THE FOUNDATION OF WISDOM

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom according to the dictionary is” the ability or result of, and the ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.“ It is important that we understand that the love of our Lord is the true foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of Him results in good judgement in our lives. Wisdom from our God allows us to see the big picture. It allows us to trust in our Lord and continues to help us build our faith. Wisdom is a God-given and God-centered discernment regarding our issues in this life. Wisdom comes from prayer and asking for His help. God gives generously and without reproach. He wants us to trust him and be able to depend upon him. The wisdom that comes from heaven is “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere“. James 3:17 Wisdom comes from heaven and the wisdom of God is pure. Jesus taught us that wisdom is listening to him and doing what he says. He will never lead us astray. He will always keep us on the right path and help us to stay safe and within his loving arms of strength. Pride is the enemy of wisdom. We must not allow pride to stand in our way of submission to our Lord. We must always allow him to direct us in our ways. When we do, we know with confidence, that we are in his will and will always be on the right path. Remember, Jesus is our rock and the foundation of our faith! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Are you a good judge of character?
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BE ENCOURAGED IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION

They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

All of us suffer hardships. We are attacked by sickness, disease, loss of loved ones, made fun of because of our faith in Jesus, and severely persecuted for the Christian views we have. Evil things seem to happen to good God loving people just as they happen to those who are unbelievers. Our Lord did not promise that our journey in this world would be without problems. As a matter of fact, he not only warns of evil attacks but displays it in the lives of all of his prophets, disciples, and many followers. And even Jesus, as he walked this earth, confronted the devil himself, faced evil attacks and even a horrible death. The difference is that we have a light at the end of the tunnel. We have been given a snapshot at everlasting life with our Lord in heaven. I believe that there is a purpose for everything we go through. I believe that our Lord uses our circumstances to help others and to answer prayers for others. We all have a purpose on this earth, and it is so important that our faith in our Lord Jesus stays strong that there is nothing the devil and his evil demons can do to distract what our focus should be. Our Lord has provided us with the tools that we need to overtake what attacks us. We must, however, stay the course, stay focused on his Word, pray often and meditate upon his word. We will be encouraged by the strength our Lord has given us. Keep building your faith and never lose sight of what you stand for. Jesus loves us as we should love him! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What was the last thing you did for play or fun?
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DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Luke 6:31

I am sure that most everyone who has read the bible has read this scripture. It is one that can be easily applied to our lives and one where we can see the results immediately. Even as a child I recognized that if I wanted something from my mom, I would try very hard to be good and not get myself into any unnecessary trouble. The same applies to our lives today. We live in a world that breeds anger, humiliation and violence. If we produce those characteristics in our own lives, then it is like adding fuel to a fire. The fire just gets bigger and bigger. However, our attitudes can go a long way in transforming the attitudes of those around us. If we walk into a room or go to work with an angry or disagreeing attitude, that attitude will often rub off on others and set the tone for the whole day. Sometimes we must set down and take a look at how we are acting around others and what words are we saying. Are we positive, joyful and peaceful or are we negative, angry and disgruntled?  Do we have a smile on our faces, or do we have a frown or angry look that immediately displays anger and disgust? Which of those attitudes would you like to see? I know that a smile goes a much farther distance than a frown. I know that I want to be greeted by someone who at least looks like they want to see me and not by someone who looks at me with disgust. If we begin our day with prayer and by reading scripture, we will be able to begin our day with the joy of Jesus. What would our Lord want us to be like? What was Jesus like when he walked this earth. He had many things thrown his way in the form of persecution and lies but he did not throw persecution and lies back to them. He responded in love and with truth.  We should look to him as our example and not look at the ways of this world. Always ask the question, “How would I like to be treated?” PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
List your top 5 grocery store items.
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BUILDING AND LIVING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION OF FAITH AND TRUST!

