Keep the Faith. Hold on to Faith. Pray by Faith. Love by Faith. Live by Faith. Stand in Faith. Move by Faith. Walk by Faith. Go by Faith. Do by Faith.Talk by Faith. Speak by Faith. Act by Faith. Help by Faith. Give by Faith. Think by Faith. Thank by Faith. Hope by Faith. See by Faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington.

We can thank God, He knows what we need inside and out. When we’re experiencing difficult times, or trouble within our minds, there are some people who will immediately pray.  Others will ask, “Do you need anything?” Still others may ask, “What can I do?”  As we know, both are caring statements and are expressions to offer to do something, whereby  we are grateful.

But what if that need is a need that lies deep within the heart where people can’t  see, hear, feel, or touch?  What can they really do when you  need something done on the inside?  Being human we know we can’t fix what we can’t see, hear, feel, or touch. But thanks be to God there is one who can! That one is Jesus!

So when we need something, whether outward or within, Iet us first seek our Lord; He is our loving and caring Friend. He knows, sees, and hears our faintest cry. Like the old hymn says, “He will answer bye and bye.” I encourage you to always keep on thanking God for all of who He is; for He is sufficient enough to take care of all of what we need, inside and out.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington.

My cup runs over; it overflows with the mercies of God for you and me. All praises and thanksgiving my God to thee!

My cup runs over with love, joy, peace, overflowing as the river in the deep blue sea.

Every day You heal me; You give me; You fill me; this to the max, as my cup runs over, I will not hold back, to praise You; to thank You; to glorify Your name, for filling my cup every day the same.

I thank you Lord, my cup overflows, with blessings from You that soothes my soul.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5

In God, I will Keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington

Thanking God through Not So Blissful Times

Life is filled with ups and downs. No matter where we go, ups and downs will be around. No matter how successful we become, somehow going through ups and downs can make us feel somewhat numb. This can’t be fun. We may asked, am I loosing “it”, or just have a hissy “fit?”

We may cry and make all kinds of ghastly sounds. Nevertheless, keep on thanking God as you go through life’s ups and downs. If you’re like me, when I’m up, I want to ‘stay up’.  When I’m down, I desire to ‘get up’.

So what do we do about this sea saw of motion, knowing ups and downs can be like waves moving on the ocean? Beware, at times they can fool you. Be assured they can really move you. At other times they tend to school you.

Please don’t let this process distort your mind. Remember, in order to go up we must first climb. Yes, it will definitely require some effort. So don’t get confused about the method. Could it be God is letting us know  getting up from being down, this process can be slow? Is there a lesson for me He wants to sow?

Going through ups and downs are certainly a part of life. We will get through them if we hold to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So should we really be thankful in the ups and downs of life? I say, yes, yes, yes! They may produce in us God’s very best.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hetistine Washington

“Thanking God For Support”

Did you know there are so many supports in life we rarely give thanks for, or thought to  during the course of a day? We rarely think of their value as we hurriedly go on our way. How often do we think about the desk we write on, or the chair we sit in, as we pull up to take a rest or a test? Lord, I thank you for a chair and a desk.

How often do we consider the kitchen counter we use to prepare our meals while we cut, chop, and saute at our own time and will? What about the stove that supports and provides heat to our pots and pans as we fry, boil, and bake to make tasty food from other lands? Lord, I thank you for a kitchen counter.

Have we thought about our beds as we lie down every night that supports our body, arms, legs, and head? What a restful sight! Don’t forget our vehicles that we drive from place to place, being so faithful to carry us as we travel day by day. Lord, I thank you for a bed. I thank you for a vehicle.

Are you mindful of the people God has provided along the way, providing helping hands (not waiting for tomorrow), but as needed for today? Yes, supports are needed. They are necessary to live, move, and be. Let’s thank God for His support in this great land of the free. Lord, I thank you for your people.

Now, if we turn our thoughts to Calvary, there we will see, “Our Support” as He hung on a tree. He was nailed and pierced. He suffered for all the world. Being able to support Himself, He was there for every man, woman, boy, and girl.

So let’s keep on thanking God for the support we have in Jesus, knowing we wouldn’t  be standing if He hadn’t paid the price. Not only did He die, but got up again that we may have eternal life. Lord, I thank you for Jesus Christ.

“Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” Psalm 17:5 (kjv).

“Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” Psalm 145:14 (kjv).

