Thanksgiving Friday!

Happy Friday Everyone!

This weekend I will be hitting the books hard, so I have to wait til next week for a real rest. But I'm grateful anyways for making it through another week.

This week I'm thankful for just being able to be honest before the Lord. I thank God that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. I'm glad to know that my Father understands that I am a human made of flesh, and He views me as redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I appreciate that I can talk to Him openly about anything, and He still listens with love. Thank you, Lord!

I'm also thankful for my family. We do know how to come together and work in unity. We know how to get things done! Thank you, Lord for blessing me with an amazing family.

I am also giving God praise that I'm going on vacation next week! I have been looking forward to this sooo long. It's finally here! So grateful.

What are you thankful for this week? Give God some praise!

Verse of the Day: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

Climate Change

These last few days it has been rainy and gray in Chicago. Today, however, the sun is beaming through the window, and I'm experiencing a brightness of mood. Funny how the weather can influence your attitude at times.

The same way the sun can brighten up your face is the same way your spirit can be influenced by the environments you place it in.

If you're always hanging around negative, sour, complaining people, pretty soon you'll see yourself becoming a bit more negative, sour, and complaining too. If you tend to huddle with gossiping folk, you're tongue is probably wagging with some stories of your own. As the saying says: birds of a feather flock together.

I know as believers we are to be the salt of the earth, and we can't just hang around each other. And I know that some places we go (job, school, family) we really don't have any control over the environment.

However, we can control our friends and close confidants. We can control how we spend our free time. If we take the initiative to surround ourselves with positive, godly, and inspirational people and places we will increase our chances of bettering our spiritual mood.

So, if you're in a bit of a funk, maybe you need to switch up your environment for a little. Even if all you can do is take an hour to spend some time talking to the King, it helps. Let the Son shine on you and help you smile today!

Verse of the Day: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Remembering the Surrender

Time for some transparency: So, lately I've been struggling with being alone. I haven't been single this long since I was in high school, I think. I mean there has been no one on Ti's radar. Not even a bug a boo.

And this has been since January.

I'm not struggling with being lonely. I got over that a while ago. I have faith to know that God's plan will prevail and He will bring me to my expected end. Husband and kids will be there when it's time.

Recently, however, there's been a new person trying to holla at me, and I've entertained some conversations and hung out with him a few times. No problem there. The issue is my own mind, thoughts and emotions. Because of this person's personality and tendencies, I could easily revert back to some of my old tricks and take advantage. I could even slip up and do some bigger things that I would most definitely regret.

All because Ti hasn't seen anyone on her block in a minute.

Last night I had a little chat with myself at the feet of the Father. I had to remind myself of who I was and Whose I was. I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Old things are passed away, and there is no need for me going and resurrecting what I have repented of. It was nailed to the cross for a reason. I had to cool my little self down.

So, I shook myself, adjusted my footsteps, and determined to stay on the path God has given for me to walk. I won't give up my joy for some times of fun. (Thanks, Joyce Meyer!) I'm going to remember my surrender. I gave it up to Christ for a reason. I'm not going to mess it up for anything.

Moving forward...

Verse of the Day: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.


Philippians 3:13-16

For Your Listening Pleasure:

BEEP!

First off, I attended a homegoing service this morning. Make sure you let your loved ones know that you love them! No man knows the day or the hour....

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I'm still loving my new job over here. It's been quite fulfilling and has helped me to enjoy my day to day life much more. I'm so blessed!

One thing I can't stand though is the profanity. From some of my new co-workers all the way down to the students, I cannot stand how people just sprinkle their conversations with curse words. It's like I'm back in college.

Being salt and light, I of course insist on people correcting their speech around me (and the kids do get written up for it). Yet the mere fact that I have to say something on a regular basis makes me kind of sad. Are we that far gone as a society that we don't even care about what's coming out of our mouths?

