She Believes 3
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She Believes 3 Devotion

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She Believes 3 Devotion

Do You Doubt That God Will Come Through For You ?

John 6: 1-21

 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Genesis 18:14
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Jeremiah 32:17
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Matthew 19:26
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Job 42:2
“I know that you can do all things;  no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Are you doubting that God will come through for you?  Maybe you have been praying and praying for something and you see no signs or evidence that God is going to come through for you this time.  Well, I want to encourage you with something that encouraged me today.
The passage of scripture that was in my Bible Study this morning was John 6:1-21. It is a very familiar passage for most of us, but for some reason I had a light bulb moment this morning when I was reading it again. Don’t you just love how God highlights what we need to see, just when we need to see it.
In this passage a large crowd of thousands had gathered around Jesus.   Jesus knew that they had to be hungry, so He asked his disciples about food to feed them.  They clearly were not prepared to feed this many people.  Andrew, one of His disciples, told Jesus that there was a young boy there with five small barley loaves of bread and two fish. From their perspective I am sure that this looked impossible.  But Jesus took the five loaves of bread and those two fish and fed thousands.  This was truly a miracle being performed right before their very eyes in real time.
Ladies, from your perspective do things look impossible for you right now?   What God reminded me of this morning, is that what looks impossible to me, is totally possible with Him.  If He can provide nourishment for over five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish, surely he is capable of working a miracle for me also. I just have to believe and not doubt.
 Also remember this is the same Man that parted the Red Sea so Moses and the Israelites could walk across on dry land.  It is also the same God that created the Universe from nothing and raised Lazarus from the dead. So what on earth are we worried about? I think that it is absolutely safe to say that He can handle whatever we bring before Him today. He’s got us!   Keep doing what you already know that He has called you to do and trust Him for what you cannot see yet.
Blessings for a super powerful day,  full of His grace, love and provision.
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She Believes 3 Devotion

The Answers To Our Country’s Problem

The Answers To Our Country’s Problem

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Philippians 2:1-52 
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
1 John 4:20
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Matthew 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I don’t know about you, but I am deeply concerned about the things that I see going on in our country these days.  Our Christian values seem to be on the line more so than ever.  It seems that it has become popular to use social media as a platform to vent, to bully, and to be as cruel as possible to those who don’t share our same political point of view. This can be dangerous in that it causes divisiveness.

Whatever happened to love and respect? In God’s word, we are commanded to love one another as well as to respect one another.  John 13 34-35 states,   “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We are also commanded in 1st Peter 2:17 to respect one another. ” Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God…..”.

And yes, there are even instructions in the Bible on how we are to treat foreigners.  Leviticus 24:22 states. “You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:33-34  When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the Lord God.

Everything that is causing divisiveness in our country today is addressed in God’s Word. Our hearts have been hardened to truth, and to righteousness therefore, we have not been willing to listen to God’s voice in all of the chaos.  We have to not only be willing to listen to God, but also to listen to one another.

Maybe if we spent less time on social media and more time in God’s Word, and in prayer that would shut down some of the hatred that has been spewing out all over the place.

In 2nd Chronicles 7:14 God gives us a promise; ” If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.  Let’s agree that going forward, we will be part of the solution and not the problem.  We are so much better than what’s currently on display to the rest of the world.
Let’s do better and let’s be better!

 

 

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She Believes 3 Devotion

Prepare For What’s To Come

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

This week the breaking news on every channel was the big winter storm that would hit half of the country.  According to the weathermen, whether snow, sleet or ice, almost every state in the south as well as states on the east coast would be impacted by this big storm.

25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

With this news came sheer panic.  The grocery stores could not keep up with the demands of their customers.  The shelves in the grocery stores became bare very quickly.  My husband went to a couple of large grocery stores and there were so many people shopping that there were no shopping carts available in the parking lots.  I guess the thought of running out of food after three to four days made everyone panic. Generators, flash lights, batteries, candles, matches, chargers, water, toilet paper and anything else that you can think of, were flying off the shelves.  All of this was in preparation for what was to come.
I couldn’t help but think of another main event that is to occur at some point in time.   And that event is the return of Christ.  Wouldn’t it be great if in preparation for this event that the Christian Bookstores would sell out of Bibles like the grocery stores sold out of food and supplies?  Wouldn’t it be great if the churches were packed out with people every Sunday morning like they were in the grocery store lines?  And it would really be great if we would share the Gospel the way we shared the weather report.  Maybe more people would be able to join us in heaven.

