Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)

~*~*~*~

Dichosos los pobres en espíritu

    porque el reino de los cielos les pertenece.

Dichosos los que lloran,

    porque serán consolados.

Dichosos los humildes,

    porque recibirán la tierra como herencia.

Dichosos los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia,

    porque serán saciados.

Dichosos los compasivos,

    porque serán tratados con compasión.

Dichosos los de corazón limpio,

    porque ellos verán a Dios.

Dichosos los que trabajan por la paz,

    porque serán llamados hijos de Dios.

Dichosos los perseguidos por causa de la justicia,

    porque el reino de los cielos les pertenece.

Mateo 5:3-10 (NVI)

♥♥♥

One of the trillion topics that has been swirling around in my mind as of late is wisdom.
What it is?
Do I have any?
How can I get some more of it?
You know, that type of mental banter that leaves you teetering between feeling like an infant to a member of Mensa. I plan to write something more in-depth in the future about this topic, and perhaps even submit it to a few online publications (I share the latter for accountability purposes), but for now I present to you a wisdom centric Bible verse graphic blast. Enjoy!

This month I received quite the blessing, as you may or may not have seen yet, Loved + Blessed (a monthly faith based subscription box), included a copy of 31 Rays of Hope this month. To say that I am grateful, excited, and humbled does not begin to cover it. I am in awe of what the box is doing for people across the world, and I am joyous and expecting that the words penned in the book will inspire hope, and foster a better connection with the Creator of the world to those who read it. I’m an actual subscriber to Loved + Blessed, and surely do recommend you check it out for $10/month as a lovely little pick me up and truth reminder of His word. Not to mention a portion of the proceeds from the box go to helping the homeless (bonus!).

Growing up I was always told a hypocrite was one who “said one thing, and did another”. Quite the blanket statement, but as believers, we could all be grouped into this category, even-though we are continuously eager to be more aligned and in step with the Perfect One. Right?

I mean the biblical moral advice that we give to others, may always be more on point than what we do in our own lives. Eh? Recently, I heard a preacher as to go so far, as this is one of the reasons we should keep personal opinions and advice to ourselves, lest we don’t look like such. I’ve even gone so far as to say to friends after hearing that, do you want to know what it seems is the best option or what I would probably do that isn’t the best way … how about I just share both (as admittedly I have had no problem spewing commentary in the past). Now I find myself sometimes just telling them (who are believers) to seek God for the answer because He ultimately knows better than I, and I honestly don’t want to be included in the Matthew 23 version of the word. Alas, as Paul shares in Romans 7 we can all be a bit backwards at times. 

Broken Hallelujah by phasingirl on DeviantArt

But even so the first topic washes over the second and breaks way into a hallelujah, as in Christ alone our hope is found! There is an abundance of grace, forgiveness, mercy and love awaiting everyone all thanks to the Creator of the world, shown through the actions of His Son, and through the comfort of His Spirit, and just the  mere fact that we all taking another breathe in the very moment.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

May you take a moment this morning, regardless of where you are – what you are doing, just to simply thank Him for all that He has done, is doing, and will do. May peace rule in your life today, and may you be engulfed in His love, apt to show that same love to others. As believers we not only have the answer(s) to this life, but the key to life here-after, for all eternity. Thanks be to Jesus, for by Him alone we are saved and it is in His name we pray.

Now enjoy these bonus tracks that have been blaring through my speakers as of late!

 

"So do not worry about these things, saying 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father know all your needs. Seek the Kingdom above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' for pagens run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33

This verse is featured in March's  Loved + Blessed subscription box; and for me it hits the spot. Currently my noggin is see-sawing with the notion of 'Where shall I live' as my lease is about to expire, and with it my living situation is about to change. Also, it amuses me as I asked a someone only yesterday (as they seem to know me better than I know myself at times) what helpful advice they would give me and they say I (still) worry too much, and worry doesn't give you anything. In which I retorted, adult acne.

For some people the ability to blanketly accept all things, and not mull over a thought, action or what-have-you comes easy. Others of us, may have to actively seek to train our brain to not think or more so refocus on something productive.

In 31 Rays of Hope I actually wrote a devotional on this topic (day seventeen), here are some snippets from that entry that has served as a helpful reminder to me and in-turn I hope you as well.

It’s just simply this: has God ever failed you? No. Then

why do you worry? It is trick of Satan to get our minds

off God, from trusting that He is ultimately in control.

When we worry about a particular subject, we are more

apt to make our own moves instead of waiting on God to

move things for us. With the increase of technology in

our everyday lives (which has been proven to increase our

stress levels), we sometimes even put our faith in electronic

devices rather than the Creator of all things.

Yet, worry does cross our minds, but instead of dwelling

on that which troubles us we are commanded to simply

not partake in that way of thinking. Instead we are to go

to God with our fears, hand them over and cease fretting

(Philippians 4:6).

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your peace. May

You fill our hearts with the fullness of Your love. May we

feel Your Spirit inside of us, ever reminding us that You

are in control. You are the One with the master plan, Who

knew us before we were born. May we grow closer to You,

putting our trust in You more and more each day. May
we submit our lives to You daily, knowing that You would

never bring harm to our lives, that there is nothing You

would put us through that we cannot handle because You

are our ultimate strength. In the name of Your Son, Jesus

Christ we pray, Amen.

Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Jehovah-Jireh is a symbolic name given to Mount Moriah by Abraham to memorialize the intercession of God in the sacrifice of Isaac by providing a substitute for the imminent sacrifice of his son. [from BlueLetterBible]

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Genesis 22:14

God provided a ram to be used in replacement of his long awaited  son, Isaac. God provided Jesus, as the ultimate atoning sacrifice. God provides us with life, the very breath that we inhale and exhale comes from Him. God provides us with everything.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:26

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Thanks be to God whom provides for His creation, both those that acknowledge Him and those that do not. We give thanks for Your loving-kindness which transcends beyond human comprehension, and pierces the innermost parts. May we seek to know You more dear God, and mimic that same love, compassion, kindness, and grace to those that we met. In the name of the precious one, by whom alone we are saved, Jesus Christ. ✝

Thanks to Daniel (aka fella with an awesome beard) for allowing me to post this on here! I hope you all are as enlightened, encouraged and blessed by it as myself!

Singleness Isn’t a Curse

It seems like everyone is either getting engaged or married right now! Many of my closest friends are now headed towards marriage, and I am super excited for them!

Now, I’m going to be honest, I have felt kind of lonely and out of place. A lot of my friends are dating and/or getting married, and in my close circle of friends I am one of the only single people. This started provoking thoughts like:

“When will it be my turn?”

“Why can’t I experience what they are experiencing?”

I was worrying so much about whether or not I would ever experience what my friends were experiencing that I lost sight of what was most important: Seeking God. Whether I am single, dating, or married, I should always seek the Lord and worship him daily. This wasn’t my posture. Oh, no. I was not content with just being single. I wanted a relationship. I didn’t want to be single anymore. God then reminded me of a story my dad told me a while back. A story that I will always remember.

My dad had just turned 20 and really desired to find a wife. He looked everywhere for “the one,”  but couldn’t find her. His dad (my grandpa) sat him down and read Matthew 6:33 to him. Which states:

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

My grandpa told my dad to seek God! “You get so caught up in looking for someone to marry that you have lost sight of what really matters. Seek God and then He will add these things.” Now 20 years later, my dad has shared that story with me multiple times, but I have really taken it to heart recently. Singleness isn’t a disease or a curse. It is a gift from God and should be treated as such. My desire to find a girl should not supersede my desire to seek after my Lord. He is all in all, and He is better.

Through this I have learned 3 things:

1. Singleness is a gift.
2. Do not let your singleness rob you of the joy that God has given you.
3. Use your singleness to glorify God.

Lastly, I want to share what the next verse after Matthew 6:33 says,

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

God is sovereign over our singleness, our dating, and our marriages. He knows what He is doing. Don’t worry. Trust Him.

This year brought the 2^nd annual Christmas Possible celebration, which benefits homeless and at-risk youth (ages 17 – 21) that are being provided shelter for by Covenant House – Georgia.

A mixture of friends along with their families (and even a Covenant House board member along with her two daughters and husband), as well as, corporate supporters (Rosebud Perfume Co., The Roswell Tap and DJ Maj Pro) helped make this event even more robust than the 1^st as the shelter doubled their housed youth with the move to their new location during the year with donations of time, food and/or monetary contributions (from 31 to 65 youth).

We provided male and female “care bags” filled with basic care items such as shampoo/conditioner, soap, deodorant, hair brush/combs, toothbrush/toothpaste etc., as well as special items such as purses, stuffed make-up pouches, electronic bubble wrap key-chains, hats, wallets, ties, cold gear items, etc. The Christmas Eve dinner was served up fresh off the grill, and consisted of many southern favorites like BBQ chicken, hot dogs, glazed ham, potato salad, mixed veggies, mac n’ cheese, pasta salad, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and an array of mouth-watering sweet treats. During dinner a raffle was hosted in which 10 hand-made scarves, an array of headphones, gift-cards, and a handful of miscellaneous items were given away to each of the youth.

God really showed up not only at the event itself, but also ALL throughout the year as various preparations were being made! It was wonderful seeing people from all over come together from the initial gathering stages, to the task to stuffing the bags, to day of activities all towards the common goal of showing out God’s love to the youth of the Covenant House.

Only He knows what will come about with regards to this years event, but whispers have started for perhaps doing two different organizations (Covenant House & a woman and children’s shelter). Alas the year is still young, and we serve a big and mighty God, so we will just let Him do His thing and SHOW OUT!

A gigantic heartfelt thanks from me to EVERYONE who helped either by donating time, funds or goods, and prayers. You can check out some photos of the event here.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:35-40

While recently doing some of the LoveIs work stuff (God has given us second location to start helping – YAY) a young girl gave me a gift in return for us coming out. It was a gift I most assuredly already had (of sorts) but by her giving it to me brought some sort of full circle significance to all that God has made real in my life over the past almost three years … it was a Bible. How funny that she, this girl who I have never seen - never had very any conversation with (other than the chat about 15 minutes before about who we are and the work we do in L5P), before I left to leave ran to give me a KJV Bible and speak with me on the comfort of Crocs (admittedly, I just don’t get them people.. but are they REALLY as cloud-like as everyone says?).

It reminded me of the scripture in Isaiah …

The word had been given out through-out the years to the people on the corner, and it was coming back to me in a simple gesture by whom might all accounts be an angel is disguise (yes, I totally believe in that sort of thing) by someone in locale 2 (it was our third time serving there).

We, as believers of Yeshua, all have been given a gift and have therefore have a gift to share …

So, Merry Christmas, as those who see me on the day to day hear so often. You’ve gotten your gift, now it is time to share it with the world!