FREEDOM

Sunshine’s Word of the Day

Good morning!  Happy Friday to you all!  I am so happy that it’s Friday.  God restored my children’s health, clothed me, placed me in my right mind, blessed me with a super fantastic husband, gainfully employed, and the list goes on.  I am too blessed to be stressed.  The enemy tried to discourage me this week, but I gave him an uppercut and right hook with the Word of God, prayer, and fasting.  So glad to be a child of God.

Psalm 119:45 (New International Version)

 ⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

Today’s Word is Freedom

Freedom is the exemption from external control or interference.  It also is personal liberty as opposed to bondage or slavery.  I like this definition, the right to enjoy all the privileges or special rights of citizenship.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior than you are free.  The external control from the world can’t hold you in chains because you are free by the blood of Jesus.  The problem with many believers, much like with slavery, you have been in bondage so long that now that you are free you don’t realize it and so you don’t experience freedom.  Someone is walking around operating as if they are still in bondage from the world.

EMBRACE YOUR FREEDOM.  You are member of a royal priesthood.  You are free to enjoy the rights and ALL of the privileges of being a child of God.  It’s time to recognize that you are free and embrace your freedom.

You no longer have to live in fear, you no longer have to accept mediocrity.  You no longer have to live a bond life headed for destruction.  YOU ARE FREE!  Do you realize  that you have the freedom to pray, fast, read the Word of God, worship, attend church, and so much more without someone trying to kill you over it.  That fact alone is reason enough to embrace your freedom.

Whenever you hear or see the word Freedom, think of ways you can embrace your freedom as a child of God.  Inform people around you who are saved but don’t realize that they are free, that they are in fact free.

ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM!  I am so glad that I am Free.  Freedom reigns in this place!  Have a blessed Friday and a wonderful weekend!

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

I’m planted

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning.  Happy Friday eve.  We are almost at the finish line of a busy work/school week. 

TFTD: I’m planted

Psalm 1:1-3 (New King James Version)

 ¹ Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper.

There are times in my life when I allow outside elements affect my confidence in what God has placed before me.  Raise your hand if you ever experience this.  You may be working on a project, up for a promotion, relocating to a new area, making a career change, expanding your family, joining new ministries and more.  Most transitions in life require a level of faith that things will work out.  Fear should not be an option in the new phases of your life.  Rather a higher degree of faith should be utilized. 

Sometimes the size of the task may appear overwhelming and you may begin wavering in faith.  You may begin doubting your capability.  People may begin discouraging you.  God reminded me to stop measuring the size of the task to my abilities, but measure them up against Him.  God is so large that any task I may face appears insignificant.  I was reminded that I am planted.

I study God’s word, meditate on it day and night, I pray, I fast, I solicit the prayers of others, I attend church, I attend worship programs and the list goes on.  I’m planted.  The word says, “Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…”  The word says I’m blessed not cursed.  So what do I have to be afraid of or worry about?  I have nothing to fear because I am walking in the way of the Lord.  Sometimes I need a reminder and that reminder comes from the Word of God and the children of God.  Be careful not to surround yourself with people who will heighten your fear.  Rather surround yourself with believers who will rebuke your fear with the Word and Promises of God.

God said when I follow Him I will be planted like a tree by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in its season.  That means that nothing and nobody can hinder me from what God has for me.  I’m planted.  If something doesn’t happen right now, it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen it just means I have to wait until my season to bring forth fruit.  I am planted and if you are in the Word of God and striving to live like Christ then you are planted too.  If you ever pay attention to a tree it is big and strong.  We get to experience the beauty and shade of a tree.  What we don’t see is that deep down below the surface the tree is planted firm in the ground.  The roots are planted and the tree is able to withstand the storms, the winds, the waves, the hail, the snow and the scorching sun.  When you are  planted with your roots feeding on the Word of God you can stand firm on God’s promises.

Are you planted today?  What are you feeding on?  What are your roots attached to?

 Have a blessed day.  If you want to be planted like a tree, turn to God and turn away from the world.  If you have already turned to God, don’t be discouraged, have faith and know that you are planted!

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Word of God is strong

Sunshine’s Reflections

Happy Wednesday!  You have made it to the middle of the work week.  You are almost there.  When you feel like you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on tight.

TFTD: The Word of God is strong

Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version)

 ¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

REMINDER:  No matter what you are going through the Word of God is strong.  I love this translation because it says the word of God is LIVING AND ACTIVE.  That means there is life in God’s word.  That means the word is thriving, sufficient for existence, vigorous and strong.  Our life can be sustained by the creator of life.  The more we feed on God’s word which is living and active the more alive we will be.

The Word of God is strong.  The scripture says it is sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates… No matter what challenges you may face the Word of God can slice it up and make it right.  There is no attitude that God can’t change.  There is no health challenge that God can’t heal.  There is no broken relationship that God can’t mend.  The Word of God is strong. 

I am glad that the word of God is living and active.  The Word of God is constantly moving people forward.  An active word moves people to change.  An active word allows people to progress in life. An active word exerts influence.  When you saturate your mind with the Word of God you will change and once you change from a dead state (living in the world) you will begin to experience life more abundantly. 