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:47-48

In the process of purchasing or building a home one of the first things that should be checked is the foundation. If the foundation is not solid it needs to either be fixed or the house not purchased. As a lender, who once loaned money for purchases of homes, I would first of all, make sure the foundation of the house was solid. The same is true with our faith foundation. Each time we read the word of God we add a brick to our faith foundation. We are to listen and carry out his words within our lives. When we live our faith, the foundation of our faith becomes even stronger.  As Luke 6:47-48 points out it is not only important to go to the Lord for wisdom, understanding and teaching but it is also very important that we put his words into action. We must live and use them in our lives. When we do, and over time, they suddenly become real and a part of us. There are always storms of life just on the horizon. But with Jesus we will be fine. With a solid foundation of faith, built upon him, we will be able to withstand anything because we are prepared and not caught off guard. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

BE STILL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

“Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7

Sometimes we give up on God. We become impatient and move forward in our own time and do our own things. Instead of listening to the Lord we become the Lord of our own lives and do what we believe is the right way to go or the right thing to do. Most of the time when we take control of our own lives, we make decisions in haste. We do things quickly without thinking of what the long-term effects may be. We don’t have the full picture. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and be patient. We need to make a concerted effort to listen and understand what the Lord our God in heaven is doing in our lives. Our Lord sees the whole picture. He knows what we need and when we need it. We must, however, stop and listen. We must trust in him to place us in the right place at the right time and before those who need our help. You see, it isn’t always about you and me. It is about the whole picture and the whole picture involves others in the world. God has the right time. He knows his plan and his plan will take place whether you and I take part or not. If we get impatient and say “no” to God and then do our own thing, God will find someone else to use to help him complete his plan. We must slow down, pray, meditate and read his word prayerfully. He will use us. We work for him and not for the world. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!  

Daily writing prompt
Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?
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OUR EVERLASTING LIFE INSURANCE POLICY!

” Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach.” Psalm 61:2-3

Our God in heaven is always with us. He has his eye on us at every turn. He will never allow us to be confronted by a situation that we cannot handle. You see, when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we accepted our everlasting life insurance policy. The policy we received from the Lord is what he purchased for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Him there is nothing we cannot do. There is no fear, no doubt and no confusion. He raises us high above the flood waters of our life. He keeps us safe and surrounded by his fortress of strength and love. With strong faith, there is nothing we should fear. There is no mountain we cannot climb. When we were grafted into God’s family, we became recipients of all of his promises. He is our protector, refuge, safety net and fortress. He is our Lord God!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What skills or lessons have you learned recently?
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GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE

“Grace, mercy and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father- will continue to be with you who live in the truth and love.” 2 John 1:3

Most everyone would desire to have the grace of God in their lives, and the mercy he provides as well as peace of mind. 2 John 1:3 explains to us that we can have all of those things and much more if we live in truth and love. The way we grow in truth and love is by developing a close relationship with Christ. We must learn to know him more intimately, to trust him more readily and to love him more supremely. He must be a part of our lives in every aspect. Truth and love are always connected. There is no love without truth. For believers, if something is not true it cannot be loving. This is displayed throughout God’s word. 1 Corinthians 13:6 tells us, ” Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with truth.” So, let us make Jesus the priority in our lives. Remember, he died for you and me so that we could live for him!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.
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TO SEEK AND FIND

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17

When you were a child did you ever play hide and seek? It was a fun game where one would count to 10 and at the same time the others would hide. The idea of the game, if I remember it correctly, was to try hard to hide somewhere so that you could not be found, or at the very least be the last found. Our God in heaven is not playing hide and seek with us but he is very clear that he wants us to seek him. He wants to be found. We sometimes get involved with worldly activities or get busy with family. Because of that we sometimes lose our focus. We put God on the back burner in our life and reach out to him only in times of need. Our Lord wants to develop a relationship with each of us. He wants to talk with us every day and be totally involved in our lives. He wants us to put him first in our lives and let him take charge of our families. When we bow down and relinquish our lives to him that allows him to work in our lives. He gives us each a choice. What have you chosen? Have you or are you seeking the Lord? When you do, he forgives your sins, heals you and promises everlasting life. He gives you a completely new beginning. You begin a completely new chapter in your life, one that is built upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. You see, he died on the cross so that you and I could live for him. What a deal. How can you go wrong? If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you cannot go wrong! If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, take this opportunity right now to begin a new chapter in your life. Please say this prayer and mean it from the heart: “LORD JESUS, I REPENT OF MY SINS AND SURRENDER MY LIFE. WASH ME CLEAN. I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY LIFE AND HELP ME TO WALK IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS DAILY BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” IN JESUS PRECIOUS NAME I PRAY AMEN!