So if you don’t mind, may I ask if you are ready for the all time main event?  Nothing will be greater than this one and yes, preparation is required.  To prepare you must accept the One who is to return.  Believe in your heart and confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord, and as an outward declaration of your decision to become a child of God, go down into the watery grave of baptism and with that you are now prepared to spend eternity with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Now that’s the best when it comes to breaking news!  May God bless you as you choose to serve him now and always.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[a]  and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;  and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[b]
So shall it be! Amen.

 

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But Even Now!

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
I am currently in a Bible Study on the book of John and wow, what a powerful book it is!  This week as I was reading chapter 11 on the death of Lazarus, I came across something that really caught my attention. It was when Martha was speaking to Jesus in verse 22-23 and said to Him, “But even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you. Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Though I have read the book of John several times, this passage hit me differently this time.  One of the many things that I love about the Word of God is that no matter how many times you read it, it is always fresh, alive and active.

When I read the words “But even now” it meant to me, no matter the circumstance, no matter the hour, my God is still able.  We serve a God who is not restrained by time or circumstances.  He sits outside of time and He can give life even to the dead if He so desires.  For Martha to say this to Jesus, it meant she truly believed that God could do absolutely anything.

My question for you today is where is your faith on the Belief Meter?   Do you believe that God can do absolutely anything?  Can you say without hesitation, but even now, and truly mean it?  If your answer is no or I am not sure, I want to encourage you to pray and ask God to bless you with a, but even now type of unwavering faith. Trust that His promises are true.  The same God that raised Lazarus from the dead now resides inside each of us.  We have no need to doubt or fear, because not only is He with us, He is also for us.
John 11:38-44
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

 

 

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A New Year A New You!

A New Year A New You!

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 20:4
4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Let me start with Happy New Year!  Can you believe that it is already 2026? It seems that 2025 went by so quickly.  I guess I was just so busy that

 I didn’t keep track of how quickly time was passing by. 

As we embark upon this new year do you feel the excitement that a fresh start brings? I know for me personally I was ready for 2025 to go far far away.  A lot happened in 2025 that was physically challenging for me.   No one over fifty wants to be told that they have to have a tonsil removed and boy was the recovery of that one a bear.  Not to mention a strained shoulder that took weeks to recover from and other ongoing ailments that I won’t bore you with. If I keep going at this rate, someone is going to decide that I should check into my nearest nursing home.  Sorry I am not ready for that one yet.

I do have good news though. I saw God’s deliverance in every single challenge that I faced this past year, no matter what the challenge was.  I must say He is ever powerful to deliver us from our places of pain, whether physical, spiritual, emotional or even financial.  When you hear that Jehovah Jireh is our great provider that is not just for our financial needs it is for all of our needs no matter what they are.  So I hope that once the excitement of this new year starts to fade you will look to Jehovah Jireh your True Source of all that is good and perfect for your life.

My next question is are you a goal setter?  If life has been crazy for you since the first of the year, and you rolled out of one year into the next without getting still for reflection, no worries, start today.  Just as you would make a doctor’s appointment or a dental appointment, put yourself on your calendar and take some time to pray and ask God what He would like to see you accomplish this year. Give him full permission to do His best work through you.  When you totally release your plans to His direction and care, big things will start to happen for you.  You will need to commit to daily time with Him in order to receive your daily marching orders.  What a powerful year you will have when you trust His timing, His promises, His provision, and His power to work for you and through you.

My prayer for you is that you will surrender your will to God’s will this year. So even when life gets a bit challenging for you, simply trust and obey because He is always faithful to those who love and trust Him.   May you have a powerful 2026 and may you carry His light wherever you go.

