Tag Archive | encouragement

Your “Ah Ha” Moment Awaits

Apr13

Ah HA Moment3Have you ever experienced an “Ah Ha” moment? An “Ah Ha” moment is one of those times where you have been praying hard, asking God for help, standing on His word and it simply doesn’t seem like anything is moving in your direction. But then, out of the blue, you receive a revelation or a direction that you’ve never had before. One of those “Ah Ha” moments that you have no idea where it came from but you know that you know it is an answer to what you’ve been seeking.

My mom has been battling Stage 4 Colon Cancer over the past 4 years. One doctor’s appointment can easily turn into 3 or more. We have had days where one appointment has turned into an all day affair only to end up sitting in a hospital being told that you will be staying for an unexpected extended visit. It has been an exhausting process that anyone with this debilitating disease or any disease like it can relate. The tears, the sad news, the awful results and in our case, the staring at not one but two death notices. It has been a living nightmare, not only to my mom who has had to constantly depend on God’s strength just to get up each morning, but to all of us who love her so deeply yet there’s nothing we can do to help…BUT PRAY!!!!

I have heard so many people say “well, all we can do is pray”. Well guess what…praying is and should always be the first line of defense. God created each one of us, unique in His own image. He knows our bodies, our families, our wants, our needs and knows exactly the how, when and where to provide His help. Even through our hardest times, my mom and I continuously pray, thank and praise the Lord because He has already miraculously pulled her from death on two separate occasions.

During this morning’s prayer time, I found myself begging God for His help with tears streaming down my face; not just for mom’s healing but in numerous areas for my family. Now I normally don’t find myself begging or tearing up, but this morning was very different. I encountered an “Ah Ha” moment.

Over the course of the past few months, my mom and I would be “moved” to take communion unexpectedly. Nothing regularly, just God saying to us “do it, right now” and we would faithfully partake. It never failed to help whatever we were about to encounter unexpectedly. However, even though I know I should take communion every day…it hasn’t become something practiced regularly. Yet this morning was quite different. Unexpectedly I knew that I knew…God wanted us to start taking communion every day. It was an “Ah Ha” moment that said if we walk out in faith and listen, He promises to move mightily.

The purpose of this writing is that God overwhelmingly wanted you to know that when we are willing to take a step of faith (listening with our hearts and not our heads); whether it’s taking communion, spending more time with God quietly, tithing to a worthy cause, helping our neighbor with a project or anything else you are “moved” to do; God is seeking to move mightily and unexpected in your life. The “Ah Ha” moment comes when you least expect it, in the craziest of ways and with a peace that is so profound that it can only be from God!Ah Ha Moment2

Let today be your reminder to stop, drop and listen to whatever God is “moving” you to do. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. It doesn’t have to break the bank. It doesn’t have to be a world-changing event…but whatever He is “moving” you to do, you can bet your bottom dollar that it holds the answer you seek!

God knows what you’re going through and He has the answer! Pray up, Listen Up and then Be Still! For His answer will move you unexpectedly and your life will never be the same!

 

 

 

 

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Experience Real Happiness

Apr5

joy-the grinchWho do you listen to? Do you listen to the world’s perspective of happiness? Do you listen to all the commercials saying buy this or buy that, while the actor or actress is showing you fun, excitement, happiness, joy? Do you listen to pastors or religious leaders who tell you “if you send $1,000 today and stand on “blah, blah, blah scripture”, God will make all your problems go away in the next 30 days?

Sorry everybody but God doesn’t work that way. Now He may guide you to purchase something, He may guide you to give that $1,000 because He has something in store for you, He may guide you to do something out of the ordinary to get something extraordinary. HOWEVER…God wants you living a life of pure happiness all the time, not just a one time deal!

When you see things from God’s perspective, your feelings must bend to your faith. You won’t need to purchase something to be happy. Your circumstances don’t need to change before you can be happy. No…God wants us living in perfect peace and harmony all the time; no matter what your circumstances look like.

