Tag Archive | Prayer

Are You Running With Me Jesus

There are mornings I would just love to go back to bed and this is one of those mornings for me! However, I am on assignment for the Lord today! He has a plan for my day…someone out there needs to be loved and ministered to so, I just finished my quiet time and now…I am up and running!!!

Are you running with Me, Jesus?

by Malcolm Boyd

It’s morning, Jesus. It’s morning, and here’s that light and sound all over again.

I’ve got to move fast . . . get into the bathroom, wash up, grab a bite to eat and run some more.

I just don’t feel like it, Lord. What I really want to do is get back into bed, pull up the covers, and sleep. All I seem to want today is the big sleep, and here I’ve got to run all over again.

Where am I running? You know these things I can’t understand. It’s not that I need to have you tell me. What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it’s you. That helps a lot.

So I’ll follow along okay? But lead, Lord. Now I’ve got to run. Are you running with me, Jesus?

Have You Ask Jesus to Run With You Today?

Love Lee ♥

Out With the Old and In With the New

Jan8

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17

Where have you come from? The person you were before Christ came into your life should be gone. The habits and attitudes that defined you then should be changed. You are a new creature a door has open in your heart that Christ walked through bringing love compassion, concern for others, honesty, justice and self-sacrifice with it. Every characteristic that defines Christ can now define you. The struggle is to keep that old person with all her old habits and attitude away old habits die-hard begin each day by asking the Lord to help the new person shine over the old person.

I have not arrived but I am definitely not what I use to be!!! God is soooo good!

Love Lee ♥

Silent Mornings

Dec24

Being a morning girl, I am up at the crack of dawn each day. With a fresh cup of steaming hot coffee, I sit in my favorite chair and listen to the soft music playing, my precious birds chirping, and the soft snore of Maggie Mae who is sleeping next to my chair.

This time of day has always been special to me as it carries the hope of new and exciting things to come…A fresh slate…A new beginning…An book waiting to be written.

But, first things first…I grab my laptop and go to Blue Letter Bible online for my morning Bible study. I love this application as it allows me to research, read, and navigate more easily. I love my time with the Lord in the morning! Reading His word keeps me in close relationship with Him!

But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Psalms 73:28

It is when I draw near to Him, I am better able to recognize His sovereign hand on my life and trust He has everything under control. It is when I draw near to Him, I become keenly aware of His incredible love for me.

As I sit here this Christmas Eve morning surrounded by the comforts of home, I can’t help but reflect on

Those struggling emotionally with the holiday season
Those on foreign soil defending my right to be able to sit in the comfort of my home
Children missing their mommy or daddy because they are from broken homes
Moms or dads missing their children because of divorce
Those missing a family member who is no longer living
The homeless, cold, and hungry

Dear Daddy God,

I ask you in the precious name of Jesus to place your loving arms around each of these. Please meet them where they are; wrap your loving arms around them and hold their tender hearts in your hands. Keep them safe and warm. Shower them with your presence and make your presence known to them. Please give them comfort and a peace that passes understanding while making provisions for their needs. I thank you Father for the blessings you have poured out over my life. I love you and am so thankful you love me. THANK YOU FATHER!

Love Lee ❤

Pregnant With Possibility

Dec20

There will be worries. There will be struggles. But tomorrow is filled with possibility. I am inching toward eternity, and this is a journey I want to savor, not suffer through.

When Mary received the news she was carrying the Christ Child, she embraced the present for the future. She embraced the glares, glances, whispers, and disapproving looks of society all because she was pregnant with our possibilities…

The possibilities we have in today and tomorrow is because Mary said “Be it unto me”.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34

Because you have Jesus, you too are pregnant with possibility! Life is full of possibilities with Him. He is our hope, future, protector, healer, sustainer, strength, and joy. He wants us to live up to our full potential. To take life by the horns and enjoy the ride…

Have the courage to live fully today and await tomorrow with great hope; to be Pregnant with Possibility

Love Lee ♥

God Whispers

Nov29

I love the saying “Make time for the quiet moments for God whispers and the world is loud” so much so I have it framed and hanging in my kitchen as a reminder.

