My Morning Ti

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-02-24T09:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday!

Here in Chicago we've gotten some snow. It's not really sticking by me, but at least it looks like February out here.

This week I am so thankful for the power of prayer. Prayer is simply conversation with God, but it does so much! Prayer reminds me of who I am in Christ. Prayer brings peace to my spirit. It gives direction to my footsteps. It allows me to hear from the Lord. Thank You, Father, for giving us the privilege to come to you directly and have talks with You!

I'm also grateful for support. Be it from family, friends, co-workers, teammates... God has blessed me with support on every side. And, even if those faithful people do somehow fall away - I can remain confident that the Lord will never leave me or forsake me! I'm never alone. Thanks, God. That's an awesome feeling.

Finally, I'm thankful for this blog. I know that you all are blessed by reading it, but just know that I'm blessed by writing it! This blog is keeping me disciplined, it's forcing me to dig deep into the crevices of my faith, and it's allowing me to use my gift for my Father. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with a gift that I am able to use for your glory!

What are you thankful for today? Send up some thanksgiving!

Verse of the Day: Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

Total Surrender

2012-02-23T08:35:00.000-06:00

I'm back! I apologize for yesterday. Now, for some Morning Ti...

When Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, they gave up their entire lives to be with Him. They left family, friends, jobs, hometowns... Everything was dropped with no questions asked in order to follow the Savior. As a result of their surrender, they went on to lead lives that witness the miraculous work of the Messiah, they were able to work miracles themselves, and they turned the entire world upside down with their evangelism.

We too are disciples of Jesus. Yet many of us answered His call only to hold on to everything we liked and selfishly wanted. Jesus may not be calling for us to give up families and jobs now, but He does want us to give up our will for His.

Many of us selfishly choose to still participate in sinful behavior after we've accepted Jesus as our Lord. We choose to ignore the wants of the Father deeming them 'unattainable' or something that we'll work on later. We continue to turn a blind eye to the Bible's commands self-righteously claiming that we're doing the best we can or even pulling God into it saying that He knows our hearts.

We cannot just accept Jesus as our Savior, stay the same, and expect God to be pleased. Jesus Himself said that you can't serve to masters. And when you refuse to give up your will, when you continue to allow sin to remain in your life... you're trying to serve to masters.

As Christians, we are no longer the masters of our fate. We no longer have control over our lives. When we commit to Christ, we place our lives in His hands and give Him permission to do what He wants.

Today let's remember that we've given our lives to Jesus. He's the Captain of our ship. He's the Master of our domain. He's the Conductor of our symphony. Our will has to die. Our desires have to take a back seat. It's His way.

As we allow Him to lead, guide, and direct us, He will take us places that we could never even imagine. Too many of us are still stuck in the ordinary because we refuse to let Jesus take us to His extraordinary. Let's stop thinking we know what's best and allow God to take us to the miraculous.

Verse of the Day: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Ttyl...

2012-02-22T10:04:00.000-06:00

I'm kind of in a press right now... Have a deadline for work and way too much work. So, no Morning Ti today. The least I could do is leave you a verse of the day to think about, and I'll be back later. Hopefully for some Afternoon Ti?

Verse of the Day: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25

Weak Spots

2012-02-21T09:33:00.000-06:00

I did a post a while ago about old demons. I was talking about how the devil uses the same thing with some of us to get us snared in his trap and off of our purpose.

With all of the coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral and my spirit's tug to send up prayers constantly on behalf of her daughter, I couldn't help but think of how the enemy works. Seeing all those people of faith, hearing their testimony of Whitney's drive, grace, and talent... you could not help but be moved. You could not help but mourn the spirit that was snatched away.

We all have our weak spots. We all have a place where we struggle. It may not be drugs, but it might be pride. It may not be an abusive relationship, but it may be fornication. It may not be alcohol, but it may be gossip.

Whatever our weakness, the devil is looking for any opportunity to make us fall. He's looking for any spot where he can get in and take over. He's constantly searching for a way to cut us off. (John 10:10)

As believers, we have to remain vigilant against the attacks of the enemy. We have to constantly stand guard against his attacks. We have to feed our spirits the Word of God, spend time in fellowship with the Father, and walk out the revelation He gives us. We have to recognize when the enemy's coming our way. We have to choose to walk away from sin.

I know how difficult it can be to live right. Sometimes it seems so easy, so 'harmless', so trivial... Yet, no matter what the sin, it pays in death. (Romans 6:23)

I'm glad Whitney knew Jesus. I know, despite her struggles, that she is in heaven. We all can learn something from her story. The enemy is no respector of persons. If he can get one of us, he's going after us all. We have to stay on the wall, saints. We have to remain anchored in the Lord. We have to stay under the covering of the blood of Jesus.

Verse of the Day: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour... 1 Peter 5:8

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-02-17T10:42:00.000-06:00

This week I'm thankful for others.

I'm thankful for being a member of the Seton Sting! Our basketball programs are Off. The. Chain. These girls and boys are talented and on their way to doing big things at state! I'm happy that I get to be part of such a great team. Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to Seton!

I'm also thankful for my family. This weekend I get to celebrate with my mother. She accomplished her goal of getting her Bachelor's Degree, and I am so proud of her! She has stayed faithful and kept up a good work. I'm thankful to God for the awesome example I have in my mother.

Lastly, I'm thankful for the new people God has placed in my life. Having them around has brought me lots of laughter, times of serenity, and some great memories. It's harder these days to find good, quality people, but God has stocked my life chock full of them. Thank you, Lord, for my circle of greatness!

What are you thankful for this week? How has the Lord blessed you? Why don't you take some time to give Him some thanks and gratitude?

Verse of the Day: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

Learning From Peter

2012-02-16T09:40:00.001-06:00

Peter is one of Jesus' more interesting disciples to me. He was the one who recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:16) Peter cut off a soldier's ear when they came to arrest Jesus. (John 18:10) Later on that same night, Peter was also the one who denied Jesus three times. (John 18:15-27) Jesus commissioned Peter then three times by asking Peter if he loved Him. (John 21:15-17) Peter was the one who preached the first sermon after the Holy Spirit came on the early Christians. He was the leader of the apostles. (Acts 2)

We can learn so much through all of Peter's ups and downs. One thing we can learn is the power of God's redemption. Peter was known for his anger and language. Yet God was able to turn his fierceness into a passionate love for Jesus, and He molded Peter's sharp tongue into an ear-grabbing tool to lead people to the cross.

We can also see through Peter that no matter how we may mess up, Jesus is always there to forgive us. We may "deny" Him through our behavior, we may reject Him with our ways, but when we turn to Jesus with contrite hearts full of love, He is waiting to receive us again.

No matter how we may have acted before, when we fully surrender our lives to God's will, He can take us and still use us for greatness in His kingdom. Don't let your past mistakes keep you from your glory in God. Don't allow negativity to keep you from being used in the kingdom. Allow God to redeem you and mold you into a force to be reckoned with on His behalf.

Verse of the Day: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Real Love

2012-02-14T08:21:00.000-06:00

Love is a wonderful thing.

It fills people with euphoria... gives hope... restores strength... provides security... can last a lifetime...

Yet so many people never experience true, lasting love. Most of us go through life experiencing short spans of love scattered over the years of our lives. This is mainly because true love takes a lot of work.

Real love calls for sacrifice... expects forgiveness... requires selflessness... and works best with compromise. Not too many people can maintain love's high call of duty. Giving love takes a consistent effort. It asks us to forget wrongs that we would rather remember. Love tells us to do for another what they sometimes won't do for us.

Yet we have the pleasure of knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior; we know what it's like to get real love. We feel His loving hand guiding our every footstep through life. We see all of the amazing things that He does to keep us smiling. We experience His unconditional forgiveness each time we mess up.

The same real love we get from Christ, we should be pouring out to those around us. The same amazing love that overlooks our every sin should be pouring out of our hearts into the lives of someone else who may not know God. It's when we extend the true love that goes above and beyond that we cause others to want what we have.

So today - whether you have a Valentine or not - take some time to show somebody real love. Let the love you get from Jesus cause you to make someone else feel loved beyond measure. Give someone a great day just because they came across you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Verse of the Day: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

What Are You Leaving Behind?

2012-02-13T10:45:00.000-06:00

With Whitney Houston's passing along with some other famous people, I've been thinking about legacies lately. Whitney's talent and vocal abilities far transcended her apparent difficulties in life. Don Cornelius' genius in music television overshadowed how he left this earth. Both of these people used what they had and left behind them something bigger and greater that will keep on living despite their absence from earth.

So, now I'm thinking about my own legacy. What would be left behind from my life that could continue on if God called me home today? Would people be inspired by the life I lived?

We are all given measures of talent, moments of opportunity, and potential partners of purpose. It's up to us to grab hold of all that we have and turn potential into promise. We all have greatness we can achieve, but we have to make use of our time here on earth.

Now, we may never see as grand a stage as Whitney Houston. We may never have a reach that exceeds our small circle of family and friends. Yet, it's the seeds that we plant, the wisdom that we give, and the way that we live our lives that leaves a legacy that can impact generations to come.

I'm able to sit here and blog with you all right now because of a whole lot of people's courage, genius, and drive to succeed. Hopefully, someone is inspired by my words and can run on and be an inspiration to someone else.

You will never know how impactful your life will be. The important thing is that you are living your life in a way that you are leaving positivity in your wake. Jesus transformed the lives of everyone He touched. Even those that didn't believe He was the Messiah were impacted by Jesus' life and ministry.

Make sure you capitalize on the time God has given you. Don't just exist, leave a legacy.

Verse of the Day: Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. 1 Chronicles 28:8

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-02-10T09:03:00.000-06:00

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Despite all the stress I'm under today, in spite of the illness I am fighting against, no matter what things I am having to face.... God is still worthy to be praised!

Lord, I am thankful for your love. I'm thankful for your many blessings. I'm thankful for you giving me this day to be alive and participate in life.

I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my friends. I'm thankful for this job you've given me that I enjoy.

Father, you've blessed me so much, and I am so grateful for everything! Help me to be a blessing to someone else. Help me to remember to show love. Help me to be the best I can be for you.

Verse of the Day: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Who Do You Look Up To?

