Word of the day: Resist

Sunshine’s Word of the Day

Good Morning!  Happy Monday to you all.  I pray that everyone had a blessed weekend.

Today’s Word: Resist

James 4:7 (New King James Version)

   
⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 Resist:

1. fight against somebody or something: to oppose and stand firm against somebody or something
2. refuse to give in to something: to refuse to accept or comply with something
3. be unharmed by something: to remain unaltered by the damaging effect of something
4. say no to something tempting: to refrain from something in spite of being tempted

Source: http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=resist&FORM=DTPDIA

It is time to stop running from our problems, addictions, bad habits, and the devil.  The word of God calls us to “resist the devil and he will flee from you”.   It doesn’t say run from the devil.  When you run from the things tempting you in life you are only temporarily getting away.  What will you do the next time that bad habit, tempting male or female or that drink that you keep looking at, corners you and you are not able to run? 

We have to learn to RESIST THE DEVIL and make him flee.  Stop running like you are scared of him.  The devil, your addiction, your bad habit, bad influences, tempting habits, etc. don’t have power over you unless you give them power.  Fight against the temptation to curse, drink, steal or fornicate.  Refuse to give in to stealing, killing, gluttony, and lying.  When the things that tempt you show up, remain unaltered by its effects, because you know that you are a child of God.  Refrain from taking that sip, that puff, indulging in that inappropriate behavior, even though you are tempted and watch the devil flee.

If you stand up to the devil, he will look at you and say “Oh no, this is a child of God, I can’t get them so let’s get out of here.”  NEWS FLASH: THE DEVIL DOES NOT HAVE ANY NEW TRICKS.  JUST THE OLD ONES THAT WE KEEP FALLING FOR.  You have been running all of your life and find yourself back in the same mess around the same time each year.  Why?  Because you’re running.  Stop running and learn to resist.

You’re deliverance from pornography, homosexuality, drugs, alcohol, lying, stealing, gossiping, fornication, cheating, abuse, and so much more is resting on your ability to trust God, submit to His ways, and resist the devil.

What do you need to resist today? 

Have a blessed day.  Remember resist the devil, he should be scared of us, not the other way around.

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.

Save the Date: W.I.N. Service March 25th

ATTENTION:

GOD IS LOOKING FOR TRUE WORSHIPERS!!! 

Save the Date:

Friday, March 25, 2011 7-9pm!!!

A Note of Thanks

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of my blog family and friends. 

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to the blog.  Thank you to everyone who views the blog via Facebook and Twitter.  Thank you for sharing the blogs with people that you know.  I am so grateful for the love, comments, prayers, and support from you all.

 

It’s not easy typing your personal thoughts, encouragement, and inspiration, expecting people to accept it.  So I am truly honored that God has given me an outlet to share this gift that He has given me with wonderful people like you.

 

I pray that you continue to enjoy the writings on this blog.   Check out my first book, Reflections of the Son, it’s on sale for $9.00 a copy.  I have a link on the blog under the BUY BOOK NOW section. 

 

Thank you again!  God bless you all! 

 

 

~Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Black History Facts

I’m proud to be an African American woman.  It’s wonderful to see the great people who paved the way for a person like me.

Here are some of the things that African American’s have done FIRST!

 

• BET was the first African-American controlled company to sell shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
• Macon Bolling Allen was the first African-American to pass the bar and practice law in the United States in 1845.
• Lawyer Macon Bolling Allen was the first black American Justice of the Peace and the first African-American licensed to practice law in the U.S.
• In 1993, Maya Angelou recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. She was the first poet to do an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost spoke for President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
• In 1983, Guion Bluford became the first black astronaut to travel in space.
• In 1932, Jane Bolin became the first black woman to become a judge in the United States. She was also the first black woman to receive a law degree from Yale.
• In 1943, physician Charles R. Drew became the first black surgeon to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery.
• Tony Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl when the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears on February 4th, 2007.
• The first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor was Louis Gossett, Jr. for his role in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman.
• Human rights activist Clara “Mother” Hale founded the first and, at the time, the only black social services agency in America in 1975. Over the course of her life, Mother Hale received more than 370 awards for her work in the fight against AIDS and inner city drug use.

