365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 316

Reality TV has a special quality to it. It’s real. I love to see the interaction between people and what is said and not said. It is really a fascinating study on people and our relationships with one another. Survivor is my long-time running favorite reality show. Last night, a tribe member that was in a 5 girl alliance made the choice of going to another girl in the alliance and suggested voting out another girl in the alliance that she was personally getting annoyed with because of all her strategy talk. Unfortunately, the girl she told went to “annoying” girl and told her. The “annoying” girl went to the girl that started this all and asked her if she talked to so and so about voting her off. The girl that started this all chose at that moment to lie. At tribal council, it was mentioned in the discussion that “trust has to be earned”. And yes, they voted out the girl that broke the trust. This morning as I was thinking on this statement I was able to see how our trust in God works in the same way as with others. Trust is earned. When we meet someone for the first time, some of us more than others will be more naturally trusting but the truth is that it will take some time and getting to know this person before a real trust is formed. This real trust, however, must be maintained. If you lie to a person like this girl did, that other person has lost their trust in you and it will take more time and effort to regain that trust. The beginnings of trusting God will come more easily for some depending on what has happened in their life and what kind of foundation if any was built with learning about God as children. But to get to that “real” trust you have to get to know God. The more you study and pray, the more time you are spending working on building up the “real” trust, the deeper that trust will go. You have to keep working on getting to the point where you really know God and with that knowing you will have a “real” deep trust in Him. The things that happen to us in this world will not shake you. You will be able to overcome all trials and tribulations because you know God is always with you, never fails you and will never forsake you. Evaluate your trust in God this week and commit to working on building up the “real” trust through prayer and study in His word. The reward of having that trust is valuable beyond measure.  

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 316

This day has blown by and here I am scrambling before bed to get in my praise for the day. I like to do it in the morning when my mind is fresh but Saturday mornings are lazy morning because they can be and one thing leads to another and I end up not doing my normal routine. I am praising the Lord for bringing my long-time mom friend here from Kansas. She need a friend to listen and I need to be affirmed in that I could. Thank you Lord for bringing the people into our lives that can help you see things more clearly and thank you Lord for working through them.
Psalm 86:13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 91

I went to a new networking group meeting last evening. It was not my ideal situation in a bar, mingling around trying to meet new people but despite the pain in my foot, I stayed longer than I intended because I was meeting some new people that I was enjoying talking with. In the end, it was a blessing that I stayed longer as I met a lady that wanted to be helpful and actually asked if I had approached her church about my ministry and to make the evening even more delightful, I won a $25 gift certificate for jewelry from a Cookie Lee consultant. I love jewelry so that was awesome! I left limping off to my car with severe pain in my foot but a smile on my face. Thank you God for opportunities like this to meet new people, start new friendships and visit with existing friends.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 69

I can see the doors opening! Day by day as I keep to His word and focus on my God who loves me I am finding mile marker posts keep coming up showing me I am on the right path. I spoke with a friend who happens to be pastor at a church and she passed onto me another church possiblity where I can possibly get in a workshop or series of workshops. Working within your own network of people can help get you further out there to new people. I am feeling very blessed for these people that get what I am trying to accomplish and I know in the end when this minisry is successful and thriving I will be able to look back and see all the wonderful people who played a part in it's journey to success. Thank you Lord for those people you place in my path that are really angels in disguise.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyon hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 66

You know the games of connecting the dots. I am starting to feel like this ministry is part of a large connect-the-dots game. This is not in a funny way but in a very cool way. I was talking with a customer of mine last night that I hadn't talked with in quite some time. She's never been to any of my events so getting face to face time with her has been minimal. But for whatever reason, last night we really connected on the phone. We talked for an hour and a half which is like unheard of in my house, because I am not a phone person. I learned so much more about this wonderful lady last night in our conversation and discovered she is a Christian. But the real dot-to-dot connection came when I asked her what church she goes to. Radiant. My eyes went wide with wonder. I started researching on the internet for non-demononational churches this last week to find contact information and Radiant was one of two churches I looked at. It was mentioned in my master mind group that having a connection with a church might help get me in the door to having a face to face with the right people. So I found myself in awe of God and how he is steadily been giving me those little things I need to continue to build this ministry. He's connecting the dots. Wow, I wonder what the full connected dot picture will look like? So thank you Father for the little mile marker posts like this you have been giving me that are letting me know I am on the right path. You are amazing! Do you see God at work in your life connecting the dots?
Psalm 24: 3-5 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior.
Psalm

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 63

It's funny how my praise come back to the same thing again and again. People. This time I am praising God for those people in our lives that are there to help us like our dentist and doctors. These are people that do care about keeping you health or getting you back to being healthy. I felt that yesterday at the dentist. It's like your mom or dad is there but you don't take the advise as nagging like you did with mom. So, while I am not ready to go out and buy an expensive electric toothbrush as suggested, I do think I can beef up my toothbrushing skills and time. So thank you God for those people that you put into our lives that provide the right kind of advise at the right moment that will get you motivated to change something for the better and bring the healing that you may need.
Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 45

There are certain people that you are around almost everyday. Obviously, the family you live with but also the people you work with. I am praising those people I work with today. Although, frustrations do happen and communication can be better, the work environment is a good one and that is thanks to the people that are in it. I am especially fond and thankful for my nearest co-workers who will drop anything to help me out when I need it, have great words of wisdom and whom I share plenty of laughter with. I heard yesterday we have a new person being added to data entry, my department and to customer service. This is not only great for those two people to have gotten a job but for the company that recently got sold to a competitor. They have told us nothing will be changing at least for the next 18 months but you always have to wonder. Hiring two new people is comforting in that maybe I will have a job in 18 months. Are there people you are around everyday that you haven't shown appreciation for lately? Put a card on their desk with a note of appreciation or take them out for lunch.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus