1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I just love that no matter what, in all circumstances, we can be thankful. We can choose to look up to Jesus, and trust Him to supply our needs in even the most difficult times. Although thankfulness may not naturally be our first response in all circumstances, we can choose to be thankful anyway because God is in control. As we give God thanks, we can expect the Lord to fill our hearts with joy, and work in our lives as we honor His will above our own. A thankful heart allows us to see life from God’s perspective, even in trials. I was encouraged by this poem by Yonnie at YonnieInHisCare, “Be Thankful In Trouble”.
Have a blessed day and may God’s Spirit give you continued strength as you choose to live a life of thankfulness.
Psalm 116:15 NIV, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”
It’s never easy to lose a loved one. Our hearts hurt when we no longer physically have the presence of someone we care about. Some years ago, I volunteered as a group facilitator at a grief support group for children and teenagers. These young people had lost parents, grandparents, or even siblings. As facilitators, they taught us about the stages of grief, but also stressed that everyone goes through these stages at a different pace. There are no set of rules etched in stone about how fast a person has to heal after they lose someone they love. You don’t just “get over it and move on”, healing takes time. Some days will be better than others. However, the good news is that God will provide comfort to our grieving hearts through His Holy Spirit as we experience losses here on Earth.
2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
Photo by: Daian Gan (from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴)
Psalm 116:15 shares with us God’s heart for the death of His children. He considers it precious to welcome us home. Even in death, He gives us hope. The short time we have here on Earth, is a forerunner to the grander things God has waiting for us in eternity. We must make the most of our time here, and leave a legacy that will point others toward Jesus Christ. When our work here is done, God will lovingly call us home. We can find joy in knowing we have an eternal purpose at home in heaven. I can’t even begin to imagine the ecstasy of His presence, and the magnificence of the place He is preparing for us. How special it is that He has an appointed time to welcome each of us home.
John 14:3 NLT, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
Photo by: Brett Sayles (from Boise, Idaho 🇺🇸)
When faced with death, it can sometimes seem unfair, shocking, pointless and hard to understand. The pain and sadness it brings can seem unbearable. This year marks the tenth anniversary of my cousin Peggy’s death. She died in a car accident and yesterday would have been her birthday. Her death was a shock. However in God’s eyes there is always a purpose. He is sovereign over both life and death. It’s a precious moment when we close our eyes here, and open them to eternity in His presence.
The thought of taking my last breath and dying used to seem scary to me. But I’ve found that the closer I get to the Lord, the more I look forward to spending eternity with Him. What once was scary, now brings me joy. May God continue to bless you as you fulfill your purpose on Earth and work to build a legacy that points others toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you Mrs. Holliman at God’s Lovefor this award nomination. It’s my first time receiving this award! 🌼
Stop by Mrs. Holliman’s blog, God’s Love to receive inspiration, and encouragement to keep following Jesus. She has a heart to see souls come to know Jesus and experience His love. ❤️
Rules
1. Display the blog award logo in your blog. 2. Thank the blogger who nominated you. Do not forget to link to their blogging website. 3. Answer all the questions they have given you. 4. Nominate 7 to 10 bloggers of your choice. 5. Ask them 7 questions.
Mrs. Holliman’s Questions to me:
1. Do you like winter? It depends on where I’m living. Right now in the part of Virginia where I live, the winter’s are mild so I like them. In Florida there was no winter weather. In Michigan I disliked winter. It was bitter cold with ice and snow.
2. What is a Christmas tradition in your family? Having Christmas dinner and visiting one another.
3. When was the last time you ate at McDonalds? I think I’ve eaten there once over the last several months.
4. What is your favorite way to exercise? Walking and YouTube videos.
5. What is your usual bedtime? By 11pm when I have to go to work.
6. What was yesterday’s highlight for you? Attending church with my mom.
7. What is your favorite meat? Historically it was always chicken and fish but now I think it’s just fish.
My nominees are below. If you choose to participate please answer Mrs. Holliman’s questions. 😊💕
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV, “9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The name of Jesus is the name that saves. It is the name that is above every name. There is hope and victory in His name. We can call on the name of Jesus anytime of day or night. These verses are such a comfort. They bring joy in the midst of pain and struggle. Even if you are persecuted, or ridiculed for your faith, remain steadfast and know that a day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Meditate on this truth and let it continue to spur you on toward love and good deeds, as you serve Jesus Christ and continue to share His light and hope with those around you.
