People rather argue and fight which can lead to a horrible disease.
No one cares…Only Jesus.
No one cares about honesty and truth.
People rather lie and manipulate until their award is the finest booth.
No one cares…Only Jesus.
No one cares about gentleness or faith.
People disappoint with selfishness and pride that’s their one mistake.
No one cares…Only Jesus.
When life seems to spin out of control.
Just look for Jesus as Christians that is our only role.
Remember when this world is cold and you feel alone.
You can ALWAYS look to Jesus!
“Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”” Hebrews 13:5 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/heb.13.5.AMP
Hey, last one there is a rotten egg! How many times have you heard this growing up as a kid? My answer is countless times when my friends and I would play outside or in school. Most of the time I would be the first one there too. I was a fast and quit competitive kid, however not as brave as the others. I could always imagine in my little kid brain the worst consequences that could happen from my actions. Most of the time I would suck it up and do it anyway since my friends were doing it too. Nothing illegal or dangerous just stupid little daredevil things you would do with your friends as a kid, like jumping from somewhere high, going on a fast and scary ride, or going down a really steep hill with your skates/ bike.
Funny exert from 90s cartoon Rugrats
The question is:
What did you fear as a Kid that you don’t now that you’re an Adult?
Funny exert from 90s cartoon Rugrats
1. High places in play grounds
I was petrified of heights as a kid and now that I’m an adult I still am but not playgrounds. Today I’m happy to say I can climb a high monkey bar or two. However back when I was a kid my Dad would have to rescue me since he was really tall.
This is something I remember really struggling with as a kid, going over anything that had holes or spaces in them. Do you remember the famous netted bridge or the cool metal stairs? These things my parents would have to carry me across if this was the only way to get from point A to B usually in a Fun Park of some sort. Today I can grin and bear it.
When I was a kid these things petrified me because I was thin so I always felt like I was falling out. Today the upside down rides just make me nauseous but I’m not afraid anymore. If I took a motion sickness tablet I could enjoy them today at the Amusement Park.
My parents taught my sister and I really good “stranger danger” so we were both hesitant to get to know anyone new. I was also a very shy and introverted kid so if you didn’t know me I wouldn’t even talk to you at all. Today I’m a lot more open to getting to know new people and now I’m not afraid.
This has nothing to do with any abuse because my parent didn’t do that at all. This is the old school style of raising where your parents put the FEAR in you to keep you safe. Plus we didn’t live in the best areas so we were always aware of our surrounds to avoid issues. Today I live in a safer suburb in the South with Hubby and Mom so I’m not afraid. However sometimes my Mom can be a little scary though but in a good funny old lady way.
My sister and I got chased by a big dog on Halloween one year when we went Trick-or-Treating so that was scary! Other then that no bad experiences with animals. I was always a lover and provider of animals especially strays. Today I think I would pet a Tiger and not be afraid at all. Animals are my passion and love.
Even though I was afraid of heights going down a steep hill I forced myself to do many times because my friends were all doing it. During the warm months we went down with our skates or bikes. The winter months we went down by cardboard box or lid of the garbage can in the snow. Today driving down steep hills are kinda fun only if you know the roads well.
I was always a fan of scary shows and movies as a kid even though I would get nightmares sometimes. I remember watching the movie, Chuckie at my cousin’s house one night when I was about 7 years old and yeah I got really scared. I complained to my parents about it and proclaimed that Chuckie was out to get me! Luckily today I’m not scared of fictional dolls that come to life but I do still enjoy that movie.
It makes me laugh to think about my fears as a kid especially comparing them now to adult thinking. Can you relate to any of these fears? What were your fears as a child and do you still harbor those same feelings now?
Happy Adulting 🙂
Funny exert from 90s cartoon Rugrats “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/2ti.1.7.AMP
Adulting is mundane tasks that MUST be done if you are an adult. What is an adult today? Legally in the United States adulthood starts at 18 years old. Then you reach 21 and you get more adult privileges you didn’t receive yet at 18. However by 25 years old you can rent a car legally and by this age you should be done with school if you went straight through. Officially getting out of school and starting your first REAL job is when you realize play time is over for good.
What about when you were a kid and you thought life would be so much better and easier as an adult? Did your family make being an adult look easier or harder? What did you think were the coolest activities that you can do when you became an adult that you weren’t allowed to do as a kid? Well here are some ideas I was thinking of:
1. Staying up late
This may have been my #1 reason to look forward to adulthood. My parents always stressed an early bedtime.
This one may seem kinda of weird because as an adult all we want to do is be clean. However as a kid this is the farthest thing from our minds, so my little kid mind would think bathing whenever I wanted not when my Mom told me to would have been liberating. As well as choosing if I wanted a bath or shower. Most parent tend to do baths for little kids.
This one is huge! Remember as a kid your parents had to know where you were at all times and your probably had a curfew to go with it? All I wanted to do as a kid was to go where I wanted without any permission. This is ultimate freedom at its finest.
When I was a kid I always needed permission from my parent to buy stuff even if I was using my own money. They wanted to make sure I was making smart buying choices, so as an adult this is something I do often. What grown woman doesn’t like shopping?
As a kid we need to have permission from our parents to have friends over right? Well as an adult we can have get togethers whenever we decide and that friend your Mom didn’t like well they are invited too.
