December 31, 2013
As this draws to a close and the new one begins people all over the world make all kinds of resolutions for things such as eating more healthy, spending more time with family, working more, working less. How many of us make spiritual resolutions to read our bibles more, reach out to the lost, pray for the sick and oppressed, increase our prayer and worship time with the LORD?
Lets celebrate this new year with a glad heart and give thanks to our LORD Jesus Christ for ALL He has done on our part to secure salvation for us, to draw us closer to Him, teach us necessary lessons, or how about causing the sun to rise each day! We are but dust - we are nothing without Him. It is all because of Him that we have our existence. He is the one who created us, He is the one to grant us another day, He is the one who pardon's our sins. Lets make our resolutions this year to the LORD. Lets decide to put Him first in our lives this year.
A friend once asked me on New Year's Eve to begin an email thankful list. She was going through a nasty divorce and finding it difficult to keep her mind focused on the positive aspects of her day. I indulged her thinking it would be an easy task, We had to find one unique thing about each day that we were going to be thankful for. That's it - just one! We would email each other our one item for the day. Well, with the good comes the bad and some days I had such a hard time finding one thing to be thankful for. I struggled to think but sure enough, each day I could find just one thing, if not more that I wanted to give thanks for.
The idea worked so well that by the end of the first year we both had a better attitude towards life, and the people in our lives that we decided to extend the exercise for another year. By the end of the second year, it was now a healthy habit to give thanks always. I found that I was more thankful to the LORD for the simple blessings, when I spent time in prayer.
He is so good to us. He never sleeps, or takes a vacation on us. We never get a busy signal or voice mail that says "Sorry I missed your call...". He is always working, always protecting, always providing us wisdom, administering angels to assist us, and the list goes on... Can we be thankful for that?
I pray that in this new year, the LORD blesses you richly. I pray that He opens your eyes to the simple blessings of each unique day, and grants you a heart of gladness and joy. May you in turn, be a blessing to those around you, that they may see the light of Christ in you and come to know Jesus as their savior. We have all heard the phrase "its the gift that keeps on giving". Though it was used as a mockery, I believe that salvation from Christ alone is the perfect gift - the gift that keeps on giving (eternal life). God grant us the boldness to speak to our unsaved family and friends that they may receive the gift of salvation this year.
Happy 2014.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
December 24, 2013
I just wanted to take this time to wish all a blessed and very happy Christmas.
This year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, may we put aside our differences with those who have hurt us in the past or who are at odds with us now. Lets open our eyes and hearts to those who are spending Christmas alone, the elderly, the homeless, the brokenhearted, the orphans, soldiers out in the battlefield, and those who have no hope. Lets pray for them:
Father, We come to you, as humble servants of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Your Holy word says where two or more are gathered there You will be. We ask you to bless our brothers and sisters who are suffering this Christmas. We ask that You will undertake for those who are living in war torn territories, those who are elderly, the oppressed, the brokenhearted, and all people who are lonely and alone. Please send them your peace that surpasses all understanding. Love them and care for their needs. Father, you feed the birds of the earth, how much more than do you care for those whom you love from all walks of life! Your very creation. Please bring Your healing, Your peace, Your love to those who need it most. May we all celebrate the birth of our Savior with a pure and glad heart this year. Let our eyes be open to the many blessings that You have bestowed upon us and give You the glory. Amen.
I pray the LORD blesses you and your families this Christmas and throughout the coming new year. May He grant you His peace and strength to carry on His work, until He comes in glory!
I just wanted to take this time to wish all a blessed and very happy Christmas.
This year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, may we put aside our differences with those who have hurt us in the past or who are at odds with us now. Lets open our eyes and hearts to those who are spending Christmas alone, the elderly, the homeless, the brokenhearted, the orphans, soldiers out in the battlefield, and those who have no hope. Lets pray for them:
Father, We come to you, as humble servants of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Your Holy word says where two or more are gathered there You will be. We ask you to bless our brothers and sisters who are suffering this Christmas. We ask that You will undertake for those who are living in war torn territories, those who are elderly, the oppressed, the brokenhearted, and all people who are lonely and alone. Please send them your peace that surpasses all understanding. Love them and care for their needs. Father, you feed the birds of the earth, how much more than do you care for those whom you love from all walks of life! Your very creation. Please bring Your healing, Your peace, Your love to those who need it most. May we all celebrate the birth of our Savior with a pure and glad heart this year. Let our eyes be open to the many blessings that You have bestowed upon us and give You the glory. Amen.
