Winning the Race 2

Hold on to courage and hope. Let go of unbelief and disobedience. Don't harden your heart. Know that God is with us and all things are possible if we believe and have the courage to hope.

Hebrews 3

New International Version (NIV)

Hebrews 3

Jesus Greater Than Moses

 ¹ Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. ³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ⁵ “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”^[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Warning Against Unbelief

 ⁷ So, as the Holy Spirit says:    “Today, if you hear his voice,
 ⁸ do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
   during the time of testing in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested and tried me,
   though for forty years they saw what I did.
¹⁰ That is why I was angry with that generation;
   I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
   and they have not known my ways.’
¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger,
   ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”^[b]
 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. ¹⁵ As has just been said:
   “Today, if you hear his voice,
   do not harden your hearts
   as you did in the rebellion.”^[c]
 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Preparation

I'm preparing for 2012. I have cleaned out a lot of junk in the house. There is so much more that can go, I am trying to really purge a lot of stuff. Some stuff is just here because I "might" use it one day.  I have too much paper stuff. Old mail, magazines, journals, papers, etc. Purge, get rid of the stuff that is not needed. The carpets will be cleaned tomorrow. I will try to get my office cleaned out more. I just want to get rid of so much stuff and have a fresh start. I pray that 2012 will be a new year with a new me. If I don't do things differently then I will not see a change. What distinguishes average from superior is the will to win. The will to change. What makes the difference between a vibrant and growing christian and a dull and uninteresting one is the will to profess our faith and believe that we can overcome any and every obstacle. There is nothing to hard for my God. I will continue to believe that faith, hope and love are important. I have to believe in what I do. This year I want to be more positive and optimistic. Last year was horrible and I am happy to see it gone. Welcome 2012 AND BRING IT ON!!!!!

Psalm 13

Psalm 13

Psalm 13^[a]

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. ¹ How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?
 ³ Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
 ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.

Isaiah 28:9-10

⁹ “Who is it he is trying to teach?
   To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
   to those just taken from the breast?
¹⁰ For it is:
   Do this, do that,
   a rule for this, a rule for that^[a];
   a little here, a little there.”

When Life Doesn't Make Sense

I am reading my notes from that sermon on November 13, When Life Doesn't Make Sense. Doubt leads to fear, fear to defeat, and I will not be defeated. Life has a tendency to overwhelm, paralyze and consume us. When we are trying to do something we have a tendency to get frustrated and fell left out. Why didn't it happen Lord? What is the problem Lord? How did I find myself in the same situation, no change, no improvement, and now I have to make plans to try to change the situation, again. What plans do I make. I obviously don't seem able to plan well. Don't give up is the mantra for this. I will not be defeated. I see God putting me in a place to pray. I have to ask, God do you see me? Do you see the things that are causing me to stumble? Do you care? I have to say yes you do care. I have to be encouraged. I am not a newborn on milk, I am on solid food. My faith has to be strong and secure. I have to believe that there is still hope. There is still a chance for me. I will keep believing.

It Just Came To Me

Meet me half way. That's what you were doing. You were on one side I was on the other. Move towards each other until we meet in the middle. Then talk, make peace. I am so dense, I didn't even think about that, just make contact. Think about that. I just keep thinking, how are you doing, how are you really doing, now seriously, how are you? It's like a crazy dance sometimes. When does the music stop and we just stand?

The Mirror

So Lord I am praying that you give him whatever he wants and whatever he needs. Just in case the two are not the same.  I know that he has my heart and there is no other for me. How's that for a Christmas Present! I love him, I love him, I love him, I do, but don't get excited, I love monkeys too! Ho-ho-ho

I'm watching one of my favorite all time classics, The mirror has two faces. I see a lot of my life in it. Thank you Lord for allowing me to help others today and to be in love. I want more. I have to remember that this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.


How was your day?

Be Still

Merry Christmas.

Be still and know that I am God.

God wants us to acknowledge that he sent his Son, his only son to save us.

While we are rushing about today, let us remember to sit and reflect on who has given us the grace to remember his word and to seek the face of God in this busy world of ours. Just to be close to you. Closer still. I want to look at your face and see your eyes looking at me. Lord, still my restless heart and let me know that you are Lord. I want to be close enough to see your smile and look in  your eyes and know that you love me. I love you.

Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Confidence in Love

I pray about the needs of my heart with confidence before the Lord. Doubts and fears are able to spoil the happiness of a true believer  Uncertainty and suspense are bad enough in matters that relate to our health, our finances and our affections. Our relationships constantly are being challenged due to earthly callings. WE have to remember that our souls are the property of God Almighty. I don't stand a chance alone but with God all things are possible. I seek daily to try and do the right things. What God wants me to do. Doubts and fears can rob us of all of God's blessings.  Confidence should characterize our actions when moving in the direction God wants us to go. Let us not do just to do. Let us remember that we want the best for who ever we are giving God's grace to. Let God shine through us. Let others see God in us. This time of year we are in need of love. We want to show love to others and we want to receive love from others. We need something to remind us that we are loved. God wants us to show him our love. We need to put aside any hatred, jealousy, pride, misunderstandings, and guilt. Just show true, honest, love from the heart. With confidence, show our love. to others so that they can understand the true meaning of being in Christ. We will understand the reason for the season when we are able to give love and receive love from our fellow human beings. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. Give and receive love today. I love you.
1 John 3:11-24
¹¹ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,^[a] if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
 ¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
 ¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²² and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Prayers for our Christian Leaders

When I encounter leaders who seem to lead others astray I have to pray for them. What are they thinking? Pray that God will hear his word preached with faithfulness, truth, honor, and dignity.

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11 (New International Version)

Paul and the False Apostles

 ¹ I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.  ⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^{[a] 6} I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷ Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
 ¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Enduring Love

Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever. Father God forgive me. Forgive me for not calling in time to be one of the ones to hold up a sign for the Christmas eve ceremony. Forgive me for being late due to traffice and dropping off presents. Forgive me for not posting earlier. Forgive me for not having any idea what I really want for Christmas. Forgive me for being upset with those who think I shouldn't give so much to those in need. I wish I could give more. Forgive me for liking nice things for myself and others. Lord find it in your heart to create a new sense of urgency within me. Allow me to develop an intimate relationship with you. Let the truth be the core of the intimacy. Let intimacy be in our hearts and mind. Let us remember the value and worth of each other. Let love find a way. Love conquers all. I am the servant of the Lord and his will is my desire. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone. I love you.

