Month: January 2021

Today’s Scripture…

Philippians 4:11-13
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Thoughts…

I have always been told you will never be content with what you get, if you don’t learn to be content with what you have. People, event, or things can bring you contentment but no amount of them will ever make you content.

I know I just said things can’t make you content but they can bring you contentment. That seems contradictory right? Well believe me it is not. Contentment is a choices. We choose when we are content. It is not a feeling that is just thrust upon us or taken away from us. People, events, and objects in our life can bring us contentment, but we choose to accept them or reject them. Just like we choose to be content when those things are not a part of our life.

People often confuse happiness for contentment. They can coexist, but they will never replace each other. Happiness is a feeling that comes over you. It is an emotion. Contentment is a state of mind. It means choosing to be satisfied right now where you are with what you have. You choose to wait on God and have faith He can and will handle anything that comes into your life the good, bad, and ugly.. YOU CHOOSE to be content.

Paul said he had learned to be content in all situations. I am sure there were days he was not happy. You are not expected to always be happy. You are expected to choose to be content.

Prayer…

Lord, tech me to be content. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Thoughts…

You are no longer a slave! You do not answer to Satan! You do not answer to this world! You have been set free! You do not have to do, say or think what everyone else around you thinks you should do! You belong to God. You are part of God’s family.

Just because the world says you should go here, look like this, wear this, talk like that, buy this or even think this, you can say, “No!” Why is this such a hard concept? Why do we feel the need to be like e everyone else? It is easy to slip into this train of thought. You are a unique person. You are the one and only you and you belong to God.

God wants you to enjoy your life and make it full. You will never fill this promise if you are chasing what everyone else has in this life. You need to tune in to God and ask Him what it is you need to know and do to fill your life. What is the map for your life?

I am not talking about just your spiritual life. God is interested in all of your life, your mind, body, emotions, and your soul. He wants to be a part of your whole life. Are you ready to show up and do your part? Are you ready to stop being a slave and choosing what is right for you?

Prayer…

Today Lord, I choose to make my own choices. I choose to follow your advice for my life and not be dictated to and enslaved by this world. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

1 John 3:1-3
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Thoughts…

Do you ever feel like your non-believer family and friends roll their eyes when religion is brought up? Maybe you feel like you are shunned, made fun of, or not taken seriously. You might even feel tempted to shy away from showing God’s light around others. You are not alone. Jesus felt the same way. The world did not recognize Him, why would you think they would recognize us!

You are now a child of God. He gives you all the love and blessings you can ever imagine, and some you can’t. You are family. He would do anything for you including putting His son to death for your sins. So why do we put so much importance on what others think.? Why do we let them dim our light!

We will never satisfy this world. Good news! It isn’t our job. Our job is to just shine! Show them who God is by our love for them. God will handle the rest. They have to decide for themselves what they believe. They have to decide if and when they are ready to accept that same love and blessings you are filled with and shine bright.

Matthew 5:16 says it best, “Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven” (Message). So, go ahead and be the brightest bulb in the package! If they choose to still reject you, shine brighter. Don’t forget they rejected Jesus, the light of this world, too.

Prayer…

Lord remind me that I don’t have to dim my light when others are feeling blinded! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

2 Corinthians 2:14-15
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Thoughts…

I love how the Message Bible states today’s verses. “And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15, MSG).

I love scented candles, oils, cookies, pies, and bread baking. Oh and what about a hot tea or cup of coffee. Don’t get me started on spaghetti sauce and garlic bread, Then there are the simple things, like fresh mowed grass, flowers blooming, and rain. I am sure you could add so many more pleasant smells to my list. Isn’t it wonderful that we are on God’s list of pleasant smells?

Think about it for a moment. In this world of garbage and rot, you are a sweet smell. You deliver peace, relaxation, love, warm and safe feelings to others. Your presence and kind words can make someone’s day completely change. The best part is we not only share this intoxication, we pass it on to them. Now, they have a sweet smell to share to those they touch. You see we become a part of one perpetual victory parade.

So what about you today? Are you ready to share some of that an aroma redolent with life.?

Prayer…

Lord, help me find someone that you need me to be a sweet aroma redolent with life. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Thoughts…

When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

You may recognize this from youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem. It is her opening and ending stanzas. What wise words from a young lady. The entire poem is very inspirational.

It reminded me of today’s verses. We live in a world filled with darkness. We have a couple of choices. We can curl up in fear. We can’t sit around and complain about the lack of light , or we can BE the light.

Jesus is the light of the world. We are filled with His light, all we have to do is let it shine. We can be that beacon on the hilltop so many are looking for today. You see we can’t control the darkness. We can’t even control those who bring it into this world. However, we can light it up and drive it away. Will you join me today and light up this world bright enough for d everyone to see?

Prayer…

Lord, let my light shine brightly for You.! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Thoughts…

Imagine someone buys you a brand new vehicle of your dreams. It has all the special features you drool over every time you see the commercials on TV. It is your absolute favorite color in the whole wide world. It is yours, ALL YOURS! The bill has been paid in full. You owe nothing.

