I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

 

I have two bell pepper plants growing in a pot. Within one month, I have 2 bell peppers growing. But this process didn’t just happen. I had to plant them in good location to receive adequate son, in healthy soil and keep them watered, the rest was up to the plant to do its thing. In essence, you could say we both worked together to produce bell peppers.

 

The same is true with your relationship with the Lord. He put you in the perfect environment to grow and become more like Him. He provided wisdom in the bible, and has given you His Holy Spirit to help nurture and grow you. The rest is up to you. The question is, are you producing Godly fruit?

 

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. John 15:6

 

As a child of God, you must nourish you mind and heart with the word of God, stay in communication with Him through prayer and find your purpose in life and pursue it with the help of God. You are not to be just a plant, you are to be fruitful and yield a rich harvest for the Lord.

 

It’s like a partnership, and God is depending on you for the harvest. Ask Him to help you grow and produce. He’s invested His time and effort to plant you where you are, grow in Him and produce a harvest He can say, “well done my good and faithful servant”. God bless!  

 

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

 

Happy Memorial Day everyone. This is the day we celebrate those who have fallen while fighting for the freedoms of America. Many have gone before you to defend your freedom to live in this country, unrestricted to worship God and carry on with your life. To those who’ve died for our freedom, I thank you and their families who continue to live on the legacy of our heroes.

 

The greatest freedom you and I have is in what Jesus Christ did over 2,000 years ago. As God’s Son, He made payment for your sins through His death on a Roman cross, then rose again to life 3 days later. His victory over death, opened the door to an unrestricted relationship with God. Accepting Jesus Christ into your life provides this freedom to come to Him, washed by the blood and forever secure in the Lambs Book of Life.

 

As you celebrate your freedom today, remember those who’ve fallen in battle, and thank God for His generous gift of eternal freedom through Jesus Christ. Never take these freedoms for granted and always be ready to give an account of your eternal freedom you have with those around you. God bless!

 

 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1

 

It’s only natural to want to be recognized when you do something good for someone else. Your charitable deed usually will cost you either your time or money, or both, so it only makes sense that your worthy investment has other people’s acknowledgement. God sees it differently though, and His thoughts are stated in the words of Jesus above. The question is why?

 

As a child of God, you should give God all the glory. The fact is, He blessed you with the abundance to provide to someone else, so it makes sense to give credit where credit is due. And to take it one step further, God plans out your day and uses you to bless others, therefore He most likely put that other person’s need in front of you and moved your spirit to help. Does it seem more clearly now who’s in charge of the charitable deed?

 

…and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:4b.

 

God desires for His children to open their lives to His plan to reach the world by sharing His rich blessings of love, forgiveness and compassion. Your willingness to allow God full control of your life will align you with metered blessings that will overflow into the lives of others. God authors your charitable deeds, leave the recognition up to Him and your reward will be great! God bless!

 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. Psalm 25:7

 

One of great things I love about the bible, are the stories about real people, real lives, dealing with real issues and many of these people God favored (Acts 13:22). Today’s passage comes from a prayer of David, asking for God’s forgiveness. David needed a lot of forgiveness, as he committed adultery and had the husband of his mistress killed in battle. Time and time again, God forgave David and He allowed David to reigned as king for 40 years (1 Kings 2:11).

 

“according to Your mercy remember me”

 

David simply asked God to remember him for who he was. There are people in your life who’ve committed acts against you and the bitterness and pain most likely still lingers in your mind and heart, tainting your thoughts against that person. Maybe you’ve forgiven them, but every time you see them, your mind goes back to that offense and stirs emotions that are toxic to your soul. If you were to remove the painful memories, you might find a different person. We all change over time, and hopefully for the better.

 

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

 

Maybe it’s time to forgive and forget, and see the person for who they really are, a person created by God, just like you, trying to live out his/her life. Forgiveness and love are key ingredients of living a free life in Christ. He paid for your trespasses and sees you spotless, because of Christ’s blood. Find in your heart forgiveness and see that person in a different light today. Your heart will be thankful for healing its wounds of the past. God bless!

