Update - Getting Excited

Hello everyone, thank you for bearing with us as we get everything straight.

We are deciding upon the blog post titles. On one hand we want them numbered, on the other titled.

Numbered and Titled? Such heavy decisions. What do you think? Leave a message or send us an email. We enjoy getting email from you all.

Again thank you all for your support. The Ebook is being edited and the path is being made level.

I am excited! Are you excited? You should be. God has good things in store for you and the things he has for those who believe are great. Praise him!

Even if you are doing the mundane, thank God for the work that you have to do and he will invigorate it for you. He will light your fire.

Coaching Today 20141209

Coaching Question :

What do you feel God has revealed to you about your own destiny or call?

In 2 Peter 1:10 we are told to make every effort to confirm your calling and election.

Have you stopped in your attempts to succeed and achieve to confirm your calling and election? Has what God revealed to you in line with your life now?

It is interesting to note that when we put our trust and love in Jesus, our paths almost lay themselves down. It is amazing.

Today worship him in your own words. Tell him how great and wonderful he is. Lavish praise upon our savior and let him know how amazing he is, how good God is. Tell the Lord your God how awesome he is.

**Remember God is a God of abundance and life and prosperity. His dreams for us are bigger than we could ever dream or imagined. Are you looking to God for his plans for you? Look up to God, his plans maybe bigger than you are thinking. Open up to the possibilities by letting go of the details.

**Jot down any ideas, concepts or thoughts that come to mind. On the day that you have chosen, take time to review your notes for last week. What breakthroughs did you have?

Need an uplifting message? Check out Joel Osteen Ministries.
Here's a video....

 

December 8 Joy of the LORD

What is the joy of the LORD?

Nehemiah 8:10 says 'the joy of the LORD is your strength'.

What is meant by the joy of the LORD?




Hebrews 12:2 says that for the joy set before him, he was able to endure the cross.

The joy of the LORD is powerful. It is what helped enable Jesus to endure the cross and shame. If we can find what the joy of the LORD is then we can find strength.

Let us think on this today. What is the joy of the LORD? What makes Jesus joyful? And how do you think his joy differs from your idea of joy?

Don't know where to begin, do a keyword search on your favorite Bible search engine and read some of the verses that relate to the joy of the LORD. Joy is a big topic to search, but ask the LORD to lead your understanding.

**As always, take notes, jot down ideas, doodle thoughts or mind map concepts.**

**Set a day where you can review your notes weekly.**

Day 5

Today, let's just relax a second. Take a deep breath and realize, God Almighty, loves YOU!

He is your heavenly Father and he loves YOU! You individually, personally, uniquely. He loves you as you are right now.

He wants you to know that you do not have to be ashamed. Proclaim his name and he will vindicate  you. In fact, His victory has already been won. It is finished.

Beware.....Goodness and Mercy will overtake you!!!

In fact, sin has no dominion over you. You can walk in no condemnation as Jesus did. That is what Jesus died to give you. A pure heart and a clean conscious.

So today, go about your day in peace, knowing that this day has already been won. You do not have to overexert your own will. Live in peace with your circumstances and let God deal with the details.  You 'job' if ever we had one, is only to praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in all you do.

Day 4

Good Morning!
Today is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad about it. As God's children we do not have to worry. We put our trust in Jesus and he has blessed us abundantly.

Day 3 we thought about our relationship to Jesus as a romantic love affair. Like in the Song of Songs. We read how she described her beloved. Outstanding among ten thousand. Did you write a poem to your beloved? If not, I urge you to do the activities. God sees every effort you put into your relationship with him.

Do you see Jesus as your husband?

Today we learn a name of God. On of my favorites.

This is one of my favorite names of our Father. It signifies his highest preeminence. Most Exalted One. Extreme Sovereignty. Extreme Majesty. It is wonderful and amazing to think, El Elyon is your father. Mind blowing.

