Poetry Corner- No More Apologies

Poetry Corner

Happy Friday to you all!  God is awesome because He has carried us through another day.  This week may not have been all that you wanted it to be, but I dare you to give Him praise for carrying you to the end of this week.  When you get to the end of one thing it means the beginning of another.  So I look forward to what the next moment holds for me.  Spend less time complaining and more time praising! 

No more apologies
By: Nicole Ellis
 
In 1981, You saw fit to bring me into this world
Before I was formed in my mother’s womb
You knew I would be more than the average girl
You have a plan for my life
I’m destined for greatness
I’m on a journey and will no longer live in strife
 
I’ve spent many years apologizing for who I am
Words laced with uncertainty and guilt
All in an effort to please man
No more apologies are coming from me
I will not apologize for who You have called me to be
 
I use to apologize to others for the favor You’ve given me
All in an effort to mask their inadequacies
I use to dumb myself down or hide my true vision
I would refuse to share my testimony or share your provision
The provisions that you’ve continue to make for me
I would apologize, so that people would not turn away from me
 
But you reminded me that I’m a minority
Uniquely designed
I wasn’t created to look like a clone of the world
Or to live a lie
I’m a peculiar person
I don’t operate like the rest
You’ve given your life for me
So I owe you my best
 
By apologizing for the blessings your placed over me
I am suggesting that you were wrong in selecting me
But oh no that’s not the case
I’m turning to the world and looking them in the face
NO MORE APOLOGIES are coming from me
I will not say I’m sorry for who God called me to be
 
I have no control over you feeling inferior
Its only by Gods grace and His mercy that makes me superior
I’m not saying that I’m better than you
I’m saying I will no longer apologize for what I’ve gone through
 
The life I live has been brought with a price
There were times I fought hard to live my life
And in my darkest hours when I wanted to give up
Jesus swooped in and saved me
And lifted my head up
 
So no more apologies will you get from me
I wasn’t created for your approval
Rather to please He
He who was slain and raised on the third day
His grace and mercy is why I have favor and can say,
I am done apologizing for who I’m called to be
Stop spending your energy hating and get right with THEE!
No more apologies!!!
No more apologies from me!

~Food for thought: Everyone can’t go where God wants you to go.  Stop packing bags for people who only live to bring you down.  Don’t strive to fit in with a crowd who will condemn you the moment you turn around.  Focus on God and He will lead you to the right people in this particular season of your life.  Don’t apologize for who God has called you to be.  Remain humble, respectful, loving, and kind and leave the rest to God.  God doesn’t make mistakes and He didn’t make a mistake when He selected you for His appointed task, so stop apologizing! 

I look forward to hearing all the wonderful things that God will do in each and every one of your lives.  Keep living for God!

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.

Wisdom…ASK FOR IT!!!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning.  Happy Friday-Eve!!!  Yes, it’s already Thursday.  Time is flying.  Be sure to make each moment count in your life.

TFTD: Wisdom…ASK FOR IT!!!

James 1:5-6(NKJV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Each day that I learn a little bit more about God, I grow to love Him more.  I am starting to realize that living for Him is not necessarily hard, but we make it harder than it has to be.  A common message I see in the bible is to ask, believe and have faith.

What’s faith?

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When you have faith you are hoping that something will come true even without the evidence in the physical realm, but you hope on it in the spiritual realm.  It’s a dream that you wish will come true, but in Christ it can come true if you have faith!  Children can teach us a lot about faith.  They have that true blind faith.  They believe what their parents tell them without seeing the evidence of what they are being told, but they consider the source.  That’s how we should be.  When we ask God for something we should consider the source and know that He has never failed us, so why would He start now.  Have faith.  What’s great about believing in God is you don’t need to have a lot of faith.  God said faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient (Matthew 17:20).  Do you know how small that is??? It’s extremely tiny.  That’s the beauty of God, all you have to do is have a tiny bit of faith and as your relationship grows with Him, your faith will grow.  My faith in God has definitely grown from accepting Him as a child.  I’ve had a million and one questions and somehow the answers to all of them didn’t matter because I considered the source of my health, my strength, my finances, my past, my present, and my future. 

Salvation: We are to ask the Lord to come into our life, believing that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us and that He raised Him from the dead.  We have to have faith that this is true because we didn’t see it so our faith chooses to believe. (Romans 10:9 & John 3:16)

Prayer request: We are told that whatever we ask in prayer, believing we shall receive.  First we have to open our mouth and ask God for something then have faith and believe that He will answer it before we see the results.  (Matthew 21:22)

Wisdom: God is telling us that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ASK.  He also says let them ask in faith! 

