Be Mindful of What You Say...

The phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is one of the biggest lies I've ever told and heard! I even remember sticking out my tongue and saying this when I was a little girl to whoever was bothering me, but I was lying! I'd often cry from the mean things people said because Words hurt! They have a way of piercing you deeper than any knife ever would and they stick with you forever. You may forget a person's name, what they look like and what they've done for you, but you will never forget what they've said to hurt you.

Some people feel they aren't being "real" or aren't being "one hundred" with others if they don't speak their mind, but everything thought should not be said. Our mind is the enemy, "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so" (Romans 8:7)!! There are a million things that go through our minds that we have to cast down in the Name of Jesus so we don't fall into the enemy's trap, and most of the time, things we "think" we should say to others, is one of them.

As children, siblings, parents, friends and most importantly Christians, people are looking up to us. What we say to them and even around them, can set them in the direction of either success or failure.  Proverbs 15 teaches us how to be aware of the words we speak to others. It encourages us to speak words that are gentle and positive....words that give life, and that are wise.

Your Prayer Today:
Think about something you may have said to someone to hurt them. Ask God to forgive you, forgive yourself and ask that person for forgiveness.

"If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."- James 1:26

Slow Down, You'll Get There...

Just about every morning on my way to work, I see a pedestrian trying to cross the street. I remember a few weeks ago, there was this man waving his hand, in the fashion of telling the oncoming traffic (who had the right away) to hurry up, so he could cross the street. He even attempted to dart across but realized that wouldn't be a good idea because he'd risk being hurt or killed. Regardless of the hurry he seemed to be in, he decided to wait until the way was clear.

Do you have an clue to where I'm going with this? Often in life we are always in a hurry to get somewhere (i.e. traveling, life goals, etc.). We sometimes don't even think about what could happen on the way there. God is so protective of us that even in our moments of impatience he protects us from danger. But we must learn to have Patience. It is VITAL for our survival. I know we want what we want, when we want it, but if it means dying prematurely then what's the purpose? Luke 21:19 says it best, "By your endurance (patience) you will save your life." So, slow down. Where you're going will ALWAYS be there. IF it's what God has for you, it isn't going anywhere....NO ONE can take it from you. We can't rush what He has predestined because He operates on His clock, and could care less about ours. He knows what's right for us, who's right for us and when it's right for us.

We must let God go before us to make the pathway clear because He knows everything that will try to stop us on our journey. I don't know about you, but I'd rather wait on God and be prepared, than to rush on my own and not be ready for what's coming.

Today's Prayer: 

Lord,  Please grant me the patience to wait on Your perfect timing for things to be manifested in my life. Thank You in Advance. I Love You. Amen. 


"You need endurance so that after you have done what God wants you to do, you can receive what he has promised." -Hebrews 10:36 

Filling the Void

Somehow between yesterday and the early hours of this morning, my Yahoo! email account was hacked and just about everyone on my contact list got a strange link from me. Now, I barely log on to my Yahoo! account from the desktop, but I would always check the box that says "keep me logged on to this computer". I'm the only one that uses that computer so I still don't know how I got hacked. The only way I caught it was because the "hacker" sent me a  spam link to my Gmail account. Needless to say, I had to change my password quickly.

If I hadn't left my account logged on to that computer that probably would not have happened. This incident made me think of the times we have allowed ourselves to remain "open" in areas we are supposed to allow God to fill. God delivers us from the struggles of bad relationships, situations and/or habits and instead of seeking Him and digging into His Word, we leave that space void giving the enemy the opportunity to come in seven times stronger than before. He took it from us so that we could take in more of Him. Matthew 12:43-45 tells us that, "When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there. In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before. That is what will happen to the evil people of this day.” Thinking of this happening is extremely frightening. It's not limited to a demon either. That man or woman you left can return, if the void they left isn't filled and it'll be harder to get rid of them and/or the urges to indulge in that bad habit you kicked, can resurface and it'll be even harder to kick it again. Old habits die hard and come back strong if we don't clean up right. This why it is so important that we allow God to fill every aspect of our life. 

While cleaning up your life, I encourage you to replace every dark hole with the Son. He's the only one that will fill and illuminate every dark area of your life.

Today's Prayer:

Lord help me do a clean sweep of my life. In every area that I have left the door open or cracked, please close it and fill it with nothing but You. Thank You in Advance. Amen.

“Just cleaning up one’s life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to enter.  The book of Ezra records how the people rid themselves of idolatry but failed to replace it with love for God and obedience to him.  Ridding our life of sin is the first step.  We must also take the second step: filling our life with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.  Unfilled and complacent people are easy targets for Satan.” -Bible Note

What Are You Afraid Of?

FEAR!!! If we give in to it, this word and everything that comes with it has superb power.

I wanted to start a blog a loooong time ago, but I was afraid. I was scared of running out of things to talk about, scared of how it would be received and I even doubted if I was even in a place (spiritually) to encourage other people. By the Word of God, I came to a few realizations that assured me everything would be fine as long as I "trust in Him and not be afraid" (Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 56:3; 11). As for running out of things to discuss, I know that God will always plant something in my heart, whether it's specifically for me or if it's just for me to share with you all...or both. I had to be reminded that this is a crazy world and everyone will not like what you are doing. I said that to say this, "People will always have something to say about something". Some do it because they are bitter, insecure, etc. (that's another topic, for another day), so I can only pray that it is received by those who need it. This last thing is very meaningful to me. I have come to understand that in Christ, even when you're at what you feel is your lowest point there is always something you can say to someone to encourage them. I've done it and I've also been on the receiving end of the encouraging line so I know it's possible.

Listen, fear had a hold on me and it set me back big time. Who knows where this blog could have been by now if I had realized these things earlier and let the love of Christ drive that fear out (1 John 4:18)?

So what are you afraid of? Is there something God placed in your heart but it's been sitting there because you're afraid of doing it? Some of us are so afraid to admit that we struggle with trusting God to help us do what He, Himself has given us. *Sigh* If only we'd understand that He will never abandon us and that He has equipped us with everything we need to accomplish the work requires of us, then there would be a whole lot more Kingdom work going on in the world.

Today's post is short and to the point. I encourage you to work on getting any fear that tries to consume you out of your heart. The enemy knows God has something for you to do. He knows your weaknesses and what frightens you, so he has become skillful and meticulous to hinder you. Understand that God has something to birth out of that belly of yours. His work for you is FAR bigger than ANY fear, failure, backlash or pain. Please don't let anything block your birth canal because I look forward to being blessed by the work he predestined to come from your hands!

*Today's Prayer is a "Self Prayer". Pray to God about the area you are struggling to trust Him in. Ask Him to help you trust Him more. If you aren't struggling in any area, I encourage you to please pray for your brothers and sisters that are. God Bless!!*

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies." -Romans 8:28-33

Note from The Blogger:
Please bear with me as I grow in this "blogging world". I'm still a "newbie" and I have a lot to learn! I am very appreciative of you and your prayers!

You Have Things To Do!

It's the weekend. It's still kind of early. It's been raining all night long. It's wet outside. I'm tired. You're tired. Reasons to put off whatever you're supposed to do today, huh? I'm sure we all would like to stay in the bed and not be bothered all day long. I even feel like this during the "work week", and I know I'm not the only one.

Umm yeah staying in, relaxing with no interruptions sounds lovely but for most of us that will never, ever happen. Maybe you have to work today, maybe you have children who won't let you sleep past 7 a.m., or maybe you have to travel somewhere far away today. Whatever it is, you're out of the bed and wide awake for it. Not because you want to be, but because you have to be.

The same applies to your Christian walk. I know this road gets tough and it seems like you're never going to reach where God is taking you but you HAVE to keep pressing because you have an ASSIGNMENT! Your assignment may not be something you want to do or something you think you're equipped for, but you have to do it. It was assigned to you before you came into the Earth. And it isn't something you can pass on to someone else, because it was designed specifically for you to accomplish. You don't know the people who are attached to your assignment. Their lives could depend on your courage to press on to fulfill it.

God's Word encourages us to "be not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not"(Galations 6:9). So keep moving, keep pressing, even when it looks like (through the human eye) you aren't going anywhere. Trust me, you are.

Remember this is a process. Yes, God has all power and could get you to where He's taking you overnight if He wanted to, but you wouldn't have a story to tell if He did. Let Him work and take you on your remarkable journey. Your story will inspire someone and bring them to Christ.

PLEASE DON'T GET TIRED!!

Today's Prayer:

Lord, please help me to not become complacent on this journey. I want to please You by doing Your will for my life. I understand that You have a assignment for me and I accept whatever that may be. I WILL accomplish it in YOUR name. I Love You. Amen.

