Who are you attached to?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon. Blessings to you and your family.

TFTD: Who are you attached to?

John 15:4 New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Take a moment and think about your circle of friends or sphere of influence. Who are you attached to? Let me go a step further and ask “what” are you attached to? What does your spiritual life look like? Are you attached to the source or to the resources. What and who you are attached to can affect every aspect of your life. It’s important to take close inventory of your circle and remove yourself from unhealthy relationships.

Did you know that if you attached a corpse to a living person that eventually the skin of the living person will decay? This is true spiritually as well. If you attach yourself to spiritually dead people every single day then you will eventually begin to decay spiritually. As believers, we should lead other people to Christ, but we don’t have to attach ourselves to them. There are a lot of believers who try to justify unhealthy relationships with people. They have convinced themselves they are helping the person when really the person has rubbed off on them and are slowly destroying them.

Some people have attached themselves to their jobs. They rely on the “resource” so much that they forfeit spiritual edification in order to gain a paycheck. People will go to work sick, but will miss church on Sunday. Statements like, “God knows my heart” or “I can have church at home”, sabotage believers into thinking it’s okay to slight God while they give priority to their job. When you attach yourself to the job you are making it an idol. When you place another before God you have sinned by breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Attaching yourself to the “resource” can leave you spiritually bound and unfulfilled.

It’s time to attach to the “SOURCE”. God’s word tells us that we can’t bear fruit by ourselves. We need to be connected to the VINE-the Source. When you attach yourself to Jesus you will bear fruit. Not only that, but when you connect and attach yourself to God-fearing people that God sends your way, you will experience an overflow that only comes from God. He doesn’t love one person more than the other. The difference between the person who is always getting blessed and the person who is always struggling is who and what they are attached to. What you are experiencing in life is direct correlation with your attachments. Yes, we will all be tested and tried, but God didn’t create us to suffer. Proverbs 10:22 New International Version (NIV)²² The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. When you are attached to God, He will bring you wealth and you will not have to work extremely hard for it, all because of who you are ATTACHED to.

Are you attached to dead things/people or are you attached to a living God and kingdom citizens? Stop prolonging your breakthrough. Break free from the attachments that are keeping you bound.

Remember to rely on the SOURCE and not the resource. God is the Source and He is the One who provides the resource. Don’t get those confused.

 Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Title without a testimony

Poetry Corner

Good afternoon. I pray your week is going well.

John 12:26New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Mark 10:42-45New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴² But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Title without a testimony

by: Nicole L. Ellis

There has been a growing epidemic

One that Christians should not mimic

However it’s consuming people at an alarming rate

Leaving the souls of many to lie in wake

Walking around as if they are living, but they are really bound

Spiritually lost and trying to become found

There is a spiritual cancer that has seaped into the church

It has attached itself to leaders who no longer are giving birth

Consumed with a title they forgot their own name

Instead of helping the lost they are inflicting so much pain

They have a title but no testimony

Their walk consist of religious ceremonies

Forgetting the mission to serve God’s people

Lost souls come for direction and guidance, but leave out feeble

Titles have tainted because they have been created by man

People are so addicted to receiving one they forget to lend a helping hand

The church is being conditioned to embrace rank and position

While the enemy uses the leaders to hold people in submission

Submission to harboring bitterness, jealousy and hurt

Unbelievers would rather remain in sin instead of convert

There is a growing epidemic

One that Christians should not mimic

Even the Son of Man came to serve

So it’s not to late to turn the curve

Don’t allow the title to infiltrate your mind

Fight to carry people to Christ instead of leaving them behind

Pretend the title doesn’t even exist

Allow the desire to help others rise up and persist

Don’t allow a title to drive you insane

Proclaim Jesus Christ and know that He reigns

He determines your true identity

Loose that title and be set free

Share your story in order to minister to the hearts of man

Serve others and prepare them for when Christ comes again

Having a title without a testimony is not the way to be

Live your life and declare and decree

I am a servant and I will proclaim liberty

I will live as a godly example they way God intended me to be

 

~I pray you take time to evaluate the way you act in all of your roles in church, at home, in the community, etc. Although you may have many titles given to you by man, the only title that matters is SERVANT! When you die and Jesus looks in the Book of Life, you should want to hear Him say “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Jesus is not impressed with your titles, He is more concerned with your heart and how you serve others. We are no greater than Christ and when He was on this earth He served. Live a life that is filled with examples of how you help others get to know who He is instead of dispising who you are. Forget about your titles and be sure to live as a living testimony. Share your story. Someone needs it!

