To all who mourn... he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.

📖 Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

💡 God has good plans for us, and we were created with INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. So… WHAT’S YOUR DREAM?

💡 As a teacher, I’ve taught a wide range of behaviors and abilities over the years. When some of my OJCF students (Only Jesus Can Fix 😫) would act up in class, I would ask them to step outside. 🤨 They thought they would be scolded or harshly reprimanded. 😨 They expected me to ask them, “WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?” 😡 Instead, I would look at them with gentleness and great curiosity and ask, “SO… what’s your dream?” 🤔

💡 99.9% of my students who had problems in school had no answer. 😔 Without a dream — no aspirations — they had no motivation for coming to school every day. With no motivation and no mission, Satan gave them one they could excel in: stealing, killing, and destroying.

The reality is that we’re all OJCF students in God’s classroom 🙏, and we need to know our dreams to be on a mission and have motivation to go from one day to the next.

💡 SO… what’s your dream?

💡 You can use the following categories as a guide, but don’t let them limit your dreams!

💭 Career 🤔

💭 Relationships 🤔

💭 Health 🤔

💭 Fun 🤔

💭 Finance 🤔

💭 Education 🤔

📖 Ephesians 3:20 (NLT): “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

💡 DREAM COME TRUE CHEAT CODE: If you choose to DREAM about something that checks both of the following boxes, prepare for the impossible: DREAM of something that ✅ serves God and ✅ serves people. 🤔 #DreamBig

📖 Matthew 19:26 (NLT): “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”

💡 Downloading a Bible plan is a great idea if that works for you. Here’s another thought: simply make a plan to read your Bible every day. You don’t need to make time to do this; no one but God can make time. You simply need to take time to do it.

📖 Joshua 1:8 (NLT): “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

💡 What if you allowed God to speak to you without relying on someone else’s study plan, commentary, or ideas? The book of Genesis or one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) is a great place to begin. What if you were the one who came up with the commentary or ideas and shared your thoughts with others? God wants to speak to you, and He also wants to speak through you.

📖 Acts 2:17-18 (NLT): “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.”

💡 If you were to spend just 20 minutes per day reading the Bible, you would complete the entire Bible in one year. Maybe you want to level up and have perfect vision in life: 20/20. Read the Bible for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night, and watch how clearly you’ll start to see things.

📖 Psalm 119:105 (KJV): “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Want to spice up your prayer life? 🙏 Consider using the ACTS method of prayer.

A = ADORATION

C = CONFESSION

T = THANKSGIVING

S = SUPPLICATION

💡 Spend time praying to God using each letter — one at a time. Try them in order and see what happens. 🙏

ADORATION

📖 Psalm 95:6 (NLT): “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

💡 Adoration is the primary activity of HEAVEN! Have some fun 🥳 — think of a word that describes God that starts with each letter of the alphabet. “God, you are AWESOME, BEAUTIFUL, COMPASSIONATE, DEVOTED, EXCELLENT, FAITHFUL…”

💡 Keep in mind that you have His DNA 🧬. Everything He is, you were created to be! 🙌

CONFESSION

📖 1 John 1:9 (NLT): “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

🙏 I’M SO SORRY… 🙏 I WAS WRONG… 🙏 PLEASE FORGIVE ME…

💡 Confession is not just about saying you’re sorry; it’s asking God to transform your mind and heart. Also, think of things you HAVE NOT done that should have been done. 😳 Ask God to make you more aware of the needs around you and to make you more willing to act.

THANKSGIVING

📖 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT): “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

💡 It’s time for the question that humbles all humans: What if God were to take away everything you did not give thanks for yesterday? 😱 Have some fun! 🥳 Think of a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet and thank God for it. If you live in Florida, you might start with, “God, thank you for AIR CONDITIONING… 😁”

SUPPLICATION

📖 Philippians 4:6 (NLT): “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

💡 PLEASE: What are the top three things you are most stressed about? What are your dreams?

💡Also, remember to think of others. 🙏 Consider praying for…

💡 PEOPLE IN POVERTY - This means praying for their well-being, for the relief of their suffering, and for God to provide what they need. By doing this, you are lifting up “the least of these” before God. You are acknowledging their value and dignity.

