“Shake ’em off Thursday”

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Thursday.  January is flying by.  Choose to make the best of every day that God gives you!

(This message was supposed to go out yesterday, but God has a reason for the delay) God bless!

TFTD: “Shake ’em off Wednesday”

Today is “Shake ’em off Thursday”.  I want you to stand up right now, put your pen down, stop what you are doing and stand up.  Are you standing?  Now shake shake shake.  Shake off all the negative energy.  Shake off the rude and nasty co-workers.  Shake off the tricks of the enemy.  Shake off the distractions.  Shake off the discouragement.  Shake off the naysayers.  Shake off the fear and doubt.  Shake off anything that is not of God.  I decree and declare that today is SHAKE ’em off Thursday.  It’s time to shake off the things and people that are keeping you from being productive today and forevermore.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Don’t spend your time consumed by the people who love bickering, quarrelling, and complaining.  Find pleasure in the things of the Lord.  Instead of complaining find the blessing in your situation.  Instead of joining in with the bickering offer to pray for them or offer a helpful solution.  Instead of allowing the negative things to attach to you, repel them and spread the things of the Lord into your environment.  Decree peace in the atmosphere.  Command the enemy and his distractions to flee.  It’s time to shake off the things that are causing you to be counter-productive.  Stop allowing these things to cling to you because they weigh you down.  They weigh your countenance down and that’s why you are frowning all of the time.  They weigh your hopes down and that is why your head is hung low.  When the things and people that are contrary to the word of God try to attach themselves to you, you begin taking on their characteristics. 

So stand up again and begin shaking like you have lost your mind.  Shake off the things of the world and start spreading the things of God.  I decree and declare that today is “SHAKE ’em off Thursday” and when you shake off that mess put some “Holy Ghost” repellant on so that those things don’t cling to you anymore.  Remain consistent in prayer, persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and resistant to temptation. 

What or who do you have to shake off today?  Don’t put off what you can do right now!  Shake ’em off! 

 

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.

Anything you ask…BELIEVING…you shall receive

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Monday to you all. I pray that you had a wonderful weekend.  I decree and declare that today will be better than your yesterday.  Walk into the blessings of God and enjoy them.

TFTD: Anything you ask…BELIEVING…you shall receive

Matthew 21:22 (NKJV)

²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Think about the laundry list of things that you ask people to get you and even the things that you ask God to give you?  I’ve discovered that as believers we don’t have a problem asking for things, we just have a problem believing in the things we ask for.  We want to succeed in life and we have visions of doing great things and when we finally muster up the courage to ask God for something big (in our eyes), we fail to believe that it can come to past for one of a few reasons.  We either doubt:

1. That God can provide;
2. That we are worthy of receiving the thing that we asked for;
3. That we are capable of carrying out the vision set before us;

just to name a few.  God’s word cannot and will not return void.  If God said it then it’s true.  This faith walk is not easy, but the more you try God then you will see that He is always faithful.  He says, “that whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  You must first pray to God.  We have to stop running to God only when things are going wrong or when we want something.  Get in the habit of going to God in prayer all of the time for various reasons.  Go to Him to show Him reverence.  Go to Him in praise and worship.  Go to Him to hear His voice while you sit in silence.  Get in the habit of praying to God.  That’s step number one. 

Note God’s word says, “whatever things you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you shall receive.  The reason why some of you have not received your blessing or the answer to your prayers is because you don’t believe in the thing that you prayed over.  You don’t believe that God will give you what you request.  You doubt the power of God to move on your behalf because you feel like you are unworthy.  You doubt the capability of God to answer your prayer because you may feel like you are asking for too much.  We’ll I’m here to tell you that nothing is too hard for God.  NOTHING!  It’s time to increase our faith in God.  The more time you spend developing a personal and intimate relationship with Christ then the more your faith will increase. 

God has so many wonderful things that He wants to do in and through you and He heard your prayer, but the only thing that is stopping Him from releasing them to you is your lack of belief.  As believers, we have to be reminded who we are in Christ.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within each and every one of you.  If that same power can go to hell, snatch the keys, and ascend to heaven, then surely it can answer your prayers.