7. Telling people what to do either at home or in the work place.
When you are a kid you need to listen and follow along. However when you are an adult you get to make decisions and boss others around especially if you have kids or your a figure of authority at your job.
If your feeling down one day and daydream about being a kid again when your an adult, just refer to this list for a reminder of things you can do as an adult but couldn’t do when your were a kid. Now doesn’t being an adult sound a whole lot more exciting?
Happy Adulting Today 🙂
Funny exert from 90s cartoon, the Rugrats Funny exert from 90s cartoon, the Rugrats“And he moved among the lions; He became a young lion, He learned to tear the prey; He devoured men.” Ezekiel 19:6 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.19.6.AMP
An Aunt is suppose to be there for you through thick and thin,
She is suppose to treat you like another one of her kin.
One Aunt I have is not like this,
She will cut you down to size starting with your wrists.
This Aunt I have she use to say “I love you” to me,
Now all she wants is to take me to court to collect her fee.
My Aunt is a crazy one she is indeed,
It doesn’t matter if she has two replaced knees.
This Aunt claims to be a witch where she will find no argument with me,
She is a wicked Auntie now my eyes are not blind but they can see.
A funny video from the 90s cartoon Rugrats “But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/mat.5.44.AMP
I’m guilty of talking to myself negatively sometimes, so a friend of mine told me to list ten positive things about myself. Here it goes:
1. I’m a loyal friend.
2. I’m a good wife.
3. I’m a good daughter.
4. I love animals.
5. I’m a creative and intelligent person.
6. I can do anything I set my mind to.
7. I’m so loved by God.
8. I’m beautiful inside and out.
9. I have a nice smile.
10. I have a kind and compassionate heart.
Wow that was actually way easier then I thought, plus a lot of fun! Shout out to my friend for the brilliant suggestion. Now I challenge YOU to do the same TODAY and EVERYDAY!
We need to love ourselves as much as Jesus does and have an attitude of gratitude.
For those of you that don’t know what “Scarowinds” is, well it’s an Amusement Park in North Carolina called “Carowinds”. They turn it into “Scarowinds” during the Halloween/ Fall season starting in September which ended on October 30th. My family and I decided to buy the tickets online for $75 bucks each and a parking pass for $25 to check it out on October 29th. We are no strangers to the spookified transformation of a theme park since we went several times to Fright Feast at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jersey. We use to go every year for my sister’s birthday growing up since her birthday is so close to Halloween.
My Mom, myself, and my husband went to Scarowinds which started at 7 pm and ended at midnight located at 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, N.C. 28273. We got into the park at around 8 pm after getting through the parking line and other line to show the tickets. Next time we know to arrive at least an extra hour earlier to get in right when the park opens up. Also, you are not allowed to bring in any bags so we had to walk back to the car to drop our purses off. I believe they do this for security reasons since on the first day a fight broke out. We know next time to have big pockets to store our money, tickets, and IDs which you need to show to get in. I ended up giving my Mom and my husband the stuff I needed because my outfit had zero pockets.
Once we finally got in we were bombarded with scary decor and people dressed up like frightening characters, zombies, and other goolish creatures. Some of them popped out from no where to scare whoever isn’t paying attention or just scare you when they’re in plain sight. If you didn’t want to be scared then you had an option to purchase a white glowing ghost necklace so the staff knows not to bother you. This was idle for small children and/ or people with health issues. We didn’t go that route because we wanted the full experience and we sure did get it! My Mom and I even wore black and white wigs to be a little festive and some people thought we were a part of the show.
There were a lot of people around but not too overcrowded however there was little time to experience a whole lot that the park had to offer. It was suppose to close at midnight but we found things closed already at 11 pm, so there wasn’t much time to go on a lot of rides since the lines were so long on each one. We got to do two rides but we walked around a lot and took plenty of photos. We also got some food which was my favorite part of the whole experience. I love Amusement Park junk food! We had French fries, chicken nuggets, fried shrimp, and funnel cake with toppings. If we had more time we probably would have gotten more snacks. I also got a little souvenir for myself, a pineapple denim cap that says “Carowinds” on the back.
Our Scarowinds experience was a good one and we might do it again next year if the ticket prices don’t increase. The tickets were pretty pricey but we did get a slight discount for pre-purchasing online. You have an option to get food packages but we opted out of that since we were only going to be at the park for a few hours. We did take advantage of the food discounts the last time we went one Summer with my sis and niece. It’s worth it if you plan on staying the whole day for Carowinds. It’s a fun experience to do with the entire family just remember to be safe and make it a memorable experience for all around. The crowd that we went with was fun and enjoyable. No problems or issues occurred and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.
If you have ever been to “Scarowinds” and/ or “Carowinds” Amusement Park let me know your experience in the comments. I look forward to hearing your story.
Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening! Depending on when your reading this blog haha. Anyway…I wanted to celebrate my Mom, Margaret Reilly Vitrano on her 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON QUIT SMOKING CIGARETTES!!! I’m so proud of her and so are her other family members and friends. She started her journey to quit in 2018 when she went to the doctor and got several health scares. I first wrote about her journey in my previous blog “My Mom Quit Smoking Cigarettes After 48 Years!”.