💡 POLICIES - Pray for leaders, organizations, and policies that will positively impact the lives of “the least of these.”

💡 PURE HEART - Ask for a heart like Christ — to see what He sees and to feel what He feels.

💡 B.E. S.M.A.R.T. is a set of health principles that research has shown can add 7 to 20 years of vibrant, disease free life.

💡 Hundreds of scientific studies have shown that these lifestyle habits (done consistently) can completely reverse (or at least improve), Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These health principles can also reduce risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and many intestinal disorders.

💡 B-elieve in God  (study your Bible daily) and Brush & Floss (brush twice a day and floss once a day)

💡 E-at Fruits and Vegetables (make half your plate fruits and veggies every meal)

💡 S-unshine and Fresh Air (get at least 15 minutes of sunshine per day)

💡 M-oderation (practice self-control in good things - avoid bad things like alcohol, smoking, and drugs  completely)

💡A-ction (exercise for at least 30 minutes per day 6 days a week

💡R-est (go to bed by 10pm - start winding down 9pm)

💡T-ell Others about Jesus (share your testimony) and limit your TV Time (an hour or less of quality television per day) 

💡 Click here to learn more: B.E. S.M.A.R.T.

💡 You have options. 

💡 The Word of God + The Holy Spirit

🤖 Immersing yourself in the Word of God with a hunger for righteousness transforms you from the inside out. Studying the Scripture daily and allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate and empower you unleashes God’s power, giving you clarity, strength, and the ability to walk in the Spirit 🕊️ and become the person God created you to be. 

📖 Hebrews 4:12 (NLT): “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

📖 John 14:26 (NLT): “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

💡 Bible Study + Fellowship

🤖 Studying the Bible with a close friend or in a small group brings spiritual growth and accountability. Through shared insights, encouragement, and prayer, you experience deeper understanding of God’s Word and the support needed to walk in faith together. Fellowship strengthens your walk with Christ, fostering unity and sharpening one another in the pursuit of righteousness.

📖 Proverbs 27:17 (NLT): “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

📖 Matthew 18:20 (NLT): “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

💡 Jesus + Therapy

🤖 Faith in Jesus is the foundation of healing, and pairing that with Christ-centered therapy leads to profound breakthroughs. It’s a purposeful pursuit of wholeness, where Jesus heals spiritually and therapy equips you to break chains and uncover wounds. Together, they bring total renewal, empowering you to live in true freedom and God’s grace.

📖 Psalm 147:3 (NLT): “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

📖 Proverbs 11:14 (NLT): “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.”

💡 Someone asked me this question, and it changed my perspective forever: WHAT IF GOD WERE TO TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU DID NOT GIVE THANKS FOR YESTERDAY? 😱

💡⏸️ Take a moment to think about that. 🤔 We take so much for granted. 😳

💡A practical way to practice gratitude is to change one word in your vocabulary: change HAVE to GET. Here’s an example:

“I HAVE to wash the dishes today.” 🙄

“I GET to wash the dishes today.” 🥳

💡 HAVE means it is an obligation — something you must do but don’t feel like or enjoy doing. GET means it’s a blessing, reminding you that you had food to put on a plate. 🙏

📖 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV): “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

💡 Here’s something I wrote for you to unleash your inner rapper. 🎤🔥 Have fun with it! 😁

💡🎤 Today is the day you're gonna rock the show

Change your mindset and the way you flow

You've learned the word that's got to go

It's notorious so let it go

And life will change - the way you see it

One word can help you change your feelings

It's not as hard as it seems

To change HAVE to GET - you'll see what I mean

In the future can't wait to see

All your positivity

It takes some time - listen - just begin

Try it with your friends

Get everyone in

HAVE means that you're obligated

GET means you appreciate it

It's time to change your mindset

So you can live each day to the fullest

📖 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NLT): “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

💡 I’ve heard it said that refusing to forgive is like drinking poison ☠️ and expecting the other person to die. 😳

💡 Forgiveness doesn’t mean you let people continue to carelessly wield Satan’s weapons against you. ☠️ It means you’re choosing to F.I.G.H.T. God’s way 🕊️. Instead of retaliating with another Satanic weapon like bitterness, ☠️ you’re choosing LOVE. ❤️

💡 This imagery may help you more easily forgive those who have wronged you.

