Day 29

Psalm 34:18 ~ “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV)

I love this time of year, it’s just something about November and December that bring about a change in the atmosphere. All of the parties, the family gatherings, gift exchanges, it’s just awesome. Just as exciting as it is for some, this is equally as hard a time for others. A friend of mine whose mother passed away shared with me that her mother made some of the best sweet potato pie you ever tasted. She would bake them for Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. But, this year, she won’t get them. She, as well as countless others, is having a hard time with this holiday season, missing those who God chose to take home. I want to take a moment today to remind everyone that although it hurts, the Lord is near. He can mend your broken heart; He’ll renew a right spirit within you. Take comfort in the fact that the Holy Spirit has His arms wrapped tightly around you. He understands your hurt, and He’ll be right by your side to see you through it!

Day 28

Hebrews 11:6 ~ “It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.” (Common English Bible)

Why is it that we can quote all of the biblical clichés, yet when we’re faced with trials, we struggle with unbelief? We say that “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills”, but we worry when our bills are more than our paycheck. We say, “I’m the head and not the tail”, yet we won’t apply for the position because we feel we’re not qualified.  We’re quick to say, “By His stripes I’m healed”, but when bad news comes from the doctor we lose hope. I want to remind you today that it is impossible to please God without faith. We must believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is God. We must believe that He is able to provide all of our needs.  We have to believe that He will add ALL things unto us when we seek His face, His kingdom and His righteousness. We have to believe in Him! Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. (Heb 11:1)  Believe you’re financially stable although we’re in a recession. Believe you’re healed when your test results are unfavorable. Believe in yes when the world says no. He's not asking for much.....all it takes is a mustard seed to please Him!

Day 27

Matthew 16:15-16 ~ “He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Amplified Bible)

Jehovah Jireh, your Provider. He gives you everything you need according to His riches in glory. Jehovah Nissi, your Banner. To be waved in victory in the face of your enemies. Jehovah Rophe, your Healer. He is the ultimate physician. Jehovah Shalom, your Prince of Peace. He is able to quiet any storm with a mere wave of His hand. Jehovah Sali, your Rock. A strong tower providing a solid foundation on which we stand. Jehovah Uzzi, your Strength. He gives you the power to conquer whatever may come your way. There many names for Him, and today I want to remind you that He is whoever you say He is. Jesus Christ, He is EVERYTHING we need in every situation we encounter. There hasn’t been a problem yet created that He doesn’t already have a remedy for. He’s Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Omnipotent, Marvelous, Glorious, Kind, Faithful…He’s all that and then some!

Day 26

Proverbs 19:21 ~ “Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.” (Amplified Bible)

I’ve always known that I would be an entrepreneur, and since I love the medical field, I set my sights on a business in that healthcare that would allow me to work for yours truly. When I was around 18 or so, I was certain I wanted to be a nurse’s aid, my plan was to become a private duty nurse. When I found out what they actually did, I knew I had made a mistake! After that failure, I literally went from one thing to the next; medical billing and coding, medical transcriptionist, I couldn’t understand what the problem was. I knew in my heart that I was destined to own a thriving business, and I couldn’t understand why God wasn’t working with me. The problem was that I was doing what I wanted to do; I never asked God what HE wanted me to do. I want to remind us today that it’s easy to get caught up in the plans we’ve made, but if they don’t coincide with the plans God has for us, we’re just spinning our wheels. The moment I made my first cake seven years ago, I knew that I was purposed to own Kesha’s Kakery. That’s how He operates. Once we say yes to God, to His will and His way, that’s when things begin to fall into place!

Day 25

Psalm 118:24 ~ “This is the day the Lord has made. Let’s rejoice and be glad today!” (GWT)

Praise God we’ve made it to another day! We may not be in the best situations right now; life’s circumstances may have us in a place where it’s hard to find joy in anything. But, I want to remind you today that THIS day, you should be rejoicing, jumping for joy even. Why? Because God made it! If you know anything about God, you know He doesn’t make anything bad. Go back to Genesis chapter one and see that EVERYTHING He made was good! Not only did He make this day, He specifically chose US to be in it. He could have let us be in the number of persons who passed away yesterday, but He didn’t. There’s a reason you’re here, He obviously has something great planned for you. So, again I say, rejoice! Today is not a day for sadness, depression, anger, resentment or anything else that is not of God. It’s a blessing to be alive, to see, to hear, to feel, to breathe. Why not use the gift you’ve been given today to exalt The One who gave it to you? He certainly deserves it!

