praise God. For this day will never happen again—there are no re-do’s. Therefore, make it the best day ever! God Bless. Have a great day! Amen.
My husband Gary and I are watching the second season of 1923. It is an action packed, scary, filled with tribulation after tribulation, wondering what next will happen, type of TV series. After the 3rd episode I said to Gary, “We are going to have to watch something else so I can sleep tonight!” Throughout the night I thought about what had transpired so far in the series and realized how evil, hardship, and frustration exists in our daily lives. And the one sure thing throughout our lives and throughout time is God. Psalms 121:1-2 reads, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 91:1-2 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” In life, sometimes all we can do is hold onto God to get us through the situation we are in, for He is our all in all, a mighty help in times of trouble. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91:4-6) Remember God is with you. He is the one sure thing in this life of ours. God Bless. Amen.
Most people, when trying to reach a goal, see the effort in getting there as a means to an end. They don’t always take time to experience each moment as life unfolds. Such as: I want to be happy! I want to enjoy my life! I want to live life to the fullest! Just because you want or say something does not mean it will happen. What needs to occur is learning to live in the moment you are in. Saying, “I want to be happy!” does not make you happy. Choosing to be happy only occurs by being intentional about it, moment by moment—step by step. Life happens. You can choose to let life beat you down or you can choose to make the most out of every situation you are in and not let it get you down. Things that can change your perspective on life. When you wake up each morning smile at yourself in the mirror and say, “I are going to have a good day. I woke up.” Laugh at the moments that frustrate you, remember this too will pass. Life is too short to be upset by what life throws your way. John 15:11 reminds us, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Smile, laugh at the things to come, look at the beauty around you, dance, sing, praise God and give thanks, enjoy for this is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a good one, no matter what life throws your way. God bless. Amen.
What is a mighty, wonderful, and amazing thing God has done in your life? From a religious perspective, many consider the creation of the universe, the incarnation of Jesus, and the offering of eternal life through faith in Jesus to be a mighty, wonderful and amazing act of God. Other than this what amazing things has God done for you? When I was in 5th and 6th grade, I was bullied by the kids in my grade. I would tell my parents I was sick, I didn’t want to go to School, I was afraid. I begged my parents not to make me go to the sixth-grade banquet, but they said I was going. I cried and cried. Then two days before the banquet I had an emergency appendectomy. And to my relief I did not have to go to the banquet because I was in the hospital. I was told that on the night of the banquet the students were reprimanded for their behavior toward me. When I went back to school in 7th grade those students were nice to me. It was as if 5th and 6th grade meanness never happened, and no one ever talked about it. To this day I believe God spared me. Psalms 40:5 says, “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” Today, let us think about all the wonderful things that God has done in our life. Let us give thanks for our many blessings. So, what has God done for you? What blessings has He manifested in your life? Count them and praise the LORD for our God is an awesome God. Praise the LORD for He is good and wonderful and mighty. God Bless. Amen.
Values are fundamental beliefs and principles that guide an individual in actions, judgments, and choices, shaping his or her perceptions of what is desirable or undesirable. What kind of values do you have? Do you see everything in white or black, right or wrong, or is there ever any gray in your decisions? Do your values consist of integrity, honesty and being trustworthy? Do you have a good character or when people see you do they think what a schemer you are? Are you rude and inconsiderate? Or are you a kind and compassionate person. What type of person are you? 2 Peter 3:11b reads, “…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” Titus 2:7 tells us, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in you teaching show integrity and dignity.” Then Proverbs 10:9a says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely…” Sometimes we just need a reminder of who and what we are, people of God who do not live by secular standards but who fear the LORD and walk humbly. God Bless. Amen.
Seasons come and seasons go. I love Spring, the buds on the trees begin to show a multitude of colors as they start to turn into leaves. Daffodils and Tulips emerge from their sleep. The birds begin to fill the air with their songs. It is a time of new beginnings. Summer is beautiful with all the wonderful colors throughout the land. Birds sing, frogs croak, crickets make their sound, bees are everywhere keeping our plants alive. Going on long hikes, being out in the open and enjoying the dog days of summer. Fall sneaks in and lets us know winter is on its way. The beauty of autumn. The reds, the golds, the rust, and oranges are everywhere and the rustle of the leaves under your feet reminds you of your younger days. The days are warmer preparing you for winter. Then winter comes, oh the beauty of the snow across the land. Going sledding, hot cocoa, warm fires and a good book. Baking, laughing and wishing spring would come again. Our life is like the changing of the seasons. There is beauty but also hardness and ugliness. You choose how to see your life. Is it a good life with beauty or are you miserable and see only pain and heartache? The choice is yours and yours alone how you view your life. God gave us life. There is good, bad, and not so good, but it is our life. Today choose to see the good. Smile, enjoy, laugh, and dance because you never know what is around the corner. Life is life so make the best of it. Ecclesiast 3 reads, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…God has made everything beautiful in its time.” Enjoy and remember this is the first day of the rest of your life. God Bless. Amen.
Happiness what is it? It is a state of well-being and contentment: Joy. It is also a pleasurable or satisfying experience. It is good fortune, prosperity. Happiness is something that people seek to find and is different for everyone. It is a feeling. Typically, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. What will make you happy? A new car? A new home? A new job? Mend a relationship? Be healed of an illness? Have a loved one be healed? Win a million dollars? What will make you happy? Sometimes, we think that happiness comes from external things but in reality, happiness is an inside job! You choose to be happy, mad, sad, or glad. Remember the joy of the LORD is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) happiness comes from within. Because it is a feeling! Charles Swindoll says, “life is 10% and attitude is 90%.” Today, take a look at your life, are you happy? If not why, because happiness is a choice. It is something to think about—for the only person who can make you happy is yourself! God Bless. Amen.
What does it mean to make a vow to the Lord? Making a vow to the Lord God Almighty means making a solemn, binding promise or commitment to God, often regarding a specific action or course of behavior, with the expectation of fulfilling that promise. “When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” (Numbers 30:2) Have you made a pledge, a vow to the LORD and did not keep it? How about your vow to the Lord, Jesus the Christ your Savior and that you will serve Him in all your ways? Your marriage vows, being a good parent to your children, how about saying that you would do something—yet you didn’t follow through with what you said you would do. To name just a few things that we as humans might not live up to what we said we would do. As a child, my parents taught me—what you say and what you do—reflects the type of person you are. I was also told that my word was everything and that when someone heard my name that person had a preconceived idea of the type of person I was. Take an inventory of what type of person you are, do you need to make an adjustment on how you interact with others to be the man or woman that God has called you to be? Remember, the vows we have made and kept, reflect the type of person we are! It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Love is a risk. When you love, you can get hurt. But on the flip side of it, love is so much more. Love is fulfilling and even though you can and will get hurt, healthy people are willing to risk it for love. Love makes your heartbeat faster. You want to spend time with your love. You even are willing to do silly things together. Love fulfills your life. There are different types of love—love of a parent, a sibling, a friend, a child, a grandchild, a pet, a spouse and the greatest is our love of God. When you love, you would and will do anything for that person. A perfect example of love and the willingness to do what needs to be done for the other person. And this is what God did for us through His Son—Jesus the Christ. God loved us so much He was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son so that you and I might be forgiven and have everlasting life. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” When you think about it, love is everything, we just forget that sometimes. Today, let us strive to be more like God—loving—forgiving—never giving up on another person. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Let us praise the LORD and give thanks, for our God is King of kings LORD of lords mighty and majestic is He. He is there when we need Him, even though sometimes we do not think that our God acts quickly enough. He holds us up when we are down. He gives us strength and courage when we are unable to keep putting one foot in front of the other. When we are sad and lonely He fills our being with peace and joy lifting us up until we can function again. Our God loves us unconditionally and it is because of His love we are able to love ourselves and others as well. He forgives us when we sin and fall short of His Glory. Our God reigns. He is clothed in majesty and wonder; He is armed with strength and power. Our God is an awesome God. He is our all in all. Praise be to God. God Bless. Amen.
Storms come and go in our life. Some storms have raging winds, torrential rain, hail, and even tornadoes. These storms can destroy anything and everything and at times can be very scary. But after the storm, if you look up into the sky, you can see a beautiful rainbow and you know peace and calmness has come. When our life is filled with storms and tribulations we turn to God for help. We cry out unto the Lord asking for help and reassurance. Scripture tells us this, for people across time have turned to the Lord for help in times of trouble. Psalms 42:11 reads, “why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” Today, no matter what you are experiencing put your hope in God, for our LORD will give you the strength, the courage, and the wisdom you need to get through whatever you are going through. The other thing God will do is give you that peace that passes all understanding, so trust in the LORD with all your strength and your might. Turn to the LORD. Find comfort in Him. For the storms of life, will soon pass. God Bless. Amen.
