Grace's Inspirational Corner

 In God We Trust! Think about that for a minute. Where have you seen it? It is written on every bill from the 100 to every 1. An entire war was fought so that the United States could be free. If the son sets you free you are free indeed. Jesus was killed for our sins. People died for our freedom. Freedom of religion. When the founding fathers and colonists came to America, they were looking for a place to serve God freely. We as a nation have come so far from that. people look at America and they see the American dream: to strike it rich. But in reality, that dream is an illusion. God is not an illusion. He is real. He indeed has power. He is the creator and the one in control. The wind blows because he told it to. the birds sing because he is God. One last thing I would like you to think about in fact I would like you to look it up: the bible tells us the rocks will cry out and praise God even if we do not. Pray; Jesus, I thank you for freedom from my sins. I thank you for the Un...

 

 

 God is love. We love him because he first loved us. We should be like him and show love to people. We need to show love to others. The only way to do that is to know what love is. So, what is love? Love is action. Love is generosity. Love is giving or making time for someone. Love is compassion. The list is endless, and it is probably easier to tell you what love is not. Jesus never turned anyone away. He chooses to spread the gospel with everyone from children to the sick: all ages. Jesus showed love to everyone wherever he went. He told us the two greatest commandments were first to love God than to love your neighbor. Your neighbor is everyone whom you encounter. Share the gospel with someone today. Be a reflection of God. Be love. Pray; God helps me today to be love. Help me to share you with someone. Guide me to the people who need to know your love. In the midst of t he day and the busyness reminds me to stop and make time for you. I love you, Lord.

 

 

 Do you want to feel close to God? If you do, then it starts with every breath of air you breathe. In the beginning, God breathed into Adam to give him life. The air we breathe is filled with God's presence. So, if you want to feel close to God the first step is to breathe. The second step is to draw near to him, and he will draw near to you. Do not just make time to pray and read your bible make time to minister. Take some time to participate with your church. Ask to serve in the church on Sunday if you do not feel called to Sunday service participate throughout the week in outreach. Finally, if you want to feel close to God worship; Sing and dance and give God glory. turn on the radio and listen to the bible reading and the prayer time, not just the music. Pray; Lord I long to feel your presence. You are the air I breathe, and I want to feel you surrounding me. I want your peace to overflow in my life. Show me the ministry gifts you gave me as well as how to use them for your gl...

  Let's take a few days to look at what gratitude is and how to be grateful in all seasons of life. Thanksgiving is the perfect reminder to Give Thanks to our God!  Gratitude can be found in almost every page of the bible. It represnts giving thanks and praise to our God. The actually meaning of Gratitude is this:  "the state of being grateful : thankfulness." (Webster's dictionary).  The basics of gratituide is acknowledging our savior, our creator, acknowledging what he has done for us and the people and things he's placed in our lives. Gratitude is a feeling of joy, peace, love, saftey. We'll look into some of these emotions each day and how they connect to the meaning of gratitude. In order to understand gratitude we have to understand the basics. What does it mean to be greateful or thankful. During this short devotional series we will look at the reason we celebrate thanksgiving. Yes, you'll be getting a short history lesson this week. I hope you all...

 

 

 Do not give up! Never stop believing, praying, hoping, or having faith. Do not stop trusting God because he never stops fighting for. Satan may come against you. Your situation may not be easy, it may not be fun, but you can always put your hope in the Lord. He is faithful and just. He is a fair God. You hear people talking about God looking down shaking his head with disappointment. Well, the reality is God looks at us with compassion, understanding, and love. He knows life is hard. He knows the enemy attacks all the time, that is why he never sleeps because he is faithful. Pray; God, I thank you for never giving up on me. I thank you for your grace. I thank you for being faithful. You are the one and only true God. I will believe in you and trust in you above all things. Teach me your ways, Lord. I want to live like you daily as I live my life for you. Amen.

