Carpe Annum

Exodus 14:5-22. The quick fix. The fastest solution possible. When it comes to trials, opposition, obstacles, or pain we always look for a quick answer. I mean, who wouldn’t? We don’t want to stay in that situation for too long right?

God asks us to sometimes stand still. Allowing us to acknowledge His glory and remind us who’s got our backs and our fronts. At times, we need that reminder, because we get so caught up in the moment we have a tendency to forget.

After our moment of stillness God then instructs us to move forward. Even if our path SEEMS hard God wants us to move forward with our reminder that He is with us and that He has a plan.

Today, this Sabbath be still, know and remember your God. Listen and move forward with His presence.

Be Blessed Everybody :)

Psalm 32:1-5. We’ve all done it. As children we’ve all made a mistake, broken something, lied, or did something we tried to hide from our parents. We’ve done things we’re ashamed of and don’t want people to know.

When we do these things, how do we feel? Can we go on as if it never happened and actually forget?

Or if we know we’ve actually hurt Somebody or let someone down does eat at us?

God asks us to acknowledge our mistakes, not to boast or brag but to confirm that in his presence we are open about our entire life.

Nothing is hidden from God despite the fact that we might try to hide things. When we willingly show Him instead of covering it up we live a life in the openness of His presence.

God wants us to be open with Him so we can fully experience the outpour of His blessing.

Today, acknowledge your complete self before God. The good, bad, and ugly.

Be blessed everybody :)

Isaiah 43:1-4. Lately there’s been a lot of turmoil and strife going on in my life. Not only for my family, but for my church family as well. There has been unrest, pain, anguish, and the shaking of peoples faith during these times.

There are moments when people begin to question God and His presence. During these times it can be normal to feel this way, but it is also during these times that we must reflect and honor God despite these moments in our lives.

It’s something amazing to be called by name and be declared by God “you are mine”

Being called by name and being called His, when I think about it, is much deeper to me. It means that God knows me and claims me in His presence while on trial against the world. Despite everything I’ve done or might do, God still calls my name and claims me as His.

The combination of this feeling and also being called precious and honored should be our source of strength and reassurance during these times of trouble we may encounter. We are not only known to Him intimately and personally, but we are irreplaceable and one of a kind in His eyes.

There is no one like each individual to Him and He knows every single one of them to the bone.

Today, have faith, strength, and reassurance that God knows you by name, intimately, and personally. That you are one of a kind in His eyes and He wouldn’t trade you for anything in His created universe.

Be Blessed Everybody :D 

Psalm 139:23-24. There’s something about being open with one another that puts us in defense mode. It’s natural, we’re all scared/nervous that whatever other people find out about us, they’ll judge and discriminate us. For a majority of our lives we do our best to develop a sense of identity with one another that anything that can change it or shatter it we hide away never to be spoken of again.

Dr. Brene Brown, a researcher on shame and vulnerability, says this 

Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change..

If we stop to think about this, we know it to be true. The greatest thinkers and innovators of our time had to be vulnerable to all kinds of scrutiny to challenge the status quo and stand for what they believe.

Being vulnerable allows us to reach a deeper level of connection in our relationships with one another than can never be obtained unless we are will to be open, and I mean really open.

David talks about this in the Psalm and asks God to SEARCH him. Not only is David saying he’s open, but he wants God to search every nook and cranny of Davids life to make sure that everything is in concordance with God and His will.

How many of us actually do that? How many of us actually let God into every aspect of our lives and how many say “That’s to embarrassing, I’ll handle it God” a lot of us are ashamed of our sins when we have no fear to be ashamed. Guilty yes, Ashamed NO.

Shame is that little troll that tells you “you can’t do this or that, because you’ve done this or that, SHAME one you”

Shame says “you are a mistake” while guilt says “you’ve made a mistake.” 

We’ve all made mistakes but never in our life is God ashamed of us. We are most definitely guilty, but because of His love we are set free and clean, BUT we must be willing to be vulnerable and allow God to search us.

Today, as the Sabbath is here, allow God to search you and know you. To actually see you and help you. He’s not out there to point but to rescue.

Be Blessed Everybody :D  

John 13:36-14:4. There’s comfort in knowing that someone is preparing something for you. When you know someone has gone ahead and made arrangements for your arrival, you can’t help but feel welcomed and loved. 

After a long day of work, it feels awesome to know that when I get home I have a bed, a warm dinner, and a relaxing environment to look forward to.

Although, some of us may not have this feeling every day, we have the comfort and hope in knowing that this world is not our home.

This world is but a temporary stay for what’s ahead. Jesus has moved forward to His place and has began preparations for YOUR arrival. For OUR arrival.

He has set aside the special linen, the special crystal, and the guest towels just for us.

But we must also not forget that we know how to get there. Some of us, sometimes, play the “lost dinner guest” and claim that we don’t know the way when we really do.

Jesus is the way and if we want to get to our real Home we know what we must do to follow Him there and enjoy His company.

Today, pick up His cross and begin the journey Home. It will be hard and difficult but be assured that this isn’t our final resting place. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place just for you and me.

Be Blessed Everybody :D

Proverbs 31:10-31. As an only child, growing up I always wanted a sibling. For a while during my birthdays I would ask for a brother or a sister whenever my parents would ask me what I wanted for my birthday.

As I grew up my mother was my sibling, best friend, confidant, and much more. She still is to this day. She’s been a source of strength and a source of wisdom since I was a little child.