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." - Philippians 3:14

Forgive, Your Relationship Depends On It

Okay, I’ll start this one off with a familiar incident that leads to anger…ROAD RAGE!! I must admit this made me laugh really hard because I used to struggle with this so badly. It used to erk the mess out of me….whether it be the slow drivers, the reckless drivers or the ones that annoy us all, the drivers that cut us off in heavy traffic. LAWD!! Yes. I admit. I used to get so angry with them. No, I don’t think you understand…I’d curse them, flick them the finger, ride their bumper and even find opportunities to cut them off just as they did me. I would literally allow it to set the mood for my day and how I’d treat people. Crazy right? I bet this has been you. Maybe it wasn’t road rage that set you off…but something or someone has gotten you there before.   

Thankfully for me, all of that happened in my sin, but I’ll be transparent enough to admit that I have slipped and hurled a few curse words out of a “road rage fit” as a Christian. BUT!! I thank God for covering me during those times. I cannot imagine the horror I would have had to endure if, in an instant, my life would have ended. THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE!!!! It was and always has been sufficient for me! AND if you’re reading this….His Grace is sufficient for you too!

Now, on to my question: Who are you angry with? How long have you been angry with them? A week? A month? A year? More than that??? Don’t you know you’ve basically just handed that person the power to control you?? What could they have possibly done to anger you so? Yes, the Word tells us that we can “be angry and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26) but also it goes on to say; “don’t let the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). Soooo, how can we abide in Christ, yet angrily hold grudges towards people for months and years? The longer we go on angry, the more opportunity we give the enemy to work in our hearts and in our minds…essentially making us angrier than we initially were. Trust me I have been SO GUILTY of this!  

Let’s briefly go back to the road rage incident, I know that it was pretty impossible for me to find the person I was angry at to explain my anger and ask for forgiveness. So I had to ask God to forgive me and I had to forgive myself.

There are people who have hurt you beyond what you believe is repairable. And it’s not always easy to just forgive someone when they have hurt you so badly, but it’s even harder to walk around angry all of the time, trying to remember why you are angry. Keeping that in your heart is not worth the stress, the sleepless nights or the headaches that come with it. God considers it “good and pleasant when we live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live with a whole bunch of "united" angry folks. Realize that there is power in forgiveness and this power frees you! So whoever you are angry with, PLEASE forgive them!! Not for them, but for YOU….do it for YOU and God. Your relationship depends on your ability to forgive.

Let’s Pray…

Lord, I am so sorry that I have allowed anger to reside where You should be. Please forgive me being calloused and unforgiving. Help me to show others the same mercy that You have shown me. Thank You in advance. I Love You. Amen.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.(attitude: loving and forgiving just like God forgave you)” –Ephesians 4:31-32

Releasing and Letting Go….

I love to talk! Hey, I come from a family of talkative people so it's only right that share that gene too, huh?? :-) Well I've decided to share my gift of talking via this blog with you all. Today I simply want to speak from my heart.

In life we all are faced with situations that seem entirely too hard to handle in our own strength. It may be a nagging spouse, an insensitive boss, financial problems or a physical/emotional insecurity. We’ve tried “quick fix solutions” to get the job done quickly but nothing “WE” do seems to work. That's why we have God. He tells us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corthinans 12:9). I truly believe that sometimes He simply takes things from us when we have the courage to give it to Him and other times, even in trying to give it to Him, He makes us “suffer” a little while longer. No, no, not because he wants to see us suffer, but because he wants to make sure we actually learn something in and from our suffering. He’s so smart!!! Like, seriously who wants to take the same test over and over and over and over (I can do this forever) again? Take it from a serial re-test-taker (like my word, huh?), it gets really old, extremely fast. Let’s make an effort to learn the first time.

I love the song by Tasha Cobbs that says, "There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain..." and it goes on to declare how you hear the chains falling off of you. This is such a powerful song, but I often wonder if we truly believe this. I ask this because I have seen so many people that I love, sing this song go into worship and declare how they see the chains falling of them but then they pick up links from those chains as mere "keepsakes". Don't they know that we don't need souvenirs to remind us that we were in bondage? We aren't to forget where we came from, but we don't need to tuck away things from our captivity as if they were treasures. They will only grow, causing us to be in bondage yet again.

We know that we serve an Almighty God that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). He can do anything!! The question is...."Will we let Him?" Sometimes we can become so comfortable dealing with uncomfortable things that when it's time to give them over to God we can't even do it. Let Him release those chains....and when we think about it, the Cross has already done that for us. Over 2000 years ago, Christ's love for us destroyed every chain that was to come against us.  He will give you the strength to walk away with no reside of what you’ve gone through!

Let's Pray...

Lord, please forgive me for being an emotional hoarder. Please cleanse me from the inside out and help me to release everything that has kept me bound. Help me to understand and believe in Your Word. Thank you in advance. I Love You. Amen.

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