Category: Uncategorized

Practical messages for Impractical Times

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18 NIV

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men. 1 Timothy 2:1

“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” Hymn

The importance of prayer compares to breathing in the air that God has provided. Without the perfect mixture of Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen, the respiratory system of the body would cease to function.

Prayer is the time of reverent communication with God. We honor our heavenly Father when we are able to acknowledge and thank Him for His unfailing love extended through His grace and mercies.

Prayer is a time when we are able to talk to God about all of our concerns. God is fully aware of what is occurring in our daily lives; however, we must fully surrender by humbly approaching Him, and then completely trust Him to resolve all of the troubles we face.

Prayer is a time to express our gratefulness for all that He is doing to sustain us from day-to-day. The righteous are never forsaken: He knows, He cares, and He will supply.

Prayer is the time that we are able to present our petitions on the behalf of others. When we open our hearts to include individuals apart from ourselves, it drives away our natural tendencies of selfishness. We receive a blessing when we offer intercessory prayers; our hearts are filled with God’s love and compassion for others.

Prayer is a time when we receive strength, comfort, and answers on how God will resolve our problems. There are situations which may remain, a “thorn in the flesh”; even so, God never places more on us then we can bear. The thorn that we ask to be removed is probably the thorn that will keep us before God, and allow our faith to become strong.

Prayers keeps us dependent on God! He desires for us to have a rock solid relationship with Him. We suffer needlessly when we choose to function without His Fatherly guidance. Our victory is guaranteed when we rely on God.

There are many times when we fail to understand the manner in which God chooses to answer our prayers. We must put self aside, God does not require our assistance, we must wait for His Divine intervention.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 NLT

There is always room for improvement in our prayer life. Take everything that grieves your heart and present it before God in prayer. The closer we become to God, the more we realize that He is our Father who will never leave us or forsake us. We will develop the deepest love relationship with our Omnipotent God, far beyond our greatest expectations.

Challenge for today: Increase your daily prayers.

Verse for today: In the same way, the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for Words. Romans 8:26

Prayer for today: Dear God, I desire to have a closer relationship with you. I want you to be the air that I breathe. I completely give myself to you. I will trust you with my life, now and forever. Please help me to get rid of my independent self-will, and learn to always rely on you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Oh Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you. Be our strength every morning and our Salvation in time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2

I have always loved the beauty of the Winter season; not only is it a time for the earth to rest, it is a time for us to relax; a time for us to slow down; it is a time to enjoy the additional nighttime hours; it is a time for the spiritual and physical renewal of our bodies.

Many individuals complain about the snow, the frigid temperatures, and the overcast of the winter sky. However, God knew that we would need a less stressful time to wind down, and along with the blessing of resting on the Sabbath, He gave us an entire season to function at a slower pace.

When we study the Word of God, and pray for the wisdom, guidance, and direction to apply the Word to our lives; we can view life from a spiritual perspective and acknowledge that: “The Earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it,” Psalm 24:1

It is lovely to be able to live with confidence! And why not? I belong to God. Through nature, I see how the earth is sleeping, the animals are hibernating, the birds have migrated, and the evergreen trees provide a colorful hue against the grayish cloudy sky.

In Matthew 6, God reminds us that He feeds the birds, they awaken with the expectation that they will eat daily. We are more valuable to God than the birds. How do we know this is true? We were created in His image; we were given new mercies to be alive today; He gave his only Son-Jesus Christ, to die for the remission of our sins, and He tells us to never worry because He will never leave us; He will supply all of our needs on day by day basis, and that He will be with us until the end of the world.

Thank you, God, for a beautiful and peaceful Winter season! Thank you for helping us to realize that we can enjoy the life you have granted to me without anxieties or worries! Thank you for helping me to believe that:

I belong to you!

Challenge for today: Proclaim that you belong to God!

Prayer: Dear God, I finally realize that I belong to you. Thank you for providing for me and for helping me to achieve total peace. I love you, and I place my life in your hands. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you would be cold or hot. Revelation 3:15 BLB

I can recall working on a job where peer reviews where conducted once a quarter. A week prior to the review, I was scheduled to meet with our Manager to discuss individual productivity and work-related concerns. As the meeting progressed, the subject changed from my satisfactory performance to clarification of information that was given to the Manager concerning another member of our team. Although office rumors spread like wildfire, I was unaware of the quality of my coworkers performance and clarified that it was hearsay, and that I would be unable to substantiate the report.

