Can you believe we’re at the midpoint of May! Wow, where did the time go! As this month seems to be going by so fast, I thought I’d simply pause to share a little Mid-May Monday Motivation. I believe we all could use some ‘motivation’. With what’s going on in the world, who wouldn’t want to be given a little spiritual nudge to keep on keeping on. Here it is according to God’s Word, a motivation to trust Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6, ESV

With this Mid-May Monday Motivation scripture, I hope we see that the manner we approach God is of great significance. We must approach Him with an attitude of trust. Trust Him and let us not lean to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him. Based on this scripture, God promised He will do something for us; He will make straight our paths. God will direct us. Let us trust Him to do so.

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking You for the motivation to trust You, as it is found in Your Word, in Jesus name, amen. By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

No matter how much we say we know about God, in the midst of our deepest pain and deepest suffering, sometimes we fail to think immediately… ‘God’s got that, too’. During life’s extreme moments, I can surely understand how that thought might not be the first thing which comes to our minds. But somewhere during those intense experiences I pray it will that we might have peace. God promised in His Word, He will “never leave or forsake” us. He is “with us always even until the end of the world,” which means, death couldn’t hold Him; the grave couldn’t possess Him. “He is risen as He said.”

Because Jesus is risen, be encouraged “He won’t put more on us than we can bear…” even in our most difficult times. I encourage you to remind yourself, God’s got that, too! God’s got that worry, that hurt, that disappointment, and that problem also; that shame, that situation, that relationship, that grief, that rejection and/or dejection. Remember, Jesus rose from the grave and has ‘all power’ in His hand. He has taken captive and defeated all that wants to overpower us. Believing that God had power to raise Jesus from the dead, be confident He is more than capable to raise us from any situation, and also in that Day. Just look at Jesus; He got up! Therefore, let’s keep on thanking Him and giving Him the glory, for we will also rise. I hope you will rest easy by being assured, God’s got that, too!

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13: 20-21

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking You for defeating death and the grave. And that You have all power in Your hand to take captive and defeat all that wants to overpower me. Thank You, Lord, for the victory, in Jesus name amen. By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always, and Happy Resurrection Day of our Lord!

In my last post, hopefully I encouraged you to continue to focus on the good, no matter how things seem to be going in your life or around the world. In the same way, in this post, I hope to encourage you to focus on the truth, the truth of God’s Word. Why should we focus on the truth? The Holy Bible points out many scriptural reasons to do this. For one thing, God is Truth. His Word is truth. He stands for and in the truth that He is. Anything else is not of Him and will not stand.

Another reason is, it is the truth that sets us free. Knowing the truth will free us from the power and bondage of sin. Are you tired of living in bondage? If so, accept the truth of God’s Word today. Invite Jesus into your heart. Walk in Him, and He will surely set you free. To help set our focus today, here are a few scriptures on truth.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6/ESV

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32/ESV

“Sanctify them in the truth’ your word is truth.” John 17:17/ESV

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24/ESV

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18/ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking You for the truth of Your Word. It and only it keeps me grounded no matter what I see or hear. Thank You, and help me Lord to be sensitive to the reality of Your truth, as the truth resides in Jesus. In His name I pray, amen. By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

I’m so thankful that God through His mercy has kept us alive to see another month. Just as He has gotten us through the various challenges from the first two months, let us trust Him to get us though this one, the month of March. Let us march on in Jesus. One way to do this is to focus on the good. Someone may be thinking, with all the chaos going on in the world, how can anyone be expected to focus on the good? With the still ongoing Pandemic, wars, high gas prices, political rivals raging across the country, and so much more. How can anyone be encouraged to think on anything good when these factors are on the forefront of their hearts?

