Every Day Gets Sweeter
ByMyraSkelton
Everydaygetssweeter! Themore wetasteandseetheLordthe sweeteritgets.Likeaboxofvariety chocolate,youhavetotryeachone andseehowgooditisforyourself
Psalm34:8 Otasteandseethatthe LORDisgood:blessedistheman thattrustethinhim.
TryJesusdon’ttrymeonesongsay andanothersongsaystryJesus causeHe’salrightIdonetriedHim andHe’salright!
ButletmetellyouHeisbetterthan alrightandthereissomuchmore toseeandtaste.Totasteitinvolves testingorsampling,toseeinvolves understandingorperceiving.O tasteandseemeanstotryand experienceGod.
Psalm119:103 Howsweetarethywordsuntomy taste!Yea,sweeterthanhoneyto mymouth! 6
Don’tjusttakemywordormerely takeHiswordthatHeisgood.He wantsustoactivelyexperienceand know.
Itissomethingaboutknowingfor yourself.Whenyouknowwhatyou know,noonecantakeitfromyou becauseyouhaveseenand experienceditforyourself.
Totasteandseewewouldhaveto trustGodandseekHimasoursole sourceofprotectionandprovision. So,putthemattertothetest,totry andexperienceHisgoodnessfor ourselves.
Thisisnotaone-timeexperience thereisacontinuedcallingintoHis presencetoseeandexperience somethingnewandgood. Givingus anarkfulloftestimoniesofwhat wehavetastedandseenHimdoin ourlives.Iencourageustolayitall athisfeet,leaveitthere,andwatch Himwork.
WhenGodshowsupitblessesusso thatwewanttogoandtell someoneelsewhattheLordjust done.
Whichmakesitsosweetlikeaboxof chocolateseeingthedifferent chocolatesandshapes.Makesyou wanttotasteeachoneandseewhat itwillendupbeing.
TryJesusandsharethesweetness thatHebringsintoyourlifewith others.Because…
everytestimony getssweeter than before!
Mindfulness
mindfulnesshasemergedasabeaconof hopeformanyseekingclarityandpeace. Butwhatexactlyismindfulness,andhow canittransformourdailylives?
Understanding Mindfulness:
Mindfulnessisthepracticeofbeingfully presentandengagedinthecurrent moment,freefromjudgmentand distraction.Rootedinmeditation traditions,particularlyBuddhism, mindfulnessencouragesindividualsto observetheirthoughts,feelings,and bodilysensationswithoutattachment. Thissimpleyetprofoundpracticehelps cultivateawareness,allowingusto experiencelifemorefully.
Benefitsof Mindfulness
StressReduction:Numerousstudieshave shownthatmindfulnesscansignificantly reducestresslevels.Byfocusingonthe presentmoment,wecanbreakthecycle ofworryandanxietythatoftenstems fromruminatingonthepastorfearing thefuture.
Improved Emotional Health: Mindfulnesshasbeenlinkedtoimproved emotionalregulation.Practicing mindfulnesscanleadtoincreasedlevels ofpositiveemotionsanddecreasedlevels ofdepressionandanxiety.
Enhanced Focus and Concentration: Regularmindfulnesspracticehelps sharpenattentionandimprovecognitive flexibility.Thiscanleadtobetter productivityandcreativityinboth personalandprofessionalsettings.
Better Relationships: Byfosteringa deeperawarenessofourthoughtsand emotions,mindfulnesscanenhanceour communicationandempathy,leadingto healthierandmoremeaningful relationships.
Physical Health Benefits: Research suggeststhatmindfulnesscanhave positiveeffectsonphysicalhealth, includinglowerbloodpressure, improvedsleepquality,andenhanced immunefunction.
Mindful Breathing: Startbytaking afewminuteseachdaytofocuson yourbreath.Inhaledeeplythrough yournose,holdforamoment,and exhaleslowlythroughyourmouth. Noticethesensationofthebreath enteringandleavingyourbody.