The following week during the peer review, the question was asked if we had any concerns, and imagine our surprise when the second member of our team disclosed complaints from the Client’s liaison which verified the office rumors regarding our team member’s questionable performance. To summarize, the overall problem was that our co-worker was just doing enough to get by. Many promises were made to provide the clients with the additional statistics they requested, however they never received the follow-up information.

As you can imagine, serious concerns where brought to the forefront regarding as to why the Client Liaison did not disclose the issues directly to our Manager. The resolution involved developing new policies and protocols to ensure that productivity and client satisfaction were met through weekly Manager-Client Liaison meetings.

From a spiritual perspective, how many of us are doing just enough to get by? We attend church, study our Bible, and pray; however, we are not interested in witnessing or meeting the needs of others.

The Great Commission: Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? or thirsty and give you something to drink? or a stranger and show you hospitality?, or naked and give you clothing?, when did we ever see you sick or in prison visit you?” And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:37-40 NLT

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has Faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother and sister is poorly clothed and lacking in Daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

God’s expectation is that we will help others!

Challenge for today: Become active in volunteering time to Church Ministries, Community programs, Homeless Shelters, Domestic Violence Safe Harbors, Donating toiletries, and clothing, Tutoring Children…

Verse for today: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 ESV

Prayer for today: Dear God, We are not following your commands to help others. We ask you to forgive us for the sins of omission, and just doing enough to get by. We are ready to make a commitment to serve you and to serve others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I can remember a visit to my bank for free financial management services in 2008. I had stable employment along with a decent savings account and had made the decision to become a homeowner. As the Agent began to outline the financial responsibilities of ownership, I felt that my dream had rapidly deflated, and my face and tone of voice reflected the defeat and disappointment. However, I did not leave feeling hopeless; I was given a financial plan with goals and strategies to work toward saving additional monies for unforeseen expenses that are tagged with owning a home. Within one year, due to another business entity purchasing the hospital, the alternative job offer that I received, caused me to terminate employment with the organization.

Fast forward to 2019, and I know that my plans for ownership were not God’s plans. Many changes have occurred since 2008: Decline of my Mother’s health which necessitated relocation to another state; change of status from single to married; and the abrupt end of my nursing career due to a physical disability. I am thankful that I did not disregard the financial advice that I received. I know from personal experience how wonderful it feels to call the landlord for the unexpected maintenance repairs that are required in the home that we are leasing.

Yes I was greatly disappointed when my nursing career ended, I had no alternate plans. But I knew there was a great God who would hear my prayer and I asked, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?” His answer was for me to write–real life experiences regarding our defeat and His deliverance. I am currently writing daily Devotionals and plan to publish a book of real life testimonials; a book that I pray will encourage women 40 plus, as we travel through the journey of our lifespan.

Experiencing defeat does not have to equate to discouragement, depression, and feeling downtrodden. It does not mean that you throw in the towel or accept that your purpose in life is limited to your current circumstances.

The answer to living a victorious life–with trials and tribulations–is to ask God: “What do you want me to do?” When you humbly relinquish your plans and invite God to make good on His promise found in Jeremiah 29:11, He becomes the Manager of your life.

The secret to your life becoming successful is to accept God’s plans, and to stay focused and obedient.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23 BLB

Our goal is to hear: Well done!

Challenge for today: Ask God, “What do you want me to do?”

Verse for today: Revelation 22:12-13

Prayer for today: Dear God, I give my life to you. I willingly accept your plans for my life. I ask for you to reveal my purpose and the manner in which I can lead others to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz-Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, Lord. Let your loving-kindness and your truth continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11 NHEB

And be sure of this: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NLT

We must always remember that in Jesus Christ, we are victorious, regardless of our immediate circumstances. It may be necessary to cry many tears, even so, God knows you by name. He is always here, throughout every disappointment, every trial, and all tribulations. God loves you!

