Day 62: Laborers

Today was a good and productive day. My mother and I began cleaning out her garage, which was quite an ordeal. I called up a friend of mine and asked if he was available for the day to help us out. Thank God, he was able to come over and move some things that would have been difficult (if not impossible) for my mother and I to move. Thanks to my friend, my mother and I were able to get more done so that my father (who had worked all day) wouldn't have to do so much. Thank God for my friend!

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
~Luke 10:2 (KJV)

While we weren't harvesting, we were still doing physically-demanding work with too few laborers. Thanks to God, I have a strong friend who is also generous enough to donate his time to assist with a not-so-fun job... although we did manage to make it entertaining.

I think that this verse can be interpreted several ways. First, is the obvious one: there aren't enough people to help harvest a crop. Second, the 'labourers' are the followers of God who witness to others (perhaps those whose faith isn't as strong or those who don't believe at all), and the 'harvest' occurs when the people who were witnessed to open their hearts and invite God in. I think that the second one is more the case. And I know that it's a bit of a stretch for me to compare my own experience today with the second interpretation, but either way, it's a case of "Ask and ye shall receive." God knew that my mother and I needed help, and therefore sent us someone to assist us. And even if it seems as though we are short-handed, we may not be. God has the amazing ability to know exactly how much we are capable of, and pretty much always, we can do more than we think we can.

Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Lord, please watch over the defenders of Your name and Your children; please bless them with courage and, for those of whom are away from home, please bring them home safely. Please also watch over their families, and give them strength and serenity during times of separation or loss. Please give strength, guidance, courage, and love to those who need them most. I pray that all of Your children are able to contribute to Your own harvest--I certainly hope that I can help too! Whatever You have planned for me I know will be wonderful! Thank You so much for the countless (and endless) blessings You have given to me; I ask that You please continue to bless me as You see fit. Lord, You are so good to me. I ask that You please cleanse me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. Please shine Your light on my feet and guide my steps. Lord, I will serve You in Your harvest forever and ever; please use me as You will. No matter what, Lord, I will love You with all of my heart and soul for ALL TIME! I am Yours, Lord, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 61: Impatience

Everyone gets a little impatient at times. Lord knows I do. Sometimes it's stupid little things, like a temperamental computer. Occasionally it's "big picture" type stuff. Most of the time, it's stuff I can't even control. I know that I shouldn't be like that, and I've been making progress, but I still have a long way to go.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
~1 Timothy 6:6-7 (KJV)

Being content, in my opinion, has no disadvantages. When you're content, you're happy where you are and take life as it comes. Better yet, when you're content, God is happy too. He likes to see His children happy. Plus, I think it makes communicating with us much easier for Him, and we receive His messages much faster because we're willingly listening. We shouldn't let ourselves get bogged down with the little (and sometimes big) things going on around us--they only distract us from what is truly important. We came here without anything and we're going to leave here without anything, so what we have while we're here on earth is just temporary. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "If your problem has a solution, then why worry about it? If your problem doesn't have solution, then why worry about it?" It really is a great sentiment. When you have a problem, give it to God and He will help you to fix it His way on His time (so your work load just lessened immensely, but not completely). Sometimes it'll have a fairly clear solution. Other times, it will leave you completely baffled. Either way, we all need to learn to just trust God. No problem will arise unless it has a specific purpose, so just accept it for what it is and let God show you how that problem is going to benefit you.

Lord, thank You for this beautifully gorgeous day! Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; please watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Please watch over the defenders of Your name and Your children; please bless them with courage and strength, and bring those who are abroad home safely. Please watch over those who need guidance, strength, protection, and love. Please also watch over those who have not yet invited You into their hearts; may they be blessed with family and friends who live their lives in You whom You can work through. I pray that I can be a witness to others, but whatever You have planned for me, Lord, I will greatly and gladly follow. Please forgive me of my sins, and continue to guide me down Your path and teach me how to become a better person--more patient, content, and loving/caring. You have given me so much, and You have done so much for me thus far, I could say 'Thank You' continuously from now until You call me home and it STILL wouldn't be enough. You are wonderful, Lord. You are my Creator, my Father, and my Savior and I will follow You forever and ever. I shall always be Your child, and I will love You with all my heart and soul forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 60: Losses and Gains

I have so much--a wonderful family, terrific friends, the most adorable pets, a wide array of talents (not trying to sound boastful, but I can't deny that God has blessed me in that respect), an excellent home, plentiful food, adequate clothing, and a few small luxuries. God has truly blessed me, but none of those blessings hold a candle to the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, our Salvation, our Hope. He faced ridicule, humiliation, torment, and pain just so EVERYONE else could live a good life. And those who invite him in to their hearts and keep the commandments of God will be given eternal life. That is amazing.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
~Philippians 3:7-9 (KJV)

Christ suffered and lost his earthly life so that all the children of God would gain eternal life. Whatever you have, Jesus paid for it with his blood. Nowadays, the world is so materialistic, it's blinded many people and, as a whole, has lost sight of what's really important. I mean, you definitely need the basic necessities for living (food, shelter, clothing, etc.), and it's okay to have a few extras here and there, but don't put your faith in your physical stuff. You don't have to give up everything you have, just "lose" the idea that your possessions are more important so that you can "win" eternal life through Jesus Christ. Only he has the ability to save. People and the things that people make aren't righteous--God and Jesus are. As I said yesterday, the things of this earth are temporary and nothing physical will last forever. God, however, is eternal, as is his son. So, why should we even consider putting faith in something that will eventually break down to dust instead of putting our faith in God??? It seems pretty obvious to me. No amount of stuff could ever equate to the sacrifices that God and Jesus both made out of love.

Lord, thank You for this day, for it was beautiful and good and productive. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Please also watch over and bless those who defend Your name and Your children as well as those who are in need of defending. Thank You for all of the countless blessings You have given me. Thank You for my health as well! Lord, please forgive me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. Thank You for sacrificing Your one and only son so that I may be forgiven. Lord, thank You for Your eternal, everlasting love. I pray that everyone on earth has the opportunity to feel Your love and bask in Your light. Lord, I pray that I am able to accomplish any task that You set before me, and I hope that I have at least one opportunity to lead someone to love You. NO MATTER WHAT, I shall ALWAYS love You, Lord. I shall follow You forever and ever and ever! I'm Yours, Lord, for all time. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 59: Size Doesn't Matter

Today, I once again experienced some slight discrimination based on my supposed young age. My mother and I went to a mall that we only go to on rare occasions. Upon arrival, we began looking at purses in a large department store. I stepped around a corner to look at a purse that caught my eye, and instantly an older saleswoman steps up and asks me if I need any assistance. I politely declined and informed her that I was just looking. No big deal. However, what did bother me a bit was that after that, the woman kept following me around and surreptitiously watching what I was doing. Other women came and went, but she just kept an eye on me. I tried not to let it get to me, but it still made me feel a bit degraded. I'm sure the woman was just doing her job, and she may not have even been doing that. If she was, she may not have even realized it. Regardless of that, though, I still think that every person should treat every potential customer the same regardless of gender, age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc. But even so, I pray that God helps me to give people the benefit of the doubt when they think I am younger than what I actually am.

