😎🐫🎤 Last night in our Financial Peace University class, I was reminded once again that God is the greatest giver of all. Seriously, He gave His only Son to die for our sins. He gave us a path to our salvation. So why does God ask us to give?  God made us in His image. He knit us in our mother’s womb. When we give, we are following in our Father’s footsteps and are becoming more Christlike. We can give to others in many ways, shapes and forms, but don’t forget to give thanks to those in your life and to the Father, Son and Spirit. When you give thanks, you are offering praise, honor and worship to our Lord. Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. Tell me what you are truly thankful for. 

#MattRedman – 10,000 Reasons

😎🐫🎤 I’ve heard “Dear Younger Me” many times, but yesterday morning I heard it in a different way for the first time. I took the focus off of “me” and heard who is the “younger me”?  My kiddos, their spouses, my grandchildren. I can’t go back and share my life experiences with my younger self.  Life only moves forward and we can only hope and pray that some of what we share with our “younger me” is taken to heart so that they don’t have to go through the same pains and hurts that we experienced and are still experiencing every time we hit the replay button on our life. There is a BIG difference between “Good” choices (putting ourselves first – what feels good to me) and “Wise” choices (putting God first and the glory of His kingdom). So, dear younger me, I pray you hear my heart and always choose to make wise choices. Bless others and be blessed. 

#MercyMe – Dear Younger Me

😎🐫🎤 God woke me up today with this song.  Bless others and be blessed. 

#TobyMac – Love Broke Thru

😎🐫🎤 I was at Mass Monday night for the Feast of All Saints and read “We are invited to remember and give thanks for others in our lives, perhaps known only to us, who served God and helped to bring us closer to God.”  Then, during the homily it was said, “We are all saints on our journey back to sainthood.”  Over the weekend I was thinking about today’s message and I love how God affirmed His message in what I read and heard at Mass. Whom can you name and want to thank for helping to bring you up from the ashes and closer to God?  Who has helped you to discover and desire a relationship with our Lord?  Now look at those in your life…who is God calling you to share this precious gift with?  Will you accept God’s call to bring dead bones to life?  Bless others and be blessed. 

#LaurenDaigle – Come Alive (Dry Bones)

😎🐫🎤 At Mass last weekend I heard, “You are all that You are by the grace of God.” And in my head, I immediate added to the statement… “Nothing more and nothing less.”  Where does that “less” come from in our lives, strangers, acquaintances? How about those closer to us coworkers, friends and family?  The closer someone is, the more they can push our buttons and make us feel like less. Then…we hold onto that hurt, convince ourselves that we are less than the child of God that we are and we live in that new identity of “less”. We need to quit beating ourselves up and listen for what God is telling us we are, by His grace. 

#BrittNicole – Through Your Eyes

😎🐫🎤 I know this is a little late today, but I got to sleep in because we are having a new HVAC system installed, that we are paying cash for. What a great feeling!  And it’s all because 6 years ago a friend wasn’t afraid to act upon God’s prompting and paid for us to attend Financial Peace University. We started managing money God’s way and I couldn’t begin to tell you how He has blessed us.  God’s love, grace and blessings surround us every moment of every day. It doesn’t matter how high you are on life today or what hole you feel you are trapped in. God is with you. One of the greatest prayers we can ever speak to our Lord is THANK YOU. For our trials, unknowing, change of heart, growth, joys and forgiveness, THANK YOU covers it all. Know that you are blessed and the Lord loves you with a never-ending love. 

#Mikeschair – All I Can Do (Thank You)

😎🐫🎤 I’m sure you’ve been asked at some point in your life “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?”  Then we start to dream big. And then doubt and lack of action seems to follow.   When God puts His plans/thoughts in your head, we need to trust Him fully. Take that step knowing that He won’t let you sink. It’s okay if you don’t know where that next step will lead you, just trust that the Lord will carry you one step at a time and you will be AMAZED at how far He will carry you for His glory. What has God placed on your heart that you keep ignoring?  Trust and honor the Lord with your actions. Bless others and be blessed. 

#FamilyForce5 – Walk on Water

😎🐫🎤 I thought I knew what song I was going to send out today, but God woke me up by singing this song to me. 

The past couple of nights I’ve been praying a lot for those being affected by hurricane Matthew. That also brought to mind something that Lori (my youngest daughter) told me during some storms of life…The sun (Son) always comes out after the rain. Whether we believe it or not, whether we see Him or not, God is ALWAYS with us, in the dark times and the light. He is the rock you can cling to in every storm and know that you won’t get washed away. But you have to choose to hold tight to Him and have a relationship with Him. I think at some point in our lives, we’ve all been in a one-sided relationship.  That’s not a good relationship to be in. Go all in with your relationship with God. He will amaze you. 

#JasonGray – Sparrows

😎🐫🎤 A few years ago, as I was driving north on 75 on my way to work, I experienced a radiant sunrise and prayed:

Lord, fill be with your Son so that I may be a brilliant reflection of You to those around me. May they experience You long before they see me. 

Since then, this has become my morning prayer. Bless others and be blessed. 

#NatalieGrant – Be One

😎🐫🎤 This past weekend I was able to spend some great quality time with the Lord. He showed me my past, good as well as the ugly. He forced me to face my unforgiveness head on. And He also showed me that I’m the only one with my story. I pray that we have the courage to willingly go where the Lord is guiding us, so that He can and will use the story He has written for us, to bring others to Him. Bless others and be blessed. 

#FrancescaBattistelli – Write Your Story