Stay Focused, Positive and Strong

by Kay Heitsch

Never give up! Stay focused, stay positive, stay strong. ~ Don't Give Up Quotes ~

We won't give up when we stay focused, positive, and strong at whatever we've set out to do.

This week Bill and I have been doing a lot of cleaning and sorting out. We've found things we didn't know we had. It's more work than we really wanted to do, but I'm determined not to give up. I believe our work will be rewarded.

Our Bible verse says, But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7

We need to be strong and not give up if we want our work to be rewarded.

Never give up! Stay focused, stay positive, stay strong.

Live In Peace

 by Kay Heitsch

It's easy to worry. Today, I will give it to God and live in peace. ~ Give God Your Worries Quotes ~

It sure is easy to worry. I spent most of my life worrying about something. But, once I started to study the Bible, I learned how to stop worrying. I had to give my worries to God. I still need a reminder every so often if I want to live in peace.

Our Bible verse says, Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. Peter 5:7 NLT

We can give all of our worries and cares to God. He cares about us and wants us to live in peace, not stress.

It's easy to worry. Today, I will give it to God and live in peace.Live

Strength in Struggle

 by Kay Heitsch

The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need tomorrow. ~ Strength Quotes

It's interesting how when we go through struggles, we can grow stronger. We learn how to do things we didn't know before. But what's our attitude as we go through?

Our Bible verse says The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

When we go through struggles, the joy of the Lord can help us keep a good attitude and give us strength.

The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need tomorrow.

Pursue Peace

 Pursue Peace by Kay Heitsch

Tip Of The Day: Control how you respond to things sent to destroy your peace. ~ Pursue Peace Quotes

Boy, it's not easy to control how we respond sometimes in stressful situations. I think we get set up to get upset. Our peace needs to be a priority, and we need to pursue it if we want to stay at ease.

Our Bible verse says, Let us then pursue what leads to peace and help each other have a strong faith. Romans 14:19

Interesting, this says we need to pursue what leads to peace. Pretty obvious peace isn't going to just fall on us. I also like how we are to help each other have a strong faith. Great idea!

Tip Of The Day: Control how you respond to things sent to destroy your peace.

You Are Worth It

by Kay Heitsch

Jesus looked at the cross, thought of you, and said you are worth it. ~ Jesus Loves You Quotes

Whenever you think you aren't worth much, you need to see yourself as Jesus sees you. He went to the cross because He thought you were worth it.

Our Bible verse says, How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:7

God's unfailing love is precious. All humanity can find shelter by staying close to Him.

Jesus looked at the cross, thought of you, and said you are worth it.

Look Forward

by Kay Heitsch

Forget the past; look forward to the future, for the best things are yet to come. ~ Look Forward To The Future Quotes ~

It's not easy to forget the past. However, we can learn from it while looking forward to the future. Keep in mind that the best things are yet to come.

Our Bible verse says, No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on... Philippians 3:13&14

I have not achieved it, but I want to look forward to the future. The past is gone. We can learn from it and press on to the good things ahead.

Forget the past; look forward to the future, for the best things are yet to come.

Nothing Is Impossible With God

by Kay Heitsch

When God steps in, miracles happen. ~ Nothing Is Impossible With God Quotes ~

Did you know that God created light before He created the sun? Genesis 1:3-5 indicates that God created light on day one of the Creation week. However, it was not until day four that He made the Sun.

God doesn't do things the way we think they should be done. He has His own way. His ways are higher than our ways. (see Isaiah 55:8)

Our Bible verse says, Looking at them, Jesus said, "With humans this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 NHEB

Humans are limited! But when God steps in, nothing is impossible with Him, including our salvation. We can't save ourselves! No amount of good work or keeping the 10 commandments will get you to heaven. It's impossible for us, but all things are possible with God.

When God steps in, miracles happen.

Bloom

by Kay Heitsch

Bloom with grace. ~ Grow In Grace Quotes ~

I have learned that people who have accepted God's grace grow to love giving grace to others.

Our Bible verse says, But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 GNT

This verse tells us to continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we live with a personal relationship with the LORD, we will continue to grow in grace.

Bloom with grace. Let's not just grow but bloom!

What a way to live!

Real Love

by Kay Heitsch

Religion says: God will love us if we change. The Gospel says: God's love changes us. ~ Accepting God's Love Quotes ~

We see life differently once we totally accept God's love for us. We realize it's not our love for God but His love for us that gives life meaning.

Our Bible verse says, "Real love isn't our love for God but His love for us. God sent His Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven." 1 John 4:10

God's love for us is real love. Our sins are forgiven because of what Jesus did for us. Now that's real love!

Religion says: God will love us if we change. The Gospel says: God's love changes us.

Showers Of Blessings

by Kay Heitsch

God can bring showers of blessings out of storms of adversity. ~ Showers of Blessings Quotes ~

How many of us can say that God has brought showers of blessings out of storms of adversity? I know I can, and I'm sure many reading this can too.

Our Bible verse says, And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be [abundant] showers of blessing (divine favor). Ezekiel 34:26 AMP

God will send His abundant showers of His divine favor into our lives at the exact right time.

God can bring showers of blessings out of storms of adversity.

How Do You Want To Be Treated?

by Kay Heitsch

Treat others the way you want to be treated. ~ Quotes ~

If we thought about how we want others to treat us, I think we would treat each other differently. I believe we would be more patient, kind, and loving. I bet we would want others to forgive us and show mercy. I think we would be less judgmental too.

Our Bible verse says, "Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you." Luke 6:31

Just think what kind of world we would be living in if everyone treated others the way they wanted to be treated. Wow!

Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Mercy & Grace

by Kay Heitsch

Grace is getting something you don't deserve, and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. ~ His Mercy Is New Every Morning Quotes

God's love is so amazing! He gives us grace when we don't deserve it, and mercy is not getting what we deserve.