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 34:10
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 20:4
4 May he give you the desire of your heart  and make all your plans succeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Birth Of The Holy One

This past week our family was full of excitement, and great anticipation as we awaited the birth of my grandnephew.    When the time of his birth drew near, several of my family members started making phone calls and sending text messages. We all wanted to get updates regarding his delivery.  It has been a while since a new little one has been born into our family, so the excitement was quite high. Although this birth was a blessing, and our excitement was high, please don’t get it twisted, it does not compare to the divine birth of the Holy One, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are told that an angel of the Lord appeared to Shepherds the same night that Jesus was born, and he told them exactly where they could find Jesus.  The 3 Wise men guided by a star may have traveled from the East for up to two years after the birth of Jesus to bring gifts and to greet Him.

All of creation awaited His birth.  Even the stars had a part to play, and the heavenly host filled the sky.  This was no ordinary birth. This was the Messiah being ushered in, as the Savior of the world.  This was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  This was the Son of God who because of His love for you and me, stepped away from His royal heavenly throne, wrapped Himself in flesh and came to this sinful world to save all of humanity. Oh, this was definitely no ordinary birth, this was God at HIs finest revealing His plan to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves. You see grace, mercy, truth, love and forgiveness were born that special night.  Oh, Holy night is my favorite Christmas song and this my friends, was indeed a Holy night!
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Matthew 2:1-2
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:9-11
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 

 

 

 

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Loving Difficult People

Have you ever met someone who was extremely difficult to work with or simply to be around? Maybe it’s one of those things where your personalities just clash.

I think that we all have experienced people in our lives who absolutely grate our nerves. They frustrate us to no end and don’t even realize that they are doing so. And then there are others who may do so, and they simply don’t care that what they are doing annoys you.  Or it may be a case where we are dealing with a person who is unbelievably self-centered.

As Christians we are called to a high standard, and that standard is to love everyone just as Christ does.  It definitely is not an easy thing to do, however with God’s power working through us all things are possible.  Today I want to share a few tips that may help when we are dealing with difficult people.

  1. My first tip is to pray and ask God to help you with the situation and to help you see the person through His eyes the way that He sees them.  He will give you the strength and the heart to do so.
  2. Read your Bible daily. find scriptures that you can stand on as you go through this challenging time.
  3. Just take a moment and breathe.  Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.  You may want to do this several times to help you release some of your anxiety.
  4. Don’t react, respond. Take time to assess how you can effectively handle the situation.  Don’t be in a hurry.  You want to get clear before you respond. Even if it takes several days, don’t speak until you are crystal clear on what you need to say.
  5. If necessary and if possible, separate yourself from the situation for a while.  If it becomes unbearable it can become unhealthy for you and you may have to make some hard decisions, but you must protect our peace.
  6. If at all possible, try to have a loving, civil conversation with the difficult person in your life.  Don’t point fingers or play the blame game, simply say when you do      this (fill in the blank) I feel this.
  7. Take a walk.  A walk is great to release stress.
  8. If it’s really affecting you negatively you may want to seek Christian counseling.
  9. You can also speak with a Christian friend who you feel comfortable confiding in.
  10. Journal!  Journaling is great for helping you to process your feelings.  It helps you to get those pent-up feelings out of you and on paper.

Try to live peacefully with everyone.  Remember, God commanded us to love.   It was not a suggestion, and He didn’t say love only those who are easy to love.

We are to love everyone and be the example that God has called us to be on the earth.

Have you ever met someone who was extremely difficult to work with or simply to be around? Maybe it’s one of those things where your personalities just clash.

I think that we all have experienced people in our lives who absolutely grate our nerves. They frustrate us to no end and don’t even realize that they are doing so. And then there are others who may do so, and they simply don’t care that what they are doing annoys you.  Or it may be a case where we are dealing with a person who is unbelievably self-centered.

As Christians we are called to a high standard, and that standard is to love everyone just as Christ does.  It definitely is not an easy thing to do, however with God’s power working through us all things are possible.  Today I want to share a few tips that may help when we are dealing with difficult people.

