As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus on this beautiful morning, the day we honor our Lady of Guadalupe, I think of my mother, as today is her birthday. Yesterday brought the realization to me that I need to work harder at seeing the PRESENCE of God in everything.

There are times we go up and down, and even sideways, but the consistent factor in our life must be JESUS CHRIST! As my coffee mug says, Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always”.  It is the perfect reminder we are never alone. It also reminds me that it’s the little thoughtful things that people do that spreads the love of Christ. The oranges left at my front door, the beautiful Christmas cards I receive, a visit from a longtime friend, all create blessings. All the simple things remind me of how blessed I am.

Today is my turn to show kindness, to be the light to others, and to celebrate that Jesus is with us always. Just like my car battery yesterday, everything and everyone sometimes just needs a boost. Have a blessed day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was reflecting on Matthew 28:20, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.”  Those are amazing and powerful words, especially if you’re going through a difficult time. Maybe you’re going through a difficulty in your relationship, or with finances, or health, or just full of anxiety…that is when you need to reflect on these words.

It is powerful to realize that we are never alone, to know that we are always loved, to know that we are always forgiven.  This is the powerful promise that our Lord makes to us.  So, if you’re frustrated, hurt, angry, or worried, reflect on the words of Jesus who says, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,”  and know that you are in good hands.

Today is a new day, and Jesus wants to walk with you and all you need to do is invite HIM in. 

Have a blessed day.  I know that HE is there with you!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about the word Forgiveness.  I was reflecting on all that Jesus went through.  I think of all the people He had to forgive on His journey, the disciples who abandoned Him, the people who mocked Him and, of course, those who lead to His crucifixion.  And then I think about all the people I need to forgive on my journey.  I think of the people in my life who have hurt me or betrayed me.  Sometimes it’s easier for me to plan their demise than to forgive them! 

But I know what Jesus expects of me, to forgive seventy times seven.  In Ephesians 4:32 the Scriptures say, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”  And Matthew 6:14 says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Today, I’m going to name the people that I need to forgive and pray that God opens my heart to that gift.  We have the gift of a God that never stops forgiving us, and He calls us to do the same. 

Have a blessed day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about a phrase I read in a reflection, “CROSS BEARERS FOR CHRIST.”  What a powerful phrase, as each of us are called to be CROSS BEARERS!  Being a CROSS BEARER, like Simon of Cyrene, means to take action,  to not be afraid to get into the arena, to use our brokenness for service  Many people sat back and watched Jesus go by, but Simon of Cyrene took action.

We hear in scripture, Matthew 16:24-26, “If anyone wishes to come after ME, He must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow ME.” The world will always remember the name of Simon of Cyrene because he helped Jesus with the cross.  We all have CROSSES TO BEAR, and we need each other to help to carry them.

Today, think of friends who need help carrying the Cross and become a CROSS BEARER.  Call them, visit them, enter into their passion and be a friend.  What a beautiful world it would be if we helped each other carry our crosses. 

Have a blessed day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about PROBLEM SOLVING. I know a lot of friends who were raised not to talk about their problems and that denial has caused even greater issues. Sometimes we spend more time reacting to a problem than just taking care of it and solving it. 

All people have problems they have to work through. We need to focus on solving our problems. Sometimes this means setting a time frame, collecting data, or sometimes even just letting it go. Just because we have problems does not mean that God is punishing us, in fact, that is absurd. Problems are just a part of life; what we do with them is the real test.

So today, face and SOLVE today’s problems. Don’t worry about yesterday’s, there’s nothing you can do about them. Turn to God and ask for guidance and help! It says in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.“ Proverbs 3:5,“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, I do not lean on your own understanding.“ Matthew 7:7,“ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it; knock, and it will be open to you.“

Today, turn to the Lord, solve the problems at hand, and then let them Go. Live in HIS peace and love! 

Have a great day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking more about people who suffer from depression, anxiety, and loneliness.  One of the devotionals I love is, “Streams of the Desert”.  Yesterday the reflections talked about Matthew 14:13. “..and He withdrew… To a solitary place.” Sometimes God calls us to a solitary place.  Psychologists call it depression, anxiety, or loneliness!

