Daily, we all do or say things we wish we had not done. Things as simple as interrupting someone’s conversation, sternly accentuating our words when displeased about things or people, unfairly judging others…when faced with seeing our own faults, mistakes and flaws it becomes immediately apparent that these reveal very uncomfortable truths about ourselves. As a giver of such negativity, feelings and ownership eludes us; however, once on the receiving end of someone’s anger, jealousy, envy or angry…it is only then we take exceptions to these acts. Reflection, taking and finding the source of why we hurt and then applying those truths to our daily interactions with others. Words can cut so deeply into the hearts and souls of people, words can be more dangerous than guns and knives, not to dismiss or minimize the amount of violence they can perpetuate upon others, but words can crush one’s spirit, in an instance.  This is what the bible says in Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Here’s another reference: Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” There seems to be a pattern of behavior that God wants to see in us. Romans 15:1-2 “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

I do not have any hidden agendas in this blog entry, it is specifically addressing my life at this very moment but I pray that God uses this space to help others heal and gain courage through Christ Jesus, my Savior! I have struggled today and yesterday with humility, forgiveness and communication. All three of these along with knowing and accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, have I even been able to see my actions I have been able to see myself through kinder, gentler eyes. I know God loves me and I know it saddens Him to know I’ve contributed to not loving the least among us/me. I hurt the feelings of someone very dear to me today, I pray I have the opportunity to seek forgiveness. Life can be so busy and generally very short, I did not want to sleep with this all unresolved, but it did or at least I think so. Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” My plea to everyone is “don’t sweat the small stuff” and “don’t let the small stuff be some big something’s.” Give more hugs freely, give less advice, do more listening and less talking, more talking and less silence, more engaging and less evading. Show more love and less hate. Say you’re sorry, and truly mean it.

~Blessings and Peace~

UPDATED/REVISED:

There’s something inside me that stirs up memories and awakens emotions deep within me that were buried a longtime ago, this seems to happen when I’m visiting my hometown, seeing the places where I grew up. I have a tug and tinge in my gut when surrounded by my past. It’s as if I’m disrespecting my heritage and my family’s values. I just don’t feel like I belong here in this space any longer. Family is important to me but it’s often over-shadowed by this role and expectation of care-giver and guardian that leaves a sickness in my bones. Often I feel as if I’m caught in two different worlds. One is a place where summer days are filled with lazy afternoons, apple pie, county fairs, nighttime summer strolls, wishing on a shooting star, anticipating that very first kiss, the simplistic and rewarding country lifestyle, then there’s this other world filled with hustle and bustle, fast cars, fast trucks, miles upon miles of concrete parkways and asphalt covered roads, a drug store on every other corner, shops and stores operating 24/7, people going here and there, never really noticing anyone or anything along the way. *Okay, I’m over simplifying and generalizing these experiences. Both of these worlds I described are filled with equal joys and struggles. With all my complaining and analyzing and justifying… Truthfully, I am ever so thankful God has blessed me with such diversity and richness of culture into my very existence. My mind as of late has been filled with memories of my mom, no particular reason, I just miss her! Thinking about hearing her voice and her laughter, makes me smile! My mom brought so much joy to the people who knew her and I have no doubt she is still making a different in their lives today, even though she been gone more than two years. I’m beginning to start “letting go” of the preconceived ideas of who “I” thought I was supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do. As awesome as I think my mom was, she never intended for me to be a carbon copy of her. She would have said something like…we all have to dream our own dreams and live our own lives. I admire the person my mom was and for the legacy and impact she has made on me and everyone she came in contact with. No matter what age we are, our hunger for learning and knowledge never needs to stop. I am trying to take all the goodness from my youth and mold it into the “best” me I can be. God has never given up on me, although I have often kept God at an arm’s length away. Praise God for His unending love, His grace and His forgiveness. I’m learning to recognize the things that tend to be uncomfortable and undesirable in my life, then try to grant “give” myself the time and the space to “feel” and above all extend “grace” to myself for all my life experiences. Bad and even unpleasant things are just part of life and are vital parts of the never-ending story that is our lives, YOUR LIFE! We are all created for a specific purpose and some individuals learn and grow quickly while for others it may take just bit longer, God loves each and every one of us, individually! Generation after generation, we all take pieces of our family’s values and traditions and mold them into something uniquely ours. Be brave and dare to dream your dreams, don’t be afraid of the experiences…may your life be a tapestry of all the beautiful things that make you, YOU! May the peace of God surround you always~

