Phrase of the day: Can’t nobody hold me down

Sunshine’s Reflections

It’s Friday!  Praise the Lord for carrying you safely to the end of another work week.  This week may not have been all that you hoped for, but you are alive and well and that is enough to PRAISE the LORD! 

Today’s Phrase: Can’t nobody hold me down 

Psalm 118:6 (New International Version)

 ⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  

We live in a “crab in a barrel” society.  The days where people would help you to get ahead are few.  People are drenched with jealousy and disdain for one another.  A person cannot strive to do well without a mean old nasty “crab” waiting to pull them back into the barrel. 

But I want to encourage someone today when people try to pull you down tell them “Can’t nobody hold me down!”  I’m feeling this phrase today, there are people who are trying to challenge your walk, your talk, your dream, your intelligence, your sanity, and your destiny there are people who are even trying to question your credibility, but tell them “Can’t nobody hold me down.”  

Yes, I said “Can’t nobody hold me down.”  I know all of the English majors are squirming in their seats because I started this sentence off with a contraction, but when people try to rise up against what God has for you, you have to say how you feel.  CAN’T NOBODY HOLD ME DOWN.  God is on my side  and your side.  

What can man possible do to you?  Let’s see, they can lie on you, talk about you, mistreat you, plot against you, misuse you, abuse you, hurt your feelings, make your cry, but they CANNOT HOLD YOU DOWN!  God is on your side.  God has a way of revealing the truth so that their lies will be dispelled, He can turn their negative words about you into admiration, He will cause them to treat you better than they treat themselves, instead of plotting against you they will begin helping you and GOD WILL GET THE GLORY.  

Can’t nobody hold you down!  When folks try to discourage you say to yourself CAN’T NOBODY HOLD ME DOWN! 

Have a blessed day.  I pray that Sunshine’s Reflections Blog is a blessing to you.  I enjoy every day God sends me a word to share with all of you.  Thank you for your continued support.   

God bless. 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis   

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.   

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Incredible God Incredible Praise

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  It’s Thursday.  I don’t know about you, but I am happy to be alive and well today.  I pray that you have a blessed and productive day.

TFTD: Incredible God Incredible Praise

Incredible God Incredible Praise

by: Nicole Ellis

Your wisdom exceeds what my mind can comprehend

Your love reaches to levels that meet me when I fall to the ground

Your grace and mercy saves me time and time again

Your power has no boundaries and knows no end

You are the Only being who represents absolute truth

The miracle that you have performed in my life is proof

Proof that You are a saving and redeeming God

Forgiving, loving, fair and real

By your blood my life and my heart are healed

You are an Incredible God

Astonishing and at times hard to conceive

But I’m crazy enough to love you and crazy enough to believe

That you are an Incredible God who deserves an Incredible Praise

 

Take time to think about why God is incredible to you.  Then take those reasons to stand on His promises, to push through the tough times, to share the Gospel with others, to encourage others.  Take those reasons and live a life that is pleasing to God.  God is so incredible and He deserves your praise.  You were created to praise Him.  Praise Him each and every day. 

Have a blessed day serving this INCREDIBLE GOD! 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Release

Sunshine’s Word of the Day

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday to you all!

Psalm 22 1:1-2 (New King James Version)

 ¹ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
         Why are You so far from helping Me,
         And from the words of My groaning?
 ² O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
         And in the night season, and am not silent.

(Please read the Psalm 22 in its entirety)

Today’s word is Release

Release means to free from confinement, bondage, obligation, pain, etc.; to let go.  Many of us have experienced feeling like the verses above.  We have felt like God has left us and that our cries have gone unanswered.  Sometimes your minds can play tricks on you, people can influence you to believe that God is not there for you, and the enemy can trick you to thinking that God has left you, but the devil is a liar.

It’s time to come out of bondage and be released.  I encourage you to read Psalm 22 in its entirety because in the beginning David feels like God is not there, then he remembers how God has brought others out, then his prayers are answered, then praise and adoration takes place.  There was a release. 

