​I so enjoy this time of year. There is just such a beauty that cannot be described. It is a busy time of year – trying to finish up all the outdoor projects and fun of warm sunny days plus prepare for the cold and snow. Besides all that it is also an unsettled time in our country and an election year. Only the Lord knows what is ahead and it is easy for us to get into fear of the future. I think it is good to educate yourself about some of what is going on but the negative, lying evil cannot be our focus. Since my cousin, Risa, is here from Panama City, Florida after being homeless from the hurricane we’ve had many conversations about the horrible situation there. Things are difficult, devastating and hard but we must know we are never alone in our situations and that we are the conquerors! We have to not lose focus but just keep believing and trusting our precious Father. One way to keep your eyes straight ahead on His faithfulness is to have a thankful heart. Thanksgiving from our hearts will keep the fear away. I have heard story after story of the miracles happening there and one lady I talked to said the only way through it is to have a thankful heart and praise Him. What a testimony!
 
Most people say this is their favorite time of year too. Part of it is the beauty but the other is that our hearts lean towards thanking Him for all He has given us and that naturally brings peace, joy, love and hope to our lives. Every day may your words be seasoned with thanksgiving. Everyday let your heart overflow with His thanksgiving and love. You will be amazed at what does and does not affect you when your heart is thanking Him. We have more opportunities than ever before in history to be an example of His peace and joy flowing from us in times of dismay. Others will notice the difference in you without you even speaking a word. His ways are so powerful and mighty! Why do we doubt His Wisdom and lean on our own understanding? It is because we get away from having thankful and grateful hearts that radiate His love and peace to all. Have a great and powerful week shining with the love of Jesus and being thankful.
 
Sunday - Mark 6:41 ”And when He had taken the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples to set before the people.” Thank You for showing me how Your Son, Jesus, gave thanks. He focused His eyes on You - thanked You and saw in His heart His/Your answer.  He didn’t wait until He saw the abundance to thank You. He saw it done when He focused on You. I thank You for the example. I know that I can’t wait to see my answer to trust You but when I  trust You and Who You are in me, I will see every answer already fulfilled. I just bow before You in praise and thanksgiving. You are my wonderful Father. I give You all my love and I receive Your love for me. Amen
 

Monday - “At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Ephesians 5:20 Lord, I begin this time of thankfulness by recognizing that this verse tells me that at all times I am to give thanks. Father, I don’t always do that. So many days I get so caught up in the cares of the world. They can be so many when my heart and eyes aren’t on You full of thanksgiving for Who You are in me. I am thankful for what You have given me but I get so caught up in everything that thankfulness isn’t always the fruit of my lips. As I breathe in Your presence - Your Spirit, I can exhale and let go of all my worries and fret. As I come to You this day I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving in my heart. Thank You for Your promises. “I rejoice in You always. I delight, gladden myself in You. Again, I, rejoice!! I will not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything - I give thanks.” Philippians 4:4,6 I thank You that Your grace gives me the strength to renew my mind and change my heart. Thank You for being my most awesome heavenly Father, Amen.
 
 
Tuesday - “I will make a joyful noise to You Lord and serve You with gladness! I come into Your presence with singing! I know, perceive, and recognize that You Lord are God. It is You that made me, not me that made me. I am Yours. I am Your people and the sheep in Your pasture. I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving and a thank
offering and into Your courts with praise! I am thankful and say so to You. I bless and affectionately praise Your name! For You, Lord, are good; Your mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, Your faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.”  Psalm 100 - Amen
 
Wednesday -Lord, each of us has a call on our life that is given by You. No matter who we are or what profession we may be in - You have called us to minister You to those around us. 1 Timothy 1:12 says it like this ‘I give thanks to Him Who has granted me the needed strength and made me able for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to this stewardship of the ministry.” “But the seed planted on good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.” Mark 4:20 As I hear and receive Your Words of who I am and where You have called me I can go forward and know I am planting seeds wherever I am. I believe that the harvest from my life of being faithful, trustworthy and hearing Your Word is producing far more harvest than I will ever see or that I can imagine. I thank You that You are my strength to go. I can go and be who You called me to be because You are in me. I love You and praise You always! - Amen.
 
