Tag: Prayer

Day Five – Bad Advice

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:13-14

I’m here, shaking my head at people who give terrible advice. Recently, I was talking with a long-time friend about my mortgage. He told me I couldn’t find a one-bedroom apartment for my current mortgage payment. His comment reminded me of a long-ago experience when I sought help with a utility bill. A customer service representative suggested I sell my house because I couldn’t afford the utilities. I found her suggestion offensive then and now. I’m grateful I persevered through my high mortgage payments. Now! I can live comfortably in a state and city I cherish.

At that time, I aspired to afford living in Colorado. My eagerness to pay my bills punctually might have lent unwarranted credibility to bad advice. Consequently, I could have sold my house and pursued apartment living as suggested by that woman. Wow! I’m really glad I didn’t take that route!

Not everyone who speaks freely and offers unsolicited advice truly has others’ best interests at heart. Therefore, prioritizing self-love should guide your life-changing decisions. With that said, it’s time for me to end this blog and go outside to work in my yard. Have a great weekend!

PRAYER

Lord, it’s the weekend; let us strive to be fruitful in our efforts. Amen.

Day Four – Harvesting Money

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4

The other day, I planted a bush that I bought last summer. Honestly, I was so amazed it survived! Before I could plant the bush in its new home, I needed to remove the low-voltage landscaping lights and their wiring. Typically, I just toss everything away, but this time I had a different idea. I saved the wire my husband bought decades ago for $50. I sat outside at a table and started harvesting the copper. It was quite a challenge! So, I called my sister, who’s an expert at this, but she wasn’t very helpful, other than telling me how copper is priced. As a result, my determination became my best ally, and I managed to get it done! Now, I need to harvest more copper to make my efforts fruitful when I sell my copper wire. I have already spent the money. I have my eyes on a beautiful new bush I spotted at Lowe’s for $200. I can’t help but wonder how many others might throw money away like I did! Later, hoping for a bit of financial luck to splurge on something desired. Well, I found more copper wire that needs to be stripped! And! I need to get going in the yard. Wish me luck on both!  Cha-Ching!

PRAYER

Father God, guide me today and every day to enhance my life and prosperity.  Amen

Day Three – Working In Pain

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. ~Lance Armstrong

I reinjured myself on Mother’s Day. The tears did not come until I spoke to a close family member. I experienced distress for various reasons. I was injured and in pain, rendering me unable to work in my yard temporarily. Yesterday has come and gone. Despite this, I found myself laboring in discomfort to clear and clean a small section of the yard. I struggled to raise my left arm to dispose of trash in the bin, but my right arm came to the rescue! It exhibited strength comparable to Hercules. Ultimately, my mind, soul, and body found peace after working in the yard—peace of happiness, peace of mind, and a sense of accomplishment. Life is good!

SIDE NOTE: This photo is of the area I’m working in. My husband and I call it section three. See how I cleared and cleaned the area filled with weeds. One of my main challenges outside of working with a hurt arm was removing all the roots of the Bermuda grass. Personally, I dislike Bermuda grass. It’s invasive and a gardener’s nightmare when trying to establish planting beds. Sigh. Oh! Well! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, help us achieve our goals and reach our greatest potential, even in painful moments. Amen

Luke 12:48 – Conversations to Success

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

Greetings from the stunning, snow-covered Rocky Mountains! Though it’s chilly outside, my heart and home feel warm. I’ve been awake since 4 AM, enjoying a variety of shows and documentaries. While relaxing on the couch, I delved into documentaries about Hollywood icons as I studied their paths to fame.

From their stories, I gathered that each aspired to be skilled conversationalists who could express their needs, desires, and wants. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, you are the ultimate creator, unrivaled by anyone! Today, we enter your house filled with gratitude for our life. We approach you with a humble request: help us to speak boldly, yet always with love and respect for those we engage with. Please help us become our own best advocates as we journey through life. In doing so, we also demonstrate respect and love for ourselves. Amen. 