I challenge you to examine your relationship with Christ and begin trying Him.  He will never fail you.  Stop blocking your blessings by disbelief.  When you ask in prayer make sure you BELIEVE.  All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed.  Pray, believe, and you shall receive that’s the word of God.  Believe in it!

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.

Young Adults doing BIG THINGS!!!

YOUNG ADULT “SPOTLIGHT”

 

Good afternoon!  Happy Wednesday to you all!  I pray your day is going well.

I love it when people are doing great things for others.  I think that the media shares enough negative things in the world that I wanted to take a moment to highlight some people who are doing positive things. 

This month I would like to spotlight a phenomenal Christian duo.  This young adult husband and wife team are doing it big in the community. 

Allow me to introduce to you Daryl and Jaryn Crosby the founders of My Life My Legacy, Inc.

Daryl and Jaryn are a beautiful young couple with two precious daughters.  They both have backgrounds in Music education.  They both have their masters and are working towards their doctorates.  They are highly educated and qualified to share the dream and hope of education to the leaders of tomorrow.  They are close friends of the family and I am so thrilled to see how God is using them in the community. 

What is My Life My Legacy, Inc. (MLML)?  I am glad that you asked:

The mission of MY LIFE MY LEGACY Inc. is to 

• educate
• encourage
• enlighten
• empower 

youth and prepare them for the future. MY LIFE MY LEGACY, Inc. provides programs and services that are designed to teach youth how to properly prepare for a correct course of action, in seeking their college education.

The specific purpose of MY LIFE MY LEGACY, Inc. is to provide services and assistance that will help high school students in and around the City of Hampton, Virginia. These particular opportunities will educate them on the importance of preparing for their future, and motivate participants to seek post high school education. To that end, MY LIFE MY LEGACY, Inc. offers programs such as:

•  College Preparatory
•  College Admissions Assistance
•  Test Preparation and Strategies
•  College Application Assistance
•  Scholarship Application and Essay Assistance
•  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) Assistance
•  Computer/Technology Access
•  Summer Advancement Assistance
•  and more….

If you have high schoolers in the Hampton area, I encourage you to get in touch with My Life My Legacy, Inc.  They are bridging the gap between children, parents, and the road to college.  Planning for college can be overwhelming and these lovely people are helping to educate our youth and their parents so that college can become a real option to them. 

Check out their first online magazine: http://issuu.com/darylcros/docs/mlml.magazine1

 My Life My Legacy, Inc. contact information:

Phone: 757-912-5429

Address: P.O. Box 541 Hampton, VA 23669

Web: www.mylegacy-inc.org

Email: 1legacy.inc@gmail.com

Radio Show email: mylifemylegacyradioshow@gmail.com

-LEGACY Hampton

 

-myLEGACYinc

 

• Jaryn Crosby-Founder/President jcrosby@mylegacy-inc.org
• Daryl Crosby-Founder/Executive Director dcrosby@mylegacy-inc.org

It’s refreshing to see young people doing positive things.  Share this with everyone that you know.  Find out how you can support this positive effort. 

God bless!

~Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

 

He makes all things new

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday.  I pray that you had a blessed Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  Let’s remember the sacrifices made by a man who helped lead us to a new level of freedom.  God used a man named Martin to sew a seed into each and every one of our lives and it’s up to us to water those seeds and plant flowers around the world.  With unity there is power.  No matter what race, gender, religion, nationality or age, we can come together and changed the nation.  I pray you took time to reflect on the leader of our past and look to God to see if you are the leader of the future!

TFTD: He makes all things new

Revelation 21:5(NKJV)

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,^[a] “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Each day God gives us is a new day.  We get a another chance to get things right.  We get another chance to grow.  During my spiritual journey with Christ I have been reminded that no matter how much we want to change that true change is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Someone needs to be reminded today that you don’t have to remain the same.  You don’t have to do things the same old way year in and year out.  Someone told you that you would never change.  Someone told you that you would never amount to anything because your family is nothing.  Someone told you that you are incapable of succeeding because you are weak.  Someone has taken your past and wrote you off.  But I am here to remind you that Jesus Christ makes ALL things new!  Yes, He will make your mind new, your speech new, your walk new, your vision new, your attitude new, your motivation new, your determination new, your desires will become new.  God is able to take your past and use it to teach you lessons and transform your tomorrow into something new.

