Created With Love From God Above

Have you looked outside lately?

If you haven’t had a chance to notice yet, colorful flowers are blooming everywhere!

springtime blessings

Springtime is definitely here, and I’m ready to frolic!

I mean that in the best way. 😉

As you can tell, flowers bring me a lot of joy.

World famous French impressionist painter — Claude Monet, once said, “I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

To think that God designed everything in the creation around us is an amazing thought that I continue to delight in.

All of this beauty – created with love from God above.

created with love from God above

From One New Creation To Another

The colorful springtime flowers all around us are literally bursting forth with new life.

Likewise, as Christians, we have reason to celebrate our new lives in Him.

Christian brothers and sisters – how does it feel to know that you are a new creation?

I think it feels pretty great, and humbling at the same time.

The meme below says exactly what I felt the moment I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.

Not only did my perspective on everything change, I couldn’t wait to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and what’s to come in the future.

created with love

What You See Around You Was Created With Love

If you find yourself feeling a little down today, please take heart.

We all get that way sometimes.

I love this encouragement from Susie Larson’s Daily Blessing.

Springtime is a beautiful time to slow down and notice the fresh life springing up all around you. It’s the perfect time to consider both God’s vastness and His nearness. With a few words from His mouth, He spoke the galaxies into existence. And with great care, He crafted you into an absolute work of art. The starry skies and the sparkle in your eyes both speak of what a wonderful Father He is. He told the waters where to stop, and He stretches out His hand against the enemy of your soul.

He moves mountains, and He opens doors. He speaks peace, and He calms the storm. With a word of instruction, He sends warring angels to fight for you, and with a whisper across your heart, He reminds you how much He loves you. He sent His Son to earth to save you, restore you, and redeem every aspect of your story. The gospel isn’t old news. It’s now news. It’s the Good News. It’s the best news ever. Celebrate this springtime season with holy expectancy. New life springs forth! – Susie Larson, author.

You were made in His image.

Be blessed!

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Claude Monet Quotation, courtesy of https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/claude-monet-quotes.

Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “I am a new christian. What is the next step?” n.d., para. 5. Web. Accessed April 20, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gotquestions.org/new-creation.html

Susie Larson, courtesy of Susie Larson.com, “New Life Springs Forth.” April 5, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.susielarson.com/daily-blessing/2021/4/5/new-life-springs-forth.

Our Exceptional God

Be A Noticer – A Welcome Escape

Are you a noticer?

Does a gorgeous sunrise cause you to stop what you’re doing to take notice of the awesomeness that is the new day?

For me, it’s mostly yes.

Sometimes though, I get in a hurry and blitz on past the beauty right in front of me.

Here’s a recent sunrise. You wouldn’t believe how many of these awe-inspiring moments I have on my phone.

be a noticer

Please don’t miss those moments of bliss.

Only God can paint the brilliant sky.

Be a noticer.

It’s a welcome escape that God gives us in a world often filled with turmoil.

Life’s Beauty We Sometimes Neglect To Notice

In a world that’s turned so ugly this year, glimpses of God’s goodness are welcome reminders that there’s much more to this earth than the evil we are seeing now.

We can count on this –

God is so good, and His light shines

and will continue to shine through this darkness.

John 1:3-5

Think about this.

In a world that seems so out of control, we have a Sovereign Lord who called the heavens and the earth into being by . . . His . . . words.

Nothing or no one is more powerful than that.

So take notice!

When the sunrise hits your face, when your baby takes his or her first steps, when the one you love first popped the question – those moments of joy are given to us by God.

Turn off the mainstream news and get your heart and mind set on God and His blessings.

Practice Noticing

You’ve heard this before, but it’s so important.

Don’t lose hope.

Keep a journal of past and realized blessings as a reminder of God’s goodness.

I know things seem bleak right now, but something good will come of this.

But how?

I wish we had the answer to that, but we’re not God.

Just trust like your life depends on it.

Don’t let those nagging doubts stirred up by evil cloud your trust in God.

God’s Goodness Is All Around Us

Recently, I read an amazing devotional that emphasizes the importance of keeping our minds on Christ.

