Just lip service?

John 4:24 "God is Spirit and His worshipers must worship Him in Spirit and truth."   Sometimes I question myself if I’m truly worshiping God with my whole heart or if I’m giving Him “lip service.”    One of the ways I can remember to have sincere worship is to be thankful in all things.   I try to remember to thank God for the many, many  things He continually provides me with.   I’m currently touring Norway.    It’s full of breathtaking beauty.    It’s a grand display of the awesome power of God.  I am hoping that I can have a deeper sincerity of heart in my worship.   Instead of thinking about myself so much, I will try to think more about the “ Powerful gift of Jesus”, and share the “ Good News” without reservation.   I hope this helps you to remeber to have a sincere worship in your heart today too.   Start with a deep thanksgiving😇🙏❤️

Anxiety? Chose to be where you are

1Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."   The other day I was very anxious about a decision I had made, I kept wishing I would have stayed on the deck and watched the scenery as we pulled out of port, but instead I went inside to watch the “Show”.   The whole time I was watching the performance I was wishing I was someplace else.  I became full of anxiety.   Be in your present moment today, don’t focus on places you aren’t.  Enjoy what is at hand, or you too may be overtaken with anxiety.     Mainly, TRUST God in all your decisions good or not so good.😇🙏

The narrow path

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."    Yesterday I was hiking, I ended up on a path that was spectacular! It was much more difficult and time consuming than the broad path. My reward was one breathtaking  view after another.  The experience made me think of these verses.  I am so glad I took the narrow path yesterday on the hiking trail.  I'm even more thankful God has given me the desire to try to take the path that His Word guides me in.    How about you?  Are you following the crowd? Or are you taking the narrow road?

Christ confidence

Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler, whoever is lead astray by them is not wise."

Proverbs 20:29 "The glory of young men is their strength, grey hair is the slender of the old."   As I am reading Proverbs 20 today I’m thinking of how I used to rely on my strength, vitality  and alcohol to “fully live” my life.    Now I am the strong in ways that I never used to understand.   Last night someone said to me, “You have confidence.”   I had just sang a karaoke song and I often dance all by myself on the dance floor, (years ago it would have been alcohol confidence).  Now I have Christ confidence!   I have been able to meet many people because I have the confidence to look them in the eyes and smile.  God has given me a boldness to be who He created me to be.  If I try to “fit in”  and seek People approval over Gods approval my confidence is shattered.    Today be inspired to be everything God has created you to be and share your beautiful self with others confidently in the strength of Jesus Christ!!😇🙏❤️

Offensive ways?

Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.  24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting."   Today I’m traveling with a group of friends.  When I read, “See if there is any offensive way in me”, I am thinking of how I put my ways on others.   I don’t notice how controlling I am when I am by myself, I am noticing that when with others I think, they should want to do what I want to do.   When I truly open myself up to others way of thinking and doing I become a better person and my small ways of thinking get expanded.    Today, I hope to embrace the desires of others so there is not as much offensive ways in me.   What about you? Do you have any offensive ways in you?

Don’t try to figure it out. God doesn’t give us the details

Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."  God doesn’t give us the details!  We are healthiest when we simply TRUST Him in all things.   When I search out why God why, it’s me searching out answers  for my own glory.     Why do I need to understand? I often can’t.  I can TRUST,  His ways are greater than mine.  God knows the end from the beginning.   He loves each of us more than we can imagine.  May you, enjoy your day without reasoning out what is happening around you.

Fight sloth

Proverbs 24:30 "I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgement; 31 Thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.  32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."  Funny how people can encourage each other to do nothing.  I graduated from high school in 1980 back then I felt like we encouraged each other to " go for it!"  Are you the type of person that encourages others to be their best?  When I keep company of people who are “workers” I am more likely to do the same.  When I quit drinking I needed to be with others who were fighting the good fight as well.   The company we keep is important!   Are you being the kind of company you would like to keep?  Be encouraged to fight sloth today and get up!!   Proverbs 24:16 " for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity."

Get up!! Be well!!

