Category Archives: Encouragement

Jan7

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 6. “Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: ‘Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel'” (Verses 11-13). Here is what I am learning, God doesn’t make it hard. He breaks it down to the simplest form of instructions… if you do this, I will do that. He is never trying to confuse us, He is never trying to make it had. If we obey we will be blessed and God will dwell with us, walk with us, and guide our path. It really is just that simply.

Jan6

DAY 6 (2015)

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lsgrlr

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So true!

Today we got a raise at work thanks to the state of New York. New York raised the minimum wage and thus the company I work for gave all the employees a cost of living raise. I was so blessed because while I get paid well, it has been a tight lately it took me a while to find a job when I first moved here, so I blew through my savings paying bills. When I finally started to work, I started at a deficit so to speak. I prayed asking God for financial wisdom and He placed me in a company that rewards hard work, so getting promoted is not a struggle, but then today was an extra blessing that I just didn’t see come. Here’s what I realized: God hears and He understands and in His time he gives us just the right answer.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

So what am I thankful for today? A God who hears and answers.

Jan6

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 5. “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name'” (Verses 3-4). God gave Solomon rest, but instead of resting on his laurels, Solomon got busy. He wanted to build God a home. The God who had blessed him with wisdom and peace. I am blessed by this. Because Solomon didn’t forget. Forget what, you ask? Forget to praise and live for God in the GOOD times. For the most part we get complacent when life is good, forgetting who it was that blessed us with the good we are enjoying. In this portion of scripture, in his good time, Solomon made God a place to dwell. Let us do the same, in our good, let’s give God a place to dwell.

Jan5

DAY 5 (2015)

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lsgrlr

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As we grew each lesson helps us make better choices the next time around… learn the lesson.

Today I woke up to my car door frozen shut. Ice on my windshield and 13 degree temperatures. Yup, it was cold, really, really cold… still is. But I also woke up to clear blue skies, and brisk refreshing air. The fact that God allowed me to wake up at all is a blessing in itself. Today work didn’t go as planned. I am still learning to navigate a system that I have never used before, but today I was better at the job than I was last week. Today I felt more confident in what I was doing than I had previously. Today is when it hit, that life is a lesson and we are all called to learn and grow. Everyday whatever trials we are going through will get a little easier to bear, a little easier to handle as we learn to navigate better. Who I am today, is not who I was this time last year (and that is a blessing). Today I feel like someone standing at the beginning, surveying the horizon and realizing that I can do and become anything I want as long as God is my guide. Today I am a billion percent thankful for the lessons I have learned and for the hardships I had to go through in order to learn them. Here’s the thing: lessons and hardships will always be there, but we have a choice, learn the lessons so we can grow to the next steps, or, don’t learn and stay right were we are… The choice is ours to make, that’s what free will is all about. Choose wisely.

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

So what am I thankful for today? Learning to make wise choices.

Jan3

DAY 3 (2015)

Posted on January 3, 2015 by lsgrlr

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God the ultimate artist

So today I discovered a new thing… something that I am sure other people who live in cold weather knew existed. But I have recently discovered is real, today it rained… ice. Yup, ice. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, because living in Florida I had never been privy to this great mystery. Freezing rain is actually really pretty, as it coats all that comes in contact with it in a layer of ice. I couldn’t help but thank God for His awesome creativity, who but God could make it rain ice, heck who but God could make it rain at all. I love that God is so infinite that we even now we are still discovering new parts of His character, new beauty in the world He has created for us. I am thankful for freezing rain, for days when the trees are coated with white snow. I am thankful for sunshine and slow breezy days. Because everyday is a picture of God’s love for us. Everyday is a chance to be grateful for what we do have and not focus on what we don’t.

“For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Palm 33:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Ice rain and a creative God.

