Graced with Beauty for Ashes... Journey with Christ ..

How often should we pray?

As Christians, the question of how often one should pray comes up very often. To answer that question let's take a look at the Bible. Here in the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, it reads "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ESV...

The Bible is very clear that we should continually pray without ceasing. Now does this mean to literally go around and constantly praying without ever taking a break to do or say anything else? Of course not! The Bible is specifically speaking to never cease or stop having a prayer life. It is talking about having a relationship with God, that you reach out to Him daily through prayers,

Think of it like this. You have a very close friend or a loved one, whom you spend time with weekly. You speak to them often on the phone; you enjoy your conversations so much that you eagerly reach out to connect with them. This is the type of prayer that the bible mentions here. A prayer life daily, that keeps you in fellowship with God. A prayer life that not only builds your relationship with him but also engages you intimately with God Himself, as you draw near to Him.

So, pray daily, pray seeking God, and pray to talk to Him! It is an important way to learn who He is and to receive your answers to your prayers! As the bible says never stop praying, it is not in how many times you pray but the sincerity of the heart-felt prayers of faith!

What is the purpose of life?

freepik

To answer that question let us first understand the One that created you for this life that you live today. In the bible found in the book of Jeremiah 1:5, we see these verses here... “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God specifically tells the prophet Jeremiah that He knew him even before he was formed in his mother`s womb. We serve a God that makes absolutely no mistakes! Every single person living on this earth was created with a purpose and a plan for their lives and to know that plan means to seek out Jesus!

God is there to answer what your purpose in this life is for, He holds nothing back. When you seek God in prayers, ask directly for Jesus to show you His purpose for your life! Ask Him to direct your steps and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Many times, people walk around this world without knowing their purpose because of the lack of communication with God. We have many Christians living a prayerless life and sometimes a sinful one, cutting themselves out of communication with God our Heavenly Father! Without a prayerful life and living a righteous life we can unknowingly block ourselves from hearing God! However, there is hope! You can turn to Jesus today and earnestly pray to Him for the answers you are seeking.

Today, if you seek to know what your purpose is, then ask freely to the One who always answers our prayers! Jesus will show you His plans for your life! As the scriptures state so very well here...
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What does God of the hills and valley mean?

As humans, we will most likely always have ups and downs in this life. This is something expected in this fallen world, having those good and bad days! Those hills ( great days!) those valleys ( not so great day). In the bible, there is a verse found in 1 Kings 20:28 which states..."This is what the Lord says: Because the Amrameans think the Lord is a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands and you will know that I am the Lord."

You can see clearly here when the Israelites were in battle. They were in battle on the hillside, and their enemies sought to trap them in the lower valleys! Their enemies believed if they could get them in the lower valley they could defeat them! Oh but the God that they served had other plans! God declared to those who opposed the Israelites that He would show Himself true! That God would deliver them even in the tough times, no valleys can stop God`s deliverances!

I know life may get extremely tough, and you may feel like you are walking through that valley alone, but know this! You serve a God who is a God that delivers whether you are in the hills or in the lowest part of the valley! God is more than able to prove Himself time and time again that He alone is God! There is nothing that He can not deliver you from!

Today, if you going through the valley you are not alone! Your God can deliver you right where you are! Seek Him in prayers and allow Him to move!

Does God hear my prayers?

Does God hear my prayers?

Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash

One thing that I can truly faithfully answer is, yes! God does hear the prayers of the saints and those who serve Him and faithfully keep His word. The better question would be why God does not always answer our prayers. The Bible tells us here found in Proverbs 15:29 that "The Lord is far from the wicked but hears the prayer of the righteous". Did you see how the bible tells us that He hears the prayers of the righteous? God will always hear our prayers. However, His answer may be a no, yes, or answered on His timing.

The Bible lays it out very plainly here in these verses that state in 1 John 5:14 14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us".
We can have confidence that God does hear our prayers. As we pray we must come to Him in faith believing that He hears us, without any doubt! Remember that our faith in Christ is what moves the hands of God! So today ask, believe in faith, and trust His perfect timing.

God`s help in time of trouble

He came to a gentle stop at the red light patiently waiting for the light to turn red. My husband just moments earlier had descended off of the Kentucky Highway! That highway drive is one that needed many prayers to bravely journey!
If you are familiar with the Kentucky highways, you will understand the craziness of never-ending construction! As the light turns green, he presses the accelerator to move forward, but the steering wheel only moves in circles! He was not going anywhere! He was stranded!

That day my husband got his truck towed home and my dad stopped by to take a look at it. He went over every detail of the truck until he came to the problem! A bolt that should have never come loose was loose! But this was not the most shocking part of the chaotic event. If the vehicle bolt had loose not at the red light but while going 65mph moments earlier on the expressway, my husband would have had no way to control his vehicle! Without steering he would have certainly crashed!

God had control that day as He always does! There are many days where we don`t see him working on our behalf but Jesus is always there, just as the Psalms states clearly in Psalms 91:11 For He will give His angels CHARGE over us!

Whatever you are going through today know that God will always remain faithful! He is faithful to His word! He will never leave you or forsake you, He has you covered!

