Blessing of the Day

 

When my husband left me with three children and a mortgage, I thought my life was close to impossible to bear. I never had enough time, money, or help to get through the day. I struggled not to feel sorry for myself, especially when it seemed as if everyone around me had a wonderful life.

 

Then one day I read about someone who practiced thinking of three things to be thankful for at the end of each day. I decided to try it. At first, I could think only of simple things - like being thankful for electricity and hot water for showers. Then I realized that I had always taken those things for granted and that I really should be thankful for them.

 

As I continued this daily practice, it became easier; I began to notice more and more things to be thankful for. I learned to be thankful for a phone call from a friend, the smell and beauty of a freshly mowed lawn, the sound of my children laughing, and dinner on the table in the evening.

 

This gratitude has helped me to realize how many blessings God gives us every day that we seldom take the time to notice. In turn, my gratitude has made my burdens easier to bear.

 

Upsizing Trust

 

Upsizing Trust

 

Read:  Luke 12:27-31

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  - Isaiah 26:3

 

Audio:  Luke 12

 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 27-29; Luke 13:1-22

 

“I am excited to see what God has planned.” I heard these words from a co-worker who lost a full-time job and benefits due to company downsizing. Someone who was unsure of where she would be working the next day was at peace - calm and secure in God’s care.

 

Within a short time my irritation and anxiety with the cutbacks began to evaporate in the warmth of the trust in God that radiated from this co-worker. From her calm assurance in God’s care for her family, serenity drifted to every corner of the once-unsettled office. I continue to grow from my co-worker’s example by exchanging my thoughts of worry for belief.

 

I trust in God to care for me and my family today and in the future. God delivers peace into the dull routine as well as the most frustrating circumstances. As I have learned from this experience, a struggling economy and even downsizing - does not define my relationship with God.

 

Even in the midst of unsettling situations, trusting in God brings perfect peace.

 

 

Words of Wisdom

 

God,

 

I may not understand how everything will work out, but I trust you.  I don’t see a way, but I know you will make a way, I have faith that at this very moment you are touching hearts, opening doors, and lining up the right breaks and right opportunities.  Things may look dark and bleak now, but I have faith that my dawn is coming!     Amen

 

Hope these words blessed, have a great weekendJ

 

 

Rebuilding Life from Within

        How to Begin:

  Rebuilding Life from Within

 

Love yourself, unconditionally.

Release your bottled up emotions.

Make time for long walks, alone.

Avoid living beyond your means.

Nurture your inner strength.

Stop apologizing for being you.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Embrace your situation, whatever it may be.

 

 

 

I will live with purpose, passion, and praise....

I DECLARE I will live victoriously.  I was
created in the image of God.  I have the 
DNA of a winner.  I am wearing a crown
of favor.  Royal blood flows through my
veins.  I am the head, never the tail, above never beneath.  

I will live with 
purpose, passion, and praise, knowing
that I was destined to live in victory.  
This is my declaration.




It says in Romans 5:17, "We are to reign in life as kings."  When God looks at us He doesn't see us defeated, barely getting by, or just taking the leftover positions.  Not at all.  God see you as a king.  He sees you as a queen.  You have His royal blood flowing through your veins.  You and I are supposed to reign in life.

Do you know what that word reign means?  It means, "time in power."  God said we're to reign how long?  In life.  That means as long as you're alive that is your time in power.  You don't have a two-year term like a mayor, or a four-year term like a president.  Your term is to reign every single day, to be victorious, to rise to new levels, to accomplish great things.


And on those days where you don't feel like a king, or you don't feel like a queen, just remember to reach down and check your pulse, and as long as you feel something beating you can say, "What do you know?  It's still my time to reign."  Let that be a reminder to put on a new attitude.  And sometimes you have to do this by faith.  You may not feel victorious.  It may not look like you're blessed.  But like that saying, "You've got to fake it until you make it."  


By faith you need to walk like a king, talk like a king, think like a king, dress like a king, smile like a king.  Don't go by what you see.  Go by what you know.  There is royalty in your DNA.  You have the blood of a winner.  You were created to reign in life.  Too many people are living below their privileges.  It's because their vision has been clouded by past mistakes, disappointments or how they were raised.  

