Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are assure us that the Lord hears our prayers. How many times have you prayed and felt like God just wasn’t listening? How many nights have you cried, waiting to hear a word from Him, or seeking a change in your situation? We have all gone through this a few times in our life, but I want to assure you that God always answers our prayers. I remember those days, when it seemed like all hope was gone, and I was not going to make it through, but I always made it. In hindsight I realize that God was there all along. He answered every prayer that I have ever prayed, but most the times it was an answer that I didn’t expect (or even want), but it was always what was best for me. I used to be afraid to pray to God sometimes, especially when my own sin caused my pain. I have since learned that nothing is too big or small for God; He's always waiting to hear from me, in hopes that I will repent, and stay in continuous fellowship with Him.

As I grow in my faith walk, it seems as though He answers my prayers much quicker. It’s not that He’s quicker in response; it’s just that I’m able to see them more clearly, because I know Him. I understand who He is, and what He expects from me, so pretty much I know how He answers my prayers. For example, there may be a time when I’m planning to buy something that I do not need, but I have a bill due. I’ll pray, "Lord please provide me the means to pay this bill", but in my heart I’m thinking, and some extra so I can buy this ____. He knows that whatever this “thing” is, it might cause me to sin, or become an idol in my life, so He’s only going to provide enough for me to pay the bill. In the past, instead of me praising and thanking Him because the bill was paid, I would get mad, and sulk, because I am thinking that I deserved to blessed to be able to buy whatever I want (or think that I need at the time). Boy how mixed up I was! I now understand, that God's way is the best way. I ask Him for what I want, but He answers me with what He wants for me, and I'm so very happy with that!

God will never overlook our cries for help, nor would He fail to provide everything that we need, when we need it. That is not that type of God we serve. We serve a God who loves us unconditional, and always has our best interest at heart. There are reasons for everything that we go through in life, and also stages that we have to past through, in order to grow. There are going to be things that we don’t understand, or nights that we feel alone, or feel that He isn’t listening, but always know that He’s right there. If you turn to the book of Psalms, you’ll see several examples of this—where these great servants of God cried to the Lord with thanksgiving and praise, and some even with hurt and anguish. These things are a part of life, but the one thing that all of these Psalmist have in common, is that fact their prayers were always heard. You know King David was one of my favorite Psalmist, because he was the first to admit his faults, and he understood that God is the only way out. He understood that all he had to do was cry out to the Lord in repentance, and God would hear his cries. David was one of the most imperfect people written about in the Bible, but He was God's favorite.

God was proud of David because he always obeyed His will, and he knew how to humble himself and cry out to God in times of trouble, as well as praise him in times of bliss. David asked God for exactly what he needed, when he needed it, in great detail, because he knew God personally. He had no reason to doubt Him, because God had always come through for him. I loved David's Cry for Help in Trouble, where he starts off: Lord hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy, in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgement, for no one living is righteous before you. (Psalm 143:1-2) Don't you love the way David put that out there? He spoke to God as if he was sure that his prayers were going to be answered,with confidence in their relationship. He had this confidence because God had never let him down before, so that is exactly what he expected, every time he prayed. Now I ask you, has God ever let you down? Just think about it for a few minutes, and allow your memories to come back to you. Is your relationship with God similar to David's? If you answered no, then you're wrong. If anything, we're closer to God, because we know His Son, Jesus Christ. David didn't have the advantage that we have, but he was still blessed and highly favored. God hasn't changed from who He was with David; if anything He keeps getting sweeter.

Do you feel lost and alone sometimes, and need someone to talk too? You may have already tried to talk to your friends, your mother, or even a therapist, but you still feel empty. God is waiting on you to talk to Him. He's our father, brother, best friend, co-worker, therapist, and anything else we need Him to be. He said ask, seek, and knock, and your prayers will be answered. You have to be real with Him,, and stand on His promises, just as David was real with Him, because He already knows your heart. He needs you to be genuine in repentance, and with the trust that He will always be there to answer your prayers. Finally, pray in the Name of Jesus, because without Him, we have no relationship with God. He's our mediator; He makes a way for us to be one with God, so you must start with Him. If you don't know Jesus as Savior, please take a few moments and take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verse today is: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. (2 Corinthians 1:10)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455686&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio
http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/Broadcast/

