Seed

 One seed is all that's needed to make the biggest impact. I think about how the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. For instance, when you read the word of God, a seed of light is planted in your spirit. Then, over time, the seed is nurtured until what's on the inside shows on the outside. Fruit is produced. 

With Christmas coming up, I think about how Jesus' act of love on the cross changed the world, and it's continuing to change the world. Think about how his disciples spread word of the gospel around the world. What happened in one city, out of thousands, effected the entire globe. From 12 disciples to many many more today. 

A seed matters. What He did was no small matter. What I mean is as fallows: What's the biggest thing Jesus showed us? His love. Through his love, he taught us to love others. How? When you love someone, a seed is planted in their heart to love others. What is in a persons heart flows out to others, just like a seed grows out of the ground. And the cycle continues. 

This Christmas, plant a seed in someone else life by giving them a gift, being kind to others, smiling with your voice, letting someone who has less items than you check out first at the grocery store, donating, surprising someone with a free pizza for lunch, send a Bible verse to a friend or family member, cleaning the house to surprise your parents/kids/spouse/roommate, or simply saying "I love you." All these things are examples of seeds of love. It may just be one seed of kindness, but God can do so much with that one act of love. 

God loves you! He shows it every day! This year was a hard one, no doubt. But, through it all, God is with us. Thank Him for his love! Praise Him for his goodness! Him whose mercy and grace is beyond our understanding. 

Verse of the Day:

"...just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34 (ESV)

Letter of Encouragement

 Hello! 

I apologize for being so late in creating a new post. I have had a lot going on and some major catching up to do at school. Further more, finals are coming up. A heads up: it might be a couple more weeks before I create a new post. After this month, I'll be more consistent in my posts. 

I wanted to take some time to send some encouragement to everyone reading. I know life can be uncertain at times, but God is in control! Release all your anxieties and cast your cares on Him! He loves you, and will always be with you. 

God bless you all! "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Mathew 7:7 (KJV)

Don't forget to take the time to thank God for all your blessings, those seen and unseen. Tomorrow is thanksgiving! Even though this year may not have gone the way we expected, we still have a lot to be thankful for. 

Thanks for reading :-) Check the box next to the word agree if you are in agreement with me: God is good, beyond our comprehension! I'd like to hear what you think: if you'd like to, comment below on something you're thankful for. 

To comment, click on the word comment below. 

New Content Coming Soon

 Hello! 

I have new content on the way, until then feel free to visit some older posts. There's a variety to choose from below. 

Leave a comment on any of the posts:-) 

(please keep all comments respectful and appropriate)

Keep praying and reading God's word. He's listening, and cares for you :-)

Keep Moving Forward

There are times when it's hard to keep going. You may be thinking, 'how much more can I endure?' or maybe, 'I've reached my limit.' If you've thought of giving up, this is the post for you! So, put your school books, paper work, and pencils and computer mouse down for just a few minutes. Allow yourself to recharge and be encouraged! Pick up your Bible and turn to Psalm 27, please.

Have you read it yet? 

Psalm 27 is a great reminder that God is our fortress and strength. Listen to the Holy Spirit. What's he saying to you? Can you feel His encouragement?

After reading Psalm 27, go back to the first few verses, or any verses that the Holy Spirit highlighted to you, and meditate on them. 

Psalm 27:1-3, "The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...^3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me; yet I will be confident." (ESV) I love those verses.  

I wanted to give up... Semesters of struggling, semesters of discouraging grades, and events. That day I had made a mistake, hurt someone I loved, and I felt awful about all of it. I struggled in my college courses, and when I compared my performance to my performance in high school. I was very discouraged. Not only had I let down someone I loved, but I felt I had let God down. I felt like a failure, and questioned my ability to function as an adult. 

I told God about what I was feeling and He was right there to help me. (Just as He is for you) He told me, through an impression, that He was there for me and ready to pick me up. He told me He believed in me, and to not give up. The Lord encouraged me and picked me back up.  

God is there for you! He's waiting for you to reach out and ask for help. The moment you do, He is there to pick you up and set you back on your feet! You may feel like you have no encouragement, or that no one believes in you. Keep moving forward because God believes in you! God sees the end from the beginning, and He knows everything about you and everything you have done and will do. I believe in you, my friend. When you have no encouragement, ask God for encouragement. It's never too late!  