May I submit to you, there is a way we can still focus on the good. Here it is… focus on God, His Word, and His goodness towards you. Think about it, has God been good to you? If you are breathing, the answer is yes. No matter how your life is going, it pays to know who’s in charge of it all. It’s comforting to know God knows all about it. He is the only one who knows what and why things are happening the way they are. Trust Him. He won’t disappoint you. He is good. He’s there to carry you and I through. That said, on this first day of March, let God be at the forefront of your heart. In this way, despite all the bad that is going on, you will have someone to focus on who “is” good.

“For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 101:5, ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8, ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking You for your goodness towards me. And may I always remember that you are good, and it is Your goodness that is still keeping me, in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

Good evening and welcome back to the last day of this series, Love’s Way on Love and Valentine’s Day: Day 14, Fact #14: LOVE NEVER ENDS. Although we’re ending this series, it so good to know God’s way of LOVE NEVER ENDS. His love continues. It never fails. Therefore, we say thank you God, for encouraging us to show love Your way. We give You the glory! That said, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY everybody! I imagine by this time many have already celebrated in some form; others making preparation for later this evening. However you celebrate, I hope you continue with God’s way of loving others, your Valentine, and yourself. Yes, be kind to yourself this Valentine’s Day. To conclude these 14 days, I have a surprise! I’ve written a poem just for you, entitled: LOVE’S WAY.

Valentine’s Day is a great time to say, “I choose to love my Valentine God’s way. His love is patient and kind; that’s how I’II treat my Valentine. Love does not envy or boast; I will rejoice in it the most.

It is not arrogant or rude; it surely helps me to keep my cool. It does not insist on its on way; that said, I don’t demand the last say. It is not irritable or resentful; therefore I don’t take pleasure in being vengeful.

It does not rejoice at wrongdoing; only in righteousness, it will be pursuing. It rejoices in the truth; simply read His Word… therein is the proof. Love bears all things and believes all things too. It hopes all things and endures all things with you.

Last, but not least, love never ends; it will never fail; it will stay with you, and never bail.”

I pray this is the way we choose to love, as demonstrated to us from God above. God’s love is everywhere; it’s even in the air.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:8a “Love never ends…”

There are no words to express how much it meant to me to have you join in these 14 days up until Valentine’s Day. Thank you so much! And I pray you continue spreading love God’s way. May the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with love.

By Hertistine Washington /keeponthanking.com

Good evening everybody. Welcome back to Love’s Way, as we celebrate Love and Valentine’s Day. Day13, Fact #13: LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS. This kind of love won’t give up no matter what! We first see this demonstrated in its perfection by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He endured all in suffering for us, making Salvation possible for the whole world to those that believe in Him. In His suffering Jesus persevered despite the impending hardships that appeared. He endured the pain so that the world to gain.

Know that God’s way of love won’t run out on us. It stays and continues through whatever we’re going through. We can trust it. This kind of LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS. In your relationships, know that this love is not afraid to meet the challenges of life with you. If your Valentine possesses God’s way of love towards you (and you toward your Valentine), what a loving and kind, caring and helpful, trustworthy and courageous, tender and empathetic, loyal and forgiving relationship it will grow to be. Now… that’s some kinda good loving right there, God’s love.

Scripture reference: Corinthians 13:7d “… Endures all things.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow on Valentine’s Day! So grateful to all of you who has joined in and encouraged me to keep on sharing God’s way of love. May the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with love.

By Hertistine Washington /keeponthanking.com

Good evening, Welcome back to another evening on Love’s Way, as we celebrate Love and Valentine’s Day: Here we are: Day 12, Fact #12: LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS. Just two more days before Valentine’s Day! As love believes all things, also LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS. Love can do this because it is the Agape kind of love: unconditional love, the highest form or love, charity, love for God and love for man.

