Not Just Another Baby

And now we come to the end of this extended devotional's about the birth of the most important person who was, who ever will be born.

The birth of the Savior, Himself.

God, how thankful I am that this child was born. I can not put into word's how this one child has motivated me to be a better person, to yearn to be live Him, and most of all, strive to be in a continuous stream of His presence where lives are changed.

I am beyond forever greatful for all the pervious players who played thier parts in bringing about this child in this world.

But their is no greater character than the babe, Himself, so let us make a committment to Him that in 2018 we will strive to know Him not just the babe in.the manger but the Man who can walk on water and heal blind, raise the dead, and is the soon coming King.

God Bless

Not Just Another Baby

Just another baby would not have been preceded by hundreds of prophecies about His birth, life, and, death. Just another baby would not have been conceived in the most miraculous way possible.

Just another baby would not have merited a birth announcement from the hosts of heaven.  Just another baby would not have inspired shepherds to leave behind their sheep to find Him. Just another baby would not have compelled wise men from the east to go on a quest to find Him. Just another baby would not have made Simeon’s lifelong wait worthwhile or brought praise to the lips of Anna.

Just another baby would not have become a man who gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, freedom to the possessed, life to the dead, and forgiveness to the guilty. Just another baby would not have become the Lamb of God who would willingly take away the sin of the world. No, He was not just another baby. He was, is, and always will be Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Activity: Read the nativity story in the Gospel of Luke (1:26-2:21).

-Chirstmas Advent Devotional

Worship Him

I have always wished the bible had expanded on several areas that were written.

Some of the stories are like a movie trailer to get you interested in the movie and the journey of the wisemen is no different.

I have so many question and no real answers and I am faced with the fact I am just going to have to wait until I get to heaven.

Sure, I can't wait to meet Jesus but I have a whole list of people to get to know and the wise men are on my top five priority.

But for now, I am stuck on this earth with unanswered questions so I need to do.the next best thing, and see the wisdom and follow the example that is laid out before me.

Ane that is how the wise men followed a star to so they could worship the King of Kings and I need to be more willing to worship Him in 2018 in any given situation even if I don't have all the answers or don't know the path I am heading but just the knowledge of the reward that lies before me should send me to the hills with a shout of praise.

God Bless.

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."(Matthew 2:10-11)

Matthew's account of the visit of the wise men at the time of Jesus' birth. The season is not over, it has just begun. Thinking about what Jesus' birth means is enough reason to worship Him. The wise men knew of His significance, they knew that He was the designated King and therefore they sought after Him until they found Him. We too should seek Him and worship Him first and foremost with our lives and our treasures.

-Author Unknown

Good News

Let's add those shepherds to the meet and and greet list. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be doing your everyday, boring day, and then all of a sudden, a boom and a wham an angel appears where your sitting.

I would say this isn't your average working day, but oh what a glorious sight to behold and I can't wait for the movie version! Hopefully, there will be some live tweeting going on so I can have my questions answered as I think of them.

But until then, I will read their story,  try not to be envious but do my part in trying to bring about His glorious kindgom here on earth.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-15 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” - Luke 2:10

For the shepherds watching over their sheep, it started off as a quiet night. Then suddenly an angel was standing in front of them! Of course they were terrified, but the angel said, “Do not be afraid.” Then the angel announced that he was bringing good news that would give all the people great joy. This was not just good news; it was life-changing good news. The Savior had been born, and he was going to deliver us out of all the trouble we were in. And how could the shepherds know who he was? The angel said, “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Next, without any notice, an entire army of angels appeared, not coming to terrify the world but to surround them with praise about God’s plan for a peace-filled world. That’s the promise of Christmas: God’s peace, God’s invitation to the world to start over again. The invitation still stands: Come to Bethlehem. Come and be a part of something new: a new king, a new kingdom, a new way of life. And how do we become part of this new kingdom? By faith. By believing this story about this good news. For when we believe this story, we start over. In the words of Jesus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Come, Jesus says; you can have new life and become the children of God (John 1:12)!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us the way to your manger so that in seeing you, we may believe—and in believing have eternal life. Amen.

Thea Leunk

Pondering Mary

Mary is another one on my list of people to meet and chat as soon as I get to heaven.

Can yiu imagine what it must have been like for Mary to be carrying the Saviorof the world?

It must have been an amazing experience. I can't help but wonder if like me, Mary had just as many questions as I do and I and from reading the scriptures she did and unlike me, if I was in her situation, I would be shouting from the mountaintops.

But luckily for the world and the generations to come God saw it fit for me not to be the mother of King of King's.

So yet again, I will set back and pounder my question's and still be willing to praise Him through the good times and the bad all the while waiting for my chance to have a meet and greet with the mother of my Savior.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:15-20 Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. - Luke 2:19

What did Mary ponder? Did she pinch herself, trying to grasp the truth that lying in front of her in a manger was the Son of God himself, the promised Messiah? Did she wonder how God could also be a real human baby boy? A baby that needed cuddling and attentive care? Mary surely realized that she was in the presence of a miracle. Thinking about what the shepherds had said, she probably thought back to the day nine months earlier when she too was visited by an angel. On that day she learned that she, a virgin, would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that the child in her womb would be the very Son of God. Almighty God, who is beyond space and time, chose to empty himself and to take on human flesh. Out of his great love for you and me, he came as a baby born to this mother that night in Bethlehem. There in the manger lay our Savior, who would surrender his own life for your sake and mine. The one whom Mary held and nursed, who could not even hold up his head and would need his diaper changed, was God in the flesh come to make us whole. One day this very real human being would choose to give his very real body over to be crucified. And Mary would be there to ponder that too. Will you ponder these things with Mary? Prayer: Child of Bethlehem, we are in awe at the miracle of your birth.

Thank you for living among us, as one of us. Amen.

Thea Leunk

Three Christmas Presents

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your day and be encouraged from this little devotional!

God Bless.

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7–8)

Ponder this remarkable situation with me. If the Son of God came to help you stop sinning — to destroy the works of the devil — and if he also came to die so that, when you do sin, there is a propitiation, a removal of God’s wrath, then what does this imply for living your life? Three things. And they are wonderful to have. I give them to you briefly as Christmas presents.

1. A Clear Purpose for Living It implies that you have a clear purpose for living. Negatively, it is simply this: don’t sin. “I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin” (1 John 2:1). “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). If you ask, “Can you give us that positively, instead of negatively?” the answer is: Yes, it’s all summed up in 1 John 3:23. It’s a great summary of what John’s whole letter requires. Notice the singular “commandment” — “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” These two things are so closely connected for John he calls them one commandment: believe Jesus and love others. That is your purpose. That is the sum of the Christian life. Trusting Jesus, loving people. Trust Jesus, love people. There’s the first gift: a purpose to live.