What does this mean?  It means that if you need something, if you desire to change, if you are hungry for God to take you to a new level in your life, all you have to do is FIRST ASK!!!  Open your mouth and ask.  If you lack wisdom, be woman or man enough to admit that to God and then ask for it.  God is not going to condemn you for asking for wisdom. 

Wisdom is the quality or state of being wise; having knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.  It’s also a scholarly knowledge or learning.

Everyone needs wisdom and needs to operate in wisdom and it’s available to everyone if we just ask!  The bible is filled with scriptures on wisdom.  It’s so important for us to gain knowledge in all that we do.  It’s important to make wise decisions.  Excuse me if I sound a little harsh, but if anyone lacks wisdom it’s because they haven’t asked for it!

God wants to give wisdom to us freely.  Start today by asking Him for it, believing that He will provide it, and have faith that He will see you through all that you need to go through.

NEED WISDOM?  ASK FOR IT!

Have a blessed day in the Lord. 

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 could be entertaining angels.

Sunshine’s Reflections

 

Good afternoon!  I pray that your work week or school week is going well thus far. 

TFTD: You could be entertaining angels.

Hebrews 13:1-2 (NKJV)

13 Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Take a moment to ask yourself the following question, “Do I treat people with brotherly love on a continuous basis?”  Stop and really think about this question.  How many of you reading this can honestly say that you treat others with love on a regular basis?  I wish I could say this was true, but there are some times when I may allow my emotions to rule and respond in a negative way to someone’s bad attitude or smart-Aleck remarks nevertheless, God calls us to extend brotherly love. 

Why is it so important to be kind to everyone you encounter?  We’ll on a practical sense you never know who you may encounter.  This is a small world and you have to be mindful of how you treat others.  You could run into a friend of your parents, your bosses spouse, a church member that you never met and the list goes on.  Now in a biblical sense it’s important to treat others with brotherly love because  you could be entertaining angels.  WOW!!!  Did you ever stop to think that someone you encountered today, might have been an angel?

Take a moment to think about how you treated everyone you came in contact with just for today.  Have you extended brotherly love to EVERYONE?  Or did you tell off the co-worker by the copying machine?  Or maybe you yelled at the waiter or waitress at the restaurant.  What if that person you were unkind to was an angel dispatched by God to check on you?  Each day we are given test and God commands us to love our neighbors and our enemies.  Each day we need to practice extending love to all people because you never know who you will encounter.

I am speaking to the choir, spend more time listening than speaking, pray before you speak, and then when you speak, allow God to talk in a gentle tone through you.  You never know that the person standing in front of you could be an angel. 

***Lesson for life: Extend brotherly love to everyone everyday!***

Have a blessed day!  I love you all with the love of Jesus Christ! 

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.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is…

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  IT’S FRIDAY!  This first quarter of the year is flying by so fast.  Take a moment to review how the beginning part of your year has gone.  Has there been any challenges?  Have you been too blessed to be stressed?  Have you experienced some setbacks?  No matter what the first quarter of the year has brought to your life, remember each day is a new day to pick up the pieces and move forward.  Make a decision to finish strong.  No matter what project, venture, or goal that is set before you-finish strong!  Have a super Friday!

TFTD: Where the Spirit of the Lord is…

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS LIBERTY!!!  What does that mean?  I’m glad that you asked. 

Liberty is freedom from arbitrary control.  That means you are free from people having unlimited control over your life.  You know those people.  The ones who go around making up their own rules as they go.  You only have one supreme judge who doesn’t make unfair rules.  Liberty is freedom from external or foreign rule, you can be independent from the world.  You are in the world but not of the world.  Liberty is freedom from interference of God’s plan, freedom from obligation that don’t align with the will of God, freedom from restrictions that people may place on you from achieving your goals and dreams, freedom from captivity.  You no longer have to be a prisoner of the world or of your mind.  Liberty is where God has granted you permission to live FREELY!!!

Now if you didn’t know I want to let you know that the bible says that the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  So once you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, he nows dwells inside of you and if you truly have the Lord within you then there is liberty. 

 

What does that mean:  It means that as a believer of Christ the Spirit of the Lord dwells in you and within you there is freedom from external control, freedom from bondage and captivity, freedom from interference, distractions, and restrictions placed on you from other people. 

 

Are you free?  If you don’t feel free, look in the mirror and ask yourself , “Am I a dwelling place for the Lord?  Does the Spirit of the Lord live within me?”  If you can’t answer that question then I know where your liberty is, you don’t have it yet or you aren’t allowing the Spirit of the Lord to move through you. 