~Blessings and Peace~

Mom, I’m sitting in a favorite restaurant of mine and wishing I could share another meal and conversation with you. I miss your laugh, I miss your appetite for life while sitting around a table with good food, friends and family. I miss your strength and courage you shared with me without saying a word. I miss getting messages from you on my phone simply stating, “this is your mother, call me…” I would love to hear your voice one more time and feel your arms hugging me once more. Nothing compares to a mothers love. I have so many things I want to share with you, I hope I am finally settling into being the woman you always thought I would be. Not based upon social positioning or accolades that last only a short while but for the things that showcase truth, peace, acceptance, responsibility, confidence, courage and above all love. You were a strong, brave and courageous woman who never complained that life was too hard, never ran away from a challenge and never sacrificed someone else’s happiness in order to get ahead in life. You loved your family, some were close while others were miles away…made no difference you loved us all. I don’t have a specific reason for missing you today, you’re part of my daily existence, I’m here because of you and though you are not physically with me, the essence of you still surround and comfort me. ~I love you and miss you Mom!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.”

~Blessings and Peace~

Who’s in the driver’s seat? Do you know where your life is taking you? I read a couple of stories today that I wanted to share with you. I can tell you that where my life is right now was not in any of my plans. God knows what is best for all His children, often we are stubborn and think we know best. I read this quote by C.S.Lewis today, “I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Everyone there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes. But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one’s eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people’s eyes can see further than mine.
~Mere Christianity,” Lewis’ ability to share his faith with his readers as well as pull his readers into his stories and visions is simply remarkable. As I read the quote above, I was able to imagine being “in” the story, actively living the moments in my mind. Being a Christian is more than rules and virtues, there’s so much more to the story and God has so much more to share with us, this earth is not our home. Our Heavenly Father, like our parents only wants the very best for us. And sometimes, because our parents love us we are scolded, grounded, and even disciplined. I remember a few incidents from my childhood when I was disciplined by my parents, at the time I was angry at them, I felt like life was not fair…oddly, I look back on those incidents and I am thankful for the lessons my parents taught me, I rarely repeat the same mistakes again and it’s all because they loved me enough to do the right thing. The Bible tells a similar thing in Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Similar to Hebrews 12:4-12, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

As I mentioned, I am pleasantly surprised at where I am in life. I’m on a road I never imagined and experiencing things I only dreamed of, I have no idea what my future holds but I am open to its possibilities. It’s fun, it’s scary, it’s new, it’s fulfilling and I’m feeling happiness. I have noticed that it is easy to get caught up in the newness and freshness of my life at the moment, I need to remind myself that this is only possible because God loves me and I know there’s learns to be learned. I want to be authentic and share all the goodness God created in me with others, most especially the amazing people currently in my life. Are you in the driver’s seat? Perhaps asking God to drive and lead you and your life would allow you the freedom to learn the lessons He desires to teach you. I have no idea what lies before me, I know I love God and I very much want His acceptance and approval in all I say and do. I am truly blessed to be discovering life with the individuals God has brought into my life. No matter where you are in your life journey, it’s never too late to ask God to sit in the driver’s seat, be open to possibilities.
~Blessings and Peace~

Jesus Take the Wheel~Lyrics
Check out this video on YouTube:

