Tag Archives: inspirational

Jan8

DAY 8 (2015)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lsgrlr

Just like unexpected snow in Spring. Life can throw us curve balls. When that happens we either take a swing or get hit.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today we had a blizzard, in Buffalo and I was not expecting it. Why? Because this morning when I drove to work it was bright and sunny, cold but not a cloud in sight. Now I am going to tell you a story about a God who sees and knows and who puts His plans in action in a such a way that blows our minds. I was hired for my job two months before I actually started working, I didn’t start working till November. In August I tired making an appointment for my mom to see a doctor before work started, however, I was unsuccessful. The earliest appointment I could get was for January (yeah, crazy I know). So in August I made an appointment for January 8th, for my mom to see her doctors. On Monday I requested to leave early to take her to her appointment. Today when I walked out to my car and saw that the snow, I was freaked out (can’t lie). But as I was driving home I realized that God knew that it was going to snow today. He also knew that it was it would be easier and safer for me to drive when the sun was out than it would be to maneuver the slick roads in the dark. He planned my safe journey home almost five months prior. I am blown away, that He cares about me that much. The irony I was so irritated at how far out the appointment I was, that I had actually thought of cancelling it, but I didn’t and today I understood why. Here’s the truth even when we don’t realize it God’s at work, and He uses even the most normal of circumstances to bring about His miracles.

“The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 3:18).

So what am I thankful for today? A God who plans ahead. 😀

Jan7

DAY 7 (2015)

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lsgrlr

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Don’t worry about what’s to come. Instead let God’s peace fall like snow.

Mmmm… almost forgot to post today. it was a long day, not a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, just long. This morning it snowed really bad and I was nervous about driving. But my awesome brother gave me an out when he offered to take me if I didn’t want to drive. So at 7 am I called him, woke him up and asked if his offer was still good, and it was. Yes!!! The drive was beautiful, but that is not my point of thankfulness. No, today I want to thank God for a brother who doesn’t mind getting up at seven am to take his sister to work. Even although he didn’t have to go to work. Life is lonely if we try to travel it alone. Lonely travelers are easy prey and fall quickly to the schemes of the enemy. But when we have a companion we have accountability and friendship. So thanks Jon for taking me to work, and thanks God for giving me a brother that didn’t complain about being woken up.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Companions on the journey.

Jan7

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lsgrlr

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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.

Jan4

DAY 4 (2015)

Posted on January 4, 2015 by lsgrlr

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By faith the seed dies, so the flower can bloom. Each new bud is the realization of the seed of faith.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Although Buffalo is beautiful, and even though I know 100% it is God’s will for me to be here. Today, I missed my home church, so I grabbed my laptop and joined them online, and I was super happy I did. I knew it was the right choice when Pastor Doug said this, “God can take our brokenness and make it something beautiful”. I needed to be reminded of that. 2014 was hard in many ways, but many times God took those hard and dented times and made them beautiful. Life is never predictable and the roads we travel is filled with twists and turns, road blocks and potholes. But God is the ultimate civil engineer creating pathways for us to travel that are filled with beauty and lessons to learn, but in order for us to get to the smooth roads, we first have to be willing trudge through the bad ones. Today just a reminder that God will take our brokenness and make it something beautiful.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

So what am I thankful for today? Beauty from brokenness.

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.