We ALL have to start somewhere. Everything begins with a piece. I don’t know about you, but there are many days which I feel all over the place – as if my life is an unorganized mess. That can really be overwhelming. I mean it literally feels as if my mind runs nonstop!!! Many times my mind literally jumps from one thing to another causing me to feel like I am not equipped to do anything. It is in these very moments that I need to stop, take a deep breath and slow down. Always easier said than done, but I am finding that when I take the time to be conscious of the chaos and re-center my mind, that is when I am capable of being most productive. Tackling things one at a time is the only way to truly give your all to the task at hand.
We live in a culture where we all want everything to happen immediately, especially when we are overwhelmed. But being impatient causes us to disregard the importance of the step by step process and many times is what prevents us from finishing what we start. Let’s think of a puzzle for example:
A puzzle consists of many different pieces which fit together to create a big picture. Like a puzzle, we all have our own unique roles to play in life. God created us each with a specific purpose in mind. In a puzzle if you try to insert the wrong piece no matter how many ways you try it, it will not fit. In life, if someone else tries to do what God created us to do, results will not be the same – no one else will be the right fit to do what we are called to do.Read more ›
When you are waiting on some thing to happen, it is easy to become discouraged and begin to worry. When you realize that you are in a state of worry, that is when you must remind yourself that God’s timing is perfect. He will show up when he feels the time is right!
Do not allow yourself to be consumed by worry. When you realize this is happening, draw closer to him in that very moment and watch him strengthen your faith. Remind yourself who you serve & of the many times he showed up & made a way.
The waiting season has purpose, allow him to grow your heart and spirit. And if you are waiting for someone else, lift them in prayer and ask God to comfort them in this season. Ask him to draw them close so that they may come to know of his unfailing love. We must not grow weary in the waiting. Wait with expectation & praise for what is to come.
GOD is Amazing SO trust him and know:
🔺The healing will come!!
🔺The housing will come!!
🔺That job you need will hire you!!
🔺That child will return home!!
🔺That loved one will get saved!!
🔺That approval will come!!
🔺The battle will be victorious!!
🔺The funds are on the way!!
At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.
Isaiah 60:22 NLT
I decree and declare that the Lord will come through and your waiting will have been worth it. Fear and worry have no place in your mind. Peace and blessings are your portion. Rejoice for what is to come. May we shatter worry with our praise as we wait on God’s blessings!!
Cold days are ahead and many of us will want to stay indoors to brave the cold. I am in CT, and the upcoming temperatures this weekend will be in the low teen digits, severely cold with wind chills 0 to 30!!
Be aware, that just as the temperatures are low, many are battling the same in their spirit internally. Depression & anxiety are heightened in the cold seasons and mental health issues are on the rise with so many trying to educate others in the importance of seeking help.
If you’re in a low or cold season, know that You ARE BRAVE, You ARE STRONG and You ARE NEVER ALONE.
If you see someone in a low or cold season, let them know that They ARE BRAVE, They ARESTRONG and They ARE NEVER ALONE.
Help and support are available. Text or call 988.
Never feel ashamed to reach out to that friend or coworker and ask for their support or help to help you connect with a resource to help you through your low season. We all have them.
And know there is one man, named Jesus, our Savior, who loves you unconditionally and is with you at your side in every moment. So call upon his name in the midnight hour. Seek him and cry out to him and he will show up in ways that will show you just how much you are truly loved. ❤️
If you know someone who is in a cold, or difficult season of their life, be there to support and listen to them. If you feel they may potentially self harm, connect them with someone or a resource who can help them. Suicide is on the rise amongst even those we deemed to be the strongest people.
The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy. But we serve a God who has already defeated the darkness. Let’s do our parts to remind the broken and hurting the Lord says this:
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NLT
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
“…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” I Matthew 28:20 KJV
Some of us have multiple things or responsibilities going on at once. We are parents, providers, supporters, encouragers and also have manage protects and challenges in our places of work to juggle simultaneously as well.
Sometimes trying to manage all many things at once can cause us to feel as though we are living in chaos. This chaos can feel both organized and unorganized at times, and this can be overwhelming.
