discover – Page 9 – GREENLiGHT

Live A Day At A Time…

Live each day one day at a time.

Funny how many of us worry our heads off about the future. At times some pass away and not even around to enjoy what they worried about. My sister had cancer and worried about leaving her kids. But because she knew she wouldn’t be around much longer after fighting the dreaded disease for over 12 years, she decided to put things in place for them to survive and thrive after she passed.

To Worry Or Not To Worry?

Some of us worry about tomorrow …what we are going to eat, what we are going to drink and more. Yet when tomorrow becomes today, we find that we have enough for the day. Often even more than enough. We are not satisfied with what we have. We want steak when mere chicken will do. We want a mansion when a small condo will do. We want vacations to share on social media and gain likes and followers when a quiet space will give our hearts peace.

As we enter a new era may we become satisfied with the present. May we be satisfied with God’s deserving provisions now. May we be comforted that like Joseph who accomplished his will in prison and rose from the depths of the dark hole, false accusers to the heights of ruling a nation during its most severe time of need.

Lord, when we are weak, make us strong.

For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to give you hope and a bright future.

Beneath The Shadows…

In the cleft is my favorite place to be. This temporary space helps me hide from my infirmities, wants, needs and desires.

Beneath the shadows I lie in wait for the Lord’s amazing answers. In between He comforts, leads, and guides. As I wait (at times impatiently) he grants me peace and quiet solace. The pace, growth, love and understanding is all he asks.

He is my peace. Hope he’s yours too.

God Always Provides…

God always provides. Remember that. He sees. He hears. He knows. Most important, He answers prayers.

So keep going. Don’t stop.

Blessings overflow.

Our Guide…

God doesn’t stand at a juncture and point the way: He’s a guide, not a signpost. He walks with us, leading us down paths we never envisioned. All we have to do is walk alongside Him. ~ODB

The Effective Fervent Prayer…

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Pray. Listen. Pray. Act.

Pray

Going through some stuff? Health? Financial? Career? Relationship? Pray. Cry out. Share your heart’s desires. Seek his help and intervention. Through faith ask his guidance. Ask him to show you what to do, where to go, what to say. Ask that he makes the answer plain so you won’t miss it.

Listen

After you’ve prayed, take time to be still. Listen. Let him speak to you. We often pray then walk away without waiting to hear his reply. So stop. Listen. It’s in listening that we hear and receive his guidance and leadership. He leads us beside still waters. Then He restores.

Pray. Give Thanks

Return to him in prayer. Give Thanks for his answer. Hold onto him for comfort. Pray. Quietly pray. Breathe. Exhale. Give Thanks. Bask in the assurance of things to come.

Act

Go out and do what he says. So many of us pray, receive the response but walk away without acting on it. We either disbelieve what he says he will do or miss our best because we don’t act. Often we’re afraid to do so. That’s where trust and faith (which is the evidence of things not seen) comes into play.

Today may we pray, listen, and act on his answers to our prayers while rejoicing in thanksgiving and praise.

Blessings overflow!

I Don’t Forgive Him…

I don’t forgive him. I don’t forgive the justice system. I believe it failed me.

This retort after a drunk driver recklessly crashed and hit a bystander. A man, a father, a husband, a friend who was innocently standing nearby.

Years later… after the court ruling… his surviving wife was angry when the guilty driver was released with a few simple charges for his actions.

It’s Hard

It’s hard to accept. It’s like the drunk driver walked away with a slap on the wrist while his family has been forced to go on and live life without him.

Forgive? Why?

Is it necessary to forgive under such circumstances? Did the court ‘fail’ the family? Could the husband and father have been standing somewhere else on that fateful day? So many questions. All remain unanswered.

But why forgive? Because it Frees. But only if you allow it. Personally, my own brother suffered such fate, leaving his son to grow up without him. But lets allow God do His thing. And if He doesn’t (as far as the naked eye can see), you can be assured that we are all held accountable for our actions…in one way or another.

Healing takes time.

Blessings.

In The Midst Of Life’s Busyness…

In the midst of life’s busyness, let’s not forget to pray. To have time with the lord. Sometimes I feel far from Him and that’s when He nudges me quietly. Then I return to him in quiet rest.

Thank you Lord for not giving up on me.

Peace

The Thing About Depression And Suicide…

When all seems hopeless

My friend and her hubby deal with fatalities everyday. She shared an incident of a woman whose car was severely damaged when it crashed into a Guard rail. The woman reported that she was trying to commit Suicide. She survived.

On the other hand my friend’s hubby who is in law enforcement shared reports about a man who after investigation, authorities discovered it was attempted Suicide. He succumbed to his injuries and died.

A Pastor in his message recently shared statistics of the number of police officers who have committed suicide since 2019, in New York. An unbelievable rate of 24% as at mid-year.

Those Who Smile

I share this to ask prayers for those who SMILE or laugh out loud with us outwardly but deep down inside are hurting or depressed due to finances, job loss, relationships, or for one reason or another. Comedian Robin Williams is an example. Anthony Bourdain, celebrity author and travel documentarian is another. Not to mention the silent ones who go crazy with mass shootings of the innocent. All suicides. Sad indeed.

The Signs

WebMD shared these Behavioral warning signs. Read their complete article for further details.

Excessive sadness or moodiness

Hopelessness

Sleep problems

Sudden calmness

Withdrawal

Change in personality or appearance

Dangerous or self harmful behavior

Recent trauma

Making preparations

Threatening suicide

If you are among the depressed, please seek help. Using wisdom, if you recognize the signs in a Friend, relative, or co-worker, don’t wait. Do something. Get the person the professional help they need. Usually they can’t think clearly.

When all seems helpless, Pray

And while you’re doing all of the above Pray. Pray, and pray even more. Prayer changes things. There’s no doubt about that.

Let’s together do what we can in our small corner. But above all, Keep the Faith.

For God has not given us a spirit of Fear but of Power, Love and a sound mind.

How Can You Hear If You’re Not Listening?

We are not reading the word. So how are we going to hear what He’s saying to us? How are we going to get His guidance? His direction? How are we going to follow his leading?

We pray. We plead. We’re sad. Our dreams, goals and aspirations seem stalled. We complain. We ask questions.

Why?

Why isn’t our prayers being answered?

Why the delay?

Why do we need to wait?

Why? Why? Why?

The Answer

Why worry when we can pray? Seek His word. Read it. Chew on it. You will glean His direction…in time. Don’t give up. Stay the course. He’s got you.

Blessings overflow.

Encourage Yourself…

When the going gets rough you have to encourage yourself. You have to sing to yourself. You have to talk to yourself. You have to do whatever it takes to encourage yourself.

Excerpts of things to do extracted from the Lion of Judah’s video. Here I share: