Released

COME TO ME WHEN YOU ARE HURTING, AND I WILL SHARE YOUR PAIN.

Come to Me when you are joyful, and I will share your Joy—multiplying it many times over.

I invite you to come to Me just as you are—no matter what condition you're in.

You don't have to clean up your act first, since I already know the worst about you.

When you're hurting, you want to be with someone who understands you without condemning you.

When you're happy, you delight in being with someone who loves you enough to celebrate with you.

I understand you compassionately and love you exuberantly, so bring more and more of yourself to Me.

Most people are selective about which parts of themselves they share with Me.

Some hesitate to bring Me the traits they consider shameful.

Others are so used to living with painful feelings—loneliness, fear, guilt—that it never occurs to them to ask for help in dealing with these things.

Still others get so preoccupied with their struggles that they forget I'm even here.

There are hurting parts of you that I desire to heal.

However, some of them have been with you so long that you consider them part of your identity.

You carry them with you wherever you go, with little awareness.

On occasions when you have brought some damaged portion of yourself to Me, I have helped you walk in newfound freedom.

However, you are so addicted to certain painful patterns that you cannot easily break free from them.

Only repeatedly exposing them to My healing Presence will bring you long-term freedom.

When that happens, you will be released to experience Joy in much fuller measure.

I will share your Joy and multiply it many times over.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
ROMANS 8:1

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
PSALM 126:3

"In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free."
PSALM 118:5

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
JOHN 8:36

Cast Your Cares and Thrive

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
(3 John 1:2, NKJV)

It's Time to Thrive

Many people today are living in "survival mode."

If they can just make it through the day, they've accomplished their goal.

And, there are times when circumstances can seem overwhelming.

There are seasons that are more difficult than others.

But God doesn't want us to just survive, He wants us to thrive.

He wants us to prosper in all things.

One definition of the word "thrive" means "to realize a goal despite circumstances."

That means you can prosper in all things no matter what is going on around you.

You don't have to settle for an average year; you can have an extraordinary year.

You may be planning on just getting by, but God is planning on abundance.

He's planning on overflow.

It's time to get into agreement with God.

It's time to walk in His ways.

It's time see your dreams come to pass.

It's time to thrive because God has a plan for you to prosper in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for the gift of today. I choose to cast my cares on You knowing that You care about me and for me. Help me to see the good plan You have for me so that I can thrive the way You intended in Jesus' name.
Amen."

Stay Strong!

Our Hope and Our Shield - Always!!

WAIT IN HOPE FOR ME; I AM YOUR HELP AND YOUR SHIELD.

Waiting in itself is not a virtue.

The important thing is how you wait: in a resigned, impatient way or in hope—keeping your focus on Me.

One aspect of hope is confident expectation.

When your overarching hope is for Me, you have every reason to be confident.

I have promised to be with you always, even to the end of the age.

Moreover, at the end of time, I am coming back in glorious Power to judge the world and establish My kingdom.

While you are waiting, remember that I am your Help and your Shield.

My unfailing Love guarantees that I am always available to help you.

You access this loving help through your trust in Me.

No matter what is happening or how bad you feel, voice your trust in Me!

I have shielded you from many hardships, and I will continue to protect you.

So put your hope fully in Me, and the Light of My Presence will shine into your waiting times.

From "Jesus Today"

Stay Strong!

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."
—Psalm 33: 20

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
—Matthew 28: 18–20 NKJV

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."
—Psalm 52: 8

In the Face of Trials and Difficulties

Happy Friday All!!! 

Have a Terrific Weekend and Stay Strong in Faith and Trust and Gratitude! :)

"The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one."
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Paul was able to tell the troubled Thessalonian believers that the Lord would protect them from the evil one.

Like their founding pastor, these men and women had experienced various trials, including being persecuted and martyred for their faith.

In the two verses prior to this kingdom promise, Paul had requested prayer from the Thessalonians for himself and his coworkers.

Paul asked that they pray for God's Word to continue to spread rapidly and be received by others, and that the missionaries would be rescued from evil men.

In our focal verse, Paul turned from consideration of his own needs to those of the Thessalonians.

His assurance that the early Christians would experience strength and protection is based on a fundamental truth:

"The Lord is Faithful."

In other words, God can be trusted even in the face of persecution and difficulty.

His faithfulness ensures that he is at work in the midst of our suffering, that he will ultimately bring judgment on all evil, and that our days are secure in him.

Persecution by faithless persons was a stark reality for members of the early Christian church.

Thus, the declaration of God's faithfulness and the assurance of strength and protection must have greatly encouraged these new believers.

You may have noticed, both in this text and in real life, God's protection does not mean the absence of conflict and suffering.

It does, however, promise Strength and Preservation in the midst of the suffering.

The "evil one" may be a general reference to evil or to Satan himself.

