July 2011

Spirituality – Should You Be Doing Some Clean Up In Your Spiritual Life?

Spirituality – Should You Be Doing Some Clean Up In Your Spiritual Life?

The Power of Making Your Spiritual Life Sparkle

Powerful Spiritual LifeSpiritual areas of life are often the

ones that get tended to last.

We get up every morning and look in

the mirror and begin our routine of showering,

brushing, and getting all prettied up.

Our homes, yards, cars, etcetera all get our attention

and cleaned up as needed; but, what about our spiritual home?

Too Busy To Clean?

Life gets busy. That’s no surprise. Soon our housecleaning gets moved to the bottom of the “to do” list until one day we can’t see through the dust on the TV screen. As we look around everything is dull and dirty and no longer beautiful to look at.

Amazingly, after a little time and effort scrubbing, things are sparkling clean and enjoyable once again.

How Did My Spiritual Life Get So Dirty?

Have you noticed how easily the dust and cobwebs seem to have a way of building up without really seeing it happen? Well in fact, our spiritual life gets dirty much the same way.

There are times we commit an obvious sin and it is like falling in a mud puddle; we are clearly dirty and need of some major clean-up. However, the sin in our daily lives is more often like the dust and cobwebs that slowly dirty our spiritual home, almost unnoticed.

In our busy lives we too easily get used to irritable thoughts, selfishness, jealousy, disrespect, lazy attitudes, lack of commitments, and more. Failure to spend daily time in God’s Word and fellowship with Him leads to doing things that displease Him, and at the same time we do not even realize the dirty film they are leaving on us.

Have you gotten too busy with other things in life that you’ve neglected to clean the dust and cobwebs from your spiritual home.

Time to Clean Up The Mess and Make Your Spiritual Life Sparkle!

The solution for the dust, dirt, and grime that comes into our lives, is to clean it up quickly and regularly. The longer we allow it to remain the greater the mess and the more difficult to remove. If neglected too long it results in unsightly stains.

Once the cleaning process has begun, it usually leads to a closer examination, which then tends to require more cleaning. So it is with a close examination of our spiritual life.

The sinful dirt that we have allowed to slowly accumulate in our lives, and have become accustomed to, is not okay with God. He is not accustomed to dirty sinful behaviors. God desires that our lives be pure and clean so that He can see the beautiful reflection of His Son in us.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” 
— Psalm 24:3-4

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
— Psalm 51:10

How can I improve my spiritual life? Be willing to ask yourself this question daily as you do a self-examination of your spiritual home. Ask God to help you see areas that need cleaned up. He not only wants to open your eyes, He wants to help you clean in order to see your natural and spiritual life shine and sparkle!

May your spiritual life be clean, pure and overflowing with growing prosperity!

God bless you always,
Brenda

 

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Growing Prosperity – 5 Keys to Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems!

Growing Prosperity – 5 Keys to Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems!

Help When Discouraged by Financial Problems

Growing Prosperity Help in the Midst of Financial ProblemsGrowing prosperity is still possible even

in the midst of financial problems and setbacks.

Are you discouraged by financial troubles?

Well an important part of turning things

back around is learning to stay positive

and hopeful.

5 Keys to Help You Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems:

1. TRUST GOD

Stay positive and hopeful, knowing blessings follow those who trust in the Lord.

Many people, myself included, have discovered this “secret” during months of unemployment or other hardships. Our burdens must be put on the Lord. He is able when we are not.

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” 
— Proverbs 16:20 NIV

When we learn to trust God, we discover how few things we really need, such as new clothes, restaurant dinners, vacations and new cars. We also quickly learn to recycle and reuse, not to mention many different ways to cook rice and beans.

2. KEEP GOD AS YOUR FINANCIAL PARTNER

Stay positive and hopeful knowing blessings are promised to those who partner with God through tithing.

If we trust God, we will continue to partner with Him and tithe 10% of our income, even during the difficult times. In order to get, we must give. And we cannot out give God.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…and prove me now, saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
— Malachi 3:10

Cultivate a giving, loving, prosperous attitude and you’ll notice your circumstances begin to change for the better. If you don’t have extra money for offerings, then give of your time, your love, and the things you don’t need.

3. SAVE – Pay Yourself Second

It is definitely much easier to stay positive and hopeful knowing you have emergency savings because you’ve learned to pay yourself second. (God of course gets His tithe first.)