What does marriage mean to you? What images formulate in your mind? Is marriage a universal picture or is it possible that marriage is merely an adjective used to describe the depths and intricacies of our feelings for another person. Many people give reverence and esteem value to the word marriage and disregard the steps to keep it sacred in a very real sense. Is your marriage more valuable than the attention of a stranger when you are feeling lonely and under appreciated? What about spending the mortgage payment at the track, do you tell yourself…if I just hit the jackpot it will be worth it, really? Gambling your home is worth selling yourself and your marriage vows? I know there’s someone reading this and thinking, I would never be so foolish…really? Everyone of us makes decisions big and small everyday without giving much thought to the ramifications they start. You may not gamble per se, but I’m confident in saying you take chances giving no thought to …. What if? Things done in secret rarely stay secret, your friends, your spouse, your family may not know what you do but God our Father knows all. The single most important being in the entire universe sees all and knows all and loves us in-spite of ourselves our wickedness and our selfishness. I have experienced through the years that love comes to each of us in many different ways and none of us are in any position to cast judgments on others when it comes to the love shared between two human beings. Never settle for close to love or it feels like love, the real and true love is worth the wait and God has so many wonderful plans for you and the love of your life. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be made clear to you. Matthew 6:13 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

These are my truths…

•Marriage is more than a man and a woman

•Marriage is more than a document

•Marriage is living and breathing a commitment

•Family is more than a mother and a father

•Being a daddy is more than being the father

•Being a mommy is more than being the mother

•A home is more than a house with walls, windows, doors, rooms and a roof

•Love is more than a four letter word

•Love often turns into two four letter words life + time = lifetime of love

•Love is a four letter word used many times in a single day for a wide variety of things, please take time to know what you’re saying, who you are saying it to and then mean what you are saying.

Do not let definitions limit your “LOVE” potential.

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
Psalm 139:1-24 “You have searched me, Lord,and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;ball the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Hebrews 4:13 (NRSV) “And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.”

Sitting next to the edge of the pond, being serenaded by the crickets and the noise of the streets. I feel the coolness of the summer night and though the solitude is comforting I’m wishing for her, wanting to share this moment and space to create a memory, perhaps one or two. There’s nothing particularly special about this spot but her presence would make it feel exceptionally distinct. I’ve never sat in this place or listened to the sounds of the night like this before, never knowing this calmness, it covers you like the sweetness of wild clover and dew as it bathes the thick meadow grass early each summer morning. Five years I’ve spent looking, walking and driving past this spot and never stopped long enough to breathe it in. God’s majesty is all around me and as wonderful and beautiful as it is I would very much like to share it to her. Far away destinations are nice and memorable but often we can find treasures right out our front doors.

Psalm 104:1-6 “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.”

~Blessings and Peace~

Almost exactly two years ago I received a phone call at 3:22am and my life was changed forever. It was a paramedic calling from my parents home telling me that I needed to come home because my mom had passed away. I sat on the edge of my bed and I felt empty, a sense of nothingness. I immediately reached out to a friend, she had recently lost her father, I honestly do not remember any of our conversation just her voice and a feeling of understanding. Most of the hour plus drive to my parents home is a blur, only by the grace of God did I made it home. When I arrived the house was filled with aunts/uncles/cousins but my mom was gone. I wanted so badly to hug and kiss her one more time but it was not to be. The next few days were filled with phone conversations, funeral arrangements, insurance companies and all the time keeping my emotions in check because I wanted to be strong for my family. My mom was such an amazing woman and I tried with all that I am to fill her shoes…try as I did, it was and remains an impossible task to achieve. I have learned so many things about myself and life in general during the past two years. Life is so precious and can be gone in the blink of an eye, all the what if’s and someday’s never to be realized. I still mourn the loss of my mom, I love her and miss her but I know she is cheering me on to chase the dreams I have tucked away but honestly I have no regrets. I have learned so many valuable lessons over the past couple of years and I still have dreams but more important than dreams and wishes for the future…I want to be present in the moments I am living now. God does not promise tomorrow’s, His desire is that we take and relish in every single second of each and every day, never forgetting we are His children and we were created for His glory. Do not let any opportunities pass you by because of fear. Give yourself permission to experience the moments of your days, feel the heat from the sun and look at how it changes our perspective of our world and surroundings, most especially when things are seen in the light of day versus how very different they are in the darkness of night. As I am sitting here typing this I have no idea how the rest of my day will go… I can compare it to previous Sundays, hoping for lots of things like weather, safety, good health and the list goes on and on. I don’t think God wants us to not plan for things but I think He wants only good things for all His children but I am convinced He also wants us to be joyful and to celebrate the moments like sharing a smile with a stranger, holding a door for someone, saying hello and meaning it when passing a stranger, give a cashier the quarter for the customer just a bit short on money, say thank you as well as responding with a you’re welcome…all these things take very little effort but can be making a lifelong impression on someone who is in desperate need of kindness and who can then pass that same kindness onto someone else. Life is really a string of “moments” connecting to one another until one day we look back on our lives and say “thank you, God!” And God replies, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