In either case, it is comforting and encouraging to know that we have God's protection ALWAYS regardless of the trials or storms that we will surely encounter in this lifetime. "

Stay Strong!

Recharge Your Strength

Happy Monday All!
We will get through it! :)
Stay Strong!

"I AM THE LIGHT THAT SHINES ON IN THE darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it—and it never will!

When multiple problems are closing in on you, the Light of My Presence may seem like a dim memory.

If you are feeling distant from Me, it's time for you to stop everything and pour out your heart to Me.

Carve out some time and space to talk with Me about your problems and your feelings.

Let Me help you carry your burdens and show you the way forward.

No matter how much darkness you see in the world around you, My Light continues to shine on, for it is infinitely more powerful!

Because you are My child, this Light shines not only upon you but also within you.

You live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and this is the perfect backdrop for you to shine as light in the world.

Take time to bask in My radiant Presence.

Let My boundless energy recharge your strength so you can blaze boldly in the darkness around you."

- From "Jesus Today " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"The Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it, put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it."
—John 1: 5 AMP

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."
—Psalm 62:

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
—Philippians 2: 14–15 NKJV

Victory is ours

Happy Friday and Happy Veterans Day All!

Enjoy and Stay Strong!!

"The Lord is my Strength and my song; he has given me Victory."
(Psalm 118:14, NLT)

"Do you need more joy, victory and confidence in your life today?

You might need to evaluate what you are thinking about on a daily basis.

If you go around thinking things like, "I'm just average," "I've already reached my limits," or "I've missed so many good opportunities," then those thoughts are going to drag you down and hold you back.

Instead, every morning when you wake up, start your day with thoughts of HOPE and SUCCESS!

Determine to be Victory-minded!

The Bible tells us that what we think about, we WILL become.

When you think thoughts of success, victory, joy and peace, your life will be filled with success, victory, joy and peace!

It doesn't matter what's going on around you when the greater One lives in you!

You are an OVERCOMER through Christ.

Today, set your mind on victory and move forward into the victory He has for you!"

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for the gift of another day! I choose to be victory-minded and focus on Your goodness. Help me, Holy Spirit, to stay focused on the blessings and favor You have for me in Jesus' name!
Amen.

From Today's Word by Joel I

Stay Strong!

Antidote For All Fear

Psalm 27:5
"He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent."

Do you ever feel like everyone is out to get you?

I know it sounds a little paranoid, but there are days when it just seems we can't get a break and that everything and everyone is marshaled against us.

In the early verses of Psalm 27, David spoke of evildoers who came against him to devour his flesh.

He even spoke of the possibility of an army being deployed against him.

That's because when God rejected Saul as king and chose David in his place, Saul sent his army to destroy him—the one man who was the imminent threat to his kingly reign.

Thus, David's fear was well grounded.

Today you may be facing both adversaries and circumstances that seem overwhelming.

How should you respond?

Let's take a lesson from David.

Listen to the dramatic beginning to Psalm 27:

- "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear?

- The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"

David made two profound declarations about the Lord, followed by two questions.

If the Lord is your light, your salvation, and the stronghold of your life, is there anyone or anything you should fear?

The answer is an obvious "no one" and "nothing."

How did David summon such courage in the face of opposition?

He sought God's presence with passionate intensity.

David knew that God's presence was the antidote for all fear.

He spoke of God concealing him and covering him with his tent.

These images probably relate to the large traveling tent called the Tabernacle, which was the place of worship and the symbol of God's presence among his people.

This tent appeared too flimsy to offer any protection from one's enemy.

But it was not so much the substance of the place of worship as it was the substance of the God of worship.

In Psalm 32:7, David declared:

"You are my hiding place;
You protect me from trouble;
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance."

When you find yourself in times of trial, in the midst of a relentless storm, or struggling with fear, doubts or anxiety, do exactly as David did -find your shelter in His presence."

From "God Will" by  Ken Hemphill

Stay Strong!

Our Own Cross...

And he went out carrying his own cross (John 19:17).

There is a poem called "The Changed Cross."

It represents a weary one who thought that her cross was surely heavier than those of others whom she saw about her, and she prayed and wished that she might choose an other instead of her own.

She slept, and in her dream she was led to a place where many crosses lay, crosses of different shapes and sizes.

There was a little one most beauteous to behold, set in jewels and gold.

"Ah, this I can wear with comfort," she said.

So she took it up, but her weak form shook beneath it.

The jewels and the gold were beautiful, but they were far too heavy for her.

Next she saw a lovely cross with fair flowers entwined around its sculptured form.

Surely that was the one for her.

She lifted it, but beneath the flowers were piercing thorns which tore her flesh.

At last, as she went on, she came to a plain cross, without jewels, without carvings, with only a few words of love inscribed upon it.