Praying Luke 12:48

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48 NIV

This weekend was exhausting! I encountered family conflict while trying to help a loved one achieve a more positive outcome. Unfortunately, I often ignore signs that my help isn’t needed because I see the unmet need or needs. And this weekend wasn’t different when it comes to how I spring into action when a loved one is having a hard time.  After my feelings were hurt once again, I began to question why I help those who don’t want my help, even though they need it!  Because it’s not like I don’t have tasks to start and finish in my own life. Yet!  Out of gratitude for the blessings I’ve received from God and others, I’ve tried to help people without regard for the harm I may sustain, and, without fail, I always end up emotionally drained.  Between you and me, I know that God doesn’t want His children to be unperceptive to how our actions impact our lives.  He says, “After you have done all that you can do, stand therefore and know that I am God.”  Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Lord, I’m here again in a public space, offering a heartfelt prayer. This past weekend provided me and many others a valuable opportunity to reflect on our actions. Today, I lift up prayers for those who share my spirit, striving to assist those with unmet needs, especially when the person in need may feel that everything is fine. Often, those who oppose our help express their concerns quite vocally and might even convey their frustrations in a hurtful manner. Their sometimes kind yet bitter words can truly sting! So today, Lord, I pray that we hear from you. Please help me and others navigate these feelings and grant us your divine guidance to know when to offer assistance, share your truth, or simply stand in awe, acknowledging that you are indeed God. Amen.

Removing Clutter!

Today as I began my day I found this post among my published writings. It was just what the doctor ordered for a Monday! The content got my heart pumping and my spirit moving! So! I’m reblogging it! Have a great day living your best life! ~Annette

What To Do With Extra Time

Day Forty – Removing Clutter

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Let’s pray!

Today, Lord, I’m praying a worldwide Valentine’s prayer of love.  I ask the following of you because all people deserve to live a fulfilling life.  I pray for people in power that think and act and like children.  Their immaturity has a negative impact on those they lead and the world.  I pray that you will show them the level of their thinking in such a way that it gives them the desire and ability to change. Amen 

Day Thirty Nine – Removing Clutter

Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

Psalm 54:4

PRAYER

Father God, gathering up the fragments of our lives when they’ve been shattered can be hard.  Please help us on our journey as we clear the clutter from our homes and our lives.  Amen 

Day Thirty Eight – Removing Clutter

When they were filled, he said unto his disciple, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

John 6:12 KJV

Learning to stay steadfast on your decluttering journey during times of uncertainty is truly hard. You’ll find yourself falling off the wagon many times when it comes to keeping your home neat and tidy. And, as a result you’ll wrestle with discouragement from time to time. But keep going! The prize you’ll win at the end of your decluttering journey is discovering the love of self.    

Over the weekend I called a contentious cousin. Why? I don’t know! I guess I love punishing myself. If I say the sky is blue she will say it’s black. The funny thing about her is that she’s always talking smack about one of her sister’s she feels does the same to her. Yet, she treats me like her sister treats her as she feels she’s being positive.  People like her is why I love the song by Michael Jackson “Man In The Mirror.” And I’m sure we all have one or two people in our circle that are negative and extremely delusional that their positive.

As I fought being overwhelmed I found my mindset was somewhat different.  Instead of letting her put a damper on my good intentions and or zap me of my energy, I said to her, “Wow! You can’t hear me gasping for air trying to sort through items. I’m trying to figure out who gets what because it was meant for me to buy all this stuff to be a blessing to others. Yes, my home is overrun with stuff but I can be a blessing to others because of it!” [Silence]

So! If it takes you a day, days, a week, weeks and even months to sort through your clutter, then it takes you that long because healing starts over and over with everything you touch.  Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for the power of healing.  Help us gather the fragments of our lives as we let go of things that we don’t use nor need.  Let the things we give be a blessing to the new owners.  Amen 

P.S.

On Friday I started with cleaning my food pantry. I was able to salvage some items to keep and some I donated to a senior citizen complex but I had to throw a ton of canned goods away. I feel bad about having to put food in the trash when so many people go hungry but they are two years past their expiration date.

Day Thirty Six – Removing Clutter

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. 

Psalm 142

I began writing a post that made my soul feel uneasy. It was clear it didn’t want to share the content I found noteworthy, therefore, I deleted what I wrote. And, I asked God to give me a prayer for today. He gave me Psalm 142:3, “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.” That verse is so profound. I read the entire Psalm to see what the author was writing about.

Ah! Awh! Psalm 142 is David praying when he was in the cave! I love that moment! I’m sorry David had to endure such. But! OMG! That moment has been my benchmark for dealing with enemies. Really! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, someone is under great stress. They are being heavily pursued by their enemy/enemies. Hide them under the breastplate of righteousness. Shelter them under your protection. Let them enter into your rest and dance in the rain. Amen