Have you ever thought to yourself or verbalized, “If God would just tell me what to do…”? One thing I know is God is the same yesterday, today and forever! His character does not change; He is a kind and loving God who will guide and direct your path. And yes, He will even speak to you!

But, “how does He speak?” you ask. Well, there are several ways in which God speaks.

Through His word: Do you want to hear God’s voice? Then read the Bible. Find a good daily reading plan, and stick to it.“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Through Prayer: Most conversations are a two-way street. Do you just stand in front of someone and wait for them to talk to you? NO…you typically introduce yourself, or initiate the conversation. It is no different when you want to talk with God. Not only does he listen but he also answers. So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:23)
Through the council of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the way we hear God’s voice!“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17).

Think about it when you are carrying on multiple conversations at once or you are talking to someone while listening to another conversation are you communicating effectively…I think NOT!

God is near and wants to communicate with you but like any other intimate conversation you must shut out your surroundings and focus on the person speaking and engage in one conversation at a time.

Listen to that still small voice that sits in the middle of your gut. The one that says “you ought to do this” or “you ought not do that”. I call it your sense of oughtness. When you have that sense about you, there is no confusion about what you ought to do because “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (I Corinthians 14:33)

Is there something you feel you ought to do…

Find a quiet moment and allow God to speak!

Love Lee ♥

Sunday Afternoon Fun

Nov28

What a wonderful day…It began worshiping at First Baptist Church in Brazoria. Wonderful music and an awesome sermon Brother Greg Smith! Nothing pleases me more than to be in the presence of God; captured by His love.

After church we had a great time at lunch with friends Rayfard, Evelyn, and Martha at La Casona in Lake Jackson. Lots of laughter and fun. I am sure those sitting around us got a kick out of us trying to figure out how to utilize the technology we had purchased! Richard and Rayfard were even texting each other at the table. We discussed Apps like Maps, Yelp, Facebook, and Bible + One. Great food and friends always lead to a great time!

We can always count on a little mischief when Rayfard and Richard get together…The “Twinkies”

Once we got home, Richard decided he needs to get the bike out and take it for a spin…So, we were off! As is customary the first stop is always Buc-ees in Angleton for fuel and coffee. Once fueled up we headed out toward Bay City and made a big loop back to Jones Creek. We had a couple of close calls with rain…ended up just a few sprinkles but it was worth it because I love the smell of rain.

And as usual I had my camera…Yeah pictures!!! Here are a few taken along the way…Enjoy!

Love Lee ♥

One Physician Who Cared

Nov2

In July of ’98 a storm blew through Brazoria and I spent most of a Saturday picking up tree limbs and debris. Early the next morning while getting dressed I noticed a red raised circle on my stomach. I didn’t give it much thought and went on about my day.

Approximately a month later, we were out-of-town and after dinner we decided to go back to our hotel room and take a short nap before going to a movie. My short nap lasted for over 12 hours. The next morning when I woke, I had to sit down and rest after getting dressed. We walked over to a little diner for breakfast and I could hardly hold my head up because I was so exhausted.

I went to a couple of Doctors and both told me “Oh, you are just depressed”. Depressed??? I was not depressed! I was sick and something was wrong!!!

The exhaustion continued and got to the point I was confined to bed every minute I was not at work. As for work, it took every ounce of energy I had to make it through my shift. In fact, there were days my co-workers carried me. I had memory lapses, chills, and severe muscle aches. I even thought at times, “I am going to die”. I can not remember a time when I was soooo sick and for soooo long.

Then one day a physician walked through the ICU unit where I worked and caught me with a thermometer in my mouth. He asked me if I was sick. I told him I was and that I had been running a 98.9 temp which was high for me (my normal was 97). He asked me if I had been to a Dr. I told him I had but they just told me I was depressed. The doctor looked me in the eye and said, “Depressed people don’t run a fever. Call my office and set up an appointment.”

I called his office and set up the appointment. After a 30 minute visit, I was about to leave when he said, “Just for grins let’s run this test too”.

