Daily we are met with New Opportunities and God Moments. How we embrace each daily opportunity that is presented will make the difference in our day. God will teach us amazing things if we but listen and look for a God moment. He came to give us an abundant life! Will we embrace that life today?

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Enjoying His Presence each and every day, basking in the love of His Son-ship is most needed. Whether burdens are heavy and we’re weighted down with the daily cares, He tells us to come unto Him all who are weary and He will give us rest. Will you come to Him today and find that rest?

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

May You open the eyes of our hearts Lord to see you daily in each circumstance and situation. May we take time to seek His face today in the midst of a busy day.
Dear Lord; help us too stop, look and listen.

God Moments can take an ordinary day and it can be life transforming.

Psalm 27:8 “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

br/>Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9)

The Lord may not have told you to lead a group of people into battle or to settle new lands but, He has commissioned you to do something. If you know what it is, then by all means do it. However, if you feel that there is nothing for you to accomplish in this life, I beg to differ. God created you with a purpose in mind.

Each of us has a responsibility to do that thing God has called us to do — no matter how small or how large. He has already equipped us with what we need to accomplish our calling. Those things we may feel we do not have, we can trust in the Lord to provide. The important thing to remember is that we have a duty to fulfill our God-given commission; whatever it is and wherever it leads.

Blessings,

Joyce

How you live is the title of a great song by Point of Grace and the words can be liberating to the one who is at a crossroad in life. A great sentence in the song; “It’s not who you knew, it’s now what you did, but it’s how you live”.

Lately while on a personal journey of sorts I have come to realize the importance of just learning how to live is essential and takes a daily walk with Christ. Learning how to live and just taking time to enjoy the most mundane events in life can bring pure joy.

Just a few examples.

• Taking time out to watch some of Gods creation such as; birds, squirrels.
• Stopping at the fence to chat with a neighbor and listen to their daily events.
• Driving with the window rolled down and let the fresh air blow rather than the a/c.
• Making a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade and sipping it on the patio or front porch.
• Plan a life filled with dreams and hope, don’t spend life looking back to the past.
• Pray for the needy, the weary and broken hearted; encouraging one another.
• Spending quiet time when your day is so busy with all of the responsibilities of life.
• Meditating upon His word morning, noon and nightfall, giving Him praise in the midst.

Many other items can be listed, but one thing that is most important and that is listening with your heart, eyes and ears. We can hear, but all too often fail to listen. Will you take time this week and listen to the beauty that surrounds your daily life…

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 “We urge you… that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:2-4)

When you take a look at what’s going on in the world today, there’s a lot to see that’s going wrong. Many people are concerned about the economy, finances, jobs and how it’s going to affect them and their families. There’s another problem if all they can see is what’s going wrong, fear and scarcity.

You may be experiencing genuine heartbreaking problems and I’m not trying to diminish them. However, if you look at your circumstances through your physical eyes, it’s easy to join the crowd in negative thinking. Instead, try seeing your circumstances through your spiritual eyes.

This is a great time to look beyond now. God spoke a word over your life before you were even born. That’s where vision comes in.

The best example of someone who endured terrible circumstances but never lost sight of His vision is Jesus. God in the flesh left heaven to endure an excruciating death after being talked about, challenged, abandoned, denied, betrayed and every other possible thing that you can think of. Yet He was still able to say that He finished the work which God gave Him to do. (John 17:4) He never lost sight of the vision - His whole reason for being here on earth.

What can you learn from Jesus’ life? Accept the fact that although things may be hard for you right now, you can get through it. Refuse to focus on what you see. As a child of God, you walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Habakkuk 2:2-4, is a reminder to not give up on the vision God gave you for your life. Take your focus off what’s happening around you and place it on what’s yet to come. If God spoke it, it will come to pass. His Word always accomplishes what He said it would. (Isaiah 55:11)

Blessings,

Joyce

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose. -Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

So often we act like everything going on in our lives is all about us. We focus on what needs to be fixed in our families, our careers and our lives. Soon that focus becomes fixation and we approach God, asking Him to change our circumstances and situations.

Of course our heavenly Father wants to hear our petitions. But even more importantly, He longs to hear us thanking Him for all that He’s blessed us with. He wants to hear our praise and worship, acknowledging that He is the one true and living God. He desires to have a relationship with us, not only when things are going badly but when everything’s going well, too.

Your purpose is so much bigger than you may think. First and foremost, it is to glorify the One who created you. When you place your focus on Him, it’s a lot more difficult to focus on self. And keeping our focus on God is something we should strive for on a daily basis. Make your mantra, “It’s not about me - it’s all about God!” If you’re trying to figure out what your purpose is, this is the best place to start.

Blessings,

Joyce

At a time when so many people are hurting and searching for an answer, Believers have the one thing that can help them — Jesus Christ. Do you struggle to share the gospel with those in need? Sometimes I do, but I’ve come to understand over the years that the Holy Spirit always helps me when I step out in faith. I’m encouraged when I remember the Christians from the first church.