2. Hope That Our Failures Will Be Forgiven Now consider the second implication of the twofold truth that Christ came to destroy our sinning and to forgive our sins. It’s this: We make progress in overcoming our sin when we have hope that our failures will be forgiven. If you don’t have hope that God will forgive your failures, when you start fighting sin, you give up. Many of you are pondering some changes in the new year, because you have fallen into sinful patterns and want out. You want some new patterns of eating. New patterns for entertainment. New patterns of giving. New patterns of relating to your spouse. New patterns of family devotions. New patterns of sleep and exercise. New patterns of courage in witness. But you are struggling, wondering whether it’s any use. Well here’s your second Christmas present: Christ not only came to destroy the works of the devil — our sinning — he also came to be an advocate for us when we fail in our fight. So I plead with you, let the freedom to fail give you the hope to fight. But beware! If you turn the grace of God into license, and say, “Well, if I can fail, and it doesn’t matter, then why bother fighting?” — if you say that, and mean it, and go on acting on it, you are probably not born again and should tremble. But that is not where most of you are. Most of you want to fight sinful patterns in your life. And what God is saying to you is this: Let the freedom to fail give you hope to fight. I write this to you that you might not sin, but if you sin you have an advocate, Jesus Christ.

3. Christ Will Help Us Finally, the third implication of the double truth that Christ came to destroy our sinning and to forgive our sins is this: Christ will really help us in our fight. He really will help you. He is on your side. He didn’t come to destroy sin because sin is fun. He came to destroy sin because it is fatal. It is a deceptive work of the devil and will destroy us if we don’t fight it. He came to help us, not hurt us.

So here’s your third Christmas gift: Christ will help overcome sin in you. First John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Jesus is alive, Jesus is almighty, Jesus lives in us by faith. And Jesus is for us, not against us. He will help you. Trust him.

-Solid Joy App

Making It Real For His People

Christmas is upon us and there is no better gift than giving the gift of Christ and the understanding of what He has done for the world.

And for me, there is no better place than to start by sharing this devotional.

Thank God for the new covenant and the future promises it holds. Yep, no better gift than this. In this crazy world of keeping up with the Jones, there has never been a better time to let the light of the world shine forth.

For He is Emmanuel, the Great I Am, who because He first loved us, came into this world, born of a vigin, and will reign for ever more and we should want to see everyone standing by His side. So, yeah, no greater gift can be given than the God of this Universe.

God Bless.

Making It Real for His People Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

Christ is the Mediator of a new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:6. What does that mean? It means that his blood — the blood of the covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 13:20) — purchased the fulfillment of God’s promises for us. It means that God brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ. And it means that God works all his transformation in us through faith in all that God is for us in Christ.

The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ. The best place to see Christ working as the Mediator of the new covenant is in Hebrews 13:20–21: Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant [this is the purchase of the new covenant], even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The words “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight” describe what happens when God writes the law on our hearts in the new covenant. And the words “through Jesus Christ” describe Jesus as the Mediator of this glorious work of sovereign grace. So the meaning of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with Reality, but also that he takes the reality and makes it real to his people. He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation down for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts in your heart and in your mind, and seals to you that you are a child of God.

-Author Unknown

Encouragers

What the world needs now is more encouragement than the hell-fire-brimstone church.

It has been my experience, most people know what when the sin, but what they don't know is what to do after and how much their actions can effect them and those around them.

It is time for truth to come forth in love because where there is love there is liberty and the releasing of the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe it is okay to let them keep sinning and let things stay the same, no I do not. I beleive we should tell the truth about what God's word has to say about the sin. You know, hate the sin but love the person.

And the only way to bring about the change so desperately needed, is to be there leading and guiding from a heart of love and not one full of judgement. Because let's be honest, you don't want the skeletons from your closet coming out any more than the next person so become a person of encourgerment today.

God Bless.

More About Encouragement Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-8 If your gift is . . . serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement. - Romans 12:6-8

Encouragers are people who know Christ’s love and live by his words: “As I have loved you, so you must love one ­another” (John 13:34). Encouragers know that they have a gift provided through grace, and the Spirit works through them to build up God’s people. Whom are we called to encourage? The list is endless.

Paul often encouraged new believers by visiting the churches he helped to start. It’s also important that we encourage newcomers to the faith. They must not be left to fend for themselves; they need ongoing mentoring and encouragement in their new walk with Jesus. We can also encourage followers who are timid, weak, and wandering. Kind words cheer up people who are discouraged by life and its complexities (Proverbs 12:25). Well-chosen words make a huge difference! God gives encouragement through the Holy Spirit so that we can be more like him, glorifying him as we do so. There’s true joy found in encouraging others. Encouragement can take the form of a gracious compliment, a simple meal, an appropriate hug, a brief visit, or a generous donation, reviving someone like water to a drooping plant. The opportunities are endless! Whom can you encourage today?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, empower us to be more Christlike in our encouragement of others as we journey through life together. Show us whom and how we can encourage in the name of Jesus and for his sake. Amen.

George Vink https://today.reframemedia.com/devotionals/more-about-encouragement#noredirect

Rembering You In Prayers At All Times

I hate prayer chains and prayer calls a
but mostly I hate it when someone tells me they will pray for something or someone and you are left wondering if they did or will.

I try not to be that person. If I say I am going to pray for you, then I it's my hope I will follow through and not become a hypocrite to my beliefs as well to others.

So when I came across this little devotional, I was encouraged in the fact that it truly matters you follow through. Nmo one truly knows what one is going through and you never know just what your prayers could do for a person but it is high time we become a people of walking the walk just not talking the talk.

The world is waiting for the church to arise and what better place to start than with the person next to you.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:8-10 God . . . is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times. - Romans 1:9-10

Our prayers need a balance of praise, intercession, thanksgiving, and confession. It’s important for us to remember th

at praise cannot really take place until there’s a confessing of sins that might be hindering our prayers. We cannot pray effectively if things aren’t right between ourselves and God as well as between ourselves and our neighbors. Jesus leaves little doubt about it, teaching us to ask daily, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Praying for one another is our calling as we journey in faith together. In his book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Intercession is a daily service we owe to God and our brother. It’s a gift of God’s grace.” It can happen in worship as well as while driving to work. Praying Christians pray anytime and anywhere—and they truly make a difference. While we pray for others, we must not be afraid to ask others to pray for us. Life is complicated for everyone. When praying for others or asking for prayer, our bond of unity is strengthened. Our attitude toward those for whom we pray often ­changes us. After all, Jesus calls us to love even our enemies, and he says, “Pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). As a follow-up to praying for someone, consider sending a note of encouragement: “I’m remembering you in my prayers.” And you might also add, “Please pray for me too.”

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to keep praying for each other and growing together in your grace and love. Amen.

George Vink

Seven Ways To Make The Devil Flee

Want the devil off your back as much as I do? Well, the following devotional seems to be the place to start.

It is my hope you will get as much out of this little devotional as I did. And when we are free, look out world because we will be coming for ya.

We will and are mountain moving believers who will for ever rest in the knowledge that whom the Son set's free is free indeed. Oh, what a world it could be.

So devil, you gotta go, so that I can be Me!

God Bless.

Seven Ways to Make the Devil Flee

God has promised us that He will cause our enemies who rise against us to be defeated before our faces. But we can get in the way of our blessing and leave room for the enemy to stand in our faces rather than fleeing seven ways. With that in mind, here are seven tactics to make the devil flee seven ways. 1. Diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God 2. Repent before you engage in battle 3. Know that God is on your side 4. War from a position of victory 5. Praise your way through 6. Take up your armor 7. Pray always and be watchful Breaking the power of vicious circles is often a matter of making better choices, but when it’s a demonic cycle you need to identify the imaginations and wrong thought patterns that are allowing wicked spirits to wreak havoc on your life.  Go forth, spiritual warrior, with praise in your heart and prayer on your lips, dressed for battle. The battle belongs to the Lord, and the devil will flee seven ways. He has no choice when you submit yourself to God and resist him. No demon in hell is stronger than a will aligned with the Word of God. God’s grace floods the soul that seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

-Author Unknown

I Lie Awake Thinking Of You

This is for all of us who has trouble sleeping from time to time.

