"Running On Empty?"

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." — Isaiah 40:29 (NLT)
God's kindness extends to every part of our lives. His love for us is great, and His generosity reflects how deeply He cares. We don't have to earn His favor or pray a certain prayer to receive His help. He knows us, and He sees the intentions of our hearts.
Even when we feel weak and powerless, God reaches out to us with the power and strength of His love.
Whatever you need today, God is capable of providing it. If He says He will give power to the weak, you can be confident that He will do it. There is no list of prerequisites you must meet. When you ask, He provides.
He may meet a tangible or practical need. He may bless you with endurance for a trial, encourage you with a word from Him, or orchestrate an experience that lifts your spirit. No matter what it looks like, God will provide.
Prayer:
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for meeting my needs, no matter what that looks like. Thank You for giving me strength and power when I feel weak and powerless. I rely on You. Amen. 

"Beauty and the Beast...Beware"

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." ~Romans 12:9

Do you know what a Bull Thistle is? They are those tall bushy plants that grow wild in fields, on the sides of the road and in some cases, in our yards. That can grow 2-3 feet tall and in their second year of growth they produce beautiful flowers that range in color from a creamy beige to a dark magenta. The flowers produce sweet nectar that attracts hummingbirds, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects. The seeds of the plant are loved by birds, especially goldfinches.* I think  Bull Thistles are so pretty and they serve a good purpose. While doing my research on them, I discovered that the entire plant is edible, who knew! So, after discovering all the good things about this plant you might think you need to put a few of these beauties in your flowerbeds next spring? Wait just a minute, I need to tell you more...

You see, just beneath those gorgeous majestic flowers are long ugly thorns. Those sharp prickly needles cover both the stems and the leaves. In fact, the entire plant is covered with thorns with the exception of those pretty flowers. Let me warn you, do not dare think of touching anything below the flower because you will regret it! One more thing, even as tiny plants when they first put on leaves, those stickers are already developed. Trust me, I have stepped on those little "beast" many times when walking barefoot...yep, I quickly learned to watch where I step. I promise you their beauty does NOT outweigh the pain they can deliver ... OUCH! Oh, and one more thing, they are very invasive!

The Bull Thistle kinda reminds me of worldly pleasures. At first glance we may see something beautiful that tempts us to grab hold of it. However, just below the surface of that beauty, there are long prickly thorns that can cause us much pain and hurt.  Those thorns are usually hard to see because we are so caught up in the "beauty" of the moment...but when we reach for it...oh the pain, the trouble, the sorrow it can bring! Even worse, that hurt and pain can invade your heart and over time completely consume you. That beauty soon turns into a beast!

This is why it is so important to seek God's will first in everything we do, to keep our eyes on Christ and hide His Word in our heart.  "How can a young man cleanse his ways? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You. Oh let me not wander from Your commandments. You Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You." ~Psalm 119:9-11.

My friends, there is nothing in this world that can compare to the joy, the peace and the beauty that Christ brings to our life!  If you have been hurt by the beauty and the beast of this old world I encourage you today to "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."   ~~Helen Lemmel

"From Distraction to Devotion"

Our minds naturally wander to unfinished tasks, tomorrow’s responsibilities, distractions
at home, or remembering something you forgot to do. Sometimes finding a quiet place
and a calm mind seems impossible. Before long, our prayer list turns into a to-do list.
God is not surprised by this. Instead of feeling discouraged, continue returning to Him.
Our Heavenly Father welcomes us every time we come back to Him. Whether you have
a set schedule for prayer or if you can only spare 5 minutes, He is always there waiting.
The goal is not to have a perfect prayer life but to have a heart that keeps coming back
to His presence.

Psalm 86:11 “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an
undivided heart that I may fear your name.”

Heavenly Father,
I want to know You more, but my mind is easily distracted. Worries, thoughts, and
responsibilities that pull my attention away from You. Lord, quiet my mind and calm my
heart. Help me hear Your voice even with distractions. Teach me to focus on You above
all else. Thank you for always welcoming me into your presence.

Is Your Heart After God’s Heart?

