Category Archives: God

Focus On What Is

What are you waiting for?

I am right here.

While you complain about your life I am right here.

I am blessing your family because I love your family. I am blessing your body because I love you. I am blessing your job because I want you to succeed. Yes, I am even blessing what is to come because your future matters to me too.

Stop focusing on what is not. Focus on what is. I am I am. Nothing is hidden from me. Your enemies are haughty and arrogant. Do not worry about them for I have prepared a great feast of victory for you. They will see your feast and wonder at the great joy you have.

But you must focus on what is, not on what is not. Get out of the griping habit. Get out of the rut of the enemy. Bitterness grabs hold of your feet there and will not let you go until you choose repentance, forgiveness and joy. What I desire for you is so much greater than you can imagine.

My heart is drawn to you. I only want your good. I want to see you succeed. I am your biggest fan. My voice is the loudest cheering you on. I am for you.

What are you waiting for?

I am right here.

– Jesus

Do Not Fear The Night

The dark, it has a sinister presence.

Have you ever noticed how much your perspective changes in the dark? That chair looks to be an ominous crouching figure. The chair leg stepped in front of you and stubbed that toe of yours. Pain, it is unbearable in that moment.

Putting laughter aside, when we face a season filled with darkness on either side, our perspectives can often get skewed. Some of us begin to doubt the truth we believed in the light. We must get to a place of calm security even when circumstance change and the light seems to dim.

God, mighty God, is never consumed by the darkness but instead He defeats it. He is so strategic that there is no foe that can come close to overtaking Him. What God says happens. He simply has to speak it and it is.

Friend, what darkness are you facing? Are you speaking truth? Perhaps you are yelling it and are slumped over in exhaustion. Why are you striving so hard to win a battle that has already been won?

Your victory is won by God almighty. Yes, you play a role but any hint that the victory is yours to claim for your glory is making yourself an idol. You are not greater than God. By letting go of control and following Gods path of life and light, therein lies your victory. He has it planned out just for you. As you let go more stability will come. No one compares to Him.

Let your enemies laugh thinking they have won. Let them speak lies thinking it does something (it does not). God reigns. He is good. He prepares a full banquet table amidst your enemies. You will not be overcome.

The morning is coming. Look up. Do you not yet see the hints of the sun rise? Wait. Breathe.

Victory is upon the horizon.

Inspire for Girls

By Tyndale: Inspire for Girls, the Bible for Coloring and Creative Journaling

Upon looking at this Bible, I am instantly drawn to the cover. I love the colors and design but my favorite are the declarations written on the front and back. Words like created, precious, loved, blessed and masterpiece are some of my favorites.

When looking through the pages, one can color each one as well as the inside cover. There are devotionals, prayers, illustrations and an area for journal notes included throughout. Each book of the Bible has key scripture verses and fun facts. The colors are black and tourquise which outline and define the illustrations and letters. When colors are added it makes the page pop.

I am instantly enticed to begin writing in and coloring each page. This Bible would be a perfect gift for the girls that love art and enjoy doodling and writing. Each page is fun! Not one page is the same just like us. This Bible truly helps engage the reader and makes it come to life in a different way.

I have received this free from Tyndale House Publishers and these opinions are my own.

All The Praise

Today I must believe that all that has been intended to harm and destroy those I love, will be used for good. I must believe that it will all be turned around as justice prevails.

Worthy is your name, Jesus!

Be exalted high in the heavens.

You deserve all of our praise.

In times of gladness I will praise you.

In times of sadness I will praise you.

I will praise you even as I await for justice.

I will praise you while my hands can accomplish little.

I will praise you through the tears.

I know who you are. You are mighty. You are love. Jesus, my savior.

Please do not delay.

Even if I must wait a little longer than I would like for someone to be rescued, I will still praise you.

You deserve all of the praise.

Thank you for victory!

The Unseen

Recently I was struck with a grand reality that I have realized before but it finally burried itself deep into my heart:

God takes care of you when you sleep. While you sleep He is taking care of things unseen.

Anything that you face He has you completely covered. We do not need to strive for control. We do not need to have all the solutions, finances or best plan because God already does.

This does not mean that we get to be lazy. Absolutely not. What it does mean is that as we submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to guide us, we can find rest amidst the battle.

At a service the other night the word, “refreshment” was spoken over me. Simply put, just like a soldier needs to come back to camp for food and water and rest, I would receive the same spiritual refreshment. It resonated with my soul because I had just asked the Lord to help me understand how to do this.