2012-02-09T10:31:00.000-06:00

Today's a little busy in my corner of the world. I've been running around this school all morning! Thank you, Lord, for the ability to think on my feet!

Joshua had a stellar role model in Moses. Joshua served Moses from when he was young. In serving Moses, Joshua got to see how God miraculously led Israel through the wilderness. He saw how Moses interceded on behalf of the people. He learned how to lead. He discovered how to stay humble while standing on a large platform. He also saw the consequences of disobedience to God.

As a result, when it was Joshua's turn to see with the eyes of the spirit and go forth in his calling, he was able to connect with God and deliver the correct report. Joshua was a stellar student and was able to lead Israel along the right path after Moses' death.

Who do you look up to? Who inspires you to move forward in your purpose? What principles are you gleaning from the mentors in your life?

We all can learn something from someone else. Even someone else's mistake can help us to do better. If you don't have a quality man/woman of God who you can look to for guidance, you need to find someone! If you have that person in your life, be a good student and learn all you can!

God has placed someone ahead of or above you to help your way become smoother. Through their example you will learn what to do. Don't be like those other Israelites who missed out on their Promised Land experience because they never learned their basic lessons. Make sure you are a part of the Joshua generation that has learned how to follow after God!

Verse of the Day: And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. Deuteronomy 34:9

God's Got Ya!

2012-02-08T08:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we talked about our unconventional God. Because we serve a God who loves to do the extraordinary and because He promised us that He would never fail us, there is no situation that we could ever face where we should be fearful of losing. Whatever situation we face - no matter how crazy it is, no matter how much of a long shot it might be, no matter who we are coming up against - God is going to make sure that things work out in our favor. (Romans 8:28)

As a result, we can face everything with confidence. We can rest assured that we are safe and secure. Whatever big, ugly devil that tries to rear its head, we can just laugh in its face and send it back to the pit in the name of Jesus. God Almighty has our back.

From our human nature, things may appear grim. Our brains may not be able to calculate how we'll get out of our dire situation. Experts may be pointing to the 'evidence' that we should throw in the towel.

BUT GOD...!

Remember Who has the final word! Remember who holds the world in the palm of His hand. Remember the One Whose promises are sure. Remember the One who turns the heart of the king whichever way He chooses. (Proverbs 21:1) Remember the One who sparked life into every being on this planet. (Acts 17:24-26)

He's the same One who loves you beyond measure. He's the same One who sent all He had so you could be saved.

So, stand confidently assured in the face of trouble. Stop worrying and fretting about how things will turn out. You win! Your Heavenly Father won't let you fall! The more complicated the situation, the more glory God is going to get turning things around.

Don't lose hope. Don't let go of your faith.

God's got you.

You can be confident of that.

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

Unconventional God

2012-02-07T09:43:00.000-06:00

We serve an unconventional God. He doesn't do things normally. He likes to be creative. He loves to show off His power and might.

When He wanted to bring forth His chosen people, He selected a previously barren couple who were well into old age. In looking for a leader to help deliver His people, He chose to use a scared young man who only had 300 men to fight with him. God plucked a shepherd boy off the country hills and turned him into a mighty man of valor and Israel's greatest king.

Our God can take nothing and turn it into greatness.

What situation are you facing? What's looking impossible in your world? The very thing you think can never come to pass is the very thing that God may use to show off His spectacular power. Your crazy situation can very well be an amazing testimony in the making.

You serve a God that can do anything with anyone! Plus, He's always looking for opportunities to show off. He's just looking for someone who believes that He can make it happen. All God needs is your faith.

Don't let your circumstances tell you that you've lost. Don't allow your surroundings to say what you can't do or who you can't be. God Almighty is your Father! The King of Kings is your Lord! You can do and be anything.

Verse of the Day: Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 28

Let The Lord Be Magnified!

2012-02-06T09:39:00.000-06:00

A few years ago, my mother preached a sermon encouraging the church to allow the Lord to be magnified in their lives. I was meditating on this as I had to deal with a pretty challenging morning.

Allowing God to be magnified means that you make the Lord bigger in your life. You spend more time thinking of Him, reading His word, giving Him praise, talking about Him, sharing His love, living as He would want... Every area where you acknowledge the Lord, you turn up the volume.

When you allow the Lord to be magnified, it causes those around you to notice Him too. Often we tend to condense the Lord in our public lives. We don't talk about God too much because we don't want to be labeled as "super saved." We skip opportunities to witness for fear of other folks reactions. We shirk back from giving God praise to avoid getting curious looks.

But Jesus told us Himself that if we lifted Him up, He would draw all men unto Him. (John 12:32) We have a chance to have a perfect record where evangelism is concerned! All we have to do is magnify and lift up our Savior. He'll pull them in.

Magnifying the Lord also encourages us. It allows us to remember the greatness and splendor of our God. Giving Him greater space in our thoughts and behavior gives Him more opportunities to bless us and show us His mighty works. It brings us closer to seeing the fullness of who He is.

So, let the Lord be magnified in your life today! Let His love shine bright! Let His greatness be known everywhere you go! Lift up the Savior, and watch Him save and deliver those around you.

Verse of the Day: O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3

Thanksgiving Friday

2012-02-03T09:31:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Hope everyone had an awesome week. I am just grateful that this week is over. Glad that my today and tomorrows are better than what has been.

I'm thankful this week for cooler heads... They always prevail. Just being able to sit back, take a minute, breathe, and say a prayer helped me out this week. Thank you Lord for wisdom! Without it, things might have gone a bit more awry.

I'm also thankful for growth. I was so proud as I ministered last week with my friends. Just watching them go forth in God's anointing was amazing. I've been with them since I was a pre-teen, and God has brought all of us a mighty long way! Thank You, Jesus!

Lastly, today I'm thankful for rest. I have a whole day of doing not a single thing tomorrow! I am so excited to be able to rest, relax, and relate. Seems like I've been running non-stop since Christmas! Thank you, Father, for a day of serenity.

What are you thankful for today? Let the Lord know!

Verse of the Day: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Solid Rock

2012-02-02T10:38:00.000-06:00

Today... is a day.

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord... (Psalm 121:1, 2) And I need that help today!

I pray all of you are having excellent days so far. Pray my strength...

God is good. Even in the midst of all of the busyness and things that have to be taken care of, God is still good.

It's nice to just take a minute and pause and think about the greatness of God! He is our rock in the midst of stormy seas. When everything around us is chaotic and troubled, we can cling to His steadfast love. It is so reassuring to have Him ever-present. It's heartening to know that no matter what or who starts acting up in our lives, our Father will remain steady, constant, and faithful.

When the disciples were on a boat that was being walloped by a severe storm, they feared that they were going to die. They were amazed that Jesus was resting peacefully on the boat. After they woke Him up, Jesus questioned their faith. And then He commanded the storm to cease. (Mark 4:36-41)

Don't forget Who's riding with you on your ship! The second you see God freak out - then you can freak out. As long as He is at peace, you can be at peace. And you already know God will never freak out. He will never be flustered, disoriented, or apprehensive. He knows it all, and He knows our glorious everlasting future.

Take heart. You are on solid ground. Things may be shaking, but you will not be destroyed.

Have a great day! (I know I feel better!)

Verse of the Day: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

Keep It Up!

2012-02-01T08:53:00.001-06:00

This year we opened up talking about purpose and achieving progress in the destinies that God has given us. How have you been doing this past month? Are you still making progress? Are you still working towards your goal?

It can be easy to slip back into complacency. Working a vision is hard work. Remember, however, the great benefit! You are working toward your glorious purpose in God. You can't afford to stay where you are. Where you're going is much higher than your current place. Don't you want to go up?

King Solomon took seven years to build the temple. (1 Kings 6:38) Esther was in preparation an entire year before she ever laid eyes on the king. (Esther 2:12) Paul spent around three years after his conversion to learn from the Holy Spirit before he stepped into ministry. (Galatians 1:15-18)

Don't get discouraged in your time of preparation! Don't let the solitude, menial tasks, and foundation building keep you from completing your goal.

This time of blood, sweat and tears will be repaid with times of laughter, satisfaction, and joy! Keep pressing, keep working, and keep following the voice of the Lord. Don't get weary; your harvest is great!

Verse of the Day: He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Proverbs 10:4

Are You Listening?

2012-01-31T10:06:00.001-06:00

We sometimes say it to our children, "You may be hearing me, but you're not listening!"

When you hear something, you're just acknowledging sounds with your ears. When you listen, you pay attention, heed, and obey.

Are you just hearing God, or are you listening to His Word?

As you read your Bible, are you just acknowledging what He has listed, or are you paying attention, heeding, and obeying those words?

It amazes me how often I hear saints talk condescendingly of other peoples' actions. They preach mini-sermons railing against the sin they see. They are so precise with the chapter and verse. Yet they turn right around and sin themselves justifying their actions all the way.

Clearly we all know how to hear, but some of need to work on our listening skills.

God wants all of us to be obedient in all of His word. He encourages us to strive to be like Christ who had no sin in Him. We are to work to be shining examples of God's love walking through the earth.

So, what has God been saying to you? What has He asked you to do, change, stop, or perfect? Are you listening to His requests? Or, are they going in one ear and out the other? Real listening is evidenced by changes in behavior according to what was said. Do your actions show that you're listening or hearing?

Verse of the Day: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

Work What You've Got

2012-01-30T09:57:00.001-06:00

It's the beginning of another week, and I just want to give thanks to God for blessing my weekend. It was filled with games, studying, church services, and bus rides, and I'm glad to say that it was all blessed. I got to minister to the youth with my crew on yesterday, and we had a wonderful time! I'm proud to see my friends go forth in their anointing.

Just wanted to give God some praise for a fabulous weekend before moving forward with this week.

-----

I'm still focused on purpose. This morning I was thinking about how the Bible encourages to live our lives utilizing all of the gifts God has given us.

Jesus illustrated this thought in His parable of the talents. (Matthew 25:14-30) A master leaves his servants with varying amounts of money (talents) while he goes on a trip. Most of the servants take that money, invest it, and are able to increase their amounts of money. However, one servant simply buries his in the ground and does nothing with it.

When the master returns and sees how the servants have multiplied his money, they are given more money to be responsible for.

It's the last servant who angers his master. This servant has his money taken from him, and he is fired.

In the same way, God has given us all talents. We all have various valuable gifts on the inside of us that God placed there for us to purposefully use for His glory. It is our responsibility to 'invest' in our gifts, work them to make them better, and use them in the world to bring in returns for God's Kingdom. When God sees how faithful we are with what He has given us, He will be all the more inclined to entrust us with more.

However, many of us don't utilize our gifts for God's glory. We hoard them to ourselves, use them selfishly, or devalue them altogether. God didn't just give you that talent for you to keep it all to yourself! You better open up your gifts and let the world be blessed!

When you get to heaven, what account will you have to give to the Lord? Will you be able to inform Him of how you used the gifts He gave you to bring others to Christ? Or, will you be trying to explain why you never used your gifts at all?

You've got some valuable assets. Don't let them just sit and collect dust. Don't let them get buried deep inside. Pull them out and use them for the glory of God!

Verse of the Day: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Matthew 25:29

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-01-27T09:00:00.001-06:00

Wow.

It's been a heavy week here at My Morning Ti. Don't know why I was compelled to deal with all of these sadder issues, but hopefully you all were blessed by the messages and words of encouragement.

Now, it's time to pull up some joy and give God some praise!

This week I'm thankful for teamwork. At my job, the teachers have been filling in for their colleagues who were out sick (even I had to sub a period one day). At church, I'm working with a great group of young adults who are going to help me minister to our youth on this coming Sunday. My cheerleading coach is leaving her post (temporarily, we hope) to take on a new job. But she's organized things so effectively I'm sure I'll be fine these next few weeks.

Thank you, Lord, for the support of all of these awesome individuals! Thank You for providing capable help in the time of need. Thank You for people with willing hearts to get the job done.

I'm also thankful for smiles. I have been encouraged to smile this week on several occasions. And I have encouraged others to smile as well. There's something about a good smile that has a way of changing your mood. You should try it too...

Smile!

Don't you feel better? :-)

Lastly, I'm thankful for getting things done. I'm on my way! It's so encouraging checking things off of my list of goals. Plus, I enjoy the satisfaction of having a beautifully completed project for me to reflect on. Yep, I did that! Thanks, God!

What are you grateful for this week? What has you smiling? Are you proud that you got something accomplished?

Go ahead and give the Lord some praise and thanksgiving!

Have a great weekend!

Verse of the Day: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

Dealing With Defeat

2012-01-26T09:11:00.000-06:00

It happens.

The loved one you were praying so hard for passes away. The promotion everybody knew you deserved gets handed to someone else. The weight you worked so hard to lose somehow crept its way back, and you're right back where you started. The man you thought was The One breaks up with you.

The pain of defeat can lead to anger, depression, denial, and doubt. Defeat can cause you to question your faith. It even has caused some to lose theirs.

Yet, defeat in one area can be God setting you up for greatness in another area. We can never know the intricate greatness of God's ultimate plan. We can, however, always take comfort knowing that God is working everything - even our defeats - out for our good. (Romans 8:28)

So, when defeat knocks on your door, take the pain and questions to the Lord. Instead of running from His presence in anger, run to His arms and allow Him to ease your angst.

Hannah spent years feeling defeated in her barrenness. It was when she took her sorrows to the Lord, that He turned things around, and she wound up giving birth to one of the greatest prophets that walked the earth. (1 Samuel 1, 2)

David lived in apparent defeat for years when he lived on the run with a bunch of deadbeats as his friends. Yet, God raised Him up to become the greatest king Israel has ever had. (1 Samuel 22)

Your story is not over. As long as you're breathing, you are still walking to purpose. Don't let defeat keep you from your promised end. Don't let today's pain keep you from tomorrow's joy.

Stay tuned in to your Heavenly Father. He's got you safe in His arms. He's working it all out for your good.

Verse of the Day: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57, 58

Plus One

2012-01-25T08:46:00.000-06:00

There are many moments in life where you will feel all alone. Sometimes the trials of life, pressures of responsibility, confusion in communication, or other odd things can put us at odds with the world around us. Human beings have a way of pulling away from things that they don't understand.

Feeling like no one cares about you or that no one gets you is the worst feeling. You can't talk to anyone, and even if you try those people still don't get it. So, you're left on your own to yourself. You alone have to sift through your thoughts and find a way to make it through whatever it is you're facing.

But, what if I told you that you're not alone?

You aren't.

You have Someone who is always with you. And that Someone understands you and gets you. He identifies with everything you're facing, and He can help you make sense of it all.

You just have to turn to Him and allow Him to be there for you. His arms are already outstretched to you just waiting for you to embrace Him.

You're not alone. Even though man may have abandoned you on every side, Jesus is there regardless of what you've done, what you think, or what you're facing. He doesn't judge. He doesn't condescend.

He just loves.

Don't go through another day feeling lonely. Don't let yourself believe the lie that you have no one who cares about you.

There's Someone who cares. There's Someone who wants to help you. There's Someone who loves you so much. Let Him be there for you. You don't have to be alone.

Verse of the Day: ...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20b

Playing Favorites

2012-01-24T09:19:00.000-06:00

Everyone has a favorite. A favorite song, a favorite tv show, a favorite food... We all have something that excites us, that gives us pleasure, that makes us smile.

Some of us have favorite people. We will go out of our way for them. We'll deprive ourselves to make them happy. We will do our very best to make sure they experience the very best. All because we prefer them over other people we know.

God - thankfully - doesn't play favorites. He doesn't do more for one than He would another. He loves us all equally, and He wants to do His very best to make sure we all experience the very best.

Sometimes it feels like God is playing favorites, though. We see other people getting blessed when we aren't. We go through our own heartaches when others around us seem to be full of joy. We pray and don't feel like God is giving us any answers while our neighbors are testifying of how God came and spoke to them.

How can God not play favorites when He blesses some and not others?

God is sovereign. He knows what He is doing. When He allows dark times in our lives, it's only because He knows that we can handle it. He knows that we can overcome whatever trial that comes our way. Plus, He's working out every situation for our good. (Romans 8:28) He's bringing every person to their expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11) And that end is prosperous for us all.

Today, you may be hurting, but God has allowed someone else to be full of joy just so they can encourage you. Tomorrow you may be the one that's full of strength for someone else who is at a weak point. You may not hear God's voice today, but tomorrow He may answer. God has everything in perfect harmony, so that all of mankind can be blessed.

God doesn't play favorites. He longs for all of us to love Him and to want to please and be close to Him. (1 Timothy 2:4) He sent His Son for all of us to be saved. (John 3:16) He doesn't want any one of us to perish. Whether your sky is gray or sunny, God is walking with you. He will never leave or forsake you. You are His special creation. You are His unique handiwork.

Don't ever forget how special you are to Him.

Verse of the Day: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee... Jeremiah 1:5a

The Storm Is Going To End

2012-01-23T09:50:00.000-06:00

Last Friday, Chicago was bombarded with its first major snowstorm. We got between six to eight inches across the city. The snow came down so fast, they couldn't plow it away fast enough! A drive that normally takes me 15 minutes took an hour and a half.

Today, it's a "balmy" 40 degrees in Chicago, and the snow that we all had to struggle to plow and shovel away has almost totally melted away. It's as if it never happened.

Right now you may be in the midst of a major storm in your life. The trial may be pounding you so fast you might find it hard to recover or even react. What you normally find easy may be taking you much more time and effort to complete.

Don't let the storm knock you out! Don't let the trial have the upper hand. Remember that all storms eventually end. It will get better! The sun will shine again. You will feel its warm rays on your face again.

No matter how much the winds of life may blow, no matter how tired you are of slogging through hazardous roads, no matter how your body may ache from trying to clear away the problems you face... take courage and strength knowing that the Lord is bringing you to your expected end. He will not let you perish! He won't let you fall. He has great things in store for you.

So, you may have to bundle up a little more than normal. You may have to plan your route ahead of time and allow for extra time. Just know that you will reach your destination safely. You will hit your goal. And the sun is going to come out again.

Verse of the Day: ...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-01-20T09:49:00.000-06:00

Well, another week has gone by. I pray that everyone is still making steps of progress in purpose! I know I am. I'm glad to still be motivated.

This week I am thankful for a clothes on my back, a roof over my head, a car that works, heat, and my health. It's getting cold here in Chicago, and today is supposed to be our first real snow. I'm so glad that I will be warm and toasty no matter what. There are many people who can't say the same. So, Lord, I'm thankful that you have provided me these simple blessings.

I'm also thankful for good friends. I had a couple conversations this week that were eye opening. Just being able to sit and talk with someone and have them give you some clarity... Priceless. Thank you, Father, for surrounding me with people of quality and vision!

Finally I'm grateful for my goddaughter, Diamond, who is turning five this weekend! She is so precious and greatly loved. For her alone will I give up my weekend to help chaperone a sleepover of little children. Thanks Father for sending this child into my life. I pray that she has many more happy, healthy years ahead of her. (And thank you Lord for the strength to get through this weekend!)

Make sure you send up your praise and thanksgiving as well! Have a fantabulous weekend.

Verse of the Day: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psalm 103:1

Warning Signs

2012-01-19T10:05:00.001-06:00

At times you can feel sickness sneaking up on you.

Your nose gets stuffed. You sneeze once or twice. Your back starts aching.

Before you know it, your body is under a full-blown attack trying to combat germs. You're downing medicine, taking time off work, and spending more time in your bed than you'd like.

At times we can see sin sneaking up on us too.

We start talking to some guy who we know is no good. We buy the ice cream knowing that the whole carton is going to get inhaled as soon as we get home. We go ahead to the party fully aware of the debauchery that awaits.

We know that no good can come of our behavior. Yet we choose to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We choose to step in front of God and direct our steps the way we want instead of how He wants.

And before we know it, we've fallen prey to sin. We're dealing with drama. We're fighting weight gain and disease. We get caught up in the midst of an altercation we would have avoided had we not been where we were.

And then we want to cry out to God for deliverance.

There are now medicines on the market that are supposed to ward off sickness before you get sick. When you notice your first "warning sign" you can pop a pill to prevent the illness from fully taking over.

