Everyone is worthy of God’s love, even when we act in an unlovable manner.  Everyone has been created in God’s image and everything/everyone that God created is good.   Since God is good and we are God’s creation, why can’t we love ‘everyone’ unconditionally as God does?  Why can’t we be fair and treat others in the manner in which we want to be treated?  Why don’t we respect our differences and follow John Wesley’s pattern of doing all the good we can; for as many people as we can; as often as we can!

When innocent people are hurt, what is our role in preventing this from happening again?  Do we have some responsibility in correcting this wrong?

When decisions are made that intentionally hurt families, how do we intervene in a responsible manner?

When one group organizes to monopolize our government and the economy, what can the masses do to overcome this present state?

All of the above are difficult for us because of our learned behaviors, greed, prejudices, judgmental attitudes, to name a few, to walk in Jesus’ foot prints.

Working towards overcoming our inability to love everyone unconditionally begins inside of each of us.  We must revisit our faith, love, strength, courage; seek wisdom, avoid evil, and work together like the answer depends on us, however trust, knowing that it all depends on God!  Let’s make the world a better place for the good of all!

Thought for the Week:

We can make a positive difference in our world by loving everyone, including those who make it hard to do so; by praying, trusting, using our hearts and minds; then rolling up our sleeves, putting on our boots and working diligently to overcome evil.

Prayer:

Loving God of all peoples, we thank you for loving all of Your creation.  Help us to love others in the same manner in which You love us.  Teach us how to overcome the evil as it exists in the world, today.  Please touch the hearts of evil doers and please overcome evil with good!  We can’t do this alone!  In the Name of Jesus...Amen!

Life is good and can be good all the time.  God’s love for us is unconditional and God wants each of us to live our lives in a manner whereby our lives will be good also.  There are times when we are weary, however if we keep our eyes focused on God we will get rest and regain our strength so we can function well.  There are scriptures that will help us overcome any weariness we may face.  When life is weary, God is good!

There are times when life has been unfair, however that does not mean that God has stopped loving us.  Sometimes choices are made that may change our lives from the plan that we had, but don’t fret because God is still good and will see us through any challenges we may encounter.

There may be times when life is sad, however if we share our pain with God, God will strengthen us each day until we are out of the sad season.  Even when bad things happen, God is good and waiting on us to call on Him!  Always remember that with God as our guide, we will overcome!

Let’s be mindful that God is in the restoration business.  Whatever we may encounter, God is always there for us....waiting for us to seek His help and guidance. 

Thought for the Week:

God provides help as we follow the scripture’s advice to ask, seek and knock.  God wants to bless us, so let’s live our lives in an obedient manner to receive the amazing blessings available to us!

Prayer:

Awesome God, thank you for giving us the opportunity to seek You for guidance and direction during the weary, unfair and sad experiences in our lives.  Thanks for advising us to ask and depend on You; to seek Your face so we can mirror your attributes; and to knock so new opportunities will be available to us. Amen.

I recently had the opportunity to work with elementary age children for a week.  The joy and happiness they expressed as we told the Bible story about Moses’s request to Pharaoh to let God’s people go; release them from bondage so they could go to the Promised Land.  We told them about the 40 years in the wilderness; the manna and quail for the Israelites to eat; the ten plagues that the Egyptians faced; building an arc; and crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land.

The journey in the story often parallels many facets of our lives.  God has already given us all we need to be successful, happy, experience joy and to live in peace.  God states in Jeremiah 29:11:  For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you; plans for good and not evil; to give you hope and a future.  Do we believe that?  Do we try to get to know God better so we can determine how God wants us to accomplish this?  Do we pray and ask for guidance?

Moses always sought God for direction and eventually directed the people to the Promised Land, however he did not have an opportunity to cross over into the Promised Land with the Israelites due to his disobedience.  Are we on the path that has already been planned for us or are we doing our own thing and keeping God on the sidelines?  Are we going in circles or seeking the wisdom and direction that God has for us?  Freewill gives us the opportunity to choose.

Let’s choose a life filled with joy, peace and happiness by not leaning on our own understanding, but asking God to direct our paths.  He is waiting for us to surrender to Him, so our lives will gain all the good; all the hope and the great future of peace, joy and happiness.