When chaos is all around, there is something we need to be reminded of: What seems like chaos to you, may appear as order to another. What appears as weakness to you, may appear as strength to another. What appears to be falling apart to you, may appear to be held together by another. It is all a matter perspective and faith.
So when you’re feeling as though chaos is all around you or that there is no one you can count on to be there for you, drop to your knees and lay it all at the feet of Jesus. This is what he wants from us; to come to him when we are weary or heavy laden (Mathew 11:28), so that he may give us rest and restore and renew our strength both physically and mentally.
We were not made to handle the struggles of life alone. So when your load is heavy and life is waring against you, call on Jesus. He will handle it all for you.
“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ Indeed, all those who are angry with you will be put to shame and humiliated; Those who strive against you will be as nothing and will perish. You shall search for those who quarrel with you, but will not find them; They who war against you will be as nothing, as nothing at all. For I the Lord your God keep hold of your right hand; [I am the Lord], Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:10-13 AMP
No matter how big or heavy you feel your fight or burdens are, God will protect you and hold you together and handle all that is before you. God is mighty and powerful! He can move the mountains you thought were impossible to move.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I thank you Lord for your unfailing love, grace and mercy. I thank you for always being here for me and for all of your children when we need you. Father God, tonight I pray for anyone who is up battling anxiety or fear. Father God, life can feel really overwhelming and hectic sometimes. At times there can be so much to handle that we are trying to prioritize but still feel as if life is a chaotic mess. The enemy is out to corrupt our minds and hearts. In Jesus name, I pray against the enemies plans, and I decree and declare peace will fall upon anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus. Tonight, I ask you LORD Jesus, could you cover them and replace their fear or anxiety with peace. Holy Spirit fill their rooms, comfort them and make your presence known, transforming their hearts and minds. Remind them, LORD Jesus, that you desire for us to call upon your name in our times of need, and that you are our helper and you will uphold them and fight any battle they are facing, whether it be mental, physical, or a health report or illness. Remind them Holy Spirit that they are not alone. May they take comfort in knowing GOD is with them, even through the darkest of nights. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen 🙏
I heard this song today and although I have heard it many times before, it inspired me tonight to write this blog post. If you are reading this and have found any encouragement through my words, I pray that this video will also uplift you and comfort you in your time of need reminding you that It is God who holds us together, and he always will when we call upon him.
“Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.”
Isaiah 43:19 GNTD
We are going into our 5th day of the new year 2023, and I pray you are filled with a heart and mind of expectancy. Take time to draw close to GOD through worship and in prayer and be reminded that it’s not about our own wants or desires or any new year resolutions. As followers of Christ, we must pray daily and seek out the Lord’s will for all decisions we will make.
In the Bible, in Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah was prophesying over what is to come in the future. The “new thing” he was referring to was Christs coming. Through Isaiah, GOD was giving the people of Isreal a hope and encouragement. Although they were not following GOD’s way and continued on in their evil ways no matter how many times GOD delivered them, GOD was starting to reveal to them that they would have a chance for salvation through the coming of the Messiah. GOD still loved them and wanted to give them another chance and help them to change.
Just as God was doing a new thing and making a way for the people of Israel, he desires to do the same for both you and I. When we fully surrender our lives to him in obedience, that is when he will be able to work in us and through us and do a new thing. He wants to make a way out of the dry dessert for us too. He wants to use us and transform us.
GOD is calling us to a new level of freedom in 2023. But he needs our willing hearts. Just as it was up to the people of Isreal to accept GOD’s offering, so must we too accept his invitation to move in a new direction.
Do you want what GOD is offering? Do you want a new direction in life. Do you want to step out of your old patterns and walk into the new thing he wants to do? We have a choice. Will you choose to leave behind the old? Will you choose to leave behind the repetitive unhealthy cycles in life that you’ve been battling in your own strength?
