Praying for your anxious hearts tonight. HE HEARS YOU, JUST BREATHE ❤ I wrote this for you:
Grip
As the hand of anxiety grips at my throat, I will breathe.
As my chest starts to become tight, I will breathe.
As my thoughts run from me, I will breathe.
As the hand of anxiety grips at my throat, I will breathe and be free.

As I watched the Royal Wedding today I thought about all of the preparation a bride and groom take in order to look just perfect. How often though do we think about the garments that God has given us and the purpose of those Garments.

Put on your new clothes today through a right relationship with Christ.

Isaiah 61:10-11

If you are confused, lost or don’t know what to do, remember this:

ISAIAH 48:17

How often do we forget how important we are to God? How often do we seek for somebody in life to notice us? Truth be told, God notices us. He notices us so much that he can tell us all things about us since before he created us.
All to often we try to be “significant” for reasons other than why we were created. Let us not forget that the reason we were created was for him. Do you want to be seen? Do you want to be significant? You already are in his eyes, do not doubt your significance on this Earth any longer. Encourage others to understand why they no longer need to question their significance.

Psalm 139:1-6 & 13-17 New International Version (NIV)
1
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

13
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Be blessed!

How many nights have you cried yourself to sleep?
How many of those tears were tears of joy?

I am guessing not many. Over the years of my own life I have found myself waking up with puffy eyes and a tear stained pillow, not knowing when I fell asleep or what I was crying about. But then suddenly, the reason for my tears would rush back and overwhelm me like a violent tidal wave.

Each and every one of us have our own set of “problems” that bring about tears. Perhaps your tears stem from relationships, finances, addiction, regrets etc. etc. etc. These tears are filled with pain, and on occasion you may be a part of a positive event that will bring about tears of joy.

God offers us amazing hope in the midst of painful tears. Read the verse below:

John 16:22 New International Version (NIV)
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Let me tell you what I love about this verse, close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting down on the floor with your knees pulled up close, and you are crying. You are crying about a very painful situation. When suddenly through the tears you see a figure coming toward you with open arms. You catch your breath, the pain subsides, you instantly feel calm rising above the storm as you recognize the figure as your Savior. I love this verse because God recognizes our grief, but he also gives us the guarantee of joy–but this joy is provided in his presence. Regardless of your circumstances come into his presence and experience joy. He makes it abundantly clear that he is our source of joy.

I encourage you to wipe your tears of pain, allow your storm to end with the joy that is only found in his presence. Stand up, seek joy today.

Be Blessed!

Our relationship with Christ should be number 1 in our life, have you nurtured that relationship today ? 

A recent situation caused me to reflect on “doing the right thing.” There will be times in our life where we may be the victim of others doing the wrong thing but that should never sway us into doing what’s wrong. C.S Lewis said “integrity is doing what’s right even when nobody is watching.” Are we living a life of integrity today? God tells us that we must live righteously, we need to do the right thing in order to set examples for others and in order to have life. No matter who has wronged you, pray about forgiveness and try your best to do the right thing.  When you make choices remember that if nothing else you can enjoy the fact that you did the “right” thing, regardless of what others are doing. 

Proverbs 11:19New King James Version (NKJV)19 As righteousness leads to life,So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

Did you say negative things about yourself today?

Would you say those things if you were face to face with God?

Do not insult your father by insulting yourself. He created you with an abundance of love, he adores you, he deems you worthy of all good things. Next time you want to utter something negative about yourself, try saying “I am blessed for the person you have made me Lord and negativity has no place in my life.”

The suffering we see around us today can make a person feel like there is nothing they can do to help, because frankly, they feel that the amount of suffering is overwhelming. But draw near to the Lord today in all your afflictions and pray for the afflicted. Joy and love reside in the presence of the Lord. You can feel loved and joyful today and you can share that same love and joy simply by knowing that Comfort and compassion can be found in him. 

Isaiah 49:13New International Version (NIV)
13 Shout for joy, you heavens;rejoice, you earth;    burst into song, you mountains!For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

No matter where you are today, no matter what you are going through, remember that with God, the best is yet to come !! 

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)11 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.