Tender mercies

Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. (Psalms 119:77 NLT)

Lord I often find myself reaching for things that are beyond my comprehension but my goal is to always find your mercies when I fail 

Wondrous secrets

“This is what the LORD says—the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. (Jeremiah 33:2-3 NLT)

God has so many wondrous secrets that he is ready to reveal in your life. Be willing to be patient and know that he's always in control with whatever he has created for your life. 

Striving to be perfect

Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NLT)

God remind me there is no such thing as human perfection. The only perfection found in humanity was through Christ. There is nothing that I can ever do that will ever match up to this level but I often finding myself so defeated when I don't match this perfection. Then God reminds me that my job is never to match with the perfection of Christ but just accept his perfect gift of salvation 

Happiness in life

there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life.  (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NLT)

Lord a way to happiness is believing we are made each day to enjoy the work we have accomplished. To saving the world, inventing a new software, or making pancakes for your family...there is happiness found in each task. Enjoy each step and not just the final product. Life takes work, relationships take work...,be willing to work

You're the hands and feet of Christ

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT)

God often times we get discouraged because we don't see the outcome of our good works. Remind me that my efforts are never forgotten. Thank you for the strength to move forward with each step

Life is precious and God will take care of the life he has created

You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care. (Job 10:12 NLT)

Lord show us today the very careful hands you hold us with -whether we are newborn to elderly, you carry us in the gentle hands that created the very existence of life. Remind us that we can trust in you for all things 

Not understanding God's ways

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT)

Our lives are filled with many paths and God is the only person that understands all of them. Lord I want to focus on things I can control and leave the rest to you, because I know you have always had the best plan for my life already set out

Following wisdom

Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. (Ecclesiastes 10:10, 12 NLT)

Lord allow your wisdom to guide each step. I don't want my way of thinking to get in the way of your wisdom

Total trust without fear

Psalms 22:5 NLT

They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

Lord I need to trust you with all aspects of my life, not when I am just hurting. Guide me, show me, teach me how to trust you with this level of conviction

Trust God for peace

Numbers 6:26 NLT

May the lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

There is nothing better but to be still in the peace God provides. There is such a quietness when we are still in God's presence. Lord I want to have peace, I desire your favor in each life task.....get rid of all worriness and remind me to trust in your peace

Humbly come before God

1 Peter 5:6 NLT

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Lord I often fight to be right, to have it my way, to say I am better than that person......but teach me how to have a  humble heart, to lay down my pride and fears to follow you. Help me teach the Twinkies about service to others and humbly lay down the things we believe are important but truly are not  

Seek God

Zephaniah 2:3 NLT

Seek the lord , all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.

God I often see my life through a foggy glass. I rather keep from seeing clearly because the truth often means there is change to come so I keep the glass foggy from seeing through. Then I remember when the glass is clear, sunlight can come through and I can see clearly the path ahead. I want to live a life clear of fog rather in my imperfections and keep focused on you always meeting me wherever I am

Let my thoughts be filled with God's promises

Psalms 104:34 NLT

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the lord .

Often times we allow our thoughts get in the way of reaching our full potential. We allow our thoughts be overwhelmed with past mistakes and the devil's lies that nothing will get better. I want to trust God with each thought and the moment my mind is invaded with a negative thought....God help me squash the thoughts that would prevent me from drawing closer to you  

Have love for things beyond this world

1 John 2:15 NLT

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

God reminds us to set our eyes towards heaven and the beauty beyond this world. We live on earth and God demands we care for it, but he just wants to make sure we don't settle for things of this world, when we have so much waiting for us

Grace not deserved but given anyways

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

God's grace is pure with no strings attached..freely given because of his love for me. Lord I want to be reminded that your grace is what motivates each step, so I don't take for granted the free grace that was spilled on the cross

Teach love

Exodus 20:6 NLT

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

God when we teach love and demonstrate acts of love, then our children will see you more clearly and live their life as an awesome reflection of your greatness. This is the legacy I want to leave for the Twinkies, so they pass this message to the future generations

God fights for us

Deuteronomy 1:30 NLT

The lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.

I often forget the battle has already been won. I fail at times to see God already walked through every circumstance that I have experienced and beat every trial that I am faced with. Why do I doubt his promise that he has already one?, because we often let the guilt and shame of the enemy trick us in believing that we still have failed. Stay strong and know your God is with you 

Love from the center of your heart

Romans 12:10, 9 MSG

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it......

God I want to show love that goes beyond my capabilities. Help me share the best part of me where you dwell

Joyful heart

Proverbs 15:13 MSG

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

When we rather focus on all the issues in our lives or keep focused on things we have no control, we paralyze our minds from letting God's promises flourish. The mind controls the heart, so be happy so your day is not ruined by stinking thinking

Be still and stop talking

Ecclesiastes 5:2 MSG

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

Lord often I need to be reminded to keep my mouth shut and listen. I have this tendency to believe the more I talk the more God can hear, but actually its the total opposite, the more that I practice stillness, God can hear me alot louder

Be willing to learn from God

Ecclesiastes 5:1 MSG

Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good.

Lord remind me to be receptive and mindful about learning your ways instead of always expecting that I should always get something first. Lord I always want to put you first

Treating others the way you treat God

Romans 14:22-23 MSG

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—...... If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

Lord help me choose to treat others in my relationship with them that reflects my relationship with you. If I wouldn't disrespect or dishonor you, then help me see when I begin to act this way towards other people I care about 

Beauty beyond measure

Song of Songs 4:1 NLT

You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.

Teach me Lord about the beauty that is measured far from my imagination. The outward beauty we see in ourselves is just a glimpse of what you have created. Help me remind the Twinkies each day about the beauty they have and the beauty they can share

God smooths the path

Isaiah 26:7 NLT

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

Lord when we are discouraged you are there to fill in any holes that we can't fill ourselves. We often wonder why me but I need to remind myself that is probably what Jesus was thinking when he was on the cross, so my little obstacles are just a small drop in a big ocean compared to what Jesus faced on my behalf

Entrusting your Spirit to God

Psalms 31:5 NLT

I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, lord , for you are a faithful God.

I often wonder what it truly looks like to trust God. Is it to just pray, be a good person, not to curse around my children, not to get angry, not to gossip, give my gifts/money to the church and the poor? Well I've learned that although these are all great and beautiful acts that show God's grace, I will never know the true love of God unless I lay everything at his feet and be willing to trust him with my SPIRIT.....the very essence of living is found in our Spirit 

The Word is Life

John 1:4 NLT

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

Your very existence, our very existence was breathed into being by powerful spoken words. There are no other words that give authority into our lives. Thank you Lord for the words that bring life and healing, words that express love and peace