In a flash all these dots seemed to connect more and the truth about God became deeper rooted within me. He never tires. He never tarries. His timing is flawless. He knows what He is doing. Because He is good, He is trustworthy. Because He is love, He is faithful. Because He loves you, He will help you and make a way for you.

There are no buts, what ifs, maybes, or rugs waiting to be ripped from beneath you. God is not the culprit of either your bad choices or the bad choices from others. He is always the one to help you back up, to cry with you or to fiercely roar in the face of your enemy.

He is mighty!

He does not like it when others mess with His own.

There is justice for you.

He stands in front and behind to declare that you are His.

Stand Your Ground

Lately I keep being reminded to stand my ground. Every time I cannot help but think of The Princess Bride. You know the scene I am talking about:

“I am the dread pirate Roberts. There will be no survivors…”

Only it sounds like, ” I am the dwread piwate woberts.” I smile every time I think about it which is probably one of the reasons why I keep being reminded to stand my ground.

There is much to be said when you can laugh in the face of your circumstances because you know victory is on the horizon. Victory does not come without a battle. Opposition will come and there will be moments that stretch you and break your heart.

Stand your ground.

When the darkness surrounds you and the ones that you love, it can get easy to lose focus. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Do not look to the right or to the left. The enemy is a liar and a cheat. He takes cheap shots. He does not play by the rules.

But God is bigger, grander, and the ultimate judge.

God has already had the final word.

Don’t Be Boring

I have never wanted to live a boring life.

Boring is over-rated. Boring does not leave a legacy that births revivals and love. Boring changes nothing. Boring leaves stagnant waste and leaves people questioning purpose rather than living abundantly in love.

I would rather live my life having given every breath to speak words of truth & love.

I would rather die knowing I chose an adventurous life with Jesus and gave my all to him. Are dead people rising from the dead? Are you seeing the light return in the eyes of those you spend time with even in the line in the grocery store?

When impossible becomes normal and the possible becomes mundane that is when you know you are truly living. It is exhilarating.

Don’t be boring.

Be different.

Choose the Jesus adventure & you will realize that in surrender you gain an epic life.

Facing Victory

When one waits for a miracle to come to pass in what direction does that individual stand?

One stands facing towards victory no matter what opposition may come.

It can be too easy to dwell on the current circumstances where it can seem like nothing is changing. At some point it may even feel as if one has moved backwards rather than forward.

.

If this is where you are, stand facing victory.

This means you choose hope. On the days where it is hard to keep going, you expect victory to come whether there is anything significant to suggest otherwise. You get to choose to look at life through the lens of faith.

Stand facing victory.

Expect victory.

Do not look back (unless it is a joyful reflection). Do not dwell on that which does not increase your hope.

Victory is coming.

Victory is something the enemy can never touch unless you decide to hand it over to him (#can’ttouchthis).

Victory is here.

The Choice I Make

There is something very powerful when we can make the decision to choose hope. I truly believe that hope is often a choice much like love is. There are many mountains in our lives. Much of what we face look impossible through our eyes. But if we choose hope, we choose to look at life through the eyes of God.

Mountains bow at His name. Kingdoms fall. Circumstances miraculously & supernaturally at lightning speed, change! Darkness flees. Healing floods hearts, minds & bodies. Death and the grave are defeated. Life is birthed out of nowhere.

I choose hope!

Stones of Remembrance

Stones of Rememberance: Healing Scriptures for Your Mind, Body, and Soul is a practical guide to healthy living. Written by Daniel G. Amen, a Medical Doctor who has studied the brain, this book can be a good asset to add to your daily routine. The book is split into three sections. The first reviews the 12 stones of remembrance. These are all practical tools for self-care and overall health. I appreciated each category because the 12 stones represented health for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

The second part shares 12 verses everyone can remember for 15 differing needs like sickness, depression, hope, fear, and loneliness. The last part is 12 important verses everyone should memorize and know by heart. For an added bonus there are tips to not only learn how to memorize scripture but healthy snack options as well as exercises to improve your memory. This book emphasizes in a simple way how much healthy living can help your brain and how a healthy brain can help your heart, mind & body. Everything impacts something else and it is important that each of us treats our mind, body & soul with great care.

If you are looking for ways to help you learn scripture and know it by heart this book is a good start. It is an easy read & keeps things short and sweet. If you are wanting to read more about the brain and how it affects your health I’m assuming you would want to read Dr. Amens other book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. I have not read this book but may now since I was hoping to read more behind the science of the importance of the 12 stones of remembrance and the recorded health benefits. Either way, knowing Gods word is a crucial part of our health for mind, body & soul.

I have received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers and these opinions are my own.