Author: Ms. Rita's Minute

What brings more joy than the laughter or smile of a child in their utmost delight? Have you ever experienced such joy? What brings joy to your heart today? Is it spending time with your children or spouse? Is it enjoying your favorite hobby in peace and solitude? Is it seeing someone you love that you haven’t seen in ages it seems? What brings this emotion or state of being to your heart?

Being defined in the Bible as fruit of the Holy Spirit, joy is one of life’s greatest emotions. In it we have the ability to experience great pleasure or gladness. Further, the Bible, assures us that God’s will for us is that we be full of it!

So, what will bring more joy to your life today, this hour, right now? In pondering all that I can remember that makes me happy, I’m confident that meditating on God’s promises to us inspires me with great joy. Knowing that He’s working all things together in my life for my good gives me a sense of elation and confidence. I can rest; my life is in His hands.

Take what he’s provided for you today so that your joy may be full. You don’t have to live another insecure, worried, overthought, existence again. Remind yourself of these truths as you go about your day:

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 17:13
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:8
…whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…

Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 126:6

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

John 16:22
Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.



Today I thought about rejection and how devastating it is for many people. By nature, we all want to be loved and, in some way, needed, and sometimes find it hard to bounce back from being rejected. However, there is a way to never allow the negative effects of rejection to take ahold of our minds. Let’s discover the truth about what is factually ours as believers in Christ.

In Genesis 37:3-4 of the bible, we find the story of a young man by the name of Joseph who faced major rejection with harsh consequences from his brothers.

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”

His brothers decided to sell him into slavery, though they had initially considered to do worse: kill him. Talk about being rejected; how worse could it get? However, thankfully, the bible says the Lord was with Joseph. His master saw it, as the Lord made all he did to prosper, and he was made overseer of his master’s house. He then spent some no-fault time in prison where he even received God’s favor there with a leadership position. Joseph was later placed by Pharaoh over all the land of Egypt and in the end, those same brothers found themselves bowing, during a great famine, before the very one they sold into slavery.

There are many situations where we might face rejection with varying degrees of sorrow. It may come through denial of a new job, relationship, or business transaction, among other things. Sometimes, we may be rejected by family members, job managers, or school and church associates. However, God has provided us with many precious promises regarding the rewards of love for, and obedience to, Him. No doubt these promises would quell the effects of rejection:

Psalm 19:8,11, “…The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes…Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

Romans 10:11, “For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

So, if we are seeking God, and have these and more precious promises, why would we ever allow ourselves to stay sorrowful or dismayed over rejection, other than a lack of faith or impatience?

Let me encourage you to trust the fact that God knows you more than you know yourself. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb. He is sovereign and omnipotent, well able to supply the best that you need in all things. The question is, will you believe Him and submit these things to Him?

I’ve decided to believe Him. Life is so much easier to live placing all things, including the hard things like rejection into His hands to handle. Whatever you may have lost, in whatever way you feel alone or abandoned, He is big enough to replace or fulfill the void. “For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. ” (Psalm 107:9)

Determine to stay free, hopeful and expectant to receive God’s blessings of fulfillment in the midst of any rejection. Whatever He has promised, along with what you are able to yield to Him, He is faithful to accomplish in your life.

Have you ever thought about the meaning of the part of the often prayed “Lord’s Prayer” that says “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” Clearly, the Bible is referencing the heavenly kingdom Jesus spoke of while on earth, in which all of those who love Him would be included. As we exercise the Lord’s example of how to pray, one can’t help but wonder what this request of God’s kingdom on earth would look like today.

We know that his kingdom is one where His will is done. And the bible tells us His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Therefore, we must learn the ways of God and seek to implement what pleases Him in our lives. We also know that a kingdom possesses a rulership and authority head as leadership, and in God’s kingdom, Jesus is the King and ruler over all of its inhabitants.

God has also made known to us that we as fellow believers have access to the keys of the Kingdom. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19) Believing on Jesus, we have legal entrance, a way into this lavish kingdom. These keys have provided to us answers and solutions to life’s quandaries and we only need sincerely seek the wisdom necessary to walk in our overcomer status.

Further, we see Jesus’ intentions regarding making His kingdom known in the earth in Matthew 10:7: “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’”; Luke 9:2: “and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick”; and Luke 10:11: “Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.”

