I enjoy bringing you biblical content that strengthens and lightens your outlook. God brings the peace and I attempt, through words, to connect you to it.
You may be asking, “Why have you not been posting regularly?” This is a question that needs an answer.
Finishing my manuscript for the devotional, Two or Three For Your City has been taking up all of my writing time. I miss interacting with you here. But, I need to complete this book so it can minister to fellow Christians in their City–through you!
Who
Two or Three For Your City is written for the family, the city servants, the first responders, the students, the homeless, the addicted, the victims of crime, the criminals, the prayer warriors, the abused, all who work, and the ministries.
Does that sound huge and impossible? It does to me! But with God, it is possible. Look up Luke chapter one verse thirty-seven if you need encouragement for what IS possible with God.
Until my next post …
P.S.
Hello to my international readers. I pray for and thank God for you. Thank you for your many visits!
I opened my bible this morning, before hitting the, make live button. The emotions have been raw and like a rollercoaster. I don’t like rollercoasters. But for God, I have to be willing to take the next steps.
Have you ever felt that way? Maybe sending your child off to college, or making a career change? These are things that have to occur, but willingness does not equal comfort.
Then my eyes found a verse in Proverbs. I picked up my English Standard Version. Chapter fourteen verse four says, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.”
Maybe I have been watching too much of The Incredible Dr. Pol, a veterinarian, but it gave me a helpful visual. There is a lot of muck in a pin or the barn. But they are producing something good for the land and their owner.
The ox also needs some tending to, as I have seen from the show. So while I grapple with the discomfort of the publishing world, I will also find ways to tend to the mess of the emotions it tosses around.
I am thankful that God said to me, to produce a crop, I’m going to get messy.
Later today, those who follow my social media will see the inspiration for my book cover and the title and subtitle. (Inspiration because it is what the Book Designer will work from to create the actual cover.)
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You are a well-designed vessel for this one life, but to get the best out of this life, you must operate by using His user manual. Yes, this is a talk about Scripture, our source for knowing how to think about ourselves, the people around us, and the world.
Y’all, life has never felt more stressful. I am living my fifth decade, so I can say without a doubt, that politics and the state of the world have never been discussed more at the dinner table and in the canned food aisle. Seriously, complete strangers and I gasp together at prices that seem to rise daily, with the sun.
If you’re like me, you catch yourself griping about the costs. Add the doom and gloom on every news report guaranteeing the worst is about to happen.
And then I groan at myself!
Why?
Because God’s word tells me not to worry or complain.
Stay with me, because I am going to flip this entire story.
You are not created to function well under constant negative thoughts and news. It produces toxic reactions in your body, making all other facets of your life miserable.
You are a well-designed vessel for this one life, but to get the best out of this life, you must operate by using His user manual. It is the instruction book for living and thinking right.
Yes, this is a talk about Scripture, our source for knowing how to think about ourselves, the people around us, and the world.
Is this the shift you were expecting? I hope so. You see, God rights E V E R Y T H I N G. His master plan always corrects our course–if we look to His word for instructions we see ourselves aligning with Him.
Think of David who was summoned to fight Goliath. He did not shrink at the news of this massive war-hungry man. No! David stood in his full stature, knowing who God is and what his own skill set brought to the battle.
Psalm 146:5, in the AMPC version, says, “Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
Now, if you have ever studied a foreign language, you know there are difficulties in finding the exact word to fully grasp a foreign word. I remember literature professors lamenting about this for poetry translated into English. This is why several words are used in the AMPC version for one word. They are laying out several options that fit the original language used in Scripture because we do not have one word that encompasses the vast meaning of the original word. The introduction to the AMPC explains this in fuller detail.
Let’s get back to the scripture.
God’s word is declaring, (picture a bugle call): you are “happy, blessed, fortunate, and enviable”. Life does not get much better than that! Repeat out loud, “I am happy, blessed, fortunate, and enviable”. I would repeat that at least five times. Can’t you feel your brain relaxing and rejoicing at this news?!
