Monday, July 29, 2013
Going Through to Get To!
Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. ~Michael Jordan
Scripture:
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30 (New International Version)
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who just discovered some life altering news. As we talked about this new revelation, through her tears she asked, Why am I always going through? As I tried to comfort my friend, I tried to explain to her going through something, is just a journey. It is a journey of our souls from one place to the other.
Today I am here to tell you that even as you are going through, God is there with you. Even in your times of trouble, he still grants you peace. Even as we walk through the valleys of sickness, depression, financial difficulties, death, and disaster, God will never leave us nor forsake us.
Understand that each and everyone will have to go through something. Sometimes it’s because of things that we have done, the choices that we have made, or even just because it's necessary. Sometimes God allows us to go through something for our good. Maybe it's to protect us. Maybe it's to help us see just how blessed we are. Maybe it's to help us grow.There is one very important thing that I have learned about going through the valley of trials and tribulations and that is, none of us will stay in the valley.
It's just a journey to the other side!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
God bless those of us who are battling those inner demons of depression, loneliness, unworthiness, and hopelessness. Shine Your warm Heavenly Light down upon all of us, Lord, guide us to find peace, happiness, and contentment in our lives and within ourselves. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Heavenly Father, in my present need, help me to believe that You are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust You and put the present and future in Your hands. We pray, O God of hope, for all families whose lives are torn and disrupted by drugs and alcohol. Enable them to identify the illness. Strengthen them to seek help. Bless them with the power of Your love, which imparts transformation and wholeness to those who trust in Your name. Grant that as they walk this tortured road, they may journey together and bound close in the bond of love. Lord, we thank You for this day. for life and one more day to love, for neighbors, family, and friends. One more person to love and by whom be loved, for Your grace and one more experience of Your presence, for Your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation. For these, and all blessings, we give You thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30 (New International Version)
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who just discovered some life altering news. As we talked about this new revelation, through her tears she asked, Why am I always going through? As I tried to comfort my friend, I tried to explain to her going through something, is just a journey. It is a journey of our souls from one place to the other.
Today I am here to tell you that even as you are going through, God is there with you. Even in your times of trouble, he still grants you peace. Even as we walk through the valleys of sickness, depression, financial difficulties, death, and disaster, God will never leave us nor forsake us.
Understand that each and everyone will have to go through something. Sometimes it’s because of things that we have done, the choices that we have made, or even just because it's necessary. Sometimes God allows us to go through something for our good. Maybe it's to protect us. Maybe it's to help us see just how blessed we are. Maybe it's to help us grow.There is one very important thing that I have learned about going through the valley of trials and tribulations and that is, none of us will stay in the valley.
It's just a journey to the other side!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
God bless those of us who are battling those inner demons of depression, loneliness, unworthiness, and hopelessness. Shine Your warm Heavenly Light down upon all of us, Lord, guide us to find peace, happiness, and contentment in our lives and within ourselves. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Heavenly Father, in my present need, help me to believe that You are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust You and put the present and future in Your hands. We pray, O God of hope, for all families whose lives are torn and disrupted by drugs and alcohol. Enable them to identify the illness. Strengthen them to seek help. Bless them with the power of Your love, which imparts transformation and wholeness to those who trust in Your name. Grant that as they walk this tortured road, they may journey together and bound close in the bond of love. Lord, we thank You for this day. for life and one more day to love, for neighbors, family, and friends. One more person to love and by whom be loved, for Your grace and one more experience of Your presence, for Your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation. For these, and all blessings, we give You thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
You Can't Conquer What You Won't Confront
Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they
haven’t half the strength you think they have. ~ Norman Vincent Peale
Scripture:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:30-32 New International Version (NIV)
As we journey through life, we are often confronted with people or situations that cause us to halt right in our tracks. We become frozen in place and unable to move forward or make a decision for fear of making the wrong one. We try to pretend that what’s happening isn’t real or will quickly dissipate and just go away. Far too often we would just rather ignore our situation than deal with it.
Men and women who may feel that their significant other may be cheating on them would rather close their eyes to the truth than confront it. Parents choose to ignore the obvious signs of drug abuse in their offspring than address the signs of addiction. We will often accept less than substandard conditions as apposed to trying to change them. We would accept wrong in our lives rather than try and make it right.
