Recently, I was on a flight that was delayed by two hours. This delay caused me to miss my connecting flight. I was very disappointed as I wanted to see my family after being away for several days on a business trip.
Pacing the floor at the airport, I could not accept the answer that I was going to have to wait another 24 hours before heading home. The airline was very accommodating to me, they were going to send me to an hotel and book me on a "noon" flight. Still grateful, I called customer service and asked if they could fly me into a "neighboring city", they quickly obliged. See when you know what's ahead of you, you don't just give up. Joseph was given a promise although it took years to manifest, he didn't give up on his dreams, he knew he was destined to be a ruler, a leader and from every pit he looked to do good to those in his care and he found favor with GOD...
CHAMPIONS from crisis to CHRIST IS.....don't give up on your dreams........THE PROMISE IS MANIFESTING!
Scripture Reference Genesis chapters 37-42
Copyright © 2011 Carmen Palmer
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Couples Prayer!
Recently celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary, I was reflecting on how God has really blessed us. Over the years we have grown together into "our" own identity as a couple. When we were dating we were separate people, but when we became married we united as "one", we have learned how to communicate and more importantly we learned how to pray for each other.
I wanted to encourage those that are married and those that are embarking on the journey, always seek God, never compare your relationship to someone else, and continue to have a date night. Your marriage is important to God and your spouse. Look into your husband/wife eyes and let them know how much you appreciate them, how much they mean to you and then pray for them!
Prayer for a spouse:
Lord,
Thank you for blessing me with a spouse that is seeking after you! Thank you for allowing my (husband or wife) to be able to provide, protect and support our family. Thank you that as we walk together we are seeking you for your guidance, we are walking beside each other and are helping to push each other into our destinies. Thank you for not allowing negativity into our marriage and that if we ever had a problem, we were able to talk it out. Thank you for the hand that I hold and as I am holding their hand, I pray for added strength, I pray that you give your vision, wisdom and understanding.
Couples Prayer:
Lord,
I pray that you would speak to your couples that are following after you. May you give them wisdom within their marriages. We bind the enemies of their lives that have come to seek and destroy, what you have joined together. We loose within the marriages your joy, peace, and love. May they walk in your statues and daily give you praise for blessing their union. I pray that you place a desire within their heart that would cause it to melt each time they see their spouse. I speak your blessings over them and I thank you for saturating them in your love.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." I Corinthians 13:4-7NLT
"and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Mark 10:8-9NASB
Blessings to you~
I wanted to encourage those that are married and those that are embarking on the journey, always seek God, never compare your relationship to someone else, and continue to have a date night. Your marriage is important to God and your spouse. Look into your husband/wife eyes and let them know how much you appreciate them, how much they mean to you and then pray for them!
Prayer for a spouse:
Lord,
Thank you for blessing me with a spouse that is seeking after you! Thank you for allowing my (husband or wife) to be able to provide, protect and support our family. Thank you that as we walk together we are seeking you for your guidance, we are walking beside each other and are helping to push each other into our destinies. Thank you for not allowing negativity into our marriage and that if we ever had a problem, we were able to talk it out. Thank you for the hand that I hold and as I am holding their hand, I pray for added strength, I pray that you give your vision, wisdom and understanding.
Couples Prayer:
Lord,
I pray that you would speak to your couples that are following after you. May you give them wisdom within their marriages. We bind the enemies of their lives that have come to seek and destroy, what you have joined together. We loose within the marriages your joy, peace, and love. May they walk in your statues and daily give you praise for blessing their union. I pray that you place a desire within their heart that would cause it to melt each time they see their spouse. I speak your blessings over them and I thank you for saturating them in your love.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." I Corinthians 13:4-7NLT
"and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Mark 10:8-9NASB
Blessings to you~
I may have a bruise...BUT I AM HEALED!
Recently, my mom was telling my children about a incident that occurred when I was younger. At the time, the incident seemed horrible. As mom told the story of me wrecking my bicycle, I glanced down at the scar that was left some 20 years ago. That scar served as a reminder of a pain that I once had.
Of course, when the wreck happened I was in pain, but as the days went on and I took my focus off of the pain...I didn't feel it anymore. When faced with transitions in life, do not focus on the pain, but rather seek God. Yes it may hurt now, but it is temporary!
