be still and wait...

be still and wait. For today, I will be still and wait on the Lord.

God's thoughts and action are so far above our heads that we can't possibly ever "get it all." How can we possible predict, follow or understand His unique and tactical plan for each one of us? We have foundational truths that He has given us, we get signs, and we feel His presence. Usually in hindsight we can see His movement throughout our circumstances and realize that He was there all along guiding and directing our path - but when we're at the beginning or in the middle of a situation we have a hard time "waiting" on Him. Instead of being impatient today, instead of fighting the fact that I don't have all my answers right this moment, I will be still and wait. I will enjoy the blessings I have, be thankful for the strength He lends me to get through the hard times, and I will pray and confidently wait on the Lord to reveal my next step.

So, for today I will be still and wait. I will trust that God knows more than I do and that He's got things under control.

remember I am more...

remember I am more. Do you only judge yourself by your faults - by the mistakes you've made - the choices you wish you could undo? Well, God remembers that you are more than that, so you need to remember it to.

Here's a few lines from a beautiful song that helps me remember that there is more to me than my past transgressions. It gives me encouragement and hope - for who I'm becoming and who I will ultimately be.

"You are more than the choices that you've made. You are more than the sum of your past mistakes. You are more than the problems you create, You've been remade. This is not about what you've done, but what's been done for you. This is not about where you've been, but where your brokenness brings you to. This is not about what you feel, but what He felt to forgive you and what He felt to make you loved. You've been remade."

So, for today I will remember I am more.

see in color...

see in color. Life is not bland or boring and it's not intended to be lived in black and white. Life is full color, eye-popping, extravagant beauty. So drink it in.

Today take notice - I mean really take notice of the dazzling artistic display of life around you. Don't just drudge through the motions and confine yourself to a sensory deprived existence because you're too busy to "see." Wake up, open your eyes, and experience the vibrant colors in your life. Be grateful that you have the physical senses to absorb the array of beauty around you - you can see it, smell it, hear it, touch it. What a blessing that is. We don't experience life in shades of gray, we have a full rainbow surrounding us so enjoy.

So, for today I will see in color. I will allow the glorious elements around me to enter my heart through my senses and I will be thankful that life is not drab and dull and limited only to black and white. I will embrace the colors in my life today!

be a positive influence...

be a positive influence. You never know how or when your conduct or words can make a lasting impression on someone. With that in mind, try to make sure you're setting a good standard.

Today is a chance to raise the bar for yourself and those around you. We all have to ability to set a good example. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. Let's try to focus on being a positive role model today. Our influence may be greater than we know. Someone out there may be watching (other than God). Someone out there may be changed, guided, or uplifted by our words or deeds today, so let's make sure we show what we believe. Let's walk to the walk and not just talk the talk today. Let's make a positive impact on those around us.

So, for today I will be a positive influence. I will keep in mind that my actions and words have impact on those around me whether I know it or not. God set a wonderful example for me and I will endeavor to set a wonderful example for others today.

celebrate...

celebrate. Today is a day of celebration. Not because it's your birthday, anniversary or a holiday. We're going to celebrate today just because it's today. We're here!! We're alive for one more day.

The sun came up, we opened our eyes, and we took a deep breath to start the day. That's worth celebrating! So today, just feel good about being alive. That's it - no more, no less. Just celebrate and be thankful that you have the opportunity of today. Your heart is beating and you're still here. You haven't run out of time. You still have another chance. You have one more day where anything is possible so that's a very good day!

So, for today I will celebrate. I will be thankful and exuberant that I have been given one more day. I will thank God for the blessing of today and I will live it today in celebration!

relax...

relax. Today I will slow down.

Instead of spending the day crazed at the malls shopping and hitting every sale, battling total strangers for stuff I don't even need, filling my hours with "to-do" lists and pressure - I will just relax. Down time is wonderful. Down time is necessary. You need quiet and peace in your life once in a while. You need to recharge. Tune out the noise today.

So, for today I will relax. I will take a deep breath and exhale.....aaahhhhh! I will thank God for the silence and the peace and I will relax today.

be blessed...

be blessed. One of my favorite songs is "Be blessed" by Yolanda Adams. The song reminds us of the hope in prayers and the blessings from God.

So, for today I pray that you will be blessed..