As Christians our spirits can always be healthy if they remain within the will of the Holy Spirit. He sounds the alarm to guide us away from sin. Even when things may appear innocent, He keeps us on track. We can be fully safe, blessed, and full of joy if we align our lives with His will.

Far too often, however, we choose to ignore the "warning signs" of impending sin. We choose to turn a blind eye to poor choices. And every time, we fall into the ditch. Every time we get snared by the enemy. It may not happen quickly, but eventually the consequences will be handed out.

Don't keep ignoring the "warning signs". Step back and let the Lord lead. Allow Him to navigate your life. You will avoid so much and benefit far more than you would if you participated in the fleeting pleasure of sin.

Verse of the Day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11

Pick Me Up

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

I'm going to smile today!

How are you this morning? A bit earlier this morning I was feeling a bit down with no real reason to feel that way. As I sat here prepping to write and asking God what to say, I remembered that I could choose joy instead of remain in my funk.

I grabbed hold of the word of God, played a song of praise, and chose to pull up some joy. I found a reason to rejoice. I recalled how blessed I am. I meditated on the goodness of the Lord.

And now I'm feeling much better.

We don't have to take the negative emotions and feelings that may spring up on us throughout our day. Anything that doesn't line up with what God has for us, we have a right to dismiss. We don't have to stay depressed, angry, full of unforgiveness, or melancholy. Those things are only invites from the devil to waste a minute, hour, or even a day.

When the devil succeeds in getting us to take his negativity, we close ourselves off from hearing from God. We take our focus off of others and meditate on ourselves. We miss opportunities to show and share God's love because we're so distracted by our own misery.

Even if it's just for a few moments, who knows what moment of purpose we may miss! We can't let the enemy have any place.

So, if you're feeling down: Shake yourself! Wake yourself! Remember who you are! Remember Who holds you in the palm of His hand. Think on the One who filled you with the breath of life and is ordering your footsteps.

Look behind you and remember how far the Lord has brought you. Look around at the blessed life that surrounds you. Look ahead to the bright future that is in store for you.

You have no reason to feel anything negative. You are blessed! Now, go enjoy your day! I most definitely am going to enjoy mine.

Verse of the Day: Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalm 32:10, 11 (NLT)

Just because:

Power of Unity

2012-01-17T09:27:00.001-06:00

I pray everyone had a fabulous holiday weekend! It zoomed by, and here we are back to our regularly scheduled programs.

Yesterday we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King had a remarkable gift that brought together people of all ages, colors, creeds, and backgrounds to fight on one team against the injustices of racism and prejudice. As they were united in their efforts, they were able to bring about drastic changes in our nation.

It's amazing what a united group can do! When people are on one accord, they are able to accomplish great things. It's one of the reasons that God interfered when the people were trying to build the tower of Babel. He knew that they wouldn't exactly reach heaven, but God also knew that a people united in their arrogance and pride were a dangerous bunch. (Genesis 11)

Gideon's army had to be whittled down until they were a group of men who were united in faith and ability. (Judges 7) The Holy Spirit only showed up when the saints were together praying with one mind and heart. (Acts 2) It was a united front that caused the walls of Jericho to fall. (Joshua 6)

There is a saying that a group is only as strong as its weakest link. Are you the weak link in your community? Are you working against the plans of your group? Can you be depended on to work in a team?

Whether it's for an office, church, business, or even a volunteer activity, no one likes to be in a group with a difficult or lazy person. No one likes to have to compensate for the weak link. No one wants to be on pins and needles because so-and-so is always liable to go off. Deep down, we all want to be united and work together.

Let's make today a day that we strengthen our link in the groups we are a part of. Let's make sure we are doing our part to the best of our ability. Let's quiet our murmurs and complaints. Let's stop being so disagreeable. Let's go above and beyond as we push toward our goal.

A house divided against itself is sure to fall. (Mark 3:25) Let's make sure that we are working to bring unity and strength everywhere we go. Who knows what great things we can accomplish once we start working together?

Verse of the Day: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Afternoon Ti: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

2012-01-13T12:00:00.002-06:00

So, earlier this week I posted a video that was clever, but I wasn't too fond of the premise.

This is a video where I love everything! The message and the delivery are on point. Good stuff!

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-01-13T09:44:00.000-06:00

It's another Friday, and we've had another week of living on purpose! I pray that all of you continuing with your New Year's resolve and not giving in to complacency, fear, or mediocrity!

This week I'm thankful for HELP! God is so good, and He has blessed me to work with some fabulous people who are willing to step in and assist in an excellent manner. I am part of a great team at work. We all complement each other in a way that let's our office run like a fine machine. And my church family is on the money as well. We are all aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we work together to bring everyone's ministry and service up to a higher level. Thank you, Lord, for giving me Help!

I'm also grateful for God's peace. Despite all of the busyness and changes that I've been experiencing this week, I have been at peace. I haven't been sitting up entertaining worry. And stress has bypassed my doorway. I'm at peace through it all! God, I'm so thankful to have your peace!

Finally, I'm giving thanks today for the fast that I am participating in. Each January I'm reminded of the blessing one receives when they turn away from distractions and focus in on God. I've been hearing from heaven, and I am so excited about what God is saying. I've also been able to spend more time in prayer and glean more from the Word of God. I don't even miss the food and entertainment I've stepped away from.

What are you thankful for this week. Lift up your praise and thanksgiving! God is good!

Verse of the Day: Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. Isaiah 58:6-8

Looking For Inspiration

2012-01-12T09:18:00.001-06:00

Keep Going!

Sometimes even knowing that you are headed toward a great destiny is not enough to stay motivated. We all hit points where we grow tired, lose our spark, or just hit a wall and can't figure out a way around it.

The road to greatness is not an easy one. It is purposefully challenging to ensure that those who reach the goal are capable of handling the prize. Working our way down this path will not always be what we want to do. We may want to sit down and take a breather.

We cannot afford to take a breather, and we cannot take our hands away from our task. A moment of respite can easily turn into another destiny missed. In these times that we have to encourage ourselves to stay motivated and reach out to our Heavenly Father to keep our fire burning.

The Bible is full of stories where the people had to stay encouraged. Moses encouraged Joshua in helping him obtain the land God promised to Israel. David had to encourage himself when he was living on the run. Nehemiah kept the people uplifted as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Paul's letters to all the churches were to encourage them to continue in their faith.

Don't let complacency win! Don't get weary in well-doing! Encourage yourself in the Lord. Remember why you started down this road. Remember the vision God has placed in your heart. Find a scripture to stand on. Spend some time in God's presence and let His love re-invigorate you. Play a song that gets your motor running. Listen to a sermon that speaks to where you are.

Everyone has moments where they want to give in. Most people actually do. But champions keep pressing, they keep moving, and they don't give up! Encourage yourself and keep going! Greatness is waiting for you!

Verse of the Day: And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. Judges 20:22

It's Not Just About You

2012-01-11T11:02:00.000-06:00

Right now I am reading through the book of Esther. I make it a point to do this at least once or twice a year. Esther was a woman of purpose who was a great example of how to strategize with the Lord's direction and wisdom.

Yesterday I was reading about Mordecai's plea to Esther to go to the king in order to try and save the Jews from destruction. One phrase in particular stuck out: ...if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed... (Esther 4:14)

God always has a backup. He created man with freewill. We don't have to obey His word, and we don't have to live according to His ways. We have a choice. But God's word will come to pass.

When Saul failed, God had David already in place to take over. When Eli couldn't properly handle his priestly duties, God called out to Samuel. Both of these men's legacies were cut off because they did not heed the word of the Lord.

Mordecai knew that God would find a way to deliver His people. He also knew that if Esther didn't act, she would only be harming herself and her family. Her obedience to God affected those around her as well. When Esther chose to be obedient, God was able to work, and she was elevated along with her cousin Mordecai.

Are you afraid to move with God's call? Are you forcing God to raise up someone else in your place?

Your obedience not only affects your life but the lives of those around you as well. There are numerous families who are being sustained (spiritually and physically) just because of one person's obedience to the will of God. There are grandchildren who are living in wealth just because grandpa and grandma followed the word of the Lord.

It's not just about you. Your life is connected with those around you. Don't become a Saul or an Eli. Choose to obey God's word like Esther. You may find yourself creating a legacy that lasts for years to come.

Verse of the Day: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14

Afternoon Ti: Super Grace

2012-01-10T12:00:00.001-06:00

So, I came across the video for "Super Grace" in my Christian internet travels. Some college students got together and came up with a Christian version to Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass". I've placed it here for your viewing pleasure:

I must commend the young lady for her creativity in coming up with some interesting lyrics, but her premise... I'll pass.

We are in the world, but not of it. The fact that this girl's inspiration came from a secular song - Nicki Minaj nonetheless - does not sit well with me. Plus, this girl had to pretty much memorize the secular version in order to parody it in her Christian version, so she's got those original lyrics well embedded in her spirit.

There are other ways to be creative, funny, engaging, and inspirational other than take what's hot right now in the world and put a "Jesus-spin" on it to make it okay. Our God created music! I'm sure if we tap into Him we can come up with something that works in the same manner and is twice as effective.

This is just my opinion. You may think differently. Let me know.

What do you think of the video?

Your Ministry

2012-01-10T08:45:00.000-06:00

It's All Ministry!

Believe it or not, you have a ministry. You are the leader of your own ministry that serves everyone you come in contact with. You may not be an ordained minister or pastor a church, but you are still a minister. Your ministry is your life. Your life is a service to others.

Whatever it is you do during the day is your ministry. Whether you are a parent, a secretary, a teacher, a cashier, a bus driver... you name it. Everything you do is a ministry. The question is if God is reflected in that ministry.

God has allowed you to occupy those roles and work in those places. He's given you your co-workers, students, children, etc. for you to impact their lives. The work that you do every day He's given expressly for you to handle.

How are you treating your ministry?

Are you working with a joyful spirit or are you begrudgingly trudging through your eight hours? Are you speaking life to those around you or are you speaking words of gossip, slander, and discord? Do you look for ways to be a light to those who you see that are living in darkness or do you even acknowledge their spiritual state?

Every facet of your life is ordered by God. How you handle your life - your ministry - is extremely important. Remember that you are not just existing, you're living on purpose! Don't neglect your ministry!