“And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of
their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and
do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19–20 NASB 95)
God was telling His people through the prophet Ezekiel that one day He would put a new spirit
within them and He would take away their heart of stone and give them a new heart. This happened to
you when you received Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Be encouraged that God’s Spirit is in you and you
now have a heart that is after God Himself. However, you can choose to turn away from that fact and live
as if you still have a heart of stone, especially if you do not even realize you have a new heart as a born-
again believer. Be encouraged and know that God’s Spirit lives in you. You may not always feel like you
have the Spirit of the living God in you as you walk through your day facing all sorts of disappointments,
financial difficulties, relationship problems, or illnesses. Be aware that the fulfillment of God’s Word is not
based on feelings. If the Word says it, then it is true. If you are a born-again believer, the Holy Spirit is in
you whether you feel like He is or not and you have a new heart. You can definitely harden your heart if
you keep your eyes on the problem and not on God’s Word. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever
is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is
any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8 NASB 95). Think
on these things and give God thanks and praise continually. If you have your prayer language, use it and
see if you do not experience the promise of Scripture. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your
most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…(Jude 1:20 NASB 95). I pray in the Spirit all day and I promise
you it gives me peace. Try it and see the Holy Spirit encourage you. Be strong and courageous!
Father God, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit that You gave me upon my salvation and for my new heart.
Continuously remind me of who I am in Christ and that Your Spirit lives in me. I am an overcomer, and I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I choose to receive the heart of flesh that You have
given me, and I choose to seek You to get closer to You each day. I thank You, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

"God Doesn't Cut You Off, He Lifts You Up."

John 15:1-4
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bare fruit, he takes away. And every branch that does bare fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you. Abide me and I and you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
  I heard Joyce Meyer preach on this one time she read verse two. “Every branch that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that does bare fruit, he prunes so that it will bear more fruit.” Then she said this, “So it looks to me as if we are pruned if we do and pruned if we don’t.” That was so funny to me. A couple of months ago I was reading this particular scripture and the phrase “he takes away” caught my eye. I did a word study and found out that in the Greek the phrase meant to lift up. What a lightbulb moment that was for me. So I dug a little deeper. And I found out that as  the branches began to grow in the vineyard, those branches would become very heavy, and they would fall down into the dirt, and the sun could not get to them and they would not bare fruit so the vineyard keeper would come and lift up the branch so that it could get sun and bear fruit. Can I just tell you? It gives me great joy that in those times of my life when I am just going through some things, That my papa God does not just take me away or cut me off, but he lifts me up to the Son. Now we all  go through seasons when the heaviness of this life  brings us down, but please be encouraged, God will always lift us up. Here’s the key. Verse 4. As the branch cannot bare fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. So here’s my take. When we’re down and out, God‘s gonna lift us up. When we’re bearing fruit, he’s gonna prune things off of us that need to be pruned off so that we can bear more fruit. So in order to constantly grow in Christ, we need to always abide in him. So Joyce Meyer was right! We’re pruned if we do and we’re pruned if we don’t. Be blessed today in the mighty name of Jesus.

"Seasoned with Salt"


"And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt." ~Leviticus 2:13

When God gave Moses instructions on how to offer sacrifices He said, "all offerings must be seasoned with salt". In the Bible, salt symbolizes preservation, purity, flavor, and covenant,  According to research, "salt prevented decay and acted as a disinfectant, symbolizing spiritual preservation and purity in sacrifices and covenants.
 I never realized that salt was a significant ingredient for burnt offerings. I didn't think anything was used except perfect animals and choice unleavened grains. It's really interesting what you can learn when you "study" the Bible.

Let's talk about salt. Most of us use salt every day in our food because it is pretty bland without it (ask my sweet mama who has to watch her salt intake!). Salt is used to keep foods from spoiling; it is used as a sterile wash [saline] in the medical world and it has healing properties. Our bodies also require salt for nerve and muscle health. Salt might possibly be one of, if not, the most needed nutrient we have. 

Salt... Jesus told His disciples "You are the salt of the earth..." ~Matthew 5:13.  So why salt? 

My thoughts...Jesus was saying we, as Christians should be preservers of the gospel with positive influence in morals and values while standing firm on His Word and truth. Our lives should be pure and holy in Him and we should enhance or "flavor" our surroundings with goodness, love, kindness, peace, wisdom and His grace! "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. " ~Colossians 4:6.

I wonder how seasoned and "flavorable" my life has been? Not so much I'm afraid! 
"Lord help me because I'm not sure I have enough salt in me. I sure don't want my life to be spiritually "bland"!  Thank you for speaking to me through Your Word, I'm listening! Help me be better and do better. Amen".

