"Your Very Bright Future"

DAY #59 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12 NKJV

Our future's so bright we gotta wear shades... (I was thinking of this statement before I read the devotional this morning, but it's in there too.) How bright our future is, probably differs from how bright we see our future to be. Do we walk forth in positivity and optimism, trying to think the best; or do we dread a terrible tomorrow? Concentration Camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom had this to say, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." Super true. God's got it all in His hands, and He knows all that we can and will face, but it depends on the choices we make, as to how it will all turn out. We need to truly trust Him with our futures, not worrying about the day and time Jesus is coming back, but we need to use our future telling people that He is coming back. We need to share the GOSPEL message -- which I hope that I do here on 'Fresh as a Daisy Devotionals & More...'. (Thanks Jer' for the reminder of how important it is)

GOSPEL MESSAGE simplicity - -
We are ALL sinners - Sin results in Death - God loved the world so much, He sent us His Son Jesus - Jesus came to earth to teach, train, equip, and mentor - Jesus did the work of the Father, praying, healing, performing miracles, teaching of His Father's love - Jesus died ONCE & FOR ALL for our sins, so that we didn't have to die - He rose again, to live with His Father in Heaven - Jesus intercedes for us to the Father - We are commissioned to do the work of the Father, trainging, teaching, equipping, praying, healing, performing miracles, but most importantly sharing His story, 'History' not fiction (the gospel) - Jesus will come back for believers - We as believers get to live eternally in Heaven with Him. (If we do not believe, then we will have eternal death, as we haven't accepted the FREE gift of Salvation).

**If you have never prayed the 'salvation prayer' before or experienced the peace that is spoken of above, then here's your chance today. The only thing you are giving up is things that aren't going to last long anyway -- which if you don't give up, will only make your own life not last as long as it could (which is eternally). --- You've already made the first step known - admit to God that you are a sinner, because after all - all of us are sinners. (Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God") After that you need to believe that God is God, and that Jesus is His Son. He sent His Son to die for us, so that we as sinners didn't need to be condemned to death. (Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, bu the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.") Then do as we did above, and Confess your sins to Him and ask for forgiveness -- and then confess aloud that JESUS IS LORD. (Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.") We need to daily ask for forgiveness, because we are human and we will always mess up in some way or another. God is willing and able to forgive us, and welcome YOU into His family. I don't like to write out a prayer anymore to say word for word, as this important step is something that you need to tell God in your own words. Just tell Him what's in your heart - you're a sinner, you want to believe in Him but it may be hard, you want Him to forgive you of what you've done, and you want to choose life with Him through His Son Jesus. It's as simple as that. **


"Yesterday is just experience, but tomorrow is glistening with purpose -- and today is the channel leading from one to the other." ~ Barbara Johnson (author)

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"Faith and Wholeness"

DAY #58 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Now the just shall live by faith." Hebrews 10:38  NKJV

Just one simple act of pressing in to 'touch the hem' of Jesus' robe, was an act of faith that healed a woman of the pain and suffering that she had been struggling with for years. (See her story in Matthew 9:20-22) We can also be healed today, just by pressing in to God. With the faith and trust that God can and will do what He says He will do, and applying our faith -- living it out can change us for the good, and bring the miracle we have waited so long for. Keep praying, persevere, don't give up if you're not seeming to get an answer. Some BIG miracles take time, others can be answered right on the spot. Don't think God loves you any less if others are receiving their blessings right away. God still holds you in His hand, and Jesus is interceding for us all moment by moment. Having faith, applying it and living it out means having it all the time -- in good times and bad, in happy times and sad.

God can and will change your life for the good, but you have to give it over to Him. We need to come broken and He will miraculously transform our lives into who He has created us to be. Concentration camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom once said, 'Faith is an activity. It is something that has to be applied.' Our faith, like with the woman in Matthew 9, can make us whole. Do you want to be made whole? Step out in FAITH today. F.A.I.T.H. -- Forsaking All I Trust Him! Ask God to help you receive more faith if needed, He is here to help!

'Do you want to be made whole?' or 'Do you want to be made well?' -- "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, 'Do you want to be made well'?" John 5:6 NIV

Remember, if you don't have this beautiful relationship with God -- Learn your A,B,C's...

ACCEPT, BELIEVE and CONFESS.

**If you have never prayed the 'salvation prayer' before or experienced the peace that is spoken of above, then here's your chance today. The only thing you are giving up is things that aren't going to last long anyway -- which if you don't give up, will only make your own life not last as long as it could (which is eternally). --- You've already made the first step known - admit to God that you are a sinner, because after all - all of us are sinners. (Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God") After that you need to believe that God is God, and that Jesus is His Son. He sent His Son to die for us, so that we as sinners didn't need to be condemned to death. (Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, bu the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.") Then do as we did above, and Confess your sins to Him and ask for forgiveness -- and then confess aloud that JESUS IS LORD. (Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.") We need to daily ask for forgiveness, because we are human and we will always mess up in some way or another. God is willing and able to forgive us, and welcome YOU into His family. I don't like to write out a prayer to say word for word, as this important step is something that you need to tell God in your own words. Just tell Him what's in your heart - you're a sinner, you want to believe in Him but it may be hard, you want Him to forgive you of what you've done, and you want to choose life with Him through His Son Jesus. It's as simple as that. **


I still think back to the quote from 'Faith Like Potatoes' too... when I think about miracles and impossibilities. "Condition for a miracle is difficulty; condition for a GREAT miracle is impossibility!" (~Faith Like Potatoes 'Angus Buchan')

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"Encouraging Words for Family & Friends"

DAY #57 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV

MSG - "Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift."
AMP - "Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it."


As teammates in the 'game of life', we are meant to encourage and pat each other on the back. However, it's been said that some people are patting you on the back, looking for a place to stick the knife. Now that is not a positive approach or an optimistic view, but unfortunately it's true sometimes, and we do have to be honest with ourselves, so that we don't get hurt. Some people in our lives try to place us on a pedestal only to watch us fall. Encouragement helps even the best of us. Encouraging words to build up, not gossip or lies to make it seem good, or really to tear down.

Everyone around us is actually in need of some type of encouragement or uplifting. Uplifting meaning lifting your spirits, or lifting you to a higher level with God. Not lifting you up praising you on a pedestal. It is good to 'praise' people with a simple 'well done' or 'good job' -- but ensure that all glory goes to God. He is the giver of the gifts/talents and He deserves much more praise than you or me. It would be fun to give an encouraging word to everyone we meet, but obviously that is unrealistic, as some people would just ignore us, or discourage us in ways we all know of with cursing, etc. But some people who truly look like they need a 'lift', or Holy Spirit gives you a 'shoulder tap' letting you know which ones -- do it! Encourage a family member, a friend, an enemy, a stranger... and see how it affects your spirit too. There is a chinese proverb I've heard, "Flowers leave their fragrance in the hand that bestows them”. When we give, a piece of the gift remains with us to bring us joy as well.

...to be continued!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!