The Cat's Tail

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

I recently was reading through a new book which was released 1 April entitled 'Unshaken' by Sally Burke and Cyndie Claypool De Neve and in the midst of trying to stay unshaken I had a little minor issue which at the time almost caused a meltdown. Well then I looked at my cat. Here he sits peacefully with no tail wagging or the instances he just can not calm down the tail is swishing back and forth.

How many of you may be like that cat? You may be sitting still on the outside but unlike the cat whose tail gives away his inner self, you could be stewing on the inside. You can't release your fear, worries, concerns. Maybe you say you do but truly can not let them go. The enemy loves to make us fret. And does it help to fret? The answer is a hearty NO. 

Today start your day anew by releasing your fears to the Lord. Those things you can do nothing about. God loves you and he wants you to be at peace. Don't let the enemy keep you having fits all the time. Give it to God period!

PRAYER: I praise you Lord for who you are. I praise you because you have my back so to speak. I know it shows a lack of faith when I pray then don't let things go. I choose to have peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Take Off Your Mask

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Do you ever just want to be yourself and be transparent and let friends know where you are at emotionally? I know it is easy to hide behind a mask that everything is okay but let's be honest and face the facts. Things aren't always okay. Every person needs to be able to let their guard down with someone you can trust. 

I remember a few years back when something was going on in my life and Satan fed me lies to not share it even with prayers sister so I kept this burden to myself for over a year. You don't want to do that. Contrary to what the lies the enemy may feed you, everyone has an issue at sometime in their life if they a truly honest. 

Don't worry so much about what someone is going to think about you because they probably aren't going to think anything. As a matter of fact the person you share it with may be relieved to know you are real. Go to God daily and share your  burdens with Him. And if someone says to you "how are you doing today" answer something like,"with   God's grace I  will be fine." 

PRAYER: I am so grateful you are my 24/7 go to God who loves me warts and all. I know things I go through will strengthen me but help me Lord as I go through valley's to keep looking up. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Be Yourself

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:43

Are you the kind of person who worries what people think or what they might say? I know I have done that in the past and a friend bought me a sign that says"be yourself, everyone else is taken" which is so very true.  Each of us is unique and has a distinct and different purpose. 

You are not to love the praise of men more than God. Alas in this OCD social media world it is easy to get caught up on your 'likes' which does not matter in the first place. If you suffer from this syndrome of checking Facebook so much to get affirmation perhaps it is time to get on your knees and ask for deliverance from this need to know everything and be liked. Maybe set your schedule up and don't run to Facebook all the time. Go grab your Bible instead and read about the love God has for you and how He made you special. 

It does not matter who likes you or does not like you. You are only to please the One who created you in the first place. Take note of the time you have to have your devices with you to gain self esteem and try something. Leave your phone at home one day. Enjoy talking to friends in person and enjoying the beauty of nature. 

PRAYER: Help me Lord to discipline myself to not spend more than 30 minutes a day on my electronic devices. Give me the strength to run to the word instead of the TV or phone. I know my life will be better if I can break the social media addiction. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Who Is 'They'?

"But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. Leviticus 26:40-42

All of us have probably heard people say things like 'they say' and wonder who exactly is the 'they' everyone mentions so often. The elusive 'they crowd'. 

I guess the 'they' in the verses above could refer to us or to those who complained and rejected God's teaching and were exiled to the desert. Perhaps in modern day those who give lip service only or make up their own rules or own 'Bible' to suit their life. Dangerous territory. 

Are you part of the crowd who turns your back on what you know to be true because our modern times make up the rules and don't normally use Bible as their guide? Hopefully not. Each of us is to confess our sins and humble yourselves and pray. Don't be afraid to say you need God in your life. Be sure to pray against any generational curses in your family too either known or unknown. Get your heart right with God! 

PRAYER: I love you Lord and I don't want to be part of the 'they' crowd. Forgive me for any known or unknown sins and I break any family curses or generational sins as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God's Hospital....The Church

And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2:17

I have written in the past about God's 'waiting room' which most of us have been in at one time or another while we wait for an answer to prayer. Waiting rooms are not fun but they are necessary. All of us need to admit we are not perfect people. Don't compare yourself to some one else or your your family to another family. 

The church is God's hospital of sorts. You go there to get well. You go there to get filled with the word and get hope. The enemy may try many ways to get people to think church is unimportant. Maybe the problem is you need to find a dynamic growing church where you can find a body of believers you can relate to. Don't let Satan try to get you into the excuse mode or think it is not necessary. 

That church 'hospital' can meet many of your needs to include the need to open up and relate to others and share your hurts and become transparent. In an ideal situation this body of believers becomes your family. Do you have that family in your life? 

PRAYER: I am ever grateful Lord for the body of believers who are there to lift me up when I am down. The church truly is a hospital and we all need it's care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Keeping Your Eyes On Jesus

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

When you feel like complaining, focus on Jesus.

   When you get bad news, focus on Jesus.

   When life throws you an unexpected curve ball, focus on Jesus.

   When you feel all hope is lost, focus on Jesus. 

   When stuck in traffic, focus on Jesus.

   When you feel alone, focus on Jesus.

   When you feel like no one cares, focus on Jesus. 

   When you start to sink into self pity, focus on Jesus. 

   When someone tells lies about you, focus on Jesus. 

   When someone walks out on you, focus on Jesus. 

   When you get a not so cheery medical diagnosis, focus on Jesus.

   When you don't know which way to turn, focus on Jesus. 

Whatever it is you are going through you don't have to go through it alone. It is true what  you often here, tomorrow is another day and yes the sun will come out tomorrow.

Satan's job is to keep you fearful, agitated, angry, hopeless, doubting, and deceived. Your job is to let your mind gravitate to focusing on uplifting and encouraging things not digging a huge hole of pity. Jesus came that you might have and enjoy life and have it more abundantly. The best is yet to come. Press on. 

PRAYER: You are Lord of all creation and when I go through things I know you are only a prayer away. I choose to look up and not live a defeated life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

No Fooling Around, Seriously!

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.2 Corinthians 11:14

Welcome to the day where people get by with lying or joking in the name of pulling pranks on their fellow man then innocently proclaiming,"April Fools". Unsure of the origin of this particular holiday, if you can call it that, but one thing is for sure, good and evil are  no joke. 

Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way of death." Now that is a Bible verse that is not fooling around. This world we live in is not our real home, that is if you claim to be a believer. We are here for such a short time and during that time should be making an impact for the kingdom. 

There is a right and wrong way according to scripture and many make make laws and seemingly feel justified in their actions but still things have to be weighed by the word of God.  Don't let this world it's trappings fool you. Delight in the Lord, not the things that are so very temporary. 

PRAYER: Lord help me be able to discern good from evil even when it is hard tell the difference. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the truth and walk in it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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