Day 24

Romans 8:31 ~ “So what are we going to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

We have opposition in our lives daily, things that are sometimes contrary to what God has promised us. He tells us we’re lenders and not borrowers, and yet we struggle financially. He tells us by His stripes we are healed, but we suffer through illnesses. He tells us that we’re more than conquerors, while seemingly losing the fight. I want to remind you today that if God is for you, who, what, when or where can be against you?? Don’t worry about being behind on your bills, God is for you, He’ll supply every need. If you’re sick, be of good cheer, God is for you, Jehovah Rapha is the ultimate healer. If it seems likes everyone or everything is against you, God is FOR you. He loves you, He believes in you. He wants to see you blessed. He’s standing in your corner cheering you on; He’s got a t-shirt with your name on it. No matter what the circumstances are, you win! There is NOTHING you can’t accomplish as long as He’s by your side. He…is…for…you!!

Day 23

Hebrews 8:12 ~ “I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs.” (GNT)

It amazes me how God knows everything about us and still chooses to bless us. I mean, if you sit back and think on the things you’ve done, even within the past week, you’d be hard pressed to try and prove you’re worthy. We sin against God; we sin against ourselves and our neighbors. But, the moment we ask for forgiveness, the slate is wiped clean. I want to remind you today that God not only forgives our sins, He forgets them as well. We come to Him with our head hung low, apologetic and remorseful. We’re embarrassed because we’ve let Him down. We promised to never do it again, and yet here we are, standing with broken promises in hand.  He extends His hand, lifts up our chin and says, “It’s ok, I forgive you.” And just like that, it’s gone. He loves us so much that He is willing to look beyond our faults and see us for who we really are….heirs to the kingdom of heaven.

Day 22

Philippians 3:13 ~ “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.” (MSG)

Sometimes I get the feeling that people expect Christians to be without sin, like the moment you accept Christ you’re immediately removed from all human emotion and reaction. That’s not the case. Sure enough, we’re striving daily to be more like Christ, but the fact of the matter is we ALL fall short. I recently found out some things about a person I know. On the surface, this person seemed to really have it all together, faithful in the church, always positive, quoting scripture, just a genuine good person. I was really thrown for a loop when I found out that this same person, who in my mind surely had a seat very close to God in heaven, wasn’t who I thought they were. I felt let down. How could it be possible for someone like this to do the things they did, and still claim to be a child of God? In the midst of me passing judgment, God reminded me of this verse. I have to admit that am just like this person. I love God; I try to live my life for Him. I pray, I study His word, I attend church and I serve in ministry. But, I am not perfect. I make mistakes, I say things I shouldn’t say, do things I shouldn’t do. All I can do, all any of us can do, is repent and keep moving forward. No, we have not made it yet, but with each day that passes, we get closer and closer!

Day 21

1 Corinthians 14:33a ~ “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (NIV)

The enemy does not want you to have peace. He is not pleased with the fact that you are trying to live your life right, so he tries to stir up confusion. He wants there to be division within your family, so he’ll try to turn them against you. He wants there to be discord in your friendships, so rumors and lies are told about you. He wants there to be strife on your job, so he’ll cause a co-worker to do the one thing that will set you off. He wants you to be caught up in as much confusion as possible. I want to remind you today that God is not the author of confusion; He wants you to have peace. The devil, however, wants the exact opposite and the closer you get to God, the harder the enemy will work. All you have to do when confusion arises is pray and seek God. Keep doing what He wants you to do and He will turn things around in your favor. When man’s ways please the Lord, He will make even his enemies be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7)

Day 20

Psalm 91:14-15 ~ “Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you.” (GWT)

My son used to be so afraid to go to bed at night. He had a nightly ritual of lining up every stuffed animal he had along side the bed for “protection”. I thought it was cute at first, but once I realized how terrified he really was, I decided to give him something better than the stuffed animals. I had him memorize this verse. I shared with him that because He is God’s child, and he loved Him that God will rescue him if the sharks attacked him in his dreams. And because he knows the Lord and acknowledges Him, when he calls on God, He would answer. When the dreams got too scary, he didn’t have to worry because God was right there with him. And no matter how many sharks there were, God would save him and honor him. Today, I want to remind you of the same thing. He will rescue you, He’ll protect you, He’ll be with you, and He’ll save you. There's no need to worry, no need to fear...God has your back!