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:1-20)

How can we not share Jesus with those who may need Him most? My prayer daily is that the Lord will give me a spirit of boldness to tell others about Him so that they too, can be saved. God’s been too good to me for me not to share the gospel with those who need to hear it. I love Jesus with all my heart and I want to take as many people with me to meet Him one day. Consequently, I have no choice but to be bold for Christ.

Blessings,

Joyce

Life can offer various trials, circumstances and triumphs! It is in the trial that triumph will come…

Jesus tells us in this passage; Luke 12:7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

When trials come our way we must not doubt the loving kindness of our God. We are so valuable to Him. He really loves us and cares about everything we are experiencing daily, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. If you find yourself in a place where you are beginning to doubt Gods love and plan for your life, just place your confidence in Him. He will remove all doubt and fear. If He can take the time to number the hairs on our head then this alone demonstrates the worth of your life in His sight. He loves you and cares for you.

Place your burdens and cares at His feet today. Trust Him completely…

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 Reminds us; there is a season for everything, and a time and purpose for all under heaven.

Dear Lord, we thank you that you are in control of every situation even when things seem to be so out of control. Thank you for taking the time to show us how much You love us and how we are so much more valuable than the sparrows. You Oh Lord are dear to our hearts today! May the truth of your Word sink deep in our hearts today, and may we know Your love in a rich pure way… In Jesus Name I ask, Amen

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

After hearing a sermon by my pastor, I placed an orange Post-It note on my computer screen that says, “I will not live beneath the purpose God made me for!” Every morning, as I sit at my desk, my eyes continually glance at that note. It’s one of the things that remind me every day that God has work for me to do.

As 2009 draws to a close, I’m reflecting on how well I’ve stuck to God’s plans for my life and I have to answer some questions:

~Whose life did I make just a little better because they knew me?

~Who did I bless with a word of encouragement?

~When did I go out of my way for the benefit of someone else?

~How many people did I share the gospel with?

~How many times did I give up my right to be right?

~When did I take a stand for Jesus?

~How often did I pray for others and their needs?

These are a few of the thoughts that come to my mind as I think about what I’ve accomplished in 2009. The one thing that they all have in common is that they focus on others. As a Christian, our purpose is always more about others and Jesus than it is about us.

The ultimate purpose of all Believers is to glorify God. He has gifted us with skills, talents and gifts so that we can bring Him glory. When we use our gifts, we can begin living in our purpose.

I’d like to suggest that you set aside time for your own reflection. Answer the question whether you are living beneath your purpose. Create your own list of questions. It’s not too late to end 2009 living on and in purpose. Neither is it too early to think about starting 2010 in the same way.

Blessings,

Joyce

2 Cor. 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

We have a treasure that comes from God and not from us; it is a precious jewel. While this treasure can be hidden in the depth of our heart and often times needs to be stirred by the Spirit of God.

• One may ask where is this precious treasure today that the Lord has placed within me?
• Is it active and moving according to His will?
• Is it focused on things above and not things that are carnal (earthly)?
• Is it walking in line with the word of God’s truth?

Many times while in meditation and prayer I find myself at the foot of the cross looking back to where the Lord has brought me from, I think upon His never ending mercy and compassion; the jar of clay He is molding me into at times can become cracked, but through the pressures of life I persevere and He remolds me and remakes me. This morning we may be asking where is our treasure. What is in this jar of clay? Am I focused upon You Lord God or am I too busy tending to matters that matter not?

Dear Lord, as we begin a new day, may we regain focus of who You are in our lives. May we put to death the things that are not pleasing to You and bring to life the things You desire for us? Teach us to walk in love though we may be hard pressed we are not crushed. May we find that sweet precious treasure You have placed within us and not abandon it for the sake of the cross. We bless You and love You in the Precious name of Jesus. Amen!

1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Definition: The state or quality of being able; physical, mental or legal power to perform, a competence in doing so with skills and talents.

At times we may experience a BIG question mark with abilities in our life. Do we have the ability to use our skills in order to succeed as a wife, mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother, co-worker, friend, and sister; just to name a few? Do our abilities enable us to follow our dreams and plans so that we are living a life that is faithful and responsible to God?   Do we use the gifts and talents as woman so that God would be honored and glorified?

God’s grace is sufficient and He does give us the ability in each and every situation. So if we are weary today and tired because we sense that all of the gifts and talents God has blessed us with seem futile, trust Him so that we may accomplish all with excellence. God will lay out the plan and though it may seem difficult at the time do it with His strength and ability. He is able to see us through it all. Walk with the understanding that His ability will sustain and keep us.

Isaiah 40:31 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.

Lord, You have graciously given me the ability to accomplish so many things and I praise You for that. May Your Spirit be my guide in each situation and may I continue to give You all praise and glory no matter what it looks like. I place My trust and hope in You today! Amen…