The Golden Rule

Hello!

I have been reading a daily devotional by Joyce Meyer titled Love Out Loud. The book so far has been a tremendous blessing, daily giving wise words about Loving God, Loving Yourself, and Loving others. I would like to share one of the devotions I just read:

                                                  The Golden Rule
  So then, whatever you desire that others would to to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is(sums up) the Law and the Prophets.
                                                                                                                Matthew 7:12

Today's scripture is often called the "Golden Tule," meaning that if we follow this one principle, everything will work out much better.
    Most people treat others the way they are being treated, but God's principle is the exact opposite. We are not to treat people the way they treat us, but as we want to be treated. This is not easy to do. In order to obey God, we must move beyond feelings and what seems fair. If people mistreat us, God ells us to forgive them, pray for, and bless them. I don't think anybody "feels" like doing that, but if you have ever tried it, you know that it releases joy in your life and gives God the opportunity to deal with the person who mistreated you.
     Imagine what would happen in the world if everyone operated by the Golden Rule. Everyone would be giving instead of just taking. We would be merciful because we all want mercy. Living this way would set us free from selfish living, the root of all of our unhappiness. Jesus said that in order to follow him we must forget about ourselves. Sadly, most of us stay busy trying to take care of ourselves and make sure nobody mistreats or takes advantage of us. We need to deposit ourselves with God, retire from self-care, and obey the Golden Rule.

Love Others Today: "Father, make me aware of other people's needs and feelings, and help me treat them the way I would like to be treated."


-Joyce Meyer


I hope you all are as blessed by this as I was! It's always nice to have reminders, things that help put the focus where it should be:-)

God bless,

Dany

Clarity

For most of us, clarity is necessary. Whether it be directions on how to get from point a to point b, an understanding of a homework assignment, answers to how we feel about one another, or our faith, we like to have clarity. Lately, I've realized that clarity can be used as a crutch. For example, one may say that they CANNOT move on from a given situation until they have clarity.While this is true to an extent, I believe that we should be able to move forward in life, even if we don't have all the answers. Our desire for clarity can turn into a deep rooted worry about the future. Being overcome with these emotions does nothing to help our circumstances. We have the power to think positively and defeat our negative thoughts. In all things, clear and unclear, we should trust that the Lord is in control. He sees what we cannot, and he will work things out for our better if/when we allow him to.

Here are a few relevant scriptures to this topic:

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

1 Corinthians 13:12 
Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Romans 8:28

 ²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Blessings,

Dany

Dope!!!

Ok, so as a young Christian, I'm always excited to see members of the body of Christ representing to the world where "cool" originates. I was introduced to some amazing new music at youth service last night. This young,talented Christian rapper, "Young Chozen" has an awesome new song that is sure to be a hit among young Christians, while drawing those who don't know the Lord. Check it out:

If you enjoyed the video, you can watch him discussing his entire album, and also click a link to purchase it here:

Confirmation and Time

I'm a firm believer that God often sends us confirmation. When we pray in sincerity, seeking an answer and willing to act in faith, the Lord doesn't leave us hanging. He knows and understands that we need a sign. In one of my posts I mentioned that I'm seeking divine purpose and direction. More and more, lately, I see the Lord lining things up in my life, making my pathway clear. I've met some awesome people, been given amazing opportunities, and have truly felt the peace that the word of God tells us about(Philippians 4:7). I encourage anyone who may read this to pray and sincerely seek the Lords will to be done in your life.Again, we all have a purpose.

 At yesterday's youth service, the Pastor spoke about time. He pulled many scriptures about time, and how we shouldn't waste it. The word of God is very clear about how little time we actually have here on earth, and how we should use it wisely. This resonated with me, as it has been strongly on my spirit to do more for the Lord. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day: school, work, spending time with family and friends, shopping, eating,  movies, internet, enjoying the weather....all these things are beautiful and can be fulfilling, but without God EVERYTHING is incomplete. It is possible to do all of these things, while still placing God at the center.

I'd like to share some scriptures relating to time and purpose:

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Psalm 39:4-5
"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

Proverbs 13:4
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

James 4:13-17
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money" Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Psalm 90:10
The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Ecclesiastes 3:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

1 Timothy 4:14-16
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Hebrews 6:11-12
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Peace and Blessings,


Dany

Beautiful Day!

