In All Things Give Thanks

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”

Psalm 105, 1-2, NKJ Version

I am thankful:

For the baby that wakes up
In the middle of the night,
Because it means I am
Blessed to be a parent.

For all the unanswered prayers
Which were never fulfilled,
Because it means that God had something better.

For the wife who serves leftover
Spaghetti for the third time this week,
Because it means she is feeding me and
Not someone else.

For the lonely times
When God feels far away,
Because it sharpens my ears
To hear God’s voice.

For the floors that need vacuuming,
The tables that need dusting and the
Bathrooms that need cleaning,
Because it means I have a home.

For the car that continually breaks down
And the rising gas prices,
Because it means I have transportation.

For all the angry and bitter
People in my life,
Because it gives me
A chance to love them unconditionally.

For the sink of dirty dishes,
Because it means I have two hands
And I was able to prepare a meal.

For the husband who constantly
Watches sports in the living room,
Because it means that he is
At home and not out with another woman.

For the list of phone calls to return,
Emails to be read and thank you notes to be mailed,
Because it means I have friends.

For the children who fuss
Over doing their homework,
Because it means they are safe
And at home with me.

For the boss and co-workers
That drive me crazy,
Because it means I have a job.

For the disagreement between
myself and another person,
Because it means we are
Working through an issue.

For the times when my prayers
Seem to go nowhere,
Because the prayer offered by a friend
Was exactly what I needed.

For the clothes that no longer fit,
Because it means I have plenty to eat.

For the wrinkles around my mouth,
Because it means I have had a reason to smile.

To live in America
Because it means that I can
Own a Bible and read it in public.

For the difficult days
Because it makes my good days
Even better!

In all things…Give thanks! Pass it on!

To watch my “Give Thanks” video on YouTube, click the YouTube button below:

Unanswered Prayer?

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.  Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.  Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me (as a vital necessity) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:11-13, AMP

There was a time when my husband and I were asking God to bless us with twins…okay…I know what some of you are thinking, but it was our hearts desire at that time. We diligently prayed for a double blessing, but our ultrasound made it clear that there was only one heartbeat within my womb. And although we were thankful for one healthy heartbeat, I will admit that for forty-eight hours, my husband and I moped around our home in disappointment due to what we considered “unanswered prayer.” Another time that comes to mind is with past boyfriends (a.k.a. “potential love interests”). I remember praying that a few of them would fall in love with me and choose me to be their wife – all the while – my prayers were lovingly answered with a “no” because God had good plans for my final outcome.

You see, my husband is the perfect one for me and the same is true concerning my daughter, although twins are a huge blessing, God knew what we could handle and once again we thank God for His way of answering our prayers.  God knew the desire of our heart to marry and have a family and He answered us with His plans for welfare and peace, to give us hope in our final outcome.

The scripture above tells us that God always hears our prayers and heeds each one. With some of our prayers requests He answers us with a “yes” (and boy do we love it when this happens!!), there are also times as in my examples above when God lovingly answers us with a “no” in order that our future outcome will be good, and other times He answers us with “wait.” Just recently I thought God answered “no” to a request of mine, only to find out a few months later that I needed to “wait” so that He could make a good situation even better!  Bottom, line, we can rest in that fact that God knows about our personal situation and He has good plans for our life.

How many times have we pouted and complained to God for not answering our prayers, when He was simply answering it His way out of His great love for us? God knows all things and He is the One who knows what we can handle. It comes down to knowing God’s will for our life and trusting that He has good plans for us. Our amazing God longs to bless us, heal us, restore us and prosper us.  We are promised in Isaiah 5:11 that when we pray God’s Word it will never return back void.

Prayer:

“Lord, thank you for always hearing my prayers.  I declare that You have good plans for me. Your plans are full of hope for my final outcome and I align myself up with Your Word today. I give you everything heavy on my heart and I ask that Your perfect will be done.  As I seek and inquire of You this day, I will rest in that fact that You gave your life to heal, restore and bless me.  I grab onto the Word of God and declare that it will not return back void, but will prosper in the thing for which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11).  Amen.”


God Knows About Your Situation

“Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is (deepest) within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not (one of) all His benefits— …Who satisfies your mouth (YOUR NECESSITY AND DESIRE AT YOUR PERSONAL AGE AND SITUATION) with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s (strong, overcoming, soaring)!” Psalm 103:1,2 & 5 AMP

All I can say in response to our scripture today is, “WOW!” Did you know that God is not only aware of your circumstances, but He longs to satisfy your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good? God also promises to renew you with His supernatural strength in order that you can overcome every obstacle in your life!

You may be currently facing the obstacle of money, health, forgiveness, restoration in a relationship or wisdom, but you can count on the fact that God knows your personal age and situation and He will satisfy you with good, and you will once again soar like the eagle’s.

I am continually amazed at God’s unending love toward us and Psalm 103 is packed full of God’s promises to us as His children. Just listen to some of God assurance in this beautiful Psalm:

*God forgives us of all of our sin (v.3)

*God heals us of all our diseases (v.3)

*God redeemes us from the pit (v.4)

*God crowns us with His love and compassion (v.4)

*God satisfies our desires with good things (v.5)

*God renews our youth like the eagles (v.5)

*God is slow to anger toward us, abounding in love (v.8)

*God does not harbor anger toward us (v.9)

*God commands compassion on us because we fear (reverence) Him (v.13)

*God understands us, He formed us in our mother’s womb and He remembers that we are dust (v.14)

*God’s righteousness will be with our children’s children (v.17)

*God loves us (v.17)

Psalm 103 ends in verses 20-22 by giving total praise to God.  Will you join me in praising God for all of His benefits? Let’s say this out loud together:  “Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word.  Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.  Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in His dominion.  Praise the Lord, O my soul”.

