Matthew 18:-10-See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Prayer: Dear Lord, always remind us to love children as You love them, even as we come to You with the trusting faith of a small child.

Reflection: Our earthly families may fail us, but our loving heavenly Father never will.

Continued Reading: Psalms 135-136 and 1 Corinthians 12

I know we may be adults, but we are children of God. Just like our children come to us for things, we can go to our Father in heaven through prayer and make our requests known to Him. He is always ready to listen to us, and not only that He is always ready to spend time with us. We should have a relationship with our heavenly Father just as our children has a relationship with us.

Strength for Your Journey

Habakkuk 3:19-The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.

Prayer: Father God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.

Reflection: We can trust the Lord to be our strength in tough times.

Continued Reading: Psalm 137-39 and 1 Corinthians 13

Often times we become weak for whatever reason… it could be due to stress, depression, beating ourselves up because of a mistake was made. Our flesh gets in the way at times, and then the weakness makes us question God, and ourselves for whatever the situation is. When things like that happen, we need to know that God is our strength. He will give us strength to keep on going, to keep on running the race until we make it to the finish line…it does not matter if we finish first, or last, just as long as we finish the race that is set before us. He strengthens our feet and legs when we feel like we cannot make another step. We can go anywhere as long as we stay with Him. During the tough times in our lives, He will give us strength to handle things that we never thought we could. We can trust Him to be our strength in every aspect of our lives. As long as we walk with God, He will take us to new heights to walk that we have never been before. When we walk with God, we can go anywhere and not be afraid of anything. He will give us all of the strength that we need to accomplish our goals in life. Without God we cannot do anything, but with Him we can do all things. He will take us to places that we have never been before. It will only make us trust Him more , and strengthen our faith. We are strong in the Lord. We are not weak, although in the Word, it says that women are the weaker vessel, we give birth to children, so I feel God gave us strength to go through all of that pain to show the males that they are not the only ones that are strong in Him. What ever the situation is, God will give us all the strength to accomplish what He has chosen for us to do in our lives.

In the beginning, I had a hard time knowing that my children were going to grow up and eventually want to go out on their own. I know it is for the best, but what dose one do when a parent loves their children so much and feels that they will forget about them? How does one sleep at night not knowing when that day is going to come? I have finally come to the realization that it is time for me to cut the apron strings. My children want to explore places that they have never been, meet new people, and make new friends. We know that we have raised our children right, and I am sure they will make good decisions, but if not, they will learn from the choices that they make.

It is like when baby birds get old enough to leave the nest to learn to fly, the mother bird will push them out the nest so they can start to strengthen their wings. I want our children to spread their wings and fly, they may fall, but they will get back up and try again. It has been great raising our children. Time just flew by so fast; that before we knew it , they were school age. Their baby years did not last long. I know I will always miss those years, and I will always have their pictures, and the memories that we have made together over the years. We can always message, talk, text, face time, and call each other. They will always be ours no matter what part of the world they are in.

I think it is harder for mothers than it is for fathers to let their children go. We have to cut the apron strings, or as they would say long ago; break the plate. I will always have a seat at the table waiting for them to come and have dinner, or just for a quick visit. The door will always be open. When they need us, we are just a phone call away. I hope for the best for them. I want them to have the best of everything that life has to offer. I pray that their hearts will always be filled with love and kindness, and respect for all people. I pray that the Lord will always be a hedge of protection around them, and bless them in all of the things that they strive for in their lives.

There are times when we may feel like we are alone whenever we go places by ourselves, but we are not alone. God is watching over us. He is protecting us by keeping us out of harms way, and keeping danger from us. He directs us in different directions when there is danger that we don’t know about that may be in the direction that we are headed. He said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He holds our hand and keeps us on the right path that we may stray from. When we come and go, He is watching over us. When we get up and lie down, He is watching us. We are His children, He will always watch over us; and even when we are transitioning into the last years of our lives, and until we take our last breath; He is watching over us. So, no matter where we are in the world on this earth, He is watching over us, our every move, coming and going. It makes me happy to know that I have my Father in heaven watching over me.

Psalm 121:8

Today has been awesome! I have discovered that I should start something new that makes me happy. I have started drawing again! It has been five years since I have really taken the time out to rediscover something that I have always loved. I started drawing and painting when was just a little girl in kindergarten. It is so relaxing and stress free. I just posted on my new blog, Shaunelius Sterns’s Intellectual Abstract Art. I can be found at abstractart.video.blog. I have yet to collect all of my art pieces to post them. I hope everyone enjoy all of the pieces that I post, and the stories that connects with each piece.

