Psalm 5:12 NIV, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Rest today knowing that if you’re walking with Jesus, His favor surrounds you. He is not only walking with you, but He has also gone before you (Duet 31:8), and His Spirit lives inside of you (1 Cor 6:19).
Therefore, do not be afraid, because no weapon the evil one tries to form against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). God is faithful, and He will watch over you day and night (Psalm 121:5-6).
Walk confidently in the Lord Jesus. He will never fail you.
Psalm 23:6 NIV, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Aren’t you glad that the goodness and mercy of the Lord are following you? If He wasn’t good, and if He wasn’t merciful, no telling where we’d be. It never ceases to amaze me, that God has a new portion of goodness and mercy available to us everyday.
When I think of the flaws I have and the many sins I’ve committed, I’m in awe that He would show me goodness and mercy anyway. His compassion outweighs any failures we have had. He chooses to be good to us and do what is best for us in every circumstance. God’s mercy causes Him to look beyond the surface, and into the depths of our hearts so He can meet our true needs. His goodness and mercy are like a beautiful green tree that will never die.
Photo by: Skitterphoto
May we choose to dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever, surrounded by His goodness and mercy, and fulfilled by His joy and love.
1 John 4:19 NIV, ”We love because he first loved us.”
Truthfully there are many reasons why I love Jesus, but this is one of the main reasons…because He first loved me. His love is not based on anything we’ve said or done. It doesn’t rely on our abilities in any way. He freely gives it, all we need to do is open our hearts to receive it. He proved His love by sacrificing His one and only Son to die for my sins, for your sins, and for the sins of the entire world. Jesus is a gift of love, the greatest gift we could ever receive.
Photo by: Ylanite Koppens
As we grow in Christ, we learn to better understand His love. His love is unique, and it opens our eyes to His perspective. It’s changes how we view life and how we see people. It brings us hope and helps us to stay rooted in truth. The truth of Christ is a precious gem in a world that is saturated with lies.
One of life’s greatest joys is knowing the love of Jesus, and sharing that love with those around us. Every act of love, covered in God’s grace, touches a person’s heart. It doesn’t matter how tiny it may seem. Walking in the love of Christ takes strength and godly character, but by faith, we should keep on loving God and loving people, because He first loved us.
Thanks sister Gail@ Gaillovesgodand big brother Matt@ Jesusluvsallfor thinking of me and tagging me. May God bless you both! ❤️
1. What are your nicknames? What do you prefer to be called?
My family calls me by my middle name, Keesha. But Everyone else calls me Dawn. I’m fine with things as they are.
2. How often do you doodle? What do your doodles look like?
Pretty regularly when I’m at work. It depends on what I’m thinking about at the moment.
3. What do you do if you can’t sleep at night? Do you count sheep? Toss and Turn?
Listen to the Bible app or soft music.
4. Do people consider you as talkative or quiet?
Quiet
5. What makes you cry?
I will sometimes cry if I see others crying and also during emotional movies.
6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who try to tear others down to build themselves up.
7. How many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror?
Every time I go in the bathroom.
8. What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
That a man named Santa Claus could actually deliver gifts to every child in the world overnight.
9. What is one guilty pleasure you enjoy too much to give up?
Candy especially gummy candy.
10. Who performs the most random acts of kindness out of everyone you know?
The Holy Spirit
11. How often do you read the newspaper? Which sections?
I don’t read the newspaper. I look at the news online, mainly the CNN app.
12. Which animal scares you the most?
Snakes are scary, I never want to see one.
13. Are you more likely to avoid conflict or engage it head-on?
Avoid it unless it’s necessary then I’ll engage.
14. What was the most recent compliment you’ve received?
Last week a coworker told me I should do grief counseling because I am a calm person. It was nice to hear because I have actually volunteered at a grief support group for kids and teenagers as a group facilitator in the past and I enjoyed doing so.
15. What question are you tired of hearing?
I can’t think of one.
16. What is the strangest thing you have eaten?
Chitterlings
17. Do you have a whole lot of acquaintances or just a few very close friends?
I have some of both.
18. Do you have a catchphrase?
No I don’t.
19. What’s your all-time favorite town or city? Why?
Where I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. I always have a warm feeling when I’m there.
20. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
I’m not sure.
21. When was the last time you lied?
I really don’t remember so I think that’s a good thing because it must mean it was a really long time ago.
22. What’s something that amazes you?
The universe.
23. Would you rather be the first person to explore a planet or be the inventor of a drug that cures a deadly disease?
The first to explore a new planet. Hopefully while I’m there I may find a cure for a deadly disease like cancer since they apparently have not found one here on Earth yet.
24. What is your favorite amateur activity?
Blogging
25. What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?
Thank you Father for another day (I always say this in the morning when I wake up).
26. What is your favorite song (at least at the moment)?
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It doesn’t come naturally to boast about our weaknesses, because weakness isn’t usually associated with strength. But in Christ, it is. The hardships we face, and the temptations we must resist, are opportunities for the power of Christ to illuminate our lives. His power working in us, allows us to accomplish things that we cannot accomplish on our own.
Photo by: Flo Maderebner
Through Him, we are able to remain faithful and work to fulfill the purposes He has for us. His power brings life to situations that seem dead. When we are weary, He makes us strong. In Christ, it’s okay to come to the end of ourselves, because where our strength ends, His strength begins. His grace is sufficient for our every need.
Psalm 120:1 NLT, “ I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
Yesterday I had brunch with a friend from church. During our conversation, we started discussing how it can be tough as a Christian when we pray continuously but don’t always understand how God is working in our lives.
We sometimes have questions or prayers that seem to go unanswered. She told me that she’s learning to just give all her concerns to the Lord, and trust that He is working all things together for her good (Romans 8:28). We both agreed that even though we don’t always have all the answers at the present time, we can look back and see how God has always been faithful. He’s always provided exactly what we need, when we need it. He’s never late.
Last night, I was going through some blog posts that I saved and came across this one from my big brother Matt @ Jesusluvsall: “When God Answers Prayer”. It reminds us that God never forgets us. He is our sovereign Lord, who is always on time with the answers we need. Be encouraged as you read it! And keep trusting God as you wait for answers!
About 10 years ago, I attended a women’s breakfast at church and they gave us the magnet you see in the picture. In the beginning I had it in my desk at work, but for the majority of the time it has been on my refrigerator. I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind. Our help comes from the Lord. We can lift up our eyes to Him everyday. He will perfect everything concerning us (Psalm 138:8).
Psalm 121:1-8 KJV, “1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.“
Drawing Closer to Christ 