By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

Lights are hung outside my house. The tree is trimmed and decorations cover my fireplace. My house is ready for Christmas, but I am not. There are no presents under our tree. My schedule is packed with parties and fun holiday activities. Fun turns to frantic when I forget why I celebrate. I need to prepare my heart and mind to celebrate the coming of Christ. Matthew 1:21 is, “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). I lose the trueRead More →

By:
On:
In: Emotional eating, Encouragement

The closer I get to God, the harder it is for me to drift away. My heart feels “not right” after I barely glance at my devotions for a few days. I get a sour feeling in my stomach when I eat too much and realize I have slipped. God uses these empty feelings to draw me back to Him. Psalm 27:8 is, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). God calls me to draw close to Him even when I go through the motions. I amRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement

When I think about everything God has done for me, I know I can never thank Him enough. Not only has He saved me from sin, but I have a life worth living. I can face whatever life throws me as long as God is by my side. 1 Chronicles 16:34 is, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). We are commanded to thank the Lord. Early in my Christian walk, I took God’s blessings for granted. I was embarrassed to admit my successes were blessings from God. My faith grows when IRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

On my own, I am weak and powerless. I forget my limitations and try to make things happen. My efforts waste both time and energy. I keep forcing things to work and worry when it falls apart. I end up tired and stressed. Isaiah 40:29 is, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) God gives me strength to do what He wants me to do. Without Him, my efforts are useless and accomplish little. God also gives me wisdom so I don’t waste time on things he doesn’t have for me. He gives me allRead More →

By:
On:
In: Emotional eating
With: 0 Comments

In the past, seeking God was not the my first choice when I was stressed. I ran to food, complained to friends, or avoided situations. Complaining and avoiding solved none of my problems. I got temporary pleasure from stuffing my face because food helped me forget about my problems. My troubles still annoyed me and I had guilt from overeating again. Matthew 11:28 is, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). Jesus wants us to bring our troubles to Him. Only God can helpRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

This school year, I agreed to co-direct one act play. So far, I am having fun being creative. But, these added responsibilities increase my stress. During my morning quiet time, my mind reminds me of things I need to do. I have to work harder to connect with God. Psalm 37:5 is, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). I have to trust God and leave everything in His hands. When I commit my plans to Him, He guides and calms me. In the past, I stuffed my face with excess foodRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

Lately, racing mind won’t stop to seek Jesus. When I read my devotions, I think about everything else except the Lord. Even though my life seems full enough, I try to squeeze more in. My stress increases while my mind works harder to stay focused on God. Exodus 14:14 is, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still”. (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). God desires for me to quiet my brain and reflect on Him. Last week I had to “fake it until I made it“. I pushed through my devotions even though I did not feel like it. ContinuingRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

I am impatient and don’t like uncertainty. Waiting brings me feelings of restlessness and anxiety. Knowing that God will create something better than I can imagine does not help me let go. Instead of trusting God, I do whatever I think will fix my problem. I create a bigger mess and more stress. God is the only way to find peace. Psalm 46:10 is“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). It is hard for me to wait or be still. God resolves my unknownsRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

I hear voices telling me I am not good enough. Lies tell me I am a failure and point out my mistakes. They try to convince me that work I do for God will never measure up to His standards. When enough things go wrong in my life, I am tired, or not feeling well, I succumb to these lies. I feel guilty that I have failed again and give up. I can’t fight against these lies alone. John 8:44 is, “…He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies,Read More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

Most people think submission is weakly giving in. Deep down, I hate submitting to others and would rather do what I want.  I know His ways are nothing like mine and I should trust He knows the best for me. Instead of surrendering my will to Him, I stubbornly hang onto my wants.  I end up stressed and unhappy if my desires are not met. Job 22:21 is, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). On my own, I keep holding on my selfish ways. As I spend more time withRead More →