Living In Faith

Have Faith & Believe!!!

Psalm 107:29
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Matthew 8:23-27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 34:17-20

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Today, May 1, is National Day of Prayer!

Please join us today at 11 am on the second floor of the Oklahoma Capitol to call out to God.

If you can’t be there, please take time today to pray for your city/town, state, and our great nation.

The older one becomes, you can be filled with bitterness from life’s burdens, or you can look at each burden and wonder how much worse they could have been, had Jesus not covered us with His blood and God forgave us. Even thru depression, sorrow, or a lack of compassion from others, we are never left alone, for the HEART of God is so big and we are made in is imagine, we can amaze ourselves by showing that love to someone else. Never think you have nothing left to offer 😇
Cindee Lorayne

Monday morning thought:
"If I woke up tomorrow and my limiting belief no longer existed, what would I do differently today?"

My father once told me, "If they hurt you, forgive them, but don't ever forget what they've done to you." It's a phrase that lingers in my mind whenever I meet someone new. Yet, sometimes it feels exhausting. There's this ache, this weight, when you pour kindness into someone only to feel the sting of betrayal. It's painful when you see the beauty in them, but all they give back are hidden daggers.

One day, I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Father, do they truly deserve my forgiveness?" | asked. He paused, folding his newspaper-a daily ritual of his, reading with his morning coffee. With a soft smile, he replied, "Child, everyone deserves forgiveness. If they hurt you once, forgive. If they hurt you again, offer another chance. But if it happens a third time, then it's yourself you must forgive."

Confused, I stared at him, a silent question hanging between us. He chuckled at my puzzled look, pressing a candy into my hand. He held both my hands in his own and gently explained, "Forgive yourself for believing in them, only to face disappointment. Forgive yourself for giving too much trust. Forgive yourself for hoping again when you thought it might turn things around. And above all, free yourself-from resentment, from revenge, from the ghosts of the past."

The next morning, I found him standing in front of my mother, tears streaming down his face. He'd just been betrayed by a friend of ten years. When I asked if he hated him now, he smiled through his tears and shook his head, "I don't have room in my heart for hatred. I refuse to let it weigh me down. I've forgiven him, but that doesn't mean l've forgotten. Someday, when he sees me smiling, even after what he's done, he'll understand who carried the heavier burden."

Dabbing his eyes with the handkerchief l'd gifted him, he added, "The greatest gift you can give to someone who hurt you is to let them watch you live a life unburdened. Let them see you rise, thriving, unaffected by their harm. We only get one life, so don't waste it on those who once carved scars on your heart. Show them what they lost; show them how they unknowingly helped you become stronger."

It was then I realized, if it weren't for his words, I might still be trapped, haunted by wounds that were never my fault. His wisdom taught me that forgiveness isn't always for the one who hurt us; sometimes, it's the greatest gift we can give to ourselves.

🎨credit to the artist via Pinterest

Let your light shine!