One hr of ZUMBA with Yasmin..... now I'm beat!!!!!

Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus. ~Robert Brault

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden

Bad is never good until worse happens. ~Danish Proverb

If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. ~Robert Fulghum

I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more, as I grow older. ~Michel de Montaigne

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. ~William Shakespeare

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~Winston Churchill

Turn your wounds into wisdom. ~Oprah Winfrey

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. ~Author Unknown

''I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'' Maya Angelo

God's Promise V

God promises us his ‘faithfulness’ when we are his children and we trust him. God ensures us that because ‘he’ is God no matter what you’re going through he will not only be there but he will see you through and bring you out. There are situations in life that we have absolutely no control over. There are circumstances that cannot be solved by control, by connections or by money. “But God”!! He is faithful and if you cling to him he will bring you through.

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." Deut.7:9 Our fear and anxiety comes when we lose sight of this fact. The Lord our God IS God. We need to understand that the same God that created this world created man, open the sea for the Israelites not once but twice, became human, healed the sick, raised the dead, made blind men see, healed a woman when she touched the edge of his garment, died went to hell took the keys off of Satan, rose himself up from the dead and is coming again…..He is God! And he is ‘faithful’ God true to his word if he said he will be there for us he cannot go back on his word. God made a contract to love us.

He keeps his promise he made to love us and because we are loved there is nothing he will not do for us. "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be moved, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed." Isaiah 54:10. Trusting God’s word regarding his faithfulness towards us gives us such peace. In the past three years I have learned to hang on to this promise for dear life and he has proven his faithfulness over and over again. His faithfulness has proven to be my reality. His faithfulness is relentless!

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther

The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise. ~Carl Knudsen

For I remember it is Easter morn, And life and love and peace are all new born. ~Alice Freeman Palmer

Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~Floyd W. Tomkins

And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here. ~St Augustine

God's Promise 4

There are times in our lives that we are faced with very difficult decisions. These decisions consume your mind for lack discernment having no idea what would be the right decision in this instance. Because God knew this is a human’s plight he made this promise "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

God has promised to guide us through instruction and teachings. He offered us counsel and to watch over us. Oftentimes the reason why we make the wrong decisions in life is because we do not seek out His counsel. He is offering us instructions and teachings through His word, through a sermon or devotional. He offers counsel for the times we need advice and he promises to watch over us. How often have I not been upset because I cannot find the appropriate counsel for a situation that to me is earth shattering? Undoubtly every wrong decision that I have made in my life, has been because I have not sought His counsel. Yet he continues to watch over me.

How faithful is He who he continually assures "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them, I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake you." Isaiah 42:16 God so wants to escort us through life. He wants to be involved in our daily life….every detail of it. He wants to be a friend that we consult with continually.

He wants us to discuss everything with him, our confusion, our joys, our hopes, our dreams and yes even our problems. But he doesn’t want to “just” hear our problems. He wants to be our friend our confidant. Yet we only come with our shattered dreams and problems. He wants to guide, lead, and bring us to a special place that he has designed specifically for each individual. But we need to allow him to fulfill his promise to us and let him lead. Run to your word take the time to get alone with him when you need counsel and He will speak. Develop a friendship with God your creator this is what he most desires from us. He will give you the best counsel He has your best interest at heart always because He loves you!

But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust. ~Walter Raleigh

Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless. ~Charles M. Crowe

God's Promise III

Yesterday was ‘one of those days’ everything was going wrong. I was getting bad news at every turn. I suddenly became anxious and fearful. In the past what I would do is run to a friend or family to get answers, all I ever got were opinions. Alas, I learned my lesson and I ran to God. I got into my word for the answers. And God was so faithful he spoke clearly and precisely.

It doesn’t matter what we’re going through He understands and he wants to hear us out. Things will happen it does to everyone and that is inevitable. But here is his promise “His grace is sufficient for us” II Corinthians 12:9. For years I could not understand this. I did not want grace to be sufficient I wanted to be bail out of my bad or uncomfortable situation. Even the problems that I had clearly gotten myself into I wanted God to rescue me. But these last three years I have learned that if in the midst of your long suffering you hang on to his grace you can be in perfect peace knowing you are NOT going through this alone.

What is this “grace” that he has promised? Grace is “unmerited favor” which is received through faith that is essential to being in an eternal relationship with God. Romans 5:2 “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”. In the midst of the most horrific of circumstances it is important to trust that God is handling your situation. Believe that you are not alone, and reach out to him. No matter what it is that you’re going through know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this will work out for good. Not that it is currently a good situation but that this will be intertwined into a good outcome and through it all “his grace is sufficient” to bring you through it.

Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. ~Clarence W. Hall

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

It is better to weep with wise men than to laugh with fools. ~Spanish Proverb

Don't give cherries to pigs or advice to fools. ~Irish Proverb

He who is born a fool is never cured. ~Proverb

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. ~Chinese Proverb

God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose. Take which you please - you can never have both. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Philosophy is nothing but common sense in a dress suit. ~Author Unknown

God's Promise II

In these times of economic struggles it’s good to know that we have a God who cares. This is one of his promises that he will care for us. God promised that he would supply all of our needs. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19. Here God has made a commitment to take care of us and give us all that we need. God is faithful to his word and he keeps his promises to us.

Tough times come to everyone. Your struggle may not be economic but I can assure you there comes a time when we all have something we battle with. At some point we all will have a need. Comprehending who your source is and running to God your source relieves a lot of anxiety. Our need may be food, clothing, shelter, healing, companionship, love and salvation through Jesus Christ. Imagine God has charged himself with the responsibility of meeting all of your needs. This is such a comfort when you’re having a tough time.

Understand that the wealth of this world belongs to God and he owns all the resources to meet all of your needs. He will find the way to get our needs met, it may be through a family member a friend, a job or any other way he may chose. Receive the gift openly. He cares about all of your struggles, your circumstances and your needs.

When I lost my job almost three years ago this is the one promise that I hung on to. I needed to know that I was not alone through this process and that the uncertain future was just uncertain to me. I took this promise and embraced it with all my heart. When I was afraid and anxious I would repeat to God this promise he made me. And just as he said he was always faithful to meet every need. He met each and every need each and every time.

It is crucial that we comprehend his love for each one of us as individuals. This assurance will help understand that all of our needs will undoubtedly be met and our fears minimized. Stand on the promise that He alone will supply any and all of your needs and repeat to him his word. Tel him Lord you said: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19. Then believe it and it will be so!!