The Majesty, Power and Glory of Jesus

I pray that my life will reflect my love and knowledge, whatever small amount it is, of Jesus. When I think about all of the good things he has done for me I can do nothing but be thankful. I praise God for who he is and the fact that He sent his only son to save me, to save us. How do I answer the question, who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is not an angel, nor is Jesus just a spirit. Jesus is supreme and sufficient. Jesus is a friend, a counselor,and my one true Savior. Hebrews 1: 1-6 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. for to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father? Or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Let Jesus reflect the qualities in yor life that are love, goodness, righteousness. Let the race be a good race. Know that you have fought the good fight, done the right thing for God. Been a good disciple and tried to exhibit the qualities of Jesus that reflect his power, majesty and glory. I believe for everyone else and I have to believe for myself. If I don't believe for me then how can I possibly believe for others. Did I miss my blessing, I do not believe I did. I'm still here and I am still praising, worshipping and believing in God. through God, all things are possible.Blessed Assurance, I love that song because I am praising my Savior all the day long. I Love the Lord and I will do my best to feed, and clothe, and comfort his people, his sheep. We are led by our Shepard, we trust Him to protect us and keep us safe and to give us peace. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you.

God's Care

Give your needs over to God. Let God take care of you. I have been to my aunt's funeral all Sunday evening. My dad spent the weeked with his brother and complained about having to go and encourage his brother. Encouraging him to do the right thing for his brother, to be a support for a man who has lost the woman he has been with for 52 years. I'm continuing to just go, go, go. It seems calm but its just a constant storm. I will rejoice and worship the Lord. When I get overwhelmed I thi nk of this time when I felt really close to you and I smile. I feel happiness and love in my heart for you and everyone else. Now to go get some toys.
Romans 1:18-32

We Will Shine

We will glorify the Lord. We will take time to admire the glory of the Lord's awesome creation.
WE have a responsibility to do the right thing. When people need you, you have to be there and do what is needed, even when you don't want to. Just do it.
Daniel 11

Spirit Empowered Boldness

Ezekiel 33:21-23

New International Version (NIV)

Jerusalem’s Fall Explained
21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!” 22 Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.
Ezekiel 33:30-33

New International Version (NIV)

30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

33 “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

What fears I have to overcome to stand as a faithful watchman for God must make me stand apart from others. I pray for Spirit Empowered Boldness to stand for God and his righteousness on the issues of our day.

Important Work

If a job is worth doing then its worth doing well.
I thank God for giving me a job in his kingdom.Whatever the workload I will do my best. I will reflect on my commitment of service to God today. I will be reflective of my job and put my best effort forward. Is this the best I can do? Is my attitude and commitment really in line? From the lowly to the highest, we are important to God.
Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you.
Nehemiah 12

Finding Joy in God

Psalm 66:1-20
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”[a]

5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.

13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

We serve an awesome God. How great is our God that we choose to serve Him and he never disappoints us with his awesomeness. God is worthy to be praised and we shall praise His Holy Name. God give us joy. Joy in the ability to worship Him. Joy that He rewards us with what we need. Joy that we can have nothing and still be blessed and comforted. Joy that we may not have the things that we think we want but we are at peace and there is joy in our hearts. It is important for us to experience and express joy to God. We have to remember that God does not want us unhappy and toiling away miserably in this world. That is not the expectation. I hear that term daily. What is the expectation? My expectation is for students to...The expectation is...
We know what is expected of us but we show a different behavior. But God continues to hear our praises. Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Shout with joy because God has tested us and saved us. We are loved beyond all comparisons. God loves us. Today we as a community offer meals. Our contribution/sacrifice to you Lord. We feed the multitude. We offer peace and joy. We do this with no expectation from them except the knowledge that someone cared for them today. Thank you God for allowing us to bring your joy here on earth. We praise your holy name. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lord. Glory to Your Name. Father Almighty El-Shaddai, The Great I AM. God does not want us unhappy. We will rejoice in the praises to our KING and Our LORD. Through Jesus Christ, His Son, we are saved and loved. Glory be to God. Thank you for today and I will find joy in today. I will find happiness in all that I do. I will not be a scrooge, sour puss, grumpy grump, not today. Today I will find joy, true joy, in what I do. I will not forget what the Lord has brought me through. God has tested me and and brought me out. Let me remember that I am not where I was a year ago. God continues to test me and I pray that I am found worthy. Today I will find joy in everything that I do. I will praise the Lord and bless his holy name. I will give Glory to you today Lord. Be Blessed today and be a blessing to someone special. I love you and there's not a thing you can do about it. Find your joy today.

Oneness of Heart

Good Morning! God Bless You today.
I am taking the time for what is important to me today and everyday. I just don't show it everyday. Express your love. God gives us people who meet a need in our lives. We are there for each other. God knows who we need and what we need. I thank you God for such a valuable and loving gift.

He's My Everything

Jesus is my everything. You are everything to me. Jesus is my Master, Savior and my Everything. Hope for tomorrow. Provider, Healer, Redeemer, Father, Savior.
I ask the question of myself, am I more interested in earthly acclaim and glory or am I willing to lose my life for Christ's Sake? As Jesus said, "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:25-26

He is my everything. My hope of what is to come and what is now. Once I understand that, the devil cannot intimidate me with what he throws at me.
Preparing us for next year. Using the prophetic verses that God has given us.
Matthew 17:14-21
Matthew 17:14-21

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]

Profess the we are mountain movers. If we are to experience the greatness that will happen to this faith community and to ourselves then understand that faith is essential to the christian journey as oxygen is to life. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith brings your through stuff you didn't think you could get through. As the book of Hebrews states, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."
The word can produce the deliverance you are looking for. The power of faith is evident in the text. Faith must have a corresponding action. Faith causes me to speak and act differently. Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.

The father is told the son has a demon spirit, the disciples try to cast out the spirit but they were unsuccessful. They ask Jesus why they couldn't do what he does and he explains that they didn't have enough faith.Their unbelief made them unsuccessful. Unbelief that what we believe in our lives always tries to hinder us. Don't be afraid of the devil. Send him back to hell where he came from. Mountains are challenges that come to hinder us. Challenges come in different ways. Our health, finances, depression, relationships and many other ways. Everybody has challenges. I have real and perceived challenges. Mountains look impossible to us. What is impossible to man is possible to God. We feel the need to describe the mountain to God and God knows full well what our mountain looks like. Some of us use mountains to be mean to other people. When we go through things we think we can cut our selves off from the place that can help us. We use excuses. God will not do for us what he has enabled us to do for ourselves. We don't need to ask him for what he has already given us. We need to use what we have. We have the ability to talk and speak to our mountain. Do we know who we are? We have the power and ability to speak to our mountain in our way and move it. We do not need to be the victim. We do not need to go through life defeated.Just because we have mountains and challenges we do not turn and walk away defeated.I am a mountain and I will not bow down to you. I will not whine or be depressed about this because I am a mountain mover.

I am going to sleep now. I will listen to the last half hour to put me to sleep and I will continue with part two tomorrow. Five o'clock comes around too quickly. I love you and pray that expressing that love will become powerful. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone. Good Night.