 

There are many more things in this world that are waiting for someone to be the FIRST; will it be YOU?  No matter who you are, take time to find out where you come from.

 

Poetry Corner-What Value

Poetry Corner

Good Morning!  Happy Thursday to you all.  I hope your week is going well thus far.  It’s been a busy week on my end, however God is still in control.  I apologize for the tiny gap in blogs, I’ve been a little under the weather and multi-tasking many assignments this season.  Enjoy today’s poem.

What Value

by: Nicole L. Ellis

What value does my life have

If I leave God on the side

How can I expect to be blessed by the best

If I won’t even pray for the rest

The rest of God’s children who roam this weary land

How can I lift my head up high when I refuse to help my sister stand

Stand on her two feet by kneeling down to pray

How can I walk around like my life is okay

What value does my life have

If I live selfishly

Constantly seeking out the things that will only benefit me

Mistreating others and kicking their feelings on the ground

What value does my life have if no one is around

What value does my life have if it’s always about how to win

Even if my false sense of reality keeps me in bondage by sin

What value does my life have if I never ask for forgiveness

If I never stand up and be a witness

If I continue to keep God on the side

Without Christ I’m not living life to the fullest

I’m just living a lie

What value does my life have

Without Christ

None at all.

 

Food for thought: What gives your life value?  Are you living life to the fullest or just living waiting to die?

Have a blessed day and remember to put God first and treat others with love and respect.

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 are you chasing after?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning!  Happy Monday to you all!  I pray that you had a blessed weekend and a wonderful President’s day.

TFTD: What are you chasing after?

Matthew 6:33 (NIV, ©2010)

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Many people spend much of their time chasing after money, chasing men and women, chasing jobs, chasing dreams, chasing habits and even addictions, all in an effort to gain some type of satisfaction or a sense of accomplishment.  Sometimes we can find ourselves running after something that we are not supposed to have.  We spend all of our energy, time, resources, and talents trying to catch this one thing that we believe will leave us fulfilled.  Ask yourself, “What am I chasing after?” 

There is nothing wrong with running after things in life, the problem is the order in which we give things priority in our life.  Far too often we make chasing after things and people a priority in our life over chasing God.  When was the last time you chased after God?  When was the last time you said I’m going to put Him first and truly seek Him?

The word of God says, SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, it doesn’t say seek second, third, tenth, or last the kingdom of God, but seek FIRST.  You should seek GOD first.  You should chase after God first.  After you seek God first, then all these things will be given to you as well.  It’s only after you chase after God that you will be given the things of God. 

When you seek God first you won’t have to chase after that job, because God will position the job to come to you.  When you seek God first, you won’t have to run after that man or woman, because God will send the right person for you to you.  You have been making this race called life difficult because you have been running after the wrong things. 

God will give you the desires of your heart when you are lined up with His will and His word.  Seek God and you will be surprised to find out that the more you know about Him, the more you will learn about yourself.  The things you thought you wanted, will not even compare to what God really has in store for you.

Chase God first and watch Him keep His word.  He is not a man who should lie.  Seek God first and watch Him bless your socks off.  I’m a witness, God is a wonder.

What or who are you chasing after?

Have a blessed day.

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.

Black History Facts

Black History Facts

Dorothy West

(1907-1998)

Writer, editor. Born on June 2, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts. The daughter of a freed slave, West had a fairly affluent upbringing. She studied with tutors and attended an exclusive high school. West started writing stories as a child and began to earn recognition for her work as a teenager. Her story “Promise and Fulfillment” won a contest and was published in a local newspaper.

Another one of her stories, “The Typewriter,” earned her a trip to New York City in 1926. It tied for second prize with a work by Zora Neale Hurston in an Opportunity magazine contest. West decided to stay in New York and became affiliated with burgeoning arts scene in the city’s Harlem neighborhood, which was later known as the Harlem Renaissance. She befriended poet Langston Hughes and other members of this artistic and literary movement.

Primary Works

“The Typewriter,” Opportunity Magazine, 1925; The Living is Easy, 1948; The Wedding, 1995; The Richer, the Poorer: Stories, Sketches, and Reminiscences, 1995.West, Dorothy. “Elephant’s Dance: A Memoir of Wallace Thurman.” Black World 20.1 (1970): 77-85.

