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When Giving Thanks is Hard

This week will find people gathered around tables all across the U.S. as they celebrate Thanksgiving. Sure there will be the obligatory saying of grace. Families may even go around the table and share what they are thankful for. Some may even write out their prayers and hang them on a “thankful” tree.

 

But what do you do when giving thanks is hard?

 

Somebody has been isolated from social connections because of Covid so giving thanks may be a bit hard

 

Somebody has recently lost a parent so giving thanks may be a bit hard

 

Somebody has been struggling financially so giving thanks may be a bit hard

 

Somebody’s body is betraying them and is ravaged with disease so giving thanks may be a bit hard

 

But what I’ve come to learn and what the Lord has been especially impressing on my heart all week is Give Thanks Anyhow!

 

Despite what you see. Despite what you feel. Despite what you think. Give thanks anyhow!

 

Because it’s not about what we think, see or feel but about the ONE who deserves our honor, who deserves our adoration, who deserves our praise.

 

When giving thanks is hard, sometimes it requires you to take your eyes off yourself and off your situation and lock your gaze unto His.

 

When giving thanks is hard sometimes you have to deal with the spiritual cataracts so you can “see beyond” and see into the spirit.

 

Sometimes it will require you to humble yourself, recall where He bought you from, what He’s rescued you out of or what He spared you from.

 

Even when giving thanks is hard, the ONE who was, and is and is to come is still worthy. And because He sees and He knows and He cares, He will prod you and prompt you and remind you of just how much He loves you. You’ll hear it in the bird’s song or in the smile of a child. He’ll illuminate and bring back that verse you’ve hidden in your heart at just the right time. And when He does that, it may still be hard to give thanks but you’ll be compelled to do it. Because that’s the thing, praise and giving thanks are sacrificial. Oh yes, it’s going to cost you something.

 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15

 

In the hard spaces of laying aside pride, convenience, or even hurt and sorrow, GIVE THANKS. It is actually God’s will that you give thanks is all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

 

Will it be hard to give thanks sometimes? Yes

Will it cost you something? Yes

But isn’t He worth it? YES!

 

Sometimes the words are hard to come by if you’re hurting but there is help. All you gotta do is turn to His word. Let these verses minister to your heart and may they flow from your lips as you offer up your true thanks giving

 

  • O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever. Psalm 30:12
  • {I} Rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God has given unto me. Deuteronomy 26:11
  • Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57
  • O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good. His mercy endureth forever. Psalm 118:29
  • Giving thanks always for all things unto God. Ephesians 5:20
  • Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Psalm 100:4
  • It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. Psalm 92:1

 

So with the fruit of your lips, even if it’s but a whisper, release your Thank You Father…….

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Is God Really Able?

There are days when you just know that you know GOD IS ABLE.

 

You know those days when money is plentiful, your job is secure, the cupboards are overflowing, relationships are effortless, children are obedient, and your self worth is high.

 

Then the other days come. Such is life right? The days that have you questioning the One who said He would provide. The days when the One who said He’d never leave nor forsake you seems to be playing a game of hot peas and butter but you don’t seem to be getting closer, only colder, colder, and colder still.

 

How do we eradicate the spirit of doubt and activate our faith? How do we hold fast to the truth that God is able? We do it with a simple two-step: Prayer and Praise. Put on your garment of praise and shirk off the spirit of heaviness. Shod your feet in your gospel of peace shoes and get your praise on.

 

By prayer Peter was released from prison (Acts 12:5-17)

 

Through prayer and praise, Paul and Silas were delivered from prison (Acts 16:25-40)

 

[bctt tweet=”Even in the solitary spaces, God is able.” username=”inspiredfully”]

 

PRAY

 

God is able to do exceedingly abundantly for me

God is able to make all grace abound toward me

God is able to give me peace that surpasses all understanding

God is able to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory

God is able to make my enemies my footstool

 

PRAISE

 

My soul magnifies you Lord

My soul boasts in you Lord

My soul blesses you Lord

My soul delights in your Word

All my inmost being praises you Lord

 

With prayer and praise move the TRUTH from your head to your heart…

 

GOD IS ABLE!

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith, Mommy Moments, Grace & Truth

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ALOUD, Give Him Praise!

Great Morning Inspired Life Family!

