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Author: Sharon Ricks

Make The Most of Every Day

Make The Most of Every Day

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I cannot believe that this is the first weekend of July already. I don’t know about you guys, but it seems like time is moving extra fast. It feels like we just celebrated New Years…and before you know it, we’ll be gathering together for Thanksgiving. I’m not complaining though. Whether time is moving fast or slow, I am still here, and for that…I am grateful. 

I think I notice how fast time is going when I realize how much time I’m wasting. I know that God will not bring us home until our work here is done. But the thing is…none of us knows when that is. So, we go about life a little haphazardly thinking that everything will magically fall into place. And though God doesn’t need us to agree with the plan He has for our lives, I think we still have a big part to play in how soon it happens.

I believe all of our “left” turns sometimes can delay our destinies. It won’t stop it, but it can definitely make it take a little longer than it has to. God does use those left turns though. During those times, He teaches us how to hear His voice. How to move when He says move, or stay when He says stand still. Nothing with God is ever wasted. The Bible talks about redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:15-18). To live in a way that brings eternal rewards. What that means is that we make the most out of every day doing what pleases the Lord. 

So, let’s begin every day by turning our day over to the Lord, and asking Him to order our steps. In that way we won’t worry so much about how many days we have left, we can just make the most out of every day we are given.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Believing God

Believing God

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Right now seems to be a time of transition for many folks. I’m not sure about anybody else, but my life seems to be moving at the speed of light, like God is not just moving me…He is propelling me!

My pastor preached from Acts 27 where Paul was a prisoner heading to Rome in the midst of a storm. And when it looked like they weren’t going to make it, an angel visited Paul and told him that they would not lose their lives. Paul relayed the message to the men by saying, “I Believe God.” That not only took faith, but it took boldness…confidence in the God who never fails. What is it that you have been thinking about doing? What have you been holding back on? Why do you not think God is able to make it happen? 

God planted a dream in my spirit when I was a little girl, and although I have tried to “be realistic” and find work that pays the bills, He never let me forget that dream. The word says, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV).  There are things that God has been showing me for some time, and now is the time to stop dragging my feet and get to work.

It is a powerful time of awakening. We were born with a destiny, and it has been waiting for us.

How amazing it is to look back over your life and see the path God has been preparing for you. How He has held your hand while you rode for a while with the “training wheels” on. Then, how He slowly let go…just enough to let you feel your way before allowing you to soar.

Our God is so awesome and He loves us so much. He never forces us…when we are ready…He just gently guides us into our purpose. Whatever you have been holding inside your heart…now is the time. Know that you can reach for the stars, because your Father owns them…

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” –Psalm 84:11

Until next time…

Be blessed

Walk In Your Authority

Walk In Your Authority

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OK, right now, I am in the midst of being tested in every direction. I mean I know that opposition will come when you do anything for the Lord. Let’s just make that real clear. Whenever you are doing anything for God the enemy is going to get busy. I thought I was ready for it…but not like this. Right now, it feels like he is coming in every direction.

I work really hard on not being easily offended. So, you have to really go in to offend me. Lately though everythinnng is offending me. I am feeling frustrated, irritated, stressed, even angry about everything and nothing. I’m not sure how that’s possible, but it is and I don’t like it. I don’t like this feeling of constant aggravation. And here is the thing that frustrates me the most…I am the only one who can do anything about it.

I thank God for the ability to hear His voice even in the midst of my struggles. I am thankful that in times like this I know that I can go to God in prayer. There is power in prayer. When we pray…God moves. He responds. He answers. I am so thankful that God not only gave me that power, but He also placed me in the midst of some powerful prayer warriors. I know that even when I don’t have enough sense to pray for myself…they pray for me.

Today, I am using my authority to resign from being the enemy’s punching bag. I will no longer allow him to play with my emotions. No longer will he have any place in my life. The Bible says that he is the ruler of this world, but that doesn’t give him the right to be ruler over me…or over any of God’s people. We follow the Lord. Luke 10:19 says, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” It also says in John 8:36 that, “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.”

So, if I am a follower of Christ…and I am. Giving up is not in my DNA. It is not an option. I can’t afford to get tired. I can’t afford to let the enemy slow me down. God has work for me to do. I just have to believe what God’s word says, and walk in that authority.  

Until next time…

Be blessed

God And My Stewardship!

God And My Stewardship!

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I’m still working on being a good steward. It’s not that I am frivolous in my spending, or purposely wasteful. But by not consciously thinking about the things I spend my money on I am being careless with the things God is trusting me with. 