Thought for the week: 

God has great plans for our lives and is waiting on us to seek Him!

Prayer:

God you are amazing!  Thank You for Your unconditional love.  May we seek You for wisdom and understanding, so we can live lives of peace, joy and happiness, daily.  Amen!

Once again our topic consists of taking inventory of our lives.  As we mature, DeCluttering periodically becomes a necessity.  This does not mean just tangible items, but also intangible ones.  There are gifts, talents, knowledge, habits, projects, dreams, etc., that are unused or depended on too much.  When one takes inventory of what is consuming one’s life and determine if those things are assets or liabilities, then decluttering becomes necessary.  For one to continue to grow and expand one’s horizons, something may need to go/change.  Moving forward in life often means taking inventory, decluttering and regrouping.

Ask yourself these questions:  Who am I?  Who do I want to become?  Do I let unproductive things/people/events/activities consume my life?  Do I want change?  Am I willing to declutter to make a positive change, to grow and become the person that God created me to be? 

DeCluttering is more of an intangible mind and heart event than it is of moving tangible things around for comfort.  Either way, it involves positive change for a better way of life.  The choice is yours! 

Thought for the Week:  Decluttering is a means of enhancing one’s life.  Be                                                            strong!  You can do it!

Prayer:

God, please lead, guide and direct my life.  Please reveal the things or areas of my life that need my attention, so I can declutter and keep my mind stayed on You!  Amen.             

A plumb line, also known as a plummet, is essential for balance in our lives.  Lately, I have been living without checking my plumb line.  Things seemed a little awkward at times and checking for balance became necessary. 

A plumb line was commonly used by painters and builders to make sure that their project was level.  It is a long string with a weight on one end and the other is place on the object that is being constructed.  It checks the vertical balance of the item being constructed.   A leveler is used to checked the horizontal balance of the item being constructed. 

In the Bible, a plumb line is referred to as the firmness of one’s foundation (Isaiah 28:17; Zechariah 4:10) or the balance in one’s life.  Believers should  have a firm foundation, however at times ours lives get out of balance.  Being out of kilter can cause fatigue, inability to get enough sleep, tardiness, to name a few.  The only cure is to check one’s balance, plumb line/leveler.  Then it becomes necessary to identify what change is needed to balance one’s life.  Once the change is made, life will return to one’s normal schedule/activity and regain it’s fulfillment.

Have you checked your plumb line or leveler, lately?  Is there a slight imbalance in your life?  It will make a tremendous difference if a plumb line check is used periodically just to make sure we are balancing our work, responsibilities, exercise, study (academic and biblical), and recreation.  It’s affects our attitudes, so let’s be mindful that our attitudes determine our altitude.

Thought for the Week:  Utilizing a plumb line can help keep our lives balanced and                         strengthens our foundation.

Prayer:

Gracious and Loving God, thank you for watching over me at all times, especially when I haven’t checked my plumb line.  Please help me to maintain a balanced life at all times.  Amen.

Does it seem sometimes as though you take two steps forward and three steps backwards;  Me too!  Life throws curve balls that often catch you off guard.  Friends, when we are walking upright, living in faith, helping others, spending time in meditation/study and prayer, we will be able to handle any situation that confronts us.  We must prepare ourselves for the unexpected and not be surprised when they occur.

This is when we call on God to give us strength, courage, wisdom, discernment, grace and mercy.  Jeremiah 33: 3 paraphrased states that we can call on God and He will answer and reveal things to us that our human minds cannot conceive.  This is when we ask for strength to endure as we tackle the challenge.  Courage is essential to work towards the challenge boldly, knowing that God is able.  Wisdom and discernment are key to adapting the right processes for working through the situation in a positive manner.  Grace and mercy are beneficial to the entire process.  When the situation appears to be extending beyond your capability, ask for grace and mercy as decisions are made.

Through it all, keep your eyes focused on God and pray consistently and know that God will lead you in the right direction.  It may be tough, but nothing is too difficult for God!  It is not the fancy that you have challenges, but how you conquer them.  You can make it through and stand strong as you focus on the blessings that you have already received!  You will be blessed as you journey through this challenge as well!

 Thought for the week:

God has an amazing plan for your life!  The plan is for good and not evil; to give you hope and a future!

