New Years Eves / a time to reflect& plan

John 5:44 “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”

Today is New Year’s Eve.  I am reflecting on what I have done for God in 2025 and what I have done to advance my own agenda.  As I look at this, I can see my self pleasing has caused me much pain.  Yet, on the other hand, my self sacrificing efforts have provided me great reward,  even though these efforts came with the greatest cost.   I had a significant injury this past year, the people that sacrificed for me had that greatest impact on me.  Today, as we reflect on things we’ve done and things we’d like to accomplish in 2026 let’s make sure we are considering man pleasing verses God pleasing.   Dear Lord, please help each of us seek to be pleasing to you, today and each day forward, so when we look back on 2026 and all of our lives; we can hear you say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Let the hard reset draw you back

 Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hold unswervingly to hope!!   Have you ever felt like a wave tossed in the ocean?   One minute you are walking in faith the next, doubting God will answer your prayer the way you want it answered?   Hold unswervingly to hope!!  Last night my cell phone was acting up, it needed a hard reset.  I turned it off.  I waited. Then I turned it back on.   It was back to good function.    Sometimes, we need a hard reset!   Stop!! Look only to God for our hope.  Wait patiently while firmly trusting.  God cares about what is happening and He is working everything out for His glory and our good.  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, For He who promised is faithful.”   Let the hard reset, take you back to 💯 faith!! 

God’s will

 Hebrews 10:9 “Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”  He sets the first to establish the second.”…36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised……,39 But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”  Don’t shrink back!!  Believe and do the will of God!!     We are entering a New Year.  When ever we enter a new season, it’s important to let go of the old ways that didn’t serve us.    A great motivation to “let go”, is knowing we are pressing forward in the will of God.    God speaks to our hearts, through His word.   Persevere!!  Read His word, think about how it relates to you and then go and do!!  It’s hard to break  the chains of old ways of thinking.  When we stay in old patterns, that no longer serve us, we are shrinking back.   Be bold in Our Lord today!!  Let go of your will and embrace His will today!!   This takes courage, perseverance and commitment!!  We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!  Embrace and live out,  God's will for your life today!   Don't shrink back!!

Worse day, became a beat day for change

 Ephesians 1:11 “In Him we are chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works everything out in conformity with the purpose of His will.”   He works everything out in conformity to His will!! Today marks 21 years of sobriety for me.   The date is etched in my mind because it’s the day I received a drunk driving ticket with my children in the car.    That is a felony offense.  That was an event that could have cost me everything.   I knew the moment they booked me as my children watched, I could not keep living as a closet drunk. I needed to own my drunkenness and do it No More!    I spent the next three days in significant DTs.  Since then I have done everything I can to keep Jesus front and center of my life and leave any thoughts of drinking in the past.    Jesus has been the fulfillment in my heart that I used to try to get from the numbing effects of alcohol and other addictive behaviors.     I would love to tell you that I am free from addictive thoughts and behaviors.  Truth is I still have the propensity to get caught up in trying to numb the pain of this life with things other than fully trusting God.   I may binge watch you tube videos, trying to get clarity about a subject instead of opening my Bible and letting the word of God calm my heart.  I may spend too much time exercising and not enough time doing my chores.   I have many things that can take the place of my relationship with God. I’m so thankful that today, I can recognize those things, repent and try, try again.   I am not as good as I’d like to be, but Praise God, I am not where I used to be!!    Today may my anniversary inspire you to leave the past in the past and press forward to the High calling of God.    No ordinary person gets this walk here on Earth perfect. Jesus did!   He was fully human, He was/is fully God.  May you take His yoke upon you today and keep walking in a Good, Orderly, Direction!   Through the powerful gift of Jesus!   What ever troubles you face today let them lead you to Him. Today, I’m so thankful for that Drunk driving ticket.   It was necessary to get my attention.  😇🙏❤️TRUST.  God knows what He is doing!

A fool repeats his folly. Are you being the fool?

 Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."  In AA we have a definition for insanity; doing the same thing, and expecting different results.   Today, I'm thinking of how I long to have things different, but realize that I am not changing my thinking or my actions.   We are approaching a New Year.   Many make resolutions, desiring a fresh start with the New Year.    Let your  "fresh start", start today!!!   If you are doing the same thing, over and over and hoping for a different result, you are being a fool  repeating his folly, or a dog returning to its vomit.   You know where your insanity lies.   You know the behavior you want to change, but keep repeating.  Take charge!!  God is doing a "new thing" in you.   Recognize the first thought of the same old, same old and stop!   Replace the first thought with one that is different, one that is edifying, one that leads you in a different direction.      If you're struggling with lust for someone, replace that initial thought with love for God.  If you're struggling with over eating filling your emptiness with food, stop and fill yourself with the love of God.   If you're feeling  hatred or anger, stop fill yourself with the love, forgiveness, mercy and grace of God. If you find yourself feeling defeated, like you don't even want to try anymore, stop and fill yourself with the love and strength of God.  Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."    Today, don't repeat well worn patterns of thinking and actions that have kept you stuck.   Stop!   Start over with new thinking and new actions through the powerful gift of Jesus!

