A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the LordBy Victoria Riollano "Delight yourself in the Lord‚ and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 I have to be honest. There are many things that bring me delight. The sound of a baby's laugh. The gritty feeling of sand under my feet at a bright blue beach. A warm hug from one of my children. The words‚ "I love you‚" as they flow from the lips of my husband. The smell of fresh brownies‚ the sound of my favorite worship band‚ and seeing long-lost friends can create moments of intense joy. The truth is‚ I have mastered the art of finding happiness in everyday external pleasures. Yet‚ when I first read the words "Delight yourself in the Lord‚" I was met with unexpected questions. What does it mean to find delight or extreme excitement as it concerns the Lord? If I can be honest‚ for many years‚ how I viewed the Lord at any given moment was based on my external circumstances. When things were going well‚ I was thrilled to brag about Him and tell others about His goodness. Yet‚ when things were more difficult and my expectations weren't met‚ I wondered where the Lord was in this situation. Did He not see my peril or care about my struggles? In these moments‚ when I lost loved ones‚ when sickness struck my home‚ when friends were no longer friends‚ year after year‚ I made the choice to no longer delight. After years of choosing to have joy in the Lord‚ only when He was following my lead the Lord brought conviction. My ways were like a child who loved a parent only when it was convenient. As a mother‚ this broke my heart as I realized the error of being a Christian who used God for his blessings but rejected Him when corrections or even trials arose. This is not delighting in the Lord. Today‚ my prayer for you is that you find your joy in the Lord. No matter what the situation looks like around you‚ you make the choice to run to Him. I have found over and over that when we choose to love the Lord not for what He can do or is doing in our lives but for the essence of who He is‚ we can't help but delight in Him. He is the one who gave us breath in our bodies. He is the one who knows our thoughts and who has a plan for our lives. He is the one who died for us that we may have eternal life. The Lord is a constant‚ our comfort‚ and though He is majestic enough to put the stars in the sky‚ He calls us friends. This‚ my friend‚ should bring us unspeakable joy. Let's pray. Lord‚ I thank You for who You are. I praise Your wonderful works. For You are the Creator of all‚ yet so intimately near. Forgive me for the times that I've made You an afterthought. Teach me to come to You with the humility and joy of a child. God‚ convict me when I become more excited about worldly pleasures than following Your will. Father‚ I delight in You. Help me to never forget just how good You are. May I delight in You all the days of my life! In Jesus‘ name‚ amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/tommaso79 Victoria Riollano is an author‚ blogger‚ and speaker. As a mother of seven‚ military spouse‚ Psychology professor and minister's wife‚ Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God's ultimate purpose for her life. Recently‚ Victoria released a parenting book called Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family's Faith. This book empowers mothers to find strength in trusting the Lord with their children. Ultimately‚ her desire is to empower women to live a life of victory‚ hope‚ and love. She believes that with Christ we can live a life that is ALWAYS winning. You can learn more about her ministry at victoryspeaks.org. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord – Your Daily Prayer – February 1 appeared first on GodUpdates.

February 1‚ 2024 Stressed? Pretend You're a PlantMEGHAN MELLINGER Lee en español "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD‚ whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV) I can't keep green things alive. (Rest in peace‚ mini cactus.) I overwater. I underwater. I forget to put the plant near a window. I never play classical music or whisper encouragement into its leaves. It's no surprise I also sometimes treat myself like I've treated my long list of shriveled succulents. I overdo it. I hustle through it. I forget to eat a vegetable. I don’t stop to ask for help or whisper encouragement to my soul. I tell myself it's only a season of the year or season at work or season of life - once it's over‚ I'll be able to breathe again. But I keep coming back to the same status: stressed. Overwhelmed. Stranded in survival mode. And I was never a Girl Scout‚ so I'm ill-prepared for the elements. The Lord cautions us about what happens when we rely on our own strength - we become withered and worn‚ like shrubs in a parched desert (Jeremiah 17:5-6). But there's hope outside of ourselves. When we rely on the Lord and His power in and through us‚ we're like a tree planted by a river‚ connected to a living stream that won't run dry. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD‚ whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8‚ NIV). Tired of failing in self-reliance and ready to flourish in God-reliance? Let's learn from God's plant analogies and tend to our stressed souls. Deepen your roots: From our gentle cries for help from the Holy Spirit to our daily debriefs about our thoughts and emotions‚ our accessible God cares about the details of our lives. Create practices in your day where you can share your life and burdens with God in prayer and strengthen your relationship with Him. Get some sunlight: Get outside and soak in God's creation. Go for a walk. Camp out under a tree. Sit by your window. Watch what you tell yourself: If it's scientifically proven that plants respond to positive talk‚ imagine how much more your heart needs to hear the Truth. Reframe and rewire your self-talk so you're listening only to God's promises and His Word. Keep a list of Bible verses in your phone or journal to reference when you need reminders. Rooting ourselves in Jesus doesn't mean stressors go away - the heat and the drought may still come. But life in Him and through His power means we don't have to wither and get worn down by stress. When we rely on His power in us‚ we can live as trees planted by the living river. Jesus‚ help me to surrender my finite strength and plug in to Your constant power source. I'm ready to plant myself in Your love and Truth. Please sustain me through all of life's highs and lows. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS By investing in just a few minutes of prayer‚ God can help us redirect our minds away from stressful thoughts and toward truths and safe assurances found in Him. With the FREE resource "7 Morning and Evening Prayers To Get You Through This Week‚" you can begin experiencing the peace God provides through connecting with Him daily. Sign up to receive this resource here. ENGAGE For more from Meghan Mellinger‚ connect with her on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY John 15:5‚ "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you‚ you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (NIV). From a tree to a vine‚ God loves using plant analogies to illustrate that God-reliance is life-giving. Apart from Him‚ we can do nothing on our own. What aspect of this analogy resonates with you today? Share with us in the comments! © 2024 by Meghan Mellinger. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Stressed? Pretend You’re a Plant –  Encouragement for Today – February 1‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

GOP lawmakers claimed that Ford Motor Company intends to use technology and software from at least four Chinese companies that provide the same tools to the Chinese military for a Michigan battery plant. “As part of their ongoing investigation into Ford Motor Company’s partnership with China-based EV battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) to build a Michigan factory‚ Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee uncovered evidence that Ford plans to use technology and software from at least four Chinese companies that supply the same types of IT tools to the Chinese military‚ North Korean government‚ and China’s Ministry of Public Security‚” the Select Committee on the CCP wrote in a press release. “In letters sent to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen‚ the lawmakers requested that the Biden administration immediately blacklist these four companies that Ford plans to use in its new factory with Chinese battery maker CATL‚” it added. “It is indefensible for Ford to use the same cloud integration and data provider that is linked to North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sanctions evasion activity‚” Rep. Gallagher and Rep. McMorris Rodgers said in a joint statement. “Before the Ford plant even comes online‚ its entire security system could be compromised by this software…The same company that is actively supporting the PRC’s surveillance state will have the capability to embed backdoors‚ spyware‚ and other forms of malware within Ford’s iPaaS infrastructure‚ compromising the confidentiality and integrity of Ford’s sensitive information and posing risk to American’s data privacy rights‚” they added. ***BREAKING NEWS***CCP Battery plants built with @Ford and #Michigan taxpayer dollars connected to NORTH KOREA- @GovWhitmer has been leading the push for these plants! Now lawmakers in Washington want answers!https://t.co/OxOjFOU5gX via @YahooFinance — Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) January 29‚ 2024 Fox News reports: Gallagher and McMorris Rodgers sent a separate letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo‚ asking her agency’s Bureau of Industry and Security to investigate the four unnamed software service providers. They specifically asked the agency to consider placing the companies on a list of entities subject to significant U.S. trade restrictions. “To summarize‚ a cursory review of publicly available information uncovered the above mentioned companies’ direct ties to the [People’s Liberation Army]‚ the CCP‚ China’s Ministry of Public Security‚ the ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang‚ and the North Korean government‚” they wrote to Raimondo. And‚ in a third letter‚ the Republicans asked Ford President and CEO James Farley to make a relevant company official available for an interview with their committees. “We’ve been helping the committees understand this Ford wholly owned and operated project‚” a Ford spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Ford has always been and remains fully committed to following all government regulations across our business.” “Beyond legal requirements‚ Ford suppliers are required to meet our high standards and codes of conducts‚ including those to protect human rights‚ and are obligated to extend those requirements to suppliers with whom they might work‚” the spokesperson said. “We welcome any information from any source concerning the integrity of our supply chains and partners.” GOP reps want feds to probe Chinese firms over Ford Michigan battery plant https://t.co/yj0rZoIbEu — The Detroit News (@detroitnews) January 29‚ 2024 Per Reuters: In September‚ the two lawmakers demanded documents from Ford tied to its CATL partnership and threatened to call CEO Jim Farley to testify before Congress. Republicans have been probing Ford’s battery plant plan for months over concerns it could facilitate the flow of U.S. tax subsidies to China and leave Ford dependent on Chinese technology. Ford says the battery plant is “wholly owned and operated” by the automaker. The lawmakers said a Ford-CATL agreement puts a Beijing-based company in charge of preparing “the concept design” for the Michigan battery plant. The committee said the same Chinese company is providing engineering design services to China’s military. The lawmakers separately wrote the Treasury and State Departments asking them to investigate possible sanctions evasion activity by one of the Chinese companies that they said will be providing IT tools for the Michigan battery plant that has ties to North Korea.

