A Friend Loves at All Times

"The impulse of love that leads us to the doorway of a friend is the voice of God within and we need not be afraid to follow it." Agnes Sanford

I once heard the quote "In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips"! I actually think this hung in our kitchen when I was growing up!

How true is this statement?!? If it wasn't for friends, life would be a little boring, a little sad, and a little uneventful.

I am such a people person. I love being around others and having a good time. If there is ever I time I have to be by myself I do whatever it takes avoid it. I call up friends, family, anyone to make it so that I don't have to be by myself.

Friends are such a wonderful gift from God. They are there to support us and love us for who we are - exactly what God wanted for us! Our friends are treasures and we must remember that in order to have good friends, we need to be a good friend!

Will Do

1. Be thankful to God for friends
2. Be alert to the needs of your friends - not just your own needs
3. Lighten up, laugh, and let down your hair with your trusted friends
4. Make friendship a high priority in life
5. Be honest with friends
6. Believe the best and encourage the best in your friendships
7. Appreciate the unique qualities of all friends

To Do

1. Write down a list of qualities that make good friends
2. Make a date to go out with some of your best friends
3. Make a special day devoted to spend with a friend you haven't seen in a while
4. Buy a thoughtful gift for a friend
5. Send encouragement to friends when needed
6. Place photos of friends in places that will remind you or your fun times!

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Proverbs 17:17
2. Isaiah 41:6
3. 1 Corinthians 16:14
4. Proverbs 27:9
5. Galatians 5:13
6. Proverbs 18:24
7. 1 Peter 4:10
8. James 2:23
9. Philippians 2:2

"The only way to have a friend is to be a friend."

            Ralph Waldo Emerson

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

"It's not what I do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through me." Elizabeth Dole

God has a plan for everyone! That is a pretty simple statement with a lot of meaning in it.

Sometimes it is hard to always know what the purpose is in something: this can be something small or big. You may be wondering what the purpose is behind losing a job or not being able to find one. You may be wondering what the purpose of your life is. God knows. God has a reason. 

My students learned that "God Made the World" last week. Our theme song was "He's God the Whole World in His Hands". I loved that song as a child - especially the itty-bitty baby part. Singing it as an adult I now understand the deep meaning in its words. God really has the whole world in His hands. His hands are big enough for all of us and he is there. He isn't leaving or too busy. He is bigger than all of this! He's got us in His hands!

Will Do

1. Say yes to God's calling 
2. Ask for God's guidance
3. Be compassionate to those who are in need
4. Be open and creative
5. Stand for the truth
6. Seek God's highest good in all situations
7. Do your best and trust God with the rest

To Do

1. Create a personal mission statement
2. Read the biography of a famous missionary of Christian
3. Invest $100 into one of your talents or gifts
4. Invest $100 into someone else's ministry or talent
5. Send thank-you notes to those who were a good influence on your life
6. Take a life-planning course

Bible Verse to Remember

1. 1 Peter 2:21
2. 1 Corinthians 1:26
3. Isaiah 6:8
4. John 15:16
5. Romans 11:29
6. Ephesians 4:1
7. Isaiah 32:8

"God has created me to do some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has no committed to another." 

            John Henry Newman

You Can Do It

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much." Bessie Anderson Stanley

Success is something that we all want to achieve. We all view success differently and want to succeed at different things.

There are so many viewpoints on success and how to go about doing it. God has many promises about success and He will help you with what you are trying to achieve.

Here are a few other pointers to help you succeed:

• Keep a positive attitude 
• Set goals you can achieve
• Do your best and take risks
• Don't quit!
• Lighten up and have some fun
• Commit your ways to the Lord

Will Do

1. Commit your works to God
2. Keep a positive attitude
3. Be diligent
4. Be persistent
5. Seek to live life well
6. Look for possibilities instead of concentrating on problems
7. Define success in your own way

To Do

1. Take some time to really think about what is important to you
2. Write in your journal about what success means to you
3. Make a list of successes you would like to achieve - pray about them
4. Send a thank-you note to someone who has either helped or inspired you
5. Read a biography of someone you find successful
6. Get together with friends and talk about all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations
7. Give a donation to something you believe in

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 3 John 2
2. Matthew 5:16
3. John 3:27
4. Colossians 3:23
5. Matthew 7:13-14
6. Proverbs 10:22

"Your success and happiness lie in you. External conditions are the accidents of life. The great enduring realities are love and service."