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington

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(Thanking God through Temptation)

I had a peculiar moment the other day. The reason I call this “peculiar” is because it happened on a Sunday, right after my personal early morning devotion with my Lord. As I began getting dress for church, a memory of a negative encounter came to my mind. It was an incident that happened with another person that made me very uncomfortable.The individual had said some pretty unpleasant things to me. Being a Christian, I was careful of my response. I dared not speak the things I really wanted to say. Though I held back, I was furious!

To my surprise, I though I had truly repented and dealt with that issue. But now, here on this beautiful Sunday morning, after personal devotion, getting ready to go to church (for more worship, mind you), this incident pops back into my mind. I even had a desire to call the person and finish what I didn’t say. I wanted to give this individual a piece of my mind. I wanted to react in a way I though would bring me peace (As it appeared, I didn’t have any). I wanted the other person to feel sorry and ashamed for what they had said to me. I couldn’t believe I still desired to tell this person off!

When I realized what I was thinking (retaliation); what I had finished doing (devotion); and where I was about to go (to church), I asked God to help me get over this feeling of hurt. I ask God to forgive me. Help me to forgive this person also. Forgive me for wanting to use words of retaliation and thinking as such. As I prayed, I began experiencing the peace of God. That’s when the things I though I wanted to say began to diminish and really go away.

After genuine prayer, confession, and praise, what I felt like saying didn’t matter anymore. I was at peace. I thanked the Lord for reminding me not to yield to temptation, but to pray. I also prayed for the other person to be brought to repentance, and into God peace as well. When I prayed and kept thanking God for His help, this is the response He gave me to affirm:

“Though tempted, I will not yield; in your name Lord, I will keep still.”

Who knows when temptation is going to strike? It could be by day, or it could be by night. It could really end up a nasty fight! Who wants to be a prey to temptation’s bite!

It can enter by a thought, word, or deed. Temptation doesn’t care. It desires to take the lead. It can never lead up. It can only lead down, causing us to lose our smiles, replacing with a frown.

Let’s be thankful to God for making us aware, no matter what we do, temptation is always there. It’s there, trying to raise its ugly face, hoping to hinder us in our Christian race. It’s there, giving no slack; pulling and tugging on our minds, hoping we would react.

If temptation could sink us, it really would. Satan means it for evil; but “yielding not”, produces the good. So believers, let’s stay on our guard singing praises, and keep on thanking Jesus, our Lord!

When temptation shows up let’s be prayerful and say, “My God is with me, and I’m not going your way.”

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington

My dear Lord,  thank you for reminding me everyday who You are. You are the way, the truth, and the life. You are the One who came and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

My dear Lord, so sweet and so kind; so merciful and so good, waiting patiently for all to come, if only they would.

My dear Lord, the giver of life, the maker and sustainer of man; creator of all things, watching over all throughout every land.

My dear Lord, Savior, Lord, and King, I lift you up as I raise my voice to sing, “Glory, Glory, thank You dear Lord, for Your redemptive story!”

Oh, my dear Lord, who looks from above, keeping watch over everyone with your unfailing love; sweeter than the sweetest, dearest than the dear, never far away; always so very near.

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusted in him.” Psalm 34:8

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington

How did you wake up this morning? Did you wake up in fear? Are you fraid? I am fully aware this question may sound crazy to the soldiers hidden in a trench while bullets and bombs are flying by, knowing their life can be taken at the blink of an eye. It may sound ridiculous to parents whose child is wandering in the streets, subjected to the dangers they may meet.

Yet, I asked, how did you wake up this morning? Are you afraid? Are you fearful of the turmoil in the world today? Killings after killings; some standing, some sitting, some watching, as others kneel to pray?

“Fear ye not?” Does this really apply to me?

So who is He, that said to me, “Fear ye not,” when I’d rather flee? Really? Is He crazy? Could it be that He knows something that I may not? For at times it seems I’m shaking in my boots! So who is He, that said to me, “Fear ye not,” but,”Come unto me?”

I know of only One that could be so bold. He is the Savior of my soul. I know of only One whom I can rely; times I may be afraid, He hears my cry.

He is Jesus, our Savior, the Almighty King, who is willing to take away our fear in everything. Why not give Him all our fears today?  Why not stop worrying, what come, what may?  Jesus is ready to take all fears right now. “Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Today, let us say, thank you Jesus;  we have no need to fear. Help us to  continue to look to you and pray. Help us to thank you every time, because you’ve “not given us the spirit of fear;  but of power; and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7.

Through fearful times, I encourage you to keep on thanking God.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington

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