Bitter or Better?

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."   When I TRUST in God no matter what I am truly helped!! Many things are hard, health issues, death, humane rejection, financial issues…. Through it all God is working TRUST.   😇❤️🙏 Romans 8:28 “And we Know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he may be the firstborn among many brothers.”   As we go through life trials we can be bitter or better.  Chose faith, chose better!!  TRUST HIM!!

Get help in the fight

Isaiah 40:27 "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God"?   28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.   He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  God knows what we face and He gives us the strength to fight!   He understands our every battle.  We all face  different battles at different times.  Often my battles are in my ways of thinking.   Sometimes,  I am defeated before I get started.   None of our ways are hidden from the Lord.  He understands our struggles.  He is with us always.   Today instead of facing the battle on your own.   Let Him help you in the fight!  Call on Jesus!! He is your strength and your song!!

Be strong

Philippians 1:14 "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."   One of my dearest friends and sisters' in Jesus, have been through many, many trials.   One of her theme verses is Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”   Her testimony of preserving through trials and holding tight to faith helps me do the same.   Is your life’s testimony one of faith or one of fear?  Be encouraged to put on the full armor of God today fight what ever battle you are going through with the promise of faith.  You doing so will encourage those around you to do the same!!  Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Forget the sloth!

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."   ....17"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."   How many times do you have good intentions but lack the follow through?   For me….too many!!  I can make up tons of excuses why I don’t need to do what I know to do.   Today I’m going to fight my sloth with remembering that if I choose to do my way it’s pride.   But if I choose humility and God honoring behaviors I am more likely to follow through.   God sees all our choices.  Be inspired to do what you know you need to do!! Do it all for the glory of God!!!

Speak life

Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.....28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."  My mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”  Our words are so powerful!  Especially when we speak the Word of God.   I derive great comfort when I speak out loud a Bible verse.  Gods word is sweet to my soul and healing to my bones.  I have witnessed it bring healing to others.  I have heard, if you say one nasty thing to someone it takes ten positive things to heal the damage the nasty did.   Today, be inspired to speak life or speak nothing at all.😇🙏❤️

Secrets=Sick

Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." 

16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."   I was so covered with guilt and shame I didn't know how to pray.  I felt so unworthy.   I wanted to hide from God.   We can't hide from God!   We may be able to keep our secrets from the public eye but we can't keep our secrets from God.  I have found, when I cry out to Him in sincere confession and ask Him to help me have a truly repentant heart it helps me.   In AA we say, " Our secrets keep us sick".  Today be inspired to be humble before our Most High God, confess, ask Him to help you have the strength and desire to turn away and repent.    He meets us where we are at.    He does so over and over again.   We don't have to get right to get to God.  God gets us right through the powerful gift of Jesus.   He meets us where we are at, He understands, He loves us through it all!!  Live loved today, regardless of how many time you fall.  We have a God that understands and still loves us!!

Trouble?

John 16:33 "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."   This is one of my “go to” verses.    Jesus didn’t say you may have trouble He said, “ You will have trouble”.  My mom would say her grief would come in waves.   Trouble is kinda like that.  Seems it comes in waves.  We know the One who calms the storm!   We know the One that designed the sea.   I have found that no matter how difficult the trouble, I have hope when I look to Jesus.   Live in the hope of Jesus today.  He is bigger than any trouble.

Go bear fruit that will last!!

John 14:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  17 "This is my command: "Love each other."   " Life on earth is soon to pass, only what's done for Christ will last."   Go bear fruit, fruit that will last!!   My great grandma "Gunny" made sure I knew the Lord.   My parents made sure I went to church. My Aunts made sure I knew to look to "The Word".  Some of my dearest friends have helped me look into the mirror of the Bible.  Each of these people have given me "Fruit that will last".   In today's politically correct society we can feel pressure to keep Jesus to ourselves.  You would not be reading this devotion if my loved ones had.    Be inspired go bear fruit, fruit that will last!!! 😇🙏❤️

Happy Glag Day

Proverbs 14:30 "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."  Proverbs 15:4 "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but the deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."   Today is "Flag Day",  it's a day to proudly display our United 

States of America flag 🇺🇸.   Proudly, I think of all the sacrifices our forefathers and mothers made to gain our independence and establish this constitutional republic.  I am so thankful to live in this amazingly designed country.   I remember the first time I could vote.   I was so excited to go to the poll.  I love this country I don't hate anyone from any other country.  I seek good will for all.   I do wish all nations would seek peace and live peacefully with each other.  I participate in many fun run type events.   The flag usually is flown high and our national anthem is sang.  I love this part of the events.   I chose to speak highly of our flag.   The Stars and Stripes mean something.   The starts represent each state and the stripes the original colonies.    Praise the Lord for our country and for our flag.   Happy flag day.