            Helen Keller

I Love Being Married

"We don't naturally grow together and love each other more. We tend to grow apart, to grow distant. So we have to work hard at marriage. It's the most fun work in the world, but it's still work." Ann Ortlund

Marriage is such a wonderful gift! I am a newbie still but I love what marriage offers and everything beautiful that come with it.

A while back, when my hubby and I were still dating, he said something to me once that was so profound (he tend to do that a lot). He told me that he felt that love came in waves; it was never the same. At times he loved me so much it as overflowing, and at others it wasn't so much. He always loved me though! (this happened to be at a time where his point was he loved me a whole bunch at that point so no worries!).

My devotional this morning was about marriage and its many seasons. Little did I know, or my hubby know, at that point in our lives that what he was saying had so much truth to it. There are times when we go through highs and lows, with anything, but especially marriage. There will be times when everything is great. Things just seem to all into place and almost feel perfect. Then there are those other times when you wish the "good times" were back. You wish that you weren't arguing about dumb little things and you wonder why everything is making you upset.

Marriage is a great and wonderful gift. It is the closest we will ever come to understanding God's love for us. God has given us marriage to teach us so many things: love, faithfulness, strength, endurance, patience, just to name a few.

Treat your marriage how you would your relationship with God. Treat your spouse how God treats you. Truly practice a loving and unconditional love relationship. It is hard to do. But having God as your foundation will make you strong and able to do the impossible!

Will Do

1. Honor your spouse and make your marriage a priority
2. Bring concerns to God in prayer
3. Be open to change
4. Understand that marriage has its seasons that God will help you through
5. Be willing to compromise
6. Make time together a priority
7. Be committed to growth, in marriage and as an individual

To Do

1. Remind each other why you want to be together
2. Make a commitment to worship together
3. Make a list of 3 things you admire in your spouse and then tell them!
4. Plan a romantic date for just the two of you
5. Tuck a love note in your spouse's lunch 
6. Turn off the TV and just spend an evening together

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Genesis 2:24
2. Genesis 2:18
3. 1 Corinthians 7:3
4. Matthew 19:11
5. Matthew 19:6
6. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
7. Proverbs 19:14
8. Ecclesiastes 4:9
9. 1 Corinthians 16:14

"There is no more lovely, friendly, or charming relationship, communion, or company, than a good marriage."

            Martin Luther 

Loving what You Do

"Work without a love relationship spells burnout." Lloyd John Ogilvie

It is so hard to find a job that you love doing. Sometimes work becomes so separate from our lives that we don't even considerate it something apart of it.

The sad thing is that the majority of people spend most of their time at work. I know that my time is mostly spent at work. 40 hour weeks are a pretty good chunk of my time. If I didn't love my job I'd have a pretty miserable life.

Finding a job that you love is important! Loving what you do, and why you do it, is a start to being happy in your work and appreciating your workplace and the people you work with!

Will Do

1. Trust God to bless your labors
2. Do your best work
3. Be persistent
4. Get organized
5. Have a positive attitude about work
6. Seek ways to constantly improve
7. Cultivate a willing heart and willing hands for God's work

To Do

1. Make a prayer list of concerns about work
2. Write your personal goals for your life - weekly, monthly, yearly goals
3. Develop a new skill
4. Meet with a career counselor if necessary
5. Update your resume
6. Organize your workplace - at home and in the office
7. Write about your ambitions, hopes and dreams

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Colossians 3:23
2. Philippians 1:10-11
3. Hebrews 6:10
4. Ephesians 2:10
5. Ephesians 4:28
6. Proverbs 31:13

"A dairy maid can milk cows to the glory of God."

            Martin Luther

Study God's Word

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has hands, it lays hold on me." Martin Luther

Sometimes we find it so hard to get into the habit of studying God's Word and having a devoted relationship with Him.