 Prayer:

God please grant me the wisdom, courage, discernment and strength to face the difficult challenges that I may encounter; knowing and trusting that with You as my guide, I will overcome with joy!  Amen.

God is good all the time and all the time God is Good!  We must look out of a clean window or step outside to see the literal sun shining.  The remainder of the time, the “Sun is Shining” is a mindset.  The weather may be storming outside, however in our hearts and minds, we are experiencing sunshine!  We can experience sunshine when we are living joyful, peaceful, productive lives. 

We can experience sunshine when we get up each morning and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10 - 18).  When we clothe ourselves with the armor of God, it protects us against all the wiles of the devil.  As we put on our armor, we will experience sunshine.  Our shield of faith protects us as we experience sunshine.  The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God that is sharper than a two-edged sword.  When we hide the Scriptures in our hearts, we will not sin against God and experience sunshine.

Sunshine is warm, calm, beautiful, bright and makes us smile.  Isn’t it wonderful that we can have a “sun shining spirit” all the time.  Ever been around anyone who is always happy?  That’s what a “sunshine” mentality does for us!  Put on the characteristics of sunshine each day!  Watch how others encounter you when the sun is shining in your life all the time!

Don’t forget, the “Sun is Shining” is a mindset!  Decide that you want a “sun shining spirit” and begin to develop it.  You can do it.  Some people encourage us to make lemonade when the world sends us lemons.  Well, that’s good, however think about the beauty of sunrise, the joy of a noon day sun, and the amazing ambiance of a magnificent sunset!  It is all good!

 Make your day a “Sun is Shining Day!”

What a big, gigantic world we live in, however we are not alone!  Let’s think beyond the company of other human beings.  Human beings are limited in the places in which they can accompany us, however Christ has given us a comforter.  Our comforter is the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, we will never be alone.  The Holy Spirit will reside within our hearts and minds. 

Once we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, let’s engage with the Holy Spirit and be all that God has created us to be.  The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us in our life directions.  We must connect with God, receive the teachings of Jesus and then receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  When we invite Christ into our hearts, we are inviting the Holy Spirit to walk with us through each moment, each hour, each day, each week, each month, each year and it is continuous until eternity as we remain connected!

Let’s be mindful that the Holy Spirit leads and guides us, but when we are determined to sin and turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit, we are taking charge and not permitting God to be in control.  We will never be forced to walk upright because we have been given “freewill,” which when abused, will motivate us to sin.  Yes, God permits us to sin when our hearts and minds are centered on sinful desires.  That is why it is so important to pray without ceasing. 

We can not live a fruitful, progressive Godly life when we are not Scripturely entrenched and prayed up.  Keeping our minds on Jesus and Jesus’ teachings will help us stay connected to Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Being connected to Christ and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, offers us an opportunity to work towards a sin free life; a peaceful, joyful life!

Will challenges, uncomfortable experiences, and pain still happen to us?  Yes, but we will not crumble under its pressure.  We will face whatever we have to with strength, courage, wherewithal and trust.  The Holy Spirit will help us navigate our path, help us endure, help us be creative and proceed with power.  It is not the fact that we go through challenges, etc., but how we elect to go through them.

Living with the power of the Holy Spirit is essential to our positive outcome!  Trust and belief in God the Father, Jesus, His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, are our means to peace, joy and happiness, even if faced with difficulties.  We live knowing that we are not alone through it all.If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, why not try Him?  Give your life to Christ, receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, read the scriptures, pray and be still to receive direction in your life!  If you have already received Christ and the Holy Spirit, what are you waiting on to let go and let God work positively in your life?  God does not want us to be alone!  We do not have to face this world alone and on our own.  Please listen for the sweet, soft voice of the Holy Spirit and follow Him!

Have you ever entertained the question, “Do you hurt when others hurt?”  This is a matter of empathy that is imprinted on my heart.  Sometimes the pain of others helps me remember incidences that occurred in my history that I have conquered and it encourages me to express to others that if God brought me through, God will do the same for you!

When we permit ourselves to feel the pain of others, we are more capable of responding to others with the heart of Christ.  Christ was patient and kind, gentle and caring, loving and sincere, doing everything in His power to comfort and encourage others.  When we feel the pain of others we extend ourselves in a positive manner to give assistance in the areas that are beneficial to their well-being.  We put their needs at the top of our priorities and work diligently to assist in the season that God puts us into their lives.