BINGO…He found it!!! I am alive today because a physician by the name of Dr. Dalal heard me and cared to look beyond the obvious to find the source of my illness!

The whelp on my abdomen was from a tick bite. I had Lyme Disease.

After 6 weeks of IV antibiotics the Lyme Disease was resolved. To this day I still have challenges with of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia but I am ALIVE!!!

I thank God for Dr. Dalal and physicians like him who care enough to keep digging for the answers.

Why did I share my story? Because, there is someone out there that is struggling with an illness and I want you to know sometimes God provides the healing and sometimes He provides a healer!

If you are out there experiencing pain, fatigue, or other symptoms, I want to remind you…

Don’t give up!!! God knows your battle and He will never leave you or forsake you. I don’t know your name but He does!

I am praying for you,

Love Lee ♥

It’s Contagious…Stop The Spread!!!

Oct20

Have you ever noticed how someone can walk into the room and the entire atmosphere can change?

I remember one instance when this occurred…Huge Lesson Learned!!!

I was working in an ICU unit and every bed held a patient. Although we were full, the day was pleasant and was without much drama or crisis. The phone rang and I was asked to help with a special procedure that was being performed in a different department. So, because everything was “calm” and “under control”, I told my co-worker I was going to help with a procedure and I would be right back. I left the unit and assisted with the procedure which took all of 15 minutes.

When I returned to the ICU what I found was UNBELIEVABLE!!! Total chaos had taken over the ICU…Call bells going off, family members at the nurses station, and the noise level was off the chart. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw my co-worker running around frantically in a panic.

Suddenly I realized what happened…Because I was being pulled away from the unit, my co-worker went into a complete panic and her panic had permeated the entire ICU unit…

I walked over to her. Told her to take a deep breath, grab a Coke and leave the unit for a break. Once she left the ICU, I took a deep breath and said a very brief prayer and made my way through the unit room by room…Tucking patients in speaking words of peace and calm over the patients with a pleasant and assuring smile. Within about 10 minutes a hush fell over the place.

My co-worker returned and was totally amazed at the transformation which had taken place in her absence. She asked me what had happened. I took the opportunity show her how her panic had permeated the entire ICU in the 15 minutes I was gone. I also was able to teach her how to reign in her emotions, take control of situations, and promote peace over her patients and thus the entire ICU.

There have been other times I have witnessed this occur…sitting in meetings where everyone is smiling, making contributions to solutions to issues, and interacting in a healthy and professional manner. Then, an individual having a rough day can walk into the room and squelch all team productivity and change the entire tone of the meeting.

Have you noticed this in your home. A family member comes in after a hard, emotional, or trying day? They can walk in the door and the entire atmosphere changes. What do you do?

Recognize what is going on
Hold on to your peace and do you allow your peace to be disturbed or your attitude to take a downward trend
Pray over your home and ask God’s protection over your home
Pray for the person struggling

Emotions are contagious, negativity, anxiety, and discord in your home can be prevented with prayer, education, and persistence. Finally…

DO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THE CONTAGIOUS NEGATIVE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS…

Think about it…why do you want to surround yourself with negativity? IT IS CONTAGIOUS!!! Evaluate the people you choose to surround yourself with. Choose your friends wisely or encourage them to change their attitude.

I remember when a nurse in the ER came in one day and I told her “Good Morning”. Her response was “What’s so good about it?”. I took the opportunity to tell her I had made the decision to remove negative people from my life. I also said, “You know, I like you and really want to be your friend so you are going to have to be a more positive person if you want to be my friend”. Suddenly, the decision was hers. From that day forward, she has never said another negative phrase or word to me.

Let your peace radiate into the world. Then the world becomes a more peaceful place one person at a time.

TAKE CONTROL AND PROTECT YOURSELF!!!

Love Lee ♥

Can You Hear Their Cries

Oct7

This morning’s topic on Joni’s Table Top was “Human Trafficking“. Initially my thought was I am not going to watch this because it did not pertain to me but I literally could not change the channel. What I heard was horrific!

