Monday's Blessing
Genesis 13:8

"Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen.”

Sometimes things shift our way, and we begin to dream.  Even dreaming big at times waiting for that particular blessing that we feel is in the bag. 

But when it arrives it may be a a small trifle of what we expected.  So we sulk.  Get a bit upset wondering why this piece of pie is smaller than the others.  

Genesis 12 records the covenant of peace that God made with Abraham and his heirs. Abraham became extremely rich and powerful because God blessed him.  God chose him to be the man through who He would bless all the nations on the face of the earth.  I'm sure Abraham was sure he had it in the bag.  

I find it interesting that in the very next Chapter, Genesis 13, strife came between the herdsman of Lot and Abraham's cattle.  Strife is the exact opposite of peace.  God gave Abraham peace, and Satan went immediately to stir up strife.  God wanted to bless Abraham, and Satan wanted to steal the blessing.

Sometimes God's abundance can cause problems that lead to strife.  he had blessed Abraham and Lot with so many possessions and cattle that the land could not nourish and support them both.  The Bible says that Abraham went to Lot and said, "Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsman." He told Lot that they were going to have to separate, so Lot should choose the land he wanted, and Abraham would take what is left.  Abraham took a humble position to avoid strife, knowing that if he did what was right, God would always bless him.  But Lot would have had nothing if Abraham hadn't give it to him. So he chose the best part: the Jordan Valley.  Abraham didn't say a thing; he just took the land that was left.  He knew God would bless him if he stayed in peace.  

God took Abraham up on a hill and said, "Now, you look to the north, to the south, to the east, and the west - and everything you see, I'll give you." (vv. 14-15) What a great deal! God honored Abraham's humility and blessed him abundantly with fruitful land.

I believe that God's got a good plan for all of us, but prideful attitudes can prevent us from having all that God wants us to have.  A negative output is one of the most important things we can work on to stay positive.  

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "trust you in the face of adversity"

Pray:

Help me to meditate: on staying positive in all situations and prevent strife.  
Teach me to be patient and know my blessings will come.
Remind me that I need your help.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.

Monday's Blessing
Psalm 91:11

"For he will give his angels charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways.”

Did you ever take stock in your whimsical life perusing down memory lane?

When you come to your first memorable conjuncture did you wonder how you got through it all?  These deep, dark occurrences touch all of our lives from time to time.  And it is through his awesomeness we wonder how we even ventured at all.  

Some of us have been touched more than others.  They suffer abuse, addiction, and financial catastrophe.  They live these days hour by hour, minute by minute holding the hand of God.  

There of others who wonder, "Lord, why have I no testimony of such magnitude? "  

He answers, "You do have testimony.  Your testimony is that I kept you from all of it." God has kept these individuals through the pain that results from being separated from him.

The keeping power of God is great testimony!  Some people are kept from tragic occurrences.  They are kept safe through the darkest moments.  His plan for each one of us is perfect, and we can trust his keeping power.  

Psalm 91 teaches that he will give his angels charge over us, and they will protect and defend us.  It's true that some things happen in our lives that we don't like, but what has God kept us from that we never even new Satan had planned against us?  We need to thank God for his keeping power We can relax knowing he is our great keeper.

When I look through my own life journal I am amazed I have come through unscathed.  I see how hard I've worked, and remember the troubles I've come through along with the hurt I've felt.  But God held me together, sometimes when I least expected it thinking the world was crumbling at my feet. 

He strengthened me.  He kept me.  And he did so when I least expected it.  Things would begin to unfold, unplanned, blessings at my feet to reap as the dark clouds cleared.  God will do the same for you if you trust him.

God has a plan, and he is working his plan  We can trust and relax. Psalm 145:14 says, "The Lord upholds all those who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down."

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me to "trust you always, Lord"

Pray:

Help me to meditate: on my faith that you have my back.  
Teach me to be patient and know you promise to bless me through my darkest hour.
Remind me that I need your help.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.
​

Monday's Blessing
Acts 20:35

 "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the
weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive."