And why do you embody these gifts from God? The verse says it is because you have God, who has special revelation, help, and hope, for Y O U ! I want God in my corner, ready to help and show me hope that my circumstances don’t reveal yet.
We’ll save the revelation part for another time, but don’t miss out on context.
The help, hope, and revelation He gives to you is what? Special. God’s personal relationship with you is special. Do you know the opposite of special is ordinary? Your relationship with God is anything BUT ordinary!
Do you need revelation for today? Do you need help today? What are you hoping for or lost hope in?
Stand on the truth that you are happy, blessed, and enviable. Lift your eyes to the Lord, seeking His revelation, help, and hope. Know, as young David did, He is in this moment with you. And, you are equipped with your experience and training to face this day.
More of the Same, but …
The news will continue in its attempt to bury your hope and happiness. You have a ready weapon for this battle and this is why you are enviable.
The devil came to destroy, but – News Alert! (Do you hear the ticker tape too?)
Jesus won the war! In Him, you are winning too.
Thank you, Lord!
Your Turn
How do you see yourself as equipped and experienced? Please share in the comments.
🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
Help me minister to the state of #Ohio
AN INVITATION TO PREPARE THE WAY (Read or skip to PRAY –> 🙏🔥)
🔥🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
🎤 In 2014 God pursued me to pray for a local City. The daily news in that area was overwhelming and my prayers were drowned in despair. I invited others to pray with me #TwoOrThreeForYourCity and many said, “Yes.” 6 years of Sundays I emailed a devotional prayer for that City, uniting us all as we petitioned heaven.
➡️ Fast forward to today and God pursued me to write a devotional designed to pray for Any City in any state. Will you join me in preparing the land?
As I near the completion of my devotional to pray for your City, I feel the need to pray for each state. Help me minister to the state of #Ohio. #State35of50
🙏🔥 God, thank you for every person who calls Ohio home. We ask you to bless their land and every person there. We lift up Governor Mike DeWine and ask for wisdom and Godly counsel for him. Create a desire in Ohioans to pray in community for their community. In Jesus’ name, amen.🛐
❤️Be sure to ‘LOVE’ if you prayed. Thank you! 🏠If you live or have lived in Ohio, give a shout-out in the comments. 🔗Please share this post with someone you know in Ohio.
🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
Help me minister to the state of #NorthDekota
AN INVITATION TO PREPARE THE WAY (Read or skip to PRAY –> 🙏🔥)
🔥🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
🎤 In 2014 God pursued me to pray for a local City. The daily news in that area was overwhelming and my prayers were drowned in despair. I invited others to pray with me #TwoOrThreeForYourCity and many said, “Yes.” 6 years of Sundays I emailed a devotional prayer for that City, uniting us all as we petitioned heaven.
➡️ Fast forward to today and God pursued me to write a devotional designed to pray for Any City in any state. Will you join me in preparing the land? As I near the completion of my devotional to pray for your City, I feel the need to pray for each state. Help me minister to the state of #North Dakota. #State34of50
🙏🔥 God, thank you for every person who calls North Dakota home. We ask you to bless their land and every person there. We lift up Governor Doug Burgum and ask for wisdom and Godly counsel for him. Create a desire in North Dakotans to pray in community for their community. In Jesus’ name, amen.🛐
❤️Be sure to ‘like or share’ if you prayed. Thank you! 🏠If you live or have lived in North Dakota, give a shout-out in the comments. 🔗Please share this post with someone you know in North Dakota.
What would you add to the prayer for North Dakota? Put it in the comments and let us pray together!
🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
Help me minister to the state of #NorthCarolina
AN INVITATION TO PREPARE THE WAY (Read or skip to PRAY –> 🙏🔥)
🔥🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
🎤 In 2014 God pursued me to pray for a local City. The daily news in that area was overwhelming and my prayers were drowned in despair. I invited others to pray with me #TwoOrThreeForYourCity and many said, “Yes.” 6 years of Sundays I emailed a devotional prayer for that City, uniting us all as we petitioned heaven.
➡️ Fast forward to today and God pursued me to write a devotional designed to pray for Any City in any state. Will you join me in preparing the land?
As I near the completion of my devotional to pray for your City, I feel the need to pray for each state. Help me minister to the state of #NorthCarolina. #State33of50
🙏🔥 God, thank you for every person who calls North Carolina home. We ask you to bless their land and every person there. We lift up Governor Roy Cooper and ask for wisdom and Godly counsel for him. Create a desire in North Carolinians to pray in community for their community. In Jesus’ name, amen.🛐
❤️Be sure to ‘LOVE’ if you prayed. Thank you! 🏠If you live or have lived in North Carolina, give a shout-out in the comments. 🔗Please share this post with someone you know in North Carolina.
🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
Help me minister to the state of #NewYork.
AN INVITATION TO PREPARE THE WAY (Read or skip to PRAY –> 🙏🔥)
🔥🕊 You are the Church. If you are a Christian, you are a walking, talking, and praying ministry for Christ. But, who is God calling you to minister to and are you?
🎤 In 2014 God pursued me to pray for a local City. The daily news in that area was overwhelming and my prayers were drowned in despair. I invited others to pray with me #TwoOrThreeForYourCity and many said, “Yes.” 6 years of Sundays I emailed a devotional prayer for that City, uniting us all as we petitioned heaven.
➡️ Fast forward to today and God pursued me to write a devotional designed to pray for Any City in any state. Will you join me in preparing the land?
Prepare the Way for Two or Three For Your City. Intercessory prayer for your City.
As I near the completion of my devotional to pray for your City, I feel the need to pray for each state. Help me minister to the state of #NewYork. #State32of50
🙏🔥 God, thank you for every person who calls New York home. We ask you to bless their land and every person there. We lift up Governor Kathleen Hochul and ask for wisdom and Godly counsel for her. Create a desire in New Yorkers to pray in community for their community. In Jesus’ name, amen.🛐
❤️Be sure to ‘LOVE’ if you prayed. Thank you! 🏠If you live or have lived in New York, give a shout-out in the comments. 🔗Please share this post with someone you know in New York.
A way to easily gain a positive expectancy, outlook, and a smile in your heart if not on your face–is to
"Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord."
Psalm 119:1, NLT
The early morning glory of red and purple playing back and forth in the sky is erased when the sun soars upward. Like your once-wrapped packages under the tree that were poised to be opened, the treasure is now fully exposed.
As you walk into the New Year of our Lord, the newness will lose its grandeur of the gifts and the expectancy of a new year. That is normal and dare I say okay. There is nothing wrong with not being as thrilled with the gifts or the anticipation of a new year.
Newly opened gifts and perhaps a new goal or two in mind, the ‘newness’ of the gifts and new year always dulls.
Michele Marie Weisman
However, the joy of God never dims or diminishes. What was true of God yesterday is true today and will be tomorrow.
Easily gain a positive expectancy, outlook, and a smile in your heart if not on your face by simply serving in your community. Your City. Remember, Jesus says we are serving him when we serve another.
Ideas to Serve: Call a friend or acquaintance and ask how they are doing. Pen a note to someone and put it in the mailbox. Are you running errands today? Who can you let go before you in line at the check out, or can you pay for someone’s items at the store?
Pray with me.
God, my emotions will fail but you always have an abundance of joy to give away. Show me where to serve. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Thank you!
Thank you for visiting in 2023! I consider it an honor when you stop by Walking On Mustard Seeds.
I am able to see what country a reader visits from. A total of 41 countries stopped by to read my blog this last year!
Because I can’t offer you tea or coffee, please know I pray for you and thank God for you.
MVP 2023 (Most Viewed Post)
If you share a post with others, thank you! That is the greatest compliment I can receive, that you would tell others about a piece I wrote.
What was your favorite post of 2023? Your comments brighten my day!
Please know you are always welcome here. I look forward to crafting more blog posts for you and thank you for your grace as I learn to juggle the blog and finishing my manuscript for release in the Spring of 2024