Don't see your life as just what you have to do in order to 'make a living'. You are supposed to be doing so much more. See each day as an opportunity to share the love of Christ, to minister to the lost, to reach someone who has never been reached, and to do something great for the Lord.

Doesn't that totally change how you look at your life? Your life is a ministry. Go ahead and make it one of the greatest ministries on the planet!

Verse of the Day: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation... 2 Corinthians 5:18

Let's Go!

2012-01-09T08:36:00.000-06:00

Let's go to work!

I am excited! I don't know if it's the new year, the fast that I'm participating in, or something else, but all I know is God is talking and I'm listening!

God has been showing me that this year is a year of living purpose. No more should we just be existing, dreaming, praying, and waiting. This year we will make our way prosperous! (Joshua 1:8) We've written down the vision, now let's go out and bring the vision to pass!

There comes a point when you've done all the planning, analyzing, and forecasting. All of the wisdom on how to take the next step has been gathered. There's no more research that can be done. It's time to step forward. Let's all make some moves this year!

How long are you going to wait to move? What more do you need to begin? God has put His vision on the inside of you; it's time for you to let it out. Start moving in your purpose, begin to live in the promise now.

Don't let this year pass by and having you sitting in the same spot where you began. Let December find you leaps and bounds ahead of where you are now! Think of how proud of yourself you and the Lord will be looking back at how productive you've been this year.

But it all begins with you taking that step to move forward. Things can't start happening until you start the ball rolling. Get to moving! Start your project, live the dream, walk on purpose! This is going to be a great year! Your work will make it certain!

Verse of the Day: And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! Psalm 90:17 (NLT)

Thanksgiving Friday!

2012-01-06T09:18:00.000-06:00

Can you guess what I'm thankful for this week?

That's right! My purpose in God.

I'm thankful that I'm not an accident, that I'm not here by accident, and that God made me expressly for His purpose on purpose. It's wonderful to know that God took time to intentionally put together all of my qualities, talents, and abilities. I am perfectly suited to take on the assignment He's given to me. I can't lose! I'm here on purpose!

I'm also thankful for wisdom this week. I had some things on my mind and decisions to make, and the Holy Spirit was there to guide me in His great wisdom. I know that as I continue to look to Him in all things, He will not steer me wrong. I took some steps and know that I am on the right track. Thank You, Lord, for Your wisdom!

I'm also thankful for provision. I can say that I have lacked nothing in the past year. I have been in good health. My emotional well-being has been strong. I have not been financially pressed. And my spirit has been prosperously increased through my relationship with God. I am rich beyond measure! Lord, I thank You for Your marvellous provision! I give You praise that I lack no good thing!

What are you thankful for this week? What great thing is God doing in your life. Don't neglect giving Him praise and thanksgiving!

Verse of the Day: ...but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:10b

Reason For It All

2012-01-05T09:04:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I referenced how Jesus was living on purpose long before He started His ministry. Jesus made a point to visit the temple to talk with the rabbis and priests and learn the Scriptures. He was such an astute student that He amazed His teachers! (Luke 2:47)

Jesus also studied His teachers. He recognized where they were making mistakes and mistreating God's Word. He realized how their lives were not lining up with what they were preaching to the people. And when His turn came to instruct, Jesus made sure that the same could not be said of Him. He was also able to use His wisdom to skillfully combat their criticism when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to stop His ministry.

The ordinary things of life also were impactful to Jesus' ministry. He took note of the farmer, the shepherd, and the fisherman as He grew up. He watched how they went about their work, and He was able to use that knowledge to reach thousands of farmers, shepherds, and fishermen when He began to preach.

You may be on your way to your ultimate moment of destiny. Yet, right now there are things going on that are still relevant to your mission. Every circumstance and every instance is an opportunity for you to learn, grow, and sharpen your purpose.

God leads you down certain paths for His reasons. You're not experiencing what you are for nothing. Begin to ask the Lord to show you how to link your current place with your future promise. Don't just allow life to wash over you. Recognize there is a purpose in it all.

Verse of the Day: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23

New Year, New Look

2012-01-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Hey All!

Just a note to let you know that when you log on during the month of January you'll be seeing some different changes and tweaks going on. I'm working to get this blog better: better looking, better writing, better all around. By the end of the month, it should be set.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks for your patience!

Tiara

Here On Purpose

2012-01-04T09:57:00.000-06:00

I'm meditating on purpose this week, and yesterday the Lord ministered this to me:

You were created by God on purpose for a purpose, and when you make God's purpose your purpose, all things will come together for your good.

Isn't that amazing?! God made you on purpose. Everything about you that makes you you, God put there intentionally. All of your gifts, talents, traits, and mannerisms, God packaged together specifically when He created you.

Then He picked the nation, city, family, mother and father, even the year to purposefully insert you into the history of this planet. He timed your birth perfectly for you to fulfill His special purpose. You are no accident. You are here for a reason.

When you look at purpose this way, you can't help but be humbled. And you can't help but be motivated. If God lined everything up 'just so' to get us here, the least we can do is walk in His purpose for us. We can't waste such a specific, special plan.

If you don't know your purpose in God, I suggest you get before Him and allow Him to show you why you're here. If you do know your purpose, identify what stage you're in and take those necessary steps to keep your mission going. If you're walking in your purpose already, keep going! Don't lose the faith and remain strong.

Jesus knew His mission. He accomplished it in about three years. Yet, before He hit the climax, he was in preparation years before. At twelve we see Him "about my father's business" sitting at the feet of the rabbis in the temple. He had His eyes on the prize long before He spoke a parable or performed a miracle.

No matter where you are in life, you are still on assignment. God created you on purpose for His purpose. Sync up with your Creator and start living on purpose. You're not here just to exist. You're here to be a success. You won't experience true success until you embrace your true reason for living.

Verse of the Day: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6

Living On Purpose

2012-01-03T09:20:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we all marched into a new year. 2012 is in full effect, and most folks are rejoicing about their new opportunity to achieve something great. Everyone's Twitter, Facebook, and blogs were filled with declarations that 2012 will be "the best year ever" and that the new year would see them achieving their dreams and aspirations.

Everyone was taking note of the new windows, doors, chances, and openings that were suddenly available just because the calendar was changing to January 1st. And it's true: we all have an opportunity to begin anew. But can I say that the same old you is the one who is privy to all these new opportunities?

The same you that reveled in the new years of 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and as far back as you started realizing the new year was relevant is the you that's walking into 2012.

Now, we all grow and mature, but somehow we lose sight of our January 1st selves by mid-January. In a few weeks all of our excitement has dwindled to a simmer, and by February it's a distant memory. Those opportunities for greatness somehow fall by the wayside, and our aspirations to do better fall back into our normal output.

BUT NOT THIS YEAR!!!!

This year I offer that we live on purpose striving to do better, be better, and achieve more than we ever have before. This year we will change our mindset and begin to think with the mind of Christ. We will take on the work God has called us to do and watch our efforts bear fruit.

No longer will we just say the words. Nope, this year we will walk the walk and let our actions speak louder than our declarations. God has put us on this earth to achieve great things for Him, and this year we will purpose to get some of those things done!

Who's with me?

Verse of the Day: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7a (AMP)

Thanksgiving Friday!

2011-12-31T14:43:00.001-06:00

Thought I posted this from my phone yesterday. CLEARLY it didn't.

Today I'm thankful for family. Right now I'm on my way to a funeral. My aunt passed on Christmas, and my family has come together in an awesome way. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such an amazing group of loved ones!

I'm also thankful for life. We woke up today, saints! Let's do something amazing just because we are still here. Thanks, God, for another day.

What are you thankful for today? How have God's blessings been falling on you? Send up some praise and gratitude!

He's Going to Do It!

2011-12-29T09:11:00.000-06:00

So, the year is coming to a close. Maybe you had some prayer requests up before the Lord that haven't been answered yet. You might be feeling a bit discouraged that you haven't attained that promise that you know the Lord has for you.
I know exactly how you're feeling. Right now I'm trying to ignore my left hand that clearly doesn't have a ring on it yet! But that's neither here nor there. We cannot allow ourselves to grow despondent. We cannot cave in to doubt and disbelief. We cannot allow ourselves to begin to question God or even ourselves.

We just have to trust. We just have to believe. We just have to stand and having done all to stand: stand.

He's going to do it!

The Lord is a keeper of His word. Just like He showed Joseph his future greatness, the Lord kept His word. Joseph may have had to suffer through slavery and imprisonment on the way, but the Lord kept His promise.

Just like the Lord kept His word to Abraham. Abraham may have had to wait years for God's promised heir for him to show up, but the boy did show up!

And even David had to wait for the fulfillment of his destiny. He was anointed king years before he took the throne. And while he waited, David was on the run just to stay alive!

With even the biggest promise, the dispatch of a Redeemer that would save mankind and bring them back to right standing with God, there were generations that passed before the word came to fruition. But, the Lord kept His promise.

How much more will God keep His promise to you? Don't lose heart! Don't give in! Keep believing God's word. Keep standing on His promises. You won't be left hanging. You won't be disappointed. Our God is faithful and just.

He's going to do it!

Verse of the Day: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

Tomorrows vs. Today

2011-12-28T09:16:00.000-06:00

Right now many people are evaluating their lives and looking for ways to improve on themselves in the coming new year. Resolutions are being prepared, new classes are being enrolled in, and self-help books are being bought. All because the calendar is telling us that a fresh, new year is upon us.

However, every day we wake up is a fresh, new opportunity to do better than the day before. Each new day is a clean slate ready for us to get our shine on. No matter the day of the week or the date on the calendar, every time we greet another day is a time for us to go to a higher place.

All of us have areas that we need to improve. We all have projects that we need to start (or finish). We all know that we can do a bit better in how we are living.

Why wait until January 1st to start on a journey of purpose? Why not start now and experience the satisfaction of improving your life? Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Right now all you have is today.

It seems like we all live glorious tomorrows. It is in our tomorrows that we place our hard work, dedication, diligence, and productivity. Our tomorrows shine with the glow of completing projects and fulfilling dreams. Our tomorrows are the keepers of our destiny.

Yet if we do nothing today, we will never get to tomorrow. So, why not start today? Take today to start on that resolution. Use today as day one of that great project. Tomorrow is not promised, but today is here. Grab hold of it, and make it great!

