Monday's Blessing
Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."    

Recently I've fallen victim of accepting mediocrity.  There is nothing I enjoy doing more than taking a few minutes and placing words on paper, or better yet a blog on the Internet.  There is a passion there, placing thoughts to words where others find comfort.  

When I began this venture I prayed fervently for a bit of income to meet the challenging costs of providing such a service.  Each month, views would grow and a few pennies would follow.  I then prayed for more substantial income with a wee bit of profit to enable me to make ends meet.  Shortly afterwards, I knew this is something I wanted innately to do full time and began praying for more profit so that I could enjoy this found talent at home connected with the world out there.  

As months rolled by, and then years, I became accustomed to what little profit I made accepting mediocrity and patting myself saying at least I'm comfortable here.  This is not uncommon.  Are there goals in your life that you have come to accept the middle ground?  What about the last time you set a goal to lose weight?  At first, you were so excited - all fired up and ready to go!  As the months roll by, and the weight goal you've established seemed further from reach, did you got lazy accepting the few pounds shed as evidence of comfort?

One recent friend told me, "I've done great on my weight loss program.  I've shed 10 lb. now in five months."  

"What about the other 30?" I wanted to say. I knew that her goal was 30 pounds at that point.  

Let's get to the facts.  Where we are may not be a bad place, but we know it's not where we're supposed to be.  We're not stretching our faith.  We're not pursing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts.  

Dare to step out of your comfort zone today.  God has those blessing in store that you've been asking for.  Keep pursing and keep believing.  Get up everyday with your goal in mind and say, "This is it!  This is going to be my day!  I am going to do____________ today!" Be specific towards that day's goals.  When you have that kind of attitude you are releasing God's fantastic power in your life.  If you do this EACH day, before long, you will begin experiencing more of God's greatness.  

Pledge with me now not choose mediocrity any longer.  Plan on stretching your faith with me to ensure God's total blessings each day.  

Monday's Blessing
Joshua 1:8

"Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful."    

I know many of you have written about the pleasure of picking up your Bible daily and reading and understanding the written word.  Doors seem to be opening, I've heard, and blessing are coming forth.  I know many have included comments on the importance of a personal journal so that you can see and be reminded of how God is working in your life.

I wonder if your meditating as well.  Sometimes in the rush of the day, we incorporate our Bible time, but often have little time to let it "stick".  What better way to ensure adhesion then by meditating?  Philippians 4:13 states, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  This verse has followed me through many turmoils and incorporates a sense of nurturing and empowerment whenever I meditate on its words. It has gotten me through a terrible bout of sickness when I wondered if I'd ever work again.   It has welded my backbone when family issues promised collapse.  Most of all, it has offered stability in this ever changing world where one day's dawn offers blessings and another darker one sets forth oppression.   

Psalm 1 says that a man who meditates on the law is "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not withers.  Whatever he does prospers." (verse 3)  After Moses died, the Lord promised prosperity and success to Joshua if he meditated on the law day and night. (Joshua 1:8) In fulfillment of God's forty-year-old promise, Joshua was to take the Israelites across the Jordan River to the Promised land.  God told Joshua to "be strong and courageous." Other than cross the river, the only specific direction God gave him was not to let the law depart from his mouth, to meditate on it day and night so that he would be careful to do everything in it. 

This can be the best strategy for our lives.  Instead of using personal reason thinking WE have the best laid plans, we can meditate on God's word wondering what he has planned for us individually.  So, pick a verse today.  Write it down to help you remember it and take it with you when you find solace today like your evening walk.  Meditate on it as you take each step allowing God to open the doors of your mind and bless you. 

Monday's Blessing
Psalm 13:1

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"    

Are you a whiner?  Constantly asking for things that don't seem to come your way?  Do you find the majority of your prayers are plea bargaining endeavors? Well, rest assured you are not alone.  In fact, God wants you to to lay everything at his feet. 

While it may seem selfish to constantly be preoccupied with a list of issues, where else should we go but to God when we are hurting, sad, or troubled?  Take heart that the writers of the Scripture did this often.  The Psalms often express some kind of complaint to God.  In fact many of the prophetic books contain laments.  Did you know Job is full of moaning and groaning?  

Psalm 13 is a great model showing how me might approach God in prayer with our unhappiness.  Most prayerful laments go as follows: writer has issues with God, then he offers a verse or two at the end that expresses that final trust in him no matter how things are turning out.  