Happy New Year!  Happy New day!    Happy new moment!!  Happy new life!!

Merry Christmas He makes all things New!

 Revelation 21:5 “He who seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He is making everything new!!  He gives us a fresh start every moment of every day!!!  Is God convicting you of a sin(behavior) that no longer suits you?  Let it go!    Lust, greed, gluttony, envy strife all unfitting for a child of God.  Worry, fear, complaining… unfitting for a child of God.  Let go of the sin that so easily ensnares you this Christmas.   Accept the powerful gift of Jesus!!  He makes all things new!!! We can never be too sin stained for Him to wash is clean.    Turn from the old and press toward the new!! Moment by moment  keep your eyes on the prize of Jesus.     He makes us NEW!!  Merry Christmas!!  

His gift of perfect peace

 John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  His peace, He gives us!   Do not let your hearts be troubled, do not be afraid!!!  Peace, peace, peace on Earth and good will to all!  Sometimes we can get so comfortable in sadness and grief it becomes our state of normal.  Jesus breaks our chains of guilt, shame and makes the way to peace.   We can have His peace in the middle of the hussle and bussel of the last minute preparations.  We can have His peace even when we are low on finances, family and friendships.   We can know He is with us always.   Always offering us His deep peace, no matter how much our minds  race, He is the peace that calms our storms!!  TRUST HIM today with everything!! Know His Peace!!!  Merry Christmas!!!  Believe, He is our perfect everlasting gift!!  Our gift of peace!  🎁 😇🙏❤️

Pride verses humility

 Isaiah 14:24 “ The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”  God’s will, will be done.    Pride tells me my way will be best.   Humility tells me to TRUST God’s will.  

My prayer for today, “Lord help me want what you want for me and let me excitedly look forward to your plans as they unfold no matter where you take me in the process.”

Fake it tell you make it

 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. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  …..11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”   Sometimes it’s really hard to rejoice in the Lord when we’re looking at what we think is missing in our life.   It’s hard to praise Him, when we are full of anxiety.   Praise  Him anyway.   There  is always,  always, always something to be thankful for!!  Be anxious for nothing,  be content with what is.  There’s an old saying the secret to happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.   Trust  God is giving you every perfect gift and withholding the ones that will hurt you.   Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.     Sometimes I have to fake this tell I make this.    But if I intentionally rejoice my heart does change .   

Worrying about someone is not showing younlove them

 Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? …..33But seek first the kingdom of God 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.”

 Worry is not trusting God.  Many people wear their worry as a badge of honor.   As a way to say they love someone.   True love is trusting God,  loves that person more than you do…. Because He does!!!  God is all present and all powerful, there is nothing that He does not know or see.   He cares for the sparrow, and each Lillie of the field.  How much more does He care for each of us?  Many times we have things in life we don’t want.  He uses all our trials to bring us closer to Him, which gives us a deeper joy and peace.  When we allow ourselves to live in worry we miss the peace and joy He is offering us every moment of every day.   This Christmas live in  His peace and joy!!

He understands and give us courage to try again

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

Jesus knows!!  He sees our every moment of weakness and He loves us through it!! He understands even when we don’t understand ourselves.    1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails,”

He understands even when we don’t love, Him or others with a perfect love.   He also gives us courage and strength to try, try, try again!!   

God’s peace in our trouble

 John 14:27 “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…..29 I have told you now before it happens so when it does happen you will believe.”   God’s peace, we know through His word; we will have trouble, we are to fear not! He has overcome the world!   ( See John 10:10).   Let God’s peace rule your heart today.  We will have trouble. When it happens, we can believe He is still with us.  Our belief, our faith our hope, is what keeps us healthy and well through the powerful gift of Jesus!!

We all fall. Get up

 Galatians 3:23 “Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith could be revealed.  24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.”  It helps us to obey the law. Our life is better when we do, we suffer less consequences here on earth.  Yet none of us can keep the law perfectly.   Each of us sin each and everyday.   We are justified to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  When we believe He paid our sin debt in full once and for all!   We are clean, through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross!   No longer are we slaves to sin!  We live free,  through our belief;  Jesus paid our sin debt in full and gives us His right standing with God.  When you break the law, dont let your fall define you get up with Jesus and let His righteousness define you! Keep on keeping on, walking in faith not Works.  

God has a plan

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   …..19 “For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.   

Last night I had a difficult time sleeping.   Which is very rare for me.   I had reoccurring thoughts over the same subject, that I have no control over.  I seem to have such a difficult time trusting God in this.   I say I do, but the next minute I am rehearsing the same thoughts over and over again in my mind.    It’s a lack of faith.   Jeremiah 29:11 kept coming to me along with some other verses as I tossed  and turned.   This morning I decided to read all of Jeremiah 29.  Verse 19 hit me loud too.   I do not listen!!!  That is why I have anxiety about this subject.  In the book of James it says, be not only hearers of the word, be doers of the word!    ( James 1:22-24) “Today if you are feeling anxious about anything, what does the Bible say about your situation?    Be a hearer and a doer of what you find.   God has plans for you! He plans to prosper  you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Let’s not  get in His way today by doing our way!!

