The Daily Devotional Blog

Nice house, isn't it? But we know that everything that glitters isn't gold, don't we? Just because something looks good on the outside doesn't mean it's all good on the inside. We have to consider the foundation. Any house built on sand won't stand. It has to be built on a solid reliable foundation. People are no different. It doesn't matter how good someone looks, we have to have a great foundation. If not, when we fall we will have difficulty getting back up. Having a foundation on God makes us more durable. Having a foundation on God means relying on Him ( Psalm 18 :2). The Lord is my sure foundation. How about you? We have to be wise about this. For,  "everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand" , says the Lord (see Matthew 7:24-27 ). So I ask, what do you stand on? How was your house built? It makes a huge difference, you know. For daily encouragement,...

I must admit, I have a problem with a stingy selfish spirit.  It's my pet peeve. I don't like it when we're in a position to help someone and we don't. I'm not talking about helping leeches or people who aren't helping themselves. Trying to help such people is like running in water. You can't do it and you can't go anywhere. I'm referring to us helping people who are helping themselves to do better. Those of us who can help in some way, it doesn't matter how big or small, should do so. Isn't there something each one of us can do for somebody at some point? Isn't there something we possess that God blessed us with that we can bless somebody with? It doesn't always have to be money. Growing up, my mother and aunt loved baking. They always had baking stuff around the kitchen and could whip up a cake in an instant. So guess what people often got from them? Yep, you guessed it, tasty cakes and pies too. Russell Wilson, the profession...

Psalms 30 :11/12 says, "you have turned for me, my mourning into dancing, you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!" That was David talking to God. You see, although David was anointed, he also went through a lot. He suffered through bad decisions ( 1 Samuel 11 ), jealously and hatred ( 1 Samuel 19 ). Yet, he never gave up. Even when his people (the men who followed him; the ones who were under his military command) wanted to kill him ( 1 Samuel 30 :6), he encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. And God turned his weeping and mourning into dancing (ie, joy, success, and gladness), literally and figuratively.  Those are some examples of the ways we can do the same. One of the many extraordinary things I love about the bible is that God leaves us with so many ways we can draw strength and hope. The bible lets us know we're not alone i...

"The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun."  I think most of us know those are some of the lyrics from the Broadway play (and movie), Annie . Annie is the fictional story of a girl named Annie who starts out in a bad way regarding her family situation. She lives in an orphanage and is treated harshly by the woman who runs it. I could only imagine what a trying time that is for Annie. The loneliness of not having a family along with the uncertainty of a great future. Yet she doesn't give up hope. She ends up getting adopted by a loving wealthy family who falls in love with her. Finally, her joy comes at last. Didn't she say the sun would come out tomorrow?  We have to speak that thing. Speak what we want in the atmosphere. There's power in that. There's faith in that. Say what you want or sing it. Just get it out there. When we speak it, we're more liable to walk it out.  Thus, I'm here t...

"Don't let anybody reign with you who didn't suffer with you" (TD Jakes). I was listening to one of TD Jakes' electrifying sermons and that is what he said. It resonated with me. When you go through some things and people see that you've weathered the storm, that you've come out on the other side, then they come around again. But the devil is a liar, yet again. Be careful of the people who want to chill with you after the valley. After the fire. After the treacherous crossing over the dangerous terrain. After all the hurt, pain, and trauma. What I usually say to the people who come around after the dust has settled, is very little. My guard is up. I'm wondering what they want. Why are they coming around now ? Where were they when the surreal "am I really living this" was present? Where were they when I was living a hellish nightmare? Where were they when I needed someone to talk to? Where were they when I thought I was going to lose it...

Don't just sit there when you can move.  Why? Because faith without putting some effort behind it, is dead ( James 2:14-26 ). Nothing will move in our lives if we don't move.  God didn't just create us to wait around for something to happen. He created us to make it happen. Remember, we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength ( Philippians 4 :13). We can't just stand around and hope upon hope that our chance may just come around. We may be waiting forever. It amazes me when we say we are faithful that God is going to do something, but we don't make a faith move. Nothing . We just sit there like a bump on a log. Although I am far from achieving all that God has for me, I had to bust a move to get something going. I had to finally sit down at my laptop and start writing in order for progress to happen. Did I know exactly what I was going to write? No, but as a result there's momentum, albeit it, slow.  Not much would have happene...

"The reason our goals aren't achieved is because we spend our time doing second things first." That's what John Maxwell says in his book, Today Matters . We waste a lot of time wasting time. Don't I know that all too well. You know part of my testimony. Laying around at night feeling sorry for myself wanting things to go back to the way they were. Sometimes we're so busy trying to go back to the past, trying to get back on top, trying to go back to the familiar, trying to redeem ourselves to the glory days. Instead of waiting on the Lord to bring us to a better place. Don't you know the Lord will bring us to a more grander more glorious place based equally to our sorrows? Yes, He will give us beauty for our ashes ( Isaiah 61 :3) and He'll do it right here on earth as it is in heaven. Yet, we don't want to wait on Him. We want to take matters in our own hands.  But not so fast, first things first. Let's seek first the kingdom and His ...

