Prayer: A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship. An earnest hope or wish.

In the tradition of the Catholic Church, there are four forms of prayer. The prayer of Adoration/Blessing. The prayer of Contrition/Repentance. The prayer of Thanksgiving/Gratitude and The prayer of Supplication/Petition/Intercession.

The prayer of Adoration/Blessing: These are the prayers where we bless God. When we offer prayers recognizing his sovereignty over our lives. His greatness, love and steadfast loyalty. To praise him for the glorious wonders of our bodies, the earth, atmosphere and galaxies. To simply tell him always how much you love him! We then become a blessing of true adoration to our true father.

The prayer of Contrition/Repentance: These are your rawest prayers. When you get real with yourself and God. Changes need to be made. A hurt needs to be mended. A sin needs confessed and forgiveness asked for. These are the prayers where it’s hard to look God in the eyes and Satan would like to have you believe you are beyond forgiveness or redemption. He’s a liar…God is always there, waiting patiently for you to approach the throne, talk to him so he may start the healing process.

The prayer of Thanksgiving/Gratitude: This one is pretty self-explanatory! We praise his Holy name for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Eternity with him because of his son Jesus Christ. That we may approach the throne boldly and in confidence. His constant protection and provision. All your personal thanksgivings for your personal blessings.

The prayer of Supplication/Petition/Intercession: Supplication is taking the action of earnestly and humbly asking, and often begging for something. Begging not as a dog at the table but needing or caring so much that your prayers are in a matter desperate enough to feel as though you’re begging. The act of Petition is making a formal request to an authority with respect to a particular cause. Simply put, going to God with your cares and anxieties and laying them at his feet. The prayer of Intercession is the act of praying on the behalf of another person.

Here are the four types of prayers separately, but in reality, all four components should be one…Our prayer of love and adoration, next, we cleanse ourselves of our sins and flesh by asking for forgiveness and true repentance of our wrongs, followed by thanksgiving because you believe you are forgiven, you trust he hears and knows he’s always with you, finishing with prayers for our world, government, clergy, family, friends, and special need requests. Ending it, “In Jesus’ Glorious Name, I pray. Amen!

Prayer isn’t a thesis, it’s not a formal report, and no paperwork needs to be filed. It’s having a conversation with your creator. It’s Sunday, our Lord’s day; say a prayer. Be Blessed, Be A Blessing, and Thank you for joining me today. 🥰

Definition: a statement expressing the essential nature of something: a product of defining.

The verb of the word definition is to define: to determine or identify the essential qualities or meaning of.

How do you define yourself? What measuring stick are you using? The worlds? Your partners? Your circumstances? Your title? Your bank account? Your body weight? It can be anything you use as a comparison, whether for the good or the bad.

I’m am worthless. I am lazy and or fat. I don’t have enough money. I’m a bargain shop. I am too sick. I am too scared. I’ve always been stupid. I can’t seem to get anything right. I’m never going to be what I dream of because I believe I am nothing but a continuation of mistakes. I will never be worthy.

I’m a fat cat. I drive a fancy car. I have a prestigious title. I wear beautiful clothes and lots of jewels. I make a lot of money. I am better than everyone; just look at me. I have everything I want because I care about no one but me. I don’t make mistakes. I am more than worthy.

Both of these scenarios are incorrect!!! Because our circumstances don’t define us, they are but where we are at the present moment. Those on the bottom have nowhere to go but up, and often, those at the top have nowhere to go but down.

The people of the world and we can have ideas and opinions of ourselves, and, should, but these also need to be real. I am not my mistakes. I am not my pedestal. I am a human being. I have the same inner workings as my neighbor. My blood is the same color as every other human in this world. I carry the same luggage as the next man; it might just be a different size or color.

I Am A Child of God!!!

Ephesians 2:10 ESV “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

So, the next time you judge yourself a bit harshly or someone passes judgment on you without looking in the mirror first. Remember who you are and who you belong to and what God has to say about you.

Psalms 139:14 ESV “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it well.”

You are wonderful. Seek his will for any changes you wish to make but remember it’s God’s view you need to see, not man’s or often even yours.

Have a blessed day, be a blessing and as always Thank you for joining me.🥰

There are a few old sayings that accompany a found penny. One suggests picking it up, and all day long, you’ll have good luck. There is also the folklore that angels who are missing you drop a penny for you to find. I recently read another thought concerning a found copper coin and that is the inscription “In God We Trust.”

I am a big fan of Gods little splashes of joy in my world. These splashes are very personal so you will have to conjure your own list but I love to be outside. I love flowers and colors and butterflies. I love the sound of trickling water, the breeze tickling the leaves of the trees and the song of the birds. I love the smell of fresh mowed grass, lilacs, roses and sunshine. Often, I can be out in my yard and feel God or smile as he sends a purple butterfly floating by or a vibrant blue hummingbird who just hangs and looks at me for moments as tho saying hi before flitting off…my KOI who wiggle and splash when I talk to them in mamas special fishy voice.