These written words below give such a great idea to do instead of counting sheep our focusing on the problems we may or may not have.

I don't know about you, but I feel better and can go longer if I have a good night sleep and when I don't, well, let's just say I am a bear to be around the following day.

So, yeah, for the sake of my family as well as my health and everything in between, I think the following advice will work for me.

God Bless.

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. (NLT) -Psalm 63:6 Do you ever have a hard time going to sleep or worse, wake up in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep? Thinking of God in these quiet times can be precious moments when little else can distract you. It can even lead to better rest because of the peace you receive from meditating on God.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Salvation Is Not A Reward For The Good Things We Have Done

As Christmas approaches, we must remember the reason for the season. Christ and what He has done not just for you and me but for the whole world.

Salvation is the best gift we could give a person and once they are saved the next best gift we could give them is the knowledge of what it means to be saved reminding them salvation isn't earned, we don't have to work for it, or pay a price for it for the price has already been paid and His willingness and love for me, is the best gift/reward I could ever recieved.

God Bless.

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT) -Ephesians 2:9-10

The majority of things in life we work hard to earn: a living, an education, trust, respect, etc. But, opposite to the ways of this world, God doesn't ask us to work for His love. There is nothing we can even do to earn God's love. It is by grace alone that He loves us.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Use Your Authority Well

In a world where there is a lack of respect for authority and in justice we need some hope that this world is redeemable and I believe this little devotional does just that.

Instead of letting Satan and his world have dominion over the comings and happening's of this world, we need to step up, and step in, and get things back on track and the only way to do it is for us to walk in the authority God has given us and God forgive me, but I have not been doing my part. 

But today and in the day's to come is a new day to get things right and let us make a determination to take back what is rightfully ours.

God Bless.

Use Your Authority Well

by Joyce Meyer

Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave—just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. 
—Matthew 20:26–28
God desires to restore us to our rightful position of authority in Christ. But first, we must learn to respect authority before we are fit to be in authority.
We all have authorities to whom God expects us to submit. Our government, our law officers, and even our merchants have the right to set rules for us to follow. If we are not submitting to God’s appointed authority, it will soon be revealed.
Keep a submissive attitude in your heart, and enjoy the authority you have been given to spend time in God’s presence today.

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From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Quote Of The Day To Encourage

Truer words could not have been written for us to live by.

Yet for me, I haven't been doing just that. In fact, it's been the opposite for me.

Yet, I am bound and determined to live a life of freedom and victory from the previous life I have lived and I am hoping 2018 will be a whole brand new year of faith believing and life living for not just me, but for my family, my neighbors, my city, my nation, and the world.

God Bless

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something… it’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.

– Joyce Meyer

Start Something Good

Amen! My hope and prayer for anyone who reads this little devotional is they woiuld take it to heart. 

I don't just share thing's to be sharing but I share things I believe have a purpose notnonly foe myself but for others for the purpose to change the world.

And I believe this is and can will do just that. May we get God's heart not just for this season we are in...aka...Christmas....but may we have it throughout the upcoming year.

People are in need of something much better than the life they are living and I believe we have the answers they are looking for written in the following eords below, all we need is the follow through to change a hopeless and dying world. Join me by starting something good.

God Bless.

Start Something Good

by Joyce Meyer

For there shall the seed produce peace and prosperity; the vine shall yield her fruit and the ground shall give its increase and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things. 
—Zechariah 8:12
Start something good in someone’s life today. Sow faith for a healing. Sow hope for a restoration. A sincere compliment can sow confidence in someone who is starving for encouragement. Your forgiveness of an ongoing offense can sow a seed for a miracle breakthrough in that situation.
Pray for someone else’s need, or make a special offering to start something positive in the name of the Lord. Remember, God won’t ask you to sow anything that He doesn’t give you the grace to give.
Enjoy the abundant harvest that is returned to your own life when you sow into someone else’s life.

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From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Floating Moses

As we get closer and closer to Christmas as well as the end of the year, I can help but wonder where everyone stand's when it comes to making Jesus as their Saviour. 

Not only do they make Him their Savior but truly what He went through in His life to become the gift of this world.

Do they understand the simplicity of the stories in the bible that points to Jesus as being King of King's.

If not, we need to start pointing them towards the floating Moses and show them how great and wonderful our Lord of Lord's is and what He can do with a life that didn't have any hope of a life except to experience death.

There is hope and life in the parallel stories of the floating Moses and the baby Jesus that need's and deserve our appreciation, love, and reverence for He is good and can change a life through a basket or a man who is willing to listen to the higher calling.

God Bless

Floating Moses Scripture Reading: Exodus 2:1-10 She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” - Exodus 2:10 In Egypt the Israelites (Hebrews) flourished for generations, and eventually the Egyptians felt threatened. So the ruling Pharaoh decided that all Hebrew baby boys should be drowned at birth (Exodus 1).

But one boy survived that holocaust—his mother hid him in a basket-boat among the reeds of the Nile River, and Pharaoh’s own daughter found him and decided to raise him. Brought up as a prince in the king’s family, this baby was named Moses, because the prin­cess pulled him out of the river and saved him. He grew up to be the liberator of his people, chosen by God to lead them back to their own land.

Another king many years later massacred children too. Out of fear and hatred, King Herod tried to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem after hearing that a new king had been born there (Matthew 2:13-18). Like Moses, one of those babies survived. He was the child Jesus, and he grew up to be the Savior of his people—and of all other peoples too—from the curse of sin and death. Salvation comes to us through this baby boy, the Son of God, who was born into the family line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). He took up his human life to show us that our story isn’t about death, slavery, and oppression. Our story is about freedom, hope, and liberation—all found in our new life in Jesus Christ. Do you believe in him as your Savior?

Prayer: Lord, we pray for all who are persecuted or oppressed. Let them discover the Christ as their Savior and liberator. Amen.

Thea Leunk https://today.reframemedia.com/devotionals/floating-moses#noredirect

Quote Of The Day To Encourage

This little quote is good advice.  Sometimes with people, you need to let go and let God.

There is a few people in my life that I just can't seem to make happy with anything I do or say. And when I think about it, they are rarely happy with themselves.

In any case, we can't control others and how they behave, nor should we want to. Only the Holy Spirit can and it is our job to get out of His way.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer If someone decides they’re not going to be happy, it’s not your problem. You don’t have to spend your time and energy trying to cheer up someone who has already decided to stay in a bad mood. Believe it or not, you can actually hurt people by playing into their self-pity.

– Joyce Meyer

Call Upon The Name Of The Lord

I believe this is something we, myself included, need to do more of instead of panicking.

I am a panicker, no doubt about it. When something goes awry or seemingly falls apart in my world, patience and faith isn't something that comes uo within me.

I am a fear based person who is striving to be a faith based warrior who needs encouragingwords like the following to help her on her journey.