"Don't let your tomorrow be like yesterday.
I spoke to God, I called out your name,
and on your behalf I just asked if He would be there for you.
I want you to be blessed, don't live life in distress.
Just let go, let God, He'll work it out for you.
I pray that your soul will be blessed, forever in His rest,
because you deserve His best, no less.
Be blessed from the bottom of your feet to the crown of your head.
Your life be blessed. Your family be blessed. Your finances be blessed.
Everything about you - be blessed.
Give it to Jesus.
Let go, let God do a work in you and be blessed."

Now pray for blessings on someone else and pass His love along.

get over it...

get over it. G.O.I.

A friend said this once and I thought it was awesome. Stop holding on. Stop torturing yourself. Just do it. Get over it and move on. Unless you want your past to determine your future, get over it. Whatever it is, you have a choice - stay stuck or get on with your life. I look forward to the future. I always marvel at the way life bobs and weaves. Whether it's highs or lows that I hit, God gets me through it. So why is it that even when God has brought us to a new life, a new situation, a new hope - we use all our might and strength to destroy it by holding on to the past. It's like we sabotage all His love and kindness and blessings because we don't let go. Stop doing that. Get over it!

So, for today I will get over it. I'm in control of this decision. No one else has that power over me. I can make a choice and I choose the future instead of the past. Been there, done that, over it, moving on.

change my path...

change my path. We can all complain about being stuck in a rut. Or about wishing something about ourselves was different. But with all this complaining and wishing, we are also full of excuses.

I've tried everything I can think of. Does that sound familiar? What that usually means you've tried everything you're willing to do - right? You haven't really done everything possibly imaginable under the sun have you? You've done the two or three things you are comfortable with trying and when they didn't work, you've said, "well I've done all I can." How about asking and trusting God to show you new ways - ways you're not comfortable with - ways you wouldn't have thought of - And when He shows you these new paths - take them!

So, for today I will change my path. I will stop whining, complaining and wishing. Instead I will trust and leap out of my comfort zone to the path that God is showing me. That path will actually accomplish my goal and will actually make me happier - why have I waited so long?

be patient...

be patient. I am not a patient person. I've gotten used to having a million things to do and a very little time within which to do them. So guess what, I get jittery, stressed and do not practice patience very well.

Today is a day where patience will reign. I will breathe, I will slow down, I will accept that some things have their own pace and it doesn't always match mine. I will not explode, I will not get irritated, I will kick back and let the stress go and let the patience flow. I'm not a very lovable person when I'm impatient - in fact, I don't even like myself when I act that way. I think challenging myself to be patient today will be a good thing for me and those around me. How about you?

So, for today I will be patient. No matter what, I will keep my cool and be better off for it.

be amazed...

be amazed. Be amazed at how much Jesus loves me and be amazed at what He was willing to endure just for me.

Many times you hear a parent saying, "I would die for my kids." The love and protectiveness of a parent can be an awesome force. You'd jump in front of a bullet for them. Would you do the same for a friend? How about someone you don't even like? Would you submit to torture, humiliation, excruciating and prolonged pain for the guy down the street who doesn't even know your name? Would you silently suffer through imprisonment, beatings, whippings and hatred for the sake of a stranger? If push came to shove I think we can all admit that we might lay down our lives for someone we deeply love, but not necessarily for anyone else. That simple fact reinforces the amazement we should have about the depth and power and sacrifice of Christ's love for all of us - whether we love Him back or not.

So for today I will be amazed. Amazed by the overwhelming gracious love that He pours out on anyone and everyone. It's so far beyond my abilities that I can only be awestruck in wonder of His amazing generosity - and be eternally grateful that His love isn't as limited as mine.

have peace...

have peace. It is done. The price has been paid. It has been accomplished.

Jesus suffered for me. Jesus died for me. Jesus rose for me. Jesus saved me.

So, for today I will have peace that my salvation has been accomplished through His actions. Amen.

get back up...

get back up. We all have flaws, we all have struggles, we all stumble, and we all get knocked down sometimes. The trick is to get back up!

Jesus knows your failings. He knows your hardship. They are not a surprise to Him. But He doesn't want you to lose heart or faith. Let your faith strengthen you to get back up after you've been knocked down. God is working in ways we do not have the ability to understand. You may get knocked down, but He will keep you from being knocked out - so don't give up, get up instead! If things aren't going right in your life - keep trying, make some changes, accept the things you cannot control and control the things you can (your attitude and your actions). God will dust you off, strengthen you, and ready you for the next battle - but He helps those who help themselves, so you have to get back up first.

So, for today I will get back up. I may be weak and unsure, but I will believe that for today God is with me. That He will protect me when I get back up. I will put my faith and trust in Him and not my own motivation or strength. I will get back up and let God do His work in and through me.