So keep going! Move forward! Remember, change is a process. It’s like growing tomatoes. First, a seed is planted and nurtured. Then, slowly, you begin to see a sprout. After some more time you see the stem. Then, after more nurturing and waiting, more stems and leaves begin to grow. Finally, after continuous nurturing and patience, tomatoes begin to grow off the vine(s). Now, you must wait for the tomato to ripen. In the same way, a seed is sown (spiritually) in us that God is nurturing and growing. Like the tomato plant, what’s on the inside, will begin to show in its proper time. Be patient with yourself. 

God is Good, Beyond our Comprehension

I have a confession, I am a major procrastinator when it comes to my school work. I mean, awful. I do not want to be, and it's useless for me to try to figure out why and make excuses for myself. I know it’s wrong; with the help of the Lord, I am working to stop procrastinating. One time, I dug a deep hole for myself; I did not know what to do.

I had quieted my mind for a nap when the Lord gently spoke to my heart. "Why don't you ask me to help you?" He said. At first, I questioned in my mind thinking, "why would you help me, I dug this hole myself... I keep making the same mistake, repeatedly." His answer was, "Grace; I love you." His words were filled with peace and love. There was no disappointment or anger nor condemnation. He knew I'd make this mistake, and all mistakes I will ever make. 

God loves you. You might feel hopeless, like you've made too many mistakes. But, let me tell you you're wrong. Jesus is looking to show his mercy in your life. When we are weak, he is strong. Let him be your strength. He already knows all the mistakes you would ever make. He's looking for us to turn toward him, acknowledge we need him, and accept his help, mercy, and grace. 

God’s grace and mercy is beyond our imagination. God sees our heart, and he sees what we can become. He believes in us! Therefore, we need to believe in ourselves! There is no one like our God! He is so good!! And he’s with us every step we take! 

Verse of the Day:

"Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Luke 7:41-42 (ESV)

New Season, New Blessings

 Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (KJV)

God is doing a new thing in this next season! Be on the look out; be expectant of the new thing God is doing. He loves you, and there are blessings coming your way! Romans 12:12, "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing in prayer." (KJV) 

Where ever your life has you, keep moving forward. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Let him guide and lead you. He is our provider; never lose hope. Remember how good God is and how much he loves you. 

There is a new season coming. Wait, with expectancy, and see the new thing God is doing in your life. 

Wait on the Lord

There's nothing more frustrating than having to wait. Waiting has it's purpose, though; as explained in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time for everything. Each season has its purpose, so don't be discouraged. God is always working. 

One time, I asked the Lord if I and someone I knew would have a better relationship. Sometimes, I felt bullied by this person and I wanted to make things work for the sake of someone I loved. I knew the Lord called me to forgive this person; I needed to make amends. I waited years for this prayer to be answered. When it was time, they apologized to me, and, to this day, we have a much better relationship than we used to. This took time and work; in my time of waiting I had to keep my eyes open and wait expectantly. (Don't give up on people; others can tell just by how you act around them. It doesn't do any good, and it doesn't help them. It helps them when they know someone believes in them.)

Similarly, I am in a season of waiting right now. I have a dream to change lives: I want to publish a book, go on mission trips, and more. Right now, though, I am in school and I'm a blogger. My first year of college was an exhausting one. I was tired of school; I wanted to start living my dreams right then, instantly. But, I had to wait for God's timing, push through and continue school. While I am waiting, I am doing what I can do: staying in faith, growing spiritually, studying the Bible, praying, blogging, going to school, and constantly working to improve myself. God has used this time of waiting to grow me. I have grown a lot over this last year; it was growth that I needed.

It's so important to stay in faith! Do not doubt; just because your dreams are taking longer than you think they should does NOT mean God has forgotten. Trust in God's timing. It can be hard, I've been there, but don't give up. Wait and trust in the Lord. What's one thing you're waiting for? I encourage you to change your perspective. Instead of being frustrated, see it as a time to grow, draw close to God, and listen. 

Verse of the Day:

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV), "but they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Jesus Supports You

 In Romans 11, Jesus uses the metaphor of an olive tree to describe his relationship with us. This isn’t the first time Jesus spoke of being the root or vine. Trees get their water and nutrition from the roots. Similarly, we get our spiritual bread and living water from Jesus. Our reliance is on him; he is our source. 