Let’s be mindful that God does not want us to enable others or handicap them by attempting to meet all of their needs.  God has a plan and will work His plan in a manner that will far exceed anything that we can do or say.  Sometimes, God’s plan is for us to respond at a distance and letting Him be first and foremost in their process of healing. 

When we have this strong since of connection with others, let’s begin with prayer; seeking God’s approval and instructions as to how we can best assist our friends in pain.  After praying, let’s be still for a while and wait for God to direct our steps so we won’t step out ahead of Him or commit to more than we are humanly capable of doing.  Trust God in the process and walk in the manner that God leads.  Be careful of the tricks of the devil, who roams about like a lion, seeking whom he/she may devour.

May I encourage us to stay focused and not get too emotionally involved.  Doing so will make us blind to the first reason God put us in such a place as this, sharing others’ pain.  We are not the full answer to others’ pain, just making a small contribution.  Please, let’s give God time and space to be the leader and use us as we are needed.

Remember to show unconditional love and respond with sincerity!  Listen for direction as to when our season in assisting is over and move on!  We will be needed again with someone else!

Life is for us to enjoy!  As a matter of fact, we should be experiencing heaven right here on earth.  Trusting God doesn’t have to be boring and/or dull!  We can have fun!  We can indulge in fun activities!  We can be social!  We can hang with fun people and go fun places.  Just keep in mind that everything that is lawful is not okay for us to do.  We should set limits and establish boundaries and these do not have to prevent us from having fun. 

Fun does not have to be sinful!  Fun does not include abuse!  Fun does not include drunkenness or getting high!  The worst part of fun is not remembering what you said or did on a particular occasion.

 Let’s be mindful of who we are and whose we are!  Be safe and careful!  Wake up each day expressing thanks for another day and plan to make the best use of each moment.  Smile, laugh and find things to enjoy in the process of living with Godly principles in mind.

Let’s include others in our desire to experience fun!  Let’s share ways to enjoy life by giving and doing for others.  Let’s put unconditional love into action and strive to bring joy to the lives of those who are facing challenges.

If we have been blessed, then pay it forward to others so they can have fun God’s way, also.   When we have fun in God, let’s share it!  Let’s show our joy and help others engage in their Godly joy and happiness!  We can do this!  Start with one person at a time.  Let our lights shine as we indulge in fun activities, are social, hang with fun people and go fun places.  Life is for living!  Have fun!! Smile and laugh each day!  You may be surprised at the outcome!

Are You Establishing A Meaningful Legacy?  What example in life are you cultivating for others to remember about you?   There are so many treasures that we can cultivate in life to pass on from generation to generation.  Our daily thoughts,  prayers, dreams, wishes and effort can be put into action in a manner that can be utilized and cherished by others.  Our ideas and efforts can be established in a meaningful way that will enhance the life of someone.  When something is done that is treasured by someone, a legacy is being created!  A legacy is not about us, but it is something that we are compassionate about, helpful, sealed with love, and an example for others to glean from.

Some of us have tread on and paved paths of accomplishment that are making a difference in this world. Can you identify your accomplishments that will bless the life of someone else?  Are you sharing your ideas or are you afraid that someone will rob them from you and do greater things than you?  Let’s plan wisely and prepare methods that can be shared.  Ideas that are new and exciting can be copyrighted or patented to maintain your authenticity.  Cover your work, but try not to stifle it.

Creativity is a gift from God.  Being able to develop our creativity in a manner where positive results are forthcoming is awesome.  How can our creativity benefit someone else so they can grow and believe that they, too, can turn their dreams into reality?  How can we cultivate one’s ideas so that they will strive to bring them to life because we were able to master our ideas?  How can we share our faith and trust in God so that others will trust and believe.  Let’s keep encouraging others to believe in themselves and to move forward with their ideas and faith.

