New Journal

I am so excited to share my newly published journal with you called, Journey: Living It Daily. I designed this journal to be a helpful tool for getting the most out of your bible sturdy, doing a devotional or during your daily quiet time.
This journal includes a place to record notes, scripture, life application and more.
Available now on Amazon at the following link.

It is available for purchase on amazon for $7.50 plus shipping  you can look it up by: ISBN 9781979423007 

Snow Day

As the southern snow was falling today. I bundled up, in all the warm clothes I could find, grabbed my camera and stepped out into the beautiful glistening snow. All I could hear was the quite whisper as it floated softly to the ground. I started taking a few pictures of the wonderful white fluff. I took pictures of a rose bush, the dogwood trees and even the kudzu that grows along our driveway each was covered by the snow. I was reminded, while looking through the lens of the camera, all that I am taking pictures of are not really that pretty right now because without the blanket of snow to cover them each appear to be dead. It was like a light went off in my head. We are just like the rose bush, dogwood trees and kudzu. Without Christ we look like dead bones walking around. We are just existing not truly living however when we accept Christ he changes us. When spring comes the roses and dogwoods are transformed and what appeared dead is now alive with great beauty to offer as part of the marvelous handy work of God.
When we accept Christ we should come alive with a type of beauty that shows from the inside out. We will be changed and transformed into people that now have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and that should make us stand out like the flowers in spring. The roses, dogwood trees and yes even the kudzu was made for a purpose. We too are made for a purpose and a plan. We can not fulfill that purpose until we have been transformed by the acceptance of Jesus in our hearts.

1Colossians 1:10 (NIV) So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Prayer Not Repetition

The old house was cold and dark but I never felt safer as my grandmother helped me say my prayers before I went to sleep. This was a very special time for me and if I close my eyes to this day I can hear her saying, "Honeybee repeat after me, Now I lay me down to sleep I pray to the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul he will take.” There was a peace that seemed to come with saying this prayer as a little girl. As an adult I know that prayer is not just the same thing you say over and over again. It is much more than that. According to the dictionary prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God. That just sounds so formal to me. I dare say that prayer is sitting with the father, praising Him, asking for forgiveness, telling him what is on your heart and asking him to help you.

God loves his children and wants to hear from us. One of my sons is going to college out of state and I love it when he calls me just to talk. It would be different if every time he called me he was giving me his needs list, I need money, my car needs fixing, I need help, I want this or that. Don't get me wrong I would still be glad to hear his voice and know that he is doing well but it would not be the same as when we are just talking about what is happening in his life, what he and his friends are up to, or how his classes are going. I think maybe God wants to hear from us sometimes just because we love him and not because we find ourselves in a crisis.

I think prayer could be a time to come to God to strengthen our relationship with him. He already knows all about us, what we need and what we want. It should be our privilege to get to spend time with the creator of it all, the one that loved us enough to make us in his image and just have a one on one personal conversation with him pouring out our hearts and devotion to him. I am thankful for my grandmother, she tried to instill in her grandchildren the importance of prayer by being a living example of what a one on one relationship with God could look like.

Psalm 17:6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Taking Time to Pray

       

     As I was working on a devotion this week I was thinking about prayer. I find my self going through the day and praying on the fly. When my friends on social media ask me to pray for someone I try to do it right then. As I am going about my daily life I say  little prayers here and there, then when the end of the day comes I find my self in bed, this is when I try to do that "deep praying". However,I have to admit I usually fall into a "deep sleep" before I am finished taking with God. I am not proud to admit I sometimes just can't stay awake. This reminds me of when the Lord was in the garden praying and the disciples could not stay awake and pray. I am sure like me they wanted to pray but the day had just worn them out.
Matthew 26:40-41”  And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?  Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
      I thought of how I could make my prayer life better and I realized that my favorite time of the day is in the morning hours between 3-4. I know this sounds crazy but it such a peaceful that time of day. Many times my eyes just pop open at about 3 am. The other morning I woke up about around that time but I didn't just lay in the bed. I got up and went into another room to pray. While I was praying the Lord seemed to bring many people to my mind to, even a girl I knew in high school. I am not her friend on social media and I have not heard about her practically since high school yet, I felt she needed prayer. The Holy Spirit also put many other things on my heart to pray about  such as: work, friends, family and more.
     This is what I leaned, that time with God is time well spent. It does not matter what time of day or night it is God just wants us to communicate with him. He made us to have a relationship with him. We give time to our co-workers, family, and friends whether in person, on the phone or even social media. We find ways to keep in touch with them. We need to do the same for God he should have the first place in our lives. As Christ followers, how will we get to  know him more if were are not continuing  to grow our relationship with him? We must take time to just sit down and talk with God, to praise him, pour our hearts out to him, and listen to him. 
I have decided to find more time to talk with the one who loves me the most, who created me to have a relationship with him and to just get to set in his presence more. 
In the blogs to follow I will be taking about Prayer and how we might can have a more productive prayer life. I hope that you will join me. 
Blessings Always! Veronna

Be Encouraged

It is just Tuesday and I can say that I have already faced  some trials (a test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something.) and tribulations (cause of great trouble or suffering.) this week.  I don't want to focus on the negative however sometimes I have to admit that I get so caught up in the things around me that I can forget to remember that God is in control and NOT ME! It is a good thing that He is in control because I could make a real mess of things. When I am praying and listening to the Father I have found that I make much better choices. If I choose to listen to the one who is in control everything works out better.  However, if I let the sinful nature take control I can  jump to conclusions and then say things I don't mean. This tends to make a bigger mess of every situation. I have heard it said " I am just human " as if that give us some kind of right of passage to do or say what is wrong and evil. We all will face hardship in this world but we must be people of integrity watching how we handle our selves in all situations.  Others may not understand why we may choose  handle a situation different from how someone else may handle it and they may think that we are being weak by the world standards. We should not worry about what other think because  our standards as Christians are to be like Christ not the world. Some times we are  tempted to say or do something that could cause others around us some type of pain. I admit the temptation can be real. I am thankful to be reminded about the verse in  1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation  has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,  he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Be encouraged, even though we will face trials and tribulations. We can stand strong knowing that God is in control!

Deuteronomy 31.6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Jehovah- Shalom is my Prince of Peace

Have you ever had a day where you felt as thought Satan was just camped out in your yard waiting to pounce on you? I know for me sometimes it is just feels like this. Actually, today Satan tried to deceive me in believing his lies that he could take my day away by trying to cause worry, confusion and chaos. In this certain situation I was reminded that God is Jehovah Shalom which means The Lord is Peace. God defeats our enemies to bring us peace. We get inner peace and harmony by leaning on his understanding. We may not understand why our circumstances are the way they are right now but we don't have to always know, we just have to know the one who loves us and wants what is best for us. God is not the author of fear so when Satan tries to make you afraid, worried, confused or to bring chaos into your life just remind him who you belong to and that God is in control of your life. Jehovah-Shalom is your Prince of Peace. Oh, by the way my day turned out great because my God Reigns and he is in control.

Isaiah 9:6
Prince of Peace For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Living it Daily: Friends Can Remind Us Who We Belong To

Living it Daily: Friends Can Remind Us Who We Belong To: I had lunch with a sweet friend today. I love being around sisters that you can just feel the Holy Spirits presents when you are wi...