Verse of the Day: So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17

You're So Special!

2011-12-27T09:59:00.001-06:00

The holiday season is big on emphasizing others. We finally pop out of our own little bubbles and take notice of the ones around us during this time of year. We spend our time, money, and brain power coming up with ways to be a blessing to others.

This is all well and good. But let me insert one little selfish moment for you as you go about spreading cheer and love.

You're SO special!

You're so special because God loves you.
Even with all that we do that is contrary to His will. The many ways we disappoint Him and fail over and over again. God still loves us. God still loves you. He wants you to spend time with Him. He longs to hear your voice and speak with you. He has worked out an incredible purpose and destiny for your life. You're SO special!

You're so special because God gave His best for you.
God knew that the world needed a way it could rightly get back to Him. And out of His great love for us, He chose to give His best: His own Son. (John 3:16) Who in their right mind would give up their own offspring to rescue a bunch of stubborn, disobedient creatures?! Let alone, allow their child to die for them!

Yet, God did this. Just for us. Just for you. He gave His best just to give you the opportunity for you to choose to come back to Him. He didn't even know if you would comply. And He still chose to give His best for you anyway. You're SO special!

You're so special because God gave His all for you.
God sent His only son as a way out for us. There was no other way, and He freely gave His all. Not only did He allow His Son to come and be our deliverer, but He also sent His Holy Spirit to be our comforter and guide. (John 14:26) His angels keep watch over us and protect us. (Psalm 91:11) He has blessed us to embody the fruit of the spirit and experience those traits that are unique to His kingdom. Everything God has in His possession He has made available to us. All we have to do is grab hold of what He has offered us. You're SO special!

Today keep reminding yourself of your special position with God. You are His prized possession, and all He wants to do is show you His love and give you His all. You're SO special!

Verse of the Day: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

Thanksgiving Friday!

2011-12-23T09:11:00.000-06:00

This week I am grateful that I am going into a break!!! So well deserved and needed. My eyes are on Monday when I get to sleep in all day if I want to! Can't wait.

Today I am thankful for my family. We are all gathering together for our Christmas dinner today since the holiday falls on a Sunday. I'll get to see my uncles, cousins, and friends that I rarely see for the rest of the year. And this year Granny hooked it up, so we don't have to cook as much! I'm thankful to be a part of such a loving bunch. My days were filled with laughter, love, and warmth, and I thank God for choosing this family for me to grow up in.

I'm also thankful for the dawning of new beginnings. With the close of a year, my mind always seems to look forward, and there are a lot of great things on my horizon. God is showing me where He wants to take me, and I am ready and willing to go! Thank You Lord, for Your words of promise to me! Thank You for showing me why I'm here!

I'm also grateful most of all for Jesus. If He hadn't chosen to come, we wouldn't be celebrating right now. If Jesus hadn't chosen to have His majesty shrouded in the humble form of a baby boy, we wouldn't have the comfort and joy that we're experiencing right now. Jesus, I am so happy You chose to come to earth! I'm so happy that You didn't just come, but You fulfilled Your mission giving up Your innocent life for the countless souls who were on their way to hell. Thank You for giving us the choice of eternal life!

Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

Verse of the Day: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14

In Prayer

2011-12-22T09:02:00.000-06:00

This morning I'm in a more prayerful mood. So, I decided to pray for all of us this morning.

Lord, I pray for everyone reading this blog. I pray for their families and loved ones. Bless all of us today. Allow us to feel Your presence and touch as we go about our day.

This is a time of remembering your Son and the fact that He came to save us. Thank you for sending Him, thank you for allowing Him to repair the breach. Help us to not get so caught up in the presents, errands, cooking, and fellowship that we forget the real reason we are celebrating: Jesus' birth.

Father, watch over us during this season. Keep your arms of protection wrapped around us, shelter us with your wings. There is so much negativity going on, and we ask that you shield us with your mighty hand.

God, we ask you to order our footsteps. Allow us to live on purpose following your will in all things. Help us to hear the voice of the Spirit clearly with any decision that we have to make. Let us walk in assurance that we are in your will.

Give us a boldness to speak to others of your goodness. When you nudge us to open our mouths, help us to follow through and speak the Word of the Lord to those who are in the most need of hearing it. Let us point someone to You today. Let us be that example to the world of what it means to be in Christ.

Thank You, Lord, for your many blessings. We could not have reached this point if it was not for you. We thank You for Your awesome love, and we praise You.

Amen.

Have a great day, everyone!

Verse of the Day: My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:3

Rise Above

2011-12-21T09:35:00.001-06:00

This morning my co-worker was complaining how their happy mood was ruined by another person's grumpiness. I told him that he should never let someone else's emotions dictate his own. "You can choose to be happy," I said. "You can choose to rise above."

All too often we allow the cares of the day, other people's actions, and the like to blow our own emotions in helter-skelter directions. We catch an attitude because of someone else's behavior, we get depressed seeing someone else get what we wanted, we stop caring because it doesn't seem like anyone else does...

Yet we have the ability to choose to be happy. It's our choice to remain at peace. We can choose to dwell on the positives in life. We can choose to remain unaffected by others.

Since we know the Truth, possess the real love of God, and walk with Him as our guide, we have no reason to ever be swayed by what goes on in this world. We are possessors of the ultimate promise in Jesus, so why let a mere person stop us from walking in that light?

As you go about your day today, try to rise above any negativity that comes your way. Don't give in to the quick attitudes and refuse to dip into anger. Remember who you are in Christ, and what He has promised to you. Those little cares of the world mean nothing when compared to eternity. Don't let them keep you from walking in your eternal bliss.

Verse of the Day: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:6

Oh, Wait... It Is Christmas!

2011-12-20T08:44:00.000-06:00

The holiday mood hasn't gotten to me yet it seems. I only started Christmas shopping on Sunday. I guess with all of the homework, games, and other things going on, I didn't realize how close the holiday is.

Yesterday I attended two holiday parties which were polar opposites of each other. Thankfully, the second one was the one I really enjoyed, and that put me into a more festive holiday mood.

As a believer in Christ, Christmas automatically means more to me than presents, good food, and a tree. It means that my Savior chose to come down in the humble form of a man to save humanity from their sins. It means that God became what He created in order to save it from certain death.

What a love!

Now that I am in the holiday spirit, I am looking at ways I can choose to show love. Just as Jesus showed the greatest love in coming and dying for us, we too can show love to others. We can choose to go out of our way for someone else. We can choose to go above and beyond to let someone else feel the love of God. We can choose to give instead of receive.

As this year comes to a close, let's purpose in our hearts to exemplify Christ's self-less love. Not everyone has a loving family, money for gifts, or even a place to put a tree. Not everyone can say they will have a Merry Christmas.

With the love that we show to those we do not know we can bring more than just cheer. We can introduce a love that lasts far beyond the Christmas season. It's a gift that keeps giving for all eternity.

Verse of the Day: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34

Ceaseless Communication

2011-12-19T09:47:00.000-06:00

In I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to Pray without ceasing. We are to be in communication with the Lord at all times, without stopping, no interruptions.

How many of us truly keep up with this command?

Anybody?

No one?

We basically don't even attempt ceaseless prayer because we don't see how we can do any one thing ceaselessly but breathe - and we do that automatically.

However, the premise of this verse is played out in our lives more than we think. We just don't apply it to prayer.

Many of us give ceaseless attention to our phones. I know my phone is the first thing I check when I wake up, and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep. It never leaves my side during the day, and I am always checking it for updates. Let's not even talk about what happens if I forget it somewhere. It's ceaselessly a part of my day.

Others of us give our ceaseless attention to that special man or woman in our lives. We think about them constantly: wondering how they're doing, anticipating the next time we'll see them, thinking of ways to make them feel special. They are constantly on our minds.

Then there are those of us who ceaselessly give our focus to our jobs. We wake up with the job on the brain, spend all of our time at the job, and constantly think about our work. Ceaseless!

There are many other items that can be placed in that slot. Yet what should be taking precedence is our relationship with the Father.

He is who should be the first person we think about in the morning. It should be Him we are looking to for guidance as we go about our day. When issues arise, it is He who we should talk to. As we go through our day, we should be looking for ways to show Him love in how we live.

Jesus modeled this principle perfectly. He was a man who lived a life of prayer. He did nothing unless He got the okay or example from the Father. As a result, He lived a life of focused purpose. Never once do you see Jesus worried, afraid, lost, or depressed. He stayed on target and was able to fulfill His life's mission without extra time or detours.

Who knows how much our lives could improve if we just took on an attitude of constant communication with God?

Today, make the effort to put this verse into practice. Before you check in on the apps on your phone, text a friend, call that special someone, take on another project at work, or do whatever it is that snatches most of your time during the day, have a conversation with your Heavenly Father. Ask Him what's on His heart for you today. Listen for His words of love and give Him some in return.

He wouldn't ask us to consistently stay connected if it wasn't for our good. Let's put that word to work!

Verse of the Day: Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

Thanksgiving Friday!

2011-12-16T10:36:00.000-06:00

Good morning! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Today I'm thankful that my Theology Class is OVER!!!! I finished my paper, took my final, and now I can let that thing go. I didn't do as well on the final as I had hoped, so now I'm thinking that I'm going to get a high B. We'll see what my teacher gives me. I'm grateful for what I've learned, but I am happy to get my life back! That class was very demanding.

I'm also thankful today for answered prayer. I had a couple requests up before the Lord that I wanted to see happen before the end of the year, and one of them was answered yesterday! I'm so happy for God opening the door. And this was out of nowhere! God does everything for a reason, and He's never let me down. Thank you Lord for hearing my heart's cry.

Finally, I'm thankful for wisdom. God has allowed me to be the voice of wisdom for a few of my friends and co-workers, and it's so awesome to see the Word that I've planted in my heart is producing fruit that is helping to benefit other people's lives. The word we meditate on isn't always for ourselves, sometimes it's to help out someone else.

What are you thankful for this week? What has God been doing for you? Make sure you give God some thanks and praise!

Verse of the Day: I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. Psalm 118:5

How Are You?