 

 

 

 

 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8

 

Go back in your mind to a time when you first started a new job. Everything was foreign and you had no clue how things worked or processes of the business. After a time of instruction and study, you got the hang of it and eventually your mistakes turned to productivity and a routine was set in motion without even thinking.

 

The Christian life is much like starting a new job. It’s a new way of thinking and doing things and unless you study scripture, you’ll struggle to get it right by your own means. Assumptions about how God wants you to live your life will only be met with disastrous results. The bible is full of instruction and guidance for living an obedient life. One of the best things you have to help guide you is God’s Holy Spirit. When you truly seek after Him, He will guide you through each day, convicting you of wrongdoing, praying on your behalf and encouraging you to make right decisions.

 

Today’s verse is just one example of how you should live. You might find yourself overwhelmed by the guidance provided in the bible. Rest assured, God knows you are human and its only natural to struggle with temptation and the vices of the flesh. But, over time as you learn and grow in your relationship with Him, you’ll see a change in your behavior. Those things you said and done that were not pleasing to the Lord, will slowly go away and be replaced with a renewed spirit of obedience and faithfulness to God.

 

Ask God to continue to transform every aspect of your life so that your character becomes more like Jesus Christ. He’ll do it for you and bless you for your commitment to serve and honor Him. Change will happen over time with the help of the Holy Spirit. Grow in your relationship with God, one day at a time. God bless!

 

 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

 

One thing people do, outside the faith, is watch everything said and done by the child of God. They want to see what being a Christian is all about. As a Christian, your life is on display 24/7 and people really want to see how your life is different from theirs. If they see no change, then they consider their life in good standing, equal to yours. Don’t be that poor example to those outside the faith.

 

Although saved, you will still be tempted to sin, and will sin. The good news is your faith in Jesus Christ and acceptance of Him in your life provides you God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness of sins. But your liberty should not be a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9). It’s important to always be consciously aware of your behavior, the words you speak and the actions you take, that they reflect the true image of Jesus Christ.

 

Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24

 

On your own, you will struggle to live a reverent life. That’s why it’s important for you to stay in a constant state of prayer and plug into the power of the Holy Spirit, living inside of you, to walk within the perfect will of God. He will guide you, convict you, and shield you from the evilness of this world. His Spirit is alive and well inside you, it’s up to you to tap into its power to live the example He expects from His followers.

 

Let those outside the faith see a difference in you and the hope you have and the joy you experience in your personal relationship with the Savior. So much so, they will want to know more and opportunity will open the door to share your faith to bring others into the fold of Christ. God bless!

 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

 

You don’t have to read too far into the news these days to see the signs of evilness is all around us. Mass shootings, drunken drivers running over pedestrians and the war in Ukraine continues to destroy a country of innocent lives. The emotions of sadness, anger and fear stir amongst people, paralyzing the goodness of people.

 

Yet as Christians, we are to continue to do good. Last night my wife sat in on a virtual prayer session for a young boy who is struggling to survive after several surgeries. This lady prayed and prayed, and went on for a while. As I sat there, I felt her struggle, yet she continued in prayer. I admire her commitment to stay in prayer. I also read about a close friend who had delivered a care package to this family struggling as they watch their son fight for his life. That care package was an expression of love and concern, and it meant so much to that family.

 

I share these heartfelt stories to encourage you to not grow weary in doing good for those in need. Our busy schedules and stressful jobs can leave you wanting to retreat in the comforts of home without involving self in other’s problems. But, that is not what God expects of His children. We are to do good to those around us. By doing so, we share the love of Christ and He emboldens us to do good. When we bless others with our goodness, God in turn blesses us for our commitment through acts of service.

 

You probably know someone right now in need. Take that first step to help meet their needs. A simple prayer, asking God to show you that need is the first step towards service, then let God lead you as you extend His love to your fellow brother or sister. In a world of bad and evil, correct it with your acts of kindness and show them what God can do with a willing and loving heart. God bless!

