~Grace has bought you~

When you make a mistake and you turn away from it and repent from it..Satan is going to come in like a flood every other day to try to convince you.. "because of that mistake you are worthless now" Don't you listen to him! God can use you now just like He could before those mistakes..Get up and kick Satan down by speaking about the goodness of God and how He came in even when it was almost too late for you! Testify to the world what you came out of and how it's not too late for grace to come in and rescue you from the chains of sin! The only reason why Satan is coming at you so hard is because..YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE! 

Don't give up, turn from sin and let His healing begin..for grace came and it bought you, and now God has brought you because He has called you! Don't ever forget it! God loves you!

~Dani

~Don't Worry about it~

Have you ever hurt someone so badly or did something that you regretted that really stuck with you? Do you still struggle with letting it go even after a long time has passed by? 

Don't worry because we've all been there at one point..but I promise you that it will get better! The key is that after that person forgives you..there is something that you must also do..You must forgive yourself and learn to move on with your life! You deserve happiness and peace because you are loved by a Savior that has forgiven you of what you've done! Grace has been given to us for one reason..to become a better person that can pass that hope that Jesus provides onto someone else who is also in need of grace! Grace has been given to us so we can give grace to others who are lost like we once were! No one is perfect or without mistakes to move on from..we just have to ask God to forgive us, ask others that we've hurt to forgive us and finally..we have to forgive ourselves so we can move into a better way through Jesus! Don't worry about it because God has already forgotten about it..the only reason why we remember what we've done is so we won't return to our wrongdoings and we can reach out for something from God that has so much more meaning!

~Dani

~Out of options~

Do you ever feel like you're in a rut..like you're just stuck? Sometimes it feels as though there is no way out and no road to get there but you cannot lose hope..though it seems like hope is wearing thin in your life..don't give up! Push forward and keep your eyes up..knowing that God has gotten you through many other tough times and He's not going to give up on you now! He loves you and He will not let you down..even if you've let him down..He has not given up on you because He knows your heart and why you did what you did..He's not going to abandon you in your very hour of need because He knows your heart is crying out to him! What you're going through is not from God..God is not putting you through that! He will however help you find a way to escape from it though! 

When it comes to God you're never out of options! Don't give up..because God is making a way for you to find a way out of that situation now and it will be the easiest way possible so that you can be as scuff free as you could possibly be! God knows what He's doing and who He is dealing with..don't be afraid to trust in him!

Psalms 139:1-10

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me."

No matter where you've gone, no matter  what you've done, no matter how many times you've failed..God knew you then and knows you now! He knows that you're not perfect because you weren't made to be perfect..that's his job! God is the only one who is truly perfect..so that tells us that even when we fail one thing remains true..He loves us and He is proud to call us his children..we don't have to be perfect..we just have to do our best! 

God knows your heart and when you're really trying hard to follow after him! You are going to fail sometimes but when you do..run toward God..not away from him.

~Dani

~I Am Blessed~

Where can I start? I guess the first thing I can honestly say that I feel blessed having in my life is for my wonderful family, God knew who to put as my parents and to raise me in the way I should go, I'm so fortunate to not only have been raised by wonderful parents but by Godly parents as well! I am positive that I wouldn't be the person I am today without them because through their example I have learned how to help others by encouraging them in Christ!

Next I am thankful for my sister that I always have someone to laugh with..even when sometimes I know that a lot of those laughs comes from learning the ability to laugh at myself and to find joy through the sorrow..I believe that's what having a sister has taught me most of all, even when we pick at each other..still as adults, but I wouldn't change that in a heartbeat!

Next I am thankful for my niece and nephew who I love as my own..I'm not sure if I could love anyone as much as I love those kids..my heart is so full!

Next I want to thank God for all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandparents! I've learned so much from you all and I wish that we could get together more often..especially on this special day of which we celebrate the things we are most thankful for. 