Day 19

Deuteronomy 31:6b “The LORD your God will always be at your side, and he will never abandon you.” (CEV)

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you just can’t take it anymore? If one more thing happens, if one more person says something to you, you’re gonna snap? There’s just a thin layer of skin holding back a floodgate of tears; the longer you sit and think, the more upset you become? You wonder where God is and why isn't He helping you? You know you should pray, but the hurt you feel only allows you to muster up a, “Lord, help me”?  I want to remind you today that although you may not feel His presence, God is with you and He promises to never leave you.  It may seem like your world is upside down, you open your eyes and all you can see is despair…..but, He won’t forsake you. God loves you so much, that He gave His son just so you could spend eternity with Him. He wouldn’t have done that if He didn’t intend to see you through. You are His child, destined for greatness; He walks with you hand in hand. So, don’t give up. It may be tough right now, but as we all know, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. (Psalm 30:5)

Day 18

John 14:27 ~ “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid." (GNT)

There are times when my mind is so full of….stuff. Not having enough money to pay the bills. Going to a job everyday knowing that’s not my purpose, but going anyway because we need to money. Trying to be the best wife and mother that I can be, and still coming up short at times. Wanting and trying to be everything that God has called me to be and still maintain a reasonable portion of sanity.  It’s so chaotic, a whirlwind of “what ifs” and “if only”. Just as I was about to go down the road that leads to the party for people who pity themselves, God allowed me to come across this verse. Today I want to remind you, AND me, that God has given us peace, HIS peace. It’s not like anything in this world, it’s perfect. And, He will keep us in His perfect peace, as long as we keep our minds on Him. (Isaiah 26:3) The minute we look away, that’s when doubt, worry and fear creep in. Let’s stop focusing on the “stuff” so much and allow the peace of God to fill us while He works miracles on our behalf!

Day17

Ecclesiastes 7:14 ~ “When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God sends both happiness and trouble; you never know what is going to happen next.” (GNT)

One of the good things about God is His honesty. He lets you know up front, through His word, what you can expect out of life. Christianity does not offer a trouble free existence, it’s not “all good, all the time”. Take a moment to consider your personal relationship with God. Your conversation with Him is different on your bad days, isn’t it? You pray more when you’re going through. You gain strength on those days, your faith increases, you grow up in Christ with every trial you have. What if we never had a bad day? Would we be able to thank Him for delivering us? If we never got sick, how would we know Him as our healer? If we never wanted for anything, how would He prove Himself to be a provider? This verse is to remind us that there will be good days, and there will be bad days. We need both to have balance in our lives. His plan is perfect, there’s no need to question it. Don’t ask, “why me?” Just know that ALL things are working together for the good of them who love the Lord, for them who are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28)

Day 16

1 Samuel 15:22 ~ “Then Samuel said, Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams.” (GWT)

When we give our children instructions, we expect them to be obedient and do what we’ve asked them to do. Let’s say you have some errands to run. You tell your child, “I’ll be leaving for a couple of hours, be sure to have your room cleaned when I get back.” When you get home, you happen to pass by their room and it’s not done. Obviously upset by the blatant disobedience, you ask your child, “Why didn’t you clean your room like I asked you to do?” The child replies, “Well I was going to clean the room, but I noticed that the kitchen floor needed to be swept and mopped, so I did that instead. That way you wouldn’t have to do it when you came home.” Sure, the kitchen floor needed to be cleaned, but that’s not what you told them to do. They did a good thing, but because that wasn’t what the instructions were, it still counts as disobedience. Today I want to remind you that it is far better to obey God, than to try and circumvent the system and do what YOU think you should do. If God has told you to do something, do it, EXACTLY the way He said to do it. Disobedience, even in the slightest, may be the door that’s between you and your blessing. Obedience is that key that will open that door. So, do what He said. It may not make sense, you may not want to do it, but as they say over at Nike, “Just Do It”!