Today think about how amazing it is to have a El Elyon as your father. A father that you can call upon and hears you and answers you.

Say a prayer and use this name of God. Let him know how grateful you are to be his child. Jot down or doodle any impressions or interesting thoughts you are given in your notebook.

Day 3 Praising Jesus is Always the Right Answer

Thus far we have examined our relationship with God. We understand that our relationship to Jesus needs to be personal. We also began to think about the different relationships that are described in the Bible such as bride, son and daughter.

We can also see how some relationships may be more difficult than others for different people. That is why it is important to be understanding and loving.

I especially love the bride. Think of the story of Rebekah and Isaac, how awesome. It is the wonderful story of Christ and his bride. Also the Song of Songs paint a beautiful picture of a romantic love affair. Take time and flip through Song of Songs and listen to how the lovers describe each other.

Today lets describe our beloved Savior. Tell him, aloud if possible, how beautiful and radiant he is. Lavish compliments and praise upon Yeshua. Bless his name. Today let us adore and admire him.

*Activity*
Write a short poem, praising God. He has many names. Use one of his names and praise him in a poem in your notebook.

*Challenge*
Learn a name of God that you do not know. If you know all the names of God, do you know what each name means and is significance?

Coaching Question:
Is there a dream that you are afraid to voice share with God because you fear you may look arrogant or presumptuous? Jot down any interesting thoughts today.

Tomorrow:
Let us learn a name of God.






Need some Grace today?

• Joseph Prince Ministries
• Joel Osteen Ministries

 *We cannot rely on doctrine or religion. When it all comes down to it, he wants to save you, personally. Will you let him save you? He wants to see you with abundant life, will you let him show you? Accept Jesus today and receive his abundant grace.

Healthy Snacking: Describing Your Relationship with God

Jesus loves when we take a few minutes out of our day to think about him and his love for us. Yesterday we examined our relationship with God.

What were your results?... Do you see yourself as a child of the Most High God? As a bride of Jesus. Think about how many different relationships you have heard describe in the Bible. Which ones do you gravitate towards? Is there one that is difficult to understand? Take notes.

Doodle from yesterday. Relationship with God.

Today let us analyze where we hope to aspire to in our relationship to God. Because our relationship and closeness to Jesus is extremely important. 

Remember God gives if we ask, but we need to understand our relationship to him.

Coaching Question: 

Describe your ideal relationship with God. What would it look like? How would it make you feel?

*Activity* 

Today try doodling. Draw a picture illustrating your ideal relationship with God. Is there a verse you remember that really expresses that concept?

Parable of the Pencil

Here's the short and skinny or it.

Yesterday's devotional reading in the Baptist Bread, from Tim Green Ministries had an interesting parable about what the pencil maker told one of his pencils. Here is the short and skinny of it.

I challenge you, stop and think about how these principles that the pencil maker told the pencil, relate to you and how you live your life.

Are you allowing God to hold you? Do you grumble and complain more than showing gratitude? What kind of mark are you leaving on people? Is it a mark that inspires life and growth?

*Jot down a few notes or doodle your thoughts on these principles in your notebook, we will review these later*

Here is a great song of worship, that will help you to focus on his love for you. Allow yourself to be dependent upon Jesus. Ask him as you listen to this song to open up your heart to him. Ask him to lead you in the way that you should go.

Coaching Tuesday D2

Coaching Tuesday:

Only cats allowed to take books out of the Library.
Had to put on my cat suit.

Describe your relationship with God? What is it like?

This is a question that I found again in Tony Stoltzfus's Coaching Questions. The importance of this question has taken on more significance for me within the last few years.

It is when Christianity becomes more than just a religion and becomes life. You let Jesus put you into the relationship with him. It is also accepting the place and the part he has for you. But most of all trusting in the truth that he has brought you into kinship, to a father who is the All Mighty, EL Shaddai.

Here is a powerful message from Joseph Prince Ministries on how our relationships with God should look. 