When Worry Loses It's Weight

Luke 12:32 NIV: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
We easily worry about our necessities, getting caught up in anxiety about what we will eat, drink, or wear. But, if we seek the kingdom of God first, we don't have to worry about the rest. He will care for us, for God is a faithful and good Father. We are His flock, and He has declared that we will inherit His entire kingdom. Our needs are beyond met. When worry creeps into your thoughts, surrender it to the Lord. Lay your anxiety at His feet and let Him minister to your heart. Don't let hardships of this life pile up until you can't step forward under their weight. Pass each burden to your Father as soon as you encounter it and you will find that they lose their power in your life. Prayer. Father, today I give you all my worries and anxiety. I trust you to take care of me and my family. I have confidence in your ability. Fill my heart with peace. Amen.

The Lamp That Never Fails

Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Life can feel uncertain. We want to know what’s ahead. What will tomorrow bring?
Where is God leading us?
God’s word is like a lamp, which gives us just enough light for our next step. A lamp
doesn’t reveal the whole distance. It gives us just enough light to keep us from
stumbling. God wants us to trust Him each day in each decision, and in each step. His
guidance comes through prayer, Scripture, and remaining in His Word as we seek Him.
As we spend time in His Word, our awareness changes. Fear is replaced with peace.
Confusion is replaced with understanding. We may not receive every answer we want,
but we become confident in the One who knows our path and who will comfort us every
step of the way.
If you are facing challenges today, don’t focus on seeing the whole journey. Ask God to
help you one step at a time. He will faithfully provide light and help you navigate through
each step.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for guiding me. When I feel lost, You are always there to lead me. Give me
wisdom through your Word, courage to take the next step, and faith to follow where You
lead. Let Your Word be the light that fills my heart with peace and directs my decisions.
Thank you for never leaving me and for Your faithful presence.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH!


“Everything Hallelujah” has been popping up on my feed daily.
But do we know what the word actually means?
Hallelujah = Praise Yahweh. Praise the Lord.
Healthy newborn? Hallelujah.
Dream job? Hallelujah.
Award won? Hallelujah.
2026 graduate? Hallelujah.
But what about…
The UNIMAGINABLE tragedy?
The bad health report?
The prodigal child?
The broken marriage?
The grief you never saw coming?
The prayer that still hasn’t been answered?
…Hallelujah then too?
It’s easy to praise God when life feels good.
But faith is revealed when praise still rises in the middle of the storm.
Not because the pain isn’t real.
Not because we understand it.
Not because everything suddenly makes sense.
But because worship was never meant to depend on our circumstances.
“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines…
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18
Sometimes “Hallelujah” is a celebration.
Sometimes it’s a sacrifice.
Sometimes it’s whispered through tears.
Sometimes it sounds more like survival than victory.
And maybe that’s the most powerful kind of praise of all:
the kind that says…
“God, I do not understand this.
I would not have chosen this.
But I still believe You are good.
I still believe You are near.
And somehow…
I will still praise You here.”
That kind of Hallelujah?
It costs something.
But maybe that’s why Hallelujah means EVERYTHING.

I Am a Believer

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
NASB 95
My heart’s desire is to make sure everyone is not just saved but also knows
what that means; that is, who they are in Christ. So, I’m starting at the
beginning with this foundational scripture. Hopefully, you have received
Jesus as your Lord and Savior. As born-again Christians, all our daily
activities and efforts should center on Jesus Christ. This is true in our
home, workplace, hobbies, church, and with all extracurricular activities.
Everything we do should be Christ centered. We get so tangled up with our
everyday routines that frequently we forget to submit everything we do to
Jesus. Sometimes we need to stop and remind ourselves not just who we
are as a “Christian,” but what that really means as who we are in Christ.
This sets us apart from the worldly daily, secular routines in which many of
us must participate. Therefore, start your day by reminding yourself that
you are a born-again believer, redeemed (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14,
1 Peter 1:18-19), a child of God (1 John 3:1, John 1:12, Romans 8:16), and
you are not of this world (John 15:19, 17:16). You are in the world, must
communicate with the world, and participate in worldly activities, but as a
child of God you are not part of the world. I will point out the many ways
this is true as I continue to remind you that as a child of God, which you are
if you are a believer, you have an inner strength and an inner power that
enables you to be successful if you call on Jesus and walk in His light. Do
not get discouraged. Be bold and courageous. Determine with an act of
your will that you really are an overcomer! Remember who you are in Christ
and proceed with confidence.
Dear Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to die for me. I thank
You that You love me that much and, knowing how much You love me, I
know that You want me to succeed in everything that I do in life. I trust in
You for guidance and strength. By an act of my will, I choose to be
successful with Your help. I ask that You give me the strength and wisdom
to be your witness in everything I do today. In your name Jesus I pray.
Amen.