Remember, when you feel like no one supports you, Jesus supports you. Last couple weeks, I’ve made some mistakes that left me feeling really down on myself. On top of it I felt like I was supporting myself, but that was far from true. I had to connect to my source, Jesus. 

When believers know who they are in Christ and that he is our source, we are unshakable. This is what it means to abide in Christ: stand firm in him. Did you know that every time we read the word spiritual water comes to us? In this we are renewed, strengthened, and comforted.

Our mistakes do not define us, rather our identity in Christ does. It matters how we respond to our mistakes. How do you respond when you make a mistake? Do you make an effort to ensure we don’t repeat the mistake? Are you spiritually active and consulting God? 

He is supporting you! Lean on him! Like a father supports his child, Jesus supports us. He loves you!  

Hanging out with Jesus is fun! Spend time with him, today, tomorrow and the next day! 

Verse of the Day:

Romans 11:16-18

Act in Faith

I am not always good at communication and some things that fall under the ‘common sense’ category. But, I love Jesus and I’m constantly seeking him. I find the more I rely on the Holy Spirit, the better I am at day to day things. The Holy Spirit is here to be with us, comfort us, council us, and guide us. I do not dare to start my day without first saying, "Lord, help me." Sometimes, I can feel his guidance, and other times that 'feeling' is not there. When that happens I have to remember to act in faith, for his promises will always stand. 

This past season, I have been growing in listening to the Holy Spirit, as well as walking in faith. There are times when you get that ‘feeling’ when the Holy Spirit is guiding you; then, there are other times when you don’t get that ‘feeling’. Key word here: feeling. As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in faith, not by sight or feelings. This means that even when we don’t get that ‘feeling’ we know the Lord is with us, always. 

Walking in faith means doing what you know to do, especially in the times when you feel no one is looking. Back to my example, yesterday the Lord spoke to my heart about something very important: he will never leave and he will never give up on his children! I know it’s frustrating when your prayers seem unanswered. You want to improve; you want to change, yet it ‘feels’ like you’ve been left. Let me reassure you, you are NOT left! Please, do NOT entertain doubt. 

When doubt comes in, replace it with the word of God. This past week, I have been re-reading his promises. I have not only read them, but I am meditating on them. All the verses I have read, I wrote on flash cards. Throughout the day, I will read the flash cards to continue to meditate on his promises. Pray today that the Lord speak to your heart and let him lead you to scripture. Be open and honest with him, he’s looking for us to continually seek him. (Did you know that continuing to pray and seek God is an act of faith.?) Repent for any doubt, then let his word encourage you. 

Write the verses you read on flash cards. Take those flash cards with you to work, the store, and everywhere you go. Below are some books and chapters the Lord has lead me to; I will not put a verse on this post because I want you to do your own study. (Spending time with God is super fun! Especially when the Spirit leads you to read a certain verse then that verse gets confirmed the fallowing week, it's amazing! His word brings healing to your soul!)

Chapters to Study:

Isaiah 54, Isaiah 51, Psalm 37, Psalm 34, Psalm 27, Psalm 23

Personal Letter to All: 

To those to fear abandonment: I understand how you feel, I battle the same fear. But, when it comes to God I do not fear. Neither should you. Trust me when I say, God will never abandon you. Talk to the Lord, give your fear to him; he understands. Let him reassure you. I pray this post blesses those who read it, and you gain strength and encouragement from the word of God. I pray that the Lord reassure you that he will never leave you nor will he give up on you. 

Trust God

In my post: Jesus is the Answer, I spoke about constantly arguing with my peers and trying to control situations. I also spoke about being a new creation in Christ. One of the ways we are changed is that we, as believers, are given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter. 

For me, when I start to want to argue or control situations, I have lost sight of who's really in charge. God is our provider and he is sovereign; our trust should be in him. Trying to control shows mistrust; God isn't asking us to trust people, but instead to trust Him. 

This is especially true when God is asking you to do something that you don't want to. I remember a little bit ago, when I had lost trust in someone. I was having a hard time forgiving them. I was thinking, I don't know if I can trust this person again. I felt an impression that said, "I'm not asking you to trust them, I am asking you to trust me." Remembering that, I forgave them.