 

 Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

 

Ever wake up on a Saturday morning with thoughts of what you’ll do that day? Maybe it’s clean out the garage, or clean the house, do some yard work or trim the hedges. When you wake with a plan, you know what you are doing for the day and your focus is on accomplishing the task at hand.

 

Same is true with your relationship with God. He has a plan for your life and it’s up to you to focus on His plan and will for your life and work to accomplish the mission. It might be something as simple as helping at a local food kitchen for the day, or witnessing to a friend of co-worker. Trust me though when I say God has a task He wants you to engage in. He never intended for His followers to sit idle in their relationship with Him. It’s an active, living, breathing relationship that never ends and the blessings that follow your obedience is worth the effort you put forth.  

 

What has God called for you to focus on this week? Remain faithful in our commitment and don’t allow the outside distractions to disrupt what God has asked of you. Wake up with the mission on your mind and He will guide you through it, all the way to completion. God bless!

 These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:17

 

Good Monday morning! As I type this blog, its raining and raining hard….so blessed to have the rain as its been dry for weeks now. Like me, I’m sure you are getting ready for the day weather its going to work, enjoying a day off or lavishing in the glory of retirement. As you go into your day, I’m sure there are people whom you have a conflict with, who stir a bit of anger in your heart because of the way they live. Completely understandable in these times that people look out for themselves with no thought to anyone.

 

Today’s passage comes straight from the mouth of Jesus. As difficult as it might be, you are to love everyone. When you do, you put everyone on equal ground, which prevents you from be prejudice towards certain people, it keeps your mind focused on the positive and lets go of the hurts you’ve experienced, and most of all your loving others is an extension of God’s love for you. Just as Jesus wants His children to follow in His example, to love the people of this world.

 

If you struggle to love, ask God to help transform your heart after His. Seek after His wisdom through scripture, by reading about how Jesus showed grace and mercy to those who were opposed to Him, even while He hung on the cross. His love never stopped, and yours should be a continuance of that love if the world is to see Jesus Christ lived out in your life.

 

Loving others will only come by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Draw upon that power, that strength, that grace to overlook those annoyances and love everyone the same! God bless!

 

 God if faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

 

Everywhere you go, there are rules and laws to maintain order. From local ordinances in your city to laws of the land and rules for driving. You live in a country structured by rules and laws. Trying to live up to those standards can be a challenge for some who are simply just trying to live life to its fullest.

 

Unfortunately, formal religion has developed a set of standards and rules to maintain order, which is necessary for the function of the church, but it can be a roadblock to a deep and intimate relationship with God. Trying to live by those man-made rules and expectations can create this imaginary wall between you and God, making it seem impossible to come to Him with your feelings of unworthiness and life’s failures. That is NOT how God intended for His relationship to be with you.

 

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21

 

God wants to have a personal and intimate relationship with YOU. He created YOU in HIS image. Just like your children, you want a close relationship with them, nothing they do, or don’t do, will impact your love for them. Same is true with God.

 

Put aside all of those impossible expectations and simply love God and come to Him with all your being, good and bad. God has more grace to forgive and love you than you can offer Him good. His Son, Jesus Christ, opened the door for that relationship, freely walk in and commune with Him today! God bless!

 

 

 

 

 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15

 

So often you read about someone’s desperate cries for help. They are either facing an important surgery, going through a difficult situation or just need a prayer for encouragement. Most respond by clicking a like or care icon, and even go so far as to say “praying for you”. These are all great and show support, but are you really following up with your duty to pray for them?

 

Prayer has healing power and things get done when fellow Christians pray in unison. Thinking that someone else is praying for the situation without your help is foolish. If provided the opportunity, you should join them in prayer. No prayer goes unnoticed by God, and those who don’t pray, when they know they should, is a sin James 4:17.

 

Who do you know needs prayer? Stop right now and do the right thing, lift them up in prayer. Want a more powerful prayer, get down on your knees and pray. Your prayer counts and God knows who’s faithful and who’s not. Do right, pray and leave the healing to God! God bless!

