Inspiration – Page 19 – Nicole L. Ross ~ letstalkaboutlife365

Blood is Thicker Than Water…Or Is It???

August 1, 2013 Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

Growing up, I’ve always had a very tight-knit and close family. My mother has seven siblings, all of whom live in the same city. Holidays, birthdays, graduations, any type of celebration you can think of was always such a big event within our family because we all came together to show love and have a good time. To this very day, my family is still extremely close and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. That being said, I have also come to learn that not everybody’s family is like mine. Some people don’t have close relationships with their parents, siblings, aunts, uncles or cousins. Some people come from a small family and most of them have passed away. Whatever the structure is, all families are different which got me to thinking about the phrase “blood is thicker than water”. What that has always meant to me is that family sticks together and you never let someone who is not apart of the family come in and tear it apart. Ok, this sounds good in theory, but truth is some people who may not be your blood will treat you better and love you more than any blood relative you have.

Family is not always blood. True family is those individuals in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything just to put a smile on your face and who love you no matter what. If you have people who God has placed in your life who may not be related to you, but who are concerned about your well-being and who have welcomed you into their life with open arms, embrace it. If they love on you and treat you with sincere compassion and kindness, thank God for them. These people are what I like to call divine connections and they are heaven sent by God to show you just how much He cares for you.

I consider myself blessed because I have the best of both worlds. A loving, fun, down to earth family who I know only want what’s best for me and has my back no matter what. And I also have a few people in my life who I know have been sent as divine connections, to further exemplify the love that God has for me. God shows His love to us in so many amazing ways. Yes, He provides the physical needs in our life such as food, shelter, clothes, etc. But it’s the other small things that we sometimes take for granted such as relationships that He is also concerned with. Some people will hurt you, but we must remember that not everyone is like that. There are a few people who God will send your way just to bless you. They will always encourage, lift up and support you in such a way that you know it’s nobody but God.

Thank God for your family, those who are blood relatives and those who are not. Either way you look at it, there will always be a select group of people you hold near and dear to your heart. Keep it that way. These are the people who are going to make this journey called life a lot more endurable. So the phrase “blood is thicker than water” may or may not always be the case. The reality is, it does not matter. Stick with those who are for you. Who have your best interest at heart. And who are overall concerned about your well-being. Anyone who does not meet the required criteria, relative or not, do not deserve a place in your life. #iDeclare #BloodIsThickerThanWater…OrIsIt???

Prayer:

Father God, in the name of Jesus. I thank you for my family and I thank you for the divine connections you have placed in my life. I decree and declare that only those who are for me will earn a spot in my life. I ask that You would use me to bless other people’s life, the same way you have sent them to bless mine. I honor you and thank you for caring about the small things in life, such as relationships and blessing me with people who love and care for me with a sincere heart. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture Reference:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ^or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

Obedience Is Best

July 30, 2013 Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

I am a firm believer that when you know better you do better. That being said, lately I have wondered why so many people still choose to do the wrong thing. I mean every time I turn on the television, the amount of ruthless and outright disobedient behavior is unbelievable. I was having a conversation the other day about people’s rights and the laws of the land. Yes, I get that there are laws and rights, a lot of which I feel like if they did not exist people would still do what they want to do anyway. But even still, just because you have the right to do something, does not make it the right thing to do. We are experiencing a severe moral decline in our society. People know better, but seem to be doing whatever it is they are big and bad enough to do. And the more unfortunate part about it is a lot of these same people also profess Christianity. As Christians we are in the world, but the bible declares that we are not to be of the world.

Christians are held to a different standard. Those of the world run their own lives. They do what they want, when they want without regard for how it affects others or whether or not it is approved of by God. Christians however, should seek to walk in obedience. Not obedience to man, but to God. They are to be led, guided and willingly controlled by the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit will always lead right to the will of God. God wants us to choose His will, but what He won’t do is force it upon us. So by me saying when you know better, you do better this is not a completely true statement. The fact of the matter is you must still make a decision. When you know better, you must decide to do better. This is why so many people seem to be doing anything they want. They are making a decision.

What I’ve come to learn is that obedience hurts. It is the place where your flesh and your spirit disconnect. When our feelings do not support our actions, it can be a difficult thing to process. So, in essence obedience is a form of strength. How strong are you when you just do what you want to do? It takes self-control, discipline and commitment to actually do the right thing.

I’ve made it up in my mind that I am going to be like Paul and run my race and finish my course. When life happens, I will be obedient. My hope and prayer is that the spirit of God inside of me will lead me and guide me at all times. When we willfully choose to do what God requires of us, even when our thoughts and feelings are not supporting it, it shows our love for God. No matter what life throws your way, make up in your mind right now that you will be obedient. If for no other reason, because obedience is best. #iDeclare #ObedienceIsBest

Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, please help me to be obedient because I understand and truly believe that obedience is best. I decree and declare that I am in this world, but not of it. I am held by a higher standard and I choose to make decisions and operate in a manner that is pleasing to God no matter what life throws my way. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture Reference:

John 14:15 NLT “”If you love me, obey my commandments.”

Romans 2:13 NLT “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.”

Leave The Past Right Where It Is

July 29, 2013 Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

Leave the Past Right Where It Is

Social status and titles mean very little to me because difficulties in life show no mercy based on who you are or who you know. No matter how you look at it, life is not easy. Nor, do I think it was ever intended to be. I’ve learned and am still learning that there will be some things in my life that don’t go the way I want, but I can’t just throw in the towel. I have to make a decision to focus on the positive and live a life of joy and happiness in spite of my past or what I may be experiencing in my present.

Living thousands of miles away from my closest friends and family, I had been really homesick lately. That was until my mom and aunt came to visit. I was so happy because I knew that by spending time with them, I would get the encouragement I needed to help get me through the next months before we leave Europe. Their visit went better than I could have ever imagined, however when they left I felt some kind of way. I did not realize that I would miss them so much and instead of getting the push I needed, the enemy tried to attack my mind and almost tried to get me to revert back to how I felt when I first got here. I had to call upon the strength of God deep down inside of me to get me back on track, forget all about my past feelings and focus on my present. I made the decision to focus on those choices that I can affect and continue to make my life worth living. While I still miss my family, I make the choice right now to live my life to fullest each and everyday and not allow this situation to get me off focus and regress back to my past behavior. I know that I have purpose where I am and in spite of how I feel, I must finish the race that has been set before me.

This is just one example I am sharing. I’m sure you could think of several things you have experienced that maybe did not go the way you want it to go or maybe caused you hurt and pain. I want to encourage you today. Whatever it is you are feeling, I am here to say that you can triumph over the challenges and difficulties of life. It’s all about your outlook, strength of character and determination. You simply have to choose. Call upon your faith and trust in God to help you keep walking toward a better future. Leave your past behind you. For me, this even includes past behaviors. If you spend so much time focusing on moments, situations or circumstances from the past, you just might miss the awesome things that God is doing right in front of you or any special moments that are to come. Learn from it, grow from it but leave your past right where it is. Do not try to take it into your present or the future that God has in store for you. #iDeclare #LeaveThePastRightWhereItIs

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please help me to leave my past behind me. Help me to not allow the situations or circumstances of my present to cause me to revert back to things of the past. Help me to stay focused and determined to live a meaningful life. I decree and declare that I will choose to focus on the choices I can affect and not miss out on what’s right ahead of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture Reference:

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV “Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

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