Often throughout our daily walk through life, God sends us little reminders of his love and presence in our lives. The other day I was in a sad place, missing my grandma, so I asked God if he’d find her up there and if it would be ok, could she please just visit me for a little bit. Later that afternoon I was standing at my kitchen sink and all of a sudden I could smell my grandmas cutting board, seriously it was so intense I started to cry as I said, “Hi grandma, Oh how I miss you, can you believe I’m a grandma now too?” I took her on a tour of my house and showed her all my grandchildren things, and then gently she was gone. Might some think I’ve lost my mind, maybe, but I think I got a penny from heaven, because smells of my grandmas kitchen show up when I cook and memories are often kitchen based so it wasn’t a big surprise that, that is how God let me know she was around, but even more so, He was!

Pennies and Heaven are not scriptural, they are splashes when you just might need reminded, that, that prayer you are praying, that wait you are waiting for… God hears it, He is working behind the scenes, never lose faith and the next time you see a penny in your path…pick it up and read it. It’s a reminder. “In God We Trust.”

I pray for you today little splashes of joy in your world and a penny in your path, just to remind you…God’s Got You…Be blessed, Be a Blessing and Thank you for joining me. 🥰

Do you ever feel like the world is way too big and you are way too small?

I have been opening prayers this way for more years than I can count. “Lord, my world is too big, and I’m too small; however, you created the world and everything in it. You hold the waters in the palm of your hands, so there isn’t anything I am going through that is bigger than you.”

Isaiah 40:12 ESV “ Who has measured the oceans in the palm of his hand? Who has used his fingers to measure the sky? Who has used a bowl to measure the dust of the earth and scales to weigh the mountains and hills?”

John 16:33 ESV “ I have told you these things so that you can come have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have come to save the world.”

These are but two of the hundreds of scriptures letting you know you are not alone. He sees everything you are going through. He knows your needs, your time factors, your means. He also know the outcome!

Proverbs 3:5 ESV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Do not lean on your own understanding??? Simply put, our own understanding looks at the problem, the mountain, the fear, the hopelessness, the same battles!!!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart!!! Simply put, cast your cares, trials, mountains, fears, and weariness upon him and let go. Trust Him!!! Breathe, let go and let God!!!

Isaiah 41:10 ESV “ Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalms 55:22 NCV “Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down.”

Above are scriptures you can use in your prayers. “Lord, your words say, and I am standing on your word because you promise me your words are never void.

Isaiah 55:11 ESV “ The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They will make things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do.”

Stand firm in yourself and in Gods words, you are not alone and that mountain, cast it into the sea. Keep believing and you will once again walk on the valley floor.

Be blessed, Be a Blessing and Thank you for joining me. 🥰

I wrote in yesterday’s devotion that we are but tiny footprints next to Jesus’. I love the poem “Footprints In the Sand” and feel yesterday led to its introduction today. Enjoy!

One night I dreamed a dream; I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flash scenes from my life. From each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to the Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it; “Lord, you said, once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed you the most, you would leave me.”

He whispered, “my precious child, I love you and I will never leave you never, ever, during your trials and tests. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” Author Unknown

There have been and will be times to come in my life that I will know there are only one set of footprints. Be blessed by this as whatever test or trial you are facing today, look up and ask him to walk beside you and show you the right path, or look up and ask him to carry you for a while; in your weakness, he is more than enough!

Thank you for walking with me. 🥰

Colossians 2:8 ESV “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

I was reading this morning in “Wake Up to the Word, 365 Devotions to Inspire You Each Day” by Joyce Meyers/Faith Words. I would like to quote a section from her devotional this morning.

“Religion is man’s attempt to get to a place where God will accept him; it is man’s idea of God’s expectations. But Christianity is about God taking on humanity in the person of Jesus Christ and coming down to man so we could have a relationship with him.” End quote.

Mans idea of God’s expectations. I’m sure we’ve all been in a place a time or two where you were judged by man’s expectations of God. I can only imagine you have been your own worst judge when creating in your mind who God expects you to be. The keyword here, though, is man. I challenge you to find scriptures on what Jesus says about you instead.

Psalms 100:3 ESV “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Christianity is about God taking on humanity in the person of Jesus Christ and coming to man so we may have a relationship with him.

In any relationships are the good times and the not so good. Jesus walked this earth. He understands human emotions, moods, and feelings. He got tired, hungry, fed up, mad, sad, and ridiculed. He was loved, and he loved, listened to, and listened; he was followed, a teacher, an example. He was one of us.

So, if you find yourself judged by your beliefs, ridiculed because you believe but are still human, tired, sad, a teacher, or an example. Remember you are in good company and just do your best everyday to walk as closely in his footsteps as you can, Jesus will help you the rest of the way.

We are tiny footprints next to his in the sand. He loves you just the way you are and will gently smooth the rough edges, give no room to someone’s opinion of you or your walk. That’s between you and God!