The word of God tells us time and time again that we don’t have to accept something just because. If we truly believe in His word, that word lets us know we can change our circumstances and that He can do anything that we ask with His help. We are reminded time and time again that if we believe in Him that He can and will change our circumstances. Saints of God, the word of God tells us if we have faith in Him and His word we can positively conquer our problems and situations if we are willing to confront them.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. Lord, we thank you for fresh grace and mercy and for the love that You so freely give to us. Father, just like a wayward child, I know that I often disappoint You. I realize that when I choose to do things on my own and don’t put You at the forefront of my decisions, I become paralyzed with fear. When I fail to feed my faith I am unable to confront the obstacles in my way. When I do not partake from the bread of life, I become weak and scared. I become frozen in place and unable to move forward or make decisions because of fear. Help me to remember to always hide Your word in my heart and to call upon Him who strengthens me in my weakness. I thank You Father God for Your Son, Jesus. Jesus, the sweet, comforting empowering name that helps me to confront my fears and helps me to conquer my demons. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:30-32 New International Version (NIV)
As we journey through life, we are often confronted with people or situations that cause us to halt right in our tracks. We become frozen in place and unable to move forward or make a decision for fear of making the wrong one. We try to pretend that what’s happening isn’t real or will quickly dissipate and just go away. Far too often we would just rather ignore our situation than deal with it.
Men and women who may feel that their significant other may be cheating on them would rather close their eyes to the truth than confront it. Parents choose to ignore the obvious signs of drug abuse in their offspring than address the signs of addiction. We will often accept less than substandard conditions as apposed to trying to change them. We would accept wrong in our lives rather than try and make it right.
The word of God tells us time and time again that we don’t have to accept something just because. If we truly believe in His word, that word lets us know we can change our circumstances and that He can do anything that we ask with His help. We are reminded time and time again that if we believe in Him that He can and will change our circumstances. Saints of God, the word of God tells us if we have faith in Him and His word we can positively conquer our problems and situations if we are willing to confront them.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. Lord, we thank you for fresh grace and mercy and for the love that You so freely give to us. Father, just like a wayward child, I know that I often disappoint You. I realize that when I choose to do things on my own and don’t put You at the forefront of my decisions, I become paralyzed with fear. When I fail to feed my faith I am unable to confront the obstacles in my way. When I do not partake from the bread of life, I become weak and scared. I become frozen in place and unable to move forward or make decisions because of fear. Help me to remember to always hide Your word in my heart and to call upon Him who strengthens me in my weakness. I thank You Father God for Your Son, Jesus. Jesus, the sweet, comforting empowering name that helps me to confront my fears and helps me to conquer my demons. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Anything Goes
Everything happens for a reason, nothing lasts
forever. Welcome to life, where anything goes.
~ Unknown
Be Blessed.
But
mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ... 2 Timothy 3
Earlier this week, I had a
serious discussion with a group of friends as to what may be wrong with the
world around us. Both men and women
participated and various religious perspectives were voiced. Christians, Atheists and even an Islamic viewpoint
were offered up. Each brought very valid
points and issues to the table.
Warning: the following viewpoint
is mine and mine alone. Any resemblance to
the word of God is strictly coincidental and the names cannot be changed
because there is no innocent.
Somehow the very foundation on
which this country was built on “THE WORD OF GOD” has been removed from our
children’s lives at the very point they will begin to develop the character traits
that will define who they will become.
We tell them all bets are off and that ANYTHING GOES. They can openly practice Satanism, Hedonism,
and that is perfectly okay to be in love with someone of the same sex.
Covering their bodies with tattoos
and piercings is the right thing to do and that if it feels good, do it. Sex, drugs and drinking alcohol to the point
of passing out is cool. And let us not
forget that the disrespectful movies, games and music we watch and listen to,
is simply our way of expressing ourselves.
As a single mother who tried to
do what was right in the sight of God to raise my sons with basic Christian
values, it brings me to tears to know that I may be fighting a losing
battle. One of the best quotes I have
ever heard was;
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulling was convincing the world he didn't exist.
Be Blessed.
Prayer:
Jesus
wept.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
A Sense of Entitlement
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. ~ George Washington
Scripture:
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:32-34 (New International Version)
A Few years ago, I was hit with a powerful message that I have had a hard time formulating into written form. Over the course of time, I have watched as many great men and great women fall from grace because of some pretty outrageous choices in their careers. I will pick on no one person in particular, but rather use a powerful statement that I heard one of our fallen leaders. “My position took me places my character couldn’t handle.” Pretty deep statement, isn’t it?
Many of us will often confuse what we do and the positions that we hold with who we are. The more we accomplish and the more powerful we become in our positions, will often corrupt the moral people we were meant to be. The more we grow and glow, the more we tend to attract those people and those things that can and will cause us harm.