Our trust is in God, who is our provider and vindicator. We need to lean on Him and fallow the Holy Spirit. When we do, we grow closer to Him. I challenge you to trust God, and do what you know he's asked you to. You know, the forgiveness or dream you've been putting off because of fear. Fallow the Holy Spirit. Then, watch and see what the Lord does. You’ll be amazed! 

Verses of the Week:

Isaiah 54:4 (ESV), "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will not remember."

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV), "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  

Chapters of Study:

Isaiah 54, Isaiah 51, Isaiah 41

New Content Coming Soon

 

Hello! 

I have new content on the way, until then feel free to visit some older posts. There's a variety to choose from below: 

Don't Give Up, Talents, God is With You, The Lord's Grace and Love: Fighting Temptation, Jesus Loves You and is Always with You, etc. (listed by most recent)

Leave a comment on any of the posts:-) 

(please keep all comments respectful and appropriate)

Keep praying and reading God's word. He's listening, and cares for you :-)

Don't Give Up

Ever feel like you take one step forward then two steps back? I have before... but, you're doing better than you think. Feelings are not always accurate. We all make mistakes, so don't beat yourself up and don't give up. The trouble comes when you start to give up. If you feel your starting to give up on something in life, as yourself: 'would I regret this decision later in life?' 

I went through a season where I was tempted to give up. Seemed like I couldn't make a right decision on the simplest of day to day things. Took one step forward and two steps back, or so I thought. I learned that my feelings were not a completely accurate representation. Prayer is the best thing to do during these times because Jesus cares about you and will help you what ever problem your facing. 

Your heart matters a lot more than your mistakes. We are not defined by our mistakes in life. What matters more is that your heart is turned toward God and you're seeking the Lord. Don't give up, keep walking and praying. Jesus will help you; the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom.

Verse of the Day:

Mathew 7:7 (NKJV), "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you." 

Chapters of Study:

Mathew 6:19-34; Mathew 7:7-14

Talents

We are all given talents/gifts to invest in and use for good. As shown in the Parable of the Talents in Mathew 25, our gifts are supposed to be used. Procrastination is a bad habit of mine. I know what I am supposed to do, yet for a variety of excuses my 'favorite' phrase to think is "maybe later". Laziness is not a good thing; being lazy is a decision just as choosing to not make a decision is still a choice. 

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells of 3 servants who were each entrusted a certain amount of talents. Two of the three invested their money and came out with double. In the same way we are entrusted with gifts and expected to invest them in our lives. Mathew 7:20 (KJV), "wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." What we do, how we use our gifts, how we conduct ourselves is seen by others; we are meant to represent Christ in our lives.

The last servant, in Mathew 25, buried his talent out of fear. That fear was a hinderance and prevented him from investing. Fear can be a cause of procrastination; fear is can be a bad thing as it can prevent use from seeing what God has in store for our future. It is written in Jeremiah 29:11 that his plans are good and for our good.

Procrastination does not just effect our lives, but the lives of those closest to us. I procrastinate with a lot of things such as school, chores, and my other responsibilities and promises. My choice to put off responsibilities because they required me to deal with other things that made me uncomfortable was a selfish decision that effected other people. 

Mathew 25 teaches us that our gifts are meant to be used. We are not meant to be sitting idle. Even with Covid-19, we can still take actions to positively impact other people. I challenge you to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you, and do what ever you have been putting off.

Verse of the day:

Mathew 6:21(ESV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Chapter of Study:

Mathew 25

   

God is With You

This is a message that has been burning within me. I read Haggai chapter 1-2 and felt the Holy Spirit say something very important, "I am with you." Haggai 2:4-5 (ESV), "Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit remains in your midst. Fear not." Compromise with the world is dangerous; pleasing God should be most important in our lives. When we know God is with us, especially in the hard times, we can be courageous enough to do the right thing even when it's hard. 

These last few weeks have been hard for me. I was faced with a choice, to live in willful ignorance or face my weaknesses. When faced with choices between ignorance and knowledge, choose knowledge. Even though it was painful in accepting my weaknesses, I know the Lord was with me which gave me strength. Draw strength and courage in knowing God is with you through it all. In the good places and the bad. The times of success and times of failure. He is the good Father; he will not leave you no matter what. He knows our weakness and every mistake we have and will ever make; he loves us and accepts all of who we are. He knows all our struggles; we can trust him to help us.