I also want to thank my grandma Beck even though she has passed away a year ago..which seems like yesterday, I'm so thankful to have learned from her by learning how to truly treat people with kindness from the heart..she taught me to never become bitter and to always have faith in people by giving them a second chance and showing them love even though sometimes people don't always act nice to you. 

I want to thank YOU, my Facebook friends and my blog readers..without your constant belief in my devotionals and in my abilities.. I couldn't have done this, it's your confidence in me that has driven me to never give up and through that I have made it through some trying times in my life though I didn't share them all publicly, I was struggling throughout the year but my way of reaching out was reaching out to you with my words and by writing those words I was able to build myself up and cope with life's circumstances! You don't know what you all mean to me and I'm forever greatful for your support!

Next I want to thank my church family for always believing in me even before I started all of this, before my writing, before my singing, at the very beginning I was welcomed with open arms and you all accepted me for the shy girl I used to be..you watched me come out of my shell and become the Woman of God that I am today!

And last but not least..I have to thank my God for his many blessings in life! God you have held me together when I saw the walls falling all around me..somehow you kept me safe even when I would run away at times, God you stood beside me and gave me strength to fight again so many times! You have given me so many talents that I never even knew that I could use for your glory but I am! 

I am sure that God has a Man out there for me that will work for the Lord right beside me that I will meet someday soon.

I thank you Jesus for saving me and protecting me all my life from harm..even my heart has been protected from being scared, when my heart was hurting you picked me up and held me tight..you are the lover of my soul and my constant place of comfort of which I can always go! Help me to keep going until you return to catch us up to be with you, I'm forever yours and I know that I will do much more for you!

~Dani

~verse of the day~

Proverbs 3:13-18

"Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

and the one who gets understanding,

for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed."

~Dani

~Lead Me..~

We need to ask for God's help more often..not asking for things but asking him to guide us to the right places, to meet the right people, and most importantly to say the right things to others! 

It's really quite simple.."Lord, give me understanding, teach me and be with me to give me strength, help me to reach someone who is hurting today, lead me to walk in your truth always, amen!"

Proverbs 3:5-8

"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.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones."

~Dani

~Stepping Stones~

Everything that has happened in your life is leading you to greatness! Don't become discouraged or held back by your failures, today is the day to move forward into the calling that God has purposed for you to do! Don't even allow others to tell you that you can't do big things for God..if they do it's in your right to tell them that you ARE ABLE! And if they continue to discourage you not to follow after God, then you also have the right to walk away from them in order to pursue God's will for your life! Anyone that holds you back from God's will doesn't need to be around you..Walk away from that, raise your hands and surrender to God, because God's purpose is always the right choice..no matter what the world tries to tell you..God will always be the right choice!

I can tell you honestly that nothing that this world could ever offer you is as fulfilling as God's will for your life!

Ephesians 1:11-12

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory."

~Dani

~Don't Compromise who you are~

I've learned that if you decide to compromise on what you want, you'll also begin to compromise on what God wants for you, because God gave those wants and desires to you to dream of and there is nothing wrong with being the person that God created you to be! 

Don't compromise what you want..not for anyone because that's what makes you unique and God gave you those desires so that you can strive to make them come to pass in your life! 

Don't miss God and don't throw away your dreams just because someone doesn't understand why you want those things for yourself or if they try to force you to change into someone that you weren't created to be! God loves who He created you to become..so stop worrying and start working toward those dreams until they happen for you! God's got a hold of your hand..don't worry who has let go of yours and declare His purpose in your life from now on!

In the end the right people are going to be standing next to you to encourage you to move forward and when you fall they'll be the ones that will pick you up instead of reminding you that you fell down! 

Love doesn't accuse or try to burden you..Love chooses to lift you high above those failures so you won't even see them anymore! It's like the song that says.. "He looked beyond my fault and saw my need" those are the right people that you require in your life not the ones that remind you of your failures constantly..Though we failed, no matter how many times..Jesus died for our sins and He still forgives us even after 2,000+ years later! That same grace, mercy and love still reaches deep into our hearts and restores all the broken parts! I need that, you need that, we all need that kind of love!

~Dani

~No Man should be alone~

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

~Dani

~Keep me where the light is~

This world can seem so dark and cold if we decide to accept it as being only that way..but if we decide to instead rise up and become a candle to this world..we can make a difference that promotes the required change that it truly needs! That's when the word of God needs to come in and that's when we need to speak out of the word so our words can become flesh! In order to reach those who have been living in darkness..we must raise a standard against the evil out there in the world by digging deep into the word of God..with that power we can initiate the change that this world so desperately needs to see! If you think that you are small or insignificant think about it this way..when you light a candle and put it at the end of a hallway that small candle puts out the light that is needed for someone to find their way through the darkness! You are like that candle at the end of a hallway..you are able to reach the unreachable just because of the light that lives inside of you..called God! Sometimes all it takes is a small candle to reach someone who is lost in the darkness and you can help them to find their way through that darkness by sharing your faith in God with them or by being his hands and feet!

John 1:1-5

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

~Dani

~Cliffhanger~

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you've done everything that you could possibly know to do and now it's finally up to God to do the rest? That's what you call a "cliffhanger" and don't worry because we've all gone through that point before in life..you're not alone!

There is an important thing here for you to remember.."When everything is hanging on the line..God shows up just in time!"

When you've done everything physically possible in a situation sometimes you have to be silent and trust the almighty God that things are going to work out as they should! When you're feeling alone, when you're feeling helpless, when you're broken down and desperate..God will rise up and take control if only you'll relinquish it to him! 

Don't be afraid to admit to him that you cannot manage your life alone anymore..it's alright to reach out to him for help because we were made naturally to rely on God, once you give it to him wholeheartedly then comes the joy, then comes the peace, then comes the comfort! 

When you give your life to God to transform..suddenly your eyes are opened up to new places and new doors are opened because of God being in the equation of your life! And with that being said..not only will new doors be open to you but also the many blessings that are held behind those doors with come along with it!

Give your life to God and He will give you all of these things..that's his promise to us when we serve him!

~Dani

~A Man of his word..who can find?"

Why is it so difficult to find a good person in the world nowadays? A Man or a Woman is almost impossible to find, it seems! But though it's hard..still it's very possible to find a "good one"

I've heard it said by many people that once you find "the one" it's even more difficult to "maintain" ..somehow I've never been able to believe that or even take it seriously, on the contrary! I believe and know of others that believes that once you meet "the right one" it's easy to maintain, because when it comes down to it we all want to find that "Godsend" the one that God purposed us to be with and if we are faithful to God and Follow after his will we will indeed meet the person we're destined to be with and that person will be so right for you that it will be easy to maintain! That's the way that God works..and He doesn't ever send us things that are broken..a vehicle or a person..for that matter! God's not going to send you a liar, cheater, or anything else along those lines..Because God knows what we need..He even knows what we are afraid to ask him for!

So ladies and gentlemen, lets put it in God's hands and allow him to lead us to the person that will keep their word at all times, who will always have a silent prayer under their breath and a person that will know how to fully capture our hearts! Lets surrender the will of our hearts to God and allow him to mold it into a heart that is ready to receive real effortless love that He has sent to us!

~Dani

~Verse of the day~

It's good to remind yourself of God's purpose sometimes, I hope this verse gives you hope today!

Jeremiah 29-11-13

"11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

~Dani

~I'm taking my joy back!~

If you've ever been broken down then you know how good it feels to bounce back again,

I can't tell you how many times throughout my life that I felt so dry and deserted..as if I had lost everything good in my life.

We all go through this in our lives at some point but there comes a time when we finally rise up and declare that "enough is enough!"

Sometimes we have to get that fire built up inside of us that fuels us into a better tomorrow, where the joy is!

There comes a time that we decide if we're going to be depressed forever or if we're going to decide that we're going to have joy in our lives come what may! 

When it comes to God..He can never let you down! Where others have failed you, He never will! 

