Month: March 2023

A Willing Spirit

A Willing Spirit

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

A Willing Spirit

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NKJV

Let me share this lighthearted story titled, the Spirit is Willing, but the Dentures are Missing by Stan Toner, Grandpa and grandma were sitting in there porch rocks watching the beautiful sunset and reminiscing about “the good old days,” When grandma turned to grandpa and said, “Honey to you remember when we first started dating and you used to just casually reach over and take my hand?” Grandpa looked over at her, smiled, and took her aged hand in his. With a littles smile, Grandma pressed a little further, “Honey, do you remember how after we were engaged you’d sometimes lean over and suddenly kiss me on the check?” Grandpa leaned slowly toward Grandma and gave her a lingering kiss on her wrinkled cheek. Growing bolder still, Grandma said, “Honey, do you remember how, after we were first married, you’d nibble on my ear?” Grandpa slowly got up from his rocker and headed into the house. Alarmed, Grandma said, “Honey, where are you going?”  Grandpa replied, “to get my teeth.”

The scripture goes along with Easter as Jesus prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice of Love for us. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and the sins of the whole world. Just before Jesus arrest, we see him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The command came after Jesus had been praying to the father and later found the disciples sleeping instead of praying. He had asked them to stay awake and pray with him, but their eyes were heavy.They slept right up until the time the armed mob came to take Jesus away.

The story of the disciples in Gethsemane rings true for all of us. The dictionary defines the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, to say that a person wants to do something, but cannot from lack of strength or energy. Jesus tells us what we can do-“watch and pray.” We can only remain faithful when we are devoted to prayer. In prayer, we continually allow God to forgive us, cleanse us, teach us, and strengthen us to obey Him. We all know the struggles as distractions come for us. But when we watch and pray- we remain spiritually alert and appeal to God for help. And when we fail, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, He is the King Of Glory.

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

 

Thanks

Thanks

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Thanks

Psalms 110:1-2 NIV

The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.;January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

He said.”He who is not courageous enough to take risk will accomplish nothing in life.”

Look at YOU, working those goals and completing every little task on your “goal to do list.” I don’t know if anyone has told you lately, but I am SUPER PROUD OF YOU! There you are burning the midnight oils as you putting in the work, time, and effort to keep your dreams alive. Oh yes, you have a full time job, family and life to go along with it.

Thanks, is dedicated to all of us. Diving deeper into reading about the lives of others, I fortunately stumbled across some articles dedicated to what personal empowerment can look like through a “thank you.” Never has such words rung so true as I am reminded of the scripture, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do you feel your help coming on? Those two little words = release.

Allow me to share one of those writings, It’s called:

A Letter To The People Who Didn’t Believe In Me, from odyseeyonline.com, by Tayler Hughes

First, I would like to say thank you. You were the ones who brought me down and the ones who made me think I couldn’t achieve my goals. You made me question my intelligence, my skills, my drive, and my purpose. There were periods of time when you laughed as I explained my aspirations. You condescendingly explained why I was not capable of certain things. Your negativity was the reason that I pushed myself harder in order to be successful. I wanted to prove to you as well as everyone else who ever doubted my capabilities that I could do it. You are the reason I am standing here today, better and stronger than ever and wanted to thank you.

Thank you for showing me that people in the world will doubt me, and that I will prove them wrong.

I used your doubts to ignite my conviction that I would succeed. Your doubt made me want it more and gave me an “enemy” to fight against. The challenges your bombarded me with unleashed my competitive juices and my desire to win.

Thank you for showing that even when I fail, I am able to find the strength to get up and try again.

In many situations I took the greater risk, hoping that it would lead to a greater reward — but sometimes was short of my goal. However, with each failure I faced it poised me to be the best person I could possibly be.

Thank you for your false impression of who I am.

Maybe your perception of me was based off of something I said one day, an outfit I wore, the pitch of my voice, the color of my skin or something someone said about me. Regardless, you must not have known me very well to doubt my future self.

Thank you for making me question myself.

Perhaps there was a small bit of truth behind your criticism. It is because of your skepticism and disbelief that I am who I am today. You see, I didn’t just want to prove you wrong, I wanted to prove myself wrong for even thinking there was a possibility that you were right.

Thank you for giving me the strength to work harder, and that even if I fail I will get up and try again.

If I didn’t know something, I taught myself. If I wanted something, I worked for it.

Thanks for forcing me to learn to not care what others think of me.

I may not be perfect. I sometimes mess up and don’t do things by the books. But I have learned to utilize my flaws and use them to help me become a better person.

Thank you for building my up confidence.

With every accomplishment came even more belief that I could do anything. I could prove you wrong. I could reach my dream.

Thank you for allowing me to understand.