For he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
Psalms 95:7 NLT
Pray with me:
Father God, We thank you that you are a loving God. No matter how many mistakes we make you are always there giving us another chance to surrender our hearts to you. Lord, forgive us today for our disobedience, and for the times we take our lives into our own hands and forget that you are our creator and that you know the beginning and the end. You go before us, and see all that we cannot and you protect us. Holy Spirit, convict our hearts today. Change us and remove any desires that are not from you. Father God, in this new year, may the desires of our heart be to grow closer to you and to surrender to the purpose that you created us for. We know that we are not fighting in the physical, but we fight against spiritual principalities, and demonic forces. This world is getting dark. I declare and decree that plans which the enemy has to destroy us and keep us bound in the darkness will be broken, in Jesus name. You have a choice. Tomorrow is not promised, so today in this new year I pray that you will choose breakthrough, choose change, and choose to follow Jesus and watch the amazing way he will transform your life. I am excited to see him do a new thing in mine. My prayer is that you will surrender and allow him to do the same in yours. In Jesus mighty name, I pray, Amen.
May peace, Love and gratitude fill your hearts and homes today.
My prayer today:
Father God, I ask you today to enter the hearts of all people and remind them of blessings you have provided for them. Father, sometimes the struggles of life blind us, and we focus on the bad things that have caused us harm or hurt. Father shift focus from the hurt of the past over to a focus on blessings and love. Show us that the past is not our home. We know that evil and bad exist in this world Lord, but today may we all remember that you alone conquer evil. May we celebrate love and thankfulness today. Father God, we declare this day, a day of love, appreciation and gratitude. Thank you for your blessings.
Jesus gave his life so that we could live. His sacrifice didn’t mean we would be promised a perfect life. Hard times will come. But he is with us through them.
Struggle is both inevitable and uncomfortable. But it has purpose. When we face hard times, he wants us to draw closer to him. He is by our side at all times and loves us more than anyone ever can or will.
“But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” - Isaiah 43:1-4 MSG
May we always run to him in every circumstance and keep him above all else in life. Never loose hope, never give up and be reminded to never place anything before him. He is faithful and will be with you helping you get your through all hardships as long as you call on his name!
Sometimes we are going to be put in the fire when we are following God, but we will not be alone!! Just as he protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown in a fiery furnace when they refused to serve the gods of Nebuchadnezzar, you too will be protected and will not be burned or consumed. The hard trials God will allow you face will be to draw you closer to him and strengthen you for the calling he has for your life.
“Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” - Daniel 3:19-27 NLT
Father God, we praise your mighty name and we give you all glory and honor for you are loving and good to us. Father, whenever we go through the trials in our lives, please remind us that we are not alone and that you are walking right beside our us through the fire. Remind us Lord not to become discouraged, not to lose hope, and remind us who we are. We are called by you for such a time as this and we must keep you above all things that come into our lives. Lord Jesus, whether you’re walking with us by our side, or our carrying us through the hardest times in our lives, may we never loose sight of the power we have through you. May we always praise you through the hard times and know that you are with us always. Father God, if we ever for a moment allow fear or doubts to begin to take route, remind us that we are sons and daughters of the most high! And remind us Oh God, that your word is our double edged sword which will defeat and destroy anything that is not from you. Lord, we thank you for loving us, protecting us, and directing our steps. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen 🙏
We live in an imperfect world. Life leaves us disappointed when our expectations or needs are left unmet. We are imperfect people who disappoint even ourselves when we don’t meet the expectations we set for ourselves.
I love Jesus and I want more than anything in the world to always do the right thing and love others as he loves us. But truth is I fall short and I make mistakes. Fact is there will be times that we will let both ourselves and others down.
Some of my past mistakes are still being carried with me. They are a weight that at times feels heavy. I know that they don’t define me, yet I carry them. They are hard to forgot and hard to move past. But I long for the day when I can.
REFLECTION: What are you holding against yourself? Are you allowing others to shame you because of your flaws? Are you allowing unforgivess to hold you back?
Father, tonight my prayer is that anyone reading this post holding themselves or another individual accountable will find the strength to forgive. May we find the strength to let go of what is holding us back. Father help us find release so that we can walk in the Purpose you created us for. God help us to be obedient and release our shortcomings to you. We can’t do it apart from you Lord. Help us forgive, now in this moment. Help us to break chains that keep us stuck. In Jesus name, Amen
Made Piece by Piece 