I remember in my teenage years really wanting to have a better relationship with God but not knowing how to do that. I remember comparing myself to my mom. I would watch her get up in the morning, sip her morning coffee, and sit comfy on our couch and read the Bible and her devotional book. I thought that when I was her age I would do the same thing. I thought it would come easier with age.

Well, here I am sitting comfy on my couch, sipping my morning coffee and reading my devotional book. I'm here! I'm doing it! But, the sad part of it all is that I could've done it then as well...I just didn't know how.

I'm not blaming anyone, or saying I would have if someone had taught me what to do. I am saying that I was searching for what to do and I couldn't seem to find the answer. It was right in front of me but I wasn't getting it.

So...now I sit here hoping to help someone else who is in the same predicament that I was in.

How should we get into a relationship with God? How should you study? Here are some quick tips to try out. They are all different, so find the one that fits you best! That's the start of it - finding what works for you and God!

• Pick a topic and study if throughout the Bible. Family, love, faith, etc.
• Choose a character you love, or want to know more about. Read and study their life in the Bible
• Choose a book in the Bible to study. Break it down throughout time and reference other books to help you understand it. 
• Memorize verses in the Bible. Tuck them away in your heart.
• Read the Psalms or Proverbs. Every day choose one to read and really focus on what it is saying. 
• Read the Bible through in a year. There are many study plans to get this done in a year. Look them up and give it a try. 
• Pick out an important topic to study. Such as the "Sermon on the Mount".
• Read the Life of Christ - the gospels.

These are just some ways to get on track, a beginning. Hope this helps!

Will Do

1. Seek God's wisdom for life from the Bible
2. List to His guidance through circumstances, people, intuition, and the Bible
3. Resolve to study the Bible regularly
4. Make spiritual growth a priority
5. Be open to new ways of understanding God
6. Nurture your spirit with prayer and Bible study
7. Trust that God will guide to the right resources

To Do

1. Buy a good Study Bible (or do what I did and ask Grandma for an old one!)
2. Do a topical study
3. Start a Bible study journal 
4. Start a Bible study group
5. Learn how to use other resources, such as a concordance, Bible dictionary, and commentary
6. Call a friend and pick a time to study together
7. Memorize meaningful texts

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 2 Peter 1:4
2. Joshua 1:8
3. Hebrews 10:23
4. John 8:31
5. Proverbs 30:5
6. Psalm 119:105
7. Psalm 19:7
8. 2 Corinthians 1:20
9. Deuteronomy 8:3
10. Psalm 119:24
11. 2 Timothy 3:16
12. Matthew 4:4
13. Luke 11:28

"Men turn this way and than in their search for new sources of comfort and inspiration, but the enduring truths are to be found in the Word of God."

            Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

Don't Be A Fool

"There is never a fear that has not a corresponding "Fear Not."" Amy Carmichael

Jesus is the rock, everything else is the sand. Simple as that!

We all have heard the story of the foolish many building his house on the sand. When the winds blew and the storm came, the house blew over.

Then, there was a wise man who built his house on a rock. When the winds blew and the storm came, the house stood firm!

Now...we all know that no matter where we build our house the winds are going to blow and the storms of life will come. We know that the house will rock. So why not start out wise and build on a solid foundation? Why not build your life on something solid, something you can count on and trust, and not worry about the end result?

Will Do

1. Trust God as my true security
2. Bring my fears and worries to God
3. Be willing to move beyond a comfort zone
4. Have a positive attitude in the midst of a negative situation
5. Be open to other people
6. Cultivate peace and a trusting heart
7. Remember that God is your protector and provider

To Do

1. Write your worries down on paper - then burn them
2. Do a study on fear, tracing God's promises through the Bible
3. List your blessings
4. Comfort someone who is afraid
5. Memorize a comforting Bible verse
6. Write about a time when you felt insecure and how God helped you and how other's helped you as well. 

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 1 John 4:4
2. John 10:29
3. Hebrews 13:6
4. Isaiah 43:2
5. Psalm 94:18-19

"The cure for fear is faith."