~Blessings and Peace~

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”

~Anonymous

Fear debilitate and inhibits. It limits and paralyzes. Fear smothers and clouds. It darkens and controls. Fear misunderstands and angers. Unfortunately, fear can rule. Fortunately, love trumps fear. Welcome being wrong. Let it go and celebrate your creative spirit. The world needs the real you!

Too many of us, myself include live in fear, fears for a myriad of different things but they all debilitate us in one way or another. I have found that the closer I cling to my fears the less I am able to do, I am less free. Fears are tricky, some are a direct result of personal experiences while others are simply made up or felt vicariously from or through others. I have and continue to struggle with fears. I have attempted to overcome some of them while others still scare me a bit. For instance, I do not like to be in the dark literally or figuratively. When I was a kid I had fallen asleep on my parents bed, my brother and I were with a babysitter. I awoke in the middle of the night thinking I was still in the same place but I wasn’t I could not see anything and I couldn’t find the door…it probably only took a few seconds for my mom to come get me but it felt like hours. When I was in the sixth grade I did not know the answer to a history question my teacher ask me and she humiliated me in front of all my classmates and I ran out of the class crying. I have struggled with any type of public speaking because of that experience. I’m better today, I even passed my speech class in college but I partly attribute my passing the class to deliberately taking a class with total strangers so when I messed up it was not in front of people I knew. I received my B.A. in Secondary Education but I was completely freaked out to be in charge, student teaching was interesting but thankfully I had amazing Teachers to support me. My first year out of college I taught at a local high school where I grew up, it was ok, I enjoyed coaching girls volleyball, basketball and track and taught swimming to elementary kids. My heart was just not into using my skills in this arena and my fears didn’t want me being a focal point. I have never returned to traditional teaching in a school but God opened doors I never knew existed to use my gifts and talents. Both my praise and adoration goes out to all the teachers that inspire and educate the youth of today, it is a huge challenge and you openly accept the call. So, I’m not going to bore you with my whole life history but I will tell you God has done amazing things and has provided opportunities for me to use my Education degree in multiple ways throughout my professional career. I have a very dear friend that gave me a book not long ago called, “conquering FEAR-Living Boldly in an Uncertain World” by Harold S. Kushner.” I heard this phrase a few years ago and I really like a lot, “Name it, Claim it.” If our fears remain at a distance and we never try to understand them, they will always have us under their control. When we “name” our fears and choose to “claim” our fears that is when “WE” control things. We may still have fear but it no longer holds the key to where and what it is or what it can do, its power at the very least is diminished. The best part of all this is, you don’t have to do it alone, God will be with you the entire journey, all you need to do is ask Him.

Friends, I can’t imagine some of the fears you are facing, some I will never endure but there is someone who does and He loves you unconditionally. If you don’t know Him, write me and I will introduce Him to you. Or simply say God, I believe in you and I want you to come into my life and live. I recognize I am not worthy because I am sinful but I know you can save me. I ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

References:
Psalms 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

This is the prayer that Jesus taught His Disciples to pray is found Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

 

 

 

 

I am dedicating this blog to someone very special to me and gave me a wonderful gift recently, she holds a very special place in my life and because of her ability to show me mercy and forgiveness I have been able to remember some very fond memories. Our lives are going and growing in different directions, she needs freedom to explore her journey and although I will miss her greatly, this is something she must do alone. She will remain in my heart and in my prayers. After arriving home from work I settled in read to start my nightly readings of my devotionals and inspirational apps on my iPhone. There was an overwhelming theme that kept appearing. God was speaking to me and I felt God wanting me to share my thoughts with you. The very first thing I read was, Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message) “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Wow, we are all created individually by God, we have specific features, likes and dislikes, dreams and wishes…and God wants to give them all to you. Include God in your plans, He wants to share your life and fill your life with goodness. You may be sitting there reading this and saying…”Where’s my joy, my dreams and wishes?” Sometimes we have to work very hard to get the things we want and desire, God will be with you 100% of the way. Take notice of the things in your life that might need to be taken out or added to, in order to achieve all the things you want, God’s promise is, He would never leave us, He never said getting them would be easy. Rarely are the things of great value ever easy to obtain, we learn to appreciate the things that cause us to reflect. It took the Israelites 40 years to reach the “Promised Land” because they wanted it to be easy! Why did it take 40 years? Because they were disobedient to God and expected continual miracles from Him. Friends, please take hold of this promise from God found in Hebrews 13:5-6