Me and My Mom in the beginning of her journey in 2018, Brooklyn.
Unfortunately Margaret aka Margie aka my Mom aka my best friend (I know that’s a lot of A.K.A’s lol) wasn’t immune to all heath issues after 48 years of smoking cigarettes. She has Emphysema, which comprises COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The disease develops over time and involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli (tiny air sacs). Luckily it isn’t life threatening if treated and carefully monitored, however it can affect everyday life tasks.
My Mom wasn’t immune to the consequences of smoking for so long, however she is much healthier now that she has quit. Life has changed a lot in 4 years! My Mom and I moved from an apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. to a house in Charlotte, N.C. Read about it in my previous blog “Hello, After One Year 🙂”. I got married in December of 2019 so all three of us live together in our house in North Carolina. The family has extended a bit since then because my sister had her baby girl, Rosemary and now has baby #2 on the way. My sis and her family also live in North Carolina. Unfortunately deaths did occur in the family and there were HUGE health scares for many with the Covid pandemic. Despite all the emotional up’s and down’s within the past 4 years my Mom did not have any cigarettes at all! This is a HUGE accomplishment within herself.
Me and my Mama in our backyard in N.C. 🥰My husband (John), Me (Catherine), and my Mom (Margaret). All smiles 😁
I conducted a short interview with my Mom, Margie Reilly Vitrano to gain some insight on how she kept on track for years, especially during heartbreak and stressful times. Here are the questions and answers below:
Q: How long has it been since you quit smoking?A: It has been 4 years on 4/20/18 since I quit smoking.
Q: Why did you quit smoking?A: I got sick and was told I had to quit if I wanted to get better. I was hospitalized for a few days due to sickness.
Q: Who motivated you to quit smoking? A: Me. I have been thinking about it for many years but was unsuccessful. It was mostly my daughter Catherine she got tough with me and wouldn’t let me quit my goal.
Q: How did you finally quit and not smoke cigarettes again?A: I needed help so I used the smoking patch that I got through the 311 help line and they sent me free products to use.
Q: How has life been since you quit? A: Better! I can breathe better, walk better except when it comes to walking up hills. I still have some of the symptoms of a smoker, but not as it was before. Some things don’t go away you just learn to live with it.
Q: What was the hardest thing about quitting? And what was the easiest? A: The craving for a cigarette and nicotine taking a puff and just holding it between my fingers LOL. To tell you the truth nothing was easy about quitting, but I can say now that has been sometimes I forget how long it has been since I quit. I rarely think about smoking.
Q: What advice can you give to people who want to quit smoking? And how did you coop with staying away from cigarettes for good?A: Just stick to your goal and don’t give up quitting! It is the hardest thing I had to do. but I failed many times before I got it right. Also using a support group on social media helped a great deal. There you can vent and people respond to your pain and suffering. Also they give advice and talk about their experiences and their journeys to freedom. It took many many years before I was truly ready, about 12 years to be exact. I would call the help line every year and they would send me free patches and gum. Sometimes I used them for a day or so then sometimes not. I knew I had it just in case. I was getting sick and not being around my family gave me the courage TO STOP AND REMAIN SMOKE FREE all of these years. I also started a new chapter in my life as a retired woman.
My Mom and the family dog (Ricki).
My Mom isn’t perfect however who is? She is a normal woman who overcame an obstacle and shared her experience with that obstacle. Good news my Mom has also inspired me and my Dad to quit smoking too. We have also been cigarette free for over 4 years. My Dad has also overcome many heath scares throughout the years and he is going strong too.
My Dad (John) and Me (Catherine). NYC visit 2022 ❤️😊.
If you have a story about overcoming an obstacle in your life and/ or your own “quit smoking” story please share in the comments below. Thank you and have a blessed day 🙏🏻.
Lately it’s been difficult for me to stay happy. A lot of family issues have rose and I have been feeling more anger and frustration with things more then ever. I won’t get into what situations they are because I want to protect the privacy of my family members during some really difficult and heartbreaking times. All I will share is we have experienced a couple of deaths in the family lately as well as unresolved issues with siblings. Both are literally making me feel like I have no control and things will not get better anytime soon.
I know what you are thinking if you know me and read my blog posts. How is a child of God feeling this way? Aren’t they suppose to be joyous and happy because they understand the plans God has in store for them? Aren’t Christian’s suppose to be happy no matter what life throws their way because they have Jesus on their side? Well the truth is being a Christian doesn’t shield you from the pain and tragedy of life. We go through it just like everyone else. (…”so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].”) Matthew 5:45 AMP. The meaning of this scripture in the Bible when Jesus preached to his disciples is it doesn’t matter if you do good or not or believe in Him or not you will have trouble in this world because this world is ruled by the enemy. In short bad things are going to happen that’s life here on earth and their is basically nothing you can do about it, WRONG!
If you feel helpless, sad, angry, or frustrated for any reason give it up to Jesus. He will help you through any struggle you might be facing, even if you don’t feel like praying do it. This is what I tell myself everyday. (““ Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.”) Matthew 7:7 AMP . God loves it when we come to Him with our troubles because He is here to help us.
