What is God's plan in all of this?

I wish there was a way to see a glimpse into the future just a bit so I know what is going to happen. I wish I knew that our house was going to sell before we move to Kenya. I wish I knew what this last month in the US is going to hold. I wish we knew if we were going to ship a container full of donated goods and some of our personal items. I just wish a lot of questions would be answered. Yes, it is all answered in God's timing but sometimes I just get so impatient and want to know now. This time of unknowns has helped me to draw closer to my Father though. To cling to Him and seek His Word for answers. Sometimes I just feel so angry though that we don't know more and that this journey was not so tumultuous.

A friend of mine texted me this today and the Lord knew just what I needed to hear! "'You are the one who determines the depth of your relationship with God.' Don't waste time by complaining about your waiting period. Embrace a deeper relationship." What a great challenge! What a great mindset. Thank you, Lord, for friends who remind me of how my attitude should be through this waiting period! I want to embrace a deeper relationship with you, Father!

Denying myself

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'" Matthew 16:24,25

This is what I struggle with. Denying myself for Jesus. Willingly taking up my cross to follow Him without complaining or saying I don't feel like it today. I make up excuses. I find reasons to put off taking my quiet time with Him during the day. The time and effort to fully focus on praying and reading His Word has been put to the wayside too often lately. I try to avoid time with God some days for fear of what He will ask me to do. I am a sinner that has been saved but still struggling with giving up the things of this world! How do you manage it? What has helped you to get through those times that being comfortable and not challenged sounds so much better than sacrificing, obeying and following?! 

Lord, please help me to stop giving into the pleasures and comforts of this world. I need help to focus on Your purpose and plan for my life. Convict me when I have strayed from you or gotten too comfortable. May the Holy Spirit be my Counselor and keep me on track and into Your Word so that I can stand up against all the things that take me away from fellowship with you. Help me. Your daughter, Laurel

Husbands. Fathers.

A man or husband also have a big role in the family, he is the leader. He makes sure that his family is heading in the right direction and following God’s rules. I strongly belief that husband has all the authority to be the head or leader of his family. The Bible clearly states in 1 Corinthian 11:13 that "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head

of a woman, and God is the head of Christ,” The husband is the head of the wife in the entire family and he has the responsibility of guiding his family to a closer relationship with the Lord. God will require it of him on the day when all our deeds are judged by God. Hey men, my brother in Christ! As you continue leading and your family I want to encourage you that you do your best to honor God in your leadership. Lead in a way that you show grace to your family. Lead in a such a way that it brings unity but not separation in your family. Lead in such away that you are open to correction and criticism. Lead in such a away that you are flexible and adaptable to anything. Lead in such a way that your family would free come to you when need help. Lead in such a way that your family feels safe or security when you are around. Lead in such away that your family members are able to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Lead in such a way that you set a good example to your family though your good work. Lead in such a way that show that you are not perfect man but willing to try and pick yourself up when you fall or fail. Lead in a such a way that it will inspire other men where they can see Jesus in you. Lead in such a way that it shows gentleness and humility to your family and people around your family. Lead in such a way that you show patient to your family. Lead in such a way that you STAND UP for your family. Lead in such a way that you are willing to sacrifice for your family, even when it comes to facing death for the sake of your family. And lastly, lead in such away that you show unconditional loves to your wife and children. Do not forget that it is written: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church … (Eph. 5:25-27).

Hey brother in Christ, I am with you good luck in your leadership role. I am with you, let has hang in there and try our best to serve our families. I know it is hard but I think we can do it my brother. I am still young in this leadership but since I started and I have found out that the best way to lead is to “depend on God” and be willing to seek help where needed.

Prayer of the day: Jesus, I am a leader in my family. I want to lead in such a way that shows you in my leadership role. I want to lead my family in such a way that meet your Will for my family. Help me to trust in you and help me with your wisdom to lead my family for your glory” Amen

Mother's Day

Today is 12/12/12, it is Mothers’ Day here at my facebook! (David writes an encouraging/thought provoking message just about everyday on his facebook)
Mothers are very special. I learned a lot from my mother, she has impacted my life in many ways. I don’t know how my life could be without my mother. Can you say that too about your mother today? Mother’s spend more time with their children more than anyone in this world. A mother knows her child as early as in her womb. Mother has a gre

at impact to her child in many ways. Mothers please teach your children to trust in the lord and follow His Will for their life. We live in a crazy and scary world nowadays. We live in the world that teaches our children to fear for tomorrow and has not respect for our children. We live in the world that abuses our children instead of loving them. We live in the world that takes advantage of our innocent children. The world teaches them that they can be whoever they want and they don’t need to listen to their parent. The world shows our children how to be sexually active at their youngest age. Mothers! Its time to Say “NO” stand up for your child!Cant your imagine how our children will be in 20 years from now without the Lord?

Mothers teach your child to obey God. As a mother, God has given you a big role of helping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs 22:6) and spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12). Do not let the world tell your child this or that. Mother! Your child is very special he/she can make it in this world, belief in your child and help her/him the belief you want the best for her/him in this crazy world. Mother! Provide your child with an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7) Mother! Your child needs you and trust in you, please be there for her/him through everything even your child seems to fail. Stand up for your child and states to the world that your child will make it because God has good plans for him/her and you have done your part in living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living (Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; Psalm 37:18, 37).