And I have to say, I hit the jackpot with this little devotional. The word's ring true and loud and all I have to do is put my faith inti action and live by them and so can you.

God Bless.

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."(Acts 2:21)

A portion of Peter's sermon to the people during Pentecost referenced from what Joel the prophet had spoken. In times of deep distress and sorrow sometimes it's only the whisper of the name of the Lord that gets one through turmoil. Even as the tears stream down a face or runs silently inside with each breath you wait for salvation to come. Calling on the name of the Lord is therapeutic it calms your nerves, soothes your doubts, strengthens your bones, lifts your spirit, and definitely saves you. Whatever the situation you are facing today, call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved!

-Author Unknown

Don't Be Drunk With Wine, Because That Will Ruin Your Life

The title can and does fool ya for this little devotional. If you don't read it, one might think it has to do with alcohol (keeping my opinions to myself here), but in fact, this little devotional is trying to get us to see just how important the Holy can and is and should be in our lives.

All we need to do, is seek him out and make Him a priority in our lives so that we can live a life of fullness and have a greater love and reverence for our Lord and Savior.

Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. (NLT) -Ephesians 5:18

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? It's allowing yourself to be led by God and being filled with His love and grace. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit you express love to others which is uncharacteristic to you. A time will come today when you are angered or frustrated, but instead of reacting, allow yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit and respond with love and grace.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Stopping To Say Thanks

I really am on a new deeper level here. Everything I read is taking me to a new way of thinking about how I am or need to live my life and this little devotional is no exception.

There is no real reason for any more words because I can't add to them. The only thing I think that can and should be added is: go and live them.

And see what the Lord will do.

God Bless.




Stopping to Say “Thanks”
Let us show gratitude.
Some people are genuinely grateful to God but never take the time to tell God that they are. How would we feel if our children never thanked us for all that we’ve done for them? How would we feel if they never said “thank you” or showed their gratitude, if they just accepted everything we did for them as if it were by right, merely taking it for granted?
Unfortunately, that is how many of God’s children treat Him—and it is not pleasing in His sight. We are required to appreciate what God does for us and to take the time to express our appreciation. One of my favorite verses is in Proverbs: “In all your ways acknowledge Him [God], and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
I have learned by experience that if I pause at every stage in life to acknowledge God, I can be confident that He will continue to direct my path. You might ask, “How can I acknowledge God?” The simplest and best way is to thank Him—say “Thank You” for all He has done and for His faithfulness. You will get immediate assurance that He is going to continue to be faithful. Just as He has helped and guided you in the past, He will guide you in the future. But the key to this assurance is acknowledging Him by our thanksgiving.
When I was in East Africa, I discovered that in the language of my adopted African daughter’s tribe, they had no word or phrase that meant “thank you.” Can you imagine not being able to say “thank you”? I then realized that it is only where the Bible has come that people have learned to say “thank you.” It is part of the grace of God.
Thank You, Lord, for all You have done for me. I proclaim that I will pause at every stage in life to acknowledge God by thanking Him. I shall show gratitude. Amen. 


Derek Prince Ministries 

Quote Of The Day To Encourage

If you ever had questions or unanswered questions, (and I know we have) well this little quote should be helpful.

We must remund ourselves God doesn't get mad when we have questions or question His way's. However, it wouldn't hurt to just keep reminding ourselves, God's way is higher than ours and He has a plan to prosper us and anything else is of the devil.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer I have learned from personal experience that putting trust in God means there will be some unanswered questions. That was a hard lesson for me because I naturally want to understand everything… to know what’s going on so I can feel like I’m in control.

– Joyce Meyer

Decision Making

Everyone needs a little help when it comes to making decisions.

And for me, my help can be listening to the still small voice but usually, I throw thw voice into the wind and side with the decision that causes me trouble. 

So I am thankful for any help God want's to send my way. And for me, this little devotional helps me to discern which way I am to go on any given decision I need to make. 

And my hope and prayer is that you will read the following devotional and gain wisdom and your decisiveness will become a thing of the past.

God Bless.

Decision Making

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you

- Matthew 6:33

Life can often seem very complicated. Career decisions, family dynamics, academic ambitions -- every area and issue of life has its own challenges.

However, Jesus spotlights for us the one overriding, all-encompassing priority for living and, by doing so, simplifies our complicated decisions considerably. Seek first the kingdom, Jesus says, not personal advancement, financial security, or self-fulfillment.

Should you accept this promotion? Seek first the kingdom. Where should you send your children to school? Seek first the kingdom. Should you pursue this relationship? Seek first the kingdom.

While this directive does not provide the specific answer to every problem, it certainly does eliminate a great number of possible options. If it does not further the kingdom of God and reflect his righteousness, then it does not meet your basic criteria and need not be considered any further.

When we single-mindedly seek the welfare of the kingdom, then Jesus promises that God will seek our welfare, as well: all these things will be added to you. What things are these? Everything that is necessary and good for you, everything that will assist you in your goal of advancing the kingdom of Christ.

As you face difficult and convoluted questions today, filter your thoughts and decisions through this all-important objective: seek first the kingdom of God.

 http://www.baptistbiblehour.org/resources/devotional/decision-making-9/

For Everything There Is A Season

If you are anything like me, there are times I wonder about God's timing. It never seems to match my own and that can get me very frustrated.

My frustration, is of my own making of course and I am so thankful I have a Savior who understands what I am feeling and why.

Often times, I run across a little devotional to help set me on the upright path and yes, I have grown, and my maturity level dealing with God's timing has changed from a baby to a toddler who still has s need for encouragement from her heavenly Father like this little devotional below.

Word's noted, Lord, and thank you for caring not only for me but also for any and all who will read this.

God Bless.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (NLT) -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Sometime's bad things happen to good people. But how do you make peace with this thought, especially when you are fighting back anger, hurt, betrayal, or loneliness? It's important to realize God has perfect timing, even when we can't understand it. Without placing your faith in His timing, you leave room for resentment, despair, and rebellion. When you can't see the work God is doing through tragedy, remain faithful in knowing God's timing is perfect.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Quote Of The Day To Stenghten You

The Father. He is so good for you and to you.

Let us all take this quote to heart and run as fast as we can to His loving arms.  And lest we forget all that He has done for us.

He is not mad but loves us so.

Thank you, Heavenly Father. And now may we live in the light of knowing just how good He is.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer “Why wouldn’t we run to God. He’s sooo good. God’s not mad at anybody. He just wants to help us be the best that we can be.” 

– Joyce Meyer

Quote Of The Day To Encourage You

Amen. Wisdom is something I feel everyone doesn't have enough of or if we think we do, we fail to live by what we know is right because compromise is so kuch easier to do.

The word says to in all thing's get wisdom. It has a purpose and more powerful than what we give it credit for.

If we wonder if we did the right thing's at any given time, well then, just remember the words of this quote and relax in the knowledge we were lead by the spirit.

Often times, we are led by the mind which limits what God can do for us and I for one am tired of living a mediocre life because I have allowed my head to rule over my heart.

Forgive me, Lord and like Solmon, may my heart and life reflect the goodness of Your  wisdom today and in the day's to come.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer “Wisdom is doing now what you are going to be happy with later on” 

– Joyce Meyer

Thankfulness Is A Funny Thing

As we finish up Thanksgiving, may it is time to give once last look at thankfulness and who truly deserves our gratitude.

