So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 NLT

Awhile ago, my husband and I streamed a movie titled “Shortcut to Happiness.”

Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Love Hewitt make a deal with each other. Alec is a struggling writer that makes a deal with the devil, Jennifer Love Hewitt. She will grant his main desire of success as a writer if he will give his soul to her.

When John and I got the premise of the movie, we almost turned it off, but something made us want to see how these famous actors portrayed a very real struggle in today’s world.

What is the struggle? Everyone, including Christians, wants happiness. We prefer joy to struggles. Feeling that way is not wrong; it’s human, but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen our focus on what we know about God and His plan for us.

Our focus needs to change as we remember…there is only one lasting happiness and it is found in God and His will for our lives. Our trials are temporary.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

God has already made a way for us to “have it all” through His Son and the Holy Spirit. The joy we have in Jesus is full, true and forever! Every minute of the day we can choose to commit to Jesus for the long haul. Short cuts that promise instant happiness will let us down. Jesus is the only way to joy and He is so worth it!

Let’s make some Monday decisions, mindsets of sorts. This week…

Let’s trust in the long-haul to joy, not a short-cut to happiness by making a deal with the enemy.

Let’s commit to this race for the long haul, for daily and eternal joy with our Savior!

Let’s worship God and not other idols/gods here on earth, like fame and money and houses and cars and popularity. These things will not last and they do not matter in the kingdom of God.

Let’s focus our lives on our godly purpose, to take the burdens of life as God allows, knowing that He has a plan for us that makes us better versions of ourselves and more importantly, Him.

Let’s embrace the joy of Jesus with our eyes on our heavenly home. He is our prize, waiting for us after the long haul of life.

Let’s remember that we are not here to love and serve ourselves, but to love and serve God. That is what brings joy!

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11 NIV

Dear Father, Only You know why we have to endure certain struggles. Even when we are not struggling we still seem to crave things that make us instantly happy. Do whatever it takes to make us as You made us to be, for You. We know that our joy cannot be more full than when we are focused on You! We love You. Guide us through this week with Your wisdom and peace and we will give You all glory. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

When you’re scared that you can’t handle something God told you to do, just tell the lying enemy what to do! Just say, “Go!”

The enemy loves to influence us, away from God’s plan, so we need to be on alert, always, but especially when we are afraid. Our fear is the enemy’s opportunity to swoop in. Sometimes, he tells us we aren’t enough or ready for a task that God shows us. One hundred percent of the time, the devil lies!

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

So, let’s rejoice that our Father knows what He is doing and what we should do. He is our “swooper”; He is our rescuer from doubts. With anything that He calls us to do, He will also prepare us for it. He knows everything and IS everything we need!

Dear God, Please help me know when I am being lied to, so I can tell the enemy to go and then I can get on with Your work. Please instill in me a holy confidence that comes from You, that will end up bringing You glory and not me. Thank You for all the times You have helped me through insecure times, with Your wisdom and strength. I love You. Amen

With love from the Father to You, have a great, “confident-in-God” day!

Tina

There is a cost to being a writer and a poet, even average ones like me. At times, whole poems wake you up and beg to be written down before they disappear from your brain.

Last Wednesday’s poem was one of those. This is a short poem to illustrate that experience. It’s a happy annoyance,lol!

Too Early

Too early I awake, with stubborn eyes

Before the time I planned to start my day

A poem in mind that must be written down

Dragged me from the place I longed to lay.

Now at the ready pen, and paper found

My heart lets loose its treasure on the page

So happy am I to be one of them

A sleepy poet woken and amazed.

With love from the Father to you, have a wonderful, poetic, day!

Tina

We are all susceptible to something, whether it be germs, influence, or danger. We are likely to be harmed, by some people, things or situations.

These things can do some real damage if we are not careful. It’s important to know what we are susceptible to, so we can stay safe.

Just as children are susceptible to illnesses and parents teach them how to stay safe in germy environments, God teaches us, His children, what dangers lurk in our world. There is the danger of listening to foolish advice…

He who walks with wise men will be wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

But do we heed this wisdom or do we think we are doing just fine? That “just fine” feeling can get us into trouble. When we get too comfy and feel like we can’t be influenced, the enemy will pounce.