 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15

 

Today’s passage talks about the process of sin. First, you are drawn away, something has your attention, and it’s NOT God. Maybe it’s something lustful, a juicy story about someone else or something you want to take without anyone knowing it. This lure to pursue is so great, it blocks off all reasoning and is harmful to you. At that point, I believe the voice of God, through the Holy Spirit living inside of you, is trying to get your attention so you won’t slip off track.  That’s why it is so important to always keep your focus on God and keep your ears open to His voice. He knows the lure is great and He will do everything in His power to keep you from entering into sin.

 

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you will be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

God is your shield and protector. He works to keep you from falling prey to satan’s attacks. It’s up to YOU to use Him as a shield, so you can remain obedient and blessed for your unwavering commitment to Him. Even when the lure has your attention, He makes a way of escape.

 

What has your attention today? Hopefully it’s God. But if your focus is drawn away from Him, there is still opportunities to return your focus on Him and stay true to the One who saved you. God bless!

 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything, that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19

 

My grandmother was a devout Christian. Every day she prayed and read through various devotions over the course of an hour or so. Her prayers were most notable though. It seemed like she had a special “hotline to heaven” when she prayed. When she prayed, we saw action from God.

 

I think we all would like access to a hotline to heaven. Simply pick up a phone and ask God for anything and He would do it. It doesn’t always work out that way though. Faith and aligning your request to God’s will is primary to your request. God won’t give you anything He knows will hurt you or harm your relationship with Him.

 

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

 

Today’s verse gives you some advice on prayer request, have someone else pray for you! If it’s something critical to your needs, have a close friend come over and pray with them. I believe there is power in prayer, especially when more than one is praying on your behalf.

 

As a child of God, He hears your request and is more than willing to respond. Backed in prayer from multiple people, especially praying in the presence of each other, can make a huge difference and bring the spirit of God within the presence of your prayer warriors. Get a prayer partner today and be unified in your request to God. Blessings!

 

 

 

 

 

 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

 

Visit any local hardware store and you’ll find more than a dozen riding lawn mowers on sale. The other day I was at a local Home Depot and the majority of the storefront was covered in mowers. There they sat, over priced and underutilized until someone purchased one and put it to good use.

 

Sadly, many Christians are like those mowers on sale at a hardware store. They are fancied up Christians, and everyone marvels at them, but until they do the work they were meant to do, they are simply for show. Today’s passage gives an insight to what a true Christian should be doing: serving others and keeping oneself “unspotted” from the world.

 

As a child of God, you were purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. God never intended for you to sit on the frontlines of this world, idle of His purpose for your life. He wants you to serve Him in some capacity. The fruits of your labor should be evident by what you do in your life.

 

Have you discovered your purpose, your talents and put them to good use? Pray to God, asking Him to reveal to you His will and plan for your life and then go serve Him with purpose.  You might feel inadequate at times, but don’t worry, He has the resources necessary to carry out His plan and will help you accomplish His plan. All He needs is your willingness to serve Him. Serve Him today and find God’s blessings in your acts of service and worship to Him. God bless!

 

 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. Jonah 1:15-16

 

Have you ever gone through some significant event and found out later it actually benefited someone else? Maybe you were sick and God healed you, only to find that your lost sibling came to know the Lord. Today’s passage comes from the book of Jonah and the story of Jonah on the run from God’s instructions to go to Ninveveh and speak truth to its people. Jonah had no desire to put himself in that position, so he ran, got on a ship and found himself, and those onboard, in a horrific storm. Jonah knew God caused the storm so he instructed the men to throw him overboard. Once they did, the storm calmed. Can you imagine the thoughts of those men on that ship? It spoke volumes about the power of God. It changed their life.

 

Maybe you are going through something painful and you question God’s purpose. All you can do is trust that His plan will prevail, even if you don’t see the benefit from your perspective. God always uses the crises of life to help others. Your event might just be someone’s plan within your plan.  Trust God in everything you go through in life. Your faithfulness will be the story someone needs to see and hear to benefit their faith in Him. God bless!