How would you describe your relationship with him? Your father? What is it like? Your relationship, how you view God, will determine how you receive
from God.

So what is your relationship with God? What is it like? Do you feel something lacking? Ask God to show you if there is any offensive way in you. And lead you in the way everlasting. Amen.

Psalm 139:24(NIV)

 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

*Activity*
Jot down a few words or sentences to describe your relationship with God  in your notebook. We will use or notebook to review our progress and help direct us.

Trusting In God

When trusting God we need to remember that we are trusting not in our own trust, but trusting in His trust. We do not have to rely on ourselves in times of trouble. We can relax and know that good will come and God will provide because Jesus has already won the victory.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 

When we begin our day knowing that the day is won and working from the attitude of, 'The Lord is on our side, what can stop us from victory' type of attitude; we will be able to walk confidently and boldly through the day.

Alive and Believing

Believing.
Sometimes it seems, a hard thing to do. Maybe it is just me, but daily there seems to be, barriers. Hurdles of sorts that I have to leap, to get to the level of belief, where I can smile and face the challenges of life head on, while not suffering defeat.

Without my belief, leveled up sufficiently, I flounder around, never really accomplishing anything. When it is high, freely, I can smile.

I know that whatever comes my way, is for my benefit. What is meant, for my harm becomes my benefit and I become more than a conqueror, more and more. Everyday, ever increasing glory. Today surely, I can handle more than this time last year.

It has become essential to take time first thing, in the morning. I must eat. Not biscuits and gravy with a bacon on the side. But to munch on the message of grace. The Gospel. It fills me, completely. How can I go without.

So I go on. Believing. Regardless of the 'evidence' against it all. I believe. Therefore I am. Believing. Alive.

5 Strokes to Grace

...One of those moments when you unexpectedly find the answer you expected, in an unexpected place...resting

What are you to do with this life you ask...take it easy and take it light. Rest, receive. If it is too hard and too heavy, stop and breathe. Remember me. For I say,

"...My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:30) 

1. Keep in touch with Jesus. Daily is best, constantly is better. Unceasingly the bestest of all. Prayer and petition. Praise, to that He truly loves to listen.
2. Keep up the conversation with fellow brothers and sisters. Converse and learn with and from each other. Tell of signs and wonders. Prophesy and edify.
3. Share the knowledge of Christ to those who have not heard the Word. Show the world you are a Child of the Most High God by pouring out your love. 
4. Share your blessings with all in need, the poor and the widowed. With your deeds let His name be hallowed. By your generosity let nations be blessed.
5. Enjoy the fruits, you who still have buds to stimulate. Add a bit of majesty to your plate. Be bold to ask, confident to seek, steadfast to knock.

Bomb Shelter

I find that when I take time out for daily devotion, my day flows. I am where I need to be and when I need to be there...

I am excited! Today, I have finally found a spot for my devotional time.

It is absolutely perfect. Its part of the home but its not inside the house. Doors can be shut tight and locked from inside and out. How secure it is!

I can bring my music and turn it up loud! No one will be disturbed. I can talk and yell, sing and if I clean it up, even dance!

There is a place to sit and set my books. And even places to set my foot as I rest enclosed and clothed.

There also is a can in which to place my butts. And a place to burn the sweetest of incense.

Oh me oh my it's a garage! Do you all know how many wonderful things started in garages? Well me neither but I can imagine. Anyway I just wanted to let you all know I will be in my garage today if you need me.

Bad days. 7 tips to get over it!

Sometimes life is tough. You just want to cry out. Yell and scream. You don't want to deal with anything that life is trying to throw your way. Many times that translates to you doing things that negatively impact your relationships.

It happens. But it doesn't have to be the end of you or your relationships. True relationships understand that sometimes we have bad days. Sometimes things get too hard to cope with.

The worst thing that you can do is to let it drag on. Forgive yourself and realize that shit happens to everyone. In life we have to let things roll off our back.

I like Daniel Powter's Bad Day because it reminds me that the day eventually ends. You had a bad day. Past tense. Let the bad day go and get on with the good days. 

Whether it is something that we did or someone else did. Shrug it off, get back on track and keep chugging on.

Here are a few tips to help us do just that.

1. Take a step back. Admit it. Yes, I had a bad day, but it's okay. It's not the end of the world. Remember everyone has one. If someone says they don't, they are lying. And if it is the end of the world, well then, it doesn't matter anyway does it? Also ask yourself will this one day really matter in the grand scheme of things? Two years from now will I even remember this?


2. Sing a song. Here I included one for you. It doesn't matter if you can sing or not. It doesn't matter what song it is. Music has the power to shift our thoughts and emotions. Old gospel hymns work well. This is my personal favorite. It reminds me to look up to God and remember his promises.


3. Write about it. Get your feelings out there. Let all that negativity go somewhere else. This will help you to reflect on your feelings. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out, just a few paragraphs will do.


4. Gratitude list. Write a few things you are grateful for. A gratitude list is great strategy for many things. Reminding yourself what you are grateful for will help put you mind back into the right perspective and help you to remember that God does provide for you even if it may not feel like it right now.


5. Exercise, do a physical activity or take a walk. Anything that will get you in a different environment and moving. Anything that will get you breathing and take you away from the situation. One note of caution though, when you are out walking, doing Tai Chi or working out, think about nature, your breathing, anything but what is going wrong. You don't want to use this time to dwell on the bad things but to break from them.


6. Recite your favorite verse or quote. Doing the previous step and reciting verses together would be really helpful. Sort of like a moving meditation. Psalms has a wealth of verses that are good for bad days. You don't have know whole chapters just 1 or 2 verses is good. Anything that reminds you that God loves you will do.
   
   Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;


7. Pray. Prayer is always the go to step and probably should be number one. But lets face it, many of us use prayer as a last resort, when all else has failed. And that is OK. Many times it is because we think that somethings are just so small and insignificant that we don't want to bother Jesus with them. That is not true. The best way to deal with a bad day or a good day for that matter, is to remember that God cares about us, even the small trivial things. That is truly the good news. If we can understand that, then even the bad days become a catalyst to push us closer to God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18a

Follow Your Dreams. Literally.

Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

I had a very interesting dream last night. Actually I have been having dreams almost every night lately. Vivid and pertinent dreams. Many providing insight and direction to my life; showing me things that came true. Showing me things that I hope will come true.

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” 
― Molière

There are things I was called to do and it is freeing to know that finally, this is the time to do them. 

And the fact that all these obstacles and troubles have shown up out of nowhere. Yeah you can bet I am going to continue to plod forward! Those obstacles are just further proof that I need to keep going.

So if you are following your dreams, do not let obstacles deter you. Obstacles can help to vault you higher and further. Use them as bounce pads and have fun with them. Own them!

7 Things to Combat Waiting Anxiety

Waiting anxiety. When you know something is coming. You can feel it. You've been praying for it and  it feels like its right there. Just slightly out of your grasp. So close. Just not quite there yet.

You know its going to take time, you have already put in some blood, sweat and tears. But there are just somethings you have to wait for. Time, resources to build, other people to do their part; you just have to wait. And you have been waiting. Now you're beginning to feel anxious and antsy. In addition there have been a rash of things going wrong and other unpleasantries.

Yeah that's Waiting Anxiety. But we know that what God has in store for our lives will come to fruition soon. However that soon, seems to be taking forever. It is hard to wait. Some people make it look easy. Patience is not my strong suit. But God has made me aware of my anxious nature.

So I have come up with some ways to combat waiting anxiety!

1) Continue to look to Jesus.
Listen to your favorite preacher. Preferably one who is upbeat and happy. Skip the gloom and doom for now. I recommend grace and prosperity teachers.

Joseph Prince

Their energy and zeal will help you stay positive. Listen to a sermon or even just part of a sermon in the morning, first thing! I suggest making it your wake up alarm if you can. Or listen while you get ready. Also sneak in a snippet at lunch, even if only for 5 minutes. This can really help to reinvigorate you for the rest of the work day, especially if that day happens to be a Monday!

2) Continue to pray.
Some people may pray for something and believe, then don't pray for it again. The rationale is that you believe God heard you and you can move on. Others may pray for the same thing over and over again. Either way, just keep praying. Pray for everything. Just keep talking to God. Keep the communication lines open.

Praying Squirrel - Please send more acorns!

3) Speak blessings over other people.
One good way to really ease the waiting period and to take your mind off of you is to speak blessings over other people. Now I'm not saying go put your hand on some random strangers forehead, but as you are in line getting your grande double shot mocha, take note of the barista's name. As you walk away, ask God to bless them. Or just say to them "God bless you darling, I was in need of this sweet, dark goodness" as you gulp down your mocha.

4) Implore the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is with you. Always. Ask him to strengthen you as you wait. Ask for the gift of patient endurance. He will help you. He will show you how to be content, if not happy, in the delay. Don't know how, just sit back in your chair, take in a slow deep breath and say, "Thank you Holy Spirit for waiting with me, I know with you I can patiently endure." Then sit back up, you don't want the boss coming around thinking you're a slacker!

Philippians 4:6-7(NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

5) Make a gratitude list.
These are great for, like everything! When you feel down, berated, anxious, and grateful. It reminds you of what you have and keeps you focused on the good things. A positive mindset is an absolute necessity if you want to be successful in any area of life. So do it everyday anyway. Just make a short list, about 5 items, of what you are grateful for. This will really help to keep you in a positive mindset and it shows that you really don't have it all that bad.

6) Make a prayer list. 
Yes I know these are similar but I needed another bullet point. No really, Abraham, while waiting for his promise, prayed for other people to be fruitful. When we pray for other people even when things have manifested in our own lives we show faithfulness and trust in the Lord. So make a list of 5 people everyday and say a short prayer for them. Focusing on other people is a great way to relieve anxiety and get the focus off of yourself.

7) Get out. 
Get out of the house! Go do something for someone else. Help your friend paint her living room. Volunteer sometime at the literacy council. What ever it is just get out and do something, with a smile, and the goal of helping someone else. When you do things for other people you feel uplifted and positive. This will help to energize you as you wait for your manifestation.

Most of all, keep thanking God for his Son and for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be thankful in your waiting and you will see the blessings manifest in your life.

Thanks for reading!

Which tree are you focusing on?

Listening to a message from Joseph Prince today, he said something that struck me. 

The devil always makes us focus on the one tree God said we couldn't have, when there is a whole garden of trees that we can enjoy.

I thought to myself, am I focusing on the one tree? I have a whole life around me. While it has not been ideal, it is my life and it is the only one I have. Now, that did not make me immediately happy and joyful, but it made me grateful.

I have been depressed and wallowing in what I didn't and couldn't have; focusing on the wrong tree. I have seen people around me being prosper and wondering, where is my prosperity. I have been listening but it seemed the more I listen, the more things have degraded. Finances, relationships, motivation and my faith, they have all suffered.

But through it all, God never left my side. He was always there and even when I began to question and doubt how much Jesus loved me. Today I am writing to say that I still believe. Even though times are hard and little has gone the way I thought it would this month, God is still with me. I have hope, and believe that God can restore my life. 

Another thing from today's message that hit me is that sometimes God delays and often times those delays are for a greater revelation, for our greater benefit. Things have gotten pretty tight this month, but how much more will I praise Jesus when he turns my situation around?

Focus on the right tree. Stop looking at that tree you can't have and focus on the garden around you. The things you do have. Health, dreams, opportunites, family and a God who loves you. Know that he is with you and that this delay is most likely a greater revelation, a greater benefit to you.