Don’t allow people or your past to discourage you because man can’t change you.  The power of God can change you and make you new.  Don’t put your hope in man, but put it in God.  You may have fallen yesterday, and  that’s okay because we all fall, just dust yourself off and remember that today is a new day and you can be made new in Christ!

I love how God works.  Where man said I should have failed, God said it’s only an opportunity for me to prosper.  I’m reminded of the song “Moving Forward” by Israel Houghton and the lyrics say:

I’m not going back, I’m moving ahead
Here to declare to You my past is over in You
All things are made new, surrendered my life to Christ
I’m moving, moving forward, oh

 

I encourage you to listen to this song.  See when you declare that you are not going back and recognize that your past is over then you are able to move forward in Christ.  CHRIST MAKES ALL THINGS NEW and I DECREE AND DECLARE THAT YOU ARE A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST.  Walk in your newness.  Move forward to the blessings that God has waiting for you. 

 

If this doesn’t encourage anyone else it encourages me to know that I am new and I’m moving forward!!!  Hallelujah!!!  Excuse me while I offer my Savior an undignified praise. 

 

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.

Poetry Corner- I’m pressing

Poetry Corner

Good morning!  Happy Friday to you all!  The poem “I’m pressing” is inspired by the scriptures below.  I pray that you enjoy and are blessed. 

Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

“I’m pressing”

by: Nicole Ellis

I’m not perfect

Never claimed to be

But I don’t have to be perfect in order to know that I want to move towards my destiny

No, I have not arrived!

But I know that I am not where I use to be

I will not allow the people of this world to belittle me

I’m pressing towards the mark

No longer looking back

God has a plan for my life  and He has equipped me for the enemies attack

I do not think I’m better than you

And I’ve never claimed to be

But I will not sit around living a miserable life for all eternity

I’m pressing towards the mark

God has a plan for me

I’m putting one foot in front of the other

And I’m running for what God has in store for me

I have released my past

And it’s about time that you do too

You can’t reach for the future if you allow your past to cling to you

I’m pressing toward the mark

I’m pressing toward my future

I’m pressing and shaking my past off of me

Join me and see how pressing is necessary in order to be free!

 

~God is so awesome that His word provides us hope for a new day.  It’s time to let go of the things of your past.  Don’t worry about what people might say about you.  They say, “You’ve change”.  They are right, you have changed.  If you are walking with God you can no longer live the same.  You are a new creature and all of the old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This year decree that you will press towards the things of God.  Live a life that is centered with becoming better than your yesterday.  There is a blessing in your pressing so keep on pressing towards the mark!!!  God bless!

Have a blessed day and 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.

Walk in your authority

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Tuesday to you all!  I pray that you had a blessed weekend.

TFTD: Walk in your authority

Luke 10:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We are in a new year, a new day, a new hour, a new minute, a new second and it’s time that we act like it.  As believers we should not live defeated lives, but live lives that are humble yet confident, one that is covered with God’s grace and rest on His blessed assurance.  It’s time to walk in our God given authority. 

Do you realize how powerful you are?  Did you know that when you walk in the ways of the Lord you can walk with power and authority?  These are not my words, but the word of the Lord.  God has given us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions.  There is no devil in hell that can walk over you unless you let him.  You are powerful enough to trample all over the enemy’s head.  God has given you power over the enemy and NOTHING shall hurt you.  God has already given us this authority and sealed it with His Son’s blood, now we just need to walk in it.

I find that many believers have a problem walking in authority because they lack the intimate relationship with Christ.  If you accept Christ, but don’t spend each day getting to know the deeper things about Him so that you can become a better witness and disciple then your walk will waver.  The only way you can begin believing in this authority that God speaks of is if you allow Him to tell you through His word.  When you make that connection with Christ then you will have more confidence to walk this thing called life out.

Begin walking in your authority.  Stomp over your problems, trample on the enemy’s head, jump on your health issues, and kick financial challenges out of your way.  It’s time to walk this thing out.  Stop sitting on the authority that God has given you, walk it out!!!

God is waiting on you to take the first step.  Will you choose to walk in your authority or stand in fear?

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.