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
    and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

This writer was being pursued by an enemy.  He is tormented daily with his sorrowful thoughts.  To make matters worse, God doesn't seem to be stepping in.  He was at the point were death seemed a better recourse.  We can all identify with his despair.

Notice in Psalms such as this there always seems to be a turning point where despair becomes hope.  

But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me. (Verse 5-6)

The word but reminds us that even tough life is falling apart, we can turn to our changeless, faithful God, who is still there, still trustworthy, still caring for us despite our problems.  And, it is important to have that but in there when we pray.  We must remember the happy events those times when God has been faithful and blessed us. Doing this reminds me to turn from my current woe to a future of hope.  

So if you're feeling down, remember that a huge chunk of the Bible contains honest prayers by complaining men.  So don't feel bad about dumping, go right ahead.  

Monday's Blessing
Ezekiel 11:16

"Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in my countries where they have gone.'"        


We live in a tumultuous world. Often pulled at varying angles when we least expect it. Where is your refuge?  Is there a quiet place in your home set just for you to go when you need to feel the spirit of the Lord?  Is it your study? Your bedroom? Your porch? Is it a place you can shut the door and leave the world behind so that it doesn't come knocking?  In this room is is peaceful, quaint with an overwhelming sense of peace?  

Or does it need a weekend project to make it feel like the right reprieve?  Having a place to lay low once in awhile with no one to attend to can be therapeutic.  Sadly, as parents, we often think of ourselves last when it comes to our needs.  Yet, in reality, if our soul is not filled with the Holy Spirit then we can be worn down and made weak easily. 

Believe it or not, this can be done in a few short hours!  So sit quietly, close your eyes at this moment and ask God to fill your vision with a place of reprieve in your home. Next, visualize that spot with a unique color combination and theme that will embrace you when you walk in.  Then head off to Home Depot to find paint for under $12 a gallon.  There, on the wall of paint pallets under Glidden you will find your personal combination.  Grab your new color combinations, and head to the counter to have your new paint mixed.

Within only a couple of hours you'll be inspired once you lay that new paint on the walls. Then head off to Bealls Outlet, or somewhere similar and pick a few new pictures for your overall theme.  Don't forget picture nails and you're all set.  A new sanctuary is yours for the taking!

We go to prayer because we need a safe, quiet place.  Often our private worlds are a bit chaotic.  With no place to run to how can you find sanctuary?  The Jews understood this need for a safe place.  Scripture reminds us that being with God in sanctuary is our safe place.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
"How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 26:7)

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues." (Psalm 31:20)

Memorize those verses so that you can quickly feel at peace in your new sanctuary.  He reminds us:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in god; trust in me." (John 14:1)

What are you waiting for?  Find your sanctuary!

Monday's Blessing
Haggai 2:23

"'I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the Lord Almighty ."        

There are more days than few we feel as feathers in the wind blindly floating from place to place unsure of an upcoming destiny.  Here, in these states, we move through mundane expectations openly hoping to fleeting desires that succumb us as personal needs.  Then, from time to time, God presents himself and asks us to be angels to other's prayers.  We are sealed with his stamp of approval to answer silent prayers to which we have know prior knowledge. 

In the book of Haggai, God speaks to Zerababbel through the prophet Haggai. Zerubbabel was named governor of Judah by Cyrus, the Persian king who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  Cyrus had given Zerubabbel the task of leading the state. But God also wanted him to rebuild the temple for the Jews who had returned from exile to Babylon.  

God told Zerubbable that he would make him like his signet ring, "for I have chose you" (Haggai 2:23).  A signet ring had great power then.  It indicated authority and was pushed into warm wax to sea documents requiring the king's mark.  God was signaling that Zerubabbel was God's mark or representative for Jerusalem. By choosing Zerubabbel as his signet ring, God was putting his authority on Zerubbable. the early king would be representing his heavenly king. 

God has chosen each of us as his given seal.  Paul tells us that when we believe, we were "marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until redemption of those who are in God's possession" (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We all have God's stamp of approval.  

As God's representative on earth, I believe I have the special privilege and responsibility to stand before God in my community and help those in need. Opportunities arrive in the most unexpected places.  God needs intercessors that work as silent angels. Isaiah writes, "And he saw that there was not man, and wondered that there was no intercessor."  (Isaiah 39:16)

Right now at this moment you many be called for this great privilege.  Perhaps you can wear the signet ring for the King in your community.  Open your heart, put it on proudly and walk in the security that God has given you.  Be his witness.  Ask for his eyesight for your community and then pray for his authority. All else will happen in a that moment and it shall be.