Gratitude: Look at Nature

Nature has always fascinated me. Ever since I was a child, watching worms dig out of the mud or having a ladybug land on my arm, as I was pulling weeds, or even just watching a monarch butterfly land on the butterfly bush in my parents yard.

Fascinated, and in wonder at how God created each one of these insects for a specific purpose. I choose to believe one of the purposes is so that we, as His children could enjoy their beauty.

Even watching a number of black carpenter ants bringing food to their home, or hearing the sound of a honeybee eagerly gathering the nectar from a beautiful flower, brings joy and wonder if we take time to just be still.

When we’re going through complicated times it’s hard to remember to pause and allow ourselves to remember how much God loves us and His wonder is all around. It can give us encouragement for the next step to pause and look at nature.

God created His specific insects, birds, animals, and even us for a specific purpose.

There’s a scripture that reminds me to work hard as though you’re working for the Lord and not man. What a reminder to not worry about what other people are doing, but instead, focus on what God wants you to do.

“Work willingly at whatever you in do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now I may not like spiders that much but they have purpose too. One of their purposes is to take care of flies, which can be pesky.

Working in a chicken coop over the years I have gotten a few spider bites. They may have swelled my arm and caused damage pain, but spiders serve a purpose so they are forgiven.

You may feel unseen or without purpose. Those thoughts are not from God they’re from the other guy, the enemy, the one that wants you to stop living in your life with purpose.

Enjoy the truth of the word of God found in Matthew 6.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭28‬, ‭30‬-‭31‬, ‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Project of Love, a talented musician, shares music, it can be found on Spotify or even on YouTube, bringing scripture to beautiful melody.

Look at the Birds by Project of Love is a reminder from Matthew 6, God loves His creation whether flowers in a field, birds of the air and even more His children, created in His Image, YOU!!

https://youtu.be/ZSxxvjcDxAI?si=eCNO8TZKx2XDa-Xi

Take time to observe nature it is a gift from our God! Give thanks to Him, He is good!

God loves you live with purpose. There’s a reason why you’re here on this planet so do the work for the Lord.

Today give gratitude to the Lord and be blessed!!

“Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of Lords. His faithful love endures forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Photo credit by M. Mesikapp

Blackbird fly

This morning, as I was letting my senior chocolate Labrador retriever run around the yard, a huge crowd of blackbirds was in my trees. There were so many that even though 2/3 of them flew away, there were still many remaining perched in my tall trees.

These particular black birds are not crows, they are red-winged blackbirds. They sing, are beautiful and graceful in flight. They seem to stay together in huge family units.

Our family (inside / outside) cat Nemo tends to chase them off and loves to try to catch them.

Just as in the animal or bird kingdom, we are no different, there’s always predators and preys in this world.

We must learn to fly above, with God‘s help, the conflict of the world. I share the scripture in Matthew 10, which describes a sparrow, I can easily replace blackbirds in that scripture.

Did you know the Word of God is filled with encouragement? We are to fear God alone. You are worth more than a sparrow or blackbird, He sees you!

Matthew 10:26-33 TPT
“Don’t be afraid or intimidated by others, for God will bring everything out into the open and every secret will be told. [27] What I say to you in the dark, repeat in broad daylight, and what you hear in a whisper, announce it publicly. [28] Don’t be in fear of those who can kill only the body but not your soul. Fear only God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] You can buy two sparrows for only a copper coin, yet not even one sparrow falls from its nest without the knowledge of your Father. Aren’t you worth much more to God than many sparrows? [30-31] So don’t worry. For your Father cares deeply about even the smallest detail of your life.. [32] “If you openly and publicly acknowledge me, I will freely and openly acknowledge you before my heavenly Father. [33] But if you publicly deny that you know me, I will also deny you before my heavenly Father.

Let me repeat this truth, each of us is cared for even more than the birds that God created. Your Father God cares about you deeply, even the smallest detail of your life. No matter what may be going on personally or in the world He cares for you isn’t that amazing?

However, in verse 32 and 33 we are reminded that we must openly and publicly acknowledge God, our Heavenly Father ( Jesus) in order to receive the blessings that He already has planned for us.

We must not be afraid because He is the one who saves His children. He is a jealous God, and we must worship and publicly acknowledge Him.

Matthew 10:33 describes the consequence if we put anything in the position that belongs to God alone, He will deny us to the Father.

Use this moment to call out to Jesus, let Him be the only source of truth, and the only God you seek.

It feels as though the conflict between families and communities has escalated, it was prophesied in scripture.

Matthew 10:34-42 TPT
“Perhaps you think I’ve come to spread peace and calm over the earth—but my coming will bring conflict and division, not peace. [35] Because of me, A son will turn against his father, a daughter her mother and against her mother-in-law. [36] Within your own families you will find enemies. [37] “Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. [38] And whoever comes to me must follow in my steps and be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he is not worthy of me. [39] Those who cling to their lives will give up true life. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life! [40] “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the One who sent me. [41] Whoever receives a prophet because he is God’s messenger will share a prophet’s reward. And whoever welcomes a righteous person because he follows me will also share in his reward. [42] And whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of my disciples, I promise you, he will not go unrewarded.”