"GO Tell My People!"

"And He said to them, 'GO into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature'."
~Mark 16:15

Have you ever thought about how many times the word GO is used in the Bible?  Let's take a look at just a few instances...there are many!!! God told Noah to "GO into the ark". It was used when God told Abram to "GO to the land He would show him" and again when He told Moses to "GO to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt."
One of my favorite passages is found in Isaiah chaper 6 when God ask "who will I send?". Isaiah quickly responds, "here I am, Lord send me". God then tells Isaiah to, "GO and tell My people...".  
In the great commission, Jesus said, "GO therefore and make disciples of all nations..."~Matthew 28:19. Jesus told the woman at the well to "GO and sin no more",
~ John 8:11. In Luke 10: 3 Jesus says to His disciples, "GO your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves." And another favorite passage of mine is the woman with the affliction who had enough faith that she knew she would be healed if she could just touch His robe. "And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. GO in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” ~Mark 5:34.
In all the above scriptures the word GO is used as a command to move forward. Sadly, for many of us, we have become complacent in our walk with God. However, I believe God is telling His people to GO! GO do something for His Kingdom, GO love on folks, GO shine His light to others, GO tell the world He is their Hope, their Peace, their Joy, their Everything!!!
There are so many people right here in our town who are hurting and searching for answers. Those people need Jesus; but how will they know unless we GO tell them! "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." ~Matthew 9:37. Are you willing to Go?
Here I am Lord, send me!

Day 21 - "The Finish Line"

I remember training for a triathlon years ago. Now I have always been very competitive, so I thought I could win at everything I did. If you want to be humbled, compete in a triathlon against people 20-30 years older than you who have been doing this their entire lives. I was so worried about being first that I didn’t realize what a feat it was just to finish one of these races.

2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

It’s not about being first. It’s about finishing. If you fought the good fight and you finished, that’s what God approves of. Just keep the faith. Don’t lose why you ran in the first place. You know it was hard to fight my way through my race when it came to swimming. I wasn’t the first out of the water but I made it to the next phase - biking. That’s when I thought I would win. I found out that people way older than me who started after me were incredibly faster than I was. The fact that I finished was a huge task. I realized why I was there. And it wasn’t to win that day. It was to finish.

As you have finished these 21 days of daily devotions, remember that you don’t have to be a theologian. You don’t have to be the fastest reader. You don’t have to be the deepest studier. You don’t have to have a ministry degree or be a pastor. This is about you and the Lord. It’s about finishing with Him. Let today be a day where you begin other things that you can finish. Maybe start a Bible reading plan or even a prayer routine. It doesn’t have to be like everyone else. Just focus on the finish in your walk with God. Also, take one day at a time getting there. It can be overwhelming to start new things. Just chip away at it but be challenged to stay consistent. That’s how we grow. That’s how we finish!


Prayer - “God, thank you for the past 21 days of drawing closer to you. I needed that in my life. I need you in my life. Give me the strength to finish what I start - especially when it comes to you. Amen.”

Day 20 - "Rhythms of Rest"

Did you know that (according to ourworldindata) Americans spend their time on many things other than rest? 251 minutes at work or education. 96 min of unpaid work. 122 min of housework and/or shopping. 57 min on personal care. 63 min on eating and drinking. 114 min of tv radio. 44 min seeing friends. 83 min on other leisure and the rest sleeping. It’s very difficult to find rest when we have so much going on. This can be a great distraction because we end up going God our leftovers. And we want to give Him our very best.

Matthew 11:28 says, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ ”

God planned for rest from the beginning. On the 7th day God rested. He placed it in the rhythms of life. It should be a routine not an escape. Are you tired? And are you carrying some heavy stuff on you right now? The antidote is a closeness to God.

How do we come to Him? Well. Communicate. Pray. Worship Him. We can't get close to Him because we are too worried about the song we sang. We are too worried if we are going to say the right words in prayer. Just be who you are and do your best. If you don't know what else to say. Just say Jesus. If you don't know the words to say, just say Jesus. I'm going to tell you right now that if you only have one word in your vocabulary and you are carrying the heaviest of burdens and you are more tired than you ever have been. The best word you can say, is Jesus. That'll get you close to Him my friend. There's power in that name. Rest comes when you’re in His presence. Just like Mary and Martha. When Martha was so busy doing all the things in the house, Mary sat. She rested. She stayed in His presence.

So today, come to Him. If you are weary. If you are carrying some heavy stuff. He will give you to best rest. Don’t wait until you know you need it. Create a rhythm. Create a routine of rest. Make a pattern of being near Him.


