Category: Inspiration

Your Word is Your Bond

Author, Nicole L. Ross2 Comments

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There was a time when a person gave their word, one could be certain that the promise would be kept.  Now and days it just seems as though many people say one thing and five minutes later turn around and do something else.  The part about it that is even worse is that they have no conviction about it.  Whatever happened to your word being your bond?  Why does it seem so hard to just do the right thing and have some integrity?  Integrity is something that is proven over time by our behavior.  In my opinion, it is a reputation of trustworthiness.  When you say you are going to do it, then do it and if you can’t be man or woman enough to then say so.  Even better, simply think about what you say before you say it so that you are not making a commitment you cannot fulfill.  Do not be afraid to take a moment to think before answering a question.  Use wisdom.  I had to learn to do this because on multiple occasions I put myself in situations when I would say something with good intentions, but when it came time to actually fulfill that commitment it was a lot more than I had anticipated.  We have to get to a place of individual accountability and take responsibility for not only our actions or lack thereof, but our words as well.

Here is something to think about, when people have a good talk game, which is what I like to call it, but their deeds do not line up that eventually leads to a lie making the person who didn’t keep their word a liar.  Just in case you do not know, a liar is a person who is not honest and cannot be trusted because they do not speak with truth out of their mouth.  No one likes to be called a liar.  One must understand however that lying is not just when someone asks you something and you answer with a false response.  Lying is saying you are going to do something and never do.  Every time you go back on your word, the value of what you say decreases.  Here is where that integrity I was talking about earlier comes in.  If not for you, have enough respect and reverence for God.  He sees all and knows all, so if you love Him and don’t want to disappoint Him then think twice before you communicate so you don’t disappoint your creator.  I leave you with this, what’s your word worth?  Is your word truly your bond?  #iDeclare #yourwordisyourbond

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Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, help me Lord to keep my word.  Please forgive me for times when I have said I was going to do something and did not follow through.  I decree and declare on this day that I will think before I speak and I will hold myself accountable for what I say and do.  Thank you God for hearing my prayer and for helping me to be more mindful of the speech that comes out of my mouth.  I am not a liar and I will not allow my carelessness in dialogue to cause me to sin.  Thank you Jesus for helping me be more cognizant and operate with a spirit of integrity and uprightness.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Scripture Reference:

Proverbs 12:22 NIV “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

Ephesians 4:29 ESV “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Dare to Be Different

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

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I used to be called different all the time growing up and would really get offended by it.  Why you talk like that?  Why you act like that?  Why you do this? Why you do that?  It offended me because I didn’t understand how I was different.  Then of course as I got older I began to realize that the reality is, nine times out of ten everyone has a diverse perception of what ordinary is.   I was different because I was supposed to be.  We’ve got to stop trying to put people in a box.  Everyone else will not conform to your little container of what you think is right or wrong or how you think it should be done.  On that note, I’d also like to add, we have to learn to respect one another’s differences.  We are all unique and special in our own way, so learn to embrace it.  It is so sad now how our kids and even some adults look at so-called “celebrities” and mimic what they see.  Why?  They put their pants on one leg at a time just like you.  Instead of trying to fit in, you set the standard.

The bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  If you know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, why not accept you?  Don’t try to fit in and conform to what everyone else is doing.  Some folks just won’t be able to handle you and that’s fine.  Keep it moving.  If they talk about you, so what.  I look at it like this, haters are confirmation to me that I am doing the right thing. So when they talk, I think of it as a compliment.  Their negative words push me even further along my journey.  Look at Jesus.  Think about how they talked about Him and treated Him because He was different.   We are created in the image of God and are to have the mind of Christ, so if He went through you better believe you will too.

Follow the crown and not the crowd.  Jesus wasn’t trying to be like everyone else.  He came to show people a new way of life.  As you proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no way you will be able to do so acting like everyone else.  The more I get to know me and love me, the more I realize just how different I am and I love it.  I have come to realize that there will never be another me, ever.  Likewise, there will never be another you, ever.  I am here to encourage you today to be different, I dare you.  Be the greatest irreplaceable, exceptional, matchless you that you can be.  Embrace you.  Adore you.  Love you, cause God sure does.   #iDeclare #daretobedifferent

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Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, I come thanking you for making me to be a unique individual.  I decree and declare that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  I will not try to be like anyone else.  I will love me, and love who you created me to be at all times.  I will not conform to this world, but I will be transformed by a renewing of my mind in Christ Jesus.  Thank you God for all the naysayers, for I know they are confirmation that I am doing the right thing.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Scripture Readings:

Psalms 139:14 NLT “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous–how well I know it.