Have a blessed day. Mother! I pray that you step up your role as a mother and do your special role for your child in this crazy world. Your child will never forget about you and you will never worry about your child. I am so proud to have a mother who has constantly encouraged me to let God lead my life. I am so proud that I have mother who believes in me and knows that this world can’t touch me because I am protected by the blood of Jesus Christ. My mother may not be the perfect mother but I am so glad that she loves the Lord and I can see her love shinning on her face when I see her and also how she lives to honor God in her life. You might be or might not be like my mother today. But I do encourage you to say this prayer below like you mean it ……

Prayer of the day “God, your Word has never stated that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. I am so blessed to be a mother. God I know that mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. God help me to be one of the mothers who play a big role in their children’s for your glory. 

I need you, help me to reach out to my child for your glory” Amen and Amen

Little hands

Our little lady is thoughtful and quick to help someone who is hurt.

Today our little man hurt himself by climbing too far and being too daring for being so young. But I guess that is how boys are. So Mama was holding him and trying to comfort him in the rocking chair when little lady runs to the freezer to get his teething ring. She knows what he likes and when she saw that the teething ring did not help much... she ran to his crib and got his blanket. What a sweet big sister this little man is blessed with! I am amazed by the sibling bond I see forming already and can't wait to see the adventures that they have together.

Thank you big sister for the way you take care of your little brother!

People's interest

Wooo… My friend! The world is changing, I don’t know if you will agree with me or not. Everybody is very busy now days for his or her interest. It is technically very hard to spend some few minute with your next door neighbor….. This is a little crazy, where are we heading my friend? This reminds me about what is written in Philippians 2: 21 which says “Everyone looks out for his own interest, not those of Jesus”(NIV).  I very guilty about this, I feel like I don’t have any spare time to look on the interest of others. I feel like I want to make myself a priority or worry about my needs and not worrying about the needs of my next door neighbor.  I always ask myself this question: “what would Jesus do?”  I am sure that Jesus interest was to serve others. My next question is: “how many times have I served others?” How many times have I checked on my next door neighbor if they are okay or need anything? Probably it has been several months since I stop by their house when I needed something. It is crazy and very guilty situation.  Do you hear me? Are you in the same page my friend? The word of God says in Philippians 2:3-5 that “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had:” (NIV) I don’t want to add anything to the above verse, you can clearly understand what it means. There more I read the more I want to confess…..Please think about it and ask God to help us have the same attitude of mind of Christ Jesus had.  Life would be so easy if we had Jesus mind in the world we live in today.

 

Would you pray  with me today? “ Father, I am so guilty of my selfishness. You spoke the truth through your words today. I  have done wrong in your sight a million times. I waste most of my time trying to “ get” what I feel like it would make me happy and forget about the needs of my next door neighbor. God! Help me to have humility for others and to look not only to the my interest but to the interest of others as you have spoken into my heart today. Jesus, I would like my attitude to be same as your attitude. Help me to change my attitude towards other, I want to love others just as you first love me and died for me at the cross. Lord! I confess my sins today, I am so sorry for hurting you and others. Would you forgive me Lord? Thank you for forgiveness me and thank you for changing my attitudes” Amen.

Have a blessed day my friend, go out today and try to look on the interest of others as you try to meet your interest too.

Your VOTE matters!

Are you excited going to polling station to vote tomorrow or you are not looking forward going to vote?  Are thinking about not voting?   Are you confused on whom to vote for?  Are you afraid that when you vote for this candidate this and that will happen?  Have you had rumors that this will happen or that will happen if this person is elected?  Are you worried about what will happen after election? Hey friend! I hear you loud and clear. I am with you!.  I just wanted to encourage you to get out there and vote tomorrow. Do not be afraid. Get down on your knees and thank God before you vote and God will take care for the rest. Ask God to show you whom to vote for if you don’t know yet or you’re not sure. When that name (candidate) come in to your mind and you feel peace about it…head out to polling station with a big smile and vote for him.

 God of America today is the same God of America that was God when our founding fathers founded America. He is the same God, his promises and His words never change. Leaders come and go. This or that happens and things change. People change, events change. It is not because God is not watching but because God has a plan for each and everything.  My friend! God will still work with any president that will be elected in few hours from now. God loves America and He wants the best for America. He knows how to take care of America so well. He know what you and I really need it.  Please trust in Him, do your part and He will do His part. Pray that His will for America would be fulfilled through the person that would be elected in a few hours.  Speak blessing on him (elected president). Even if you don’t agree with him, please pray that God would have grace in him and He would show him the right way to lead us.  I have hope and peace of mind knowing that God’s grace never fails. God grace for America will never fail too. He is bigger than American problem.  You are very important in fulfilling God’s purpose today. Please vote and feel better about. There is nothing much we can do, we can only do the little things that we can like “ voting” and God can take care of the rest. God state in Psalm 33:12 that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!(ESV)

My friend! Do not forget that 1 Timothy 2:1 instruct us that  “  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.(ESV)….so, get down of you knees, pray, share, belief, be thankful, be hopeful, be joyful….because this what you can do and God will do the rest.

Prayer of the day: “God, I thank you so much for the leader that you have already chosen. I want to go out there tomorrow and cast my vote  just to honor You. I know you already know the results, help me to be open for the change and to accept the leader that you are going bring my way in few hours. I pray that everyone my see your grace through all this. Help me and everyone else to have a peaceful voting. Help us to realize that you are the same God of America and you will never leave as alone. Thank you God for your grace for all of us through your son Jesus Christ” Amen.

Have a blessed day and have fun voting tomorrow. Be inspired voting, you are special person in God’s eyes, your vote matters a lot.