When I started looking at how I was “managing” it…I saw how incompetent I was. But I know enough not to dwell on that, because our God always gives us another chance to get it right. And although I know it is not going to be easy, I know God will give me grace enough to make it through. I have to keep reminding myself that everything belongs to God, and He allows us the privilege to manage it for Him. When I think about it that way, it makes me sad that I may be letting God down.  

I don’t know if you guys struggle with maintaining a budget, but I have a hard time keeping my budget straight. I don’t know why. It’s not like I have money to burn. I just can’t seem to stick to it. I have tried the Dave Ramsey method. I have tried to only use cash. I have even tried only going to the store once a week. Nothing works.

But I’m not giving up, because the desire is there, and the Bible says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. I definitely desire to delight myself in the Lord. So that means that I have to want what He wants more than I want what I want.

I am confident that God is not leading me down this path to a dead end. That’s not who He is. He wants us to be successful. What I do know is that this whole experience is bringing me closer to God…and I am sure that was His purpose all along.

Until next time…

Be blessed

You Have to Look Within

You Have to Look Within

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This seems to be my season for reflection. Recently I’ve been looking at my life, and not just at what I am doing or not doing…more of what God is doing. I feel like something is taking place in the Spirit that God is not ready to show me yet. Like there are some things I need to do…some things God wants to teach me before He can take me there.

I was having a talk with a friend, and in her conversation…without her even knowing it, God began to speak. What He said through her is that all of those little irritations we keep having are just distractions. He wants to take us deeper, but we keep letting foolishness get in the way. 

It’s hard to recognize that at first because we are so agitated about the situation that we are not even looking for the lesson. All we know is that it is getting on our nerves, and we wish it would go away, or God would just make it stop. But, that’s not how God works. 

For instance, a supervisor will do something that is so far out in left field that you begin to wonder if maybe they are on something, or you feel yourself being embarrassed by someone else’s behavior when it has absolutely no reflection at all on you. Why? What is that about? What we discovered was that it was not those people or those situations that was the problem…it was us. 

I remember a long time ago a friend told me that it is always about us. What she meant was that when something affects us that way, it usually means that it is speaking to what is inside of us. So, if that situation or that person is bugging us to no end…we need to ask God what is that thing tapping into that is inside of us? 

I believe God is trying to get us to that place where it doesn’t matter what anybody else does…we are content in Him. We follow Him. The Apostle Paul got it…and I am determined to get it. What about you?

Until next time…

Be blessed

Getting Used to Opposition

Getting Used to Opposition

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This week, I want to talk about those things that try to come against us. I don’t know about you, but I have become used to opposition. When we face opposition, it can either grow us or stop us in our tracks. Opposition can even be a good thing when it causes us to stretch ourselves further than we would normally have gone. Sometimes, it just gives us another reason to praise God, because we know that with great opposition comes even greater blessings.

What happens when the opposition comes from someone we love? When it is a child, a spouse, a relative or even a friend…how do we handle that? We do the only thing we can do—we trust God’s word. The word says, “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert.” –Isaiah 43:18

God’s word promises to make a way in the wilderness, and having someone you love and care about as your adversary, definitely feels like being in the wilderness. It can make us question not only our judgment, but also our faith. We question why God would allow those kinds of seasons of pain…and betrayal. But sometimes it’s not even about us at all. Sometimes God just needs someone who is going to represent Him well…in any season.

So, how do we pick up the pieces of our broken hearts and move on? God’s word in Isaiah 43 says that if we keep looking forward…to a new day…a new beginning, and stop dwelling on the past, He will make a way where there seemed to be no way. God has this way of teaching us by allowing those things that sometimes come against us to be stepping stones to where He needs us to be. I’m just so glad that He has our back. That we can call on Him whenever we need Him. 

He is the friend that will never get tired of taking our calls.

Until next time…

Be blessed

God Puts A Song in my Heart

God Puts A Song in my Heart

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I absolutely love how God speaks to me through song. God will use whatever means necessary to reach his children. Gospel music will often help usher in the Holy Spirit…not that He needs any help, but it helps till the soil so to speak. Lately, God has been speaking to my heart through a particular song, and I’ve been singing it over and over.

In part, the lyrics say, “…there’s a pressing in the spirit…” I love that song. Every time I hear it I’m reminded of how much God loves me. I woke up singing that song the other day, and sang it all the way to work. I know that whenever that happens God has taught my spirit something as I slept. The funny thing is that a lot of times He doesn’t reveal it to me right away. I have grown to trust Him so much that I no longer try to figure it out.