Romans 12:2 NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

We Share In This House

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

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Is it just me or do people seem to be stingy these days?  I mean it just really seems like people are all about themselves and what they can get out of folks.  This is one of the many things that seem to stick out to me now more than ever, not saying this doesn’t happen everywhere, but it has just become more prevalent in my environment.  Maybe because for my whole life back in the states I pretty much stayed to myself and the people I did associate with were family or true friends I have had for quite a while.  Granted, even some friends and family will still use and abuse if you let them, but for the most part I already know who operates like that, so I love on them from a distance.  The law of reciprocity is vital in any functional relationship.  There is give and take but it is not a one-way street, it comes from both ends.  I remember reading a book a while ago and it talked about the different ways people love.  I found this book to be very interesting because immediately I could point out one of the characteristics that fit me perfectly, and that was a giver.  I have no problems giving to people, in particular people who I have a relationship with.  Over the years though, God has shown me that I have to be very discerning in my giving spirit because the enemy will try to use that as a means to attack.  At first I didn’t quite understand how the enemy could attack me in my giving, after all it was a choice I was making.  The way the enemy moves is through people and what he will do is use people to try to take advantage of me.  Let’s be clear, I am not simply talking about physical things either.  Yes, when you think of a typical gift it’s something tangible, but tangible stuff doesn’t mean all that much to me.  It can easily be replaced.  If I give you a new shirt, I can go buy a new shirt tomorrow to replace it, no big deal.  I’m talking about giving as a whole.  Giving your time, your attention, making sacrifices for people, etc.  All of the above is a form of giving because it requires you to take away from yourself.

Yes it hurts when I figure out that someone is only trying to get what they want out of me and I am sure it hurts you too, but what bothers me even more is when someone does this to God.  As a servant of God and active member of my church, there have been so many people simply use God.  Now of course, this is just my take on the situation because God knows what’s going to happen before it ever does, but it just seem like problem after problem people will come asking for this and that from God and as soon as they get what they want, they turn their back and walk away from Him.  This makes me so angry.  How can we do God like that?  He is our daddy, our Heavenly Father who loves us so much but yet we only come to Him when we want something or when we are going through a tough time.  As a parent, I can only imagine how this would make me feel.  The crazy part about it is God is such a loving, gracious and merciful God.  He knows what we are going to do and how we are going to do it, yet He still allows us to walk around His earth breathing in His air, eat His food, have a roof over our head not to mention all the other things we take for granted.  The law of reciprocity should not only be applied towards other individuals, it should be applied towards God as well.  I don’t have to ask what He’s done for you, but I will ask what have you done for Him lately?  God is God, so there really isn’t much we can do for Him anyway, but we can pray and talk to Him, we can spend time with Him, we can tell other people about Him, overall we should at least do our best to have a true reciprocal relationship with Him.

It’s funny because while God placed this on my heart to write about, I keep hearing my three-year old daughter in the back of my head saying, “we share in this house”.  That is what her dad and I taught her when we had our youngest daughter so they can learn to share with one another.  One of the best things about having children is that you can lay the foundation early and teach them how to share.  I want my babies to know how to have a reciprocal relationship with people and I hope and pray that they teach their children to do the same.  God has been too good to us to just take, take, take and not want to give anything back to anyone in return.  Count your blessings, then start passing them out to others, I know I will.  After all, my baby girl said it best, “we share in this house”.  #iDeclare #weshareinthishouse

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come first and foremost repenting. Please forgive me for times when I have thought only about myself.  Forgive me for always taking, but not wanting to give in return.  You have been so good to me God, please forgive me.  I decree and declare that from this day forward I will operate in the law of reciprocity.  I will not just be a taker, but I will be a giver as well.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 13:16 NIV “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

1 Timothy 6:18 NLT “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”