Satan's Lies

Satan is a murderer, a liar, a deceiver, a destroyer. And he is sneaky- super sneaky and gosh he is crafty. He knows that we love and believe God’s word and so what does he often do? He doesn’t just whisper lies to us, he studies and distorts God’s word and tries to get us to believe some misinterpretation of it.

God reminded us of this in His word. In John 8:44 it says: 

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

I recently shared over on Instagram (If you don’t follow me there, you should- I often share in Instagram stories my morning devotions- plus lots of random things like views from my porch, bargain finds, our new house, and my super cute dogs! Link to my Instagram at the bottom of this post.) some of the lies that Satan whispers in my ears.

He likes to tell me things like:
-You are a terrible wife.
-Your friends don’t really like you.
-You are an awful mother.
-If people really knew you, they wouldn’t like you.
-You are a big fat fake.
-You are useless and don’t make a difference to anybody.
-God will never forgive you for________
-You don't do enough and the things you do don't make a difference.

I then shared how I use scripture to combat those lies. I am a firm believer that knowing God’s word, truly knowing it- is the only way to combat Satan’s lies. Over on Instagram I asked for folks to share the lies that Satan whispers to them and shared some truths from the Bible for folks to focus on instead of those stinky lies. What was so interesting to me was how many of those lies Satan whispers are the exact same for many of us. Over and over and over again I got messages with things Satan was whispering to them. Things like…....”I am not enough. My mistakes will always define me. The things I’ve done are unforgivable. I am not worthy.”

My prayer today is that you are reminded Satan is a destroyer, his target is your mind and heart, and his weapons are LIES. I pray that when he whispers in your ear (because he will) that you are able to turn to God’s word which is the TRUTH and remind yourself of how very wrong he is.

I plan to spend the next few weeks sharing some of these lies and a truth or two to combat each one but would love to hear the lies that Satan whispers specifically to YOU. Would you please leave a comment below or message me with any of those lies that sneaky Satan whispers in your ear for me to add to my list? 

Link to my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swtblessshan/

God of Second Chances

Forgiveness is hard y'all. Super stinky hard.

Sometimes I think even harder than forgiving others-it's harder even to forgive ourselves. To forgive ourselves the way God repeatedly forgives us over and over and over again. To give ourselves grace and mercy just as we give grace and mercy to those we love.

We torment ourselves thinking about what we could have done, should have done and although we know God forgives us, we can't (or won't) forgive ourselves. I think for me it often boils down to the fact that it's the unrealistic expectations I have of myself and put on myself that is at the root of this inability to forgive myself. I want to believe that I am better than I am- but the reality is, I'm not. I am a sinful, imperfect mess that is saved only by the grace and mercy of Christ.

God calls us to forgive- no matter how hard it is.

Isaiah 44:22 says...

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

 Psalm 103:12 says...

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

We all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Thankfully He will pick us up when we call out to Him and repent. There is no wrong- seriously NONE- that can keep God from redeeming you. His word is full of reminders of people who made mistakes and were given a new start by God and He will do the same for you and for me. How awesome is that? My prayer today is that you are able to let go of any guilt  you are clinging to and trust Him to work out whatever went wrong. I pray that you are reminded that God is the god of second chances (and 3rd and 4th and…) and His mercy endures FOREVER and EVER. 

Journal + Devotional = Awesome 365 Devotional Journals

I love journals and I love devotional books. 

I love writing down my thoughts and I love going back through old journals 

to see what I was thinking and praying about at different seasons of my life. 

It is often through journals that I am able to see God's plans 

and hand-prints on difficult times in my life. 

I think journals are little scrapbooks of our lives- that often live on beyond us. 

I have three or four devotional books and start every single day reading at least one. 

They help me to focus on what truly is important and to think about 

what God is calling me to do that day. 

So when you put together a devotional book that includes space for journaling? 

That is perfection! 

Below are three GORGEOUS 365 devotional journals perfect for 2019. 

I love all three of them and am having a hard time deciding on my favorite. 

(Not done shopping? They would make a fabulous Christmas or Happy New Year gift!)

All three have beautiful covers but the true beauty is on the words inside!