I pray the LORD blesses you and your families this Christmas and throughout the coming new year. May He grant you His peace and strength to carry on His work, until He comes in glory!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Miracles Happen
December 8, 2013
I want to share with you a story about what happened to me this past week, for the sake of bringing Glory to God and offering encouragement to those who are in need of His intervention in their lives.
I have been out of work for several years. I used this time to go back to college and finish my degree, graduating in May 2013. Since graduating, I've been job hunting. Its been a frustrating process as many jobs have hours that are not conducive to my needs, or I don't possess the proper skill set for the job I want.
My last job was very stressful. I worked for a ruthless company with no compassion, no people skills, no nothing. After ten months of verbal and psychological abuse, I finally left there totally depressed.
Not wanting to end up with another company like the last one. I prayed, asking for God's guidance.
Just recently I was sent an email about a job fair at a local restaurant. Every position was mentioned except the one that I wanted but I went to the job fair anyway and put that position on my application (Ask and you shall receive...MATT 7:7). I met with the manager for a brief interview and she asked me back for a second interview.
At both interviews flexibility of hours was very important. She needed someone to be able to work nights and weekends. Being a single mom that would be difficult for me, however I thought that my mom would be able to help me with that. She also needed someone to be able to start right away as we were approaching the restaurant's busy season.
When I asked my mom for babysitting help for nights and weekends, she didn't think she could physically manage it - as my little guy is quite a hand full and my mom has already suffered two heart attacks and has other health issues. That left me with no options but to withdraw my application and keep looking elsewhere. Mother's hours are very difficult to find - especially with unskilled labor jobs.
Feeling pretty distraught about the situation, I prayed and left it up to God to find me the right job, with the right boss and the right hours. It was a task and a half so I knew that I wasn't up to the challenge.
The next day, I planned to call the manager back and tell her that I need to withdraw my application due to a conflict with babysitting. Before I could call her, she called me and offered me the job.
I had to tell her that I don't have the babysitting back up that I thought I was going to have, that would allow me to give her the flexibility of hours that she was looking for. She then tells me that if I can work 9-4 (essentially mother's hours) that she can live with that (miracle #1).
She had me scheduled to begin this week but that posed another problem as my child is out of school with a head injury and won't return until after the new year. She then says to me "That's no problem, I'm still busy in January. Stay home with your child and enjoy the holidays. Call me when he goes back to school in January and you can start then" (miracle #2).
Keep in mind: I was hired for the one position she didn't have open but the very one that I requested (miracle #3).
I say this to point out that God IS (not was - but still IS) the God of miracles. He worked out every, not some but every, detail to my benefit. What an amazing God!!!
Here is the miracle run down:
1. I got hired for the position that was the ONLY position not listed as open.
2. I got Mother's hours when she was looking for someone to fill in nights and weekends
3. I can stay home while my child while he recovers and start in January, when she needed someone now.
What should have been a "Well, thanks for applying but I need someone right away for nights and weekends, so I'll have to hire someone else" totally turned around in my favor, and not because I'm anyone special - but because I serve an amazing God, who IS special!
It pays to pray (in earnest, not just for the sake of praying) and when it is God's will for us, ALL (not some but all) of the details will work out for our good.
If you are frustrated and praying about something, maybe a job, a move, or a tough decision, please don't give up. God IS a God of miracles and He hears our prayers. He is not slack in answering us. Sometimes His plan is radically different than what we think we need or want, and it takes time to bring us around to see things from His perspective. His plan is ALWAYS the better plan. So be encouraged this day (not tomorrow, not the next - THIS day) that God hears and IS working on, and in your situation for your good.
