A Gift You Can Give for Mother’s Day

We took a trip to Boone today to attend my niece’s college graduation. The North Carolina mountains are stunning. To take a few hours to get away and experience another facet of God’s handiwork was worth enduring the steep, winding roads and the discomfort of popping ears. Sandwiched between two snoring nephews with alternating modulations during the ride didn’t help much either, but it still did not  divert my attention from the cloud-shrouded mountain backdrop and rows of carefully arranged Christmas trees on distant hills. A change of scenery is always good, especially if it's beautiful.

    Mom would have been pleased with my niece's achievements. She would have been one of her biggest cheerleaders, encouraging her pursue her field of fashion and apparel design with unrelenting resolve. 

As Mother's Day is celebrated today in many countries all over the world, here is a side note to us nurturers--let’s appreciate the gifts God has placed in our children. We should help them recognize these gifts and talents and encourage them to step out and pursue them.

The world is full of adults who have lived lives of despair attempting to please parents who do not recognize and accept their true gifts. Many times we can push our children in directions we wish we had gone so we can have one last chance at fulfilling our own dreams. 

God has hand-crafted each one of us and given us specific purposes to fulfill. Let's be brave today and encourage our children to live out their God-given purposes. This is a gift you can give at no cost.

Scripture Links: 

John 15:16; II Timothy 1:9; II Timothy 1:6 

In Loving Memory - Beatrice Artis Farmer 6/6/29-11/19/10

To Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior:

(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):

Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

There's a Miracle in Your Mouth

       What do you need today? Well, it's as close as your mouth---maybe not close yet in proximity, but your miracle is as close as what comes out of your mouth.

        Many of us wonder why our circumstances have not changed for weeks, months or even years. It could be because of the spiritual laws we have placed in motion as we have spoken over our situations. If we need healing, do we constantly say, "I am so sick," or, if we need peace, do we say, "I am so worried."? If we need finances, do we say, "I am poor. I never seem to have enough!"?

       We actually chart the course for our lives by the words we speak. We can either speak life or death into every situation we are faced with. 

          When we speak against what the God's Word says, it becomes ineffective in our lives and we limit greatly what He can do for us.  We also form wrong mental images and begin to gravitate toward these images. On the other hand, when our words line up with God's Word, we give Him something to work with!

        God can change any situation---even those that look hopeless. Speak life into your situation today and never give up! 

Scripture Links: 

Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 6:2; Joel 3:10; Matthew 12:37; Psalm 78:41; Proverbs 4:20-22

To Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior:

(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):

Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Leaving the Past Behind

    Screenwriter and multi-award winning author Marala Scott, after suffering over 17 horrifying years of abuse at the hands of her father said, "One day I smiled back at my reflection in the mirror and  my spirit lit up. Beyond the initial reflection, I could see that my father had caused me pain, but he had not touched my spirit that belonged to God." This courageous woman was then able to put her broken past behind her and forgive her father.

      Taking this bold step ushered in her freedom from the bondage of emotional destruction and set her on a path of healing and restoration. She is now an advocate for those who have experienced domestic violence and has impacted the lives of many.

      What do you need to forget today? Who do you need to forgive? The apostle Paul admonishes us to forget the things that are behind us and to look forward to the things God has in store for us. God has specific plans for us, but they are simply out of our reach when we walk in unforgiveness. How can we not forgive when we ourselves have so desperately needed forgiveness and mercy in our lives? 
     When we hold onto the wrongs that have been done to us, we actually become prisoners in our minds. But, when we let go of the past, the prison doors are opened. Then we are able to receive what we need for today and for the future.      
      Remember, it does not matter what happens to us.....what really matters is what we do about it.  The pain will leave us when we let go. Forgive someone today and go free!

Scripture Links: Jeremiah 29:11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 3:13

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.


To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

The Power of Vision

      A well-known Christian minister said, "The greatest gift God ever gave humanity second to salvation is not sight, but vision. Sight is a function of the eyes, but vision is a function of the heart. When Helen Keller, a deaf and blind author, political activist and lecturer of the early 1900's was asked what was worse than having no sight, she replied, "having no vision." Vision is seeing the future before it comes into being. It is a mental picture of our destinies.

      The first step in birthing our visions is to write things down. This is important to do in every area of life. Several years ago I thought I was doing a good job at handling my daily tasks until I noticed important things began dropping through the cracks. I had no organized plan, and things became one unorganized mess! I reached out for some help and discovered something as simple as a handy calendar connected to my e-mail account. What liberation! It has made a wonderful difference in my life. Once I make a list and check tasks off as I complete them, I am good to go! Now I make lists for just about everything. How simple was that to for organization? 

         When we have no vision, or road map of where we are going, from the small tasks to major dreams and goals, we will simply relive the past with its disappointments and failures.  Therefore, vision is the key to our futures. Begin today by writing down your dreams and goals and then allow God to help you fill in all the details.

Scripture Links: 

Habakkuk 2:2; 

To Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior:

(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):

Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.