Verse for today: Because God has said, Never will I leave You, never will I forsake you” [last part] Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Challenge for today: Call on His name for comfort and strength.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for solving the problem that I have presented to you for Divine Intervention. Thank you for knowing my name. Thank you for giving your Son to die for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz-Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Songs for Comfort and Strength:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is Noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things. Phillipians 4:8 NIV

It’s great to be alive! In fact, it is even greater when we believe that God will and does take care of us. I would even say that the greatest decision that we can make is to become fully dependent on God.

There is a song that I learned as a child: “Turn it over to Jesus and you can smile the rest of your days.”

It takes human effort to make the decision to turn over [your thoughts, your concerns, your financial deficits, your health issues, and your life] to Jesus.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my Victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Are you fearful because you are unaware of what God has promised to do for those who believe in Him! When we study the Word of God, Pray, and Believe, we gain inner strength, and then we can live without worries.

Our lives reflect our thoughts: thinking on the love, compassion, grace, mercies, and steadfast promises of God (by now you should be smiling), provide a reassurance that He will do exactly what He says!

God waits for us to invite Him into our tumultuous journey of life.

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the Sea, “Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 ESV

The fears and faithlessness of Jesus’ disciples caused them to accuse Jesus of not caring for them. We must not possess the same thoughts. Of course, He cares. The promises have been given; it is up to us to think pure, right, true, lovely, and admirable thoughts. When we truly believe, the raging sea in our lives will become calm.

Challenge for today: Only believe! All things are possible if we only believe.

Verse for today: and, lo, I Am With You Always, even until the end of the world. Amen. [last part] Matthew 28:20

Prayer for today: Dear God, Our thoughts are not on what is right, or pure. We come to you confessing our discouragement, our fears and our unbelief. We invite you into our raging seas of life and ask that you bring the peace and calm that we desperately need. We are ready to accept your love, your grace, and your mercies. We love you and we praise you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Practical Messages for Impractical Times-Sonya Johnson Ruiz

So don’t worry about these things saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?”

These things dominate the thoughts of Unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:31-34 NLT

For many years, I have attended church, studied my Bible, and prayed; but I never really understood what totally trusting in God requires. Simply put, I was not living a faith-based life based on total trust.

When the vicissitudes of life were causing turbulence, I would call on the name of God for deliverance, and I believed that He would safely bring me through. Oh yes, I could quote the promises found in His Word, but something was missing from my relationship with God. My faith was conditional, based on whether things were going well or if tests and trials came knocking on the door.

From personal experience, I know that God is faithful. I am sharing a past experience to encourage those who are impacted by the government shutdown.

When I was in nursing school, I slept on blankets, on the floor in a studio apartment without furniture. I went to the food banks while living off of meager Federal Grants and Student-loan monies. I was 40 years of age at the time. Through His compassionate grace and mercy, God was faithful when I thought that life couldn’t get any worse. No one knew what I was going through at the time; and as promised, our God provided. He brought me through and I graduated as a Registered Nurse with honors.

It is God who is always faithful!

Whatever it takes, I must make a conscious effort to place all of me into God’s hands. I finally believe that it is possible to live a faith-based life 100% of the time.

Challenge for today: Just believe that all things are possible; God has promised to see us through all circumstances.

Verse for today: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3 22:23 NLT

Prayer for today: Dear God, How excellent is your name! I humbly bow before you to thank you for your great faithfulness. I have not trusted you as I should have, and I ask you to forgive me for the times that I was filled with doubt and unbelief. I am striving to live a faith based life by placing my trust in you at all times. Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Practical Messages for Impractical Times–Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 John 1:2 NLT

This week I am dedicating my blog posts on methods to achieve and maintain an optimal level of health.

I have a strong interest in statistics; especially the growing number of injuries sustained in the 50+ age group.

As a retired nurse, safety has always been a top priority in rendering care to my patients. However, I have also incorporated and applied safe measures to my daily life; and now with the status of being a midlife Baby Boomer, I am fully aware of the physical and cognitive changes that are occurring in my body. I am still alert and oriented with the exception of when my desires are not in sync with my abilities.