Look at your future and realize how great it is! What happened in the past helped to prepare you for the harvest after the drought season in your life. If you didn't have those obstacles you would not have known what it was like to serve a God that hears our prayers, heals us of our infirmities and forgives us for our wrong doings.
CHAMPIONS, be encouraged! The scar is a reminder of a past pain....you do not hurt anymore because you are HEALED! Walk in your VICTORY!
"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." Isaiah 53:5NLT
Of course, when the wreck happened I was in pain, but as the days went on and I took my focus off of the pain...I didn't feel it anymore. When faced with transitions in life, do not focus on the pain, but rather seek God. Yes it may hurt now, but it is temporary!
Look at your future and realize how great it is! What happened in the past helped to prepare you for the harvest after the drought season in your life. If you didn't have those obstacles you would not have known what it was like to serve a God that hears our prayers, heals us of our infirmities and forgives us for our wrong doings.
CHAMPIONS, be encouraged! The scar is a reminder of a past pain....you do not hurt anymore because you are HEALED! Walk in your VICTORY!
"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." Isaiah 53:5NLT
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Prayer for our Government and other countries
God,
I ask that you help us a nation to focus back on you. Our prayer is not only for the current administration but for past leaders, help us not to look through a stained glass and cast opinions. Help us as we cry out for those that have lost homes and jobs. Thank you for reminding us that during these tough economic times we can still call on you. Thank you for hearing our prayers. It is in your kingdom God that we have everything that we need, your blessings are endless. You are our shepherd.
I pray for other countries that are going through turmoils. My prayer is that you would help those suffering, I ask that you provide meals and shelters for those that don't have it. I pray that you would be with the missionaries that are spreading the Gospel for your sake, that you would protect them, guide their every footstep. I also pray that for the countries that are dealing with war that you would bring about peace. I pray that you are with those effected by natural disasters, may they seek after you and find refuge in you.
You have commanded us to love, teach us how to love those that are around us. How can we love you and not love our brother. Help us to walk in your ways. Now I pray that as a nation we get back to "One Nation Under God."
In Jesus Name,
Amen
I ask that you help us a nation to focus back on you. Our prayer is not only for the current administration but for past leaders, help us not to look through a stained glass and cast opinions. Help us as we cry out for those that have lost homes and jobs. Thank you for reminding us that during these tough economic times we can still call on you. Thank you for hearing our prayers. It is in your kingdom God that we have everything that we need, your blessings are endless. You are our shepherd.
I pray for other countries that are going through turmoils. My prayer is that you would help those suffering, I ask that you provide meals and shelters for those that don't have it. I pray that you would be with the missionaries that are spreading the Gospel for your sake, that you would protect them, guide their every footstep. I also pray that for the countries that are dealing with war that you would bring about peace. I pray that you are with those effected by natural disasters, may they seek after you and find refuge in you.
You have commanded us to love, teach us how to love those that are around us. How can we love you and not love our brother. Help us to walk in your ways. Now I pray that as a nation we get back to "One Nation Under God."
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Bitter Vs. Better...leaving the pit of bitterness and entering into the palace of BETTER
Maybe your situation hasn't changed, maybe it has become worse and the walls feel like they are tumbling on top of your head. Every thing you hear and see is negative, the odds are stacked against you, you see people plotting your demise, you have read the obituary of your life and people are ready to put the dirt on top of the casket, just maybe, just maybe the situation has not changed in the last few days, months and years, BUT your perspective about the situation can CHANGE.
For a number of years, Joseph went from pit to pit. The initial pit was caused by his brothers who were jealous of him. People will recognize the greatness in you and so will the enemy. Bitterness will cause you to lash out at others and sometimes cause harm to yourself. Often as a kid I was amazed at how when in relationships with people, if something went wrong, everybody was mad. Today that is true within some marriages/relationships when one spouse is mad at the other and tells everyone else...well you guessed it, everybody else is mad at the other person. Bitterness doesn't just happen over night, bitterness occurs from a build up of several things that have occurred in a person's life.