Now that you have surrendered your life to Jesus, please find a solid bible believing church and get among their fellowship. Take time each day to visit with God and read the bible with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. PRAISE THE LORD ALWAYS!

WATCH AND PRAY!

“I say to you what I say to everyone: WATCH FOR HIM! ” Mark 13:37

As followers of Jesus, you and I are to be awake, be vigilant, be watchful. We are to keep an eye on the world around us, but most importantly we are to pay attention to our spiritual condition. We are to always be prepared for the coming of Jesus. We are not to be unaware of the signs of the season. We are told that we will know the season, but we will not know the time or day. We need to keep our heads in the game. The Lord has given us all of the tools necessary to live a life that allows us to stay alert and be involved spiritually. 1 Peter 4:7 tells us, “Be serious and watchful in your prayers.” We should always be self-controlled and disciplined. It is important that when praying that we are focused and clear headed. The world around us will do nothing less than try to change our focus and keep our minds in a state of worry and fear. Our Lord Jesus tells us in Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” We are to be alert as to our surroundings and to what is happening in the world around us. We are to know the scriptures and be able to recognize what is right from wrong. We are to pray always, which will keep us prepared for the roadblocks put before us. Stay strong and pray always! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
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LOVING THE LORD

“For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws.” Deuteronomy 30:16

Loving our Lord will include obeying all his commands; it will include believing all his word; it will include thanking him for all of his gifts. We must admire him and enjoy all that he is. We are to make him more than just a part of our life but instead we are to make him our life. We are to totally sell out to him and center our life, here on this earth, around him. We are to walk in his ways and follow his commands for our life. We must read, meditate and pray his mighty word. Everything we say and do must be compared to what his word tells us to do. We should use our time, energy, talents and resources to keep his commandments. We must remember that we have not been asked to die for him but instead we are asked to live for him. We must let loose of the controls for our lives and allow our Lord to take control. Our God loves us with the greatest qualities of all. He loves us with faithfulness and with true mercy and grace. There is no greater experience than experiencing the love of our God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?
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FAITHFUL PROMISES

“Every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed.” Joshua 23:14

A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing, or a particular thing will happen. It is so very clear that the promises of our God in heaven are gifts to his children. They are gifts that have been bestowed upon each of us as children of God. In our world today we see more taking back of promises or lying about promises rather than faithful promises being kept and fulfilled. It is very easy for us to not believe someone when they promise us something. We seem to carry those unbelief’s through to our Lord. It is hard to believe that time won’t change God’s heart and he may want to take his promises back, unfulfilled. However, that is not the characteristic of our God. He loves us. He gave his one and only Son to die for us and he never changes. He has never and will never go back on any gift he has given us. He is faithful! When we pray, he hears us. When we ask, we receive. When we receive, we should accept and not reject his gracious promises. We should never take lightly the gifts our God bestows upon us. They are real and are powerful. We must have strong faith. Let us all take the time to enter into a time of conversation with our Lord each day. Let us be quiet before the Lord and wait for him to answer us. Let us read and study his mighty word. When we do these things, we increase the strength of our faith, and we are able to recognize and accept the promises God has bestowed upon us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

HE RESTORES MY SOUL!

