I'm Growing!

I had a moment this past holiday weekend. I allowed myself to get caught up in some drama that was swirling around me, and, for a moment, I was carried away by it all. I took on a negative attitude, said some negative things, and acted in a negative manner towards some folks.

Didn't I just write a post about how people are watching the saints?! Tsk tsk.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, I came to myself and realized that I was letting myself descend to a level I am not supposed to be on as a child of God. I stopped myself, took a deep breath, said a prayer, and changed up my behavior that second.

I was so disappointed in myself, though. I knew that God was not pleased with how I had handled things initially. Thank God for His mercy and forgiveness!

I'm also thankful for maturity as well. There was a time where I would have been caught up in that negative cloud for days. A time where I would never have thought to say a prayer asking God to help me. A time where I wouldn't have had the courage to apologize and switch up my behavior in the midst of the drama - even if I knew I was wrong!

So, I'm grateful for the evidence that I am growing in the grace and knowledge of God's word. As you continue to meditate on the Word of God and spend time in His presence, you can't help but be changed! You can't help but to be more aware of what doesn't please God, and you will only want to make Him smile.

Spending more time talking to God and hearing from Him, only makes you all the more aware that He is with you everywhere, seeing all that you do and say. That realization will push you to live in a manner that acknowledges His place in your life.

So keep spending time with your Heavenly Father and take note of the positive changes you see. Rejoice when you see yourself grow as you let go of sinful behavior. Continue to pray over and work on the things that are harder to overcome. As we spend more time with God, He will help fashion us more and more into His image.

Verse of the Day: But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone!

In the midst of your barbecues, sleeping in, and running around, be sure to remember those who have sacrificed their lives so that we can live in freedom. Also, say a prayer for those who are currently serving in the armed forces right now.

God bless America!

Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Thanksgiving Friday!

It's Friday, it's payday, and it's the start of a three day weekend for me! Today is a good day.

Last night our Apostle preached a powerful message on the power of God's Word. God's Word formed this earth and was manifested in His son Jesus. The more we get into God's Word, the more we meditate on it and allow it to change our behavior, the more we will see the power of God working in our lives! It's as basic as that. There's so much more I can say, but it was our Apostle's message to preach not mine.

I am so grateful for God's greatness and majesty! Isn't it amazing that you can spend years in the faith and still learn new things about our God? That's how great He is! We'll never be able to tap into the fullness of His glory, but He continues to pour out new revelations as long as we are positioned to receive.

I'm thankful for God's love. I'm amazed by His grace. I'm humbled by His interest in my personal life. This great God wants little-old me to succeed and has taken a vested interest in making sure that happens. Thank You, Lord!

You know He feels the same way about you too! Take some time to give Him some praise today. Spend some time feasting on His Word. Let Him come in and reveal some of His secrets to you. He's more than willing to share.

Verse of the Day: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Psalm 48:1

Invisible Gratitude

Last night I attended an orientation for a mentorship program that I joined. It was heartwarming to see about a hundred adults in attendance who were ready and willing to mentor teenage youth in the city of Chicago.

As a part of the orientation, a common refrain was echoed by past mentors and the program staff: You may not think you're making a difference, but the students' responses reflect otherwise! They were basically reassuring us that often our efforts may seem unnecessary or even un-impactful, but the students' consistently raved about their mentors and the help that they gave.

This sentiment can be applied to a lot of areas in our lives. You may feel unappreciated by our family, overlooked at your job, or taken for granted by those who you assist. Yet, more often than not, your acts of kindness, diligence, and displays of love are appreciated and even cherished. Think of the stories some  mothers tell of how their difficult teenagers grew up to sing their praises and give them thanks for the way they were raised.

People may not show their gratitude in the way that we would like, or they even may not show it at all. But our Heavenly Father sees and knows all that we do, and you better believe that He is showing and will show you proper appreciation for all that you do.

So, don't give up on your acts of love! Don't get tired of being diligent with your responsibilities! You make a difference to someone, and someone feels love because you are in their life. You may not feel the love, but know that it is there.