Successful people have learned, when managing their finances, to pay themselves second. God is first, savings second, then living on the balance. By learning to save consistently, regardless the amount, the discipline helps develop encouragement and goal setting.

Trusting God, keeping Him first, and paying yourself second will help you move to a place where your relationship with the Lord grows and your financial struggles lessen.

4. SEEK OUT POSITIVE PEOPLE

Stay positive and hopeful by surrounding yourself with positive people.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” 
— Proverbs 27:17

Associate with positive people and read motivational and inspirational books. We’ve heard it said, “If you hang around broke people, you become broke; if you hang around successful people, you become successful.” How right that is!

5. NEVER GIVE UP

Stay positive and hopeful knowing help is available to those who choose not to quit.

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” 
— Psalm 31:24

When things get tough, keep yourself going by committing to do the best you can, expect God to do the best He can, and never give up!

Conclusion: Don’t lose hope. Financial problems can be overcome. Stay positive and be encouraged by others who have pulled themselves out of financial slumps. Turn to God as a partner and put His financial principles to work in your life.

May you stay positive and hopeful and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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You Never Let Go by Matt Redman – Live Christian Music Video

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman – Live Christian Music Video

“You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman – Live on K-Love Radio

“You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman

from the album “Passion: Everything Glorious”

Matt Redman performs his song “You Never Let Go” live on K-love radio.

“You Never Let Go” Song Lyrics:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus)

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Chorus

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”
— Psalm 23

Be encouraged with this song and God bless you always!

Cheers,
Brenda

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Have a Great Day Affirmation – Free Christian Meditation Download

Have a Great Day Affirmation – Free Christian Meditation Download

Anticipate a Great Day Every Day!

Have a Great Day - Free Christian Meditation Affirmation Download

Can simply changing the way you spend the first minutes of each day dramatically improve your chances to have a great day every day? Yes, you’ll almost guarantee it. Get inspired to make the most of the precious gift called ‘today!’

“In the beginning God created the heaven and earth and today is the day that the Lord has made. No other day just like it was ever made. This is it! I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you, Lord, for being with me this day. It’s going to be a great day!”
(References: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 118:24, Psalm 139:18)

Download a free jpg image copy by right clicking here and saving to your computer:
Anticipate a Great Day Every Day Download

God bless you always,
Brenda

P.S. For additional resources to help have a great day, you may also want to check out the following article: Inspiration – How to Almost Guarantee Yourself a Great Day Every Day!

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Inspiration – How to Almost Guarantee Yourself a Great Day Every Day!

Inspiration – How to Almost Guarantee Yourself a Great Day Every Day!

Dramatically Improve Your Chances to Have a Great Day

How to Have a Great Day Every Day!Inspiration to make your day great;

you can just about guarantee yourself

a great day every day.

Sound impossible?

Well, it’s not.

The way in which we begin a day largely determines how the day is going to go.

5 Techniques to Inspire You and Dramatically Improve Your Chances for a Great Day:

1. Remind Yourself You Are NOT Alone

Discover for yourself, what a wonderful way it is to wake up each morning with the reminder you are not alone. When you return to a semi-conscious state after a night of sleep, and while still in bed, repeat Psalm 139:18.

“When I awake, I am still with you.” 
— Psalm 139:18

What does it mean? All night long while sleeping, we have been under the watchful care of our Heavenly Father. But now the day has come with all its potential problems, responsibilities, disappointments, and struggles. So it helps to be reminded that when we are awake God remains with us.

The eight comforting words in the above verse emphasize one of the greatest truths known to man – that we are not alone. Take time to memorize this verse. Then jumpstart your day and fill your waking moments with this reminder.

2. Pray for Others and Yourself

Next, pray for your loved ones, friends, and other people you have promised to pray for. Also pray for God’s guidance, wisdom, and protection over yourself as you go about your day.

3. Acknowledge Today as a Gift

Then, before leaving your bedside, repeat this inspiring Bible passage.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 
— Psalm 118:24

God made this precious, opportunity-filled day; He gives it to you as a gift. And, as time passes, each day becomes more precious (or at least it should).

Keep in mind: You and I are very responsive to the moods of nature. Consider how you feel if you open your eyes and it is raining, or snowing, or the sky is overcast and the wind is blowing? This can be enough to start our day off on the wrong foot.

However, we can overcome any mood of nature, or any negative mood of human nature, by filling our minds with the realization that there is this precious thing called a day.