I used to think that I was supposed to have specific words in order to talk to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit (that’s the 3 parts of the triune God).

Over the course of almost 30 years now I’ve realized my best friend Jesus Christ only wants to hear my heart and be my best friend. I just need to reach out to Him and be honest about what’s going on in my life. We must cling to God and surrender all to Him and discover a true life ( verse 39).

Being humble before our Creator God, and being willing to be taught the only truth that matters, and repenting for any sins that we may have spoken or acted against another human created in the image of God, are key steps in deepening our relationship with Jesus.

Even Thomas one of the disciples who walked with Jesus doubted. But when Jesus came to him, after His death on the cross, Jesus shared the truth.

John 14:1-7 NLT
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” [6] Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [7] If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

He is the way, the truth, the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus.

This is a week of Thanksgiving, it’s a wonderful opportunity to talk to our only best friend that never changes and never leaves, Jesus. He cares about you more than a sparrow or blackbird.

Talk to Jesus today! He loves you!! Allow Him to transform you, and as a result, He will guide you to a transformed life with any life that intersects yours.

Revelation 2:17 TPT
But the one whose heart is open, let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is presently saying to all the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will let him feast on the hidden manna and give him a shining white stone. And written upon the white stone is inscribed his new name, known only to the one who receives it.

Photo credit by M. Mesikapp

Yahweh Always Shows Up

In my last reflection, I shared how the Lord has been impressing upon my heart the importance of emotional intelligence in our spiritual growth. This…
Yahweh Always Shows Up

I have had the privilege of developing mentees and training mentors along with the founder of Christian mommas, Dr. Temi for multiple years as they initiated their Mentor/mentee program spreading the gospel message, being in fellowship and accountability one on one and as a small group for the glory of God. Although I have moved into another season of serving women, I am forever changed by the goodness of God and these relationships.

Emotional and spiritual intelligence change generations for His Kingdom purposes. Learning our power and authority comes from Christ, we can break through the darkness. Jesus calls us to make disciples of His people and we can bring forth women who are praying, declaring and interceding for their families.

Sister Shanica was a mentee and has been sharing her God given insight for the Christian Mommas blog. She has been in leadership at Christian Mommas, I was so blessed to know her and am excited to see how God is using her humble submission to His calling.

I repost today’s blog because it is rich in wisdom. Please take time to read and meditate on the Word of God explained so well.

May God continue to bless Christian Mommas.

Glory to God for His wisdom can change the atmosphere in our families, generations of sons and daughters impacting the world.

Feelings or Faith

Is it possible you’re right where you’re supposed to be? Perhaps a detour occurred in your life or maybe a health scare, or someone has decided to break off relationship, trust God.

The hardest thing is to rest and know that His plans are greater than yours. Maybe a detour or a change in position is actually a tremendous blessing for the future.

Though our feelings come and go, [God’s] love for us does not.
—C. S. Lewis

So many scriptures support this quote by CS Lewis, feelings are a distraction at times. Here are a few powerful truths from the Bible.

Psalm 136:1-3 MSG
Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.

Psalm 136:23-26 MSG
God remembered us when we were down, His love never quits. Rescued us from the trampling boot, His love never quits. Takes care of everyone in time of need. His love never quits. Thank God, who did it all! His love never quits!

1 John 4 is an amazing reminder of the love of God. Love is the most important commandment in the Bible and yet is the hardest to give to others. Take time to slowly read through this chapter in the message version it’s full of the wisdom.

1 John 4:4-19 MSG
My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world’s language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception. [7-10] My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. [11-12] My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

God loves us so much, detours can be an opportunity to grow deeper in love with Him. Detours may be protection from future problems or to redirect our steps to better relationships.

By the Holy Spirit and the giver of life, our Creator God, we can stay on the path that was always our life purpose. Trust Him!!

13-16] This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. [17-18] God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. [19] We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

I know from experience it’s hard sometimes to let God lead, fear likes to provide obstacles to the beautiful mountain top experience that God wants for us. Fear is a liar, faith in God is the answer and truth.

Today, if you’re struggling to understand, break up in relationships, the career path, the health scare, whatever it may be, ask yourself this question, “God, help me to understand what you are trying to teach me, but more important help me to trust you? Show me the path you want me to take and thank you for giving me the comfort of unconditional love as I seek You for all things in Jesus mighty name amen.”

“Hand of God” is a new song by Todd Galberth (featuring Chandler Moore), it is rich in lyrics that declare we serve a God of love and He has the best plans as He molds our future.

https://youtu.be/LpgAy9M2OcY?si=i_niujJf7oJv0fUT

Psalm 37:23-24,29-31 TPT
When YAHWEH delights in how you live your life, he establishes your every step. [24] If they stumble badly they will still survive, for the Lord lifts them up with his hands. [29] The faithful lovers of God will inherit the earth and enjoy every promise of God’s care, dwelling in peace forever. [30] God-lovers make the best counselors. Their words possess wisdom and are right and trustworthy. [31] The ways of God are in their hearts and they won’t swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.

Photo credit by M. Mesikapp