  1. My first tip is to pray and ask God to help you with the situation and to help you see the person through His eyes the way that He sees them.  He will give you the strength and the heart to do so.
  2. Read your Bible daily. find scriptures that you can stand on as you go through this challenging time.
  3. Just take a moment and breathe.  Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.  You may want to do this several times to help you release some of your anxiety.
  4. Don’t react, respond. Take time to assess how you can effectively handle the situation.  Don’t be in a hurry.  You want to get clear before you respond. Even if it takes several days, don’t speak until you are crystal clear on what you need to say.
  5. If necessary and if possible, separate yourself from the situation for a while.  If it becomes unbearable it can become unhealthy for you and you may have to make some hard decisions, but you must protect our peace.
  6. If at all possible, try to have a loving, civil conversation with the difficult person in your life.  Don’t point fingers or play the blame game, simply say when you do      this (fill in the blank) I feel this.
  7. Take a walk.  A walk is great to release stress.
  8. If it’s really affecting you negatively you may want to seek Christian counseling.
  9. You can also speak with a Christian friend who you feel comfortable confiding in.
  10. Journal!  Journaling is great for helping you to process your feelings.  It helps you to get those pent-up feelings out of you and on paper.

Try to live peacefully with everyone.  Remember, God commanded us to love.   It was not a suggestion, and He didn’t say love only those who are easy to love.

We are to love everyone and be the example that God has called us to be on the earth.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Leviticus 19:18
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 

 

 

 

 

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She Believes 3 Becoming More

Time Our Most Precious Resource!

Colossians 4:5
5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
James 4:14
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Psalms 39:4
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days;  let me know how fleeting my life is.
Time is one of our most valuable resources, and we should be careful not to squander it.   God wants us to be good stewards of our time because it is truly one of the most precious gifts that He has given us.
Let’s talk about time.  There are 24 hours in a day.  There are 1440 minutes in a day and there are 86400 seconds in a day.   Time is one of our most valuable resources, and we should be careful not to squander it.   God wants us to be a good steward of our time, because it is truly one of the most precious gifts that He has given us.

I must admit that I get a bit upset when I feel like someone has wasted my time.  You see once time is gone you cannot recapture it. It is gone forever.  And since none of us know how much time we actually have on this planet, it should be used wisely.When it comes to time we should not only be respectful of our own time, but we should be respectful of other people’s time as well.   If time is something that you struggle with, hopefully you will be encouraged to know that time is something that none of us feel like we ever have enough of.  Irregardless we must use what we have wisely.

Have you ever noticed that it seems that some people can pack in so much more than others in their 24 hour days?  I certainly have noticed this over the years.  What I have come to realize is that there are usually three components at work when this happens.

1). I personally think that it has to do with their energy level.
2). their passion, and
3). their organizational skills.

  You may be sitting there thinking, at this moment I only have one of the three or maybe you only have two of the three.  Whatever the case, if there is something that is robbing you of your time, it is important that you figure out exactly what you can do to stop precious moments from slipping away.
Only God can help you with your passion, that must come from within,  but there are people out there who will help you get organized and your doctor may be able to make suggestions regarding things that you can do to  increase your energy level.
 You may be wondering what this has to do with time. Well when you don’t feel well and you don’t have energy it definitely affects how much you are able to accomplish in a day.  When you are not organized you may spend hours of your day looking for something, and that will certainly eat up your time.
I want to encourage you as you go forward, to assess the things that you will need to do each day so that you can feel like your time has been used wisely. The lack of efficient time management can suck precious moments from you, and in some cases it can also be quite costly.
Here are a few tips for those that struggle with time management.
1. Pray and ask God to reveal to you where you may be carelessly losing minutes in your day.  Also, ask Him to bless you with a creative strategy or plan on how  to be more productive with your time each day.
2.  Make a list each night before you go to bed so you have a plan for the next day. This will keep you from floundering your time away.
3.  If you feel like you need help, pray and ask God to bless you with the assistant that will be most suitable to work with you.  Remember this does not have to be someone  who works full time.  Sometimes you just need someone to come and help out a couple of hours a week.  If that will make things less stressful for you, you should definitely consider it.  When you have the necessary help, you are free to do the things that you enjoy doing, or the things that you would be better at doing.
4.  If funds are low consider bartering if at all possible.  This could be a great solution for both parties.
5. Be deliberate about protecting your time and honoring the commitments that you make to yourself about your time. After all, the only one that will be disappointed if you fail to follow the plan is you.

