Thanksgiving Friday!

Another week down! Can you believe it's about to be April?! How are you doing on your Purposed living? Still keeping up with your plans made at the beginning of the year? Don't let it slip!

Today I'm thankful to have the day off! God always provides when we need it.

I'm thankful for joy! I'm glad I don't have to be sad, mad, or depressed. I can choose joy, and I'm choosing it today! Hallelujah! God is so good! Why shouldn't I be joyful? He has done so much for me, and I'm glad He calls me as His own. Thank You, Lord, for your joy!

I'm thankful to be back in school. I'm getting used to homework and checking in again after my long break. This class is interesting. It's the history of American Christianity. Right now we're in the colonial period. It's amazing how much our country was founded around religion and the freedoms attached. I'm thankful that my country allows me to worship freely. I appreciate the foundations laid by my country's forefathers to make this a free country.

Lastly, I'm thankful for the blessings of the Lord. They do make one rich and don't add any sorrows! I am so blessed with love, friendship, family, grace, salvation, forgiveness... the list could run for ages. Thank You Lord for filling my life with Your blessings! Without You, where would I be?

What are you thankful for today? Make sure you stop and give God some praise!

Verse of the Day: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

Afternoon Ti: Meditate on This

The morning got away from me, and the afternoon is full. Take a moment and meditate on this word from the Bible. It just blessed me!

Psalm 32
Oh, what joy for those

whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”


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!

Motivated to Move

After Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them in Jerusalem. The disciples were obedient to Jesus, and waited in prayer. Once the Holy Spirit came on them they received His power, might, and direction. And they were motivated to move out and spread the gospel.

The disciples traveled all over to various cities near and far spreading the good news of Jesus to everyone they encountered. They weren't worried about having connections, knowing people, or even whether they would be safe. They were only concerned about spreading the love of Christ.

In their journeys, they encountered many hardships: prison, mocking crowds, open challenges from other religions, inquiries from the government, beatings, and even death. Yet they continued to spread out. They stayed motivated in their endeavors. They allowed the fire of God to keep burning in the pits of their stomachs to the point where they would not be silent.

They had received their mandate from God, and they stuck to it.

What has God asked you to do? What fire did He strike in your heart for you to carry out? Are you still motivated to move? Or, has your initial zeal died down?

Make sure that you are staying motivated to do what the Lord has told you to do. Don't get weary in well doing or allow the cares of the world to distract you to stagnation in the things of God. Keep going! Keep running! Keep working the vision that God has given you.

Because of the consistent efforts of the apostles, the gospel had a firm foundation on which to thrive and was spread all over the world. We have the Bible today because of their work and diligence in the things of God.

Who knows what your faithful efforts for the Lord will produce? Who knows what future generations will be impacted by your obedience to God's word. Keep it up!

Verse of the Day: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1, 2a

Distracted?

Cain was distracted by jealousy. (Genesis 4) For Abraham, it was unwarranted fear. (Genesis 20) David was distracted by a woman. (2 Samuel 11) Samson too. (Judges 16) The Israelites wanted to be like everybody else. (1 Samuel 8) Jacob wanted to please his mother. (Genesis 27)

The devil knows our number. He knows what he can throw out to get us off the track that God has us on. He knows which buttons to push to make us begin to doubt God's way, to lose faith in the plan God has laid out for us, to start living in a way that isn't pleasing to God.

We have to stay vigilant against the tricks of the enemy. Joseph is a perfect example of what it means to stay on task. He had the opportunity to commit adultery, but he stayed true to the Lord and fled the scene. He had every right to grow bitter while he languished forgotten in jail, but he maintained his connection with God. Even when he held the perfect position to exact revenge on everyone who betrayed him, he remained righteous in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 39-43)

Out of Joseph's steady walk of purity and love for God, he was exalted to a high position and was able to deliver his whole family from famine. He gained riches and honor, prestige, and fame. All because he stayed true to his faith.

Distraction can lead to temptation which can lead to sin. We all have moments where we pause and have to choose between right and wrong. Let's make the devil angry today and choose the right thing to do! No matter if no one will see or know of our decisions, let's always choose the righteous path in God.

No matter how much you may want to go the wrong way, remind yourself of what happened to the men mentioned at the opening of this post. Then remember what happened to Joseph. Which chapters do you want to have included in your life story?