            Norman Vincent Peale

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

"Every temptation is great or small according as the man is." Jeremy Taylor

Temptations surround us every day. They are the big ones - such as stealing, lying, cheating, and gossiping. Some of these seems easy to steer clear of, but others not so much.

Think about it....how many times are you tempted to eat a little too much, keep the extra change that the store gave you, flirting with someone who is married (and you're married too). These are the "smaller" temptations that haunt us every day that aren't so easy to stay away from.

When you think about it, temptations seem to come around when we aren't satisfied. If we were "full to the brim" with happiness then non of the above would affect us. We wouldn't need more food, extra money, or attention from someone who we shouldn't be getting it from.

Now, I'm not saying that your life is unhappy or anything...we all fall short of happiness when we aren't connected to the source of joy! Get connected! Talk to God, pray to him and let him fill your life with joy. Then...temptations, big or small, won't make their way in.

Will Do

1. Pray for God's guidance and help when temptations arise
2. Remember and understand that you always have a choice when temptations occur
3. Trust God to deliver you
4. Remember that God will always show the way out of a temptations - or a way to avoid it in the first place
5. Remember everyone struggles
6. Be honest with yourself about what you're tempted with
7. Have empathy with other who struggle

To Do

1. Write a prayer to God asking for help with specific temptations
2. Read and meditate on Romans 7:21-23
3. Say a simple "no thank you" to smaller temptations
4. When you resist temptations, reward yourself with a wiser choice
5. Ask a friend to help you with something you struggle with
6. Develop a habit to help you control your temptations - a quick walk, count to 20, say a prayer

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Proverbs 14:8
2. James 1:2-3
3. 1 Peter 5:8-9
4. Romans 7:1-23
5. 1 Corinthians 10:13

"My temptations have been my masters in divinity."

           Martin Luther

He is With You

"Time lost is when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering." Bonhoeffer

There is a time for everything!

The seasons of the year remind us of the many changes that life can bring about. The good news is that there is always a perfect time for the different things in our lives.

I can not say it better than Mandisa does in her amazing song, "He is With You". You have to listen to it! I've posted the link HERE. Click on it and take a listen. It is so touching and it really gets the point across that needs to be said this morning!

Will Do

1. Savor every season of life
2. Really know that God is with you in everything
3. Rejoice in the circle of seasons
4. Remember good times
5. Be thankful for the lessons learned from difficult times
6. Enjoy family and friends
7. Reflect on the past, rejoice in the present, and rest the future in God's hands

To Do

1. Create a family album
2. Celebrate Valentine's Day by giving special gifts
3. Make a wreath with seasonal materials
4. Take a bust day in December to reflect
5. Make a May Day flower basket
6. Write about the season of life you are experiencing
7. Be a sponsor for a younger group's event

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Ecclesiastes 3:1
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11
3. Ecclesiastes 5:18
4. Psalm 118:24
5. Psalm 90:12
6. Esther 4:14
7. Deuteronomy 3:25

"What is Time? The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer and winter, months, years, centuries - these are but arbitrary and outward signs, the measure of Time, not Time itself. Time is the Life of the Soul."

            Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Don't Be A Worry-Wart

"Feed not your spirit on anything but God. Cast off concern about things, and bear peace and recollection in your heart." John of the Cross

Why must I always worry? I think that this is a common thing that we all do.

In the beginning of our marriage I was worried a lot. Maybe it was the new finances we were taking on?Maybe it was me being in school and working full time? Or maybes it was just me being a control freak?

I remember my hubby telling me that I can't have it both ways. What he meant was that I can't say that I'm trusting God for everything and say that I have strong faith while worrying all the time about finances and freaking out about time and other things.

He was right! What he said was so profound and I still remember that today. I can't have it both ways. I can't trust God and worry at the same time. The worry totally takes the trust away.

Today's devotion was all about worry and how we as Christians are told not to! We are not to worry about anything. We need to always know that God is with us and He will figure it out.

We can either decide to be impatient and fix problems on our own with limited resources, or (I like the alternative) we can wait for God's perfect timing, allowing him to play out His outcome with His unlimited resources!

