God Is For Us, In Us, With Us
As you’re going about your day, do you feel as if negative energy is trying to pull you down? Maybe you’re feeling some kind of way, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. Your thoughts are invaded with things from the past which still seem to haunt you in the present.
Or, maybe you’ve battled with an addiction previously, conquered it with the help of God, and yet here comes temptation flaunting itself in your face once more. Recently we had a friend pull out a can of snuff. In conversation, he reached in his pocket, then offered the can to my husband and I. He stopped what he was talking about long enough to say that his mama always told him it was rude to partake of something in front of others without asking if they’d like some first so he was offering his chewing tobacco to us. He laughed as he extended it in my direction knowing that I surely would not ever take it. That’s when I laughed, declined the offer, but politely told him that not too long ago this innocent offer would have been troublesome for us. He stared back at me as I finished by saying that thankfully my husband kicked the habit a few years ago and no longer chews tobacco. This guy’s face dropped, and he let his arm, which was previously extended out in front of him with the can firmly in his grasp, drop with it. He stumbled over his words for a second before saying, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know …” We were smiling when we told him that it was no big deal now, but he insisted that it was. He said he did not want to be the temptation of his brothern and that he did not want to do anything that might cause my husband to be weak. My husband spoke up then and said it was a hard demon to slay back then, but he did it. He went on to say that he’s at a place now where the sight, smell, nor seeing someone dip no longer bothers him.
Maybe it isn’t something as simple as a can of chewing tobacco that someone offers to you. Perhaps you were once an alcoholic who tried to drown your sorrows in the bottle of whiskey, and yet when you’re out with friends now, they order drinks from the bar. Would you have enough willpower not to order one, too, knowing the affects alcohol has had on you and your life previously?
Temptation is all around, even in the form of what we place before our eyes. Whether it’s in magazines, on television, in movies, or even on our smart phones in the search engines or social media. Temptation abounds. You have to constantly guard your heart, mind, and soul in all areas.
I’d like to encourage you with a few scriptures today, one which speaks of taking a stand against the devil’s schemes. We have to be aware at all times that he lurks trying to destroy our lives. I had someone just today talking about how when they are happy and are enjoying an outing with their family, it seems like something is going to happen that will cause them to lose their temper or get anxious. They questioned why this seems to always happen when they’re all out there just trying to have fun. Why? My theory is that the devil cannot stand to see you happy. He prefers that you are miserable, and he will do everything to ensure that you live a miserable existence. When we’re living for God, the devil gets angry and attacks us. Notice how when you’re living in sin, it doesn’t seem like you’re bothered. That’s because the devil has you right where he wants you, in a world full of sinful ways. But, the moment that you try to redeem yourself and get back on the straight and narrow with God’s help, the devil begins to launch his attacks against you. Just know this. GOD is stronger than any temptation that the devil tries to put in front of you. GOD will not allow the devil to win. Evil will NOT prevail. God has the final say, and I want you to know that God Is For Us, In Us, With Us – and isn’t that a reassuring truth?! You do not ever have to feel like you’re in this alone. God is ALWAYS there. He is our biggest fan! And if you ask Him into your heart, there He will stay! AND, what’s more is that God is with us no matter where we may go or what we may face. He’s there fighting with us and often times FOR us.
Be encouraged today and allow God to help you replace those negative thoughts with good, wholesome thoughts. If you’re replaying a difficult situation over in your mind with the shoulda-coulda-woulda thought process – STOP! Literally, say STOP out loud if you have to in order to redirect your thoughts. Or, try this. Wear a rubber band around your wrist, and every time you start going down that same ole destructive path with those thoughts, POP the rubber band on your wrist. OUCH! This is a reminder because it HURTS … physically, yes it does. Not only that, though, it HURTS us when we start hearing the beep … beep … beep of backing up and going in the past over a situation that is already over with! There is no going back. There is no changing what happened or the outcome. What’s done is done. Stop going back over the situation in your mind rehearsing it 14 different ways. STOP the madness. Just like the physical pain you feel when you snap that rubber band, you’re causing yourself mental anguish by allowing the thoughts to continue!