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
~Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (KJV)

It's okay to be young-looking and small. Israel, as it says in the above verses, was pretty small. God didn't care about Israel's size; He still loved its people! God made a promise that He would take care of them forever, not because they were numerous or that they promised him that they would increase their population, but because He loves his children! God doesn't discriminate based on size, age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, appearance, possessions, worldly knowledge, etc. Just so long as you worship God and accept Jesus Christ as your one and only Lord and Savior, then it doesn't matter who you are! You are a child of God and He loves you! He will lead you and deliver you from bondage!

Lord, thank You for this day. It was a great day that included some great learning experiences. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy; and may they all be blessed with the desires of their hearts. Thank You for the men and women who are the defenders of Your name and Your word; please bless them with all that they desire, for they deserve Your blessings; please watch over them, give them strength and courage, and may You bring them home safely. Please also watch over the families of Your army; please bless them with strength and serenity in times of separation and/or loss. Please comfort those who need comforting, strengthen those who need strengthening, and guide those who need guidance. I pray that those who do not believe in You come to see Your light and invite You into their hearts. Lord, please cleanse me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path--please shape me into the person You envision me to be. Whatever You have planned for me, I will greatly do! Thank You for the infinite blessings You have given to me, and I humbly ask that You continue to bless me as You always have. I shall worship You forever and ever, Lord, no matter what! You are the light that shines in my life, and I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER turn away from You! I will ALWAYS be Your child forever and ever! I love You so much, Lord, with all my heart and soul and everything I am. Thank You for Your love and guidance, and I shall ALWAYS be Yours! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 58: The Unseen

Faith is a very complex thing. That pretty much goes without saying, considering that God is so beautifully complex. It's probably also considered complex because there isn't always "obvious" evidence that can be easily seen by everyone. However, when there's evidence, that makes it general knowledge and defeats the purpose of faith. I know that there's a God and that His son, Jesus Christ, died for the sins of the world; but God wants people to believe in Him based on faith, not on hard evidence. Why? Because anyone can accept a fact, but that doesn't mean they believe in it with all their hearts.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
~2 Corinthians 4: 1-18 (KJV)

By giving ourselves to God, we are turning our backs on dishonesty, deceit, and any other ungodly acts. Instead, we are adopting love and honesty. Unfortunately, some people are blinded by worldly things. It's not about what humans do (or have), it's about what God and Jesus do because God is the one in charge; He is the Father and we are His children, as it should be. Even if children think that they can take care of themselves, they can't--they need their parents. With everything that God has done for us, we don't even have to worry about death. First off, He gave His one and only son Jesus to die for our sins, and by inviting Him into our hearts and following the Word of God, we will be granted eternal life with God in Heaven. The power of God that revived Jesus will also revive us. That power continues to renew us more every single day. Everything God does is for our sakes because He (and He alone) knows exactly what is best for us, his children--God won't let us "faint," as it says in the above verses, even if we experience hardships. Even though the trials and tribulations we go through may seem difficult to us, they are minuscule in the grand scheme of things, but help to prepare us for greater things and, of course, shape us into the God-fearing Christians that God wants us to be. That is why faith, not fact, is necessary. Anything that we can see can't last forever, but the "unseen" (like God and Heaven) will thrive for all eternity. Even though faith may not be easy, it's what is right, and it's what I will never abandon.

Lord, thank You for this day--it was gorgeous! Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please continue to watch over them and bless them as You always have. Please also watch over the defenders of Your name and Your children as well as those who are unable to defend themselves; may the all be blessed with Your protection and guidance. Please bless those who do not have faith in You with good Christian family and friends whom you can work through to teach the non-believers to open their hearts in earnest to You. Merciful Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and I ask that You please show me my faults and how to eliminate/fix them. Please continue to guide me down Your path, and please help me to overcome any obstacles that arise. Lord, I ask that You please work through me to help others in their struggles and/or to find You, or however You wish to use me! I will do whatever You want me to do. Thank You for everything I am, and everything/everyone that I have in my life. Lord, I am truly blessed by You. I shall follow You and only You forever and ever. I love You with all of my heart and soul and being, and I always will no matter what! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 57: Courage

I received some shocking news today. One of my best friends is joining the army. Mind you, it was the last thing I (or any of our friends) expected him to do. It's not that he isn't capable of being a soldier, it's just that he was close to graduating from college and seemed content in what he was doing. Then one day, he just decided to switch gears, drop out of school and enlist. When I heard the news, I could feel my stomach drop as if I was on a roller coaster--I was completely speechless. I've known people who have gone into the army, but it never hit me this hard. I never understood the apprehension some people feel when someone they knew wanted to enlist... until now.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
~Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

In all honesty, I was scared. Every worst-case scenario came rushing in all at once until it flooded my brain and my heart with one intense feeling of opposition. It's a good thing I was so shocked and speechless, otherwise I might have started listing all the reasons why he shouldn't go. But thankfully God closed my mouth and opened my ears. My friend had to ask if I was still there because I didn't say anything for a solid ten seconds. He knew I was shocked, so he proceeded to explain why he was joining--that he had been considering it for a few years, and he felt that now was the time. I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was excited and sincere about joining, and the impulse to beg him not to go diminished to almost nothing. If he feels in his heart that it's the right thing to do, how can I say no? Such a sincere passion can only be from God, and I cannot go against God's plan. I should not and will not be afraid of that which is God's will.

Lord, please fill me with courage and serenity. Please watch over my family, friends, and pets; please bless them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Please watch over the men and women who defend Your name and Your children; please keep them strong and courageous and bring them home safely. Please also watch over their families, and bless them with strength and serenity in times of separation and/or loss. Please watch over all of Your children--may they be filled with courage, peace, wisdom, love and (most importantly) faith in You. Lord, please forgive me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. I will follow You forever, Lord. Without You, I am nothing. I love You above all else, Lord, with all my heart and soul and then some. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 56: Mercy

Everyone goes through hard times--some more than others, perhaps, but no one is exempt. I myself face difficult challenges every day. By no means am I trying to argue that my life is any more challenging than anyone else's, because I know that there are others who struggle much more than I do. However, just because each of us faces our own unique obstacles doesn't mean that we have to conquer them alone. God is on our side.

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
~Psalm 56:1-13 (KJV)

Okay, I know this is a long one, but I felt compelled to use the chapter in its entirety; it really is a simple yet beautiful prayer. I especially like the fact that it repeats, sort of like a song. Not only is it rhythmically pleasing, it emphasizes the message of this passage: praise God and trust Him. Also, while I can't speak for everyone, it's easy to repeat oneself when praying. That isn't a bad thing! If you really need guidance and/or strength, you may find yourself repeating the same thing over and over. If you're praising God and thanking Him repeatedly, I don't think He minds. You don't have to be a loquacious scholar to pray "correctly." You just need to speak from your heart.

Now, onto the actual message. The world may be a cruel place, but that doesn't mean that God is any further away from us. On the contrary, living in such a troubled place brings us closer to God. Even though there is evil in the world, God is with us--there is no need to fear. With His infallible protection, nothing on earth can touch our souls. Our bodies may age and get hurt, but our souls are protected by God. Think of your body as a house and your soul as a person: if your house is destroyed, you can still survive because God is your insurance! Nothing that happens to our bodies can damage our spirits if we keep our faith and trust strong in God Almighty!

Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Lord, I ask that You please bless them with the desires of their hearts, just so long as they are in line with Your plans. Please watch over those who serve this country and defend Your name; please bless them with strength and courage and bring them home safe. Please watch over their families and friends and bless them with strength as well, especially in times of separation and/or loss. Bless those who cannot defend themselves with family and friends who can help to defend and take care of them. I pray that those who do not believe in You are blessed with good Christian family and friends who can help bring the non-believers back to You, Lord. I ask that You please watch over me and give me strength in tough times. Please forgive me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path as You always have. I trust and love You, Lord, with all of my heart and soul and mind and being. I am forever Yours no matter what happens. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 55: Storms

I'm typing this during a tornado watch. Lots of praying going on. There have been numerous storms over the past few weeks, along with one tornado that hit a town not far from home. I realize that the weather and the temperature recently have been prime conditions for severe weather. But I know that God will watch over His children and take care of them in such times.

When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
~Deuteronomy 4:30-31 (KJV)

Here, God promises that even though we may experience trials and tribulations (and even a storm or two), He will not abandon His faithful and obedient children. God loves His children, and He will take care of all of us just so long as we honor Him as our Father and follow His Word. That's an awesome relationship, if you ask me. And it just shows how vast and deep God's love is--it has to be infinite to extend to that many people on such an intimate level. God is SO amazing! He is with each and every one of us at all times to guide us and protect us.

Lord, please watch over us. Please keep Your hand over us, and keep us safe this day and every day. Thank You for the countless blessings You have given me. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Please bless them with all of the desires of their hearts that are in line with Your plans. Please watch over those who defend Your name and this country; I ask that You please give them strength and courage and bring them home safe. Please also watch over their loved ones; please comfort them in times of separation and/or loss. Please watch over those who cannot defend/take care of themselves; please bless them with loved ones who will be able to defend and care for them. And please watch over those who do not believe in You, and may they be blessed with good Christian family members and/or friends who can help lead them back to You, Lord. Thank You again for everything (and everyone) in my life. Lord, I ask that You please watch over me, cleanse me of my sins, and continue to guide me down Your path. I love You with all my heart and soul, Lord, and I always will praise and worship and follow You NO MATTER WHAT! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 54: Teaching

Life is so unpredictable. Yesterday comes to my mind instantly. The answers to our questions aren't clear. Sometimes we don't even know what questions we need to be asking. Most people usually shoot right for the typical cop-out questions like "Why?" or "Why me?" I'm not questioning their validity, it's just that there are much better questions to ask than those. It's difficult to say what constitutes a better question because it depends on the individual situation, which thereby makes the list of "Good Questions to Ask" infinitely long. But even if you can't come up with anything more than "why," it's not the end of the world; it just means that you're not ready for the answer(s) to the question(s) you haven't thought of yet. If you're confused, please just try to bear with me.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
~Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)

Life is basically a series of tests set forth by God to see if our hearts are in line with His commandments. Some of these tests we can see coming and we have a bit of time to prepare for them. And then there are pop quizzes that do just that--pop up when we least expect them to. They're not bad... they may seem inconvenient to us, but we've got to comply with God's schedule, not the other way around. It's actually better that some of the tests are surprises. God is like a teacher--actually, he's THE Teacher. He must create an individual "lesson plan" for each of us so that we learn what we're supposed to while we're here on earth. By testing us when we least expect it, God is checking to see how much we know about a situation so that he can plan out each lesson accordingly. It's like a pre-assessment in school--if you know the material already then you can move on to the next lesson, if not, the teacher decides how to teach you and how much time will be needed to teach. You can't move on unless you know the material and can pass the test. I know that most people don't like tests, but it's not as scary as it sounds! God is always there to help us and guide us if we ask for it. Not to mention, we're allowed to use His Book on all the tests. (Hehehe, I love analogies.) And best of all, you're allowed to retake the tests!

Lord, thank You for this day and all days. They are all a special and spectacular gift from You. Thank You for all the blessings You have given to me, the most important of these of course being my family, friends, and pets. I ask that You please watch over them, and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. I also ask that you bless them with the desires of their hearts. Please also watch over those who defend Your name and this country; please bless them with courage and bring them home safe. Please watch over their loved ones; please bless them with serenity every day, and strength in times of separation and/or loss. Please also guide those who are involved with cleaning up the BP oil spill; please bless someone with an affordable and successful solution. Please cleanse me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. Lord, I love You SOOOO much. I know that I get frustrated sometimes (I'm only human), but I know that everything that happens is a part of Your plan and You know best. Thank You, Lord, for everything I have and everything I am; and I will walk with You forever, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 53: Paths

God always answers my prayers, albeit not always in the ways that I expect. Case in point: I mentioned two days ago that I've been thinking about entering a local contest, but as I've been unsure, I've been praying a lot about it and asking God to let me know whether I should enter or not. Today, I received some very interesting financial information--I won't go into details because I just rather wouldn't, but basically I could have saved some money had I done something different. It's neither here nor there now, but it was pretty upsetting. Despite that, I wasn't as upset as I thought I would be... I mean, it's not like I can go back in time and change what I did. Also, God works in mysterious ways. The first thing I thought of was, "This is okay. God is going to show me what to do to fix this." Three ideas kept popping up in my head, one of which was the contest. While there's no guarantee that I'll even come close to winning, it's worth a shot. Maybe the events of today were God's way of getting me motivated--pushing me in the right direction, guiding me toward what I'm supposed to do.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
~Proverb 3:5-6 (KJV)

I'm only human. I can't see into the future, or know exactly what is going to happen. No one can do that but God, which is why I trust Him. I can't understand everything (and I honestly don't think I would want to), but I do know that God has promised to take care of and guide His children and I know that He will continue to fulfill that promise. My own understanding is as narrow as a spider's thread in comparison to the entire universe. I know that God will guide me. He will let me know exactly what to do and when to do it... and I will follow His plan.

