Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16



Last night in church we were reading scripture in 2 Corinthians when I ran across this verse. LOL, I thought to myself how true this verse is. As I get older my body slowly performs less than the previous year. As we age, our bodies wear out, slow down and require more down time than up and running.



But the interesting thing is the wisdom I’ve gained over the years has increased and helped to strengthen my faith and walk in the Lord. As the tough times come my way, I’m better able to withstand its effects because I know God is with me, He strengthens and protects me as I journey through each storm. But it hasn’t come without a lot of mistakes and poor choices and lessons learned. I can honestly say I’m grateful for my life story and how God has turned the most trying moments into the most beneficial for my spiritual health.



Maybe you are going through some tough times and its wearing on your physically and emotionally. Don’t let it overcome you. God has a plan to use those challenging times to strengthen your faith and trust in Him. You are an overcomer when you put your trust in Christ to see you through another life storm. Grow from your experience and look to God to impart wisdom along the way as you head towards another storm….and they will keep coming. But through it all, you will be better equipped to navigate them and come out stronger on the other side! God bless!

It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24



Last night I watched a movie about a woman who was dating a man and her desire was that he ask her to become engaged. At every meeting her hopes and dreams were squashed as the man of her dreams failed to fulfill her expectations and plans for an engagement. All the while this other man in her life was trying to get her attention and somehow ended up being around each time this girl was feeling letdown by her boyfriend. Well as you can imagine, the man who she failed to see initially ended up being the right man for her and everything came to a happy ending in the movie.



So where am I going with this you ask? Today’s verse gives us the promise that God is working before we ask for His help. Weather it is finding the right mate, the right job or simply an answer to a question about life in general. Oftentimes our expectations and plans hinder our view of God’s plan for our life. Its in those moments that He allows circumstances, such as let downs, closed doors and oftentimes His quietness to steer us in the right direction. In the end, we will find God’s will and plan for our life through His ways of channeling our vision so we can see what great things He has in store for us!



Maybe you have some expectations about something or someone and all you seem to encounter are letdowns, closed doors, disappointments or no answer at all. Step back from your plans and pray, asking God to open your eyes to what He is doing so you can see what He has planned for your life! God’s plan is always perfect and will bless you. Just know He is working now, even before your request, to give you the best in life! God bless!  

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous an avails much. James 5:16



All throughout the bible you can read accounts of ordinary people’s faith and the effectiveness of their prayer life. For one instance, Elijah prayed it would not rain, and it didn’t for three straight years. When he prayed for rain, it rained. His faith and trust in God was on display for others to see. God responded to each request and the people of Israel restored their faith in God.  



I think of my grandmother, Nedra, and her prayers. We, as a family, use to always joke that Grandma had a direct phone line to God. When she prayed, God responded in a powerful way. We could always trust Grandma was praying for us and when we requested her to pray for a specific request….we saw God in action.



Maybe you need an answered prayer to something you are going through. Clean out your life by removing the purposeful sin, ask for God’s forgiveness and come clean before Him as you begin your prayers. God will respond when you fall in line with His will and remain obedient to Him. Pray and believe in God, He believed in you enough to sacrifice His Son so you could commune with Him on a daily basis! Pray an effective prayer today and see the results! God bless!

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:15



There are benefits to doing the right things in life. Examples are: obeying the speed limit will keep you from getting a costly ticket (did ya hear that sister?), by driving safely you’ll avoid the painful cost of having an accident and insurance rates go up, by taking care of your body you will avoid unnecessary illness and health issues that could take your life at a young age. The list is endless, but I think you get the point.



There is a positive outcome when you live an obedient life in accordance to the standards of God. First, He will provide for your needs and shower you with blessings. The most important thing that will occur is your light of Christ will shine into a dark world who needs hope. Your standard of living is a testament of your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The benefits of obedience far outweigh any pleasure you’ll receive by living for self vs. the good life of Christ.



Want good things to come your way in life? Start living right and keep Jesus as your example on how to live in this world. Read the book for advice and guidance. I promise you, the rewards of obedience will bring unending blessings to your life! God bless!

