Smiles from God

If you are considering leaving God and walking in your own way because life is tough. Consider the following points and Bible verses and ask God to help you to walk more closely with Him. May God bless you.

1. God Will Never Give Up on Me

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to  be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”Romans 8:28-32

“…And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

2. God Loves Me

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.” Romans 5:6-8

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was  wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:3-6

3. A Better Life is Ahead If I Don’t Give Up on God

'“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so,  I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’” John 14:1-3

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17

“‘Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  Behold,  I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.  He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.’” Revelation 3:10-12

Jesus is returning soon. Keep holding on to God, He will always hold on to you. God loves you more than you can ever understand.

Are you struggling with guilt? You made a decision that you know you shouldn’t have and now your mind keeps replaying the negatives of that choice. you feel deep regret, shame and guilt constantly. I experienced these emotions when I expressly disobeyed God and got married to an unbeliever. I heard God’s voice telling me not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever, but I was too scared and embarrassed to obey God. How did things turn out for me? You can imagine.

Now to you. Have you turned your guilt, shame and regret over to God? 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. 

This is a powerful Scripture. At the moment you give your sin to God, he takes it and He forgives you. He gives you the righteousness of Jesus Christ in exchange for your sinfulness. You no longer need to walk around with the past. You can proceed in confidence and with gratitude in your new identity. Please, leave all of the bad feelings, thoughts, lies and threats from the devil. Take the gift of forgiveness that God gives. Receive a new mind, new thoughts and His Holy Spirit. May God bless you.

Patriarch’s and Prophets p. 183 p. 2 ~ ⁠https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/84.758#⁠

The visuals in this video downloaded from Pixabay.

You’ve stopped trusting God and started trusting yourself more. You decided that church is not the place for you because there are too many “fake” people there. You’ve gone through a lot of painful experiences and you’re wondering if God really cares, “Why is life so tough?” Now, look back at the times when God saved you and you know you didn’t deserve being saved. Can you recall when He moved that person out of your life and things changed for the better? Do you remember when all your options were exhausted and you were about to give up, BUT GOD made the perfect way at the perfect time? If He has never given up on you, why are you giving up on Him? 

Turn around and give God another chance. He has given you numberless chances. He’s the only One who can love you like He does. He's shown you how much He loves you when Jesus gave His all on the cross. He only has your best interest at heart. You can trust Him so, just do.

#mentalhealthawareness #Jesuslovesyou #returntoGod

In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 tells us that sometimes God allows bad things to happen to us. It also outlines four steps that we can take to change things.

1. Humble yourself - “… ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…” I Peter 5:5-6
2. Pray - “Trust in him at all times; ye people, Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62:8
3. Seek God’s Face - “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13
4. Stop doing wrong and do what’s right- “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11

When we follow these instructions, God promises to: hear, forgive and rectify the situation. Are your problems because of something in your life that God is trying to remove? Do you need to make a decided change? You know how your horrible situation can become a beautiful testimony. Now precious soul, what are you waiting for? The solution is clear. Ask God to help you take these steps today.

What do you need to keep before Jehovah until He answers you? What need is most pressing for you? In Luke 11, Jesus told His disciples that His Father was very willing to give the Holy Spirit to everyone who asked persistently.

The Holy Spirit is the second best Gift that God has offered His followers. Jesus Christ, our Saviour is the first. Have you received the Holy Spirit? Are you seeking God for this precious blessing?

If we seek the Lord with our whole heart, we will receive the blessing for which we seek. God is able, willing and ready to bestow all His promises on us. Are you ready to receive them? May God continually bless and make you a blessing.

Have you ever needed God’s help, and prayed earnestly, but nothing changed? In Matthew 15:21-28, we read a story of faith, determination, humility and desperation. A Canaanite woman came to Jesus to request He heal her demon-possessed daughter. First Jesus ignored her. So, instead of leaving Him alone, she goes and troubles His disciples. They then go to Jesus and beseech Him to have compassion on the lady and relieve her suffering. So Jesus tells her, that He came to help the Jews. In other words, I didn’t come to help you because you are not an Israelite. 

Again, instead of walking away, she humbled herself and worshipped Him. Help me! Then Jesus said to her, I can’t give the food of the children to the dogs. Could you imagine the level of humiliation? But this lady saw the love and compassion in the eyes of Jesus. He understood that the words were not a sentence. They were not Jesus’ final decision regarding her request. She saw that the One who spoke to her was no ordinary person. She knew that deliverance was finally come and she wasn’t leaving until she received her desire.

Instead of retaliating, she agreed with Jesus and requested the droppings from the children. Jesus commends her faith and gives her what she sought. Has Jesus gone silent on you? Does it seem as though He’s denying your requests? Do you feel humiliated and abandoned by your Lord and Saviour? Know that He is right by your side waiting to perfect your faith so that you can be an example to others.

Don’t give up on you, the situation, loved one nor on Jesus. Keep pressing because one day, if you do not faint, He will say, “Great is your faith.” May God bless and keep you as you trust in Him.

The Desire of Ages Chapter 43 ~ https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.1931&index=0

Do you ever struggle to do just enough? Eat just enough? Shop just enough? My struggle is being in the garden and getting out on time. Sometimes I get lost there and four hours after I began, the work seemed to have doubled. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 

Here are some practical ways that you can become more and more temperate in all aspects of life.

