But God 2

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

How many of you have prayed and prayed and prayed some more about a certain situation that has not changed? The enemy may make your mind wander and make you feel defeated. These feelings of defeat are not from your Father in Heaven. When things seem impossible just remember 'but God' and you may be able to get a better perspective on things. 

Job searches, medical bills, fear of the future, betrayal, prodigal children, stock market crash, shunned by who you thought were friends, threat of job loss, divorce, the list is endless. Where is God in all this? Many are quick to blame God on all their problems not knowing and realizing that His plan is more perfect than our plan. "Yeah God so why did you let my child die?" then you turn your back on God. This is when you need to embrace Him even more.

Imagine God is holding a rope and you are hanging on to the rope. He does not want you to let go. He loves you so much and you need to believe that and embrace that. Don't ever quit hoping and believing. 

PRAYER: You Lord are my strength and shield and I need you even when Satan tries to get me to turn my back on all things Christian. I look to you and I know your plan is perfect and I need to keep praying. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Too Far Gone? But God!

Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Psalm 119:116

Have you ever heard someone say such and such a person was too far gone and there was no hope? Maybe you yourself have uttered those words. No matter what, there is always hope. Whatever you are believing God for,  do not cave in to doubt, fear, or a time table. God has His own time and His own purposes for the deliverance of our loved ones. It is the enemy, Satan, who puts lies into your head that there is no way this individual will ever change. Don't believe it!

I was thinking about the word hope and how we do not need to be around nay sayers who feed the negative aspect of the waiting game for God's miracle. He answers in His time and in His way. Praying is what you need to keep doing and never give up. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says "pray continually"! No matter how seemingly earthly impossible it seems or how far gone a person appears to be, God is the God of miracles. 

Do you have a situation in your life or the loved of a family member that seems like it will never change? Guess what, it can change. Keep praying and keep believing.

PRAYER: I believe in hope Lord and I believe in prayer. I know you work things out in your time and maybe it is me who needs to grow through this entire process. Help keep me patient while I am waiting. In Jesus' name. Amen.

More of God's Lemonade Stand devotions can be viewed at www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com

You Can Do It!

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

Is there some task you have wanted to try or some goal in mind that you want to do? For example, I used to say I wanted to run a marathon by my 50th birthday but I did not make that goal. I have set other goals to make and worked towards them. Let's say you know you need to lose weight and start being better disciplined in exercise. With God's help and your willingness to do your part, you can set your mind on making this a reality.

Discipline is a thing we need to develop in our spiritual life as well. Not just the lofty goal we often hear of reading the the Bible, although that is admirable, but say of studying each and every day and insuring you are growing your spirit and learning the truths in the Bible. The enemy would love to steal your time. He will make you feel you are "too busy" for taking time in the morning for a prayer or Bible time. He will make the things of Christ seem unimportant on Sunday. Anything Satan can do to clutter your mind and keep it distracted he will do. God is yearning for time with you. Quick question. Do you give time alone with God as much time as Facebook or social media or a hobby? Ouch.

Pray and ask God to examine your heart and bring conviction of the areas you know you need to change to truly make Him first in your life. Don't just say it but live it!

 PRAYER: Lord Jesus there have been many times I have done my own thing or said I was too busy for my quiet time. I know that is only Satan trying to get me off the course you want me to be on. I pray for those in my family he has tricked as well. I pray blinders come off and once again we can all hunger and thirst for righteousness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LEARNING AND GROWING

 The other day I was testing my knowledge and skills on an new ap on my IPAD. Typically when people start to get older they often do not want to embrace technology and stay stuck in a rut of sorts. In the ever changing world it is good to keep up with things so you can relate to the world and to the younger generation.

It is God who gifts us with the capacity to learn and think. He has given us a wonderful gift. That is our brain. Each person is gifted in different ways. Even those who some feel the world "short changed" due to mental deficiencies have a plan and purpose in God's kingdom.

God does not want us to fear things and that includes learning new things. Often in life those over 60 may feel their days of learning are over. To stay young keep reaching ahead and keep trying new things. Make positive thoughts a part of each day. Count your blessings not your kidney stones. Do not awaken and start "confessing" how sick you are or how old you are but instead get up and start the day by saying Phillipians 4:13(NIV) which says 'I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." That skydiving trip still is on my bucket list. What is on yours?