Lord, thank You for this day... it may have been a little hectic and even stressful at times, but all-in-all, it was a great day! Thank You for unexpected answers to prayers. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; and I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Lord, please continue to bless them and provide for them as you always have. Please watch over those who defend Your name and this country. I ask that You please bless them with courage and bring them home safely. Please watch over their families as well and give them strength in times of separation and/or loss. Please watch over those less fortunate and bless them. Please also watch over those who do not believe in You; please bless them with family and friends whom You can work through to guide them. Lord, I ask that You please bless me with serenity, courage, wisdom, patience, and understanding. Please forgive me of my sins and please continue to guide me down Your path. Lord, I will always follow You and only You no matter what, and I will love You with all of my heart, soul, and being forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 52: Fathers

Today is Father's Day, and it was certainly a beautiful and enjoyable one. My parents and my father's parents all went out to breakfast together which was nice since we don't get to spend as much time together as we should. My father and grandfather opened their cards and gifts, all of which they loved. Afterward, my parents and I went shopping at a few stores, had lunch together, went for a nice long walk and basically just spent the entire day together. I honored my father, but I wish I could have done more for him considering everything he has done for me over the years.

In addition to fathers around the globe, everyone should also be honoring THE Father, God Almighty.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
~Proverbs 4:11-13 (KJV)

I think that these verses really show how fatherly God is (although it's just the tip of the iceberg)--He is a teacher, a leader, and an adviser. Not to mention He catches us when we fall. This is what good earthly fathers do, too--they teach us the difference between right and wrong, they lead and provide for their families, they give their children advice when they need it, and they would do anything for their loved ones. Fathers are the men whom God facilitates as guardians and protectors. And while many of them don't fight in great battles every day, they are still by far the most noble men on earth. Without fathers, we would have died out thousands of years ago; and of course, without God the Father, NONE of us would be here! So spend some time with your dad today, and if you can't, at least give him a call/text/email. Tell him how much he means to you and how much you love him--it is guaranteed to make his day. And even though God deserves everyone's praise every day, make it a point today to give extra praise to God for being the Ultimate Father.

Lord, thank You for everything that You do. Thank You for providing for my family and me. Thank You for always being there for me and comforting me when I needed it most. Thank You for Your endless love and blessings for me and all of Your children. Lord, thank You for my father--he is an amazing man and I love him dearly. Thank You for all of Your blessings. I ask that You please watch over my family, friends, and pets--please keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Lord, please watch over those who defend Your name and this country as well as their families--please give them courage and reunite them safely. Please watch over those who cannot defend themselves, and please bless them with family and friends who will support and defend them. Lord, I ask that You please forgive me of my sins, and continue to guide me down Your path. Please bless me with wisdom, serenity, and courage. Lord, whatever You have planned for me, I will most certainly do. I love You, Lord, with all of my heart and soul, and I always will. You will always be number one in my life, and I will always follow You, Lord. Happy Father's Day! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 51: Purpose

Wow, today was spectacular! The weather was beautiful, and it was a lot of fun too! Unfortunately, my father had to work, but my mother and I went out shopping together which was extremely enjoyable. Not to mention we definitely got our exercise! Later in the evening, my parents and I played a trivia-based board game whose ending was about as close as one could get! It was indeed a good day--it may not have been exactly what we planned (because it wasn't). In fact, it was even BETTER! And, of course, it's what God intended. His plans always work out for the best.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
~Romans 8:28 (KJV)

God always plans things out in such a way that we, his children, turn out better because of those plans. Even if it seems bad at the time, it always results in something even better than what we ourselves planned. We each have a purpose laid out by God that we will fulfill by following His plans. All of our lives are linked together, and what happens to an individual effects others' whether it's directly or indirectly related. Sometimes a plan or purpose isn't clear, but with a little prayer, God will show the way.

I'm currently in such a dilemma. I recently heard about a local contest that revolves around something that I've been told I'm good at. I've been thinking about it, and I'm debating on whether to enter or not. Part of the prize is monetary, which would greatly help out the financial situation, but it's no guarantee that I would win. It would be an excellent experience to enter, but I don't know if it's what I'm supposed to do. Lord, I ask that You please guide ALL of my decisions--the aforementioned one in particular at the present time. I ask that You please put it in my heart whether or not I'm supposed to do this. If it is written in Your plan for me to do this, then I ask that You please give me courage, strength, and serenity to participate. I trust You, Lord, with all of my heart and soul, and I know that You will point me in the right direction.

Lord, thank You for this day--it was wonderful! I ask that You please watch over my parents, friends, and pets; please keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Please watch over Your children who defend others as well as those who need defending. Please guide them, Lord. Please cleanse me of my sins, Lord, and continue to guide me down Your path. I shall follow You now and forever, Lord, because I know that You are the only one who can give me everything, most importantly eternal life through Jesus Christ! Lord, I love You infinitely and unconditionally. I will be Your child forever and ever no matter what! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 50: Hope

Happy 50th Post Day! Haha, okay, so I just made that up... but I'm still happy to hit the halfway-to-one-hundred mark even if I did miss a few days here and there. I hope that I am able to write many, many, many more daily posts praising God and spreading His Message. I also hope that God continues to guide me in all that I do, including my writings which I post here. But with hope in God, I know I won't have a problem doing His will.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
~Romans 8:24-25

I seriously love these verses. In all honesty, I just read them the other day for the first time, and they really hit home in a good way. They are a terrific response for non-believers who demand physical proof that God exists. In my opinion, the whole universe--people, animals, trees, plants, water, rocks, planets, the sun--is evidence that God exists. How else could everything work together so perfectly? That takes some extensive divine planning! But I digress.

