His Plan, Not Mine

Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  It is a comfort to know that God has a plan for my life. 

Another translation says, ” For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you — an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.” 

It’s uplifting to know that God is thinking about me and my welfare. That He is thinking “thoughts of peace” towards me.  That He wants to give me “posterity and hope.”

No matter what life brings, He is “large and in charge.” When bad times come, I am reassured that if I call on Him, he will hear me. If I lay my troubles in His hands, He will take care of me. I don’t have to struggle alone. I thank Him everyday for this, do you? 

God,
I am struggling, please take over. Thank you for Your guidance in my life.  In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

God Bless You.

He Is Risen!

He is risen, indeed!
A blessed Easter to you.

Today we celebrate the miracle of our risen Lord. Let us rejoice and be glad. Christ has sacrificed Himself so that we may live. As He is reborn, so are we.

Happy Easter.

Time For Change

1Cor 13:11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Today is the inauguration of Barak Obama.  The ceremony was moving, the mood was confident.  I enjoyed President Obama’s speech and will remember the call for unity it contained. 

I posted the following on another blog, but feel a need to repeat it here. 

As President Obama said in his inaugural speech, “the time has come to set aside childish things.”  We need to put away our grudges, our “petty grievances,” and choose “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” We as one people are challenged to go forward with confidence and power, united in our actions.  I believe that all Americans need to come together as one unit and re-build this great country.  I ask you all now, join me in welcoming our new President, Barak Obama.  We can be assured that today is the start of a new era, a time that will be observed by other countries, let us show them our solidarity.

Until next time,  God Bless You.

Jesus is Still the Reason for the Season

Every once in awhile I get something in my email that I need to be cast out into the world.  My aunt wrote this and it is one of those items I need to share:

 

“Jesus still is the Reason For The Season and no one can diminish that whether they say Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings or Merry Christmas. Only I can diminish it by allowing my focus to be on something other than Christ in my life.”

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED

 

On a soft and lovely midnight, long ago,

Angels sang to watching shepherds down below,

Telling them the happy news of the Jesus birth,

Singing songs of Peace, Goodwill To Men on Earth.

Men of wisdom, traveling from lands afar,

Came to the manger following a star,

To worship at the Christ Child’s bed of hay,

The place wherein the Babe, our Savior, lay.

 

Many Christmases have come and gone since then,

And the years have worked their way and will with men.

As this season of great joy is drawing near, 

Let our better natures once again appear.

Let the Christmas spirit fill the air with song.

Cheery greetings let us once more pass along.

As we celebrate this time of joy and mirth,

Let us share the Good News of our Savior’s birth.

***wgb***

 

Wanda G. Black

December 20, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unto You a Child is Born

Luke 2:11
For unto to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.

Christmas can be chaotic with many activities and errands. I hope that amid the cheery lights, colorful packages, and continuous parties you take a moment to remember the announcement given by the angel to the shepherds in the fields; “unto you is born…a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”  Spend some time praising and clelebrating this miraculous event.  

I wish you  a Merry Christmas filled with  peace, joy, and goodwill to others.

Until next time, God Bless You.

Give Thanks

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

The aroma of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, the laughter of family and friends, and the warmth of a cheery fire, fill our homes.  This week is the beginning of the holiday season and Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States.

Too often, the festivities become our main focus, especially on Thanksgiving.  Some even go so far as to call it “Turkey Day.”  We tend to forget the real purpose of the day is to give thanks for all the things in our lives.  I know many of you pause to say a prayer—or go around the room and have everyone tell something they are grateful for—before the meal.  But then what?  The food, the fun, and the football game takes center stage.  I’m not saying that’s wrong, however, many times that few minutes of gratitude become the only time through out the year we consciously say thank you to God for what he has provided us.

The Bible tells us to “Give thanks to the Lord.” By doing so, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him. Not only does this make Him happy, but, according to some studies, it also improves our sense of well-being.

I challenge you to spend a few moments everyday giving thanks for something in your life.  It doesn’t matter whether you write in a journal or express your gratitude aloud.  One way is to start with this simple prayer:

“Thank you, God for the gifts you give me everyday. I am grateful for your generosity.”

Then add a couple of specific things you feel grateful about from your day.  The more you do this, the more you see how much you really have.  A deep sense of well-being and gratitude will invade your life. 

Until next time, God Bless You.

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
 
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I pray. I don’t know about you, but sometimes my prayers consist of words rambling from my mouth, repeated phrases filled with feelings of desperation and frustration. I forget that God “knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him” (Matt. 6:8).  Jesus tells us to “use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do”(Matt. 6:7). 