 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. Psalm 18:18

 

Last Friday (the 13^th of all things) was a pretty rough day at work. Every minute seemed to have a challenge that chipped away at any positiveness I held. By the end of the day, I was exhausted mentally and emotionally. At some point I prayed to God for strength and He sustained me through the difficulties. After a restful weekend, I’m ready for what’s ahead this week. Hopefully a little more peace and ease through the work week.

 

Let me share today’s verse as a reminder that even on the bad days, God is right there with you, experiencing everything you do. He knows what’s ahead in the day, so it is best to lean on Him for wisdom, emotional support and protection from those who seek to disrupt and attempt to take away your joy.

 

The saying “The joy of the Lord is my strength” is truth.  When faced with a difficult day, turn your focus away from those annoyances and look to the Lord for help and strength. Ask Him to renew your joy and thank Him for being there with you. He’s got this and He’s got YOU, each and every day! That alone should be enough to sustain you, even on the most challenging days!

 

Trouble will come, but God is already there, ready, capable, and willing to help you. Trust Him with every detail of your day and you’ll find blessings in the days of calamity. God bless!

 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jeus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

 

Yesterday I was visiting my eldest son and his sweet family. We were accompanied by my daughter and her children. It was an awesome day spent with family and grandkids. At one point I sat and read to several of them. I had just finished one book, when my 5 year old grandson picked up another book and said: “Pappa, we must read another book for it gives us knowledge.”

 

That little 5-year-old was dead on right! As Christians, we need to spend more time reading God’s word, the bible, to gain knowledge of Jesus Christ. Four chapters closely record Jesus’ life on planet earth and give us clear insight to the wisdom, character and thoughts of God Himself.

 

At the conclusion of most nights, I recount how much time I spend learning more about Christ and I find that time is very little in comparison to time spent pursuing other things on social media and what I watch on TV. The majority of things outside God’s word are simply junk and not worth remembering.

 

If you are reading today’s blog, I encourage you, and myself too, to put down the worthless information of the world and pick up the book of knowledge, the bible so you can grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, your Savior and friend. God bless!

 

 Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 108:13

 

I don’t know if you believe in luck, either good or bad, but yesterday was Friday the 13^th and it was one of the most challenging days I have experienced in a very long time. It seemed like everything and everyone was out of whack and each passing moment drained what energy I had in me. By the time I got home from work, I was depleted.

 

After taking a nap and taking a refreshing shower, I began to ponder the day’s battles and found that there were a few victories amongst the defeats. It was too easy though to focus on the negative to see the positives in the day. It ended well, as my wife and I enjoyed some great fellowship with a friend and today is a new day. Looking forward to visiting my son and his wife, along with my new grandson. It should be a very pleasing day.

 

As a child of God, you will encounter those days of heartache and painful trials that seem to zap the joy right out of your heart. Just know that through God, you have victory! These momentary pains you experience are nothing in comparison to the glory which shall be revealed in you (Romans 8:18). It’s the daily battles in life that help move you closer to the Lord through prayer and His Holy Spirit praying on your behalf (Romans 8:26).

 

Bad days will come, but don’t look at the battle scars, look for the victories God has set in place to help sustain you, moving through the day with hope for a better and brighter tomorrow. He has already won the battle for your soul, find hope through the victory He has provided you through Jesus Christ. God bless!

 

 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

 

In our bathroom is a night light that comes on any time it’s dark, which is pretty much all the time, except when we are in there with the lights on. Last night I took a moment to look around while in there and there wasn’t anyplace in that room that was dark. That little light shone bright enough to remove any darkness. And this got me thinking.

 

Looking back over my life, I can see times when I’ve gone through various difficulties and challenges that felt as if I was outside the view of God. I felt isolated and alone, wondering where to go and what I was going to do. It’s a helpless feeling that can last days, sometimes months. Yet, in those moments of darkness, I could still see the small light of Jesus coming through the difficulties and it helped me focus on the steps ahead, leading me away from hopelessness to His perfect way and blessings.