And I couldnt think of a better way to put  into words what my heart is trying to say about this subject than this little devotional say's on this subject.

May it speak to your heart as it has done to mine.

God Bless.

Thankfulness is a funny thing. It seems so easy on the surface. It’s something we teach children to do. And yet, we still struggle with the concept living a life of gratitude. And not just to each other. The person who we struggle being grateful to the most is easily the person we should be the most grateful to, God. 1 Chronicles 16:34-35 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.” Living a life of gratitude has to start with God. He’s the one who created us. Gave us breath. Sustains us now. How can we not be grateful?

7 Day's Of Thanksgiving Devotional

Accept One Another

If you know me, I have a rejection problem. And I seem to have lived some of these things written below and my confidence has taken a major hit because if it.

But I am growing. Growing in my identity of who I am. I AM a child of the living God and no matter what I have been through in life, He love's me.

And I am determined to take my hurts in life, share it, and pray no one else has to live it.

I might not have it right; I might not do it right; but I must do it not for myself but for the glory God. For He is worthy and when I glorify Him, just maybe, my life would be so full of who He is that it would radiate to others and even my shadow will stand at attention with His glory. Yes, dreaming big here but it will be so worth it!

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:1-13 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. - Romans 15:7

Have you ever felt rejected when you wanted to belong? It can be very hurtful. God made us to be in relationship with one another. That’s why the Heidelberg Catechism’s answer to “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” is so powerful: “That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” We desire acceptance and relationship. It’s comforting to know Christ has accepted us.

And by accepting one another as Christ did, we honor God. But how well do we do at accepting one another? How well do we mirror Christ’s love and acceptance? We know that we are called to become more like Jesus. But so often we build walls instead of breaking them down. And that’s not Christlike. God’s Word leaves no room for superiority thinking. Believers are called to be accepting of one another with the standard set by Christ himself, realizing that there are the weak and the strong, the strugglers and the achievers. In our churches and our relationships, we’ve got to make sure that people experience acceptance. We show this by including them and accepting them as they are. Accepting includes making others feel they belong. Those who confess “I belong to Jesus” know that they have been accepted by Christ. Will you accept them too?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for accepting us as sisters and brothers. We’re so glad to belong to you. Help us to welcome others into the same relationship, to your glory.

Amen.

George Vink

Look What Has Come To The World

Truth on this Thanksgiving day!

We need more truth, light, love, and Christian action in this world.

We are on borrowed time. God has given as a reprieve and a window to get oursleves together and share the hope we have within us.

So on this Thanksgiving day, not only should we give thanks but begin to change our thinking as to what and who has come to the world and His reason why.

Then rejoice and be thankful for He is not dead and His movement is not dead!

God Bless.

"Look What Has Come to the World!"

Carl F. H. Henry stated, “The early Christians did not exclaim, ‘What has the world come to?’ Rather they proclaimed, 'Look what has come to the world!’”

This is a fundamentally different way of thinking and acting as a Christian. Instead of focusing so much on the negative, we are called to focus on the glory of the gospel and how Christ is still moving in the world today. Focusing on the good will make us much more influential in culture. Christians have become known more for what they are against than what they are for. This is a problem, because we are not influential as Christians when we preach against the bad in culture.

We are influential when we preach the good in Christ. Scripture calls us to focus on what is true, lovely, noble, and of good report (Phil. 4:8 NKJV). Psalm 33:5 tells us, “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” It’s important we realize that even though we encounter much pain and evil in our time on earth, it’s just as important to recognize the earth is also full of the love, mercy, and goodness of God. Some people only see the bad, and that can be incredibly disheartening. While the early Christians challenged problems in the church, their consistent message was, “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world” (Col. 1:6). And this gospel is still growing and bearing fruit all over the world today.

Christians lose influence in our culture when we get sidetracked by secondary issues. When, and only when, we get back to the goodness, hope, joy, and love in the gospel and how God is using that gospel in the lives of people all around us will we have a powerful antidote for the deepest pains of our culture.

-Author Unknown

Thankful For Your Spouse

Although this devotional I saved a while back ago, I came acrossed it and being the week of thanksgiving, and being married and my husband works his butt off, there are times I feel as if he doesn't get enough credit.

So, I want to change that. I have the best husband and I want eveyone to know it. And it is my hope through this little devotional, that everyone will see their spouse in a diffent way and begin a spouse appreciation revolution.

And that revolution begins with me here and now....I am sooooooooo thankful for my spouse.

God Bless.

For the past five days we have been reminded of God’s goodness and all we can be thankful for as believers in the Body of Christ. We cannot help but grow tremendously thankful for all the blessings He has gifted to us. Today we offer up thanks to the Lord for our Spouse.

The Lord saw that man was lonely and established a partnership by providing a partner, a woman, a wife. The two would leave father and mother to join as one. What a gift from God, marriage! What a challenge and heart break some may also feel. For a little while, look for the blessing through the happy and heart break, and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate all the ways your spouse has blessed your life, is blessing your life, or you believe will bless your life. Better yet, allow God to reveal to you how HE was blessing your life through that of your spouse.

Likely, many a memory comes to mind. A memento to commit to memory and offer up thanks to the Lord for His goodness. If a marriage was absolved or lost due to passing, be encouraged to seek the silver lining. Was there at least one thing (there must be several if we allow the heart to be softened and the mind to be opened) the Lord was able to bless you by, as a result of your unity?

Give thanks to the Lord for your spouse, present or lost, and pray for them, ask God to help them. Ask God to help you be a spouse that draws them closer to, and in a deeper relationship with, Jesus. Today, be encouraged to share with your spouse why you are thankful to God for them.

-Author Unknown

As Thanksgiving Day Approaches

Amen!

This little devotional is so good! Not much  more needs to be said. Only He reigns and     a Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Enjoy and God Bless.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches many are pondering all they are grateful and thankful for. Both Thanksgiving and thankful hashtags will be attached to millions of images for the social media to peruse.

But there is one image I pray is at the forefront of many of our minds as we approach Thanksgiving: Christ, the Savior of the world, dying for you and me, creating a way. A way for us to not only lay hold of the promise of Heaven after our earthly journey is over, but a way for us to usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth. Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we certainly can proclaim the greatness of the Lord and let the WHOLE WORLD know what He has done!

In fact, be challenged to take a moment today and reflect on ALL the Lord has done in your life. Once you’ve spent a few minutes there, take a few more minutes to ponder how what He has done in YOUR life had a positive impact on the lives of those around you. Then, share with others and live 1 Chronicles 16:8 out, letting your whole world know what He has done.

Finally, go to the Lord with praises and prayer. Seeking nothing other than to let Him know how thankful you are for all He is done, all He is doing, and all He will do – with an alert mind and a thankful heart!

12 Day's Of Thanksgiving Devotional

I Know All Things You Do

I'll admit it, most day's, I feel like I am living life of lukewarmness.

I am busy like everone else and I have a tendency to use my busyness as an excuse.

So when I read this little devotional, conviction was immediate. Not only do I rarely think of impacting the kingdom of God but to to say I have passion for Christ would be a blatant lie.