I’d like to share it with you here.

Enjoy!

How do we cultivate a heart of hopeful expectancy in a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams? We look for evidence of God’s goodness all around us. In fact, start writing down the things you see. In due time, something both natural and supernatural will take place within you. You’ll become a noticer. Someone who looks for and experiences the goodness of God wherever you go.

There’s a system in your brain that responds to your most consistent thoughts. Whatever thoughts you have on repeat, your brain scans your environment to find “evidence” to back up your beliefs, even if those beliefs are wrong. For example, if you rehearse thoughts of insecurity or self-contempt, or fear, your brain will be on high alert to find evidence to confirm your rehearsed thoughts.

So, what if you retrained your brain to look for the coming Kingdom? What if you looked around each day with expectancy that something good is coming your way? Each day, God pours out fresh mercies. Every morning, the heavens declare the glory of God. Because Jesus is always with you, you need not be shaken. (see Psalm 16:8). – Christian author, Susie Larson.

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Susie Larson Live, courtesy of Faith Radio, “Goodness Is Coming.” 2-01-21. Web. Accessed 11 February, 2020. Retrieved from https://myfaithradio.com/2021/goodness-is-coming/

Our Exceptional God

Spiritual Warfare Prayer

I came across a fantastic spiritual warfare prayer on Facebook the other day. I had recently become a fan of this author’s page and, I have to say, her morning and evening prayers are both beautiful and inspiring. It seemed to exactly fit the words I needed to hear on an especially stressful morning.

spiritual warfare prayer Has that ever happened to you?

Have you ever felt plagued by thoughts of insecurity, low self-esteem, or even doubts about your purpose in life?

I’m sure we all have at one time or another. Sometimes, without any warning at all, negative thoughts or doubts pop up in your head, seemingly out of nowhere.

It can happen anywhere and at any time.

It’s happened to me too. The spiritual nagging was frustrating and relentless at first. I kept trying to think about something else, but the rounds of self-doubt just kept coming. What could I do? I remembered to put on the armor of God.

Spiritual Attacks Will Affect All of Us

Perhaps it’s a nagging thought that you aren’t good enough to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Satan always sprinkles a little bit of truth in with his lies. Yes, it’s true no one is worthy, but we must always remember the Cross. Jesus paid the ransom for our sins and we have been redeemed. We have access to His complete forgiveness and grace.

satan's lies Satan is counting on us to forget our relationship with the Father. He seeks to destroy the family of God.

Another spiritual attack you might face is the feeling that you’re unforgivable.

Why did I act that way?

I have to check myself because I can get lost in a cloud of blaming myself for dumb decisions over and over.

The past is the past. I’ve asked for God’s forgiveness. We can never forget that we serve a God of second chances.

Please don’t dwell on your past mistakes. God will forgive you if you’ve confessed what you’ve done.

Don’t believe Satan’s lies that you’re scarred for life and God doesn’t care about you. That’s a spiritual attack.

We Question What We Don’t Understand

Since I became a Christian I never doubted the truth of the Bible. I have, however, questioned God’s reasoning (instead of praying) when things don’t go the way I planned for my life or when a loved one is critically ill. I don’t understand why bad things have to happen to people I love. Regardless, I’m only a sinner and I must trust God throughout the trial.

Don’t be embarrassed when you’re faced with various temptations. Even Jesus was a target of the evil one.

But, we can be ready for the next time the evil one strikes.

armor of God I’ve collected a list of Bible verses that I can refer back to whenever I need that armor. I highly suggest you consider doing the same. Write them down and commit them to your heart so you can recall them instantly when you need spiritual strength.

This verse from 1 John 4:4 is a perfect example:

*”You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

A Spiritual Warfare Prayer Worth Saving

When I found the spiritual warfare prayer I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection of “armor.”

I wanted to share it with you too, so you can start building your own armor when the devil attacks.

This prayer was written by Christian author, Susie Larson. Many thanks to her as she was kind enough to allow me to share it with you here:

Spiritual Warfare Prayer God bless and may everything you do this week bring glory and honor to Him!

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Our Exceptional God