Much like all of us, we battle with believing and trusting that God is there and when we begin remembering all that God has done for others and even for ourselves we experience a release.  God answers our prayers.  A spiritual release is not limited to the end of a storm it can take place while you are in the midst of a storm.  When you tap into your memory bank of who God is, His promises, and who you are in Him you will be released.

Release those feelings of inadequacy, feelings of depression, feelings of being abandoned by God, feelings of being rejected, feelings that are contrary to the characteristics of God.  FIND RELEASE in the WORD of GOD.  FIND RELEASE in PRAISE unto the LORD.  FIND RELEASE in the MIDST OF IT ALL!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  God has already released you from the bondage of this world.  You just have to realize that you are no longer a slave and step out of your chains.

Have a blessed day.  How has God released you today?

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

P.U.S.H

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning family and friends.  Happy Tuesday to you all!  This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  This blog was placed on my heart yesterday but I was unable to get it out due to a busy schedule, but I am a firm believer that someone needs this message today.  God is an on time, right on time God.

TFTD: P.U.S.H

I believe in life you should always have something that you live by.  There should be some principle that you stand on with unwavering faith.  Here are a few acronyms and scriptures that I pray help you get through today, tomorrow, and any challenge or blessing that you may encounter.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (New King James Version)

17 pray without ceasing,

P-Pray U-Until S-Something H-Happens

You have asked God to release you of some strongholds, help you with your finances, give you patience to deal with unruly people, improve your health, and the list goes on.  At some point in your waiting you stop praying.  The Bible says, pray without ceasing.  That means pray all of the time.  Pray Until Something Happens and then after your prayer is answered KEEP praying.  P.U.S.H

Psalm 34:1 (New King James Version)

¹ I will bless the LORD at all times;
         His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

P-Praise U-Until S-Something H-Happens

It’s easy to rejoice when things are going well, but it takes faith to praise the Lord when things look a mess.  I will bless the Lord at all times does not mean only when things are going my way, but at ALL times.  Sometimes when things are going well we forget who got us there and we forget to praise God even in the good times.  Don’t get complacent.  Praise Until Something Happens and after you see results KEEP PRAISING HIM.  P.U.S.H

Philippians 3:14 (New King James Version)

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

P-Press U-Until S-Something H-Happens

We all have goals and aspirations that we strive to reach each and every day.  When we reach one goal we set out for another.  We all should have a common goal and that is to get to heaven.  We should strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.  No matter what you are going through never lose sight of the goal.  Press Until Something Happens and after you have reached your earthly goals keep running after the Lord.  While you are running be sure that your life is so pleasing to God that people want to follow you on this run. P.U.S.H

No matter what happens in life remember to PUSH!

Have a blessed day in JESUS NAME!  What a MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Phrase of the day: God is sho nuff good.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Friday to you all! 

Today’s phrase: “God is sho nuff good”

Genesis 18:14a (New King James Version)

¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Excuse my poor grammar this morning, but there is no other way to say this phrase then to say, “God is sho nuff good”.  Is there anything too hard for God?  The answer is No.  In Him, we can do all things (Phil 4:13), that means we are capable of reaching heights that defy logic and all the odds.  God is sho nuff good. 

You woke up this morning, God is sho nuff good.  You have a job to go to, God is sho nuff good.  You are healthy, God is sho nuff good.  You may have lost everything, but you have not lost your mind, GOD IS SHO NUFF GOOD!  You are the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13), God is sho nuff Good.  Through Him you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), God is sho nuff good.

When I began thinking about who God is and who I am in Him, I could only say, “GOD IS SHO NUFF GOOD!”  He is so good that I cannot begin to praise Him enough.  I cannot begin to reverence His name and His being, but I will spend the rest of my life trying.  If God is all of that and more than tell someone today that “GOD IS SHO NUFF GOOD!”.  Say excuse my grammar, but GOD IS SHO NUFF GOOD!

I pray that you spend the rest of your life honoring the wisdom, the power, the love, the peace, the hope, the provisions, the miracles, and the entire being of God.