Because of how faithful He is we don't ever have to be afraid even when others walk away..we can still continue on our way! We no longer have to feel alone or abandoned because though others fade away..Jesus is forever and He stays the same so we never have to worry about him changing his opinion of us!

~Dani

~Verse of the day~

Proverbs 3:1-3

"1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart."

~Dani

~Decision Making~

In this life we have to make important decisions, some are hard ones, some are easy, and some are just the logical decisions that we need to make.

The only thing we can do is remain humane and at the same time be realistic with ourselves because at the end of the day know that we have to live with the decisions that we've made, so make the right choices and don't leave room for regrets in your life. Love the best you can, Forgive without becoming bitter, and learn from your mistakes by becoming wiser. And remember that you never truly walk the lonely road if you allow God to be in your walk in this life.

When you're brought to the point where you have to make a decision sometimes you realize that you cannot find the words or you realize that you're afraid because of how it may effect someone else, but sometimes you have to take that risk even though it may hurt someone's feelings temporarily..you have to do what is right and the truth will hurt at times but with the pain comes healing and the sorrow may last for a day but joy will come in the morning! 

The truth will set you free and it will change you in a good way..if you welcome it! 

Don't be afraid to make choices that will change your life's routine, with change comes strength and with the strength that you draw from this comes new opportunities..welcome change, It's much better than you may think and your story may help someone else's decisions in life! 

Though it's hard..always do the right thing, it's always worth it in the end and you'll feel good that you did the right thing as well!

~Dani

~Fear The Lord..For beauty is vain~

Looking into the world these days it's a shame when it comes to men because a lot of them simply do not respect women at all or even speak to them properly for that matter, 

but at the same time looking into the world a lot of the women out there do not know how to demand respect of the opposite sex and because of it men no longer rise up to become a man of great character.

In this day in age we have men who disrespect women and women who do not value themselves as they should by disrespecting their bodies and selling it to the lowest bidder (so to speak)..

Just because a man is interested in you and no one else is around, that doesn't mean you have to sell yourself short..

Do you not know that you are more precious than jewels to God?

He loves you and He doesn't want you to sell yourself short, but even if you have given up part of yourself to a man who didn't earn it..that doesn't mean that you're not a ruby anymore..nor does it mean that you should settle with that lifestyle, it means that you get to have a brand new start and you can now move forward in your quest in life by becoming a woman that you should've been and it allows you to seek to find a man of whom deserves your heart and your loyalty, one that doesn't allow you to compromise your honor at the expense of his pleasure!

A real Man is out there still..I promise you, and if you haven't met him yet..don't settle for someone who hasn't earned your affections and is instead a man who's used to playing with hearts of unsuspecting ladies who still have their honor, but ladies let me explain something to you..

Just because you fell for it and you gave yourself to a man.. that doesn't mean that your heart is no longer pure, that just means that you fell down for a short time but you got up after you lost sight of who you are..You are still a Woman that deserves true love, You are still a ruby, You are still worth going out there and finding your Prince Charming and I've got news for you..you won't have to sneak out at midnight either! And your prince won't have any confusion as to whom He was dancing with because He will save the dance for you..his princess!

If you want these dreams to come true for you then stop what you're doing and give your future to the one who holds the future! 

Stop settling, stop standing behind someone who will never show you honor, stop making excuses for him and walk away from that life..God has the right one out there for you and though you've failed in your walk..He is still waiting for you to arrive! He will honor you, be patient with you, He will love your family as his own, He will fight for you without fighting with you, He will encourage you and comfort you when you are afraid, He will do what it takes to earn your respect and in the end He will be faithful and worthy to be called "yours" and He will be a Man of such character that your friends will be proud of the life He has vowed to give to you! 

That is what you deserve and that is what it's supposed to be like when it comes down to it! Don't give up ladies..or for that matter don't give up gentlemen either! He is waiting for you, She is waiting for you! You just have to get ready to meet the right one and when you meet them..you'll have such peace in your heart that this is the right person for you without question! 