Everyday, I’m learning. I’m teaching myself that there will always be people who doubt me, people who criticize and people who judge. I am constantly learning that those people are just individuals who truly do not understand, and that’s okay.

Thank you for opening my eyes.

You might be off discriminating against someone else rather than focusing on your own imperfections, but still, you instilled in me the need to focus on the things I love about myself. You helped me hone in on what I think I need to improve.

Thank you for showing me who I don’t want to be.

Finally, you infused in me the fact that you are not someone I want to become. I do not want to become someone who underestimates another person who believes in him or herself.

Each day I am getting closer to accomplishing what you said couldn’t be done — you just wait and see. Throughout the battle, I’ve learned one important thing: While you may have been the match to light the fire, It was the consuming fire of God that keep my commitment alive.

You were a blessing in disguise. I thought this whole time that you were only here to bring me down and make me think I couldn’t accomplish anything. But you are just what I needed, someone to push me to strive to do my best. For that, I thank you.

Sincerely,

The person you didn’t believe in

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

 

Commit

Commit

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Commit

Proverbs 16:3 NKJV

Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

All of those works that we hold near and dear, every plan, thoughts, and decision we make in our lives, have the potential for greater success, when we put the Lord first.  The word commit, means to carry out, pledge, to bind to or certain course. When we commit to God, it is all about action. The word commit in Hebrew means “to roll.” EVERYTHING on our “to do list” is in that rolled up ball. Instead of us trying to handle it on our own, we must roll it on over to God. Commit + Works = established.

Sure, I have been guilty of selectively giving my issues over to Him. However, I did come to realize that those hidden nooks and crannies that I called myself handling were only holding back my progress. When I completely depended on God in all of my works, he established me. What does the word establish mean? Set up, permanent basis, achieve permanent acceptance or recognition for. Doesn’t that just put your soul at ease dear hearts? For me, the very idea of knowing my commitment to God, will “bring about”change is all the more reason to let him have EVERYTHING in my life. Can I get an Amen?!

Commit friends is giving EVERYTHING over to God. Let his thoughts take hold of your mind as you prepare to be amazed. First, we need our daily bread as we fill our my mind with God’s word. Second, pray about everything, and in everything pray. Third, get your thoughts and ideas on paper as we answer the question, what’s the plan?Fourth, commitment is about holding our self accountable to our decision to see it through. Fifth, our you looking to where all of your help comes from? Is your mind stayed on the Way Maker? Sixth, rejoice! for the Best is Yet to Come regarding You! (I’m dancing right now) Seventh, give credit where credit is due. God did it! (I’m still dancing)

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Gratitude

Gratitude

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Gratitude

Psalms 118:28-29 NIV

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines gratitude as being thankful: readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. What does God’s word teach us about gratitude? It is the ability to show our words in action. When we are thankful, we are recognizing the very source of where our help comes from. There is no greater sign of appreciation than to remember the Good Lord in all we do.

As I look further into gratitude, there is something wonderful about people uplifting people. A thank you can go a long way when we need help or helping others. It does make a difference.

John F. Kennedy had this to say about gratitude, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Maya Angelou said these words about gratitude, “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

Here are some benefits of a thankful heart:

Less complaining as we count our blessings and focus on what we do have.

A overall sense of wellbeing for our body and mind.

Our intentions shine through in our actions.

Better relationships are formed as we seek understanding over judgement.

We gain a perspective of humility.

Provides valuable insight in serving other.

My Prayer, “Lord I thank ya! You woke me up this morning and I was closed in my right mind. You gave me a reasonable portion of health and strength as my feet touched the floor. When I opened the blinds, I could hear the birds chirping and see squirrels scampering up the trees. Lord you are mighty. I come to you with thanksgiving in my heart saying, thank you for another day.”

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

When We Pray Together

When We Pray Together

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

When We Pray Together

Psalms 20:1-9 NIV

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

We have all been there, distressed, needing the Lords help, and desiring victory over our circumstances. Psalm 20 has two parts, the assembled people and King David’s pray for victory in an impending battle. The people pray that God would bless the king during the fight.

David prays to describe his confidence in God. David and the people of Israel are trusting in something far more effective, and reliable than human armies.  Here lies the power of a prayerful people who have come together on one accord to get things done. Not in their own strength, but the strength of the Lord through faith. There is nothing like coming together with other believers in prayer.

When we pray together, we experience God’s presence.

When we pray together, we become impactful when we lift each other up.

When we pray together, we unlock the doors of our hidden potential.

When we pray together, there is a change in the atmosphere affecting the very condition of things around us.

When we pray together, there is evidence of transformation.

When we pray together, we are louder than any operatic vocal performance or brass jazz band ensemble. He hears us. The Word says, “for where two or three gather are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 NKJV

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.