Prayer - “Jesus, I need you more now than I ever have. I am here drawing near to you. You said if I did that, you would draw near. I am coming to you with all of my burdens. And I’m tired. I need you near me. Help me to lean on you and rest in you. Thank you Jesus. Amen.”

Day 19 - "Attitude of Servitude"

Abraham was the poster child for serving God. Serving isn’t as much of what we do as much as it is the attitude of the heart. There are several attitudes that he exemplified in the Bible, which serve as great examples for us when we serve.

Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

You see, we are just to present ourselves to God. It’s not about what act of service we will perform. Let’s take a glance at Abraham. The first thing he did was go when God asked him to. There was no hesitation. We should be ready to go when God speaks without hesitation.

Another attitude was that he built an altar everywhere he went. The sole reason was sacrifice to God. He built something that God would approve of. What are you building for God today?

I love this one: Abraham positioned his tent strategically. Sometimes we get comfortable in one place when God is telling us to position ourselves in a new place. He’s not to the land that God will show him yet. But where he is currently, is moving forward through the land of Canaan. Sometimes we serve in a place where we didn’t want to stay. But when God sees your faithfulness He moves you to the next thing.

The last one is that he was willing to give up the most important thing in his life. Often when we have an excuse not to serve, it’s because our own priorities got in the way. He was willing to give up Isaac for God. What is that one thing that is hard to give up? Is it time? Is it someone? Is it materialism? Money? Let’s be ready to sacrifice anything for God. He just doesn’t want to compete with our priorities. He is the priority.


Prayer - “God, help me to not fit you in my schedule, but fit my schedule around you. You are my priority. Give me the attitude to serve you. Whether it be in a church, the community or at my workplace. Here I am! Send me! Amen.”

Day 18 - "The Sin Nature is Dead and Gone"

For a long time, when I read Paul’s words in Romans, “you are dead to sin,” I was confused. I thought he was saying I was somehow dead to sinful actions. And I’d think, But I still mess up, so how does that make sense?

Everything changed for me when I studied the Greek words Paul uses for sin.

In Romans, Paul uses two different words:
-Hamartia — a noun, referring to sin as a power or nature
-Hamartano — a verb, referring to acts of sin

When Paul says we are dead to sin, he is not saying we are dead to the ability to ever commit a sinful act. He is saying that through the new birth we have died to hamartia, the sin nature, the inner propensity to sin we inherited from Adam.

Through Christ, a radical change took place.

Scripture describes it as a circumcision of the heart, a cutting away of the old and the giving of a new one. The old identity that was enslaved to sin was removed, a new heart was given, and we were joined to the Lord. That means sin is no longer automatic, inevitable, or who we are at our core. We are now the righteousness of God in Christ.

What transformed my walk wasn’t striving harder to avoid acts of sin or fearing sin more, but recognizing what was actually true about me. Believing I was truly dead to the Adamic nature and genuinely alive to Christ changed how I lived.

I stopped relating to sin as something flowing from who I am and began seeing it as something foreign to my new identity. From that place, the Spirit began leading me from the inside out, not through pressure, but through truth.

We are not trying to manage a sinful nature anymore. That nature is gone. We may choose to walk according to the flesh or to be carnally minded, but a born-again believer is no longer IN the flesh. A permanent change took place at the new birth.

Our journey now is learning to live from the new heart we’ve already been given, led by the Spirit, grounded in truth, and rooted in our true identity in Christ.


Prayer - “God, help me to realize who I truly am in Christ. I take on this identity of being dead to sin. I am a new creation. I am no longer fearing every move I make but now I allow the Spirit to lead me in my daily walk. Though I make mistakes, I take on a new life that you have given me. Amen.”

Day 17 - "Your Words Have Power"

Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, inspire or defeat. Proverbs 31:26 tells us that a godly woman speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction. This means that what you say—how you correct, how you comfort, how you encourage—it all matters more than you think.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

We must watch every word that proceeds out of our mouths. The tongue is a dangerous weapon that can be used for good or evil. Have you ever had someone tell you, “Think before you speak?” There have never been more true words spoken about the words that come out. We also know that words come out of the heart. So if we feel frustrated, before we speak something it is probably best to give that to God before we cause damage.

Think about the words spoken over you as a child. Did someone tell you, “You’re going to do great things,” or “I believe in you”? If so, you probably carried that confidence with you. But if you were told, “You’ll never be good enough,” or “You always mess things up,” those words likely left a mark too. Your voice is one of the loudest in your child’s life and others where you have influence. What you say has the power to shape their identity, their confidence, and even their faith.

