May 31, 2017 – Cooperation

In every miracle God ever graced us with, He had cooperation from someone in order to make this happen.  Never is there a time that God gifts without receiving from us.  In every gift, He seeks our joy, our acceptance, our willingness to see His works through to the end.  Whenever you bring your need to God, make certain you bring His need to Him.  Grace him with your total surrender and desire to work for Him, and miracles will happen.

Lord, I am overwhelmed, come to my help. - Isaiah 38:14b

May 30, 2017 – Contemplation

As people called to action, we must take our prayers and contemplations on the road with us, not hold them only for moments in a quiet room, locked away from the rest of the world. Even the distractions of everyday occurrences hold inspiration and insight when we keep our focus on God.


So then, as you received Jesus as Lord and Christ, now live your lives in him, be rooted in him and built up on him, held firm by the faith you have been taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving. - Colossians 2:6,7

May 29, 2017 – Called

We all are called for one purpose: to help each other get to heaven.  We never know anyone’s full story, and the bad day someone is having could possibly be a segment of a greater hardship. So put on God’s gift of love and cheer. Spread joy, not sorrow; hope, not despair; peace, not hatred. Let those who see you, see Jesus.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, - Matthew 28:19

May 28, 2017 – Name

Shakespeare penned, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Most often I stay in the poetic sense and imagine a beautiful, sweet smelling flower. Yet, as someone who loves to garden, sometimes the mention of a rose carries thoughts of thorns and a very temperamental bush that spreads disease. The sweetness becomes secondary to the frustration of persevering. When others hear our name, do they immediately think of a sweet child of God? Or, do they recall a temperamental soul whose outlook on life breeds pain and remorse? When life is hard, let The Holy Spirit lift you above your struggles. Choose to see the sweetness and love above all in your life.

 So then, you will know them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:20

May 27, 2017 - Energy

When life is not as interesting as I would hope, when moments are less significant than desired, I must remember who I am, and that is a child of God. Walking closely with Him energizes my life with

love.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! - Revelation 3:15

May 26, 2017 – Blessings

Asking for blessings from God sometimes feels selfish. However, our sole purpose in life is to know God, love God, and be happy with Him in heaven. How can we possibly achieve this without longing for His blessings? When we ask for something “from God” “for God”, he delights in our ways and will shower us with His mercy and love.  And, the beauty of asking is; the more we ask, the more we realize just what God wants us to ask “for”. In this, your joy will be complete.

If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? – Matthew 7:11

May 25, 2017 – Longing

We long for happiness and contentment, so we seek.  Our search leads us through family, friends, careers, and ventures.  Here we find ups and downs. Our zest rises and falls. Placing our hope in things other than God can never bring contentment. Scripture labels this as idolatry. God has set us here to love Him, and serve Him, and to be happy with Him in heaven. He provides every gift we receive and every means to accomplish our goals. When we place our hope in Him alone, the longing we feel deep inside will be filled.

If you swear, "As Yahweh lives!" truthfully, justly, uprightly, then the nations will bless themselves by him and glory in him. - Jeremiah 4:2

May 24, 2017 - Task

Sometimes the road before us is not where we want to go. We never envisioned ourselves in this moment, and long for another. But remember this: no matter the task whether it be one we desire or one of urgency and/or obligation, the work we do for our own gratification will eventually bring us down. The work done for God will lift us up and we will share in His Glory.

I then heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I, send me." - Isaiah 6:8

May 23, 2017 – Family

One of my most endearing photos:

Grammy surrounded by love.

There is great joy in sharing moments with someone else. No celebration is as grand, no victory as monumental, no laughter as pure, no sorrow made easy, as when you have a friend by your side. Made in the likeness of our Heavenly Father, we yearn for togetherness. This is the element of love. This is the desire of life; that no man be alone, and no man be apart from his creator. My prayer today is that you find joy in belonging to the family of God. Embrace your loved ones, embrace your neighbor, and embrace eternal hope.