Each of the dated pages has a short devotional and then a lined space below

 to write your thoughts or prayers.

They are the perfect way to start a day focusing 

on what is truly important- Jesus!

Peace Begins With Me

Description: We pray for peace. We beg for it from others. We make speeches about it. But in the end, the only peace most of us can control is that little portion we display for the world to see. If we are at peace, the chaos around us seems to calm down. Our peace affects others. And the giver of peace awaits to give us the gift that can change our world. It begins with a prayer. It begins with me.

What I Love About It:

• The blue and green cover with gold foil accent is so pretty, serene and calming! 
• Each page has a devotional and Bible passage to read
• There are lines after each devotion to write your thoughts or prayers (I love lines!)
• It has a lay-flat binding so it's easy to write on either side of the journal
• The devotions in this journal are focused on peace and finding peace in our lives and in our hearts. It's visually calming and not busy at all.
• The journal has a ribbon to mark your spot
• Each day ends with a prayer
• It has a pretty green closure band so you can keep it in your purse or bag without worrying the pages will get wrinkled

Who Should You Buy This For?: This devotional journal would be perfect for anyone you know who needs a little more peace in their life.

Where can you purchase it?

• Amazon (affiliate link) 
• Barnes & Noble

The Earth is the Lord's and Everything In It

Description: From the small whisper of a snowflake to the large circumference of a baobab tree, all of nature is the creative expression of God. When we embrace His creative nature by taking the time to stop, notice, and connect, our hearts are encouraged and souls refreshed. Respond to the devotions, add your own creative writing, or keep track of prayers on the journaling lines.

What I Love About It:

• The peacock artwork on the cover is gorgeous! I would definitely have picked it up in a store- it's truly beautiful!
• Each page has a devotional and Bible passage to read
• There are lines after each devotion to write your thoughts or prayers (I love lines!)
• It has a lay-flat binding so it's easy to write on either side of the journal
• The devotionals in this journal seem very sweet and almost old-fashioned. They focus on nature and how it's all created by God.
• The journal has a ribbon to mark your spot
• Each day ends with a prayer
• It has a pretty turquoise closure band so you can keep it in your purse or bag without worrying the pages will get wrinkled

Who Should You Buy This For?: This devotional journal would be perfect for those who love being outdoors in nature. 

Where can you purchase it?

• Amazon (affiliate link)
• Barnes & Noble

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Description: When life gets busy, it’s easy to forget to spend time with God. This 365-day devotional journal offers encouraging meditations to help you spend a few moments turning your eyes on Jesus before your hectic day begins. After short devotions and Scripture for each day of the year, you will also find light journaling lines and ample space to record your thoughts, hopes, and prayers—just what you need to start each and every day with the reminder that God is always by your side.

What I Love About It:

• The floral cover is so pretty! I would definitely have picked it up in a store- it's truly beautiful!
• Each page has a devotional and instead of a Bible verse there is a song lyric written out at the beginning and a scripture reference at the end (not written out)
• There are lines after each devotion to write your thoughts or prayers (I love lines!)
• It has a lay-flat binding so it's easy to write on either side of the journal
• The devotionals in this journal are my favorite of the three and are all over faith. 
• The journal has a ribbon to mark your spot
• Each day ends with a prayer
• It has a pretty blue closure band so you can keep it in your purse or bag without worrying the pages will get wrinkled

Who Should You Buy This For?: This devotional journal would be perfect for anyone who loves worshiping the Lord through music.


Where can you purchase it?

• Amazon (affiliate link)
• Barnes & Noble

Notice: Sweet Blessings was contacted by FlyBy Promotions to write this review. All three Devotionals were given to me by the Ellie Claire Gift and Paper Expressions company to review for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Ellie Claire produces beautifully crafted journals, devotionals, and other creative gift and paper expressions. These remarkable products are sold in such national accounts as Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Sams, Costco, and LifeWay Stores. At the heart of Ellie Claire is a passion to share the unchanging truth of God’s love in irresistibly creative new ways, infusing into our gifts and books a fresh expression of faith.