Get happy and find the joy whatever struggle you are going through today. I have NEVER stopped praying even when I don’t feel like it. ( Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Happiness comes from God just like all of the other good things we feel because God is ONLY good and righteous. If we seek God we are seeking happiness and love. God is the purest form of unconditional love. (9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”) Joshua 1:9. He wants us to succeed in everything we do because we are His children and He loves us like the best Father you have ever had. When people disappoint us in this life God will be there. When we go through struggles of loose and death He is there to comfortable us if you allow Him.
I will seek happiness even in struggling times and reach out to others who may need my help or just a listening ear. We are put on this earth to be there for other people just like God is always there for us. If your are struggling with finding the happiness and joy especially during a difficult season of your life, just STOP trying to fix things on your own and give it up to JESUS. Don’t let the enemy win! (But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]”) 1 Peter 5:9 AMP.
If you are having any difficulties in your life right now and can’t seem to find happiness or joy please share your story below in the comments. Sometimes just getting out what is bothering you can help you heal. Have a blessed day 🙂
It has been one year since I have posted or even looked at anything on my blog website. Since then, so happy to be feeling the love from a few readers that still give my page a gander or a look-see. A very special shout out to those fellow bloggers and readers for the support you know who you are! It just goes to show you even in uncertain and very scary times we can all still support, help, and love one another.
Now last year (2020) is done! Thank God for that, was one of the best yet worst years of my young life with a lot of roller-coaster ups and downs. I was just starting new “married” life in a new state with my husband, and I took my Mom along for the ride. My family and I experienced a lot of financial and health uncertainties that many others faced as well. One thing that was nice to see throughout this chaotic year of pandemic, electoral madness, life restrictions that many of us have never faced before were people coming together to help one another out. I did witness a lot of kindness around me. I have to say it might have to do with the move from up north to down south which is a bit of a culture shock in itself (in a good way).
My faith has gotten stronger yet a little rocky at the same time. I miss my church back in Brooklyn and longing to feel that connection in my new home state. God has taught me in times of trouble the only thing you can honestly do is pray and wait. Pray for you, your family, friends, neighbors, the people affected by the pandemic, the innocent people that get killed every day. A prayer for strength, patience, and hope in a time where we all need it the most. Patience is a huge one for me! I need the patience to deal with others and to wait for life to get back to normal which it’s starting to get there a little more each day in 2021.
One year later and a lot has happened! Both amazing and horrible, both good and evil. One thing I know for sure I have to get back into the things that I love the most and be around people who have my back and make me feel alive at the same time. My family is amazing and my friends are the best. I’m honestly super blessed and grateful every day for what I do have: Health, Happiness, Faith, Hope, and most importantly LOVE.
The entire world seems to be turned upside down by fear over the past few weeks from this coronavirus scare. Many people might be questioning God’s existence or cursing Him for letting the human race spine into chaos. But I say to you do not blame God it is not His fault. If you want to blame anyone it is ourselves who are responsible for chaos here on earth. We are the reason why things go wrong! God isn’t he loves us all and He wants to see us thrive and praise Him.
Instead of being fearful or angry at God let’s praise Him even more at a time like this and remember to be grateful for what you do have. Let us all counting our blessings today.
1. Blessed to be ALIVE!
If you are alive today then that is a huge gift and a blessing from God! Thank you, Jesus, for my life!
“rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7 ASV
2. Blessed to have FAMILY & friends!
If you have family and friends in your life you are so blessed! Thank you, Jesus, for ALL my family and friends. Please protect them in their time of need and keep them safe and healthy. In Jesus’ name. Amen
“Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 ASV
3. Blessed to have a JOB.
You are blessed if you still have your job or any source of income to take care of your financial expenses. Thank you, Jesus, for always providing for me with everything I need to survive!
“And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:8 ASV
4. Blessed to have a place to SLEEP.
You are so blessed if you have a warm safe place to rest your head at night. Especially if you have a warm big comfy bed or even a nice couch. Many people don’t even have that so if you do be grateful and thank Jesus for that each and every day! Thank you, Jesus, for providing me with a warm comfy place to rest my head at night!
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15 ASV
5. Blessed to have clean WATER to drink and good FOOD to eat.
You are so blessed if you have clean, fresh water to drink every day. If you have good food to eat that is warm and delicious then WOW that is so great! There are countless people throughout the world that aren’t as blessed as you right now. Always remember to give thanks to God! Thank you, Jesus, for food in my belly and water to quench my thirst.
“I will give thanks unto Jehovah according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High.” Psalms 7:17 ASV
Even though it may be hard to give thanks when things may not be as good right now because of the coronavirus. If you have even one of these things that I mentioned above you are so blessed right now! A thankful heart is what God truly loves to hear and see from his children. Give thanks to Jesus always in prayer and action.
Do you feel like this world has gone completely crazy? Are you afraid of the coronavirus? Do you know how to tell the difference between FACTS and MYTHS, RATIONAL and IRRATIONAL thinking at a time like this? If you are unsure about things maybe I can clear that up for you, so you and your family/ friends/ neighbors can ALL stay safe, sane, and most of all HEALTHY.
Being afraid of something like this will not make you feel any better or help you stay healthy. Fear actually does the opposite of keeping you safe and healthy it can cause your immune system to decline which can leave you a lot more vulnerable. This may seem scary to you especially with all the news reports and social media posts that tell you that you should be afraid. Always remember whatever happens you are NEVER in control God is and He will protect you. Just have FAITH and never FEAR.