2011-12-15T12:53:00.000-06:00

So, I've been up all night, up all morning and my paper is.... not finished. Womp. I only have one page left, but still... So, here I am at work, half-sleep and counting down til I have to take another crack at finishing. Moving on...

How are you?

No, really. How are you? Have you sat down and considered it lately? I'm not talking about your current state of emotion. I'm talking about the very core of your being. What's going on inside? What feeling do you get when you are alone and still? - How are you?

A lot of times we are so busy living life that we don't take time to assess our mental, physical, emotional state while we're going through life.

Are you happy? Sad? Disappointed? Depressed? Tired? Joyful? Content? Indifferent? Hopeless? Lonely?

Take some time to get a clue as to what's going on with you. Any answer in the negative, you probably need to sit down with the Father and figure out how to change that situation around.

You're not here to just exist. You have a genuine purpose to fulfill. And while you're out here living it, you are supposed to be full of life of Christ! (John 10:10) God's life brings joy, peace, contentment, and fulfillment. If you're not experiencing these things - there's a disconnect somewhere.

Don't just let life wash over you. Don't let what you're going through affect your life in Christ. Don't just put on a brave face every day and ignore your own inner cries for help.

Jesus wants you to stay full of joy. With joy (notice it's not happiness, but joy), you receive peace and contentment. It's a wonderful way to live.

If you're not living your life with joy and peace, get before the throne of God and ask Him to show you how to get there. Ask Him to guide you back into His fulfilling way of life.

Verse of the Day: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

Reading is Fundamental

2011-12-15T07:19:00.000-06:00

The Lord is good, and his mercy endureth forever.

I am surrounded by journal articles, textbooks, and notes. How about I didn't realize unil yesterday that my paper is due today! (I thought it was due Friday.) So, I am squeezing it all in right now trying for that A!

Will post something more substantial later!

No Words

2011-12-14T09:29:00.000-06:00

"Lord, I don't know what to say."

This has been my excuse for not witnessing on many occasions. I'll have it in my heart to go and witness or I'll see someone that I could talk to, but I just don't have the guts to go and open my mouth simply because I tell myself I don't know what to say.

I've never been that outgoing, so striking up conversations with random people has always been a challenge for me. Adding Christ into the mix?? That's an uphill battle I would rather not climb.

Now, if someone enters the house of God looking for salvation, I have no problem pointing them to Jesus. I can talk anyone's ear off inside the church. But that's not where it really counts. Jesus said go into the world and preach, not sit in the pew and wait for them to come to you. (Mark 16:15)

The Holy Spirit has convicted me about my attitude. I have the King of Kings sitting inside of me, and I'm afraid to have a conversation. There are no words.

When God called Moses to go before Pharaoh, Moses brought up his inability to speak. God told him that He would be with Moses' mouth and would show him what to say. How much more will the Holy Spirit help us when we call on Him?

Maybe you're like me and don't jump to witness since you don't know what to say. Or maybe you're staying silent out of fear of what the other person will say. Maybe witnessing as you're out and about doesn't even occur to you.

Whatever your excuse, don't let the work of the Kingdom be hindered by your inaction. I am leaning on the Holy Spirit to guide my lips and trusting that the King inside of me will stand up when I open my mouth. We can't let fear of man keep us from advancing God's Kingdom on the earth. Man cannot get us into heaven or hell, but our message could save their souls from eternal damnation.

We have to be a witness. We can't stay silent. So, let's all put down our excuses, go out into the world, and be God's mouthpiece.

Verse of the Day: And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Exodus 4:11, 12

Offended?

2011-12-13T09:09:00.000-06:00

Sometimes as we go through our day people offend us and we don't let our offense be known. The issue may not be worthy of mentioning or the circumstances were not right to acknowledge the slight. Yet, inside our hearts the offense remains, festering and hardening into a knot of unforgiveness.

Those slight offenses build up bringing with them bitterness, anger, and the spirit of the grudge. They change how we act toward the people who have offended us. They keep us from acting in real love towards those around us.

Most concerning, however, is how these offenses hinder us from a genuine relationship with the Father. Unforgiveness keeps us out of the will of God. It blocks our own forgiveness, and keeps us from our blessings. (Matthew 6:15)

Don't let yourself get fooled into thinking that holding onto a grudge isn't sin. Just because you haven't openly addressed your anger does not mean that it does not exist. If anything, the hidden anger does more damage, eating away at your heart and causing damage to your spirit. Eventually that damage leaks into your behavior and causes you to act in ways that are not pleasing to the Lord.

God sees straight to your heart. He sees all the "knots" of unforgiveness. He can recognize the grudges you secretly hold. Nothing is hidden from Him.

So, today, take some time to examine your heart. Are you holding on to secret offenses? Are you harboring unforgiveness?

Don't let another day pass without you releasing those things to the Father. Choose to forgive and move on. Allow the spirit to ease the pain of your offense and release you into the freedom of being in right standing with Him.

Verse of the Day: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Today Is Your Day!

2011-12-12T08:47:00.000-06:00

It's a new day! You're in a new place facing something you've never faced before. You have the opportunity to do something new, achieve something you never have, go somewhere you've never gone.

God woke you up on purpose this morning. He has kept you alive to fulfill something for His Kingdom. It's up to you to get with Him and figure out just what that is. Don't think of today as just any ordinary day.

Philip was in his lane, preaching the gospel and bringing souls into the Kingdom when an angel spoke to him and interrupted his flow. Philip's obedience to the angel led him to a man of great influence who he led to the Lord. And when Philip's work was done, he was caught up in the spirit to a whole different city! (Acts 8:29-40)

Who knows what God wants to do with you today?

Today could be your day to receive your blessing. Today could be your day to be a blessing. Today, a new door of promise could open. Today your purpose could come into fruition.

No matter what, today is your day! Grab hold to it, get with God, and make the most of these 24 hours. Expect greatness. Look for the miraculous. Anticipate with joy God's movement on behalf.

You're not sitting there breathing for nothing, God's going to use you today!

Verse of the Day: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psalm 89:15, 16

Thanksgiving Friday!

2011-12-09T09:29:00.000-06:00

Hello, Blessed and Highly Favored of God! I pray you have enjoyed a fabulous week! I woke up this morning to snow on my car!!! Had to break out the snow brush and drive slow. I guess winter has finally arrived in the Chi.

This week I am grateful that I only have one more week of class left! I'm so serious. This has been the most challenging one yet. I'm teetering on the edge of a B or an A, so I'm pushing hard to do well on this research paper and final exam. Pray for me, saints!

I'm also thankful for God's anointing power. It's so amazing how God has anointed us for our purpose in Him. We have the exact gifting and talent necessary to achieve our life's work for the Kingdom. It may take a little more training, experience, and knowledge getting on our part, but the foundation God has given us is sure. We're already ready!

Lastly, I'm thankful for unexpected blessings. I was unexpectedly blessed a couple of times this week, and it always makes me smile. God always finds a way to show me He loves me. Now I'm looking for opportunities to show unexpected blessings to someone else. It's even better to give love than to receive it sometimes.

What are you thankful for this week? Make sure you take a moment and show the Lord your gratitude!

Verse of the Day: Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Psalm 65:4

Step Out of the Boat

2011-12-08T09:08:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I talked about following the Holy Spirit's voice and having the faith to go and do something extraordinary.

Peter did this when he saw Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm. (Matthew 14) For a moment, Peter had a clear vision of who God was and what He is able to accomplish. Peter put his faith out there, and when Jesus told him to walk on the water, Peter did just that.

Can you imagine how exhilarated Peter must have felt as he walked on water?! As long as Peter stayed focused on Christ, he was able to continue to work in the miraculous. Yet, the very second Peter started paying attention to the wind and waves bustling around him, he began to sink.

Maybe you had your moment of clear vision and stepped out onto the water yourself. Maybe you heard the voice of the Lord and followed His call. You might know the exhilaration of working in the miraculous.

And maybe you, like Peter, started noticing the signals from the world that what you were doing was impossible. Maybe you paid too much attention to doubt and fear as you got further from your place of security. Perhaps you know what it's like to start to sink.

That's no reason to give up. It's no excuse to never get out of the boat again.

Peter went on to become one of the strongest leaders for the early church. It was he who preached the first sermon after Jesus went back to heaven. He was the one who participated in the working of miracles on the temple steps. He helped organize and put together the workings of the church.

Don't let past errors keep you from future victories! Learn from what you have gone through, build up your faith, and step out again with Jesus. He will always be there to catch you, and as you stay focused on Him, He will lead you to your place of miracles.

Verse of the Day: And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:28, 29

Follow God's Lead

2011-12-07T09:25:00.000-06:00

The Holy Spirit at times will prompt us to say or do something out of the ordinary. It may be something huge like starting a business or something as simple as starting a conversation with a stranger on the bus. But, no matter what the Holy Spirit prompts us to do, it's in our best interest to listen.

Many times, however, we tend to second guess that Inner Voice. We rationalize why we can't start a business right now. Or we look at factors as to why we can't possibly be hearing right - that person is sporting a major attitude, and it doesnt' look like they want to talk to anybody on this bus.

But amazing things can happen when we step outside of our comfort zones and follow the Lord's lead.

When Moses followed God's voice, he was able to become one of the greatest leaders the nation of Israel has ever had. Esther's obedience to God's will caused her to preserve her kinsmen from certain death. Samuel's answer to God's voice enabled him to become one of the greatest prophets to walk on the earth.

What is the Holy Spirit telling you to do? What has He dropped in your spirit? Are you listening and acting on His word? Or, are you creating excuses for not listening?

God wants to do great things with you and through you! Follow His lead, He will only steer you into success. The fact that you haven't done something before should be your motivation to act. When you do something you've never done, you get a result you've never had. And with God, that result can only be epic greatness.

Verse of the Day: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

Work The Word!

2011-12-06T09:33:00.000-06:00

Last night I took some time to exercise my faith and confess the Word. I had to face some difficult issues yesterday, and I knew that before I went to sleep, I needed to strengthen my spirit. So, I took out the Word and reminded the Lord and myself of what He had spoken over my life and the life of my family.

It was David's remembrance of God's Word that helped him when he was facing hardships and trouble. The book of Psalms is full of David's prayers where he clung to God's Word to sustain him.

