Tag Archives: inspirational

Jan23

DAY 23 (2015)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

The fences of our past aren’t meant to keep us out. No, sometimes they are saying…fight to get in.
(Picture by Lisa R)

I have been in training in my new job for close to three months now. The training is pretty intense, but really fun at the same time. One of the many things that we get as a result of the training is constructive criticism. Our trainers will monitor us and tell us what we did good, but they will also tell us what we did that was NOT so good. I am not bad with criticism, but that does not stop that stinging feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you hear you didn’t do something as perfectly as you thought you did. I have been pondering the feedback lately, and I had this thought; as much as I may dislike it, as much as it may make me feel uncomfortable, in the end it really is for my benefit. Then I compared the discipline of my trainers to the discipline that God sometimes gives, and I realize if my sinful, very human trainers discipline and give feedback for my good, how much more does God. God who created me, and loves me so much that He sent His son to die. I realize that when the trial and hard times come it is a form of God drawing the line and teaching me to move in a different direction. Don’t despise the discipline of God. Because if our human parents and leaders do it for our good, then God does it for out GREATNESS.

“My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, for whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3″11-12).

So what am I thankful for today? A loving God who disciplines me for GREATNESS.

Jan23

DAY 22 (2015)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

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It is a gift from God.

So just so you know, I did not flake out yesterday on writing a post. In fact I had every intention of doing so, but for some unknown reason I could not stay awake when I got home. So I laid down to nap and didn’t wake up till morning. It was awesome!!! Therefore I am catching up on yesterday, today. Had I written this post yesterday it would have been different, but as I was reflecting on what happened last night. With me crashing like an elderly person, this scripture came to mind, “God gives His beloved sleep”. I needed it I have been so overwhelmed lately that my sleep had been fitful at best, but last night I slept, really slept. I woke up refreshed and ready for the day. It made me realize even our sleep is important to God, and when He knows we need it He gifts it to us.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2).

So what am I thankful for today (technically yesterday)? A God that knows us so well, He knows when we need sleep.

Jan21

DAY 21 (2015)

Posted on January 21, 2015 by lsgrlr

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We can’t do it alone, we all need help on the journey.
(Picture taken at House Of Hope, S. Korea)

So I got the best compliment ever today from a friend. Our friendship has had ups and downs and for a while, we weren’t as close. But a little while ago we repaired the rift in our friendship and took steps toward regaining our closeness. Today we were texting back and forth and she said the coolest thing, I think anyone has ever said to me. She told me that God had used me to help put her back on the right path. Now to some reading this it may not be a big deal, but let me explain why it is. I don’t always feel like I am doing the right thing, or saying the right thing. Especially with this friend, because I felt like I let her down a lot in the friendship. The beauty is that God restored it, and even in the midst of my insecurities and not doing it right, she still was able to find a “good”. After that text I realized God really does redeem our mistakes, He gives us beauty for ashes, and restores what the locust has taken away.

“The LORD says, I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you” (Joel 2:25).

So what I thankful for today? Friendship.

Jan20

DAY 20 (2015)

Posted on January 20, 2015 by lsgrlr

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God has our hearts and our lives in His hand… And His grip never fails.

Yesterday was a long day, I felt overwhelmed and tired. It felt like my world was spinning out of control. I talked to my boyfriend, who gave me this advice, “Go find a quiet place. Relax your mind and pray.” The BEST advice ever! I wasn’t able to completely follow his advice at work, but when I got home, I took some time to be alone, to quiet my mind, and to take my frayed emotions to God. Today I woke up and not much had changed situation wise, there is still a lot going on, and a lot of it is overwhelming. However, today I felt peaceful ALL day. I felt like someone more able than myself was in control. I know that despite the situation or circumstance I am facing, God is in control of my day. Life can feel like it’s slipping from our grasp, but here is some hope… Nothing slips from God’s hands.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12).

So what am I thankful for today? That nothing slips from God’s grasp.

Jan15

DAY 15 (2015)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lsgrlr

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On this journey you will have dark days. But God will always send rays of hope…
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today this post will simple just a remind that no matter what happens in our day, in our life God loves us. He loves us even when it feels like it is all falling apart He will put us back together again and better than before. Here is a truth, simple and true: Life is hard, but God is… GOOD.

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

So what am I thankful for today? A good God.

Jan13

DAY 13 (2014)

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lsgrlr

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God is the DIRECTOR of my path.

So yesterday I found out I had pink eye. I had to laugh, because I associate that infection with children. On Saturday I woke up with my eye swollen, red, and itchy. But let me tell you about how God used it for good. The company I work for, for the first 6 months has a 100% dependability policy. What that means is no absences. I started in the winter, in Buffalo it snows every day (okay this may be a slight exaggeration), I come from Florida. See where I am going with this? On Sunday the swelling had not gone away, and on Monday when I woke up my eyes was pink, watery, and throbbing. I had a bad, bad case of pink eye. But what that earned was a day off with no negative repercussion, which was awesome because on Monday it literally (not an exaggeration) snowed ALL day. God had once again stepped in and taken care of my worry even before I had a chance to worry about it. Today I woke up with a little bit of swelling, but no pink, and no throbbing and today the road were clear. God truly went before me to clear my path. His grace blows me away every single day.

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).

So what am I thankful for today? Clear roads and a God that knows my needs before I even ask.

Jan13

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

1 Kings 11. “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David'” (Verses 1-6). This chapter makes me sad. The fall of a great king, all because he started to listen men (technically women) instead of God. I think Solomon is a warning that no matter how close our relationship, not matter how strong we start it is the ending that matters. Solomon started out strong, loved God, and was blessed. But then he started to believe a lie, he forsook the God of the universe and served others. In the end Solomon fell, and did not recover. Here is the lesson Christian: It’s not the beginning that matters, it is the end. Where did you end up at the end of the race? The finish line or in the bushes somewhere?

Jan12

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

1 Kings 10. “Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness'” (Verses 6-9). The Queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to come to king Solomon, she had heard the reports and wanted to find out for herself if what she heard was true. What I find awesome is that she didn’t walk away telling Solomon how awesome he was, she walked away telling Solomon how awesome God was. That’s the goal, that’s what we are called to do: Point people to God. Solomon’s love for God brought a queen to the Lord, and if we think about that from the perspective of paying it forward, God’s wisdom not only affected the queen, but the people she ruled. Today let us like Solomon draw people by what they see and hear in us.

Jan9

DAY 9 (2015)

Posted on January 9, 2015 by lsgrlr

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What words are you using?

Some days the message is so simple you wonder why more people don’t understand. Then you realize that it’s not because they can’t as much as they don’t want to. God doesn’t make it hard, He doesn’t make finding Him hard. God gives freely, He loves us freely, He saves us freely (although it cost Him so much). Today as I strolled through my day, for some reason I was blown away by the simplicity of our very complex God. Complex in that He is the beginning and end, but simple in that all we have to do is believe and trust and His power is at our disposal. Here is the truth that today has taught, and no nothing amazing happened in my day, gold did not fall from the sky, all my deepest desires have not been meant: But God LOVES me, and that is ENOUGH.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail” (Lamentation 3:22).

So what am I thankful for today? Unconditional, unending LOVE.

Jan9

Random (hopefully inspired) Thouught

Posted on January 9, 2015 by lsgrlr

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

1 Kings 8. “And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (Verse 10-11). This will be simple and true. When we prepare a place for God to dwell, He will come and live there. Solomon built God a temple and God took residence. Today He doesn’t need a physical house, but if we offer up our hearts, offer up our lives God will dwell in and with us. Now, that’s amazing GRACE.