I am striving every day to leave the world behind me and follow Jesus all the way. What better season to begin the journey!
“I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me; no turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; no turning back, no turning back. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; my cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; my cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.” Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back!
“I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, “Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.”
“Where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way. I’ll go with Him through the waters, I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him to dark Calv’ry, I’ll go with Him to the judgment, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way. Where He leads me I will follow. He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, and go with me, with me all the way.” Thank you, Lord!
We must never be afraid to do the will of God. Daily put on the whole armor of God, so that you will be ready and willing to do God’s will.
The Lord will outfit and position us for any task He will set before us, so we should not be afraid, He will be with us. Where should I go today? What should I do today? I have put on the whole armor of God, because I am ready and willing to take on whatever You have set before me, so wherever You lead me O God, I will follow. Show me what You would have me do, use me in whatever way You see fit. You have outfitted me and carefully positioned me, for any battle that I will face today, so, here I am Lord, send me. (PFEL)
Let Your mercy O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:22
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our souls waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield; for our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease. Psalm 8:1-2
Lord,” When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place; what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor, You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”
For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lie, Lord our God to thee we raise, this our grateful hymn of praise.
I am thankful for the heart that God has given me, the contentment knowing him has brought me; it has taught me to enjoy all of life’s simple pleasures, it could be a something as simple as picking a gardenia for my daughter, seeing the new mango blossoms, just watching the group of white ibis on my lawn as they search for food, and I just want to share with you this photo and encourage you, to enjoy the simple things of life. There is so much beauty around us God gave it all to us, and when you do, raise your voice in a grateful hymn of praise. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of the earth!
“The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want.” Everything I need He has provided and will continue to provide, as long as I continue to walk in His way. Thank you, Lord!
“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 forever.” Amen!
Know that the Lord is God; he himself has made us and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Psalm 100
This says the Lord God; I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seek out their flocks when they are among the scattered sheep, so I will also seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them into their own land and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the earth. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep and I will make them lie down says, the Lord. I will seek the lost and I will bring back the strayed, I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak. Ezekiel 34
Let your salvation O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:29-30
“We give thanks to you O God we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that your name is near. I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on Your work and talk of your deeds. Your way O God, is a sanctuary. Who is so great a god as our God? You are the one who does wonders, you have declared Your strength among the peoples, You have with Your arm redeemed Your people.” Thank you, Lord!
Too many of us take for granted the blessings bestowed on us. We enjoy the gifts but find it hard to thank the giver. My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not get so busy, that we forget to give God thanks for the many blessings of this life.
Let us make it our aim to find at least one thing to be thankful for today. Most times we especially forget to be thankful for the little things. Let us begin every day by just saying, “Thank you, Lord, for this new day!” We take for granted things such as running water, sunrises and sunsets, living a day without pain or medication, Someone to hug, being able to see, hear, feel and smell. Start a thankful journal – writing down the things that you are truly grateful for, and the next time you feel down in the dumps just pick it up and begin reading and you will be surprised at the results. Have a truly thankful day!