I Choose God!

I Choose God!

Joshua 24:15 (NIV) says, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."

The scripture says, that we are to make a decision without delay to “choose ye this day who we’re going to serve.” I believe the time has gotten urgent for people to choose God or Satan. I decided a long time ago to choose God; nothing else makes sense to me. Everything else is a lie and a deceptive scheme, but I did not fall for it; I have made my choice. "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." We’re living in some crazy and dangerous times. Evil is running rampant on every level of life.

It is definitely a time for recognizing where you are and whose you are without fear, apology or hesitation. The Bible says that Satan wants to crush us like wheat. If he thinks we’re walking alone, unprepared and not protected, he will most definitely make an assassination attempt on our life to destroy everything about us. 

I know I’m loved. I know I’m covered. I know I’m not alone. I know I’m connected and protected. I know my purpose, and I know I’m still growing in it. I know I need Jesus. I know Jesus loves me and He chose me first.  I know I love Him in return and I have chosen this day whom I will serve and I know I will forever serve Him.We have to get serious, pay attention, and make a choice. We can not be inconsistent in our faith. We can not let our guards down. The time is now! The time is crucial! It's time to make a choice!

Psalms 1

 PSALMS 1

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk 

    in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],

    Nor stand in the path of sinners,

    Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.

3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,

    Which yields its fruit in its season;

    Its leaf does not wither;

    And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

4 The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so,

    But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,

    Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6  For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,

     But the way of the wicked shall perish.

                                                        

       We have two ways to walk or travel in our lifetime. Depending on our choice, we are either blessed or we are not blessed by God. One way is the right way which it leads to happiness and the other way is the wrong way which leads to misery. The important thing is we have choices and a free will to decide for ourselves. Choosing the right pathway doesn't mean we won't make mistakes or sin. We aren't choosing independence from God, but we are relying on God to help us in our daily walk. (https://today.bju.edu). 

       

       Psalms 1 is saying we are given two ways to live our life, by the Word of God with His help, or by the way of the world and by man's philosophy. It is clear to us what will happen in our lives depending on the way we choose to walk. 

A Fresh Start to Stay Focused!

2023 Start Fresh to Stay Focused!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight” (NIV).

I was reading the article in the link below today after looking into Proverbs 3:5-6. The article is packed full of good practical information to help grow my trust and faith in God. I thought I would share the link and write from my personal thoughts, reflections, and meditation about Proverbs 3:5-6, which by the way, is my one of my favorite scriptures to govern my life by.

 https://deepspirituality.com/really-trust-in-god

Everyone knows life is uncertain; unexpected things happens all the time. I try to figure stuff out and make sense of things on my own, in my own mind, heart, and soul. I try to be accurate and appropriate in my responses and reactions when crazy things happens. I try to figure people out and why they act the way they do. I can’t!

For me, some things are just the right thing to do despite the feelings I feel. I don’t always like choosing the right thing over my feelings. Sometimes, my feelings feel right to me and sometimes they feel wrong. Then, I am left with a choice. Sometimes, I want to roll around in my feelings and go with my feelings. The human side of me want to be led by my flesh and not by my faith. I am being honest. I know there are consequences to every choice or decision I make. I want good consequences not bad ones. Realistically, this is why I have to fight everyday to make the right decisions and choices. I don’t know everything, so I lean and depend on Someone who does.

                                                            

                                                     A Fresh Start in 2023!

Everyday I try to trust in the Lord with all of my heart and not to lean on my own limited understanding. I am mere human with flaws and limitations. God is everything- I am not; He is Perfect and Knows things I do not know. In 2023, I want to completely govern my life by Proverbs 3:5-6. I don’t know what 2023 holds, but I do know who holds the new year.; the God I trust with all of me holds 2023!

I believe I will be blessed with a fresh start. I will push myself to stay focused on important things and important people in my life. I will stay focused on my personal and spiritual goals.  I will stay focused on gaining strength in His power. I will elevate my mind and not feel unworthy of his blessings, because His promises are for me. 

I want the new year to be a new and fresh year for us. I want it to be a season of empowerment and enablement for me and you. I want to see us progress spiritually, relationally, health-ally, and financially. I know God has so much more in store for me and you in 2023.

I look  forward to 2023 and our fresh start!  

Happy "Blessed" New Year Family & Friends!

                                      

Have You Ever?

 

Have you Ever?

Romans 8:26 (MSG) says, “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.”

Have you ever felt like you desperately needed to pray about something going on in your life and really wanted to pray, but the truth is, you could not find the words to express your truth? Have you ever felt like there were no utterance to express the hurt, pain and and disappointment you felt deep in your heart and soul? 

Have you ever felt like prayer was too formal and you just needed someone you could look at to talk to? Have you ever felt like God was much too big to care about or pay attention to someone like you? Have you ever felt like no one could possibly understand what you were going through? Have you ever wanted to understand your life better, so you could be prepared to deal with your life better? 

Have you ever wanted to surrender it all to God and not have to worry about anything or anyone? Have you ever wanted to know for certain “God’s got you?” Have you ever wanted to ask Him to reverse time so you --could have more time? Have you ever wanted a "Do Over" for many decisions made in life?

There are so many, “Have you Ever” questions running through my mind right now which can cause anxiousness. Yet, His word says in Deuteronomy 31:8 to be strong and courageous and to not be afraid and it says in I Kings 8:57, the Lord our God goes with us wherever we go. I understand that I am never alone. He said, “Never will I leave you or forsaken you.” I know this is true. I may feel lonely sometimes, but I am "never alone."

I believe God is whatever or whoever I need Him to be. He is my Counselor, my Friend and my Advisor; He is absolutely my Everything! Some years ago, I wanted a personal relationship with the Lord to know Him for myself and to feel comfortable talking to Him anytime about anything. So, I prayed more, read the Bible more, I meditated on scriptures more. and listened to godly messages more. There are so many late nights when I wake up and pray to get to a place of rest in my soul.  I pour out my heart because there are no secrets.

Because I am close to Him, I feel comfortable calling on Him for help with my life's circumstances no matter how hard things get and no matter the hour.  The “Have you Ever” questions can get real. They remind me that I am not strong on my on, but my strength comes from my connection to the Father who left the Holy Spirt to live in me. If the Holy Spirit lives in me, so does God. He is close to me and I am close to Him. He carries me and I carry Him with me- everyday of my life- all day long- we are forever connected.

I love that I can encourage myself in the Lord when I can not be consoled by anyone else. His presence reminds me that I am not forgotten. I have access to prayer and real conversation anytime I need to connect to someone who truly cares about me and who knows me and will not judge me. Honestly, life gets hard sometimes, but when I am weak- He is strong. 

I have been promised that if I ever get tired and feel I cannot go on, "God's Holy Spirit is right alongside me helping me along the way." My relationship with the Father is real, so much so that the "Holy Spirit translates my wordless sighs and groans" to the Father for me. I am comforted; I am taken care of, and my mind is secure in peace and rest from the cares of life- every time I turn my attention to the Father. I know "He knows me far better than I know myself."

Please check out my collection of inspirational poems composed be my family and me.

Together We Flow 

   

Temptation on Every Side

Temptation on Every Side

Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. NKJV"

        Today, I tend to think too much about how to avoid temptation, so I do not fall into Satan's traps. In my younger days, I did not think about needing to fight temptation. Being tempted by other kids was a real thing.  At that time, I did not see anything wrong with trying to hang and do what other kids did, within reason of course. It was never too bad or extreme, but Satan can take what we think is insignificant to trick us and trap us. I remember, as a teenager, saying, "Forget it; I'm going to have me some fun." Those were the words I told myself to explain giving in to temptation. 

        I was that teenage girl who occasionally defied my parents and did some of the things I wanted to do. My parents specifically told me not to do certain things or go certain places, and did. I was that young lady in college with the taste of freedom who did what I wanted to because I was away from my parents and thought I could. I was a clueless young lady who did not fully understand what it meant to be a wife and later a mother. I wanted everything my way, but I learned that it takes compromise when two people become one. Sometimes I can still be like her- that young wife. Yet, I am thankful, as I grow inwardly daily.

        I have had many weaknesses at different phases of my life. The saying goes, when you know better you do better. I knew better and still did things my way. Sometimes I still do what I want to do instead of what I should do. I believe God understands where I am in my growth and He knows my heart.

        Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a friend at work about how we are not unrelatable in our emotions and temptations. We were basically saying what Hebrews 4:15 says.  Sometimes when I mess up, I am harder on myself than I should be. Satan can tempt you and then beat you up about it, if you let him. I must remember that the High Priest understands me and sympathizes with me when I am tempted to lie, or tempted to tell that mean cashier the ugly truth about what I really think about her attitude. I am growing!

       Sometimes I sin when I am tempted, but Jesus (the High Priest) when tempted, did not sin. The good thing is He knows my weaknesses. We talked about Christ being an example for us and He demonstrates how we are to handle temptation; it is written in his Word. We can choose not to do what we are tempted to do. It is a decision. Christ was tempted in every way that we are and He experienced every emotion we have.  He understand us completely- certainly better than we understand ourselves.  He is the Creator; we are the created.

        Temptation comes in all forms and on every level of our life; it can show up on every side. The good news is we really can walk away from it and do the right thing like our High Priest, and we can feel good about our decision.