Have a blessed day and wonderful weekend!

 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Poetry Corner: Get out and Shine

Poetry Corner

Good morning! Happy Tuesday to you all!

Matthew 5:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Get out and shine

By: Nicole L. Ellis

Why do you surround yourself with dark clouds of witnesses

And drown yourself with dreary colors of distress

Why do you crawl along the floor of defeat

And wrestle with disillusion

You don’t understand why you don’t fit in or belong

Light can’t reside with darkness is my only conclusion

You were created to shine bright and lead the way

Give a clear path to those who have gone astray

Get out of that box of isolation the enemy has created for you

It’s a trick to prevent you from doing what you are called to do

Shine bright and let people see who lives within

Allow people to hunger and no longer live in sin

Let your light shine so men will see

The only way to live is for Christ and watch the enemy flee

Gird yourself up with the armor of God

Dare to be different and don’t fret from being considered odd

Jesus didn’t try to fit in and neither should you

The world is dying

They need to know more about why it is that you do what you do

Get out and shine

It’s your time to lead the way

Get up and proclaim the Lord

Don’t wait until tomorrow do it TODAY

Demonstrate it with your life

Bring others along with you

Let your light shine it’s what you were destined to do!

Make a decision to be the light of the earth. People are dying spiritually every day and they are hungry for hope. Choose to step out and be different. Choose to be the light in a dark world. Let your light shine so that people can run to God and give Him glory. Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

When enough is enough…

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon! Happy Wednesday to you. We have successfully made it to the middle of the week! Hallelujah!

TFTD: When enough is enough…

Ephesians 4:22-24New King James Version (NKJV)

²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24The Message (MSG)

^20-24 But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well-instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

 

Have you ever reached the point in your life when enough is enough? I know I have. I find that many people talk about being fed up, but they aren’t truly tired. I’m a firm believer when you get sick and tired of being sick and tired you will do whatever it takes to change. Most of the change that is needed in our lives lies within. It doesn’t have anything to do with other people or circumstances, but everything to do with who we are and how we are living. I would suggest that a lot of people are just tired. They are uninterested, uninspired and bored. They are tired, but not sick and tired. So now they walk around aimlessly complaining about life, but never attaching action to their situation.

I love how the message translation of Ephesians 4:22-24 reads. It is straight to the point. It doesn’t get any clearer than that. When you know who Christ is and turn your life to Him you can’t walk around in ignorant bliss. You have to own up to who you are and what you are doing in your life. Stop making excuses about your life. Your past does not define you and your present does not dictate who you will become UNLESS you allow it. Everything that was associated with your former unsaved life has to go. You have to make a decision to let go of the bad habits and damaging relationships. Get rid of anything that is not like God and don’t look back. The problem with most people is they don’t want to take personal accountability for their decisions. It’s easy when you use other people and circumstances as a scapegoat for your misfortune and failures, but I dare you to look in the mirror and call yourself out. Call out every excuse and sin and give it to God.

When you are truly sick and tired of the way you live life by dibbling and dabbling in Christ then you will pick up your new way of living and follow God totally. Learn to live a life that is renewed from the inside out. I’m a living witness, I’m not perfect, but I practice daily to get things right with God. I am who I am today because I was sick and tired of the status quo. God created me to be great and I could feel it. I could no longer make excuses for my sin because it was killing me slowly. I wanted to live and I decided to give up my old way of living for a new way-God’s way. Yes, I performed my eulogy over my former self and I’m no longer resurrecting dead things. I am walking in the newness of life.

When will enough be enough for you? What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to let go of? What are you willing to lay at God’s feet in order to take up a new way of living? Are you sick and tired or just tired?

Take time to really evaluate your life and decide it’s time to start LIVING a life that is pleasing to God. There is peace in serving God. There is favor in living for God. There is greatness waiting for you.

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Hide the Word in your Heart!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning! Happy Friday. It has been a busy week, but I thank God for His grace and mercy. I pray your week has been going well.

TFTD: Hide the Word in your heart!

Psalm 119:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
¹¹ Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

I would assume that most people have heard the statement: “Do as I say, not as I do.” Have you ever found yourself saying this to your children or to someone you are giving direction too? It is actually quite perplexing. You mean to tell me, you want to tell someone what to do and then expect them to do it, yet you don’t want to be held to the same standard? Umph! I like the following statements better, “Practice what you preach” or “Walk the walk”. These statements suggest that you have to be accountable and live as examples. It’s not enough to have a lot of lip-service, you must back it up with action.