Have a wonderful weekend in Jesus name.  God is sho nuff good.

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Transforming God

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Thursday to you all!

TFTD: Transforming God

Jeremiah 1:5 (New King James Version)

⁵ “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

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 a Mighty God I serve.  It is awesome to serve a powerful God and I bless Him for transformation.  God is the ONLY being that can transform your mess into something that will bless.  God will use a situation and cause you to grow closer to Him.  He will allow your past mistakes to be the very thing that will minister to people around the globe.  I mentioned yesterday, that we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23) and we should count it a privilege that when we sin and when we fall short God does not write us off.

When you submit to the will and the way of God you will be moved to repent.  When you become remorseful for your sin and go to God with a sincere heart and ask for forgiveness a transformation begins taking place.

God knew before you were formed in your mother’s womb everything that you were going to do, but more importantly He knew that a transformation would take place in your life.  He knows the plans He has for you.  He knows that He can take any situation and turn it around for HIS good.  That is enough to rejoice each and every day.  God is so awesome and His transforming power can make you the person you are destined to become.

Do not allow past mistakes, bad experiences, difficult living situations, health issues, emotional distress, doubt, fear, or anything to keep you from experiencing God’s transforming power.  He has something in store for you, open your arms and receive it.

Have a blessed day in Jesus name.  Once you experience God you will never be the same.

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Repent! It’s a must!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Today is such a beautiful day.  I am so grateful to God this morning.  WHY?  Because He thought enough of me to send His Only Son to die for my sins and for that I will be eternally grateful.

TFTD: Repent!  It’s a must!

Acts 3:19 (New King James Version)

¹⁹ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

The bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  As long as we live this life we are not exempt from sin, but by His saving grace we do not have to be bound by sin.  When you come to know the saving grace of the Lord you must repent-call your sins what they are SIN and ask the Lord to forgive you.

NEWS FLASH: Just because you have been saved for a long time does not mean you no longer have to repent.  Repentance is a must in this Christian walk.  You should not feel comfortable in your sin.  You should feel disgusted, sad, and uncomfortable when you sin.  You should feel compelled to get things right with the Lord.

When you do not repent for your sins you block communication with the Lord.  He cannot hear your prayers, petitions, cries, or praise if you do not get right with Him.  When you pray it should not be a matter of “Lord forgive me if I sinned, but Lord forgive me for I HAVE sinned”.  Call those sins out by name to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you and help you to not sin against Him again in that matter.

We cannot and will not grow in our spiritual walk if we sweep our sins under the rug and don’t acknowledge our wrong doing.  You may have told someone off in your mind, you may be an habitual liar, you may cheat the Lord in His tithes and offerings, you may steal, etc. No matter how big or small the sin is the bottom line is we all sin and we have to repent to the Lord daily!  Some of us need to repent moment by moment.

Repent!  It’s a must.  Don’t hinder your walk or the walk of others by refusing to repent and get things right with God.  You hinder ministry when you don’t repent.  You hinder your power to pray for others when you don’t repent.  More importantly you hinder your personal relationship with God when you don’t repent.  REPENT!  It’s a must!

Have a blessed Wednesday in Jesus name!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Too many chiefs

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday to you all!  I pray that you enjoyed your holiday weekend.  I was off yesterday and I bless God for a day of rest.  Sometimes we move a million miles a minute and God wants to slow us down and rest.  It’s in our rest that we can reflect on somethings and reflect on God. 

I want to offer my sincere condolences to the Day family.  To all of the prayer warriors please lift this family up in prayer.  Thank you in advance.  The beauty of Christ is that we can join together all over the globe and connect in prayer and Jesus is the intercessor for us. 

TFTD:  Too many chiefs

Do you serve in a ministry at church, work at a job, volunteer with some programs or attend school where there is supposed to be a hierarchy in place?  Do you notice a terrible breakdown in positions because there are too many chiefs and not enough indians?  Or shall I say too many leaders and not enough followers?