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about having unwavering faith. As I sit here and think about how to even begin to writing about this, I actually realized that my faith [and other things], have been a bit wavering. I’ve always been known as “Miss Indecisive”, because I try to always weigh the pros and cons of every situation. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt more times than not. I am very compromising, and love being “stress free”, but Jesus was anything but. So can you understand my dilemma? I don’t know why I am like I am, but I was born that way, and it’s so very hard to change. There are many people like me, who are “people pleasers”, or don’t like “rock the boat”, so we shy away quietly in hopes of avoiding conflict. We only fight for what’s right, when back into a corner, in hopes of saving ourselves, and what we believe in. However, Jesus was always in the face of believers and doubters alike. He never hesitated to preach in synagogues, at public markets, on mountain tops, or wherever His Spirit led Him, because He completely trusted the fact that He was a child of God. He understood His calling, and the fact that God’s word is the beginning and the end; there’s nothing more important than teaching and sharing it with the lost. He understood that His message was one that could not be concealed, because the lives of many were at jeopardy. He realized that there was no one else who could be Him, and do what only He was called to do, so He lived with unwavering faith.

If you’re like me, how do you break the habit, or conform your way of thinking from the way you’ve thought your entire life? It’s simple, “obey God and leave the consequences to Him”. His word is filled with the answers to any question we have in life, no matter how big or small. Learn Him, and commit His Word to your heart. Make it a point to understand that this life that you are living is His and His alone—no one can do for you what God can. Understand that His Word is the Law, and there is no refuting it. Trust your Holy Spirit, to help you along the way, because He’ll always give you the right answer, but you must learn how to hear His voice. Also, get to know yourself, and who you are in Christ. The biggest mistakes we make in our faith walk, is to try to live like another Christian. It’s okay to look up to people who are mature in their spirit, but you must be careful to understand that that person may have been called to do something completely different than you. God wants us to fellowship with one another, but He doesn’t want us to worship each other, because that could cause our faith in Him to waiver.

Wavering faith is so dangerous because we’re showing God that we don’t trust Him with all of our heart. It’s written: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6) I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this proverb quoted, and even quoted it myself, so it’s very popular, but difficult to follow, because our flesh gets in the way. We are inquisitive creatures, so we want to understand everything. We want to know why, and God doesn’t always tell us why, most of the time He just tells us to go, so it’s important to trust Him. The only true way to have complete and utter unwavering faith is to trust in the LORD with all of your heart. Trust and faith are interchangeable; one is the catalyst for the other. You cannot have trust without faith, and you cannot have faith without trust.

The first step to living righteously, and building concrete faith, is to first trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you have not done that then your faith at the mustard seed level, and we all know that that’s all God requires to be saved. You are reading this message right now because you are curious about what God has to say to you, and it may not seem like that right now, but it is what it is. I ask you to take a few moments and that the God Quiz right now. If you are a Christian, but don’t live a “Christian” life then your faith is wavering, and it doesn’t have to be. God loves you just the way you are, and each day He’s waiting to hear from you. Make sure you take some time out for Him every single day, and show Him how much you love Him. My favorite verse today is: For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (James 1:6-7)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455657&dtype=Scripture

http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio

http://www.joycemeyer.org/BroadcastHome.aspx?video=One_Life_%E2%80%93_Pt_1

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone and you're enjoying your day. I'm doing well in mind and body, but my spirits are a bit down. I'm sad to say that my Grandmother, Deloris Ford, passed away early this morning, at 2:42am. My sister picked me up from the airport, upon my return from Puerto Rico, and we went directly to the hospital. I'm so grateful that I got a chance to see her, hold her, and kiss her one last time, before she left this earth. As most of you know, she's been ill for awhile—she had been diagnosed with Emphysema years ago, and she finally succumbed to this horrible disease, after months of suffering. I know for a fact, that she's at home with the Lord, and she's doing much better than she's done in a few years, but that doesn't stop the pain I'm feeling right now. It eases the pain, but I don't know where to go, how to cope, or what to say. Writing allows me let some of it out. My grandmother and I were extremely close as I grew up, so this lost is very hard for me. She dedicated her life to making sure that the entire family stuck together, so everyone is experiencing much grief. I wasn't going to write a devotional today, but I wanted to keep you updated. I won't be writing again for a few more days, while I find a way to cope. I've been praying, but I think I need to spend some quiet time with the Lord, and just reflect by myself. I thank each of you in advance for your well wishes and prayers, and know that they're much needed, and much appreciated.

