Walking in Thanks

11 01 2012

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

We have so much to thank God for. Walking with a thankful heart often can transform our approach to life and the situations that we face. Even during our greatest challenges it is important to realize that things could be worse but for God’s mercy and concern for us. Spending time thinking about where the Lord has brought us and His faithfulness to meet our needs is a powerful reminder of God’s goodness to us.

As a young person in college, I used to write down the bills that I owed and keep them in my Bible. The amounts at the time looked so insurmountable but as a tither I believed that the Lord would help me to meet every need. I was able to look at these slips of paper some years later each of them represented a testimony of God’s ability to provide for our needs. I realize now that those experiences helped me to build my faith for what I would need later in my journey. We are so thankful for a Faithful Father for who He is in our lives.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : PRAISE, Uncategorized

A Work in Progress

9 01 2012

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 Amplified

Reaching toward the mark is a continuous commitment. Our God was faithful to provide the path of salvation for us. He continues to provide the powerful tools of His word, His Holy Word, shepherds, teachers and fellow travelers to provide guidance and encouragement along the way. He even provides assurance that the wonderful process that He began in us will continue until completion. We may be concerned that we make mistakes, and not get everything right but our God is faithful to accept repentance and to help us to learn from our mistakes. We are so thankful for a wonderful Savior who makes our victorious lives possible. We thank God that He continues to show mercy despite our shortcomings. We are thankful for our Faithful Father for the committed work of His hands in our lives.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

Laser Focus

9 01 2012

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-2

I admire people who have the ability to focus on a goal and work toward it without getting weighed down with the challenges of living. They seem to be able to fix their eyes on their goal down the road and work diligently toward that goal no matter what comes their way. I am working on having that kind of laser focus in my life.

Our passage today is about fixing our eyes on Jesus. We have so many followers that have gone before us, leaving a trail that is encouragement to throw off every hindrance in our lives. We should avoid every sin, every distraction and each thing that will keep us from running swiftly toward our goal. Our Father did not just provide grace, mercy and salvation for us alone. He has given each one of us purpose and work to do to build His Kingdom. Now, like never before we should commit our focus and our hands to getting it done.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : PURPOSE, Uncategorized

Love Never Fails

5 01 2012

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.  I Corinthians 13:4-7

At times both the difficult and the unexpected arise in our lives. Uncertainty about how to respond or to make it better when reaching out to those we love escapes us. We pray, seek God’s guidance about what to do and yet we are not sure that we are making any headway. Our response in love should reflect our Heavenly Father. God is Love. Love never fails. God never fails. Continuing to show love through patience, kindness, and unending faith and hope is reflective of the commitment God has shown us. We must continue in love, we must continue trusting God, our Father who never fails.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : LOVE, Uncategorized

Change for Our Lives

4 01 2012

Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLV

Renewal of our mind and of our thinking is essential for living a life that is according to God’s will. It may be easy to get bogged down with the way “the world” behaves and reacts to situations and challenges. We must be careful not to conform to this way that is not based on His righteousness, His mercy or His love. If we turn to Him, He is able to change our way of thinking with a new mind. He will provide direction for what is good, pleasing and perfect. What a blessing that we can seek God for ongoing renewal of our mind and spirit, creating a wonderful change for our lives.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : REVITALIZATION, Uncategorized

Newness in the New Year

3 01 2012

Do not remember the things that have happened before. Do not think about the things of the past.  See, I will do a new thing. It will begin happening now. Will you not know about it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19

I am so thankful for the opportunity to turn the page as we enter the New Year. This morning, I was reminded of the powerful God that we serve. Our Heavenly Father is able to take our lives and create something new. The enemy would like for us to dwell on the past and remind of us of shortcomings and where we were may have missed the mark but we can give thanks to God that through Jesus Christ we are new creation. Through Him we can have renewed minds, bodies and souls.

This scripture in Isaiah is a directive to think about the new things that God will do in our lives. Even the God, that has already provided so much for us, is doing even a new thing in our lives. We can look with anticipation in the future about how God will provide direction, provision and will sustain us to achieve His purpose for our lives. Our prayer today is that we will approach this year with thanksgiving and a renewed spirit in great anticipation of what God is yet doing in our lives.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : REVITALIZATION, Uncategorized

Healthy In Body

2 01 2012

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. III John 2

As we seek to be strong in spirit, we want to want to walk in health as well. Our lives contain daily choices that can make a difference in our health – exercise, nutrition and even to rest. Making the investment in ourselves of time to walk, to eat fruits and vegetables and to relax seem like a luxury but we often need to change our thinking about taking care of the gift of the body that God has given us. Taking care of ourselves makes us stronger and more able to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

My Hope for 2012

30 12 2011

For this reason, I bow my knees and pray to the Father. It is from Him that every family in heaven and on earth has its name. I pray that because of the riches of His shining-greatness, He will make you strong with power in your hearts through the Holy Spirit. I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.

God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. May we see His shining-greatness in the church. May all people in all time honor Christ Jesus. Let it be so.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLV

We are so thankful that we are approaching a new year. It is a traditional time for thinking about accomplishments of the past and what we want to accomplish in the year to come. I am thankful that we have made it thus far and that God has been faithful to be with us each step of the way. This year God has shown Himself, strong as a Healer, a Sustainer and a Provider. He has provided peace and joy in the midst of storms and challenges. And He has continued to be a lamp unto our feet guiding us in our life’s journey. Our Father has been so faithful to keep His word and I am so thankful for His goodness and His mercy toward us.

In 2012, my hope is to be strengthened in my walk with the Lord. Standing strong and tall in His Word, I pray my words and actions to be a reflection of a steadfast faith and trust in Him. I pray that I am able to show His tremendous love for me with my love for others. I pray that I will be diligent in excellence in doing His will today and in the New Year to come. I will walk in health and God’s blessings of peace and joy. We thank God for new beginnings building on the strong foundation of His Word.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : HOPE, Uncategorized

My Hope for Christmas

23 12 2011

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21

I am so glad we have the gift of the Savior, Jesus Christ in our lives. As believers we have an opportunity to have a growing relationship with Him. As we celebrate Christmas and the coming of the New Year, my hope and prayer is that we will continue to grow stronger in the Lord. Our Father is all powerful and all knowing. We can fully trust Him with our lives and our situations. We can do our part, to do our best to follow His word and the leading of His spirit. As this passage conveys, God’s love for us is immeasurable and too great for us to even comprehend. He loved us enough to send the gift of His son Jesus. Let us continue to seek to serve Him even the more in the days to come fully trusting Him and knowing that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

Hope and Happiness at Christmas!


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : HOPE, Uncategorized

The Wise Still Seek HIM

19 12 2011

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

The wise men saw the star indicating the birth of Jesus. Their response was to begin their journey to seek Him in order to worship Him. The news that the Savior is here still requires a personal response from each of us. Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly. We might be tempted to think of abundance in terms of things but life walking with the Lord and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are so much more – peace, joy, gentleness, love, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control and long-suffering. These are qualities so scarce in our society today. This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ let us turn our hearts to Him and share His purpose for coming with the World. Let us seek Him daily in our lives and worship Him.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

« Previous Entries Next Entries »