It’s hard to be productive if there are too many people walking around with their “leader” hat on.  How can people be led if no one wants to be the follower?  There are going to be different situations in your life where you will be asked to lead, but a true leaders knows when to put their title aside and follow.

Sometimes in the body of Christ there are too many chiefs running around trying to dictate to the people of God, when they should be following the instruction of God.  In order to know where you are going you must listen clearly to the directions that are given.  You have to learn how to manage when to remain silent and listen, when to lead, when to follow, when to help, and when to learn.

It can become so confusing walking this Christian walk if we have so many people trying to tell us what to do and no one is willing to walk with us.  We have to discern the moments when remaining quiet will prove less chaotic.  We have to seek God on humbling ourselves and accepting that it’s okay if we do not get recognition for this project.  We have to discern when we should stop adding to the confusion and just follow.

Food for thought:  Instead of looking at others thinking “They should sit down somewhere, who made them in charge, I should be up there.”  Start looking at ways you can be a follower and what information you can take away from what is being taught. 

Have a blessed day.  I pray that you will be a blessing to someone today by sharing an encouraging word.

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Receive your independence

Sunshine’s Reflections

Happy Friday!  I want to wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July weekend. 

TFTD: Receive your independence 

John 3:16 (New King James Version)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 8:36 (New King James Version)

³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

As we celebrate Independence day, a time that marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and our independence  from the Kingdom of Great Britain, I would urge you all to examine your spiritual independence from the world.

If you have not accepted the Lord as your personal savior then you are a prisoner to this world and to sin.  You are bound by the hands and the tricks of the enemy.  You are controlled by the move of this world and the destructive pleasures that come along with it.  When will you receive your independence?

God is ready to set you free.  He wants to extend the gift of everlasting life to you.  He wants to release you from the bondage and control of this world.  Step into your spiritual independence today!  When you accept the Lord you are free from the control and the influence of the enemy.  You no longer have to carry out a life sentence in hell.  YOU CAN WALK INTO YOUR LIBERTY!

Receive your independence today.  Do not wait until tomorrow or the 4th of July.  The gift of God is available to you today.  Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

I plead with you and encourage you to not go another day in bondage.  Receive your independence today.  It’s free!  Jesus paid it all on Calvary.  Oh, the blood of Jesus!!!

If you have not accepted the Lord as your personal savior, but would like to and have a few questions feel free to email me at niklellis@live.com.  I will get back to you.  This is an urgent matter and I want you all to be free.

Have a blessed and safe day in Jesus name! 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Stay in your lane

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Thursday to you all!

TFTD: Stay in your lane

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Have you ever seen that impatient driver that neglects to put their signal on and insist on switching lanes a million times just to end up at the red light the same time that you do?  Why are they in such a rush?  Swerving in and out of lanes did not get them to their destination any faster, it just frustrated all the drivers around them.  They actually created a dangerous driving environment.  They need to stay in their lane.

A similar thing happens in our spiritual walk.  We pray to God for direction and He answers.  He even gives us directions on the path that we should take in order to reach our goals, dreams, and accomplish our assignments.  But like the impatient driver mentioned above we insist on switching lanes.  We become so anxious to get to the final destination that we begin swerving in and out of churches, changing ministries, running in and out of fellowship with God in hopes of getting to the finish line sooner.  I want to encourage you to stay in your lane.

We have to trust in the Lord and acknowledge His will for our lives.  When we do this, He will direct our path.  God may not get you to your destination as fast as you want Him to, but He will get you there.  You have to trust Him and stay in your lane. 

When you begin rapidly changing lanes you can create a dangerous environment for others and yourself.  Listen to God when He speaks.  He sees the bigger picture.  Even though you think you know a quicker way to getting to the finish line, God knows which way is best for you.  The path God puts you on will keep you out of unnecessary danger and it will also lead you to the lessons that God wants you to learn from.  Stay in your lane. 

Food for thought:  Do you trust the Lord enough to stay in your lane?

Have a blessed day in the Lord. 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis  

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.  

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.