Speak life over your children. Even when correcting them, remind them they are loved, valued, and capable.
When you feel frustrated or exhausted, ask God to help you choose words that build up rather than tear down. Your words carry weight. They can bring life and encouragement to your children. Let your voice be one that reminds them of who they are and who God created them to be.

Prayer - “God, help me to bridle my tongue when needed. Also help me to use it to build people up when needed. Give me wisdom on timing when to speak and when not to. I want to be a vessel for you God in everything I say. Amen.”

Day 16 - "More than Enough"

Every one of us has moments where we feel like we’re failing. The forgotten permission slip. The time you lost your patience. The days where exhaustion takes over, and you feel like you have nothing left to give. We constantly feel like we have to keep giving of ourselves to every aspect of our lives as well as others that pull on us. We feel like we have to be more for everyone. Here’s a fact: you aren’t enough for all of that. At some point you will get tired and it will be too much to handle. Here’s also a fact: He is more than enough!

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Here’s the deal. When we can’t do it anymore, that’s when His power is made perfect. He has perfect power regardless, but it is made perfect in our weakness. When we acknowledge the fact that we can’t do it on our own, that’s the best time for His grace. It’s enough. It’s more than enough. There are no additives or anything we need to add on top. His grace is for the mom who doubts herself. It’s for the dad who feels like he’s not enough. It’s for the son who thinks he should be doing more. The good news? God already knew you wouldn’t be perfect, and He called you anyway. That’s the grace I love. That’s what I need daily. I’m just thankful I don’t have to do it on my own!

Keep this in mind: your weaknesses don’t disqualify you. They create space for God to show up. Instead of striving for perfection, start depending on His grace. When you don’t have enough patience, wisdom, or strength—He does.

Prayer - “Lord, thank you for your grace when I am not enough. Thank you that you are. I am blessed to know that you are so powerful when I am not. Help me to get out of the way so you can move in my situations. I boast in my weakness because you show up. Amen.”

Day 15 - "Raise Your Expectation"

I was raised that you didn't doubt the miraculous. I was raised that God can do whatever He wants, however he wants, whenever He wants with whomever He wants. Listen we have to stop apologizing for believing in miracles when they didn't happen. God will do it! For some of you, you're a miracle by simply being alive today!

Acts 5:15 says, “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, (a)that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. “

So many were being added. And they had an expectation for the miraculous. You don’t lay a bunch of people outside without an expectation. The only expectation they had was healing. They didn't have an expectation on HOW it would be done. Sometimes we want God to do it, but we want to tell Him how it's supposed to be done. "God heal that blind man like you did before.” Jesus is like, “Naa. I think I may do it differently. I know you want me to heal the blind with my hands, but this time I’ll use some saliva.” Or when Lazarus had died. They wanted make sure you He it within 3 days otherwise his body will decompose. Wait. Jesus can't fix a decomposing body now? Jesus can't take a skeleton and put flesh on? You see, if God did it the way we thought He should do it, we would take the credit for the miracle. In fact when we pray for a miracle and it happens, we will make a bigger deal that WE prayed than the miracle GOD performed. It’s not about us and has never been. So today, let’s not lower our expectations of a miracle by injecting ourselves in the process. Let's elevate our expectations by letting God do what He wants to do. We just pray. Raise your expectations on what God is capable of doing this year!

Prayer - “God, I fully expect you to do miracles in my life. I am sorry for ever lowering my expectation on what You can do. I wholeheartedly trust you. Help me to not get in the way but to build my faith in what you are capable of. Amen.”

Day 14 - "Mindset for a Church"

Sometimes we can get caught up in the routine of church and forget that we are the church. We can get distracted and forget that the church is not a location or a building. It is a people. It is a living organism. Peter preached a message in Acts and about 3000 people got saved. And there were several things that these new disciples did that was vital to the church being the church.

Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

There are four things we see that will help us be a better church. In fact, these are mindsets that we should have. The first one is a devotion to teaching. The moment we stop learning is the moment we hold ourselves back. Teaching is growth. So they were so committed to growth, that they went all in. How committed are you to growing? What are all the ways in which you devote yourself to teaching? Is it a small group? Sermons? Bible study? Make sure you have growth in your life. I wouldn’t want to be the same person a year from now.

Fellowship is another mindset. Some people need others. Some people try to do life on their own. Doing life together helps you grow. When there are others around you growing the same why it just helps set you up for success.