We are emotional creatures. Our feelings consist of being happy, mad, sad, or glad to name just a few, that are accented by frustration, anger, and undeniable joy. God gave us these feelings and they are neither good nor bad. They just are. One thing I know is we all must learn to control our negative feelings. We have to learn to respond and not react when our feelings are raging within us. To learn to respond to negative feelings effectively start by acknowledging and identifying the feeling, then take a time out, write down the words that want to spew from you. Exercise, journal, consider seeking professional help to learn to express your feelings in a healthy manner. Ephesians 4:31 reads, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” This verse calls for a complete removal of negative emotions that can harm us and our relationships. Today, whatever you are going through remember God can help you to calm your spirit. For in reality, we really do not want to take our feeling out on others do we? God Bless. Amen.
Sometimes we just don’t have time for God—God takes a backseat in our life. It is not as if we intentionally do this, it is that life gets in the way. Today, be intentional about spending time with God; take a moment here and there to say “Hello it is me. How are you doing today? I am doing………” Then tell God how things are going in your life. At another time during the day give thanks to our LORD. Then at another moment praise the LORD God Almighty. By doing this, taking moments for God here and there, you will find that you draw closer to God. You become more aware of God. And if you do this throughout the day, you will be amazed at what a great day you will have, for this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Praise God. God Bless. Amen.
Are you a responsible person? Are you optimistic? Do you see the glass half full? Are you positive and see the good in all things? Or are you a negative, frustrated, angry person who thinks life is out to get you! Life is life. Good things happen to good and bad people. Life can be frustrating and overwhelming at times, it can get downright hard to deal with. But no matter what life throws your way if you have a good attitude and have God in your life things seem to turn out better. So how can we maintain a good attitude when struggling with life? Philippians 2:14-15 reads, “Do all thing without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Today, no matter what you are going through remember God is with you giving you the strength and courage you need. He is the one sure thing in this life of ours. He will give you hope when you feel as if the world is against you. So, keep this in mind and remember you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. God Bless. Amen.
Good morning. What are 10 things you are thankful for? I am thankful that… 1. I woke up this morning. 2. I have an amazing husband. 3. I have fantastic children. 4. I have wonderful daughters-in-laws and a son-in-law. 5 I have incredible grandchildren and great-grandchild. 6. I live in a wonderful house. 7. I have food to eat. 8. I have clothes to wear. 9. I am healthy. 10. I am a beloved child of God. Write down what you are thankful for, look it over. Now take it a step further if you are thankful for a person, be sure to tell that person or persons how thankful you are that they are in your life. Scripture tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2) Let us give thanks with a grateful heart. Let us be thankful instead of being ungrateful for all the things we have. For God did not call us to be complainers or whiners. God gave us life so that we might enjoy all things. Give thanks! God Bless. Amen.
I love you. I am proud of you. You’ve got this. You are doing great. You are amazing. I am so glad you are my child. I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being my husband(wife), my love. Great words of encouragement. Words we all want to hear. In the book “The Greatest Miracle” Og Mandeno explains how precious and beloved we are and reminds us how very special and extraordinary we are as a person. That we are the greatest miracle in the world and that God loves us. We all need to remember the one person who loves us nonconditionally, always and forever is God. Who encourages us to do our best. Who never gives up on us. In the Bible, we are reminded of this. Mark 1:11 reads, “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my child, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Sometimes we just need to focus on how much God loves us, accepts us for who and what we are, and that in God’s eyes we are perfect. Remember you are a beloved child of God created in His imagine. God loves you. Now love yourself as God does. God Bless. Amen.
Our God is an amazing God. He is never late in helping us, He is always on time, even though at times it just doesn’t seem that way. But if you look back over your life God was and is always there in every situation. When we are weak, He gives us strength. When we are afraid, He gives us courage. When we feel despair, He gives us hope. What an amazing God we have. Psalms 28:7 reads, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” God is with us always! God Bless and have a wonderful day. Amen.
“Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) “Bless the LORD, O my soul. And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul. And forget none of His benefits. Who pardons all your iniquities. Who heals all your diseases. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 103:1-5) “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13) Our God is an awesome God who reigns and lives among us. He is alive and well. He is our all in all. He is our King of kings and Lord of lords, mighty and wonderful is our God. Therefore, let us praise the LORD, for He is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Today, let us have an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. God Bless. Amen.
Psalms 37:23-24 reads, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” Sometimes we stumble and fall short of what God has called us to do and to be. Sometimes we sin walking unsteady in life. Sometimes we miss a step in life and fall or nearly fall and when this occurs, God is there. God is always there. This can be hard to imagine. At times it is inconceivable, unthinkable, unplausible, but it is true. Isaiah 46:4 says, “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Our God is a God of grace and mercy, a God who forgives and loves us unconditionally. He is our all and all. No matter what happens in life remember God will see you through. For God will lift us up when we are down. God Bless. Amen.
When was the last time someone held the door open for you? When was the last time you smiled and said hello to a stranger? When was the last time you helped someone out? Today, let us do 5 random acts of kindness—whether it is holding a door for someone, saying hello to a stranger, buying coffee for the person behind you in line, being a kind and friendly driver, you get the picture. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you give, it will be given to you.” Try it—you just might have a better day. Maybe striving to do nice things for others daily is what God wants us to do? God Bless. Amen.
Has anyone one ever said to you, “I will keep you in my prayers.” It feels good to know someone is praying for you. Or have you ever said, “You are in my prayers.” Prayer is powerful, it can heal you, heal others, and change a situation for the better. Prayer is how we talk to God and can be done in many different ways. Prayer sometimes is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God. Today, say a prayer for your loved ones and friends. Pray for anyone you come in contact with. Pray for our leaders and also pray for yourself. When you pray, mighty things happen. Today, let us pray together. Colossians 1:9 reads, “For this reason since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Let us be in prayer. God Bless. Amen.
There is a difference between want and need. I want many things, I only need food, clothing and shelter to survive. Sometimes we get these two words confused in our daily lives. Want is something you desire. Need is something essential for survival. What we need to learn to do is appreciate what we have. Yes, strive for more, but be content and feel blessed for the things you do have. 1 Timothy 6:7-8 says, “…for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” The writer of this book, which is found in the New Testament, is trying to help those who are consumed by possessions, is to learn to appreciate life daily and what you have is far greater than being consumed with the things you do not have. Thus, counting one’s blessing helps you look at life differently if you are honest, you probably have everything you need, NOT everything you want. Today, let us give things. Tell those around you how much you appreciate them; learn to enjoy the moment you are in—give thanks and count your blessings! For life is too short. God Bless. Amen.
Life is life—sometimes in life we have so many blessings that we feel over-joyed with love and prosperity. Other times, life just get downright hard, and we wonder “Why, why, why?” We even question God because life seems so unfair! During these hard times you can either give up on God or you can trust Him. The choice is yours. Something to remember when life seem hard and overwhelming. God is a constant God, a God that does not change. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is the one sure thing when life throws us punches. He is unchanging. Remember this when you doubt that there is a God—because life is hard and frustrating. Jeremiah 29:11-13 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you; declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5-7 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Today, whatever you are going through know that God is with you—He will never fail you nor forsake you. Trust Him. Believe. Have faith. It will work out, maybe not the way you want it, but it will work out. God bless. Amen.
O LORD our God You are awesome, powerful, and magnificent. You alone are our God, and we bow down before You. You are King of kings and LORD of lords mighty and wonderful are You. We ask that You fill us with Your Holy Spirit—guide us and sustain us in all that we do. Give us peace, that peace that passes all understanding. And as we go forth into this day let our words be Your words, our hands be Your hands, and our thoughts be Your thoughts. Let all those whom we meet see what a great God we serve. Today, where there is strife, let us sow harmony. Where there is anger, let us sow calmness. Where there is frustration, let us sow encouragement. Where there is meanness, let us sow kindness. O LORD our God we give thanks. Let us praise the Lord, Oh my soul, and all that is within us bless His Holy Name. For this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! These things we pray. God Bless. Amen.
When another person is frustrated, angry, or hurt, a few kind words will go a long way. But if you choose to fight back, get mad, frustrated, or angry usually what happens is an argument occurs and can quickly get out of control. When someone is angry it is hard not to get angry right back at that person. It is tit for tat—you are mean to me and I will be mean right back at you. When you give back as much as you got, especially in retaliation for something painful things will escalate. Remember that a few kind words of love and encouragement could turn things around. Sometimes, we just must take the higher road. Sometimes, we need to stay quiet, stay centered and listen. Then when the storm passes talk it out. I knew this wonderful couple, they made a pack with each other when they first got married. When an argument would occur, they would go into different rooms, write out their feelings and frustrations then give the note to the other person. Nine times out of ten, as they wrote those harsh words, the meanness, and unkind things would not be as important. Kindness emerged. James 1:19-20 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to be become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” It is something to consider. God Bless. Amen.
When making a decision, what process do you use? Talk it over with your spouse, a friend, or with your child? Do you go to a counselor or a minister to discuss major decisions in your life? Do you write the pros and cons of the situation down so you can get a better understanding of what you are dealing with? Or do you go to God in prayer asking for the wisdom you need to understand the situation you are in so that you are better apt in making your decision. Or do you combine the different ways to best make your decision. The Bible tells us to first go to God when making a decision. In Proverbs 2:6 it says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the LORD with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” God can help you if you are willing to go to Him in prayer. So, pray about the situation, talk it over with a person you trust, write the pros and cons down, then go back to God in prayer. Then wait, be still, the solution will come to you. It is something to think about. It is something to try. God Bless. Amen.