I hate how reality television is perpetuating the trend also. You can't watch any of these shows without hearing the beep of the censors blocking out words. Now our award shows have to have one to two minute delays just because they don't know what people will say during a live broadcast.

We are really that far gone.

The one thing we can do, saints, is to continue to train up our children in the way they should go. We can adjust our mouths so that only sweet conversations comes from out of our lips. We can also impact the world around us since we are to be the sweet savor in the earth.

Don't allow the negative speech in your presence. Insist on others speaking to you and around you with respectful words. And continue to keep our nation uplifted in prayer.

Only God can save us.

Verse of the Day: Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6

Are You Approved?

I apologize for Friday. It was a whirlwind day over here, and I was never at my desk to sit down for a sec. I hope you sent up some praise and thanksgiving on your own anyway.

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Lately I've been meditating on the scripture that instructs us to study to show ourselves approved before God. (2 Timothy 2:15) It is so important for us to know the Word of God. The Word is what shows us how to live holy in this world. The Word gives us what to do in times of distress or confusion. The Word gives us directions on how to reach God.

The Word also keeps us from falling prey to the devil's plans. I always keep in mind how Jesus rebuffed satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness. No matter the situation, Jesus countered with the Word of God. He had studied the Scriptures and hid the Word in His heart. Whatever angle the devil came at Jesus, our Lord replied, "It is written..." and shut that devil down with the Word!

We should definitely follow Christ's example and make the Word a part of our second nature. We should know it well enough that no matter what pops up that tries to get us off course, we can counter back with the Word of God.

Knowing the Word can also help us to be a better witness. I can't tell you how many saints I know who are scared to discuss the things of God with Muslims or Jehovah Witnesses because the saints aren't strong enough in the Word to hold up their end in the conversation. This should not be. We should know the Truth that has set us free!

So, this week, take some time to dig deep into the Word of God. Read a passage you haven't read before. Ask the Lord to guide you in your devotions. Listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you while you read. We can always stand to grow more in God.

Verse of the Day: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Tragedy

I debated whether or not to talk about the tragedy that happened with Troy Davis, and I honestly can't overlook what has happened. Even this morning as I prayed for his family, I had to tack on some words for our nation as well.

I just don't get it.

We are a nation founded on equality and justice for all, yet we are the one nation that has so many inequalities and imbalance it doesn't make sense. Free is a relative term I guess.

Sadly, all of the activism, protests, and methods that were done to try to save Troy's life probably won't overflow into a movement for the other injustices that are plaguing our nation. We won't march for real change. We won't petition to get at the root of the problem.

It's just the American way.

Again, I don't get it.

That's why I'm glad America at least acknowledges God and gives us freedom to serve Him. We have the opportunity to introduce others to His love. We should always be stirred to lead others to Christ. The real injustice is allowing people to perish in their sins. We should be moved with compassion to let others experience the joy of the Kingdom of God.

In Christ we can avoid the pitfalls of life by the Holy Spirit's guidance. We can rest assured knowing that whatever comes our way, our souls are anchored in the Lord.

Verse of the Day: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19, 20

Calling Things That Be Not

So, today, we are going to do an exercise of faith. We are going to call things that be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17) We are going to speak life over our day, and watch the Lord put His power behind our words.

Ready?

Today will be a great day in Jesus name! Today will be a day filled with unexpected blessings, opportunities to witness, and moments to spend time before God's face.

We will not be overwhelmed or stressed out today! We will be able to meet every challenge and solve every problem. The Holy Spirit dwells on the inside of us, and He helps us in every situation!

No weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue that rises up against us shall fall. (Isaiah 54:17) Even now we bless those that curse us, and pray for those who spitefully use us. (Matthew 5:44)We will look for a chance today to show them the love of Christ.

Today will be a day for the books! We will lay down at the end of it smiling because of what the Lord was able to do through us.

Amen! Hallelujah!

Now let's get to it...

Verse of the Day: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23