“He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

It is so easy for us to begin to drift away from God. It is easy for our thoughts and actions to take on the characteristics of those around us. When our focus changes we change. When we begin to train our thoughts on things going on around us then our thoughts turn into actions that reflect things around us. It sometimes takes a major fiasco to get us to turn back to our Lord. It also might just take a simple word or action to help the tide to turn. Our Lord is faithful in all he promises. He tells us that he restores our soul. He will refresh our thinking, he will rejuvenate, renew and renovate us if we are ready and willing. He will, once again, fill our cup with joy and love. He will draw us closer in times of troubles and in times of celebration. All who have experienced the joy of Jesus never forgets that joy and peace of mind. When we recognize that the joy is gone, we need to ask for help from our God in heaven. Our focus must change so that we can, once again, have that close relationship with our Lord. We must maintain a constant relationship with Jesus through reading his word, praying, and also staying connected with other believers. There should always be time to talk with our Lord and to stay refreshed in his presence. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite cartoon?
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SEEK AND FIND

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me and find me.” Proverbs 8:17

To seek and find the Lord is a continuous act. It is not just a one-time action. We are told in Matthew 7:7-8 to “ask and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find: knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ” If you and I keep at it, if we ask the right questions, if we pray and ask, we will receive the answers. Because of our human nature it may take a while. We sometimes are impatient and want answers “right now!” It is not always in God’s plan to give us the answers right now, but instead on his timeline. We don’t always see the whole picture, but God does! We sometimes don’t pay attention and miss the answers he gives us. Or there may be times that we want to hear a different answer than the one our God has given us. No matter the circumstances we are to continue to seek, continue to knock and expect to receive. We should always stay alert and watch for his answers. We should be reminded that they come in so many different ways. We must have faith and should never be fearful of going to our God in heaven to remind him of our requests and his promises for our lives. The Lord God has provided us with his Holy Spirit and because of that he is always with us and never far away. We should be reminded that we can stop what we are doing at any time and visit with him. He is always there to listen and to answer us. He loves us more than we can ever understand. Stay watchful, continue to pray and seek and he will answer! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What could you do less of?
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OUR GOD’S HOLY COVENANT

” Know therefore, that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirm his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18

There is but one and only one faithful and loving God. He is the same God who created this world and everything in it. He is the same God who led the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the same God who used Moses and Aaron to help the Israelites to leave Egypt. He is the same God who created John the Baptist for his duties on this earth and the same God who gave his only son, Jesus to die for the salvation and forgiveness of those who accept him. He is the same God who changed Paul from a ruthless persecutor of the followers of Jesus to a great Christian leader of his church. He is our God and still to this day honors the covenant to love a thousand generations. He is faithful and never failing. He is honorable and continues to honor his legal contract, his legal blood covenant, that was created thousands of years ago and continues today. It is through this God we profess that we are able to live lives with peace and joy. It is through this God that we have trust and unwavering faith in every word he breathes. It is through this God, our God in heaven, that we live our lives and live them with vigor and joy in the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
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LOVING THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, SOUL AND STRENGTH!

Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul and with all of your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5

We have all experienced what we think is love for another. We have love for our friends, parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. We can all say that they are priorities in our lives and that we would do about anything for them. Our God in heaven has made it very clear in Deuteronomy 6 that he is God. He is the one and only God. He is the God we are to worship and the only God we are to sell out to. There is no other. He commanded his children to love him with all of their hearts, souls and strength. Just what does that mean? Are you and I today to obey this command? Our Lord made it clear that his children, all of Israel, was to love him with every fabric of their being. They were to love him and worship him with the whole man, body and soul. We know that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He never has changed, and he never will. You and I have been allowed to be grafted into his loving family by the sacrifice our Jesus made on that cross. When we were grafted in, we became a member of his family and gained eternal life. Because our God has never changed, his command still stands today. You and I are to worship him and love him unconditionally. We are to love him with our life! We should love our Lord with our heart by living a loving, faith-filled, and purpose driven life. We must continue to feed our faith in him each day. Our faith and love for him must grow down so deep that there is a satisfaction in him that can be found nowhere else. Our daily decisions should be based off of his command to love him without doubt or fear. We should be able to persevere in the face of every trial and stand strong knowing full well that there is no fear in love, as perfect love casts out fear and doubt. He loves us unconditionally and proved it by sacrificing his only son for each of us. He wants nothing less from us. We are to love him with our life! PRAISE THE LORD IN AND THROUGH ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Do you ever see wild animals?
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OUR POTS WERE FILLED