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16



I recently visited my family back in Illinois. Before I left, I washed my SUV for the trip. But, once I got up there, it got dirty as a result of driving on gravel roads. By the time I got back home it was a mess and in much need of a bath. Not all, but many country roads up there are gravel and not paved. So, if I wanted to keep my car clean, I had to make the decision to drive on paved roads.



As Christians we have a choice to make each day, which path to follow. The worldly path, which will cover you with the dirt and grime of sin and leave you with a tarnished witness. On the other hand, if you devote your day to taking the righteous path, your witness wont be covered or tarnished, leaving you spotless for the non-believer to see. That cleanness shows the love of Christ continually, full of joy, living in peace and giving grace to those who need it.



If you are a child of God, you have a decision to make today. Which path will you go down? Take the right path and walk by the Spirit, so you will shine the love of Christ to a world hungry for the spotless truth! God bless!

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Proverbs 1:10

If you struggle with sin, raise your hand! Well, all hands should be raised at this moment. We as humans (in the flesh) all struggle with temptation and sin. The world is full of sinful opportunities to step away from God’s perfect plan for His children. How do we avoid or lessen the impact of sin?

One way is to separate yourself from the things and people who make it easy for you to fall prey to sin. That habit you are trying to kick wont help if you hang out with people who enjoy that pleasure. That phone call from a friend who is a known gossiper won’t help you in your battle to stop the sin of gossip if you answer their call, stopping by the shopping mall for lunch where you’ll fall prey to lust (either after the opposite sex or addiction to shopping). Do you get the picture?

You are responsible for your actions, and choices to sin. By distancing yourself from those things and people will help in the struggle to remain obedient to the Lord. Sacrifice your temptations so you won’t tarnish the sacrifice made on your behalf to be called a child of God!  

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14



I recently pulled up at an intersection and looked to my left to see a man with his dirty laundry in a basket, most likely headed to the laundry mat on Sunday. This verse came to mind as I thought about our purpose for going to church.



As Christians, it’s important that we commune with the Lord in His house, as much as possible, so we can wash our lives from the stains of sin and restore our hearts so we can be effective in our daily walk with the Lord. His blood covers our sins, but the necessity of refreshing our lives, every day, is key to keeping our mind and hearts from being stained by the world’s dirt and grime.



If you are contemplating attending church, find a way to go so you can renew your mind and spirit. Come clean with God today! Have a blessed Sunday!  

My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:28



If you lived any amount of time, you know that life can bring about some painful experiences. Loss of a loved one, disappointment, financial hardship or seeing someone you love suffer. The pain and sorrow can cause you to sink into a depression like no other.



Friend, it is on your knees that you will find help in the Lord. When trouble comes your way, to the floor you should go with your situation, praying for God to intervene and work through the circumstance. God promises to keep an open ear to our prayers, respond as He knows best and lift us up. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve encountered trouble, gave it to God and watched His mighty hand sustain me as He carried me through my heavy-hearted situation.



God will do the same for you friend. No matter what heavy burden you face today, give it to Him, knowing He can handle it and meanwhile sustain the spirit within you, so you can continue to serve Him and love others as He has called you to do. God bless!

Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. Luke 6:30



I had someone in my life once tell me, “if you have to borrow it, you need to buy it.” Great advice if you don’t want to lose anything loaned out. Today’s verse sheds a different light on the subject of giving. Give and do not expect in return. Well, not sure we want to give away all our belongings, but this is a challenge to have a giving heart.



How do you get to that point where you ease your grip on your money and belongings? By realizing its all Gods. He blessed you with those items and financial resources. They are to be used as a tool for Him. When the opportunity presents itself, we need to give freely as an expression of God’s love and mercy. “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36



God will reward you when you learn to ease your grip on what you posses so you can help others in need. The return on your loss will be great. Ask for nothing back and blessings will come to you from Heaven! God bless!

..for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. Romans 2:13

 

As a parent, you’ll experience times when you tell your child to do something, they nod in acknowledgement and later you find they didn’t do what they heard you ask of them. It can be so frustrating. The truth of the matter is they do only what they want, especially if they know there is a reward for their obedience.