This serves as a reminder that no matter what you are going through the Word of God is strong.  There is hope in the Word of God.  The answers to your unsatisfying life are in the Word of God.  Seek the Lord with all of your heart.  Spend more time reading the Word of God then you listen to the radio or watch TV and I am confident your life will forever be changed.

I want to challenge you to replace an activity that you do with more bible reading.  But let me caution you, only do this if you are ready to change.  Because when you seek Him, you will find Him.  When you find Him you will forever be changed!

Have a blessed day standing on the strong word of God! 

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

New Mercies

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday to you all!  I pray that you have a blessed and productive day.

TFTD: New Mercies

1 Peter 1:3 (New International Version)

 ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

God has given us new mercies.  God shows compassion towards us every day.  He chooses to pardon our sins and not give us what we rightly deserve.  Sounds like new mercies.  There was something that you did or said yesterday that you should have been reprimanded or punished for, however God in His loving nature gave you another chance.  Sounds like new mercies.   

Sometimes we spend so much time dwelling on the past (and to those who do not realize; yesterday is the past) that we miss out on the blessings before us. God gave us new mercies. He didn’t have to wake us up this morning, clothed us or place us in our right mind, but He did. Why? Because He loves us.  He is a great God. 

New mercies are what God masters in.  And we have the audacity to sit around and sulk in the past.  I woke up this morning and said, “Past, get thee behind me”.  Lord, allow me to learn the lessons that I need to learn from yesterday.  Teach me to let go of my past.  I will no longer dwell in my past, but rejoice in my today.  I see new mercies.  New mercies are inside of me.

Lord thank you for the new mercies that you give me each and every day.  I will use the second chance you gave me to do much better today.  Thank you for new mercies!

Have a blessed day giving God praise for your new mercies.

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You have a voice; use it

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Monday.  I pray that you all had a blessed weekend.  There are little “bugs” going around so I pray that everyone remains healthy and if you are under the weather I pray for a swift recovery.

TFTD: You have a voice; use it

November 2, 2010 is a day where you can use your voice.  It is time to get out and vote.  It doesn’t matter who you voted for in the past, what matters now is that you allow your voice to be heard.

Everyone has a voice, but only a few people demand to be heard.  Every election is an important election.  When you choose to remain in silence you are handing your voice and vote over to someone else.  Stop allowing others to speak for you.  You do have a voice so use it.

I know people walk around and say that “My vote doesn’t count”, “I’m just one person”, “Who will listen to me?”.  The truth of the matter is your vote does count, you are one important person in the midst of a lot of  important people and when we all join together great things can happen.  To answer the question, Who will listen to you?  No one will listen if you remain silent, but someone will listen if you choose to speak. 

You have a voice and it is time to use it.  Your voice speaks through actions and on November 2nd I want to encourage everyone who is registered to vote to go out and vote.  Allow your voice to be heard.  If we want things to change in this great country that we live in then we have to exercise our right and responsibility and vote!  People fought long and hard to give everyone an opportunity to vote.  SO USE YOUR VOICE SO THAT YOU CAN BE HEARD!

Have a blessed day.  USE YOUR VOICE TODAY AND EVERYDAY!

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What’s your desire

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Thursday to you all!  I am too blessed to be stressed.  I pray that you embrace each moment and learn the lessons that you need to learn.  Keep your eyes open so that you don’t miss the blessings that God has in store for you.  NOTE: Blessings come in all sizes so don’t over look the small ones!  Enjoy your day!

TFTD: What’s your desire

Psalm 40:8 (New International Version)

⁸ I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

What do you desire?  Do you desire to do the will of God?  Do you keep His law within your heart?  These are important questions to ask yourself.  Everyone desires something the question is do you desire the wrong things.  Some focus on fortune, others focus on fame, some focus on material things, while others focus on joy, peace, love, happiness, freedom and more.  Do you desire to please man and obtain all of the things of the world even if it cost you your soul?  Or do you desire to please God and obtain His favor while experiencing the joy and peace of God?

Your desires can make or break you.  When you desire to do the will of God your focus will change.  You can no longer remain the materialistic money hog you use to be. You cannot continue in your selfish prideful ways.  You cannot longer operate on impulse.  Those characteristics are very far from God.  God gives of himself freely without keeping tally of how much we “owe” him.  God is the most selfless being I know.  (YES, I know the LORD) 

When you seek God and I mean earnestly seek the Lord, His desires will become your desires.  You will keep His commandments in your heart.  And when you fall and we all will fall, you will be determined to get back up.  Once you are determined to focus on the will of God, you will search His word on how to overcome the areas which caused you to stumble.
I am a living witness that when your focus shifts from self to God, when your focus shifts from the world to God then you will live a life more abundantly. 

What do you desire?

Have a blessed day!  Be sure to examine the things that you desire. 

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now  in person, by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Sovereign Lord!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday! 

TFTD: Sovereign Lord!

2 Samuel 7:22 (New International Version)

 ²² “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 

Do you know that there is no one like God; our Sovereign Lord!  God has supreme rank in power and authority over all creatures.  He is indisputable.  He is above all things in character, importance and excellence.  He is SOVEREIGN! 

There is no one like Him and there is no God, but HIM.  I don’t know about you, but I need these reminders of who I serve.  When you hold on to the characteristics and qualifications of the mighty God you serve then you will gain confidence in all that you do in His name.  When God tells me to go left even though the entire world is going right, I can have confidence that He will lead me in the right direction because He is sovereign.  His power trumps the enemy’s distractions.

How great is our God.  He is Sovereign.  That speaks volumes to me this morning.  Life will sometimes throw some curve balls, but instead of focusing on the trouble ahead I need to focus on my God.  He is sovereign.  He is bigger than anything I will ever have to face.  That is awesome.  That is comforting.  That is reassuring.  I serve a great God who is mighty in power and He has the authority to change my circumstances.

You may be facing something right now and I don’t know what it is or who I am speaking to, but God wants you to remember who He is.  He is a Sovereign Lord.  There is no one like Him.  Everything that you have to face, you will not face alone.  God is with you.  Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, He knew your destiny. (Jeremiah 1:5)  Stop measuring your problems up against your current abilities and begin measuring your problems up against a Sovereign God.  Once you do that, your problems will appear minuscule. 

You serve a Sovereign Lord, now believe it and live like you do.

 Have a blessed day.  Remember who you serve; a SOVEREIGN LORD!

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Prayer

Sunshine’s Word of the Day

Good afternoon.  I pray that you are having a blessed work/school week thus far. 

Matthew 5:44 (New King James Version)

⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Luke 6:28 (New King James Version)

²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Today’s Word is: Prayer

Prayer is a devout petition to God; a spiritual communion with God, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

I believe we all stand in need of prayer at some point in our lives.  When I am doing well or even when I am struggling I want the children of God to earnestly pray for and with me.  Prayer should be a devout petition to God; a deeply sincere and devoted request to the Lord concerning a certain matter or person.  Don’t pray for someone if you are not sincere.  Don’t pray for a person if you have ill intentions about your request. 

It is easy to pray for those who treat you well and respect you.  The challenge comes when we have to pray for those who have mistreated you, abused you, misused you, disrespected you, lied on you, talked about you, etc.  It’s not enough to say that you are praying for someone when you have the wrong motives for praying for them.  When you go to God in prayer you go to commune with Him and to offer confession, thanksgiving, adoration and petitions to Him.  Don’t taint the communion with God when you go in prayer with a harden heart.

There is power in prayer and it should not be used to taunt or “threaten” anyone.  Pray for God to give you a sincere heart before you begin praying for enemies and those who spitefully use you.  You want your fellowship with God to be decent and in order.

Food for thought: When was the last time you prayed for your enemy or someone who mistreated you with a sincere heart?  Maybe it’s time to change your prayer and ask God to work on you so that you can pray for people the right way.

Have a blessed day praying for everyone!!!  EVERYONE!!! 

*Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now by mail order or Pay pal!  Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Wait on the Lord. REALLY WAIT!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Monday to you all!

TFTD: Wait on the Lord.  REALLY WAIT!

Psalm 27:14 (New International Version)

 ¹⁴ Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD

We live in a world full of impatient people.  People want what they want, when they want it; most of the time they want it right now.  Waiting is not something that most people deal with well, however it is required if we want to achieve milestones in our lives. 

When we pray for God to move in our lives; our finances, health, marital status, career, homes, etc. we need to pray and then wait.  I would suggest that one should begin our prayer with asking for patience.  It is so important to wait on the Lord and not tamper with His plans for your life.  How many times have you asked God for something, just to grow impatient and try to dibble and dabble in fixing the problem or achieving the dream without Him?  Be honest.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve done that too many times to count. 

When you try to put your hands on things that you “supposedly” turned over to God, you end up delaying your blessing and deliverance.  You add unnecessary time on to your waiting process because you tried to fix it.  Imagine if we prayed and left our petitions to the Lord.  I would dare say we would cut off a lot of wasted time.  When you pray, give your entire request to the Lord and wait on Him.

Be encouraged while you wait on the Lord.  Have faith that God will answer your prayers.  Wait on Him and stop messing with the process.  Pray and wait for God to give you instructions on what to do next.  Just wait!  I mean really wait.  Don’t say that you are waiting while you are secretly planning how you can speed up the process.  Just wait.  God will hear your cry.

 Have a blessed day waiting on 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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Reflections of the Son Available with Paypal

 

“Nicole Ellis’ first collection of poems gives the reader an inside look at her day-to-day meditations with God. She has lifted the veil to reveal the intimate details of what a personal relationship with Jesus Christ looks like from the inside-out. She shares with us her joys and pains. As I read these private prayers, two things came to mind about the character it took her to write these poems and publish them for our benefit; few poets would be so faithful or so brave.”
 

– Nathan M. Richardson, Poet/Author Literary Consultant  

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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 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.