Thanksgiving Friday!

Praise God! We not only made it through another week, but we made it through another year! God is so good!

I am thankful today for everything that I have learned about myself this year. Realizing the true value of my talents and gifts has helped me to pursue my purpose with more conviction. Taking control of those negative areas of my life and working to better myself has helped me to stay humble and brought me closer to my heavenly Father.

I'm also grateful for all of the friends and even associates that are in my life. The Lord has truly blessed me to have such an amazing pool of people surrounding me. Their strive for greatness, goal reaching, honesty, and character has helped encourage me to keep trucking. They inspire me to keep up with them!

I know I've thanked you before, but today I'm thankful for you as well. The fact that you appreciate what is written in this blog means more to me than you'll ever know! I'm happy to share what I glean from my walk with God, and I pray that you continue to be blessed by My Morning Ti.

Next year, I'm looking forward to kicking it up a notch - videos, anyone? - and spreading the Word of God to even more people!

Have a Happy New Year! May God's love and peace be with you continually! See you Monday...

Verse of the Day: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High... Psalm 92:1

God's Peace

As the year is drawing to a close, many of us are reflecting on the time that has gone by and are looking forward with anticipation to the year that’s on its way.

With all that’s gone on in my life in 2010, I am truly grateful for God’s peace. Yes, I have struggled, cried, pushed, and fought to get through some challenges. Yet, in every situation, I have had the benefit of God’s unwavering peace in my spirit.

Since I have matured in the things of God and developed a closer relationship with Him, I have seen my outlook change. What would have brought me worry, fear, and anxiousness, no longer causes me to panic.

Don’t get me wrong. I still have parts of my pessimistic and sarcastic nature. And I have to battle doubt from time to time. There is still plenty of room for improvement!

However, I can now face circumstances with the quiet reassurance that the God of the Universe is with me and is helping me defeat every roadblock. That Truth has given me a peace that passes all understanding. It has allowed me to sleep more soundly at night, go about my days without needless distraction, and has bolstered my spirit where I otherwise would have gone nuts.

God is faithful and a keeper of His word. Everything He has promised, He will do. We just have to trust our Lord enough to allow Him to do it… on His terms and in His timing. Once I surrendered to this fact, God blessed me with peace beyond measure.

You also have the same God of the Universe in your corner. Let go of fear and grab hold to the Father’s hand. Allow His peace to envelop your soul as well.

Verse of the Day: The LORD will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Spritual Rest

Right now there’s a lull in my work office. Things have slowed down, and many people are out on vacation. There is a relaxed air about the place, and people are enjoying the more leisurely pace that the holidays have brought.

I’m not concerned with any work issues (there isn’t much work to have issues with, for one thing), I don’t have any stress with deadlines, and the fewer people in the office means I receive fewer requests for assistance.

It’s times like this that I love. I can collect my thoughts, muse on some creative ideas, and give myself a break from the normal hustle and bustle.

Our spirits need these times of refreshing as well. So often we allow the issues of the day, our fears and concerns, personal struggles, and prayer requests to monopolize our fellowship with the Father.

These things can cause our spirits to be drained and on edge. The constant warfare can cause us to grow weary. Even champions have to take a break from the ring in order to regain their strength.

In order to keep our spirits refreshed, we have to spend time in worship before the Lord. Entering into His presence just to love on Him and allowing Him to love on us, will cause us to experience a ‘vacation’ for our spirits.

Pouring out our adoration for God causes His spirit to show up and fill us up with the strength, assurance, and courage we need to go back into the ring and battle the enemy. Lifting up praises instead of prayer requests causes our ears to catch God’s voice on the matters that are most important to Him for our lives.

So, if you’re feeling weary and worn, draw close to your Heavenly Father in worship and praise. Allow His love to rejuvenate your spirit and refresh your soul. Listen to His words of encouragement and life for you. You’ll be so glad you did!

Verse of the Day: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort… 2 Corinthians 1:3

Making Plans...

I’m back, everyone! I took a couple of days off for the holidays. I hope you all enjoyed your festivities as well. We’ve got one more celebration to go! I’m so glad I get another extended weekend. I truly appreciate having some time off.