Joseph probably had every right to be bitter, can you imagine that if he allowed his bitterness to happen, he may have not been in a leadership position later on in his life? Still when in the pits he focused on helping others. He didn't lash out, in every stage, he remained calm, even in his "wealthy" place (the palace), he sought to do good to those that had put him in the pit.
The pit is an uncomfortable place, its dark, cold and one may feel lonely, but how will you handle the pit of life? It is in that pit that bitterness will speak and tell you that no one is on your side and that your life is nothing more than failure being played out in front of your eyes.
However, becoming better will cause you to channel that negative vibe and turn it into something positive. How do you make something bitter turn to better? Prayer. When we go to God in earnest pray, he will even allow our enemies to be at peace with us. Forgive those that have placed you in the pit. Next take the bitter situation and look at it and see what's in it, that is good....did the pit cause you to pray more? Did the pit allow you a time to journal/talk to God more? Did the pit take something away from you that wasn't beneficial to you? If it did, then the pit just turned into something better. "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:28MSG
Joseph's life went from pit to pit, BUT GOD had a different plan. Just because it doesn't look like your breakthrough is going to happen, your perspective on the outlook can change. Yes, this pit is painful, but God has a palace for me and in that palace is his fullness of my joy. Surely the joy of the Lord is my strength. Yes, I am having difficulties in my health, BUT "By his stripes I am healed" He will give you strength to endure every pit and then he will lift you up and place you in your palace, where he will use you! "But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives." Gen 45:5MSG
CHAMPIONS, don't be discouraged by the pit of bitter, rather be encouraged by the palace of better. Better will help bring about peace to your inner self and peace with others! Try not to become bitter, but BETTER!
The story of Joseph's life can be found in Genesis chapters 37 thru 45
For a number of years, Joseph went from pit to pit. The initial pit was caused by his brothers who were jealous of him. People will recognize the greatness in you and so will the enemy. Bitterness will cause you to lash out at others and sometimes cause harm to yourself. Often as a kid I was amazed at how when in relationships with people, if something went wrong, everybody was mad. Today that is true within some marriages/relationships when one spouse is mad at the other and tells everyone else...well you guessed it, everybody else is mad at the other person. Bitterness doesn't just happen over night, bitterness occurs from a build up of several things that have occurred in a person's life.
Joseph probably had every right to be bitter, can you imagine that if he allowed his bitterness to happen, he may have not been in a leadership position later on in his life? Still when in the pits he focused on helping others. He didn't lash out, in every stage, he remained calm, even in his "wealthy" place (the palace), he sought to do good to those that had put him in the pit.
The pit is an uncomfortable place, its dark, cold and one may feel lonely, but how will you handle the pit of life? It is in that pit that bitterness will speak and tell you that no one is on your side and that your life is nothing more than failure being played out in front of your eyes.
However, becoming better will cause you to channel that negative vibe and turn it into something positive. How do you make something bitter turn to better? Prayer. When we go to God in earnest pray, he will even allow our enemies to be at peace with us. Forgive those that have placed you in the pit. Next take the bitter situation and look at it and see what's in it, that is good....did the pit cause you to pray more? Did the pit allow you a time to journal/talk to God more? Did the pit take something away from you that wasn't beneficial to you? If it did, then the pit just turned into something better. "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:28MSG
Joseph's life went from pit to pit, BUT GOD had a different plan. Just because it doesn't look like your breakthrough is going to happen, your perspective on the outlook can change. Yes, this pit is painful, but God has a palace for me and in that palace is his fullness of my joy. Surely the joy of the Lord is my strength. Yes, I am having difficulties in my health, BUT "By his stripes I am healed" He will give you strength to endure every pit and then he will lift you up and place you in your palace, where he will use you! "But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives." Gen 45:5MSG
CHAMPIONS, don't be discouraged by the pit of bitter, rather be encouraged by the palace of better. Better will help bring about peace to your inner self and peace with others! Try not to become bitter, but BETTER!
The story of Joseph's life can be found in Genesis chapters 37 thru 45
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
What would happen if we prayed?
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN PRAYER! DISCLAIMER: Today's blog is not about bashing people but just an awareness of what could really happen when we pray. Just maybe if we prayed a little more often we would see changes in our communities, churches, families, America & abroad.
Maybe if we left prayer in school, we would see more students focused.