 

Where are you today in your life’s journey? Are you close to the Lord or have you found yourself out in the dark, looking for a way forward? Ask God to shine a glimmer of hope through His presence in your life so you can see the path forward, moving towards Him and away from the difficulties you’ve found yourself. He will do it and bless you for sustaining your faith, even in the midst of severe trials.

 

Nothing can overcome the light He provides. Push towards it, each and every day and you wont fall away from His grace and mercy. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. God bless!

 

 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

 

How often do you recap all your mistakes you’ve made in life? All those times you made poor choices; as a result you hurt others, including yourself and especially your relationship with the Lord. Rethinking those past sins and mistakes will beat you down to the point where you don’t even feel worthy to pray, attend worship nor continue in your pursuit to live out the Christian faith. If this is you, I have some good news!

 

As a child of God, your sins are forgiven. You can go back and read the countless number of times God has forgiven His children. Jesus life of 33 years was a prime example of God’s grace and mercy. He oftentimes healed the sick, the ones caught in deliberate sin and each time He offered His forgiveness. Today’s verse is a prime example of His forgiveness, He removed your transgressions from you, as far as the east is to the west. That is a great span, so much so they are no longer on His radar and neither should they be yours.

 

Satan will do his best to make you feel your worst. Unfortunately, while living on planet earth, you are vulnerable to his lies. He oftentimes will remind you of your shortcomings to beat you down to that point of giving up on God. As hard as you try to live for God, satan is constantly telling you to give up, and throws up more of your past to rehash.

 

Whose keeping score? Not God! Remind yourself you are a child of God and your sins are in the past and far from you. Turn off the lies of satan. You are worthy to be in the presence of God, so much so, He lives in YOU through His Holy Spirit. God bless!

 

 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John 6:37

 

 

Throughout the year I have to renew certain things to keep them active. My vehicle insurance, various memberships in certain organizations, and subscriptions to publications. Unless I renew these things, they will be canceled and I will lose their privileges. Over the course of my life, I’ve accidently missed certain renewals and paid dearly to get back what I lost.

 

Today’s scripture gives hope and encouragement for those who seek to follow Jesus, “I will by no means cast them out”. This one scripture, from the words of Jesus Himself, clearly states you can’t lose your salvation. Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are locked into all the benefits that come with being a child of God. Most notably, your sins are forgiven. No longer will you have to remember to renew your membership, regain your salvation or be left out. You are locked in.

 

Because of this eternal blessing, you should live out each day pursuing the Lord through prayer, daily bible study and living in obedience to His will. Staying engaged in Him, will keep your life from becoming spiritually stagnant, which allows satan an opportunity to tempt you down a path of destruction.

 

If you are a child of God, your name is written down in the book of life. Don’t become an inactive member, keep your participation in His kingdom alive in you and will find blessings in your every day life! God bless!

 “But the very hairs on your head area all numbered. Do not fear therefore; Luke 12:7

 

As a child of God, do you ever wonder if God is even concerned with your life, especially the little things you deal with on a daily basis? When you think about God, you probably have this image of someone huge and powerful, off in distant space, orchestrating the significant things of this universe. If these are your thoughts, you are probably not too far off.

 

Let me share something with you, He is concerned about every aspect of your life. He is God! He can orchestrate the happenings of the universe, all the while preparing you for that meeting in 10 minutes in which you have to give a powerful presentation and your nerves are on edge. He can do all that and accomplish everything else in every human being on this planet. He is that powerful and all knowing. He even knows the number of hairs on your head.

 

But I have called you friends. John 15:15

 

The best part is, Jesus calls His followers “friends”. A friend is closer to you than anyone and knows you on an intimate level. God knows you, He created you and with a purpose. Everything He does in your life is part of His plan to make you more like Jesus Christ. You actually hold the reins of how much you allow Him to work in your life. Letting go of those reigns gives him complete control, and He is One you can trust with your daily life, even that meeting you have in 10 minutes.

 

Give God this day, and every day, and He will guide your steps (Proverbs 16:7) in the right direction.