Praise God

Thank You God for giving me hope even in the midst of my storm. Thank you God for all that you have done for me and for all that you will do for me. I pray for discernment today. I do not want to jump to conclusions without the evidence. Keep me grounded in the truth. Let go of the past obstacles, move forward to the future. My goal is to justify God, not myself. I move forward knowing that God's wisdom will prevail. Let us have a blessed day today and let wisdom and justice prevail. My identity is not this false perception of me. I do not accept this to be the truth. I move forward in God's perception. I will work hard to have that transformation. I will embrace my strength and hope in God's ability to make any and everything happen. Today will and is a good day. I give glory to God and praise his holy name. Be Blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you.

MISSION:POSSIBLE

Thank You God for another day to get it right. I am still here so there is work for me to do. I pray that I am able to make you proud of me today. Everyday I strive to please you. I know God is calling me to do more with my life. As long as I am pursuing the goal that God has laid before me then I know the resistance will come and the obstacles will be placed strategically to trip me up and to try to make me quit. But I am not a quitter. I shift with the resistance. I am beaten but I am not out. I may be knocked down but I know how to get back up again. God is doing a new thing with me and with all new things there is challenge and pressure. How God will make his promise come into fruition is not for me to understand or decide. Life is a growing process. My change is a direct result of God breaking concepts that I have established about myself and others. Changing my thoughts and perceptions will allow me to grow and move towards my greatness. Change is never easy but it is necessary. Walk with the Holy Spirit. We walk towards our goal. We keep our eye on the goal. Remember the plans that God has for us, plans to help and not harm. When it is time to go, it is time to go. We must be ready to leave the nest and fly. We will either perish or succeed but we have to try. Never Give Up. Never stop trying. Trust in the Lord and believe in God's promise for our lives. It is possible, we can do it. It will happen. Believe in God's promise. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone who needs you today. I love you.

Never Give Up

God I vow to never give up. As long as I am here on this Earth, I vow to never give up pressing toward the goal. Moving towards the goal and not away from my appointed destination. God will truly make a way. God knows what I am going through and God knows the pressures before me. God knows me better than I know myself. God is with me every step of the way. As long as I continue to move toward the goal, God will continue to make a way out of what seems impossible. I rejoice knowing that God is working on me. God has a plan for me.My past is in the Sea of Forgetfulness. If God can forgive me then I surely can forgive myself. Stuff that's in the past, let it stay in they past. Learn how to forgive, others and ourselves. First and foremost hunger for our future. Have a thirst for the future. Prepare for the future.

I know that Jesus is the Son of God and declaring that the Good News is important during this time of year and always. I pray for my salvation and others. Increase my faith so that I may be an instrument of truth and passion. My Passion will challenge me to prepare for my true purpose. My passion will confront me to make preparations for what I believe is true. I will persevere and I will be victorious. God has given me a purpose and as long as I am praying, pursuing and believing in God, I will have victory. My love is to please God. Through obedience, I please God so I strive to be obedient. Fail, but try harder. Fail, but get up and try again. Fail, but know that I am not alone and I can still try again and again and again. Love never fails. Keep my passion for the purpose. Never, Ever, Ever, Give Up! Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you.

God isFaithful With All of His Promises

Thank You God for another day. I prayed why, what when, how for all the things that you know are on my heart. The Career things that continue to elude me and confuse me. The spiritual things that are on my heart and spirit. But through it all I will praise him. I bless the Lord and worship Him because he is King of Kings and Lord of Lord. I walk into this day knowing that there will be obstacles but I don't walk alone, I walk with God by my side. That comforts me. God has dispatched angels to walk with me so I move out of my rut and respond to the pressures around me and just keep pushing. Thank you Lord for today and I will bless you each and every day. I love you and pray that you have a blessed and refreshing day today. Let something surprise you today. 2 Peter 2

Finding Joy in God

Its all in our perspective. How we choose to view the world. We do task that God is calling us to do with a grateful heart and a strong mind. I thank God for his wonderful provisions that he has set up for me. What different motives are present in conflicts that arise in my daily life at home and at work? How do I handle betrayal and disrespect? Am I able to focus on God's message or do I focus on my flesh? God will allow trials to test us and strengthen us. Find joy in knowing that the test is not forever. There is joy in the morning. Every situation has a different outlook if I allow myself to see past what seems impossible. I have to find joy in my situation. I have to remember to put a smile on my face and in my heart. All of them are not bad. My part is to encourage and uplift and educate the best way I know how. So I have to be the one to change. Change by asking God's forgiveness for my actions. Change by knowing I have control over my actions and reactions only. I control no one else, I barely control me. The most important thing to remember for me is to keep trying, keep having faith that if this idea, example, explanation doesn't work, try another until it does work. Don't stop trying. Continue to believe, even if it doesn't look like there is a reason to believe. Know that the Lord Jesus Christ is my savior and that he died for my sins. Even though his disciples made mistakes, deserted him, fell asleep, misunderstood his message, he still loved them and forgave them. God loves me even during my mistakes and will help me through the good times and the bad times. God helps me help others even when I don't feel like being helpful and feel like being a servant. God guides me to remember him and his selfless act. While he struggled, he prayed and gave thanks to God. Never forgetting he was there to do God's task. Its about God's will and purpose, not mine. Find joy in knowing that I am accomplishing something for God today. Have I glorified Him today? Find joy in God and I will find joy in my heart. Mark 14:1-42

Give Thanks

God I am so thankful for him. I want him in my life. I love him Lord. I do. I want to prepare thanksgiving dinner for him. I want to look forward to him eating my food. What if he doesn't like my cooking? Am I too old for him? Don't think like that. That's just fostering self doubt and we don't want that.I want to be balanced. Be positive and confident. Let the Lord know you believe that it is possible. Have I lost him? Am I out of my mind? How long Lord? What do I do in my wait time? I want to be transparent. I have no secrets. I want to. at this time, see myself down the road of together. I press forward, always trying to meet the mark. Help me to see my way through my life Lord. Help me do the right thing. I love you Lord and I thank you for all of my blessings. Thank you Lord for blessing me today and always. I love you. I Thank you Lord for loving me and letting me see love and the possibility of love in my life. Good Love in my life. Positive love in my life. Someone who truly warms my heart and makes me feel like everything really is going to be alright. Thats what I am thankful for today. Thank You Lord.

I am Thankful

I am so thankful that God has not given up on me. I pray that God will break me so that I can be broken. I see how you have kept from some of the really big things. Break me Lord. Let me be mold able and pliable. I want to do your will and to make you happy. I want to please you Lord. I complain about my problems but they are small in comparison. Help me to be more responsible and reliable. Yes, Lord, I am in need of you. I need you with me always.

