A Wealthy Place...

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending a women's retreat that ushered my mind to a "wealthy place."  Being in a wealthy place of peace and rest and having a wealth of gratitude and appreciation, is just as important as being wealthy financially.  

It was an opportunity to step away from the normalcy of life and just breathe; just to take in the beauty of God's awesome creations.  Once we arrived at our destination, we were met with excellence.  Please know that being in a wealthy place and operating in excellence is a "state of mind." 

In order to go where you've never gone or to do what you've never done or to be what you've never been - you have to think differently.  Our minds can be as limiting or as limitless as we allow them to be.  If you can imagine it, then with God, you can do it.  

Let's journey together to a wealthy place. 

 

Psalms 66:12...Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Empty Your Heart…

Empty out your heart.  Tell God exactly how you feel.  Tell God exactly where it hurts and exactly why it hurts.  Don’t hold back.  He wants to hear from you. 

It’s more powerful when you verbalize it.  You can sit and think about it all day long, but sometimes it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t open your mouth and say it.  You ever had a time when you know you needed to have a conversation with someone and you recounted what you wanted to say in your mind over and over again?  However, it wasn’t until you said what you needed to say that you truly felt better.  Well, I imagine it to be that way with God.  He wants to hear from you.

Now, after you’ve said it, take a break and be silent; sit still. 

It’s His turn to talk back to you.  Listen intently because you don’t want to miss a word of His response.  Now that you’ve emptied out your heart, allow Him to refill it with what He wants to be there.  Allow the freshness of His Holy Spirit to renew you, to overtake you, to make you whole.  Just say “yes” to His leading.  Now that your heart is full of Him, it’s time for you to be what He’s called you to be. 

Lily In The Valley...

Down in the valley, the lily grows
No one sees it, no one knows
Look at it flourish
Look at it bloom
It receives it's nourishment
By the light from the moon
It seems to be happy
It seems to smile
I wonder what it's thinking
Growing free and wild
What if I could be that way
Free to walk, run, jump and play
Lie in the sun and rest all day
Does it have worries
No one knows
But down in the valley
The lily grows

 - SoSerene 

 

God is Here, Part III

This morning Psalms 37:25 dropped into my Spirit and weighed heavily on me.  The scripture say, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."  This entire chapter is so inspiring that I would encourage you all to take some time out to read it and meditate on it. 

God will never leave us and He will never forsake us; He will do just what He said!  I believe God - I trust God - I stand on His precious promises.  Why would I serve a God that I didn't wholeheartedly trust?  Why would you? 

Times are tough and the devil is busy.  Many of the end time Bible prophecies are taking place right before our very eyes, BUT God is here!  Many of us are encountering situations in our lives that we've never imagined, but I challenge you to trust rather than be in despair.  Pray rather than talk!  Seek God more rather than giving up!

It may even appear that the wicked are prospering in their way, but know that God has your life in His hands.  You don't have to do what others do to get ahead.  All you have to do is keep the faith and be righteous.  God is here and He will take care of you!

Thought for the day...

"The diversity of who we are is the beauty of who God is."
- Jonathan L. McKnight

Thought for the day...

"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."

~ Karen Kaiser Clark

"Church-ianity"

I heard Iyanla Vanzant use the term "churchianity" during an airing of Super Soul Sunday with Oprah Winfrey.  It made me laugh because of a topic I had been contemplating writing about.  I thought to call it Matters of the Heart II, but I like this better.

The scripture that I wanted to base my opinion on is Proverbs 21:3 (NIV) that says, "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."  So many times we think we are doing something so right and so noble because we "sacrifice" our time and go to church or to bible study or to prayer meeting - but when we get home, are we doing what is right and just?  Lately I've been just paying attention to what's going on with a lot of people and what I see is a lot of jumping and shouting in church, but a lack of integrity and character on the outside.  So this scripture helps me to understand that just because you're taking time out to assemble yourself under the roof of a church, doesn't negate your obligation to live right and just.  God pays attention to you more than just on Sunday!  

Remember that we are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers.  

Other scriptures of interest:
Proverbs 15:8
Isaiah 1:11-17
Hosea 6:6
Micah 6:6-8
I Samuel 15:22
Jeremiah 7:21-23
Mark 12:33

Do You Know?

So many times we take what others say as face value, but do you know for certainty yourself?  Have you ever been sitting in church and the preacher quoted a scripture and you found yourself quoting it just like they did, but only later to find out that it was all wrong????  LOL!

It doesn't even have to be church related, it can be life related.  On your job, in your home or even out with your friends.  Why are we so quick to repeat what we don't know to be absolute?  Why are we so quick to follow, but not quick to lead?

I read Romans 14 (NIV) and it talked about debating over different matters in life, but the one scripture that really stood out to me was verse 5 that says, "Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind..."

So what I got out of this was to know what you're talking about before you say it and instead of just meaningless talk - actually have something substantive to say.

Thought for the day...

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tolerance…

Today I noticed a situation here at work that made me stop what I was doing and just ponder it for a moment.  I saw how the tolerance of someone with more knowledge was short when it came to the person that didn’t have as much knowledge.  And then I had to check myself because I made a comment that wasn’t very nice.

Hebrews 13:1 – 3 (NIV)…”Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.  Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

I was taught this scripture as a child to always serve as a reminder to just be nice to people.  Today this scripture came back to my remembrance as a reminder that God is watching how we treat each other; those we know and don’t know.  There may be times when people get on our nerves, unbeknownst to them, but how many times have we irritated someone unbeknownst to us?  The situation you encounter may not be the same as mine, but all and all – just be nice to people. 

Proverbs 15:1…A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

So today when you want to make a snide remark like I did – step back and think about it and decide against it because it doesn’t hurt to show a little more tolerance.  I mean, think of how much tolerance (GRACE) Jesus HAS AND IS showing you!