During my nightly Bible reading a few days ago, I came across a simple, familiar prayer given to us by Jesus: The Lord’s Prayer.  The perfect example of how we should pray.  The Lord’s Prayer has all the components of an ideal prayer.

When we pray these words we acknowledge God’s holiness; “Hallowed be thy name.” We also yield to His authority and wisdom; “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

We ask Him to “give us this day our daily bread.”  “Daily bread” covers not just our food, but our shelter, clothing; whatever we need to live day by day.

We ask His forgiveness, and show forgiveness to others: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” This petition is important; we are to forgive others as God forgives us-completely. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”(Matt. 6:14-15)

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We ask Him to keep us safe and help us to follow in the right path.

Last, but not least, we praise His “power and glory” declaring it everlasting.

Am I saying we shouldn’t pray any other way? No.  I am saying that sometimes we may need to ground ourselves spiritually.  Praying The Lord’s Prayer thoughtfully and reverently once in awhile will helps us do that.

Think about this.  Are your prayers filled with praise or frustration?  Are you seeking spiritual or material gains?  Take a moment and quietly pray this sincere prayer.  I’ll bet you feel closer to God…I know I do.

Until next time, God Bless You.

Heavenly Treasures

Matthew 6:19-21
   Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
   But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.
   For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I moved last month. I went from renting a one-bedroom apartment to renting one bedroom in a house.  It was a challenge, deciding what of my possessions I could keep and what I should throw away. 

Memories flooded my mind as I sorted through my possesions. I was reluctant to give anything away.

Waking up one morning I was very depressed, because I knew I was going to have to resort boxes that had already been packed.  I still hadn’t downsized my possessions enough and I knew there wasn’t enough room to store everything I wanted to keep.

As I sat down to read my morning devotional.  I asked God to help me through the task ahead.  I opened up my book, and today’s verses were Matthew 6:19-21.  God had heard my prayer and was giving me some advice, reminding me that my earthly treasures were temporary and susceptible to “moths and rust” corruption and the hands of thieves.  The important treasurers were in Heaven and by focusing on them I would be closer to Him.  “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The packing and sorting was still a big job, but it was easier.  My focus switched from what I was giving up, to what I was gaining.  By reducing my worldly possessions, I was making room for more Heavenly treasures.

What are you holding onto that is blocking you from freely receiving your “Heavenly treasures?”  Take a moment and look around.  Is there anything that you could give up to make more room for God in your life?

Until next time, God Bless You.

Joy!

Psalms 16:11b
Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.

Have you ever felt such an intense joy, you were sure your heart would burst; a joy that fills your whole body and overshadows all feelings of worry or fear?  A couple of nights ago, I felt such joy.  I couldn’t stop smiling, and I’m sure I fell asleep with a big grin on my face.

Before going to sleep, I always go over my day with God, thanking Him for the blessings of the day, trying to understand the challenges and praising Him.  All my focus is on God.  It was during this time that I felt overwhelming joy. 

Even though the joyous feeling comes only a few times a year and only last for a short time, the memory gives me such a rush of happiness.  It’s His presence filling me with joy, and it continues to “bring me pleasure forever.”  I would like everyone to feel such joy.

When is the last time you focused on God, only God?  Try it tonight before going to sleep.  Open your heart and clear your mind; ask God to let you feel His presence.  You may not feel the joy the first time you try, I didn’t, but it will come.

Until next time, God Bless You.

Don’t Worry, Ask God

Philippians 4:6.
Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for whatever you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart.

“Where is it?  I can’t find it!”  I was beginning to panic.  After two days of searching, I still couldn’t find my Social Security card.  I needed it to finish an application for some government assistance.  The agency didn’t just want the number, they wanted a copy of the actual card.  I knew I could get a new card, but that would take several days and I needed to send in the form soon.

Like most of you, I don’t carry my card with me.  I put it in a very safe place, so it won’t get lost.  But, where is that “safe place?”  I have a good memory, yet I had no idea where I’d put it.

That evening, in my prayers, I asked God to help me find my card.  Almost immediately, the thought “look in the wooden box in the bookcase” popped into my head.  Well, my response was “why would I put it there?  The only thing in there is a rose from an old boyfriend.”

I shouldn’t have doubted.  The next day I opened the box and there it was, right on top! In my panic and frustration, I had forgotten that I should not “worry about anything.”  But “ask God for whatever” I need.

I have heard similar stories from others.  It is not unusual for God to lead you to something you need. 

So, what have you lost?  What are you looking for?  Whether it’s something physical or emotional, “don’t worry” and turn to God.  If you ask “with a thankful heart,” He will answer.

Until next time, God Bless You.