There are some of us who will never dip our foot in the water of uncertainty, much less both feet.  We will only go but so far, but don't you know that's not living? That's only taking life to a certain point and going no farther. Let me tell you, God doesn't operate in us knowing what tomorrow will bring. Yes, we may claim it and speak it, but there are no guarantees that what we want will happen. It's all up to the Lord and what He wants. He can either want what we want or not, but He knows what we need. That's for sure. We can guarantee that much. So, by all means continue to speak things in faith. That's great and God can use us when we trust him completely. That's wonderful.  Yet, what this blog post is really speaking to are those with overly cautious and extremely safe mindsets. The people who want what they want and limit themselves in thinking that if they don't get exactly want they want the way they want it, they won't take ...

Oftentimes we have to take a good hard look... in the mirror.  And decide what it is we see. We need to do that, because we have to face ourselves. It doesn't matter what we've been through, we can face anything when God is with us. We can't be afraid or ashamed of what is looking back at us. 2 Timothy 1 :7 says, God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. That means we should feel great about who we are and be even more confident that we will become even better tomorrow.  Your life matters to God and there are many people who need to hear from you. You have a story that will bless people, because you lived through it. Don't think for one minute that what you went through was for nothing. None of it was for nothing. It was for everything -- everything you're going to do for people through your life. Years ago my "midnight sadness" (or what could be called depression I think) was not only...

You ever feel lost?  You ever feel like you don't know what direction to take? Like you're all alone? Like nobody understands where you are right now or the challenges you're faced with? I'm here to tell you that people may not know everything about your situation, but you're not alone. As my blog description says (above), almost everybody is going through something. Yet we must not grow weary and give up. If you're tired, I know the feeling. If you feel as though you're taking one step forward and two back, I know what that feels like too. But I refuse to give up. I refuse to let the devil win.  Our next move may be the blessing we walk into. That can simply mean walking out our door and walking into something different. That can be the day the Lord God decides He's going to reward us even more than He already has by His presence, all because we stayed with Him when others walked away. How do we know what day, hour, or minute that will be? We...

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" ( Romans 8 :1).  If you're in God and His spirit lives in you, then you are covered.  By His blood. And His stripes. So you're good to go. There's no condemnation -- no guilt and no shame. You're innocent.  I don't know why my spirit is on this topic. I was deciding what to write and I came across the picture above and I thought about forgiveness. I don't know what the picture has to do with it. I guess I just sensed God in it and this is where He led me. Sometimes I have no idea why I write what I do and sometimes it's crystal clear.  Nevertheless, today I'm coming to you to tell you that whatever is bothering you, you have to let it go. Release it. Give it to God for good this time. He will carry our burdens, because He's God and He can do anything at anytime. He is the most powerful spirit in the universe. If I knew of a bigger word than ...

Debt cancelled. Mistakes and poor judgement forgiven. All of it has been wiped clean.  You are free to go. Free to live a life of fullness.  " God forgave us of all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross"  (Colossians 2 :14).  All of it was left on the cross. He loves us that much. So your past errors, regrets, and misteps mean nothing to God. He will still use you to bring people to Him. And if He uses you, there must be something special about yuu. Embrace it. You're here for a reason.  For daily encouragement, visit and share this blog, my  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram ,   Pinterest ,  Linkedin , & Snapchat: InSharonsHeart

I never want to retire. How about you?  Imagine a life where you get up when you want, because you don't have to work, you want to work.  Wouldn't that be great? I never experienced that before, but that's the goal. I've heard about people who had regular run-of-the-mill jobs and when they finally retired it was as if their life stopped. I don't want it to be that way. I don't want to retire and sit around with no purpose. I want to have something worthwhile to do to contribute to the world and to help people. That will keep us vibrant and youthful. Don't think the Lord doesn't have better for us, because He does. We have to strive to do what He has for us and that entails us never having to really retire. And when He does that we shouldn't want to, because we'll awake to the next chapter of doing something else great. And that can be at any age. It doesn't have to be in old age.   Needless to say, I just want to always be...

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear."  "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" All of those words come from Matthew 6:25/26. And apparently they clearly mean to be at peace and let God take over any worry or anxiety. There is no reason for that. Look, I used to live there. Mainly at night. I was a functioning depressed person, because my life wasn't going the way I thought it should and I lived in regret. Let me tell you, I refuse to go there ever again. It's a miserable place and it didn't help me or anybody else. At least not at the time. All it did was to add to my testimony in that I can now tell y...

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth..." ( Isaiah 54 :4).  That means the Lord God has got you covered. What you did one second ago and even way before that, doesn't matter to God. Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior ( Romans 10 :9/10) , the slate has been wiped clean and you are now covered under His blood,  covered by His grace. Yes I know that Isaiah is in the Old Testament, but guess what? God is still a God of forgiveness and redemption. He loved His people then and He loves us now. Forgiveness is freedom and God has already forgiven you. What you did or didn't do is not a problem for Him. And what you said or didn't say doesn't concern Him. He doesn't use our mistakes against us. So there is nothing to fear and there is no shame or condemnation to those in Christ Jesus ( Romans 8 :1).  Hold your head high and know you are marvelou...