Verse of the Day: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9, 10

Be the Blessing!

I love it when I can make someone's day. I enjoy those times when I can participate in surprising someone or contributing a special gift to someone. I just love seeing someone's face light up with joy and knowing that I had something to do with it. They don't even have to know I was involved.

When you give, you are imitating your Heavenly Father. God has always been a generous giver. From blessings in many forms to the Ultimate Gift of sending His dear Son as a sacrifice for our salvation, God is always seeking out the best ways to give to His beloved children.

In the same way, we should constantly be searching for opportunities to give and be a blessing. We should see giving as a joy and not a burden or inconvenience. We should recognize it as another facet of displaying our faith.

Think about those times when someone went out of their way to bless you. Remember how special you felt when someone surprised you out of the blue. That feeling is too good to horde all to yourself! Take some time to spread the love around!

As you give unto others, God sees what you are doing and will make sure that you are blessed in return. As you give unselfishly, God will take care of your needs and desires. Like the saying says: A closed hand cannot receive. When you open your hand to give to someone else, you give yourself the opportunity to be blessed as well.

Let's be a blessing to someone today!

Word of the Day: ...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35b

All Eyes On Me! (They're Watching You Too)

This morning my heart is a bit grieved. I did my daily round of blog hopping to catch up on the latest news for the day. Folks, there's a lot of negativity going on in the Christian camp. From pastors getting DUIs to gospel singers wearing lingerie in their music videos to young women deciding that they can participate in pre-marital sex without guilt because God's love is not based on their performance. I won't even get into the pastors coming out as homosexuals and sanctioning it as okay or others stating that the Bible is merely a metaphor and not entirely true. I am appalled and concerned.

There is an entire world out there that is already skeptical of religion and faith in the unseen. Our only witness to the greatness of God's love is how we act within this world. We claim we are different, set apart, destined for heaven's gates. Yet when they look at our lives, can they truly see what makes us any different from them? What really would compel them to be like us?

Even more troubling is the thought of Christians embracing sinful behavior while continuing to confess Christ. How can good and bad fruit come from the same tree?

Our witness is on display every day. People watch what we say, how we act, and where we go. Their eyes and ears are alert to the promises we make, attitudes we catch, selfishness we exhibit, and thoughtlessness we show. They hear us praise God in the morning and curse out our neighbor in the afternoon. They see us trek to the club on Friday night and then sing in the choir stand on Sunday. What are we doing?!

This world is crying out for deliverance, but they will turn a deaf ear to Christ if we continue to blend in, compromise, and blatantly participate in sin. We have to do better saints. The world is watching.

Verse of the Day: Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Matthew 12:33

God, You Said It!

Last night I took a moment to write to God. I've found that putting down my thoughts in a kind of letter to Him helps me sort out my feelings and find some clarity. And I always take a moment to listen for His response to what I've written down.

Yesterday, before I was even done with my portion, God pointed out that I already knew the answer to my own question. It was right there: "God, You said..." I was using that phrase almost as a complaint. God, You said this was going to happen, but I don't see it! Lord, You told me that this was what I could expect, but it's not here!

I had taken my eyes off God and was looking around me for the results. If I had stayed focused on Him, I wouldn't be concerned about how long things were taking or what hadn't shown up yet. It wouldn't matter because my eyesight would be filled with the majesty of God's power and greatness.

Abraham made the same mistake when he listened to his wife Sarah who was singing the same tune I was. He took his eyes off God and looked around and saw that his blessing had not come. So he tried to make it happen. As a result, he brought a whole bunch of mess into his home.

Simple trust in God is what our Heavenly Father wants from us. He wants us to rest assured that whatever He has spoken, He will do it. When we can fully rely on God, He is free to do things His way and in His timing bringing about the best possible results for our lives.

So, if God has said anything to you and you're still waiting on results, don't take your eyes off of Him! Keep your trust in His word. He is not a man that He should lie, He will never leave the righteous forsaken, and He is a God that never fails.

Believe on His Word. Rest in His love. His word will definitely come to pass.