God is deeply in love with you my friend. It is my prayer that you will not forget ALL of God’s benefits. You can rest in the fact that God is personally aware of your situation.  And because of Him, You are saved, healed, forgiven, and made righteous through the Cross.  May you continually relish in God’s amazing love for you forevermore.

Prayer:  “Lord, thank you for loving me and satisfying my necessity and desire at my personal age and situation with good.  Thank you for forgiving me of my sins, healing me of all diseases, redeeming me from the pit, crowning me with love and compassion and renewing my youth with strength to overcome and soar.  May I never forget all of Your benefits.  Amen.”


Growing Old In Grace

Do you ever find yourself thinking about getting older? You know, thoughts like…“What will it feel like? What about wrinkles? Will my mind stay strong till the end or will I live in a state of “blonde-moments?’”  I realize that these questions may have haunted you in the past, but what I am about to share with you today is better than Ginkgo biloba & Botox!!

As the daughter of the King of Kings, you have the promise in God’s Word that you can grow old in grace! Listen; if Moses can live to be 120 years old with strength in his bones and eyes that did not dim, then you too can grow old in grace!!! I am a firm believer that what we say will come to pass – good or bad.

One example that comes to mind is the story of the actor, Jim Carrey. Did you know that Jim Carrey at one time was turned down at every audition in Hollywood and he could barely pay his utility bills? But every night, Jim would drive to the top of a hill overlooking the Hollywood sign and he would not leave that spot until he believed that he would one day be famous. Jim also wrote himself a fake check made out to him for millions of dollars and he believed that one day he would be able to cash such a check. Even when things were at an all time low, Jim Carrey continued to believe and boy did his confessions come true! Let me ask you, what would happen if you believed for the impossible like Jim Carrey? God’s Word tells us in Matthew 19:26 that with man it is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.

As a Professional Counselor, I am aware of the power of the mind. Did you know that if you confess something long enough, your body believes what you say and will eventually produce whatever you are confessing? Friend, if you confess daily that your memory is lapsing then guess what…. your memory will lapse.

What I am about to share with you in God’s Word will show you how God’s blessing to grow old in grace is for you! The question is, are you ready and will you meditate on these scriptures each day until you see them manifest? If so, then grab a pen or get ready to push the print button because you will want to begin confessing these scriptures over you mind, body and spirit today!

Psalm 92:12-15, AMP

“The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 91:14, AMP

Because she (put your name here) has set her love upon Me, therefore will I deliver her; I will set her on high, because she knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake her, no, never]. She shall call upon Me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble, I will deliver her and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Deuteronomy 34:7, NKJ

“Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.”

Prayer:

“Lord, I choose from this day forward to embrace growing older because I understand that I can do it in grace! I am a living memorial to show the world that You are upright and faithful to Your promises. Because I set my love upon You and I understand of Your great love for me, You will deliver me and set me on high, with long life will you satisfy me and show me of Your salvation. Just as Moses left this world with perfect vision and vigor, so shall that be said of me. Amen.”


Completely & Forever

For You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive (our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever); and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.”  Psalm 86:5, AMP

Do you have trouble forgiving yourself? If so, I have good news for you today because our scripture above tells us that we are not only forgiven but our sins have been sent away, let go completely and forever by our merciful and loving God!

Do you remember in Elementary School when a teacher would put our name on the chalkboard if we disobeyed in class? Having our name on the board would stir up feelings of embarrassment and awareness of our wrongful behavior.  It was the very act of seeing our name on the chalkboard throughout the day that kept our bad choice in front of our face and before your peers. This is the very thing the devil longs to do to God’s people.  Satan is the accuser of the brethren and he wants to keep us focused on our past sins rather than on God’s grace.

Satan understands that sin conscious people live a state of hopelessness and depression.  He does not want you to fulfill your destiny and focusing solely on your past sins – will do just that! You see, Satan does not want you to know that  Jesus is the “eraser” of all sin.  The chalkboard that once listed your sin was erased with His precious Blood the moment you gave your life to Him.  That my friend is the power of the Cross!

The truth is that you may not feel forgiven but God’s Word supersedes feelings. Psalm 86:5 is clear, “For You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive (our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever); and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.” Your feelings will LIE to you, but God’s Word is ALWAYS TRUE.

If forgiving yourself has been a struggle for you then I would like for you to do something…Take out a pencil and a piece of paper.  Then write down all the sins that have tormented you. Once you have completed your list, I want you to re-read Psalm 86:5.  As an act of faith, I now want you to use an eraser and erase your list until it is completely gone.  And now with your blank paper in front of you, it is time to thank Jesus for His Blood and forgiveness of sins!

I would also like to encourage you to put this piece of paper somewhere for you to see (a kitchen cabinet or bathroom mirror perhaps) and anytime you feel un-forgiven or tormented by your past sins, walk up to this piece of paper and declare: “The Lord has forgiven me of my sins. My sins have been erased, sent away, let go completely and forever out of God’s abundant mercy and love for me. Feelings you must submit to the Word of God. I am forgiven, redeemed and an over comer in Christ Jesus. Amen.” That my friend is what it means to be forgiven completely & forever!!

Prayer: “Lord, Your love is amazing and I am so thankful that my sins are forgiven, let go of completely and gone forever.  Help me to believe Your Word over how I feel.  I declare that my feelings must line up with the Word of God and I ask that You help me receive this truth deep within my spirit.  Thank Jesus for Your precious blood that came to erase my sins away. Help me to walk in the abundance of Your grace forevermore.  Amen.”