Eating together was another mindset. This may seem like it’s not spiritual, but it is. There’s something special when we eat at the table as a family. You share something that you can’t share when you just have a regular conversation. It’s really an extension of fellowship that goes a little deeper.

The last one is prayer. Without it we don’t have communication with God. Without prayer there is no investment.

These 4 things can help a church become better. Somewhere along the line many churches chose the mindset of making people feel bad when they break rules, chose to be money hungry and made church more routine than identity. Let’s do better. Let’s get back to the basics.

Prayer - “God. Help me do my part to be the church. Help me keep my priorities in check when it comes to being the church. Help me to be devoted to discipleship, fellowship, breaking bread with others and prayer. Amen."

Day 13 - "Make Room"

When we make room, God replaces it with Him. With His blessings. His presence. The key is to remove what needs to go and make room. Do you remember the widow at Zerapath? Elijah asks this lady to give up the rest of what she had in order to make him so food. Here’s the catch - it was going to be her last meal. With all the emptiness she had in her kitchen, she was asked to give up the last of it.

John 15:2 says, “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

If we have anything in us that is not of God, remove it so we can make room. If we are not producing the fruit of God, allow Him to prune us! The point is that we need to make room for His fruit instead of our fruit. That’s what the widow did. She not only made room in her pots but made room in her home for the prophet. Because of her faith, God overflowed her pots and she could not contain the blessings that God gave. It’s not that God doesn’t want to bless us. It’s that sometimes He is just waiting for us to act out our faith even when it doesn’t make sense.

Think of ways you can act our your faith even when it doesn’t make sense. Give up the things you love for the God that you love more. As you sacrifice even the things you think that you need, watch and see how God restores and blesses you beyond measure!


Prayer - “Dear Lord, remove anything in me that is not of you. And show me if there is anything I need to give up that you want me to. Just like Abraham took Isaac to the mountain as a sacrifice, I’m ready and willing to do whatever is necessary to show you how much we love you! Amen.”

Day 12 -"Get a Grip"

Jacob is about to change everything about his life. He is about to leave something behind that he has never left behind. He never had a true legacy but he’s about to. But before he can leave a legacy behind him, he’s got to get the people in his life out for now. And he’s got to get his stuff out. He needs to be all alone before God does something amazing in his life. In order to leave a legacy behind you, you have to move out the distractions. If you want to meet God you have to move out some things that you have a grip on, or that has a grip on you.

Genesis 32:26 says, “Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Jacob got into a wrestling match with the angel. He put a grip on him and would not let him go. He ended up with a hip out of socket but he didn’t let go. His grip ended up with a blessing. A legacy. His name was changed. Even though his hip was temporary altered, his destiny was forever altered.

Today, get a grip on God. Don’t let Him go until you have what you came for. God likes that. He likes that you are consistent. He likes that you won’t give up. We need more Jacobs to wrestle and get messy until a blessing comes. Whatever you are praying for today, get a tight grip on God and don’t let go until you see something happen! We are giving up too easily.

When he was touched, he was marked. He was changed. I’m willing to go through the pain to get to my purpose. If the pain of holding on means I am marked by Him then my grip is not loosening!


Prayer - “God, I need you to intervene in my situation. In my circumstance. In my family. In my life. I will not stop until you bless me. I need healing. I need freedom. I need restoration. I need breakthrough. God, I am not going anywhere. I am here for the long haul! Amen.”Day

Day 11 - "Step on the Gas"

Prayer really is an investment. There is nothing we pray that does not get heard. God hears it all and cares about it all. The important thing is to not stop. The important thing is to step on the gas pedal. If we stop praying, we won’t see healings. If we stop praying, forget seeing signs, wonders and miracles. If we stop praying, we cut off our communication with the One that can change things.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “…pray without ceasing…”

Pray without quitting. What the actual meaning of this is not in pray where you can’t do anything else. It means to be in a constant state of prayer. Always be ready to pray. To be consistent in your prayer life. Many think that if you wake up and pray for 4 hours at a time, then you will be a super spiritual hero. There’s no scripture to back that up. But there is this one we just read. It’s not about prayer chunks. It’s about a consistent prayer life that never stops.

Did you know that 1/3 of Americans never pray? That the decline of prayer since 2007 has gone from 68% to 44%? I don’t want to see what happens when we stop praying. We have to step on the gas, not let up.

What can you do today? What will you invest in your prayer life with God? What do you want to see happen in your life? What do you want to see happen in the community? Do you know how we get there? We pray.

