James 1:8 "An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways." From the instant you wake in the morning until the moment you nod off to sleep at night, you have the opportunity to make countless decisions. Indecision is an enemy of progress; don't let it defeat you. People who can never quite seem to make up their minds usually make themselves miserable. So when in doubt, be decisive, pray for guidance, and trust your inner voice for direction. There is no need to fear the decisions of life when you know the name of Jesus.

joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go." God offers us the strength to meet our challenges, and He offers us hope for the future. One way that He shares His message of hope is through the words of encouraging friends and family members. Hope, like other human emotions, is contagious. If we spend our time with positive, encouraging people, their enthusiasm will have a tendency to lift our spirits. But if we find ourselves spending too much time with naysayers we will tend to be negative. If you need or want encouragement in your life, choose who you spend your time with wisely.

Psalm 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from my fears" Every life, including yours, is an unfolding series of events: some fabulous, some not-so-fabulous, and some downright disheartening. When you reach the mountaintops of life, praising God is easy. But, when the storm clouds form overhead, your faith will be tested, sometimes to the breaking point. As a believer, you can take comfort in this fact: Wherever you find yourself, whether at the top of a mountain or the depths of the valley, God is there, and because He cares for you, you can live courageously.

Psalm 71:8 "I am always praising you; all day long I honor you." Are you willing to place God first in your life? And, are you willing to welcome God's Son into your heart? Unless you can honestly answer these questions with a resounding yes, then your relationship with God isn't what it could be or should be. Thankfully, God is always available. he's always ready to forgive, and He's waiting to hear from you now. The rest, of course, is up to you.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 "First of all, then, I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. Pray for kings and everyone who is in authority so that we can live a quiet and peaceful life in complete godliness and dignity" While it is no longer kings and monarchies looking to rule over one another, I am afraid the need to rule and division is at an individual level. We still struggle to live quiet and peaceful lives. It seems it is an inherent part of human nature. Even so, even though we condemned Jesus to a cross, we have come to know the love our heavenly Father. We have come to know His redemption and grace. So instead of looking to rule, to win, to gain, may we look to love, to give, and to grow, together. May we pray for one another and may we walk in the footsteps of Jesus who taught us how to live a truly peaceful and fulfilled life.

Lamentations 3:19-23 "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness"

We often fall on hardships, tragedy, loss, or despair in our lives. But even though we may not understand the meaning in the moment, through our faith, we can acknowledge the great love that our Father has for us. Through His love He has created us in His perfect image. He has given us His Son and His life for our salvation. And it is because of this love we are not consumed, even in the turbulence of our lives, for His compassion and His perfect plans never fail.

1 Peter 1:23 "You have been born again, and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die. You were born again through God's living message that continues forever" Jesus sacrificed His life so that we might be born again. This gift, freely given, is the priceless possession of everyone who accepts Him. So, let us claim His gift today. Let us walk with Him, let us love Him, and let us share His message with our family, with our friends, and with the world!

Romans 14:23 "If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong" When we speak of our beliefs, our actions are better descriptors than our words. When we say one thing but yet do or act in another it becomes detrimental. As believers, our actions should always give credence to the changes that Jesus can make in the lives of those who walk with Him. It is not always easy but it is important that we keep our actions consistent with our beliefs.

Luke 11:11 "You fathers - if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." Too often we are afraid or ashamed to ask for the desires we wish in our lives. Luke 11 teaches us that God does not withhold spiritual gifts from those who ask. Our obligation, quite simply, is to ask for them. So today, are you asking for mountains to be moved in your life, or are you waiting for God to stumble over molehills? Find courage today to ask God for the desires of your heart, he is waiting patiently, in anticipation to act. Ask for His help and watch in amazement as your mountains begin to move.

Proverbs 15:15 "A miserable heart means a miserable life: a cheerful heart fills the day with a song." The Christian life is a cause for celebration, but sometimes we don't feel much like celebrating. In fact, when the weight of the world seems to bear down upon our shoulders, a celebration may be the last thing on our minds, but it shouldn't be. As God's children, we are blessed beyond measure. this day is a non-renewable resource - once it's gone, it's gone forever. We should give thanks for this day while using it for the glory of God. He has created us in His image, and He wants us to experience a life of joy and abundance. God doesn't force this on us however, we must claim it for ourselves. You see it is a choice, so today think optimistically about yourself and your future. Choose an attitude of celebration, give thanks to the one who has give your everything, and know He wants to give you so much more!