 

I’m just stopping in to invite you to rejoice with me today.  This morning as my eyes sprung open, my heart was flood with a song.  Stephen Hurd, the Director of Music and Arts at my church, The First Baptist Church of Glenarden, sings a song called Great Praise, (The War Cry). In the song he encourages us to give God great praise, ALOUD. YES, open your mouth and out loud give him your best praise. On this day the Nation has set aside to give thanks, be reminded that every second we have reason to give thanks.

~He woke you up this morning, THANK YOU!

~You can these words on the screen, THANK YOU!

 

~For the electronic device you’re holding to read this, THANK YOU!

 

~For your daily bread, THANK YOU!

 

~For the heat in your home, THANK YOU!

 

~For being loved, THANK YOU!

 

~Even for being hated on, THANK YOU!

 

~For running water, THANK YOU!

 

~For affliction that keeps you clinging to the Cross, THANK YOU!

 

~For laughter, THANK YOU!

 

~For every breath, THANK YOU!

 

[bctt tweet=”Any time is a good time to give the Lord not only a great praise but our BEST praise.” username=”inspiredfully”] He’s worthy.

May your day be spent basking in His infinite blessings.

As always, I pray you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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The Sound of Heaven

A Mighty Rushing Wind

 

A Roar of Rushing Waters

 

A Loud Peal of Thunder

 

Trumpets Sound

 

The Roar of a Great Multitude

 

Indeed there is a SOUND from heaven. There is a divine exchange between heaven and earth. And the sound is audible. Story after story has been reported of strange sounds emanating from seamlessly nowhere. From Oregon to the Ukraine, moans, groans and trumpets have been heard, recorded and analyzed. In fact, last year during Pentecost, the sounds from heaven caught the attention of scientists from NASA. They’ve speculated but have yet to come up with a definitive answer.

 

Beloved, if you are a believer, then you already know the answer. It has been written. It’s crystal clear.

 

The heavens are open.

 

Are your ears open to hear the sound?

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:6

 

What happens in the earth when we hear the sound?

 

Filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)

Revelation (Revelation 4:1)

A New Song (Revelation 14:2-3)

Victory (Revelation 19)

 

How will you respond?

 

Open your mouth, echo heaven and release YOUR sound. Open your mouth in praise. Free your spirit to worship; a divine exchange between heaven and earth. He sounds, you respond. He moves, you move. You are a spirit and He’s called you to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Your spirit and your body resonate with the sound. You respond in sound, as you are an instrument of worship.

[bctt tweet=”Let us get in position on one accord to worship the true and living King” username=”inspiredfully”]. Be filled afresh to continue the work of establishing His kingdom here on earth.

Friends the current state of our world is in crisis. The Lord is waiting for you and I to rise up and be His hands and feet in healing our land. He wants to enlarge your territory so that you are more impactful for Him.

 

Join me in worship as we incline our ear to the sound of heaven.

 

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, #lifegivinglinkup, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

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Will You Be The One?

From afar off He heard their plea, as they cried out, lifting their voices saying, “Jesus, Master have mercy on us!”

 

“Go and show yourselves to the priests,” he replied. And as they obediently heeded the command, they were healed. All ten, suffering from leprosy had their mark of shame removed.

 

Yet one…Just one, when he saw he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God.

 

One.

 

Just one fell down on his face at the Mater’s feet giving Him thanks.

 

The one, a Samaritan thus seemingly the least to return would be the one to come back with thanksgiving on his lips.

 

And while the one had been cleansed physically, upon his return, with thanks on his lips, he was granted another level of healing. As He bowed at the Master’s feet, Jesus declared, “Arise, your faith as made you well.” Again, the leper had already been physically healed in the act of obedience in presenting himself to the priest, but this second encounter with the Master produced additional fruit in the life of the leper. He was made well from the inside out! The leper was restored and it was done so publicly.

 

So, have you returned to tell the Master thank you?

 

Thank you for protecting me from dangers seen and unseen.

 

Thank you Lord for supplying all my needs according to your riches in glory.

 

Thank you Lord that through all the trauma I’ve experienced, I am strong in my body, strong in my mind and strong in spirit.

 

Thank you that when I don’t know what to say, you make intercession to the Father on my behalf.

 

Thank you for presenting me before the Father blameless.

 

Thank you for being my advocate, defending me, petitioning for me and protecting me.

 

Thank you for loving, meaningful relationships.

 

Thank you for not leaving me to my own devices but for correcting me, disciplining me and molding me as to correct my character flaws.