So, how can one do this as a Christian? I’m glad you asked. You have to hide the Word of God in your heart. I’m a living witness that the things you preach and teach to others will become the very things you will be tested in. You will be tested to prove your faith and loyalty to God, the testing of your faith produces patience and you will be tested to confirm or disprove the very word you spoke. People are watching your every move more than they listen to your words! You can’t stand on your soap box and scream to the nations, “Don’t smoke, don’t curse, don’t have sex before you are married, don’t gossip, don’t lie, don’t steal:, but you are doing the very thing you are telling people not to do. And you are wondering why no one takes your advice.

Your words have impact, but your actions carry a lot of power and influence. People are more prone to follow the leader who has done the things they are instructing versus the person who is yelling demands, but have never walked a mile in their shoes. Here are some tips on how to “Walk the walk” and “practice what you preach”.

• Read the Word of God daily and hide His Word in your heart. It is so important to know the Word for yourself. When you are tempted and tried, and you will be, it’s important to pull references from the Word.
• Pray daily! You should pray more than you complain. Make it a habit to pray constantly. Don’t just ask God for things, but worship Him, tell Him thank you.
• Solicit the prayers from prayer warriors. The prayers of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16). You better link up with some people who talk to the Lord and have an intimate relationship with Him. When you can’t find a Word for yourself, ask someone to pray for you.

Don’t live your life as a walking contradiction, always speaking one thing and doing another. Have some consistency in your message. People are looking at you for direction. Don’t confuse them. Help them by living a life that is pleasing to God.

Have a blessed day and a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Back to School Prayer

 

 

TFTD: Back to School Prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ pray without ceasing,

Today, my children returned back to school. It seems like summer came and went. A lot of kids were supposed to start college, high school, middle school or elementary school today or last week, but due to the violence that is steadily rising in our community and nation they didn’t make it to see this day. Everytime I turn on the news another family is grief-stricken due to the lack of regard for human life. I also see an increasing amount of attacks against the church. Have you noticed that people are constantly complaining about being offended by Christians? Students are being reprimanded for bringing Bibles to class, schools are removing any mention of Christ in projects, restaurant owners can’t even reward people for blessing their food because atheist are crying out that they are offended and the list goes on. We are supposed to have the freedom of religion in this country, but slowly they try to strip us of that right. They can snatch prayer out of school, but they can never snatch it out of the hearts of the students, teachers, administrators, parents, community or nation.  Today, I offer this prayer:

Dear Lord, I come to you today, thanking you for waking us up. I praise you for being a Sovereign God. Thank you for protecting our children over the summer. Thank you for dispatching your angels around them and keeping them from hurt, harm and danger. I decree and declare that the peace, protection, grace and mercy of God will saturate each and every school. I pray for the teachers, administrators, students, bus drivers, lunch crew, janitorial staff, parent/guardians and more. Lord, cover every person in the schools and on the road ways. Place your hedge of protection around them so they have nothing to fear. Draw each person closer to you. Lord, touch the hearts of the people in charge of making legislative decisions. Cause your people to stand together in prayer. I bind the hand of the enemy. I bind the spirit of suicide, rage, anger, murder, malice, bitterness, depression, low-self esteem, insecurity, doubt and fear. The enemy has no authority or power over our children. I decree and declare that the blood of Jesus will cover them and cleanse them of their sin. I speak life into every child who feels worthless. I decree and declare that leaders and mentors will rise up and take their place in the lives of the children. The children are our future and we need you more than ever. Lord, prick the hearts of the parents and guardians to seek your face and live a life that is pleasing to you and nourishing to their children. Lord, consume us with your presence everyday of the week. We love you and we praise you. We stand victorious, In Jesus name Amen.

 

I encourage you to pray over your children daily. Pray in your quiet time, but also pray with them. Let them know that you are praying for them. Pray more than you complain. Pray more than you yell. Pray more than you fuss. Pray without ceasing. YOUR CHILDREN ARE DEPENDING ON THOSE PRAYERS!

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Happy Labor Day Weekend

May God bless you and keep you over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Enjoy your family. Take a moment to rest. Get out and enjoy the fresh air. Do what you want to do this weekend! Don’t spend another moment worrying about things or people you can’t change. Just enjoy the life God has given you.

Have a blessed weekend!