 

The Christian life is pretty much the same. As a child of God, have you ever heard God’s voice telling you to do something or go a certain path, you agreed with His words and then simply ignored His instructions? I think we all have done this at various times in life. Why? Usually because we feel what He asks of us is too much to bear or we are afraid to follow His lead in fear that something bad might happen.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. The only way to navigate life using God’s GPS is by trusting Him completely and doing what His voice says. Trust me, you will never go wrong when you follow His voice to a T. Even if you feel ill equipped for His plans, trust that He will instill in you what’s necessary to carry through with His will for your life! God will never give you bad advice and leave you out to dry. Be not only a hearer of His word, but a doer! God bless!

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10



Do you ever feel unworthy of God’s love? Maybe you’ve done something horrible or held captive very hateful thoughts or gossiped about another person and it caused a lot of pain and heartache for that victim of your words. The list is endless, but the reality is we fail as humans. We are not perfect by any means and I personally am reminded of this fact on a daily basis.



Today’s verse came to me yesterday as I rode my motorcycle. This reminded me that I was never meant to be good enough for God to love me, but He loved me first and gave His only Son to die in my place for my sins: past, present and future. I can never do enough to be that righteous person, but God will continue to love me and cover me with His blood for my failures.



Maybe you feel a heavy burden from your past, current situation or possibly something that will occur in the future. Don’t give up on God, because He will never give up on you! Walk in His grace with confidence knowing His love makes you good enough for Him to love you! God bless!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6



Have you ever been on a guided hike? Someone who knows the trail well and leads you along the way, sharing information about what you are seeing and experiencing as you journey along the hike. There are hills and valleys, straight paths and sometimes paths that veer off the main trail, but as long as you stay close to the guide, you won’t get lost and won’t miss out on anything said.



I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this this blog. Our relationship with Jesus is very similar. When we follow Him closely, living an obedient life by adhering to the principles in the bible, keeping an open ear to what He is saying, and trusting He knows the way, we will never get lost in this world in which we are passing through. And the one benefit of following Him closely, on a daily basis, is we’ll never have to ask if we are on the right path for our life.



Today’s passage clearly gives us the answer to life…”I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is your guide for your Christian journey. Stay close to Him and you’ll never detour off His specific path for your life! God bless!

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

 

Have you ever wondered if you are on the right path that God has laid out for you? Life offers many choices of what to do with your life, what to believe in and who to spend time with. The choices can be overwhelming at times, but there is one indicator you are on the right track with God. Today’s verse provides some insight if you are headed down the right path God intended for you. Lets break it down….

 

“You make known to me the path of life”. God never will leave you in the dark. He has a plan and purpose for your life and reveals enough information to keep you going. Oftentimes we question if we are headed in the right direction when God is silent. God will tell you when and where to make a turn (or change). Until you hear His voice, keep moving forward and stay the course He originally laid out.

 

“in your presence there is fullness of joy”. I love this one. When you are track with God, you will find not only joy, but peace and there won’t be any confusion. Yes, God may lead you through some troubling times, but it’s to help you grow in your faith and strengthen your stride. God often allows trouble to come to strengthen us for the next valley we’ll have to climb out of. So never discredit when the path gets tough…He has a purpose.

 

“at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”. God is never short on blessings and as long as we keep a firm grip on His hand, we’ll receive those blessings and affirmation we are on the path with Him.

 

Life has a lot to offer, but there is one path specific to you and His purpose for your life. Follow Him with every step and you’ll never have to wonder if this is the path for you! God bless!

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10



The other day I saw a mother with two young children step out of their car and start walking towards a retail store. As soon as the kid’s feet hit the pavement the mother quickly grabbed their hands to keep them close and safe as cars were moving about in the parking lot and I’m sure the kids were unaware of the dangers they faced without the protective hand of their mother.



As Christians we have the same situation as we navigate life. This world is full of hidden dangers and God knows this, that is why He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us through the dangers and challenges of life. As He walks with us, He is always communicating through His words felt in our heart, His words of wisdom in the bible and through friends and family who offer Godly advice. We are protected by our Father in Heaven.



Maybe you are going through a rough spot in life. Trust and believe that God has your hand and will take you safely through this time. He knows what’s best for you and can see your destination from His vantage point. You might not see it, but trust that He is leading you down the right path. Hold His hand tight and trust Him with every step! God bless!