We must always be mindful that all success isn’t good success. If we cannot see and do things that edify God and others and not just ourselves, we are condemning ourselves to and ending that will be anything but happy.
The word of God tells us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. We must always remember to put God first in all that we do and say. By doing so, we remain humble and focused on doing what is right and not succumbing to the tricks of him who seeks to destroy us.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. ~ John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Remember, there is only one absolute power and He IS God!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, help me always to remain humble as I learn what I do and who I am is only because of who You are. Lord, when I begin to confuse my blessings and favor, with my works, allow the Holy Spirit that abides within me to be magnified so that I may once again walk in tandem with You. Thank You Lord for favor, grace and humility. As in all things and at all times, we continue to bless Your Holy Name. In the name of Jesus, we submit these prayers. Amen.
Scripture:
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:32-34 (New International Version)
A Few years ago, I was hit with a powerful message that I have had a hard time formulating into written form. Over the course of time, I have watched as many great men and great women fall from grace because of some pretty outrageous choices in their careers. I will pick on no one person in particular, but rather use a powerful statement that I heard one of our fallen leaders. “My position took me places my character couldn’t handle.” Pretty deep statement, isn’t it?
Many of us will often confuse what we do and the positions that we hold with who we are. The more we accomplish and the more powerful we become in our positions, will often corrupt the moral people we were meant to be. The more we grow and glow, the more we tend to attract those people and those things that can and will cause us harm.
We must always be mindful that all success isn’t good success. If we cannot see and do things that edify God and others and not just ourselves, we are condemning ourselves to and ending that will be anything but happy.
The word of God tells us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. We must always remember to put God first in all that we do and say. By doing so, we remain humble and focused on doing what is right and not succumbing to the tricks of him who seeks to destroy us.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. ~ John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Remember, there is only one absolute power and He IS God!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, help me always to remain humble as I learn what I do and who I am is only because of who You are. Lord, when I begin to confuse my blessings and favor, with my works, allow the Holy Spirit that abides within me to be magnified so that I may once again walk in tandem with You. Thank You Lord for favor, grace and humility. As in all things and at all times, we continue to bless Your Holy Name. In the name of Jesus, we submit these prayers. Amen.
Sunday, July 07, 2013
Sometimes there has to be a Breakdown in order for there to be a Breakthrough
Breakdowns can create breakthroughs. Things fall apart so things can fall together.
Scripture:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
So often as we journey through life, things appear to be going along just fine and then suddenly, something will happen to cause things to begin to fall apart. We sometime call these things an unexpected turn of events. Or as some might say, we hit a speed bump or bump in the road. These speed bumps could be called, financial difficulties, infidelity, sickness and strife or simply “Life happens.”
The word bottom is often used to describe a condition that most would not like to find themselves, such as “At your lowest point, hitting rock bottom, bottom of the barrel, or bottoming out.” Now to most of us, none of the aforementioned conditions or places is anywhere any of us would like to find ourselves. However, when we look for positives in our negatives, we can often find something to aspire to. Such as; “To descend to the lowest point possible, after which only a rise may occur.”
In other words, sometimes the world or life’s situations that we find ourselves in have to crumble beneath us and we must hit rock bottom before we will make a change. It is at times like this that God will allow everything that we have or believe in to be taken away so that there is nothing left for us hold on to but Him.
Remember, when life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. And sometimes satan will knock you down, but God can pick you up!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Therefore I say unto You, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Lord, we come before You believing that You are the one and only true God. Lord, we thank You for remaining faithful to us. Father we give thanks to You alone for loving us and watching over us. Father, help us always to put You first in all we do and say. Teach us Lord, how to remain faithful in spite of our circumstances. Help us Lord to remain prayerful and diligent in our service to You. Thank You Lord for blessing us. Thank You Lord for new grace and mercy. Thank You Lord, for the Blood, the blood that washes away my sins. The blood that protects, heals, and sanctifies. Thank You Lord, for loving a sinner like me. May the prayers of my brothers and sisters be heard by You alone. May You touch the hearts and minds of all who have come before the throne of grace today. May we always give thanks to You first. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Therefore I say unto You, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Lord, we come before You believing that You are the one and only true God. Lord, we thank You for remaining faithful to us. Father we give thanks to You alone for loving us and watching over us. Father, help us always to put You first in all we do and say. Teach us Lord, how to remain faithful in spite of our circumstances. Help us Lord to remain prayerful and diligent in our service to You. Thank You Lord for blessing us. Thank You Lord for new grace and mercy. Thank You Lord, for the Blood, the blood that washes away my sins. The blood that protects, heals, and sanctifies. Thank You Lord, for loving a sinner like me. May the prayers of my brothers and sisters be heard by You alone. May You touch the hearts and minds of all who have come before the throne of grace today. May we always give thanks to You first. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Talk To Me 06 28 13 My Interview with Brenda Perryman as we talk about books!