I am so amazed that God brought this back to my mind. I had began to feel like something was missing in my life, but I just could not figure it out. I was looking through my computer just doing things, and I just happen to look on my nightstand and there was my sketch book. I opened it up and began to look at all of the stuff that I had done, and that is when I found what was missing. Now I am thinking about really drawing all of the time, and going to festivals to see what is out there, to seek out opportunities to sell my art. I have to start someplace, because if I don’t I will never know if I could become successful in what I want to do.

As I think about it, there are so many other things that I want to do; such as having my own line of something, my own brand. It can happen just as long as I keep God first in all that I do. Well, I have to get to work, success never start just by staying still, movement must be made. I thank God for all of the talents He has given me. I thank God for all of the talents that HE has given to you all as well. Keep on being creative, never stop learning, never stop dreaming, and most of all keep on being wonderful and putting God first. When we put Him first, He will do the rest. God bless.

Our heart is the field of the Lord and the Word is the seed. If we don’t take God’s Word to our heart and apply it to our lives everyday, we will be dry as a barren land that cannot produce fruit. We will not know what to do when trouble arises, or when we are going through tough times. We need to seek our God while He may be found; so that we may obtain strength, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from Him. God’s Word is living and breathing. It is life, and the way we should live our lives. He lives in us, and we live because of Him. He is our strength when we are weak, and a flame of fire that protects us from all of our enemies. He is our guide now and forevermore. When we trust in the Lord with all of our heart, and lean not to our own understanding, in all of our ways acknowledge Him He’ll direct our paths. He will only do this when we seek Him and trust Him.

His Word is a lamp to our feet that lights our path when we’re walking in darkness. When our heart is dark, our spirit is dark. When we ignore God’s Word, our spirit is weak, and so our bodies become weak and starved. How can we understand God’s Word, and understand God when we don’t read His Word? How can we know the plans that He has for us if we don’t seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness that all of those things may be added unto us? How can we know if we don’t ask, seek, and knock on heavens door? We have been given permission to go boldly to the Throne of Grace and plead our petitions to God. We must have faith when we talk to God, and when we have faith He will hear us. Faith without works is dead, because without faith it is impossible to please God. That is why we need to apply our hearts unto wisdom that we may hear from God, and that our prayers may be answered, but it must be mixed with faith.

We do not need our spirits to be void of understanding. We do not need to walk in darkness. For the Lord Our God has given us light to walk therein, and that light is Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His precious Son.

For Our God gave these words to me while I was reading Jeremiah.

www.bible.com/1/1pe.3.7.kjv

1 Peter 3:7

www.bible.com/reading-plans/12118/day/3

www.bible.com/1/php.4.6.kjv

Philippians 4:6

www.bible.com/reading-plans/12118/

www.bible.com/1/jhn.14.13.kjv

John 14:13

www.bible.com/reading-plans/12118/day/1

www.bible.com/1/1jn.4.15-19.kjv

1 John 4:15-19

Matthew 6:3-4-But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

What is the point in helping someone that is in need when you then broadcast what you did for them? In my eyes, that is petty and wrong. On top of all of that it is then thrown up in their faces so that they will never forget it; that is wrong. You do not do something for someone and then hold it over their heads as if you are reminding them that they owe you something in return, that is wrong as well. You are not to make the person, or people feel like they are a charity case, and you are not to make them feel like they are less than just because they do not have the things that you have. Everyone falls on hard times every once in a while; it is a part of life. No one has a clue as to why a person, or people struggle at times. There will come a time when the person that is helping the person, or people that they are helping will need help themselves. Do you think that they will be quick to help them, I would think not, because that person made them feel less than when they were in need of help.

To be honest, no one knows what tomorrow is going to bring for them, so therefore we should help those that are in need and not expect anything in return. Let us look at it like this. If Jesus would have not came and did what He did for us, we would have been in big trouble. What if He would have said something like, what is in it for me in return if I should lay down My life for all of you? What would we have done, or said to Him? How do you think that would have made us feel knowing that that was what He was sent here for? Just let us all think about that for a minute or two…. We all would be afraid right? That is why when we do something for someone in secret, we should not go and broadcast what we have done. The right hand should never know what the left hand is doing, just as the right hand should not know what the left hand is doing. In other words keep it private so that the person, or people that are being helped will not feel bad because they had to have someone help them.

