😎🐫🎤 I’m not one that asks for prayer for myself much, so I was very humbled this past week when two friends on separate occasions said they were praying for me and one even offered to go out of her way to shuttle me to a couple of events I have scheduled for this weekend. I don’t know if I really did this or not, but I felt like my chin dropped open and I really didn’t know what to say. I was sitting in awe at those moments and felt completely wrapped in the presence of God. I’ve experienced moments like this before and that’s a feeling I will never get tired of and am excited for the next time it happens. There is no feeling as good as being held by God. These two experiences got me to thinking…How many people have prayed for me over these past 50 years?  Obviously, some I know about and other I haven’t got a clue. Some are people I don’t even know personally, but they have prayed for me. These prayers have helped to shape me and my life, but I hadn’t even given them any real thought until now. Have you ever taken account of the prayers from others that have helped to shape your journey?  The gift of these uncountable prayers, well, there’s no word to describe them but awesome. I would like to ask your prayers for the surgeon and all those who will be taking care of me tomorrow and again on Feb. 1st, when I have my eye surgeries. Thank you in advance and know I will be praying for you also. Bless others and be blessed. 

#JamieGrace – Show Jesus

😎🐫🎤 Last Wednesday evening I had, well we’ll call it an experience with a representative from a faith community that I’m heavily involved with and it left me strongly questioning if it was time to walk away. For the next 24 hours, that’s really where my heart was headed. Then God reminded me: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.”  It wasn’t this individual that was attacking me, but Satan aka the master of disguise doing his darnedest to pull me from God and where He wants me to be. When praying on the Armor of God, God makes it very clear when He tells us three times that we need to stand firm. You might as well make those words bold, all caps, and underline them three times. My instinct in this situation was to leave, turn tail and run.  But I thank God that He was willing to talk with me and I calmed down enough to hear His heart. Satan, you lost this flight and I’m coming back stronger than before.  Bless others and be blessed. 

#Rachel Platten – Fight Song

😎🐫🎤 One of my favorite things to do is smell a new book. To me, the smell of a book has come to signify opportunity to learn, grow, be a better person, and pass that knowledge along. A brand new notebook, well it’s not the best smelling book, but oh the possibilities. Growing up, I always pressed really hard when I wrote, so I left imprints on the next 2 or 3 pages and it wouldn’t take long before the pages would no longer lay flat. It’s like the pages grew and my notebook got fatter. I would find myself yearning for a new notebook just so I could have a fresh start. Well, welcome to your fresh start for 2018.  A lot of people have such high expectations and hopes for the start of a new year, but Dec 31st can seem so far away. Life starts pressing in and leaving its mark a few pages deep. Like the notebook, your life isn’t as crisp, clean cut or lying flat anymore. Maybe your life gets fatter like my notebook. (No, I didn’t just call you fat.)  You can’t just start a new year like you can grab a new notebook.  What I’ve found to be the equivalent of a new notebook in my year is my attitude. Every morning you wake up with a new start and you can choose to grab that old attitude or start with a fresh, clean, crisp attitude. Our Father gave us the power of love so that we could be fearless. You are loved and there is no better way to show that love than through your actions and words. Don’t be afraid of what folks may say about you. Be fearless and live as only God knows you truly can. You know I’m dancin’ around during this song. Let loose and dance like no one is watching. It just may bring a smile to your day. Bless others and be blessed. 

#JasmineMurray – Fearless

😎🐫🎤 As I was asking the Lord for His words for today’s message, the last Wednesday before Christmas, I expected something profound about Him and His birth. What He said was, “Mary did you know?”  He went on to share with me how much Christmas is about us trusting in Him and having the courage to say “YES” to Him when He whispers in our ears. Those that we hear about during the Christmas season are Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, the shepherd, and the wise men. They each have a very unique situation and experience with God and they all said, let your will be done.  I don’t want to make this too long, so take some time between now and Monday to consider each of their situations and how the different parts of your life coincide with their journeys to Christ. How is God reaching out to you through them?  What is He showing you and asking of you?  Will you say yes, thy will be done?  When we accept Christ at Christmas and every day of our lives, we are saying yes to the love, grace, growth, peace, challenges, and forgiveness that He has to offer us. Bless others and be blessed. Merry Christmas!

#Pentatonix – Mary, Did You Know?