Wash daily…

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  I pray that your work week is going well.  I pray that all the children are having a great day at school.  I also pray that all the college students are enjoying their break.

TFTD: Wash daily…

Isaiah 1:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ “ Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,
 

Every morning I wake up, I wash my face and brush my teeth.  I shower daily and sometimes twice in order to remove the germs and filth of the day.  After a good morning work out a nice long hot shower is needed and after the conclusion of a busy work day it’s required and appreciated.  There is a euphoric feeling about getting clean.  Not only do you feel better, but you smell better.  The scent of soap sends a signal from  my nostrils to my brain confirming that all is well in the world.  I know you may be thinking I am extreme, but fresh smells are a celebration to one of my five senses.  Being clean is not an option, it is a MUST!

Each day we should get in the habit of washing ourselves spiritually and making ourselves clean.  We should repent to God sincerely from our hearts.  We shouldn’t repent out of habit, but we should repent because we so desperately want to commune with God.  And in order to commune with Him, we must first get things right with him.  When you repent you are washing yourself clean of the impurities of the day.  Sometimes we need to repent several times a day.  We also need to brush our teeth and use some spiritual mouth wash to clean the filth that sometimes flows from our mouth.  Praying for God to change your speech is a way of cleansing yourself.  We need to watch the words that we say and make sure that we are speaking life.  You may need to take inventory over your vocabulary and ask God to give you a new dictionary so that you can clean up your language.  Clean your mouth from gossiping, complaining, cursing, lying, speaking in anger and more.

We also need to read the Word of God.  Reading and studying God’s Word helps clean our spirit and our heart.  His Word can penetrate the hardest heart and the most damaged spirit.  God can clean you from the inside out if you submit to His will and His Word.  When you hide God’s Word in your heart it will help you from sinning against Him.  How often do you read God’s Word?  If you only read it one a week then you are only cleaning yourself once a week!!!  How often do you pray?  If you only pray a few times a year then you are only washing your spirit man a few times a year!!!  Okay, that’s nasty.  Can you see the importance of washing daily?

If you don’t wash daily the filth and impurities pile up and can begin spreading from your body to your mind and in your soul.  Bacteria can begin growing and eating away at your spirit man just like it can your physical man.  Don’t take for granted the importance of washing daily.  It’s time to stop doing evil things and begin doing the necessary things to live a good godly life.

When you wash your spirit man daily you begin looking more like Christ.  How often are you cleaning your spirit man?  Could your spirit man use a bath this morning?  It’s time to get cleaned up!  Start this morning!

Have a blessed day and remember to wash daily!

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.

Happy New Year

Good morning!  Happy New Year to you all!  I pray that you had a wonderful holiday break.  2011 is gone, so stop looking back.  Don’t dwell on what you should have done, but focus on what you can do today.  2012 is here so rejoice for making it safely into a new year.

I challenge you to do something different this year.  Don’t make a resolution that you will give up on before you start.  Seek the Lord’s will for your life and speak with power and authority over the things you want to change.  Make a decree.  A decree is an order enforced by law.  So I am making a spiritual decree which is enforced by my Father in Heaven.  It is lined up with His promises and is a binding order that cannot be broken by man.  I decree that a new thing will happen in my life and my family’s life.  I decree that when I walk in my God given authority that demons will flee.  I decree that I will possess wisdom beyond my years yet remain humble as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I decree that I will love my enemies and have compassion for them for they are in need of love.  I will exude Christ light and dispel the darkness of this world. I decree that messy thinking and messy people will run away from me because they will know I am about my Father’s business.  I decree that people will be saved and transformed by the word of God. 

What will you put in God’s hand and allow Him to decree over your life?  As a child of God you have more power than you realize.  Start speaking positive things over your life and others.  Start walking in the authority that God has given you.  Make a decision to change your attitude even if everyone around you chooses to remain the same.  Don’t let this year start off or end like last year.  Each day decree a new thing for your life.  Seek God because He will never lead you astray. 

Since God is for me the world better watch out because it has nothing on the power that God has given me and it can try, but it can’t block what God is about to do in and through me.  How many of you believe this for yourself?

Have a blessed New Year!  I believe God will do a mighty new thing in your life this year!!!

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.