Body Scan: Liedowncomfortably andmentallyscanyourbodyfrom headtotoe.Noticeanyareasof tensionordiscomfort,and consciouslyrelaxthoseareasasyou breathedeeply.
Mindful Eating: Taketimetosavor yourmeals.Noticetheflavors, textures,andaromasofyourfood. Eatingmindfullycanenhanceyour appreciationforfoodandimprove digestion.
Nature Walks: Spendtimein natureandfullyengageyour senses.Noticethecolors,sounds, andsmellsaroundyou.Allow yourselftobepresentinthe moment,appreciatingthebeautyof yoursurroundings.
Meditation:Setasidetimeeach dayformeditation.Findaquiet space,sitcomfortably,andfocuson yourbreathoramantra.Ifyour mindwanders,gentlybringyour focusbacktoyourbreath.
Breathing
Quiet Place
Don’t be Scared. We’ve Got the Power!
I was around 13 or 14 when a church that my father pastored arranged a youth trip to Dollywood. We had a blast riding the attractions, especially the roller coasters. This was one of the first amusement parks I’d ever visited, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. There was one particular indoor roller coaster that operated in complete darkness.
It was exhilarating but also quite terrifying. After riding it one time, many of us wanted to ride it a second time, including me.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a wave of fear washed over me. I imagined the ride plummeting off the track in midair and crashing. I turned to my older sister to share my concerns.
“Sis, I don’t think we should ride again, I have a strong feeling it is going to crash and fall off the rail.”
Hahaha ha!
She laughed. “Don’t be scared, Veda. It’s not going to crash.” I just looked at her, not knowing what to say. I was in fact very scared. “Look, if you’re that scared, don’t ride, but I’m going to ride again. Wait for me, ok?”
I slowly walked to the side to wait as my sister and some of the other kids rode it again. I prayed and asked the Lord to protect everyone on the ride. I was so scared something was going to happen. The ride ended, and everyone got off laughing, talking about how fun the ride was."
“See Veda, you should’ve rode again. I told you there was nothing to be scared of. The roller coaster is on the ground. Not in the air!”
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier? I would’ve come with y’all. I thought the roller coaster was in the air!”
“Noooo!” My sister walked off laughing. I felt so silly. I missed out on a good time just because I was afraid of a situation that didn’t even exist.
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Granted, I was only 13 or 14 years old, but still, skipping that second roller coaster ride wasn’t the only time I allowed fear to keep me from enjoying life. There were so many moments where I was like a hamster on a wheel, closed up in my room, burning energy on the wheel of fearover situations that often didn't even exist – going nowhere, spiritually, mentally, or physically.“
2
Timothy
1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 As children of God, we have no business living life scared. But the hard truth is, many of us do.
God knows this, which is why I believe He constantly reminds us not to fear in His Word. ‘Fear not’ appears about 365 times throughout the Bible. Isn’t that something? A reminder for every day of the year!
For years, I’ve spent my life afraid of ‘what if’s’. Hyperventilating over situations that hasn’t happened or over a situation that does not exist. Let me tell you, that is no way to live your life!
John
10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” –John 10:10
Fear, like any other emotion, is normal. But it gets out of hand when we’re constantly living in fear. When that happens, it takes over our thoughts and interferes with our everyday life. Fear is a pesky spirit of the enemy, always pointing out what could go wrong, planting lies, and twisting the truth just like in the Garden of Eden. It stops us from living the abundant lives God designed for us.
2025 hit us with one tragic event after another. Focusing on them would make anyone struggling with fear scared to leave the house because, in my opinion, some were unusual and unnaturally frequent. I even found myself second-guessing whether I should let my kids go to the movies with friends or even go to a basketball game at their school. But I refused to let my own struggles with fear stop my kids from living a normal life.