May you be blessed and encouraged. Trust in Him, the one and only true God who brought all things into existence, who loves us and seeks to bless us.
All praise and glory to Jesus Christ, our LORD and savior who works all things for our good and His glory. AMEN.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
NOTE: It says "And we know". This is a witness. You can't know something unless you've experienced it.
I want to share with you a story about what happened to me this past week, for the sake of bringing Glory to God and offering encouragement to those who are in need of His intervention in their lives.
I have been out of work for several years. I used this time to go back to college and finish my degree, graduating in May 2013. Since graduating, I've been job hunting. Its been a frustrating process as many jobs have hours that are not conducive to my needs, or I don't possess the proper skill set for the job I want.
My last job was very stressful. I worked for a ruthless company with no compassion, no people skills, no nothing. After ten months of verbal and psychological abuse, I finally left there totally depressed.
Not wanting to end up with another company like the last one. I prayed, asking for God's guidance.
Just recently I was sent an email about a job fair at a local restaurant. Every position was mentioned except the one that I wanted but I went to the job fair anyway and put that position on my application (Ask and you shall receive...MATT 7:7). I met with the manager for a brief interview and she asked me back for a second interview.
At both interviews flexibility of hours was very important. She needed someone to be able to work nights and weekends. Being a single mom that would be difficult for me, however I thought that my mom would be able to help me with that. She also needed someone to be able to start right away as we were approaching the restaurant's busy season.
When I asked my mom for babysitting help for nights and weekends, she didn't think she could physically manage it - as my little guy is quite a hand full and my mom has already suffered two heart attacks and has other health issues. That left me with no options but to withdraw my application and keep looking elsewhere. Mother's hours are very difficult to find - especially with unskilled labor jobs.
Feeling pretty distraught about the situation, I prayed and left it up to God to find me the right job, with the right boss and the right hours. It was a task and a half so I knew that I wasn't up to the challenge.
The next day, I planned to call the manager back and tell her that I need to withdraw my application due to a conflict with babysitting. Before I could call her, she called me and offered me the job.
I had to tell her that I don't have the babysitting back up that I thought I was going to have, that would allow me to give her the flexibility of hours that she was looking for. She then tells me that if I can work 9-4 (essentially mother's hours) that she can live with that (miracle #1).
She had me scheduled to begin this week but that posed another problem as my child is out of school with a head injury and won't return until after the new year. She then says to me "That's no problem, I'm still busy in January. Stay home with your child and enjoy the holidays. Call me when he goes back to school in January and you can start then" (miracle #2).
Keep in mind: I was hired for the one position she didn't have open but the very one that I requested (miracle #3).
I say this to point out that God IS (not was - but still IS) the God of miracles. He worked out every, not some but every, detail to my benefit. What an amazing God!!!
Here is the miracle run down:
1. I got hired for the position that was the ONLY position not listed as open.
2. I got Mother's hours when she was looking for someone to fill in nights and weekends
3. I can stay home while my child while he recovers and start in January, when she needed someone now.
What should have been a "Well, thanks for applying but I need someone right away for nights and weekends, so I'll have to hire someone else" totally turned around in my favor, and not because I'm anyone special - but because I serve an amazing God, who IS special!
It pays to pray (in earnest, not just for the sake of praying) and when it is God's will for us, ALL (not some but all) of the details will work out for our good.
If you are frustrated and praying about something, maybe a job, a move, or a tough decision, please don't give up. God IS a God of miracles and He hears our prayers. He is not slack in answering us. Sometimes His plan is radically different than what we think we need or want, and it takes time to bring us around to see things from His perspective. His plan is ALWAYS the better plan. So be encouraged this day (not tomorrow, not the next - THIS day) that God hears and IS working on, and in your situation for your good.
May you be blessed and encouraged. Trust in Him, the one and only true God who brought all things into existence, who loves us and seeks to bless us.
All praise and glory to Jesus Christ, our LORD and savior who works all things for our good and His glory. AMEN.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
NOTE: It says "And we know". This is a witness. You can't know something unless you've experienced it.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
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