What Does God’s Word Say About Time?

Ephesians 5:15-17
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Romans 12:11
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make for poverty,but diligent hands bring wealth.
Psalm 31:15
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

 

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Prayers

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Have you ever sat down with your calendar at the beginning of a month and planned your schedule, only to have something come up that totally derailed your plans?  Well, it has certainly happened to me. As a matter of fact, it happened just this month.

Initially, I was so frustrated.  I had scheduled doctor’s appointments, my hair appointments, meetings, and had even planned to treat myself to a massage.   Now I am left trying to figure out what appointments I can keep and which ones I will need to cancel or reschedule.   So, what I have just shared is called Life!

Life is unpredictable.  Things happen without warning and without our permission.  Life gives us constant reminders that we are not in charge. We cannot even claim time as our own.
As Christians, we know that during those times we simply need to trust the one who transcends time.  God knows and sees all, and His plans will always reign superior over ours.

So, when your schedule has been thrown a curveball, you may have to do like I did, and just take a deep breath and say a prayer.  Ask God to help you figure it out, and I can assure you that He will.  Not only will he help you figure it out, but if it is something that is going to create a lot of stress in your life, He will give you the strength to go through it.

Today I just want to encourage you to trust God’s timing.  He never makes mistakes, and there is always a purpose in all that He does.  Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good.  So even though in your particular situation you can’t see how things could ever possibly work for good, trust that He is not a God that will lie.

Know that in time, you will see that His interruption of your plan was actually a gift. So, get ready to praise Him for His goodness. After all, who doesn’t like gifts? Be blessed this day and always.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

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Relationships

Let’s Talk

Let’s Talk

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Psalm 19:14
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  be pleasing in your sight,  Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 12:18
8 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,  but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 18:2
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding  but delight in airing their own opinions.

When you turn on the news these days, it is absolutely heartbreaking to see how people have come to an all-time low.
When I go on Facebook, I see o many negative comments.  Sisters, it is time to readjust our thinking.  This whole political thing has everyone in an uproar.  No one seems to be listening with the intent of actually hearing and understanding the other person’s point of view.   Somewhere along the way, we have stopped having meaningful conversations.

Somehow, someway, we have lost our way when it comes to communicating with one another. It’s sad that it has spilled over into every area of our lives.

It is so important to maintain our ability to talk with one another civilly, respectfully, and honestly.  That means no shouting, no arguing, no lies or false accusations.

God created us to be there for one another. How will you know my struggles, my joys or my hurts if we are not communicating, and how will I know yours?  The answer is that we won’t.

One of our jobs as Christians is to be the heart and feet of Jesus here on earth, and we can’t do that with our heads constantly stuck in a phone.

When it comes to conversations regarding politics, make up your mind ahead of time that it is ok to agree to disagree.   We don’t have to act mean or ugly because someone has a different point of view than ours.  Maybe it’s the perfect time to  invite them for a cup of coffee and conversation.  Call and simply say let’s talk.  I strongly suggest that you say a prayer first and ask God to bless your time together.  Remember what we are reminded of in Ephesians 6:12.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to see and know the truth and for them to see and know the truth.  Stay calm no matter what. Also, ask God to give you the right words to speak.

Remember, God gave us the ability to talk for a reason.  We can encourage and motivate with our words.  You have the ability to calm and soothe others with the words that you speak.   Just with a few words, we are able to build up or tear a person down.  The right words can have such a powerful impact. Let’s get back to talking in a loving, kind, respectful way.  Always use your words for good.  And always remember that God hears and sees it all, so let’s make Him proud by representing Him well in all that we say and do.

Know that nothing will ever be better than sweet eye-to-eye conversation.  By the way our devices will never take the place of human-to-human interaction. God meant for us to interact with one another and one of the best ways that I can think of to do that is through talking.  Why not go visit someone that you care about and just talk?  You will leave feeling great, and they will too!

Proverbs 18:20-21
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 15:28
28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,  but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
James 1:26
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Romans 14:9
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Colossians 4:6
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Luke 6:45
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

 

 

 

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