They don't feel like royalty.  They don't think they could be successful and really accomplish what God has put in their hearts.  But believe today, as you speak faith, something is happening on the inside.  Now seeds are taking root, strongholds that may have kept you back for years, even right now, are being broken.  You need to rise up and say, "That's it.  I'm not settling where I am.  I know it's still my time of power.  


Yes, I may have taken a break for a little while but I've got an announcement.  I'm back.  I am stepping up to who God created me to be."



  

For Hump Day...

 

Dear God,

 

Enlighten what’s dark in me…

Strengthen what’s weak in me….

Mend what’s broken in me….

Bind what’s bruised in me…

Heal what’s sick in me….

And lastly…..

Revive whatever peace and love has died in me…..

 

Have a great “get over” the hump day!!!

 

 

UNTANGLE YOURSELF

 

                                                                                                UNTANGLE YOURSELF

No soldier when in the service gets entangled in the enterprises of (civilian) life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.    2 TIMOTHY 2:4

 

Do you ever find yourself struggling to do something God has called you to do because you’re busy with other things? In today’s verse, Paul tells Timothy that a good soldier avoids getting entangled in things that won’t please the person who enlisted him.  In other words, a good soldier keeps his priorities in order and pleases God by refusing to do things that could distract him.

 

If you want to fulfill God’s purpose for your life, you’ll have to learn how to stay away from the entanglements of the world.  This may mean saying no to an opportunity you’d like but really don’t have time for.  It could mean exercising good boundaries and not getting too wrapped up in other people’s problems; there is a difference between godly involvement and entanglement.  At times, it may even mean being less focused on your own problems, because they certainly can distract us from God’s will and purpose for our lives.

 

When God calls you to do something, He will also raise up others to do the things that you don’t need to be doing.  Trust Him to do this, and don’t let yourself get entangled in them.

 

                                                                                    Love Yourself Today: Focus on your true priorities.

 

 

Don’t Forget to Ask

 

Don't Forget to Ask

 

 

Read:  Mark 11:20-25

Jesus said, "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."  - John 14:14

 

Audio:  Mark 11

 

Bible In One Year:  Judges 13-15; Luke 6:27-49

 

Since childhood, I have struggled with stuttering. In elementary school I hated reading in front of my classmates. Family members were impatient, and friends teased me by asking me to say words I couldn't pronounce. My speech problem became a joke that I learned to laugh about as well.

 

Then, one day, while reading my Bible I began to notice the word ask. That's it, I thought to myself. Jesus told us we could ask for anything in his name and he would do it. In prayer, I began to cry out, asking God to take this aggravation from me. God's response came when I stumbled across a website dedicated to people who stutter.

 

It suggested that sometimes stuttering can be worsened by not breathing deeply enough before speaking.  Really? I thought. Could it be that simple? I began to remind myself to breathe deeply before speaking, and my stuttering problem slowly went away.

 

We all have personal issues and unfortunate life circumstances that God wants to help us with. What are we holding on to that can be given to God? Whatever it is, if we trust what Jesus promised in John 14:14, we can pray daily, asking for help. Then we can wait expectantly for God's answer.

 

 

Think Happy Thoughts

 

 

 

                                                                YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

For the rest, brethren, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is hind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them).     PHILIPPIANS 4:8

 

We are what we think.  What we think about truly determines our character, our emotions, our attitudes and our decisions.  Our thinking has a direct impact on our lives.

 

For example, if we think unkind thoughts, we become unkind.  If we think loving thoughts, we become loving.  If we think angry thoughts about a person, we often do not treat him in a loving way.  The same principle applies to circumstances and situations.  If we think things will go well, that's often the way we experience them.  I am not saying that we can control everything that happens to us with out thinking, but if we think right, it can sure improve the quality of our journey.

 

Today's scripture is so important because it tells us exactly the kinds of things we need to think about.  The verse encourages us to think in the most positive ways and to "Fix (our) minds" on the virtues it mentions.  This means we are not to allow our minds to be easily distracted from them.

 

God wants us to discipline ourselves to think right thought—He knows the right thinking is one of the best ways we can lover ourselves and other people.

 

                                                                     

   Love Yourself Today: Think happy thoughts and be a happy person!