😎🐫🎤 Question. If you decommercialize your Christmas season, would anyone know what you’re truly preparing for and celebrating?  Nothing says I’m celebrating Christ like an ugly sweater. When you look at a decorated tree, do you imagine the presents that will be under it or Christ in the manger?   During this season of peace, why is there no rest for the weary?  Maybe if we spent a tenth, a tithe of the time that we normally spend decorating, shopping, baking, stressing, wrapping, etc. and just soak in Christ a little each day, we will radiate the true, non-commercial meaning and purpose of Christmas. Let Christ be the light that radiates from you to all those who cross your path this season and every day of your life. 

I like this song, but find the video distracting. Maybe just listen to the words. Bless others and be blessed. 

#Branan Murphy – Enough

😎🐫🎤 Tis the season for regifting. Fa Lala Lala Lala Lala

What gift will you be giving? Fa Lala Lala Lala Lala

Candles, socks, scarves a plenty. Fa Lala Lala Lala Lala

What about the Christ babe that is waiting. Fa Lala Lala Lala Lala

Regift the gift of Christ this year. He is the gift that keeps on giving.  Bless others and be blessed.

😎🐫🎤 Today I’m very thankful for our shower.  We were without use of our shower for a week, being that the drain pipes rusted through. Not being able to take a shower everyday affected me physically (obviously), but also mentally and emotionally. I found myself a little on edge and not wanting to be around people as much. This really surprised me. Yesterday God challenged me to think about this experience, which I did. But then He said, living without taking a shower every day is nothing compared to living without me every day. That is so true. As I thought about His statement it just really hit home reflecting on those times in my life that I didn’t allow God in. How dirty and on edge I felt in those moments. How self-centered and alone I felt. How I was always out trying to impress others to try to make myself feel better.  I very much appreciate how when your life is open to God, you can see and experience Him in all things and all situations. God is always offering us teachable moments. The next time you take a shower, think about how you would feel if you weren’t showered daily with God’s love, grace, and forgiveness.  Now take those precious gifts and shower others with them. Today, even more than a shower, I’m thankful that I’m clean. Bless others and be blessed. 

#Natalie Grant – Clean

😎🦃🎤 Changing things up a little this week, I thought we’d have a turkey day song. This is my favorite time to share with family and friends. I’ve been reflecting lately on how when we grab onto those fleeting moments in our lives that become such growth and turning points for us. On Tuesday after getting ready for work, I went down stairs to find water running down the kitchen wall and a puddle on my counter tops. I then found a pool of water in our basement. Yes, we had a pipe rust out in the second-floor bathroom…aka our only shower. Thanks to a great husband, a friend that paid for us to go through Financial Peace University (we have our emergency fund), and parents that have offered us a place to shower, this situation is an inconvenience, but not a crisis. That may be what’s going on in my life right now, but I’m thankful every day for all those that God has graced me to share my time on earth with. It’s important for me to thank God every day and I believe that truly comes across in how we work, play, and interact with others. Feel free to share with me what you are grateful and thankful for. You may know today’s song from church, but it’s also from my favorite movie, Little Women. It makes me think of my girls. I always want to watch it at Thanksgiving. I’m so thankful for every moment I can share with them. Bless others and be bless. 

#Mormon Tabernacle Choir – For the Beauty of the Earth 

😎🐫🎤 The Lord works in mysterious ways. How many times have we heard that? So often we find ourselves asking why? Why me? Why this? Why now? But what we need to be asking is how? How can I find You in this situation? How can I experience You so that I can grow to love You and share You more with others? This past week God answered some of my why questions from 27 years ago. But He also showed me the how. How I was able to feel His love, feel His presence and to share Him with others. That was a gift that was certainly worth the wait. Seek God in the mystery. Bless others and be blessed. 

#Chris Rice – Smell the Color 9

😎🐫🎤 Yesterday is gone, it’s in the past. All that remains are the lessons that last. 

Today is a clean page. How will you fill it?  With love and prayers, peace and hope?  Or regret and anger, temptations and self-pity?

Today’s page is in your hands. The Lord’s gift of free will is the plan. As you fight off the evil one, you will be glorified in the Son. 

You choose your path as our Lord watches and waits. His Spirit is your guide and they long for you to be by Their side.  

Bless others and be blessed. 

#Francesca Battistelli – Write Your Story