I Am So Very Thankful

I will give You thanks with all my heart;I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. Psalm 138:1

Today marks the end of a 'school calendar year' of praying with the Moms in Prayer group I am a part of. At the end of each year it is very exciting because we have a 'Thanksgiving celebration' to give thanks once again to many answers to prayer during the year. Our group consists of college/career/and military moms.

To be thankful for things helps you stay focused on the positive things of life. God does care and it is a comfort to go to Him with prayer and thanksgiving. Complaining and being ungrateful comes easy and usually drags other people down besides the one doing it. If you have trouble being thankful stop a moment and just sit with a pen and paper or your computer and make a list of all the things you are grateful for. I have a blessing jar at home where each day I put one thing I am thankful for or blessed because of.

No matter what is going on in your life,keep praising Jesus through the storms as one day you will indeed see the sunshine.

PRAYER: At times I have forgotten to get up and say thanks for another day of life and another day to try to be a blessing in this world. Forgive me Lord for not being more thankful. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a song of Thanksgiving:
http://youtu.be/xtxmSAqMtDA

For more info on Moms in Prayer go to www.momsinprayer.org

Bounce Back

 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me. Psalm 54:4

How are you feeling today? Perhaps a dead end feeling where you just do not know if you can go on. Circumstances in your life may have just reached the point you do not know where to turn. This could be as a result of a loss of some sort. Maybe loss of a family member, loss of a dream, loss of good health. Whatever it is, you can make it and you can bounce back on go on! "But I feel so down and out and discouraged" you may say. God does know how you feel and He is your comfort in times of trouble. There have been  times in my life I let things overwhelm me and I just had to get away and get into the Word. Sometimes doing something for others is an excellent remedy.

When feelings overwhelm you and you just want to run away, that is not a feeling from God. That is right from the pit of hell and from Satan. He is not a comic book character with a little red pitchfork but is roaming around seeking to destroy us. The Bible tells us in James 4:7 to "resist the devil and he will flee from us".  Satan is a master of messing with our thoughts and our minds. It is necessary to stay focused on good and not evil. Get control of your mind and fill it with the Word of God.

If you need to 'bounce back' pick up your Bible and open it to the book of Psalms, John, or Proverbs. Just let God's word heal you.

PRAYER: Lord I know you love me and it is not your desire for me to go through life despairing. I trust in you Lord and know your words will guide me and strengthen me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link to worship God in song.

http://youtu.be/DXDGE_lRI0E

Fear The Lord

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.Proverbs 14:2

When I ask the question ,"Do you fear the Lord?" I am not meaning are you scared of Him in the sense of fright, but do you respect and honor Him? Is worshipping Him and pleasing Him first place in your life? If not perhaps it is time for a life adjustment and inventory to see what you need to do in order to be closer to Him.

Being a Christian is not a Sunday only activity but it ahold be a lifestyle. You should not be ashamed of your faith and try to hide it. Your life choices should line up with your commitment to be His follower. If you aren't excited about Jesus maybe you never asked Him to be Lord of your life. You can do that today. He can be your everything. 

PRAYER: Every day I look forward Lord to singing your praises. I realize at times the enemy attacks but I attack him back reminding him I belong to you and you are in control. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Click link and worship the Lord in song.

http://youtu.be/WEzEbtA9ba8

DON'T GIVE UP...PRAY ON!

 "Keep on keeping on" as the saying goes. What is it you are believing God for? Prayer is an essential tool for the Christian. It is our way daily of communicating with God and letting Him hear our heart. When all else fails, pray.

Luke 18:1(NIV) reminds us to "pray and NEVER give up". Never means never. Discouragement may come. The enemy messes with your mind and gives you wrong fearful thoughts. Reject those thoughts of fear and replace them with faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7( NIV) says 'We walk by faith not by sight.' Even though you may feel a situation is never going to be any different, hang on dear friend.

What has got you down today? Now is the time to look up and praise God. Start praising Him daily and see if your problems don't start to diminish. The enemy has to flee in when you praise God.

Start today and make up your mind you will have right thinking. Purposely reject wrong fearful thoughts that come from the enemy Satan. He wants you to be worried and fretful as then you become powerless against him. 2 Corinthians 10:5(NIV) says ' We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.'