Proverbs 31-10

"10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

~Dani

~Who can we depend on?~

I've always been the type of person that finds a way out of the sorrow of this life not by depending on others to build my strength up but instead by encouraging myself, I learned at an early age that sometimes people aren't going to be there when you need them to be..it's not always possible but if you can find a way to cry your tears and move on by yourself.. you become stronger and no matter where you are or who is or isn't with you..you can still draw strength from the hope that God puts in your heart!

I think too many of us depend on others for our source of happiness when what we should be doing is reading in the word of God and building up our hope and faith!

Now, I'm not saying that you won't ever need anyone to offer help..I'm saying that it's not good to fully depend on people all the time for your happiness, when people can be there and they want to help make you feel better..don't push them away, allow them to help you when you need it! Sometimes we need to talk with a good friend that we can trust to listen to us and offer comfort to our aching heart! 

Sometimes you need to be reminded of the good times and laughs that you and a friend shared so you can get your spirits up again! 

We were created to have friends and companionship with others but they cannot fulfill every emotion that we need..sometimes we just need to be alone and build up ourselves so that when sorrow comes by to pay us a visit we will be able to get through it if we are on our own and also we need to build ourselves up so when one of our friends does need us we will be ready to help them as well!

~Dani

~How to be compassionate~

What does it really mean to be compassionate? Most would consider compassion to be a form of kindness that you use toward your neighbor when they need a helping hand, But really to be compassionate is so much more than that..to show compassion is also putting your neighbors need above your own when you are having a hard time as well, for example..If you need a friend..Be a friend to someone! If you are in pain..comfort someone who is hurting! If you are sad..make someone else smile!

You see, compassion can also be when you reach out in kindness when the world hasn't been as kind to you, when you are struggling but still find an opportunity to help others, when you have had your heart broken but you still are able to love unconditionally to those who really need a chance from a caring soul..so when you think about compassion it really has much more of a meaning to it than some may believe..It's a word packed with purpose that this world could really use right now and when it comes down to it we have all been at a point in our lives before when we needed a little extra compassion much like the compassion that Jesus once showed to us, we didn't deserve it but still He came to show us the meaning of the word "compassion" and we could all come to learn from his actions and start applying it to our own lives. 

Be compassionate today and reach out to someone who clearly needs that kind of love..through that kindness you may even help save their soul! Think about it. 

~Dani

~Cliffhanger~

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you've done everything that you could possibly know to do and now it's finally up to God to do the rest? That's what you call a "cliffhanger" and don't worry because we've all gone through that point before in life..you're not alone!

There is an important thing here for you to remember.."When everything is hanging on the line..God shows up just in time!"

When you've done everything physically possible in a situation sometimes you have to be silent and trust the almighty God that things are going to work out as they should! When you're feeling alone, when you're feeling helpless, when you're broken down and desperate..God will rise up and take control if only you'll relinquish it to him! 

Don't be afraid to admit to him that you cannot manage your life alone anymore..it's alright to reach out to him for help because we were made naturally to rely on God, once you give it to him wholeheartedly then comes the joy, then comes the peace, then comes the comfort! 

When you give your life to God to transform..suddenly your eyes are opened up to new places and new doors are opened because of God being in the equation of your life! And with that being said..not only will new doors be open to you but also the many blessings that are held behind those doors with come along with it!

Give your life to God and He will give you all of these things..that's his promise to us when we serve him!

~Dani

~Dangerous Places~

What is it about seeing a sign that says "danger!" That makes some people approach with caution instead of just avoiding the danger in front of them? Why would you want to allow your life a moment of pain if that could all be avoided? What if you could take a road that wouldn't ever harm you, that wouldn't bring you heartache, that would be everything you needed and truly wanted, what if? Have you ever wondered "what if" in your life? If you haven't then maybe you should start thinking about the "what ifs" maybe the reason why your life feels so empty is because you have stopped seeing the glass as half full but rather half empty? Maybe you need to begin changing your mindset and start being positive in your thoughts! If you want to become successful then step up and become who you want to be! You can't keep waiting around for the things you want! You have to take action and begin to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk!