Earlier, I wrote about how there were many instances in life when I lived my life like a hamster. Hamsters can burn energy and run on their wheel for up to 5 or 6 hours non-stop. Fear can have us acting like hamsters burning a lot of energy on the cycle of fear, but going nowhere. That’s fine for hamsters, but not for us. We’re called to live life abundantly”
Psalm 121:7-8
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. – Psalm 121:7-8
To combat fear, we must recognize the source of the heightened emotion. Scripture tells us that fear is a spirit of the enemy, and as children of God, we are equipped with everything we need to face it. First, Heavenly Father left us the Holy Spirit, which gives us the power to cast down the lies of the enemy. The love of God reminds us that we are kingdom men and women, protected wherever we go. Plus, love changes our perspective, allowing us to overcome our fears with the peace of God enabling us to enjoy the benefits of a sound mind.
ASoundMind
A sound mind (also referred to as ‘self-control’) and fear don’t mix. Having a sound mind means you can make good decisions, keep a positive attitude even when things get tough, identify areas of improvement, set realistic goals, and develop resilience.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4: 6-7
6:27
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?; – Matthew 6:27
As children of God, we don’t have to live life scared. Nowadays, when I feel fear threatening to take over, I turn to the Word. We combat the spirit of the enemy with the Word of God, just like Jesus did during His fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:111). Embrace the truth that we’ve got the power to be more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves us! (Romans 8:37) This applies not only to fear but to anything that tries to threaten our God-given purpose. Amen!
The Serenity Prayer:
“God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus name, Amen.
~Written by Daveda Janine Creator and host of the radio show, The Journey Tip powered by Spirit Radio. Airs every Sunday at 4 pm EST. on spirit1051.com
EmbraceSpring Trends:Cap SleeveTopsand SweaterKnits
Asspringapproaches,the fashionlandscapeisblossoming withfreshtrendsthatcombine comfortandstyle.Amongthe standoutpiecesthisseasonare capsleevetopsandsweater knits,offeringversatilityanda chicflairforyourwardrobe.
CapSleeveTops:
Capsleevetopsaremakinga majorcomebackthisspring. Thesetopsfeatureshortsleeves thatextendjustoverthe shoulder,providingaflattering silhouettewhilekeepingyou coolastemperaturesrise.They canbefoundinvariousstyles, fromcasualteestoelegant blouses,makingthemsuitable forbotheverydaywearand specialoccasions.
StylingTips:
Pairafittedcap-sleevetopwith high-waistedjeansoraflowy skirtforabalancedlook. Layerwithalightweight cardigan,denimjacket,orwear along-sleevedt-shirt underneathforcoolerevenings. Goforboldprintsorvibrant colorstoembracethelively spiritofspring.
SweaterKnits:
Whiletraditionallyassociated withcoolermonths,sweater knitsaretransitioninginto springfashion.Lightweight sweaterknitsoffercomfort withoutthebulk,perfectfor layeringastheweather fluctuates.Thesepiecescanbe dressedupordown,making themincrediblyversatile.
StylingTips:
Combinealoose-knitsweater withtailoredshortsforalaidbackyetpolishedoutfit. Chooseacroppedsweaterknit topairwithhigh-waisted trousersorskirtsforatrendy, streamlinedlook.Experiment withtexturesandcolors— pastelshadesareparticularly on-trendforspring.
Conclusion:
Asyouupdateyourwardrobefor spring,considerincorporating cap-sleevetopsandsweater knits.Thesepiecesnotonlyreflect theseasonaltrendsbutalso providethecomfortandversatility neededforabusyspring schedule.Whetheryou're headingtoapicnicoracasual dinner,thesestyleswillkeepyou lookingeffortlesslychic.Embrace theseasonandletyourfashion choicesbloom!
GiveyourlifetoJesus
GeteternallifewithGod.ConfessyoursinsandinvitetheLordintobeyour savior.
● Romans10:9,10,13 thatifthoushaltconfesswiththymouththeLordJesus, andshaltbelieveinthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thou shaltbesaved10Forwiththeheartmanbelievethuntorighteousness;and withthemouth,confessionismadeuntosalvation.Romans10:13For whosoevershallcalluponthenameoftheLordshallbesaved
● SinnersPrayer–LordJesus,IknowIamasinner.IbelieveYoudiedformy sins.Rightnow,Iturnfrommysinsandopenthedoorofmyheartandlife.I repentofeachandeveryoneofmysins.Havemercyonme,ohLord,andsave me.IconfessYouasmypersonalLordandSavior.Washandcleansemewith yourblood.AndfillmewithyourHolySpiritinthenameofJesusIprayAmen.
Gen6:1 Anditcametopass, whenmenbegantomultiplyon thefaceoftheearth,and daughterswerebornunto them,
Gen6:2 ThatthesonsofGod sawthedaughtersofmenthat theywerefair;andtheytook themwivesofallwhichthey chose.
Gen6:3 AndtheLORDsaid,My spiritshallnotalwaysstrive withman,forthathealsois flesh:yethisdaysshallbean hundredandtwentyyears.
Gen6:4 Thereweregiantsin theearthinthosedays;andalso afterthat,whenthesonsofGod cameinuntothedaughtersof men,andtheybarechildrento them,thesamebecamemighty menwhichwereofold,menof renown.
Gen6:5 AndGODsawthatthe wickednessofmanwasgreatin theearth,andthatevery imaginationofthethoughtsof hisheartwasonlyevil continually.
Gen6:6 Anditrepentedthe LORDthathehadmademanon theearth,anditgrievedhimat hisheart.
Gen6:7 AndtheLORDsaid,I willdestroymanwhomIhave createdfromthefaceofthe earth;bothman,andbeast,and thecreepingthing,andthe fowlsoftheair;foritrepenteth methatIhavemadethem.
Gen6:8 ButNoahfoundgrace intheeyesoftheLORD.
Genesis 6
Gen6:9 Thesearethe generationsofNoah:Noahwasa justmanandperfectinhis generations,andNoahwalked withGod.
Gen6:10 AndNoahbegatthree sons,Shem,Ham,andJapheth.
Gen6:11 Theearthalsowas corruptbeforeGod,andtheearth wasfilledwithviolence.
Gen6:12 AndGodlookedupon theearth,and,behold,itwas corrupt;forallfleshhad corruptedhiswayuponthe earth.
Gen6:13 AndGodsaidunto Noah,Theendofallfleshiscome beforeme;fortheearthisfilled withviolencethroughthem;and, behold,Iwilldestroythemwith theearth.
Gen6:14 Maketheeanarkof gopherwood;roomsshaltthou makeintheark,andshaltpitchit withinandwithoutwithpitch.
Gen6:15 Andthisisthefashion whichthoushaltmakeitof:The lengthofthearkshallbethree hundredcubits,thebreadthofit fiftycubits,andtheheightofit thirtycubits.
Gen6:16 Awindowshaltthou maketotheark,andinacubit shaltthoufinishitabove;andthe doorofthearkshaltthousetin thesidethereof;withlower, second,andthirdstoriesshalt thoumakeit.
Gen6:17 And,behold,I,evenI, dobringafloodofwatersupon theearth,todestroyallflesh, whereinisthebreathoflife,from underheaven;andeverything thatisintheearthshalldie.
Gen6:18 ButwiththeewillI establishmycovenant;and thoushaltcomeintotheark, thou,andthysons,andthy wife,andthysons'wiveswith thee.
Gen6:19 Andofeveryliving thingofallflesh,twoofevery sortshaltthoubringintothe ark,tokeepthemalivewith thee;theyshallbemaleand female.
Gen6:20 Offowlsaftertheir kind,andofcattleaftertheir kind,ofeverycreepingthingof theearthafterhiskind,twoof everysortshallcomeunto thee,tokeepthemalive.
Gen6:21 Andtakethouunto theeofallfoodthatiseaten, andthoushaltgatheritto thee;anditshallbeforfood forthee,andforthem.
Gen6:22 ThusdidNoah; accordingtoallthatGod commandedhim,sodidhe.
