We need to remind ourselves daily of good things. 

Victories in our lives!  Focus on good things, cease negative thinking and talk!  Roadblocks to communication such as:  I feel like, it seems like to me, and talking when we need to be listening—hinder triumph.

Remember when we listen carefully, it does not mean we are agreeing.  It gives us another point of view.  One example is the way men and women communicate with each other: Women want to discuss things to reduce their stress; men want to skip discussion and state their solutions.

In this world we will know trials and tribulations. (John 16:33, NKJV)  Still we have God’s promise of triumph.  We all have setbacks, disappointments and failures.  Again, Romans 8:28, in love with Father God, Jesus name, and Holy Spirit leading—there is a purpose—victory is ours. Yes, both good and bad are used together for His will…purpose.

If we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead and use Jesus’ name, we overcome!  We know victory in Jesus!  We are to learn from mistakes.  Then we might be able to help someone else because of what we learned to do or not to do.

If we focus on victories, even miracles, our faith and confidence are strengthened.  This is part of the journey into perfection.

Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from Him. (James 1:17, KJV)  Take time to praise and thank Him for His favor and man’s favor.  (Proverbs 3:4, NIV)  Continue to pray and ask for His favor and man’s.  God will make a way when it appears to be no way.  (Isaiah 34:16-19, KJV)  He will open doors for you to move forward. Jeremiah 19:11 (GNB) states God “alone knows the plans He has for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”

Roman 8:28 says He has a purpose for His way of creating the mind of Christ in each of us.  It takes both good and bad and His love to develop Christ’s mind, attitude and self-control in us.  We must let the Perfecter do His work in us.  We need to follow Christ’s examples and seek alone time with Father God and the Holy Spirit – often.  We need to freely acknowledge and thank God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  We must develop ways to confess our deepest needs and concerns about the issues of life.  Sometimes, we forget about our body language and tone of voice and confuse people.

The grace of God is the thing that helps us sustain positive attitudes even amidst suffering.  Still, evil is rampant in our world.  We must recognize this and not develop negative attitudes.  As Christians, our life in Christ must be an honest response.  God is using Psalms to help me see Him and keep an open communication with Him.

We must be honest with God about our negative attitudes and our positive ones.  We must receive the Holy Spirit’s help to express our praise and thanksgiving.

Please read Psalm 145:1-7, then follow its example of exalting God every day.  I see the Psalmists express their honest reactions in all situations, e.g., “I am in pain and distress; May Your salvation, Oh God, protect me.” (Psalm 69:29)  Lead on, Holy Spirit, lead on.

We humans make plans, but the Lord has the final word.  (Proverbs 15:1, GNB)  As Christians, we need plans for the new year 2020.  Yes, we may make our plans, but God has the last say. (Proverbs 16:1)  “We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.” (Proverbs 16:9) Read all of Proverbs 8.  But for now know and realize that, from the beginning, Jesus was. (Proverbs 8:22) At the very first, the Lord gave life to Jesus. Jesus was right beside the Lord helping Him plan and build (v. 30) …

This same Jesus waits for each of us to come to him daily. (v. 34)  Life is a moment by moment experience with Father God and Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps. (Proverbs 9:6)

We need to repent and obey the Lord!  This is the beginning of wisdom. (v. 10) Father, help us to seek you daily in 2020 and move in the Holy Spirit’s strength, wisdom, and sound judgement.  Help us always to speak the truth and refuse to tell a lie. (Proverbs 8:7)

Jesus finished what He started.  He lived a God’s life. He never did or said anything He had not seen or heard the Father say or do.  This year we need to meet daily with God, spend time with Him, and put away foolish thinking and ways.  Recall that Jesus did this in garden of Gethsemane. He chose to obey and do – to mature.  If we are to be like Jesus, we should not get off into doing our own thing, making our own plans, and expecting God to do as we say.  As verse 9 & 10 indicate in Proverbs 8, we need to be well informed and choose God’s instructions instead of silver, gold, and material goods.  God is working on me, teaching me that without a plan – a decision to do – we do nothing!

All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. ~Margaret Mead

“He is watching us, whether we do good or evil.” (Proverbs 15:3) “The Lord is pleased when a good man prays.” He wants us to make our plans in His presence, waiting before Him to determine clearly the direction to go.  It will be different for each of us due to our individual gifts.  Wait with and before Him until His plan for your life is clear.  Write it down! Pray! It is usually one step at a time. Some correction will most likely be needed. We will need to ask for advice from others wiser than we are. (Proverbs 15:12) We will need balance to keep us out of self will and selfishness.

