Feb 29th Daily Reflection

The last few devotion remind us to leave the future to the Lord and today's devotion provides a worldly prespective of the allination that one might encounter taking this approach. Some think you are avoiding reality, some think you are a bit crazy and some think you are being irresponsible. However, leaving the future to the Lord, going on full trust and faith, is the most responsible thing you can do because it means full surrender to the Lord!

How is the world trying to stop your full surrender to the Lord?

Feb 26th Daily Reflection

Self reliance, something I have been thought since I was a child. You need to be able to do things for yourself, you need to figure out things yourself, you need to solve your problems yourself. Engaging others is a sign of weakness, a sign of laziness, a sign of not using our God given talents. However, these lessons were never complimented with the fact that you need to be fully reliant on the Lord and that without him, none of these teachings are possible and even if they appear possible, the eventual outcome will not meet your expectation. I am just learning that self reliance means fully trusting in the Lord, relying only on him and trusting that he will take care of me. And even though the Lord has consistently kept his promise and taken care of me, I still worry about the future, I still spend time trying to solve my problems myself and I still try to dictate what will happen in my life. Sins that I have been commiting without being aware that I was. Today's devotion has open my eyes to this realization. Next step, how do I remind myself to return to the Lord whenever I am tempted to commiting these sins. Of course, the answer is look to the Lord and he will help me!

Feb 23rd Daily Reflection

Looking outwards as a way to get closer to the Lord. Avoiding self pity by always being in a place of thanksgiving. Simply, simply advice that is so difficult to follow - which is another sefl pity comment. It's amazing the numerous ways we engage in self pity.

Feb 22nd Daily Reflection

Today's devotion talks about self pity, self preoccupation and stopping, all things that are sins because they take us away from the Lord. They also cause us to make decision based on a limited view of the world and that ultimately results in additional problems instead of simply resolving the problem at hand. It's interesting how we can get so preoccupied with ourselves that we loss sight of reality. A timely reminder as we start the Lent season.

Feb 21st Daily Reflection

I like today's devotion because it crystalizes for me a point that I keep telling myself but do little to truly resolve. Complaint is a form of sin, it is a manifestation of being unthankful/ungrateful for what we have/are experiencing. I give thanks alot, however, I also complain alot; today I am being called to give up the sin of complaint! Another great challenge on the path to the Lord.

How are you being unthankful?

Feb 19th Daily Reflection

I have not posted for a few days because the devotions didn't speak to me and thus I had nothing to say, then I was reading today's devotion and realized the reason the other devotion didn't speak to me is because I was so deep in thought, clutching the Lord's hand so tightly in fear, I couldn't hear what he was saying to me. I realized after reading today's devotion that while I didn't walk away from the Lord, I still lost faith because I had fear. That is my greatest struggle, how not to loss faith in times of adversaries.

What do you do not to loss faith even for a moment in times of adversaries?

Feb 16th Daily Reflection

I was excited about a trip I was going to take then I was asked to postpone it. I was a bit disappointed, however, believed that it was the right decision. Then yesterday, the day I was suppose to leave, I got really ill (the firsts time in about 10 yrs) with the biggest issue being my head feeling as if it would explode. Of course, if I had forged ahead with the trip, I would have been really miserable and gotten sicker. Instead, I got to spend the day sleeping and recovering really quickly. Today's devotion is so timely because it talks about thanking the Lord for conditions that require that you are still. I was still yesterday because any movement was causing me pain. And during that stillness, I got an opportunity to renew my faith in the Lord, my family, friends and co-workers. I got an opportunity to find very nice ways to express my displeasure and got to refortify some of my relationship. Because of this, I give thanks for the disappointment and for getting ill.

how are you turning disappointment and illness into a worship of the Lord?

Feb 14th Daily Reflection

I have a meeting today that I have been thinking about off and on for the past few days and then I read today's devotion and realized how I need to approach it. I need to approach it as an adventure, knowing that the outcome will be exactly as the Lord designed it. It will be a test of my faith and trust so I have stretched out my arm to the Lord and asked him not to let go even if I do.

What adventure are you looking forward to today?

Feb 10th Daily Reflection

Last night, I got home at 6pm and thought about a number of things I could do to fill my evening then I decided instead to simply relax and reflect on the wonderfulness that is my life, the great people I get to work with, the cool friends, the awesome volunteers and the opportunities to flex my talents. I was feeling a bit bad that I was not being productive then I thought, I need this break. Today's devotion is a good reminder that sometimes the best way to be productive is to spend time with the Lord!

How are you spending time with the Lord to increase your productivity?

Feb 9th Daily Reflection

We are conditioned to think that afflictions are a bad thing, however, as today's devotion mentions, there are wonderful gifts from the Lord! I am encouraged reading today's devotion because it validates that I am not nuts when I get excited about afflictions, excited to see how they will be resolved, excited to see what I will learn in the process. Afflictions are gifts from the Lord, a powerful way to experience the world! It's like heaven on earth.

Feb 7th Daily Reflection

Holding tight with my convictions that all things will be great because I am holding the Lord's hand, his love for me can overcome any worldly harm/distruction is a difficult task, there are times I feel as if I am under assult from friendly forces! However, that is what the devotion talks about, I stance and journey will be difficult but with the Lord by my side, it worth it!

Feb 5th Daily Reflection

Today's devotion was a great rally that is inspiring me to really live my life in a manner to that re-enforces my words that the Lord wraps me in an armor, is constantly at my side, and protects me always, therefore, I should not worry, be concern or condemn things since doing any of these things is a sign that my faith is waning and needs to be renewed. I will view things not from the place of bad and good rather from the place that the Lord's goodness is in it and I am blinded to it. A challenge I know I will fail but one I will embark upon because it will strengthen my faith!

Feb 3rd Daily Reflection

I have not posted in a few days because I believe the theme was the same and didn't have more to say on the topic. Today's devotion caused me to do a little introspect, focusing on the Lord, know that living in today is what is expected, don't worry about the future because with trust and faith in the Lord, everything will be fine. Conceptually these make sense, are easy to follow, however, when you get down to the moment of execution when the world seems like it is crashing in on you, it is difficult to stop and say Lord, I need your help. Of course, that is the exact moment that we need to say that. Therefore, I am making a personal challenge that whenever I feel as if the world is crashing down, I will force myself to stop and say Lord I need your help!