Focus on Jesus

The Lord says, “I will teach you
    and guide you in the way you should live.
    I will watch over you and be your guide.
Psalm 32:8

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

Problems will happen in life. this world is full of sin and bad things will happen to everyone. Instead of focusing on the problems, and trying to fix them, we should be focusing on Jesus and letting Him take care of everything else.

So many times I try and fix things myself. I focus on the best solution to problems and forget all about taking them to God. I know that if I just began with carrying my burdens to Him, I would be in a whole lot better shape from the beginning.

Begin today by asking God to carry your burdens, anxieties and any worries you may have. Then focus on Him and you will begin to feel peace and understanding.

But the government that rules us is in heaven. We are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there. He will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. Christ can do this by his power, with which he is able to rule everything. Philippians 3:20-21

Feeling Blessed

Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

"I cast all my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at your feet. And anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you."

I remember singing this song as a child, not sure of it's deep meaning, but singing it with all my heart. Now, I sing it, knowing its meaning, and tears fill my eyes. the meaning of this simple song is so big; so true.

These past few days I have challenged myself to thank God for the things in my life that go unnoticed often. Yesterday was a bit more challenging than Monday. I want to make sure that this becomes a habit in my life for two reasons. One, because I think it is important to thank God for what He has given us. It is our way of acknowledging His power and being. And two, it is a way to stay connected to Him continually throughout the day. And both of these things I truly want!

This morning I am overwhelmed with emotion...not quite sure why, but I know I feel blessed and I am thankful! I know that God carries my burdens and anxieties for me and I know that He will remain faithful!

I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. Ephesians 3:16-19

Thank the Lord for his faithful love
    and for the amazing things he does for people.
Offer sacrifices of thanks to him.    Sing with joy about all that he has done. 
Psalm 107:21-22

A Simple List of Thanks

Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

The Lord has made a promise with an oath
    and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever—
    the kind of priest Melchizedek was.”

My Lord is at your right side.

    He will defeat the other kings when he becomes angry. 
Psalm 100:4-5

My devotions have all been about thankfulness and gratitude. Yesterday I challenged myself to thank God for something every hour of my day! I started around 8am and continued it throughout the day. My day was filled with joy and I will continue praising and thanking God for everything He has given me!

Here is what turned up on my list:

1. Gift of Christ - Christmas
2. A fixed car
3. An understanding and caring boss
4. Awesome students!
5. A lunch to eat
6. Family and friends who support me 
7. Quick walks at work in a safe campus
8. Water to drink and clean air to breathe
9. A loving hubby 
10. A beauty of a sunset
11. Helpful hands
12. Good books to read
13. God's perfect timing
14. Good advice
15. A soft, warm bed

Thank you God for the simple things in life that you provide! 

These people also said,

“Hallelujah!
    She is burning and her smoke will rise forever and ever.”

Then the 24 elders and the four living beings bowed down. They worshiped God, who sits on the throne. They said,

“Amen! Hallelujah!”

Then a voice came from the throne and said,

“Praise our God,
    all you who serve him!
Praise our God,
    all you small and great who honor him!”

Then I heard something that sounded like a large crowd of people. It was as loud as crashing waves or claps of thunder. The people were saying,

“Hallelujah!
    Our Lord God rules.

    He is the All-Powerful. 
Revelation 19:3-6

Thankful Challenge

This is the day the Lord has made.    Let us rejoice and be happy today!Psalm 118:24

I absolutely love that Christmas music is playing on almost every station and the office is sparkling with lots of tinsel and decor! I love this time of year and I find so many reminders of thanksgiving!

I know that we just got done with all the turkey meals and talk of thanksgiving, but I really think that this should be am entire season of thanks! We have so much to thank God for and we need to remember to actively thank Him! I need to remember to actively thank Him!

Today I am challenging myself to thank Jesus for something every hour! I know that this will be hard to remember but I am putting a reminder up on my desk now to help me remember to find things to be thankful for throughout the day - I hope that you take this challenge with me!

I will give you a thank offering.    I will call on the Lord’S name.Psalm 116:17 

Thank You Note

If you look to him for help,    he will put a smile on your face.    You will have no need to be ashamed.Psalm 34:5

Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Thank You, God!

Thank You for all that You have blessed me with.

Thank You for your love, grace, compassion, understanding.

Thank You for loving me and for showing me that You are constant.

You are always here. You will never leave me.

Thank You!

Just a quick "thank you" note to express and bask in God's glory!

And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 

We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 

Beauty

Praise the Lord and honor his name!    Worship the Lord in all his holy beauty.Psalm 29:2

 I didn't have time to post this morning but i want to still write a quick message...

Find the beauty in the mundane! There is beauty in everything around and it is up to us to find it.

I know that many people are stressed about the results of last night's election. I'm not here to say what I feel about them or whether or not I agree, but I am here to say that God is in control. I understand that He did not skew the results, but I do believe that He knew the results. He knows the beginning from the end. And if we can't find comfort in anything else, find comfort in that!

Find beauty in everything...it is there!

I ask only one thing from the Lord.    This is what I want most:Let me live in the Lord’S house all my life,    enjoying the Lord’S beauty    and spending time in his palace.Psalm 27:4

Close to God

I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Philippians 4:12

“I am with you, and I will protect you everywhere you go. I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.” Genesis 28:15 

God allows us to get as close to Him as we choose. We can build our relationship up with His or it can have barriers and walls separating us if we allow it to.

I love these Bible verses that surround this post. I find great comfort in their words and I appreciate their message. Philippians 4:12 gives me comfort knowing that others before me knew how to live with just God. They knew that their lives would be complete just by the relationship they had with Him.

Genesis 28:15 is a promise from God that He will never leave us. He has plans for us that He will complete and His promise is so amazing here.

In Philippians 4:19, God is promising that we will never go without anything we need. Our needs will be provided and God will provide everything that is necessary for this life. He has promised this to us and we must trust that He knows our needs.

The last verse, Romans 8:38-39, is so beautiful. It is a reminder that nothing can, or will, ever separate us from God. Nothing. This is a great way to remind everyone that there is nothing we do to be saved. We are saved by grace alone and our actions don't determine our fate; it is Christ alone that saves us and has called us His own!

My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 

God Knows

The Lord is good and merciful;    our God is so kind.The Lord takes care of helpless people.    I was without help, and he saved me.My soul, relax!    The Lord is caring for you.Psalm 116:5-7

I had one of the hardest days yesterday. It really takes it out of you when you are put through a lot of stress and emotional strain. I'm feeling a lot better today (got a good 9+ hours of sleep).  I'm ready to face the day and leave work at work at 12:30 pm today and head up north to see family! It is going to be a fabulous weekend!

My devotion this morning really had me meditating and concentrating on God. I found myself breaking down, slowly, and realizing that God's promises really come through at all times.

Yesterday I was angry, frustrated, stressed, and so many other negative emotions. I wanted revenge!

This morning I am still those things, but I am giving those feelings to God. I know that He knows all and He sees this situation for what it really is. I know that He will make the good flourish and He will defeat the bad. And I find such comfort in that. I am trusting that God will make things right and He will continue to lift me up and give me peace.

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says, “If you come back to me you will be saved. Only by remaining calm and trusting in me can you be strong.” Isaiah 30:15