 

Are you like the nine? When they received their healing it is likely they returned to rejoice with their family and friends. After all, they had been excommunicated and would naturally want to reunite with their loved ones. Jesus is making His point CLEAR to you and me when He calls out, not directly to the leper, but speaking so that the onlookers could hear and internalize, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:17-19

 

 

While Jesus isn’t healing us of leprosy today, He is healing our:

~Sickness

~Disease

~Lying

~Anger

~Greed

~Pride

~Selfishness

~Lust

~Malice

~Envy

 

 

And the list goes on and on.

 

One returned.

 

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16

 

Will you be the one?

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:1-2

 

 

If you are the one, pray with me.

 

 

Oh most holy and worthy God we come to lift your name on high. Your name that is above all names. You are highly exalted. Yahweh we bow before you. We fall at your feet in surrender with thanks in our hearts and praise on our lips. We thank you for loving us when we didn’t love ourselves. We thank you for shielding us when we knowingly walked into precarious situations. We thank you for delivering us from the hand of the enemy. We thank you that even in our disobedience you still tell us to come to you. We thank you for loving us with an everlasting love. Oh Father, what more can we say? All the glory belongs to you. As we kneel in your presence, our hearts are overcome with the sheer greatness of how truly good you’ve been to us. Let our surrender and our lifestyle of obedience demonstrate how truly grateful we are. We love you Lord. Amen.

 

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with these friends Sharon the Good News #DanceWithJesus, Grace & Truth, Faith n’ Friends

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God’s Glory

From the Dictionary of Theology:

In the Old Testament the word for “glory” is the Hebrew word   כָּבֹוד “kabowd” which carries the idea of heaviness and weight.  In the New Testament the Greek word is δόξα “doxa” which carries the idea of opinion, judgment, estimate, splendor, brightness, etc. It is used to speak of great honor, praise, value, wonder, and splendor. Glory is spoken of in reference to people and God.  Glory is given by God and also is a manifestation of God’s greatness and presence that is awesome to behold.

 

But to really define glory virtually impossible. It’s the sum of WHO God is, WHAT He is and WHAT He does. How can that all be summed up in a neat one-sentence definition?

 

Weigh of Glory

 

Personally, I’ve come to know God’s glory to be the external, present, manifestation of His presence in my life and all around me. For me, it is sensing, seeing and feeling his character and attributes manifested spiritually and physically. God’s glory is the FULL sum of who He is and what He does. When basking in His glory I am completely consumed, feeling as if my heart may nearly burst from being FULL of His love and His light. 

 

God’s glory is The Lord of the Universe putting Himself on display for us to see and experience. And everywhere we look and in everything we do, His glory is evident, if we have eyes to see.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

 

Jesus himself is the express image of God’s glory. He is the sum of God’s character, attributes and actions all wrapped up in human form.

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

 

As Jesus is the express image of God’s glory, our lives should reflect His glory. As true disciples and followers of Christ we ought to be a tangible representation of His truth, love and grace in all the earth. As He takes us from glory to glory, we in turn ought to give Him more glory. Our demonstrations of praise, worship and love for mankind give Him glory.

 

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:24

 

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Oh God that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear; to immerse ourselves in the weight of your glory. For it to completely envelope us like a cloak of fog in the UK.

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting,

and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34

 

 

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Oh Lord that we your people would bask in your glory, that we would be so completely saturated by it. That we would absorb its life sustaining nutrients and that we would then reflect its brilliance.

Arise, shine; For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

 

Basking in Glory

 

Join me in basking in His glory.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Lord, Here’s My Worship

“He threw up all in the bed”, was my wake up call at 1:01am. My husband alerted me that our sweet 2 year old was laying in this mess. I jump up and indeed the entire bed was filled with vomit.

 

Saturday evening I was tired and drifted right off to sleep. I hadn’t been asleep long and glory to God that worship had ushered me to sleep because it was in a spirit of worship that I jumped up to clean the mess.

 

Lord, Here’s My Worship.

 

So went the rest of the wee hours of the morning. Nearly every half hour, my sweet baby continued to throw up, until 5:30am. After a while he was just dry heaving because there was nothing left to come up. My mama heart was hurting for my baby so I just held him and rocked him.

 

Lord, Here’s My Worship.

 

Yet with every wake up, every lurching of his stomach, every clean up of the mess was my worship. Washing the soiled linens, stripping soiled clothes…yet again and scrubbing vomit out of the rug, my worship was present in that too.