If we don’t plan to succeed, we’ve chosen to fail.  It will take hard work and the Holy Spirit’s leading, moment by moment.  God does not say money is evil but that the love of money causes evil.  We need to respond to God’s love by helping others and providing for ministry.  We need to be loyal and faithful to His call and our plans made together with Him during our alone time with God.

Disappointments are inevitable but discouragement is a choice.  God has a unique plan for your life.  Never become a victim of your feelings. Choose to look to God,  listen, learn, and then, move AHEAD to the New Year!

It’s Christmas!  It’s time to celebrate the Christ of God born that we become “as the body is one.”  (I Corinthians 12:12)  The church, His church, His body “is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (I Corinthians 12:12 KJV)

It is my goal to lead us away from stress, overindulgence, a focus on material things, and childish behaviors.  If we are to grow into healthy, mature adults we need to cease childish reactions to the pressures of worldly activities.

What does Father God require?  That no man be “influenced and led astray to mute idols” [like traditional Santa Clauses and worldly customs].  (I Corinthians 12:2) As real believers, we must learn and teach dependence on the Holy Spirit!  Anointing of our understanding is greatly desired at this time so we are kept from satanic perversions of the truth.  The word Christ means “the anointed”.  It is His birth we recognize this season and so we must be willing to be guided rightly!

What better way to recognize and celebrate Christ’s birth than by using our diversity of gifts and sharing those gifts to each member of the body?  God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

God, the Father, put His stamp upon you, so to speak.  He did this by giving you the Spirit to dwell in you.  Ephesians 1:13 (KJV) states “in whom ye also trusted after ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

This year can we give from our diversity of giftings to all with whom we come into contact?  Reflect on these spiritual gifts:  healings, tongues, miracles, prophecy, discernment…love!  Can we present the truth of God so that young and old alike will be stirred up through the love of the Holy Spirit?  This would please Him as we declare our delight in Him.

This year can our focus be on Ephesians 4:30 “…and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God…”  How do we grieve Him?  By disobeying the Word. By indulging in ways of the world and forbidden things. Lies and falsehoods, dishonest practices, corrupt speech, bitterness, anger, clamor, railing and malice – all these grieve Him.

Instead, can we use our individual gifts and walk in the Spirit in lowliness and meekness, in purity and self-awareness, obeying the written word? As we do His will from our heart, then PEACE, JOY, and LOVE – free gifts – will triumph over worldly reasonings.  God will reveal His wonderous plan all on the same principle of His free grace!  The indwelling Spirit enables us to enjoy Christmas as He ministers Christ to our souls. Share the true Christmas this year!

Thinking about your teachings gives me better understanding than my teachers and obeying your laws makes me wiser that those who have lived a long time.  I obey your word instead of following a way that leads to trouble.” (Psalm 119:99-101)

Satan, that sly old serpent, would deceive and beguile… but, the knowledge to defeat him is in God’s word—the Bible.  If I don’t meditate daily in God’s word, I don’t and won’t know how to defeat Satan!  It’s kind of like baking a cake with the oven turned to broil rather than bake. I did that once, accidentally.  All the ingredients were there, and all were fresh.  I got distracted and punched the wrong button.  The cake did not turn out right, due to my careless lack of knowledge.  I had allowed Satan to distract me.

Some of you are hurting because you’ve allowed Satan to distract you. You are too busy to take time to meditate in God’s word for His daily peace… You are overwhelmed or frustrated by worldly thinking or work.  Just as we need a drink of water to refresh us, so we need the “living water” from our Bibles for a quick “picker upper”.

REST.  In today’s world we need to learn it’s ok to say no.  Just because a thing seems good doesn’t mean we can be in two different places at the same time.  A phone call for help may distract you and your cake may burn.

That call to cancel a commitment may get your immediate attention and end with a burned birthday cake. Yes, frustration!  God did not give me a job too hard for me.  He said my burden would be light and yoked easy to Jesus.

God is our first priority; family is our second. Then all this “other stuff” that sounds and looks good but comes suddenly pressing on us may be Satan’s constant attempt to get us off into wrong thinking or direction. All the technology, tweets, texts, robo-calls, and TV alerts can make life too, too much.  We must see that Jesus gives us choices of good and evil.