Let’s share our legacies in a manner that will encourage, motivate and strengthen someone who may fear stepping out of their comfort zone in faith.  Sharing our dreams, wishes, ideas and ventures with God and turning them over to God enables our steps, our thoughts and actions to be directed in the best manner possible.  When God directs our thoughts, dreams, wishes, imagination and actions, we are bound for positive results.  Sometimes when we take charge and do things completely on our own, we encounter obstacles that delay or prevent us from bringing our ideas or venture to fruition.  Trusting God and including God from the beginning of our ideas to completion is the key to developing something meaningful for others.  We can do anything that our minds can conceive.  When we believe and trust God, God will provide the provisions for us to achieve our dreams!  Please don’t live in fear, but step out in faith!  Our legacies matter!

Every Day Is a New Day With New Opportunities and New Blessings!  I trust that this is how we face life.  What happened yesterday can not be relived, so we can look and prepare for the day that we are living through and our future blessings!  Have we experienced pain or healing, grief or joy, challenges or progress?  It doesn’t matter what we face, when we know the source of our strength; when we know that God is able; when we know that God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  We will never know how God is going to work it out, however if we live in faith, God will lead and guide our lives in an awesome manner.

The trials that we face will strengthen us and build character.  We will be able to assist others who may experience the trial that we have experienced.  When we live with Joy in the midst of the trials that we have no control over, we will encourage others.  It is never about us, but how we go through our situation is for others who are watching us as we endure our day to day experiences....good and bad! 

What truth do we believe?  Don’t know?  It is time to find out and establish our faith, live our faith and stand firm on our faith!  The Word of God strengthens our faith as we spend time reading, meditating and studying.  When we don’t understand what we are reading, pray and ask God for clarity; to show us what a specific scripture means.  Sometimes God may place people into our lives to assist us, or we may be led to join a Bible Study, or pray more and make listening a major part of our prayers.

Whatever we choose to do, let’s do it in faith!  Let’s live positive lives knowing that God is in control.  Let’s surround ourselves with positive thinkers and believers who will encourage us when needed and we encourage them when needed.  Get negativity out of our lives and live believing that today and tomorrow will be blessed.  Let’s make lemonade out of lemons that we face!  Let’s find and cherish the positive aspects of our lives and move forward each day!  We must not wallow in our challenges, but pick up the pieces and establish a new manner to solve the issue(s).  God is able to do anything but FAIL, so hang in there and envision making it through our discomfort and stress and rejoice expecting a positive outcome!! 

 What do you choose to believe???

Grief is one of the areas that God has prepared me to assist others through the pain.  Well, God continues to work on me, however, as I process my own personal grief.  Friends, one of my dearest friends is in her new home with our Lord and Savior.  This is what is promised for those of us that believe in life after death.  It is healing to know that one who passes on to eternal life is in a place designed for peace and joy! 

Even when we know that death is an aspect of living, why aren’t we better prepared to say goodbye to our loved ones?  Why are we so selfish and wish that we had a little more time with them?  Why do we think of the what if’s?  It is essential that we spend more time thinking about mortality.  Mortality is not determined by us individually, so why don’t we have a more peaceful, satisfying and contented response when a loved one dies?  Why don’t we live each day as though it was our last, then there would not be any regrets or what if’s to be concerned about!  Let’s live each day to the fullest; live and love each other with the time we have before us; tomorrow is not promised!

 May I encourage each of us to have a more faithful response to the passing of a loved one.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are promised a resting place where we will continue to live at the side of Christ where our soul lives forever.  The Word of God states that there will be a room prepared for us, so why the sadness? 

A place with eternal life with Jesus is worth adjusting our hearts, minds and souls for joy.  Joy can have a few connotations.  I, personally like the connotation of

J-O-Y as Jesus First; yourself last and others in between.  When we envision Jesus as first in our lives, then when time comes for a loved one to spend eternity with Jesus.....we can celebrate with praise and thanksgiving.  Can we still be sad?  Yes, it is healthy to grieve, however it should not consume our entire future.  Grieve knowing that as a believer, you will see your loved one again.  We will not lose our memories, but treasure them.  We will not lose the past, so let’s look forward to a great future!

Let’s celebrate and treasure the life of a loved one that passed on as a believer.  Let’s remember all the wonderful times we shared with them and reminisce with JOY!  Let’s keep focused on the Word of God and remember.....All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Let us grieve as individuals with hope for a great future in Christ.  Remember......Grieve.....Continue to live with comfort, joy and peace!  Pray and ask God to help us make it from day to day as we adjust to the absence of our loved ones!  To God be the glory!