God is so good, because I truly was at peace over my holiday weekend. This was the best vacation I've ever taken, and everything was laid out for me, as if I was Royalty. I'm so grateful that God allowed me to have that, which helped me tremendously, because I was at peace when I returned to the city. Being that close to the ocean soothed me, it allowed me to re-center, and just be grateful for all of my many blessings. Everything that has happened in my life thus far has been a gift from God, and so I know Grandma is in good hands right now. She's moved on to start eternity with peace and tranquility, which is all I could ever want for her. If I could say one thing to her right now, all I could say is thank you, and I love you. She's been an inspiration to me, and taught me how to be a proud, strong, black woman. She always embraced me, flaws and all—she always pointed out when I was wrong, as well as encouraged and praised me when I did well, which is so very important the life of a young woman trying to find her way. Oh how I wish I had more time with her to tell her these things, or to tell her how I regret taking the time that she was here for granted. I'm grateful for who she was, and who I am because of her.

Grandma,

You will never be forgotten, and just know that I'll be okay—one day the pain will lessen, and the tears will dry, and I'll bask in the sunshine again. So relax, enjoy being free, and I'll see you again soon.

~Love you're Granddaughter and friend,

Saundra

If I can give you one piece of advice, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is to cherish your loved ones. Never take one minute for granted, and know that people are who they are. Appreciate the love that comes from each angle, and be sure to tell the people closest to you that you love them. Never hold grudges, be quick to forgive, and love carelessly, just so you can experience that wonderful gift from God. Please don't spend another minute of your life with regret, because God gives and He takes, that's a part of life. Be thankful for it all; take the bitter with the sweet, because they're all blessings. None of us are promised tomorrow, so enjoy today, and never, for one second, live in unhappiness. I'm sure most of you have gone through the loss of a loved one, and some of you are going through it right now, but keep your head up. There are going to be times where you’re just silent, and can't speak, to God or anyone else. Right now I feel like I can't breathe and I have to remember to take a deep breath, and keep moving. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll feel a little better, and a little more after that. I know, for a believer, death is the beginning of a glorious time with the Lord, and Grandma is happier than she's ever been, but the selfish side of me misses her, and wishes I could have one more Christmas, and New Years, and birthday, and Easter with her. I'm not very good at letting go, but I will get the hang of it sooner than later, because God blesses those who mourn. I'd like to thank you for loving me, and continuing to read my daily e-mails, your support and encouragement means the world to me.

Today's scriptures are about peace—see how on time God is! Even through this I find peace in my heart, because I know God is faithful and true. I know the promises He's made to us, so Grandma is moving into her mansion right now. I have peace in knowing that God is Awesome, wonderful, all-powerful, and all-knowing, and nothing He does is an accident. I have peace because I was blessed with one of the best Grandmother's anyone could ever ask for. I have peace because I know my heart will eventually heal, and life will move on, with glorious memories, and she will still have a hand in everything I do, for the remainder of my life. I have peace in the fact that this will bring my entire family closer, and she will be remembered just the way she was. I find peace in this promise: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:2) This is where she is, and I'm grateful that she's found rest for her soul.

If you don't know Jesus as Lord, please take a few moments and take the God Quiz right now. You don't have time to waste, because we're in a race to the finish line of life. When it's your time to go, can you honestly say what Paul said: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:7)? If you don't feel like you could, then it's time for some real life evaluation. The great news is God is a forgiving God. All you have to do is repent, and ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, and there will be a mansion waiting for you, when you cross the finish line. All glory and honor be to God! My favorite verse today is: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455531&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional

I love you!

PS

For archived devotionals, visit my blog at: http://dailydevotionalangelicchef.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone that signed up for the group so far. If you haven't done so, please take a few minutes to sign up. I've learned that if you don't have a Yahoo e-mail address or sign-in, you're only allowed to subscribe to the e-mail part of it, unless, you sign up for a yahoo id. If you already have a yahoo ID or e-mail address, you can join the group and see the full group page. I have some links, documents and recipes on the database link. You can also share your contact information, or recipes, on the database link, and choose to share them with the entire group, or just have them on the group page.