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt, ” they moaned. ‘There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3

God had chosen Moses and Aaron to move his people out of the land of Egypt and into the promised land in Canaan. Due to their lack of faith in God, it took them 40 years to finish an eleven-day trip. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years due to their disobedience and unbelief in God. How many years have you been wandering around in the wilderness? How often do you and I go to our God in desperation but when things get better, we go back to that old faithful pot that is filled with worldly security and thoughts. It seems to be so much easier to rest on our own laurels rather than doing as we are instructed by the Lord. We are to build upon our faith and live in our faith. We are to live lives that reflect daily activities that are testimonies to our God in heaven. It is when we disobey and wander off on our own that we get lost and always find ourselves crawling back for his protection and comfort. So, why don’t we just do as the Lord asks of us? Why don’t we work hard and put our efforts into trusting God and not the world? You see, we are no different than his chosen ones leaving Egypt. We seem to always remember back when. We sometimes are just plain lazy. It takes great effort, trust and belief to trust in our God. There is no magic involved. Instead, there is relationship building and peace of mind. There is obedience and sincere faith in our love for Christ. Without this we cannot survive. Without this there is no end to our 40-year journey. Jesus came so that we could be saved. It is now up to us, to not only accept him, but to believe and build a relationship with him that helps us to live a life that supports all that he stands for. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
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THE LONG TRIP HOME

“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” Hebrews 13:14

I remember long ago when my family and I would be making a long trek home from a trip from grandma and grandpa’s house there would always be the echos in the back seat yelling, “are we there yet?” Of course, after about the first time hearing these words, they became old and annoying. You and I are on a long trip home. There are days when it seems that we will never make it. You see, this world is not our permanent home. We are heading in the direction of something much more pleasant and a place of comfort and full of peace and joy. We are headed to heaven to live an everlasting life in the arms of our Jesus. We will leave behind us all the pain and suffering we now know. We will enter a place full of trust and love. There is no sickness, no lies, no cheating and no one who is not pure. Only those who have received the free gift of Jesus will be there. There are times when we may wonder if heaven is real and whether we will be there some day. The doubts of this world try hard to pull us from heavens grasp. However, we are just at the edge. Our time is short, and we must live our lives while on this earth as such. We must live one day at a time and as though there is no tomorrow. You see, heaven is real. Our God is real, and our Jesus is real. Our trip is getting shorter with each breath we take every day. We must trust, we must love, and we must live with joy and not fear in our lives. We must live with the strength of the Holy Spirit and be obedient to his many commands. Our trip is getting shorter. Are we there yet? Almost! We must be patient and stay the course. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Share five things you’re good at.
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A LIFE EXAMPLE

“My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.” Psalm 71:7

” There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

It matters not whether you are living a life of riches or whether or you live in poverty. It makes no difference whether you are 100% healthy or if you are deathly sick. Our lives are an open book. Those around us, whether they are close family, friends or casual observers of this world are constantly watching us. We are to keep our focus on Jesus and nothing else. It is not the easy thing to do. When we are doing well, we have the world by the tail and can do no wrong. When we are in poverty, we often live our lives so that others will feel sorry for us. This is not what the Lord requires of us. As living pages in his book, we are to display the truths that have been written within our hearts. As we do the work the Lord has sent us to do, we must stay focused and committed to our assignment. Jesus was not swayed when things got tough. Instead, he surged forward with complete trust in his Father in heaven. We have one goal and one goal only, and that is to be loving and truthful testimonies on behalf of Jesus. We must stay watchful and stay prepared. We are to love so much that we are to live our lives for those around us and not to for the fulfillment of our own needs. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What technology would you be better off without, why?
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SUCCESS UNDER FIRE

