Are you happy today? Praise Him
Are you worried today? Praise Him
Are you fearful today? Praise Him
Are you thankful today? Praise Him

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 NKJV

No matter what you are facing today let the sacrifice of praise be on your lips. Praise is our best weapon. And we need weapons to fight our daily battles. When we praise God we are proclaiming that our Great God is worthy of praise no matter what our circumstances are. Praise produces victory and victory stirs up praise. The process is cyclical.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 NKJV

When we praise God we bring glory to Him. And it turns our attention off of our problems and we focus our mind on God and proclaim His goodness. What a privilege it is to bring God joy! He gives us everything we need when we need it. May we give back to Him today and offer up to Him the glory and honor He deserves.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name,
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
1 Chronicles 16:29 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times,
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:1,3 NKJV

God is near to those who seek Him. He fulfills our needs and desires, delivers us and preserves us. Therefore, He is worthy of our praise!

Amen!

Do you find waiting for something hard? Waiting at a red light, waiting in line at a store, waiting for a reply to a text message or email? Seems like we are always waiting for something. How about waiting for an answer to a prayer? That to me seems the hardest. But it has the most benefits!

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) tells us
Wait on the Lord
Be of good courage
And He shall strengthen your heart
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

As we wait on the Lord for an answer to prayer, I think we have to ask ourselves, what is the Lord showing us during this time of waiting? Maybe we need to learn to be patient, or how to trust, or to be obedient, or how to persevere, or maybe we need to surrender trying to control everything. Ouch! Whatever He is showing you through this time may your ears be ready to hear, may your eyes be open to see and may your heart be willing to understand.

Just as a farmer plants a seed in the ground and waits for a harvest, we too need to wait for God’s perfect harvest in our lives. But the farmer doesn’t idly stand by, he waters it, fertilizes it and nourishes it. We to need to water, fertilize and nourish our time of waiting. We need to continue praying, continue to read God’s Word and continue to seek Him.
Knowing and trusting that what we can’t see taking place, God is working out for our good.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

There is a song titled While I’m Waiting by John Waller. It tells us to be hopeful, to be patient, to be bold and confident, to be obedient and to serve and worship the Lord while we are waiting.

Heavenly Father help us to wait on You and Your timing in our lives. May we not move ahead or try to intervene but know with confidence You are working everything for our benefit and Your glory.

Amen!

Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

God wants to bless you with so much. But first, He wants you and to hear from you. Spend time with your Heavenly Father today. That in itself is your first blessing of the day.

Ask Him to enlarge your territory and watch what He does. But don’t  just ask, you have to believe, have faith, you have to do something, you have to move.

Remember, God made each one of us special and different. He has an important work for you to do that no one else can do. He has put you in a certain place, among certain people, with special opportunities to serve. And He has equipped you with the tools you need to do it.

Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God-my God-will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV

Gods hand will be with you as He guides and directs you through your day. Ask Him to keep you from evil, that you may not cause pain to your family, to your friends, to those who need His love and salvation, or to yourself.

Heavenly Father may Your hand be with me today as I seek to do Your will for my life. Direct my steps and lead me that I may be a blessing to those you have placed in my life.

Amen!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

As I think about Christmas time and giving gifts, I ask myself have I opened all the gifts from Jesus? Are there still unopened ones under my tree?

Scripture tells us Jesus is our:
Savior
Redeemer
Provider
Healer
Shepherd
Helper
Hope
Teacher
Immanuel – God with us
Prince of Peace
The Way
The Truth
Bread of Life
Light of the world
The list goes on and on….

Don’t stop at one or two gifts from Jesus. Continue to open each one and receive all the blessings He has offered and provided for us.

John 10:10 NKJV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The enemy of our souls wants to steal those gifts, (like the grinch who stole Christmas). He wants to destroy them so we can’t open them and receive all that Jesus came to give us. Don’t allow him to steal, kill and destroy your gifts.

Jesus came to give each one of us an abundant life. Start opening those gifts that remain under your tree and begin living the (more) abundant life Jesus provides.

James 1:17 CEB
Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father….

Heavenly Father I pray that we open, receive and accept every gift You have given us. Thank You for all You have provided to us through Your Son Jesus.

Amen!

