Praise

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

http://bible.com/1/psa.100.1-5.kjv

Complain??? No...

When we complain about our current situation, we remain in it; when we praise God in the midst of difficulty, He raises us out of it. 

The best way to start every day is with gratitude and thanksgiving. 

Fill your thoughts and conversation with good things. 

Praise and thanksgiving are good; complaining and grumbling are not good. 

Worship

Matthew 15:1–9 

Worship requires an alignment of our thoughts, attitudes and values with those of God. 

When we go through the outward motions of worship without a genuine inward response to him, we aren’t really worshiping. 

A true friend

Great read! 

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, NIV).

A true friend defends you and is not ashamed of you. They have a strong emotional bond with you, believes in you and sacrifices for you. In this moment, it is important to ask ourselves, “Jesus calls me friend, but how good of a friend am I being to Him?”

Do you defend Him? While others are making a mockery of the Christian faith, it is important to God that you stand up for Him in this time in which we live. He expects His children to defend the faith. Jude writes, “defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people” (Jude 1:3, NLT).

Are you ashamed of Him? Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38, NLT).

Do you have a strong emotional love for Him? When you are in the presence of close friends, you can see their love for each other. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (see Mark 12:30, NLT).

Do you believe in Him? Proof of belief is in our obedience. We must go beyond simply hearing to obeying God and doing what He tells us to do if we are His friends. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14, NLT).

Do you sacrifice for Him? The sacrifice God desires is the presenting of our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him which is our reasonable service (see Romans 12:1). Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT).

Our Prayer: Thank You Father, for making me Your friend. You are faithful to me, help me stay faithful to You. You are my defender, help me defend You. You are not ashamed to be called my God, help me never be ashamed of the gospel. I want to be the kind of friend to You that You are to me and I ask that You show me how. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wisdom

Nothing of value is obtained easily or cheaply. 

That applies not only to substances like precious metals and jewels but also to spiritual attributes like wisdom. If we want wisdom, we must turn our ears, apply our hearts, call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding and look and search for God's way and will.

God gives gifts to those who demonstrate their hunger for them. When we search for wisdom diligently, God rewards us.

Let it go

Back in the day, B.C, you remember getting angry and outraged over petty things and even looking to taking matters into your hands and getting the justice you deserve.... Remember that? 

Now that you've come over those things and now have a better understanding of what the fight is about, who the thief is, and that his intentions are to steal, kill and destroy you.....our responses ought to be different.

When things get tough, when someone wrongs you, when others are mistreated around you... There is no need to go back to that person, especially since the old methods leave you broken still.

Now that you know better, do better.

Pray, let go and let God

Really, it works! 

Yes and amen

God’s promises don’t depend on our being perfect. Though we try and some of us think we are... It doesn't change a thing about God's promise to and over is. 

But when we get tempted to run ahead of God's way and timing, we need to remember to rest in him instead. 

Our good God always keeps his promises.

Brag

Don't ever hold back from sharing what God has done for you. Don't water it down either. 

To believers, it's a moment of imparting faith and encouragement to one another. 

To the unbelievers, it's a gateway into the kingdom of heaven. 

Express your gratitude. Brag on God. Don't bother how weird it may sound....because if you are truly and wholeheartedly living your life for Him, it'll make perfect sense to the people around you.

Brag on God and see what it does with your spheres of influence. 

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

http://bible.com/1/psa.77.11-12.kjv

Provision

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

http://bible.com/1/psa.3.3.kjv

If we let this resonate within us, then, we have the understanding that we will never lack! 

My help

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

http://bible.com/1/psa.3.1-3.kjv

Great expectations

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18, ESV).

It’s the start of a new year and gyms all across America will see a spike in new memberships. Why? New year’s resolutions, of course!

Some New Year resolution lists include the following: getting in shape, losing weight, putting yourself first, getting rid of bad habits, finally leaving those bad relationships behind or quitting smoking. 

Unfortunately, most of these resolutions don’t last. 

Too often, we do the same thing as we follow Christ. We make big promises about the great things we plan to do for Him and we try to impress Him with our performances. In the process, we tend to forget two important truths:

1. God’s love for us is dependent on His grace and not our performance. 
2. This life is not about what we can do for God but what He can do in and through us.

In this new year, you do not need to ask what you can do for God. The better question is this: What does God desire to accomplish in and through me this year?

That's a much greater expectation! 

Purpose

God never wastes a hurt! 

If you’ve gone through a hurt, He wants you to help other people going through that same hurt. He wants you to share it. 

God can use the problems in your life to give you a ministry to others. In fact, the very thing you’re most ashamed of in your life and resent the most could become your greatest ministry in helping other people. 

Your pain often reveals God’s purpose for you.