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me.🥰

With Hope, you carry one of the strongest and wisest weapons you can have in your bag of arsenal. With hope, you have everything; no hope leaves you empty.

Hope is a verb, meaning a word of action. Yes, hoping and believing is taking action mentally and spiritually that whatever situation or need you are facing will work out. The definition of hope is, “To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment.” “To expect with confidence: Trust.”

Romans 15:13 NCV “ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 8:24-25 ESV “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Here is where it all begins. You have a need or desire. You take it to the Lord in prayer, praying his will in said situation. You now have hope because you have petitioned God for help, which then leads to faith.

Hebrews 11:1 NCV “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”

I don’t know your situation or circumstances, but I know mine, and I live on the same hope and faith. I, too, believe that our God will supply my needs and those of the people I love and pray for, as surely as he will provide yours. You just have to stand firm in your hopes, dreams, and faith. Never stop believing.

Jeremiah 29:11 NCV “I say this because I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”

And there you have it, don’t lose hope, no matter how dire it looks, or depressing it feels, do not lose hope. You are not going through this alone; the Lord sees you, your dreams, your needs, your hurts, and your fears. Turn them over to him and seek his guidance, it’ll come, I promise.

Be blessed today, be a blessing today and thank you for joining me as I am blessed by you. 🥰

Psalms 118:24 NCV “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad today.”

It’s Sunday, our Lords day. Those of you who follow me very closely know I love Sundays. There’s a special feel in a Sunday. It’s the day of rest…

So, put on your favorite movie, take a bubble bath in the middle of the afternoon or climb into a good book, and disappear into another world or time. Grab the fuzzy blanket, snuggle in on the couch, and take a nap.

Bake something yummy, so your home is filled with warm scents. Call that someone who has been on your mind; chances are they are thinking of you too.

You know your warm spots, the peaceful places…pull them out today they are stuffed behind the big comfy sweaters. Wrap yourself in Gods love, ask him to fill you with his peacefulness today. After all it is His day. Spend some time simply visiting with him. He loves our time and conversations or by emerging yourself in his world of words and wisdom. Whatever your day brings, I hope you will carry with you the special spirit of Sunday.

Be warm, be peaceful, rejoice, and be glad; it’s your day; spend it your way and Thank you for joining me. 🥰

Many translations read “Reap what you sow”…

Galatians 6:7-10 NCV “ Do not be fooled; you cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit. We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.”

“Do not be fooled; you cannot cheat God.” What does this mean? Simple, what are your motives? Is your assistance or help truly out of devotion, or is there an ulterior motive or plan behind the disguise? God wants you to be real with yourself because He is.

“If they satisfy their sinful selves; their sinful selves will bring them ruin.” Automatically the mind goes to drugs, pornography, alcohol, sure those all bring ruin but what about Selfishness and Greed? What about just caring how this will benefit you? Ruin could be, being alone because you were never true to anyone but yourself.”

“We must never tire of doing good.” Gets pretty frustrating when the bad guys always seem to win, have the most and appear to have not a care in the world. Just remember we are not of this world and our rewards are waiting and eternal.

“When we see someone in need we should help them.” It’s getting harder and harder to offer help to those who appear to so desperately need it, as some have made begging a career. I pray before heading out that if there is one in true need that God guide me to them and lay peace on my spirit. It’s not my place to judge what happens with my gift of help; that’s between God and them. My prayer is to help one in real need. We are blessed so we may be a blessing.

“Paying special attention to the family of believers.” Family is family! Whether you share the same DNA, were created due to love, or belong to a group, organization or church body. That’s what it’s all about belonging and knowing you aren’t alone if or when the storms hit.

We are coming into the season of love, people are more mindful this time of year, but we need to have this mindset every day. I hope you are able to bless someone today the rewards inside are so worth it. Be a love to someone because you are loved by someone, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for joining me. 🥰

It’s a thought to ponder morning.

Have you hit rock bottom? The bottom of your emotional well, the bottom of your patience, the bottom of your bank account, your world. Do you feel empty and hopeless that it’s never going to change and today looked like yesterday and dreading that tomorrow will look the same?

Consider this, when you hit rock bottom, it just might be the rock you are landing on.

Psalms 62:5-8 NCV “I find rest in God; only he gives me hope. He is my rock and my salvation. He is my defender; I will not be defeated. My honor and salvation come from God. He is my mighty rock and my protection. People trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems because God is our protection.”

So as you lay splattered upon or sitting stunned. Remember the rock you’ve landed on, look up, and simply scream “help!” The steps back up may be slow and even treacherous, but keep trusting and walking forward in his light. You’ll get there, of this I know as I’ve landed on the rock more times then I can count.

Psalms 89:26 NCV “He will say to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my Savior.”

Be blessed, stay strong, and never stop hoping, as that’s where it all begins. God’s got this and us! It’s going to be ok. Thank you as always for joining me. 🥰