Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS Pandemic Times

Thoughts on Reopening

I have seen more and more businesses reopening during these pandemic times. Churches have also started bringing back portions of in person gatherings with outdoor services. While the doors of the church have always been open, one thing I noticed was some people’s Bibles were still closed. Mine was too at one point. All of a sudden I got that lazy worship going on. At the onset of the pandemic I was focused on staying connected to God, my church, friends and family. As things around me started to close and then reopen, I noticed I was just sitting back and waiting. Opening my Bible for personal prayer, devotion and study time takes some work. It’s much easier to keep the Bible closed rather than open it , seek first and search for God’s wisdom. Waiting on the right time to reopen a building or a venue is wise and should be done with precautions. I am not against that. Waiting to read, hear and study Gods word strikes me a little differently. I thought about it and realized closing my Bible and keeping it closed for too long can cause viral attacks on my spiritual health and wellness. I won’t be able to disinfect or inspect if I don’t open up God’s word. So are you waiting for approval to reopen your Bible? Friends, you don’t need it. Trust me. Are you waiting for this phase of global pandemic to end to renew your mind, grow spiritually and become more deeply rooted? There’s no need to wait any longer. Reopen your Bible and let’s stay spiritually healthy as well during this time.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Open my heart as I open your Word. Amen.

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS Pandemic Times

Not Like This

Photo by Kevin Menajang on Pexels.com

I have good news to share today. I want you to know it won’t always be like this. I didn’t think I would be out of a job for so long or not be able to find work after being laid off. That’s my “this”. So what is your “this”? It could be homeschooling and working from home, loss of a spouse’s income, the loss of a loved one, lack of connection and human touch, experiencing financial distress, worry and increased anxiety or fear that things won’t get better. Every season is different. Winter doesn’t look like Fall and Spring doesn’t look like Summer. Can you imagine if it was still snowing in April? Or if it was extremely hot in December? We could not sit by the fireplace and enjoy our warm latte or even bear having a reason to call it “sweater weather.” Just as I go through different seasons in my life, I’m often reminded by reading the Bible that God’s promises are true and I will get through my “this”. So don’t allow what you see happening today in this season to hold you back. You can go from a Damascus road to a life changing conversion. Paul wrote many letters from prison and continued doing what he was called to do despite the circumstances. I think he knew it wouldn’t always be like this. He comforted people, wrote instructions, sent greetings and encouraged churches while he was still in chains. Now that’s what I call living on pitch.

Prayer: Lord help us keep going and keep believing, knowing it won’t always be like this.

Categories
Uncategorized

No Clocks In Heaven

This is my story, this is my song praising my Savior all the day long are just a few of the lyrics to that great hymn Blessed Assurance. I find myself thinking about this more and more. I can’t wait until I don’t have to worry about how long a meeting or Zoom call is or how much longer I have to wait on hold to talk to someone. Heaven doesn’t have any need for clocks. I am longing for that place. Can there really be too much worship? Can songs really be too long in heaven? Just curious to know what you think?

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Don’t Quit

I just want to encourage somebody today. Maybe that somebody is you or maybe it’s me. Either way here goes. ( Insert your name here)________You can start and stop but don’t give up. You can press play , mute or pause but don’t log off. You can wait your tun in line or wait on hold but don’t hang up. It’s ok to be mindful, plan it out, take baby steps, regroup, rebrand, let go, prioritize and be courageous as your confidence is being built. Bold movements are not always easy to take but they are worth it. Step out on faith, trust God and believe He will carry you through. You are capable of doing and being just what God uniquely designed you for.

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Fix The Camera

I was working on a small home project involving a camera and noticed my view wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t see everything I needed to from its location. I moved it around and got it to work but I got to thinking about what I was doing. I was trying to fix the camera so I could see everything going on in places I wasn’t present. Well, a lightbulb went off in that moment and I wanted to share this message with someone today. God is the only one who can fix the cameras in our lives and see everything that’s going on. God protects us and keeps us. Tell me how are you staying plugged in and connected?