We all sin. We all make mistakes. We all fall short of God’s glory. Sin is anything that separates us from God. So why is it so easy for us to see the sins of others and point it out to them; all the while we hide from our own sins. We even justify our sin or sins because we want to continue doing what we are doing. We make excuses saying, “It will be OK, no one will know.” and we do the same sin over and over again, justifying it all the way. We have an affair justifying it to ourselves it is OK I am happy. We cuss justifying it to ourselves it isn’t that bad. We steal justifying to ourselves I needed it more. We lie justifying to ourselves that the truth would only hurt them. We take the money that just fell out of a person’s pocket justifying to ourselves I needed it more. As we look around to make sure no one saw. In John 8:7 it says, “When they kept on questioning him (referring to Jesus), he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” Today, let us try not to judge others. Let us worry about what we do and let us make sure we are doing what God has called us to do and to be. It is something to ponder, don’t you think? God Bless. Amen.
We all want to be heard when we talk. We want the other person we are talking with to listen to what we have to say. Not to talk nor tell us what that person feels we should do, because no one cares what you think until that person knows you care, that is accomplished through listening. When you listen you focus on the person who is talking, not on what you want to say. Nor do you let your mind think about other things, because when you do that, you are not engaged with the person who is talking. You are only concerned with what you are thinking about. To be a good listener, focus on the person who is speaking by maintaining eye contact, don’t speak, pay attention, give back clarifying statements that show you have been listening. Refrain from interrupting or jumping to conclusions. The problem is sometimes people just don’t listen—so we get frustrated. Proverbs 17:8 reads, “Even fools are thought wise if they kept silent, and discerning if they hold their tongue.” James 1:19 reads, “…a good listener is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Today, try listening—just listen—listen to what the other person is saying. When the other person is done talking, then share your thoughts. It is something to think about. God Bless. Have a great day. Amen.
On this day of our Lord, let us try to draw nearer unto our Him. Let us be intentional about talking with our LORD God. When you are at a stoplight talk to God, when a commercial comes on TV say a small prayer, when you have a moment give thanks to our LORD for He is good His steadfast love endures forever. Sometimes we just forget to talk to God. Psalms 29:1-2 reads, “Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” Ascribe to the Lord means acknowledge and give credit to God, praise and worship Him. Therefore, let us ascribe to the Lord! God Bless. Have a great day. Amen.
I have seen an eagle perched high in a tree as I go to the grocery store. It is magnificent, powerful and beautiful. Every time I go to the store, I look for it. Hoping to see it and all its glory. It is beautiful. Yet an eagle can also be very, very volent when it seeks it’s prey. Because eagles are predators and actively kill animals for survival. This is like life. Life can be very beautiful and wonderful. Yet it can be harsh, unforgiving, and cruel. Life occurs, there are painful moments that are accented by times of wonder and joy. I have found that when life seems cruel and unforgiving God will help you through those devastating times. When you have a relationship with God, it doesn’t matter what life throws your way, you can and will survive because God is with you. Psalm 46:1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in times of trouble.” Today, whatever you are going through go to God in prayer and know that God will give you the strength and courage you need to face the situation you are in. For our God is the one sure thing in life. He is our all in all. God Bless. Amen.
There was a popular saying in the 1980’s, “Look for the rainbows during the storm.” It means that even when you are facing difficulties or challenges in life, there is still hope and beauty to be found. This signifies the ability to persevere and be resilient through tough situations and circumstances knowing that better times will come. Just like when a rainbow appears after a storm. From the Christian perspective it means the act of actively seeking hope and a promise that better times will come, even in the midst of difficult situations. As the rainbow is seen as a symbol of God’s covenant and mercy. Particularly referring to the story of Noah where the rainbow appears after the flood. It means that God will bring renewal and restoration after our trails. Genesis 9:12-17 describes God setting the rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant with us after the flood. Because after the storm, after the difficult times, there will be brighter days ahead. Then in Revelations 4;1,3 reminds of this again, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven…and a rainbow was around the throne…” The rainbow symbolizes hope after the storms of life. God is our hope, our lifeline, our Savior. So, hold on to Him and He will see you through all of life’s difficulties. God Bless. Amen.
Psalms 116:1 reads, “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Rejoice, and love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. Let us lift our voice to worship you, oh my soul rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what you hear, may it be a sweet, sweet, sound in your ear. These words got their inspiration from Psalm 100.2 it says, “Worship the LORD with gladness, come before him with joyful songs.” Sometimes we forget to express our love for our Lord, by giving thanks and praising His Holy Name, daily if not more. These words from this song create a heart-felt joy and express our love for our Lord. “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you oh my soul rejoice!” Today, say or sing those words throughout the day. Knowing that those words will increase your attention and spiritual discernment to recognize our Lord and His will for you. And may the peace of our Lord fall upon you and sustain you, giving you that joy, hope and calmness throughout your day. God Bless. Amen.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalms 55:22) “…do not be anxious about anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) When life is hard. When life seems out of control. When life is overwhelming. God gives us strength, courage, and hope. God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. So, no matter what is going on in your life remember God is there so “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Remember God is our all in all, so hold on to Him. He will see you through all of life’s difficulties. God Bless. Amen.
We worry about our health when our health is not so great. We worry about our finances when our money is tight. We worry about a loved one when he or she is declining in health. We worry about putting food on the table when there is no food to be had. We worry. Here is my question to you, are you worried about something right now? Are you hoping and praying that it will work out, the way that would be beneficial to you. And you worry because the situation does not seem to be going in the right direction. Due to the worrying you pray and pray and pray some more. Trying to let go and let God, but it is so hard to do. Especially when worrying is ever present. All the while trying to remember that no matter what happens God is with you, hoping the worrying will subside, but it is so hard at times—when life just doesn’t seem to be going in the right direction for you. Scripture tells us in 1 Chronicles 28:20 that God is with us always. It says, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the LORD’s house is finished.” These words are powerful; they reassure us, and we can draw comfort from them. Remember worrying will never change the situation. So all you really can do is wait, trust, and believe, and pray. And keep reminding yourself God is with me. God Bless. Amen.
“I am with you” means that someone is standing by you, supporting you, and sharing your experience, signifying their presence and connection with you, no matter what situation you are facing: it often conveys a sense of comfort and reassurance that you are not alone. So, if someone one said “I am with you” how does that make you feel? Good, reassured, hopeful—right! Scripture tells us, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you…” (Genesis 28:15) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) “So we can confidently say, ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6) Isn’t it comforting to hear those words—I am with you? Sometimes we forget that God is with us in all situations and circumstance, that He is the one sure thing in this life of ours. For our God is our all in all, a very presence in times of trouble and good times as well. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of this. “God is with us!” God Bless. Amen.
Good morning. Praise be to God. May God bless you and keep you. May you feel His Holy Spirit moving in and through you. May you know that you are loved for indeed you are, you are a beloved child of God; created in His image. As you go about your day may love and forgiveness be a part of it. For life is too short. You never know what can and will happen; therefore, extend love, mercy, and forgiveness. May a calm and peaceful heart be a part of your day and may you feel that peace which passes all understanding. Now as you go forth in this day remember who you are and whom you belong to. For this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
Has anyone ever said, “You are a kind person.” It feels good doesn’t it. If not, do you consider yourself to be kind? Are you kind? Do you show kindness in your daily interactions? Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. It is being helpful, caring, and understanding, and doing so with a genuine desire to help others. It can also mean putting others’ needs before your own. So, are you like that, a kind person? Ephesian 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Proverbs 12:25 states, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Today, show kindness in all that you do, be intentional about it. Do some random acts of kindness—open a door for someone, by someone coffee, smile at everyone you meet, say hello, call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Be kind and you will become kind. It will make your day and the other person’s day as well. God Bless. Amen.
What does joy mean to you. Does it mean being excited, happiness, having fun. Does joy mean contentment and peace in your everyday life. The dictionary says joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It is an emotion that evokes well-being, success, good fortune or the prospect of possessing what one desires. Joy is being delighted, having bliss, or to enjoy what one is doing. Does being a believer in our Lord create joy in your life? When I smile and think of the Lord and how much I love Him I experience joy. There is a song that expresses our joy in the Lord it goes, “I got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay…And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart. Down in my heart.” Psalms 35:27 reads, “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “The LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!” Today, let the joy of our Lord shine forth in all that you do. Give thanks and praise the LORD! Praise the LORD for He is righteous and good. His steadfast love endures forever. For we got that joy of the Lord. For the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) God Bless. Amen.
Holy Holy Holy LORD God Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords mighty and wonderful are You. We love You Lord, Oh Lord how we love You. You are our all in all. Full of grace and mercy. Always there for us no matter what is going on in our life. You give us comfort and sustain us when nothing else will. Sometimes in the business of our lives we forget to spend time alone with You to tell You of our hurts and our concerns, our joys, our happiness, our sorrows and our pains. Oh Lord, help us to remember all the wonderful things You have done in our lives. Help us to have a thankful heart. To always give thanks in all things. Forgive us. Create in us a desire to love You more and to serve You better. Help us to forgive others the way You have forgiven us and to do all things with compassion and love. Now as we go forth into this day help us to remember whom we belong to and whom we serve—our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. These things we pray Amen. God Bless.