Hope and faith in God and Jesus Christ are what saves us. If there was clear(er) evidence of God's existence, more people would believe in Him, but one wouldn't know if it was because they truly loved and trusted Him or if it was just because they had proof of His existence. That's why the evidence that is out there isn't clear to most people. Why hope for something you can see? It's right there, so there isn't any real reason why one would need to "believe" in it. However, when we can't see something (clearly), it teaches us to be patient and wait until we can "see" it, particularly within our hearts. That's a pretty neat design when you think about it.

Lord, thank You for this day, for it was indeed a good one. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets--I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. May they all sleep well and wake rested and refreshed. Please watch over those who defend Your name and this country and all that is good in the world; please bless them with courage and bring them home safely. Please also watch over those who are unable to defend themselves; I ask that You please bless them with good Christian family and/or friends who will encourage and stand up for them. Please forgive me of my sins, and please continue to guide me down Your path, Lord. I trust that whatever You have planned for me is the best plan that could be devised, and I will follow Your plan no matter what--I will follow YOU, Lord, with all of my heart and soul no matter what! I will always have hope in You and only You. I love You, Lord, and I would never trade that love for ANYTHING in the universe, EVER! I am Yours, Lord, forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 49: Mom

Today is my mom's birthday, so I thought that I would do a little "tribute blog" in her honor. As I was perusing websites trying to decide what verse(s) to use for today's entry, I found the following:

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
~1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (KJV)

These verses fit my mom to a "T." She is such a good and compassionate Christian woman. Her faith is exceptionally strong, and I admire that immensely. She has been blessed in so many ways--she's talented, beautiful, kind, intelligent, compassionate, caring, generous, wise, and loving (among countless other things). She is a wonderful wife and mother. She has always been there for me no matter what. God works through her continuously to give guidance and encouragement to others. She has supported me through tough times and celebrated with me in good times. I am truly, truly blessed to be the child of such a spectacular woman. Words cannot describe my love for her, and my gratitude to God for giving me such a grand gift.

Lord, thank You for this day. It was terrific! Thank You for blessing my mother with such a good birthday. Thank You for letting me spend the day with my mother doing things that we love to do and celebrate her birth and her existence here on earth--without her, I wouldn't be here. Lord, I ask You to please watch over her; keep her safe and strong, happy and healthy; and please bless her with every desire of her heart. Please do the same for my father and the rest of my family and friends and pets. Please watch over those who defend Your name and this country; please bless them with courage and please bring them home safe. Please watch over those who cannot defend themselves; please bless them with strength and may each of them have someone in his/her life that You are working through. Please forgive me of my sins, Lord, and continue to guide me down Your path. Lord, please bless me with serenity, courage, and patience. Lord, I ask that You please work through me to help others. Lord, I will love You and follow You with all my heart and soul forever and ever, Lord, without question. Thank You for everything, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 48: Judgment

It's difficult to respond to someone with whom you disagree with. I can't exactly speak for everyone, but it's disgustingly easy to give someone a verbal reaming. It takes effort to keep one's composure and not go into that childhood cop-out argument of "Nuh-uh, Yeah-huh" that goes on forever.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
~Philippians 1:9-10 (KJV)

I like to think that I'm a pretty darn patient person, at least toward other people... toward myself or uncooperative technology is a different story altogether. However, even my limits are tested. Case in point: a friend of mine told me about something/someone that really ruffled his feathers. I thought that it was a pretty petty reason to be upset, although I didn't tell him that exactly. However, I did try to calmly come up with explanations to help him see the situation differently). Unfortunately, that didn't work. On top of that, the initial topic led into another one that we also disagreed on. While it didn't decline into the infamous "Nuh-huh, Yeah-huh" debate, it was apparent that we were both perturbed with each other.

Okay, I'm no psychologist (although, I have studied quite a bit) but there are several things to keep in mind when a situation such as this arises. First, don't blame the other person--give him/her the benefit of the doubt. You never know how a persons feels or what he/she has gone through to make him/her feel that way. Blaming only detracts from the maturity of the disagreement and makes things worse. Second, think about what you want to say before you say it. The beauty of my situation was that the conversation was online, so I had the advantage of proofreading my responses before sending them. NEVER say/send any comment that is hurtful or untrue. And it never hurts to say a quick prayer to God to grant you with the correct words to say and the patience to refrain from saying anything else.

Lord, thank You for this day. It was indeed a good day. Please forgive me of my sins, Lord, for I am imperfect. Please bless me with patience, strength, serenity, and self-confidence. Lord, please bless my family, friends, and pets; keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Watch over the defenders of all that is good. Please continue to guide me down Your path, Lord. You are the most important thing in my life, and I shall follow You with all of my heart and soul forever and ever. I love You, Lord! In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 47: Change of Plans

WOW... today was CRAZY! This morning, I was supposed to run an errand to drop a few things off somewhere. I was almost to where I needed to be when I realized I forgot what I was supposed to take. So I turned around, went back home, grabbed the bag I had packed and headed back out. I get all the way back over to my destination and I realized that none of what I needed was in the bag I packed! I couldn't believe that I had forgotten the same things TWICE!!! Needless to say I was pretty frustrated with myself, not to mention exhausted from going back and forth. I relayed the whole event to my mother who replied, "Maybe there was somewhere that you just weren't supposed to be for whatever reason." I love a mother's wisdom, particularly my mother.

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
~Proverbs 19:21 (KJV)

Just because we make plans doesn't mean that they're going to work out precisely every time. Case in point: my day today. I planned on dropping a few things off somewhere in the morning and then running some other optional errands (i.e., shopping) with my mother. Obviously that didn't happen or I wouldn't be writing about this particular topic at present--I would be waiting for a time when my plans hadn't worked out for whatever reason. Yes, I'll admit, I was pretty upset at the time (and the few hours that followed), but it's okay. God knows everything that I don't, so He undoubtedly saw something that I couldn't. So what if I didn't get to do a few trivial things? It's not like I was donating a kidney... and even if I had been, God knows best. For that reason, I trust in the Lord completely. Whatever He has planned for me is what I'll do.

Lord, thank You for this day. I know I didn't react the best (and I ask that You please forgive me for that), but I can see now that it was for the best. Please watch over my parents, grandparents, family, friends, and pets; please keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Continue to bless them as you always have. Please bless them with their hearts' desires. Lord, please watch over those who defend Your name, this country, and/or those who cannot defend themselves. Please bless them with courage and bring them home safely. Please forgive me of my sins, and continue to walk with me down Your path. Lord, I love You with all of my heart and soul and I wouldn't give up that love for ANYTHING! I shall follow You and only You, Lord, forever and ever. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 46: Great Things

Oh, Lord... THANK YOU!!! All of my projects are DONE! FINISHED! COMPLETED!!! Well, at least for now... but there shouldn't be any more big ones (at least not this big) for a while. For a while, I wasn't sure I was going to finish, but I just kept praying to God to get me through, and He most certainly did! I was on the computer practically all day, but my eyes didn't get fatigued; I was up until 2am and woke up only a few hours later without an alarm and felt pretty good (considering the lack of sleep); and was able to do the day's work successfully without any notable glitches. THANK YOU, GOD!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
~Psalm 71:19-24 (KJV)

The level of stress I have been under the last few weeks has been high, and it reached it's maximum yesterday. There were a few times when I thought I was going to break down, but every time I got to that point I prayed to God harder--I asked God to help me remain calm and complete what I needed to. Oh, my gosh! The waves I felt wash over me were AMAZING!!! One minute I was ready to burst into tears and the next I felt more peaceful than I have in a while. I can't describe it. God is truly amazing and spectacular beyond words, and there is indeed no one and nothing like Him!

God shows us both good and bad times, but the bad times help us to do a few things. One reason is that bad times teach us to appreciate and cherish the good times. Everything has an opposite... nothing "one-sided" can exist. The most important reason of all, however, is to bring us closer to God and teach us how to depend on Him and Him alone. God is perpetually teaching every single one of us how to be stronger, greater, kinder, more patient, etc. He comforts us when we're low and carries us when we cannot even stand on our own. That is the epitome of amazing, awesome, fabulous, fantastic, spectacular, splendorous, terrific, wonderful, and all those other great adjectives combined times infinity!

Lord, thank You for this day. It was DEFINITELY a good day. Thank You for all of your guidance and support and assistance, particularly in recent times. I could not have done it without You, Lord. Please watch over my family, friends, and pets; and please keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. May that all have a good night's sleep and wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Lord, please watch over those who defend this country and Your name; please bless them with courage and strength and bring them home safe. Comfort their families in times of separation and/or loss. And please watch over those who cannot defend themselves. Thank You for all of my countless blessings, and I ask that You continue to bless my family, friends, and myself as You always have. I shall forever praise You! Lord, please cleanse me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. Lord, I will follow you body, mind, and spirit forever NO MATTER WHAT! Please continue to keep me strong, and may I become closer to You every day. Help shape me into the person You want me to be, Lord. I will work my hardest for You, Lord. I love You with all of my heart and soul forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 45: Burdens

Oh, Lord, I wish I had the time to write. I still have so much to do and so very little time. Lord, please stretch the next 48 hours so that I may accomplish what I need to for Monday.

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
~Psalm 55:22(KJV)

God, I give this to You. I can't do it on my own. Lord, please give me strength and endurance. Please give me the words and knowledge to fulfill the tasks I have been given. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayers and giving me the desires of my heart in due time.

Please Lord, help me and guide me. Please bless my family, friends and pets; keep them all safe and strong, happy and healthy. Lord, please forgive me of my sins and continue to guide me down Your path. I will always serve You and only You, God Almighty. Lord, I love You with all of my heart and soul and then some and I always will. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 44: Prayers

I've been under a lot of stress lately. I have three HUGE projects due Monday, and I have two prior commitments to attend to tomorrow, so time is tight this weekend. I've just returned from a few moments of prayer accompanied by deep breathing to calm myself down. I shouldn't worry. God has never failed me. Whenever something important comes up and I don't think I'm going to finish, I always seem to have just enough time. I just need to remember more to practice what I preach--don't worry and give it to God. That being said, Lord, I give this to You... I am only human, and I cannot do this on my own. I need You, Lord. And that being said, thank You, Lord, for my work for it is moving me in the direction You wish me to go in.

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
~Ephesians 1:16-23 (KJV)

All of us need to remember to pray to God and thank Him for what we have, especially in busy, stressful times. God will never give us more than we can handle, and He knows our limits better than we do. We tend to underestimate ourselves. Plus, the work we are given is moving us closer to what God wants us to do. And whatever you are moved to do, make sure you glorify and thank God because whatever happens in life is a part of His plan. Honest hard work moves you closer to God, and that's reason enough to give thanks! Living in Christ and the Word of God makes us stronger, better Christians, especially when it comes with hard work. So thank God when you're feeling a little bit stressed out from having so much to do... it means that you have a job and a purpose! And don't doubt the power of God. If He can raise His son Jesus Christ from the dead, then He can do ANYTHING!!!

Lord, thank You for this day. It may have been busy, but it was good. I accomplished much, and I know that with Your guidance, I will finish what I am meant to this weekend--I humbly ask that You please stretch my time so that I may accomplish everything that I am meant to. Lord, please watch over my family, friends, and pets; please bless them and keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Please watch over those who work hardest by defending this country and Your good name; please give them courage and bring them home safe. Lord, please forgive me of my sins and continue to guide me along Your path. I know that sometimes I get impatient with either myself or others, but Lord, I do not mean to. Please help me to learn to be more patient, more confident, and more content. Lord, thank You so much for life, for work, and for all the blessings You have given to me. Lord, I love You with all my heart and soul even when I'm stressed out. I will never, ever give up my faith in You, Lord. Jesus Christ is and shall always be my one and only Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 43: Gifts

Every person on earth has been given certain gifts from God. These gifts were specifically chosen by God--no two people have been given the same gifts. These could be family, friends, talents, food, homes/shelter, clothing, etc. The list goes on and on. However, there is one gift that everyone has received whether they want to accept it or not, and that's God's Love.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
~1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)

I'll apologize ahead of time if I'm taking this verse (or any verse, for that matter) out of context. When I read the words "the gift," I first thought of the talents that God has given each of us, but then rereading the verse, I saw that it said the gift rather than a gift. That's when I assumed that the verse was referring to the best gift God could give any of us: His love. That's also the gift that can and should be passed on to everyone. Everyone needs to be a "good steward" of God's infinite grace. If more people practiced that, I don't think the world would have half the problems that it has now. God created the world, and He loves His children who live in the world... so, if you think about it, love does, indeed, make the world go 'round because God is Love!

Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Lord, please watch over those who defend this country and Your name; they deserve love from every person they defend and then some. Please bless them with courage and bring them home safe. Lord, please show Your children how to spread Your Word and Your love, and may that love be contagious. Please cleanse me of my sins, Lord, and continue to guide me through life. Please walk with me down Your path and please shape me into the person You want me to be. Let me be a spreader of Your love, especially to those who do not believe in You. Lord, I love You with all my heart and soul, and I will follow You forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 42: Gone Astray

Okay, I know I said that I would try not to miss anymore, and I feel extremely bad about missing last night, but I was finishing up a project for work and I lost track of time. I know that's a really lame excuse, but it's the sad truth. All this work I've had to do has monopolized my time. I realize it's a necessary part of my life, but still... I can't wait until this session is over so that I may spend more time with my family and friends as well as more time studying the Word of God. I crave more time with God... I feel like I've been neglecting what is truly important.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
~Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV)

Words cannot describe how thankful I am that God sent His one and only son down to earth to endure punishment on the cross for all the world's sins forever. This one act made it so much easier for people to be saved--all they need to do is just ask God's forgiveness in earnest and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In this day and age, there are so many distractions and influences and stimuli in the world that people don't always adhere to God's Word. It's often misinterpreted, taken out of context, or ignored altogether. General faith seems to not as strong as it used to be. Unfortunately, a lot of people have strayed like sheep from their Master. I try to be a good Christian, but I'm not immune to mistakes. But no matter how rough life gets, I am NOT going to give up, I am NOT going to take God or Jesus Christ for granted, and I WILL remain faithful to God Almighty and His son Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your endless love and protection and blessings. Thank You for my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Lord, please watch over those who defend this country and Your Good name; bless them with courage and strength and bring them home safe. Please watch over their families and comfort them in times of separation and/or loss. Please watch over those who are misjudged, mistreated, misunderstood, sick, homeless, or alone; please bless them with at least one person You can work through to help lift them up. Lord, I pray that those who do not believe in You be blessed with family and/or friends who do believe and can help guide the non-believers to You and that they open their hearts to You. Lord, please open my eyes and heart to Your Word and teachings. Please eliminate any doubt that my be within me and prevent any more from sprouting. Lord, I humbly ask that you please forgive me of my sins. Please help me to learn from my mistakes and continue to guide me down Your path so that I may continue to grow and become the person You want me to be, Lord. I know that I am right where You need me to be, and I will be content and do whatever You have planned for me. Lord, I love You with all of my heart and I always will, through good times and bad, no matter what! Every day, I am closer to You, Lord, and I will never stray from Your path. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 41: Separation

I feel sooooooo terrible about missing TWO days of writing! However, it wasn't my choice. Saturday, there was a tornado warning for the area I was staying in (sirens and all). To add to the excitement, my family and I were camping at the time. Thankfully, some friends of ours live less than five miles away, so we went there and spent the night in their basement. It was a nerve-racking experience, and I prayed to God the whole time to keep His hand over us and keep us safe, and indeed He did! Thank You, Lord!!!

I had every intention of writing last night, but when I went to sign in, it said that the site was unavailable! I tried several times, but to no avail. Although, I suppose it worked out for the better because I had two HUGE projects due today, so I made sure I had those finished up. But I still felt guilty about not writing.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
~Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)

Even though circumstances beyond my control separated me from my writing doesn't mean that I was separated from God. In fact, I was closer to Him, especially on Saturday night. I was so nervous, I was shaking, sometimes uncontrollably, and I was afraid I was going to make myself sick. But I just kept talking to God... "Please, Lord, keep us safe." I repeated the Lord's Prayer several times on the way to our friends' house. The rain poured down from a violet-red sky making it almost impossible to see the road, but God guided us through it, and the rain let up just as we arrived so that we could get inside the house safely. I thanked God repeatedly. The first warning expired within the hour, but an hour later, the sirens wailed again. I kept praying to God until I dozed off. The next morning, we returned to our camp site. Everything was fine. No tornado came through our area. THANK GOD!!! Even if one had, I didn't care about any of our stuff... stuff can be fixed or replaced. People, on the other hand, are irreplaceable. I'm glad that there was no damage at all, but I am most thankful that my family is protected by God. Nothing--NOTHING--can separate me or my family from God's love, not even a tornado.

Lord, thank You for this day and all days. Thank You for the love and blessings and protection You give to my family, me, and all of Your children. I ask that You please continue to protect, bless, and love my family, friends, pets, and me. Please, Lord, watch over those who defend this country and Your name; please bless them with courage and please bring them home safely. Please watch over their families as well, and comfort them in times of separation from or loss of their loved ones. Please forgive me of my sins, and continue to guide me down Your path. Lord, nothing can separate me from Your love!!! I will follow You and serve You and only You forever and ever and ever! Lord, I ask You to come into my heart and reside there today, tomorrow, and every tomorrow thereafter for all eternity. I love You, Lord, with all my heart and I always will. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 40: Armour of God

I have to admit, today was a bit rocky. It started out alright, but then work had a bit of a monkey wrench thrown into it... not that that was a bad thing, but it was highly unexpected, which added to both the physical and mental strain. Later on, I was feeling pretty stressed, which was undoubtedly a combination of me being tired on top of other less-controllable factors. Unfortunately, I was letting everything get the best of me, which I shouldn't allow to happen. It's times like that when I need to immediately turn to God and say, "Lord, I need Your help!"

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
~Ephesians 6:10-20 (KJV)

The armour of God is the ultimate protection. It is the only thing that can protect a person from evil, PERIOD. When we trust in the Lord and the fact that He will protect us from anything (and He will), He bestows upon us many things. First, a breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from being tainted by evil. Next, He will shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace so that we will continue to walk on His path. He will give us a shield of faith so that no matter what evil throws at us, it won't touch us let alone harm us. He will give us the helmet of salvation to keep our minds always in line with the His Word, and to keep us always conscious of Jesus Christ and how he died for our sins. Finally, He will give us a sword which is the Word of God and our greatest weapon of all against the forces of evil. Only this armour, the armour of God, can protect us from anything and everything, particularly unseen, otherworldly negative forces.

I feel so terrible for not having complete faith today, even though it wasn't intentional. I allowed my mind to cloud over, and I am ashamed of that. Lord, please forgive me for hiding momentarily rather than donning Your armour immediately. Lord, please fill me with Your love and guidance, and may I never hide again. Please remind me that it's the tough times that build character, teach us lessons, and most importantly, bring us closer to You.