The devotional went on to say that certain times in our lives are like music;  God creates a space for a PAUSE.  Those periods of time are just as important as the musical notes themselves.  We have to learn, in the times of depression, anxiety, or loneliness, to embrace the PAUSE; it is essential for the entire masterpiece.  So, maybe today it is time to withdraw, and spend some time alone with the Lord, asking yourself these questions: What is HE teaching you?  Where is HE taking you?  And what is HE asking of you?

We don’t have to be ashamed, embarrassed, or afraid of our moments of depression and anxiety.  It is just part of the melody of our lives and an important part of the bigger picture.  What’s more important is it’s filling our lives with the presence of the Lord!  Let’s enjoy all the blessings HE brings during those periods of PAUSE.

Today, I’m going to embrace the PAUSE!  

Have a blessed day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus again, I am excited about the STAR, the light of Christ.  Matthew 2:9-10 says, “They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the East went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were OVERJOYED.”

Maybe this is a way God will get our attention as he did 2000 years ago. The star led them to Christ, and now we are called to be LIVING STARS, leading others to Christ!  Just for one day, I hope the world looks beyond all the problems and separation, and gazes upward, acknowledging Jesus Christ, OUR KING!  Happy stargazing!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus on this beautiful morning, the day we honor our Lady of Guadalupe, I think of my mother, as today is her birthday.  Yesterday brought the realization to me that I need to work harder at seeing the PRESENCE of God in everything.  I lit my second candle on my advent wreath and the light is very bright!

There are times we go up and down, and even sideways, but the consistent factor in our life must be JESUS CHRIST!  As my coffee mug says, Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always”.  It is the perfect reminder we are never alone.  It also reminds me that it’s the little thoughtful things that people do that spreads the love of Christ.  The oranges left at my front door, the beautiful Christmas cards I receive, a visit from a longtime friend, all create blessings.  All the simple things remind me of how blessed I am.

Today is my turn to show kindness, to be the light to others, and to celebrate that Jesus is with us always.  Just like my car battery yesterday, everything and everyone sometimes just needs a boost.  Have a blessed day!

 As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I am thinking about the importance of PRAYING FOR OTHERS. I find it easy to pray for my own personal needs asking God for help. It’s easy for me to pray for people who’ve asked for my prayers, or for my family, my Church, the sick, and those who have died. I also like to expand my prayer to universal prayer.

Praying for the world, peace, and unity. The difficult one I struggle with is praying for those who hurt me or attack me …basically praying for my enemies.

But this is Jesus’s call to PRAY for our enemies. I don’t have a lot of enemies, maybe a handful of people, but it is still not easy to pray for them. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you.

Following Jesus is not always the easiest thing to do. But today, I am going to pray for those who persecute me. I’m going to ask the Lord to remove bitterness, anger, and hurt and turn it into love, mercy, and forgiveness.

I know I’m probably going to have to read these three or four times today to remind myself. If I am going to claim Jesus as my Lord, I must follow HIM and HIS WORD. Have a wonderful day letting GO. 

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus I was thinking about a phrase that I read in a reflection, “CROSSBEARERS FOR CHRIST.” What a powerful phrase, as each of us are called to be CROSSBEARERS! Being a CROSSBEARER, like Simon of Cyrene, means to take action; to use our brokenness for service, to not be afraid to get into the arena. Many people sat back and watched Jesus go bye but Simon of Cyrene and Veronica took action.We hear in scripture, Matthew 16:24-26,“If anyone wishes to come after ME, He must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow ME.“ The world will always remember the name of Simon of Cyrene because he helped Jesus with the cross. We all have CROSSES TO BEAR and we need each other to help to carry them. Today, think of a friend who needs help carrying the cross and become a CROSSBEARER. Call them, visit them, enter into their passion and be a friend. What a beautiful world would be when we help each other carry our crosses. Have a blessed day!