Being thankful takes practice. It seems as though it should come naturally, but that's not always the case. Reminding ourselves of just how blessed we are helps us to practice gratitude and to have hope even in bad times. (Scripture Reading- Psalm 92:1-2)

Receiving any kind of gift is great, but it hits differently when you receive a gift that you can tell much time, and attention was paid to make sure it was personalized just for you. Jesus is our special, personalized gift from God. His life produced the salvation needed to reconnect us to our Heavenly Father. My prayer is that you receive this special gift that keeps on giving, Jesus the Christ. (Scripture Reading- Ephesians 1:3-10)

Romans chapter 8 explains, in detail, that there is nothing and no one that can separate us from God's love. However, we can hold on to some things that get in the way of our reception of His love. I encourage you to read these scriptures and allow them to give you hope. Also, allow them to give you the strength needed to release some things so that you can receive the transformational, everlasting love of our Heavenly Father. (Scripture Reading- Romans Ch. 8)

The more we walk on this path God has laid out for us, the less we fit into the world around us. As we allow our minds to be renewed, we shed conformity and begin standing out. My prayer is that we boldly follow Christ and not the crowd. (Scripture Reading- Romans 12:2)

When presented with the option of success or failure, none of us consciously chooses to fail. However, we have failed and guess what we just might fail again in this life. Sometimes, the choices we make or the direction we choose lead us to failure of the mission. But knowing that there is almost nothing done that can’t be undone or recovered from is the motivation we use to get up and try, try again. (Scripture Reading-Psalm 145:15)

Having dreams and goals is necessary in this life. Aspiring to excel and grow is good. However, when those things are based solely on someone else’s timeline, where we are currently, it can seem "behind schedule." But know this, all things happen according to God's timing. When we measure our journey using God's measurement, we have the confidence to know that we are right on track. And that we will arrive at all of life's stops, in due time. (Scripture Reading - Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)

"You reap what you sow." We have grown up hearing this phrase. However, our concept of it is normally negative. In some verses, the context of its use is a warning to those that sow evil, but bad things aren't the only seeds we can sow. When we sow from our gifts, talents, and treasure, we reap an abundance of God's blessings in our lives. (Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 & Luke 6:36-42)

Work, work, work, work, work! It seems as if that is all we do, and it is exhausting... But at the end of the day, does our work matter? Did our efforts produce something meaningful, or was it all done in vain? (Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 10:31)

The “Comfort Zone” is a place that we all know well. We all dwell in it often. It’s the zone that we are most confident in. The kicker is that this is a place where we shouldn’t live exclusively. From time to time, we must step out of it in order to grow, learn, share, and see the good things that God has for us. (Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Life is busy. It is filled with activities that never seem to end. We start our days early and end them late, stopping only because our bodies can not go anymore. We do not truly understand the damage this causes until it's too late. That's why we MUST rest. Rest is the essential element that builds the stamina we need to manage what life brings.