He is WITH Us

There are times when the tragedy and horrors of this life just seem to be too much and honestly threaten to overwhelm me. My heart literally aches for so many hurting families and friends facing serious illness crisis, death, struggle and pain. When things are good it's so easy to praise the Lord for His goodness. But when things are bad and sad? It can be just plain hard y'all.

My life verse is an interpretation of Daniel 3:18 which is...."& if not, He is still good." It's a reminder that although God doesn't promise to save us from the flames, He has promised to be with us as we walk through the fire. It comes from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they headed into a furnace- facing what could have been a terrible & incredibly painful death. Thankfully, God protected them but they were prepared to be faithful and were actually prepared to die if necessary. It's important to note that God didn't put out the fire they were facing. He just put Jesus in there with them and they came out perfectly fine- without even smoke on them. 

(You can read the awesome story here: https://goo.gl/S6piRg )

My prayer for you and me to today is that we are reminded as we face the fires in our lives (and we WILL face them) that He is with us. He may not stop the fire that we face or the trial that we are going through- but He will be in it with you. We are never alone- He is with us always. And that no matter what....He IS good and faithful and loves us so!

I think for most of us prayer about BIG things comes pretty easily. We go to God to pray for those huge concerns and issues we have which is good because God is all knowing, all powerful, all loving- He is a BIG God. He moves and shows himself mighty in the huge things (parting a whole entire Red Sea for one BIG example). But that same, big God also cares about the small things in our lives, even down to the exact numbers of hair on your head. In our little minds and hearts, the BIG and small things are drastically different in significance and importance. But to God- nothing is too large or too small for Him to care about - absolutely NOTHING. Absolutely every person and every single thing matters to Him, no matter how large or how tiny it is to our human minds. 

It's easy to think....God has bigger concerns than my silly problems to deal with, I don't want to bother Him with this trivial issue because He has more important things to do. But that is a lie from Satan. God DOES care about things big and small. He reminds us of this in Philippians 4:6 where it says...."Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." It doesn't say, only the big things. 

It says in EVERY SITUATION. 

So today my prayer is that we are reminded to come to Him about the big things

 (and trusting that He WILL move in them) 

but also to pray for the small things and concerns in our lives. 

Remember, He loves you greatly and you are so important to Him 

He knows the number of hairs on your head!

The One Who Calls You

Such a FABULOUS reminder in my devotion this morning that if 

God calls me to something, there is NO reason to fear because....

"The one who calls you created the world and holds it together by his will. He has power over all things spiritual and physical. He rules every situation, location, and relationship in which his call is to be followed. He is amazing in his wisdom, abundant in his race, and boundless in his love. He is saving, forgiving, transforming, and delivering. What he says is always best and what he requires is always good. When he calls, he goes with you. What he calls you to do, he empowers by his grace. When he guides, he protects. He stands with power and faithfulness behind every one of his promises. He has never failed to deliver anything that he has promised. There is simply no risk in answering the call of the King of Kings...Only grace can work to remind us that faith in God is a resting place and trust in self is a minefield. It is grace and grace alone that empowers us to follow and to rest." 

-NEW MORNING MERCIES BY PAUL DAVID TRIPP, APRIL 18

Adored: 365-day Devotional {Giveaway!}

If you have a teenage girl in your life I have the PERFECT gift idea for you!

Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women 

is a precious book written specifically for teenage girls ages 13 and up. 

It helps young women tackle the many issues they face daily while being 

reminded how precious to God and how greatly they are loved by Him! 

Each day features a Bible verse and a short devotion. 

Each devotion is on a topic that is perfect for teenagers: 

bullying, social media, friendships, dating, etc. 

There's even journaling space for reflection and real-world applications. 

This book is full of messages that girls of all ages need to be reminded of every single day. 

Messages like: 

You can purchase a copy HERE

and even get a free 7 day download HERE if you want to check it out first. 

This book would make a fabulous Christmas present! 

GIVEAWAY: 

I'm so excited to be able to giveaway a copy of this precious book. 

To leave a comment telling me who you'd give it to if you won. 

Be sure you aren't anonymous and 

be sure to check back on Nov. 12th when I will pick and post the winner. 

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.