Will Do

1. Trust that God will take care of every need
2. Focus on thoughts of God's provision instead of fears
3. Be thankful for what God has provided
4. Concentrate on living in the moment instead of worrying about tomorrow
5. Cast all your cares on God!
6. Be aware of the needs of others
7. Have a positive attitude

To Do

1. List 25 things you are thankful for from God
2. Memorize Psalm 23
3. Write an "I-Trust-God" check for tithe
4. Have a good cry and then take a walk....refreshing!
5. Write your worries in the sand
6. Take a stress-management course
7. Call a friend and pray with her

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Matthew 6:34
2. Psalm 138:8
3. Isaiah 12:2
4. Psalm 94:19
5. Psalm 118:6
6. Proverbs 1:33
7. Psalm 121:2
8. Proverbs 12:25
9. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
10. Philippians 4:7
11. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
12. Hebrews 10:35

"Care for the next minute is just as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything."

            C. S. Lewis

Full of Life

"We may affirm that absolutely nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." Georg Hegel

There is someone who draws your attention whenever you come into contact with them or something about them. They intrigue you. I have someone in mind that I am so intrigued by. Every time a picture is put up on Facebook I have to go and see the entire album. Their life, their family - they are just so interesting!

Some might think this a little creepy, or interesting, but I just see it as someone that I look up to. I am motivated by this person's lifestyle. Every thing I see that she does I think it is brilliant!

Now, I don't find this too ironic. I think that we are drawn to happy, passionate people. We long to be full of life and excitement! I hope that I am that someone for another person out there. I hope that I love my life to the fullest and give off a zest for life.

Here are some pointers to follow in order to embrace life:

• Appreciate life itself - rejoice in the small things and let people know it
• Seek out new experiences - do something new, fun, and spur of the moment
• Be active - Exercise, play, plan parties, have fun!
• Cultivate beauty - Plant a garden, make a scarf, take up painting
• Reach out to others - Let others know that you are there for them - and be there
• Add spice and color to all your days - Cook, bake, wear a cute scarf
• Lighten up - Laugh more - It's good for you!
• Be thankful for the many blessings in your life
• Never be afraid to be passionate about your faith

Yay! I just made my own mini list of things I must do! 

Here's what the devotional says:

Will Do

1. Embrace life with zest and passion
2. Be open to life's surprises
3. Laugh more
4. Enjoy every moment of the day
5. Count blessings with a grateful heart
6. Celebrate diversity and wonder
7. Live life as an adventure

To Do

1. Sign up for a class that is intriguing to you
2. Create an original recipe
3. Try a new restaurant or as new dish of food
4. Throw a party for all your friend - just because!
5. Read an adventure story
6. Plan a trip to a local exotic place
7. Take someone you love on a surprise romantic date

Bible Verses to Remember 

1. 2 Timothy 1:7
2. Psalm 91:16
3. Proverbs 8:35
4. 1 Corinthians 10:31
5. John 15:11
6. Proverbs 10:22
7. Proverbs 16:3
8. 1 Corinthians 13:11

"It's not how long you live, but how well you live."

            Martin Luther King

Reaching Out

"The best exercise for the heart is reaching down and lifting people up." Ernest Blevins

Jesus was the ultimate comforter. He not only made people feel better emotionally, He also reached out and touched them with healing hands.

It is so important to understand how important human touch is. Sometimes a touch is all you need.

There are times when the hubby and I have a disagreement and the only apology we both need is an embrace; any type of touch will do and we both know that we will feel better as soon as we just reach out.

There are other people in our lives that need human touch and we can help them with that! Everyone needs it, but who can you give it to today?

Will Do

1. Be thankful that God is constantly reaching out to us
2. Be alert to opportunities to reach out to others
3. Share your time with others
4. Have an open and tender heart
5. Be willing to ask for help
6. Have empathy
7. Be grateful for those who have extended a hand

To Do

1. Volunteer to help someone in need
2. Give someone you love a back rub or massage
3. Hug a child today
4. Introduce yourself to someone with a handshake
5. Visit someone in a nursing home
6. Call someone you haven't spoken to in awhile
7. Journal about how God has reached out to you

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Matthew 9:21
2. Luke 18:15
3. Mark 8:22
4. Psalm 147:3
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
6. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
7. Matthew 14:35-36

"To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own."