Verse of the Day: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Thanksgiving Friday!

God is still worthy to be praised!

I had to get this out cause this j-o-b is making me earn my paycheck this week! But, I praise God for my job.

This week our church had an assignment to worship God every day. It's been an awesome experience. Just taking time to love on God has allowed Him the opportunity to share His thoughts with me. Worshipping God is one of the best ways anyone can spend their time.

I'm grateful for God's strength this week. He's fortified me to take on all of the extra assignments that have come my way. I have not been overwhelmed or stressed out - stressed - but not stressed out. God is good.

I'd like to recommend that you take some time today and spend it in worship before God. Allow Him to love on you as you love on Him. It's the perfect way to top off your week!

Gotta run. Enjoy your weekend!

Verse of the Day: Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. Psalm 99:5

Keep Hope Alive!

Hope is an amazing attribute. There's a song that actually states that hope is hard to kill.

In the face of adversity, challenges, defeat, and setbacks, hope still has some way of hanging in there and staying alive. Even when every signal is screaming that failure is imminent, hope still flickers and dares to believe that winning is still possible.

Often we choose to give up. It's not that we've lost hope that we can achieve our goals, we just choose to go with the overwhelming "evidence" that's stacked against it. At times it's simpler to just give in than to keep fighting against the odds.

Yet some of the greatest triumphs occur in the midst of those hope-crushing scenarios. Abraham was long past his prime, yet he still believed God and received a son in his old age. The Israelites dared to believe that they could defeat the city of Jericho and its native giants, and their battle cry to the heavens caused the city's walls to fall. Hannah grabbed on to the word of the priest daring to believe that God would grant her a son, and was able to conceive after years of barrenness.

What are you facing that is trying to kill your hope? What situation is currently crushing down on your belief?

Don't give in to what it looks like! Don't give up because it seems impossible! You can win! You can overcome! You have the Lord God Almighty on your side. Nothing can stand in your way.

Verse of the Day: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Old Demons...

Do you have a problem or bad habit that you've been dealing with for what seems like your entire life? Have you tried numerous times to get rid of said bad habit over and over again only to repeat the offense at every turn?

That is my issue with procrastination.


I don't know what it is, but I always seem to wait to the last minute to get things done.! Or, worse still, I never get it done. Something in my brain always has convinced myself that I work best under the pressure of a ticking timeline, and I fall for the okey-doke every time.

I've tried everything I can think of to motivate myself to be more proactive, but all of my efforts have not made a lasting impact. No one's more disappointed about it than me.

Can I tell you the devil knows our numbers? Not to blame my procrastination on the devil. Lord knows, he only acts up as far as we let him... But he knows exactly where to hit us where it hurts. He knows the precise demon/distraction/confusion/heartache to send our way that will put up the best blockade against us reaching a goal.

There's a reason why you wrestle with the very thing you've been fighting all your life. Just imagine what you could accomplish if you finally vanquished that thing. I know my own life would improve exponentially.

Let's go before God and seriously get a strategy for dealing with our major issues. And then let's implement the plan. A lot of stuff God has already told us lies dormant due to lack of execution. (Procrastination, anyone?) We can do this! We can do all things through Christ! Let's kick that bad habit out of our lives once and for all!

Verse of the Day: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ... 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5

Garbage In, Garbage Out

It's kind of busy over here in my world, so I apologize for the late post.

There's an old saying: "Garbage in, garbage out" that I find to be totally true. Whatever you 'feed' yourself is what you're going to put out into the atmosphere. What your eyes consume, what your ears hear, and what your mouth swallows is what you're ultimately going to put out into the atmosphere yourself.

You can try and hide it all you want, but your evenings spent watching the reality shows where every other word is bleeped out will affect your behavior. Listening to all of the R&B, rap, and hip-hop will have an influence on your thought patterns. Reading all those Zane novels... oops, Christian folks don't get down with Zane now do they? Do they?