 

 The favor of God is unlike the favoritism of man. God's favor can move things into place for us. God can use people that do not like you; he can also use people who do not believe in him to speak to you. Favor is not for the righteous nor the perfect. Favor is for everyone. God wants us to ask him for the things he already knows we want need, that way he can get to know us. 'The favor of man only lasts for a short while but, God's favor is unending. He gives people favor towards you; He is in the details. Look for him today. Look for his favor in the small things of your life. Pray; (I am going to leave the prayer up to you today. Do you need a favor- ask him for it? Do you have a favor- thank him for it? Thank him anyway because he does not withhold his favor, he extends it to everyone.)

 

 Focus all your attention on the Lord. Do not look at the things of this world because they will distract you. When you keep your eyes on the Lord then everything around you goes poof. All your troubles disappear. God wants your heart. He wants to know the desire of your heart and get to know the real you- he created. Stay focused on God do not be lukewarm or double-minded. Pray; Lord helps me stay focused on you. Help me turn to you daily for wisdom. I ask you to come into my heart and clean me, Lord. There is nothing about me you do not already know. I cannot make it in this world without you. Thank you for going with me wherever I go. I always need you. Amen.

 

 Diamonds are formed by heat and pressure. They can take billions of years to naturally form, however in a laboratory they can take just a few days. Diamonds are the most precious stone on Earth. You are the most precious thing to God. You are a diamond in his eyes. Every time you go through something think of it as God shaping you. Diamonds can only be cut by other diamonds. For us to grow we must fellowship together. We should encourage each other. God is with us. When two people come together in His name (to talk about him) he is there in the midst. Pray; Lord, thank you for shaping me. Help me to see myself and others as you see us. Give me the strength to trust in you. Help me be an encouragement to somebody today. Thank you for not giving me more than I can handle. Lord, show me your favor today. Thank you for being who you are. Amen

 

  God is always on time. He created time. He created day and night. He created summer, autumn, winter, and spring. God knows everything. He has a perfect plan for you. He has a plan that will lift you and him both up. He will make you successful and make himself glorified. All he asks is for you to stay humble. Pride goes before destruction. Humble yourself before the Lord. You are his servant his creation and you do not have more power than him. God created power and gave it to us by faith that we may call on his name and move mountains into the midst of the sea. Pray; Lord, I ask you to show me your perfect plan and help me to stay on the straight and narrow path next to you. I ask you to keep me from being prideful. If anyone deserves glory, it is you God because you gave me my talents and gifts. You gave me the desire to learn and exercise my talents. I thank you, Lord, for all you have given me. I trust that even the smallest amount of faith pleases you.

 I am thankful for... Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13

 

  Victory is possible! You can have victory over healing, over financial situations, over anger, and many other areas of your life. God has already gone to battle with Satan, and he WON. It is hard to stop and let God be God it is hard to walk through the battle scene and not want to fight, but God has already one fighting would be pointless. Sometimes you need to fight to see a victory. That fighting is not what you expect though: no. The fighting you were called to do is prayer and praise. What kind of fighting is that? Intercession for others and sending God praise because he fights for you, are the types of fighting we should be doing. Pray; Thank you God for victory. Thank you for fighting so I do not have to. I ask you to move in my life as well as those I am close to. I ask for healing for financial increase and for you to bless us. Lord thank you for having favor on us. (Take the next minute or so and pray over someone specifically in your life to feel God's spirit with t...

5 days a week. Lets give thanks just five days a week. I started a daily bible verse reading for Nov. to look at some verses about thanks. I want to share those verses with you and ask you to think about one thing each night Monday-Friday that you can thank God for. I'll get you started.  I am thankful for God's Mercy which endures forever. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalms 107:1

 

  I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me. (Psalms 13:6). Sing unto the Lord! Why should you sing? Because you are happy? Because you are sad? Because God loves a joyful noise. You do not have to make a beautiful noise, just a joyous one. Sing because God is good. He is so good to you. Sing for God when you are happy and sing for him when you are sad. Sing for him when you are troubled. Call on his name every day: morning, noon, and night. Pray; I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me. I will make a joyful noise and give you thanks for you are with me. (Take the next minute to intercede again today for someone who needs an encounter with the Lord).