Remember who you represent

Sunshine’s Reflections

It’s FRIDAY!!!  Woo hoo.  I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad it’s Friday.  God has brought me through another work/school/ministry week and I give Him honor and praise. 

TFTD: Remember who you represent

1 John 2:4 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

As believers, it’s not enough to say, “I am a Christian or I believe in God”. We need to spend more time living like a child of God then saying that we are a child of God.  Do you know the more you act like Christ, the less you have to tell people that you are a Christian?

Actions do speak louder than words.  We have to remember who we represent.  How can we say with our lips that we are a Christian then turn around and live like miniature devils?  Do you know if you say that you know Christ, but do not follow His commands then you are a liar?

You say that you are a Christian, but you don’t love your neighbors, enemies, or people who mistreat you.  However, my bible says, in James 2:8 to love my neighbors.  And Matthew 5:44 tells me to love my enemies.

You say that you are a Christian, but you pray only when you are in trouble.  However, my bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing.  You say that you are a Christian, but you won’t forgive people.  I know my bible says, in Matthew 18:21-22 to forgive seventy times seven times.  We are to forgive others at all times.  How many times does God forgive you?

We have the ten commandments that God has given us and there are many other commands that God has charged us with.  We cannot say that we are a child of God, but won’t adhere to the commands of God.  Remember who you represent.  Your actions speak louder than words and your life may be the first and only bible a person may ever read.  What does your version of the bible tell them?  Who does it tell them you represent?  God, satan, or yourself?

I pray that you spend time in God’s word.  The more you know about Him, the more you will learn about who you are supposed to be in Him.  Remember who you represent.  Walk in the ways of the Lord.  Your walk speaks louder than anything you will ever have to say.

Have a blessed 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.

Nothing can separate you

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  It’s been busy in my neck of the woods.  I’m still giving God praise for being such a great God.  No matter what is going on in your life, take time to give God praise.

TFTD: Nothing can separate you

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version, ©2010)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you realize that nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus?  Do you really understand what that means?  Do you know that there is nothing that anyone can say to you or about you that will keep God from loving you?  Do you realize that there is nothing you can do or say that will keep Him from loving you?

Too many times in our Christian walk we allow our lack of perfection to cripple us into living a life of guilt and shame.  What do I mean:  I mean when we fall and stumble in life we allow the shame of sinning against God to keep us from asking Him for forgiveness.  We begin having internal dialogue with ourselves.  It goes something like this: “Oh, God won’t forgive me after I did this, what’s the purpose of repenting.”  or “There is no way I can get things right with God now.” or “We’ll I know I’m going to sin, I might as well get it out of my system before I go to God.” or “God can’t possibly love a sinner like me”. 

NEWS FlASH: OUR FLESH CANNOT COMPREHEND THE LEVEL OF AGAPE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US.  GOD LOVES US UNSELFISHLY AND EXTENDS GRACE AND MERCY TO US MOMENT BY MOMENT. 

It is only when you spend more time with Christ that you begin to accept that He loves you so much.  Note: I did not say you will begin to understand why He loves you, rather you will begin to accept that He loves you so much.  I don’t understand how Christ could love a sinner like me, but I am so grateful that He does.  Romans 5:8 says, “⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

While you were running around in your sin, Christ died for you!  YES, YOU!  Stop allowing what people think about you to keep you from building a deeper and closer relationship with Christ.  Stop allowing your guilt and shame to keep you from asking for forgiveness.  God loves you and nothing can separate you from that love. 

As believers, we have to learn to accept this fact.  As unbelievers, Christ died for you while you were a sinner.  There is no greater love than this.  You’ve tried everything else in life and it seems to leave you unfulfilled.  Try Christ, He will never let you down.

I pray that you know that God loves you and nothing can separate you from His love.

Have a blessed day.

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.

Black History Facts

Bessie Smith’s First Recording

February 16, 1923

On this day Bessie Smith makes her first recording, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sells 800,000 copies for Columbia Records.

February 16, 1951

New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.

February 16, 1970

Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis in the second round of their New York fight and became the world heavyweight boxing champion.