To subscribe (don't have a yahoo ID) click on this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/AngelicOne?user=enter+email+address&Click+here+to+join+AngelicOne.x=59&Click+here+to+join+AngelicOne.y=29

To Join (do have a yahoo ID) click on this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AngelicOne/join

To share with the group, send your e-mails to: AngelicOne@yahoogroups.com

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about the penalties of sin, and warnings of temptations. I don’t know one person who doesn’t sin, or isn’t tempted to sin. It doesn’t matter if it’s our Priest, Pastor, or parents, we all come from dust, so we are weak. That’s just the way we’re created. Because of this, God has offered forgiveness of sin and protection against temptation, through Jesus Christ. Jesus has taken on the sin of all mankind, and conquered it, so that we could have the opportunity at a life full of peace, joy, and love. At the same time, we still have freewill, so to sin or not to sin is our choice. When we sin we’re punished, and if we do well we’re rewarded, because the law of life is “you reap what you sow”. I love the way the Apostle Paul explains it: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:7-9 NIV)

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He does require that we love Him with all of our heart, and love each other. In keeping these commandments, we should think of Him first, before we make any choice. We should seek His instruction by studying His Word, and do our best to follow it. When faced with temptation, we should cry out to Him for help. When dealing with each other, we should ask ourselves “what would Jesus do”, and follow His examples. After all, Jesus is the only person who’s ever lived in the flesh without sin. Through Jesus, we also learn that we’ll be tempted, there’s no way to avoid it, because even He was tempted. However, God never gives us more than we can bear. Sometimes the temptations are tests, to see if we’re ready to move on to the next level in life. Other times they’re meant for testimony, or to help our fellow brothers and sisters, either way, know that you’re more than a conqueror through the blood of Christ.

As we grow spiritually, the enemy’s plots to bring us down becomes more evident, and it becomes easier for us to overcome them, and avoid sin. We all have our weak spots–things that have a hold on us, which we can’t seem to break. We must actively work on those things through prayer, meditation, and fasting. Paul once described it as a “thorn in his flesh”; which was something that was placed in his life to keep Him completely depended upon God. God will remove that thorn when He sees fit, but until then, we must continue to pray for deliverance, and seek His face when it feels like temptation is too strong. Always know that you can overcome anything the devil throws your way, because you are a child of God. We’re one with Christ, and Christ is one with God, so there’s no way to penetrate our shield. The enemy only wins when we let him, so keep fighting temptation, with the help of Jesus Christ.

We can find help in church, from the Body of Christ. This is why Paul suggested that we avoid surrounding ourselves with people who are “unequally yoked”, because sometimes we need to seek strength and solace in other believers. Make sure you’re in a church that’s filled with supportive leaders, and members you can depend on. Not saying that there isn’t controversy in the church, but if you have the right church, God is at the forefront of everything. If you’re one of those people who think that church isn’t that important, then this is just one of the many reasons why you should find yourself a good Church home.

Earlier in Galatians chapter 6, Paul said: Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. (vs.1-6) Always remember that we’re in this together, so loving one another requires support, forgiveness, humility, and guidance.

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then sin will consume you, and lead you to death and destruction for all eternity. This is not a dramatization, but the truth by the Word of God. Jesus gives us life now and forever; so in order to overcome the darkness in your life, ask Him to come into your heart as Lord. If you aren’t sure where you stand with God, take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verse today is: God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

ENJOY!: http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455519&dtype=Scripture