1. Seek God daily for strength, wisdom and His presence. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35 KJV
2. Set a time limit. When it is reached, stop. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
3. Break tasks down into manageable chunks and generously give away to others what you don't need to do. “And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.” Exodus 18:17-23 KJV
4. Say no. Not every work of God is yours to do. Know what God has called you to do and remain in His will. In 1 Chronicles 28, David wanted to build a house for the Lord, BUT, God said no. Though it was a good work and a noble honour, he had to obey the voice of God and let go of the idea. 
5. Know what God expects of you. Diligently study His Word. Psalm 119:11
6. Take/do what is necessary. Especially when it comes to eating, drinking, shopping, collecting stuff.
7. Prayer-pause. Have an automatic pause - a built-in delay. Take a few moments to pray in your heart to God before you speak, make a decision or act. Ask for His help to make the right choice. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22 KJV
8. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Believe that self-mastery/self-control is possible for you through Christ’s power working in you. Also, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 KJV

May the Lord bless you as you endeavour to obey His voice and do His will everyday.

Are you getting enough sunlight? It can do wonders for the mind, body and spirit. Here are five of those benefits.

1. It boosts our immune system. Sunlight helps T cells to produce hydrogen peroxide which causes the cells to move. The faster they move the quicker they will get to the site of an infection in the body.
2. Improves mood. When sunlight enters the retina, messages along the neural pathway causes serotonin to be produced and released. Serotonin balances the mood, improves focus, alertness and cheerfulness.
3. Resets our circadian rhythm. This is the body’s clock that regulates sleep our sleep cycle. When our eyes absorb the sunlight in the morning, our brains stop producing melatonin signalling that it’s time to wake up. If you are travelling to a different time zone, stepping into the sun the first morning after you return will help to get your body to sync with the zone that you’re in.
4. Helps us sleep better. Being outside in the sun advances sleep timing which helps us to sleep longer. Exposure to sunlight also increases evening fatigue which contributes to earlier sleep. When the sun sets, our bodies begin to prepare for rest and two hours later, melatonin begins releasing so that we can sleep.
5. It helps with Vitamin D production. Vitamin D helps the body to regulate serum calcium and phosphorous which in turn support metabolic functions, neuromuscular transmission and bone mineralization. Excess Vitamin D is stored in the body. So if you store up during the summer, you will have some that your body can use during the winter days when there isn’t any sun.

Try to get twenty to thirty minutes of the morning sun just as you wake up. This will, among many other things, help to reset your internal clock and give you some much needed serotonin to begin the day. Enjoy the sun and celebrate this beautiful gift that God has given us.

Articles used for this episode: 

Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2290997/

Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6751071/ 

Previous episodes in this series:

Are You Drinking Water the Right Way? https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/KuIFeRnxS5b

Simple Options to Keep Physically Active https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/rN6cXRnxS5b 

Eight Simple Tips for Better Nutrition https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ESlFASnxS5b 

Approximately 50%-80% of our body is made up of water. Are you drinking enough? Are you drinking the right kind of water? You may have heard that eight glasses of water is necessary for you to remain hydrated throughout the day. But, did you know that you could drink enough water and still be dehydrated? If the water isn’t entering our cells, means that our cells will be dehydrated.

There are many different kinds of water, spring, distilled, reverse osmosis, filtered, sparkling and so forth. Some people also classify sports drinks, coffee and sodas as having the same hydration benefits of water. But, did you know that drinking caffeinated drinks can increase dehydration? 

In this episode, I share what I have learned about the importance of drinking the right amount and type of water - the one with the right mineral balance. Since all of us are unique, I suggest you do some research around the topic to find out more about what water and minerals would suit your individual needs. 

Below are: 

  1. Some of the articles that I used for this episode.

1. Two videos that can help with your learning.  
2. A bottle that you can use 
3. Two videos that can help with further education

Happy learning, stay hydrated and may God bless you.

Water – A Vital Nutrient - https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/water-a-vital-nutrient

Health Promotion - Facts on fluids: How to stay hydrated - https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/news/regional-news/western-sentinel/2021/08/facts-on-fluids-how-to-stay-hydrated.html

Purified Water vs. Spring Water: Which Is Better? - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/spring-water-vs-purified-water

The Role of Low Mineral Water Consumption in Reducing the Mineral Density of Bones and Teeth: A Narrative Review - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10732328/ 

Water Bottle - https://amzn.to/4qjGLSG 

Drinking Water is NOT The Best Way to Stay Hydrated - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAhvCuJNu3I&t=102s

Salt and Water - https://youtu.be/cBuK73K7t_0?si=bU2OiYr2VFdL2S3M 

Being physically fit is necessary for staying healthy and remaining disease free. Sometimes we find it hard to fit physical activity into our very busy schedules. Sometimes we are too busy or tired; exercising may be boring or too much work and so you just don’t do it.

What if you saw it as a valuable and doable part of your life as opposed to another task to complete. What if you looked at it as a part of your daily routine and used it as a way to come closer to God or your family? You can go for a walk, jog, run or hike. You can join a swim class or club. This is a great way to also improve your social life. 

Gardening and projects around the yard and home are also considered exercise. In fact they are called exercise with a purpose. This is a great option as all of them are, but this specifically helps you physically and resolves the necessary work around the yard and garden.

Whatever you choose, enjoy it and keep moving forward. God can help you to do and be your best. With His help, you can do anything.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Gardening and yard work: Exercise with a purpose https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/gardening-and-yard-work-exercise-with-a-purpose

The Top 10 Benefits of Regular Exercise https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise#skin-health

Why You Should Try Rebounding and How to Get Started https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/rebounding

Trampoline, 40"/48" Adult Fitness Trampoline with Durable Bungees, Stable & Quiet Exercise Rebounder ~ https://amzn.to/4fWJqOP