Verse of the Day: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19, 20

Being a Believer

The tragedy that befell Trayvon Martin has been haunting my thoughts this past week. Looking at his innocent face and knowing how he was taken away breaks my heart. It's sad that this is the nation that I live in.

Yesterday at my church we wore hoodies in honor of Trayvon. We prayed for his family, this nation, and covered our children under the protection of Jesus Christ. I'm glad that we have the power of the Holy Spirit to cover and guide us. I'm glad we have the Lord's protection and can hear His voice. It comforts me to know that I have His angels watching over me.

I had the privilege of bringing the Word on yesterday as well, and I spoke about what it means to be a believer. As believers in Christ, we are to go into the world and preach the good news to every creature. We are to be sharing God's love with everyone that we come across.

Jesus also instructed us to make disciples out of those who believe. A disciple is a follower of Christ. A follower of Christ adheres to His commands, and they try live their lives in ways that are pleasing to God. Too many people in this world claim Christ but do not reflect that claim in their daily walk.

You never know when someone's time is up. That person you come across may be dead tomorrow. Do they know Jesus? Have they been cleansed of their sins? It's our responsibility to present them with that option.

Even those who we come across that know God may need to get to know Him a bit better. Are they hearing from God? Do they know their purpose in God? Are they practicing biblical principals in their lives?

Can you imagine how brightly this world would shine if everyone who was saved lived their lives like Christ asked us to?

We say we believe in Christ. As believers, we should be doing the one thing He asked us to do before He left this earth: Share the amazing gift we received from Him with the world.

If we do our part, we could drastically reduce the number of tragedies like Trayvon's in this world.

Verse of the Day: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 28:18-20

Thanksgiving Friday

I apologize for missing out on yesterday. I got flooded with things and the day just ran away from me. I had to take a selah moment. It was so necessary. And God, in His infinite goodness, met me where I was and brought me to where I needed to be. I feel so much better! I'm back to my regular self.

Today I'm thankful for God's mercy. I'm glad that it's not a one-time thing. My God's mercies are new every morning! No matter how much I fall, no matter how many times I mess up, and no matter how many times I disappoint Him... He is always waiting there ready to show mercy, ready to welcome me back into His arms of love.

I'm so blessed.

Yesterday I was meditating on the greatness of Christ's love for me. I thought about how much He sacrificed for me. I was humbled, convicted, and stirred in my faith to follow Him all the more. How can you not love a God like Him? Thank You, Jesus, for Your great love.

I'm also thankful for God's strength. The Scripture is true: when we are weak, He is strong. We just have to reach out to grab hold of His strength. We have to keep ourselves firmly planted in His grip. We have to allow God to be that strength for us. God, I thank You for being strength to me!

What are you thankful for this week? What has God done that has left you in amazement? Go ahead and give God some praise!

Verse of the Day: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Distant Love

Lately I've been feeling a bit distant from God. Through my own busy schedule, I've somehow found myself disconnected from the One who loves me most.

These last few days I've had it in the back of my mind that I need to take some time, sit down, and get into the presence of the Lord. Yet I haven't made the time.

I can tell the difference. My patience is short. I'm not as friendly as I normally am. I'm not taking the time to show love to others. I'm just living. I'm running here and there getting things done. I'm checking things off of my long list of things to do.

But I'm not feeling fulfilled. I'm not feeling complete. Something is off. And I know exactly what it is.

Me and My Father haven't spent any time together. I haven't allowed Him to pour out His love on me. I haven't been able to lay my burdens down at His feet. My mind has not had a chance to rest in Him.

So, today is my day of rejuvenation. Today is my day to get it right. I'm so thankful that I have a Father who forgives, a Savior who understands, and a Holy Spirit who comforts me through it all.

Maybe you've been going through your own busy period as well.  Perhaps you've been saying that you need to take some time to get in God's presence. Maybe  your spirit is crying out to meet with God too.

Don't let another day pass by without you having some quality time with the Lord. Don't allow your busy schedule to keep you out of the throne room of God. We need visits to His presence to live this life victoriously. We can't stay on track without in-depth conversations with the Lord. With Him we receive guidance, strength, and joy. We can't keep missing out on our portion.

Verse of the Day: Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:8-11