No matter what you do, it will affect you. It could be as simple as taking up the majority of your time so you don't spend any with God on a daily basis. The music you play in your ears can stifle the sounds of worship your spirit would normally want to produce. Feasting on the words of man instead of the word of God can stifle the growth of your spirit.

I believe that we can enjoy tv, reading, (clean) music, and the like. But I don't believe that we should allow these things to take more of our time than what we devote to maintaining our Christian walk and fellowshipping with God. There are so many things in our life that can benefit from a healthy spirit and a strong relationship with God. Yet, many of us forfeit our chances to grow and get closer to Him because of our love for the things of this world.

As a result of our over indulgence in worldly things, we have a lot of non-Christlike Christians roaming the earth hurting our witness and turning the world off to our faith. What would make someone want to become saved if they can't tell the difference between a saint and a sinner?

Let's change up what we are letting in to our beings. As we make sure that we are feeding ourselves more from the Lord's table, we will be able to produce more fruit that will be of a greater benefit to the world around us.

Verse of the Day: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

Choose To Worship God In Spite Of It All

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David. When you really take a look at his life, he went through some drama. Being overlooked by his own father, chased by the King of Israel, living in caves with a bunch of rejects, committing adultery and murder and being punished with the death of the resulting child, watching his children commit heinous acts towards each other... The man had a lot going on.

Yet he was still a man who chased after God's heart. He was still a worshipper in God's presence. His love for God was so deep that God promised that the Messiah would come from David's line.

The book of Psalms stands as a testament for the drama and emotions that David went through. Yet with every Psalm and every song of despair, the common thread of God's greatness, majesty and love shone through. No matter what David was facing, he never lost sight of the greatness of his God.

We too should take a page from David and continue to remember God's greatness and love. No matter what drama is swirling on around you, continue to chase after God's heart. Keep pressing into God's presence remembering the awesomeness of His love.

There is nothing you can do that will keep you from God's love. All it takes from you is a contrite spirit and God will wipe your slate clean and welcome you back into His arms. Don't let the drama keep you from the greatness of God's love. Use every situation as an opportunity to lift up the mighty God that you serve.

Today take a moment and read a Psalm. Remember, it's not about what's going on around you, it's about the One who's living in you.

Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:4, 5

Praise Him Anyhow

Hey folks. I've got no post for Friday. I have a paper thats due today in this challenging class. All my focus is on that right now. Pray for me! I really want to chalk this up but I can't.

Have a blessed weekend! I will get an A on this! Nothing less wil do.

True Beauty

It's been beautiful here in Chicagoland. Yesterday we had 90 degree weather and sunshine, and today looks like it's going to keep up the new trend. Maybe God is blessing us for the extended cold and wet season we've endured.

Moving on to today's topic... Beauty is a relative term. When you ask a person what makes them feel beautiful, you'll get answers ranging from getting their hair done, a certain outfit, being their perfect weight, or the love they receive from another. We all hold different views on beauty and act along those standards.

God, however, holds the true definition of beauty. He looks past all of the superficial things and gets to what really makes humanity beautiful: their reflection of His glory. How we display God's love in the earth is what establishes our beauty to Him.

God told Samuel that He doesn't look at man's outward shell, but instead looks at His heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) Your heart is part of what God originally created before He placed you in your physical shell. How much does your heart reflect God's original pure creation? Have you allowed the cares of this world to mar God's handiwork? Have the trials of life caused you to pen up your heart with barriers and blockades?

God can see through all of your exterior facades. He knows the intimacies of your being. He can see directly into your heart. When God sees a love for Him beating deep within, He sees your true beauty.

So, as much as you may be styling in your new 'do and outfit, no matter who is staring you down as you do your model walk, trust that your true beauty is only shown as you showcase your Father's love. Have you shown anyone your True Beauty lately? Let's make today a True Beauty Day!

Verse of the Day: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

The Glamorous Life?

I'll admit it: I'm a celeb watcher. I think it's more because I like "being in the know" than I actually like the celebrities. I enjoy knowing what's going on with everything everywhere. Celebs just fall into that broad category.

