Category Archives: Inspirational

Dec5

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought…Today I Am Thankful For…Sight (Day 389 of 2025).

Posted on December 5, 2025 by lsgrlr

Today has felt dark, as though I am walking around with a rain cloud following me everywhere. It feels heavy, uncomfortable, and if I allow it, it will blind me to the good and excellent things around me. In John 1:46b, Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and SEE.” In verse 29 of that same chapter, we read, “The next day John SAW Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘LOOK, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.'” In Revelation 1:17, John writes, “When I SAW Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead, and now LOOK, I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Philip called his friend to come and SEE the Messiah. John the Baptist SAW the Messiah and testified to what he SAW. In Revelation, John SAW Jesus and fell at His feet, but Jesus told him to LOOK. Without sight, we wander around blindly, bumping into doubt, worry, trouble, guilt, and shame. The world and its webs keep us tangled in our darkness, hiding the light of sight from our view. But Jesus said, ” LOOK, I am alive forever and ever.” But more than that, He came to be our light and give us sight. John 1:4-5. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has NOT overcome it.” Today I am thankful for the sight that comes from the light of Christ.

Dec4

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought…Today I Am Thankful For… STRUGGLES (DAY 388 of 2025)

Posted on December 4, 2025 by lsgrlr

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Random (hopefully inspired) Thought…Today I Am Thankful For… STRUGGLES (DAY 388 of 2025)

Do you struggle? I do. Every second of every day (in my humble opinion) is a struggle to do what’s right, to choose humility, forgiveness, understanding, patience, kindness, and love. We want vengeance on those who mislead us, lie to us, or hurt us. We want vindication of the movie variety, where the bad guy gets what’s coming to him, in all its Technicolor, high-definition glory. But life isn’t a movie, and God allows us to struggle not for the fun, but to build in us things that will not be shaken. Don’t believe me? Check out Hebrews 12:11-13, “No discipline/trial/struggle seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

I am learning (very slowly) that my struggles make me stronger, build in me the attributes and character that God wants to instill in me; that even when I can’t see it (with my limited human sight), God has a purpose, a reason, a lesson for me to learn and then use to encourage others. The author of Hebrews is right: it is not comfortable, not pleasant; it is painful. If we’re looking at the waters around us instead of the God and Father who loves us, we can feel like we’re sinking and failing. And guess what? That’s OK. It’s OK to fail, it’s OK to struggle, it’s OK to cry out to God, and yes, even to whine. God can take it. BUT, He won’t leave us (you or me) there; instead, He will pick us up, dust us off, and make our feet like deer feet and enable us to tread on high places (Habakkuk 3:19). Don’t be discouraged as you struggle, be thankful that God is working in you. He loves you, and His thoughts towards you are good.

Sep12

DAY 255 (2015)

Posted on September 12, 2015 by lsgrlr

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Fill in the blank…

Mmmm, been a while, huh? Sorry about that. Life has gotten busy, but that is not an excuse. But if there is one thing I have learned it is that when it comes to being thankful it is better late than never. So, here goes.

Since we last interacted many things have changed. For one I have relocated both state and job. The change has been good in many ways. My mom is happy, we are closer to my brother. Life on a whole has improved. My job is fun and offers a lot of opportunity for growth.

However, there still are struggles. Such as once again I still bear most of the financial burden, and the worst one, I work on Sundays (no church). Wait, no that’s not the worst the worst is that due to lack of time, and an inability to not interact with people of like minds and hearts. I have for the better part of this entire year found myself in a spiritual funk to say the least.

Not backslidden per say, but not moving forward either. I feel that for a Christian, this is the most horrible state to be. It is the place where God has said, “I will spew you from my mouth.” Let’s be honest no one ever has aspired to be spewed from anything much less God’s mouth. But that is where I found myself in the land of the lukewarm, not hot, not cold, and not just right.

Two days ago I took a hit, a bad one. My first reaction whine and complain and inevitably ask the, “Why’s it always me,” question. But then I realized the hit wasn’t meant to hurt me, it was meant to wake me up.

Yesterday was the first in a long time that I took time in my devotion. Not just skimming the words so I could say I spent time, but reading and taking to heart what was being said. Reading to see what God was teaching. I prayed that morning for a better financial situation and to not have to work on Sundays.

Almost at the end of my work day I receive an email from my supervisor it read, “you qualify for this you should apply.” I finished up what I was doing and on my break read the email. It was a job posting in the company one that would give me my Sundays back and raise my pay exponentially. What floored me is that I hadn’t mentioned this to anyone, not the need for more money nor the desire to not work on Sundays.

God heard. God answered.

What’s my point? God hears. No matter how far you stray, no matter how hard you fall– God hears. ALWAYS.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

The lesson: With God you can always go back home, it’s never too late, and our Father is waiting at the gate with open arms.