As we are celebrating the Christmas season let’s remember that Jesus came as the Prince of Peace.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto to us a Son is given,
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

With so much turmoil and unrest in the world today and in our hearts and minds may we experience the peace that Jesus came to give us.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 NKJV

As we read and study the scriptures daily it produces peace within us and His presence creates a quiet confidence, regardless of circumstances, situations or people.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

Every scripture I read on peace settled my heart and spirit. Just saying the word brings peace. As you search the scriptures on peace may you receive His peace, experience His peace and have lasting peace.

For the word of God is living and powerful…
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

Heavenly Father I pray for Your peace to settle our minds, comfort our hearts and reign in our lives.

Amen!

Do you ever ask God to teach you? Do you ask Him to show you what He wants you to learn from each day? Every experience and situation we face is an opportunity to learn something new about ourselves, others and the Lord. Whatever He is teaching you today listen, learn and grow.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV

The Lord instructs us through His Word:

How we should live and conduct ourselves in the world.
Teaches us how to have a right relationship with Him and others.
It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
It gives us discernment and helps us to grow and mature.

Show me Your ways, oh Lord
Teach me Your paths
Lead me in Your truth and teach me.
Psalm 25:4-5 NKJV

We must listen to how God speaks to our hearts through His Word and then act on what He teaches us. Apply the Word of God into your life daily and watch what He will teach you.

My prayer today is that we would all have a teachable spirit and a willing heart to allow God to do His handiwork in each of our lives.

Amen!

Psalm 133:1 NKJV  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Are you dwelling in unity with your family, friends and neighbors? Do you have a broken relationship with someone? God can mend those relationships as we allow Him to. Do you need to extent forgiveness to someone, confess a sin of bitterness or resentment?

There is a verse in a song that says, show me how to love like You have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks Yours….. Ask Jesus to help you love those who are hard to love. Help us to see others as Jesus sees them. When we ask believing, He will help us and give us the strength we need. Have faith!

John 13:34-35 NKJV  A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Let Jesus be our example of how to love and ask Him to help when it gets hard. Remember no one is perfect and Jesus loves us, unconditionally.

Heavenly Father help us to dwell together in unity with one another and show us the relationships that need to be restored. May we have godly love and compassion for others. And as we do we will see how good and how pleasant it is to dwell together in unity!

Amen!

Do you ever have thoughts of fear, worry, doubt, confusion?? Thoughts that
continue to bombard you. Do you feel you need a renewal in your thought
life, updating or repairing of your mind?? Let the Word of God cleanse,
refresh and renew your mind today.

Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Don’t allow anxiety, stress, and the pressures of life begin to overtake
you. Read, study and apply the Word of God to your life and let it wash
your mind, cleanse your spirit and allow you to know what the will of God
is for your life.

Ephesians 5:25-26 NIV
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…

Like a shower in the morning can revive and recharge us, so reading God’s
Word in the morning can give us a renewed, updated, regenerated, right
frame of mind for the day ahead.

My prayer today is for each one of us to spend time with God, reading His
Word and as we do it would wash, transform and renew our minds.

Amen!

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

On this Thanksgiving Day I’m sure each one of us have a lengthy list of things we are thankful for. But let’s begin to live a life with a thankful spirit.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good,
His mercy is everlasting
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV

Our Heavenly Father gives each one of us gifts and blessings each day. He knows what we need and when we need it. He is always right on time. He allows situations and circumstances in our lives to challenge us and help us grow our faith and our relationship with Him. He brings people into our lives that love us, teach us, pray for us, encourage us and even those who try us.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

My prayer today is for each of us to have a grateful spirit and thankful heart. And an attitude of gratitude that brings joy to the Father and makes us a channel to bless others.

Amen!

This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 NKJV

God has given each one of us a new day today. The mistakes and let downs of
yesterday are behind us. Let’s invest our energy into today and what God has
planned for us. We shouldn’t waste time living in the past. We can and should
learn from the past and let it help shape and mold our future.

Everyday we wake up it’s a new day, a new opportunity, a new beginning.

…His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your
faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

Let God’s faithfulness mark a turning point in your life today. And rejoice!

It’s a new day and time to sing a new song.

But I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning…
Psalm 59:16 NKJV

Let’s take this new day, this new opportunity to give back to the Lord for the
faithfulness He has shown us. May we extend love, kindness and compassion to others
just as the Lord has done for us.

Amen!