            Abraham Lincoln 

Loyalty

"Faithfulness in little things is a big thing." Saint John Chrysostom

Loyalty.

I hope that I am looked at as a loyal person. I think that anyone would hope that they are loyal. It seems easy enough to stick to your word, sustain from talking about others, and believing the best in others; yet, we seem to always find ourselves in these situations not doing what a loyal person would do.

God feels very strongly about loyalty. It is all up and down the proverbs and throughout the Bible. Loyalty is very important to Him and we need to get help to be truly, loyal people.

Thanks you God! Thank you for showing us true loyalty and for being the perfect example for us to follow.

Will Do

1. Believe the best before I think the worst
2. Encourage instead of criticize
3. Keep my word
4. Be kind to all I meet
5. Treasure loyalty and trust
6. Be honest with my friends
7. Rest in God unfailing loyalty

To Do

1. Call or write a friend to offer encouragement
2. Evaluate your ability to be loyal
3. Apologize, if necessary, to someone who you did not show loyalty too
4. Read the book of Ruth - true story of loyalty
5. Instead of joining in the gossip, next time stand up for the person
6. Make an effort not to gossip with your friends

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Proverbs 16:6
2. Matthew 6:24
3. Ruth 1:16
4. Proverbs 18:21
5. Proverbs 19:22
6. Proverbs 10:18
7. Proverbs 20:6

"Loyalty means not that I am you, or that I agree with everything you say or that I believe you are always right. Loyalty means that I share a common ideal with you and that regardless of minor differences we fight for it, should to shoulder, confident in one another's good faith, trust, constancy, and affection."
            Karl Menninger

Beauty

"Characteristics which define beauty are wholeness, harmony, and radiance." Thomas Aquinas

It is hard to always understand what beauty really is. We are constantly being told what the whorl thinks beauty is and it become embedded in us and we can't seem to remember the truth.

Beauty comes from within and God promises that He will beautify us with His love. This means we have to let Him in and do it! It God is in our hearts we are beautiful!

Will Do

1. Remember that beauty begins in the heart
2. Don't compare yourself to others. Have a peaceful spirit. 
3. Enjoy your femininity
4. Be compassionate and empathetic
5. Always be positive and cheerful
6. Allow God's spirit to calm your heart

To Do

1. Ask God to reveal your special, feminine gifts.
2. Sit quietly and reflect on what God is doing in your life
3. Take a fragrant bubble bath
4. Write about what makes you feel feminine
5. Place fresh flowers and candles around your home
6. Buy something beautiful for your home
7. Buy or make something beautiful to wear

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 1 Chronicles 16:29
2. Isaiah 58:11
3. Psalm 19:14
4. Philippians 1:10-11
5. Psalm 149:4
6. Song of Solomon 6:10
7. Esther 2:12

"Beauty is God's handwriting. Welcome it in every fair face, every fair day, every fair flower."

            Charles Kingsley 

Identity

"To work in the world lovingly means that we are defining what we will be for, rather than reacting to what we are against." Christina Baldwin

We all have a specific identity. Hopefully you are proud of yours and are willing to let people in and know it.

Knowing who you are is important in this life. Understanding the person God wants you to be is even more vital. Continue to search and question who God wants you to be and become that identity and stay confident in who you are!

Will Do

1. Be confident in the person God called you to be
2. Enjoy your individuality
3. Invest in cultivating gifts and talents
4. Relax in God's love - don't try too hard
5. When others struggle, be empathetic to their needs
6. Enjoy your freedom
7. Know that you are special!

To Do

1. Tell someone why you are special
2. Ask someone why they are special
3. Ask yourself what your purpose is on earth and take heart to it
4. Write thank-you notes to people who have encouraged you
5. Write down what qualities of Christ are evident in you
6. List 10 strengths
7. Maximize one of your strengths!

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Psalm 118:8
2. John 15:16
3. 1 Corinthians 13:12
4. 2 Corinthians 5:17
5. Ephesians 1:11
6. 1 Peter 2:9

"Christians have an entirely new basis for identity. This basis is a foundational reality which transcends any culture's evaluation of a person."

            Barbara Cook

Let the Children Come

"I love little children, and it is not a slight thing when they who are fresh from God love us." Dickens

We all know that children are a gift from God. I am so lucky to get to work with them every day! They are so full of life and I love them for it!

Some of us have children of our own, and some of us have the children of others to motivate and learn from. It is important to remember some key things when loving and raising children. Always give them lots of love! They need to know you care for them. Hugs, cuddles, and saying "I love you" are great ways to start. Discipline is a must! Children need to know their boundaries and respect those who give them some! They also need to see that you are consistent with discipline. This helps them see that there is consistency in the world and they can count on you. And, of course, spend time with them. Show them that you value their opinion and what they are doing in their life! They will love you for it!

Most importantly, remember that Jesus wants us to have hearts like children. That is what will show us how to have faith like we need!

Will Do

1. Appreciate God's message like a child would
2. Enjoy speeding time with children
3. Remember that we are all God's children
4. Have a sense of humor!
5. Treasure passing moments and store of memories
6. Be generous with love and affection

To Do

1. Give children your time today
2. Give some extra hugs or "I love you"'s to a child today
3. Treat a child with something special today
4. When asking a child a question - really listen

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Proverbs 22:6
2. Ephesians 5:1
3. Isaiah 49:15
4. Proverbs 23:24
5. Mark 10:13-14
6. Psalm 127:3

"A baby is God's opinion that like should go on."

            Carl Sandburg

Courage

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."                Eddie Rickenbacker

Courage.

It is a funny thing. Those that think they have it, don't; those that think they don't have it, do.

It takes digging deeper to find courage at times. It may come in a simple way, for instance, when I (because I'm the teacher) have to get rid of the spider in the classroom. Or, maybe  it is in a less obvious way, but still very dominant. When a family has to make the decision of putting their loved one into a nursing home. These are all acts of courage.

Will Do

1. Remember that God gives us courage
2. Overcome fears with faith
3. Believe that God will take care of us
4. Appreciate the courage of others
5. Always stay positive
6. Always look before leaping
7. Always remember what it feels like to act courageously

To Do

• Read a biography of a courageous woman of the past
• Personal a Bible verse that promises courage in a challenging situation
• Volunteer
• Confront someone you have been avoiding
• Try something new you have been afraid to try
• Take a self-defense class

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 1 John 4:18
2. Romans 8:37
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9
4. Matthew 10:28
5. Philippians 1:27-28 
6. Proverbs 28:1

"Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it."

            Martin Luther King

In Times of Trouble

"In times of trouble, remember that God is too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain himself." Unknown

There are so many times in this life that we experience troubles. Troubles can come in all types of ways. It can be a small trouble, or a big one that you can't seem to shake. Whatever it is, you have a choice. You can either look at the trouble as something that is annoying, hurting, and just plain difficult. Or, you can choose to look at it for a blessing in disguise. Sometimes forgetting your camera at home may cause you to waste time, turn around, and go back and get it but in God's timing and wisdom, the "waste of time" was really keeping you from a terrible accident. (true story)

Choose to look at your troubles as blessings in disguise. Just a reminder about a wonderful song I talk about before - Blessings by Laura Story. Click on the link and listen if you haven't already! It is a beautiful song and a great reminder for the devotion today.

Will Do

1. Trust God with troubles
2. Be positive even when tempted to complain
3. Look for lessons in your troubles
4. Be compassionate with others who are facing troubles
5. Remember that troubles are temporary
6. Be grateful for the small things in life

To Do

1. Every time you are tempted to complain, list 5 things you are thankful for
2. Read Psalm 42
3. Do a kind deed without being discovered
4. Write about 3 things that are troubling you
5. Find a Bible verse for each of those 3 things and memorize the promise
6. Take a 1/2 hour to relax and be by yourself
7. Dress becomingly today! 

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Isaiah 45:3
2. Psalm 55:22
3. Hebrews 6:12
4. Hebrews 11:6
5. Isaiah 9:2
6. Ephesians 5:13
7. 2 Corinthians 4:16

"I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light."

            Mary Gardiner Brainard