iShineInMinistry

Mark 9:24 (NKJV)

… “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Are you having one of those seasons? We all have them and know them well; it’s that kind of season where you are kind of a “Nelly Negative” and your entire outlook is negative or pessimistic. There’s always a down side to your great news and nothing is quite ever as good as it could be. While we would prefer to not camp in this place…let’s face it, sometimes we just stay in this proverbial raincloud and let our emotions outweigh what we know to be truth. Today, let’s get out of the place of sad mittens, “Everything is bad and God is ignoring me” or “It will happen for everyone else, but God will not bless me in that way” kind of attitude and remember who we are dealing with here!

God will not withhold any good thing from us. So guess what…if we don’t have it yet or it’s not time, it may not be a good thing for us right now.

Also, please note all the orchestration that takes place to make things come to fruition that has absolutely nothing to do with us. God is working, moving and directing all in the manner that is fit for your particular situation. Just hang tight and grow in godly character until you get to the blessing you are waiting for.

And finally, admit that you are having a hard time believing, just as the father did in this area of scripture. He wanted to believe Jesus would do what He was able to do and heal his son; but at the same time the father could also see what his son was going through in that moment and it looked a little impossible. Let God know that you need Him to help you believe…He already knows anyway, might as well stop trying to keep up appearances!

I pray that we will allow God to work in and through our lives, that we will cling to His word so that we can believe that with God all things are possible; and finally I hope that we can come to the Father and say, “Help my unbelief” in the times when it just seems like you cannot believe on your own. Keep praying, trusting, believing (or asking help if you can’t) and waiting on the Lord…He will do what He says!

Have a fabulous evening as you seek the Lord.

Listen to this song and let the Lord be all that you need – then trust and believe that He is Who He says He is and will do what He promised!! Have my sparkly-blessed week and remember that this is the year of #greatexpectations so you can believe for big, amazing and miraculous things!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBEpWE5Z6Q" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click to Play

Luke 1:45(NKJV)

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

We are starting off 2017 with a fabulous guest psot from Dasia...one of my favorite teenagers! Take a look at her exhortation to us as we start this new year of wonderful blessings!

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

~ Proverbs 16:3~

This has been a crazy, unpredictable year, and a new start is about to come: 2017! With the New Year comes more goals and resolutions from people set for a different outlook on life, attitude, or anything else. Usually, these "resolutions" only last for a few days at the most. But as others want to be new for 2017, we as Christians should have goals to serve God and spread His word. And not just for a week or so, but forever! For all of our lives we should show who we are and how God is working in us.

When people set goals such as getting fit, it's a great motivation to work hard and look good. But striving for Christ is so much more rewarding in the long run. You are receiving eternal life.

Like any normal person trying to follow God, it's hard. It can be super challenging to stay with Him throughout all of the hardships and distractions of the world; this was especially true in 2016. I know for me, sports, school, and just everyday life always sidetracked me to a place where I'm basically almost blinded. I'm so caught up in the ways of the world I forget the most important thing in my life!

For 2017, being close to God is the best aspiration you can have. Whatever happens this year, decade, or lifetime, He's going to be there for you.

1 Samuel 1:17

…“Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

What are you asking, hoping, praying and quite possibly begging the Lord for today? Each of us has an unfulfilled desire that we are currently waiting on. We may see that blessing taking place in someone else’s life and pining for the day when it will be our turn. Whether it’s a dream job, a trip of a lifetime, a husband, family or a complete life makeover…we all have something that someone else wants and someone has what we would like to have as part of our world.

It amazes me how we can have our lives 85% totally and wonderfully put together, yet we somehow manage to place all of our focus on the 15% that has not come to fruition yet. It can eat away at joy, throw off our life completely, give us sleepless nights and basically taunt or haunt us until we get it…or lose hope that it will ever even happen.

