Tag Archives: Blessing

Dec31

New Year’s Eve

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I remember the days of long ago;
   I meditate on all your works
   and consider what your hands have done.

Psalm 143:5 (NIV)

On New Year’s Eve, most of us are focused on the new beginning that we will face tomorrow with the birth of a New Year. But for every “new beginning” there has to be an “ending.” Today is a good time to reflect back upon the events of the past year and recall God’s presence in your life through each month, week, day and moment.

For some, the past year brought abundant blessings. It’s easy to thank God for good fortune that might have come your way, yet it is also easy to forget that all our blessings come from God’s hand. For others, the past year was filled with painful memories or difficult trials. During our darkest moments, we can lose sight of the fact that God is always by our side, helping us through any situation we face

Often we do not notice and appreciate all of the ways that God provides, protects, loves and cares for us along our journey in life. The fact that our daily needs are met is usually taken for granted. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, a warm bed to give us rest, and a roof to shelter us. How often do we stop and give thanks…genuine thanks…to God for these basic needs which are being met by His hand? Worse yet, we mistakenly take the credit ourselves for being good providers instead of recognizing God’s hand in the process.

As the past year comes to an end, I pray that God would engulf me with His spirit so that I may see my world through His holy eyes to envision His hand of blessing upon my life…even during the painful trials and darkest days of the past year. I pray that He would give me a spiritual mind so that I might understand His plan for each of my days ahead as His purpose for my life unfolds. I pray that He would give me spiritual ears to hear His voice as He speaks to me and that He would give me a spiritual heart so that I may love those around me the way He would want me to love them…unconditionally. I pray that I remain constantly mindful of the miracles He has performed in my own life and that I never take for granted that His favor and His hand of blessing is upon me and my family and that His presence never leaves my side…even in the deepest valleys. Amen.

 


I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 77:11


 

Mar22

Blessed Roots

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But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
   whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
   that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
   its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
   and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

 

A tree planted by a stream doesn’t have to search far for its life-giving nourishment. Its close proximity to water ensures that it will remain lush and fertile, regardless of extreme heat or periods of extended drought. This well-rooted tree has several distinct characteristics:

  • It will never move away from its life-source.
  • It doesn’t fear extreme conditions.
  • It has no worries in times of drought.
  • It never fails to bear fruit.

 

Just as a tree planted by a stream thrives in any type of condition, our lives will be fruitful and blessed regardless of our circumstances if we keep ourselves firmly rooted in close relationship with our Heavenly life-source. By remaining deeply grounded in our trust and confidence in God, we can flourish no matter what sort of malady life brings. Faith in God eliminates fear and erases worries when we are hit with the extremes of life or when we face extended periods of “drought.”

Being blessed doesn’t mean that we will never see adversity. It simply means that we are internally equipped to handle difficult trials. When the winds of hardship blow, we can sink our roots even deeper into the rich soil of God’s love and soak up the life-giving nourishment of His Holy Word. He is our inner strength and our firm foundation. The blessings which flow from His throne are eternal, but we must choose to plant ourselves next to Him. By placing our trust and confidence in Him, we do not need to fear the “what-ifs” in life, nor do we need to worry about our future. He promises to provide, protect and guide us through any situation.

Blessed are those
   …who delight in the law of the LORD
   and meditate on his law day and night.
They are like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers.

Psalm1: 1–4

 


Feb12

True Friends

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A friend LOVES at ALL times…

Proverbs 17: 17

If you have ever been through a deep “valley” in your life, you know those few friends who were down in the dark pit with you, walking along side of you, lifting you up, bolstering your spirits, crying with you, praying with you, getting “dirty” with you. These are the type of friends who truly love you for who you are, not for what you have to offer them.

These friends love you even when you are un~lovely. They arrive on the scene and embrace you with genuine compassion when your face is smeared with mascara from flowing tears. They look beyond your appearance and love you for who you are inside…the kind of friends who love you with blemishes and imperfections, with dark circles under your eyes from sleepless nights, with wrinkles from worry, without makeup, with grey hair, …without hair, or with scars from life’s battles.

Even when true friends can’t be physically present, their presence is felt in your life. From hundreds of miles away, they send “cyber-hugs” to your inbox with emails, texts or messaging. They send notes and cards to your mailbox which miraculously arrive at just the moment when you need a boost the most. They send prayers to heaven in your behalf. In their absence, their words are like comforting embraces.

This type of loyalty is the greatest evidence of genuine friendship. These loyal friends are there to help during periods of extreme distress and personal struggle. They know exactly what to say (or not say) in times of heartache. They even know when silence in the only appropriate thing to “say” by simply allowing their physical presence to speak the words you need to “hear.” They show the type of love that “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Their brand of love “never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13: 7 – 8 NIV) Their love serves as a parachute or safety net when we are falling.  They cushion the blows when we are blindsided by circumstances.  They are not only around in the good times, when the relationship is beneficial to them, but they also stick close when the going gets tough.

Be thankful for your true friends who love at all times.
Consider yourself blessed to have these people in your life. The very presence of these types of friends in our lives makes us better people. They are rare and priceless treasures.

I’m thankful for my precious friends who show this kind of love, and I hope that I’m the type of friend who shows this form of love in return. Thanks to each one of you for living this example in my life! You are all like golden threads woven into the tapestry of my life, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without you!

In good times and bad times;

In happy times and sad times;

In prosperity and poverty;

In health and in sickness;

Through laughter and tears;

In younger days and golden years;

During births and deaths;

Through success and failure;

In triumph and tragedy ~

 

Thank you, my dear friends, for your gift of true friendship!

