Thanksgiving Friday!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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