Thank You For Everything

Could you push the button for 35 please?
I plan on going all the way up. Is that the top because I want the top. I want all that God has for me and more.
Thank You Lord for reminding me to abide in you and to remember who you are.
Thank You Lord for molding my values and priorities. As I reflect on my week, allow me to see what needs to change and to be able to change it. Allow me to adjust my thinking so that it is right thinking. In line with your will and your way Lord. Help me to abide in you Lord. Continue to prune me and to mold me into what you need in order to grow and prosper in your kingdom. Keep me close and keep careful watch over me. Don't let me wander, don't let me stray. Thank You Lord for loving me enough to care about my future. I continue to press on until I am at the mark. I will wait as long as it takes for what God has for me. I have every intention of being able to receive my blessings. I will wait on the Lord. Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone special. Show your love. Forgive. Reach out to those in need. I love you.

Luke 13:7-9
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

We are Sacred

1 Corinthian 3:16-23
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

We are God's sacred and special temple. We are loved.

I'm Still Here

God's love has power. None of us are perfect and we continue to strive towards the mark of satisfying God her on earth. I wonder what to say that will make a difference. I want something that is going to be very insightful and profound but it just doesn't seem to come to me now. So I say, I'm still here. Encouraged and loved. Willing to do whatever it takes to stay close and to stay involved with you. I know its hard, but I'm still here. I know it doesn't look good, but I'm still here. I know it doesn't make sense, but I'm still here.

Train Up A Child

So Lord tomorrow I start teaching Sunday School. I like the idea of having the small children. Maybe that will help adjust my attitude toward the bigger ones that I deal with during the week. I want to like them again. We are preparing for youth Sunday in December so this ought to be interesting. I do hate missing service though. Especially since I don't see enough of you as it is. My Sunday is every second Sunday so far. I'll just have to see if this is something I want to do on a regular basis.
Proverbs 22:6 says to "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

That is our foundational scripture and what we will structure for our students over the next month. What does this look like in a child. What does it mean for a parent to train up their child. How do we train our child in a manner that is both acceptable and individual to that child? We cannot expect it to look the same for all children.

This truth is reinforced by Psalm 119:11, reminding us that if we hide God's Word in our hearts, it will keep us from sinning against God. So, do yourself and your kids a favor—start tucking the Word of God into your hearts today.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (NLT)

HARMONY

Working in harmony and peace is so important. I do not want to lose my joy.

Public Humiliation and Public Restoration.

What do you do when you are just totally and completely humiliated, in front of your peers and superiors? What commitment can I make to God in regards to my job, career and life? I am in no position to bargain with God. I am thankful for each and every ounce of grace that is shown to me.I just don't know how to make anything work in my life anymore. The job is just horrible. T. There doesn't seem to any better get today was totally crazy. It just doesn't seem to change. It won't change so I have to change daily. Do I tell God if you this...then I will that...This is bargaining. I just feel like I have to say I don't know what to do about this. I reach out more to the people I am around, maybe that's what I need to do more of.I know I cannot do it alone and I have to have help. More confident, more dedication, more commitment. I have to continue to prepare myself to face the pressures of a secular world while continuing to speak to the Lord with honesty and faithfulness. I have to do things in the world for my job, but I have to remember that God is first and all things must honor Him, no matter what. The Sovereign God Rules forever and ever and ever. Find the balance and commit to God. Believe in Love.
Daniel 3:28-30
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Living By the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.


So I say that if Christ has set us free the we are free. Why are we not living free? If God loves me and knows that I am valuable then I love me and I know that I am valuable. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When I think of my inconsistency I find that I have to develop a willingness to stick to my commitment. A willingness to want to see something through to the end. Like a harvest time. It has been planted, cared for, waited for, and eventually there is a harvest. Being on one accord about the relationship. Wanting to see it come to fruition. Knowing that I am redeemed. Forgiving and being forgiven. Moving forward and really putting things in the past. I thank God for being consistent. Continually to reinforce that I am loved. Not just saying it but showing it and being consistent with that love.Not just thinking it or saying it but showing it outwardly. Unconditional love is God's love. I do not want to believe that I have given up the possibility of a committed relationship in my lifetime. I want a covenant relationship and in that relationship I expect it to be intimate and loving. I do not want to think that I will never have another intimate relationship in my lifetime. I will keep believing and know that I do not have to have sex outside of marriage. I havent had it for over ten years so I know I can still wait. It hasnt been easy but then certain things mean more than meaningless, loveless cheap sex. I am worth more than that and I will and have saved myself for a committed relationship. That's over a decade. I thank God for the Spirit working in my life to help me when I feel out of step. Thank you God. The bad thing is I substituted food instead. Now to lose the weight even more than I have already. If its not one thing its another. Good Night and Be Blessed.

Inconsistent

It was good to see you and good to be seen.Where would I be without you and your influence. God Bless You and Good Night.

Remember

Psalm 77:5-7

New International Version (NIV)


5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

Psalm 78:38-40

New International Version (NIV)


38 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the wasteland!

Psalm 105:4-6

New International Version (NIV)


4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.

5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

Psalm 105:7-9

New International Version (NIV)


7 He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.

Psalm 136:22-24

New International Version (NIV)


22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.

Psalm 137:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars
we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

Winning the Race

Lord I try to be diligent in my efforts. I fall short but I keep trying.
Never complain about what you permit.
I cannot complain about what I allow to happen. What I can change I must. What I cannot change I will adjust. I want to hold firmly to Christ Jesus.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation and I said, "Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways. So I declared on oath in my anger They shall never enter my rest. Hebrews 3:8-11

I pray that I d not harden my heart when I hear your voice. Let me hear and do your will today.

Excellence

"You will only have significant success with something that is an obsession."

"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.."

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches..."

When I think of what the Lord has done for me I am thankful. I strive to be excellent and have many great intentions to follow the hard road, take on the tough assignments and know that nothing is easy but I fall short. Courage and strength are needed to stay faithful in speech and in knowledge. Like Noah Daniel and Job I seek to be righteous in the sight of God and to the people that I encounter on a daily basis. Let today be a good day Lord. I have my helper today. We are done with the 1st quarter now and lets move to the second quarter with lots of energy and love.
Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you. My thoughts and prayers are with you daily.

