Wake Up Sleeper

I don't know about you, but some mornings I just have to drag myself from the bed. I'm up, but I'm not awake. It's not until I settle into my comfy chair with my Bible and my first cup of coffee that the day truly starts. As I sip and read, sip and pray, sip and praise, I am revived. The light of Christ shines on me and reminds me that I am awake to live another day, serving Him and serving others. I have purpose. There are things that He wants me to accomplish today.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

As I drain the last drops of coffee from the cup, I also absorb the Word of God and I'm ready to face the day with anticipation for what God has planned for me, knowing that He will help me to achieve His will

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:13

So, how do you start your day?

I'm not Lucky - I'm Blessed!

Luck?

Who needs it?

Luck is fickle.

Luck is random.

Here one day and gone the next.

But Blessed...

Now, that's something you can count on!

When we walk with Jesus,

we walk  in His promises.

His promises of...

Peace

Joy

Provision

Guidance

Love

Purpose

Acceptance

These are promises

not fingers-crossed hope.

We don't have to find a 4 leaf clover.

We just need to find Jesus.

We don't have to be Irish.

We just have to be a Christian.

We don't have to wonder if luck will find us today,

because, God's blessings abound every day.

May God bless you richly

as you walk in His promises!

Prescription for the blues.

Artwork used by permission from Jen at BettyandMaude

Prescription for  the blues:

Read this scripture several times out loud. 

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."  Zepheniah 3:17
 

Memorize it. 

Sing it. 

Shout it. 

Laugh about how much your God delights in you, his child.

Yes, you fail at times, yes you mess up, but He loves you, still. 

He delights in you. 

Yes, YOU!  

Imagine Him rejoicing over you with singing. 

God - singing over you. 

Wow!

Let's stir things up!

Artwork used by permission from Karla Dornacher

What are you good at?

Singing or playing a musical instrument.
Art - drawing, painting, sculpting
Crafting - turning trash into treasure, repurposing, upcycling
Writing

Maybe you're a good listener, an encourager.  Maybe you have a beaming smile and the knack for making people feel welcomed, loved, encouraged.

Are you a good teacher?  Organizer? Cook?

God has built into you, skills, talents, knacks because he knows what's needed by the people around you and he placed you right where you are so that you are able to use those things that you are good at to help others.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

If you've let your talent go dormant, if you think what you do well is not really important, please think again. God can use you to accomplish His work in the lives of people those He has placed in your path, so stir up that gift. Get going and be a blessing to someone today!

The Golden Rule - Sowing and Reaping

Artwork used by permission from Abby of LittleBirdyBlessings

You've heard of the Golden Rule, right?

"Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you."

This directive came from Jesus as he summed up the whole of the Old Testament in one verse...

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12

Do you want to be shown kindness? Be Kind.
Do you want people to forgive you? Forgive Others.
Do you want to be loved? Love.
Do you want to be helped? Lend a helping hand to those in need.

God has promised that what we sow, we will reap. A farmer does not sow corn and get wheat. No, he reaps a harvest of the very thing he planted. Likewise, you will reap a harvest of the things you plant in life.

So, as you go through this day, carefully plant those things which you hope to see enjoyed in your own life, for God always keeps his promises, but be patient. Even the farmer has to wait for the seeds to grow and mature before he can reap the harvest.

Hush - be still!

Artwork used by permission from Erin of ArtbyErinLeigh

Usually, my morning devotions consist of some scripture reading, some journaling and end with prayer, but when I'm really in a dither, when what I really want to do is rant and insist that God give me some answers, I've learned that best thing to do is to just get quiet.

I turn on some soothing music, grab a cup of something warm and comforting and sink down into the cushy chair in my bedroom and just sit and soak up the peace of God. There is a peace that comes no other way than to spend time in His presence, asking nothing, saying nothing.

In this, I find a clarity and confidence in knowing that He is God, that He is with me and that He is in control.

Joyful - Patient - Faithful

Artwork used by permission from Jen at BettyandMaude

Joyful - Patient - Faithful...

three wonderful words. Words that we want to describe us, but when I look at what's between those words-at WHEN we are supposed to be joyful, patient and faithful, my face gets a little red.

I'm supposed to be joyful in hope. When I think about what it means to be "in hope," I realize that the only time we are in hope is when we don't have something we long for...when we're hoping that we get it or that our circumstances will change.  It's hard to be joyful when we are longing for things to be made right.

Likewise, being patient in affliction (pain & suffering).  What? I'm supposed to be patient when I'm in pain? When I'm suffering? Patient?  I just want it over as soon as possible!

And finally, faithful in prayer.  I pray. A lot. But my prayers do tend to slack off when everything is going well or when I've prayed about something several times and not received an answer yet.

Looks like the Lord and I have some more work to do on me!

It's a really good thing that HE is 

Joyful, Patient & Faithful!