 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Determined to Finish

Sunshine’s Reflections

 

Good afternoon! Happy Tuesday.

TFTD: Determined to Finish

Psalm 118:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Take a trip with me to the day you declared you would start something new. God gave you the vision for a business, to go back to school, to relocate, to start a church, to start a ministry, to start a family, etc. and you were all excited and ready to go and then BAM before you could officially get into a groove life happens. Distractions come from the east and the west, road blocks appear to look like mountains, discouragement is plastered on billboards all over town, fear creeps into your mind and holds you captive and these are just a few things that have happened along the way. That energy and excitement you started with on day one is slowly seeping out like the air in a tire with a small puncture. You can’t seem to find the pep in your step and giving up seems like the easiest thing to do.

BUT Wait!!! Don’t give up! Don’t abort the vision! It’s time to remain determined to finish! Did you know that the journey in between the start and the finish was strategically designed to cause you to draw closer to Christ? Did you realize that everything you deal with will be used to equip you for the call that is on your life? I am here to encourage someone today, don’t allow fear, distractions, obstacles or even naysayers to keep you from walking in your calling. As a child of God, you are on the right team! The Lord is on your side and with Him on your side you do not have anything to fear. Man can’t do anything to you. Although they may try to kill the dream and push you towards wanting to quit, their attacks are futile.

How awesome is our God!?! Demons tremble at the mention of His name and because He is on your side they will tremble when you step on the scene. Walk in the confidence that you serve a God who is more powerful than any trick from the enemy. I want you to go back to that vision and decide today that you are DETERMINED TO FINISH!!!

God bless you. Now get to work and be encouraged!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

Consider making a contribution to a life changing project. Click link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/b0n5sc

Take a stand and hold your position

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon! Happy Monday. I pray your weekend was blessed. We are officially in the last full week of August. How has your 2014 been so far? Has it been good, great, so-so, bad or terrible? No matter what your year has been like, we still have 4 months left in the year and that is plenty of time to turn things around.

Thought for the Day (TFTD): Take a stand and hold your position

1 Corinthians 15:58New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58The Message (MSG)

⁵⁸ With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

Have you ever noticed a tree on a windy day? The leaves may blow to and fro, some may even fall off and blow away.  The branches may bend and sometimes break, but the trunk of the tree NEVER MOVES! When I look at the Christians today, many of them look like the leaves on the tree-so easily blow away. They know what the Word of God says, but when the world says something that seems more popular or favored then they blow away and operate like the world. Then you have some believers who operate like a branch, some may bend, but are not as easily broken or swayed by public opinion, but occasionally you will run into a tough Christian who caves under pressure and actually breaks. Then you have the Christians who are planted deep in the Word and Ways of the Lord and are like the trunk of the tree. The winds of life may come and the world may look enticing, but they will hold fast to their beliefs.

There is a saying, “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.” As believers of Christ, we should live a life that is set apart.We shouldn’t look like, act like, talk like or think like the world. We need to be like the trunk or base of the tree. We need to be firmly rooted in Christ so when the storms of life blow, we will stand firm and in position. When was the last time you took a stand for something you believed in? When was the last time you held your position when it came to the matters of the kingdom? In these last days, you will be tempted to sway not only by the world, but by those in the church. Are you willing to stand your ground if something doesn’t line up with the will and way of the LORD? Are you willing to back your position up with the Word? Are you willing to forfeit temporary position with man for eternal position with GOD?

These are tough questions that we should all ask ourselves. Just because someone is quoting scriptures doesn’t mean it’s of God. Even the devil knows the Word of God. Make sure you learn the Word for yourself and take a stand. It’s time for you to take a stand and hold your position. So what if they say that everyone is doing it or Minister “So-and-so” said it was good, or it feels good. When a person is easily swayed they are easily dismayed. I urge you to take a stand. Examine your life and fight to hold your position when it pertains to spiritual matters. Don’t compromise your soul for title or position given by man. Don’t compromise your life for money or fame. HOLD YOUR POSITION!

God bless!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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

We will be back!!!

 

Good morning!

I have great news!!! I will resume posting regular devotions on Monday, August 25, 2014. I have been embarking on a spiritual journey that has been so rewarding and has taken up some very important time. I have missed my blogging community and pray you have continued seeking God’s word daily. I encourage you to “Like us” on Facebook at “Sunshine’s Reflections“, where scriptures are posted daily.

I will see you on the information highway on Monday! God bless!

~Nicole L. Ellis, MBA

Author/Poet