http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio

http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying this beautiful Friday-eve. I'm doing well, just a bit sleepy, but I'll survive. I'm grateful for another day, and thankful for the joy of each minute, and of every breath. We watched a video in church this past Sunday by Rob Bell called Breathe, and it was so enlightening. It spoke about how God breathed breath into Adam, after He'd created Him from the dirt, and how that relates to the breath we breathe each minute. It's all made possible by God, so He's connected to us with each breath that we take. This makes you think about the power and love of God, how fascinating is that? I urge you to take a look at it, when you get some time http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4657662595934098105#. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about trusting God to be good to us. I don't know how many times I say, "God is good" per day. As of late, it's been a lot, so it's almost like second nature. No matter how big or small the victories, I always start my testimony off with, "God is good". Most days, my standard response to a greeting of "How are you?" is "I'm doing well, God is good". It's embedded in my Spirit, because I'm truly realizing more and more each day, just how good God really is. He's always good, especially to those who love Him enough to trust Him with their whole heart.
Actually He's great and merciful to anyone, no matter the religion, race, color, or creed. People who are in need can call upon His Name, because the Holy Spirit is a free gift given to those who humbly confesses their sins, and prays for salvation through Jesus Christ. Only a truly merciful and just God would offer something so precious. He's so good that He'll take you just as you are, and will mold you into the person He intended you to be. We’re His creations, so He loves us like a Father loves His child; therefore, when we do good things we're rewarded, and we when we do bad things we're punished. In the end even our punishments are rewards, because He teaches us through them. Rewards are far more than wealth and material possessions, as the world would have us believe, but they're anything that brings us peace, joy, and happiness, the greatest fruits of the Spirit.
The very foundation of life is built upon the love of God, and His goodness has been proven from the beginning of time. He’s given us (mankind) chance after chance and opportunity after opportunity to be righteous and reconciled. He’s given great leaders for His sheep, and His living Word to help see us through. He offered atonement from sin, through the blood of a blemish free lamb (or other valuable animal), even before the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All He’s ever asked of us is love and obedience.
God loves our praise and thanksgiving, and I don’t believe that that’s too much to ask, compared to the great things He’s done in our life. I’m sure there’s a few of you who may have had it rough, or may have suffered a hard life. You may have witnessed great pain and sorrow your life, or in the life of the people you love. You may even turn on the television and watch the news and wonder why so many people suffer horrible fates, and question God’s actions, but I can assure you, there are meanings behind it all. Remember this, God is Sovereign, and He never does anything in vain, so count it all joy! We can choose to live life in fear or bitterness, or we could choose to seek out His goodness. As a child of God, even when you do go through rough spots, they’re meant for you good. Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with God weighing the pros and cons. Ask Him for some answers and guidance, and be open and ready to receive them. King David suffered many defeats, yet also experienced God’s best. He wrote many Psalms about his ups and downs, so I’m going to leave you with a few verses from Psalm 34:

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
(Psalm 34-4-10)

Will you seek the Lord today? I promise you, if you do so, you’ll only find His goodness in everything. He’s known to transform situation, circumstances, but most importantly your heart. If you haven’t already, take Dr. Stanley’s God quiz today! My favorite verse today is: As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. (2 Samuel 22:31)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455344&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying another rainy day. It's a perfect day for being lazy, lying on the couch watching a movie; I wish I had the day off. I pray the rain will stop for the game tomorrow night. There's nothing like sitting on some metal bleachers in the cold rain for 2-3 hours. Gonzaga will face DeMatha under the "Friday Night Lights", at the PG Sports and Learning Complex, at 7pm. This is going to be an interesting game because DeMatha is undefeated for the season. They have a huge team, but I think Gonzaga could take them; it's a classic story of the underdog coming out victorious. Let's hope the boys play with heart and have fun, but most importantly everyone stays safe, so please keep them in prayer. You can see highlights, and different information on the season at http://www.dcsportsfan.com/Sports/Football/default.aspx. I'm happy the game isn't on Saturday, so I'm looking forward to a peaceful weekend. Grandma is still in the hospital, but doing well, please continue to keep her in your prayers. Have a wonderful day, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about Repentance. When we think of ways we should conduct ourselves as Christians, words like righteous, humble, meek, grateful, thankful, and contrite come to mind. Repentance is defined: a.) To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite. b.) To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins. Growing up in the church the Pastor said if you sin, ask for forgiveness in Jesus' Name, and you will be forgiven. I remember hearing the word repent, but I never knew what it meant, until years later. Confessing, asking for forgiveness, and repenting are all necessary to be forgiven for our sins. Confessing the fact that you’re a sinner shows your meekness before God. Remember when you got in trouble as a kid, and your mom said "if you only tell the truth..."? Surely our punishment was less severe if we confessed our wrongdoing. Asking for forgiveness is a humbling act, because we're acknowledging that we fell short, and need God’s help. Lastly, repentance is the most important step, because we're telling God, “I know I did this bad thing, I feel horrible about it, and I will try my best not to do it again”. It's a commitment to change your ways, because Jesus said, "You are forgiven, but go and sin no more". Going back to the execution of the DC Sniper yesterday, I asked a few people how they felt about it, and read a few articles about the reaction of people around the area. The most common reaction was that people thought Mr. Mohammed deserved to die, because he didn't feel any remorse about his actions. Could you now see why repentance is so important, because we’re dealing with God? How could we, with a clear conscience go out Saturday, party and drink all night, then get up Sunday morning and ask for forgiveness then head out to church? You could do that, and be forgiven, but not if you plan to go out and do the same thing next weekend. Please don't get caught up in thinking that fornication, drunkenness, fear, lying etc. is okay because everybody is doing it, and the flesh is weak. If you find yourself thinking that you're better then John Mohammed, or any other murderer, thief, liar or cheater, then you're wrong, because a sinner is a sinner. Jesus said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone". The good news is the blood of Jesus Christ has redeemed us, Hallelujah! God will forgive anyone who asks, in Jesus' Name, but do so humbly. It's written in Luke 15:7: I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. God hates sin, but He understands that it happens. The Holy Spirit lives in our heart, and He convicts us whenever we sin. If we're in tune with Him, then we'll automatically feel bad when we sin, but it's up to us to move toward righteousness. I don't want you to be discouraged, because we all sin, but repentance is the key to being forgiven, and moving on to a better life. Sin is the reason we're stuck in the wilderness, so when we start to understand that Righteousness come from the Lord, and not from how many checks you write to charity, or hours you volunteer at the church. Jesus Christ is the Key to moving on to brighter days, and living in abundance. Sin is the only reason we disconnect from God, but the simple act of confessing and repenting cleans us white as snow. Salvation is free, and it's a simple prayer away. Conversations with God are necessary, to build a wonderful physical and Spiritual life! Repentance is necessary to keep that relationship at its peak. My favorite verses today are: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. Turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. (Psalms 40:12-13)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455148&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5569835&ct=7613837