Friends, it is so easy to be distracted and spend too much precious time concentrating on the challenges we face.   May I suggest that when we face challenges, regardless of the size, by taking them to the Lord in prayer.  Let’s make prayer our first resource and not our last resort!  Let’s go to our Power Source and place all of our cares and burdens upon His shoulders, then spend time in praise and worship for the results that are forthcoming.  We are to work as though the results depend on us, however believing that God is the one who will work all things for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose! 

• Whose report will we believe?  Whose voice are we listening to?

• Are we familiar with the promises in the scriptures?  As for me and my house we believe, trust and listen to the voice of the Lord.  Be not deceived, our God is not mocked and when we are in relationship with God we will know when God speaks to us in His soft, quiet voice which is spoken in His chosen timing. 

• Are you devoted and listening for God’s voice through the power of the Holy Spirit?

• Do we have a designated ‘prayer closet’ where we worship, praise and study God’s Word without disruptions of our world?

When confronted with a challenge....let’s stop, take some time out and spend dedicated time with God regarding the circumstances of our dilemma.  Tell it all to God and let God direct our minds, hearts, tongue and steps.  We, alone, are not capable to handle most of our challenges successfully without God’s instructions.  His way is always perfect!  He leaves no residue to haunt us later in life.  It is solved well!

Be careful who you share your challenges with.  When possible, let’s keep them to ourselves until God leads us to a source that will be sincere and will help us overcome!  Otherwise we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and maybe even failure.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding!  In all your ways acknowledge Him and let Him direct your path!     (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

I have been pondering this question for sometime!  Friends, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for blessings and success.  Our ‘faith’ is what determines the strength of our beliefs and it is our relationship with Jesus, knowledge, experience, faith and passion that help us achieve success.  Let’s look into each a little deeper.

Faith - The expectant confidence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Believing that we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under the Lord’s table, yet believing that our God will provide  all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  We must work and keep our eyes focused on our Lord and Savior.  We stand in faith and call those things that are not seen as if they were already performed.  We trust and believe, according to the scriptures, that our God is able to do everything but fail.  Let’s live each day in unshakable faith.

Relationship - It is imperative that we establish a strong relationship with our Lord and Savior which is easily accomplished when we spend time with God reading the scriptures, meditating on His Word and listening for the   promptings of the Holy Spirit, daily!  This means establishing an unbreakable bond with Jesus.  Jesus then chooses to bless each believer based on our faith and our ability to manage the blessings we have already received.  Why ask for millions of dollars when we do not manage the money that we are entrusted with now?  God blesses us based on our ability, knowledge, skill, experience and faith that we already have and/or seeking before receiving great blessings.  What do we generously share with others from our current blessings?  God expects us to have a  personal relationship with Jesus, help others and live in faith.

Passion - Do we have passion (a burning desire) for a relationship with Jesus? Do  we seek to live in unconditional love with our family, friends, neighbors, and others that we come in contact with?  Do we trust God relentlessly? Secondly, are we passionate about being blessed based on who we are and what we are capable of doing?  Do we desire to accept and live with our blessings in the manner in which God directs our steps through the power of the Holy Spirit?  It is important to understand that as “BELIEVERS” we are expected to live and manage our resources according to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  God knows when we are faking it!  Please be real; live in faith, work hard and wait on the Lord!  He keeps all of His promises!

Jeremiah 29:11 states:  For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the  Lord; plans for good and not evil; to give you hope and a future!

Is our ‘Faith’ strong enough for additional blessings?

After completing the blog on being grateful, I could not rest because there is more to be said about being grateful.  Friends, let’s not forget about all of the people who have made a tremendous impact on our lives.   Let’s be grateful, also, for the people whose paths we crossed that have blessed us or we have blessed them immeasurably.

As we reminisce over our past, most of us can say that someone helped us achieve the goals and missions we have accomplished.  Let’s take some time and be grateful for each person by name or description of event.  Being grateful for the assistance, guidance, gifts, or companionship we received over the years is essential to those involved.  Let’s thank God for them and then if it is possible, contact them and let them know how much they are appreciated.