Lately I've been wondering really what's so great about being a celebrity. It seems like the majority of them have some pretty chaotic lives. If it's not going to rehab, it's going to jail. They're getting divorces and fighting over children. Paparazzi follow their every motion. They face lawsuits from people trying to squeeze them for millions of dollars over nothing.

Not too glamorous.

Yet, we as a society put them on a pedestal. We accentuate the positive. We gloss over the dirt and revel in the glitz and showcase imagining how nice it would be for us to "live the life." We 'ooh' and 'ahh' over their clothes, cars, and homes. We wonder what it would be like to have our own private planes travelling to exotic islands across the seas.

The Bible tells us that we shouldn't envy the rich, and I can see why. Often these people live Godless lives which end in tragedy and despair. Many of the people basking in the bright lights live in fear, depression, and hopelessness.

We have been blessed with the richness of God's love. We may never walk a red carpet or ride in a private jet. We may never see our name in lights or own a mansion. Yet we still have so much more than those who do. We have God's love and an intimate relationship with Him. As a result, we live in peace and joy. There's nothing in this world that can top that.

Verse of the Day: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17, 18

It Doesn't Matter... God's Plan Will Prevail!

This morning in my devotions Psalm 33:11 was my focus scripture: But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. (NLT)

This verse blessed me so much! In spite of how much things appear to be out of order, late, or even non-existent, God's plans for me will continue to stand firm! What He has ordained for me will come to pass! I don't have to be concerned about what is or isn't happening, who is or isn't acting right, or what I do or don't have. The Lord's plans will stand firm.

Whatever you may be going through, hold on to what God has spoken over your life! Don't give up out of frustration or fear! The Lord's plans will override whatever obstacles, interruptions, or detours that hit your path. In fact, the very thing that is frustrating you may be a part of God's omniscient plan.

Take heart and know that the Lord always has the last say. Even if we messed it up ourselves, we cannot stop God's plans from unfolding. If He said it, He will do it!

That just made my week! I can smile both inside and out knowing that God's plans are the ones that will prevail. Hallelujah!

Verse of the Day: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ... Philippians 1:6

Thanksgiving Friday!

Hey Everyone!

We have made it through another work week. To God be all the glory!

I woke up smiling this morning. That's a feat in and of itself! I don't know why I was smiling... I didn't have a really cool dream or hear any fabulous news. I'm just going to thank God for the happy mood and keep it moving. Maybe my spirit knows something my mind doesn't.

I'm thankful that I only have one more week of this class to go! After this one, I'm taking off for the semester. I need to take a break to catch up on all the other items that I've placed on the back burner. Pray for me, everyone, I will have to work to get an 'A' in this one.

I'm especially thankful this week for forgiveness. God has been helping me to forgive some folks, and I am experiencing the freedom and joy that comes along with it. I have a penchant for keeping up a long memory, but God is helping my heart and my mind to just let some things go.

What are you thankful for this week? What has the Lord done for you? Feel free to share!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Verse of the Day: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25, 26

Pressing Rewind

Right now, I wish I had a remote that could rewind time to about 12 hours ago when I was snug in my bed fast asleep. Or, I take a fast forward to later on this evening after all my running around is through when I'll get to sit down and relax for a minute.

Sadly for me, that is not life. Yet there are times where God brings back some "rewind" moments to let us know how much we've grown (or how much we're still the same).

You know those times. Like the man you know was not God's plan, the one that had you straight off the path of God, the one you promised God you would leave alone and never get down with again... yeah, him. He's suddenly hitting you up on Facebook, or blowing up your phone. What are you doing?

Or, the times where you have the opportunity to engage in the behavior that you've testified that God has delivered you from. The one that had the vice-grip on your life. And now, space and opportunity have afforded you a prime moment to slip back in without anyone knowing. What are you doing?

Most challenging of all are those times in life when your at your lowest, feeling your weakest, or after a crushing blow from the enemy. It's then that our own minds sometimes push the rewind button and offer up solutions to ease the pain with all of those things that we embraced before we fell in love with the Father. What are you doing?