She has set the example of a type of woman a man should look for. A woman so lost in God that a man must go through Him in order to find her. 

Proverbs 31 sets the tone for the type of person women should strive to be. These women, not only provide for their families but are also able to provide for themselves.

They’ve set the standard for multi tasking and are the only ones, as I know of, that can do it incredibly well. 

For the some of us who don’t have that mother in our lives, I’m sure we have that woman who can fit the description in proverbs 31. 

Gentlemen, find that woman that strives to be as Godly as possible. That fits the description of Proverbs 31.

Ladies, be that woman God has intended you to be. The source of strength and comfort that He has engraved into your DNA

To all the women in my life, I thank you. I can personally say that I know women who fit this description. Not only my mother, but my friends can fit this description. 

Happy Mothers Day :D

Isaiah 40:28-31. This past week has been rough on a lot of my friends and family. It’s been a week of turmoil and distress. There have been a lot of tears shed because of the sacrifices some of have made and the pain they have experienced.

During these times, it’s hard to find the words to say. There’s not a lot that can be said or that can be done because of the circumstances, but thank God for the Bible and His presence.

When words fall short God doesn’t. When we are at our end, God is just getting started. 

Isaiah 40:28-31 is a wonderful verse for the situation some of us are going through. 

We face so many obstacles, so many trials, and so much anguish we don’t know what to do anymore. But I love how the author puts it..

Do you not know?!

The thing is we do. We know all very well what our God is capable but sometimes we forget. Sometimes we are so weighed down its so hard to feel Him around, but the rest of the verse explains it..

Our God is the EVERLASTING

Another word for FOREVER, NEVER ENDING, ALWAYS THERE, this is our God..

He will NOT grow tired or weary, and His understanding NO ONE can fathom

He doesn’t rest or sleep because He doesn’t need it. He’s on alert when we’re not, and when it comes to His works and His plan, we don’t need to understand it but we must trust and have faith in it.

He gives STRENGTH to the weary and INCREASES the power of the weak, even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint..

You thought you were already strong as it was? You thought you had power? God can INCREASE it. He can make you STRONGER and more POWERFUL than whatever you face. 

AMEN.

Today, when you are reminded of what you face. When you experience pain and anguish remember our God. 

Remember that our God is Greater than our greatest problem.

Be Blessed Everybody :D

1 Corinthians 3:9-17. Anything in life has a beginning. Stories, problems, solutions, relationships, buildings, food, pets, people, etc.

Literally everything in this world begins at a start point and progresses. A lot of people marvel at the wonders of the pyramids or the great wall of china, but not to many people stop to think about its beginnings.

We have a tendency to do the same thing with other things in life. With certain relationships we look at the future, and consciously or sub-consciously rush things because we hope and yearn for the end result. Truth is, the end result is dependent on the foundation we lay. This is true with everything.

When we lay a sturdy foundation, we know that if everything were to topple down the basis of what we started wouldn’t crumble and we can start again. However, if our foundation was weak and faulty then starting over could be difficult or near impossible.

With Christ as our foundation, it allows us to face anything in life because we put Him first. We build the things in our lives around Him. He is our center and our core. By doing this, we acknowledge that life is stable with Him as our first. Even when things go bad and may seem like everything is crumbling. If everything were to breakdown to our first step, having Him as our first step allows us to have faith that there will always be a next step. A step back in the right direction.

Today, ensure that Jesus is your foundation, your beginning, and your core. When we do this, everything we build centers around Him and no matter how many times we stumble or fall, having Him as our foundation gives us hope for another start.

Be Blessed Everybody :D 

1 Kings 8:56. I think one of the things we as people want the most, without actually knowing or asking for it is consistency.

We crave for it. We may not outwardly ask for it, but we all want consistency within our lives. We want consistency because it makes us feel safe and it allows us to be comfortable and, at times, allows us to be vulnerable.

We hangout with our best friends because consistently have a good time and laughs are bound to happen.

We do things everyday because consistency is a pattern of everyday life. 

However, as we may all know, life isn’t consistent. It’s unpredictable. At any point in time, anything can go wrong or right, or in the complete opposite direction of what we’ve intended.

It is during those times, our faith needs to be consistent. It is during those times, when life is throwing us a wrench, we depend on Gods consistent presence more than ever. We never really thank Him for it, but we’re all very happy and grateful that God is a consistent God. He isn’t one that just changes His mind on the fly. He’s been the truth, a consistent truth, since the beginning and will continue to do so for the rest of our lives.

Today, when you face anything that goes against your comfortable consistent routine, do not fear, because you have a God that is always in your life and is consistent in His ways. He kept His promises then and He will keep them now. 

Be Blessed Everybody :D 

Romans 12:10. Jesus always talked about honoring each other. It was more about the other person than Himself. 

Every act and every word was about the other person. Nothing He did was for Himself. His coming to earth, His sermon on the mount, His healing of the sick, and His dying on the cross, was all about love for the other person.

Jesus knows that acting in love is stronger and more important that speaking in love. In this day and age, speaking comes easy, but action is essentially “putting money, where your mouth is”

Anyone can say he/she is someone else, but unless we can actually walk the walk, we’re all talk. 

I, however, do talk a lot and must continue to work on doing more and saying less. I believe that all of us are guilty of that, but when we are truly convicted by God to share, doing comes easy.

Today, do more for your brother or sister. Don’t let today pass without acting out in love.

We are at our best when we are serving others

Be Blessed Everybody :D