It feels good to know that someone loves you. It makes you feel good and all warm inside of you. Did you know that God has always loved you? He loves you unconditionally. He has loved you since the beginning of time and will never stop loving you nor give up on you. Psalms 139:13 reads, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. God believes in you and wants what is best for you. Sometimes the choices we make are unhealthy and set us up for failure. But even when we make mistakes, God still loves us and does not give up on us. God loves us. The key is learning to love ourselves the way God loves us—even when we make mistakes. So don’t be so hard on yourself—forgive yourself—then move on and try to make healthier choices. Remember God loves you and we all make mistake. The key is to learn from our mistakes, move on, and then not make them again. This is accomplished by learning to love yourself the way God does. God Bless. Amen.
Hate is a very strong word. It is filled with meanness, anger, and malice. When I was little the meanest, most horrible thing I could think of or say, was to say, “I hate you!” I said this once to my parents. They both responded, “Well I love you.” I couldn’t believe they said that. I huffed and walked away saying yet again, “I hate you!” And yet again they said, “Well I love you!” Who is one person you hate? Why do you hate this person? What is something you hate? Why do you hate this thing? To hate means a feeling of intense or passionate dislike for someone or something. It can also be described as an extreme dislike or disgust for that person or thing. They say that hate turns in on itself and hurts the person who is spewing out all this hatred, more than on the person or object they are thinking about or spewing the hateful words upon. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Today, if there is someone in your life that you hate, or something you hate go to God in pray—turn the hate over to God—then let go and let God. Let it go, for life is too short to hate anything—forgive just as God has forgiven you. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
If someone asked you what type of relationship you have with God what would you say? Sunday only! Only when I am hurting and in need of something! I talk to Him a couple of times a week! I speak with God daily! I read the Bible daily and have a good relationship with God! I share my joys and concerns throughout the day, for God is my lifeline in this life. How much time you spend with God is between you and God. I have found the more time you spend with God the smoother, the easier, your daily life will be. What God wants from you is for you to WANT to spend time with Him. And to know that God loves you, believes in you no matter how much time you spend with Him. God wants a relationship with you. God is please to speak with you any time, any place. But if you think you need to spend more time with God, why aren’t you? James 4:8 reads, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
Praise the LORD! Now smile when you say, “Praise the LORD!” Did you feel the difference? Whenever you smile, whether you answer the phone, talk with someone or even text your demeanor changes. A smile not only changes you and your demeanor but others as well. Smiling is important because it can improve your mood, reduce stress, and boost your immune system. Smiling can also help you feel more confident and improve how you feel. Read the next paragraph smiling. You will feel a difference. Praise the Lord! For this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Today as you go forth, may you know that God loves you—always and forever! That God forgives you—learn to forgive yourself. And as this day unfolds remember you are a beloved child of God created in God’s image—so do all things as a beloved child of God—serve the LORD with gladness—praise is Holy Name. Now may God bless you today and always, for this is the day that the LORD has made. Praise the LORD! God Bless. Amen.
What are you thankful for? To be thankful means feeling and expressing appreciation for the things and people in your life. It can also mean being conscious of the benefits you have received. You can be thankful for your health, your spouse, your children, your stepchildren, your daughters in laws, your sons in laws, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, your parents, your family, your siblings, your home, your job, your community, your freedom, God. When you acknowledge what you are thankful for, you are intentional about looking for things to be grateful for. You focus on the good not the bad, the positive not the negative, the glass half full not half empty. You become thankful for the small things. You even begin to tell those you love how thankful you are to have them in your life. You acknowledge God and how mighty and wonderful He is. You praise His holy name and give thanks for all the wonderful things He has done in your life. You realize God gave you life and you appreciate all the things you have. Thessalonians 5:18 reads, “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” Colossians 3:17 tells us, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” So, what are you thankful for? Maybe it is because you woke up this morning and God is with you. God bless. Amen.
Isaiah 58:11a reminds us, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.” Isaiah 40:28-31 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Then Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Sometimes we forget how much God loves us—that He will not forsake us—that He is with us in all situations and circumstances. Today, whatever you are going through God is with you. He will give you the strength and courage you need, step by step, moment by moment. All you have to do is trust Him, even when you do not feel He is there—God is there He is always there. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever wanted God to come and fix a problem you have? You know like God waves His magic wand and fixes the problem for you. I have. Do you ever get mad because God did not fix your problem the way you wanted it fixed. So, you throw a temper tantrum, because you didn’t get your way? I have. Have you ever gotten so mad at God because the situation at hand is not going your way? I have. Have you ever yelled, screamed, and cried out in pain from a situation. Yelling at God at the unfairness of life. Then telling God, you are not going to talk to Him again? I have. This is called the 2-year-old mode that we get into. Where we are out of control and having noise outburst of anger because things are not going our way. These outbursts can be physical, verbal or both. These temper tantrums are destructive not toward God but toward our self. Throwing a fit will never change the outcome of any situation. Never! Life is life. Good things happen and so do bad things. We experience life, death, and illness in this life of ours. There are great moments which are accented by times of undeniable pain and heartache. Life happens. What God promised us is that He will be there with us in all things. God is not a magical God nor is He the fixer. God is our all in all. And when life throws you heartache and pain God is with you every step, every moment. All you have to do is hold onto Him and He will see you through whatever you are experiencing. Deuteronomy 31:8 reads, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” God is with you always, even during the rough times of life. God Bless. Amen.
Today, you may encounter things that you cannot control. You may feel helpless or frustrated by these events wondering, “What in the world is going on!” If you let it, these events can ruin your day. Or you can choose to push through whatever is going on in your life, remembering God is with you. And making the most of your day, despite the frustrations. Isaiah 59;19 reads, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper…” 1 John 14:27 states, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” When we have a relationship with God, we know that no matter what is going on the good, the bad, or the sideways, God will see us through that moment, that frustration, that day. Because God is the one sure thing in life. Therefore, instead of letting these events, that you cannot control, ruin your day, let these events inspire you and motivate you. For with God on your side how can you fail, how can your day be so bad? You woke up, didn’t you? God Bless. Amen.
To fail means to be unsuccessful, to lapse or become invalid, to lose an opportunity or something valuable due to negligence. When you are set up to fail it becomes a no-win situation designed in such a way that the person in the situation cannot succeed at the task which they have been assigned. When we walk with God no matter what happens, no matter the circumstance, no matter the situation we are in, we do not fail, because God is with us. No matter what challenges or difficulties, you face in life, you can always RELY ON GOD to be there for you, to support you, and never abandon you. This signifies that God’s love and faithfulness are unwavering and you can completely trust in His promises. This does not mean God is a magical God who fixes the things you want fixed. What it means is God is with you and will not fail you. Hebrews 13:5b-6 tells us, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. So we can say with confidence, The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Think about this, no matter what you are going through God is with you. No matter the situation, God is with you. No matter the outcome, God is with you. God is the one sure thing in this life of ours. So turn to Him. Confide in Him. Listen to that still small voice and most importantly trust God to see you through. God Bless. Amen.
When my children were growing up, I would tell them that when a person heard their name, that person would view them by what he or she thought of them. Then I would say your name is very important. People view you by what they think of you. Thus, your name is associated with who you are and your actions. Our words and actions reveal what type of person we are. It is how people see us. If we complain a lot—people see us as complainers. If we gossip about others—people know that we will gossip about them as well. If we are dishonest—people know not to trust us. If we are not responsible—people know that they cannot rely upon us. And that holds true if you are honest, kind, responsible, trustworthy, compassionate, hardworking, caring and person of God. So how do you think others see you? As a kind, caring trustworthy person? Let that sink in. How do others see you? How does God see you, for your actions and your words reveal to God the same as it does to other people the type of person you are! Matthew 5:16 reads, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
On this day may you feel joy and laughter throughout the day. May you know that you are loved and accepted for who and what you are. May you also experience peace, that peace which passes all understanding. May you find calmness in the midst of those frustrating moments, that can occur during the day. Now as God’s own clothe yourself with the armor of God. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17) For our God is an awesome God, who reigns and is with us always and forever. So let us be ready to fight the good fight and stand firm in our faith. God Bless. Amen.
What do you think of when you see these words: deep affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, kindness, endearment, adoration, desire, yearning, compassion? What one word comes to your mind? The word is love. The definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection. Which really does not explain nor express what love means, for love is so much more. The best definition of love comes from the Bible. It is found in the New Testament. It is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This is one of my favorite scriptures. It reads, “Love is patient and is kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoice in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” The true definition of the word love is a verb. It is action. It is in the showing of love that it is manifested and comes to being. Not just in the saying of the three words. Saying “I love you” is important, but there always needs to be action to demonstrate those words. Today, remember as people of God we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and spirit and to love our neighbor as our self. These are the 2 Great Commandments. Today, show love, express love, demonstrate it, don’t just say it. God Bless. Amen.