Lord, thank You for this day. It was certainly an experience for learning and personal growth. Please watch over my family, friends, and pets; please guide them and keep them safe, strong, happy, and healthy. Please watch over those who protect and defend those who cannot defend themselves; please give them courage and bring them home safe. Lord, thank You for the infinite blessings You have given to me. Lord, I ask that you please forgive me of my sins, and I ask that You please continue to guide me down Your path. Please give me courage, and please help me to become a better person. Lord, I will always wear Your armour because I know that nothing else can protect me. You are the ultimate protection because You are my Lord and Saviour and You love me! Lord, I love You with all of my heart and soul and I always will. I know that You will see me through both good times and bad, and You will never abandon me. Thank You so much, Lord, for all that You do. You are truly amazing. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 39: Being Merry

Today's theme was similar to yesterday--it started out a little rough, but in the end, it turned out alright. In fact, it turned out great. I won't dwell on the not-so-great parts, because they're over and done and I'm giving them to God. On the other hand, I will definitely recount some of the really good parts. In short, I didn't feel good and wasn't sure if I was going to make it to a band concert at my Alma Mater (my friend's sister was performing along with a few other siblings-of-friends). The longer I sat at home, the worse I felt about not going, so finally it felt like I was kicked in the pants and I ended up going. I'm so glad that I did. I heard one of my favorite pieces played, saw one of my friend's receive a very prestigious award, sang the Alma Mater with all of the soon-to-be graduates and the alumni that were present, and most importantly, I got to visit with people I haven't seen in ages. I only spent about an hour there, but it felt like so much longer... in a good way!

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
~Ecclesiastes 8:15 (KJV)

God has truly blessed me with spectacular friends. They care so much about me. Even one of my friend's younger siblings (whom I haven't talked to much) was genuinely happy to see me up and about. I received strong, wholesome hugs from people I only knew through their friends or siblings. They don't know me well or they haven't known me for long, but they love me anyway! God has truly blessed me in that respect. I have somehow earned special places in the hearts of many, and I feel truly, deeply blessed beyond measure. I am so glad that I went, and I am so glad that I was a part of something so special. I had such a good time and I certainly don't regret going! It was good, clean, honest fun and it was much appreciated. I hope that I can continue to keep in contact with at least some of them, and that we get to share more moments like tonight!

Lord, thank You SO MUCH for this day! I pray that each and every one of my friends is blessed by You! Please watch over my family and friends and pets, and keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Lord, please bless them with their hearts' desires. Thank You SO MUCH for them all, and for all of the blessings You have given to me. I couldn't ask for a better family or a better group of friends, and I can never thank You enough for them! They are my greatest earthly blessing. I ask that You please continue to bless me as You always have. Please forgive me of my sins, and please continue to walk with me and guide me down Your path. I pray that the work I do here on earth brings honor to You, Lord, for I serve You and You alone and I always will! Lord, I love You with all of my heart and soul and I will always love You forever! Thank You again, Lord. You are truly amazing. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 38: Healing

Today was interesting. It started out a little rough, but it turned out to be really good. The weather has been quite fickle lately ('tis the season, right?) and the rain tends to bring about migraines in my family. My mother woke up with one this morning, and after a few hours, I started to get one. Thankfully, we have been led to the discovery of a certain prescription medication that works almost 100% of the time at combating our migraines. The only downfall is it takes about an hour to kick in, so if you wait until the pain is bad to take one, you're still down for the count. My mother was worse off than me, so I took care of her... mostly I just sat nearby and prayed to God that her pain would subside. After a few hours of resting/sleeping, the pain did indeed go away.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
~Psalm 103:2-3 (KJV)

God is AMAZING!!! I know, that's undoubtedly the biggest understatement ever, but there just aren't enough words here on earth to express His greatness. God has the ability to forgive us of our sins and iniquities (if we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and ask to be forgiven). He also has the ability to heal anyone of any ailment. God led some doctor (or team of doctors) to discovering the migraine medication my mother and I take. God led my family to the particular doctors office we currently go to. God led our family doctor to prescribing the migraine medication to my mother years ago and more recently to me. Sometimes I can tell that I won't need to take anything, but other days (like today), it's as if I can sense when I'll definitely need to take my medicine... as if God was whispering, "You're going to need to take something today." (I'm not trying to put words into God's mouth, but that's the only way that I can describe the feeling I get.) God works in myriad mysterious ways constantly. Simple, commonplace things that may not seem very significant(like medicine) are certainly blessings. Only God knows what will work for each of us individually, and only God can determine how and when to heal us of our ailments.

Lord, thank You for this day. I'm so glad that everything turned out alright. Thank You for healing my mother and me. Thank You for migraine medicine. Thank You for blessing us with Your endless strength and support. Lord, thank You so much for my family and friends and pets; I ask that You please keep them safe and strong, happy and healthy. Thank You for everything that I have and everything that I am. I ask that You please continue to bless me as You always have. Please, Lord, I ask that You please forgive me of my sins and help me to become a better, stronger person. Please continue to guide me down Your path and shape me according to Your plan. Lord, no matter what, I will follow You forever and ever, and I will always love You with my entire heart and my entire soul and then some! Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Day 37: Rejoice

Another gorgeous day from God Almighty! I had to do some work, but I still made time to enjoy the weather. I didn't really get to dance, but I did sing a bit, and boy did it feel good!

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
~Jeremiah 31:13 (KJV)

Just because Memorial Day is over for another year doesn't mean that the celebration has to stop. EVERY day should be Memorial Day, not only for our troops both past an present, but for Jesus Christ as well. By restricting this honor and recognition to just one day is like putting a limit on how much we should honor them. I understand that not every day can be a federal holiday, but I think that the idea of year-round thanks should be encouraged.

For those who have fallen, don't mourn. The Lord has taken them safely to Heaven where they will reside eternally in the perfect light of God's love. That alone is reason to celebrate! Yes, it's only natural to cry and feel sad when someone we love passes on, but just remember, the separation is only temporary. So for now, rejoice that they are now with the Lord where there are no illnesses, no wounds, and no worries. Dance! Sing! Celebrate their entry into Heaven!

Lord, thank You for this day. It was simply gorgeous! Thank You for the men and women who have served and/or are currently serving this country. Lord, I ask that You please watch over them, bless them with comfort and courage, and please bring them home safe. Please comfort their families in both times of separation and times of loss. Please remind those who have lost a loved one of the times that they shared together,and that some day soon they will be reunited. Lord, please watch over my family, friends, and pets; I ask that You please keep them safe, strong, happy and healthy. Thank You, Lord, for all of the blessings You have given to me, and I ask that You please continue to provide for and bless my family, friends, and me. Lord, please continue to walk with me and guide me down Your path. Lord, I ask for Your forgiveness, and that You help me to learn from my mistakes. I love You, Lord, with all of my heart and soul and everything else that I am. Everything I do, I do it for You, Lord, and I always will. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.