Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

In the rush and hurry of a morning one can find themselves in certain predicaments. I must say that when these days come it can either bring tears or laughter.

Have you ever been faced with a morning that can bring this kind of laughter and pure joy in the process? Heading off to meet the day I failed in matching my shoes and what do you do; laugh, cry or go barefoot? I had to laugh through the tears of joy to keep from weeping. I must say that walking in mismatched shoes can only make one laugh. Although, this seems to be a trend in some countries it brings a chuckle when you are not a trendsetter. Truly we can celebrate this kind of morning with rejoicing.

Isn’t life like that at times, we go through phases of feeling like a failure, alone at times, mismatched and even forgotten by those we love? I am here too say that we serve a BIG God that loves us in those times of loneliness, desperation and even feeling mismatched. All too often in families many children can feel left out, alone, abandoned, but they are never forgotten by a loving compassionate Father.

Matthew 19:14-15 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

In this day if you are feeling left out, alone or like a misfit, know that Jesus is there waiting for you too come unto Him. He will give you complete peace and fullness of joy in the midst of your pain. Trust Him to meet you there! He is more than Able!

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

Sometimes I ask the question, “My Lord, is this Your will?” It’s then I hear You answer me, “My precious child . . . be still.”

Sometimes I feel frustrated, cause I think I know what’s best. It’s then I hear You say to me, “My busy child . . . just rest.”

“I know the plans I have for you, the wondrous things you’ll see; if you can just be patient, child, and put your trust in Me.

I’ve plans to draw you closer. I’ve plans to help you grow. There’s much I do you cannot see and much you do not know.

But know this, child . . . I Love you. You are precious to me. Before I formed you in the womb, I planned your destiny.

I’ve something very special I hope for you to learn. The gifts I wish to give to you are gifts you cannot earn.

They come without a price tag, but not without a cost. At Calvary, I gave Myself, so you would not be lost.

Rest, child, and do not weary of doing what is good. I promise I’ll come back for you just like I said I would.

Your name is written on My palm, I never could forget. Therefore, do not be discouraged when My answer is . . . “Not yet.”

-Unknown

Blessings,

Joyce

When combining oil and vinegar with a few seasonings they bring together a flavor that can add zest to many foods, but when tasted individually they are not as flavorful. While vinegar is sour to the palette, it has its benefits to one’s health. Oil can be thick and tasteless, but typically has no flavor in itself. Mixing these two ingredients can transform a recipe into something truly delightful.

Words not spoken kindly can be as that sour vinegar, it leaves a burning sensation to the hearer, but when spoken in truth it can bring healing. The oil in our life can be a thick tasteless flavor when it is not done in kindness with a heart of love. However, when combing these two key ingredients, vinegar and oil, truth and love, you are blending the wonderful components. Truth filled with love and love filled with truth. So the next time you serve up a salad and mix your oil and vinegar think upon these scriptures and ask yourself; am I the blend in my sister’s life that helps bring flavor and healing?

Ephesians 4:15-16 But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

John 15:12  ”Love each other as I have loved you.” 

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so…

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9)

I often speak to so many people, particularly women, who don’t realize just how extraordinary they are. Sometimes, we have a tendency to scoff at our gifts and minimize them as if they don’t really matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. What you may see as something small or something that is not a big deal, God can multiply and make it something truly amazing.

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.

So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

The Lord wants us to be available and willing to share what we have. Whatever your gift is, offer it to God and He will use it to bring glory to the Kingdom through you.

Blessings,

Joyce

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 13

Love covers a multitude of sin, it bears all things, and it believes and hopes all things. If love is such a powerful source to living our daily life; why is it so seldom found in today’s society? We see conflict between families, hatred amongst brothers and sisters, division in the church community, intolerance and discrimination because of a race, families being separated due to the pain of divorce and adultery; this just names a few.     

Paul sends a letter of warning and instruction to the Corinth church. It was a time where good and evil intermingled; such as in today’s society. He challenged the believer’s of his day to live a life of godly character, in unity and purity, to live a life undefiled by the ways of the world. This is a challenge that should be mirrored in our lives today as followers of Jesus Christ. Paul’s instruction on living a pure life and following after Christ was to bring Him honor and show others our love; that they may also accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

• Are we living this life that Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 13
• Are we pouring our lives out in love or are we as a loud clanging symbol? 
• Have we learned to suffer long and not envy another?
• Do we live puffed up, proud or do we give of ourselves in love?
• Do we laugh and scoff at another’s pain or do we pray for them and love them in the process?
• Have we learned to abide in (v. 13) faith, hope and love?
• Truly the greatest gift we can give another is love!

V. 4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself; is not puffed up; does not behave rudely; does not seek it’s own; is not provoked and thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity; but it rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails!