“He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.” Proverbs 2:8

Life is not always a bed of roses. It is not always a perfect life that we Live. It is so easy to stand in the face of certain kinds of turmoil but not quite as easy when it turns out you are facing situations that seem endless. It becomes very hard when you are fighting a sickness or a battle with a disease. For those we look upon and see that they are strong in the face of death or in the face of pain is beyond comprehension. It takes a person with a faith that many of us have not experienced. We talk all the time about keeping our focus on Jesus. I just went through a battle with covid and will say that I have not experienced anything quite like it. As I set for days with a severe sore throat, disallowing me to even be able to swallow water. As I sat with severe headache and a never-ending blood producing cough that took my voice away, I felt captive. I felt alone and lost. My faith didn’t seem to be as strong as I once thought it was. However, the Lord always drew me back by making me recognize that there is nothing I could do but endure. He assured me that I am not weak but instead I am strong through Jesus. He reminded me that he is my strength and that I needed to be repentant and ask for forgiveness as well as ask for his help. He reminded me that I needed to continue to pray through and never hesitate. I look back now on my son’s death in September from brain cancer. I reflect on how he must have struggled with these issues as well. But even in the face of the dangers he faced he looked strong and never gave up. Life is, most of the time, a humbling experience. Sometimes we allow ourselves to experience life without Christ by leaving him out of our lives and focus on our problems. Jesus, however, always gives us the ability to come back and fight the good fight for our God in heaven. Jesus is with us always. All we must do is seek him, trust him and believe without doubt that he is protecting us at all times. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
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LIVING IN GOD MAKES OUR LOVE MOST POWERFUL!

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So, we will not be afraid of the day of judgment because we live like Jesus here in this world.” 1 John 4:17

To stay on the right path day in and day out is impossible. It can become frustrating and without strong faith it is impossible. However, you and I have a way. We have a God in heaven who loves us more that we can imagine. When we go through struggles and sicknesses in our lives His love never fails us. We may fail him, but he never fails us. It doesn’t matter that sometimes focus on areas of life that brings us troubles and frustrations. We have a patient and loving God who picks us up and takes us into his arms and radiates his love through us. As we continue to trust and live our lives in Christ our love begins to grow and become stronger. Our lives then become more like Jesus and our focus is remains on the end result and not the world. JESUS IS LORD!

Daily writing prompt
Name your top three pet peeves.
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GUARD YOUR HEARTS!

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

The heart to be where we make our choices in the way we live. It contains the inner resources of the total person. In the Hebrew it is where you make choices motivated by your desires. It is very clear that we are to guard our hearts above all else. It generates joy, happiness and all of your emotions. Each morning it is important that we begin our day with showing and telling our God in heaven just how much we love him. We should reflect to him that we love him with all of our heart, soul and strength. With his presence we are able to begin each day with him and continue to stay in his grace and mercy. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
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PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

” But you dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20

As followers of Jesus, we need our brothers and sisters in Christ to be beside us and to help us stay on track. We need to hear the truth in a world filled with lies and deception. To pray in the Spirit is prayer with divine help. It is trusting in faith and relying on our God in heaven to hear us, understand and act in our behalf. Praying in the Spirit is a gift that is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Prayer is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you and me. It is not to burden us with rules and rituals but for a relationship to be built with Him. To pray in the Spirit is to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are to walk in the Spirit and worship in the Spirit. We must remember that the Holy Spirit is God himself. We are to take time and listen to Him. As we continue to build our faith, we will take each day and walk in the truth. We will know the Word of God and pray his words. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?
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PATIENT WAITING!