How do I discern?  Revelation and difference come by asking for revelation from His Word… pausing… resting… and listening to His still small voice. “You have been my teacher, and I won’t reject Your instructions.  Your teachings are sweeter than honey.  They give me understanding and make me hate all lies.  Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.”  (Psalm 119:102-105)  Lord, I must get Your words into my head, heart, and spirit to get understanding.

All my life a key ingredient to wellbeing is taking time alone with God.  I find my strength in Jesus and take His example… I go off to be alone with Father God.

When worldly things start pressing in and seem overwhelming, that’s my cue. I need to go off to be alone with God for refreshing, re-dedication and fellowship. When I don’t, I fail… am stressed… make mistakes.

Receive the simple joy of being with you with your Heavenly Father!  Thank you, Father for loving us.  Thank you for Jesus and your Holy Spirit.  Because of Jesus sacrifice, we are forgiven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do greater things.  It is Thanksgiving month, then Christmas. Friends, please join me as I commit to KEEP priorities to spend time alone with God and so be available to serve when needed!

We shall know the truth and His truth will make us free. (John 8:32)  You and I can be the righteousness of God in Christ…have the mind of Christ.  Christ in you or me is our Hope of Glory. (Galatians 5:5)

Over eight years ago, Garry (my husband) and I met a young man and his wife.  Many of you know that I often say, ” I don’t believe anything happens by accident… it’s all within God’s plan.”  Once again God is revealing Himself in a powerful way.

Yesterday, I received a letter along with a wonderful poem.  After all those eight years, the young man’s wife contacted me.  Her husband, in prison now, was reflecting on our past encounter.  He named both Garry and I and talked of how God used the four of us together to clarify life direction! 

At that time, he was unwilling to hear, obey, and finish his call of God. He recalled things I’d not thought of in those many years.  But Stephen asked his wife, Lesa, to reach out to Garry and me. Praise God! Lesa followed through and contacted me by phone. I requested a copy of his letters and prayer.  

God is alive and well!  He used this couple to encourage me!  Struggling with frustrations, the day I received the letters was a difficult one for me. It arrived totally unexpected by special delivery on my fasting and prayer day.  But God knew… I started reading and praying. I was no longer distracted by Satan’s attempt to steal my joy. Focused on God’s word and will, I prayed for Steven and Lesa.  Joy filled my heart, mind and soul as the Holy Spirit led me to recall and act on what God had planned for the four of us eight years before.

Now, today, from my lectionary (study guide) I quote God’s word from James 1: 1-18 (GNB): “From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: Greetings to all God’s people scattered over the whole world. 

My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials the result is the ability to endure.  Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing… If any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all… you must believe and not doubt.  Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God promised to those who love him…” 

In your Bible, please read every word for yourself so you can see that every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven.  “Remember this, my dear friends!  Everyone must be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19-20, GNB) Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose. Abiding in Him does.

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James 1:25 “If you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice–you will be blessed by God in what you do.”

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ANSWERED PRAYER by Stephen Kendus

Work through me Holy Spirit, now I pray; I’ve been brought lowly to this place, the truth to face. I cannot get away. Touch through me Holy Spirit, let the others feel this poem. What I share is real; not just for the rhythm and rhyme, but for my brothers and my sisters also serving time.

In my darkest hours, Lord,  I’ve called upon your Name. You know the thoughts I think towards you—Please take from me the shame.  Thoughts of peace and not of evil, for a future and a hope, I prayed. Dear God, please help me. Please give me strength to cope…

I sought you and I found you, Lord. I searched with all my heart;  You heard me, and you listened as I pled for a new start. I’ve backslid and I’ve faltered all along life’s way.  Though willing in my spirit, my flesh had hell to pay.

Dear Father God in heaven, my only hope is you:  Jesus’ blood, my sins to cleanse — your sovereign word is true.  The Bible holds the answers that some think hard to find; For those who seek your will and way, it’s all a state of mind.  Knock and the door shall open; seek and ye shall find. A new day is awaiting, so leave the past behind…

From captivity God said He’d bring me back. As a true son being chastened, God’s love is never slack.  I pray this poem I wrote today will help more than just me. For my brothers and my sisters too — Lord, set the captives free.  God, bring them from their prisons. Lord, break the chains today. Father, while they serve the time they must, show them your better way.  Lord, light our path; please, make it clear. Our faith we put in You. Trusting day by day to hear Your Spirit, tried and true.