It is more important now more than before that we stick to the truth of God's word. I went through a season where I constantly fought negative thoughts against myself; I had to hold fast to the Lord's promises. God's word is a weapon against the enemy's lies. Professing and meditating on God's word is essential in this time period. The more we draw closer to God, the more we will walk in love.

Profess and share the good news of the gospel; walk in love. "What ever you do, do all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV). Stepping out in faith can be scary, but knowing God is with you enables you to push through the fear. Don't run from the pain or fear or trouble, what ever you are facing. God is with you; he will not leave you. Push through, and trust in the Lord's provision.

Verse of the Day:

“I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

- Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)

The Lord’s Grace and Love: Fighting Temptation

A couple nights ago, I prayed for the Lord’s help. I am weak without Christ; I have been fighting temptation. The Father is so merciful and loving; His answer to my prayer showed love and gentleness. After prayer, I studied verses about temptation. I found strength in the word; what happened next was amazing. When I thought I was done reading, started laying down to sleep, I was lead to read 1 Peter 4:1, Jeremiah 3:13, 1 John 4:10, 1 Peter 2:10, and 1 John 3:16.

1 Peter 4:1 (ESV), “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” This is saying that we are to resist our fleshly desires and look to be lead by the Holy Spirit. This also reminds us that we have a Lord and savior that sympathizes with us; Jesus shows us how to handle temptation in Mathew 4.

The Lord is merciful and loving; He desires a relationship with us. When we fall into temptation and sin, He is looking to show us love. Jeremiah 3:13 (ESV), ‘“Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled...and not obeyed my voice,” declares the Lord.' He desires us to simply return to Him; acknowledge our fault, and ask for help. He is a loving and caring Father, who is looking for a relationship with us. We can run to Him when we fall, because we can be confident that He loves us, as said in 1 John 4:10 (ESV), “In this is love. Not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

When we fight temptation, we can be sure that we are not alone. He has not left us defenseless; the word of God is powerful. Use scripture to resist temptation. Follow the Holy Spirit's lead. He is good, faithful and loving. He will never leave nor forsake us. He is not angry when we sin, but rather compassionate and desires us to return and seek Him.

Verse of the Day:

1 Corinthians 10:13

Chapter of Study:

Mathew 4

Jesus Loves You and Is Always With You; He Lives

This week I have been experiencing loneliness, stress, and anger because of the corona virus. I know that a lot of people feel the same way. I ran errands the other day and I came across this aura of uncertainty, aggression, and stress, mainly on the road. After a little bit, I started to 'adopt' those feelings as if they were my own. Feelings are contagious; lets make peace and love contagious. In this time of uncertainty, we need to cling to the Lord. It can be easy to grow tired and frustrated; it is essential that we pray, and seek time with him. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our comforter.  

I went to the park by a lake earlier, the same day I ran errands, and during my walk to the lake the Lord opened my eyes to see the beauty in his creation. I saw love in every tree, every patch of grass, every patch of dirt, the lake, and every living thing. I felt surrounded by God's love. The Lord used nature, today and in the past, to let me know that he's there. At the store, the Lord opened my heart and eyes to show me how he viewed his children. We are precious to him, and he loves us.

Even in the midst of the anxiety, Jesus was there.

I wrote two journal entries that night, the first was about the exhaustion I felt after running the errands. But I felt I wasn't done writing, so I wrote the second. This one was about my experience earlier that day. The Holy Spirit reminded me of the love that He showed me that day. Instantly, all of my problems blew away. There is nothing that compares to His love! He wants you to know that he loves you and is with you through it all! 

Thinking back to my own hurdles in life, before all this, I know the Lord is good. He loves us and wants the best for us. I can tell you from the Bible, and my own personal experience, that the Lord will always use the difficult times for good. Spend time with God, and read the Bible. His word is powerful. His presence brings peace. There is no one like our God. Trust and stand firm in faith. 

Verses of the Day:

Jeremiah 29:11, 13 (ESV), "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for a welfare, and not evil, to give you a future and a hope." 13"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Philippians 4:6 (KJV), "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Read the post The Lord is Our Provider for more.

Jesus Is The Answer

As a kid I did not work well with other kids. I could not last more than 10 minutes in a group without arguing with someone. There was something that constantly longed for my attention, insecurity. Because of my insecurity, I wanted control of things that I could. I often felt like I was not important, and no one cared about what I said. I felt constantly spoken over by others, and I had some events transpire in my younger years that triggered a lot of what I was feeling. 