Remembering the opportunities that we have experienced are another reason to be grateful.  It was not just being at the right place at the right time, but what God has for each of us is ours.  Making the most of each opportunity and being ready to embrace our blessings is essential for a brighter future!

God is able and willing to provide when we have shown maturity and growth.  Part of our growth and maturation includes expressing gratefulness for all of our amazing blessings.  Let’s be mindful that it is important to be grateful even when our opportunity does not fulfill every iota of our dreams.  God knows what we are able to handle successfully and may fulfill our dreams over time.  Either way, it is awesome to be blessed with our needs and some of our wants. Gratefulness is a necessity, not just a choice. 

As I reminisced about some of the life events that have occurred in my life, it became more evident that “being grateful” is extremely important.  Many of the events were life lessons and I am grateful for each experience and lesson learned.  I only had one issue that I have had to repeat several times before I got it!  Repetition in handling an issue is not good, however I admitted my faults and continually strive to do better.  Have I learned everything yet?  Not entirely!  I must admit that I am still a work in progress!  I do pay attention however, when my spirit is nudged by the Holy Spirit.  I begin praising and expressing my gratefulness!

I would like to encourage you to look back over your past and identify your life lessons.  Have the pain and or anger ceased?  Is your heart open to receive the lesson(s) that God is teaching or do you still want to do your own thing.  If you are doing your own thing; may I ask , ‘how is that working for you?’  Life lessons are designed to help us live better, more joyful lives.  They offer JOY and not stress.  They often save us from ourselves.  You do know that we are our own worst enemy because of some of the choices we make?  Are we making hasty decisions or are we thinking and praying our decisions through God’s plan for our lives?  God’s plan is for our good and not evil; to give us hope and a future.

Let’s go a step beyond when making choices and think through the repercussions of our decisions.  Let’s envision them in action and pray, then wait before stepping into a misguided situation.  Wait, wait, wait until you receive confirmation  from God.  Then express gratitude for the guidance received.  It doesn’t hurt to express gratitude for a positive outcome before you receive confirmation.  Even if the answer is not what you asked, be grateful any way.  God’s way is always the best way. 

Let’s be grateful that we are cared for enough to receive unconditional love “ for free” from the One who put our lives before His own.  Let’s be assured that all things will work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose!  Be grateful my friends and may God continually bless you immeasurably!!!!

Good Morning!  Good Afternoon!  Good Evening!  It matters not what time of day we are in contact with each other.  What matters is that we make the most of each day that is given to us!  Has your day been productive, fruitful, exciting, spiritual, beautiful or are you praying it away?  Each day, my friends, is a new day with new opportunities and new blessings.  If it is not quite what you were hoping for and working towards, please don’t give up.  Things happen, but don’t get stuck in the tough stuff that may happen.  Let’s wake up with faith that all things will work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

Our attitudes about the 24 hours that are before us will determine our altitude.  Can we control each minute of the day, no way!!  We can, however, make the most of what we have.  Let’s practice turning lemons into lemonade.  Let’s look at our challenges as a means of being creative to find a new way of doing something; let’s find a way to turn a challenge into a blessing.  Let’s not drown in our sorrows, but reach out and touch the life of someone in need.  We may meet someone whose needs far exceed ours.  Our challenges then take a back seat to the challenges we are assisting someone else with.

When is the last time we have volunteered to help read to a student, a class, an elderly person?  When have we purchased some extra groceries for a person in need?  When have we paid for the person’s order that is before you in the grocery line.  When have we prepared or purchased a meal for someone less fortunate than us.

Well, let’s make it a little easier if those opportunities are quite difficult for you!  Can we vow to speak to three people we do not know, daily?  Can we send a card to someone we know lives alone and has very few visitors?  Can we make a phone call to a difficult family member to just say hello?  Let’s strive to reach beyond our disappointments a day may bring and rise above them by practicing unconditional love for humankind.  Let’s strive to be Jesus’ hands and feet and help heaven exist here on earth!  It is up to us how we greet each day and how we navigate through our 24 hours.  The choice is ours.  Let’s make the most of each new day, each new opportunity and reach for the sky.

God has justified us in Christ Jesus.  We are God’s chosen ones - chosen in Christ and accepted in Christ, therefore Christ would never accuse us.  Justification means that Jesus loves us and we can’t do enough good deeds to earn it.  It is a free gift.  Many of us are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under the Lord’s table, but because Jesus surrendered His life for us we have the freedom to choose a life for Christ or a life of the world.