July

High noon of the year,
Sun in full bloom
Feel the searing heat
Beyond the mid
Of summers night eve
Warm nights
Blessed light
Folded sleeves
Cooled by the breeze
God send
To vent the summers fury.

Trouble and Toil

Have you ever wanted a day to just be over or a month to be done with? Yeah that's the feeling when affliction has simply ravaged the day and overtaken your month. So many problems and troubles have shown up that it is hard to enjoy all the good things.

The troubles and thankless toil wears on the soul but look up. No matter if it is physical, financial or anything else we must remember to be thankful and gracious. And also to pray.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Know that God is working in your life and sometimes things that happen are for greater revelations. In the Bible when Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, was dying. He stayed for two more days where he (Jesus) was. Lazarus died, then Jesus went to him and raised him from the dead. In the end, Lazarus and his sisters experienced a greater revelation of God.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Know that the troubles will not last. Keep praising God no matter what comes to pass. Let the suffering be a reason to be joyful. Let the toil and trouble give you greater joy and know that God will give you more than you had before.

I know it is hard in the midst of trouble to keep praising, but that is just what you need to do. Keep believing, keep seeking Jesus and his love and do it with a joyful heart and you will be greatly rewarded for your faith.

What's a girl to do?

I am infuriated. But I guess my frustration is to be expected. It is the end times after all. It is difficult to tell who is on whose side. So many different doctrines and preachers contradicting each other it is hard to divide the truth. 

I read the Bible and I am blessed with revelations. But I also expect my preachers, pastors and teachers to give me bits and pieces to munch on. It is hard when everyone calls everyone else a liar, cult and the antichrist.

Well one way, the Bible says is that you will know them by their fruit. So look at your beloved preacher, what does their life say? Some obvious things are beating their wives or children, stealing church funds and the like.

The problem I tend to run into is the definition and explanations of things. It sounds right sometimes and so does the contradiction. What is a girl to do?

Pray for revelations. If you ask it, God will deliver. Ask in faith and know you have received. Truly the last two years I have experienced greater and greater revelations.

So when you feel lost, discouraged and just plain confused about who is saying what, know that God provides the spirit of revelation and he is making things known to his people. You just keep on reading and hearing and doing as the word says.

The easiest thing is to love. Just love, give love freely, be loving towards all people regardless of what they do and above all keep proclaiming the name of Jesus and ask him for his guidance. He will lead you.

More grace for the troubles!

Last month was beset with difficulties. This month looks bleak already and the first day has yet to even begin.

I could recall for you all of the worries, troubles and pains of the past month and the month to come, but I don't feel motivated enough to even think about all that.

What I do feel motivated to tell you is that no matter the situation, grace abounds! So I will be like Paul, well I believe it was Paul who said, "I count it all joy." So too will I count it all joy. All the pain and sorrow and trouble. I will count it joy because I believe that God keeps his word and those tears I cried last month will be made into tears of joy and those pains, well those will be counted as double joy.

The Lord said "My peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." 

So while things look bleak, I will not worry. I will be joyful. His grace will be sufficient for today and tomorrow can worry about itself.

Soon his blessings will overtake me and there will be joy abundantly! I will be happier than all my friends. Believe and receive.

So let us rejoice in our troubles and praise him in our pains. Thank you Lord Jesus for you are worthy.

It shall not be taken away.

Getting bread

cause I got read, today

got the word today, 

in his grace

as soon as I

let the music play,

they condemning me, 

slandering me, 

telling me I took'em away

hookah taking them away

from the one thing, 

the good part, 

Mary has chosen it, 

it shall not be taken away.

So say what you got to say, say it loud, says it Adam proud, say it out loud, I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, believe it, receive it, I affirm it aloud, the promise, that I should see happiness, no friend happier than this.