Jesus wants us to be generous in our giving, because it is for those that may need help along the way; whatever the situation is, it is not to be shared with everyone, that is between them, you, and God. When we help people in secret, God sees it, and will reward you openly. Do not miss out on a blessing being a gossiper of what you have did for someone. Lift them up and let them know that it was done out of the kindness of your heart. Let them know that it is what Jesus would have done. We may never know who may have to give us our last bite of food, or our last drink of water before we leave this earth, so always be kind to people, because you just never know when you have helped and angel unawares. God is every where. He sees all that is going on in this world. He knows who helps others with a smile and a pure heart, and He knows those that do not help people at all because they do not care for others nor do they have the fear of God in their souls.

When you help people, good will always come back around to you. God does not forget how we help people. No matter where they are in this world. We are all God’s children, and we should want to be like Him in all things. We are His hands, feet, eyes, and mouth on this earth, and we should want to do for others as He has always been good, kind, and loving, compassionate, and forgiving to us. I know we have large sandals to fill, but one day we will get to hear the words, “Well done.” If there have ever been a time that you had to help someone, and you expected something in return, repent and ask Jesus to cleanse your soul of being that way. We are all sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus and we should act as such.

Good morning everyone! Have a marvelous, Fantastic, Terrific Day! God bless!

www.bible.com/1/mat.6.3-4.kjv

www.bible.com/1/jhn.7.38.kjv

The Promise of the Holy Spirit-John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,”If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. But He spoke, concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive ; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Who Is He ? John 7:40-44

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said,”Truly this is the Prophet”. Others said,”This is the Christ”. But some said,”Will the Christ come out of Galilee? “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted to take Him , but no one laid hands on Him.

Rejected by the Authorities : John 7:45-52

Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” The officers answered,”No man ever spoke like this Man!” Then the Pharisees answered them “Are you also deceived? “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? “But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed”. Nicodemus (the one who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look , for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.

An Adulteress Faces the Light of the World

John 7:53- And everyone went to his own house.

All of these Scriptures were taken from the Holy Bible–New King James Version.

www.bible.com/1/isa.41.10.kjv

Isaiah 41:10

www.bible.com/1/col.3.23.kjv

Colossians 3:23-24

www.bible.com/1/1pe.4.10.kjv

1Peter 4:10

www.bible.com/1/psa.139.23-24.kjv

Psalm 139:23-24-Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Do we know what is in our heart? We should, we know of all of the feelings that we keep there. We keep love there, and we often keep hate, envy, jealousy, bitterness, strife, and things that we sometimes we want to hold on to as a reminder of who and what hurt us.

When God looks at our hearts, I feel that He is often displeased with the unnecessary things that we keep there. Things that we should have given to Him so He could make our hearts feel whole again. Why would we want to hold on to things that only makes our hearts hurt. Anything that makes our hearts hurt, we should always give it to God. He wants us to have pure hearts, and pure minds. He does not want us to have a heart filled with things that are not pure; because whatever is in our hearts is going to come out of us, and when we have thoughts that are not pure it corrupts the mind. We have to ask Him to clean us from the inside out; make us new so that we may serve Him having pure hearts, and pure minds. God is holy, so therefore our inner man must be clean. Our heart is His home, because His Spirit lives within us.

No, we are not perfect people, but we serve a perfect God. We all are works in progress. Regardless of the things that we go through in life, and all of the mistakes we will make, He will always love us. Thank God for His love, mercy, and grace, and His forgiveness. Just think about it, if He were mean, He would not have sent His one and only Son into this world to lay down His life for the sins that we committed. He would have just let us die in our sins. Yes, God will get mad and destroy things, and places just as He did back then, but He is merciful. yes, we are to fear God, but in a healthy way, not to the point that we are afraid to go to Him when we need to carry our burdens to Him, or just to talk and spend time with Him. He is our Father, and we are to respect Him as such. So, the next time there is something that you feel in your that should be given to God, just take it to Him in prayer and leave it at the feet of Jesus. Amen!

www.bible.com/1/psa.27.4.kjv

Psalm 27:4

www.bible.com/1/jer.17.7-8.kjv

Jeremiah 17:7

www.bible.com/1/deu.13.4.kjv

Deuteronomy 13:4

www.bible.com/1/luk.11.28.kjv

Luke 11:28

www.bible.com/1/exo.20.16.kjv

Exodus 20:16

www.bible.com/1/gal.5.1.kjv

Galatians 5:1

www.bible.com/1/eph.5.1-2.kjv

Ephesians 5:1-2