According to the Bible, we’ve all been given the choice of eternal life or death. We are encouraged to choose a life without end, versus a life of eternal torment apart from God. Being a citizen of God’s kingdom is far greater than anything else we can imagine or hope for.

It has been said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. I found this to be true for me when I tested it with making my bed every morning. After 21 days it was a piece of cake! However, when I think about holiness, I think of my chief aim in life being to please God.

So, I’m training myself to be set apart from worldly ways of existing and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me with Himself by yielding more to Him and His desires rather than those of myself or someone else’s. I don’t by any means claim to be without errors in this endeavor, but it is my daily goal that people would experience less of me and more of Him in our time together.

Thankfully, the Bible assures us “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)

The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:2-3 that “…we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Further, in 2 Timothy 2:19-21 we are told that “…Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.  Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Salvation occurs when we first commit to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and turn from our old ways of living in sin. Yet, regarding holiness, as a result, we seek to establish new habits of a holy life, demonstrating our love for Christ, which help us and others to grow–namely, through prayer, Bible study, and worship.

It’s important to carve out a specific time daily, whether 15 minutes or an hour, to spend time alone with the Lord, talking to Him, listening to Him, thinking about Him and what He has spoken to us. We need special times in study of the Bible as this is how we come to know God and learn what actually pleases Him, as well as the history of others in His family.

The local church is a place where we can worship together and grow in those things that require our time together as a family of believers. As God has set us apart in our accepting what He’s done for us, as well as His authority as Lord in our lives, we can look forward to experiencing the abundant life He has promised us.

Therefore, “…let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25) Also, “since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

I thought about the love of God today. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to truly love, and whether you can do it, we have the ultimate example of true love shown in the Bible by Jesus Christ toward the whole world. As a Bible reader and Christ follower, I’ve found that no matter what part of the earth we were born in, how we were raised, or where we are now in life, we have the pure and untainted love of God available to us today.

The Bible tells us that God is love. So, to really experience true love, you must know and believe God. To understand that He is love we must recognize that there is no one else like Him, in or outside of the earth. Where else is someone literally defined as love? And yet God has chosen to share Himself and His love with us, not only in allowing us to learn of Him, but by sacrificing His very own life for us as atonement for our sins when we didn’t even ask Him to do so. He truly and freely did it, why? Because He loved us.

The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” How’s that for love? Further, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) So, even when we were at our worst, Christ still died for us. He not only died for us, but He also suffered for us, hanging and nailed to a cross. He was beaten and spat upon and treated inhumanely, yet he had never sinned in His life. Can you imagine God in human flesh being bullied? He was indeed the sinless and supreme sacrifice necessary to reconcile us to a right relationship with Almighty God.

So, when you’re wondering what it really means to love, look at Jesus’ ultimate act of love for us as well as all the other wonderful things He did and said in the Bible. We can also know something about HIs love by seeing what He actually loves. Psalm 33:5 tells us He loves righteousness and justice, and that we are not to love only our neighbors, but even our enemies. (Matthew 5:44). There’s so much to learn about the love of God and He’s made it clear for us to see through His word, the Bible, and time spent alone with Him, in prayer. The spiritual as well as physical gifts He has provided us also show us His love for us.

Further, in 1 Corinthians 13, He’s given us some characteristics regarding love that we should never fail to remember.

Love …

• is patient
• is kind
• doesn’t envy
• doesn’t parade itself
• isn’t puffed up
• doesn’t behave rudely
• doesn’t seek its own
• isn’t provoked
• thinks no evil
• doesn’t rejoice in iniquity
• rejoices in the truth
• bears all things
• believes all things
• hopes all things
• endures all things
• never fails

Learning about these things, meditating on these things, praying about these things, and trusting God for these things, puts us in a great position in life. These things don’t look much like the world because they are truly heavenly things. Yet they are doable things with the help of God’s Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds. We never have to feel unloved when we have God Almighty loving us. We just have to get to know Him, which grows our faith and confidence in Him as a person, and His love for us.

Would you like to be heavenly minded? I would. We’re heavenly minded simply when we choose to place our thoughts on godly or heavenly things. What is divine, devout, or faithful–having to do with all things consisting of God, His teachings, and His kingdom? There’s no end to the vast number of topics this could encompass. Yet we spend so much time welcoming the world’s daily twists and turns of life and often give heaven the smaller increments of thought. We don’t want to be an outsider appearing strange, filling our minds with anything scripturally supernatural and different from what we’re accustomed to. So, we acquiesce to more worldly patterns of thinking and being, to please others and comfort ourselves, ensuring we aren’t being too spiritual.