Try this.
For every negative that comes into your head, replace it with a positive thought. Praise God for things that you are grateful for. If you have gratitude in your heart and mind, your thoughts will follow. If the devil tries to get on your shoulder and whisper negatives in your ear, stop him in his tracks and start thinking GOOD thoughts. Think of how beautiful your children are when they are just standing on a white sandy beach looking out at the rolling waves as they crash against the rocks. Let your mind be consumed by the laughter that fills the air when your child runs toward you as the waves lick the shore. Shift your mind and shift your focus! You must take control of those thoughts that try to run free. You wouldn’t let your horse buck, kick, and bolt off if you were on it, now would you? NO! So don’t let such a thing happen in your mind! Just as you would attempt to regain control over your horse, regain control over your thoughts. Ask God to help you, and I assure you that HE WILL!!
The verses I mentioned earlier are as follows. Think on these things and go forth to enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has given us!
Ephesians 6:11,
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
John 10:10,
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Inspiration Abounds
Monday, we meet again.
I know, it’s so hard to drag yourself out from under the plush comforter where you’ve been all nestled in your warm bed all night! With the blare of the alarm clock, it signals that Monday is here once again, and you peel your eyes open just in time to hit the snooze button.
Just 10 more minutes.
And those 10 minutes are more precious than GOLD!
With the alarm blaring once more, you sling the covers over to the side as you plant your feet on the floor. Yawning and stretching, you make your way to the coffee pot where you try to figure out how to get this week going in the right direction.
Who couldn’t use a little extra motivation, right?
Well, you’re in luck because ChristianQuotes.Info provides that and more!
I have been a long time fan of inspirational quotes, and believe me when I tell you that inspiration abounds on this website!
As I’ve gone through their website, I have found many quotes that have spoken right to my heart or that have been a great reminder of how we should start and end the day. Such an example can be found here where it says:
Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.
~George Herbert
While other sites just provide the quote, ChristianQuotes.Info goes a step further. If you scroll through their site and find a quote that you enjoy, be sure to click on it to find hidden treasures! On this particular quote I mentioned above, once you click on the actual quote, it takes you to a page where there is an article written on Avoiding Temptation, Avoiding Anxiety, and Avoiding Darkness. They sum it all up with a Conclusion as well to tie it all together. I was very pleased when I discovered that this wasn’t just another site with neat inspirational quotes. No, they went a step further, and I’m so glad they did! There is even a place below all that I’ve mentioned where you can add your thoughts by replying to the author.
Here’s another of my favorites as I’ve gone through the site.
I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God,
who is sending a love letter to the world.
Mother Teresa
Once I found this quote that spoke to me, I clicked on it to find more hidden gems! I enjoyed reading the author’s thoughts on Loving With Words, Loving With Deeds, and Loving Our Enemies. Boy, that last one can be tough at times!
If you’re having trouble getting motivated on this Monday, take a few minutes to browse the many inspirational quotes found on ChristianQuotes.Info. It is sure to get ANY day off to a great start!
Here’s wishing you a bright, beautiful day! Be blessed and be a blessing!
And The Doves Cry
A music icon from my teenage years has passed away. Earlier today we heard the news. Although I didn’t want to believe it, shortly thereafter, it was confirmed by his publicist. Prince passed away at the age of 57 years old.
That is SO incredibly young!!
I’m sure Prince had plans, just like you and I … and yet, he will never get the opportunity to act on those plans he had for the coming days, weeks, and months of 2016. I’m sure he did not ring in the new year on January 1st with the knowledge that his days would be short in the new year.
We all think we have so much time on our hands, and yet, we could be called home to be with the Lord at any given moment. Is your heart right? If today was your last day, would you be ready to meet your maker?