In this life you have to take opportunities as they come and cease the moments, don't avoid or decide to pass up the good things in life just because you're afraid of something..do what it takes to get there to the place that you want to get to! Do the right thing..no matter how difficult it may be and it'll be worth it!

~Dani

~Oops..We've all made mistakes~

So you've recently messed up in your life? Are you having a hard time giving yourself a break? I think we need to talk about this and be reminded of what a merciful God we serve..

You see, If you've stubbled recently..God's not going to allow you to see something and tell you that you cannot possess it just because you've made a mistake!

If it's according to God's purpose then it will happen as it should! 

Our problem as humans is that we do not allow ourselves to accept God's love and mercy in our lives..we must thank him for opportunities that He puts in our path and trust the almighty God that it's going to work out like He has willed it to.

When we mess up and we ask him for forgiveness..He doesn't weigh out the reasons not to forgive you of your mistakes..No! Instead He hears our cry for forgiveness and He says "Yes, my precious child..I forgive you and I love you!"

Nor do we have to "try out" for forgiveness as if it were a play! God loves us so much that all He requires of us in the area of forgiving us is a sincere heart that is truly sorry for the actions..whatever the reasons might have been that got us into the mess.

We need to humbly come before our God and bring our issues to him so that He can cleanse us and make us whole again! The purpose that God has for your life shouldn't depend upon what you've done in the past, who you've hung around, what you've said or even what thoughts have gone through your mind! 

If God has a purpose for your life and you've made a mistake but you turn your life to God again..You still have a purpose upon your life, God isn't going to hold your destiny ransom because of your past mistakes! God is rich in mercy and He loves us so very much! Give yourself a break..He loves you so start new today and allow God to send things into your life as they come instead of missing God's special gifts!

~Dani

~How to be compassionate~

What does it really mean to be compassionate? Most would consider compassion to be a form of kindness that you use toward your neighbor when they need a helping hand, But really to be compassionate is so much more than that..to show compassion is also putting your neighbors need above your own when you are having a hard time as well, for example..If you need a friend..Be a friend to someone! If you are in pain..comfort someone who is hurting! If you are sad..make someone else smile!

You see, compassion can also be when you reach out in kindness when the world hasn't been as kind to you, when you are struggling but still find an opportunity to help others, when you have had your heart broken but you still are able to love unconditionally to those who really need a chance from a caring soul..so when you think about compassion it really has much more of a meaning to it than some may believe..It's a word packed with purpose that this world could really use right now and when it comes down to it we have all been at a point in our lives before when we needed a little extra compassion much like the compassion that Jesus once showed to us, we didn't deserve it but still He came to show us the meaning of the word "compassion" and we could all come to learn from his actions and start applying it to our own lives. 

Be compassionate today and reach out to someone who clearly needs that kind of love..through that kindness you may even help save their soul! Think about it. 

~Dani

~Thank You~

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of my readers, without your support and your kind words of encouragement I never would've been motivated to continue writing.

Because of you this is possible, I have learned so much from you along the way as well, I read all of your comments with excitement and joy!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

So far the 308 blog posts from January to November have reached over 25,000 readers internationally, with readers stretched across the globe including Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia and many more!

Thank you again for your support!

I also want to thank my church family, my personal friends, my family and most of all my God!

Thank you God for using me in this way for your glory, I may be a shy girl in person but I'm a brave girl on paper and I can be a missionary by surfing the worldwide web!

 I look forward to writing even more stories and words of encouragement as I continue pouring my heart into this. God bless you all! I love you all, my friends!

~Dani

~Verse of the day~

Psalm 40:11-17

11 O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!

12 For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.

13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me!

14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be humiliated and disgraced!

16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, "May the Lord be praised!"

17 I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!"

~Dani

~How to move on..part 2~

Moving on isn't so much about forgetting everything that's happened, it's about making peace with the situation you were in and deciding that you will have a much better future!