 

 But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

 

Happy Mother’s Day to all those ladies who’ve reared children of their own, through adoption, or just out of the love of your heart. Love is one of the finest ingredients a mother can give to her child and truthfully it comes natural for most women. Nothing like a mother’s love, as I today still carry the memories and special moments shared with my mother.

 

One thing I think many ladies battle is being “good enough”, loving their children enough, or simply living life in a manner worthy of being a good mother. In today’s world, with all of the business of life, working a successful career, raising a family and trying to meet all the demands of life’s responsibilities can be exhausting; leaving one to question if they’ve done their best.

 

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

 

Your quest to “have it all together” will always fall short by the standards you place upon yourself. Just like the lady at the well who searched for perfect love, your quest to fulfill all those responsibilities will leave you coming back to the well seeking other’s approval and personal fulfillment.

 

The verse above gives you the best advice for complete satisfaction; come to Jesus with your life’s duties, desires and purpose and He will supply all of your needs and develop in you an inner source of strength that will be like a fountain, springing up inside you for all eternity. On your own, you will never be enough, but with Jesus, your heart will be full and your children will be blessed for the fulfillment of your duties as a mother. God bless!  

 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. Hosea 14:4

 

How bad have you messed up in life? Do you recall a time when you were living in deliberate sin? The result of your immoral behavior halted any of God’s blessings and you most likely suffered in some way. God allows us free will to either live in obedience or chose the opposite way. His suspension of blessings will come in the form of trouble and heartache. And the only one to blame is yourself.  

 

As a child of God, the most awesome thing is you have is a Father who is full of love for you and He wants to help you in your willingness to live the obedient life. Because there within the realm of moral behavior, you will find the heart of God, the sweet holiness of His Spirit living inside of you. This reverent life will yield many blessings and peace with God. Why would you want to live any other way?

 

Maybe you are paying for the consequences of your deliberate sins and drowning in heartache and shame. Come back to God with a heart seeking His forgiveness. He will welcome you back into the fold of His love when you willingly turn from sin and seek after Him. He will heal your brokenness and restore what’s been damaged. Come to Him today and find forgiveness and healing for your soul! God bless!  

 

 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24

 

Have you ever watched a family with children in a shopping center? A typical child will grab hold of things in the store and ask the parents if they’ll purchase those items. Literally ever isle, that child wants something, and the parent usually responds by putting the item back and saying no. They know what’s needed and not, they know what is good for them and what is not and they know how much something costs, and that will be one of the determining factors if an item is to be purchased.

 

As a child of God, you were purchased with the blood of Christ. Nothing in this life costs more than the life of Jesus Christ and what He did on that old rugged cross to save your soul. With that said, Jesus offers His attention to your every prayer request. He knows what is good for you and not, He knows what will benefit you or not and He wants to give you the treasures of your heart because He loves you that much.

 

Today’s passage encourages believers to have faith in what they ask for in life. Thankfully He gives us His Holy Spirit to help guide us in our wants and needs. By relying on Him to guide us in our request, we will ask for the right things in life and not waste time of foolish things of this world. When you seek after God in your life, you align your needs with His desires to grow and benefit your life.

 

What’s on your list of prayer requests today? Have faith in God that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory of Jesus Christ! God bless!

 

 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

 

I’ve said it and I’ve heard others say it…”It’s all good”. A quick response to the question asked, how we are doing? Today’s passage gives a little encouragement in saying when we are living right, even our enemies are at peace with us. I personally can attest to this scripture. When I’m living on the side of God’s favor, He blesses me with His Holy presence, creating a calm across the waters of my life. Those who I’ve butted heads, seem to have a quieter spirit. And life is all good.

 

Although you might like to take credit for the good times in your life, I think it wise to recognize the good times are really God working to bring peace, bless you with prosperity and provide rest for your weary soul. God does that for His children Matthew 11:28. So often though pride focusses on self when actually “It’s all God”.

