Get Up. Get Going!

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Do you have things you need to do? Perhaps New Years' resolutions that are yet to be acted upon? What is stopping you and keeping you from moving forward? 

God is the source of your strength and a positive can do spirit. If you feel lethargic and unmotivated about a task, perhaps you need to do ask God to help you have the strength and energy to carry it out. 

The enemy wants to keep you lazy and content with the status quo. He can get into your mind and convince you to just not try anything new and make you feel you will never succeed. Know that in fact you can! Go for it! 

PRAYER: Help me Lord to press on to new adventures that lie ahead and not let a spirit of defeat overwhelm me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Caution: Changes Ahead!

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

Here we are at the last day of 2014! Wow, another year gone and a brand new year ahead. Have you made your New Year Resolutions yet? It is always good to make a list of things you want to try to accomplish. Last year I fulfilled a few of mine one of which was finally going tandem skydiving. It is good to have a goal. Mark my word, there will always be new challenges and change in each new year. Nothing stays the same, except God's word,so be prepared.

Changes can be frustrating and catch us off guard. It is how we react that is important. Sometimes they are a challenge of sorts and it is getting through them still praising God in the good and in the not so good is what counts. I learned to deal with change many times being a veteran of the U.S. Military and military wife. Change was part of our lives as we pulled up our roots to move to a new Army post or Air Force Base. We adapted even though initially it was difficult for myself and the children as they grew older.

Change can challenge us too. Ask God to prepare you for whatever comes your way in 2015 whether you consider it good or not. God can use all things for His good and His glory.

PRAYER: Lord help me to learn to praise you no matter what my circumstances as I know you can use all things to grow me up to be more like you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HIP HIP HOORAY!

 I do not know about you, but I love the New Year. It is a chance to start all over. New Year's helps us turn the clock on bad things and make up our mind that now is the time to let things go and start new good habits. Similar to how I feel in spring when plants and flowers are budding is the same way I feel in early January. It is a time on the calendar when fresh things can "bloom" in our lives.

I say "hip, hip, hooray" to 2014! Forget what things bothered you and "purpose" in your heart to do something new. Phillipians 3:13(NIV) says 'Brothers and sisters I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do, Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead.'

Are you able to forgive someone who has hurt you? Are you able to stop holding grudges? Can you let bitterness go? What a fantastic opportunity we have been given simply by a new year rolling around to get off to a right start. Change attitudes if necessary and commit to putting God first in 2014!

PRAYER: You have given me another day and another year to do things differently. Help me not look to the past but to look ahead. Guide me Lord to where you would have me be. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TRY LOVE

 As I was driving one day I saw a unique vanity tag that simply said "Try Love". That is good advice for all of us. Looking for a good New Years resolution? Maybe "trying love" would be a great one.

Perhaps you need to love a friend better, a family member, a stranger, a boss or a co worker. Love is putting others first and ignoring their faults. It is unconditional. It is patient. It does not think of itself. It is able to forgive regardless. This entire description of God's kind of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Read it and meditate on what it says.

A prayer I pray for myself often and even my children is that they would love with the love of Jesus'. 1 John 4:20(NIV) says 'Whoever claims to loves God yet hates a brother or a sister is a liar. For whoever does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen can not love God whom he has not seen.'

Do you need to "try love" in 2014 and beyond?

PRAYER: Lord I do love you and I strive with your help to show your love to others around me whether or not I know the or not. That is what you want your followers to do. Help me not stray from this path. In Jesus' name. Amen.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Happy New Year! Well another year is coming to a close. A time to turn from bad things and start turns toward new things. New hopes, dreams, possibilities. A time to let go of hurt, pain and anger and embrace good. 

I always love making a list of new years resolutions and do my best to keep them. This past year, out of ten, about five were kept. It is a good time to purpose in your heart to try something new or change something bad. 

Isaiah 43:19( NIV) says 'See I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and springs in the wasteland.' 

Are you ready to let the Lord have your past and do something new?

PRAYER: Today is the end of a year or successes and failures of joys and sorrows but also a chance to start new and make right the wrongs and focus on you Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

GOD WILL NOT FAIL YOU

Welcome to February!! The month of making resolutions or setting goals
is behind us although that does not mean to not to go after goals and
dreams in life. Before getting into a few devotions this month on
love, since this month is Valentine's Day, I want to concentrate on
letting you know God is for you. God loves you. If God had a
refrigerator your picture would be on it! Even if you have messed up
He does not kick you out or set you out with the trash like damaged
goods. He can and will forgive and he can and does use you for His
kingdom purposes. He forgives your sins and gives you a brand new

start. Only Satan condemns you and makes you feel worthless. You are
worth very much in the eyes of God. Always remember that!! 1
Corinthians 6:11(NIV) reminds us 'and that is what some of you were
but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.'