What does the bible say about money?

The Bible tells us that the “Love” of money is the root of all evil. Notice how it does not say money is evil but loving money!

In this life keep money in its proper place, as just a tool God uses to supply our needs. Remember God is the one who gives us power to create wealth and all things come from Him. If you spend your entire life chasing money, things, and peace in finances you will live a miserable life! Money is just a tool, but God is the one that supplies all our needs! Keep money in its proper place and all God to supply all your needs and continue to be God over our lives!

1 Timothy 6:10
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The road from Kentucky to Arizona( Replanted)

Replanted...

This was the word and a dream that the Lord shared with me before this move to Arizona. God was taking me on a new Journey of over 1200 miles from a small town in Louisville Kentucky to a huge town located in Phoenix Arizona. God was replanting!

The journey was not met with ease and I shed a few tears making it in obedience to God`s will. However, when the replanting takes place we must move where our Heavenly Father is leading and trust Him with our life.

What has God laid on your heart to do that you're hesitating about? Is He asking you to move? Start a ministry? Be engaged in a stranger's life to bring them to the knowledge of who Christ is? If so, know this very thing!

He who has begun a good work in you will perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus, Philippians 1:6. Whatever God has you to do, He will always be faithful to complete through you, in His strength! So today take the journey, move, and start the ministry! Trust that Jesus will equip, supply, and meet every need! If He calls you to do it, He will make it grow!

How do I overcome worry?

How to overcome worry?

I remember it, like it was yesterday! My husband and I had just split up, and I was left with six kids to tend to by myself. I had no job, and no income whatsoever. However, I had my God!

That day my heart was very heavy and filled with so much worry. I made a decision to take those cares to God.

The only way we are going to overcome worry and fear is to place every care at the feet of Jesus. Worrying is never going to change the outcome of any situation but I promise you, God can change it!

That day as I cried out to God for help, I was given a job as a lifeguard at our apartment’s pool. Not only did the employer pay me, I was also given free rent as long as I worked there! (Hallelujah God always comes through!)

I seen God step in when I decided to cast every care over to Him. Instead of worries, God gave me His peace in a tough situation.

The Bible is so clear on what we are to do about all our worries as it reads here in these verses…

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Today, take every care and cast it at the feet of Jesus and pick up His peace instead!

Are tattoos a sin

Are tattoos a sin?

No where in the Bible does it mention that a tattoo is a sin. Naturally allot of us were taught this by well meaning Christians. However, on the contrary this is not the case!

Let’s take a look at this verse that is often misquoted .

Leviticus 19:28
28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

As we read this we can clearly see that it is talking about cutting and tattoo marks for the dead! This was something that the pagans would do in their rituals and God did not want the Hebrews to practice the rituals of the pagans. God had set His people aside as His chosen people, they were not to serve other false gods! Everything we do and say should honor God.

Now let’s take a look at more of these verses…

Leviticus 19:26-28
26 ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

Again, we can see that the above verses were addressing, Pagan worship and not the worshiping of God Himself.

Nevertheless, if your thinking about getting a tattoo think of these reason on why it may not be the right choice for you.

Is the tattoo honoring God?

Remember the Bible tells us to do everything unto the Lord.

(Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.It is the Lord Christ you are serving.)

How will a tattoo affect my ministry of reaching people for Christ?

Paul said it so very well here. We have our freedom in Christ to live freely, but that freedom should not be taken lightly. If it is not helpful or benefiting the gospel, put wisdom first in what we do with our freedom. Remember the world is watching.

(1 Corinthians 6:12
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any)

Will it cause my brother or sister in Christ to stumble ?

Remember we are to walk and hold others in consideration of the freedom that we have .

(1 Corinthians 8:9
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.)

Have I sought this out in prayers?

God will direct our path in whatever direction we are trying to go. Pray and seek God on his wisdom on tattoos that are appropriate.

(Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.)

And last remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God’s.)

What does the Bible mean when it says”Be Still”?

Be Still and know that He is God!
Did you know that the Bible commands us to be still and “KNOW” that He is God. It’s not a command to sit idly aside. But a command to recognize who we serve! To stop and to remember that we serve a God that is able to fight for us!

Today, let us lay aside every battle that we have taken upon ourselves. Lay down every frustrations, every anxiety, every care and lay it aside, and allow God to fight those battles !

Be STILL( in our heart) and remember who we serve ! Watch and see how truly mighty our God is !

Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”

Prayer:
If God lays it on your heart to pray over this group today and all it’s members. Please feel free to comment below.

Is God Good?

Did you know that God is truly GOOD? Yes, Your God, really is! With all the evil in the world, and chaos, one thing we can firmly grasp is the goodness of God. The Bible even tells us come and see how Good He is !

He is a God of True Love!

He is a God of Mercy and Grace!

He is a God that comforts!

He is a God that meets every need!

He is a God that Speaks to us!

He is a God that Heals every disease!

If you haven’t met King Jesus, invite Him into your life and see for yourself!

Psalm 34:8
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Have a Blessed day in Christ, Love Sis Rashida .