 

LOVE at all times ~ cbcooksey

Feb7

God’s Unfailing Love

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“…the earth is full of His unfailing love.”

Psalm 33:5 (New International Version, ©2010)

 

God’s love is dependable and true. It is limitless and eternal; it will never let you down or disappoint. Allow God to open your spiritual eyes today so that you may see glimpses of His love all around you… because “the earth is full of His unfailing love!” Ask Him to let your heart feel His heavenly brand of love. Invite Him to show His love to you today in a very special and unique way.


 

Feb4

God’s Calling

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“I will go before you
   and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
   and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you hidden treasures,
   riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
   the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Isaiah 45:2-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

 

Sometimes the “mission” God places upon our hearts seems humanly impossible. God might be prompting us to do something extraordinary, and we can think of many excuses in our limited minds why it can’t possibly work. The above verse is a powerful reminder of this truth:

When God designs your plans, nothing can stop His purposes from being accomplished.

If you are following in step with His will, He will go before you and level any “mountain” of impossibility ahead of you. He will break through barriers in our path which seemingly bring you to a dead end along your journey. When you are in the midst of a plan orchestrated by our Heavenly Father, prepare to be amazed. His ideas are not limited to human thinking. His power is limitless.

He can perform miracles.

When you are following His call upon your heart, remember that He has “summoned you by name.” He specifically chose you when He designed your particular calling. He knows everything about you, and He knows that you are uniquely qualified to fulfill the purpose of His grand plan. Obedience to His calling simply requires that you take a step of faith toward fulfilling His mission. With each step forward, you will begin to receive His “hidden treasures” and “riches stored in secret places.” These heavenly rewards are the unimaginable blessings which God wants to shower upon His children for their obedience.

So if you feel God calling you by name, follow His lead. The job He has planned just for you will have eternal rewards. Have confidence in His ability to fulfill His plans. He will be with you every step of the way.

Jan22

The Gift of Peace

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”I leave peace with you;

I give *My* peace to you: 

not as the world gives do I give to you.   

 Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it fear.” 

John 14:27 (Darby Translation)

What is True Peace?

The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep, lasting peace.  This peace transcends our understanding, meaning it can never be completely understood.  It is a peace that is difficult to explain and must be felt in order to fully comprehend its meaning.  Worldly peace is usually defined as the absence of trouble or conflict, but the peace of Christ is a peace we have in the midst of the trouble or conflict.  This peace is confident assurance in any circumstance.  It is a sense of God’s wholeness, of everything coming together for good.  Heavenly peace comes from total trust in God.  With this kind of peace we don’t need to be afraid of the present or the future.  Peace of mind and heart is a precious gift.  The world cannot give this kind of peace, because this peace is a result of God watching over and guarding your mind and your heart. 

How do we obtain Heavenly Peace?

When you are in the midst of a crisis, worry, fear, doubt, and anxiety are constantly battling for your focus and energy.  A mind controlled by the flesh will race night and day, composing many what-if situations, and you will virtually live out the worst-case scenarios.  Keeping track of all the possible outcomes is exhausting.  So if you are in the middle of a life crisis and feel consumed with worry and fear, begin to shape your worries into prayers.  Let Christ know your concerns.  Lay your burdens at the foot of His cross.  Isaiah 26:3 tells us that “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”  So perfect peace is dependent upon total trust in our Heavenly Father.  Fill your mind with the promises found in His Word.  Trust in His promises to you.  In other words, believe His promises:   trust that He has a plan for your life; trust that He causes all things to work together for good; trust that He knows how all the pieces of the puzzle in your life fit together; trust that He will use this trial to perfect your faith; trust that He is all we truly need; trust that He will carry you when you are too weak to move forward; trust that He will provide your comfort, your strength, your provision, your shelter from the storm, your protection; trust that He is your Rock and your Salvation; trust that He will be your guide and give you wisdom; trust that He will light your path; trust that He sees your distress and hears your cries for help; trust that He is always with you and will never leave your side; trust that He catches each one of your teardrops; and trust that nothing is too difficult for Him. 

What is the end result of Heavenly Peace?

We are instructed to “let the peace of Christ rule your hearts…”  (Colossians 3:12)  If we choose to let the Prince of Peace rule, then worry, doubt and fear will be banished from the kingdom of our hearts.  When we allow Christ to completely fill our hearts, He will completely displace all our distress.  When our hearts are overflowing with Christ instead of worry, God will stand guard over your heart and your mind, and He will bless you with a Heavenly Peace that no one can completely understand.

~cb.cooksey

Jan14

Blessing of Peace

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Peace on Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Peace on Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face shine upon you
and be Gracious to you.
The Lord turn His face toward you
and give you Peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

While reading this beautiful blessing, I felt the overwhelming urge to pray this as a prayer for all my friends and family. What more could I pray for others than these simple, yet powerful intersessions? 

No matter what is happening in the lives of others, this prayer would apply to all.

Basically the prayer asks the following precious requests of the Lord for others:

That the Lord…
1  Bless them
2. Keep Them
3.  Make His face SHINE upon them
4.  Be Gracious to them
5.  Turn His face toward them
6.  Grant them PEACE.

When reading these verses, I envision being held in our Father’s arms, as though He were cradling His child.  His FACE is TURNED and looking toward His loved one and SHINING the comforting, soothing warmth of His intent gaze upon His own.  In that spot He KEEPS us close to His heart and BLESSES us with His love and GRACIOUSNESS.  As we focus on Him and  His love, we relax in His embrace allowing His PEACE to  flood our souls and wash away any traces of fear, pain, heartache, worry or discord.  What a BLESSING!!

May the Lord grant you this beautiful blessing of PEACE!!