Go be powerful and look to God!

PRAYER: I can do all things through you Lord and I have your power to defeat wrong thinking that is causing me to pray then turn around and worry. I reject wrong thinking right now and with your help will walk by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link and lift up your hands and praise God!

http://youtu.be/HIkxVMDY71I

PROBLEMS OR PROMISES?

What are you thinking on? Are you worried about your health, your job,
your finances ? Why not start meditating on God's word and REALLY
trusting Him and do not let Satan capture your thought life. Bad
thoughts, fear, worry all come from the enemy.

Remember in John 14:27(NIV) it says 'Peace I leave with you; my peace
I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' Does being scared or worried
do one bit of good? The answer of course is NO. So why can't we let go

and let God? Does your worry change the situation? Once again the
answer of course is NO.

Proverbs 3:5-6(NIV) is one of my absolute favorite scriptures and it
says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own
understanding and in all your ways submit to Him and He will make

your paths straight.' There is that word "Trust".

Psalm 119:165(NIV) says 'Great peace have they who love your law, and
nothing can make them stumble.' The law meaning the Bible. This is

why it is so important to keep the word of God an essential part of

every day life. The world has enough junk to throw at us to frighten
us. Tune out the bad stuff. For instance turn off the news if it makes

your fearful. Put on some Christian praise music which helps to lift

your burdens. This is why I often attach an appropriate worship song

to my devotions.

Refuse to allow the enemy, Satan,to put worry and fear in your head.
Cast off works of darkness and let Jesus' light shine out. When you
are praising Jesus it is often very hard to worry.

So which is it going to be? Will you mediate on God's promises or will
you cave in to doubt, fear and your problems?

PRAYER: Lord I love the word of God. I know if I make an effort each
day to not forget to get in to the word I will have lots less worry
weighing me down. Help me resist the enemies attacks on my thought
life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a wonderful song to add to this devotion.
http://youtu.be/XkljgA5SQc8

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

PRAISE HIM REGARDLESS

It is easy to praise God when things are going our way but when the bottom falls out of life then it gets a little more challenging.   When you are going through a bad time of life the best thing you could do in order to combat the attacks of the   enemy, who seeks to destroy your joyful spirit, is to focus on a loving God and praise Him. Yes you heard me, praise the Lord.

Praise him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise him when you are feeling good and praise him when you are not doing so good.  Praise Him when you lose and praise Him when you win. Praise Him on cloudy, rainy days and praise him on sunny days. Psalm 113:3 says " From the rising of the sun to the place that it sets, the Lord's name is to be praised."

It says in Psalm 22:3 " The Lord inhabits the praises of his people."  Psalm 9:11 says "
Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done."

In Job  13:15 it says"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."  In Job 1:21 it says "The Lord gives the Lord takes away blessed be the name of the lord." Job went through more than most humans could take. Get your Bible and turn to the book of Job in the Old Testament if you are not familiar with it. It is an eye opener. How do you praise God when a child dies or you lose your job? God did not cause these things and he knows you are broken hearted but it still says to praise Him. Things in life happen. God is still there and still on the throne. It does not praise Him 'if only' or 'when only'.

If you are feeling  down today, read the following OUT LOUD and see if you do not feel better.
Lord I praise you for making me.
Lord I praise your name above all others names.
Lord I praise you for another day of life.
Lord I praise you for friends.
Lord I praise you for answered prayer.
Lord I praise you for providing for my basic needs.
Lord I praise you for my family.
Lord I praise you for our creation.
Lord I praise you for your awesome power.
Lord I praise you for the gift of good health.
Lord I praise you for living in a Christian nation.
Lord I praise you for the valuable lessons I learn in life.
Lord I praise you that I can see in order to read this devotion.

You get the idea. Now go add some of your own. And when Satan tries to get you to be mad at Jesus just say "Get behind me Satan. I do not believe your lies."

PRAYER: Father I thank you for your mighty power and protection. I thank and praise you for the wonderful plan you have for my life. I know you are always with me and will never abandon me. Forgive me if I have ever blamed tragedy on you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link to worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/JaQPUayD-Zs