Assistance

I am up too late and I know it but tomorrow is report card pickup and I have a small reprieve of time in the morning. I feel better Lord. I truly am asking for assistance and I'm receiving it. A parent will volunteer in the mornings with my most difficult class. Continued assistance from my colleague. Recognize the good and not the bad.Lord I pray to you to help me through this. I know I cannot do this without you. I don't have the knowledge or skill. I am like a trainee in a new field. I have no skill or finesse in this area. Lord you have sent me help and that has renewed my interest in this job. I will continue to work toward a better and brighter future for these children. I will see the positive and not the negative. Its so easy to look only at the negative.Thank You Lord for giving me the strength to look at it again. A different perspective. I think this will be a positive step forward. I'm excited about this help. I pray it works out. Things are working out. I know things are working out for you. Good thoughts and prayers are sent to you. I know God is blessing you with warm weather, calm winds and good thoughts. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone. I love you.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,to the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Independent or Dependent

When we enter a worship are we focused on our personal relationship with God or are we focused on our fellowship with other worshipers? As followers of Jesus Christ we are neither independent nor are we dependent. We rely on our interdependence to guide us and allow us to connect with Jesus and others.
1 Corinthians 11:11-12
11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

We need each other and we are required to be a part of the larger body of Christ. When I think of what I have to do I know I need others to do it. I can't do it alone. I can't do it by myself. Reaching out to others and letting others help is what I have to do. I think God heard my pray and place another body in the room to help, but now I have to give here the opportunity to do just that. I think we can make this work. It's definitely a change and that's what I prayed for. I pray for many things. I hope they all will come to fruition. I believe if one does then all have a possibility. Thank you God for hearing me. Now let me do my part. I pray that you are having a wonderful time. I love you and hope that you are doing well. I know you are fine and are taking good care of yourself. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone special.

What is Success

Dear God, when I seek time with you, I am looking for answers to my many problems and questions. My mind is racing with the troubles and cares of my life. I seek you to find peace and to understand what is really important. What idols have I made in my life that have lead me away from you Lord? Was it the money, recognition, acceptance by others? When I look at the true value of these things they do not measure up to your Kingdom. I don't accepts the world's approach to wealth and leadership, yet I continue to struggle for some comfort here on earth. Finding the balance is the struggle.

Matthew 19:20-21
...What do I still lack? Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Proverbs 16:1-3
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

God is Working Out Today

I know that God is listening because my day was different yesterday. Today I expect it to be different too. I have to do my part and God will do the rest. How did I ever think that God wasn't listening. I put my hope in God. Let today be a new day all over again. I put my trust in you Lord. Just one word from you Lord and I am convicted.
Isiah 49:6-7

Glory, Glory, Glory

Thank God you have taken the chance to relax.

Relax Renew Rejuvenate
You deserve this time away and have earned every moment of it.

Thanks be to God. I give God all the glory and the honor.

Be blessed and return refreshed, renewed and revitalized.

While Thinking Again

\It sounded like I was upset and I'm not. I am completely aware that no bad intent personally was meant for me. I convict myself in my relationship with God. The Holy Spirit touches my heart and my mind and challenges me to do better and better I will do.
Acts 2

I Do Love You Lord

I am not ashamed of the fact that I Love You Lord. I may have problems, but I love the Lord. I am not ashamed of that. I keep my mind, heart and soul focused on you Lord. I don't have the answers. I pray that I can look beyond the ritual. My heart longs for you Lord. The things that separate us are what keep us coming back for more. We come together because of our differences and in spite of our differences. Whatever this is I surrender myself to God's will. I am a possible choice, not the only choice. I hear that there are other options for us to enjoy and we can express ourselves many ways. God will get his will done one way or the other. There is not one way or one person with all of the answers. We are uniquely and wonderfully made. I take nothing for granted. I take no one for granted. I stay amazed that you are still here. Still interested. I expect you to move on to something or someone else. Maybe I do need a new church. My goal is never to be a distraction. I love the Lord. I Love You Lord. Am I trying to let God do his will. I hope so. You are where you need to be and I am where I need to be. That seems obvious. If we were to be elsewhere, then we would be there. Breaking traditions and rules are what Jesus did. Love the Lord your God with all Your Heart and Mind and Soul. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. I work on that for my life. God wants all of me and I want to give it to him. I want God to have all of me. I have to deny myself more, and more. Release the control. I don't know how to control my life.

It's Going to Be Alright

Lord when I run from your will I always seem to come back. Whether stumbling or running , I come back. I am challenged to continue in your will and I can't seem to do anything else but move towards just what you want.When I don't know the words to say, I just try and let your spirit in my heart and in my mind. Lord when I question the struggle I am always referred to Jonah. Am I rebelling against going into a warring, fierce, ruthless area. I feel I am there now. Daily I struggle with the challenges of this school. School, work, home, church, and any other relationship in my life is a struggle. I know it doesn't have to be a rose garden but can there be some clarity, some ease, some method or routine that brings joy. Something to continue to be happy about. Its not that bad. It could be much worse. Have to think about getting out of here because of the weather, traffic will be slower than slow. So cheer up. Find joy in your situation and know that it does not last forever.Being obedient will bring a sense of accomplishment. There is joy in accomplishing the will of God. I have a sense of calm about myself. Have a blessed day today. Know that you are loved dearly.

Thank You

Good Morning Lord. Thank you for everything that you do in my life. Thank you for forgiving me for my sins. I know that they are too big for my life. Sometimes I just don't know how you do it all. How do you love me even when you know me. How is it that I can still be the one that needs to keep growing and changing and working stuff out each and every day?. We never really are at the point where we meet the need to be whole and complete. There is no point where we get to say. OK Lord I am done. Let me just rest here. No we have to keep pushing on daily. Forgive us for our sins. Love us in spite of our sins. Love us unconditionally. Love us completely and without blame. Love us with all your heart and soul. Keep us safe and protect us.

Wonderful

Thank You Lord for your grace. You are an awesome God and I will praise you. I trust you Lord. My faith is in you. You can do all things but fail. Whatever comes before me I exercise my faith first. Do I belong here? I am where God wants me to be. I will do what God wants me to do. I walk by faith and not by sight. My faith is in the Lord. He sent his son Jesus to save me. Thank You Lord.

Making Wise Decisions

Thank You Lord for today. I am here one more day. Thank You for each and every day. I take nothing for granted.

I am renewed and refreshed. Its back to the grind. I have to find something within me to keep me going strong.

Today, tomorrow and the next. I continue to chase after you. I continue to try and improve myself.

Breaking old habits and moving forward. Finding happiness with myself and others.

How do I handle this need for change in my life? Is it with resistance, excitement or uncertainty? I believe it is a combination of all.

I have to put it in God's hands. God will guide the way and the fact that I control nothing in this is evident.

I ask God to help me be more flexible and open to change. Open to whatever will allow me to work smarter not harder.

That's the latest catch phrase in our building. Work smarter not harder. Its not new.

I have heard it for many years but now we are truly trying to incorporate that in our daily lives.

Trust in the Lord. Lean not to our own understanding. Believe that God has a plan for you. Trust in God.

Trust that all things will and do work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are doing his will.

My prayer is that I release control. I become more open to changes in my life and I seek God first about those changes.