 Mark 5:34 "He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."  .... 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Mark 5:41 "He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" ( which means, "Little girl, I say to you get up!").   Get up!!! Don’t be afraid!! Be well!!    I read this today and think of the needless suffering I put myself through in worry or indecision.   When I truly believe what I say I believe;  I get up, walk in faith, trust God and have peace!! Let your faith heal you today!! Trust and obey there is no other way; I have found this statement to be a good slogan in true wellness😇🙏❤️

Iron sharpens iron

 Mark 6:18 "For John had been saying to Herod, " It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.  But she was not able to,".  When I read these verses today I’m thinking of how resentful I can get towards someone who points out what I am doing wrong in my life.    We need friend that help us identify our sinful behaviors so we can truly look at them and turn away.   There is and old saying , “ Iron sharpens iron.”   We need each other, to tell each other hard truths!!   I leave for Norway tomorrow.    I may be a bit infrequent with my posting .  I will be back to regular texting these August 12.    😇

Be careful with “The Gaze”

Matthew 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!   Sometimes I gaze at the wrong things.  I know when I am lusting over something God doesn’t want for me, but sometimes I still just gaze at it.    Of course if I set my sights on it long enough, I will be engaging in the behaviors I want to avoid.   If I kept looking at alcohol, I would soon drink it.   If I kept looking at the chocolate cake, I’d be eating it.    ….. we all have things we know we shouldn’t be gazing at.   Today, turn away!!

Be “All” in

Matthew 5:37 "Simply let your "Yes" be "Yes" , and your "No", "No"; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."   Today, I am struggling with a decision I have already made. I have said “Yes” to something I am getting anxious about.  When I read this passage I am reminded that not only do I need to be a person of my word, but I have to do whatever, with a “Yes” in my heart too.    I can be wishy washy.  In the middle of indecision it’s hard to be at peace.   Today, I am inspired to be “all in”.   I will embrace my “Yes” and my “No”.

Anxious? Be quieted by His love

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing". I can let myself get anxious and irritated especially when I haven’t taken time for my health and wellness routines.   I get anxious and irritable when I am willfully doing what I know I should not be doing, or not doing what I know I should be doing.  If I continue in the behaviors I don’t want and ignore the Holy Spirits prompting to shape up, long enough I get a seared   conscience, where I justify my behaviors and they don’t bother me as much.  I think this is what the Bible is referring to when it says , “given over to a depraved mind”.   Today as I read, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  I am reminded Jesus is the reason I can shake it off and try, try  again.  Let God quiet you with His love today!   We are renewed moment by moment, day by day through the powerful gift of Jesus.  Our God is mighty to save!! Walk in His wellness!! Even if you just messed up really bad.

We are not defined by the sum of our sins we are defined by the righteousness of Jesus Christ!!   Extend this mercy to others as well.😇🙏❤️

Gentleness

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!" 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”   Let your gentleness be evident to all!!   This passage is speaking to me today.   Yesterday my dear friends showed such deep compassion, generosity, kindness and gentleness to my family.   Gentleness is the word that truly describes my dear friend’s.  personality.  She didn’t get anxious she was simply gentle.  Today, I pray I too, can be gentle.   What about you? Would gentle describe you?   😇❤️🙏

Live a good life

1 Thessalonians 4:11 " Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

1Thessalonians 5:16 "Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Jesus Christ."   What beautiful instructions!!😇🙏❤️

Loved in the midst of it

Luke 5:31 "Jesus answered them, "It is. Of the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  32 I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance."  I can feel so unworthy of the love of God, because I am.   We all fall short.  We don’t do what we want to do and we do the things we don’t want you to do.      I used to feel like I wanted to hide from God in the midst of my poor behavior.   Now I have learned to run to Him.   He takes my repentant heart and fills it with a new found strength.   He loves me through my massive mistakes.  He brushes me off and lets me try, try again.   Let’s be bold in who we are in Jesus today!  We are sinners saved by grace redeemed and made holy.   Let’s walk in the newness of life in Christ no matter how many times we fall down!!

Be a blessing

Numbers 6:24 "The Lord bless you and keep you, 25 the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."