The news brought such sadness deep within my heart. Although the world has lost other music icons in the past, I was not affected by this as much as I was today by Prince’s passing. As much as I loved Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, I did not cry when they passed. I was sad, don’t get me wrong. However, today when I heard the news about Prince, I was overcome with such sadness that literally brought me to tears. While I didn’t sob deep, heart wrenching sobs, the tears stung my eyes for the passing of this man. I remember vividly turning up the volume as my friend and I danced wildly under her garage to his songs. We made up all sorts of dance moves, and we danced our hearts out to songs like “When Doves Cry,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Purple Rain,” etc. And now, he is gone, but his music and memory will live on.
I’m not sure I was emotional due to any type of real attachment other than growing up listening to his music. I think deep down I was so emotional due to the reminder that any moment it could be you or I that is called home. Time is short. Each day that passes we are losing people – some that are very near and dear to our hearts, while others are merely people we heard of whether they were in the public eye or a friend of a friend. Each life is precious!
I’m reminded of my age and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. I don’t want to leave my family. I want to stay right here with my two daughters, my husband, and my parents living, loving, and enjoying life! I’m sure Prince and all of the others gone before him wanted to remain with their families also, and yet, their time was cut short.
I realize that people are living longer lives these days. I just heard of a woman celebrating her 100th birthday recently. She is in pretty good health considering her age, although she does have a touch of dementia. She recognizes her loved ones as family, but occasionally, she will not be able to call them by name. But, she made it to 100 years old! I hope I make it to 100 years old and am still in good health as well.
I have said for years that I want to be a very old woman rocking my great-great-grandchildren in my lap on my front porch. I pray that God will grant me my heart’s desire.
It is such a sad, sad thought of having to leave my family one day. I hope that God will allow me to live a lot longer than Prince, and yet I realize I am not guaranteed that gift. No one is!
At the time of this writing, I am knocking on the door of 45. I will be 45 years old this September. The older I get, the more I realize that time truly does fly by. I can’t seem to comprehend how, when I was younger, time seemed to crawl … and now it seems a year is gone in the blink of an eye.
I sit back and watch all of the “memories” that pop up on Facebook, and I just sit there at times staring at the screen. It is so hard to believe that much time has gone by … two years … four years … the other day, a memory from six years ago popped up! I was taken aback by it! It did not seem like six years had passed since that moment in time, and yet … it had.
My point in all of this is to get busy LIVING while you still can. Get out there and enjoy life. Do what makes you happy and what brings you joy! Spend time doing things that soothe your heart and soul. Enjoy every moment possible with your family. Don’t bury your head in your phone in their presence. BE PRESENT for them and with them!
My parents are going to be 69 years old this year. My mom’s birthday is just 10 days away. I thank GOD for my parents and for allowing them to be on this earth for 69 years. I pray that He allows them to have 30 more years here in good health, but I fear each and every day that something will happen to them. I don’t want to ever lose my parents! They were here just today visiting with me, and I thank God for each and every moment that I get to talk to them, hug them, and tell them that I love them.
I wish we could all live forever! I know that when Jesus died on the cross, He gave us the gift of eternal life through Him if we only believe and ask Him into our hearts. It’s losing people this side of heaven, though, that is so extremely heart wrenching. When they join the angels in song up in Heaven, we are left behind mourning and grieving. One sweet day, we will be reunited with them. Until then, it is hard living our lives here on Earth without them. From losing my sister, my granddaddy, my best friend in the whole world, it never gets easier when we lose someone we love. It brings some comfort knowing that if we all have our hearts right, we will be reunited in Heaven … one sweet day.
Today, Prince’s family, friends, and fans are left behind to remember this music icon. We put his songs on repeat and soak in every musical chord he played on his guitar, every note he sang, and we marvel at this music legend taken too soon.
And the doves cry.