That being said, how do we treat ourselves and each other. Of course, we want God to give us grace and mercy, but do we withhold grace and mercy from ourselves and others? When we accept God's grace and mercy, it should flow through us to others.

Our Bible verse says, Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23 NLT

God's faithfulness to us is great! Each morning He gives us new mercy. Once we receive His mercy, let us extend that mercy and grace to others.

Grace is getting something you don't deserve, and mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

Today I Will

by Kay Heitsch

Note to self... Today I will lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord. I will not rely on my own insight or understanding but trust the Lord to lead and guide me.

When we have our confidence in the Lord, it releases peace, joy, and rest in our lives. So when I start to try and worry about something, I like to say, "Thank you, Lord, for working on this issue." When I put my trust and confidence in the Lord, peace returns.

Our Bible verse says, Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Note to self... Today I will lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord. I will not rely on my own insight or understanding but trust the Lord to lead and guide me.

This Is Love

by Kay Heitsch

Jesus loves you! ~ God's Amazing Love Quotes ~

It is hard to fathom that God the Son, Jesus, loved us so much that He would come to this earth and pay the price for our sins. Yet, by our belief in Him, the fee is paid. Talk about amazing love!

Our Bible verse says, "For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him." John 3:17 WEB

Jesus came into this world not to judge it but that the world should be saved through Him. God's amazing love!

Never forget that Jesus loves you!

You Are Loved

by Kay Heitsch

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~ Augustine ~

We will never look in another person's eyes that God does not love. God loves everyone! Every person is unique in God's eyes.

Our Bible verse says, "For God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not die but have eternal life." John 3:16 GNT

Yes, God, the Father, loves everyone in the world. He came to this earth as God, the Son, and paid the price for our sins. So that whoever believes in Jesus may not die but will have eternal life in Heaven.

Even if you were the only one. Jesus would have paid the price for you! Never forget this. You are loved!

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

It Is Finished!

by Kay Heitsch

We are saved not by what we do but by what Christ has done. It is finished! ~ By His Stripes We Are Healed Quotes ~

We may never completely understand what has been done for us. But by our faith, we can believe that it is finished! We are not saved by what we do but by what Jesus has done for us.

It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was His love for you! Let that sink in.

Our Bible verse says He was pierced for our offenses, and the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him. By His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Jesus paid the price for our well-being. By His stripes, we can be healed everywhere we hurt.

We are saved not by what we do but by what Christ has done. It is finished!

What Do You Want?

by Kay Heitsch

It's important to know what you want in life. For example, most people want to know what will happen after they die. So they will accept what Jesus accomplished on the cross for them.

However, there's much more to life than knowing where you're going when you die. Our eternal life is a done deal by our acceptance of what Jesus did for us. We can't add anything to it.

But now what? What kind of life do we want to have?

I want to live the abundant life Jesus died to give me right here. I love the Bible because it tells us how to do that. The more I studied the Bible, the more I had love, peace, and joy in my daily life.

The following Bible verse is one of my favorite. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV

How much of our lives are we allowing the thief to steal? That is entirely up to us. We have the Bible that tells us to love others as we love ourselves, forgive not only others but ourselves, stay in peace, be thankful, always rejoice, etc.

Unfortunately, I allowed the thief to steal enough of my life. So, with the LORD's help, I want to put the Bible into practice and live the abundant life that Jesus died to give me.

I pray each one of you reading this will too.

Why Forgive?

by Kay Heitsch

Forgiveness is not something we do for other people. We do it for ourselves to get well and move on. ~ Forgive Each Other Quotes ~

When we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, we open ourselves to hateful feelings. If we want to get well and move on, forgiveness is necessary.

Today I heard a message on forgiveness taken from Matthew 18 about the man who was forgiven much but refused to forgive a person who owed him a little.

What happens when we refuse to forgive? We open ourselves up to be tormented by our own thoughts and feelings. We feel bitter, rage, and anger towards the people who hurt us.

Our Bible verse says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 ESV

The remedy to these hateful thoughts and feelings is to forgive. It shouldn't be hard to forgive other people when we remember how much God in Christ has forgiven us. So why open ourselves up for torment!

Forgiveness is not something we do for other people. We do it for ourselves to get well and move on.

As-Is

by Kay Heitsch

I've learned that accepting others and accepting myself are two sides of the same coin; you can't love and accept yourself without doing the same for others. ~ Accept One Another Quotes ~

Believe it or not, we all have flaws. None of us are perfect. So it's essential to be able to accept ourselves, flaws and all, and also be able to accept other people too.

Our Bible verse says, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7 NIV

Yes, Christ has accepted us, as-is. So in turn, we should accept one another in order to bring praise to God.

I've learned that accepting others and accepting myself are two sides of the same coin; you can't love and accept yourself without doing the same for others.

Ever-Present

by Kay Heitsch

Step by step will those who trust Him find that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~ Ever-Present Help Quotes ~

It's great to know that God is always with us no matter what we are going through, good or bad. He is with us every step of the way.

Our Bible verse says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 NIV

God is our refuge and strength. He is ever-present and ready to help whenever we need Him.

Step by step will those who trust Him find that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Seeing Totally Different

by Kay Heitsch

I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different. ~ Seeing Things Differently Quotes~

This morning bright and early, I had cataract eye surgery on my right eye. Two weeks ago, I had the left eye taken care of.

It is incredible the difference in the way things look now since the surgery is over. How things looked before the surgery now look totally different. It's not just two other people; that see things differently, but before and after eye surgery is also very accurate.

Our Bible verse says, Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions. Psalm 119:18 NLT

We can ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the wonderful truths He has for us to see. When we do, we may be surprised by what we will see.

I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.