This she took up and it proved the best of all, the easiest to be borne.

And as she looked upon it, bathed in the radiance that fell from Heaven, she recognized HER OWN OLD cross.

She had found it again, and it was the best of all and lightest for her.

God knows best what cross we need to bear.

We do not know how heavy other people's crosses are.

We envy someone who is rich; his is a golden cross set with jewels, but we do not know how heavy it is.

Here is another whose life seems very lovely. She bears a cross twined with flowers.

If we could try all the other crosses that we think lighter than our own, we would at last find that not one of them suited us so well as our own.

   --Glimpses through Life's Windows

Have a Blessed Week!! Stay Strong!

Strength for EVERYTHING

Today's reading from St. Paul, writing to the Phillipians while shackled and imprisoned in some God-forsaken place, with martyrdom imminent and rapidly approaching, is a short excerpt but chock full of valuable lessons and insights for us all to this day.

St. Paul had indeed been a very wealthy man of abundance yet for his love of Jesus Christ he chose instead poverty and eventually death- he chose to focus on and enrich the only  "account" that matters at the end of the day.

It is inspirational and almost unimaginable to try to understand the depth and strength of his FAITH and TRUST in the Lord.

His attitude and unwavering love and belief in the Lord- while facing inevitable and painful DEATH - is something I for one struggle to comprehend and try to recall when some small little challenge presents itself in my life.

Not so easy, granted - but attainable!

Enjoy the Beautiful Weekend and Stay Strong!

"Brothers and sisters:  I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me.

You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.

Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself,
to be self-sufficient.

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;

I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.

Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone.

For even when I was at Thessalonica
you sent me something for my needs,
not only once but more than once.

It is not that I am eager for the gift;
rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to YOUR account.

I have received full payment and I abound.

I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus,
"a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

St. Paul to the Phillipians 4:10-19

Stay Strong!!

Comfort, Revive, and Restore

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
(Psalm 46:1, NIV)

In the Day of Trouble

God is always present with you.

That means at ALL times, continually, perpetually, throughout all time,

God is with you.

In your day of trouble, He is there to help you.

How is He your help?

By providing whatever you need; by opening doors for you; by orchestrating things in your favor.

"Help" is specific to your need and we serve a God who is very specific.

Because He is always with you, He always knows exactly what you need!

Today, are you facing trouble or adversity?

Know that God is with you.

Look to Him for help.

Trust that He has the answer, and that He is working things out in your favor.

As you continue to believe Him and follow His direction, He will lead you in the way that you should go.

He will comfort you, revive you, restore you and bless you!

He will be your ever-present help because He is forever faithful to His Word!

A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for being my ever-present help. I trust today that You are with me, that You are comforting me and restoring my soul. I lift my eyes to You this day. Help me to follow Your commands and honor You as You direct my steps. In Jesus' Name.
Amen."

From 'Today's Word '!

Stay Strong!

Expect

Happy All Saints Day!!

Everyone has heard, "You get what you deserve."

It's not true.

You actually get what you expect.

Jesus was clear about this.

In the second chapter of Mark, we read about four vision-filled friends who had a huge expectation.

They thought that if they could get their sick buddy to Jesus,

He could make something impossible happen.

Their expectations rose so high, they grabbed their friend, carried him to the house where Jesus was teaching, and when they realized the crowd was too thick to get through, sawed a hole in the roof of the home and lowered their friend down to Jesus.

Their expectation led to action and to a miracle when Jesus completely healed their friend.

The story of these four guys suggests to me that if your expectations are high enough, it's even possible to trigger a miracle.

They didn't cause a miracle.

That's God's job.

However, their expectations led to actions that triggered God doing a miracle.

Why would you want to live any other way, when you know your actions can trigger a miracle in your life and in the lives of others around you?

On the other hand, I believe the most depressing, debilitating acronym ever is TWNC:

Things Will Never Change.

This toxic, dangerous thought process has the power to destroy your marriage, friendships, and career.

These four words, Things Will Never Change, replace confidence with cynicism.

These four words, Things Will Never Change, replace high hopes with depression and despair.

These four words, Things Will Never Change, blind people to the possibility that God might have better days ahead.

These four words, Things Will Never Change, are so powerful they can handcuff the hands of God.

Jesus didn't do any miracles in His hometown of Nazareth.

Why?

The Bible says, "because of their unbelief"(Matthew 13: 58 NKJV).

We've become less like Steve Jobs and more like most car companies.

Have you ever seen a concept car unveiled at an auto show? They rock!

But when you see what comes out five years later, you say, "That reeks."

How did they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

What typically happens is that the engineers say this is impossible and the finance people say that is impossible, and by the time they're done, they've created a goofy car that nobody wants.

Start believing impossible things are possible, because you ARE going to get what you expect!

STAY STRONG!