1 Chronicles 29::14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give generously as this? Everything  comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand."  I always love it when the pastor prays this blessing over the congregation at the end of our service. Today as I am reading these verses I’m thinking of praying this over my fellow man.  Today I hope to be a person that sincerely wants the blessings of God for others.  Am I willing to give  my time, talents and possessions to God and the people He puts in my life? Or am I walking on a selfish path justifying my ways?       Today I long to be the person God created me to be by truly wanting to give my best to God and others.    What about you?   Big question is how do we show that in our life today?

Win the war!!

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."   Are you feeling defeated or defended?   God is our strength and our song!   When I feel helpless and hopeless I have forgotten that I am on “Team Jesus”.   My great grandma Gunny,  said before she passed, "I want to be on the “winning team”.   No matter what is going on in our lives or in this world we know who wins!! Jesus wins!!   Be strong in all your battles knowing that even if it appears you are losing the fight, you will win the war in Jesus Christ.   John 10:10 “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Trust Him for all your outcomes!!

Common solution

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 " Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Seek first God, do not worry.   When I was a girl I used to think of God,  as a white haired old man,  sitting on the top of the world, judging people.        I knew He put the stars in the sky and was Big.  I couldn't comprehend, He knew my every desire and each hair on my head.  I knew God was infinite.  I didn’t realize that He was intimate.   Our God is intimately acquainted with each of us.   He knows our every need and is providing for us continually.  Seek Him first.  Set your gaze on His ways, His love and His glory.   I was coaching a friend yesterday.   I said, "Don't give me excuses, figure out the solutions."  Our common solution is seeking God and trusting Him in all things.

Self care verses selfish

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."   These verses made me stop and take inventory of my actions.   Am I truly interested in the interests of others or am I consumed with my personal desires?   In all sincerity, this is a battle for me.    We live in a culture that says, “ Take care of your self so you can take care of others.”   Although I agree with this statement to a point, sometimes my “self care” is the most important thing to me.   Truly when I have an opportunity to say “YES” , and be of service to others , in the long run it is far more beneficial to me than my temporary self care.    Jesus took time to get away from the crowds and pray and be with Our Father.(self care).  It’s important to take care of ourselves.   It’s also important to do nothing out of selfish ambition and consider others better than our selves.    Be encouraged to use your self care as a means to be energized to be of good service. 😇🙏❤️

Set Free no longer a slave to sin

Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believed are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  11 As the scripture says, " Anyone who trusts in Him, will never be put to shame."      John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”   Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day.   True independence comes from dependence on Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   I know what it is to be bound by sin, I know what it s to be set free in Jesus!   I wish I could tell you I don't sin, that would be a lie.   The difference is I am not a slave to sin.   I am, we are,  more than a conquers through Christ how gives us strength!   Live free today! Call upon the name of the  Lord.    There is power in His name!!! Thank you Jesus for our freedom!!😇❤️🙏🇺🇸

See the “Extra” as opportunity

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 a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  10 Each should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."   Many of us will be hosting people or being hosted this week for Independence Day.   Love each other deeply offer hospitality without complaining.    Sometimes when I have “Extra” to do I look at the difficulties.   Today I’m inspired to look at the opportunities to love  and be loved.   As I attack my “extra” I will not allow the Spirit of grumbling or overwhelmed to take root in my heart.    I will press forward in love.  Enjoying each opportunity  to love and be loved.   Offering hospitality is a great way to show love!!  We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!   Don’t weary in well doing, just do it!  Be inspired to do it, with a smile in your heart!!  Do everything in Love!!! 😇❤️🙏

Leave the shut door alone. Move on

Job 42:1-2 " Then Job replied to the Lord:2 I know that you can do all things; no plans of yours can be thwarted." Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you.  He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love.”

Gods plans can’t be thwarted! He is mighty to save! He will quiet us with His love.   Have you experienced miracles?  I have seen Gods hand at work in my life many, many times and yet sometimes I still forget He is in control.   Today I’m choosing to trust I. His awesome provision.  When I look at my life,  I can see how many times what I begged God for and didn’t get would have been disastrous.  God has protected me from myself over and over again.  Gods plans can’t be thwarted, if He closes a door there is a reason. Look for the open door, walk through it in the quietness of His unending love! He is mighty to save!! 😇❤️🙏