Bethlehem Blessing

When we want to do something good and helpful, it can be a call from the Holy Spirit. Jesus left the Holy Spirit for us when he died on the cross. The Spirit resides in all of us and guides, teaches, and helps us.

There are times when we wonder whether we can do what we feel is right. What we feel we’re being guided to do. But when it is aligned with Jesus’ will, he will give us the power to achieve it.

I was thinking about taking care of some business matters, yet I felt that they could be difficult. I don’t know why I felt this way, but when I decided to go for it, I looked to the Lord.

In Philippians 4:13, it reads, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

After reading the above verse, I know I can get dressed, get in the car, and drive down to the offices where I need to be, take care of business, and smile in the end.

Relying on Jesus helps me do good things. In fact, as soon as I accomplish one good deed, I am usually working on another. Things just flow when I am following the Lord in all that I do. I love being in the “flow” state. When I am there, I do not worry or feel sad.

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I love you,

Bethlehem Blessing. org

When I was speaking with someone about how I began learning about the Bible, I said, “I think it was helpful that I acquired knowledge about different verses gradually. And it was a subtle learning. I spotted verses in a book by Norman Vincent Peale, and later, on an app. Soon, I became intrigued.

As I kept reading Bible verses, I felt encouraged and hopeful at a time when I had lost all hope for everything.

It seems to me that anything that can change a person’s attitude from looking at the negative side of things to seeing life with eagerness and an optimistic viewpoint is good. At least that is how it was for me when I first started looking into what Jesus was all about. I had given up on making an attempt to change things that were bothering me, and I didn’t want to do anything at all back before I knew Jesus.

The Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 sent hope surging through me, like warm rays from the sun do when you’re strolling barefoot on a tropical beach, taking in the sight of turquoise waves rushing up on the sand.

Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

Since those first days of reading the Lord’s words, I have come to enjoy what he has to say more and more. I want everyone to know just how awesome Jesus is, and how he can make life really good.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to be Lisa DeWitt

I was in the city and away from green grass, trees, and flowers.

Now, I am back in the countryside amongst the greenery, and nature at its best.

I am lying in the grasses of tranquility and splendor. The sky is blue, and a friendly hawk flies overhead as the sun radiates its warm rays downward.

After a time of meditation, and searching for answers to a multitude of questions, I rest. I am now going about the business of daily living with a renewed sense of optimisim.

In the Bible, in Psalms 23:1-2, it reads, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in the fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

It’s been a long time since I have been able to indulge myself in the beauty Jesus provides us on this planet. As our nation’s astronauts travel in the heavens above our atmosphere in search of places to live on other planets, I am enjoying life on Earth.

Sometimes we go so fast that there isn’t time to just be. To take in what we can see, touch, hear, smell, and feel and taste. makes us feel alive. The smell of tangerine can linger long after we peel it. The taste of apple pie tingles our taste buds for a time after our last bite. The sight of hot air balloons lifting off together sends colorful, tantalizing sensations to us through our eyes. The sound of Mariah Carey singing “When You Believe” rings in our ears for days after we’ve heard it. And the feel of a velvety soft blanket comforts us when we touch it.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to be Lisa DeWitt

Today has been a day with a lot going on. First, before I left home, I had the wrong socks on. They were too thick. Then, when I got in the car, the thinner pair I switched to were still too thick, so I took them off.

As I passed the shoe store while on the road, I stopped. The shoes I had on were short boots, and they were too hot for a 79-degree day. I went to the store and opted for a cooler pair of shoes.

All this was going on while I was headed to the Urgent Care doctor’s office for some medical help. I said a prayer that the pain would go away soon, and it did, but I still went to the appointment. I needed some antibiotics. I was already worn out.

I was too tired to stop and get my nails done like I had been thinking about, but I had to wait for the medicine, so I went. When I sat down, I relaxed. When he (the nail tech) got to the beautiful neon green color I chose, I really felt happy. As I enjoyed the hand and arm massage at the finish of the visit, I thought to myself, “Thank you, Jesus!”

I was right to thank him because in the Bible verse James 1:17 it reads, “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

The pampering was truly a gift.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to be Lisa DeWitt

My first instinct was to do something not-so-nice to those who were hating me. Then, I saw the Bible verse, Romans 12:17, that reads, “If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

I don’t know what I had been thinking about doing to the haters. I am a Christian, so whatever it was, it wasn’t something designed to hurt them. Yet I was hurt myself, especially when I found out the negativity they were spreading was not true. They put the lies out into the world for no other reason than that they just didn’t like me.

In a case such as the above, a person just doesn’t know what to do at first. But after reading Romans 12:17, I can see that when you do good in response to haters, it throws them off course. Then, they don’t know what to do, and probably have a hard time believing your response to it all.

Also, after being kind and offering them homemade food and tasty treats, I felt better. I know now that when you don’t hate them back or hold a grudge, you can let it go. You don’t have to harbor the ill feelings any longer. So, doing good for them also relieves you and sets you free.

In the future, if anything like hatred crosses my path, I will pray for the individual and ask the Lord to bless them.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to be Lisa DeWitt

When I began my walk with Jesus, I didn’t really know how to pray. I didn’t know I needed to pray and not to doubt that Jesus would answer me.

The Bible verse that speaks about the above, is James 1:6. It reads, “But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind.” The Good News Translation Bible (GNT).

At times I might find it challenging to believe prayers will be answered, yet I have discovered it is best to have faith.

What lies ahead at this current time seems like an impossible problem. On the surface it looks as if the situation will remain as it is. However, I am believing, with no doubts. If an evil one tries to enter my mind with a factor of disbelief, I will quickly say a prayer asking the Lord to remove the evil in me,

I then, will immediately feel positive about whatever I have prayed about the evil disappearing, and about the other prayers I have petitioned for with Jesus.

I do know that what we think about and what we believe, is what becomes our reality eventually. So, when I pray, I am having faith and focusing on what Jesus says. He answers my prayers and reality, for me is an “all-is-well,” gift from the Lord.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to be Lisa DeWitt

For many years, I looked to people to help me. While I relied on men, and not the Lord, I became disappointed. At first, I kept trying to seek out those who seemed like they were nice and decent. Often, true intensions shown through them like yellow fish in a net. Other times, it was more difficult to see what their smiling faces meant.

After I discovered that not everything, like good manners, and fancy clothes mattered, I was glad that I had learned to trust in Jesus. He does not lie or represent himself as something he’s not. He does not wear masks. He speaks the truth.

When I pray to Jesus, I know he will do what is right.

In the Bible verse Psalm 118:8 it reads, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on people.”

Someone I counted on, believed in and trusted answered me with one lie after another when they were trying to convince me they were a good person. I did not laugh, but it was funny. Not “Ha, Ha,” funny, but odd, I thought at least they might be honest when it came to trying to win me over to their side of things; it was as if they thought I were dense, stupid, or just plain out of it.

During the above conversation I longed for the kind of goodness Jesus puts forth– for everything he stands for. But no matter who thinks they’re God, or who thinks they’re in charge of things, there is only one God, and that is Jesus.

It doesn’t matter what kind of a show anyone puts on, I will always pray to Jesus, and wait for the Holy Spirit to let me know about someone in the future.

Thank you for reading.

I love you,

Lisa / Soon to Be Lisa DeWitt