We mostly cover politics here‚ but politics affects the economy and the economy affects…YOU and ME!  And our pocketbooks. Big league. So in the midst of covering politics‚ we also cover money from time to time…and while I’m not a financial advisor‚ I share what I’m learning in the hopes that it can help you and keep you and your family safe. And that often leads me to covering Gold and Silver. You know‚ what they have always called “God’s Money”. He made it‚ they aren’t making any more of it‚ and it has always been highly valued as money from the beginning of time until now. So I’m a big fan and I think it has the potential to do big things if‚ say‚ the U.S. Dollar were to suddenly collapse. So that’s why I talk about it and why I want to make sure everyone protects themselves and your families. So to answer the question of “what can I do?” it’s really quite simple: you need to get some #Gold or #Silver in your own possession. It’s called “physical” gold and silver. Not paper traded garbage on the stock exchanges that isn’t backed by anything. Don’t touch that stuff. And because I get asked so much how to buy it and what the best places are‚ I thought I would publish this and just get it out there for all to have…. I have two special hook-ups for you and these are the ONLY two companies I am proud to partner up with on Gold and Silver. Both involve PHYSICAL gold and silver. Because if you do NOTHING else‚ make sure you own “physical” gold and silver‚ not paper contracts. The paper contracts (like stock ticker SLV and GLD) could very well go POOF one day and disappear or go to zero‚ because they’re not actually backed by the gold and silver they claim to represent. It’s a massive game of musical chairs out there and when the music stops (and I think it will stop soon…) people who only own paper might find themselves owning something not worth the paper it’s literally written on. And I know you’ll never forget it if I give you this GIF so….Let’s Get Physical: Now…WHERE do you get physical gold and silver and how do you know it’s real and safe? And that you’re getting the best price? Oh‚ and how about personal one-on-one real customer service? You know‚ like you were some Big Wig millionaire at Goldman Sachs who could just call their personal banker and get help? That’s what I’m about to tell you.   I have two killer connections for you… The first is for purchasing gold and silver bullion. That means bulk bars. That’s the cheapest and most economical way to do it‚ to stretch your dollar into as much gold and silver as possible. The website is called WLT Precious Metals and when you see my logo in the top left-hand corner‚ you’ll know you’re in the right place. You’ll get a personal phone call with Ira Bershatsky (or someone on his team) and they will work with you free of charge for as long as needed to answer any questions you have and get you taken care of. How about that! You don’t see that much anymore‚ but Ira and his team pride themselves on good old-fashioned real customers service: No sales pitch‚ just real‚ actual help. And the best prices you will find. Here’s the only disclaimer I will give you: because they do pride themselves on dedicated service‚ it might take a few days before you get a phone call back.  Just be patient. Good things come to those who wait! You can contact Ira and WLT Precious Metals here. Ok‚ that was #1. Now I want to tell you about option #2. An equally great company‚ I am so happy to be working with these guys. This next company is called Genesis Gold and this is for people who want to purchase real physical gold or silver in their IRAs (Investment Retirement Accounts). You know what the beauty of that is? TAX FREE baby! I’m not a tax advisor‚ but that’s a general oversimplification. Never pay more taxes than you are legally required to pay. And that’s why I love getting gold and silver in my IRA (and why I hold a large chunk in an IRA myself!). There’s so much to love about Genesis Gold‚ starting with the fact they are proudly and un-ashamedly Christina! They call it “Faith-Driven Stewardship” and they put it right on the homepage of their website along with a quote from Ezekiel: Wealth Preservation With Gold &; Silver – The Genesis Gold IRA By your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself‚ and have gathered Gold and Silver into your treasuries – EZEKIEL 28:4 Genesis Gold Group believes the Bible gives clues on how man-made currencies (paper money) represent instability‚ and a lack of virtue and encourages living wastefully in excess. Conflicts have beleaguered us since the dawn of civilization‚ and they can all be encapsulated into one battle. The battle is between currency‚ man-made paper‚ and gold and silver — the two precious metals found in our Earth’s crust‚ sent to us by our Lord to use as money. Man-made currency always leads nations down the path to increased war‚ greed‚ and ultimate collapse. History has shown that abandoning gold and silver has always been a bad idea. Gold and Silver enforce discipline‚ nurture self-constraint‚ self-reliance‚ and balance‚ and lead to confidence‚ a restrained government‚ and a more stable foreign policy. Genesis Gold Group believes in empowering faith-driven stewardship with Gold &; Silver are an integral part of a balanced portfolio. Protecting your finances with precious metals has never been more crucial during these trying times. With a combined 50-plus years in the precious metals industry‚ let your Genesis gold and silver experts guide you through the simplicity of asset protection and growth with our Genesis Gold IRA. Sincerely‚ Genesis Gold Group Empowering Faith-Driven Stewardship Oh….and they’re VERY good at what they do. You also get physical gold and silver with Genesis‚ believe it or not!  The gold and silver is purchased for you (in whatever combination of coins and bars you prefer‚ a picture taken and sent to you‚ and then stored safely in a vault for you! I love what these guys are doing. Here’s more on why gold and silver in your IRA are so powerful: You can contact Genesis Gold here. They are also very backed up with record demand‚ so you may have to wait a bit‚ but someone WILL get in touch with you for personal customer service and assistance! Tell ’em Noah sent ya! Oh‚ and did you know Genesis is recommended by SUPERMAN himself? It’s true. Superman himself‚ Clark Kent — Dean Cain — came on my show a few weeks ago and we broke it all down: Watch here: Stay safe! Make sure you can weather the storm when it hits! Because the storm always hits eventually‚ doesn’t it? As for me and my house‚ we will be ready.

