Pray the Word

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  ~Psalm 23:2-3

I woke up this morning with trepidation, but I turned to the Lord.  I called out to my Father and told Him how I was feeling and then I spoke His word.  I spoke truth into my life.  I declared the truth that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).  I reminded myself that if God before me who can stand against (Romans 8:31).  I told the Lord what He has told me that His promises are "yes and amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20) so I know that He will not leave me nor forsake me( Deuteronomy 31:8).

As I prayed His word over my life I felt the anxiety and fear leave.  I asked God to lead and guide my day as I dedicated it to Him and He is doing just that.  He has calmed my soul and allowed me to rest in Him.  He has led me to still waters, so that I could drink of Him.  Sheep drink from still water because it does not frighten them.  So the Lord calmed the waters for me this morning.  He is a good and gracious Father. He has guided my day and kept me on a righteous path that He may be glorified.  He has lifted me. 

Right now, in the First 5 App we are studying bible verses to help us navigate our journey with Christ.  Scriptures that we can go to where, comfort, protection, and power can be found.  Scriptures that help us meet Christ in our studies.  Today I am a witness to the power of God's word over my life.  He has done it before and He did it again.  I am so grateful that His word is alive and active ( Hebrews 4:12).  I thank God for the living Word of Jesus.

Lord, thank you for calming my soul.  Thank you for leading and guiding me.  Thank You for Your word and the blessing of You.  May I always turn to You and Your word.  In Jesus name. Amen

This is the day-rejoice

 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24

The Lord has gifted me another day and I have a choice.  A choice to rejoice and be glad in it.  This day was not promise it is a divine gift and I should show, will show, my gratitude by being thankful.  I will choose to see the good in all things, even the hard things.  Even in senseless shootings and hate I choose to see that God is good and cherish the days He gives me. I will worship the Lord for His faithfulness, grace, and mercy. 

 God is a very good God.  The only wise God and I choose to not let stress master me because He tells me that I can cast my cares upon Him ( 1 Peter 5:7).  I choose to seek God first knowing that He will provide for all that I need. ( Mathew 6:25-34).  

I surrender my day to Him and because of that I'm going to have a good day.  A good day because I'm trusting the One who created it.  I'm trusting the One who has ordered my steps.  I am walking by faith and not by sight. ( 2 Corinthians 5:7)  As a song writers sings, God is for me (Romans 8:31).  That along makes me rejoice.  So I will take minute by minute and moment by moment looking for the beauty of God in my day.  In the midst of all my to do list, I will praise, rejoice, and be glad for He made this day.  I get to see it and I get to see Him work.

Lord, I thank You for another day.  I thank You for all the ways that You teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom(Psalm 90:12).  You are beautiful and this day is beautiful because of You. Lord bless the families  and all who have experienced hard days, let us remember that You are good even when its hard. Keep my mind stayed on thee and forgive for the times when I have taken Your gift for granted.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Body Image

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

I have body image issues.  Medications and poor choices in what I eat have led to me gaining a lot of weight.  The weight impacts my other health conditions.  I try to monitor what I eat and how much I eat, but nothing changes.  In a world that places so much stock on image it can cause one to get down and depressed.  But, I have to look beyond my outer self and remember the real goal, to look more like Christ everyday.

God knows me intimately.  He knows my thoughts and my heart.  He chose to create me and He chose me to be His child.  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ~ Colossians 3:12  I should be concerned that people are seeing compassion. That they are seeing a woman who cares about the concerns and sufferings of others with an aim to help.  They should see a woman who is kind and humble, not thinking herself above anyone else.  The should gentleness and patience in my interactions, extending grace as I have received grace.  

I have to remind myself that I am loved and was created with love and tender care.  I am a work of art created by God, one of a kind, and He loves me.  He does not make mistakes.  The body I am in now is just an outer shell its not the new creation that His shed blood on calvary has caused me to be.  My dress size, although in full transparency I wish I could bring down, is not the goal.  It is my goal to be an ambassador for Christ. 

 I asked God to let me live a life where others would know that I have been with Him.  He answered that prayer this week when a student asked me if I was a Christian because He heard me say Jesus.  He shared that He was getting baptized this Sunday.  He is excited and I am excited for Him.  That student didn't see my plus sized body, He saw Jesus.  The enemy would have me disheartened over my body, but I will not let him have the last word.  Jesus has the only words I need.

Lord,  You know my struggles with body image and the concerns that come with it, but help me to remember who You say that I am.  Help me to focus on the things that matter and love myself because You love me.  I pray for any woman who may be experiencing similar emotions.  Let us stand on Your word.  In Jesus name. Amen

God is good

  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.  ~Psalm 136:1

God is good.  He is loving and kind.  He is steadfast.  He looks beyond our faults and sees our needs.  He infuses us with strength to carry out the day( Isaiah 41:10).  He transforms us into His image, to look and act more and more like His Son Jesus everyday ( 2 Corinthians 3:18).  He is a great, great God.

Circumstances may arise that are difficult, but is especially during these times that we must remind ourselves of just who God is.  He is a big God, the God of gods(Psalms 136:2), Lord of lords(Psalm 136:3), and King of kings. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end(Revelations 22:13) There is nothing beyond His reach or control. He can and will turn it around.  He is working it all out for the good (Romans 8:28). 

He loves us.  Remember He sent His Son to die on a cross for us so that we could be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18).  He wants relationship.  He wants to be and is our loving Father.  He is deserving of our praise.  Let us give thanks.

Transparency,  today I woke up a little tired and stiff.  My bones ache.  I asked God for energy and He supplied it.  I have asked God to help me mediate on His word and truth.  The Lord has blessed me abundantly.  He allowed me to see Him at work.  He showed me restoration and peace.  He showed me the fruits of my labor with my students.  Its just week one! Oh the expectation of what He is going to do this year.  God is a good God.  My God.  Faithful and true.  He gives me just what I need to press on. Thank you Jesus.

Father, I thank You for being such a loving Father.  Your love endures forever and that gives me hope.  You are constant and sure.  Thank You Jesus.  I give you praise.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Do it for Jesus

 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.~ Proverbs 16:3

This verse above is my seed for this school-year and life in general.  Instead of fretting and worrying about things that are outside of my control, I am giving it all to the Lord.  I am making a vow to do what I do for Him and unto Him.  Knowing that when I do this the rest will follow.  He will make  my path straight and sure.

 So when I am teaching students or collaborating with colleagues I am do it for His glory.  When I am grocery shopping or doing laundry I am doing it for His glory.  When I am listening to a friend or welcoming a stranger I am doing it for His glory.

I am taking each day that He gifts me and dedicating it back to Him.  This focus keeps me focused on the main thing, walking humbly with Jesus.  I will not let the enemy steal my peace or joy.  I will be resolute and I will call upon the name of the Lord when I am weak.  I will praise Him and have the mindset that honors Him.

This determination to commit whatever I do unto the Lord has allowed me to stay stable and self-correct when sandpaper circumstances arise.  Sandpaper smooths the rough edges and allows the shine to come through. It allows the light of Jesus to shine though and I want to be a beacon for the Lord.

Lord, I am yours and I want to do what honors You and brings You glory.  Help me to commit whatever I do to You trusting that You will have it flourish into what You have designed for my life.  I commit this school -year to You.  Bless the children that walk through my door and school.  Bless my family and bless my fellow servants.  In Jesus name. Amen

Encourage Yourself

 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. ~Psalm 43:5

Encourage Yourself

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

I feel like a storm is coming; a testing of my faith.  At first I felt nothing but apprehension, but God is a comforter.  He reminds me daily and as many times as I need to hear it to put my trust in Him.  I am putting my trust into whom nothing is impossible.  I am putting my trust into the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  I am putting my trust into my God, my Lord, and Savior.  I have nothing to fear for my God is with me and He will strengthen me and uphold me with HIs righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10)

Therefore, when the enemy would have me be downcast and disturbed, I call on Jesus.  I praise Him for His excellence.  I praise Him for His benevolent love towards me.  I will consider it pure joy even though it might not feel good because is producing a faith in me the perseveres. He is making me more into His image every day.  He is teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight.  He is "leading me on" and I can trust that His way is safe. His way is better and when I come out on the other side, I will be better.

Lord, You are my God and You are in control.  I surrender it all to You.  Help me to encourage myself with thy word on those days that may appear dark.  Let me remember that where You are there is light and let hold on to Your unchanging hands.  Let me be a witness to others that might also be going through a test.  Let us all remember that You are able and that You are with us.  You will be and are our peace in the middle of any storm.  You are our stronghold that cannot be shaken.  Forgive me for those times when I may doubt, bring the truth back to the forefront of my mind and heart.  In Jesus name I do pray.  Amen

Bless the Lord anyway!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,~ Psalm 103:2

Transparency,  I'm still going through and I feel as if a storm looms over my head, but in the name of Jesus I won't stay here. I need a praise break.  I need to bless the Lord and thank Him for all of His blessings.  I need to thank Him for His goodness, His forgiveness, and His love.  You see I have to organize my thoughts and adjust my focus.  I have to get my eyes off of my circumstances and onto to Jesus.  

The enemy wants me bound with fear, but my God did not give me the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7) The enemy would have me so wrapped up in anxiety that I miss the glory of God.  BUT GOD!

 So I will praise my Lord and Savior and recount all of His goodness and mercy.  I  will glorify my Lord.  I will be of good courage and let Him strengthen my heart (Psalm 27:14).  I will draw near to Him (James 4:8) and praise His holy name.  I will adore Him and give Him a sacrifice of praise.

I will say thank You for waking me up this morning. I will say thank You for Your provision.  I will say thank You for covering me  when my body experiences pain.  I will say thank You for answering every prayer and hearing every plea.  I will say thank You for the love of my children, husband, family and friends.  I will thank You for being such a good, good God.  I will thank You for going before me and walking beside me.  I will thank You for being my strength and courage.  I worship You Lord.

Father, I do not know what today or tomorrow holds, but I know that You are in control.  I know that You are good and gracious and kind.  I know that You are Lord.  I know that You sent Your Son Jesus to die for my sins that I can be reconciled to You and forgiven.  I also know that He was raised on the third day and now because I believe the Spirit lives in my heart.  I know that You are mighty and that You are Lord.  I know that You are worthy of every drop of praise.  I stand on Your word. I stand on Your promises.  I call upon the name that is above every name.  Jesus!  I pray that my sacrifice of praise be acceptable in thy sight,  In Jesus name. Amen