The world wants us to believe that if you buy this…you’ll look better, feel better, be happier; but happiness…TRUE HAPPINESS…can’t be bought. Real deep-piercing, gut-giddy happiness can only come from your Heavenly Father.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 28:7)

No matter what your circumstances are, no matter what your feelings feel, no matter what you have to endure to get through the day…you can experience joy every step of the way! The key to your happiness is not buying things or pleading more…the real key is keeping your eyes fixed on the Lord. When you experience and have real deep knowledge of what the Lord experienced, what the Lord accomplished by His death and resurrection; you will undoubtedly know that you know whatever comes against you will never succeed. For Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. He wants you complete, whole, happy and living in peace no matter what you face. Because the truth and the whole truth is very simple…the more you can see what Jesus accomplished, the more you spend time to learn about Him, the more you build your faith and lean on Him…the more joy you will experience.

When Paul and Silas was thrown into the deepest and darkest prison, they didn’t think about their circumstances. They didn’t let their bad day stop them from experiencing joy. They had every right to feel sorry for themselves. They had every right to feel angry, depressed or let their feelings get the best of them. But they turned a bad situation into a praise-a-thon!

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

So the next time you have something go wrong or you feel angry or someone says something bad about you or you wish your circumstances would change…do what Paul and Silas did…start singing and worshiping the Lord. Make your situation and feelings bow to the Lord. He will make a way when there isn’t one. He will fill you with peace that surpasses understanding. He will be your strength and most importantly…He will be your joy no matter what you face today!

For your real-deep-giddy happiness lies with the Lord Himself. Don’t let another day pass you by without having the true happiness He wishes you to have!

joy-happiness is choice

It’s a choice you must make everyday!

Choose to Praise Up and Be Happy Today!

 

 

 

 

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Second Chances

Mar30

MiraclesHave you ever wanted a second chance to do things over, right a wrong or make a different decision that would have altered your life in a completely different direction? Does it seem like the obstacles in your life are so big that things will never change unless God intervenes? Are you hoping and praying that your life has a new beginning that turns your frown upside down?

God has given each one of us many hopes and dreams within our hearts. He wants to make every single one of them come true. Up till now, all of your life experiences (good and bad) have been preparing you for your future. Today, right now can be your new beginning.

No matter what you are facing, God truly has a plan to work it out for your good and His glory!

Isaiah 43:19 (KJV): “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Whether you fight depression, sickness, poverty, abandonment, anger, frustration or any other ailment that is plaguing you…God can and will turn it around. He hasn’t forgotten what your dreams are. He wasn’t taken by surprise when these things came against you. He has seen all the turmoil since the very beginning and knows how to spring forth your turnaround. No matter how your life seems or just how much wilderness you’ve encountered up till now…there is absolutely nothing too hard for Him. He wants you happy and whole with nothing missing and nothing broken. He wants you to realize your full potential; making a huge impact in the lives of those around you.

So let today be your new beginning. Start thanking Him for working behind the scenes. Start thanking Him for your restoration. Start thanking Him for bringing your hopes and dreams into your reality. He promises to make it happen. Let your dreams get bigger in your mind and heart today. Let your dreams seem so out of touch that they couldn’t possibly happen unless God intervenes. Dream Bigger! Hope and Pray Bigger! And let God be God!

Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

For today is a new day and all things are possible to those whom believe!

dreambig

 

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Da Real Purpose

Mar22

pain&sorrowNeed healing, restoration, strength, financial help or all of the above and more?

1 Cor 11:23 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”

One of the most precious and rewarding acts we easily forget is taking communion. So many have been taught that it should be done only on special holidays. Some have been taught that you must be pure when you take communion or you will become sick or weak. That is the furthest from the truth you can get.

What you must remember is that when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, your sins were forgiven! He makes you pure and white as snow.

Da Real Purpose of the communion is to remember the true reason behind it. Don’t do it haphazardly or without thought. When you break the bread, you should remember that Jesus’ body was broken for you. When you sip from the cup, you should remember that His blood was shed for you. That’s it, nothing more.

When you feel lost, unworthy, guilty, pain, sorrow and in need of help, the absolutely best thing you can do is partake in the communion. Whether you do it every day or once a week, the communion was given to us to remember what JESUS ACCOMPLISHED FOR US! He has given us a way to overcome the things that are coming against us. It was HIM and HIM ALONE!!!!

From this point forward, I ask you to partake of the communion every day. Begin to see the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice for you. Remember to celebrate that your sins are forgiven. Rejoice that one day He will come back to rule and reign. Receive your healing, restoration and strength that He purchased for you with His body and blood.

Don’t waste another day feeling weak, sick or defeated…receive and partake in Da Real Purpose of the communion and see Him work mightily in your life today!

CCM-Healing-and-restoration

 

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