Jesus was able to endure the temptation of satan by His continued dependence on God's Word. With every situation the devil presented, Jesus was able to overcome it with the Word of God.

It is in God's Word that we are to put our trust. (Proverbs 30:5) It is His Word that never fails. (Isaiah 55:11) His Word will bring life, order, and blessing. (John 6:63)

It is our job to work the Word. Our faith to believe, confess, and meditate on the Word brings about the changes we seek. We have to grab onto what God has spoken over our lives. Whether it's a written Scripture, a Word received during quiet moments of prayer, or a prophetic Word, we have to put our active faith in agreement with it. We can't just let it lie dormant.

What Word of God are you using to activate your blessing? What Word are you standing on in faith? What Scripture are you holding onto that speaks to your situation?

Make sure you are keeping God's Word on your lips!

Verse of the Day: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

Giving Back

2011-12-05T08:58:00.000-06:00

During the holidays, most people remember about giving back to those in need. Charities see an uptick in donations and volunteers, churches host food/toy drives, and neighborhoods band together to sponsor Christmases for families in need.

As Christians, it is our responsibility to think of those less fortunate all the time. Jesus instructed us that when we show love to a stranger in need, we are actually showing love to Him.

Today I was thinking about the last time I gave to a stranger in need. Nowadays, people give to the places that they know, ones that they can be assured won't mess around with their donation. You know, their church, this particular charity (because those other ones can't be trusted), this family, that particular cause. We can't be just throwing our goodwill around to just anybody.

But it is those we don't know that could be the ones in the greatest need. It's the face that we don't recognize that could be the most blessed by our love.

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you this holiday season. Instead of putting money in the red pot outside the mall, He may lead you to a young lady inside the mall scouring through the clearance rack. The Lord may stop you from writing your annual check to your favorite charity and have you drop off some cash in someone's mailbox instead.

In all things we are to be led by God. Even our charitable work can be a time for the miraculous. Our giving back can create moments for the glory of God.

Don't let this season pass without checking what the Holy Spirit would want you to do. He may show you a new path that will bring much greater joy to the Kingdom.

Verse of the Day: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Matthew 25:34-36

Thanksgiving Friday

2011-12-02T09:13:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, Everyone! We made it to the end of another great week. God is so good.

This week I'm thankful for another year of life. I'm grateful for what I've learned this year, how I've grown, the friends I've made, and the experiences I've had. God has blessed me so much.

It's true there are some things that I would like to have done by now. I would like to be married or at least engaged. I would like to have done some more things in the ministry. Yet, I won't complain. In fact, looking at some of the people who are in the places where I'd like to be and seeing the challenges they are facing, I can hold off for a while. God knows when I'll be ready.

I'm also thankful for the will to carry on. This week has been trying with work, volunteer activities, homework, and family items all cluttering up every minute. I seriously thought about just loosening the reigns and trying for a 'B' instead of an 'A' in this class I'm taking. (I really am tired, ya'll.) BUT, I have the will to carry on. I am continuing to press toward the mark! I'm grateful for the strength God is giving me.

Finally, I'm thankful for the Word. It is truly a light unto my path right now. The Word is reminding me of God's goodness, and it's keeping me focused on my end goal: Victory!

What are you thankful for today? How has God been blessing you? Go ahead and give God some praise!

Verse of the Day: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

Greatness of the Word

2011-12-01T09:03:00.000-06:00

This morning I've been meditating on the first chapter of John. I've been focusing particularly on the aspect of Jesus being the Word:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-4, 14

Jesus Christ is God's Word. He is the Word that helped create the heavens and the earth. He is the Word that enacted an everlasting covenant with Abraham. He is the Word that established God's law with Israel.

Jesus is the physical manifestation of the Word that revealed God to Samuel. He is the Word that revealed truths to Jeremiah and the prophets.

It is this Word that established the early church. Because of the Word thousands were added to the Kingdom, miracles were performed, and bondages were broken. The Word enabled the Gentiles to be freed from the snares of sin.

This same Word - Jesus - dwells on the inside of you as a believer. The Word that spoke and healed the centurion's servant has given you power and authority. (Luke 10:19) The same Word that said "peace be still" and the winds and waves ceased storming, has said that you can do greater works than that. (John 14:12)

What have you been doing with the Word that lies on the inside of you? What life have you brought to seemingly dead situations? What greater works have you done because of the Word that you hold?

We have so many benefits because of our faith in Christ! Yet, if we don't act on those benefits, if we don't take advantage of our privileges, we won't see the miraculous.

If Peter hadn't stepped out of the house and preached the Word on the day of Pentecost, thousands of souls would not have come to know Jesus. If Paul and Silas had stayed silent in the jail cell, a whole household would have missed out on heaven's promise.

Imagine what could be lacking if you don't act on the Word that lies on the inside of you. Think of how many situations in your own life that can be changed if you apply the Word to them in faith.

You have a powerful, precious gift. Use it! Why settle for what is 'normal' or what everyone else has? As a Christian, you have the ability to lead an extraordinary life. Well, go on and live it! Use the Word!

Verse of the Day: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name... John 1:12

Pulling On Joy, Again

2011-11-30T10:15:00.000-06:00

This morning, it took everything in me to get out of bed. I am so exhausted! (It's not from partying, either.) Yet, I still had responsibilities, and I pressed in to work. Right now I'm willing myself to make it through today. Pray my strength...

But one thing I'm aiming to do is to not complain. I'm trying to become a person that is always a light of joy, so that others can be blessed by the joy of the Lord they see in me. So, I'm casting this burden on the Lord, and letting Him care for me.

I wrote a post a while ago that's appropriate for today. And, to be honest, my brain is so tired, it's taking some effort to string these few sentences together. I hope you enjoy and have a blessed day!

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With all of the chaos that’s going on in the world today, it may be a bit hard to find some joy. It’s so easy to focus on everything that seems to be going wrong: the job you can’t find, the money you don’t have, the inspiration that you’ve lost… How can one find joy in the midst of so much despair?

I love the scripture that where it talks about David encouraging himself in the Lord. (I Samuel 30:6) Often encouragement comes down to us deliberately choosing to look past the problem and see the God that is always there. No matter what we go through, God is always orchestrating things for our good. We just get so caught up in the process that we tend to disregard the positives sometimes.

Don’t let this happen to you. Whenever you feel despair knocking at your door, block it out by remembering the goodness of the Lord. Remember how He helped you overcome obstacles in times past. Remember where He sent unexpected blessings in your time of need. Think of how He sent His mercy when you knew you deserved punishment. Take heart in how he rescued you from destruction.

God is so good! And He is the same God today that He was when He walked you through all of those other valleys of darkness. Don’t lose hope! Reach deep inside and pull up some joy! The joy of the Lord will give you the strength to make it through! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Verse of the Day: Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Go, Ti! It's Your Birthday!

2011-11-29T09:07:00.000-06:00

Brownies!
My bday 'cake'...

I am praising God for another year of life!

God is sooo good! I've seen some doors close, but a lot more have opened. God has proven His faithfulness, and kept me in perfect peace. I have no reason to complain.

I've had a year of great health: No hospital visits, no prescriptions, no real trauma in my body. Grateful!

I've moved to new employment: I'm loving what I'm doing, couldn't find a better commute, and I get to have a life!

I have family and friends who love me: No matter how I may act, my family and friends show me so much love. God has truly blessed me with a group of people who have enriched, blessed, and inspired my life.

I am reaching for my dreams: This blog is doing so well. Thank you all for reading, commenting, and supporting! I am thankful for all of you! It's so humbling that you all choose to visit every day to get some spiritual refreshment. Thank you!
I'm also grateful for the fabulously wonderfully gifted, smart, and motivated teenagers that the Lord has placed in my care. Helping them grow in their Christian walk has pushed me to a higher level of accountability, and I'm proud to take on the challenge.

This coming year is going to be just as awesome. I'm expecting great things from God. I'm also expecting to do great things for God. He has blessed me more than I deserve, and I am happy He has called me His own.

I pray you all have a blessed day too! (Afternoon Ti, anyone? We still need to get our devotion on! I'll be back later.)

Verse of the Day: (My favorite!) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Go On And Do It!

2011-11-28T07:59:00.000-06:00

Good Morning and Happy Monday! I hope your holiday weekend was as pleasant as mine (minus the two days spent at the library). I enjoyed some good food, my family, and friends. Now, let my busy week begin!

When the Lord called Gideon to deliver the Israelites, Gideon was so skeptical that the Lord was with him. Gideon questioned God picking him. He balked at even considering that the Lord would favor him. Gideon's insecurity led him to test God several times with fleece.

Yet God went along with Gideon's tests. He showed Gideon that He was with him and assured Gideon that He was working with him. And once Gideon started acting on God's call, you never saw Gideon wavering again. What you did see was the miraculous working of the Lord through Gideon's hands.

Many of us have heard the call of the Lord ourselves. We've tried to question whether God really wanted to use us. We've tried to offer up our own little "tests" to prove that God is really with us.

But how many of us move past the questioning stage? How many of us actually step out in faith once God proves that He's with us?

Is there anyone still in bondage because we're too afraid to step out in faith? Are you missing out on experiencing miracles because of your fear?

Don't miss out on your destiny because of fear! God may have called you to do something so extraordinary, unheard of, and peculiar... but if God's asking you to do it - you can't expect anything but spectacular results!

Your life is supposed to be full of God's glory, but if you aren't doing what God is asking, how can His glory shine through?

Verse of the Day: And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. Judges 6:12-16

I'm Thankful Today

2011-11-23T10:21:00.000-06:00

Today is turning out to be one CRAZY day! I have been running around since I landed at work. I'm just now getting to sit down and settle my thoughts.

Today I would like to share some things I am thankful for:
- I am alive! God is good.
- I still have my health and strength.
- My father is still alive and has not gotten any worse. I would love to see improvement, but I am grateful to have my daddy on this side of heaven.
- I have amazing family members and loved ones who would go out of their way to help me and make me happy. - I love you guys!
- I'm blessed to work at a job I enjoy. So grateful.
- Jesus loves me. - Sounds cliche', but it's really the most important thing of all.

What are you thankful for this week?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Don't hurt yourself at the table on Thursday or in your wallet on Friday! I'll be back on Monday.

Verse of the Day:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!