Thursday - I thank You for Your ever presence in my life. You are always there rejoicing - comforting - giving me wisdom - direction - holding me close with Your everlasting love. Lord, I thank You for Your Word that says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that I can “Be happy and rejoice and be glad hearted continually - Be unceasing in prayer, praying perseveringly. Thank God in everything no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks. For this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.”  “Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your desires known to Him.” Philippians 4:6 I thank You and rejoice in Your love.
 
Friday – Today, Lord I pray this verse in Colossians 2:7 in the first person as I make Your Word alive in my heart. “I have the roots of my being firmly and deeply planted in You, fixed and founded in You, being continually built up in You, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in faith, just as I was taught and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.” “Lord, I desire to “be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in my prayer life, being both alert and intent with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 I know that with You everything is possible. Thank You for giving me the desires of my heart. I give You praise and glory forever.  In Your Name I pray, Amen.
 
Saturday -  Father, You created me to live in abundance. You are not the author of lack. You say that You are my Shepherd and I have not lack. I don’t want to be on the roller coaster ride of plenty – lack – plenty – lack – almost enough – not enough. That isn’t Your system, Your way of doing things or Your desire. You provide all I need. In the economy our world is in I always hear people say that they can’t give or plant right now. There just isn’t enough. I am hearing Your Word say something else. You say: “And God Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness and charity]. Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 I receive today what You have given me and go forward rejecting the lie of lack. I believe and act on Your promise to provide. Amen 

​          How do you believe beyond belief? How do you believe when no one believes with you? How do you hope and believe when the situation seems hopeless? How do you pray and believe when you know that others have their free will to go their own way? These are the questions going through my mind and heart today. There are so many situations we have had to deal with lately that seem hopeless – impossible.
          This morning I woke up with a headache and heaviness and knew it was time to go to the Lord and let go of the weights I was carrying. I could feel Him taking these burdens off my shoulders one by one and I saw a pile of situations up to my knees. I could physically feel the weight coming off and felt so much lighter. Then I saw the Lord reach down to pick up what was in this pile and as He picked it up all the situations turned into hearts. He took this pile of hearts and put them up to His heart. He took my cares because He cares for me. I heard Him say that these weights were the things of my heart that I cared about and He would now take them to His heart and care for them. Wow! What a relief!
          However, it wasn’t long before I received a phone call and took back from Him a situation I had given Him and all these questions came up. Since this is on my heart today I will share with you what the Lord gives me as I walk this out.
          I have spent the day in prayer seeking His wisdom and guidance. I know the answer is in the Word and was standing on His promises. He told me that I needed to endure and believe His promises. Fear would try to creep in but I know that I will never experience fear while in His presence so I spent so much of my day worshipping Him and being in His presence. Here are some verses from the Word He gave me. I focused on them and can truly have hope and believe.
 
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me, I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.” Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible
 
“Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 Amplified Bible
 
“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Ephesians 3:20 Passion Bible
 
“Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Passion Bible
 
“Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen: for the things that are visible are temporal, brief and fleeting. But the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”                          2 Corinthians 4:17
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.” Psalm 39:7 “And now, God, I’m left with one conclusion: my only hope is to hope in you alone!” Psalm 39:7 Passion
“Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24
I believe today that my hope is in Him and nothing outside of the Lord will stand or bring life into any situation. My hope and expectation are in Him. I rest in His promises with earnest expectation of His love making the difference.
“Why are you down cast, O my soul? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall praise Him, my Help and my God.” Psalm 42:5
“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 Passion Bible
“Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Passion Bible
 
“Be strong, confident and of good courage… Only you be strong and very courageous that you may do according to My word. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left that you may prosper wherever you go. My word shall not depart from out of your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for I the Lord your God am with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9
 
“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:33-34 Passion
 
The Lord had showed me the situation I have prayed about a couple hours before I heard about it officially. I knew no matter what that I needed to believe just like I do for my family.