Attitude adjustments

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:23-24

I have found myself hitting the snooze button in the morning as of late.  I do not want to be disturbed from my slumber.  I am not yet ready to face the day.  If I am transparent, my days of work and toil are becoming burdensome. Yet I remember, as I asked the Spirit to convict me, to speak life.  To think on things that are good, so I switch my thinking around.

I do not have to go to work, I get to go to work.  I get to provide for myself and my family ( I keep Amazon happy.)  I do not  have to go to work, So many right now are not receiving pay or are struggling to find work that is steady. I get  a chance at work to speak into someone's life, to say good morning to a student.  I get to serve.

I don't have to wake up, I get to wake up.  I am blessed to have breath in my body and the use of of my limbs.  I may be slower than my youth, but I am still blessed to be above ground than beneath.  I do not have to get out of bed, I get to get out of bed and experience the world.  I could have been bed ridden.

I am not consumed.  My anxiety and struggles with depression have not conquered me because of the Lord's great mercy.  I experience His favor every day and I am grateful. Grateful to serve a faithful God.  A loving Father, who knows I need an attitude adjustment in the morning, a word from Him ( y daily bread).  So rather than a frown, I have a smile.  That's all God.

Thank You Lord for being great.  Thank You for being good.  Thank You for your compassion.  Thank You for Your love.  Bless your people during this shutdown.  In Jesus name, Amen

Speak Life

 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ~ Proverbs 18:21

This Sunday the topic of the message was to "Speak the Word Only."  It was both a timely and powerful message for I was reminded that that there is power in what I speak over my life.  I have a choice to speak death or speak life.  

A question was raised, "Am I speaking words that are moving me forward or backwards?"  When I call myself names because of my weight or because I feel ill equipped to handle life stressors and I am pulling myself backwards.  I am not speaking the truth.  The Lord said that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). He makes no mistakes.  He does not make ugly things so I should not speak ugly things over my life.  

I can do...gonna say it again.. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.  Its not my strength , its His and He does not fail.  His arm is not too short to save ( Isaiah 59:11a)  God will perfect that which concerns me ( Psalm  138:8)  So rather than saying I can't... I say I can through Christ.

When I am weak, I will say I am strong ( Joel 3:10).  I will say that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9)  I will not lie about my circumstances, but I a trusting God with them,  I am speaking His word, which I know He will honor.(Jeremiah 1:12) I will walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  God is my provider, so I speak increase in my finances as well as spiritual growth.  No weapon form against me shall prosper, so I speak authority over the schemes of the enemy and disease.  I speak the Word.

In order for words to speak life, I have to be thinking life.  Philippians 4: 8 ..Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.  I am filtering my thoughts to reject the negativity that the enemy would bring my way and focusing on God and His goodness.  As pastor Steve Furtick put it, I am catching a thought.  I'm letting my thoughts lead me to where Jesus would have me go and have me be.

I am staying in His presence and letting the river of life flow through me.  Hallelujah.

Jesus, I thank You for Your word and your truth.  I thank You for the authority of your Word.  I thank You for dwelling among us and showing us the way.  I thank You for Your Spirit.  Convict me when I start speaking death.  Let me speak life over my family, students, and neighbors.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Getting victory over depression

  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”~2 Chronicles 20:17

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

Depression is an attack of the enemy.  I shared with a dear sister that I was depressed.  As always, she prayed for me and God power saw me through the day.  Depression is not something you just snap out of.  Its not sadness.  It deals with a chemical imbalance in the brain.  However, God is showing me how to get victory over depression despite my feelings. 

First, seek Him in prayer.  Go to Him and ask Him to sort your feelings.  What are they indicators of. What would He have you to do.  Connect to Him, do not run away from Him.  There is no shame.(2 Chronicles 20:3)

Next, take your position and stand firm.  Take a position that God is good.  Take a position that You are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus ( Romans 8:37).  Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).  Do not be afraid of the enemy for God is with You and He fights for you. (2 Chronicles 20:17).  We fight from a place of victory.  It may not feel like it, but it is the truth and the truth is what we proclaim.

Lord You are near.  We need not be afraid.  I pray for healing of the mind.  I pray for your strength, peace, and love.  Help all who are depressed experience the victory You have already obtained for us.  Let us hold on until we do.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Soul Quencher

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. ~John 7:37-38

I have been waking up weary; mentally exhausted.  Yet, I have been pushing through, running on fumes.  I have been honest with God, but I think I have been trying to "white knuckle" it.   Determined to not give in, but this morning something else happened.  I experienced what it means to drink of God's living water.

I shared with a dear sister that I was struggling.  I did not tell her the how or what, but she prayed for me.  She sent me a voice text with a beautiful sweet prayer asking God to provide for my needs; asking God to heal me wherever I was in need.  A fellow sister on First5 prayed as well.  While listening to her prayer tears came to my eyes and I felt a release as I shifted from my strength to His.

Nourishment from the Holy Spirit tended to me.  It fed my soul.  My Father, once again, amazes me, but I should not be surprised.  Supernatural strength and peace reign over my body and mind.  A refreshing to do His will has been poured into my spirit.  I thank God for His living water.  I thank God for prayer.