 

If you are not saved: (Romans 10:9 ^“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.”) If you don’t know Christ, I encourage you to get to know Him. 

 

If you are saved, but fell astray, I urge you to reconnect to Christ.  Get connected to a bible teaching church.  Develop a relationship with Christ where you pray, fast, study his word, have a daily devotional, not out of routine or habit, but out of DESIRE!  It’s a beautiful thing to experience freedom don’t squander your freedom!  Seek God today!

 

Have a blessed day free from the worries of this world!

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.

Overcomers have faith

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning.  Happy Wednesday to you all!

1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our^[a] faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Raise your hand if you are an overcomer?  Did you ever stop to think how you were able to overcome some challenges in life?  As a believer, my faith in God has helped me to overcome the world.  I’m in the world, but not of the world.  Believers we have to remember that we are spiritual beings living in the world, seeking to spread the love of Christ.  Don’t walk around trying the mimic the world, the world should want to mimic you.  Don’t walk around looking defeated when you are an overcomer!

Faith is a powerful thing.  It’s believing in the things that you can’t see.  It’s having hope in things that haven’t come to pass yet.  Faith is the power you need to overcome the world.  When you accept Christ as your Lord an Savior you are now a new creature.  You are born of God and will overcome the world.  How awesome is it to know that the world can’t conquer you because you are a child of God.  I don’t know about you, but that is enough to fall into an instant praise break.  Raise your hand if you believe that you are an overcomer? *RAISES BOTH HANDS*  I believe it and I even have faith that the things I have yet to face, I will conquer those things too.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him.  You can’t say that you are a Christian or an overcomer if you don’t have faith in God.  Your faith tells you that God exist.  I have never seen God physically but I’ve seen Him manifest blessings in my life.  I’ve seen Him keep me from dangers.  I’ve seen Him spare my life.  I’ve felt His presence when no one else was around.  My faith tells me He is real.  When you go to God you must believe that He is God.  You must have faith that He will reward you when you diligently seek Him. 

If you were able to overcome trials in the past, have faith that God will help you overcome the things that are on their way.  You are a child of God which means you are an OVERCOMER!!!

Now hold your head up high, give God an undignified praise and scream, “I AM AN OVERCOMER!”

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.

I can do it all

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Monday to you all!  I pray that you enjoyed your weekend.  I decree and declare that today will be a productive day filled with God’s favor.

TFTD: I can do it all

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

¹³ I can do all things through Christwho strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 is one of the first scriptures that I was taught as a child.  No matter where I went and even in my adult age this scripture is quoted as a message of encouragement.  “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!”  This is a declaration that requires a certain level of faith.

When you are weak you have to believe that Christ will make you strong.  It’s one thing to quote the scripture, but it’s another thing to believe the scripture.  When you believe that you can do all things through Christ, fear is no longer an option.  When you believe that you can do all things through Christ, you begin trying new things.  When you believe that you can do all things, you will start something with the confidence that you will finish because you know that it’s Christ strength that is helping you finish the task.  See I’m crazy enough to believe that I can do it all.  There are no limits to what I can do or on what I can achieve when Christ strengthens me.

Let me break the scripture down for a moment:

• Replace the word “I” with your name. 
• “Can do” means you are capable of performing a task and fulfilling the requirements necessary to complete it. 
•  “All things” means everything and anything presented before you. 
• “Through Christ who Strengthens me” means that with the help and guidance of Jesus Christ assisting you, you are stronger than ever. 

 So what does this look like?  Let me use my name:

Philippians 4:13 personally modified:

Nicole is capable of performing a task and fulfilling the requirements necessary to complete it; any and everything presented before her, she can do, with the help and guidance of Jesus Christ assisting her and is stronger than ever before.    

Now replace my name with your name.  When you read Philippians 4:13 believe that you can do it all.  Anything that God sets before you, He is faithful to make sure you can complete it.  He will give you the strength you need for the journey He places you on.  I don’t know about you, but I am confident that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I know that with His SUPER added to my Natural, SUPERNATURAL things can manifest in my life. 

Take scripture to a new level by making it personal and adding a measure of faith to it.  The next time someone tries to discourage you, deter you, or even when you try to doubt yourself, quote Philippians 4:13 with power and authority.  You can do it all if you just believe!!!

Have a blessed day in JESUS NAME!  Until next time, be blessed!

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 ask, I believe, it’s mine

Poetry Corner

Happy Friday to you all!  This has been a glorious week.  It’s been a productive week and I am grateful for that.  Some of the biggest blessings come from the small day-to-day accomplishments.  Never take for granted the grace that God gives you to complete all of your task.  I pray that you have a wonderful day in Jesus name!