1814 - Lord Byron's "Corsair" sells 10‚000 copies on day of publication 1892 - Mrs William Astor invites 400 guests to a grand ball at her mansion thus beginning use of "400" to describe socially elite 1918 - Russia adopts the Gregorian calendar (making the day February 14) 1937 - Stapleton‚ Staten Island‚ becomes a customs-free port 1951 - 1st X-ray moving picture process demonstrated 1972 - Reprise Records releases "Harvest"‚ the 4th studio album by Neil Young; becomes best selling album in US‚ 1972 1979 - American publishing heiress Patty Hearst is released from prison for bank robbery 1987 - NFL Pro Bowl‚ Aloha Stadium‚ Honolulu‚ HI: AFC beats NFC‚ 10-6; MVP: Reggie White‚ Philadelphia Eagles‚ DE 2005 - Arsenal’s English Premier League record 33-game unbeaten streak at home ends when the Gunners go down‚ 4-2 to Manchester United at Highbury 2013 - The Nigerian Army bombs a Boko Haram camp‚ killing 18 people More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1957 - 1st black pilot (PH Young) on a US scheduled passenger airline 1959 - Swiss men vote against voting rights for women 1965 - Martin Luther King Jr. and 700 demonstrators arrested in Selma‚ Alabama 1973 - Outfielder Monte Irvin is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues; fourth inductee through the committee 1981 - French government accord sends 60 Mirage fighter jets to Iraq 2013 - John Kerry succeeds Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1710 - Konrad Ernst Ackermann‚ German actor and theatre director (Die Oberpfalz)‚ born in Schwerin‚ Germany (d. 1771) 1934 - Bob Shane‚ American folk vocalist (Kingston Trio - "Tom Dooley")‚ born in Hilo‚ Territory of Hawaii (d. 2020) 1967 - Patle Shishupal Natthu‚ Indian politician‚ born in Bhandara‚ India 1972 - Geoff Sanderson‚ Canadian ice hockey left wing (NHL All Star 1994‚ 97; World C'ships gold 1994‚ 97; Hartford Whalers‚ Columbus Blue jackets)‚ born in Hay River‚ Canada 1989 - Hurricane Chris [Dooley]‚ American rapper‚ born in Shreveport‚ Louisiana 1994 - Julia Garner‚ American Actress (Ozark)‚ born in New York City More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1922 - Yamagata Aritomo‚ Japanese soldier and statesman (Prime Minister of Japan 1889–91‚1898–1900)‚ dies at 83 1957 - Friedrich Paulus‚ German field marshal who commanded the 6th Army at Stalingrad and highest-ranking German officer to surrender‚ dies at 66 1967 - Ernie Bromley‚ Australian cricket batsman (2 Tests; first Western Australian to play Test cricket for Australia)‚ dies at 54 2000 - Dick Rathmann‚ American auto racer (first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps)‚ dies at 74 2007 - Ahmad Abu Laban‚ Danish Muslim leader‚ dies at 60 2017 - Étienne Tshisekedi‚ Congolese opposition leader‚ dies at 84 More Famous Deaths »

The Biden regime has selected disgraced Clinton campaign manager John Podesta to replace John Kerry when he stands down as Biden’s climate czar later this spring. Podesta‚ who currently works in the White House as [...] The post John Podesta‚ Whose Friend Was Caught Raping Babies‚ Named As Biden’s New Climate Czar appeared first on The People's Voice.