💡 When a person has wielded any of Satan’s weapons against you ☠️ (anger, pride, gossip, etc.), imagine the devil has them by their hair and is mercilessly thrashing them around, repeatedly slamming them to the ground. He has a tight grip on them—a stronghold. He’s trying to kill them. If they were a video game character, their health meter would be close to depleted. 

💡 Tragically, they usually have no idea they are in a state of active rebellion against God and under Satan’s control. 🐍 They have no idea they have voluntarily enlisted themselves in the most treacherous, violent army in the universe, and their commander (Satan) is trying to drag them into eternal darkness and will mercilessly discard them, victim by victim, in the graveyard. 🪦 

💡 All the while, your offender's Heavenly Father watches in sorrow as His child is being manipulated and abused by the devil. That’s His son being held by the hair by Satan, and that’s His daughter who keeps getting slammed to the ground. God feels the greatest sadness and can only speak “with groaning that cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26 NLT). 😔 

💡 Although your offender has declared themselves an enemy to you, God loves them because they're His child. Perhaps that makes it easier to understand this:

📖  Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭44‬ ‭NKJV: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Regardless of your offender's actions, they're still created in God's image. “[God] does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 📖 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT):

💡 By choosing to forgive, you are freeing yourself from the chains of bitterness and hatred ⛓️‍💥, while your offender remains “CHAINED IN PRISONS OF DARKNESS” (Jude 1:6). ⛓️

📖 Colossians 3:13 (NLT): “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

📖 Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT): “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

📖 Ephesians 4:32 (NLT): “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

📖 Mark 11:25 (NLT): “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

📖 Luke 6:37 (NLT): “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”

💡 God spoke life into existence on days one through five during creation. On day six, He got His hands dirty, reaching into the dust to create man. This act was a powerful reminder that working with humans would be messy. 😑

💡 He also knew we would sin and that He would ultimately give the life of His only Son to save us. Working with humans is messy, but God clearly let us know we’re worth it. ❤️

📖 Isaiah 43:4 (NLT): “Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.”

💡 He loves us, and we should love others. He also served others, and so should we.

📖 Mark 10:45 (NLT): “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

💡 It’s important to understand that SERVICE isn’t confined to what happens inside a church building; that service should be more like a pep rally — getting people ready to serve and providing opportunities to do so in their surrounding community.

📖 Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT): “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

💡 SERVICE is what we do that requires us to get our hands dirty, just as God did on day six. SERVICE is about putting our hands into the dust and helping to shape people into who God created them to be.

📖 Ephesians 2:10 (NLT): “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

💡 Want to VOLUNTEER and change the world for generations to come?

Click here: DO SOMETHING

💡🤖 By reflecting on what’s working well and where improvement is needed, you can create actionable steps to bring more balance, ensuring each area contributes positively to your overall well-being.

💡🤖 Career:

• What’s working well in my job?

• What aspects need improvement or more focus?

• Action: Write down goals, steps to grow, and areas to improve.

💡🤖 Relationships:

• What’s going well in my relationships?

• Which relationships need attention or healing?

• Action: Identify steps to nurture key relationships and address struggles.

💡🤖 Health:

• What’s good about my physical and mental health?

• What areas need improvement (exercise, diet, sleep, stress management)?

• Action: Set health goals and daily habits that promote wellness.

💡🤖 Fun:

• When’s the last time I did something purely for fun or relaxation?

• Action: Schedule regular downtime or activities that bring joy and refreshment.

💡🤖  Finance:

• Where am I financially vs. where I want to be?

• What areas can I improve (savings, budgeting, debt reduction)?

• Action: Set clear financial goals and track spending/saving habits.

💡🤖 Education:

• What skills or areas do I want to improve?

• What areas of knowledge am I curious about or passionate to explore further?

• Action: Identify learning opportunities (courses, books, mentors) and track progress.

💡 Sometimes healing comes in stages:

📖 Mark 8:22-25 (ESV): “And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’

And he [the blind man] looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees, walking.’

Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes. His sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

💡 BE PATIENT. A caterpillar doesn’t turn straight into a butterfly. Get into your chrysalis and BE STILL. You’ll get your wings 🦋…

📖 Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV): “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

📖 Philippians 1:6 (NLT): “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”