What do you do with that vehicle? Do you scratch it up? Do you bang the doors into the garage wall, or the person parked next to you? Do you let others wreck it or get it all scratched up and dirty? No, you don’t. You protect it. You try to be careful when you drive and park it. You make sure the oil gets changed, proper maintenance is taken care of and fresh gas is regularly put in it. Your prize that gift and are grateful to the giver.

God has given you the greatest gift ever! You have been saved from death. You no longer have to fear spending eternity in Hell! He paid your debt in full. So, what do you do with this new life? Do you continue doing all the sinful, harmful things you did before or do you try to live a better life that honors God and the gift He has given you? Do you fill your life with His word? Do you perform regular maintenance through prayer and connection with Him?

We are all human and dings in our lives will happen. It is the fact that you are trying to take care of this wonderful gift and honor the giver that counts! So go to your life for a spin. I promise it is the best on the market!

Prayer…

Lord thank you for this perfect gift you have given me. Please help me take care of it, so that i can honor you. ~Amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Ephesians 3:11-12
11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Thoughts…

There is nothing I can do to the inside of an egg without doing something to the outside.. Think about it. If I want to make a cake, I need to stir in the egg. I can’t get to it without cracking the shell. I want fried eggs, yep I must crack the shell. Even if I want a hard boiled egg, I have to heat up the shell and then break it off. There is nothing the yolk can do until I break through that shell.

We could not have a relationship with God until He broke through our sinful nature. We were sinners and He had to find an external way of saving us. We could do nothing to reconcile ourselves with Him. We did not have that power.

God sent Jesus to die for our sins, so we could be with Him. Jesus broke our shell. Through Him and His love for us, we now can come to God. We get to walk with Him, and talk with Him whenever we want. Jesus set us free!

Just like that egg yolk, we are now free from our shells. We can become whatever God wants to make of us. Lookout Satan! You are going to end up with egg on your face!

Prayer…

Thank you Lord, for caring enough to break through my shell and save me! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Ephesians 2:4-7
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Thoughts…

Take a minute and really read the verses today. Did you notice anything about the verbs used? In verses 4-6, ‘Made us’, ‘been saved’, ‘raised us’, ‘seated us’ are all used. These are past tense. Then God switches to future tense in verse 7 ‘might show’. In that verse God refers to “in the coming ages’. When we finally meet Him face to face, we will truly experience His grace as we enter Heaven.

The future is important, but what I want to concentrate on is what we have today. We are alive in Christ. We are saved. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. Wait! What??? Yes, you read that right. We are already with Christ in the heavenly realms.

You see we already have God’s ear. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to talk with Him. We don’t have to wait to feel His love, experience His grace or any other blessings. We are with Him now. All we have to do is talk to Him. Open up to Him right now. He is listening and He wants to talk to you.

You don’t have to have someone talk to Him for you. You don’t have to wait to enter the inner sanctum, or Holy of Holies. You are already there. You have a personal relationship with God. He sees you as His BFF! You are on His Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email list, favorites on His phonebook, His address book and any other place you can think of today! There is no waiting to meet God or being with Him. You are already there!

Prayer…

Lord, thank you that I don’t have to wait to meet You. I am already with you and You with me! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thoughts…‭‭

Have you ever been blessed with a person in your life that really knows you and still likes you. My best friend, Kathleen, and I have joked that we can;t stop being friends because we have too much dirt on each other. I have also been blessed with parents that have always been there to love me, even when I made some pretty stupid mistakes. You have heard me talk before about my husband and I telling each other, “I love you,. I just don’t like you very much right now!.” There are several people in my life that truly love me and I love them, but they still have nothing on God.

God’s love goes so much deeper than any human could ever offer you. God gave His name as I Am because that is exactly what He is. He is everything for you at all times. He is always there. He is prepared to give you everything you need. And absolutely nothing can or will take that away from you.

I don’t care if you are a brand new Christian, a mature Christian, a Christian who has turned your back on God, or someone who has never considered God at all. He still loves you and is waiting there for you! He just wants you to call on Him. No matter where you stand just turn around, God is there with open arms wanting to love all over you..

So whether or not you have been blessed with someone in your life that really knows you and still likes you, I know someone who will! God loves and likes you very much right now!

Prayer…

God, thank you for being the Great I Am, and always loving me. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

2 Timothy 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Thoughts

“This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions … let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt.

No, I am not getting on a political soapbox, I promise. Franklin D. Roosevelt was just the walking, talking example of our verse today. I would not be surprised to find that he had read this verse before writing his speech.

What both God and FDR are trying to say is we truly have nothing to fear. We have courage within us. We are so much stronger than we think. Remember greater is He that is in you than he that is in this world (1 John 4:4).

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10‬) Just because we have to face fear, doesn’t mean we have to run from it. We can learn to do things afraid. That is real courage. We do that by concentrating all our strength on Him then watch God handle the rest.

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for being my courage when I have to face fear. ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved