God’s Guarantee

God “has never guaranteed that we will avoid valleys,” skip through days of heartbreak and times of illness, or live without seasons of setback and hardship. 

But God does guarantee “that we won't walk through [the valleys] alone.” 

David said, “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me (Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬).”  Even better than David, Jesus said, “lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age (Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬).”

God is with us!  

May the God “who willingly chose to enter into our pain by becoming human, give us His [promised, steadfastly loving, sovereign, and] faithful presence every step of the way!” 

Quotes by Jennifer Dukes Lee's, Devotional Dear God, I’m not ready for this,” March 31,2023

Busted brackets

No one is perfect!  So, the next time someone makes you feel that they know it all, have made all the right choices, and have never failed— ask them to show you their 2023 men's NCAA bracket! 

Remember, only God is always perfect in all His ways and selections. God alone is perfect wisdom. God alone is perfect love. God alone is perfect salvation. Everyone else has a bracket full of busted choices. 

 Live in His grace and abide by His teachings and wisdom and live well.

Dear Lord, please!

Dear Lord, please help us “slam shut the doors to all the [places and thoughts] that threaten to steal our joy,” and rob us of our hope and peace.

Dear Lord, please “capture each thought that tries to pull [us] back into ungodly, ghastly and destructive sadness, and [help us] run headfirst into joyful and happy thoughts."  

Dear Lord, please help us focus our hearts and minds on You and on uplifting and “fond memories, special occasions, special people, special times” and on those who are a part of our loving family and inner circle of friends. 

Dear Lord, please help us to focus our souls, minds and our hearts on the thoughts of Your God given and “God-ordained blessings and abundance,” and on faith in Your goodness and Your good plans for both what’s now and next. May thoughts of Your love and joy and goodness win out over all else. 

In Jesus Name. Amen!  

Quotes from Tracie Miles, "The Rooms Your Thoughts Need To Visit", March 21, 2023

It is right and good and joyful—

For the “zillion diamonds [that] sparkle against the velvet [night] sky”, for the beauty of sunrises and the majesty of sunsets that take our breath away, for the “over three billion times our heart beats in our chest,” and for the incredible and incomprehensible power of our brains the supercomputer that regulates our muscles and organs, thoughts and emotions, and conducts traffic for the superhighway of our bodies nerves, fibers, neurons and synapses— “thank you, God!”  

It is right and good and joyful for us to give Him our thanks and our praise!