Category: Inspiration

If He Did it Before, He CAN do it again!

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

Some of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs simply says, ‘If He did it before He can do it again.’  Who is He you might ask, God of course.  Our heavenly Father is the same today, yesterday and forever more but it seems like so many people seem to forget that.  I have seen God bless and deliver so many people out of crazy situations, and then those same people turn around and end up in another situation yet they act as if they have forgotten all about their previous victory.  We, myself included, cannot be this way.  There are so many lessons we encounter while dealing with every day life situations, and one of them should be to learn from our experiences.  If you are having problems making your mortgage note one month, then out of nowhere you get a check in the mail, you know that’s nobody but God.  So if you turn around and start having problems on your job, you have to know that God is going to work that out for you also, if for no other reason just based on your previous experience.

I write today with a friendly reminder to let you know that if God did it before, He can do it again.  He is the same God right now that He was back then and what God promises He delivers.  Here’s the deal though, you can have, actually you must have complete confidence in who God is and that He will keep His promises.  Your victory may not be the next day or when you think it is convenient for you, but I encourage you to remain patient and keep the faith because it is coming.  No matter how impossible it may seem, or crazy everything may look, you have to take God at His word.  He promised in Deuteronomy 31:18 that He would never leave you nor forsake you.   Be encouraged my sisters and brothers in Christ.  When you go through a storm, remind yourself that this is not the first one you have been through and it probably won’t be the last.  You did not come this far just to be defeated so keep your head up.  God got you!

I challenge each and every one of you, whether you are going through something at the present moment or not, think back to a situation that seemed absolutely impossible for you to overcome.  One that you didn’t have a clue how you were going to make it out of, or if you were ever going to make it out BUT you did.  The same way that God bought you out then, He can do the same again and again and again.  He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  He is the same God right now that He was back then.   #iDeclare #ifHediditbeforeHecandoitagain

 Deuteronomy_31_6

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I come to you as humbly as I know how thanking you first and foremost for who you are and what you are doing in my life.  You are such an awesome God. I repent for not standing on your word the way I should at all times.  I thank you for your deliverance in all situations and I decree and declare on this day that I will walk in a spirit of peace at all times no matter what is going on around me.  I trust You Lord and I take you at your word.  Thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 31:18 NLT ”Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Revelation 22:13 NIV “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Different People/Different Purposes

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

Jeremiah-29-11-LONG

It’s amazing how when you talk to certain people they make you feel a certain kind of way.  I say that because I recently talked to one of my best friends, and talking to her really just gave me the kick start I needed and allowed me to refocus.  It wasn’t anything that she said in particular, it was just the fact that she knows me and has known me for so long and when talking to her I could really just be myself.  Then I think about when I talk to my husband, who really is my confidant.  It’s like God placed this man in my life for so many different reasons, and one of them is really to help me figure out me.  What I mean is, often times I think about a lot of different things in my mind just gets all jumbled up, but when I try to talk to an average person about it, I am not able to fully express what I mean in a way that they will understand. With my husband however, when I talk to him, he always helps me put things into perspective.  I mean it seems as though the light bulb in my head just clicks on during our conversation and what I couldn’t express to anyone else, now makes sense. And not only does it make sense to me, but he also understands.  Now, when I talk to either one of my brothers, no matter what situation is going on around me or how good or bad I may feel, they always bring such happiness to my spirit and cheer me up because they are so funny and crazy.  But in my dealings with them, they also challenge me to be a better me, a better sister, a better wife, a better daughter, a better friend, just an overall better person in general.

I gave these examples to say this, different people have different purposes in your life.  Ultimately, their purpose should be to help you along life’s journey and help push you towards your purpose.  Stop trying to make folks a part of your life who aren’t trying to help you get to your purpose.  AND stop giving people a role in your life that they were never meant to play.  Everyone can’t be your best friend, everyone can’t be your husband or wife, everyone can’t be your brother or sister, so do not expect them to act like it.  Then turn around and get disappointed when they don’t.  That is only setting yourself up for failure.  We have such high expectations for people, which many times is why we end up getting hurt.  If you put people in the right place in your life, and deal with them from the right perspective it will save you a lot pain and heartache, and that’s speaking from personal experience.

There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won’t anymore and who always will. So, don’t worry about people from your past, there’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.  And thank God for the new people He will send your way to help thrust you towards the destiny and greatness that you have on your life. #iDeclare #differentpeopledifferentpurposes

Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, I thank you for helping me to understand the different roles that people play in my life.  I decree and declare that I will not give anyone a role that you never intended to play.  Thank you for those who will push me towards my destiny in you.  Help me gain a stronger spirit of discernment so I can know who they are.  I trust You Lord, and I thank You that You are the head of my life.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

John 15:16 ESV “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Always Give Thanks

Author, Nicole L. Ross1 Comment

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As we go about each day living life as we see fit, we must never forget to give thanks to the one who gives life.  I am not just talking about giving thanks for the big things, like a brand new car I’m talking about giving thanks for everything.  Food, clothes on your back, air to breathe, roof over your head, all of these things.  We must be thankful because believe it or not, there are people in this world who do not have some of the things listed above.  It’s sad because I think a lot of us know this to be true but it is easily forgotten because it’s not right in front of our face.

Just recently, while over here in Germany, someone came to my church who was from a different country.  This man was not from Germany, nor was he American, but he understood the English language and because he saw the signs outside of the church he knew this was the place he could come to not only get a word, but also get help.  Long story short, come to find out this man was homeless and had not eaten any food in three days.  He was in our area looking for work and had been traveling all over Europe trying to find a job.  So many things about my interaction with this man got me to thinking.  In spite of everything that was going on in his life, he had enough sense to know that when he saw the cross painted on the building and the word ‘Church’ that this was a place he needed to be in.  (That is whole separate topic I could go into when it comes to the church and giving people the help they need, but I’ll have to save that for later.)  To think I had nerve enough to complain about the cold and rain outside, when I have a home that is nice and warm and here this man is homeless.  I got mad when I first moved to Germany because I couldn’t find the specific type of foods I like at the grocery store, when again I meet this grown man who hasn’t eaten anything in the past 3 days.   Needless to say, my church helped him and he was extremely grateful, but on a personal level all I could do was pray and ask God to forgive me for having an ungrateful heart.  Truthfully, the main reason I wanted to write about this is because it should not take us running into someone who is going through hard times to get our mind right and be grateful for what we have.

I want to encourage you to take nothing for granted because things could change or even worse, it could be taken away from you in an instant. While you complain about eating chicken instead of steak, there is somebody who doesn’t have food at all and while you are upset because you want a bigger house, somebody is sleeping in their car every night.  The reality is this, if it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy that is new each and every morning there’s no telling where any of us would be. And the beautiful part about it is there is nothing you can do to earn it or deserve. That’s just who God is. His love is truly unconditional. #iDeclare #taketimeandgivethanks

Greatful

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come first repenting for not being grateful for each and every blessing that you bestow upon me.  Thank you for waking me up to see a new day, thank you for giving me food to eat and shelter over my head.  I just want to say thank you.  Thank you for who you are in my life and for all that you do for me.  I decree and declare on this day that I will take nothing for granted. Each day, I will take time to give thanks.  I love you Jesus, and I thank you that you are the head of my life.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Scripture Reference:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”

James 1:17 NIV “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”