‘Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. ‘Isaiah 35:4
Pray
Prayer is the most powerful act you can do especially at a time like this. Pray to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Through Him anything is possible. If you don’t believe me read the gospel of John in the Bible. This is the best way to get to know Jesus and to understand who God really is. Remember to pray for understanding and God will reveal wonders to you with faith and patience through the Holy Spirit. Pray for yourself, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. You can literally pray for whoever you want whenever you want. God will hear you and answer plus give you strength during these difficult times.
‘Rejoice always; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. ‘1 Thessalonians 5:16,18
Stay home if you feel SICK.
Like any other virus that is contagious, it is best to stay home and away from other people if you feel sick. Do not go to places that have crowds of people. Avoid people that may be more vulnerable like the elderly, people with preexisting health conditions, and small children. If you feel like you are sick don’t panic just get to a doctor so you can get the help that you need.
‘Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him. ‘James 5:14-15
Avoid CROWDED places.
Try not to put yourself in a closed, confined place with a lot of people. Depending on where you live in the world I’m sure most of these crowded places to avoid were closed by your city or state. Just in case try to avoid restaurants/ bars, schools, large office spaces, museums, parks, etc. Just use common sense here if there is a place with a lot of people try to not put yourself in that situation. Some people, unfortunately, do go out if they are sick or aren’t aware that they are sick so to stay SAFE and SANE just stay clear for now until things get better with this virus.
‘Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ‘Deuteronomy 31:6
Avoid touching your face especially EYES, NOSE, and MOUTH.
Try to work on being conscious of where you put your hands and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. In this busy world, we live in it is often hard to think about not touching your face with dirty hands that touched multiple surfaces. Instead of having your mind wonder try to be in the present moment and pay attention to where your hands may go. If you feel this is impossible for you to remember then wear gloves as protection when you go out to a public place.
‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all. ‘Psalms 34:19
Help others who are in NEED.
I know the thought of being around others right now might make you cringe especially if you’re a fearful germaphobe, however it is our duty as humans especially if you are a Christian to help others before you help yourself. If you are a healthy and able person check on your elderly neighbor next door. He/she might need some items from the grocery store. If you are fortunate enough to stay home from work with pay then someone might need a babysitter since most schools are closed for now. Pick up extra disinfectant and/or hand sanitizer and give it out to people that may need it. Don’t be afraid to help others this is the time to do it. God will be very pleased indeed.
‘give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. ‘Luke 6:38
Cover your NOSE & MOUTH, then WASH your HANDS.
More common sense stuff that you probably learned as a kid yet it is easy to forget. When you cough or sneeze cover your mouth with your arm or hands especially when around surfaces and/or people. Then remember to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds. Also, carry some antibacterial or hand sanitizer with you just in case soap and water aren’t accessible at the time. If you are in a part of the world that hand sanitizer is in shortage HERE is a way to make it at home.
‘The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. ‘Proverbs 1:7
Just to make things perfectly CLEAR I’m not a doctor, nurse, nor do I work in the medical field. This is just my opinion on ways to stay SAFE and SANE in this coronavirus epidemic while incorporating some much-needed help from God through His word. Remember you can be a regular person like ME and still know how to exercise common sense mixed in with faith and prayer.
It is harder to explain to the blind that fail to see.
Fear is the ultimate weapon of Satan the enemy!
Bravery is contagious and so is a peaceful mind,
Others will seek godly strength but will lack to find.
Human strength is useless because Jesus alone can get you out of any bind.
Sickness and chaos will always be a part of this earth.
We can conquer death only with a spiritual rebirth.
Take on the power of God’s Holy Spirit with It’s mighty girth.
People fear more and more each and every day.
It’s harder to get through winter when it’s getting closer to May.
Stay safe in a world who encourages people to keep God at bay.
The only thing left to do is get on your knees and pray.
“fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10 ASV
We all know that trust is the most important thing that you need from others and most importantly from God. In this society, trust is extremely hard to come by and most people tend to put their trust in the wrong people or things more then they do God. Some people think putting trust in God is a waste of time but it is the most important action you will ever do, this can change your life dramatically. Without God, there is no trust at all and the people who put God first are the most trustworthy people you will ever come by.
Today lets start to work on making ourselves more trustworthy to others while trusting in God for the things that you need to survive. Here are some tips and scriptures to help you get started below:
1. You earn people’s trust by being consistent.
“And he says that if you’re faithful in little things, he will give you greater and greater responsibility.”– Pastor Rick
‘Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? ‘ – Proverbs 20:6
2. You earn people’s trust by being confidential.
“People trust you when you can keep a secret.”– Pastor Rick
‘He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. ‘– Luke 16:10
3. You earn people’s trust by being close.
“So if you want people to trust you, you’ve got to spend time with them. Time creates trust.”– Pastor Rick
‘He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter. ‘– Proverbs 11:13
‘A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. ‘ – Proverbs 17:17
4. The bible says to trust in God.
“Scripture makes powerful declarations about those who choose to place their trust in God over the world or themselves.”– Bible Plan: Trust
‘Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not put to shame. ‘ – Psalms 22:4-5