Another reason LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS is that love doesn’t live in pessimism but optimism. Godly love hopes and looks for the best. It has future expectations that is not merely based on a wish or desire. It is based on a confident belief that all things will work together for the good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose. This kind of love never stops hoping for the things that God said in His Word. It won’t give up. It confidently knows God’s love can do all things. With that in mind, Valentine’s Day is almost here. And I’m sure there will be lots of lovingly gestures made, words spoken, possibly huge proposals. That said, I hope your loving gestures toward your Valentine is motivated with the Agape kind of love in mind. The kind that says LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:7c “… Hopes all things…”

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Thank you for joining in. May the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with Love,

By Hertistine Washington, / keeponthanking.com

Good evening. Welcome back as we share Love’s Way on Love and Valentine’s Day. Day 11, Fact #11: LOVE BELIEVES ALL THNGS. Certainly this doesn’t mean love is simple and gullible. That it will fall for anything! No, absolutely not. Love is strong and powerful. To possess this kind of love calls for faith in God. As one commentator puts it, “Love believes all things pertaining to God, His will, and His way.” Love believes that every way of God is right, true, and it works. Do you believe this? Do you possess this kind of faith?

Hopefully, a relationship occurs because the parties believe it’s going to work out. One gets married because they believe their spousal Valentine loves them more than anyone else. They believes their Valentine would be faithfully theirs the rest of their lives. Why do they believe this? Because of love. That’s what love does. Love believes the best. At the time of their union they have no doubt that their love was going to last forever. Unfortunately sometimes the relationship doesn’t last, but nevertheless they believed it would. As you retire in your favorite place this evening, I hope you understand that God’s way of LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS that is true, faithful, real, and trustworthy.

Reference scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:7b “Love believes all things.”

Looking forward to sharing with you tomorrow. Thanks again for joining in. May the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with love,

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Good evening. Welcome back to sharing Love’s Way, as we celebrate Love and Valentines Day on Day10, Fact #10: LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS. Wow, that’s huge right there! When I meditated on this fact, I couldn’t help but first think of Jesus. For it was Jesus the Savior, who bore all things for all people from the cradle to the cross to the grave. Without a doubt this kind of love is unique. It can’t be compared with or to any other.

When I think about the word bears, I also think of that which supports, sustains, or holds up. Definitely we need this kind of love in our relationships and marriages; a love that supports and protects in all things… A God kind of love. This doesn’t mean you’ll be agreement on everything, but that you will support in truth in all things. For certainly relationships are challenging, but it is God’s love that sustains us when we desire to have or build one that’s pleasing to Him. It is through His strength that we can do or bear all things. It is His love that provides this strength in the struggles of life and in relationships. That said, as you show love and appreciation to your Valentine, I pray you will be mindful of God’s kind: LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS. Finally, as we recline for the evening, I hope we realize, when love is portrayed God’s way, we’re in for a lovely Valentine’s Day.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:7a “Love bears all things…”

I’m looking forward to sharing with you tomorrow. Thanks again for joining in. May the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with love,

By Hetistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Good afternoon. Welcome back to another lovely evening, as we share Love’s Way on Love and Valentine’s Day. Day 9, Fact #9: LOVE REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH. This means love does not rejoice, takes pleasure in, or takes delight with falsity and falsehood. Be real. Be honest. Be truthful. I ask you, do you delight when someone tells you the truth? If so, you should also tell the truth. For this is Love’s Way. When truth is told, lie goes. It cannot stay. Truth is… God is Truth. And Christians live their lives based on that fact (John 14:6). We rejoice in the truth because this is not only who God is, it is what He values, honors, and respects. With that, I’m so thankful truth brings us to the understanding of how to love God’s way. Remember the Bible says, “… Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” So as you celebrate Love’s Way on Love and Valentine’s Day, be truthful to your Valentine in the things you say and do. Be honest. Be real. Don’t be false. Know that the truth or gestures of your love can be sweeter than candy. Therefore, I encourage you to rejoice in Love’s Way, knowing LOVE REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:6b “… But rejoices with the truth.” John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Looking forward to sharing with you tomorrow, as we are getting closer to day 14. Thank you for joining in this evening. I pray you have a restful night, and may the blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Submitted with love,

By Hertistine Washington / keeonthanking.com