Trust in God and lean not to my own understanding of the situation. Confusing. How do I know.

God won't have me do something that will hurt others. God will have me glorify Him.

God will not have me harm myself. God has goodness and kindness and mercy for me. God loves me and what he has for me will and does reflect that love.

Humble myself and know God's love. Know God's strength. Know God is with me always. Be blessed and be a blessing today.

Looking Beyond My Immediate Circumstances

Thank You Lord for giving me the opportunity to work on your objective one more day. You continue to encourage me to stay diligent and focused. I love you Lord and continue to seek you daily. Daily I am seeking you Lord longing to be closer and closer to you. My task is difficult but I do not grow weary. I will stay on task. I move forward with dedication and determination. I am encouraged to stay on task and to know that as I seek God he will be found. May God bless us today on our endeavors and know that we are determined and dedicated to seek Him first and to find Him. Be blessed today and be a true blessing. I'm off to another meeting. Lord I pray that we are able to be productive and successful. Let us be on one accord.

What's On My Mind

Good morning Lord. Thank You for another day. I give you all the praise and glory today Lord. Thank You. My heart is restored with the knowledge that you have given me another day. I woke up this morning with you on my mind. I wondered how you were feeling today? Did you rest well last night? Are you anxious about something? When are you taking a vacation? Are you taking good care of yourself? Did you have a healthy breakfast? Are you too busy to think about your health and make wise choices? Am I a project for your, like a game or a bet? Do you regard me as something on your list of things to do, like feeding the homeless, stopping the violence, etc. You are not alone in your quest to change the world. I am thinking that my prayers for your are being heard. I am encouraged that suffering is not forever. God is with us through the pain and that I should never give up hope for a future together. I am not just another project for you to check off. I chose to believe in you. I chose to believe in a you and me future. I press forward on that promise. I have to believe in us. I pray for God to restore any losses that I have in my life. Return to the Lord. Sometimes it takes a major blow to bring people back together. Does it also take a major blow to get people together? Emotions and intellect pale in comparison to matters of the heart. Faith in God. Continued Hope in the situation and Love of you keep me going..My heart has loved you for a long time. I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here, still in love with you. Working myself up to believing everyday even when it doesn't look like it is possible, believing that it is so. Be blessed today, my love. Be a blessing to someone special. Plant a seed of faith.

The Value of our Work

Dear Lord thank you than you thank you. I have to begin by giving thanks for all that you have done, all that you plan to do and all that was done that I know nothing about. Today Lord I will only be in church half the time. I will miss you. I am going to see my friend receive a community service award. It is her first and she has no one coming to see her receive this award. .Her boyfriend and family all have other plans. I know that she would appreciate someone being there on her behalf. I want to encourage here to continue to do good. The time cuts int my church time. So Lord, I will come and praise and worship and leave at 1pm. I really would love to stay for the entire service but I am splitting my time between the two. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 New International Version (NIV) Ecclesiastes 3 A Time for Everything 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Good Morning

Good Morning Lord. I ask you to help me be ready to face difficulties in my life. Test me, prepare me to pass the test. Help me to be ready to stand against the world's challenges. Allow me to be supportive at all times. I am willing to try. I have not given up. I will continue to walk with Jesus to the end. Just like Peter's failure at the end, I know that I can fail too. I have my sins and challenges, but I pray that I always come back to what's right. We all make mistakes but knowing how to look at our mistake and our attitude about the mistake gives us courage to go on. It takes courage to admit when you are wrong and obedience and discipline to do the right thing. John 18:23-27

God is Awesome

Thank You Lord for today. Thank you for the opportunity to try a little bit harder to do your will. Lord I too was convicted last night. I changed my route going into work so that I could avoid a homeless person when I get off the expressway. My reasoning was that I will not give this person anything because I will see them everyday and everyday they will expect something from me. They were aggressive and relentless. Even suggesting I give my lunch because they saw it on the front seat in the car. I stopped going that way. I was mad that he could assume that I should give him something each and every time I see him. I changed my route back to the longer way just to avoid him. Now of course he is stuck on the brain. Should I go back to that route and have something for him daily or just keep avoiding him? Maybe now that we start earlier he won't be there. Maybe I'll just keep going the way I'm going and leave that alone. He was kind of creepy too. I would much rather help in a different way than just giving him money everyday. I know I have a house, car, job and food, but its a struggle for me too. I'm going to school today to catch up on some stuff. I'll go that way and see if he is still out there.

I know that weekends are included and why I have missed them I don't have a valid reason.You are special to me and I don't want to take any of this for granted. I want to remember each and every day is a gift and that I share that gift with you in some small way. Making a connection with you each and every day is important to me. We don't see each other everyday so connecting is important. This break is important too. You need to not worry about me being so sensitive about everything that you say and do. You are helping so many people through their tough times as well as my own. I'm a big girl and I understand its not about me all of the time. I want you to be encouraged and strengthen. You have a hard journey ahead of you and you need encouragement not discouragement.

Proverbs 167:2-3
All a man's ways seem innocent to him but motives are weighted by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Beginnings

Proverbs 3:1-6 Proverbs 3 Wisdom Bestows Well-Being 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a] OK Lord, I'm off for these two weeks and I need your help to make the best of it. Restore us and rejuvenate us. I want to do your will Lord. Not my will but your will.

God's Sense of Humor

God has given us exactly what we need. Why God has decided that you would have the crazy girl I don't know. But I hear that if you think you are crazy then maybe you aren't. But then again you could just be calling it like you see it. I have to believe that you know what God wants and so I believe just like you believe this is suppose to be something. Something that God has his hand in. So I look to the future not the past. New Beginnings that have me believing in the positive. God wants nothing but the best for me and I believe it. I may be up and down, back and forth, unsure one day, positive the next but I never give up. If you believe and I know you are a man of God then it must be true. Its not just something I made up, something that I only think is true. Thank You God for love. Thank You for allowing me to be able to give love and for being able to receive love. That might be where the problem lies but God did not give up on me in that area. Thank You God.