Do you like yourself? Are you proud of your accomplishments? Do you feel like you have self-worth? Sometimes we feel insecure. Sometimes we are unsure of what we are doing. Sometimes we doubt. Sometimes our self-worth is lacking. Why is that? These feelings of inadequacy? Inadequacy is when you have a persistent sense that you are not good enough, do not measure up to others, or lack the necessary abilities to handle situations, often coming from low self-esteem and leading to feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. These feelings can occur in only one area of your life—like cooking. Then there are the times when there are a few things in your life that you feel insecure about. There can also be times when life is overwhelming, and you feel self-doubt most of the time. I want you to think about this and believe it. You are worthy. Worthy means having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in a specified way. You have value. So, what, you do not do everything perfectly. You are still worthy. So, what if you are not perfect, you are worthy. You are loved. You are a beloved child of God. Do you not know that God says to you every day of your life, “You are my beloved child, I love you! I believe in you. You are precious unto me.” Isaiah 43:4 confirms this, “…you are precious in my eyes…and I love you.” Today know that God loves you always and forever. Know that God sees you as worthy and precious. So, what if you are not perfect. That is not what God calls us to be. What God wants us to do is love God and as you love God, you see yourself through God’s eyes. God loves you—you are worthy. Believe it. God Bless. Amen.
My prayer for you on this day is that your day be filled with joy, laughter, and happiness. May you find strength and hope in our LORD and as you go forth into this day. May blessings pour down upon you. May peace, contentment, joy and balance be manifested in your life. Let us remember that part of the day is our Lords’s, part of it is for work, part of it is for family and part of it is for doing something fun and exciting. May you understand that the LORD God Almighty is in everything and everywhere you go. Remember the LORD is our strength, and our fortress a God who will never fail us nor forsake us. So let us rejoice and praise the LORD for this is the day that the LORD has made let us celebrate and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
What does God mean to you? The creator and author of all things? Giver of life? Sustainer of life. The supreme being? All powerful, all knowing, all mighty, omnipotent? Is God with you in all things and in all situations and circumstances? Forgiver? Merciful and wonderful? Guider? Wisdom giver? Is God to you all loving and full of grace? Is He your redeemer? Do you see God as a personal God? Or a God not to be bothered with? Is He your Father? Does He judge the wicked? Does He give you hope? Is God your protector? What does God mean to you? Or have you ever really thought about it before? Psalms 18:2 reads, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” God is our all in all. He is the one sure thing in this life of ours. Especially when life is filled with pain and heartache, trials and tribulations, for that is when He becomes our rock. So, turn to Him and hold on to Him for He is your lifeline in this life of ours. Believe it. I want you to think about this, maybe we need to ask this question and answer it more often. Maybe then our understanding of God will be ever present in our daily lives, not just occasionally. God Bless. Amen.
We hope things work out. We hope for relationships to mend. We hope for forgiveness. We hope for good health. We hope for a good life. We hope for happiness. We hope for success. We hope for freedom. We hope for peace. We hope for God to bless us. We hope. To hope means having a feeling of what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Hope is a human longing that can be expressed in many different areas of our lives. Hope motivates us to make healthy choices. Hope helps us through hardship as well as good times. Without hope life seems doomed and lost. As believers in God, we believe true hope comes from God. Thus, we are more able to endure life’s difficulties. Because we hope for the things that are unseen and are able to endure all things. Hebrew 11:1 says, “For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” Thus, we pray. We hope. We believe. We trust that things work out. For we know that all things work together for those who love our Lord. And where does our hope come from; our hope comes from the Lord. God Bless. Amen.
It has been snowing quite a bit this winter, the land around me is a winter wonderland. Snow is everywhere and it has been very cold. There are those who might only see the cold and how hard it is to get around in all the snow. Others might say how wonderful, I am staying inside and am going to enjoy the day. Then there are others that snowy cold weather does not stop them. They just keep going about their business. We all have choices to make in life we can see life as an adventure and make the most of our day or we can let life ruin our day. Ecclesiastes 9:9-10 reads, “Enjoy every day of your short life. God has given you this short life on earth—and it is all you have. So enjoy the work you have to do in this life.” What are you going to choose today? Enjoyment or despair, cheerfulness or sadness, happiness or sorrow, laughter or frustration, the choice is yours. I think I will choose enjoyment because life is too short and I do not want to waste this day. For once this day is gone, I can never get it back. There are No re-do’s. God gave us life, let us make the most of it. Enjoy, because this is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a good one! God Bless. Amen.
You get into an Uber or a Taxi trusting the person to take you wherever you need to go. You take your seat on an airplane and trust the pilot to fly you safely to your destination. You get upon a roller coaster trusting the person operating the controls will get you safely back to where you started. You trust these people even though you do not know them. You place your life in their hands. Trust means the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something. Trust also believes that another person will act consistently with the expectations you have for that person. When you trust someone, you rely on that person because you feel safe with them. Do you trust in God? Do you place your trust in God, in all areas of your life? Because you trust other people with your life, and you do not even know that person. Sometimes we forget to trust God with our life. Psalm 40:4-5 reads, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 28:7 tells us, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Let us learn to truly trust God in all areas of our life, just as we trust people we don’t even know with our life. It is something to ponder, don’t you think. Learning to trust God TOTALLY! God Bless. Amen.
I have cried myself to sleep at night with the pain of life raging through my soul. I have gone to bed to sleep the day away, when life’s difficulties seem too much to bear. I have eaten till I feel like I will explode trying to mask my pain. Sometimes the challenges and hardships of life pass over you until you do not feel as if you can put one foot in front of the other, let alone breath. We all need to be comforted at times. Which is to have someone, or something alleviate our feelings of grief, pain, or stress. We all go through periods of heartache, hurt, and pain where all we want is someone to hold us and tell us it is going to be alright. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, “The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” God comforts us and sustains us. He gives us strength, when we do not believe we have any strength to carry on. He is there, when others aren’t. God is the one sure thing in our life. So go to the Father, seek Him out, pray, believe, and trust. He will comfort your troubled spirit. And remember this too will pass. God Bless. Amen.
My husband and I were talking the other day. He said, “You always wake up happy.” I said, “I know. I look forward to the morning and the new adventure that waits.” How do you wake up? Are you glad you woke up? Are you angry you woke up because you want to sleep longer? Are you frustrated that you woke up because of all of life’s burdens? Are you worried because you know what will happen when you wake up? Do you wake up in a good mood, happy mood, angry mood or just downright mad? In Psalm 118:24 it reads, “This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!” Today let us rejoice for we woke up. We have a new day; it will be filled with all sorts of adventures. Some of the adventures will be awesome and some not so good. But we woke up and that is good. Think about this “Some people live dying while others die living.” What do you do? You have a choice. So go out there and enjoy your day, make the most of it. For once this day is gone it is gone forever, and you will never get it back. There are NO redo’s in life. So enjoy, laugh, dance, sing, and make the most of this day. Why not—what do you have to lose if you enjoy your day! Rejoice, for this is the day of our LORD. God Bless. Amen.
No matter what is going on in your life you can find peace. No matter what the circumstance is that brings you down there can be peace. When your mind is racing and you are having trouble controlling your thoughts peace can come. God gives us peace in the midst of a storm. Which means God will provide peace and harmony that transcends circumstance. It is a state of being calm and at peace with God, even in the midst of troubles. This feeling is a sense of rest and settled feeling. It is a feeling of inner calm, and of being guarded by God. Remember God can and will give you the peace that passes all understanding when your life feels out of control. Today, whatever the situation you are in, go to God. Pray! Begin by remembering that God created this day and that God is with you. Draw near to God, trust God to see you through the situation, be thankful, praise God, be responsible for your actions. Remember even when you do not feel that God is there, He is. For God is our all in all and where God is peace reigns. Which means a state of peace, harmony, and the absence of struggle. God Bless. Amen.
Are you a worry wart? Do you fret? Do you worry about things you cannot change? Do you think that any of your worrying will change the situation? Do you wake up in the middle of the night fretting about the situation you are concerned with? Did you know there are different degrees of worrying? 1. You have a concern over a certain matter, but you can still function in a healthy manner. 2. You find that your mind keeps straying over to a certain matter—you are worried about and do not know what to do. 3. This concern of yours is constantly on your mind and it is hard for you to function—because you are so worried about the situation. 4. This thing that you are worrying about has you so bothered that it keeps you up at night. We all worry in different ways. Once the worrying begins it is so hard for us to stop, let go, and trust God with the situation. We even think that our worrying will help the situation or even the outcome. Matthew 6:31-34 tells us, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Today, if you are worried about something go to God in prayer, try saying the “LORD’s Prayer” over and over again focus your attention on God. Tell God you need His help, listen to Christian Music, read the Gospels and then pray some more. See if you can train your mind to focus on God and not the situation that you are worried about. This gives the power of the Holy Spirit to take over and you soon find that you have that peace that passes all understanding. Hence you are able to trust God with the situation and your worrying dissipates. Try it. What do you have to lose—worrying? God Bless. Amen.
This is the day of our LORD. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 95:1 says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” Remember this is the first day of the rest of your life. I hope you choose to use it for good and not bad. Finding laughter in the midst of the business of life. I hope you will find the beauty in the day and to build others up and not tear them down. I hope that you see the positive part of life not the negative and frustrating of life, because this can happen. We have to be intentional about seeing the good and appreciating what we have. I hope that you will find a moment here and there to talk to our LORD. Pray and pray for it is our lifeline. And remember once this day is gone you can never get it back—so try to make the most out of today. For there are no re-do’s in life. Give thanks, praise the LORD and know you are a beloved child of God created in God’s image. God loves you! God Bless. Amen.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Great scripture! To be kind means having or showing goodness or being helpful and considerate towards others. Compassionate means feeling or showing concern for others. Forgiveness is the act of intentionally letting go of negative feelings towards someone who has wronged you. Wow can you imagine if each and every one of us lived this way on a daily basis. Being kind, showing compassion, and forgiveness towards others. Throwing in some laughter, a smile, a song or two, and dancing as if no one was watching, what a better lifestyle we would have. Then to top it all off pray throughout the day and give thanks to God for the wonderful things you have in your life. What do you think? Today, try to be this scripture. Change up your day. Do 5 acts of random kindness, be creative, have fun with it. Forgive, smile, laugh, sing, dance and pray. Not only will it change the other person’s life, but it will change yours as well. God Bless. Amen.
Here is a question, “Why do you believe in God?” People believe in God for many reasons, often including personal experiences, meaning of our existence, guidance in life, a forgiveness that is unimaginable, a sense of connection to something larger than themselves, upbringing in a religious tradition, a belief that something created all things, hope for the future or that something is guiding them to a better life. However, the specific reasons why someone believes in God are deeply personal and can very greatly depending on their individual beliefs and experiences. When you believe in God a force, a light within you grows and becomes brighter, more radiant. You start see God all around you and in all things. A confidence, an assurance emerges which is accented by hope. Praise becomes a part of you and the Glory of God is manifested. Comfort, hope and forgiveness are understood no matter what is going on in your life, because you know that God is with you. 1 Chronicles 16:24 reads, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Today, let us rejoice for we believe in a Mighty, Wonderful God who is with us always and forever. God Bless. Amen.
Do you ever have a lack of confidence? Where you have a feeling of doubt about your abilities or yourself. Do you ever feel unsure of yourself? Which also means lack of confidence in your abilities, decisions, or judgment. Do you ever doubt a decision you have made? Which is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of confidence in the choice you have made. Sometimes we have a lack of confidence and become unsure of ourselves, because of what is going on around us. Moving forward with confidence can at times be hard to do, especially when you feel so unsure of yourself. Philippians 1:6 tells us, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Then Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Remember according to our faith and our belief, God gives us the confidences we need through His promises. This confidence is called God-confidence, and it is a humble confidence that comes from trusting in God. So, know all we need every moment of everyday is God. For through Him our confidence is manifested. God Bless. Amen.
Are you tired and in need of rest and yet rest just doesn’t come? Are you weary and just want to sit down and catch your breath, but time does not allow for that? Are you drained and worn-out and in need of a break, yet when you do try to sit down something comes up and you are unable to take that needed break? Scripture tells us in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In the hustle and bustle of life it can be hard to find time to rest. I have found when I become weary and burden I go to God. I listen to Christian music, meditate, read the Bible, but I also pray and pray. I pray while doing dishes, cleaning house, during a commercial, in the shower, at a stop light, walking—wherever I am, I pray. Because prayer is our lifeline to God. And whether you feel God’s presence or not know that God is there. God is there He will refill your weary spirit and restore you. He will give you peace, that peace which passes all understanding. So go to Him in prayer—spend time alone with our LORD. Psalm 62:1 tells us, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever said, “I didn’t do that? or It is not my fault! or Why do I always get blamed! or Why is life so unfair! or How come I always get the raw end of the deal?” These statements are about being a victim, about not accepting responsibility for one’s life and the different situations you find yourself in. This means a person who consistently blames external factors or other people for their problems, refusing to acknowledge their own role in a situation. Life is life, there are times when life is good and wonderful and then there are times when life is just downright hard. Life is not fair! How you choose to deal with life’s difficulties is your choice. You can make the most out of each situation or you can make excuses and feel sorry for yourself. The choice is always yours. All I know is when you choose to make the most out of life, by staying positive, laughing at life instead of feeling sorry for yourself—life seems to go better for you. Today, remember you are a beloved child of God and no matter what life throws your way, God is with you. And with God on your side, it will work out. Hebrews 13:5-6 reads, “I will never leave you. So we can say with confidence, ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me.’” It is something to remember. God Bless. Amen.
When you help someone, do you expect something in return? Or when you help someone, it is a gift you give, and you do not expect anything from that person? How about when you help someone you do it because it is the right thing to do? Then there are times when someone helps us, and we wonder why that person is helping us. We think, “I wonder what that person wants!” When we help others, it should never be about ulterior motives—it should just be about giving with no strings attached. Luke 6:38 reads, “…give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” It is something to ponder. God Bless. Amen.
On this day, may our prayer be that we give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love endures. He is mighty and wonderful, full of compassion, love, and mercy. He is our God, and we bow down before him. O Lord, Mighty God, we Praise you! Lord, as we go about our busy lives help us to take moments throughout the day giving thanks for all the wonderful things you have done and are doing in our lives. Let us focus on the good, not the bad; the joys of our life, not the sorrows; on the beauty, not the ugliness. For Lord You have made this day, so let us make the most out of each situation, knowing that no matter what happens God of mercy, we will remember that you are with us always and forever. Praise the Lord. God Bless. Amen.
How do people see you? As a good, kind, honest, trustworthy, considerate, funny, helpful, loveable, caring person. Or mean, rude, hateful, angry, arrogant, pushy, bossy, dishonest, with lack of integrity. How do you see yourself? What kind of person are you? Are you a person of God? Is this how you see yourself? How do others see you—do they coincide? Which means to occupy the same place in space or time. Now how does God see you? God sees you as His creation. As His own, as a beloved child of His. He sees you as precious and honored. As fearfully and wonderfully made—created in His image male and female. He takes delight in you, loves you unconditionally, granting you mercy, honor and forgiveness. Is this how you see yourself? Ways to learn to see yourself as God sees you include believing in God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Accepting yourself as God does. Learning to love yourself as God does by reading the Bible, listening to Christian music and focusing on the good in your life. By rejecting negative thoughts and lies and walking daily in faith and confidence because you are a beloved child of God. Remember when God looks upon you, He does not see the sinner, He sees His beloved child, He believes in you, hopes that you make good decisions and walks with you every moment of every day. Loving you and never giving up on you. And always forgiving you! Psalms 139:14 tells us, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” 1 John 3:1 says, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are.” Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God loves you. Your journey in life is to see yourself the way God sees you. God Bless. Amen.
When was the last time you helped someone other than a family member? When was the last time you opened a door for a stranger? When was the last time you smiled at someone and said “Hello”? When was the last time you paid for a stranger’s meal or cup of coffee? When was the last time you did something for someone, other than yourself? When was the last time you did a random act of kindness? Because doing random acts of kindness is a good thing. Scripture tells us to be kind, help one another and lift up the downtrodden. It does not tell us to enable others, which can cause them to become dependent on you, not independent of you. There is a proverb that says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” We are all called to help one another but let us not forget that it is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something for themselves than to do it for them. Galatians 6:5 says, “For each will have to bear his own load.” Then Proverbs 10:4 reads, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” It is something to think about. For it is a fine-line that we Christians walk. God Bless. Have a great day. Amen.
On this day my prayer for you is that on this day you find joy and laughter. May peace move in and through you—that peace which passes all understanding. May you see God in all that you do, because He is there, so look for Him. As the day evolves may you extend God’s kindness, goodness, and mercy. May you forgive others for the wrongs they have committed against you, for you are forgiven, so forgive. May you know that you are loved for indeed you are and remember this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. God Bless. Amen.
Prayer is our lifeline to God. It is how we communicate with God and God with us. Prayer can occur anytime, anyplace, anyhow, or anywhere. You can pray with your eyes open or closed, quiet or loud, by yourself or with others. Prayer can happen morning, noon, night or any time in between. Doesn’t it make you feel good when someone says, “I will be praying for you”? I truly believe that there is power in prayer. Prayer works. Prayer calms our aching spirit and gives us hope. Hope for the future. Prayer gives us peace when nothing else will or can. Prayer heals our aching spirit and gives us courage to face another day. Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Today, let 5 people know that you are praying for them. Not only will it make their day, but it will also make yours as well. God Bless. Amen
“Praise the LORD all my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.” (Psalms 103:1) When I say these words, joy fills my soul. To think of what a wonderful, all powerful, and majestic God we have. Brings astonishment and amazement to my being. Our God is miraculous, and I marvel at the mighty things He has done. Oh, what joy that fills my soul. Today, let us praise the LORD for our many blessings. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, a place to live, we have transportation to get where we want to go, we have family that loves us, pets that comfort us, and we live in the land of the free. Praise the LORD we are blessed. Let us give thanks and rejoice, for this is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Praise the LORD! God Bless. Amen.