The Message (MSG) “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, “God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” Whenever I hear this song on the radio I sing it and feel God’s power and protection, I hope you can find them as well, the song is “Whom Shall I Fear” by Chris Tomlin. This is verse 3 and the chorus:
My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
Chorus:
I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a Friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

This song gives me strength, encouragement and confidence that God is bigger and stronger than anything this world can do to me. These things can be yours as well.

The next thing I read was “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.
It ask the question do you ever look back at yourself in photos and wish you could go back? Treasure today more than your youth. We are given today to praise God for who we are and where we have come from. Anytime the Bible repeats, it’s important to take note; it’s an extra important lesson. The Lord has brought you to this spot today, let’s find joy in it. Our past is important because we are who we are because of it, but we are not meant to live is the past, as wonderful and as beautiful as it was, those moments we shared and cherished are over. I am not telling you this because it’s easy, it isn’t and will be one of the hardest things you will ever do, leaving the past in the past. I have been experiencing a wave of emotions and images recently in my life, experiences from my past and the people I shared my life with and as much as I wanted to go back and be in those moment and in that space, I couldn’t. I’m different and my wants are different, but I absolutely want happiness for both of us and hopefully this time I am being more mature and respectful to you.

I cannot take credit for this but it is beautifully written and I pray you are led by the Holy Spirit when you read it. It is from Brave Girls Club.

Dear Beautiful Girl,

Whatever grows in your life is what has been planted there, what has been nurtured, fed and given time and attention.

What is growing there? What is it that has been planted in your one beautiful, precious life?

Have you carefully planned the rows of fruits, vegetables and flowers? Or are things growing there that blew in with the wind? Are weeds taking over?

It is never too late to weed your garden, and now is the perfect time to pull out the dead things, the unwanted things, the overgrown things, and make room for the new growth you are so badly yearning for.

Take a moment today to see what is truly growing in your life, and whether or not there is room for the things that you most want to see the fruits of.

Be brave enough to pull out the unwanted things and get your life ready to lay the seeds of your wildest dreams.

YOU CAN DO IT!
You are so so loved.
xoxo

The very last sentence is sad but sometimes required. Listen to your heart, listen for God’s small still voice. Praying that your life and your garden is filled with all things good and prosperous!

Then I read this: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://jctrois.com
http://www.bravegirlsclub.com

 

 

Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, truth and trust are in the hearts of the those who promise and those hoping to receive. Try as we may, promises are broken, while some are not intentional or in a defiant, malice manner, it happens. The truth, in my opinion is we should not make promises because rarely are they kept. Love and promises are the things we hope, dream and aspire to be, to have and to do; however, few actually ever attain and fewer yet hold onto their love and promises made. Sometimes in the face of defeat and broken promises discouragement moves in and life begins to feels less joyful and very small. I am reminded that true joy comes from within and lasting joy comes from Jesus. The only promises never broken, came from God. When we have Jesus in our hearts are soul is fed by the Holy Spirit and our steps are watched by our Father, God. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:5 “it’s better that you don’t promise than that you do promise and not follow through.” Friends, I encourage you as well as myself to trust in God’s promises and seek His will for our lives, asking for His guidance in all that we do and say. Practice giving mercy and grace as they are both poured out in abundance to each of us by God on a daily basis. I hope you find comfort in God’s promises listed below.

10 Scriptures About God’s Promises

2 Peter 1:4 “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:37-39 “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Proverbs 1:33 “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~Blessings and Peace~