Free to Obey

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives, we are set free from the grip of sin. We receive salvation and eternal life. The Holy Spirit even comes to live within us. However, when reading this verse, I am also reminded of the obedience that is necessary to walk in this freedom on a daily basis.

Obedience is not always going to be easy, it can be a challenge, especially when God requires us to change something we do not want to change. That could be a job, certain relationships, wrong mindsets, or bad habits. The reality is, that certain sins can be appealing to us, so we want to hold on to them. We may even make excuses for them. But God wants to set us free. He knows that once we are free, it draws us closer to Him. And who doesn’t want to draw closer to Jesus Christ?

Photo by: Ali Naderi

Something I have noticed in my own walk with the Lord, is that when I obey Him, and do that simple thing or not so simple thing, He has been telling me to do, things change for the better.

I love Ephesians 3:20 that says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

With God’s power working in us, we are set free to experience even more than we can ask or think. Some versions say, ask or imagine. God’s freedom is greater than anything we can ask for, think or imagine. But remember, this freedom comes only when we are willing to trust and obey Him.

Heavenly Father,

We are thankful for the freedom you give us. We want to trust and obey as you lead us through this life so that we can walk in the freedom you have promised. Help us not to be in bondage to certain sins or ignore the things you bring to our attention that need to be changed. Thank you for being a loving and compassionate God, who is patient and understands our struggles, but also wants to heal our hearts and set us free.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2:1-5 AMP

1 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,


2 So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

3 Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.

Photo by: Quang Nguyen Vinh of Vietnam 🇻🇳

Theses verses encourage us to pursue godly wisdom and understanding. Through godly wisdom and understanding we can see people and situations from God’s perspective. We can also make decisions that are in line with God’s will. Godly wisdom and understanding will help us to stay secure in God’s truth and love. So don’t hesitate to cry out to the Lord for insight, no matter what you are facing.

May our hearts be filled with joy as we show reverence to Him and continue to grow in the knowledge of how awesome He truly is.

Trust the Love of Jesus

The other day, I came across this writing that I wrote some time ago. I can not remember if I shared it on the blog before, but even if the words are familiar, I hope it encourages you to continue to “Trust the Love of Jesus.”

Life is full of ups and downs. In the ups of life, it is easier to believe that Jesus loves us. But what about the down times?

Photo by: vasanth babu of India 🇮🇳

Believing Jesus loves you can be more of a struggle when life does not go as expected. We often experience disappointments that bring us to tears, tragedies that leave us in shock, and emotional hurts that leave us breathless. It is during these times that we have to press in to believe in and receive the love of Jesus. His love for us is real and unconditional. He loves us through our failures, disappointments and hurts.

Understanding the love of Jesus is a lifelong process. Although our minds have a knowledge of His love, our hearts have to learn to understand it day by day, as we go through the various challenges and seasons of life.

So during the difficult moments of life, cry out to our Lord. Remember His past faithfulness and trust Him to provide your needs today and tomorrow.

Lamentations 3:22-23 CEB, “Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through! They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”

Father’s Day Blessings!

Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads! May your day be blessed, relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks for all you do.

Photo by: Nappy of the USA 🇺🇸

Last month marked 23 years ago that my Dad, James, passed away but I am thankful for his love and his hard work. This weekend some of my Dad’s family members are in town (his older sister and her children/grandchildren) so it has been nice hanging out with them and hearing some conversations about my Dad. I miss my Dad, and I am looking forward to seeing him again one day in heaven.

I am especially thankful for the love and care of our Heavenly Father…

2 Corinthians 6:18 NLT, “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

God Supplies Your Needs

Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Photo by: Tima Miroshnichenko of Poland 🇵🇱

This verse came to mind recently and I felt overwhelmed by God’s love. Just knowing that He will supply whatever I need, brought me joy. It does not matter where we are or what predicament we are in; God will give us what we need. God’s ability to supply all we need goes far beyond money or other material items. He gives the rest, strength, peace, joy or comfort that we need. He puts the right people in our lives at the right time. He gives us Himself so that we know He is always there with us and we can see and feel His love for us.

What is it that you need from the Lord? Trust Him to supply whatever you need. He is our loving Father and He cares for us more than we can even understand at times.

Father,

Thank you for supplying our needs. We know that you are faithful and give us what we need. During times where we feel we are lacking something, help us to trust that you are working. Even when we do not see what we are praying for with our natural eyes, help us to remain steadfast with thankful hearts. Help us to choose joy, even when we go through times of trial. You promised that those who seek and trust you, lack no good thing (Psalm 34:20).

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Encouragement From Fellow Bloggers

1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

The past couple of weeks were pretty busy for me because it is our busy season at work, but it was a blessing to be encouraged by many of the posts I read. So, I’m sharing a few. I believe they will encourage you too. Have a wonderful week and enjoy reading these posts! 🤗

Photo by: Diva Plavalaguna

Jennifer posted Parkinson’s Too Hard for God to Heal? Nope! This reminds us that God performs miracles.

Get Moving by Desiree, is inspiring because she refuses to let her physical limitations hold her back.

Unlocking the Beauty of Aging: Embrace the Journey of Growing Older With Joy and Positivity by Divya. This encourages us to grow old gracefully.

In Trusting God With the Unexpected by Bridget, she shares a story that inspires us to remember that God is in control at all times.

In The Book of Numbers – The Weight of our Words Manu shares a story that reminds us of the importance of integrity and staying true to what we say.

Matt is sharing his heart to help others who have experienced trauma in this short video A Video About Why I Wrote Jesus Understands Trauma. And his new book, Jesus Understands Trauma, can be purchased HERE.

Happy Mother’s Day!

I wanted to wish a Happy Mother’s Day, to everyone who is celebrating it today. All women are special people, who do so much in our world, whether they have children or not. Women deserve praise!

The role of mother, brings extra special responsibilities to a woman and is no easy task. However, I am learning that God’s grace is always sufficient for whatever we need. He knows what we need and how to provide it to us.

I am thankful for my mom, Belle, and all I was able to learn from her. I miss her a lot. I especially miss her love in my life, her godly wisdom, and her peaceful spirit.

Proverbs 31:26 says, “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”

Me and Mom, July 2021 at my Aunt Ruby’s 80th birthday party

I am also thankful to be a mom to my daughter, Shalenah, who never ceases to amaze me. She is a kind and caring young women who is smart, brave, and supportive. She had been living in Spain for three years, but came back here last summer and helped me out with her grandma. I am thankful to her for doing that.

Me and my daughter, May 2023, at my commencement from graduate school, Masters in Business Administration

I hope and pray you enjoy your day, thank you for reading and continuing to support my blog.

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