 

You yourselves like living stones are being built up

as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood,

to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God

through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

 

As I continued to listen to the pure, unadulterated worship of singer Jason Upton, my heart was filled with tremendous joy. I was reenergized and revitalized, not just to meet the needs of my baby in that moment, but I KNEW something was happening in the spirit.

 

My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all the day. Psalm 71:8

 

So as I continued to praise and worship the Lord, I remembered that it was now officially Sunday, the day of Pentecost. I could not have planned a better way to usher in Pentecost, to have my heart and mind set squarely on worshipping the Lord, with no distractions. For Him to orchestrate this divine appointment with me was just so perfect.

 

Even here I have to stop. As I weep, I just cry out HALLELUJAH…HALLELUJAH!

 

Lord, Here’s My Worship!

 

With my heart open in a posture of worship, I receive a fresh touch, a special impartation. This is not the 1st time the Lord has had me up in the wee hours of the morning to speak to me. So Holy Spirit I thank you for a fresh touch, for fresh fire, for fresh oil, for fresh wind, for the indwelling of your Spirit.

 

“‘In the last days, God says,

 I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.’” Acts 2:17

 

Even in the midst of the vomit, the Lord sought to connect with me. The glory of the Lord filled my bedroom and I was saturated in His glory. Throw up and worship, who knew they’d go hand-N-hand? As my grandmother would say, the Lord works in mysterious ways. Oh Lord, I’m so grateful that you invite me into your presence to connect with you, to commune with you, to worship you.

 

Oh friends, be open and receptive to entering into worship in peculiar places at peculiar times. We cannot BOX our God in. He is not isolated in silos. He is omnipresent and He longs to connect with you.

 

Are you present and available?

 

Lord, Here’s My Worship.

 

Friends, won’t you join me?

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

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Happy to connect with friends at Grace & Truth Dance With Jesus, #SmallWonder

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Worship The King

Adoration.

Glorification.

Exaltation.

Worship.

We were created to worship the true and living God. What an honor and a privilege to give Him my absolute best. Worship is the act of giving sacrificially of yourself out of your love for God.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23-24

True worship comes from the heart. As I open my heart and open my mouth in recognition of the great, mighty, powerful, loving God I serve, I move closer and closer into that sacred space with Him. When we worship not only do we demonstrate our love, reverence, awe and honor for God but we also create an atmosphere conducive for having a personal encounter with Him. He says, “If you draw near to me, I will draw near to you”.

I am just coming off of a worship immersion experience. Dr. Celeste Owens Ministries hosted The Surrender Healing Retreat. During my time at this retreat I was completely immersed in a worship experience. In fact, the experience was so overwhelming I have been having a difficult time adjusting back to my normal routines. I feel like I am in a fog of sorts but in a good way. I have continued to cry, pray, and praise. I have been at a loss for words, which is rare for me.

Oh to bask in God’s glory. To feel the radiant heat of His love saturate the atmosphere and fill me. I am bubbling over. I literally feel as if my body cannot house my spirit, like my spirit has been so ignited that I will combust. Whoo God! And I want to remain in this sweet space.

But that sweet sacred space

Of meeting Him face to face

Ignites my soul

It makes me whole

I am forever changed

No longer the same

Filled with love and light

My spirit takes flight

As I worship the King

 

Standing on Holy ground

All love grace and peace abound

Standing in the most place

Seeing the Master face to face

As I worship the King

Commonly, worship is associated with music only. While music is a conduit to ushering in worship, it is not our only form of worship. We can engage in worship through:

Obedience

 

Serving

 

Making Joyful Noise

 

Giving

Proskuneo is the word used most often for worship in the New Testament. It implies having deep reverence, to bow down or fall down before. In its early usage, it was designated for falling down and lying prostrate before a king to kiss his feet, hem of his garment or the ground. As believers, our worship is not only a physical act of lying or bowing, but our spirits should maintain a posture of being laid out before our holy God. Every day all day we should remain open, sensitive and humbly connected, rooted and grounded in the Father’s presence.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2

 

Oh friends I invite you to take your shoes off, dust off your feet and join me. This is holy ground! Leave the cares of this world behind as we move into the most holy place to commune with our God. Worship the King.

What will you do to create an atmosphere conducive for pure, authentic, uninhibited worship?

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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