You will be kept in perfect peace.

 Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stead fast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the rock eternal.”   Trust in the Lord forever for He is the rock eternal.    He is the rock!   When all my hope is in what God has planned.  I have His peace.   It is a constant battle to let go of what we think is best and TRUST GOD knows what is best!   When I let go of my plans and embrace what He is doing, I am kept in perfect peace and my mind is steadfast.     May you too, trust and hope in God alone.   His ways are greater than ours ever could be. 

Is you hope in what you want or what God has planned?

 Ephesians 1:11 “ In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.” 

God has a plan!! His ways are greater than ours.   We often cannot see the forest through the trees, He can!!    I have a plaque on my wall stating, “I remember when I prayed for the things I have now.”   I love this reminder.   Many of my past prayers have been answered , just not in my timing and not as I  requested.   Why should I be anxious about my requests of today?   My hope can be in hoping things turn out the way I want them to.  When my hope is in my plans, anxiety fills my heart anxiously awaiting what I want.   When my hope is in the Lord, I let go of my anxiety about getting things my way, and embrace peace and rest that God is working everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.  Is your hope in Christ alone today?

Every perfect gift is from above

 James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.“

Every good and perfect gift is from above. This reminds me to stop seeking and start trusting.   God is supplying all my needs!! Every perfect gift is from above!! Do not to be anxious for anything, in all things TRUST!!Every perfect gift comes from above!! 

Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!

John 5:6” when Jesus saw him lying there and learned he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 Sir, the invalid replied, “ I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. “ 8 Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

Do you want to get well? Sometimes we can get so comfortable in our sins and illnesses we give up on the hope of getting well.   That's what it was like for me before I quit drinking.  I had plenty of excuses.  I am so thankful that I was able to get up, pick up my mat and walk!  Today don't live in your excuses, live in His Healing!!! Get up!! Pick up your mat and walk!!

Read and reflect

 Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double -edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.”  

The Word of God, the Bible is our mirror.  When I read and reflect in it daily, my hope increases.   My heart yearns for purity and softness toward His ways.   When I ignore His word, I get a hardened heart and I yearn for my ways, forgetting He is with me always.   Lord let each of us  look toward your word.    Let us enjoy sweet fellowship with you and embrace your ways in our hearts.💕 🙏😇

Break the chain of toxic thinking

 2 Corinthians 10:5

“We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”   Philippians 4:8 “ finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” 

Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so shall he be.”    Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ!!! When I was in treatment for my alcoholism they taught us that if we let ourselves think of something four times in a row, we will have an action.  To avoid circling the drain, capture the first toxic thought and get rid of it!!! We all have toxic thoughts.  We have a choice to keep thinking of them or stop!  Recognize the first toxic thoughts,  capture it, let it go!!   Think on what is right.  Memorize a Bible verse and when you have the toxic  thought come in intentionally speak the word of God.      The Name of Jesus is also powerful!!! Sometimes when I have a thought that won’t leave me, I break the chain by calling on the name of Jesus.   I may call on His name over and over.  His name is my one word prayer.   There is power in the name of Jesus.  Call on the name of the of Jesus and you will be saved. Let him help you break every chain.

Be present 🎁

 Philippians 3:13 “ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:  forgetting, what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Forget what is in the past and look forward.   Five minutes a go, is just as over as 50 years ago!!   We can’t change conversations by redoing them in our heads.   Let the past lie, pick up what you can do now.   We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!!! I have let myself be debilitated by rehearsing the past instead of living in my present, be fully present as your present to yourself today.

Idols steal the grace God wants to give us

 Jonah 2:8 “Those that cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”  Are you clinging to a worthless idol?   I have clung to many a worthless idol!!   I have clung to grief, I have clung to worry, I have clung to physical fitness, alcohol, lustful relationships, status, materialism, and gluttony…..I have clung to many things that are not from God.    I have had many idols.   This passage makes me wonder what beautiful things God’s grace, had in store for me, that I couldn’t receive, because I was holding unto an idol?   What are you idolizing?  Is it God?

Psalm 139 reminds us jow loved we are

 Psalm 139:16 “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!”

Psalm 139 helps me remember God loves me, knows me and knows my each and every moment.    Not a minute of our lives, He has not seen.   Still He loves each of us.  When  I think things should be different, I remember, God saw this day, before it came to be and did not stop it, for His reasons.    His thoughts and love towards each of us out number the grains of sand.   I find such comfort in knowing; God, so powerful, loves each of us so intimately.  

Believe

 John 5:38 “Nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one He sent.  ….44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”

Just believe!    This is the Christmas theme.  “Believe” is used as a complete sentence this time of year.   What does that truly look like in our lives?    If we are resting in our belief, why do we worry and manipulate?    True belief, is true trust.   He is enough!!   We are complete in Him.   Are you living in belief today?   Or are you seeking mans approval?   Christmas season is in our hearts and lasts year round when we “Believe”!