Just before Jesus was betrayed Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. Jesus said, “Simon son of John do you love me more than these? Simon Peter said to him, “Yes, LORD; you know that I love you...” (John 21:15b) that night Simon Peter betrayed Jesus. So here is the question, “Do you love your LORD?” Or just like Peter you too deny our Lord at times! The way we deny our Lord is when we gossip, slander others, lie, steal, cheat, being lazy and wasting your life a way, when we disrespect our parents, covet our neighbors’ things, when our own agenda is more important than others, when we are self-centered, when we put other things before God and family, and so on and so forth—right? Many times, throughout the Bible we are told to love our Lord. Love is a verb, it is action—love is shown through our actions. It is not just in saying, “I love you.” It is in the showing of “I love you.” Today, before you say or do anything ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Then do what you know you need to do. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And it shall be done through our actions. God Bless. Amen.
Good communication is the foundation to any good relationship—whether it is with your spouse, a child, a friend, a co-worker or God. Sometimes though we lose sight of how important communication is. We begin to assume the other person knows what we are thinking. When, in fact that person has no idea! No one can read your mind. If we know it is important to develop good communication skills, why is it that we do not work on our communication with others? Maybe we are afraid to be open because we do not want to be judged or criticized. So, we hold back—but in the long run it only hurts you and your relationship. Or are we afraid to let others in because it is all we have to offer, and we are in fear of being rejected! Here is the thing, good communication has to do with being open, sharing how we feel, and what we are thinking, doing so creates trust. Psalm 37:30 reads, “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” Then Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” It is something to think about. Today, try being open with those around you, even God! You will be glad you did. God Bless. Amen.
I have Wet Macular Degeneration in my left eye. It was scary for me when I found out about it, in some ways it still is scary. Having your eyesight diminish creates fear, but you learn to cope with it. I am on the 7-week program where I get a shot in my eye to help stop blindness from setting in. My husband is a very good care giver, for when I get the eye shot, I get migraines and am out for the day. I depend upon him for help. When a person is always there, during the good times and bad, this creates a dependence upon that person—you begin to rely upon this person, to listen to you, reason with you, and share their wisdom with you. It is easy to start taking that person for granted when he/she is always in your life. And because of this, it is good to tell this special person how much you appreciate and love him/her. But think about this, for it holds true for God too. Sometimes we just need to thank God and Praise His Holy Name and pray—telling God what is going on in our life. Because God is with us during the good times as well as the bad, through sickness and health, and He even walks with us down the valley of death. Psalm 139:5 reads, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” It is something we all need to remember. So, turn to God, He is there. He will help you! God Bless. Amen.
To be grateful means when you feel thankful for the good thing in your life. It could be having a roof over your head, food to eat, water to drink and bath in, the clothes you wear, your spouse, your children, stepchildren, daughter and sons in laws, siblings, friends, parents, your health, your eye sight, living in a country where you can worship the Lord, being thankful for God and all the wonderful things He does and so on and so forth. It is being grateful for what you have. Being thankful and filled with gratitude is a very important ingredient in life. Today tell 7 people why you are grateful that they are in your life. Say good morning to those around you, open a door for someone, smile, laugh, and enjoy for we have so much to be grateful and thankful for. Maybe by doing this other might catch on and begin to do the same. “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalms 95:1-3) Be filled with gratitude, be thankful! God Bless. Amen.
When I was younger, I would daydream. I would go into my fantasy world and create all sorts of kingdoms, all the while my imagination would run wild. I got into trouble a couple of times at school and had to learn not to daydream at school, it was difficult for me. Learning not to go into my pretend world. Sometimes, we go to our pretend world, to escape from reality. Other times we go there because it comforts us. As I got older, I read, to escape life. How do you escape those difficult days? Do you read, daydream, watch TV for long periods of time, do you go into your mancave, or woman cave, do you shop, gamble, drink, yell, scream, or shout? How do you deal with life? What do you do to escape, for we all escape life at one time or another. What I learned to do in my early 30’s, instead of reading all the time, my escape became prayer, reading the Bible, meditation and exercise. When you need a break from life what do you do? Job 5:11 reads, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God is the answer when life is out of sorts, when we need to escape life’s difficulties—not our vices. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
You go into a store, this store has so many things to offer, it is like Christmas. You find all these things you want. But soon your cart is filled with stuff and more stuff. You only needed to get 3 things, and you came out with 25 wonderful items. Thinking all the while I need this stuff. I really do! But do you? Stores know how to display things that will entice you and lure you into buying stuff, because it looks so nice, it is hard to resist. Genesis 1:31 reads, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” God gave us life so that we might enjoy all things. Sometimes we forget to see the beauty all around us. We get so caught up in what we want and the things we think we need that we lose sight of what God has created. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” Today, look around you and see the beauty of God. It is there. Watch a magnificent sunset or sunrise. Look upon the water and see the ripples as the wind blows the water to and fro. Look upon the majestic mountains, or the rolling hills. Look up and see the beauty of the clouds as they pass by. Enjoy the birds as they sing their songs. Look around you. God is there, experience again God’s beauty. God Bless. Amen.
Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time and you ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Have you ever been late for an appointment only to find out if you had left on time, you would have been in a horrible accident? Have you ever won something and said, “Wow I am really lucky today!” Life happens! Sometimes life is good, sometimes not so good, and sometimes life is hard and hard to deal with. It has nothing to do with luck. With luck, whether it is success or failure, people believe that it is brought by chance, considered as a force that causes good or bad things to happen. This isn’t true. Life has nothing to do with luck—life is life and life happens. What I have come to realize is that no matter what happens in life, God is with you. God is with you through the good, the not so good, and the bad. It has nothing to do with luck! Isaiah 41”10 says, “…fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” So, when life happens remember God is with you! Not luck, just a sure thing. God Bless. Amen.
The Golden Rule is found in Matthew 7:12 it reads, “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” Think about these words. If you want or need a hug, go give a hug. If you want or need to talk to someone, go talk to that person first. Do not wait for the person to talk to you first. If you want others to be kind, you first must be kind. If you want joy and laughter in your life, you first must give out joy and laughter. You get the picture. The Golden Rule is positive, it is not manifested in a negative response to others or hard situations. Just because someone is mean or rude or unkind or even hateful we are not to respond in a negative way. Tit for tat, which is an English idiom that means to retaliate with an equivalent action, especially in response to something harmful. (You break my stuff, I break yours. You flip me off, I will flip you off.) Today, show an attitude of kindness in all situations and circumstances, extend love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in all that you do. It is a good reminder, it might the best New Years resolution we could become. God Bless. Amen.
We function from our reality—our reality is a by-product of our past experiences, the way we were raised and our interpretation of life. You can have siblings growing up in the same household and each will have a different perspective. When my sister and I talk about our childhood we often laugh that we were raised by different parents, even though we were raised by the same parents. My brother too has a different perspective because he is much younger than us, but the same parents. We, as individuals, see life differently. Take for example the New Testament—the 4 Gospels. The story of Jesus is basically the same, yet each Gospel is written from the perspective of the individual who wrote that Gospel, thus each Gospel is different. One isn’t to say that one story is more accurate than the other—they just are written by different authors and different perspectives. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 reads, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord; there are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God who works all things.” Today, try being more tolerant to those around you, for we all believe in the one true God. And remember, you never know what another person has gone through nor what he or she is going through now. Remember God came into this world to offer grace, forgiveness, and hope. Shouldn’t we extend that to those around us—to those we love. It is something to think about. God Bless. Amen.
You may be feeling very positive and sure of yourself with the New Year approaching. Deciding what New Year’s resolutions to make and all. I was watching TV the other day. There was an add about how everyone gets so excited about the New Year then within two weeks people go back to the way they were: not exercising, not eating right, not spending time alone with God as planned, not taking care of oneself. Why is that? They say it takes 6 weeks to develop a habit and one day to break it. So, what do you think will change this coming year, for you to keep your New Year’s resolutions? You will have 42 days until you form the habit. Hebrews 12:1-2 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” With our LORD on our side, we can do the things we set our mind to do. Trust God to see you through. You can do it. Believe. God Bless. Amen.
Today, during the hustle and bustle of life, the business of life, the I don’t have time for this, to give thanks for all that we have. By stopping for a second, a moment saying, I am thank for my family, my friends, the school I go to, my job, the food that I eat, the clothes I wear, the car I drive, the house I live in, my good health, my good vision, and most of all my LORD and anything else you can think of. Tell God how thankful you are today 3 different times throughout this day! Psalms 100 says, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever and his faithfulness to all generations.” Praise the LORD! Give thanks! Have a great day! God Bless. Amen.
When things get bad and you feel apprehensive, what do you do? When life gets in the way, and you do not see a good future in your stars, what do you do? When you feel downtrodden and you do not know how the situation will work out, what do you do? At times, life can become overwhelming, frustrating and downright difficult and we cry out, “Where are you God. O how I need you.” For it is at these moments when we feel lost and alone, we wonder, “Where are you God?” From my life experiences, from the Bible, and what I have been taught I know God is with us in all situations and circumstances. God is with you holding you up even when you do not feel it. Because God is the one sure thing in life, even when you do not comprehend it, and you doubt. God is there. Today, whatever you are going through trust that God is bigger than the situation. Joshua 1:9 reads, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 31:14 says, “But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Sometimes, all you can do is trust our LORD, even when you do not feel like it. Trust—God is with you. He will see you through. God Bless. Amen.
