photo by Tim Mossholder

The Repentant Heart

                                                                                                                      photo by Mark-Tulin

                   Roses Have Thorns

I’ve often wondered about how something so beautiful can cause you pain. If you look at the rose you will see the beauty that it gives and then when you move further down on the stem you will see thorns. You have to handle them very carefully to prevent being pricked by the thorns.

Roses presents in various colors, red, yellow, white, pink and orange. Ironically some of these are the colors of the rainbow. They can be sprayed to represent other colors as well. I love the blue and purple ones too. The best time to plant roses is in November. They go through blossoming stages. Roses usually begin their first bloom cycle after the last winter frost. The bloom cycle of most modern roses are approximately 6-8 weeks. They look their best when they are in full bloom. I love it when there are a combination of pink, blue, white, purple and yellow roses in a vase. They offer a very elegant center piece and emit a pleasant fresh fragrance as well.

I have personally experienced the sweet aroma of a floral fragrance during praise and worship service. It’s a sweet fragrance that enters the room and you immediately know that it’s the presence of the Lord, especially when there are no flowers nearby in the room. We welcome the presence of the Lord especially when He comes into the room through a sweet smelling savor. It is so welcoming and exciting to experience this firsthand and so pleasant I would welcome it any day, all day.

                      I Surrender All    

Photo by Jackson Simmer

Have you ever come to a place in your life where you have exhausted all possibilities in your strength? You’ve come to the end of yourself, your capabilities, your abilities and the usual way you manage things. It’s a good thing to recognize that you are not in control but realize that God is sovereign and He knows what best for you and me.

There was a popular television sitcom called “Father Knows Best.” It was so good that it lasted for six years and was also featured on the radio. The father’s name was Jim, who was played by Robert Young; his wife Margaret, played by Jane Wyatt. They had one son and two daughters. Jim was the go to person who had the answer to all of their life’s problems and dilemmas. No matter what happened they would always circle back for his take on the situation. This was mentioned to give a greater perspective on who has the answer to all of our problems, worries and fears. We should not rely on man to solve our problems, but the answer is in Jesus Christ. Our first line of defense should always be God. He is the Father, who knows best. He encourages us to seek Him first and to not lean on our own understanding. He wants our thoughts to become His thoughts, because His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

                    Prayer for Change

photo by Pedro Lima

Father, we come boldly before the throne of grace with a heart of thanksgiving. Thank You for forgiving us, providing for us, healing us and protecting us.

Please forgive us of our debts, transgressions and iniquities. Forgive us for the sins of our fathers. Because the sins of our fathers visits the 3^rd and 4^th generations we acknowledge that we have sinned and come short of Your glory  sometimes unaware. Purify our bloodline. Thank you that all our generational traumas has been broken and destroyed in the name of Jesus. We thank you for the blessings that flow to the 10^th generation. We are joint heirs of Jesus Christ and we will flourish, thrive and enjoy Your many blessings. We are Your people, called by Your name, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, seek Your face, then You will hear from heaven, forgive us of our sins and heal our land.

                                                                       Peace Be Still

 Photo by Aaron Burden 

In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, the phrase "peace be still" serves as a comforting reminder to seek tranquility amidst the storm. This powerful expression invites us to pause, reflect, and cultivate a sense of calm in our daily lives.

Life troubled experiences, situations, problems and dilemmas try to wear us out. Don’t fret or fear, just know that our help has already been provided. Look unto God, who cares deeply for all of us. He has already made concessions for current and future events. He has already provided a way of escape.

                      Discipline

Photo by Joel Muniz

Discipline is an interesting topic. It is the root word for discipleship and disciples. It is so important for all of these root words, because it leads to an extraordinary posture. Disciplined people are usually wise, knowledgeable and peaceful. It is defined as a form of training by following certain guidelines that render positive results if followed and negative consequences if not adhered to.