5. Trust in God you will never need for anything.
“To place our trust in God is to found our lives on the unshakable, powerful, loving, and resourceful character of our heavenly Father.”– Bible Plan: Trust
‘but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.’ – Isaiah 40:31
6. Place your trust in God and not the world.
“When you place your trust in God, give him your heart, and follow him, you will discover a wealth of abundant life unseen by those living for the world.”– Bible Plan: Trust
7. Trust God only.
“Place your trust in God alone.”– Bible Plan: Trust
‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is. ‘ – Jeremiah 17:7
‘Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. ‘ – Proverbs 3:5-8
Let me know what tips, tricks, and scriptures you rely on to keep your trust in the Lord and to become a more trustworthy person to other people today. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
We are in the third week of the Season of Lent however it is never too late to learn the scriptures to go along with this time of reflection and renewal. These scriptures tell the story of Jesus: Preaching to the people, spreading the Good News to others while gaining disciples, performing amazing miracles, being prosecuted, crucified, and then rising from the dead this was predicted and carried out according to biblical scriptures. As Christians, we reflect on this time, spread the Word to others, while getting closer to God. Sorry this piece is a little late but I just came across this “40 Day Lent Devotional with Scriptures, Reflections, and Prayers” on ibelieve.com. If you are like me you need to catch up so just read starting from Week 1 until the present time so you would stop at Week 3.
Below are the scriptures to follow, so you can read, pray, and reflect each day until the end which is on Easter Sunday (April 21st):
Week 1: 1 Peter 5:6 through Philippians 3:10-11
1. ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; ‘ 1 Peter 5:6
2.‘Save now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah: O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah: We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah. ‘ Psalms 118:25-26
3. ‘Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. ‘1 Samuel 15:2
4.‘Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. ‘ Matthew 4:1-2
5.‘And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. ‘Mark 1:12-13
6.‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘ Matthew 6:11
7.‘that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead. ‘ Philippians 3:10-11
Week 2: Luke 13:3 through Mark 7:7-9
8.‘I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. ‘ Luke 13:3
9.‘And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ‘ 2 Corinthians 12:9
10. ‘They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul. ‘Psalms 35:12
11. ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. ‘Psalms 42:1
12. ‘If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; ‘ Colossians 3:1-5
13.‘Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. ‘2 Corinthians 5:17
14.‘But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition. ‘ Mark 7:7-9
15. ‘Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. ‘Matthew 6:16
16.‘to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ‘ Colossians 1:27
17.‘Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. ‘John 20:17
18.‘a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. ‘Acts 10:2
19.‘For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; ‘Romans 5:10
20. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. ‘John 3:16
21.‘And the chief priests accused him of many things. ‘Mark 15:3
Credit: Pinterest
Week 4: Psalms 110:1 through John 13:1-5
22.‘Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. ‘Psalms 110:1
22 a.‘I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. ‘Daniel 7:13
23. ‘But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) ‘ Romans 10:6-7
24.‘Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. ‘Micah 7:8
25. ‘And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. ‘Acts 4:33
26. ‘But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her. ‘John 20:11-18
27.‘Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son , to betray him, Jesus , knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. ‘ John 13:1-5
27 a.‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me. ‘John 13:16-18
27 b.‘When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. There was at the table reclining in Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh. He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, What thou doest, do quickly. ‘John 13:21-27
27 c.‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ‘John 13:34-35
28. ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass. ‘Zechariah 9:9
29.‘and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. ‘1 Corinthians 11:24
30. ‘And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest. ‘ Luke 22:24
31.‘casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. ‘1 Peter 5:7
32.‘Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord? And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born. And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. ‘ Matthew 26:17-30
33.‘And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ‘Mark 14:16
34. ‘And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them , and bring them unto me. And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon. And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee. ‘ Matthew 21:1-11
34 a. ‘Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever. ‘ Psalms 118:1-2
34 b.‘I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments. Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also sat and talked against me; But thy servant did meditate on thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellors. DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word. I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously. ‘ Psalms 119:19-29
35. ‘And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. ‘ Matthew 21:10-17
36.‘Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor? Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein. Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying. For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. ‘ John 12:1-8
37. ‘Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me. And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words. Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me. ‘ Matthew 26:36-46
37 a.‘Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; ‘ Hebrews 5:7-9
38.‘And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me. And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words. Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him. And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not. But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.’ Matthew 26:27-56
38 a.‘For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. ‘ 1 Corinthians 1:18
39.‘Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son , to betray him, Jesus , knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. ‘ John 13:1-17
39 a.‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ‘John 13:34-35
40.‘When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which he entered, himself and his disciples. Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received the band of soldiers , and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he . And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When therefore he said unto them, I am he , they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he ; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one. Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? So the band and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known unto the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; but Peter was standing at the door without. So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. The maid therefore that kept the door saith unto Peter, Art thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. Now the servants and the officers were standing there , having made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves: and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me , what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said. And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter therefore denied again: and straightway the cock crew. They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Prætorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Prætorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die. Pilate therefore entered again into the Prætorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.’ John 18:1-40