"When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s ways, he causes their enemies to make peace with them" ( Proverbs 16 :7).  Have you ever hear of that verse? Well, whether you have or haven't, we should get used to hearing it. That way, when God blesses us and our endeavors, even the people who mean us no good will find themselves helping us. It may surprise you and that person, but it is no surprise to God, because He set it up that way.  In other words, there is no need to get distracted by the obstacles and roadblocks that may come your way. There is no need to be bothered by the people who hate on you even though you did nothing wrong. There is no need to pay any attention to the negativity that may try (operative word) to penetrate your progress. Don't let none of it rattle you, because those are enemy spirits that have come to steal, kill, and destroy your joy and happiness. Not so, says the Lord. Such a spirit will not take root or take hold. You have come t...

My family & close friends have always known I value the "little" things people do for people.  Lots of little things become big things. They make an impact, they mean something, and they can even change lives for the better. Saying and doing positive "little" things for people is never overrated. We never know what others need in life and any good little thing can help. It can brighten our day and lift our spirits when we need it most. That's how I felt after people took a few seconds out of their lives to type a few words of happiness, to dial 10 digits of joyfulness, and to drive a few miles of gladness. All to wish me well by saying loving words of kindness on a day I really needed it.  Sometimes even the encourager needs encouraging. And even though I have most assuredly mastered the ability to encourage myself like David did ( 1 Samuel 30 :6b),  there's no doubt I need external support. We all do. We need the things   we   can't giv...

That's what the Lord asked King Solomon in a dream ( 1 Kings 3 ). "Ask what I should give to you." And guess what Solomon asked for? Wisdom. He asked for a wise and discerning (knowing) heart/spirit in order to discern between good and evil and right from wrong. He asked for insight and understanding. And because he asked so unselfishly and because he loved the Lord so much (at this point in his life), the Lord gave him all he asked for plus wealth and honor. God was so impressed that Solomon didn't ask for long life, riches, or for God to do away with his enemies, that He blessed Solomon abundantly. He had a meek spirit and God gave Him much more, because of it. Solomon was so grateful for the blessings God gave him and his father, King David (before David died), that he was willing to be inconvenienced to help others, so much so, that he asked for wisdom. I wonder how many of us would have asked for that?   For daily encouragement, visit and share...

I often talk about the Lord blessing us when we do everything we're supposed to do.  Yet, I want to be clear about something. When I say, "everything", I use that term loosely (in the natural), because there is no way we will always do everything right. Every last one of us is going to fall short. None of us is going to get everything perfect. But what we can do is strive to do everything well, in the power the Lord will have us to do them in. In 1 Kings 11:38 , the Lord told Solomon " and if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you."  Thus, if we want to be used and are willing to work at living a life of God, then He can work with that. What I mean is that God is not going to use a hot mess of a person who doesn't want ...

You know what it means to be a lifelong learner? It means forever keeping our minds sharp, our bodies as fit as possible, and reading as much as we can. Those are just some of the ways we stay alert and vibrant. Age is nothing but a number and there are so many ways to stay abreast of the latest and the greatest. Remember how old Abraham and Sarah were when God did miraculous things in their lives? He blessed them with a biological son. Abraham was about 100 and Sarah was 90 years old. I don't know what that age would be today, but Abraham and Sarah didn't believe it back then, so point noted. We would think the same today. Nevertheless, they were willing and able to do what the Lord needed them to do in order to carry out His mandates. Having Isaac was one of them.  Do you think that would have happened if they had a give-up attitude or if it would have happened if they weren't in good shape spirituality, emotionally and physically? Highly doubtful. They were life...

Did you know skyscrapers are first built under ground in order to have a solid foundation?  And that foundation is called its core, which sets the stage for everything that happens from there. Its cores has something called Cut and Cover and is "a method of tunnel construction that involves digging a trench, building a tunnel, and then covering it with fill" ( pbs.org ). So, as you can surmise, foundations are a big deal when it comes to withstanding the mighty forces that will assuredly come against those buildings. And "by clustering steel columns and beams in the skyscraper's core, engineers create a stiff backbone that can resist tremendous wind forces" (pbs.org). That's fascinating, isn't it? I love to watch videos on constructing things like skyscrapers and bridges and I love watching construction sites. The transformation is intriguing.  It's all about that foundation. In order for us to withstand those forces that will come agai...

So, I was talking to a good friend of mine about what she wanted to do about an issue regarding  her apartment.  She was having a hard time paying her rent and said she was looking for a cheaper apartment. She was praying that God would open new doors concerning that. Then I asked her some questions. I asked her if she liked where she lived and if she wanted to remain there. She said she did. So I asked, why she didn't ask God for that. Why not at least find out what God had for her? She agreed and we prayed on it.  Anything is possible with the Lord. It doesn't matter whether we think it can be done or not. Once we've made our petitions known to Him and we've done all we can, then God will take the wheel. Thank you very much.  What I'm saying yet again, is not to box Him in with our limited capacity. He's God all by himself and He's got this (whatever "this" is for you). If you believe it's possible, it's possible. In Mark 9...