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying the beginning of another workweek. I'm doing well, excited about the sunshine, because the gray weekend was a bit much. It reminded me of when I lived in Portland, OR, it rained and was gray like that for at least 7 months straight. That was so hard for me to endure, because I'm a bit of a "flower child", I need sunlight to survive. They have beautiful summers in Portland, because of all the rain, everything is green and vibrant, and it’s awesome. Have a wonderful day, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about having confidence in God's protection. There are so many things we have to face in this life, and leaning on God for strength to endure them is the only way to remain sane. I cringe when I think of how much we allow fear to control us. God promises to protect us from harm, and deliver us from evil, however we must trust in Him to do just that. When you think of stories like David and Goliath, or Daniel and the Lion's den, how can you doubt God's delivering power? We must be willing to go to war for the Kingdom of God, yet we must carry the protection of God through Faith. David was a lowly Shepherd of sheep, and when this giant Goliath threatened to destroy all of Israel, David volunteered to fight him, because he was confident in God’s strength. David told King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:32: "let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine". Nobody, not even King Saul, believed that David could do this, but he allowed him to try. David went to battle this man with a slingshot and three stones, and everyone thought he was crazy. Even the Giant taunted him, and thought that this would be a fairly easy defeat. Here's the key to how David destroyed this virtually "un-destroyable" Giant: Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. ...That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." David didn't have any confidence in his own ability, nor did he boast about how strong and mighty he was, but He gave all the Honor and glory to God. He came to battle in the Name of the Lord, and that is the only way he was able to win. We face many Giants in life, and the one and only way to defeat them is by Faith in God. We face physical, mental, and spiritual obstacles everyday, and God is with us to help us along the way. It's time to stop running from the Giants of life, and step out on the promises of God. We have Jesus Christ in our hearts, so just imagine how much more powerful that makes us. When we're working for God, it's important not to back down from anything, especially if it questions our integrity and the Kingdom of God. Don't allow anyone to feed you lies about who you are in Christ. You're joint heir of the Kingdom, and He loves you no matter what. We're forgiven of all transgressions by the blood of Jesus, so let's start facing our fears with confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Fate lies in our Faith! If you don't know Jesus as Lord, or have strayed, that's okay. It’s written in Ezekiel 33:17-18: When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. I don't know anyone who hasn't been there at one time or another. God's protection is open to all of His children, but only if we ask for it. If you need help with prayer please let me know, we can help keep each other lifted, which in turn will help build our Faith. My favorite verse today is: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. (Jeremiah 17:7)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455124&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5492525&ct=7532591
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197

I love you!