40 a.‘Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands. And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him. Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man! When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him , crucify him ! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the Prætorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee? Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin. Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar. When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! They therefore cried out, Away with him , away with him , crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified. They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but, that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold, thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home . After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high day ), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water. And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe. For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. And after these things Joseph of Arimathæa, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. There then because of the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.’ John 19:1-42
40 b.‘Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men), so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.’ Isaiah 52:13-15
40 c.‘Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due ? And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.’ Isaiah 53:1-12
40 d.‘This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he, And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another ; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh. ‘ Hebrews 10:16-25
40 e.‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou answerest not; And in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not put to shame. But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying , Commit thyself unto Jehovah; let him deliver him: Let him rescue him, seeing he delighteth in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb; Thou didst make me trust when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb; Thou art my God since my mother bare me. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gape upon me with their mouth, As a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I may count all my bones. They look and stare upon me; They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots. But be not thou far off, O Jehovah: O thou my succor, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, My darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth; Yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen thou hast answered me. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the assembly will I praise thee. Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him; All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; And stand in awe of him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard. Of thee cometh my praise in the great assembly: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied; They shall praise Jehovah that seek after him: Let your heart live for ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah; And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is Jehovah’s; And he is the ruler over the nations. All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, Even he that cannot keep his soul alive. A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation. They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done it.’ Psalms 22:1-31
Holy Saturday: Matthew 17:1-6 through Lamentations 3:19-24
41. ‘And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. ‘Matthew 17:1-6
41 a. ‘I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light. Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead. He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy. Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked. ‘ Lamentations 3:1-9
41 b. ‘Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope. It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. ‘ Lamentations 3:19-24
Easter Sunday: Matthew 28:1-20 through Psalms 118:14-24
42.‘Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day. But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him ; but some doubted. And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ Matthew 28:1-20
42 a. ‘And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.’ Revelation 5:11-14
42 b.‘Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever. ‘Psalms 118:1-2
42 c.‘Jehovah is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly. The right hand of Jehovah is exalted: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah. Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah. This is the gate of Jehovah; The righteous shall enter into it. I will give thanks unto thee; for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner. This is Jehovah’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. ‘ Psalms 118:14-24
If you are like me or most people in this world today you battle with sleepless nights on regular bases. I’m sure you have tried all the remedies with little or no luck, but have you ever just given your insomniac issues up to God? It’s funny how we search and try out solutions from ourselves or others instead of just asking God what to do. This use to be a major struggle for me and still is at times, however I have learned through reading the Bible and praying that we can give God our worries and let him figure it out. Amen!
God actually wants us to look to Him for guidance and He is more than happy to help us out with anything that we are struggling with ANYTHING. Isn’t that a huge weight and comfort to know this? It sure was for me, so now I am passing on the GOOD NEWS. Take a look at seven ways on how to cope with your sleepless nights:
1. Give every anxiety to Him in prayer. ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ‘ John 15:7
2. Pray for others. ‘doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. ‘Philippians 2:3-4
3. Commit scripture to memory. ‘For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. ‘ 2 Timothy 1:7
4. Think about ways you can help others within your community. ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ‘ Galatians 6:2
5. Praise God for His faithfulness. ‘Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. ‘ John 4:21-24
7. Give the coming day over to God. ‘fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ‘ Isaiah 41:10
Let me know if the method of faith, prayer, and patience helped you catch those extra Z’s. I would also like to hear your trials and tribulations when it comes to your “sleepless nights” and the methods that you use to try to get some nice restful sleep. Remember to always give it up to God first then He will guide you.
How many times has life not gone your way and you got anger at God or questioned His existence or love for you? If you have you are not alone, luckily God is alive and he cares and loves you very much. God is not the cause of your issues. A disconnect with Him plus evil lurking in your ear speaking lies IS. Reading the Bible and praying to Him sincerely from your heart is the only remedy to get on track to recovery and to stay there. Jesus never said that things would be easy but he offers us His help. We are truly never alone if we look to Him.
‘And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. ‘Matthew 19:26
‘Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Jehovah will deliver them up before you, and ye shall do unto them according unto all the commandment which I have commanded you. ‘ Deuteronomy 31:5-6
‘fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ‘ Isaiah 41:10
‘These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. ‘ John 14:25-27
‘Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident. ‘ Psalms 27:1-3
Next time you are feeling hopeless and catching you thinking like a “victim” refers to these scriptures for hope, love, faith, and guidance through Jesus Christ! With Him we can all be glorious and can achieve spiritual VICTORY in our lives.
We all have prayed, prayed, and prayed some more without an answer to a question or help for our situation. Did you ever wonder WHY God isn’t rescuing you from your troubles? It isn’t God who is wrong or neglectful, but it is US. As Christians we need to take a look at ourselves and our lives to see what it is WE are doing to prevent God from getting to us. Here are some reasons why below:
1. We don’t believe He can. ‘And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him ; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. ‘Hebrews 11:6
2. We have sin in our lives.
‘Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded? Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. ‘1 Corinthians 6:7-11
3. We need to learn to trust Him.
‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ‘Jeremiah 29:11-13
4. God wants us to learn from our struggles.
‘For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. ‘Romans 8:18-19 5. God is building our faith story to be a testimony for others.
‘Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do. For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ‘1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray Dear Lord; see me through these hard times.
In these troubled times I am filled with unspeakable fears.
I reach out my hand to you now, and ask you to walk beside me.
I cannot carry all of my burdens, but I know you can and will.
