February

1 02 2016

 

snow path trees

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6

We are blessed to experience February, another segment of time to move forward in God. It’s a short cold month but yet another opportunity to put our faith and our focus into action. During the winter months, I like to stay under the covers and hibernate but there is no time to waste. God has given each of us something to do. It’s time to start putting things down on paper, researching the project, checking on our neighbor, registering for the class, making the call to a distant loved one or cleaning out the clutter in our lives. God is so good and so faithful. Even when we are at a lost as to next steps, He will guide us. The Holy Spirit will whisper ideas and plans to move us in the right direction. We may need to still ourselves to hear what the Lord is saying. It takes some effort to stilling our minds, our racing thoughts into a quite space of you and Him. But what a blessing to take time to pray, meditate and seek His direction. He is God and He loves us. I am planning to you use the month of February to come closer to God and where He wants me to be.





Speak Life

28 01 2016

seedling

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.  Proverbs 18:21

What we say and think are powerful influences in our lives.  Every day we have to choose whether to say what we think or what God says about the situations in our lives.  Our thoughts are often limited by our human understanding but genuine revelation comes from God. My pastor recently asked what the world would be like if God’s people were consistently and constantly speaking God’s words.  What an outpouring of love, concern, peace and hope would be evident throughout the world.  Speak His words and speak life.





Good Plans

20 01 2016

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

The Creator has good plans for me. His plans are good and full of hope. God desires my life to be full of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are qualities that I want to reign free and full in my life. This is the abundant life that comes from my relationship with the Savior. Walking closely with Him nurtures these gifts and empowers His plans for me. God has good plans for me.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

DSC_1075





Strong and Courageous

19 01 2016

 Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

 





Focus on the Savior

15 01 2016

focus on Jesus

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I am thankful that we can focus on the Savior. It is easy to spend time concentrating on the many problems that surround us.  We can spend wasted time thinking about what is wrong and what is not right but there is another way.  As believers we are called to focus on Jesus, our Savior.  We can elevate our hearts and minds and focus on Him.  When we meditate on Him, His love for us, His goodness and His power, peace comes.  It is a peace that defies understanding.  We can make a conscious decision to focus on Him every day and watch the level of peace grow in our lives.  We can choose to focus on Him today and the days to come.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Philippians 4:6-7





Rooted in Him

14 01 2016

ephesians3_17_18





So Let it grow

12 01 2016

James Scripture





Stir it Up

7 01 2016

 

March 2013 Picture IPhone 323

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou

stir up the gift of God,

which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

 but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.

II Timothy 1:6-7





Something Good

6 01 2016

seedling

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Romans 8:28 MSG





Loose Ends

28 12 2015

snow path trees

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace1 as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

 

We have just a few more days before we turn the page and enter a new year. This will be a time of reflection as we think of all of things that were accomplished, the peaks that were celebrated and the valleys that we survived.  We may have had a to-do list for the year.  Some things that we can happily check off and then other items may have to go on next year’s list.  But in the closing days of this year, we may have a few loose ends that we can complete before we welcome the New Year.  We can be careful not to take the weight of unforgiveness and bitterness into the future.  We can nurture gratitude and thankfulness for the many blessings that surround our lives.  We can set the foundation of faith, hope and joy in our hearts and minds for the year to come.  We can open our hearts to God and His Son Jesus Christ to welcome Him fully into our lives.  The New Year is upon us.  Let us tie up any loose ends we may have in our hearts and prepare with great expectation for the year ahead.