Dear Lord, We ask that today you would help us to wear the garment of love, adorned in your presence with the fragrant gift and offering up of ourselves to another. A love that is pure and holy, one that is blameless. Teach us to reach out in love to those in our life, our families, our communities, our jobs, market places and beyond. May we embrace this valuable truth and help us to cultivate a daily walk that is filled with your precious Holy Spirit. In Jesus name! Amen~

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Are you a spontaneous sort of person or a consummate planner? I find myself in the latter category. We’re all wired differently and neither way is “wrong.” The same thing goes for those of us who find inspiration everywhere and some of us who wait to be inspired.

I recently shared with a friend that sometimes I’m just not inspired to write. She shared a quote by Ernest Newman with me.

Great composers do not sit down to work because they are inspired, but become inspired because they are working.

She went on to say that Mozart, Bach and Beethoven didn’t waste time waiting for inspiration and neither did the Proverbs 31 woman. For example, verse 16 says that, “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” She saw an opportunity, made a plan and put it into action.

Regardless of our personality type, the Bible has a lot to say about making plans amd not wasting time. Paul said, “I do not run like a man running aimlessly.”

It’s not necessary that we all go out and buy a field to plant, but it is important to wisely use the resources God has given us. Our God has boundless resources - He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He has no limits. Too often, we are the ones who place limits on ourselves and try to place them on God. Stop asking, thinking and praying too small. Have great expections for your life and all that God can do through you. Run your race in such a way as to get the prize.

Blessings,

Joyce

While lighthouses are one of my favorite historical landmarks to visit it’s the keepers of the lighthouse that serve an important role. They are there to greet visitors with historical information, guided tours and help with minor repairs or maintenance to the area. It sounds like more of a caretaker position than a keeper of the light. While thinking about these attractive monuments it brings a greater perspective to the one True Keeper of Light, and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God come to earth to shine in our hearts. He is that beacon of light in our heart when we come to know Him as Lord and Savior.

Is He your strong tower today, the one you run to?

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.

Is He like the preserved lighthouse in your life, placing your trust in Him as your keeper?

Psalm 16:1 Preserve in me Oh God, for in You I put my trust.

Is He the strength and song in your heart as you place your feet to the floor?

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Is He your rock, fortress or deliverer?

2 Samuel 22:2 He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

Is He the beacon of light guiding your pathway today?

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Are you leaning on Him to guide your path?

Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

While pondering these verses and the importance of being a keeper of the light may the Word be a blessing to you today:

Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Today, I’d like to share a blog post by Chip Ingram, the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Living on the Edge, an international ministry that provides guided pathways to authentic discipleship. Here goes:

Finding Hope When You’re at the End of Your Rope

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33)

I was nearing the end of my third year of seminary. to make ends meet, I’d been working full-time while taking a full load of classes. My salary came from commissions, and the marketplace had suddenly dried up. Home life was nonstop action with an eighteen-month-old baby and rambunctious twin boys. Beyond that, Theresa and I were involved in a flourishing college ministry, which, along with success, produced more and more stress. I was at the end of my emotional rope.

Read the rest here. . .

Blessings,

Joyce

Spending time in prayer today looking over the many prayer requests and praise reports on prayer spa, my heart was touched by a year filled with many needs that have been met and many praise reports that are yet too come.

We believe and hope for that reconciliation between husbands and wives; we are expecting a miracle in the lives of those who need a healing, Asking for provision and blessing in so many lives that need a turn around in their finances. Whatever the request whether it be spiritual, physical, emotional, financial or even any unspoken request; our Lord God knows what we have need of, and He is right there in the midst of each circumstance if we call upon Him and put our hope and trust in Him. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Prayer is stepping out in faith and asking to take away any unbelief. We have authority in prayer; Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Do not lose hope today, but be encouraged and pray for your healing, pray for that victorious report, stand firm upon His Word and pray using the scripture(s).

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 

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.

Zechariah 4:6. 7 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ”                        

• Pray and do not fret! (Philippians 4:6)
• Take authority over the thief that tries to come and steal. (Ephesians 6:18)
• In each situation pray diligently over and over! (Psalm 55:16)
• We must pray without an angry heart. (1 Timothy 2:8)
• Pray with thanksgiving and stand firm! (Colossians 4:2)
• Recognize and confess the problem that may be too big for you, but is to be handled by God!  (James 5:16)
• Pray continually without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Give all your cares to Jesus; He will carry your load. (Matthew 11:30)

Dear Lord we thank you for each and every prayer request that has come to prayer spa. We thank you Sweet Jesus for answering prayer and meeting the needs of your people. We bless You today Lord God and give You all glory, honor and praise. We come to You with humble hearts and much thanksgiving, believing upon Your Word to meet every need. We ask in the Mighty and most Precious name of Jesus! Amen…