Maybe if we brought prayer into our marriages we would see less couples divorced.
What if we taught our children how to pray when they were younger....they would be better equipped to call on the name of Jesus and not necessarily call on the name of their earthly parents to "bail" them out of a life situation.
What would happen if every doctor before they operated on a patient, prayed with the family and ask God to enter the room and be the real surgeon?
What if, before a witness in a courtroom placed their hand on the Bible to tell the truth, they seek after God for wisdom?
What would happen if every Senator & Congressman prayed for harmony, to work together to help bring the Nation back under God.....our money says in God we trust, but does our prayers reflect his trust?
What if we prayed on street corners, where drug addicts stand.....maybe they would recover and tell someone else about you God!
What if there were no more moment of silences and children & teachers were allowed to pray out loud....WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
What if we started praying for those that have been hurt in and outside the church....maybe we would see "HEALED" people.
In a world that is controlled by "influence" I pray God that you would move us into a season of prayer, that when we pray we feel the chains of bondage break in half, that before we get the words God our Father off our lips that an healing has occurred, that while we are praying someone who was doesn't know you, would cry out for you........
Father, our prayer is simple....teach us, remind us, lead us into PRAYER!
I believe there is power in prayer and I don't know what will happen until I PRAY!
Maybe if we left prayer in school, we would see more students focused.
Maybe if we brought prayer into our marriages we would see less couples divorced.
What if we taught our children how to pray when they were younger....they would be better equipped to call on the name of Jesus and not necessarily call on the name of their earthly parents to "bail" them out of a life situation.
What would happen if every doctor before they operated on a patient, prayed with the family and ask God to enter the room and be the real surgeon?
What if, before a witness in a courtroom placed their hand on the Bible to tell the truth, they seek after God for wisdom?
What would happen if every Senator & Congressman prayed for harmony, to work together to help bring the Nation back under God.....our money says in God we trust, but does our prayers reflect his trust?
What if we prayed on street corners, where drug addicts stand.....maybe they would recover and tell someone else about you God!
What if there were no more moment of silences and children & teachers were allowed to pray out loud....WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
What if we started praying for those that have been hurt in and outside the church....maybe we would see "HEALED" people.
In a world that is controlled by "influence" I pray God that you would move us into a season of prayer, that when we pray we feel the chains of bondage break in half, that before we get the words God our Father off our lips that an healing has occurred, that while we are praying someone who was doesn't know you, would cry out for you........
Father, our prayer is simple....teach us, remind us, lead us into PRAYER!
I believe there is power in prayer and I don't know what will happen until I PRAY!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Grateful! What makes you smile?
There comes a time when we should do an inventory of the things in our lives. Today we are only going to focus on those things that make us smile. Too often we shift our focus on our problems and the things that causes our heart to break, while our smile is turned upside down to a frown.
Today, look at all of those things around you that are just making your heart beat, your eyes to bat and that smile that showcases your teeth! Maybe it was the roses that you received on Valentine's day, or maybe it was the kiss from your significant other, or a note from your child that says I love you! Your list maybe a mile long, such as the co-worker who bought you a biscuit, or the gentleman at the gas station who decided to pump your gas. Maybe you received an unexpected promotion on your job, or you won a trip. Or it could be that you have great health, you are able to walk on your own, you are in your right mind, you have your voice, your able to see.....things may not be PERFECT, but you are still here!
So what ever your situation is on today....BE GRATEFUL! Keep a positive mindset, speak positive thoughts and continue to pray!
YOU ARE A CHAMPION AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!
Today, look at all of those things around you that are just making your heart beat, your eyes to bat and that smile that showcases your teeth! Maybe it was the roses that you received on Valentine's day, or maybe it was the kiss from your significant other, or a note from your child that says I love you! Your list maybe a mile long, such as the co-worker who bought you a biscuit, or the gentleman at the gas station who decided to pump your gas. Maybe you received an unexpected promotion on your job, or you won a trip. Or it could be that you have great health, you are able to walk on your own, you are in your right mind, you have your voice, your able to see.....things may not be PERFECT, but you are still here!
So what ever your situation is on today....BE GRATEFUL! Keep a positive mindset, speak positive thoughts and continue to pray!
YOU ARE A CHAMPION AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!
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