Stoney Heart?

 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.Ezekiel 36:26

What exactly is a stoney heart? Picture just a bag of small stones how hard they are and impenetrable. A heart that is like stone would be same way. Unyielding, cold, harsh. 

Many people who don’t truly know the Lord have stoney hearts that are hard hearted and really only have a form of being Christ like but have many issues that keep them distant from God. They could be religious or assume because their parents baptized them they are good to go. 

Friend God is the one who created you whether you choose to believe it or not and he wants you to choose to follow Him. He won’t force it on you but there are many decoys in this world that are counterfeit and trick many people. Do you overflow with the love of Jesus? Do you want to?This works is not your final home and it is your choice whether to accept or reject Christ. 

PRAYER: Thank you for dying on the cross for mankind even many who choose to reject you. I pray for those people who need a personal relationship with you to encounter you through people in their lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

Avoid Godless Chatter

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:16

Rumors, gossiping, lying, half truths,belittling, guilting, verbal abuse, boasting.They all fit into the category of godless chatter. It is super easy to slip into that mode of conversation if not careful. 

Can you think of a time in your life you may have unintentionally caved and started talking in hurtful ways? You can be forgiven if you truly want to and if you need help changing God can do help you. 

Purpose in your heart you will not engage in conversations that hurt other people. God gave you a beautiful gift of conversation to use for his glory so go do that. 

PRAYER: Lord I need help with not opening my mouth in inappropriate ways this bringing pain on those who hear. My voice is a gift and when I speak let it be only to build others up. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Service And Sacrifice

He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior- from violent people you save me. "I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:2-4

Yesterday Veterans’ Day was observed in the United States. It was an honor for me to serve my country and almost every soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine would echo the same sentiments. Many brave men and women died  in service to their country and we are to honor their memory and show respect on Memorial Day but Veterans Day is to pay tribute to all who served whether a few months or stayed in to retire. 

The military and protecting our fine country and keeping it free is not taken lightly and sadly our freedom is at stake after every presidential election. Defense of the nation is written in the Constitution of our nation in Article 1, Section 8. 

Because of our military you enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and so much more. Many attempts by certain administrations to re-engineer tthe military and control and domineer the citizens of the United States has occurred but those brave warriors stand for freedom and to protect our rights as American citizens. Always be mindful of this. Have a blessed day. 

PRAYER: I am so grateful for the freedom I enjoy in the USA and am grateful to have a voice in my nation and when that voice is stolen to rise up and defend our liberty. Thank you for freedom and for those brave citizens who protect us to include our law enforcement officers and firefighters. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Click link and celebrate America:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=god+Bless+the+USA&view=detail&mid=DE6F042C94A84CC8D950DE6F042C94A84CC8D950&FORM=VIRE&PC=APPL

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

 

 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.1 Thessalonians 5:18

What has you upset or emotional lately?Sometimes when you are not in tune with the Lord and try to figure things out on your own your imagination can go wild. 

Many things are out of your control and trying to figure things out or manipulate a situation is heading down the wrong path. Comparison to others is wrong as well. 

Be content with what you have and don’t be griping to others. If you have been contemptible go back and confess and you can be redeemed. Don’t worry be happy. 

PRAYER: Father I love that you love me no matter how stupid and ungrateful I act. When I have acted out and been less than Christian you still love me and wait forever me to come back to my senses. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Selfish…Who Me??

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Romans 12:10

Recently I had to deal honestly with emotions I was experiencing over my granddaughters 4th birthday wondering why no invite to come the ‘day of‘ thus digging myself deeper and deeper into a hole going nowhere. Well meaning fellow grandma friends comments were “that’s not right” “you deserve to be there” and so forth when in actuality I was the one being self centered and selfish putting my expectations on my son and his sweet wife. Thankfully I kept my mouth shut which was wisest thing to do. 

A grandparent is a job most look forward to but there is no job description or list of what is right and wrong. Every family is different. The demon of discouragement and comparison tries desperately to get you to succumb to anger but thankfully in my case after a phone call came and we were able to sing Happy Birthday I came to my senses again. Praise God. 

Grandparents have no rights per se. The child belongs first to God then to your children who bore he or she. There is no rule book saying holidays all need to be a family and things like that. It is a precarious thing to juggle and be happy with your decision. To stay on the parents ‘nice’ list it is essential to be still and keep quiet and be grateful for the times you do have. 

PRAYER: Lord my prayer is whether or not someone is a grandparent or not they got something from this writing today. Help me to put a watch over my heart and mouth and not get self centered but put others first. It truly is not about me so forgive me when I acted that way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don’t Let Satan Get The Upper Hand

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.1 Peter 5:8-9

Have you ever allowed a situation to overwhelm and control you? Usually this domination of your mind by Satan comes when you have not talked to God in prayer and instead started to let your emotions control you. You select the scenario I have a few of my own. 

Recently I was down in the dumps over something and a couple hours went by before I had an ah-ha moment and realized the enemy was toying with me. After all if the little weasel can get me under his spell no telling what mistakes I will make plus I wouldn’t be very effective at helping others through writing. 

So my friend the next time you are gloomy and feelings of negativity creep in stop and realize what is happening. Fear, mind torture, worry and things remotely like them aren’t from the Lord. 

PRAYER: Thanks for each day you give me Lord. Shame on me for not getting first things first and spending time alone in Bible reading and prayer. When I am lonely that is exactly the time to fight the spiritual war that the enemy wants me to lose. I choose prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stay In The Sunshine Spot

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.Psalm 119:105

My cat Moses loves to lay in the sunshine and loves to lie down on paper as well. Any person with a cat knows this to be true. Humans are sort of that way too in that many like to retire to Florida or Arizona.

In your life you have sunshine all the time if you are a believer and connected to God. Some days may seem dreary but God is there in the dark moments to to help you back to the light.

If you are able each day to wake up and focus on the Lord and his goodness your trials will seem less and and the dark place you may find yourself in right now can be illuminated. Tell Satan you refuse his darkness because you are walking in the light of Jesus.

PRAYER: When I am alone in dark places of my life I know you Lord are the key to unlocking the glorious sunshine of your radiance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.