VERSE OF THE DAY!

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
—Hebrews 11:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
While the road ahead of us may be clouded with questions and concerns, we can look back and see the many ways God has acted in our behalf to get us to the places we need to be. But more than just us, we see his work through history and we can take assurance that his promises are true and his victory in us is assured.

My Prayer...
Almighty God, I believe that before there was a world, you existed. I trust that even now you sustain our world with your word of grace. I am confident that before the future arrives you are already there preparing it for us. Help me in those moments when I am not so confident to remember my faith today and to press on trusting that you are there waiting with your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
—Psalm 119:60

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Obedience is faith put into practice. Without action, James 2 reminds us that our faith is not real. So without arguing, let's quickly obey, even when we don't fully understand why because we've seen God's love demonstrated to us in Jesus, and we've seen the protection that his will has for us when we obey him.

My Prayer...
O God, give me a heart that is quick to obey and a faith that is quick to express itself in action. I want to please you with my words and thoughts, but even more Father, I want to live a life full of your character, wisdom, and grace. Help me to quickly obey your voice. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.

Twice Baked Potatoes!

Info from HappyHourProjects.com

Ingredients

5 lbs. Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 lb. bacon, cooked and chopped

2 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese

1 c. sour cream

1 Tbsp. minced onion

1½ tsp. seasoned salt

½ tsp. pepper

butter and/or milk to taste

Instructions

-Boil potatoes for 15 minutes and drain. Cook and chop your bacon.

-Preheat oven to 350F, and mash with sour cream, minced onion, salt, and pepper. If you normally add butter and/or milk to your mashed potatoes, you may do so but I typically don’t with the cheese and sour cream included.

-Separate 1 c. cheddar and stir it into mashed potatoes. Reserve 1 c. for topping.

-Spoon potatoes into a 9×13 glass pan. Top with bacon and remaining 1 c. of cheese.

-Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, until heated through and cheese melts. Do not allow cheese to brown.

Trey Songz - Foreign

VERSE OF THE DAY!

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
—Psalm 112:5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Generosity is love expressed in practical ways with joy. Generosity and justice are two character traits more needed in our selfish world. They come from a heart touched by grace and from a Father who is gracious.

My Prayer...
Loving Father, I know I will meet people today who need me to be generous with my love, my time, my forgiveness and my money. Please help me to treat them fairly and with love, just as you have treated me. May my life reflect your grace to others who need your love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
—Matthew 19:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Jesus' love for children in an age when they weren't highly regarded is a powerful reminder. It is a reminder of God's love for what the world often abuses or abandons. We are called to love the unloved, the forgotten, the abused and neglected. Why? Because that is what Israel was in Egypt and that is what Jesus was at Calvary and that is what we were without grace (Romans 5:6-11). How can we claim to know salvation and not share it with others who need that grace!? How can we claim to be Jesus' disciples and not show love for those the world forgets?

My Prayer...
Father, I want to be more of a parent like you — a holy and loving parent to my own children and a tender parent to the forgotten children of today. Help me not only to be aroused by the neglect and abuse children suffer in my world, but to be moved to act in ways that bless them. In the name of Jesus, the great lover of all children I pray. Amen.

T.I. - No Mediocre (Explicit) ft. Iggy Azalea

VERSE OF THE DAY!

"What about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
—Matthew 16:15-16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12). We are to confess Jesus before men, knowing that when we do, we can be sure he will confess us before the Father in heaven. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. We may not know all the theological gravity behind those words — after all, Peter didn't when he confessed Jesus as Christ — but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do know more. Jesus asks us to open our hearts to his lordship and begin the journey toward fuller knowledge and experience of him.

My Prayer...
Living God and Holy Father, I believe you sent Jesus as your Son to save me. I confess to you that I want Jesus to be Lord of my life because I believe him to be your Son and my Savior. It is through your Son, the Christ promised in Scripture, and in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen.

Creative Gardens & Plant Ideas!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.
—Psalm 119:30

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Jesus reminded us to "pick up your cross daily and follow" him. The way of truth is a daily choice. To not seek to intentionally put him at the center of our life, the top priority in all of our decisions, is to slip a little bit further away from the life he calls us to lead. Any decision made without consciously seeking to please him is a decision to place him at the periphery of our lives. So let's set our heart on him. Let's choose his way, the way of truth, the way of life, and set our hearts on doing his will.

My Prayer...
Heavenly Father, I choose to follow you and your truth today. Open my eyes that I may see your truth and open my heart that I may live it with consistency and passion. I decide today, again, to follow you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Mase - Nothing ft. Eric Bellinger

VERSE OF THE DAY!

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
—1 John 1:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
As we seek to please God and trust in his grace, more grace is supplied — we are given relationship with each other. And while Jesus' death was "once for all," its cleansing power goes on and on as long as our hearts are tuned to his grace and our hearts seek to walk his path.

My Prayer...
Loving Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus and the cleansing his death brings me. Help me today to live a more dedicated life. Thank you for the assurance that as I seek your will and live your life you are also forgiving me of my sins and cleansing me and making me new. Through the intercession of Jesus, and in his mighty name, I offer these words of thanks. Amen.

7 Habits Of Creative People That Will Allow You To Open Your Mind

So, you’re at another dead end. After days of typing away, researching and coming up with the most exciting material you can find, your mind draws a blank. You think you have the best idea, but when you shoot for the stars, you fall short.

In a world where communication is rampant in all places that have Internet connections, it is increasingly difficult to come up with new and inspiring ideas.