I was recently blessed by a book suggested to me by a friend, Go Givers Sell More by Bob Burg and John David Mann.  The basic principals outlined in the book closely resemble the above Bible verse.  Actually, the book was first initiated to help sellers gain credibility and validity, but, upon closer observation, many have found applicable principals to daily living.

There are four prevalent laws outlined in the book:

The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.

The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other peoples' interests first.

The Law of Authenticity: The greatest gift you have to offer is yourself. The most significant way you have of adding value to others' lives is by honoring your own nature—by being genuine and not trying to be someone you're not.

The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

Simple application of the above principals promises to enrich your life not only monetarily but spiritually.  Is it not a wonder that all wealthy individuals usually set up networks to help the needy?  By giving back, we are promised to receive as according to the Bible, "Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he who shares his bread with the poor."  The simple truth being, be ready to give first always.  There is an admirable component in giving that sets up personal value in another's eye, and from there the blessings will flow.

The funny thing is that giving usually promotes a state of happiness and well-being. For when we enjoy doing for others, we are blessed with benefits. By giving, we take the onus off our own personal woes and wants, and center it on others. By deflecting these thoughts, our minds open to new opportunities, and by doing, great relationships spark new prospects. After all, who admires the individual who keeps close tallies of his own work load ensuring no one will benefit from an added minute of time from his job description?  Reaching out, touching others is the epitome of Christianity.  Jesus promises to bestow blessings on go givers!  

Daily Guidance:

1.  Just one this week- analyze your life.  Look at the above five laws.  Begin application this week of a new you.  Get the book!

Monday's Blessing
John 15:4

"Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.”

When was the last time you made some personal time with Jesus?

Whenever I return home from work after ministering to special needs children all day, I revitalize myself by abiding in Jesus.  I do this by praying, meditating on his words, and spending some quiet time with him.  I say, "Thank you Lord for strengthening me and refueling me.  I need you, Jesus.  I can't do anything without you." 

And, yes, there are days I return home as ragged as you.  Where I drop all my valuables on the table, run to the bedroom, and close the door.  I line my pillows up beside me, wrap my arms around them as I fall into bed, shutting out the day's activities with a close of the door.

And, yes, I'm exhausted,  so I close my eyes just for a moment, and I'm fast asleep.  No prayers, no explanations just a deep desire to crash.

But, for most days I know I must abide in him if I want to bear good fruit.  Abiding replenishes the energy I use in during the day at school.  For many years I crawled through the day, returned home, and went right back to school without spending the time I needed with the Lord.  When I did, I usually ended up worn-out, depressed, crying, and wanting to quit.

If we drive our cars without filling up the tanks, we ultimately run out of gas and are stuck on the side of the road.  We can do the same thing as individuals.  We will break down physically, emotionally, and spiritually if we don't stay full of Jesus by abiding in him.  

I have a habit.  On my bed I keep the Bible and other spiritual literature for prayer, uplifting, and guidance. I am a library junkie.  There's no need to go out and spend a good bit of money on spiritual literature.  Just get online, peruse, and reserve.  By doing this, I have a good amount of information at my fingertips to meditate and pray on each day.  And it helps! There are days people want to "pick my fruits", and when they do, I am ready with knowledge.  I encourage you to develop the "God Habit." You need time with him everyday more than you need anything else.  By doing this everything will fall into place. 

Jesus said if we dwell in him, he will dwell in us.  If we live in him, he will live in us.  He said we cannot bear fruit without abiding in him.  But if we live each day in him we will have abundant fruit.  I have found I cannot do anything of real value without him.  

This Week's Meditation:

Teach me Jesus to "spend time with you each day."

Pray:

Help me to pray and meditate on a set time each day with you.  
Teach me to be patient and set my cares aside when I do.
Remind me that I always need you.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind.  And realize God has you in his arms always.