Monday, July 01, 2013
Character Really Does Matter
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, everything is lost. ~ Billy Graham.
Scripture:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (New King James Version)
What is character? Webster defines it as, one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. As a writer, one of the things that I have learned to do is define the traits of my characters. I do this by examining various things about them and establishing what roles they will play in the telling of my stories.
It takes all kinds of characters to create a story. There will be good and bad characters and even the good characters will have what is known as character flaws; you know the things that make them human. Some of those character flaws might include; arrogance, dishonesty, short-temperedness, or the need to always be right.
They might be a perfectionist, nit-picky or maybe they always need to play the victim and blame the other guy. They might be selfish, miserly, stubborn, rigid or inflexible, narrow-minded, vain, prideful, or simply humorless; unable to laugh at themselves.
When you study ethics, you learn that there are six pillars of character. The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. They are; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making.
In the above scripture we learn that as Christians, we will have trials and tribulations that will help us to develop our characters. So often the lessons learned will be painful. Albeit, necessary. It is in the development of our character that we realize that there is hope and that hope, does not disappoint.
So my friends rejoice in your trials and tribulations because character does matter.
Be blessed.
Prayer:
Father God, so often the lessons of life can be painful. They will often cause us heartache and pain. However, we realize that in everything that we go through, it is for our benefit. Without character development, we might never know the love of God. We realize that sometimes it is necessary for life to squeeze out those character flaws. We sometimes look around us at the world and wonder, why are things so wrong? How can people do some of the things that they do? We realize that there is no hope and people will do strange things in desperation. Lord, we thank You for the hope that has been given to us through Christ Jesus. We thank You for Your word that constantly encourages us and gives is the wisdom and the strength we need to change our ways. Now Lord, I ask a special blessing for one of my sisters in Christ who is faced with health issues. Touch her Lord Jesus, healing her body and calming her anxieties. Lord, so many are going through so much and we just want to ask that Your grace and mercy would rain down into the lives of Your Saints who need just a drop to refresh them and give them strength. Continue to bless all of Yours this day. In the mighty Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (New King James Version)
What is character? Webster defines it as, one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. As a writer, one of the things that I have learned to do is define the traits of my characters. I do this by examining various things about them and establishing what roles they will play in the telling of my stories.
It takes all kinds of characters to create a story. There will be good and bad characters and even the good characters will have what is known as character flaws; you know the things that make them human. Some of those character flaws might include; arrogance, dishonesty, short-temperedness, or the need to always be right.
They might be a perfectionist, nit-picky or maybe they always need to play the victim and blame the other guy. They might be selfish, miserly, stubborn, rigid or inflexible, narrow-minded, vain, prideful, or simply humorless; unable to laugh at themselves.
When you study ethics, you learn that there are six pillars of character. The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. They are; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making.
In the above scripture we learn that as Christians, we will have trials and tribulations that will help us to develop our characters. So often the lessons learned will be painful. Albeit, necessary. It is in the development of our character that we realize that there is hope and that hope, does not disappoint.
So my friends rejoice in your trials and tribulations because character does matter.
Be blessed.
Prayer:
Father God, so often the lessons of life can be painful. They will often cause us heartache and pain. However, we realize that in everything that we go through, it is for our benefit. Without character development, we might never know the love of God. We realize that sometimes it is necessary for life to squeeze out those character flaws. We sometimes look around us at the world and wonder, why are things so wrong? How can people do some of the things that they do? We realize that there is no hope and people will do strange things in desperation. Lord, we thank You for the hope that has been given to us through Christ Jesus. We thank You for Your word that constantly encourages us and gives is the wisdom and the strength we need to change our ways. Now Lord, I ask a special blessing for one of my sisters in Christ who is faced with health issues. Touch her Lord Jesus, healing her body and calming her anxieties. Lord, so many are going through so much and we just want to ask that Your grace and mercy would rain down into the lives of Your Saints who need just a drop to refresh them and give them strength. Continue to bless all of Yours this day. In the mighty Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