In the scripture above, Hannah was desperate for the opportunity to be a mother. She had a husband that loved her, a home and knew that the Lord was with her…but there was that one thing lacking. And that became her focus. God blessed her in His timing, but I wonder how many days she spent thinking about what she didn’t have. I wonder how much time we use to think about and be upset about the things we don’t have…

Today, while we may be in the middle of getting from Point A to Point B, I encourage you to enjoy the journey while you walk in faith to the next chapter/season of your life. Don’t sulk or hurt in sadness, enjoy the 85% of what you do have as you wait for the other bits of life to fall into place! Be blessed and continue living #TheCharmedLife

1 Samuel 1:18

She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”…

This week's devotion is from one of my favorite little middle schoolers, Dasia. She is filled with the love of God and quite wise beyond her years! Hope you enjoy reading this post as much as I did!! Happy #TheCharmedLife Sunday!

"And whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters."

Colossians 3:23 NIV

I'm in middle school, and I love to do everything. And by everything, I mean everything! I've always love being part of sports, clubs, and the many things that come with school. I love that feeling of pride and involvement that comes with it, and the awesome people I get to meet. But this summer, I went to a Christian sports camp with my sister and friends and it really changed my view of doing things in my life. I learned how to compete and involve every part of my life to God, no matter what I do. If you ask me the word I heard the most all summer, it's the word wholeheartedly.

Before camp, I never would've even known exactly what that word means. But now, I know exactly. Sure, there are definitions of the word on Google and things like that; but in my book, it means putting everything you have into something for God. I feel that if God didn't show me camp and this verse of the Bible, I never would've learned to give everything I possibly possess. I didn't realize that I was really doing things halfheartedly in a lot of parts of my life. I need to put my blood and tears into things like Jesus did on the cross. And I'm not just talking about sports, work, and activities. I'm talking about life and Christianity.

Put all of your energy and heart into whatever you do for Him. He's going to show you a different outlook on everything, and it's all part of His plan. I get distracted and sidetracked from God a lot, but I know focusing my heart on Him and praising Him for everything can lead you to so many new things. So be a light to your coworkers, or classmates, or team and show them what God can show you…and find what God wants you to find in yourself.

Psalm 37:3-6 (NKJV)

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Today I went out with a friend for afternoon tea and we had such a fabulous time. The wait, however, was LONG! As we sat in the “lounge area” to be seated, we heard the hostess ask another group if their young daughter wanted to have “fairy dust”. Being the priss that I am, I asked about this option and then learned that we could have the dust (pink and blue glitter) sprinkled on us while we make a wish. I quickly opted for this service, even though I am well over seven years old!

Once I was standing in front the of hostess, she asked me to close my eyes and think hard about a wish I want. And of course since I am a FGG (Fabulous Girl of God) I began to say a short prayer about a current desire that has been on my heart lately (as she sprinkled glitter all over me in a circular motion above my head). Then my friend did the same and not long after we were seated for tea.

We literally had a delightful (people should use that word more often) time. We also noticed how much we sparkled when we turned a certain direction or when the light caught us at the just right time because of the glitter all over us. This made us smile and laugh a lot during our afternoon, which was nice. As we parted ways, I thought (half joking, mostly serious) that I should purchase some glitter and name it “Heaven Dust” to sprinkle on myself every night during my evening prayers before I go to sleep. The feeling of delight and the reminder of God covering me would flicker with each spec of glitter as it hits the light and the glimmer catches my eye…and remind me of God’s faithfulness and promises in my life. It would be a fanciful reminder of His love as I wait for Him to answer certain prayers and grow deeper in my love of Christ each day.

I’ve gone a long (and quite random) way to say that as we delight in the Lord He will fill us with joy as we wait…and give us moments of delight as we focus our hearts on Him, pray, seek and wait. The desires of our heart will be in alignment with His perfect will for our lives and we will encounter moments of joy throughout our day and our walk with Him.

My glittered afternoon gave me that nice reminder that I loved and needed. What reminds you to trust in the Lord and keep your heart fixed on His faithfulness?

Isaiah 62:4(NKJV)

…For the LORD delights in you…

Listen to this song sometime during your week to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness – enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3AzcuE3xTQ