pray for lost souls...

pray for lost souls. This can be a specific prayer or a general prayer, but the people we know who don't know Jesus needs our prayers. We may think they are a lost cause, but no one is lost in God's eyes. Redemption and salvation are available to everyone. So I want us all to think of one person, a few people or an entire community and pray. Pray for the pain these people are going through because they don't know Jesus' love and comfort. Pray for the missteps and mistakes they are bound to make (and keep making) because they don't know the path He has laid out for them. Pray for their loneliness and feelings of abandonment and emptiness. Pray for their false pride and confidence. Pray for relief of the anger and bitterness they hold onto because they don't understand forgiveness. Pray for their eternal salvation. The only way to the Father is through the Son. In their arrogance or ignorance they have rejected Him up to this point, but our prayers can make a difference. So pray today before they are lost for eternity tomorrow. So, for today I will pray for lost souls and hope that God touches the heart of someone today and saves them.

begin...

begin. Today I will just start. I will not procrastinate any longer.

We all have a million reasons for why we haven't gotten around to something important in the development of our character, but the excuses stop today. I will begin reading my bible. I will start going to church on Sunday. I will begin attending a bible study. I will start asking my Christian friends about their faith. I will start volunteering at a soup kitchen or half-way house. I will begin exercising more patience with my children. I will start being kinder to that one person at work who drives me crazy. I will start something today! Whatever it is that I've been thinking about doing, whatever it is that seems like a good idea that I have never gotten around to, whatever I have been putting off and putting off for weeks or even years, today I will just start!!

So, for today I will begin. I will take my first steps at something new, something needed in my life. I will reach beyond my current comfort zone. I will stop making excuses and I will begin.

let my broken heart heal...

let my broken heart heal. Getting over heartbreak is very difficult. You can get lost in the fog of the pain you feel and never find your way out, but you're not really living if you are only defined by your pain. Don't close yourself up permanently, today let your broken heart heal.

When the first impact of the pain of your broken heart hits, it's devastating. You feel crushed under the weight of it. Many people say that in time you'll forget. Some say you'll never be the same again. Cliches don't help, choices do. You have a choice. If you want to let your misery consume your life and destroy everything good you felt about yourself, others or even God - then that's your choice. You can block out the world and breath in the pain, pity or anger day in and day out. But that's not a very good choice. Living that way is like living with a thief that will rob you, use you, and deny you all of the beauty, love, friendship, comfort and security that God has planned for you. You don't have to forget what has happened and sweep it under the rug - that's not realistic. You aren't the same as you were before, but instead of letting the pain change everything about you, let it become a part of who you are and not all of who you are. You are so much more than the pain. Don't let it control you and ruin your life. You had good moments before the pain and good moments are yours for the taking if you just believe.

So, for today I will let my broken heart heal. I will think of my life as a recipe. Like all good recipes, there will be a lot of different ingredients. My hope, my laughter, my pain, my love, my dreams, my mistakes, my victories....they are all different ingredients in the great recipe of my life. What recipe do you know of that only has one ingredient?? None. Your life is not just heart break with nothing else added. So for today let your broken heart heal and start to mix together all the ingredients of your life to lead you back to the path God intends for you - beauty, love, comfort, peace, hope.

sing out loud...

sing out loud. Seize the day! Seize the joy! Seize the moment. Sing!

Have you ever noticed how a great song can transform your mood and your day. When I'm feeling low, the best pick me up is to listen to some great music and really throw myself into the emotion and feeling of the lyrics being sung. So start your day off with a favorite and don't just listen, sing out loud. Don't be embarrassed or too cool - have fun!

So for today, I will sing because it will remind me that there are good times in life. I will sing because most of the time I take myself and life too seriously. I will sing because it's good to be silly and "uncontrolled" sometimes to relieve tension and frustration. I will sing because today I want a light heart. I will sing because God loves a joyful noise.

believe and have hope...

believe and have hope. In any situation, there is always HOPE when you believe!

I like this saying and I think it sums it all up.

Look back and thank God,

Look forward and trust God,

Look around and serve God,

Look within and find God.

God closes doors no man can open

and

God opens doors no man can close.

So, for today I will believe with all my heart and have hope knowing that God is GOD and that He has His hand in ALL THINGS.

be responsible...

be responsible. To some being responsible is a blessing and a source of pride. To others, they see responsibility as ruining their fun because it brings an expectation level that they don't want.

So what do you do? Go through life not caring about the consequences to your actions? Let's see how fulfilling and wonderful your life would be...I don't like responsibility so I can cheat on my spouse (I didn't really mean those vows - oh yeah maybe my spouse didn't mean it either); when I cheat I don't have to tell my spouse because spreading disease doesn't matter unless I actually care about that person (but what if they've given a disease to me and not told me); I won't give my children any discipline or structure because teaching them is a hassle and I'd rather be cool than enforce rules (and why would I want my kids to think I love them and want to protect them); I will drink way too much and then drive my car (because killing someone else isn't any big deal); I don't have to show up to work because I don't care if anyone is relying on me (and there's just so many other opportunities in this economy right?); I can lie to my friends and family about anything because I'd rather manipulate to get my way all the time (you know honesty is part of that whole crazy responsibility notion) - how is this list looking to you so far? Is this is the kind of imprint you want to make on your family during your time on this earth? Or would you rather have a blessed life that is actually more simple and fulfilling - be responsible.

So, for today I will be responsible. I will consider the ramifications of my actions, I will think about the consequences to others, I will strive to make good sound solid decisions, I will pray for guidance and I will be proud of wanting to be responsible.