I was blessed last night by a meal of steam vegetables.
 Today, I picked up the steamer bag and I need to share this with you. 
I saw these bags in the store, but they did not look like they would be good or worth the money.
And I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, "that is the problem, you are so concerned with THE LOOK, that you are missing the blessing. 
The house I prepared for you only had three bedrooms, but you wanted four.
The job I prepared for you paid well, but you wanted more.
The spouse I prepared for you was my choice, but you wanted something different.
You are worried about THE LOOK but have forgotten that I know the plan. 
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Imagine how many blessings were passed over because they did not meet THE LOOK
If you, like myself, know this is for you, I pray that we are strengthened and encouraged to look beyond our plans, our flesh, our fears; and begin to walk in spiritual discernment and wisdom. 

Prayer: Father God, please forgive us and help us to trust you know the plans and you are ordering our steps, every good and perfect gift comes from you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 KJV

As I was walking, I noticed a discomfort in my foot and leg, but I heard the Spirit say "keep going."
I was led to encourage you today, to keep going. Do not give up, stay the course.
As we journey through life, things will happen, and it may seem painful at times but keep going. 
As I continued, the discomfort seemed to disappear because God changed the focus. I heard birds chirping in the background and my friends and I began to converse along the way.
God will take care of the hard, difficult times, by sending you reminders that he is in control, so keep going! The distractions of life are only temporary, the good news is, you will complete the goal!
VICTORY belongs to you! So, keep going!!

Prayer: Father God, as we continue to walk on the path you have for us, give us clear vision and block the distractions that are meant to turn us from your plan. We will walk in God-confidence, knowing no weapon formed will harm us. We will walk in God-confidence, that if you be for us, who can be against us? We give you glory God, as we continue to keep going! In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Scripture: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23 KJV

On my morning walk, I noticed these two beautiful trees. So beautiful that I took a picture. Instantly, God spoke to me and showed me how they both were rooted and grounded in the soil but uniquely different.
In that moment, I was reminded how two Christians, both rooted and grounded are wonderfully, uniquely, and fearfully made. It is okay to be different. It is okay to have a different ministry, a different walk, a different talk, and a different personality. Be YOU! Do YOU! God made you, not man!
​You are rooted and grounded and loved by the most HIGH!
Just like the two trees I saw this morning, we all have our own purpose and will produce fruit for His glory. 
Be encouraged! Stay rooted and grounded! Be obedient to His Will!
Trust the Creator and how He created you!

Prayer: Thank you, Father for loving us. We give you glory that we are rooted and grounded in you, the Master's Hand! You are molding and shaping us for your glory! We do not have to be like anybody else, just be who you created us to be and that is enough. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Scripture: But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8 KJV

I was reminded about waiting for God to move.
The person talked about a plane and immediately God showed me the runway.
When you are waiting on takeoff, so many other things are happening in that moment. Luggage has been placed on board, passengers are strapped in, the pilot has checked the equipment, and he waits for the other planes to be safely out of the way. Then the moment arrives, and you feel and hear the plane building up speed, and the plane makes it way down the runway up into the sky, takeoff!
Guess what, you are now the plane. God is the pilot. He is preparing you for takeoff. You think you have already landed.
You are teaching Sunday school, but God is moving you to the pulpit!
You are preaching at your home church, but God is about to move you to preach around the world!
You are working on the assembly line, but God is about to make you supervisor of the whole shift!
You are clocking in and working a 9-5, but God is about to make you an entrepreneur!
You are in junior management, but God is about to make you a CEO!
Buckle up, God is preparing you for takeoff!!!
God is working behind the scenes. He has prepared the ground, he has prepared the tools you will need, the luggage you need to take with you and the luggage you need to leave behind, everything and everyone will not be able to takeoff with you.
Get ready! Takeoff is coming!
​When God is the pilot, you can trust the takeoff, the ride, and the landing!!
 
Prayer: Father God, thank you. As you prepare our hearts and minds for takeoff, we ask you to please remove all fear and doubt we have about the landing. We know you to be a mighty wonderful Pilot who knows how, when, and where to guide us safely. We only pray that we remember the journey is not about us, but all about you, that you will get the glory in every move we make by obedience to your call. In Jesus name, Amen.
 
Scripture: I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5 KJV
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Do you feel as if you are in a tug of war? God has told you to do “something”, but you will have to move from the comfortable to the unknown. So, instead of releasing the rope, you are pulling to stay where you are. Can I encourage you, today? Let it go! The pulling you are doing, to stay comfortable, is blocking you from God’s plan.  You are unnecessarily pulling against your own next level! Let it go!
Remember the young rich ruler? After Jesus told him he would need to give up all he had for eternal life, what happened? He did not let go, he sadly went away, and decided worldly possessions were better than eternal life with Jesus. Do not be like the young rich ruler! Let it go!
At the end of tug of war, those that normally let go, end up falling on the other side. I do not know about you, but I rather fall on Jesus side, where I know he will pick me up and place me on solid ground.
Stop pulling to stay where God obviously wants you to leave. Be obedient and let the rope go!
 
Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts to obedience. Strengthen us to let go of what is holding us back from a new level in you. Forgive us for pulling unnecessarily against the plan you have for us. Today, we are letting the rope go. In Jesus Name, Amen.
 
Scripture: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19: 29 (AMP).
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​It is another holiday season. And many are robbing Peter to pay Paul just to put gifts under a tree. Some are working overtime and taking out loans, just to buy the biggest tree, to buy food to feed an army, and to see a second of joy on the face of others. Unfortunately, we as a country, as the people of God, are acting like the children of Israel, and forgetting about Christ. Yes, I know the debate about his actually birth not being on December 25th, but this is the calendar day set aside for the remembrance of Christ birth. We are more concerned about presents versus his presence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with exchanging gifts. It is a blessing to give! However, in the midst of buying gifts, remember the ultimate gift given to us, in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
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Prayer: Lord, I want to be in your presence. I want to walk in your presence. I want to bask in your presence. I want to be consumed in your presence. No gift under a tree can give to me what your Present did on Calvary. The Present you gave opened the way for me to be in your presence. Center my mind and open my heart on the Present you gave to set me free from bondage. The Present you gave that gives me hope. The Present you gave that gives me joy. The Present you gave that gives me Eternal Life. Lord, to be in your loving, faithful, gracious, and merciful presence is where I want to be. Amen.

Scripture: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16 KJV