Afternoon Ti: 10 Reasons Why I'm Glad I'm Saved

Okay, so we all know the top 2 reasons why it's great to be a Christian: serving the One True God and being blessed with eternal life. Now, I'd like to list my Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Glad I'm Saved (in no particular order):

1. The Creator of the Universe considers me His friend... and not just an acquaintance-type friend, but a true friend. He'll let me as close as I want to get to Him.

2. I have a guidebook (the Bible) to help me through any situation I face.

3. I can get in contact with my God 24/7 every day of the week at any time, and He's actually hearing me.

4. I am blessed beyond measure!

5. I no longer have to be condemned in my sins. I've been redeemed!

6. Following His word gets you back way more than you put in.

7. Christians (the real ones) are some pretty awesome individuals. I'm glad to be a part of that number.

8. The One who knows and controls whats going on right now and in the future is guiding my footsteps... I can't go wrong!

9. It makes me feel so special considering the great sacrifice that Jesus went through just for little ol' me.

10. I am living a life now that's pre-set for me to win over the enemy. No matter what, I know I'm a winner!

Why are you glad to be saved? Let a sista know!

Thanksgiving Friday!

Happy Friday, Everyone! These weeks keep flying by! It's about to be August. Can you believe it?

I am so thankful for answered prayer. I have been holding up some things before God for a while, and God gave me one answer this week! It's right on time and exactly what I was believing for. Hallelujah! God is so good! Thank you, Jesus.

I am also thankful for health and strength. God has blessed me to be a healthy individual, and that is a priceless gift. I do not like being sick. I can't remember the last time I had to take a sick day.

Yet, even when faced with illness, my God is a healer. I am thankful that He is also restoring my father's health and bringing him back to tip-top shape! By Jesus' stripes, my father was healed, and I thank God for the manifestation! (1 Peter 2:24)

What are you thankful for today?

Well, take a moment and give God some thanks!  ...Also, check in some time this afternoon. There'll be some Afternoon Ti for you!

Have a blessed weekend!

Verse of the Day: And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. Psalm 35:9

Don't Miss Your Answer!

Could that really be it, Lord?

Yesterday I talked about keeping the faith and continuing to expect God's promises to be fulfilled no matter how much time passes. I used the example of the father who kept watch for his prodigal son from a parable Jesus taught.

When the prodigal son returned, he was drastically changed from how he was when he origanally left home. The son left home rich, full of life, and filled with a spirit of revelry. After his luxurious partying, a famine came and the boy had no more money. The best job he could find was feeding pigs, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were munching on!

One can only imagine the downtrodden, emaciated, dirty, and bedraggled boy that made his way back home. In spite of his altered appearance, his father saw him, and - even from afar - knew that it was his son!

Sometimes we can see our promise coming toward us, but we overlook it because it doesn't look like what we believe our promise should. We have in our minds exactly how our promise should be, so we fail to acknowledge our answered prayer when it comes.

That is why it's so important to have a relationship with the Father. It's key to spend quality time talking to Him and hearing His voice. That way, when He sends things across our paths, we know exactly what they are and what to do with them.

The young man who you just give a passing acknowledgement to just might be your husband. That hobby you just think as fun may be your direct line to prosperity. Those ideas you have might lead to your purpose if you walk them out.

So, as you stay in expectancy for the fulfillment of God's promise, keep your eyes peeled for the answer. It might be staring you in the face!

Verse of the Day: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Keep the Faith!

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the Prodigal Son. Usually we look at this passage focusing on the boy who runs off and parties away his inheiritance only to be welcomed back with love and forgiveness by his father. But, I feel that we can learn a lot from the father as well.

In this story, the father is a representation of our Heavenly Father. We directly see how he shows love, forgiveness, and generosity to his son. But we can also see an example of faith and hope.

Luke 15:20 states that the son was a great ways off when his father saw him coming. That means that the father had to be looking far down the road with the hopes that his son would return.

Who knows how long the son was gone? It could have been a week, a few months, or a couple years! Yet, the father maintained his belief and hope that his son would return. He continued to look down the road. He never gave up.

Many times we grab onto God's promises only to lose our hope after time passes and we have yet to see it happen. We may stay on the wall for a few days, even a few months. But, with the passage of time, we can start to second-guess ourselves and doubt that God will fulfill His promise to us.

We stop looking down the road.

Don't give up! Don't give in! God will keep His promise to you! Keep your faith and maintain your hope. No matter how long it takes, God will come through for you when the time is right.

Keep looking down the road. You never know: Today could be the day your promise comes walking toward you.