God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory. – Hebrews 2:10

May 22, 2017 - Relationships

In today's technology, communication is handled mostly through email, text messages, blogs, and many other choices of medium. Within these words, it is hard to convey true emotions. Lost is the connection with the other of being able to look into their face and see the sincerity in their eyes and trust that lies within their souls. Just as we must find that time to sit with a friend or acquaintance, to physically hold his hand, and offer our complete trust to them, we must make that time to know and trust in God. The Scriptures are given to us as guides.  They skim the surface of who God is. Unless we sit with Him, hold Him in our hearts, and look into His Spirit, we cannot find the complete and trusting love we must have for Him. Take the time to know Him in His entire Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Experience the trust and grace that comes from our Lord.

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  - 2 Timothy 1:12

May 21, 2017 – Follow

There are moments when it is hard to follow God's lead. We must make a conscience effort to see beyond distractions and search for the joy of life, not just immediate pleasure. When we choose to stand firm in God's course, our life's journey will be blessed beyond measure.

Those he led through the arid country never went thirsty:  he made water flow for them from the rock, he split the rock and out streamed water. - Isaiah 48:20

May 20, 2017 - Purpose

Whenever God calls your name, it is for His purpose.  Believing it is for our own purpose is where our troubles begin. 

 

And Daniel said, "You have kept me in mind, O God; you have not deserted those who love you." - Daniel 14:38

May 19, 2017 – Inside-Out

Discernment is the ability to look at any moment from the inside-out.

 

From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. And as each individual part does its work, the body grows and builds itself up in love. – Ephesians 4:16

May 18, 2017 – Success

There is a saying, "Success is 1/3 preparation, 1/3 opportunity, and 1/3 luck."  I pray that when God blesses us with that incredible moment to succeed, that we are fully prepared in mind, body, and spirit, giving our all to make the moment our best.

 
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. --  2 Timothy 2:21

May 17, 2017 - Perspective

Time runs by so fast.  Minutes slip into hours, then days and months, and before you know it, a lifetime has passed.  Putting efforts into perspective takes on a whole different meaning when you step back and look beyond the moment.  There is a need for goal setting, relationship building, and soul searching.  It becomes important to make certain life is not filled with futility.  When you look at the big picture, what you do in the moment becomes clearer.  By aligning yourself with Christ your direction will be more certain and you will hold the power to make every moment count. 

Yahweh says this, 'What did your ancestors find wrong in me for them to have deserted me so far as to follow futility and become futile themselves?' - Jeremiah 2:5

May 16, 2017 - Mood

Too often, we allow something or someone other than ourselves to dictate our mood.  We must remember that in all things, God stands directly before us.  When we concentrate on His essence above the moment, we can gaze into the face of God and smile.


May God show kindness and bless us, and make his face shine on us. - Psalm 67:1

May 15, 2017 – Simplicity

Years ago, our apartment buildings caught fire. We quickly grabbed what we could carry and made our escape. Luckily, our unit was unharmed and we were able to return with everything intact. We stood looking at the meager items we had saved. In our haste we had put value to our existence and defined life in an instant. Our basic needs took precedence over the frivolous as we clutched the priceless gift of memories: our oldest clothes were on our backs and we held an antique jewelry box and photo albums. When the time comes to stand before Jesus, what will we carry? I pray that the memories I leave for my children, and the generations to come, glorifies the goodness of God.

Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything. - 1 Corinthians 6:12

May 13, 2017 - Thankfulness

After an amazing day yesterday, I feel I must revise yesterday's blog. How could I have forgotten this one truth? I thank my God for reminding me of this extra joy.

Faith . . .

Compassion . . . 

THANKFULNESS 

Hope . . . 

Love . . . 

Paint these images onto your soul and live in joy.  

 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

May 12, 2017 - Believing

Faith . . .

Compassion . . . 

Hope . . . 

Love . . . 

Paint these images onto your soul and live in joy.  

 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

May 11, 2017 – Desire

Most people think of desire as a self-centered thing.  It usually is perceived as sensual, materialistic, or power hungry.  But God seeks our true desires, those that form us and set our path. When Christ asked the blind Bartimaeus what he wanted Christ to do for him, it was not that Our Lord did not know.  He not only could see that Bartimaeus was blind, Christ knew the man's heart better than Bartimaeus did himself. The purpose in asking was to help the blind man recognize his own desire and to build the trust to pursue it.  Expressing our desires to God builds inward definition and clarity of our needs; and with God's Grace, we can set our sites on a fruitful path.

Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has saved you." And at once his sight returned and he followed him along the road. - Mark 10:52

May 10, 2017 - Growth

Through each daily walk with God, I grow in wisdom and faith, molded for His Instrument. It is up to me to retain the watchful mind that allows me to see Him in every moment and to be prepared for every turn He gives me. Just as King David unknowingly prepared for his day with Goliath by battling bears and wolves among his flocks, I also prepare daily by striving to face each conflict with my best effort.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

May 9, 2017 - Authentic

Many times we see people inside out. What is shown in their actions is merely surface behavior resulting from deeper emotions held inside. The selfish, pushy person at the grocery line may just be having a "day" and actually turn out to be the local food pantry volunteer that has more compassion than ourselves. Likewise, the kind lady at the train station may become the new owner of your wallet by the next stop. It helps in our encounters with all people to remember who "we" are. Keeping ourselves true can help us see others in the same light. We have those moments that push our buttons and test our patience; and, likewise times where we find ourselves guilty of stealing another's peace and good fortunes. As you greet another, examine yourself. A person who strives for an authentic life finds greater blessings in every encounter.

For thus speaks the Lord God, I will deal with you according to what you have done... Ezekiel 16:59a

May 8, 2017 – Commitment

Pixabay.com

How many commitments have you made: Work, education, children, friends, spouse, God; hopefully, not in this order? This list does not even touch the abundance of other undertakings which spawn from these life moments. When we find ourselves racing from one activity to another, at times exhausted and overwhelmed, it is time to reassess priorities. Commit first to God and find His grace in every other moment in your life.

"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." – John 10:18

May 7, 2017 - Letting Go

 

One of the hardest things I have experienced as a parent is letting a child go: to Kindergarten, their first walk to the neighbor’s without me, their prom, and college and beyond. I have spent so many moments cleaning smudges from their faces, knees, and hearts; patching bruises and cuts with bandages and kisses; it is solely in faith that I can send them forward to the life God has prepared for them. It would be wrong to hold them back. Neither of us could grow. And, although it feels we are in this alone, we are told that our angel always looks at the face of God. Do you see? An even superior truth is here: If our angel never leaves our side, yet is always looking at the face of God, our angel sees God within us. What better source of strength and hope could we ever ask for?

See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 18:10.

May 6, 2017 – Life

The first human being ever to recognize Jesus as Christ was a baby in his mother’s womb.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. – Luke 1:41

May 5, 2017 - Glory

Everyone has his or her Cinderella moment at one time or another. Everything falls into place so miraculously. Definitely orchestrated by the hands of something grander than ourselves, we stand in the spotlight of amazing greatness. These may be private moments, or they may be something the world shares with us; but, they are ours and it is good to take pleasure in them. Yet, when we become consumed with the glory and not the cause, we will find disappointment. God has created each of us for His Glory. It is through patience, love, and humility that we will be blessed in each of His moments with Him.

It is not good to eat too much honey nor to seek for glory on top of glory. - Proverbs 25:27

May 4, 2017 – Climb

Sometimes life feels like a video game. You get stuck on one level, realizing there must be some button to push or some power to call for aid. Then you reach for the rules and, although still challenging, the game becomes easier. As Christians, our rules of life – the game – come from the scriptures and traditions of the church. These lead us to prayers – the buttons – and the stories of the angels, saints, Jesus Our Savior, and the Great I Am – you guessed it, the powers. But one thing we should all remember is that our loving and merciful Creator would not have given us this game to play were there not a way to climb up. He has gifted us with the means. It is up to us to reach out for aid.

 

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.… -  Psalm 121:1,2

May 2, 2017 – Work

I find nothing more exhausting than work done in vain. Jesus calls us to give our all. This should be whether we are sweeping a floor, caring for a household, or building a business. Our passion grows and our hope strengthens once we see a good result. Yet, what are we to do when we don’t see that end, when our efforts seem futile, when we do not agree on the outcome? This is do know, for Jesus has told us, when you give your work for the love of God’s Kingdom, your soul will be at rest and your days will end in peace.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God; that you believe in the one he sent.” – John 6:29

May 1, 2017 – Thanks

A thankless heart cannot 

contain a joyful soul. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. – Colossians 3:15