Lie to myself and God everyday when I say I love you, Lord, use me.

I would literally fall off my chair if God would do just that. I think the reason I am like I am is because I allow fear to be at the center of my life and with that being said,  God help me.

God Bless.

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (NLT) -Revelation 3:15-16 What does it look like to be on fire for Christ? Does God see your faith as hot or cold, or worse, lukewarm? Are you thinking of ways you can impact God's kingdom? Is your day filled with busyness or is it filled with purposefulness? Maybe it's time to infuse some passion today.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

O Lord, You Have Examined My Heart And Know

As we near Thanksgiving, I need to get into into the thankful mindset instead of thinking about all the things I have to do to get ready to serve a family meal.

When I think about the word's written in this devotional, a revelation came to me about how I need to be mindful of what
God is doing, has been doing, and will do.
It's obvious, I don't do enough of it and I have only myself to blame.

So today, and in the day's to come may my heart's prayer become Psalm 139:1. Not for selfish reason's but because I want more of God and I want to know Him more like He knows me.

I want to know His likes and dislikes. I want to know what melts His heart. I want to open myself to whatever He wants to do with my life. I want freedom in the Lord and I don't want to hide away because He is dealing with what is going on in my life. I want to be thankful that He cares about me and in's and out's of my life.

So in the end, I live a life of gratitude. What a life it would be...freedom in who I am and whom I serve, and the life I will live after He is done with me.

God Bless.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. (NLT) -Psalm 139:1

The Lord is very familiar with us and who we are. He knows our likes, disgraces, and even our triumphs. There's no use hiding from God. It's impossible to hide or deceive Him, He already knows our thoughts. Even if you are fearful of rejection, rest affirmed, He loves you too much. He still accepts you, no matter what you have buried deep in your heart.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Dare To Step Out

I always was taught that if God wanted you to step out, He would show you and then you will know for sure.

Yet somehow, I always believed deep down that couldn't be true. I mean what do you do with the scripture when Jesus talks about going out to the world?

So, when I read this little devotional, I began to think I may have been on the right trail after all.

So maybe it is time we stop looking for man's idea of doing things and do what the word tells us and go forth.

God Bless.

Dare to Step Out

by Gloria Copeland

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you.” 1 Peter 5:6 God can take the most simple person in the world who will dare to believe what is written in the Word, and empower him to do any job he is called to do.

I know this because God did that for me. The reason I’m so blessed today is because I am so simple that I believe God is smarter than I am. When I see something in the Bible that doesn’t agree with what I think, I change what I think and believe the Word of God. Jesus admonished us to come as little children. So do that. Humble yourself and just take the Word as it is written. If God says you’ll do the works, don’t argue, just agree with Him and get busy! Say, “Father, Jesus said, ‘He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also’ (John 14:12). I don’t know how to do the works, but Your Word says I will. So I place myself at Your disposal. I expect to do the works that Jesus did!” Then step out boldly and act on your faith. The bolder we are, the more power can be released through us. Did you know that? It’s when we hesitate and are afraid of what people might think that nothing happens. So make up your mind now to be bold—whether you want to or not. That’s how it works. But you have to take the first step. Do what the Bible says to do whether you feel like it or not. That’s called acting on the Word! And that’s called faith!

Speak the Word “I humble myself under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt me.” —1 Peter 5:6 Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. We’re here for you, 24/7! Also, visit www.kcm.org/youversion to receive a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

Heaven Touching Earth

All I can say about this little devotional is PREACH it.

Then meditate on it.

Then do it.

Then live by it today and in the day's to come and just maybe, our lives will change, peace will rule, and a world will be changed.

It's do-able!

God Bless.

"Heaven Touching Earth (Prayer Movements)"

When you read about him in the Bible, you see that Daniel’s whole life was defined by prayer. After reading the book of Daniel again recently, the thought I took away was that Daniel knew how to get serious with God, and so God took him seriously. Daniel didn’t just pray a little bit; he prayed “through” until God clearly responded. There are various instances of God’s response to Daniel’s praying. In Daniel 9, he prays and God answers immediately. But in Daniel 10, he prays daily for three weeks for one specific need. Finally, an angel of the Lord shows up and tells him that the answer was given immediately, but angels were warring in the heavenlies until that moment of breakthrough. One of my facebook friends wrote on my wall in response to my post: “When angels come and tell you they’re sorry it took so long, you know you’re doing something right.” Mark Batterson has said: “We need to stop praying ASAP prayers and start praying ALAIT prayers” (as long as it takes).

This is the kind of praying that captures the heart of God, and instills awakening within our souls. Sometimes we need to keep on praying until God moves.

-Awakening, Mark Brown

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

I love the concept of this litttle devotional.

I believe if we want to see Heaven on earth, then we must get.the mentality it isn't about us at all butnabout others and how we treat them and how we make others feel.

I believe the reason why some people are dead set against getting rid of Christian values is because they got hurt either by some one of the faith or they think God doesn't love them because He didn't seem to answer their prayers (which is furthest thing from the truth.)

And there is so much truth in this little devotional but I see the problem is we are not keeping up our end of the bargin and God help us. We need to love people in such a way it will open doors for the Holy Spirit to correct in such a way that not only will make condemnation a thing of the past but will bring about the next move of God and I want to be apart of that move with everything in me.

God Bless.

"On Earth as It Is in Heaven (Justice Movements)"

Isaiah reminds us that God isn’t interested in our spirituality or our church attendance if it is not backed up by treating others right. The church has always been one of the greatest forces for good on the planet, and it continues to hold that kind of potential within its ranks. As we, empowered by God’s Spirit move from our church pews and respond to the truths of Scripture, we can change the world. Some would say it’s great when governments get behind us, and society as a whole picks up on the values of the Bible, but history shows us God has always used his Church whether or not the culture follows. Revival and awakening often occur outside the halls of power or without the popular newspapers of our day taking notice, and that’s just fine. What God can do through one person completely sold out to him is more important than that. We don’t need to wait for the right president, or the right congressmen, or the right media environment to pick up the cause of justice before we decide to do what is right in our own neighborhood, down the street, and on the other side of the world.

The person who follows Christ sees a need and fills it. God has done too much inside of us for us to stay silent or spend all our time protesting—we want to actually do something to make a difference. God didn’t do all that he has done inside of us so we could sit and coast through this life. He wants to bring this life through us to others.

-Awaking, Matt Brown

Confess Your Sin To Each Other

The title of this is a little deceiving but it is worth reading the devotional all the way through.

This little devotional isn't about telling others our sins but rather about praying for others which is something we lack.

In the world we live in today, we lack empathy for family, for co-workers, neighbors, for the world, or any situation that isn't directly related to us and for this, God help us.

May we start each and everyday out with a prayer not my will but thine and I lift up Brother Joe and/or Sister Sue.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

A sign on a friend’s desk states, “If you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy!” But let’s admit that we’re often so busy that we lose sight of the importance of prayer. I have a hand-written, stern reminder to myself in the form of a yellowed piece of ­paper: “Busyness does not equal spirituality.” In my work as a pastor, busyness was often an excuse for not praying. Like the friends who carried a man with paralysis to Jesus (Luke 5:18-19), we can carry our friends to Jesus in prayer. Interceding for others helps us to keep our focus. We live life in community. It’s our duty toward fellow followers, journeying together in an unfriendly world.

