God Is For You!

I had the firsthand pleasure of experiencing a dad's gift to his daughter. He sought out the best with diligence and persistence. He studied what was available and after determining what was best with safety, performance and value, based on his experience and knowledge, he special ordered a car for her. Standard was not an option! He was so excited about its' arrival, that he visited the dealer daily to see if it had come in! He took pleasure in giving the best, to his daughter!

This reminded me again of how God feels about us, as scripture says in Matthew 7:11"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

This morning the verse that I claim as my own and I hope you will too, is Hebrews Chapter 11 vs 6. It says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, or exist, and that he rewards those who diligently seek him!"

What that says to me, that is reiterated in various forms throughout the bible, is that God wants to reward us! I knew you in your mother's womb, I know the hairs on your head, I know the plans I have for you to give you a hope and a future! The list goes on and on....

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them, I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

I hope that whatever you are going through, that you are encouraged to keep the faith, trusting in God to reward you as a diligent seeker of him!

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM-Bf9gE0gw

I Have Decided

We all face choices each day and compromise is the small little steps that lead to a gradual erosion of our faith and integrity. I currently teach young kids through sports and activities how to make good choices, building strong muscles of integrity through regular testing in game situations, with reinforcement for good choices and consequences for their bad choices.

We may not be murderers, or commit some other major atrocity, but what about that word, thought or small action that was seemingly insignificant. Choices, we all have them and make them everyday. Know that it is the small steps, forward or backward that make up our character and ultimately our destiny. We are all going somewhere based on our choices each moment. Being status quo, or treading water is a temporary condition that is used for transition, but rarely maintained for long periods. 

As parents and teachers we know that eyes are watching us. As proclaimed Christians, you can bet that people are watching us too. Rarely is it what we proclaim, but rather what we do that makes an impact on those around us.

Small choices, little steps, that build us up or tear us down, and others around us that are looking for answers. Proverbs Ch.19 vs. 1 "Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool". God help us to live each day as he would have us to live it, and shine as beacons to our families, friends, colleagues and loved ones today and the next...

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uribwYxyvdM

Let Them See You In Me!

We are blessed to be a blessing to those around us in our sphere of influence. The other day while gassing up I noticed a advertisement for 10 piece nuggets for $1.49. I thought wow what a deal! Too bad I am not hungry. Then the thought occurred to me that maybe someone was, and I could buy it for them? Well after getting my gas I swung by and purchased the "special" and drove off wondering where the person was that was hungry.

As I start looking around on my drive back towards home I remembered my husband saying there was always an older gentleman in the Wal-Mart parking lot. So I decided to swing through, but no luck. I thought well Lord you're gonna have to help me find who is suppose to have these.

 Just then I spotted a young man who was a midget in the legs getting on a bike, much to my surprise. Well I turned around and asked God him? He seemed to be doing fine, but what did I know? My thought was well Lord you know this is awkward, so if it is suppose to be him, let the opportunity arise that makes it possible.

As I drove along through the parking lot and then through another before getting back onto the hwy. the young man pulled up along side of me, with no one behind. I rolled down my window and asked if he would like some chicken nuggets. He immediately said sure and I handed him the bag. I said a prayer for his safety as he was traveling on home or wherever he came from, on a bike going on the same busy highway I was driving on. I said well I guess that's who I was suppose to give it to, and then I saw a billboard that said 1 in 5 children go hungry! That was the added confirmation I needed to say yes Lord, I got it!

Blessed to be a blessing! I had a car, money and a prompting. I hope you are encouraged today to look around and be a blessing to someone in your path! Godspeed to each of you....

Song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOg-1JjAdGk

My Little Light

One day while walking up the hill where we lived in Istanbul, the local vendor stopped me and proceeded to give me a small lantern pictured below. Neither of us spoke each other's language, so all of our communication was in gestures, yet there was a connection. He saw something in me that made him want to give this to me. I was humbled by his gesture because he was so poor, by comparison to me, yet he was so generous to those he met with offering a smile, greeting, hot cay or a simit, all that he had. He was letting his little light shine to those in his path! Hmm...

What he did not know that only God could though, is that I had been having a rough week. I was feeling like I was going uphill on every turn just to do what was right and truthfully I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself. Well, you and I both know God, he knows our thoughts and what we need and when. This little gift not only brightened my spirit, but continues to be a constant reminder to let my little light shine! Now it might not be the biggest or the brightest, but it is mine to share and shine the love of God to those I meet.

Are you feeling beat up a bit and frayed along the edges? Well I want to remind you that God is with you and will show himself to you in big and small ways, reminding you of his sovereignty afresh each new day. Smile, God loves you, right where you are!

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biAbpMSW-60

Keep The Faith!

The other day while driving home from my walk on the beach, I realized the loner car I was driving did not have current insurance papers in the glove compartment. I was taking the back roads home and low and behold a road block was set up to check for no less than, current insurance and license. What a coincidence that the same time I realized I didn't have current papers, there was a road block. Yikes!

Well the officer asked for license and insurance papers as thought. I said yes sir and reach for my purse and gave him my license all while saying a prayer of "Lord I need some help here." When I handed him my license I mentioned that it was a loner car I was driving and it was not mine. He immediately said don't worry about the other papers then, I know what it is like to drive someone else's car and said to go on. I said a huge thank you and he further encouraged me not to come back that way as they were going to be there a while. I said yes sir and thanked him once again as I drove away!

That simple experience reminded me that God is always with us! Always! Even in little things that would seemingly trip us up. It encouraged me, because there are some bigger issues I have been praying for that I have not had answers to yet, and I was beginning to doubt. After this seemingly simple, yet profound reminder however, I was encouraged to keep believing and trusting God that even when it looks impossible and there is no way out, not to give up believing! If God cares enough about me to help with the little things, I can be assured he is in working all things to our good, even when we don't see it or understand. Faith, the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

Are you in that valley and needing some encouragement? I pray God shows himself to you today and reminds you that he does care and loves you right where you are, and that you can trust him!
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Keep the faith!

Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him."

Song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiMWPzuxg_Q

Stay Strong.....

The verse that plays in my head this morning is a familiar one, "I will wait on you, oh Lord"! Many times I am called to wait! I am rearing to get moving, to make things happen in my own power, and I am told in my spirit to wait, and nothing is availing itself for me to move forward. I don't know about you, but waiting is hard for me!

Learning to relax and enjoy down time, refreshing our spirit and storing up for times ahead can be difficult for some. It reminds me of rest days just before a big race. I trained, worked hard, and then I must rest before the big day in order to have maximum strength and endurance.

Could it be God is asking you to rest now, because he knows what lies ahead and the resolve and strength you will need to endure, or are you fretting about things out of your control, not being able to change things and not sure what you are to do next?  Regardless of whether you are called to rest, and or trust God during your difficulties, remember he is with you!

Psalms 23:2 "He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Deuteronomy 31:6 "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

May you be encourage today to run your race whether resting or pressing on and stay strong!

Songs by the Newsboys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m96MtNlMz8&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orjy0oCrtxM

Learning and Growing in Christ

Through it ALL, I have learned to trust in Jesus, I have learned to trust in God. A familiar verse to some, but look at what it says. I have learned, hmm..... How do most of us learn? I wish I could say it was by taking a pill, or even exclusively through other peoples mistakes, wouldn't that be convenient.

I think as parents we really wish this could be true, but ultimately we know it is not. The way a baby chick has to peck his way through the shell in order to develop the strength needed to survive, we also have to endure trials and tests of this life to grow strong as Christians. When we are weak, he is strong. 

I listened to a young lady speak on the radio about surviving a saline abortion, and how that survival and resulting handicap made her totally reliant on God. She says that if she had the chance for complete healing she would not take it, because she is so dependent on God that there is a closeness there that she would not want to chance losing if she could do everything without his help. Wow!

For all of us independent, determined, driven people, there is a message here for us. May we be gently reminded that all we have and are is because of God. Let us walk humbly and gratefully, looking and depending on Christ, not because we do not have a choice, but because we know that ultimately that is what is best for us. Help us to be wise stewards and commit our walk to him daily, so that when hard times come as they sometimes will, and the road we are walking seems all uphill, there is peace that passes understanding for having forged a deeper relationship with God, knowing he cares for us. He will see us through, and he does have a plan and is working all things for our good, even when we do not understand....

John 15:5- KJV "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing."

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X43XXpItGk0

Come As You Are!

                          All God's Children-10/2008

I have learned through a daily prayer journal that God is faithful in answering prayers our prayers. We don't have to be perfect, we just have to come daily and drink from the living well that never runs dry. His word says if you abide in him and his words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and he will give it to you. He says to ask and receive that your joy might be full! John 16:23-24.

Have you accepted Christ into your heart? Are you asking? I encourage you today to take him at his word. You can have a relationship with God based on accepting him into your life. He says in his word that it will not return void. Are you asking for anything?

I recently sent some money to a nursing home in India to be used for the seniors there. What struck me as odd though is that they do not think to ask for anything above their basic needs and I do mean needs! The request came back for a jar of vaseline vicks rub and a bottle of energy drink. They do not even think to ask for something nice! Are we like that with God? Do we dare ask for the desires of our heart? If he is a loving parent that he says he is, that made us and knit us in our parent's womb, then why are we not asking? He desires to give us his best!

I encourage you this day to start a prayer journal and come as you are! Start asking and believing, and see if God doesn't show himself real to you each day!

Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgioXrnEME

I Believe!

As I start the New Year with my new list, I am encouraged to share a quick 'Ahhh' moment with you.  Yesterday while running my errands I gassed up at a new gas station that offered cheap gas and is known for good fried chicken! It was a first, but I thought, why not, so after filling up I walked in to get a piece of chicken. My normal is a spicy breast, the "special" however was 2 breasts and a roll for $2.99. I asked how much for one breast and they said $3.90. As you can imagined I walked out with 2 huge, hot chicken breasts and a roll. Now what am I to do with the extra that I have?

In bigger cities it would be easy to find someone on the street corner that needed a hot piece of chicken, but not here. So off I drive to my next destination, all the while looking and thinking who is suppose to have this hot piece of chicken?

As I drive along the deserted beach stretch of Hwy 90 taking in the natural beauty, I am wondering where will I find someone here? Not exactly the hopping spot for someone looking for help. As you can imagine, not a soul on the horizon! So now I pray. Lord help me find someone to share this meal with. I continued driving and finally came upon the only store, on this lonely beach stretch that has been stripped of all businesses and homes since hurricane Katrina. So on a prompting I turn into a lone newer  Wal-Mart with hopes of finding someone. I drove slowly going the full perimeter looking for someone in need. As I make my final stretch up to the front of the store, before heading back to the beach, I see a single gentleman with a back pack and a few personal belongings. Could he need a meal? I rolled down my window and immediately he jumped up and came over. I hesitantly offered him my box of chicken and explained I was given 2 for 1 if he wanted it? He quickly took it and said a hearty thank you with a smile!

I drove off encouraged that God was able to use me out of my abundance, which today just so happened to be a hot chicken breast and a roll! It made me smile too realizing that God can use all of us each day, out of the abundance that he gives to each of us!

Let me ask you? Do you have more than enough? Extra to share? Blessed to be a blessing? My hope is that you are as encouraged and motivated as I am, to be used of God each day this New Year of 2015!

Godspeed....