Cause I got bread today, yeah I got read today, my right to happiness, my right to health and wealth and all of this, yes much more, yes much more. Jwana has chosen this, yeah I got right today, I got right today. I got it, it shall not be taken away.

Getting bread and getting fed, been deprived but now I've read between the lines, the sound between the lines, Jesus saves it says to me today. So let the music play, let the waves ray, and the beams go straight. Cause I got fed today. I got bread today and it shall not be taken away.

Lips

The fruit of lips
That offer up sacrife
Lips they praise
With thanksgiving
To the Lord Jesus.

Your way, personally

Nothing makes me feel quite like the love of Christ. He sees me down and sends me love in a form he knows only I will catch on to. That is how he is. Personally he saves each of us. Going the distance with each of us, in our own separate ways. If I told you my way, would it make any since to you? Probably not and you would ask what does Michael Jackson have to do with this anyway?

But don't you see, Jesus experinces each one of us. Listen to the voice that never shouts, but packs a punch and bags all doubt. It is his way to communicate with you. Commune with him in your very own unique way. Listen to the word he has for you today. And know that even if that word is wait; take it in faith and wait. Purposefully.  With out delay.

Nothing is quite like the fulfillinglove of Jesus. And yes he says you are okay the way you were made. So stand proud, apart from the crowd. Proud that GOD  speaks to you in a very unique personal way. We all have to be saved in our own personal way. None better than the other, just the way it needed to be played. Out!

Your voice

Your voice,
Music to my feet,
Marching to the beat,
Of your commands.
Leads me a way
From defeat.
Diligently harken,
Voice deafening,
No need for me,
To repeat,
In memory,
Past defeats,
Your voice,
Where will meets
My feet.

Drawing Near With Confidence

I haven't had good confidence for a number of years. Not since I was a teenager. Mostly due to the failures, continuous and devastating. I have been down a number of nasty, degrading, sad and lonely roads.GOD knows this. GOD knows that with out Him we will not be able to live up to the dreams that He has for us.

This is why GOD invites us to His throne. Invites! He invites us to lay down our worries and cares, to accept His son and to let Him take care of us. GOD wants to do this for us.

When we can lay everything down and bare our true selves to Him, He builds us up and instills His confidence into us. With which we can live the dreams He has for us.

Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

“But blessed is the one who trusts in theLord,

    whose confidence is in him.

The hardest part for me is giving up my dreams. This is my life and I want to live it my way. It took many years to realize that I don't have the strength to live my dreams. But when I gave my life to Christ, He reinvigorated my dreams and added to them. Making them better than I could have imagined.

Now I know that GOD has better plans. It gets easier and easier to go with the flow. Even the setbacks are blessings and lessons if you ask Christ for His help. In giving it all to GOD we learn that we can approach His throne with confidence and receive grace and mercy. And everything we NEED!

How grand is that?

Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.

Today is the beginning of the thirds week of studying the 12 steps to a good new year by Derek Prince Ministries.

This week deal s with the attitude that we should possess when approaching our Father in heaven. He wants us to come boldly and with expectancy. If we have come thus far then we need to continue building our belief.

Remeber He has invited us near. He has made us His sons through Jesus. So draw near bodly, confessing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Also this is a throne. We are not poor sons but princes of the King of King. There is the confidence. No in ourselves but in our LORD.

Every Effort

Ah blessed Friday!  As I look back on this week it has been far from perfect. I did not do everything exactly as I have planned it, however I have made porgress. I realize that my concept of diligence has been flawed. It is not all about doing it perfectly, but doing it consistently.

The fundamental principle of diligence is not perfect. Diligence is giving every effort to do the task with excellence.  Putting your best foot forward and realizing that just taking the first and second steps is a big accomplishment in itself. Most don't get passed the first step. You are already ahead of the game.

So I'm on a roll. Feeling high and unstoppable. The next step in diligence is to keep going. Keep refining your processes and get to a higher level of efficiency. Part of this is continuing to affirm your success. Take time to reflect on the journey and verbally affirm yourself.