4. Visualize and Anticipate a Great Day

As you arise, mentally picture the good day you want and expect, visualize it clearly, and strongly affirm that mental picture. Practicing such awakening techniques can change your whole approach to life and help you see the good in every day.

For many, the moment their eyes open on a new day their thoughts begin to focus on all the awful things that might happen; and that is usually what they get. Why? Because what we project in our mind as a probability, is likely to result in fact.

To change apprehension, gloomy thoughts, and depressive attitudes to anticipation, repeat Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 118:24 three times in the morning, and then say them to yourself during the day.

Let your confession and affirmation be something such as: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and earth and today is the day that the Lord has made. No other day just like it was ever made. This is it! I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you, Lord, for being with me this day. It’s going to be a great day!’

5. Let Go of the Past

Did it ever occur to you that yesterday ended last night? Every morning, you face a new beginning, so put the past behind you. Take the good memories you want to remember from the past along with you; as well as the lessons you’ve learned from your mistakes. But all the other things – leave them at the door of the new day.

One reason people have nervous breakdowns and are mentally sick is because they don’t shake themselves free of the past. Let it go!

Did you make mistakes last week? I did. What are we going to do about those mistakes? Start each day adventuring with God, and let the past be past. Do the best we can today with God’s help. Anticipate a great day, and it will be.

Do yourself a favor: Start putting these five techniques into practice. Habits and negative attitudes don’t change overnight. But if you can shift from apprehension to letting the thought of anticipation surge through your mind, your life will change and you’ll almost guarantee yourself a great day every day!

May your days be great and your life full of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. Enjoy the following: Have a Great Day Affirmation – Free Christian Meditation Download

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Blessings by Laura Story – Christian Music Video

Blessings by Laura Story – Christian Music Video

“Blessings” by Laura Story – Live Music Video

“Blessings” by Laura Story

from the album “Blessings”

Laura Story performs “Blessings” live on K-Love Radio.

“Blessings” Song Lyrics:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

Chorus

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

Chorus

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Chorus

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
— John 1:16 NIV

Enjoy this beautiful song and God bless you always!

Cheers,
Brenda

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Spiritual Prosperity – Walking Out God’s Good Plan For Your Life!

Spiritual Prosperity – Walking Out God’s Good Plan For Your Life!

Are You Following God One Step at a Time?

Walking Out God's Plan One Step at a TimeSpiritual prosperity is the result of

walking out God’s plan for your life.

In order to do this you need to allow the Lord

to direct your path one step at a time.

If I had known many years ago

what I was going to be doing today,

I would have said, “No way, God. That is impossible.”

But keep in mind, the Lord does not show us the whole picture of our life all at once, because we would quit before we got started. Instead, God leads us one step at a time.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” 
— Proverbs 3:6

Following God One Step at a Time

Have you wondered why you are not further along in the plan for your life?

Let me ask you a question: Are you following God one step at a time?

Consider how excited parents are when their children take their first steps. They start out by taking one step and falling down. The parents then pick them up and put them back on their feet; encouraging them to take another step.

Inspired by the words of encouragement, the children try again and take two or three steps this time, before falling down. The parents continue to repeatedly pick them up, encourage, and help them try again until they finally conquer the task of walking.

The fact is: An infant would never learn to walk if he did not start by taking that first step. And just as infants learn to walk by taking one step at a time, so it is with the plan of our life. God leads us one step at a time.

Maybe you have taken the first step in your plan and fallen down. You may still be lying on the ground, having decided to never take another step. However, keep in mind that just as a parent encourages their children to get up and try again, so the Heavenly Father is encouraging you to get up and take another step!

The Steps of a Good Man Are Ordered by the Lord

If you will delight in the Lord, He will order your steps; and they will be steps of success and not failure.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delights in his way.” 
— Psalm 37:23

Keep in mind, when opportunity knocks, you must answer! And you must walk through that door with confidence, knowing you can do it with the help of the Lord.

Of course there will be various disappointments and difficult circumstances along the way. We all face them and that is to be expected. Just remember there is help and you are not facing anything alone.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” 
— Philippians 4:13

Allow this verse to help you have confidence in your ability, knowing you are not doing anything alone, but that it is Christ who strengthens you.

I think you get the point: You can make it through every circumstance of your life – regardless of what it is – if you will simply place your hand in God’s hand. He will direct your path and lead you to victory and spiritual prosperity; one step at a time.

May you walk out God’s good plan one step at a time and experience His growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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