The Purpose of God

Lord I have a love-hate relationship with your will. I want to know it, to discover it, to include it in my life. I know I will not be whole without it. But then I know that deep down it might be something that I don't want, something I find too hard, something that will challenge me too much. Too many restrictions, too much of a change. But Lord I want you to reveal yourself to me. Reveal your will. Help me to recognize the patterns that have developed. The ones that lead me to your will and purpose in my life. What does it mean to be chosen by God? To live in his will and purpose? How to balance the things that I think I know are God's will against the things that are my will? How do I get God's blessings? I am blessed each and every day with God waking me up and allowing me to have the knowledge that He alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lord. How do I make it in this earthly world? Am I whining over nothing? If things will get better will I even notice it getting better? A year ago I was going through major emotional turmoil, now I am not. Are things better, have they changed, or is it my attitude about the situation which really doesn't seem to have changed much. Its how I look at the situation now. My perception is what has changed. My coping skills have increased so that what upset me before doesn't affect me like that anymore. Is that a good thing or a bad thing because now I am more indifferent. WHERE IS THE PASSION. I AM A CAPTIVE IN INDIFFERENCE. Was that the best I could do, just not care? God I know there is more to it than that. Light the fire of passion and reach deep within to rekindle the emotions. Maybe that was the problem in the first place, too much emotion.
Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-14

Why We Believe What We Believe

2 Peter 1:12-21 (New International Version)
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2 Peter 1:12-21

New International Version (NIV)

Prophecy of Scripture
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[a] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

EXPERIENCE

Thank you Lord for today. Thank you for waking me up today. Thank you for allowing me to have men in my life who are teachers of your word and your book. Thank you for allowing me to love him. The goodness of you is all that I seek. Nothing is easy and if it was would it be really worth it? We always feel we have to earn everything, there must be a struggle for us to appreciate something. Well Lord I am struggling so I look forward to my days of blessing and reward. Thank you Lord for your patience with me. I believe you have a blessing for me with my name on it and it is mine. I deserve it and its promised. No one and nothing can stop that. Be extremely blessed today and be a true blessing to someone. I love you.

Acts 10:34-36
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Experiencing the Goodness of God

Dear Lord when I think about your goodness all of my troubles seem to melt away. I know that you are with me. I don't walk this road alone and my path is lit by your wisdom and guidance. Let my choices be your choices. When I grow weary, lift me and carry me on my way. Let today be a good day, reinforced with your will and your way. Let positive and encouraging thoughts and words come out of my mouth to my students and colleagues. Hear my plea Oh Lord. I look for new beginnings, new methods, new understanding to encourage me. God I know you are always seeking growth within us. You challenge me to do better, to have more faith and to believe in the impossible. Help me through this day Lord. Help me to get better at this schedule and to maneuver through the obstacles around me. Your word shall forever be in my heart, my mind and my soul. Allow me to be encouraged in my day so that I am successful at the end of it. Thank you Lord. You are worthy to be praised and I give you all of my praise and glory. I thank you for your blessings. Have a blessed day today and be a blessing to someone in need. I love you.

New Beginnings

Today starts our NEW, new, school year. Early morning start, late afternoon ending. Lord, I will do what I have to do. I will bring joy to my situation. I would like to encourage myself and staff. We need each other and need to continue to remember that we are important in each others life. Speak positive words of encouragement to my students. Allow them to be involved in their education. Whether I am a student or a teacher, I want to impact my students life. They don't have to remember me, just remember what I tried to teach them.
Daniel 6
Daniel is on the Menu at the Lion's Club. How appropriate for today. I feel like I am asked to do may things that I don't agree with. I struggle with this all the time. Well let's get ready and go to school.
When does the waiting stop? Be blessed today and be a blessing to someone. I love you and hope that you are more settled and relaxed today. You have the information that you need and the people that you need to talk to today are all receptive and willing to do things your way today.

New Perspective

In the face of change Lord, how do we handle a new perspective? This is the last day for our regular school day. Next week we are on the extended schedule. We agreed to this. We spoke to the parents at open house last night. We assured the children this would be a positive opportunity so lets we will all work together to ensure that the change is as effortless and uncomplicated as possible. I ask God to be in the middle of this change. I give it over to God to allow us to transition effectively. Any resentment and uncertainty is removed. Any apprehension is calmed. I am excited about a new beginning. It is happening so I will embrace it. I will do God's will and ask God to help me be more flexible and open to change.Thank You Lord for all that you do for me. Allowing me to still wake up and be a functioning human being. Thank You God that I have a job to go to this morning. Thank You Lord that it was payday today so I can meet my bills. Thank You Lord for giving me transportation, family and friends, and a safe and secure environment. We have our problems but we are not on the street and living in war ravaged countries, we are not drought and poverty stricken. Thank You Lord for your blessings. I pray for those that are in these situations and pray for relief for them. Do not call anything unclean that God has called clean. Keep God's word.
Acts 11

Skilled Incompetence

Am I teachable? I ask God to search me and help me to stop being so adept at protecting myself from the truth that is possibly painful. Allow me to listen and learn the hard truth. Help me to prepare myself my day in order to teach to stubborn students. I want to be able to change my ways if that is not working. Reach them somehow how to allow them to learn. Every child is teachable, if they take down their guard and begin to explore whats available for them. Help me to be prepared for them today. Help my attitude to be welcoming and warm. Keep me observant of the activities. Help me to say the right words to my student who is having issues with the other girls. Help her to find a place where she can fit in. Give them a clear mind today when they take their test. Let the answers flow freely and make sure they are correct. Let them remember them clearly and not freeze up with stupidity. Keep us safe Lord. Have a blessed day today. Encourage us to do your will. Stay in love with us and walk with us. I love you.

Micah 2:1-4 (New International Version)

Micah 2:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

Micah 2
Human Plans and God’s Plans
1 Woe to those who plan iniquity,
to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
because it is in their power to do it.
2 They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes,
they rob them of their inheritance.

3 Therefore, the LORD says:

“I am planning disaster against this people,
from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4 In that day people will ridicule you;
they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;
my people’s possession is divided up.
He takes it from me!
He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

Restored Hope

Thank You God for keeping me here another day. Sometimes situations seem hopeless but with faith, just a little bit of faith, all things are possible. I know that God wants me to have hope. God wants me to be renewed and restored. I believe that God wants me to have good things in my life. I can't believe that God wants me to struggle forever. When we face insurmountable obstacles we think there is no reason to hope but God wants us to believe in hope. Faith Hope and Love. Keep the Faith, Continue to Hope and Walk in Love.

Romans 4:16-22
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[b] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Favoritism

God does not show favoritism. Lord thank you for not showing favoritism. Thank you for accepting all of us no matter male or female, black or white, Jew or Gentile. Keep us under your Word. I pray that we can keep your word in our hearts and know that we are following your steps. I did not want another minute to go by without me writing.

Our Needs

Dear God, usually we have to admit that we need help before we receive that help. Why is it so difficult for us to admit that we need help. We want to do it on our own but we can't. When it continues to break down, we call on you Lord. Help me to see you as the first responder in all of my cares. I have parent conferences today and I need to reach the parent and the child. I pray that I can reach someone today with the gospel. I pray that God is revealed to someone through me, someone who is rejecting God's eternal power and divine nature. I give thanks to God for he is worthy to be praised. I pray that your day is blessed and that your are fruitful in your endeavors. My love goes with you today and everyday.