 

Matthew 21:22 (NKJV)

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

 

I ask, I believe, it’s mine

by: Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

God promised to give me the desires of my heart

But my desires aren’t for free

There is a lot of work that goes into getting what I want

And the process begins with me

I must have the courage to even go to God

And ask Him for what I desire

My will has to be in line with His

To receive the blessings that will take me higher

Higher in life is where I want to go

But my request must start with a prayer

So that God will know

Know exactly what I request from Him

I rely in God because He is closer than a friend

The next step begins with me

I can’t just ask God for something, I must believe

All He requires is a little bit of faith

Actually the size of a mustard seed

I can’t get caught  up in the areas of doubt

The pieces of my mind that tell me not to believe

I just dig deep in my heart

Trusting that one day I will receive

God promised me the desires of my heart

But my desires aren’t for free

There is a lot of work that goes into getting what I want

And the process begins and continues with me

God already promised to supply all of my needs

So all I have to do is believe

I have to remember everything in life has a price

Nothing is really for free

But once I ask, and then believe

God will open up heaven and pour out blessings for me

It’s mine

The things I desire are promised for me

I just have to ask and then believe

Now don’t get me wrong I must live a life pleasing to Christ

I can’t ask Him for anything if I don’t accept Him in my life

Ask for the Lord to save you

Believe that Jesus rose from the dead

And receive everlasting life

This is the best thing you could ever ask for

Trust me, I know I’m right

I ask, I believe, and it’s mine

God is not a man who should lie

Live a life that’s pleasing to God

And reap the blessings for a lifetime

 

It is my testimony that whatever I ask God, believing, I do receive.  God has even exceeded my expectations and blessed me beyond my request.  It’s not enough just to ask God for frivolous things, but to sincerely seek to develop a deep relationship with Him and then live a life that is pleasing to Him.  Your desires will line up with His desires and He will give you what you request.  I dare you to try God.  I dare you to live for Him.  I dare you to take Him at His word.  But remember it starts with you. 

Have a blessed day and enjoy your 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.

You have a choice

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning.  Happy Tuesday to you all!  I pray that you had a blessed weekend and a productive Monday yesterday.

TFTD: You have a choice

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Life is full of choices.  No matter if you are saved or unsaved you have the free will to make decisions.  No one can force you to do anything.  At the beginning and end of your day you have the ability to make choices. 

The problem in today’s society is that no one wants to take responsibility for their actions.  Many people are playing the “blame game” and getting no where in life.  This attitude that everyone else is to blame for your actions and reactions is a generational curse that will plague our children and our children’s children if we don’t begin teaching everyone that they have a choice.  For example: a child who watched their parents never take responsibility for their actions will grow up doing the same thing. 

People walk around saying that the “devil” made them do something.  No, on the contrary you chose to sin.  The devil may have placed tempting situations before you, but he didn’t make you do anything.  Some may say that another person made them go off the deep end and curse someone out or get into a fight.  The reality is no one made you do it, you chose to do it.  You have a choice.  No matter if it’s right or wrong, you have a choice. 

The same way you have a choice in what job you will take, who you will marry, how you will raise your kids, what school you will attend, what mood you will be in, also applies to who you will serve.  You have a choice whether or not you will serve God.  No one can make you serve Him, you have to choose.  Did you realize that you have a choice whether or not you live or die?  Did you realize that you have a choice on whether you live an abundant life or one filled with misery?  Every day you delay choosing to serve God you are delaying your chance at everlasting life and delaying living an abundant life.  There are certain things that only come to us if we choose to serve God.  God gives favor to His children.  You must serve Him and live a life that is pleasing to Him to receive His favor.  When you choose not to serve Him you deny yourself the opportunity to receive God’s favor over your life.   

I can’t make you serve the Lord, but I pray that I can be an example that will give you a preview of what’s available to you if you serve God.  

ATTENTION: To all of the Christians reading this:

You have a choice to make living for Christ appear appealing or meaningless.  You can’t force someone to choose Him, but you can live a life in such a way that they like the option of serving Him better than not serving Him. 

Every morning you wake up you have a choice to serve God or not to serve God.  What will your choice be today?

Food for thought: Never give one person or one thing so much control of your mind, body, and soul by saying they “made” you do something.  Take back your control and exercise your right to choose.  Choose this day who you will serve! 

God bless!  

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.

Don’t curse your blessings

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday to you all!  This week is my spring break and I am enjoying a little mental break from the hustle and bustle of grad school.  When you are given an opportunity to rest your mind and body, please do so.  This is a lesson I am learning each day.  Take time to rest, take time to love on your family, take time to hide in the arms of the Lord, take time by making time. 