IT BROKE MY HEART !!!

Young teenagers are captured, caged, and used 30 to 40 times per day. The children born to these young teens are removed from their mothers and sold to child pedifilers. What a horrific life these young ladies have to endure!!!

CAN YOU HEAR THEIR CRIES???

Rather than turn a blind eye, please take the time to visit the links below and ask God to give you direction on what He would have you to do to help abolish human trafficking.

Love Lee ♥

Human Trafficking in America: Now Florida’s Biggest ‘Invisible’ Crime

Human Trafficking Crimes Common in the US

Modern Day Slavery: Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Around the World

Taken Movie Review Liam Neesen Maggie Grace Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking: Putting an End to Modern Day Slavery

Human Trafficking is High Profit Business

Good Morning…

Sep30

The alarm goes off and you drag yourself out of bed. Then stumbling to the kitchen for that cup hot coffee and grunting at anyone who crosses your path on the way. Not a pretty sight!!! Now let’s rewind and try this view…the alarm goes off, you reach over and turn the alarm off, you lay there conscious of you surroundings…listening to the quiet while saying a “Good Morning Prayer”. A prayer with the following components; praise, thanksgiving, guidance, and protection.

Praise

Praise elevates us into God’s presence and power. The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). Praise is an expression of worship; a way of setting aside time to honor and adore our creator and sustainer. If verbalizing praise to God is foreign to you or you have no idea of what to say, I recommend the book of Psalms. David is referred to as “A Man After God’s Own Heart” and it is easy to understand why when you read how he is able to express his adoration for the Lord. Below are an examples of David’s words of praise.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High Psalms 7:17

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:11

I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. Psalms 52:9

Thanksgiving

How can we as Christians not give thanks to our Father for all He has done for us. He loves us, protects us, and provides for us. And it is those provisions and blessings we should be forever grateful. Having an attitude of gratitude is a challenge if God’s provisions are not recognized as such. Until we recognize God owns it all, is in charge of it all, and distributes it all then we will never see the need to say “Thank You”

In Ephesians 5:20 it says we should “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, He owns it all, is in charge of it all, and distributes it all…Everything we have is on loan from the Lord; family, friends, possessions, job, health…EVERYTHING!!!

Now, having said that, I don’t know about you but, if I gave a gift to my child and she never showed any form of appreciation or gratitude or took it for granted, I am not so sure I would keep giving! Using that analogy why would our Heavenly Father want to keep pouring out His blessings on us if we do not show a little excitement and gratitude?

I encourage you to never, never, never take anything from the Lord for granted. Oh did I mention, everything we have is on loan from the Lord…so I guess we have a lot to be thankful for.

Guidance

When is the last time you asked for someone to show you how or the way out of a situation? Well, I feel certain it has been more recent than the last time you asked God…

Perhaps by asking God at the beginning of your day to lead you through it, your whole day might have turned out totally different…Perhaps BETTER! It is so easy to call out to Him and ask Him to be your guide, to allow your path to be filled with ease rather than strife, to place the people who need ministering to in front of you, to lay someone on your heart to pray for, to give you favor in all you do. David prayed for guidance.

Psalms 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalms 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Psalms 43:3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Psalms 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Psalms 139:10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

He is there for you. He wants to bless you. He wants to lead and guide you. But, once you ask and He gives you what you ask for, don’t forget the Thanksgiving that needs to follow.

Protection

When you wake do you pray a hedge of protection about yourself and about your family? David did…he prayed protection over others in Psalms 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” I know for fact God cares for our safety. He is our Daddy God and He cares for us and wants nothing to harm us His children. Below are some additional scriptures show all we have to do is call out to God and He will honor our request.

Psalms 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.

Psalms 59:1 For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me.

Psalms 69:29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.

Now, here is the catch…You prayed for protection, now you must thank Him in advance and trust you and your family is under His protection…DO NOT WORRY!!!

So now rather than wake up and you drag yourself to the coffee pot; you might want to start your day with praise and thanksgiving then ask for guidance and protection over your day. THEN…you can go get that cup of coffee!!!