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

Have you ever been in a situation where your desire was to go crawl somewhere and hide? All you wanted was for everything to be alright. You wanted to feel secure and be without anxiety. There is such a place. With our faith in our Lord Jesus, we have victory waiting for us. He is our rock, salvation, and fortress. When we are born again, we become a child of the living God. He shares with us his love, his strength, and his power. All fear runs away, and we are filled with the confidence our Lord gives us. Because of the mighty strength provided to us through his Holy Spirit, we are able to move forward with boldness in the Lord. We can confront our troubles with power and not weakness. However, we are living on God’s time schedule. Things may not happen as quickly as we think they should. As we pray, we must learn to wait quietly before him. We must be patient knowing that he is working in our lives. We must never doubt but always rest assured that with God all things are possible. We must train ourselves up to think of our God first in all situations. He is our safety net and our refuge. We live in a world full of anxiety and loaded with pressures. It is our ability to trust in and depend upon our Lord, that will help us and guide us to full victory. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
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LIVING IN VICTORY

” For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5

Our lives in this world can be so simple. The Lord is very clear when he explains the way his children should live in victory. It is by faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. For every word we read in his Holy Bible our faith increases. As our faith increases, we begin to put his holy word into action in our lives. When we put his words into action, we begin living our live in such a way that we become victorious in this world. There is one-way and one way only that you and I can win the battle against the world. That way is by living in Jesus. We must fear him, trust in him and live lives as Jesus did while on this earth. As our faith becomes stronger, we are more confident that our Lord is beside us in every step we take. He is our everlasting and loving father who we can go to at any time with our troubles. He loves us and will never fail us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Do you trust your instincts?
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THERE MAY BE NO TOMORROW!

“Be careful to live properly among unbelieving neighbors.” 1 Peter 2:12

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

It is so easy to just say, “oh, I’ll do it tomorrow.” We are not guaranteed that we will have a tomorrow in our lives. We are living today, and we are to perform and live our lives in Christ Jesus as if there is no tomorrow. Today may seem hard because of all the circumstances that we face. Tomorrow may seem like a much better day. But, what about that neighbor who has not accepted the Lord as their Lord and Savior? What about that family member who needs the Lord in their life, and you are that person the Lord has put in their way? Will they be here tomorrow? There is nobody who is guaranteed tomorrow. We are, however, guaranteed the moment we live in. We are guaranteed the ability to spread God’s word when the circumstances present themselves. Because we know the truth, we are to live the truth. We may be persecuted or even harmed because of our beliefs but we can trust our Lord to deliver us and make things work for his good. We are to be careful how we live in our world. We are to be examples. We are to live lives that show the truth and belief in Jesus. Jesus told the truth. He was persecuted, he was spit upon and he was driven away. But he kept on giving. He kept on telling about the kingdom to come and how to live your lives to reach that kingdom. We are to do the same. We are not guaranteed tomorrow! We are, however, guaranteed today. Live wisely, listen carefully and display your trust and faith in God with vigor and enthusiasm. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?
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LET GOD’S HOLY WORDS PENETRATE DEEP WITHIN YOUR HEART

“My child pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them and healing to their whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22

” Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” Proverbs 4:25

Everyone wants success in life. In worldly ways we struggle through life trying to be the best we can be. If we listen carefully and pay close attention, we will begin to see that our God has given us a path to success in life. He has given us his words. His words reflect wisdom, love, joy and understanding. We must be willing to receive his words with an open heart. We are to attend to his words. We are to listen and obey. We are to obey each and every word our God gives us. We are to read His Word and allow Him to reveal what it means in our lives so that we can walk in perfect obedience. It is important that we stay focused on what is in front of us and not get sidetracked with ideas and thoughts that try to pull us off task. We must understand that our God in heaven speaks to us, and he does so through his Holy Word, to teach, rebuke, correct and instruct his people (2 Timothy 3:16). He loves us more than we can imagine. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite place to go in your city?
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TRULY BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH!

“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF A PERSON BELIEVES.” MARK 9:23

“THE DISCIPLES WERE ASTOUNDED, ‘then who in the world can be saved, THEY ASKED. JESUS LOOKED AT THEM INTENTLY AND SAID, ‘ humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.’ ” MARK 10:26-27