We talk about the importance of love and how we are to be loving and kind people. The best definition of love I have found is in the Bible, from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a it says, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” Great definition! I want you to try something with me. Insert “God” where the word love is in this verse. Such as God is patient and kind…go through the whole verse doing this. Pretty amazing! Let us take it a step further. Now insert “I” where love is in the verse. “I” am patient and kind; I am not jealous or boastful; I am not arrogant or rude. Do you get the picture. Somehow, we fall short of what we are called to do and to be. Today, try being this verse…in fact try being this verse every day for the rest of your life. I wonder how life as we know it will change. Hmmmm. God Bless. Amen.
Life is life—life happens. Sometimes our lives are good and wonderful, evolving just the way we want. Other times, life is so hard you wonder why your life is filled with so many tribulations that you wind up cursing your fate. There is no rhyme or reason why life is the way it is. Why bad things happen to us. We live in a world where good and bad things transpire, where life and death—health and illness—joy and sorrow occur. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Sometimes it isn’t in the asking of “why” or complaining about how hard our life is. It is in the trusting of our LORD! The key is to trust, have confidence, belief or faith that God will see you through all situations and circumstances. God Bless. Amen.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) By faith we can keep moving forward. By faith we have hope. By faith we believe that something better is around the corner. By faith we know that God is with us in all situations and circumstances. By faith we love because He first loved us. By faith we believe that things can and will improve. By faith we keep putting one foot in front of the other, moment by moment. Faith hopes for the things to come. Sometimes all we need is a little faith, for faith has the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. And what is it that overcomes the world, our faith! For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Savior. Merry Christmas. God Bless. Amen.
Is there someone you have been avoiding? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone you hold resentment toward? Is there someone you are angry with? When you do not deal with your feelings, they can and will get internalized, which can cause health issues. But for some of us it is hard to stop avoiding, forgive, quit holding onto resentment, or let go of our anger. The Bible tells us to lead a life of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. We are to forgive and let go and let God. We read this time and time again forgive and we will be forgiven. Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Luke 6:37 says, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned, forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Mark 11:25 tells us, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (sins)” Today, try getting right with God and if you need to forgive, or to let go of your resentment, or your anger toward someone, do so. Go to God in prayer, asking for forgiveness, asking for compassion and favor. Then let the power of the LORD God Almighty work in and through you. And the one you need to get right with, because don’t we all need to be forgiven, loved and accepted? God Bless. Amen.
If someone asked you, “What is the one thing you do best?” What would you say? I make beautiful things, I paint, I garden, I drive a car, I fly an aircraft, I teach others, I am a good parent, a good spouse, a writer, I am a gifted speaker, a good listener, I am a great cook, a caregiver, a leader, a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer, an electrician, I am a great salesman, I can fix anything, I am a great athletic. We all have gifts; they are what you are good at. These gifts are gifts from God. God gave them to you when you were born. Next question, “Do you use your gifts or do you waste them away. Are you grateful for your gifts or do you take them for granted? God has given each and every one of us gifts to use and share. The key is to use them to Glorify God in all things. Sometimes we forget this and do not use the very gifts God has given us. 1 Peter 4:10 reads, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” It is something to remember. God Bless. Amen.
What scares you? The death of a loved one? Illness? Divorce? Loss of a job? Not being in a relationship? The dark? Things that go bump? Scary movies? Or is it something else? All of us have fears. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. The question is how you handle your fear, because fear is real! The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has not been made perfect in love.” You can let your fear consume and destroy you or you can acknowledge it, deal with it and then let go of it. Fear only has as much control over you as you allow. Today, if you are living in fear go to God, pray, read the Gospels, say the LORD Prayer repeatedly. Focus on God for your mind cannot do two things at once. Thus, by keeping your eyes on God the fear diminishes. Also, if it is all consuming seek counseling—that will help too. It is something to try. Remember focus on God, not your fear, and soon your fear will dissipate or lessen. God Bless. Amen.
Learning to deal with life’s issues can be very hard. Whether it deals with death, illness, abuse, hate, self-hate or substance abuse, if we could, we would save ourselves from the pain or the difficult situation, but we can’t. Sometimes we just want someone to save us from our pain and heartache. It sounds cliché, but the only thing we can do is to learn to let go and let God and trust that God is bigger than the situation. And then pray and pray and pray some more. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Today, whatever you are going through remember God is there. God is the one sure thing in life, so hold on and with God on your side you will make it step by step, moment by moment. God Bless. Amen.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty we praise Your Holy Name and give thanks for You are King of kings, LORD of lords mighty and wonderful are You. On this day we bow down to You asking for help, guidance, and wisdom as we go about our day. We also ask that You bless us and keep us safe. Put a hedge around us for protection and let no harm come to us. We lift up in prayer our spouse, our children, our stepchildren, our daughters-in-laws, our sons-in-laws, our in-laws, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren, our parents, our siblings, and our friends. We give thanks that they are a part of our lives. O LORD help us to be kind and merciful as you are and let us represent You in all that we do. We love You, LORD, O how we love you. Thank you. O LORD, for all our wonderful things that you manifest in our lives. Thank you for being our God. These things we pray in Christ Name. Amen. God Bless.
My prayer for you today is that you find peace in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the day. Take moments throughout the day to speak with our LORD, where you can renew your spirit. May you feel loved and appreciated for you are special. There is no one like you. You are one of a kind and because of you this world is different—it is a better place. As the day evolves share God’s love with those you come in contact with, be kind and try to do at least 6 random acts of kindness. Smile, laugh, dance as if no one is watching and sing as loud as you want. For this is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a good day, for there are no re-do’s. Peace I give you go in peace. God Bless. Amen.
Good day. How are things going for you today? Isn’t it a beautiful day? Do you feel blessed? Do you feel loved and appreciated? Are you excited about this day and all the different opportunities there will be? Or is this day just another day in the long and boring life you have? Or could this day be like so many others for you frustrating and difficult? When my father was alive. He was a go getter. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. I really do not think he ever had a bad day. No matter what went on or what life threw his way he made the most of each and every day. He would always say, “I wonder what new adventures I will have today!” He was an amazing man. I want to be like him when I grow up, I am 70. But here is the thing. Each of us can have his attitude on life, at any age of our life. It is a choice. We choose to be happy, mad, sad, glad, rude, angry or whatever. So today choose a positive attitude, choose enjoyment, and choose to look at life as an adventure. Finally choose God’s love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. For the joy of our LORD is our strength. Philippians 4:6-9 reads, “Trust God even within tragedy and choose to dwell on what is good in the person or situation.” Today, choose to make the most out of the situation you are in. For life is too short. God Bless. Amen.
The other day my husband asked me if I heard him laughing in his sleep. I said, “Yes, I did. What were you laughing about?” He told me and we laughed together. I thought, “I wish I laughed in my sleep too. For he does this periodically.” They say laughter is good for the soul. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? Do you know that a good laugh will create joy, vitality, and resilience. It helps heal resentment and decreases tension. Laughter replenishes our soul. Laughter expresses the inner joy of knowing God is with us on this journey called life. They also say a cheerful heart is good for you, it acts as a natural shield against stress and boosts emotional and physical health. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Job 8:21 tells us, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting.” Laughter is a powerful medicine. God knew what He was doing when He designed us with the ability to laugh. For if we only feel just pain, just grief, our life would be out of balance, joy and laughter must be a part of our everyday life. So, if you haven’t laughed in a while your mission is to learn to laugh again. Watch funny movies, learn to laugh at yourself, laugh with your family and friends and soon things will fall into place and your life will have a new direction. Remember “They learned to laugh, and as they did so their whole appearance changed, its darkness was dispelled.” (Victor Hugo) So, laugh, enjoy, smile, give thanks, and laugh some more. For if you really think about it, your life isn’t that bad, there are good times as well! God Bless. Amen.
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) What do you think of this scripture? How does it make you feel? Does it make you take an inventory of yourself? So, “Do you judge others?” When we judge another person, we make a judgment call. We decide if that person is right or wrong. We form an opinion, often negative, about someone’s character, actions, or choices, usually based on limited information, and potentially implying a sense of superiority or criticism towards that person. We judge from someone driving in their car, someone at the grocery store, a friend, a loved one, a neighbor, or even a stranger. We make comments about the person. I guess we think it is right because we do it daily—all of us! What Luke 6:37 wants us to do is worry about ourselves and whether we are making a good or bad choice, right or wrong choice. We are to judge ourself and our behavior, not others. For the only person who judges our behavior is the Lord God Almighty. Today, if you are trashing someone, or gossiping, or judging another person, to make yourself feel good, think about this scripture. Think about what you are doing. Then ask yourself what would Jesus do this? Maybe if we all stop judging others, our days might be a little better. God Bless. Amen.