When I was in 3rd or 4th grade I got fed up with myself. Something inside me was telling me 'you have to stop trying to control everything. It's ok to trust others.' This was one of those life changing moments for me; the Lord was at work in my life. I distinctly remember one of the final projects of the year for English. I worked with someone I didn't know; I was very hesitant. I challenged myself to not argue with them throughout the entirety of the project. When it was done, I felt I had matured emotionally.  

At the end, when our projects were evaluated, the teacher spoke to each student regarding their project. Came my turn and I was asked, "What did you learn from this project?" I distinctly remember saying, "I learned I can work with others without arguing." My grade for the project went up many points because I had said that; in my heart it was true. I will never forget that day. 

Today, when I fall into the trap of arguing, I remind myself that was the old me. I am made new in Christ. I am not that insecure, little kid who felt invisible. I am being transformed, overtime, by the Lord. The Holy Spirit is my guide.I am still working on constructive communication and trusting others, but I am changing with the help of the Lord. "Apart from him I can do nothing." I need Jesus every day, we all do. Only God can change us; we are weak, but we are strong in Christ. 

Verse of the Day:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

God loves you! John 3:16 (NIV),"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, our sins are forgiven and we are made new. Life as a follower of Christ is a journey; it's about a relationship with the Lord. He does not leave us alone; he wants to be actively involved in our lives. He helps us in our weakness, and guides us every day. He helps us grow and learn from our mistakes. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom and understanding. 

      

Stay Strong and Keep Your Eyes on the Lord

Someday's it can be hard to stay strong. Though it is easy when we remember how good God is. In Numbers 13-14, God had Moses send 12 spies into the promise land to scout out the area. They reported strong people already living in the land. This intimidated the spies, except two of them were filled with faith. Those two trusted in God, and knew that nothing was impossible with the Lord by their side. Later in Numbers 14, it says the two faith filled servants got to move into the land with the later generation. Faith is essential.  

The future is full of the unknown, but with the Lord on our side we can be confident that no matter what happens we will be okay. The Holy Spirit is here to help us navigate life, he is our guide. Think of Lewis and Clark. They were sent to map out the new, unknown territory which was bought by the US; their guide was Sacajawea. Throughout their expedition, she was there to help. Just like how the Holy Spirit is here to help us through the trials of life.

In any land there will be 'giants' so to speak. For me, my last giant I fought was pride. I know I must stay humble; sometimes it sneaks in without warning... When this happens I remind myself what the word of God says, "Pride is the root of all strife... The Lord opposes the proud." Remembering "Pride is the root of all strife." helps me recognize when pride has snuck in. After repenting I know that, through Christ, I am forgiven; I can hear the Holy Spirit when I am humble. With the Holy Spirits help, I am able to stay humble. At times it may be tempting to give in to our giants, yet know that endurance brings blessings. The Lord is calling for our full attention. Look to him and don't look away. 

The way to overcome obstacles is to rely on the Holy Spirit, and to arm yourself with the word of God. Put on the armor we, as followers of Christ, are given. (read Ephesians 6:10-20) In tough times, we are not left defenseless. God loves us; wants us to thrive. Stay strong, don't give up, trust the Lord, and have faith.  

Verse of the Day:

Phillipians 4:13 (NKJV), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Chapters of Study:

Ephesians 6; Numbers 13-14

The Lord is Our Provider

Fear... What a common emotion everyone feels. Just a few days ago I was in the grocery store getting things for dinner, and I saw nearly half of the store items gone. I felt fear starting to creep in, but I immediately rejected it. I recited one particular phrase: the Lord is my provider. I knew from past experience and the Bible that the Lord will always take care of His people.

I battle fear, like everyone. The best way to fight fear is to study God's word. There are many verses on trusting God and not being afraid. When you feel fear, remind yourself to trust the Lord. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you're requests be made known to God."

When we remember that God is in control, we can live without fear. A while back, I remember the Holy Spirit saying to me that He was always with me. I know this to be true. Throughout the year I'll receive reminders of His presence. Some reminders would be as simple as a Bible verse coming into my thoughts, where as others are less subtle, and not as common, such as a vision. Mathew 7:7-8 says, "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."