Photo by age-barros

The Second Half

photo by:Priscilla Du Preez CA

Ponder, Pray, Pursue

There are times in life when we need to ponder before we make our next move. Pondering takes place in our mind. It means to think about, ‘reflect on, to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply.’ It’s not an easy task to do, specifically when we have to make some very difficult decisions.

                                                  Confidence

                                     Photo by sydney Rae 

Confidence is important in so many ways. We need confidence in everything we do. It is especially important in our family life, career, finances and relationships. We have to believe in ourselves and we hope others will believe in us too. Even if they don’t we still have to be true to who we are and confident in ourselves.

                         Soar Like Eagles

                                              Photo by Richard Lee

Wouldn’t it be great to have the ability to see 2 miles down the road? Believe it or not this is what an eagle experiences. Eagles are equipped with extremely sharp vision. Humans aim to have 20/20 vision, but according to research an eagle has 20/5 vision, which is so much better than humans.

photo by Timo Wagner

                                                 Photo by Jerome on Unsplash

Our eyes are a very important part of who we are. We are blessed to have five senses and seeing is one of those. The others are hearing, taste, touch and smell. The eyes are a powerful resource that enables us to see the beautiful world around us. We do not generally think twice about the eyes functioning properly until we notice something is going wrong.

If you ever had to choose between the two following people who would you choose?

Prince Charming is a fantasy character who Cinderella fell madly in love with. The prince in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White portrayed similar heroic and charming characteristics. He might have been the type of man that was too good to be true. On the other hand, Boaz was a biblical wealthy landowner. He was also in the ancestry lineage of  Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. (Matthew 1:5-16).

     Photo by Anna Gru                               

                                   Miracles

We tend to talk about miracles more during the holiday season, but little do we know they are happening every day, all day and throughout the year.

I stand in awe and amazement at the many miracles that happen in my life daily.  

Miracles are things that occur in our lives that are extraordinary and beyond our norm.  They are unexplainable and defy all odds. They happen daily and they go unnoticed.

Aside from the official definition of miracles I see them also as coming through a bad thunderstorm warning without a loss of life or damage to any property. They  are when our heart beats rhythmically and we breath without effort. We do this automatically unless we develop some type of health problem. To be able to put one foot in front of the other, breath fresh clean air, receive healing from an excruciating headache, make wise decisions and travel without any incidence of hurt, harm or danger is a miracle. I also believe that it’s a miracle to be able to use our five senses; hear, see, taste, touch and smell. So many things can go wrong so quickly. This was so important to make note of when the world was faced with the Covid19 pandemic unexpectantly. Some people were experiencing a sudden loss of taste and smell, which indicated they had come into contact with or had contracted the virus. They were so glad to regain their ability to taste and smell. I see this as one of the million little miracles that happens in our life.  

I love a song that I heard recently that is so true. It’s called Million Little Miracles, written by Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music.

“All my life, I've been carried by grace
Don't ask me how 'cause I can't explain
It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I've got some blessings that I don't deserve
I've got some scars, but that's how you learn
It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I think it over and it doesn't add up
I know it comes from above

I've got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can't even count 'em all

I encourage you to listen to this song at your earliest convenience and to start counting your miracles each day. I believe you will not be able to count them all.

                                                                     Influencer

                      Photo by Gian Cescon                                  

We all are influencers in one way or another. We affect others through our sphere of influence whether it is for good or bad. This means that we have the capacity to affect others in their development, behavior and character.

                                                                                                 Invisible Walls    

                                                                                   9/11/2022

 Photo by Zachary Nelson

                                     Keep Dancing

                                                                 Photo by Zachary Nelson

How many of you loved to dance when you were young at heart? I used to dance a lot when I was younger. To be truthful, I believe I was a great dancer. I enjoyed learning the latest dance steps and newest dance moves. I fondly remember my childhood Pastor saying, “You don’t have to stop dancing, you just change partners.” I believe he was telling us to keep dance even after we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. He will now become our partner due to our change of heart and mindset.