The Weather has been incredibly beautiful for this time of year. Today is the official first day of spring. Spring is my favorite season! Not just because I was born in spring(wink), but the weather is gorgeous, and I like that everything comes to life and looks amazing.Flowers, green grass, cool breezes, walks in the park, relaxing outside, and beautiful sunshine are a few things that contribute to this awesome time of year. As my last semester in college winds down, I get to not only celebrate and reflect on achievements and endurance, but I'll also cross the finish line while enjoying my favorite time of year.

Blessings,

Dany

Direction

I'm at a point in my life where I am seeking divine direction. I believe we all have a purpose, and it is important for us to seek out that purpose. How does one seek direction and purpose? This would be answered in many ways by many different people. My answer is: prayer. I have faith that through prayer and obedience, the Lord will reveal his plans for us. The word of God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God is very much concerned about our future. I believe many of us only think the Lord is concerned about us giving our lives to him, living as a Christian should, but everything else is left up to us. While we all have free will to do as we please, God does have plans for us. We have to learn those plans, and again, through prayer and obedience, we have hope for the future as those plans are uncovered.

I spoke with a Pastor yesterday at church, and he prayed over my friend and I. He let us know that this period that we are in is very crucial for our spiritual,mental,physical,and emotional growth. He let us know that many things will come against us, but we have to stand boldly and confidently in the word of God. I can see that the LOrd is gradually revealing to me what he has planned for me...in the meantime, I'll be walking in prayer, obedience, and love.

Peace and Blessings,
Dany

Amazing

Greetings All,

I've come across some of her spoken word before, and I wanted to share with you all an amazing poet/lyricist, Janette. Janette works closely with P4CM( Passion 4 Christ Movement) to spread the truth of the word of God through amazing poetry. In this particular poem she discusses how to be a Proverbs 31 woman(virtuous) in today's society. She has another amazing poem "I will wait for You" that you can check out @ your own leisure. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Recovery

After almost a week of not feeling well, I can see sunshine! lol. I actually opened my curtain and allowed God's beautiful light to shine in my room today. After that, one of the first things I did this morning was strip my bed of all blankets,sheets,pillow case,etc. I also gathered all clothing items, towels,etc used during my period of sickness. I threw those items in the washing machine asap. It felt good to get out of bed......REALLY good. As I mentioned in my other post, being sick definitely makes one appreciate being well. Who'd ever thought I'd be sooo excited to wash clothes? lol. I'm praying that I have complete strength asap, as I am on break this week. I don't want  to spend another week in my room trying to recover....it's time to get out and smell the flowers...well, no flowers yet, but there's still fresh air....or @ least more fresh than the "sick" atmosphere of my room for the past week. ha ha :-)

Peace and Blessings,

Dany

Things We take For Granted....

I know the idea of "taking things for granted" is nothing new and pretty cliche, but it's definitely a common occurrence for many people. I think we have to constantly remind ourselves of the things we should be grateful for. My mom always says "count your blessings," and she couldn't be more right! Of course, it would be impossible to sit and count every single blessing. Speaking for myself, God has been beyond good to me. I'm not deserving, but yet he still blesses me. This makes me want to go out and live a life that is pleasing to him.....

I have been trying to recover from a cold/virus/fever for about 3 days now. Not a good feeling. The sore throat has been the worst part. I don't remember EVER having a sore throat this painful/irritating. I've been tossing,turning,and groaning throughout the night and day. I have been trying to stay hydrated, drinking water, tons of green tea w/lemon,honey,and peppermint.I've had soup and chili when my appetite came back. sigh. Moments like these make me appreciate being well. I've been on a health and fitness tip lately, and I've been telling myself that as soon as I feel better I'm going to leap for joy....literally! lol. I'm on spring break next week, so I have plenty of time to recuperate. I pray you all have been well :-) Ttyl

Psalm 34:19 "The righteous may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."


Blessings,
Dany

Finally!

Hello All! I finally created a blog. It has been on my heart for more than a little while. I pray that this blog is a blessing to whoever finds their way here. I have much to share with you all so stay tuned. I pray everyone is having a good evening.I also want to thank some of the many people who have encouraged me to either start a channel or blog: The encouragement center(hairlista),Special K of the encouragement center,Dee M(hairlista), TxCutie(youtube), JessicaLailah(YOutube),KinkyKurlyKham(Youtube),2 of my best friends, Amber and Jennifer R(Love you guys!), my family(Dawn Max and my brother Donnie),and many more( there's a lot, so I may have to mention you all later *wink*).

Peace and blessings,

Dany