As 2010 is winding down, I am honing the milestones I’m setting for the coming year. In November, I wrote about how I was planning for my church’s youth group. Now I’m looking at my personal goals.

These plans are a bit harder to pin down. I have so many things I want to do! I have lists of items that I want to experience, implement, and develop. And I think they’re all perfect for where I am right now. The possibilities are so exciting, and I can see myself enjoying every one of them!

Then I think about getting started.

It’s overwhelming in some areas and confusing in others. Where do I begin? Which one should come first? Who should I partner with? Which path should I take?

In the past, these questions have stopped me in my tracks to the point where nothing I wanted to do got done. The indecision and fear caused me to miss out on the completion of my goals.

That will not be the story this year! This year everything on my list is getting a thorough editing by my Heavenly Father! Every project, every dream, every step will be scrutinized by the Leader of this mission.

No matter how excited I am, I will submit my will to the will of the Lord. He has the right to make additions and deletions that I may not have considered.

I will follow God’s direction on how to get started, keep motivated, and complete every item on His agenda. With this game plan, I know that I will accomplish every single one of my 2011 goals!

Verse of the Day: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I pray you enjoy your holiday, friends, family, and loved ones.

Remember to celebrate our Savior - the REAL reason for the Season! Today, I am thankful that Jesus chose to come to earth, so I can live with Him in heaven for all eternity! He could have easily stayed on His throne allowing me to perish in sin. I deserved to die, but Christ took on my punishment. Hallelujah!

Enjoy your weekend. I'll be back with you all next week.

More Than Just A Story

As this week is winding down and Christmas is pulling up, I’ll share my last reflection on the real Christmas story.

Birthdays are days when we celebrate a person completing another year of life on the earth. Unless the mother is there reminiscing over her time in the delivery room, the actual birth of the person is rarely discussed. We merely celebrate who that person has become and look forward to what they are still striving to be.

When we celebrate birthdays as holidays we celebrate what made that person notable, the accomplishments they achieved and the lasting changes they performed.

So, why do we always stop with Jesus lying in the manger at Christmas? Why do we still refer to ‘baby Jesus’ like He’s still cooing in Mary’s arms?

Jesus grew up! He became a powerful man who changed the entire world! He died on a cross and rose again so that mankind could be free from the snare of death!

Make sure you take note of that part on Christmas! Don’t just say the Savior was born… Tell the world that He was born, lived, died, and rose victorious!

Yes, Christ’s birth is a miraculous, awe-inspiring, beautiful story. But it’s more than just a story! It’s history! And it does not end at the manger. It didn’t end at the cross. It didn’t end at the grave either. It didn’t even end when Jesus ascended back into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus is coming back for His church! He’s coming back to bring His people to heaven with Him to dwell in the glorious presence of the Father.

Make sure you tell the whole Christmas story this season. The Savior that was born fulfilled His mission. We all now can have eternal life because He came.

Verse of the Day: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:31-33

Treasured Moments

I love how the Bible takes note of how Mary treasured all the extraordinary things that went on during Jesus’ birth and childhood. The Bible says that she kept them in her heart and pondered over them. (Luke 2:19, 51)

I can imagine her sitting off to herself watching Jesus play and remembering how the shepherds came to the stable and told how angels had appeared to them in the night. I’m sure she watched Jesus closely as he grew and listened for the words of wisdom that echoed His time in the Temple when He conversed with the scholars there.

All of those memories must have been turned over and over in Mary’s mind further underscoring her belief that Jesus was the Messiah. For when it came time for the miraculous to be displayed, Mary was the one who prompted God’s Son into action. (John 2:5)

We all have experienced the greatness and extraordinary experience of Jesus in our personal lives. Whether it was the moment when we first got saved, our first feeling of God’s presence, the miraculous healing of a loved one, or simply an answered prayer, we all have had God Moments.

Do you truly treasure those times? How often do you remind yourself of those occurrences? Can you remember the awe you felt hearing a personal word that you know only God could have spoken? Do you recall the exact details of how God answered your prayers?

As Christians, we have been blessed to experience God’s supernatural love in this natural world. So any time God shows up, we should take special note and treasure those moments. Our remembrance of past glories can help us recognize present opportunities for God to move.

Verse of the Day: I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. Psalm 143:5