Lord, thank You for meeting me in my need.  Thank You for prayer warriors.  Thank You for your Spirit.  In Jesus name. Amen

Trusting and hoping in God

 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.  ~Romans 8;28

I am totally dependent upon God.  Every detail of my day, every need and desire is met by putting my trust and hope in Him.  I cannot do life without Him.  And my God cares about me.  He cares about the details of my life.  He sees me.  He sees my anxious thoughts and calms me.  He sees my needs and provides.  

This may not matter much to some people, but I am a person who lives by routines and structures.  They help me manage my day and keep a rhythm that I can maintain a life balance to.  Some things have happened to throw off the rhythm, but praise God that He keeps my beat.  

I want to share a story of how God works for me.  I wash clothes every Thursday and Friday.  One week my dryer stop working properly and God saw to it that that warranty was still on the dryer and that my husband was able to be at home during his lunch break to see that the repairs were done so that I could stay on  schedule.  It was a quick fix.  The next week the washer acts up.  Warranty just expired.  It would be cheaper to buy a new one than let Best Buy repair it, but God.  He saw fit for an emergency wash needed to be done on a Tuesday -agitator ( the tool that cleans the clothes and spins is done).  Wouldn't have known that in advance without my routine being agitated.  God saw fit for a you tube video to be available for my husband to see how to repair the washer.  So for about $11 dollars my husband repaired the washer.  God saw that the part was in stock.  He gave my husband the wisdom and he gave me the faith to trust God as I trusted in my husband's ability.  He reminded me not to worry about anything, but through prayer and petition with thanksgiving to present my request to God and the peace that surpasses all understanding would guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (paraphrase) (Philippians 4:6-7).

I shared all this to say that God takes it all, the good and the bad, works it out for the good.  It was a bad thing that the emergency wash needed to be done, but it was a good thing that a greater need was shown.  It was a bad thing that my routine was agitated by an agitator, but it was a good thing because it made me even more dependent on God.  God never fails and He never lets me down.  He works all things out.  My washer was fixed, but so was my faith.

Lord, I thank You that You watch over me just like You watch over the sparrows.  Thank you for the lessons learned during moments of anxious circumstances.   Thank You for being my peace. Thank You for turning my bad into good.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

God's promises

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10

God's promises are beautiful.  They are sustaining and they are true.  I do not know about you, but it takes me a minute to get roaring in my work week.  Monday's are me calling on Jesus  to do all things in His strength.  Tuesdays . I press my way through to get to hump day. (Just being real.)  But this Monday, the memory verse for the week had me jumping for joy because I knew that I would not be doing my day or week alone.

 God tells me that I have nothing to fear for He is with me.  I do not have to fear the worries on the job or the demands of home life.  I do not have to be dismayed by Monday blues for He is my God and my God is bigger than anything.  He is better than anything.  Nothing compares to Him.  There's a hallelujah shout right there.

He then goes on to tell me that He will strengthen me.  See, I do not have to do life in my own strength.  I have the heavenly Father walking right beside, making my yoke easier( Mathew 11:30).  He says that He will help me. He will help me kind to my students and extend grace to those that might attempt to challenge me.  

My Father also says that He will uphold me with His righteous hand.  I wont fall.  I wont slip.  God's got me and He has my front and back.  My God is a good, good God.  His word is not just for me, but its for you too.

Lord, I love you and I thank You for coming along beside me.  Thank You for the hope that Your word brings me.  Thank You for the evidence of it each and every day.  Thank You for being my strength and help.  Thank You for letting fear slip away as I stand in the confidence of You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

When worry creeps in...

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is a mental condition characterized be excessive and persistent worry, fear, and unease.  It can manifest itself physically, emotionally, and behaviorally.  Its a condition that I battle on a daily basis.  Its a "thorn in my side.(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)  It keeps me humble and honest as I turn to the Lord for relief.   I turn to the One who knows me and loves me.  The One who gives me victory daily over this disease of the mind.

Yesterday, in the First 5 App the writer provided a practical way to apply the above scripture. P.A.T.   First, when worry and unease presents its head, pray.  Go to the Father and communicate and commune with Him. Ask for what you need.  He stands ready to provide.  Thank Him in advance for His past, present, and future provision.

God promises that when decide to not worry and instead trust because we have come to Him through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, that He will give us peace.  Peace is the assurance of Him.  The ability to rest in Him.  He will guard our hearts and minds.  The circumstances do not necessarily change, but we do.  We stand firm in the midst of the storm.

As I said last week, pray the word.  Stand on His word because God keeps His word.  Right now I am thinking about all the angels He has dispatched on my behalf. (Psalm 91:11-12).  God is a good.  He gives me victory.  So each day, I dedicate the day to Him and trust that what He wants will be done.  I trust Him with my fear and ask for His mercy. In return He gives me the blessed assurance of Him and worry fades and faith conquers fear.

Lord, I thank You for Your love, word, and truth.  I thank You for your goodness and guidance when anxiety rears its' head.  I thank You for your grace and power.  In Jesus name. Amen