However, did you know that there is no reference in the Bible to being so heavenly minded you are no earthly good? Yet, I’ve heard it spoken many times and perhaps you have too. It’s amazing how someone can say something, and that one thing can be echoed for years into the future, even though it is just a personal idea not necessarily based on fact. This is why it is so important to know what’s actually written in the Bible; to study it and be well acquainted with its contents.

The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:2 to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. Isn’t that somewhat opposite of what our culture tells us? The current trend is to set our minds on ourselves, what we want, what we need, and what’s best for us. However, setting our minds on heavenly things points us to what God wants and needs from us. How will we know unless we access the knowledge, He’s provided us through His written word?

So, if you haven’t already, let’s make an effort to make reading the bible an important event of each day. Whether it’s reading and meditating upon one scripture or a chapter or two each day. Any consumption of God’s word will prove fruitful if we’ll consistently read it, meditate on it and endeavor to do what it says.

Ever think about what you think about? Our minds can hold so much data and each day our brains process close to 70,000 thoughts. That’s a lot of thinking! It would be to our advantage to fill our minds with the most encouraging and positive facts and ideas as possible. For me, that would especially be biblical principles.

What we think matters, as the bible tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7) It also encourages us in that the Lord will keep us in perfect peace as our minds are stayed on Him because we trust him. (Isaiah 26:3) Further, He knows our thoughts. He’s not unaware of them. Psalm 94:11 tells us that “The Lord knows the thoughts of a man, that they are futile. Also, “He knows when we sit and when we stand and perceives our thoughts from afar. ” (Psalm 139:2)

So where do negative thoughts come from? Jesus tells us sinful thoughts come from inside of us, “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder… (Mark 7:21). Therefore, in changing our thoughts, Philippians 4:8 tells us how to think: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” We are taught not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Changing our thoughts is not just a mental behavior, but a spiritual exercise as the bible describes that “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

So, we will feel and change for the better as we remain mindful of what we are thinking and use the tools the bible gives to change our negative thoughts. We are sure to grow as we adhere to what was told regarding the scriptures in Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

———————————-

More scriptures on our thoughts:

Proverbs 15:26, 1 Chronicles 29:18, Matthew 9:4, Luke 11:17, Matthew 15:19, Psalm 19:14

---

Today, I thought of Mommy, a.k.a. Ma, Sweet Pea, Sugar Foot, and Miss Dee. Throughout my life, she truly proved to be a treasured gift. Just remembering her large doe eyes and witty personality makes my heart smile and my mind travel through all the ways she showed strength, integrity, and love for God and me. She called me her angel and she was indeed mine; a friend whose presence gave me the comfort and confidence no one will ever understand.

I have many cherished memories of our times on the road to Virginia Beach, a weekend in New York, or a vacation in Florida. Mommy loved to drive. A long drive from one state to another, even alone, after the age of 70 was nothing for her. She adored it! So, as she aged and developed some health challenges, her eyesight was not so great, and she failed the DMV optical test. She was not a happy camper, and insisted they were wrong. Yet, as with anything else, she was only disappointed for a short time, and was soon back to her same cheerful mood. I never knew her to be a brooding person about anything. She was determined to be grateful and happy in life. I’ll never forget this and hope I can emulate her.

Mommy was a nurse by trade and loved helping others. She was very intuitive and a great listener and counselor. I really miss even the simplest things we used to do together as well as our many discussions on various topics.

While Mommy was here, she also loved cookbooks, Coke, shopping for clothes, decorating, floral design, singing, and studying the Bible, among other things. I can still remember some of our little spats over why she could no longer drink sodas because of her health issues. Yet, every now and then, I’d grab a small one for her when we were out and about. God knows I had better, as only He knew the wrath I’d incur if I didn’t. I want to laugh as I think about it. Mommy was feisty, yet funny to the very end!

As a child, she taught me there was, and always will be, God, and that I should honor Him with my life and pray to Him consistently. She showed me the importance of learning about Him and trusting Him. Her loving, forgiving, and patient nature showed me she knew Him. The most repeated phrase I remember coming from her lips was “Don’t worry about it.” Mommy was great at this! She had the most phlegmatic personality I’d ever encountered. She refused to worry about anything, and I loved that about her. Being prone to the opposite behavior, I was obliged to take all of her advice when she transitioned to heaven.