Photo by: Ben White (from Michigan 🇺🇸)
Acts 4:11-12 NIV, 11 Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
James 2:17 NKJV, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we also grow in our knowledge of His love for us. Knowing that He loves us, should cause us to love Him and want what He wants for our lives. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), so wanting what He wants will mean having to step out on faith and start believing Him for more.
Believing God for more will most likely be uncomfortable, because it often causes us to have to leave behind what is familiar in order to embrace the new thing God wants to do. It requires letting go of old thought patterns, old habits, certain activities or people that we are used to.
Embracing the new thing that God wants to do, may even cause us to experience rejection by people. However, rejection is a good thing when it positions us to experience the better things that God has planned for us. Simply living to please ourselves or others will get us nowhere. Continuously resisting the changes God allows to come our way, will not take us to higher levels in Christ.
Photo by: Luis Quintero (from Panama 🇵🇦)
Since we have entered into a new year, I know many of us are waiting in expectation for the great things that are ahead. With that, will come opportunities to learn to step out on faith, believe God for more, and take action. Whatever the more is that God has placed in your heart, don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from being obedient and taking action. Make your requests known before our all powerful God (Philippians 4:6). He is willing to give you what you need. Follow the little promptings the Holy Spirit gives you, because little things mean a lot on the journey to the bigger things He has in store.
God will strengthen your faith and take away any fears you may have as you believe Him for more. 2020 will only be a year of change, if we are willing to make the changes God requires of us.
If you would like prayer as you believe God for more, you can let me know in the comments or via email, I’m thankful to pray for you!
God bless you big brother Matt, thanks for thinking of me for this tag! I pray your 2020 will be blessed beyond measure, and that your ministry on and off line will continue to grow for God’s glory! ✝️I wasn’t planning on sharing a verse, but this verse just came to my mind for you, so be encouraged…3 John 1:2 NIV, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” ❤️🙏🏿
Photo by: Cottonbro (from Saint-Petersburg, Russia 🇷🇺)
1- Share a link back to the person who tagged you. 2- Share a link to the person who created the tag- jesusluvsall.wordpress.com 3- Share a favorite New Year’s Memory 4- Answer the questions of the person who tagged you. 5- Tag whoever you want. 6- Use any picture that you like for New Years.
My New Years celebrations have mostly consisted of going to New Year’s Eve service at church. The service would start around 9:00pm and go until midnight. There would be a sermon, and then the pastor would pray us into the new year. When I wasn’t in church, me and my family would watch the ball drop on T.V., then we would have prayer at midnight to thank God for another year. It has also always been a tradition to have Hoppin’ John or black eyed peas for the new year. But no matter what, I can say I always remember prayer, and thanksgiving being a part of all my New Years. For that, I’m thankful.
1- If you could celebrate the New Year anywhere, where would it be? I’m not sure but hopefully it’s somewhere beautiful with not too big of a crowd.
2- What is your favorite snack food for New Years? I don’t have a favorite snack food for New Year’s. But this year my cousin brought us some homemade ginger cookies and fruit cake that she made.
3- Have you ever kept a New Year’s resolution? If so, what was it? I honestly don’t usually make any New Year’s resolutions. But one year in the past, I think I did exercise for the first 5 months of the year consistently lol.
4- What do you want to do with your blog next year? I don’t have a specific laid out plan but I will keep praying and being lead by the Lord. I love blogging though and want to keep it up.
5- Do you prefer a big party or a small gathering to celebrate? Definitely a small gathering!
Isaiah 40:31 AMP, ”But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Happy New Year to you! It is my prayer that you have a Spirit lead 2020 as you wait in expectancy for all God has planned for you. May you continue to draw closer to Christ and find comfort, peace, healing, and direction in the truth of His unfailing Word. I pray that you would find security and strength in knowing that God’s presence is with you and that His love for you will never cease.
Drawing Closer to Christ 