This one day, I was really anxious about a conversation I had with someone. I felt lonely and confused. I cried to the Lord in search for comfort and answers. That night I received a vision of Jesus sitting under a tree. I stood a little ways off in a vibrant green field, and called to him. He turned to me and smiled. Less than a second later, he ran to me and hugged me, like a parent hugs their child. I was told not to be lonely, and he is there with me. I felt an insurmountable peace. My anxiety didn't stand a chance because I stood in the Lord's love.

Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." We have been given peace; we stay standing in this peace by trusting and putting our hope in the Lord.

The Lord is always with us. He is with us where ever we are; we are loved, unconditionally by the Lord. Cast your anxieties, for he cares for you. 

Verse of the Day: 

Psalm 27:1 (KJV), "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"

Books of Study:

Psalm 23, 27, 28, 36 46, 49; Mathew 6:25-34, 7:7-11

Check out my updated post: The Perfectionist. As always, comments are welcome :-) Let me know what you think about my posts. 

  
    

Being Hidden

When I was as child, I did not have many friends until the fifth grade. In that time, I also was dealing with my parents divorce and other past events. I felt lonely during the school day. Although those years were hard, they were extremely valuable. This is when I grew close to the Lord, started learning who I was, as well as learned to focus. During this time, Jesus was my friend. I knew the Lord was there with me. 

The Lord gave me wisdom; taught me many things. He helped me through my troubles. After a while, I learned to find peace in my quiet time. Today, I search for quiet time with the Lord every day. The times where you feel hidden and alone, are really times when God wants your attention. He's growing you in those times. Take the time to acknowledge His presence and grow close to the Father.

It can be frustrating when at one moment you're seen by others then the next moment you feel hidden. I've been through it; I am reminded that these are times of growth. It can be hard to be patient after a long time of being hidden; this is when faith and trust are needed. Even though it's tempting to give up, being faithful when no one is watching is most important. The times in the desert are times of preparation for an upcoming promotion. 

Book of Study:

Exodus (Israel's journey in the wilderness); 1 Samuel 16

Verse of the Day:

Colossians 3:23 (ESV) "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Peace!

Ever go through a period of time when you feel like you can't have any peace? Whether it's a disruption of internal peace or too much going on in the world. You can have peace, no matter how things are at the moment. Holding on to God's promises are key; His promises are written throughout the bible.

This last week, I felt weak and pushed around by life's tides. It was almost like a repeat of my senior year burnout from high school, but different. I knew why I felt burnt out my senior year, except this time I had no idea what it was caused from. I had no internal peace. I was easily angered over little things and stuck in a pattern of self judgement. Because of this, I had no energy for anything. Just thinking about little, routine concepts such as homework wore me out.

I kept praying for the good Lord to help me. After a few days of this, I received a freeing message from the Holy Spirit. As I opened the bible during my quiet time, I was directed to Isaiah 54. I read Isaiah 54 and started to cry. Peace overflowed me as the Holy Spirit reminded me of who I was in Christ. 

God's love is greater than any mistake/heartache. In Jesus Christ, we are free and have peace. Remember that He loves you and will take care of you!  

Chapter of Study:

Isaiah 54; Mathew 8:23-27

Verse of the Day:

Psalm 46:10 ESV, "Be still, and know that I am God." 

You Control Your Response

Keep Praying Throughout the Day

You control how your circumstances and other people effect you. It took me a long time to learn this, and for a long time I didn't know what this meant. I had heard it before, but there's a difference between hearing and actually learning something. You can know something consciously, although you don't actually know it until you practice what you've heard. 

One day, I felt frustrated and anxious; I didn't want to have my entire day taken up by anxiety and frustration. I prayed throughout the day, seeking guidance. I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of God's word and of my new years resolutions/guidelines. (I have 20 in total, though 13 out of 20 are spiritual guidelines that I want to live by throughout the year.) 

Later, as I wrote in my journal, I felt empowered to control my internal peace. I was reminded that other people don't control me, I control my reaction to my environment. The Holy Spirit reminded me to leave the past and focus on the new. New year; growing me. With God's help, as I relied on Him, I stayed at peace and chose to not let the situation get to me. 

While you can't control circumstances, you can control your response. Trust and rely on God throughout the day. Keep praying, as He hears your prayers (silent and spoken) 

Verse of the Day:

Philippians 4:6 ESV, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."