Romans 1:21-23
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Making Wise Decisions

Lord I have to wonder why sometimes. I know that certain things are necessary but I do wonder why. How can this be? When we have to chose to keep going one more day doing something we are challenged with is it wrong to expect it will get easier? I want to be inspired and ignited about the task. I want it to be my pride and joy. My time is worth it. I want to feel I am doing a good job. I don't want to feel cheated or overused or undervalued. I have to challenge myself to stay fresh while doing the job. Learn something new. Try a new method. Reinvent myself. Step up my game. can I do it without losing myself. Probably not so I have to lose myself to gain a better understanding of what needs to be done. A new me for a newly defined task. Forgive me Lord for not listening to your words, pushes and nudges to do the right thing. I have made mistakes and I am willing to work on fixing them. I was wrong and I'm asking for forgiving and healing. I pray that the Holy Spirit will help me know God better and to help me walk in God's way.

Hosea 14:4-6
4 “I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
he will send down his roots;
6 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

Rejoice

Yes Lord I will rejoice and give you thanks. I am happy to know that I am here for a special reason.

I know that we are not here by chance and that we have to make the most of what God has given us. Speaking to others about Jesus Christ is important and necessary. How I will do that will draw me closer to God.

I seek his face. I yearn for time with God. My hearts desire is to be pleasing to God. I pray that I will be able to learn how to speak about God's loving kindness and goodness in my life.

I know that is an area that I need to improve upon. Talking about God with others. Speaking to others about the goodness of God. Inviting others to come to the Lord. God is a good God and he will give me what I need. I am renewed to know that is what I will work on for this new year. My tumbling blocks might be someone Else's stumbling block.

I don't want to say useless words or cliche sayings that are heard throughout, but I want to encourage people that God is the answer for your problems and he has done great things in my life, when I have released my control and turned it over to him. I pray for your prayers to be answered.

Whatever it is that you want, that's what I hope for.You are anointed and appointed so please know that I want nothing but the best for you. You have a skill, a blessing and talent to do what it is that you are doing. Keep the blessings coming. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone.

I am staying strong with this family and will continue to be with it for a long, long, long time. Whatever road we travel, we travel together.

Good Night

Ephesians 3:16-19
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Be blessed tonight and know that you are loved and that prayers are going out to God to bless you and keep you safe. You are loved. Good Night.

Accepting of Myself

Everything is all good. We have to learn to love our selves and remember that we have good positive things in our lives that we have done to encourage others. You have done a wonderful job uniting the folks in that neighborhood and around the city. It hasn't been an easy job but you have diligently continued to show that we can come together without harming one another. I admire you for your dedication. You are a strong man with good intentions. I continue to encourage and stand by you to find peaceful ways to come together and still be a part of a productive, involved and entertaining community. While all is well, it is different. It is by faith that I keep my belief going. I just want to encourage you. Feel good about the future and know that through it all we are still moving forward, not backwards.

Accepting of Others

Lord I pray that I will be more accepting of others. I pray that I will not come across being a stuck up person. I don't want to be arrogant or haughty. My job is to have discernment about myself and others. I trust you Lord to help me make the right decisions. If I ever feel unacceptable remove that from my mind. I know I am a child of God and I do not earn his favor or reassurance. God loves me unconditionally.
Galatians 3:1-14
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c]

7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[d] 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:1-14
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[e] 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”[f] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[g] 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[h] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

We are Here

Lord we are where we dreaded we would be. Adding the 90 minutes was a given. We expected it and knew it was coming, but now they are rolling down the hammer trying to close us. Everywhere you look Lord its all about the jobs. Take jobs away or claim to make these superficial never seen jobs. Lord, keep us under your watchful eye. We stay focused on you Lord.

Prayer

Lord we pray for our Leaders today. I believe the decisions made by them are directly from you. Let them be leaders of discernment, understanding and knowledge. Thank you for your laborers, I continue to work for your glory Lord. Thank you for your blessings. Let our leaders work for justice and righteousness.

New Life, New Lifestyle

Set your heart on thing above. Shed any and everything that is unnecessary./anything that slows me down from completing the race and getting to the finish line.I want to keep God's perspective on immorality and greed. Examine my motives and actions Lord. Keep me honest and on your path. Like a marathon runner I have to shed pounds, clothes, habits and anything else that is a distraction and diversion. Keep my focus on you and completing my task. Let me not get off course.

Colossians 3:1-11
Colossians 3
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

I Don't Mind Waiting

When God calls us to complete a task, we know we should be faithful and diligent until it is accomplished but sometimes we grow weary and discouraged. Obstacles block our path, opponents mock us, and over time we just think the only thing to do is give up. So during this time we are encouraged by a fresh word from God. God gently rebukes us then offers us strong encouragement and genuine hope. God gives us renewed vision of how our task fits into his broader plan and purpose in the world. The Lord encourages us to complete whatever task he has given us and to see it from his eternal perspective. Not what we want but what God wants us to do. When we return to the Lord we understand that waiting is part of our task so we wait patiently and with love and peace in our heart. Sometimes we have to remember that its not our will but God's will and purpose. I don't mind waiting is my new mantra.
God has blessed me with the ability to bounce back, regroup, and to return to the task at hand. I'm still here, I'm not in a hospital,jail, mental institution, or drug house. God has plans for me. How to reinvent myself and continue God's task without growing weary and discouraged is my new task. Receiving a fresh word, a new outlook, a treasure from within. I thank God for his forgiveness and love. I am blessed to be forgiven and loved by God. I know that I have been blessed and I don't take that blessing lightly. Thank You Lord for your blessings. I don't mind waiting on the Lord.

Renewal

Father God in the name of Jesus I am renewed in my faith. I want to be a doer of the word not just someone who hears the word. It is you Lord who revives and stimulates us according to your word. Thank you for keeping your eyes on me and restoring me. Thank you for watching over my health and happiness. Your ways are the way I want to go. You give me comfort and consolation during my time of need. I put off the old and I look to be renewed with a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Glory to God. Hallelujah! Glory to God

1 Corinthians 12
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Intercession Prayers

Lord I pray for those in authority. I pray for them to have requests and thanksgiving of peaceful and quiet lives that are ministering to the people they serve. Lord I pray for our country and ask God to execute justice for the fatherless and the widows and the poor. Protect, preserve and uphold their rights. Give them common sense when dealing with the concerns of the poor. Father God help us to understand you better and to know what it is you need us to do. Help us to make the right decisions. Help us to be loving and caring towards each other. Teach us how to love one another and live together in harmony.

Ezekiel 28:1-5
“‘In the pride of your heart
you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god
in the heart of the seas.”
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
though you think you are as wise as a god.
3 Are you wiser than Daniel[a]?
Is no secret hidden from you?
4 By your wisdom and understanding
you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
in your treasuries.
5 By your great skill in trading
you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth
your heart has grown proud.