We can never underestimate the power and importance of praying for one another. It’s necessary, beneficial, and entirely appropriate. Ephesians 6:18 teaches us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Sometimes our prayers may be a few words of confession or lament; at other times we may be asking for wisdom in how to deal with a delinquent child.

Praying isn’t a separate segment of living in a complicated world. It’s what a hymn declares: “While I breathe, I pray.” Is that true for you? Prayer: Father God, you heard the prayers of your Son, Jesus, and you hear my prayers. Lead and guide me as I follow you today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

George Vink

Be Kind To People Who Are Different From You

The title say's it all. And it is what is wrong with people now a day's. People are on the judgemental boat and has no problem telling you what is wrong with you but Lord forbid you return the favor.

Maybe it is time we drop the judgemental attitude and replace it with one of love. Pure love. Sure, we don't have to agree with everything that is said and done but there has to be a better way of dealing with our opinions.

And there is, we can kill them with kindness and that just might knock the socks right off them!

God Bless.

Be kind to people who are different from you. “See people as opportunities to be kind. Look at those who are different as God’s unique creations who are equally deserving of your love and respect.” - Your Next 24 Hours Each person on Earth has been intricately knit by our Creator. God knows, loves and pursues drug dealers, celebrities and everyone in-between. We should, too. Easier said than done, right? In a world fueled by negativity, it’s easy to chime in or shut yourself off completely. But, instead of forming a rebuttal or leaving the conversation completely, take a moment to listen with no agenda.  You don’t have to agree with someone to love them. Jesus certainly didn’t! In fact, He knew people were going to disagree with him and he chose to pursue them anyway. Follow his example and be kind to someone with whom you would normally argue with or simply ignore.  Remember: “Tolerance is temporary — and often forced. Love is neverending — and freely given.” - Your Next 24 Hours

What God Wants Us To Hear The Most

Just let the word's of this little devotional sink in then begin to believe in them.

We are perfectly and wonderfully made who live in a fallen world and thankfully we have a Savior who has overcome this world with so much love for each of one and we don't have to settle for anything less.

God Bless.

What God Wants Us to Hear the Most

You aren’t the mistakes you’ve made. You aren’t the labels that have been put on you. And you aren’t the lies the Enemy has tried to sell you. You are who God says you are. You are a child of God. You are the apple of God’s eye.  You are sought after. You are more than a conqueror. You are a new creation in Christ. You are the righteousness of Christ. All our identity issues are fundamental misunderstandings of who God is. Guilt issues are a misunderstanding of God’s grace. Control issues are a misunderstanding of God’s sovereignty. Anger issues are a misunderstanding of God’s mercy.

Pride issues are a misunderstanding of God’s greatness. Trust issues are a misunderstanding of God’s goodness. If you struggle with any of those issues, it’s time to let God be the loudest voice in your life!  God doesn’t love us because of who we are. God loves us because of who He is.  When we succeed, God says, “I love you.” When we fail, God says, “I love you.” When we have faith, God says, “I love you.” When we doubt, God says, “I love you.” Love is His answer to everything. Why? Because He is love. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less. God loves you perfectly. He loves you eternally. God wants us to hear what He’s saying, and we must heed His voice. But much more than that, He wants us to hear His heart. So He whispers softer and softer so that we have to get closer and closer. And when we finally get close enough, He envelops us in His arms and tells us that He loves us.  We’ve been deafened by the voice of conformity, the voice of criticism, and the voice of condemnation, and the side effects include loneliness, shame, and anxiety.  The good news? You not only bear God’s image but you know His voice. It’s His voice that knit you together in your mother’s womb. It’s His voice that ordained all your days before one of them came to be. It’s His voice that began a good work and His voice that will carry it to completion. Where is God leading you? How is God talking to you?

If you can’t hear His voice, consider spending more time in His Word on a regular basis If you enjoyed this 5-day devotional from Mark Batterson, be sure to check out Mark's book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God.

The Loudest Voice In Your Life

What is the loudest voice in your ear? I can honestly say the loudest voice in my ear right now is the tv, Facebook, Instagram, and my family.

I know how I can make a change in my life. All I have to do is leave this world and it's distractions behind and become kingdom minded.

It is easier said than done but thankfully, I have someone who understands and is more than willing to help me as well has faith in me that I will rise and make Him the King of my heart as well as mind, body, and soul.

God Bless.

The Loudest Voice in Your Life Is it possible that what we perceive to be relational, emotional, and spiritual problems are actually hearing problems—ears that have been deafened to the voice of God? And it’s that inability to hear His voice that causes us to lose our voice and lose our way.

0Let me make a bold statement: Learning how to hear the voice of God is the solution to a thousand problems! It’s also the key to discovering our destiny and fulfilling our potential.  His voice is love. His voice is power. His voice is healing. His voice is wisdom. His voice is joy. If your life is off-key, maybe it’s because you’ve been deafened by the negative self-talk that doesn’t let God get a Word in edgewise! Maybe you’ve listened to the voice of criticism so long you can’t believe anything else about yourself. Or maybe it’s the Enemy’s voice of condemnation that speaks lies about who you really are. If you don’t silence those competing voices, they’ll eventually deafen you. You won’t be able to sing God’s song because you won’t be able to hear His voice.  Is God’s voice the loudest voice in your life? That’s the question. If the answer is no, that’s the problem. We live in a culture where everyone wants to have his or her voice heard but has so little to say. And that’s because we do so little listening, especially to God. The best way to get people to listen to us is for us to listen to God. Why? Because we’ll have something to say that is worth hearing.  Ultimately, all of us need to find our voice.

And by voice I mean the unique message God wants to speak through our lives. But finding our voice starts with hearing His voice.  Let me issue a warning, though. If you aren’t willing to listen to everything God has to say, you eventually won’t hear anything He has to say. If you want to hear His comforting voice, you have to listen to His convicting voice.

And it’s often what we want to hear least that we need to hear most. Trust me, though, you want to hear what He has to say.  Are you ready? When was the last time you heard God’s voice? What did He say or ask? How did you respond?

-Author Unknown

Be Relentlessly Kind

There is so much wisdom and truth in these written words.

Simple wisdom which has the potential of a strong impact on your neighbor, in your city, and of course, your kindness can make an impact on this world. You never know until you begin to spead the kindness wealth.

God Bless.

Be relentlessly kind.

“Occasional kindness has limited power. But relentless kindness has the power to restore, inspire, rescue, and unite.” -

Your Next 24 Hours One of the best ways you can show people God’s love is by being kind. Kindness opens doors and bridges gaps. It repairs the broken and restores hope to the hopeless. Will you harness the power of kindness to tell others about Jesus?  Kindness isn’t a series of gestures — it’s a lifestyle. Kindness can’t be random — it has to be intentional. Kindness doesn’t require much — yet it can change everything. Jesus demonstrated remarkable kindness in his final hours on the cross. Despite unimaginable pain and humiliation, he used his last moments on Earth to bring another person into the Kingdom.  If you try to be relentlessly kind on your own, you’ll probably fail. But, if you tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable you to extend kindness in greater ways than you ever imagined. With God’s help, we can turn a moment of kindness into a movement. Remember: “Relentless kindness is contagious.”

- Your Next 24 Hours

Let There Be Light

Have you really thought about the creation of the world and what that entailed?

I must admit, I have but I am not saying I am an expert by any means and I enjoy reading about it.

And when I come across something that makes me think, I want to share it, and I think this little devotional has so many thought provoking nuggets in it, I just had to share.

Enjoy and God Bless.

Let there be light In a sense there was divine activity even before creation began--God must have made a gigantic mud ball in the dark. All of the elements were there, but they were all jumbled together. Matter existed, but it was in chaos. And then came the moment when God decided to begin the process of bringing order of the chaos. The first thing that the world of dark mud needed was the presence of the glory of God himself. Before there were sun, moon, and stars,

God brought the gift of light to the chaos, the light of himself: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:2,3). God had endowed matter with the ability to reflect light with different colors and hues, different depths and texture. Light itself is a stupendous work of his--acting like both wave and particle, it bolts through all creation at 186,000 miles per second, bouncing back when there is something there. The people who appreciate light most are those from whom it has been taken. The blind will tell you how intensely they miss it and what a delight it is. When your eyes pop open tomorrow morning, whisper a little prayer, “Lord, how wonderful it is to see your world.”

-Let There Be Light Devotions

A Good Attitude Is Effective

Attitude is everything. Even in everything you do from here on in. 

Attitude determines whether you win or lose. Choosing to have a good attitude in whatever we do next is the battlezone and sometimes the war within can cause unspeakable damage to the cause we are fighting for. 

So, I guess what the bible says is true, you are what you believe. So, let's hit the battlefield with a clear mind and an attuitude to match for there is a lost and dying world out there who needs us to be the very best we can be. 

God Bless.

A Good Attitude Is Effective

by Joyce Meyer

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
—Psalm 54:2 NKJV
We all want our prayers to be effective and we want to be able to talk to God in ways that successfully bring His heart and His plans into our lives and the lives of other people. The Bible says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16 NKJV). If we want to pray effective prayers that avail much, then we need to know what can make them ineffective. All of our prayers are not successful. For example, sometimes we want something so desperately that we fail to pray according to God’s will—and those prayers are not effective. Sometimes we are so angry or hurt that we pray prayers that are based on our emotions instead of on God’s Word or His heart—and those prayers are not effective either.
Through His Word, God tells us what to do in order to pray effective prayers. Effective prayer does not result from following formulas or abiding by certain principles. Effective prayer is based on God’s Word; it is simple, sincere, and filled with faith; it has nothing to do with rules or guidelines, but it does need to issue from a heart with a right attitude.
God's word for you today: A bad attitude can be changed by simply making a decision to change it.

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From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

And The Very Hairs On Your Head

Imagine with me for a minute that you and I could actually get an accurate count of the number of hair strings on a person without going crazy.

It could take all day depending on the length of the person's hair. Yep, I ain't doing it.

But there is somone who counts it all joy in knowing how many hair strings are on a person's head; the God lf this universe and  I find Him utterly amazing.

The most amazing thing about the God of the universe, is He thinks I and everyone else on this planet is the bomb diggity.

Just to think He cares so much about us and our problems and everything about us should take us all to our knees in thanks but we don't.

And yet, He continues to care for us. Amazing. Maybe it's time for us to change our tune and stop wondering if God really loves us and does he care about what we are going through and start counting our blessings instead.

God Bless.

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (NLT) -Luke 12:7

Yes, you are very important to God. He concerns Himself with many details you may be unaware of. That's because He loves you so much. How awesome is it that we serve a God who knows more minuscule details about each of us and still loves us for who we are? Take a moment to express your gratitude to God for being personally involved in your life.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://bit.ly/16uZrQ5

God Has Called Each One Of Us

As 2018 looms before us, maybe it is time  for us to start looking ahead and to begin forming a plan as to what we are going to do to help bring healing to this lost, crazy, and dying world.

There is no denying there is something lacking in today's world. And if we look closely, no, listen closely, we can hear the sound of Jesus speaking into our ears the most simplistic answer. It is almost cliche.

What the world needs now is love sweet love, it's the only thing that there is just tl little of.

Yeah, so let us sing it loud and proud, far and wide and let us leave the world in a much better place than what we found it in.

God Bless.

God has called each one of us to join him in his mission of letting all people know and understand his deep love for them.

And that happens when people engage with him through the Bible. Throughout this plan you’ve heard others share why the Bible matters to them, and now it’s your turn to fill in the blank: The Bible matters because ____________.

Each day is a new opportunity to engage in God’s Word and discover new facets of his character that he reveals to us through Scripture. And it’s a new chance to fill in that blank with a different response. We hope that you’ll continue to share your story with the world and let others know what the Bible means to your life. Together, we can declare its importance to the world, for God’s glory!

Keep the conversation going all year long with resources and suggestions at why bible .

-Author Unknown

Find Balance

Finding balance in an uncompromising world can either male you laugh or cry. Maybe both, depending on the situation yuou find yourself in.

Balance is a must if we are to be an effective Christian in the world today because if people see a crack in us, then they are most likely to turn away from God and say we are like every other supposedly Christian to walk the earth.

It has been my experience that the walk has more effectiveness than the talk. People can.dispute how we talk about doing the right thing but the proving of it usually shut's the mouth of lion's.

God Bless.

Find Balance

by Joyce Meyer

Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away. 
—Hebrews 2:1
When Satan finds people out of balance, he has an inroad to destroy their lives. There are people who get out of balance in everything: from not sleeping, to sleeping too much; from not cleaning their house, to trying to keep it so clean that nobody can move in it.
Find balance; balance keeps your day going right. Satan doesn’t much care if you don’t do enough of something, or if you do too much of it, as long as you don’t stay balanced. Take time to examine yourself prayerfully, and ask God to show you how to remain balanced.

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From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Be Kind To Yourself

I feel guilty about how I see myself before I read these words from the Your Next 24 Hour book and after I read it, I feel even worse now.

However, once I went back and read the words again, I knew the author didn't want me to feel condemnation but rather he wanted us to take a good, hard look at how we talk and view ourselves.

Yes, it can and usually ain't pretty but we must get in the mindset that God didn't make a mistake where we are concerned.

We are a masterpiece in the eyes of who created us and He loves us just the way we are. Now for the hard part, we must see us thenway God see it, change our attitude, and begin to bring forth the person God made us to be. Let the journey begin...

God Bless.

Be kind to yourself.

“If you tell yourself you’re ugly, untalented, and unlovable, you’re probably sending that same message to others.”  - Your Next 24 Hours How many times a day do you compare yourself to others? It’s so easy to believe the lie that our lives would be better if we were different… but you were made by your Creator — exactly as He intended.  Maybe it’s time you let yourself off the hook. If you identify as nothing more than a sinner who is destined to fail, that’s how you’ll act. But, if you identify as a child of the King whose sins have been forgiven — everything changes!  Are you emotionally, physically or spiritually exhausted? Is the guilt of your past affecting your future? When your kindness tank is depleted, find a way to get it filled up again. To live a kind life, you must be kind to yourself first.  Remember: “In your quest to assist others, invest in yourself. You won’t be investing in anyone if you’re chronically fatigued or emotionally spent.”

- Your Next 24 Hours