This leads usnto the next step. Holding fast to your confession. This is your confession to GOD. Confessing He is LORD and your every move is to glorify His name in everything you do. Therefore it should be done with diligence and excellence.  Diligence is giving GOD your every effort.

Making Diligence the goal.

In our lives we have many goals. We make goals for many different things, money, new job, learning. However, we hardly ever make GOD the goal.

But shouldn't it be that way. Is not GOD the reason for living this life? So for the last few weeks my number one goal has been to give time to GOD.

I have noticed a difference already. I feel more confident and at pece as I go through the day. My goals are aligned. Doing it first thing in the morning sets me in the right mood right from the start.

What do in my time with him? I study the words of a good teacher and compare it to what I read in the Bible.  I reflect on the message and ponder how I can apply it to my life. I usually write a prayer as well and ask GOD to help me learn the lesson.

It doesn't have to be a long drawn out session. Any amout of time is better than none.  My sessions last about 20 to 30 minutes. And when I have a light day I devote more time.

So lets make GOD our first priority this year. Can you give some time to GOD?

Sustained Diligence

In learning to be more diligence, we need to be conscious and aware of what we do daily, all day, everyday. Diligence and excellence become a goal. It becomes something we think and consider on all the time. This is important because it is the underlying definition of diligence.

To best put this into practice we must do something everyday toward the goal of being diligence.  Small steps that lead us toward our goal. It can be as small making a plan. Reviewing what we have done in the past and finding ways to be more efficient and practical.

Some of the steps that I will focusing on today is to be more aware and present in my life. I am often on the go go go mode and don't take time to enjoy where I am in life. Today I will watch the sun rise. Am I actually doing something? Yes very much so. Being present and aware of life is fundamental to being diligent.

It seems like a small thing, but it is the small steps that take us through long journey of life. So take a small step today. Then take a small step tomorrow.  Before you realize it you have journeyed far beyond what you thought was possible.

So what is your small step for today? Remeber, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me?

Let Us Make Every Effort

Diligence is one of the most important aspects of a Christians' race. Sloppy, lazy work is enough to get you kicked out of the kingdom or at least earn you a seat at the barley made it table. Laziness is placed on the list with the most detestable of sins. Striving for excellence then is a must.

As I look into my own life there are a number of things that I have been lazy about or taken for granted. As I go into the second month of this new year, here are some things that I will be working to be more diligent about.

1. Finances
We always seem to have enough. Out of no where GOD grants us favor but in this area we have been resting on our laurels and its starting to show. It is not necessarily about the money but in the administration and utilization of  it. We have not been using it to the best of our abilities and have been frivolous.

Once a task is begun...

One small step: A finance plan and a little bit of self restraint in spending. Also to give a little more. We are far from stingy people but giving more implies that we have more to give. I think that this will help us to further change our thinking about money and move to a more abundant mindset.

2. Community

Leave it not until its done!!!

We can be rather anti-social. Okay well I can be. Some times I feel like people just don't understand and they are so lost in this world it is saddening and I withdraw from their contact. However, it should be just the opposite. I need to go out more into this world and share with people, learn more about them and why they think or act the way they do. Perhaps they have a good reasons. Also if you know anything about me you know that I listen very well. Too well sometimes. So well I barely talk. This will also help me to listen less and talk more.

I have 5 more things on this list but as I write and get close to my ranting time limit, I realize that everything on this list can be two fold. As I become more diligent about these things in life, I learn and grow myself. Perhaps this is the reason it is so important and why GOD looks highly on those who are diligent. It shows that you are putting in every effort to excel at this life he has given you.

Unfortunately, I have hit my time limit for today. Work calls. Oh, I will be publishing my first e-book! I have a tentative deadline but there is still lots of writing and editing to do. I will have more information soon. Until tomorrow...

Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.