I am not suggesting we be afraid of every influence, but worldly influence.

See, the world has a whole other view than what God has. It has a selfish, ‘dangerous to our spiritual life’ view. Since our perfect God made the world and made us, He should always be our “go-to” standard of excellence, of wisdom.

When in doubt, or needing confirmation, we should always measure the ways of the world against the ways of the world’s Creator!

Just as children love to do things on their own, adults, too, can get to a point of self-sufficiency. The problem is…

We are not self-sufficient. If we think we are self- sufficient, we are actually God- deficient.

We are ALWAYS susceptible,especially when we do not think we are! There is very real danger in getting too comfortable.

Sidenote…My Mom died when I was a teen but I still remember her saying to me, “If you are thinking of doing what “the whole world” is doing , it might be wrong, because that many people never, ever agree on anything.”

Now, I am not saying she was right, but so far, as I’ve grown up, I see the wisdom in not grabbing onto the most popular trends, at least until I measure the wisdom of it by God’s Word. He is our Father and He knows best!

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

Dear God, If I am not aware of dangerous influences, please remind me that the enemy is always there. I am so thankful YOU are always there to help me navigate this life. Thank You for all of Your blessings and for listening to and answering prayer. I love You. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have a great God-centered day!

Tina

Happy Lords Day! How blessed are we to have been given knees:)

Here’s a quick little thought and poem for this morning.

Knees
Ever think about your knees?
They were made to bend.
To lower us, His servants
As our will we suspend.

Ever feel like giving up?
We were made to fall
Into loving arms of God
As on our knees we call.

Have a great day!

Tina

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Romans 12:16

Good Morning! Just pondering how human we are at times. We are all less than God, lower than God, yet we forget that and exalt ourselves, instead of exalting God. He deserves all glory. To do that we(I) must be in the proper position.

We cannot give God glory from a position of pride. We must be humble so He can be exalted.

Dear God, Please nudge me when I get too full of myself or start to think I am the one who deserves credit or glory. It all belongs to You. May You be exalted today and every day as I strive not to think more of myself than I ought. Also, Lord, Help me to see others the way You see them, with love and compassion. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

Just a little poem I wrote, to guide our day:)

God asks our translucent souls,

“Be windows of my light.

Please throw up sashes willingly

to share with all my love so bright.”

With love from the Father to you, have a great day!

Tina

During a tough week recently, I realized that I was being bombarded by the enemy with what I call, “stress bombs!” Fear and anxiety were dropping into my days and making me miserable. Satan was taking advantage of my trials and pounding me with anxious thoughts that led me to think all was hopeless. And like a dummy, I believed him for a bit. He just would not let up until I was miserable. But then… I read the verse below and realized I was being lied to!

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NIV

The enemy uses lies because that is what he does best! It is his normal, natural “native language.” That means that we need to be aware of our thoughts and who is influencing them, for evil OR for good. The way I see it… my anxious thoughts can go 1 of 2 ways. I can give in to the harmful thoughts and let the enemy’s tactics of fear and insecurity stress and weaken me or I can look at and grab hold of God’s truth that strengthens me! There’s only one right choice:)

It’s like this…We either believe the father of lies or trust the Father of truth.

WE get to choose what we focus on. WE get to set our perspectives each new day! WE get to choose God in the morning and choose Him every minute and hour after that! Honestly, some days we have to choose over and over, huh?

Even though we know God is there always, it is good to acknowledge Him many times a day, and I think it’s also good to look the enemy in the face and say, “You are such a liar! My God tells me the truth!” Ah…that feels great to say!

Try saying it the next time you are lied to! Then tell God, “Thank you for helping me see the truth!”

Dear precious Father,

I sometimes believe the enemy’s lies before realizing I have done so. Thank you for being my perfect and truthful God, that will never, ever lie to me. Not only will you not lie to me, you promise me that good things are in store for me and all those who love and serve you! I really don’t know what I would do without you…and I never want to find out! Please guide my heart to recognize deception but cling to your truth. I love you! Amen

With love from our Father to you, have a great day!

Tina