Prayer - “God, shake us! Get us outside of our feelings and thoughts so we get passionate for you again. We need you more than ever. Help us to be a praying people again. Help us to truly acknowledge you in everything we do. We can’t do this without you. Amen."

Day 10 - "Change Your Clothes"

Who all has boys? Hands? I have two. Not sure if any of you have had to tell them to go back and change their clothes, but it seems like more of an epidemic than a simple ask. Summer is fun when they don’t have to go to school because laundry is limited. However, there is a cost. Maybe it’s the smell or maybe it’s just the lesson you try to teach them about staying clean. Either way, we have to regularly change our clothes. We all know why, without a deep explanation.

John 11:44 says, “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

I love this part of the story. Of course the resurrection of Lazarus was amazing, but I love the part where they loosen his gravel-clothes. It was more than just clean clothes. It was about letting go of the covering that had him in the tomb. It was letting go what covered him in death. He was going to need some new clothes for being alive.

For us, what clothes are you wearing today? Do you need to change? What are you allowing yourself to be covered with? Does it represent the Almighty? Does it even fit? Or are we trying to clothe ourselves in something that we have no business wearing? If there is sin, loosen it. If there is anguish, loosen it. Think about what makes us stink and let it fall in the grave. It’s time to be alive.

Prayer - “God, help me to put off the old and put on the new today. My past is behind me and the future is ahead. I need renewed daily. God resurrect in my life the things that were dead and put to death the things that aren’t of you. I love you. Amen.”

Day 9 - "Do it God's Way"

It is hard to do something someone else’s way sometimes. When we use our own way, we are in control of it. However, there’s someone who has the best way. You know who! We see people in scripture often get distracted and do things their own way. When they veer off God’s way of doing things it just doesn’t work out. I think of Eve when eating the fruit. I think of Jonah heading to Joppa. I think of Saul sparing the spoils of the Amalekites. I want to highlight another story - Moses.

Numbers 20:8 says, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

Moses, just do what you did before. Each time you trusted God, you did exactly what you did before. Except verse 11 shows a different side. He strikes the rock twice. Now water does come out. But remember, it’s not about if it will come out, it’s about how it came out. Moses disobeyed God. He misrepresented His holiness. He controlled things. He was angry. We find out in verse 12 he loses out on the promised land.

What does that mean for us? Three things:

It means that we cannot control how God pours out on us. God is going to get it done. He really doesn’t need us but He wants to use us - but His way. God said to speak to it not strike it. One meaning of the staff was that it represented the covenant with God. It’s almost as if Moses took that covenant and threw it on the ground. He got distracted.

It means that if we misrepresent His holiness, we don’t get the reward. We must be the best examples of holiness. We must show Jesus each and every day by the way we live our lives. If we don’t, we become a barrier for people to see Him clearly.

It means that it’s always better to speak than to strike. The Bible tells us to be angry but sin not. Don’t show our anger. Don’t show our frustration. It’s normal to have thoughts but it is different when we make the choice to put it into action.

Let’s choose today to do it God’s way! I want the promise. I don’t want to short change myself because I chose myself. I choose Him!

Prayer - “Dear Lord, give me the peace and strength to trust you in doing it your way. Keep me from anger when life frustrates me. Help me to represent you in the best way. Your way. The only way. I am done with control. I give it to you. Amen.”

Day 8 - “Say Goodbye”

Sometimes we have to say goodbye to some things that hold us back. There are many times that God wants to use us but we are held back by our fears, risk of failures and the unknown.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

To be the church, we need to say goodbye to:

Downplaying your gifts. You are too special to think that you’re aren’t good enough. God given gifts have been put in you to be used.

Tolerated fear. We shouldn’t be okay with the fear of going all in with our faith. Just because it is new for us doesn’t mean we have to be afraid.

Misaligned assignments. We tend to miss God a lot for our own plans. It’s not about how we feel about it, but it is about obedience.

Tip toeing around what God is capable of. He is able! Able to do more than we can ask or think. We need to start believing for big!

The Past. Don’t allow past mistakes or past hurt define your today! Say goodbye to the wounds and turn them into scars.

Say goodbye so that you are emptied out and ready to be poured into today. Be ready for when God gives you an opportunity. You are about to make a great impact in this world because you said goodbye to some things!


Prayer - “God, get rid of the things that hold me back today and replace them with what you want. Activate the gifts you gave me. Get rid of my fear. Help me to never miss you. Help me to trust your ability. And help me get rid of the past I have been holding onto. I’m ready and willing. Amen.”