I know that part of it is because I was asked to do something that He didn’t want me to do….yet. I have a tendency to get caught up in someone else’s excitement. God has given them a vision and our spirits will connect…the next thing you know, I’m knee-deep in a place I shouldn’t be. This time, God was saying that I have something for you and it’s not that, and this time I listened.

My brothers and sisters…know that when God has something for you not even your procrastination can stop it. We will oftentimes prolong our journey by taking turns we shouldn’t take. God is so patient with us. He loves us and wants to bless us…so, He waits for us to realize our place and then He moves us into it.  For me, that means that He waits until I sleep, because that is when my heart is open to Him. His way of letting me know everything is going to be alright is He will wake me with a song. That lets me know that He heard…He knows…and He is still in control. I love when He does that….

Until next time…

Be blessed

For the God Who Lives in You

For the God Who Lives in You

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Earlier this month we took time out to honor the walk Jesus made to the cross.  This time of year always makes me think of the sacrifice our Lord made.

God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross—for us. He couldn’t bear being separated from us. And because He couldn’t look on our sin, He had to remove it by providing the perfect sacrifice. And when Jesus went back to the Father, He left us a comforter, and His name is Holy Spirit. He is the God who lives in us. Who walks beside us, and Who leads us and guides us.

Only God would do something so amazing. The One who created it all…thought enough of us to do that. The word says, “The Lord called me before my birth. From within the womb he called me by my name…He said to me, `You are my servant’...” (Isaiah 49:1, 3 TLB). I thank God that He called me by name…that He called each of us by name. What He did gave us the ability to dwell with Him…forever.

God called us into being because He has a plan for us. He has given us all unique gifts that only we can do. God has anointed us and called us into service. To represent Him in the earth. In Psalm 139:13 it says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” We were always on His mind…even before we were born.

I challenge you today to live the best life you have ever lived…for the God who lives in you. Whatever God is calling you to…don’t let anything or anyone stop you. No matter what you do…see it through. There is greater still awaiting you. Don’t be afraid to embrace it.

Until next time…

Be blessed.

Season of So Many Lessons

Season of So Many Lessons

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We are well into the season of Lent…when God’s people begin looking toward the cross. The place where God’s people first realized true victory. The place where Jesus Christ defeated death so that we could all have eternal life. 

The shed blood of Jesus, made us pure in God’s sight so that He no longer sees our sin. What Jesus did forever cleansed us so that we could be reconciled back to God. I thank God for that, because even though we may not be able to see it right now, we have the promise in His word that victory belongs to us. In 2 Corinthians 2:1 it says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. Wherever we go, we carry Him with us. We don’t go to meet Him there–we actually bring Him. 

The enemy will try to lead us to believe differently, but the people of God know the truth. Everything that happens in and around us has its purpose. God designed it that way. God’s word says that His people will always triumph. No matter what happens…we will be victorious! And for that, we owe Him everything.

If nothing else, this season has taught me a lot of lessons. I have learned to rely on God in ways I never thought possible. I have learned that He will be with me through everything I go through, and He will love me even when I don’t love myself. Most importantly, I have learned that God always has a plan, that nothing ever surprises Him, and that He is always in control. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

Just Listen.

Just Listen.

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With the war in Ukraine, rumors of war in other parts of the world, and even the violence we are experiencing right here in the United States, we can go to God’s word to find comfort. In Proverbs 1:33 it says, “But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” 

If we stay close to God’s word, listen to what He says, and follow His way, He promises to give us peace. And not only to give us peace, but to comfort our minds and our spirits so that we don’t even have to live in fear of harm. Nothing can harm us. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ. That means that even if they come after our bodies…they can’t have our souls. And I know I’ve said it before, but if God made the heavens and the earth, what is it that He won’t do for those He loves? You can trust, and believe that.

Our God is so faithful. Even in those times when we fall into the enemy’s trap, and we end up doing exactly what he wants us to do. Like when he wants us to doubt our ability, or when he wants us to think that our lives have little meaning, and we begin to believe that no one wants to hear what we have to say anyway…God is there to bring us out, and to show us the truth.

The truth is that we are more than conquerors. We already have the victory. We are God’s masterpiece. His chosen ones. And the love He has for us doesn’t even depend on whether we have sense enough to receive it…He just loves us anyway. Who wouldn’t want to love a God like that? 

Until next time…

Be blessed