Too Blessed to be Ungrateful

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I woke up this morning counting my blessings. I hate automated calls...but no matter how many complaints you have throughout your day, you should always be aware of the blessings surrounding them! I have learned that the Blessings always out-weigh the curses! For instance:

Blessing: I woke up this morning
Complaint: to a ringing phone
Blessing: I have a phone
Blessing: I have a bed to sleep in
Complaint: before the alarm went off
Blessing: I have an alarm clock

There are twice as many blessings as there are complaints. Remember that as you start your day!

I learned early on not to depend on others because of the fringe benefits they get for helping me. My family accused me of being ungrateful for all the things they did for me...but usually it was during a time they wanted something in return. My response was always the same: I didn't ASK for your help.

But, over time, I realized that a simple "Thank you" WAS in order, and I had failed to even give THAT. It wasn't until I started saying, "Thank you", that I realized that I had so much to be thankful for, and I was encouraged to do for others in return.

When I began to pass the blessings on, people stopped asking so much from me. No one can accuse me of being "ungrateful" today. I am BLESSED, and I try to show it by being a blessing whenever I can!

Part of being grateful is taking responsibility for your own actions in life. Until you realize that you have much to be thankful for, and that you have failed to acknowledge that, you will always have complaints about what you are given, and you will never see the reasons that God has allowed those things in your life.

I have learned that many of the things I have complained about in my past were great blessings in disguise. But, only after I learned to Thank God for what I was going through.

A death of a loved one? I met some people I had previously not known who, had they not have existed, my own life would not have been as blessed. Furthermore, they became integral parts of my life. I don't thank God for the death of my loved one, I thank Him for the opportunity to be able to see them again someday!

My car wouldn't start? What if there was a bad wreck up the road that my car not starting had prevented me from?

No money? I was able to find resources that I didn't have. It, in turn, enabled my independence even more, and my confidence and trust in God. PLUS, it taught me what I needed to help others in a similiar situation who did not know.

There are so many blessings to be grateful for. The best way to make a blessing into a curse is to be ungrateful. And, the best way to turn a curse into a blessing is to be grateful!

Prayers for SCOTUS

Due to the death of Justice Scalia, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up many critical pro-life cases over the next two months without one of its most ardent defenders of babies.

Cases involving the Texas law that has shut down many abortion facilities as well as six challenges to Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate are to have oral arguments soon.

The American Life League is asking everyone to begin a campaign of prayers for SCOTUS.

Now is the time for us all to storm heaven with prayers for the Supreme Court justices and for our beloved country. The cases that are about to be heard are critical in the fight for the lives of the preborn and we must understand that it is only through fervent prayer that we have a chance of winning the fight.

Whatever your religious denomination, now is the time for prayer.

Please ask God to have mercy on our land and to send the Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds of the justices and bring about Godly decisions in all the cases now pending.

It is expected that most of the decisions will be announced in June, so please keep your prayers storming heaven for the next four months.

NIV Bible owned by the Church of Satan

A lot of people use Bibles that are easier to understand than the King James Version, and that is not a bad thing. It's okay to use such Bibles, but be wary of the translations that you adhere to.

An example is this: There is one translation of the NIV Bible that is owned by the Church of Satan. While it says what the KJV Bible says for the most part, it leaves out some pretty important verses, and twists them so as to downplay the importance of Christ in our lives.

If your Bible does not make Jesus the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, and does not teach that He is the ONLY way into the Kingdom of God, then your translation is faulty and should be thrown in the trash.

When Your Cup Overfloweth

When God has blessed you abundantly, when "your cup overfloweth" and you have more than you need, the next step is to look for someone that God wants to bless with what you have to give.

For instance, recently, I was blessed with a new mattress and box springs. I have a mattress and box springs already, but I have been unable to sleep on it due to the normal wear of my body from hard working. However, the bed is still in good condition and would be perfect for someone who doesn't have one at all.

I have asked God to bless me with someone who needs what I have to give. He did. A lady moved into my apartment complex recently who had nothing at all. No furniture. Only a change of clothes. But, God has blessed me with more than I need in plates, silverware, and furniture. I could not wait to offer God's blessing to her.

When you are blessed, it is not for you to keep what you have, but for you to use what you have to bless others. God provides what you need to survive. When He blesses you with more than you need, it is for the explicit purpose of being His hands and feet to bless others.

I tell you my stories so that you will learn from me what I have learned from Him. There is no greater blessing than to bless others with what you have to bless them with!

So, go right now and sift through your closets and cupboards and storehouses. See all that God has blessed you with that you are not using. Find someone who obviously needs it more than you do and BLESS THEM IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

Lord, Help me to not procrastinate!

I have started a new kind of list to go along with the one titled, "Things I'm asking God for". He has helped me so much with my first list. I KNOW He can help me with my second list!

The new list is titled, "Things I'm asking God to help me do."

You see, I am a procrastinator by nature. I think we all are. Normally, it is first priority for me to get business taken care of, but lately, I have been in a blah state of mind and it is becoming a chore to get started on anything.

I know God doesn't approve of me putting things off, so I am asking for His help in helping me get things done.

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Being Singly Whole

When I took my life back from an abusive relationship two years ago, the first thing I did was pack up everything in my apartment that belonged to him and got it out of my house. I did some major spring cleaning. If I couldn't use it, wear it, or make it work for me, it didn't belong in my home.

The next thing I did was get on my knees and ask God to forgive me for being so imperfect and untrusting of Him. I determined to put God in the place of the man that was no longer there. I promised Him that I would never put another man before Him again.

I have not regretted that. God has provided for me in ways that cannot be explained otherwise. He has always been ON TIME. He has always provided companionship. He has lead me into doing RIGHT things RIGHT ways. He has allowed me to stand beside Him and FOR Him. He has allowed me to view my relationship with Him intimately and respectfully. There is NOTHING the Lord has not done for me that a man could provide.

A lot of single women out there love to say things like, "There is nothing a man can do for me that I can't do for myself." I have found that that is just simply not true. By myself, I have already proven what a failure I am. It wasn't until I let GOD do it for me, until I started depending completely on HIM, that I was able to see the provision I needed as a woman.

I would give anything to be able to go back and start my womanhood over knowing what I know now. I can't. And, I have to believe there is a reason for that. God meant for me to go through all I have gone through so I can look at someone else who is where I was and be able to say, "I know. I understand. But, there IS a better way!"

Stewardship

I got paid today.

It's a good feeling knowing that all of my bills are fixing to get paid. I never get over that feeling.

What's even better is that I know that whatever is left is my gift from God to do with as HE wishes. Trust me, it feels a whole better doing what HE wants than doing what I want -- even when there is not much to do it with.

I have learned that when I do what HE wants, He blesses me with what I want.

I pray that you all learn the same lessons.