TFTD: Don’t curse your blessings

How long have you been praying for a break through in your life?  Has it been days, months or even years?  How do you respond when God manifest your prayer into reality?  How do you treat your blessing(s)?

I’ve observed many individuals petition God in prayer for a long time for specific things in their lives and when God blesses them with the very thing they have been praying for they show temporary gratitude and then they begin cursing their blessing.  We must understand that God answers our prayers and although they may not be exactly how we thought they would be answered, He still answers them.  We have to be careful not to curse our blessings.  The same way God can give things to us, He can take them away if we appear ungrateful.  Let’s look at what the word of God says:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Message (MSG)

 ^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

•  We should be cheerful NO MATTER WHAT!  Stop giving negativity power by complaining all of the time.  You may have been praying for a house, but currently live in an apartment.  Be thankful that you have a roof over your head.  You may have been praying for an Executive position, but currently have a lower position.  Be thankful that you are gainfully employed because there are people who have been out of work for years.  When you complain about what you don’t have you begin cursing your blessing.

 

• We should pray all of the time.  Continue praying in the good and the bad.  Don’t stop praying just because things are going good and don’t stop praying when things don’t seem to be going your way and you call yourself being angry with God.  Continue to pray at all times.  When you stop thanking God for your blessing and praying to Him to help you sustain your blessing you are cursing your blessing.  Instead of always running to God to give you something pray for God to show you how to cherish and appreciate what you have in the “now”, so that you can be prepared for the future blessings. 

 

• Thank God no matter what happens.  Even if you don’t get that job, that car, that house, that mate, that promotion, that project, keep on praising God.  We should thank God for who He is and if He doesn’t do another thing for us, He has already done MORE than enough.  When you stop thanking God for what you have you begin cursing your blessing.  

Proverbs 18:12 The Message (MSG)

 ¹² Pride first, then the crash,
   but humility is precursor to honor.

• When you begin thinking that you are too good for where you are and what has been given to you then the next step for you is the crash.  You will fall and continuing failing if you begin looking at life with a “puffed-up” attitude.  When you let pride start ruling then you begin cursing your blessing.  Remain humble in everything that you receive.  Every position that God elevates you to or even demote you from remain humble.  I’ve learned in every hard time that I’ve faced and every victory that I’ve won that God was showing me that He is still God.  He is there with me in the valley and He is there with me on the mountain top, but always stay humble.  Don’t fall victim to pride and start cursing your blessing.  You see a prideful person thinks they are too good for the assignments that have been given to them at church, or too good for the amount of money they make at their job, or above catching the bus to and from their destination.  Be careful because whenever you encounter a prideful person you can rest assure they will not prosper long.  Stop cursing your blessings. 

Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

• Again, give thanks.  Don’t give the enemy power by complaining all of the time.  Every second you complain is a second that you could have been thanking God for your blessing.  Now if you notice something is wrong, instead of allowing the complaint to consume you seek God and ask Him how you can be a solution to the problem.  Instead of cursing your blessing, start looking at the challenges as opportunities to grow and be a blessing to someone else.  If things aren’t going well in your home, don’t complain all of the time, look for creative ways that you can improve your home.  Give thanks and give power to the positive things in life.

Don’t curse your blessings.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and you don’t want to speak death on the thing that was sent to be a blessing to you.  Your actions speak volumes when your lips aren’t moving.  What does your body language say about your blessing?  What does your attitude say about your blessing?  How are you treating the people that God has sent to help you?  Are you cursing your blessing or thankful for it?  It’s time that we take inventory over how we treat the things that God has blessed us with.  God gave you that job, God gave you that home, God gave you that car, God gave you your health, God gave you another chance at life each time He wakes you up, God gave you a sound mind, God gave you the articulation of speak and the movement of your limbs and you have the audacity to curse your blessing.  So what if it’s not packaged the way you thought it should be.  We should be grateful just because all blessings come from GOD!!!  Be mindful of what comes out of your mouth, the things you think about, and how you treat your blessings.  You could be cursing the thing sent to help you.  Remember God can give and take away.  You could be the reason God had to remove a blessing from your life.  God won’t allow you to misuse or mistreat something He sent to bless you. 

Take time to mediate over today’s Thought for the Day.  God is speaking to me because there are times when I may be cursing my blessing and I don’t want that to happen.  I’m seeking God daily on speaking life over everything and everyone placed in my life.  I want to be thankful and grateful for my blessing(s), how about you?

Have a blessed and prosperous 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.