Jan2

DAY 2 (2015)

Posted on January 2, 2015 by lsgrlr

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Fill in the blank…

I am actually kind of in shock that it is already a new year. It feels as though 2015 just crept up on me out of now where. For some parts of 2014 I really struggled and that struggled kept me somewhat anchored in place. Then God (literally) picked me up and moved me. I fought it for a bit, because although I was struggling, I understood the struggle. It was both uncomfortable and comforting (not sure if I am explaining it properly), it was as though I was so use to the struggle that I didn’t know anything else. When I moved it was a shock to my system, because I had to learn a new place, learn a different culture, (believe me Buffalo is a way different culture from Florida), the odd part was this… even though it was a shock, and even though it was different, it felt like coming home. Today in my quiet time, God answered the why. When we do what God wants us to do, it will always feel like home; even if we fall, even if we make mistakes, even if the obedience isn’t immediately rewarded. The goal of obedience is not the reward (of course it is nice). The goal of obedience is to grow in our relationship with God, and as we grow closer to Him the rewards come. Just for the record I am not talking money or fame. No, I am talking about peace, the peace of knowing that no matter what happens God is still on the throne, and He still loves us and has a plan for us. So on this, the second day of a new year know this: if your year didn’t start out the way you wanted or expected, it’s okay God loves you, He is still on the throne, and He has a plan for you that will knock your socks off. Happy Day 2!!!!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 23:11).

So what am I thankful for today? That God has a plan, that He loves me, and that He is still on the throne.

Jan1

DAY 1 (2015)

Posted on January 1, 2015 by lsgrlr

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It’s a new year and in all honesty, at this moment the phrase, “the sky’s the limit” is one hundred percent true. On this day what ever happened ‘last’ year does not matter and does not count, because the when clock struck midnight on this new year, God gave us all the chance at a do-over. In light of that, I have decided to rejoin my journey of thankfulness. To once again every day find a reason to be thankful no matter how big or small the blessing may be. Last year I was not consistent with my DAY posts, and I found that my personal and spiritual life also felt somewhat inconsistent. So my goal for this year is to regain my consistency. Not just in posting, but in my life as I journey toward heaven with Christ as my guide. I hope you will all journey with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true'” (Revelation 21:5).

So what am I thankful for today: A new year filled with boundless opportunity.

Dec30

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 30, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 24. “Then the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel” (Verses 24-25). Don’t offer to God that which costs us nothing. It is a strange statement because it gives off the feeling of trying to buy God, but that is not what it the statement means. We can’t buy God, all that we have from Him he gives freely, but it came at the cost of His son. God freely sacrificed for us, and we must be willingly to do the same for Him. Reciprocating His love. Ever got a re-gifted present? It makes you feel as though you weren’t important enough for the giver to get you something that was meant solely for you. It is the same when we give God our leftovers, our “whatevers”. When we give it should have cost us something, sacrifice, time, love… Don’t re-gift to God.

Dec29

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 23. “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain'” (Verses 3-4). To rule, to serve, to do what God calls us to do (no matter what that is). We must first be just, showing no partiality. Our yes, must be yes. Our no, must be no. Secondly we must do all in the fear, and name of God. Being a “right” representative of His will and purpose. Lastly we must shine clearly and brightly so others can see and follow. Above we must all walk in the humility of God’s love.

Dec28

DAY 362 (2014)

Posted on December 28, 2014 by lsgrlr

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Let God direct our path…expect miracles EVERY day.

I have forgotten A LOT. I have let the troubles of this world, of this life drown out what I KNOW to be true. What I KNOW to be right. Which is: “As Your love in wave after wave crashes over me. You are for me, you are not against me. Champion of heaven You have made a way for ALL to enter IN.” This song reminded me today of several truths that I had forgotten, maybe forgotten is wrong… more like pushed aside, sitting in the farthest realms of my mind, instead of front and center. I had forgotten that God’s love flows over me like the waves of the sea, in countless ways and in abundance. I had forgotten that He is FOR me. He is NOT against me. I had forgotten that He is the CHAMPION of heaven, and that He has made a way for ALL to enter IN. Life is crushing, in that it makes us many times push aside what we know to be true to be right, leaving us grappling to hold on to things that will ultimately cause us to sink. In our forgetfulness we shake our fists at God and ponder why He left us. When in truth is He is still were WE left Him. His love still willing to wash over us in waves of abundance. He is still for us, even when we wonder, even when we fall short… He is NEVER against us. He is ALWAYS for us. He is still the CHAMPION sent from heaven. He still has the door open for us to ENTER IN.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

The Lesson: Don’t forget to remember… GOD IS FOR US.