 

Next time someone asks you how you are doing, instead of simply saying “it’s all good”, maybe respond “it’s all God”, so you can give credit where credit is due. By recognizing God’s goodness, you are sharing with others who is front and center in your life. Don’t be timid to recognize Him to others, I think you’ll find acknowledgement by others. Even on the most challenging days, I think it’s safe to say, “It’s all God”. He’s got you covered every day, all the time. Give Him credit always and you’ll find peace, even with your enemies. God bless!

 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

 

There is a saying, “seeing is believing”. As humans, we have a hard time believing something unless we see it first hand. You might believe what a close friend or relative tells you, but those outside your circle of trust will have to show you proof of their words. The truth is, many have a difficult time seeing God, thus, they lack faith and belief in Him. This blindness has eternal consequences and sadly they will go to the grave without belief in their Creator.

 

How can you see God in your life? By seeking after Him through consistent prayer, bible study and keeping a watchful eye out for His inner-workings of your day. These tangible things will help build your faith and belief in Him. It takes some time and work, but He reveals Himself everyday through His responses to our prayer request and provisions. Trust me, they are there, if you will simply put your faith and trust in Him, you’ll see what a blessing looks like, you’ll see the results of prayers lifted up and you will feel His presence at times when needed the most.

 

If you struggle to see God in your life, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. There is evidence that He exists, just look at yourself and the makeup of your body….you didn’t just “happen”. God created you with a purpose, so grow your faith in His existence as you see His creation, His work, His love develop in you every day.  God bless!

 

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5

 

In the miracle story of Jesus turning water into wine, we read in John 2:1-11 that Jesus, His disciples and His mother were invited to a wedding. Not too far into the wedding festivities, the owner ran out of wine. Jesus’ mother, Mary, came to Jesus, telling Him the wine is all gone. She then turned to the servants and instructed them to do as Jesus says. They did and behold, six water pots were full of good tasting wine, and the master of the festivities was satisfied.

 

I believe this story was told not to just share another miracle, but to understand how Jesus can take our needs and fulfil them through ordinary means, bringing satisfaction to the heart of those who trust in Him. Mary’s instructions to the servants should be true for us, “whatever He says to you, do it.” When we bring our request before Him, we should always be ready to: 1. Trust Him by letting go of our worries. 2. Be prepared to act out in faith when He calls us to be a part of the answered prayer. He will use the ordinary things in our life to bring resolution to our troubles.

 

What burden are you carrying right now? Have you brought it before Jesus? He is more than capable of helping to bring resolution to your problems through prayer and trust in Him. Take action when called upon in the fulfillment of your request and you will experience satisfaction like no other. Trust Him today with your concerns and watch as He turns your need into something amazing! God bless!

 

 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

 

As a child of God, you want to grow in your relationship with the Lord. Just like a close friend, you want to learn more about Him, and find ways to please Him. The only way your relationship will be fruitful is that you are plugged into Him.

 

Bible study: learning more about Him and His ways is critical in understanding His thought processes and discovering what He expects from His followers. Prayer: communication is essential, and not one word in prayer is dismissed by Him. He hears everything, knows your thoughts and even has provided you His Holy Spirit, who goes with you and prays on your behalf.

 

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14

 

The Son of God wants to be your friend. Your relationship with Him will only grow if you stay connected to Him. And the benefits of His presence in your life is well worth the sacrifice of time and your desire to serve Him to receive eternal blessings each day.

 

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

How often do you ask God questions in seeking the truth about a certain situation? We all want to be in the know. Maybe you question if a person likes you, if the job interview went well, your significant other is faithful, is there going to be a conflict at work tomorrow? The list is endless, but we all have questions and hope answers provide us a sense of security. 

What if you simply trusted God every minute of the day and not worry about getting questions answered. Those questions, although genuine, can show a lack of faith in God to help you in every thing that's beyond your view. God promises His followers that He will not forsake them, including you. God holds the playbook, He knows exactly what's in store and reveals just enough each day to keep you engaged in His will. Trusting Him without questions releases the worries of tomorrow and builds your confidence in His plan to prosper you. 

This week let's erase the questions and simply trust He will be active in every minute of the day, guiding you through the challenges, victories and the unknown things yet to be discovered. God bless.