Please walk beside me.
Please guide me.
Please help me hold on strong, through the trials and storms.
Help me hold on to my faith in even the darkest hour.
Stay with me Lord and show me your way.
In Your name Jesus and the Holy Spirit I abide. – Amen
When we can hear the voice of Jesus through scripture it’s an amazing and powerful thing! It comes at a time where you need it the most and knocks you back into truth and wisdom.
My time that I finally spoke to Jesus sincerely and with desperation was when my Dad had a massive heart attack and I knew I wasn’t ready for him to go. At the time I was unemployed, living back with Mom and had actually called my Dad to ask for some money because my Mom was short on the bills. After I was done asking him over the phone he said, “Sure, but you will have to come to the hospital I had a heart attack earlier”. I immediately was overcome with guilt and sadness, then panic as I rushed out the door to Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.
All I can think in my head of how selfish I was being for asking for money when my Dad was lying in a hospital a few days after he was suppose to go on vacation to the Bahamas, which his wife and him usually does around the holidays. This happened around Easter of 2018 and it scared my whole family half to death!
I remember crying and praying the whole time for my Dad to recover and be OK. This is the first time I cried out Jesus’ name to save and help my Father and he did answer my prayers and my Dad did recover from it all! He is out of the hospital now for several months after a few months of in and out combined with surgeries. The doctors expressed to me in a private conversation that my Dad was extremely lucky to be alive and he is a very strong man who really loves his daughters. I was immediately overcome with joy and love and I knew Jesus had conducted a miracle through my faith and prayers.
That miracle of a second chance for my Father and for this family put me on a journey to get the know Him. I have known about Him my whole life but I never formed a strong relationship with Jesus before but he still loved me and my family enough to help us! This is definitely a God who I want to love back and I do.
“And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.”
“each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.”
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
“Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.”
Music is the most powerful force of energy on this earth! Just the type of music you listen to everyday can affect so much. It can affect your mood, actions, thoughts, attitude, and much more. How many times a day do you listen to music? I would guess probably at least 5 times a day or more. While you commute to work, at work, working out, driving in the car, walking, practically everywhere you go. So what do you love to listen to? How does that music affect you every day?
The only type of music I listen to now is Jesus music! Yes good and empowering Christian music and I have not looked back. My soul literally craves it and it gets me going and on the right track for the entire day. Does your music do that? I use to be one of those people who listened to hip hop and rap music all day everyday and I was just so angry. Don’t get me wrong I can go for a good Tupac, Eminem, or Biggie song every now and then but the difference is that now it doesn’t consume my soul. Jesus has taken their place and filled me up with love!
Here are some of my favorite Christian songs: listen to one each and every morning and see the effect it has on you and the people around you every day!
This is just a few of my favorite Christian songs that inspire and makes me think about and love Jesus even more every day. Start changing your music habits and try to fit Jesus music in between your angry hip hop and rock music. Replace anger with love and feel the difference it makes in your day.
If you already are a Christian music lover please share your favorite song in the comments or your favorite radio station. My favorite Christian radio station is K-love. My favorite Christian song is Amazing Grace.
I haven’t written or shared my thoughts with anyone on my blog website in a while, which seems a lot longer than it has actually been. My pieces have always been mixed, trying to figure out what my voice is and who I am as a writer. I skipped the whole Christmas hype and didn’t share some of cliché Christmas types of pieces. I had a few written down but never got around to publishing any of them. I want to start to discover then write down my feeling, then embrace the changes that come over me.
I don’t really have a New Year’s Resolution because I never seem to make one up. This happens each and every year. I see them everywhere; which are the most common ones: losing weight, getting healthier, getting a job promotion, maybe to get married, and have a family. Some of the resolutions can be realistic while others seem so far fetched that it’s almost laughable. Maybe the reason I never think of a New Year’s Resolution is I’m afraid to get it wrong or fail and disappoint myself or others. Nevertheless 2019 are here and I want to make it better!
I’m going on this journey and I’m not sure where it will take me but it’s too good not to follow where the bread crumbs will lead. Maybe to the most wonderful place anyone has ever known or maybe somewhere I never expected to go. All I know it that this is out of my control and I’m sub-missing myself to the most powerful force I have ever know, Jesus Christ! My Lord and My Savior!
Please follow me and my many thoughts and be a part of my journey, comment some encouraging words or even if you think I’m insane! I want to hear it all the good, bad, and ugly. I needed to share where my head is at right now and where I want my place to be when I leave this earth a long time from now. In heaven with the Almighty God! Peace be with you 🙏🏻
The rainbow is a symbol of the covenant between God, man, and every living creature on earth after the great flood that destroyed the earth due to over 400 years of sinning from all mankind.
Please read the story of Noah and the Flood straight from the Bible (the word of God himself) American Standard Version:
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose. And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown. And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon this earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
“And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female: of the birds also of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground, there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female, as God commanded Noah. And it came to pass after the seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and Jehovah shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.”
“And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged; the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; and the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; and the dove came in to him at eventide; and, lo, in her mouth an olive-leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she returned not again unto him any more. And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dry.
Go forth from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark. And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”
“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; with all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you; as the green herb have I given you all. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that go out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread. And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard: and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.”
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