 Justification brings us joy and peace.  We are declared to be righteous in Christ.  Warren Weirsbe, a noted Theologian, shares that “Our Christian experience changes from day to day, but justification never changes.  We have no need to fear!  We may accuse ourselves, and men and women may accuse us; but God will never take us to court and accuse us.  We are not condemned by God, but are raised by the power of the Holy Spirit to face all adversity through the redeeming love of God.  Jesus has already paid the penalty and we are secure in Christ Jesus.”

 Be mindful however, God does not shelter us from difficulties in life because we need adversity to enhance our spiritual growth.  Romans 8:28 informs us that the challenges of life are not working against us, but for us.  God permits trials and tribulations so that we might use them for good and glorify God in the process.  We have a tendency to pray more when faced with adversity; we seek the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to become closer to God.  We are secure in Christ.

 We are super conquerors through Christ Jesus and Christ gives us victory and even more victory when we seek Christ’s face.  Romans 8:35 states that we should not fear life or death, things present or things to come, because Jesus Christ loves us and gives us victory.  Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

 The “Good News” is that God’s love is so great that it reaches humankind even in our sin.  The form it took was the death of the beloved Son of God on the cross; the Righteous One who was sacrificed to bear our iniquities, our wrong doings.  Grace is available to each of us.  Let’s surrender our lives to God with grateful, trusting surrender, which is faith.  Please, let’s not be our own worst enemy by destroying ourselves.  Let’s live our lives to the full by surrendering our entire being to the will of God in every circumstance.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  It is ours if we humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face.  Greater is God in us than he that is in the world.  Don’t let the world fool you!  It is never too late! 

 God, thank you for another opportunity to know and love you!

Loving Unconditionally is something that God expects of us.  It is the life that God lived and one that Jesus came to our troubled world to teach us.  I wonder if we understand unconditional love.  Unconditional love means that we love others because it is the right thing to do.  We do not live in this world alone and will always need others in one manner or another.  It is healthy for us to respect others and practice loving them because we all are created in God’s image.  That being said, those of us who follow Christian beliefs have a challenge before us.  God expresses in the Scriptures that we are to love everyone with brotherly love and respect.

We don’t all look alike, speak alike, appreciate and like the same things or have any of the same characteristics.  Some of us appreciate the love that Christ has for each of us and others of us doubt the fact that because God loves us so much, we have been given a comforter, the power of the Holy Spirit.  Some of us have thrown blessings away that God designated for us.  We may think we do not have what it takes to love others, but God has given us everything we need to love others unconditionally.  We just need to tap into it!

Last week I experienced unconditional love from a total stranger.  The stranger was in the car before me at Star Bucks.  That stranger shared unconditional love when he or she paid for our order.  I was moved so by this gesture.  So, I too, expressed unconditional love by paying for the next customer’s order.  This is a small gesture, but it can take us a long way by practicing unconditional love.  It brought joy to me to know that someone else cared about how I felt that day.  Unexpected love and generosity warms our hearts and soothes our spirits.

Friends, when the Holy Spirit is nudging us, we should do our best to act on it, not sit around and think of ways to justify not loving humankind in an acceptable manner.  Love destroys a multitude of hate, discomfort, stress, wrinkles and cruelty.  Unconditional love will cure many of the ills of this world.  We can heal our brokenness by practicing loving others, instead of condemning them; by going out of our way to be nice and respectful.  Let’s try one person at a time!  Keep your faith in God and let’s step out of our comfort zones and live a life of faith that we profess.

For God to use us in a powerful way, we must be receptive to stepping out of our comfort zones and step out into the unknown in faith.  God will never leave us of forsake us.  He is waiting on us to mature so that we can make our world a better place by reaching out and making a difference in someone’s life.  With prayer, meditation and listening, we can remove the challenging factors that stand between us and a perfected world.  We can destroy cruelty with unconditional love.  May God’s word be a lamp unto our feet and light unto our paths as we strive to live the plan of good and not evil that God has for those who believe!  Let’s work diligently to change all the things that we can to enhance our lives and the lives of those we touch!