PRAYER: The opportunity to learn and achieve and grow is never ending. I thank you that at any age there are many things to enjoy and try. I thank you Lord for those people you place in my path, both young and older, to teach me new things. I choose to be positive and seek to look to you for help in moving up and moving on. In Jesus' name.Amen.

BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE, IN CHRIST!!

A few years back the U.S. Army had a catchy little commercial jingle "Be all that you can be, find your future in the Army". Simply stated, that you can be whoever you want to be and the opportunities abound in the Armed Forces.

You can be all that you can be as well in the body of Christ. All of us has a "gift". Some gifts are more prominent and seen by people but that does not mean the "behind the scenes" gifts are unimportant. In acting, there are the cast members who are up front and sort of the "stars" of the production, but without the crew and technical geniuses behind the scenes, the show could not go on. Take a moment and read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 on gifts of the spirit. Do you know what yours is? Are you using it to His glory to "be all you can be" for The Kingdom of God?

Christ gives you His strength to do all things and not be a quitter. Philippians 4:13(NIV) reminds us 'I can do all things through Christ which gives me strength.' Memorize that verse and when you feel discouraged and like you can not go on know that God is with you to help you and strengthen you to in fact "Be all you can be" and "Do all you can do" through Him.

PRAYER: I am excited to know I have a special gift from you. Help me to not neglect to use it for the kingdom of God and to help build others up. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HAVE HOPE

Do you believe in impossibilities? Do you believe in miracles? I do! There is always reason for hope. When something in life has you discouraged stop thinking about it and start praising God. Yes, praise and worship God. It is easy to slump into despair and sadness over things in life but God is the God of hope, not despair.

Our enemy, Satan, the devil, whatever you call him, is a liar, thief, and joy robber. Many, even within the church, make fun of others talking about Satan. On Halloween unsuspecting parents often dress their little ones, even infants, in devil costumes. Satan is no joke. He is real. He probably loves it when folks treat him like a comic character. The thing is when we consistently sit and fret and have a doomsday outlook guess who is happy? You got it! Satan. Defeat Him. Speak positive words. When you feel doubts and fears coming on pick up your Bible and start reading the Psalms and quote scriptures to him such as this one in Matthew 16:23 'Get thee behind me Satan".

So many people seem to feel less than hopeful over our world situation, perhaps a sick relative, a broken relationship, an economic problem, an answer to prayer that has not come. Hang on and do not lose hope. Make yourself intentionally think and speak positive. Do you know a friend or family member who seems less than hopeful, then pray for them.

There is a verse I love in Romans 4:17 which simply says "........Speaking things as not as though they were". Simply said that means to thank God ahead of time for your prayers being answered. Instead of being a worrier and constantly down in the dumps, pick up your "armor of God" and be a prayer "warrior"!

PRAYER: Lord I will not give the enemy an opportunity to drag me own into the pit of lost hope. I know with you there is always hope. Help me Lord adjust my attitude to walk more like a child of God and spread hope to others.in Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for awesome song of worship.

http://youtu.be/6_KXsMCJgBQ

Note: Need a dose of Hope? Pick up a copy of the newly released Zondervan book, "Hopelifter Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts" by Kathe Wunnenberg.

GOD IS ABLE....YES HE IS!!!!!

One of my all time favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 3:20. It used to be on a poster hanging in my first apartment in Pacific Grove,California. It says 'Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine according to His power at work in us'.

You may think your situation is impossible, but not to God. He is the Alpha and The Omega. He is the Almighty. He can raise from the dead and heal the blind. What is it that is on your heart that you can not seem to let go? Maybe you feel it is beyond hope. Nothing is beyond hope.

He is able to deliver you from bad habits. He is able to save your soul from hell. He is able to help your family member out of a dark pit of sin they are in. He is able to restore your marriage. He is able to set the prisoner free. He can deliver from alcohol or drug addiction. He is able to turn an evil person into a good one. You need not give up on praying and trust Him. Oh yes, Satan will lie to you and make you think God isn't working. Remember give it to God and let Him do his mighty work and stand back and be amazed.

PRAYER: Lord you area able to do all things and I am thankful for that. When I feel giving up help me to remember you have a big plan and I need to keep trusting you. You are not finished yet. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Click on link and get ready to praise God in song.

http://youtu.be/OCt1_V4Eoq8