To truly believe is to accept something as true, genuine or real. In the bible the Greek word “pisteuo”(believe) means “to be convinced of something”, ” to place confidence in“, or to “entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ).” In order to truly believe in Jesus, it means so much more than just making a mental acknowledgement. Our belief is to become faith and a way of life. It is to become a complete and total surrender of our lives to him. He becomes our lives. He becomes the way we talk, the way we walk and the way we think. We are willing to follow him wherever he leads us. We begin to rely on him, trust him, and endure in the face of doubts. Humanly speaking we cannot do this. We do not have the strength or the power to be able to do these things. However, Mark 10 tells us that all things are possible with God. Our faith becomes so much more than the human definition of believing. Our faith takes us to whole new levels, and we begin to believe in spiritual things, things unseen. We are to build upon our faith each day. Remember, all things are possible with our God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
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SPARED FOR A PURPOSE

” But I have spared you for a purpose- to show you my power and spread my fame throughout the earth.” Exodus 9:16

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t just take Moses, Aaron and the Israelites out of Egypt without all of the miracles that were performed? He could have just lifted them up and put them where he wanted them. However, he had a purpose. He wanted Pharaoh and all of the Egyptians to see his power and wanted his name to be known and proclaimed. Things are no different in today’s world. God is still the same. He has not changed and will not change. He is still working hard to show all that he is the purpose for each of us. He is why we were created, and he is why we exist. We each have a purpose just as Moses had a purpose. We each have been created for this time in history and we are to show others that our God in heaven is our sole creator and that our sole purpose for living is to please him. We are to yell his name to the heavens by praising him and believing in him. We are to be examples in the way we live and talk. We are not to be doubters and live lives for self-righteousness. Just as God was showing through Moses, that the people of Israel belonged to God and not to Pharaoh, he is showing today that his children belong to him and not to the world. We need God’s mercy each and everyday. We are to never forget that we have been spared for a purpose. We still have work to do. For as long as God gives us a breath to take, we are to continue to fulfill our assignment and continue to praise and love our God in heaven. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What book are you reading right now?
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KEEP IT ALL SIMPLE

” Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.” Proverbs 4:4

” I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

A child will do and think things in very simple ways. For the most part a child will not overthink things. A child goes to his/her parents with adoration, excitement, dependency and trust. They will approach their mom and dad with belief that they will be protected and that no matter what the situation they will never be failed. They trust that their parents will always be there for them when they are down or have done something wrong and will be there to celebrate with them when they are having a great day. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. When presented with a gift a child will generally accept it gratefully and unselfishly. Jesus wants us to accept his free gift just as a child. We are to go before him humbly with no illusions that we belong there. We must trust him and believe that the life and death he experienced and gave on that cross was for you and me and is a free gift. All we have to do is believe and trust in him. All we have to do is accept it and act upon it with adoration, excitement, dependency and trust. We are to take his mighty words to heart and do as he instructs us to do. We cannot overthink what our Lord has done or will do. We may not always understand but we should always believe and trust him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
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THE POWER WE POSSESS!

” Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your God in heaven gave you great gifts. He gave you salvation, healing and the forgiveness of your sins. However, he also gave you a gift that is feared greatly by your enemy, the devil. He gave you Jesus. There is great power in the name of Jesus. There is great power in those who believe and use the name of Jesus. There is great power in those who live their lives in Jesus. When the devil and his demons even hear this name, they run. They are defeated and have no strength against him. When you are filled with his mighty power you are in control because you are living a life of power and strength. There is no fear in love. Fear disappears when your belief in Jesus is solid and true. Yes, fear, doubt and worry will continue to test you. It will try to overcome you, but without success. You and I should speak and act with the authority our God has given us and understand that we belong to the strongest army in the universe. Through the powerful name of Jesus and by the in filling of the Holy Spirit we have a hot line to God in heaven. He never fails us! He always hears us. It is important that we live our lives as Jesus did. He was persecuted, whipped, beaten, belittled, spit upon and endured a terrible death on the cross. You and I will also be persecuted and go through things in our lives that we do not understand. But with Jesus we are strong and cannot be defeated! We must train ourselves up in the Lord and live our lives as testimonies to others. The time is short and precious, especially to those who have yet to develop a personal relationship with Jesus! We are tools for our God in heaven. We must stay sharp and always ready for duty. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found (and kept)?
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