Moving beyond what you've gone through takes determination and the decision of not settling for less but instead striving for more!

It's about moving past the ashes and finding something beautiful out of your situation, it's about remaining positive no matter how hard your situation seems at that moment in your life, it's about allowing yourself to move on and into something better for you, it's about moving out of the bad and into the good things in life!

Everyone needs to allow themselves to be happy and have a second chance in life when something bad has happened in your life whether it be by someone else or by a decision that you have made..You deserve another chance in your life to make it right! Take that chance and run with it, forgive yourself and just move on with your life, when you move on you become happy again and new hope is there waiting for you!

Get on with life and be happy..you deserve to have a second chance to make for a better future..Make it count, make it worth it!

When our heart is aching..God is with us and we can trust in knowing that He is not going to let us down like others can do!

I know that it hurts sometimes in your life but God has a purpose even through the heartache and pain!

This world tends to be full of life's disappointments but only if you refuse to rely on God, it's true that people will come along and fail us miserably in our lives but when that does happen it's God that helps pull our heart strings back together and bring healing into our lives! When you are disappointed..turn to God! When you are confused..Think about the things of God! When you are afraid..trust in him! When you are ashamed..cry out to God! God is our comforter and He picks up our broken pieces! God forgives us and makes us new again! God has a purpose in mind for all of us and He has someone who is meant to be with us from the very beginning! We must let go of what the world wants for us and reach out for what God has for us!

I've heard it said that "You will never be wrong in choosing God"

we need to be christian optimists and be filled with hope that God turns everything around for the good!

If you lay down the things of this world in order to pick up the things of God..God is going to honor your faithfulness! You can't go wrong in choosing him..no matter what anyone else tries to tell you!

Lamentations 3:22-24

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

 great is your faithfulness.

 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,  “therefore I will hope in him.”

~Dani

~Tired of the same old things~

There comes a point in every persons life when they become tired of their lives repeating in the same way and they long for a happy life that allows them to have a happy ending instead of an ending of constant disappointment and loneliness.

Why do we become so stubborn that we will not take the steps toward change if we know that we'd be better off and happier by doing so? Why do we enjoy being so miserable? Why do we ignore the pain instead of seeking the help that we need?

Are you tired and weary? Are you dried up and in a desert place? Are you ashamed and ready to change for the benefit of your future? Go to the cross and lay down the ashes of your broken life so you can be made brand new through God's son! You aren't alone in this..there are so many people who want to see you free from the struggle and the pain! You can't cover it up forever..eventually you will give up and push everyone away that is trying to help you! It's not too late to change! It's not time to end your life..it's time to surrender your life to the God who gave it to you! You have purpose! You have a destiny! You are worth it because God says so! Don't continue to do the same thing, Change so you can have something good in your life! Nothing compares to the love of God and what he has in store for your life!

If you're tired of the same old..same old then lift your eyes to the father and surrender to him that you would be an instrument for him! God is good and his love endures forever, nothing you do on your own without God's leading will be beneficial to your life..Trust me, I've tried it before and it didn't work out the way I planned! It's not too late to turn it all around and realize his purpose for your life! God loves you and he wants the best for you! Put your trust in him and you'll never be let down again! You'll never be thirsty again! You'll never be broken again! I promise you that his peace alone is worth it..everything extra is just a bonus of his goodness!

~Dani

~Sin & Shame~

"You've gone before me upon a cross, I once thought that all had been lost, sin and shame was the name of the game, we are all masters and we know of it all too well, we've all dealt with it before and we've turned our backs in shame, but when will we realize that all it takes is for us to turn to it and look it in the face? We need to forgive ourselves of this ugly thing, we need to break down before the king, only he can take away this feeling and only he can take away the sin and shame, we answer only to him and he knows just how we truly feel,

through him alone can we gain the victory over this very thing, only then can we really be happy and free,

When I'm feeling alone and afraid..He calls me by my name, He comforts me and draws me to his side, He even calls me his bride"

~Dani

~Love one another..~

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

~Dani