Day 15

Job 13:15a ~ “Because even if He killed me, I’d keep on hoping” (MSG)

Ever since I got married, over twelve years ago, I’ve had one medical issue after another. There isn’t a single day that goes by where I don’t experience some sort of pain in my body. I get migraines. I have arthritis in my lower back, a result of me being born with the base of my spine open. I have bad knees; I get this stabbing pain in my left ear at night. I occasionally have chest pains that take my breath away, and the newly developed shoulder pain that’s piggy backed off of the heart issues. Sure, it’s discouraging. Sometimes I don’t quite understand why it has to be so much pain, and so often. Lord, can I get just a little break? But, you know what? Even if I’m in pain everyday for the rest of my life, I still trust Him. He is more to me than this pain and if He chose to allow it for me, then I will bear it. I want to remind you today that no matter what you may be going through…trust Him. His goodness far exceeds any circumstance you’re currently in. His track record is impeccable; He’s never lost a battle. He sees you and He hasn't forgotten you. Keep trusting Him, keep loving Him, keep serving Him through your situation and watch Him restore you!

Day 14

Habakkuk 2:3 ~ “At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting – it will happen!” (CEV)

I like instant gratification. If someone tells me they’re going to give me something, I want it right then, I’m not a lay-away kind of girl. The same thing goes for my prayers. I want to pray about it today, and wake tomorrow with the blessing in hand. God promised me that Kesha’s Kakery would be internationally known; He even showed me the shop in Paris in a dream two years ago. When I saw that I was ecstatic, hopeful, anticipating some extraordinary financial overflow to come rushing through so I could begin to pursue this dream. I was expecting to quit my job and start baking full time. But, it didn’t happen like that, it still hasn’t happened. Does that mean I should give up on my dream of going to Paris to set up my shop? Of course not! Today’s verse reminds us that whatever God has promised us, whatever we’ve been praying for, it will come to pass! When HE has decided, not us, is when the blessing will manifest in your life. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean you should give up. Don’t stop praying, don’t stop hoping, don’t stop dreaming the dreams He’s given you. Remember, God is not like man, He has no reason to lie. He keeps His promises. He wouldn’t have said it, if He didn’t intend to see it through. At my old church there was a song we used to sing, a portion of it says, “If the Lord said it, you can count on it. He will do just what He said. It is so, yes, it is so. He will do just what He said!”

Day 13

Ephesians 4:29 ~ “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” (GNT)

We all grew up hearing, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I have to say I disagree with this statement. Words hurt, and the damage is sometimes irreparable. When I was five, my stepdad would tell me daily that I was ugly and that I would never be anything in life. To be sure I understood what he had said; he would make me repeat it back to him, I mean, he really drilled it in. Soooo, guess what I grew up believing?! Before I found Christ and realized the truth, I was being just what my stepdad said I was, ugly and nobody! I want to remind you today, that words are powerful! Be kind with your speech, even if you don’t get kind words back. Say things out of love and compassion for others, not out of spite. Take a moment to compliment someone; it may be the only good thing they hear today. If you know someone who’s going through a rough time, they may need to hear from you that they can make it. Speak things that will change someone’s life for the better, not make it worse. The power of life or death is in your tongue...which one will you choose?

Day 12

Psalm 34:19 ~ “The Lord’s people may suffer a lot, but He will always bring them safely through.” (GNT)

Before I was a saved, I was under the assumption that Christians had the “upper hand” in life. Being God’s chosen people certainly must come with all sorts of perks. Imagine my surprise when I finally did accept Christ, seems to me like I started to have MORE problems!  We go through so much; it’s hard not to question God. Especially when we see those who don’t know Him living what we assume to be the good life. This verse reminds us of two things. Storms will come, it’s inevitable, and we will go through some tough times. BUT, He promises to bring us through it….SAFELY! It may seem like you can’t make it or it’s just too much to bear, but trust me, you’re stronger than you think. He knows what He’s put in you, that is everything you need to be able to withstand the pressures of life. Take comfort in the fact that no matter how bad it gets He’s there to carry you through. He won’t leave you, He won’t forsake you!