As a former Northeasterner, I have dealt with sensory overload from noise pollution, crowded trains and buses from work commute to the adjoining state of New York, a fast-paced life, and hearing the neighbors talk loud enough for all to hear. My schedule included three hours of daily commuting, purchasing prepared meals, working on jobs with high-stress levels, and 5-6 hours of sleep.

I have no complaints about my former life because it is what I loved and enjoyed doing; even so, that was then, and now I am living with a body and mind that has been around for 6+ decades.

Acceptance leads to Adaptation!

Back to the safety aspect of the aging process: Pay close attention to your body’s signals; Identify your limitations and implement the appropriate changes.

Real life: I love fresh herbs, red bell peppers, and baby spinach. The majority of my recipes include a minced version of one or all of these ingredients, which I enjoy cutting by hand (food processor stays on the baker’s rack). Recently I purchased a set of paring knives with blades so sharp that the thumb of my nondominant hand was nicked by the tip and as a result, I sustained a cut similar to a paper cut, superficial and very painful.

Even with precautions, I sustained a minor laceration. As I bandaged my throbbing thumb and placed a vinyl glove on, (had to finish cooking dinner) I thought about how I could prevent a reoccurrence. I researched and purchased a pair of Chef safety gloves from Amazon.

Denial Compromises your Safety!

I must be more attentive to my body cues and care for myself in a tender and loving manner. If I am feeling tired, then I do not push myself until the point of exhaustion; I Stop, Drop, and Roll into my bed for a nap.

I wear corrective glasses because it is important to maintain my current level of visual acuity…and most importantly I need to see where I am going, and what others are doing too.

All of the smaller rugs in our home have been removed and donated. Larger rugs, carpet tape, and slip-proof padding work wonders in preventing falls. In the previous year, three of my close friends including myself have sustained falls with injury. At the age of 20, I would have laughed at myself for being clumsy.

I no longer have to reach productivity levels. Since an early retirement, I am calm, have almost a nonexistent level of stress, and my sense of humor is flourishing.

If you have never really thought about safety as a priority, God thought about it and has provided us with 5 Senses: Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch. These sensory organs work in a most efficient manner to take in information from our environment and transmit it to the brain for processing. The Sympathetic Nervous and Endocrine Systems also participate in keeping us safe with the initiation of the “Fight or Flight” mechanism when we are faced with possible danger.

Furthermore, God protects us from seen and unseen dangers with a host of guardian angels.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them. Psalm 34:7 NASB

Challenge for today: Pray for safety in performing all daily activities, including prior to traveling, yes, for yourself; and do not forget to also include others. Always express thankfulness for the completion of the day without hurt, harm, danger, or prevention of serious effects if you are involved in a mishap of life.

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for keeping us safe, even in the many times that we have taken our safekeeping for granted. Thank you for making us in your image. Thank you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Please help us to realize that all of our help comes from you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Verse for today: Dear Friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 John 1:2 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

We are approaching the end of the first month of the New Year. Have you evaluated your accomplishments? Are they in sync with your proposed plans for personal growth and development?

Time rapidly moves as if we were caught up in a whirlwind. Are you moving with the winds of time or continuing in an ongoing struggle by standing still and refusing to move forward?

Setting realistic short-term and long-term goals are an integral part of life. We must develop an action plan to be the best that we can be and continue pushing forward. It is our accomplishments that keep us balanced mentally and emotionally when we face defeats.

We were created to grow spiritually as well as to use our natural talents and gifts for the enjoyment of life. Identify your interests by performing a self-evaluation of the things that you are good at, but would like to become skilled in.

Explore your options! It is never too late! Without striving for improvement we become complacent and stagnated. We must continue to soar as the eagle-always pursuing higher heights whether in baby-steps or in leaps and bounds.

Challenge for today: Identify your interests…take a Community/College Class, Self-Improvement course or pursue a Hobby.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I want to be the best that I can be in life. Thank you for gifting me with the ability to learn and grow. Please help me to take the steps to move forward and set goals. As I develop goals for my life, may I present them to you for your blessing. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Verse for today: I can [and I will] do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

Sonya Johnson Ruiz