Something else I loved about Mommy; she never pressured me regarding living an authentic Christian life. She didn’t badger or demean me but loved me through my nonsense. She briefly but strongly made clear what God expected of me. She simply prayed and left me in the hands of the Lord. Further, I recall only two sentences my mother spoke, on two separate occasions in my young adult life, during a brief period of waywardness. I felt I had to have my boyfriend who was not living by holy standards, to say the least. As I made my way out for another weekend with the one I thought I could not live without, she said, “You’re going to have to make up your mind who you’re going to serve.” The next time, “Remember you’re taking Jesus with you.” Ugh! That was all that needed to be said to get my conscience stirring, as I knew I was wrong. She continued with her church duties as a deaconess and a traveling choir member that took her all the way to Nigeria. Just as she had prayed God would bless her with a daughter after having her son, she later prayed for my protection and that I’d live a life for the Lord. How I appreciate and thank God for her prayers.

Here’s a photo of Mommy as a baby. Grandma told the story of how she left her on the front porch one day to get some sun for a brief moment, and a man walked up to her, and took her from the porch. Thankfully, Grandma got back just in time to safely snatch Mommy from the thief.

The Bible is very clear on how we are expected to treat our parents. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3) I can only hope that, while she was alive, I honored her in a way that pleased the Lord and made her feel loved.

Perhaps, after a long time, you find yourself single because you simply haven’t received a proposal, your spouse has passed away, you’ve experienced a heart-wrenching divorce, or you haven’t met anyone you desire to marry. Nevertheless, be encouraged–you are blessed to still have time to enjoy those things you love most about being single.

You may appreciate the freedom of not having to check in regularly with your spouse or having to make the many compromises and sacrifices expected in matrimony. Further, you have more time to serve the Lord, free from the hindrance of divided attention to your spouse. Your time still largely remains yours, and the pressures of pleasing a husband or wife don’t exist. Not to mention, you have more time to educate yourself on what makes a healthy spouse. Hence, a healthy marriage.

It could be you’ve often experienced the frustrations of people joyfully entering your life, only to sadly leave for any number of reasons. However, I’d like you to consider, that maybe God permitted each of these people into your life to assist in preparing you for the one you’ll marry. Significant time may have been spent sharpening the rough edges of each of your personalities. Though the relationship may have ended in disappointment, the learning experience was valuable for your success in the next relationship. Your time was not wasted.

Those challenging relationships you encounter in singleness could be essential teachers in helping you learn more about yourself, sparking change, where necessary. These people may be those with whom you may have had to more intently exercise the Holy Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which as a result, has strengthened your spiritual and emotional muscles. In addition, I’m convinced that sometimes, God will allow circumstances that will purposely inhibit you from being attracted to someone to whom you should not be committed.

Whatever the case, with Jesus as your Lord, and His Holy Spirit as your guide, you can trust that no one can provide a better spouse for you than your heavenly Father who created the universe. Imagine what He can provide for you, in His timing, when you simply ask and believe. However, that’s if you should even desire marriage. You don’t have to marry.

Remember these words of truth that can be relied upon:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5/NKJV

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ~Matthew 7:7-9/NKJV

Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. ~Mark 11:24/NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ~~Ephesians 3:20-21/NKJV

In making decisions regarding your relationships, be especially intentional to move in wisdom considering what’s best for your individual life. A decision to marry is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. I’m seriously considering Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7:28: “…But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.”

So, whether you choose to commit to the loving oneness of marriage, or the freedom and fun of remaining single, having a relationship with your heavenly Father is of the greatest importance. Loving and obeying Him, you’ll reach your greatest fulfillment!

Sacrifice–not the easiest action to perform–yet a major part of life, involves willingly giving up something for the purpose or benefit of something else. Often, we’re asked to sacrifice time, money, skills, or talents for various reasons. We sacrifice for our families, jobs, and churches. Yet nothing comes close to sacrificing one’s entire life and will for another. During this Easter season, this is what Christians celebrate: the sacrifice and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the entire world–the reconciliation of people to God.

As we sacrifice our lives to live for the Lord, may we always be mindful of the matchless value of our Father’s sacrifice of a holy, blameless, life to atone for the darkness of guilty men. Yet amazingly, with the sacrifice of our lives, we gain abundant, eternal life, along with authority and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thankfully, now the old is gone, and the new has come. We are truly blessed!

—————————————-

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20/NIV