You turn on your computer to start looking for the ultimate idea, which is the first thing that you’re doing wrong.

Turn off your computer
I know it sounds crazy, but try it. The more you browse online, the more you’ll find processed ideas and information that thousands — if not millions — of other people have already used. You need a new set of eyes: your own.

Also, there is another drawback to the computers and other devices: Not only does the screen tire your eyes and make your head ache, it also overwhelms your senses, as you are constantly drawn to other images that blink and glow all over the page.

This makes it hard for you to follow through with a decent train of thought and to concentrate. Although it will be hard to get used to other methods that don’t include looking for information online, it will become easier with time, as you’ll find ideas and information in the most unexpected places.

Write
I am aware that not only are writers creative, but they also do something that keeps their creative juices flowing: They write. By writing something down, you turn abstract ideas into logic, something that makes sense.

When you write, be as specific and comprehensible as possible so that when you reread it a few days later, you will remember what you meant and will be able to trace your own steps.

You can also try free writing: Write the first thing that pops into your head for a preset amount of time. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation; just write and amazing things will start to happen.

Rest as much as you can
Back in the day, bohemian artists stayed up all night partying and would end up with amazing masterpieces.

Keep in mind that some of these great artists already had some success, were being paid for their next installments, had some serious trust-fund backing, or were broke and unhappy and their works weren’t deemed to be successful until after their deaths.

As most of us need to have a day job to back up our aspiring artist careers, keep in mind that you should save your strength to keep those ideas flowing.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Trial and error is the foundation of every human experience and learning process. Why should the process of creation be any different?

If you are too scared of running into some speed bumps along the way, you won’t be able to test your potential and you’ll end up playing it safe. You learn how to overcome mistakes by making them.

Break the rules
Maybe your father always wanted you to be a lawyer or your mother always wanted you to be a doctor. You didn’t want to be either, so you hopped on the first plane to India and spent the rest of the year there volunteering for an NGO.

What you actually do doesn’t need to be this extreme, but breaking the mold of what you thought was “normal” is a very big step to become empowered, confident and more willing to try something new.

Whether it’s a break in the chain of command, the cycle you were in or the way you see the world, you will learn how to look around with new eyes, which will bring about new insight and new goals.

You need not be anyone else’s version of perfect; just find what’s perfect for you, what makes you want to sing every day and what makes you feel as excited as you were on Christmas morning as a child.

Break as many rules as you can throughout your life (as long as it doesn’t lead you to jail) and find inspiration for any projects you want to pursue.

Have fun
Nothing is worthwhile if you can’t find the time to laugh and enjoy yourself.

You don’t need to be so focused and driven all the time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so stop trying to reinvent history. Take the pressure off yourself, allow your mind to wander and focus on as many trivial things as you want.

Go out with some friends (the kookier, the better), enjoy gardens, the smell of books or each other’s company. Sing in the shower whenever you can and dance whenever you hear music.

Finish what you started
It sounds simple, but it really isn’t. It’s quite easy for creative people to get caught up with fresh ideas and avoid harder projects. One can end up with millions of un-ended stories, unfinished paintings and lyric-less melodies because he or she thinks the muse calls from elsewhere.

Creativity, as everything else, takes time to develop and to master. It also requires practice. You can be creative by nature, but if you don’t practice your talent, it will never be more than just that: talent.

If you don’t force yourself to finish what you start, you won’t know your own creative process, where you struggle, where you excel and how to plan your workload accordingly. Your muse will be fickle and will leave you hanging most of the times, believe me.

Force yourself to depend only on your work and your process to be the most creative you.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

[The Lord says] "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
—Isaiah 41:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Fear saps our will power and leaves us feeling depleted and hopeless. Yet very few of us have ever experienced a defeat so complete and bitter as the one God's people faced when Isaiah shared this message of hope. The preservation of Israel through their horrors to the time of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead when all appeared lost, the triumph of the Church through centuries of persecution and opposition are all powerful reminders that underneath us are the everlasting arms of a mighty and loving God who will ultimately bring us to share in his eternal victory.

My Prayer...
Almighty and Eternal Father, it is such sweet comfort to know that you are always there. Thank you for always being there and guaranteeing my victory! In Jesus' name. Amen.

14 Reasons Summer Is Rough For Busty Girls

.... STORY OF MY LIFE!!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
—Psalm 119:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Praise is integrally connected with our character. So for us to worship God, the intent of our hearts and the effort of our lives must show the determined desire to know and live his will. While we will never do this perfectly, grace covers us as we seek to live for his glory. But that grace must never be used as a pretense to excuse spiritual laziness or intentional weakness.

My Prayer...
Holy God, I want to be more like you in character even though I will never be like you in might or majesty. Open my eyes and through the Spirit enlighten me as I seek your will in your Scriptures and as I seek to be obedient in my daily life. Forgive me of my sin and create a clean and holy heart, wholly determined to do your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
—Romans 1:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
For the rich and poor, young and old, weak and strong, thin and heavy, there is still just one message and one name and one story that makes the eternal difference. That one message, story, and name are announced in the gospel — God's good news to the world in Jesus Christ. God's good news of life in the story of Jesus Christ is The Story and The Message and The Hope for all.

My Prayer...
Great Redeemer, make me more bold to proclaim the Gospel today. Give me eyes to see those who are waiting to be told. Fill me up with your Spirit so that I will not be ashamed but will gladly proclaim the story of Jesus. Fill my life with the optimistic hope of Jesus' glorious and victorious return so that I might share it with passion and others will know of your grace. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Jennifer Lopez - First Love