Verse of the Day: As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 2 Samuel 22:31

Let's Celebrate!

Excuse me while I get
my praise dance on!

I'm in an odd mood (for me, at least). Usually, I'm pretty laid-back, mellow, and serene. That's not happening today. In fact, I believe I've felt this way before. Apparently, the bug is back!

Today, I feel like celebrating! I don't know what it is or why. Nothing's really changed. I still have the same things before God as yesterday. I haven't gotten a huge testimony or breakthrough overnight or anything. Still, I find myself joyful today.

Why not go with it?

And since you're reading this, you have to go with it too. Today you've got to put on your happy face. No sadness or depression for you today. No ho-hum or blase' attitude either. Time to perk up and find the cheer!

No use for just one of us to be feeling all extra-good for no apparent reason...

Now, let's justify this out-of-the-blue happy:

Today is a beautiful day! We are alive and breathing. The world is still spinning, and we have another opportunity to make an impact in it.

What else...?

We serve a Wonderful God! In fact, He's the One True God, the Maker of the Universe! And we have been given the privilege of being able to converse with Him one-on-one. Despite our sinful flesh, He sees us as righteous beings because we have accepted His Son, Jesus, as Lord.

He's even bequeathed to us a divine purpose, a reason for our existence on the earth. With that purpose, He has given us every tool we will need to finish the work He has called us to. Our every talent, skill, creative thought, and personality fit well within God's purpose for us.

Ah-mazing!

On top of that, He's blessed us with His everlasting love, the majesty of His peace, and the greatness of His grace. No matter what comes our way, we're safe in God's hands. -- Gotta love it!

So, let's celebrate today! Let's put on a smile, indulge in a laugh, and let God's joy take over. The only reason we need is that we serve a great God. No further explanation necessary.

Have a joyful, happy, beautiful, wonderful, amazing, gorgeous day!

Verse of the Day: Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Acts 2:28

Giving to God Works!

I've never really had an issue with giving. I was raised to be a tither and a giver, and I have seen God's blessings as a result. So, I know that principle works!

In fact, my first car came as a result of me confessing, sowing monetary seeds, and believing God for it. Pretty much every time I put something in the basket, I confessed God's word over my situation. I had no real money, no job, and no way of knowing how it was going to happen. I hadn't even asked my parents for one. But, on the day I graduated from high school, my prayers were answered, and I received my first vehicle paid in full.

Since that time, I have steadily increased my giving to God. I give my regular tithes and offerings, plus I give some monies monthly to a charity that I believe in. I have also challenged myself to give an 'extra' something per paycheck to someone or some cause that God brings across my path.

Now, I'm no millionaire or baller by any stretch of the imagination --- yet. However, my every need has always been met. Physically, spiritually, and mentally. I have never been in lack for anything!

I have a peace in my mind and heart that passes all understanding. God has kept me through so many difficulties and times when I wasn't sure what would happen. Each time He made a way.

Giving has been a principle with God since the time of Adam. We see how God showed favor to Abel and was displeased with Cain merely off of their offerings to him. (Genesis 4:3-5) There is another level of favor you can reach merely by giving to God in the right way.

Is God pleased with you in the area of giving? Have you experienced the favor of the Lord because of your willingness to give back to Him and to His Kingdom? Make sure you are continuing to place yourself in the position to be blessed by the way that you give!

Verse of the Day: Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. I Chronicles 16:29

Thanksgiving Friday!

Currently, I'm thankful for a strong, stable, unmoving office building... It is pitch black outside my window, and the rain is whipping around out there!

Seriously...

I'm thankful today for backup! God really does know how much we can handle and will never give us more than we can bear. This week I was asked to do an assignment for our church anniversary, and I didn't know how it was going to get done. I was working on lunches and had a couple late nights... but God sent in someone who took up the rest! Thanks to them, the project is done, and I have not gone bonkers getting it done. Thanks, Phabian!

I'm also thankful for God's creativity. This morning driving in to work I got some great ideas for our church's teen ministry. I'm excited! Only God could have birthed these plans. I'm excited to get to work...

Finally, I'm thankful for answered prayers. Hope always springs eternal, it just doesn't always flow like a geyser. Sometimes it's a small trickle. My hope had dwindled down to this mere trickle, and I knew that I needed a refreshing. This week, God encouraged me, and my hope is surging forth again in a steady stream. Praise God for His encouraging power!

What are you thankful for this week? Make sure you give God some praise!

Stay cool, ya'll!

Verse of the Day: But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. Psalm 71:14