GIIS

🥳🥳🥳 *season's sharing, good morning*🌞🌞🌞

*God Is With You*

The prophet Isaiah wrote the words of Isaiah 7:14 nearly 600 years before Jesus was born. At the time of this writing, the Israelites were doing all the right religious things, but weren’t practicing justice as God commands. Like many prophets during Isaiah’s time, this was a warning against that injustice. But among that warning was a glimmer of hope that God would set things right.

Here, the prophet Isaiah is giving the people of Israel a reason to hope because of God’s good promise—the promise that He will provide a sign and He will show up for us. Because that’s what Immanuel means: God with us.

But what does “God with us” mean for us today?

It means we can share in that hope by fixing our eyes on Jesus and trusting in Him. We can trust that from Christ’s birth to His current reign in Heaven—Jesus is God with us.

He’s with us in our pain when we lose a loved one.

He’s with us in our anger when we see injustice and don’t know where to turn.

He’s with us in our sadness when we grieve what has been lost.

He’s with us in our joy when we celebrate with others.

He’s with us in our peace, when we’re merciful to a suffering world.

And He’s with us in our hope, lighting the way to a brighter future.

He is with us.

No matter where life has brought you to in this moment—through the good and through the bad—Jesus has been with you, drawing you to Him. He is the promised Immanuel. He is God with us.

God, thank You for coming to be with us—with me. I know that You created me, love me, and gave Your life to save me. Help me to see Your presence in my life. Remind me of all the times, both good and bad, that You’ve been there for me. I am trusting You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*Rise n shine ⭐✨, good morning*

*Fulfillment of God’s Promises*

I John 4:19 NKJV
[19] We love Him because He first loved us.

Hundreds of years before Jesus, the people of God were in trouble.

They were stuck in life, unable to help themselves, and perhaps beginning to doubt that God would save them. Have you ever felt the same way? If so, you might relate to the original audience of this verse—the exiles in Babylon.

The Babylonians conquered God's people and land, sending them hundreds of miles away. Maybe they thought that God had abandoned them, or that He couldn’t hear their cries. But God is always close—especially when His people call on His name.

Isaiah let his people know that God would provide a way out of Babylonian captivity. And God kept His promise, allowing His people to return home.

Generations later, many of God’s people saw themselves as being in a new exile. They were home, but all was not well. So they remembered this verse and its promise—that no matter how dark or desperate our situation might be, God is able to provide a path out of brokenness, heartbreak, and despair into a whole, healthy future.

Little did they know that an even more permanent solution to the darkness they lived in was coming. Isaiah 40:3 is a prophecy that was not only fulfilled when the exiles left Babylon and went home, but was also fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. Through Jesus, God paved a permanent path for people to come out of darkness and find hope, strength, and peace. God provided a permanent way out of darkness and into light.

So what are you going through? What’s your “Babylon?” It might be a habit you can’t break, a loved one who keeps making self-destructive decisions, or a mental health challenge that feels overwhelming. No matter what it is, God can make a way out of brokenness and into life.

*Rise n shine ⭐✨, good morning*

*Cultivating Honest Conversations with God*

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
[18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer.

Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.

Even though we know we should pray, we often don't take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.

All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We should also spend part of our time in worship—thanking God for who He is and all He has done.

Paul also encourages us to pray for other people. In fact, part of our responsibility towards others is to advocate for them through prayer. We typically remember to pray for others when something negative is happening to them. But God’s Word says we should always be praying for the people in our life.

As we pray, we should not be discouraged when we don’t see immediate change. God is always working in our lives, even if it doesn’t match our desired timeline. We may not receive the answers we want, but we can rest assured that God is always listening and working on our behalf.

Take some time today to pray to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Tell Him your needs. Think of a few people in your life that you can pray for. Throughout your week, use every opportunity to pray to God.....

*Rise n shine ⭐✨, good morning*

*Refreshed*

Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?

They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.

The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT

King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.

Some of the unhappiest people on earth are stuck in a cycle of selfishness. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:

The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.

Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).

You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.

So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.

Father, You have been so generous to me. Help me have the same willingness to give generously. Let my generosity bless others—just as You have blessed me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*A God Who Stays Close*

Psalm 121 is a psalm of protection, sung by travelers making their way to Jerusalem on a religious pilgrimage. As they journeyed through difficult terrain under the blazing sun, this song reminded them where their true help came from: the Maker of heaven and earth.

In verse 5, the psalmist writes: “The Lord is your shade at your right hand.” For a weary traveler in the Middle East, shade was life-saving. The sun wasn’t just uncomfortable, it could be dangerous. So, shade meant relief, protection, even survival. That’s the kind of watchful care God offers. The Lord is right beside you: “at your right hand.”

His protection is personal and present. He’s not watching over you from a distance; He’s close by—actively guarding you from the elements that would otherwise wear you down, drain you, make you delirious, burn you, or even kill you.

In Psalm 121, we see a God who keeps watch day and night, who never slumbers, who guards our lives in all our coming and going. It’s not just that God helps us through one hard moment. He keeps helping, keeps guarding, keeps protecting.

We live in a world full of heat: pressure, fear, uncertainty. But take heart! Your God is shade in the heat, peace in the chaos, and strength when you feel defeated. He is your keeper. Always.
As we wind down the year, going through the last lap 'December', think about all you have gone through, just the gift of breath every single day!!!

Lord, thank You for being my shade, my protection, and my peace when life feels harsh. Help me to remember that You are close—even when I don't realize the extent of Your protection. Teach me to rest in Your care and walk confidently under the shelter of Your presence. Amen.