So what am I thankful for today, repentance and a God, who hears, always.

Mar23

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on March 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 24. “Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah” (Verse 17). This verse hit me today. Very simply God asked me, if I had allowed the world to change my name? Not in the literal sense, but in the sense where the title Christian could me everything, but what God intended it to mean: follower of Christ. The world has changed the meaning; nice, friendly. boring, goody two shoes, goodhearted and while none of these are bad they are also not what the word means. I have been reflecting lately on what I have allowed in and what I have put aside. Here is what I have concluded only God can change my name. Only God can give a different meaning to something. So today if you have allowed the world to change your name. Allow God to change it back.

Mar22

DAY 81 (2015)

Posted on March 22, 2015 by lsgrlr

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What we cultivate is what we’ll give to those around us.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Mmmm… it’s be awhile with the DAY posts. I feel regretful about that. I have been caught up with many things. Things that many times have kept me from where I know I am suppose to be and from what I know I am suppose to be doing. Which is why today’s post is so fitting and so God-breathed. Today’s praise and worship was beautiful; I could feel God’s spirit literally breaking down that walls I have (over the past few months) been building. We came to a particular song, one that we have sung many times before. But today the song resonated in my heart and soul in a different way. Today the meaning of the lyrics came to life and it was as though I was understanding them for the first time. The lyrics:

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

pour out our praise

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

To You ONLY…

The question came while singing. Do we? Do I… Pour out praise to God only? Honest answer… no. My praise is not always for God alone. I give my praise to many things, things that are not really worthy of it. Things like: friends, family, work, and attaining more stuff. However, none of those things came to earth to stand in the gap for me. None of those things gave up their one and only beloved for me. None of those things blew their breath into my lungs. Therefore they don’t deserve my praise. It is reserved for HIM only.

It’s God’s breath in our lungs. So we should pour out our praise to Him ONLY.

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

So what am I thankful for today? God’s breath.

Feb24

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 24, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 14. “For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free, there was no helper for Israel. And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (Verses 26-27). I don’t know if you all see the subtlety of these verses. But if you read the entire chapter you will. God never said He would wipe Israel out, in fact His promises to them have always been the opposite. Although their actions and love of sin and disobedience would have given God the right to change His mind, He chose instead to keep His promise. This is comforting to me, I am not always obedient. I fail, I fall, and I make more mistakes than I care to admit, but despite all that God is ALWAYS faithful to do what He promises. Rest in the knowledge that our God is an immovable, unchanging ROCK.

Feb23

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 13. “Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet” (Verses 20-21). The power of God. Ever felt dead, lifeless? Like nothing you do means anything? Rub up against God, yeah it sounds odd, but that is the kind of power that emanates from Him. He can bring life to our dried bones, He can revive our lifeless state. The man in this chapter was dead, but his dead body touched the bones of the “man of God” and death left him, and he regained new life. So the statement stands, want to feel alive? Touch God.

Feb21

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 21, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 12. “In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” (Verses 1-3). Just a reminder, we can’t do it half way. Jehoash did right in the eyes, of the Lord, but the people did not follow. Doing right and obedience is not just for us to hoard. It is for us to share, it is to bring others to the truth, to the unending peace that comes from knowing and loving God. Don’t just do right by yourself, live in such a way that others want to follow in your footsteps.

Feb20

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 20, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 11. “And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house. Jehoash was seven years old when he became king” (Verses 18-21). Destroy the idols, remove them. No man can serve two gods. We can’t hold anything in our lives above God, and expect that we can serve Him as He deserves as well. Every time that God was victorious on be half of Israel the first thing that happened was the removal and tearing down of idols. Today we may not worship statues, but we worship other things, cars, lands, riches, our jobs, our family. Anything we put before God is an idol, it is what we worship. Put life back in order, let God be the only thing we worship and everything else must fall under His perfect control.

Feb17

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 17, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

2 Kings 9. “Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?’And he said to them, ‘You know the man and his babble.’ And they said, ‘A lie! Tell us now.’ So he said, ‘Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, Thus says the Lord: I have anointed you king over Israel.’ Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, ‘Jehu is king!’ (Verses 11-13). This section of scripture makes me smile. Why? Well Elisha sends his servant to anoint Jehu king. Jehu’s servants think Elisha is crazy, thinks anyone associated with Elisha is crazy. They tell Jehu that what the man said was a lie, and then proceed to do exactly what Elisha’s servant said to do. Why is that? Who would listen and obey a crazy person they thought was lying to them? No one. Here’s a truth just like Jehu’s servant, we ALL know God is just, we ALL know God is truth. These beliefs, no matter how hard we try to push them aside are deep with in us. Our creator, created us to know the truth, even if we choose not to acknowledge them. We all know that God is truth, we all know that there is more than what the world offers. Instead of fighting God, we should embrace His will, He really does have the best for us, because He knows us best.