Eyes dripping with tears...

My tears fall profusely this morning but its not what you think.  My heart is in tack! My mind is in tack! My body is in tack! My relationships are in tack! My household is in tack! My children are in tack!

Well, why then do my eyes drip with tears this morning? Simply because I rose to see another day and was reminded that God loves me! My delight is in the Lord this morning. 

I consider the fact that twenty years ago the doctors gave me a grim report saying they had done all they can but I trusted in a God who is not like man.  I believed the report of the Lord over, above and beyond what men could speak and do.  I trusted God enough to release (surrender) my body to Him.  I believed God enough to rest (trust) in Him.  I even did so expecting God for relief (provision) to do what only He could do.  So as I reflect this morning I can say with my whole heart that God has been better to me than I've been to myself and its NOT a cliche for me.  I can say the Lord loves me, covers me, keeps me, protects me, shields me,  prunes me, corrects me, lifts me and even leaves room for me to turn my heart towards Him when everything at times faints within me.  The Lord is my rock and so this morning I am crying because I am grateful, grateful not only for what God has done but simply because who He is and He is the word of life. God is LOVE, absolute love!

PRAYER:

God, Lord of all, Giver of life, thank you for loving me.  Thank you for keeping my mind, body, spirit and considering my soul.  Lord thank you for breathing on me today.  Thank you O' Lord for reshaping my thoughts so I can see me as you see me.  Lord thank you for looking beyond my faults.  Thank you for breaking my flesh and even my spirit so that you can get out of me what you desire.  Lord you are the Father of all and I am simply grateful for you just being you.  Now Lord for the eye who reads, for the ones who are not in a place to understand how deep your love runs, for those who are not able to see that they are wonderfully and beautifully made, Lord I pray that you will send Angels to encamp around them.  Release them from self destruction.  Speak into their spirits.  Change their minds and renew them daily.  Let not their hearts be troubled but bring them to a place of peace.  Thank you for hearing these petitions and cries, In Jesus Name I do pray, Amen

SCRIPTURE: "Trust in Him at all times; pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge" ~ Psalm 62:8

The Daily Routine

Quite often we wake up, take our next breath, rub our eyes, swing our legs over the edge of the bed, whisper prayers into the atmosphere asking God to give us strength to make it through the day, rise from the bed, walk to the bathroom, brush out teeth, take a shower, clothe ourselves, begin making list for the days "must do" things, pack lunches for the children, fix breakfast, eat and then we move about the rest of the day going from task to task.  Some many things need to be done and we do as much as we can for that day and leave the rest for the next day.

Many of us have a similar routine with our spiritual lives.  We go to church each week, pray on a daily basis, attend bible study, read the scriptures, we are diligent to be kind to our neighbors, we say we love God, we feed the hungry and give shelter to those in need but somehow we have become so immersed in the culture and routine of doing God's work that we forget we ARE God's work.  The routine is not what God desires.  He does want us to be diligent in all we do but we must often search our hearts to see if we have grown complacent.  Yes, all these things are important but it is equally important to expect God to perform miraculously in your life and in the lives of others.  We are so caught in routine that we don't even look for God to do something new.  We are now looking for God to heal.  We are not expecting restoration in our families.  Many of us aren't even sure if we believe because it appears things in our lives are not changing or getting better. 

I encourage you to search not only your heart but pay close attention to the things that you are thinking.  What are you saying to yourself?  What do you believe? Are you going along day by day in the daily routine because it appears that is the thing you should be doing?

Know this, the Lord did something wonderful when He created you! Walk not in the routine but as the work of God in the spirit of God which is love.  He redeemed you and thus, you are no longer the same.  Expect God's divine power to work in you and in your life. 

PRAYER:

Lord I cry out to you asking you to search me.  Improve me God according to your word.  Help me to walk in this life trusting you, believing you are greater than my thoughts. Lord God of all keep my heart and my mind.  Purge and cleanse me. Speak Your truth into my spirit. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Lord I desire to walk in love and peace not because the world says but because of who you are.  I do not desire to please the hearts of men and women.  I do not seek their approval. I do not desire to walk around in this life in a fog.  Take away monotonous routine and allow me to be immersed in you.  Redeem my soul.  Lord mighty are the works of your hands.  Lord get the glory out of my life.  Allow me to do as you say without fear and doubt but in a Holy boldness and confidence of who You are in me. Thank you for your mercy. In Jesus Name I do pray, Amen

Psalm 26

Vindicate me, O Lord,

For I have walked in my integrity

I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip

Examine me O, Lord, and prove me;

Try my mind and my heart.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth. 

I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,

Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 

I have hated the assembly of evildoers,

And will not sit with the wicked. 

I will wash my hands in innocence;

So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all Your wondrous works,

Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, 

And the place where Your glory dwells, 

Do no gather my soul with sinners, 

Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

In whose hands is a sinister scheme,

And whose right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me, I will walk in my integrity:

Redeem me and be merciful to me. 

My food stands in an even place

In the congregation I will bless the Lord 

Rejoice as an overcomer

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God I bless you for life, peace, health and strength.  Thank you for coming to my rescue.  Thank you for changing my heart.  Thank you for giving me a brand new life.  Lord I rejoice in you.  I have the victory because of who you are.  Lord bless the head, hands, heart and mind of your servant.  Thank you for being my strength in times of weakness.  Thank you for loving me despite my faults and flaws.  I lean on you and trust that you shall not waver but that you will remain the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega.  God you are my all. Thank you for an inheritance and for all your promises. In Jesus Name, Amen

 

Psalm 28

To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock;

Do not be silent to me,

Lest, if You are silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

Hear the voice of my supplications

When I cry to You,

When I lift my hands toward Your holy sanctuary

Do not take me away with the wicked

And with the workers of iniquity,

Who speak peace to their neighbors,

but evil is in their hearts.

Give them according to their deeds,

And according to the wickedness of their endeavors

Give them according to the work of their hands

Render to them what they deserve.

Because they do not regard the works of the Lord

Nor the operation of His hands

He shall destroy them and not build them up

Blessed be the lord,

Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped'

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him

The Lord is their strength

And He is the saving refuge of His anointed

Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance

Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Half Way Point

Most of us have two eyes, two ears,two lips, two hands, two arms, two legs and two feet.  When ever one part moves the other parts must follow.  For example, let's take a look at our eyes.  How many of us can make one stay completely still while sending the other to look in another direction.  Ok, let's say someone may be able but most are not capable of doing so.

Now, let us consider our legs. How many of us can walk with one leg going forward and the other leg remain in place.  It's rather difficult to move forward and stand still at the same time.

From time to time I sit thinking about where I am, where I have come from and where I desire to go.  I wonder if I am on the right path to reaching my expected end.  I consider how I arrived to the place where I am and in thinking, all I can say is thank God for using all my parts, for giving me all the tools (signs) I need to grow and be successful while keeping Him as the foundation for all that I do.

As we journey through life there are many roads. Some made of dirt, some gravel, some are smooth, some rocky.  There are some with green lights and some with stop signs.  Every now and again we come to roads with blocks or detour signs.  Pay attention to the signs and don't be afraid to change roads when the signs say to do so.  Don't get agitated or frustrated, for the signs are just Gods way of guiding your steps.

Consider where you are and where you desire to go and remember this, taking one step puts us at the half way point but staying with both feet in the same space keeps you stagnant...while each step places us closer to

You will always have opportunities for growth and there will always be challenges as you grow but keep going anyway!

"Your success does not depend on who you are but rather, what you are willing to become"

~ Kirsten McKay Smith

ENCOURAGING SCRIPTURE:

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise

~ Hebrews 6:15

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

~ Philippians 3:12-14

Get wisdom! Get understanding...and in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her, She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you...when you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

~ Proverbs 4:5-12

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Our Lord and our God, thank you for ordering our footsteps and for directing our paths.  Helps us to yield to you in everything we do.  Grant us peace, rest and the necessary provisions as we travel along this journey called life.  Help us not to be stubborn.  Give us strength to endure, In Jesus name, Amen

LIFEBOOK 2012

LIFEBOOK 2012 ~ Shared by Brother LaMarr D. Shields, President of Urban Leadership Institute

Health
1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy
5. Make time for prayer
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2011
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day ---- and while you walk, smile

Personality: 11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do ; keep your limits
14. Don't take yourself so seriously ; no one else does
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more
24. You don't have to win every argument.. Agree to disagree.

Community: 25. Call your family often
26. Each day give something good to others
27. Forgive everyone for everything
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day
30. What other people think of you is none of your business
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life: 32. Do the right things
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
34. GOD heals everything
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
37. The best is yet to come
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase"

~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.