His right not our wrong

Romans 3:23 " For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

3:24 "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Romans 4:25 "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."    This morning I am being convicted of my sins. I see how many times I repeat the same old same old.   Like I am a slave to sin.   But as I read Romans today.  I am reminded; I have been set free from the power of sin and death.   I have been made holy and set apart for His righteousness.   No matter how many times I may fail.   I am not defined by my failures.   I am defined by the righteousness of Jesus Christ!!!  Let's walk in the newness of Jesus this very moment! Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us He is with us always.  When we are deep in sin, He is still with us offering us a way out!!!   I am guilty of choosing my sin over God, be inspired to lay the sin that enslaves you down and go for God!!! He is with us always, there is no pit too deep, He can and will pull us out if we let Him.  Choose to want God over the flesh.   That’s also a good prayer, “God help me want you, more than I want this sin.”

We can know… it’ll be okay

1Corinthians 2:9 "However, as it is written: " No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him".  We all have storms in life.   In order to weather the storms we have to TRUST God is sovereign.   We cannot possibly understand the difficult or the miraculous but we can TRUST!!   Be encouraged to walk in faith today.   Keep His word in your heart let it guide all you think, say and do!

Stay determined!

Ruth 1:18 "When Naomi realized Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."  When I first quit drinking some people would still encourage me to; "just have one" They stopped when they realized I was determined not to drink.    Even now if I meet new people, they may at first encourage me to have a drink with them, until they realize I am determined to not to drink.   Conviction is respected.   If I waiver on my convictions I can be like a wave tossed in the ocean.  Today I am convicted to have be Jesus as my strongest conviction!!! When people see I am determined to follow Him, they don't actively continue to tempt me to go a different direction.    Stay determined to fight the good fight of faith today!!

Get out there!!

 1Peter 4:7 "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self- controlled  so that you can pray.  8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.   10 Each one should use whatever gift he has to serve others, faithfully administering God's  grace in its various forms. ".  The weekend is here!   For many of us that means we have the opportunity to  be more social.   I enjoy the comfort of isolation too much.  If I am living in the comfort of isolation,  then I am not sharing the gifts God has given me.  Often,  I have to show up to events by myself.  I have to intentionally get out of my comfort zone and be vulnerable.  Sometimes when I get out there amongst the crowd I really don’t make any connections.   This can feel like rejection.    God never  rejects us and He is the rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.   So this weekend I plan to go try, try,try again to get out of my comfort zone and use my gifts for Jesus.  What will you do with your gifts this weekend and beyond?

Pride

Psalm 119:169 "May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word."    Today I am confronted with my tremendous pride.   My pride has kept me from enjoying my life to the full.   My pride says I should seek  approval.  Problem is I seek approval from man more than from God.   Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Fear of death

Romans 6:8 "Now if we die with Christ, we believe we will also live with Him.  9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him."   John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live even though he dies.”     Death of our beloved or the fear of our own deaths can be paralyzing.   I know both.   The only thing big enough to deal with death is Jesus!!!  When I choose to focus on the promise of Jesus I don’t have to be paralyzed.   

Godliness with CONTENTMENT!

1Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."   Yesterday I was feeling a bit empty.  My day was full of fun and friends but still I was struggling with emptiness.  I was looking at lack and not being content with what I have.    So crazy because I have so much.  Someone pointed out that I was struggling with not being good enough on my own.   At first I thought, “no I have Jesus.   That’s not true.   I know I am complete in Him.”   But do I?   I looked at myself and I am realizing that instead of being content with the many blessings God has given me I'm focusing on the things I think I want that I don't have and blame God for not providing.  I let a lack of trust divide me from my confidence in Him because He is not giving me what I think would be best.   Therefore I am living in worldliness not godliness and the result is emptiness.   So crazy that I can read my bible most days and still go down the wrong path of thinking.  Today, I will rest in being content in christ Jesus.    1 Timothy 6:6 “But, Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Foreign land?

Proverbs 4:14 "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the ways of evil men."   Yesterday, the sermon focus  was  on the prodigal son.   The pastor warned us not to go walking in the " foreign land".  We each have our own alluring "foreign land".   Sometimes even  our friends from church can be inviting us into behaviors that lead us to the" foreign land".   We have to be careful and discerning at all times.    Getting attention and camaraderie from people is immediate gratification.  Gods ways are often not immediately rewarded.   Be strong and of good courage!!   No matter how comfortable the group sin is it's still a "foreign land".   I'm so thankful no matter how many times I drift off, into the ways of the world instead of the ways of God.   He opens His arm and welcomes me as a lost sheep who has been found!!! Praise the Lord!!! Oh how He loves us!!! No matter what!!