Take up your cross

To take up the cross means to take up Christ’s burden for the people of the world.

Though our crosses are similar, none are identical. “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me” (Luke 9:23 CEV, emphasis mine).

We each have our own cross to carry—our individual calling. Discover your God-designed task. It fits. It matches your passions and enlists your gifts and talents. Want to blow the cloud cover off your gray day? Accept God’s direction.

“The Lord has assigned to each his task” (1 Corinthians3:5 NIV). What is yours? What is your unique call, assignment, mission?

From Great Day Every Day:
Navigating Life’s Challenges with Promise and Purpose by Max Lucado

A Recipe for Happiness

Give thanks in everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "For this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus." A continual attitude of thankfulness will land you right in the center of God's will. 

Think of at least five blessings you have received the previous day. Once you start, I am sure you’ll be able to put down more than five.

I try to maintain a constant attitude of gratitude. Some days it is not easy but it always works if I start my day with a prayer and blessing-counting.

Look up!

How can they be so ungrateful?” I often mumble when I read the story of the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. God performed miracle after miracle for them and they still groaned, moaned, and complained.

                   Just like you? I thought. You, Nadia, look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, your son’s unemployment, next month’s silent calendar and your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert.

                     God tells us what to do: “Look up. Manna will be sent just for you! Because He cares.”

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day God lovers!

He first loved us.

Will this situation ever turn around?

We all come up against some stubborn situations or areas of our life, where it just doesn't seem like it will turn around.

Pastor Dickow teaches us: “Expectation is the womb of manifestation.” Ephesians 3:20.

Every turnaround has a turning point. When you turn your thinking—your thinking turns your life. Proverbs 23:7

Father, help me to line up my way of thinking with your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Nobody loves me!

Nobody loves me! That thought sneaks into my head from time to time. Powerless, my prayers seam to hit the ceiling and stop there. Problems pile from all directions and I helplessly open the Word of God for answers.

Then I remember that God loves me. I don’t have to earn his love. It is freely given to me. He calls me “his beloved” in 1Thessalonians 1:4.

He not only loves me, but he paid for me with the blood of his own Son. (1Peter 1:18-19)

My value comes from God, not from what people think about me. I am accepted and loved child of the Most High God.