Keep in mind that at our weakest, God is the strongest. If we choose to cling to Him in the midst of the "rewind" moments, if we choose to ignore our flesh that is crying out for a release, if we stand on the Word and squeeze off the life force to the flesh... we can continue to overcome, continue to experience victory, and continue to grow in God.

We will know that God is able to trust us, and we will see how much we've grown in Him. As we keep passing the "rewind" moments, they begin to lose their power giving us confidence, and the next one is easier to pass through.

Even if we fail the "rewind" moments, rest assured that our loving God will show forgiveness and love us still. We don't have to dwell in condemnation. We just have to move forward determined to continue in God's will, Word, and way surrendering ourselves to the purging fire of His love.

Verse of the Day: I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong... Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:21, 24-25a (NLT)

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Have you examined your "flock" lately?

What kinds of people are in your inner circle? What elements do they bring into your life? Are they helping you, harming you, or keeping you in the same spot? Do they reflect what you're trying to be about right now?

I was just thinking about these things this morning as I was giving God praise for my "flock." My group of friends may not be large, but I can say that each one of them brings strength, wisdom, motivation, and a Godly viewpoint to my existence.

When you are trying to grow, be better, do better, and attain a higher level, it helps to have people around you who are going to help you get to that place.

Sometimes we have to change up our "flock" in order to attain our goals in life. We have to let go of some friends and go find some new friends in order to reach new places and goals. It can be difficult to let them go, and sometimes they might not want you to let them go. Yet, we have to be wise in this one life we get. We can't waste time and energy with people who ultimately do us no good.

Today, take a look at the "flock" you've been hanging with. Are they representing you well? Do you need to change up your roster? Are you grateful to God for who's around you right now?

Take some time and talk to the Lord about your "flock." Good or bad, I'm sure He has some insight for you about them. Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Choose Joy, Get Strength

There's a reason why the Bible says the joy of the Lord gives strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Something happens when you are filled with a joy that comes from God. Despite situations, challenges, physical tedium, and other seemingly negative instances, God's joy has a way of making you smile, laugh, and feel light regardless of it all.

Currently my father is battling sickness in his body. In spite of being confined to a wheelchair and losing mobility in his extremities, my father has not sunk into a depression. He doesn't complain about his present hardship.

He has chosen to embrace the joy of the Lord. As a result, he has remained his happy, sunshine-smiling self. He always has something positive to say. He continues to preach every Sunday and Thursday. He always has an encouraging word. I believe that it is this choice to dwell in God's joy that has strengthened my father to defy the statistics that would have had him in the grave long ago.

We all can take a lesson from my father's choice. In the face of  whatever hardship, we can choose to embrace the joy of God. We can pass over despair and depression and cling to the joy of our Heavenly Father.

As we remember His almighty power, love for us, and divine plan, we have no need to despair. We can rest assured knowing that He will bring us to our expected end.

Verse of the Day: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11

It's Really All His

Many Christians use the phrases: My life is not my own and I'm living for Jesus and It's not about me. Yet many of us fail to understand the gravity of those types of statements.

Every facet of our existence is possible because of the love and power of God. There is nothing in, on, of, or about us that we had any power in placing there ourselves. Down to our very bodies, we own nothing of 'our' lives. We actually serve as stewards over the lives God has given us.

A steward is one who takes care of the affairs of another. Our role is to take care of God's affairs via the bodily vessels God has granted us. We each recieved a unique body, unique abilities, unique talents, unique families, and other qualities in order to fulfill our one-of-a-kind assignment. It is our job to make sure that our Heavenly Father's purpose is carried out in a manner pleasing to Him.

We should live our lives purposefully choosing to honor our true Owner's wishes. Our actions should reflect choices that are in His best interests. Any major decision we make should go through a consulting session with the true Stockholder, our Lord and Savior.

When we truly live our lives in a manner that reflects God's ownership, we can't help but see the favor and blessings of God. As we die to our selfish wishes, we will see more of our own desires fulfilled because of our obedience to the Father.

Verse of the Day: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16:25