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Stop Scrolling

My mind is full of other people’s activities. I’m seeing and hearing lot of divisions between people over issues of racism, politics and pandemic plights. I have to remind myself not to get distracted or wrapped up in these activities. I can spend lots of time scrolling through my phone, scrolling through YouTube channels and TV channels as well all with people in the room or on Zoom with me. If I’m not careful to pay attention I might miss opportunities to be present, just listen, show love and respect, give honor to a deserving person, be challenged or be inspired. Being present while living this life on pitch is important because once we are gone that’s it. I know that God is in control of everything and does not need to be updated like we do. God hears, sees and knows. He is with us so that relieves me from having to figure out everybody and every issue. Live and forgive I say, and stay connected by being present with people who are right in front of you. I’m learning when I’m being fully present, there really can be joy in the midst of it all, light in darkness and peace in the storms of life. Prayer: Lord thank you for being present. You are always paying attention to what’s going on in my life. Please help me to be present and remove any distractions that will hold me back today.

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

God Cares

People often quote the saying of Maya Angelou “when people show you who they are believe them.” That’s true but one thing I know for certain is when God shows you He cares about you and (believe me He does) we should believe Him. There are so many ways I have experienced God’s caring for me both in my own sickness and in my health. God shows me how to read His word and rest in it. Can I testify a second here? God wakes up the birds so I can hear them sing. God drops food off at my door so I can share a meal with a neighbor. God sends encouragement through greeting cards in the mailbox, sent text and phone call messages through friends and family both near and far so I can be reminded of His love, and God allowed many prayer warriors to stand in gaps I thought were too big for me so I wouldn’t fall through the cracks of life. God cares for us and He has a unique way of showing us how to trust Him with everything. There is no room to doubt how much God cares for us because it doesn’t stop there. It’s daily. Our imperfect walk, repenting of our sins and our souls being revived to cry out again, go for it again, live on pitch again is what God cares about.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for caring so much and watching over us each day. Amen

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

On Being Teachable

I haven’t been to school in a while but I’m still learning. It’s been about a year since the global shut down began and we became aware of the Covid-19 outbreak in our country. We are now remembering the lives lost and the lessons learned during this pandemic while figuring out different ways to move forward. I’m praying that we will remain teachable in every season. My prayer is this, Lord teach us your ways whether we are sick or well. Whether the doors are open or closed, the gas prices go up or down, the masks are on or off and whether we gather in person or online we can still learn. Lord help us lean in, listen and learn. Amen

Categories
prayer

I’m Coming Back -Be Encouraged

I have had some hard and difficult days here recently but I am getting back to living on pitch and writing. I’m coming back. 2020 is over and I won’t stay down. I’m encouraging myself more in 2021. I can and I will with God’s help. Here is my prayer to share.

Lord give me the courage to encourage myself and others, the strength to strengthen those who feel weak and the wisdom to know when to speak and when not to speak. You know my weaknesses and my flaws. Thank You for holding me up and loving me anyway. Amen

Categories
DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

My Morning Prayer

It’s tough sometimes to seek God. I mean, really look for Him in my daily activities. If you’re like me, you may just be going through the motions at times and doing the same old, same old things. As I reflect on scripture this morning I am asking God on purpose to help me see what He sees in me. I was created by God to do something. In me is a purpose that God has assigned just for me, a unique quality that makes me beautiful. Do I tend to pray by looking and listening? I mean look to God and listen to what He says in scripture? Well, no not really. Most times it’s a listing prayer. I go right to talking about my list of prayer requests. I am learning that my seeking starts with seeing. God has a better angle. His view is always better than mine. He can see farther. God doesn’t need glasses like I do to have better vision. It’s clear to me, when we look at things from God’s perspective things start to look differently in our lives. Now that’s what I call living on pitch.