Each and every day of February and every day thereafter get up and say
out loud 'This is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be
glad in it!' (Psalm 118:24). ' What if I am having a terrible day or
have a jerk as a boss at work, you still want me to sing praises to
God?' Yes, is the resounding answer. Sure life can, and will throw
some junk at us sometimes. Unexpected deaths, sicknesses, loss of
jobs, betrayal of friends, a church who turns their back on you for a
bad "sin". Many disappointments can happen while on this Earth.

In the book of James 1:2-4(NIV) it says the following 'Consider it
pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many
kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its' work so you may be mature
and complete not lacking anything.'

Start February on a high note knowing you are special to God and He
wants you to come to Him with your joys and your sorrows. He is
waiting to hear from you.

PRAYER: Lord I do thank you for the joy of the Lord which is my
strength. Thank you each new day is a chance for a new beginning.
Thanks for not remembering my sins and letting me have another chance.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a awesome praise song to lift your spirits.

http://youtu.be/PXsWAAhnGhc

LET THE RESOLUTIONS BEGIN!

Most of this past month I have written allot on new beginnings and

doing things over. Typically at the start of a New Year people
initially get real serious about changing things or starting something
new they need to do. The biggie is usually losing weight. That is why
on TV you will see all sorts of ads for weight loss pills, miracles
fixes, and weight loss programs. In the Christian community many may
say 'I will read my Bible through in one year' which is also very
admirable I might say. Basically a New Year is a time to throw the old

calendar out and decide to commit to something and DO IT.
Unfortunately many of those well meaning people end their resolution

before the month is over. It sounded good but they just can not get
into it. Commit is a pretty big scary word.

This week while watching one of my favorite Bible teachers, Joyce

Meyer, on her show "Enjoying Everyday Life" she said something which

struck me as a very good point. She asked the audience if they
were"dating" Jesus or ready to get "married". In a nutshell this
simply means that if you think about dating someone you go out for
maybe one or two hours and that is that. Maybe if you really like the
person you end up spending more time with them. Then you fall in love
and from then on nothing else in the world matters. Then comes the
marriage and life is good and you are together most all the time. So
back to her illustration. Are you just dating Jesus or are you
committed to Him as if you were in a marriage relationship?

Maybe it is time to make Jesus your real true first love. When you
truly love someone you want the best for them and you put them

first.You want to be with them more than anything else in the whole

wide world. Some marriages may sour because they have forgotten their
first love and vows they took. Well some relationships with Jesus may
have never gotten off the ground in the first place. Perhaps you went
to church and became a member and that was that. No real love or
"fire" for the Lord. Many folks are like that. They do the Sunday
thing and feel good about themselves for being "holy" but do not
bother to even spend time with Jesus any other time of the week. Now I
ask you, is that showing you are in love with Jesus? The answer is no.
That only shows you are a "church member". What do you need to do
about this if you fit into that category? First ask yourself the big

question. Have you ever really asked Jesus to be Lord of your life?

Did you do it at a certain age in your church only because others were
but it meant nothing? Maybe you were sprinkled as a infant. Maybe it
is time to reexamine your heart and put the fire for Jesus back in
there and live for Him and have a passion for the things of the Lord.
I am going to give you six verses to read. After you have read them
pray and ask God to come into your life if you have not already. Next

commit to pray daily and get out that Bible and get to know Him. Be in
love with Jesus!

 Romans 3:23(NIV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
 Romans 6:23(NIV)For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8(NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:13(NIV) For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Revelation 3:20(NIV) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Where are you today in your walk with Jesus? This is not about a denomination thing. This is not something where you say 'I go to church there because my family always did'. Where is your heart? Do you feel a passion for the things of Christ or are you more caught up in the things of the everyday world. Is your heart broken by what breaks Gods heart? Maybe it is time now to reexamine your heart and ask Him to come in and live in your heart today or rededicate your life to Him and get serious about living for Him. Don't just "be religious" but love Jesus.

 PRAYER: Lord I thank you that you are a patient God not wishing any to perish. I thank you that it is not about a certain denomination but it is about whether I have given my heart to you Lord. I want to be serious about my walk with you. I want my heart to be broken each day by what breaks yours. Give me the strength to live out this walk in the world around me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 Click on link below and worship God in song:
> http://youtu.be/othYj8jWSwc

ANGER? GIVE IT TO GOD!

Is something eating on you that you can not seem to let go of? In starting this new year out if you are harboring something in your heart against someone why not give it to God once and for all and attempt to make 2013 a year of new beginnings?

The Bible says in James 1:20(NIV) that 'the anger of man does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.'  Almost everyone gets angry but it is learning how to control that anger or to diffuse it altogether that is vitally important. If someone has hurt you, sometimes they may not even be aware of it, so you have the choice to just let it go or let it fester and tear you up inside. How can you be effective for the body of Christ  and shine the light and love of Jesus when you hold grudges or bitterness against someone? 

You must be consistent in pursuit of peace. In Psalm 34:14(NIV) we are told 'Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.'  To pursue means to continually go after without stopping. Make it a goal of life to be peaceful. In speaking with others it says in Proverbs 16:1(NIV) that 'a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.' 

There may be people in your life who "push your buttons" so to speak. To continue to try to win a war of words is useless or to try to prove you are right. Just drop it! Be the bigger person. Sometimes it drives people nuts when you do not argue back. 

A real challenge for you is to not go to bed angry. Try to give up what it is that is making you mad. Good time to pray and read the word of God. Ephesians 4:26( NIV) reminds us 'in your anger do not sin and do not let the singe down while you are still angry.'  

There you have it. A new challenge for 2013 to stay upbeat and try to let your anger go. Try praying instead.

PRAYER:Lord,  I know anger is a normal emotion. Help me learn to control my anger if things start to upset and agitate me. I know I can not be a good witness if I am all tense inside and holding bitterness in my heart. Forgive me Lord. I choose to pursue peace and forgiveness in 2013. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A new year means a new start. What are your plans? Do you look forward
for the opportunity to try new things? Maybe you are fearful of the
future ahead? Usually a new year means a time for new hopes and new
dreams and second chances.

There have been times in past years I have attended what is called a
"New Years' Eve Watch Night" service which basically is a prayer and
praise fest to usher in another year. It is an opportunity to start it
off right by thanking God and keeping Him first.

When many think of the New Year they think of parades, parties,
football games and the start of school again. Why not make it a point
to purpose in your heart to make this New Year a great one no matter
what is transpiring around you? Stay hopeful. Stay encouraged. Stay
in the word of God.

When you are deciding what you will do different or making your list
of resolutions why not make spending time alone with God daily your
number one priority? Resolutions are made nearly every year to get
physically fit and lose weight. Why not get spiritually fit and lose
the weight of the enemy that is dragging you down the wrong road. You
can not expect to be a powerful Christian if you do not study and read
His word. So start 2013 by truly making Him after priority on your
resolution list.

'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they
shall be filled.' Matthew 5:6(NIV).

PRAYER: I am thankful for the start of a New Year which gives me a
chance to start over on things I have messed up on. Lord I truly want
you to be FIRST in 2013. When I start to let worries and fears
overwhelm me help me to remember to run to you for strength. In Jesus'
name. Amen.

END OF THE YEAR...NOW WHAT?

Y2K fears again? Dropping off the fiscal cliff? Takeover by an evil
government? War? Loss of job? Sickness? Death? What will we face in
2013?

Maybe instead of focusing on the "what ifs" why not start by thinking

of your life and what you can do differently in the coming year. What
goals do you have? Call them resolutions if you like, but what is it
you really plan to do or want to accomplish? Instead of worry and fear
why not start a tradition of a "praise fest" of sorts thanking God for
what He has done for you and your loved ones in 2012.

I for one and extremely blessed with a new daughter in law and am very
thankful to God for bringing a wonderful young lady into my younger
son Jon's life. Amber is a dear and so is her awesome family!! I am
thankful for my continuing furlough travel privileges for a few more
months on Delta that allow me to attend patriotic rallies in the
Nations' Capitol, Christian events in the US such as Joyce Meyer, and
to see family and friends across the US. I am thankful we get to see
our son Matthew lots because he is a First Officer with American Eagle
and has flown here a few times. I am thankful for getting to see my
mom and brother more in 2012 and that they and my sis, boyfriend and
family made it to the wedding. I am thankful for being married 35
years now to my wonderful husband. I truly love and appreciate all my
friends, new and old, near and far. All in all it has been a terrific
year. I could write much more but these are highlights.

In 2013 instead of listening to the news or reading the newspaper

and worrying, why not listen to Christian radio or a praise and

worship CD and start praising Jesus for all He has done for you. It is
easy to start fearing but you need to start praising God instead.

So what do you have to be thankful for? I am sure you can think of
something. Can you start 2013 tomorrow by deciding to pray daily, read
your Bible and truly trust God with things going on in this world of
ours.

Deuteronomy 31:6(NIV) says 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid
or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He
will never leave you nor forsake you.'

PRAYER: Dear Lord new year gives us a fresh start on things we maybe
want to accomplish. I want to trust you are working out all things for
my good. Forgive me when I get afraid and let Satan try to scare me. I
will start 2013 by running full force to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below and praise God on this final day of 2012.

http://youtu.be/0gm9nCQKWsA