The Abundant Life Center

By Dona Hake

I know it to be true that if you go to bed with much on your mind that this is how you wake up.    The Lord does not want us to greet our day with the thoughts of yesterday nor the worries about our tomorrows.  I love how the Psalmist asks the Lord to cause Him to hear of his Lord’s lovingkindness first thing in the morning.

Psalm 143:8 (AMP)

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,

for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein

I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”

Let us trust to hear His voice about our day.  Let us remember to lean on Him not only for His strength and wisdom  but for the balance He can bring to our lives.   Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for your day yet be willing to allow Him to interrupt it if He has other plans for you.  Lift up your soul to Him and allow Him to touch you because He loves you so!

by Dona Hake

I love to eat as much as I can foods that are all natural.  The more I do this the more I can hardly handle artificial anything.  There are so many imitation things in the food as well as other things in the retail industry.  Things that are mere copies and some of those imitators will never serve you as well as the real or original thing.

Jesus spoke of His peace in the scriptures.  He said that the world indeed has peace but His peace is nothing like it.  It seems to me that in the midst of speaking to those that were tempted to be troubled that He was stating who He was and the peace that came only from Him.

John 14:27 (ERV)

 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you.

I give you peace in a different way than the world does.

So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.”

Let us look to His peace and not those things that we perceive to give us peace that only has a short life.  Today, be reminded that His peace comes in a different way.  Look expectantly for His peace that is truly above and beyond our human reasoning.   And as Jesus said, “So don’t be troubled and don’t be afraid.”

by Dona Hake

I love being with little children.  I love their energy and I love their honesty.  They remind me to stay young at heart and to continue having fun no matter what is going on around me.  I think sometimes the older and more mature we become we need to continue to remind ourselves to watch little children.  I love their love for the simplest of things.    I have had so much fun listening to my granddaughters in the backseat of my car when I take them home.  Every home that has Christmas lights on causes them to oooooooh and aaaahhhhhhhh!!!!   This reminds me get excited about the simplest of things.

I also love that when you ask them a question, they usually shoot a straight answer and speak their hearts and minds.  It’s called honesty.  Sometimes you may not always like what you hear, but you have to give it to them…they can be honest.

We always need to always temper our honesty with kindness and thoughtfulness before we speak.  The most important thing of all is the question we must continue to ask ourselves.  “Am I being honest with myself and with others?”  I have to say that it really bothers me if I ask someone what they think and I am feeling like they are not giving me a straight answer.  God desires that we remain true and honest with ourselves and as we do I think that will always spill over in our communication with those around us.  I love this quote from William Shakespeare because it sums it up in a profound nutshell.

“This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

Honesty is really the best policy and it would do us good to think of this truth often.  God bless you.

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by Dona Hake

It is indeed a busy time of the year.  I am sure many of you have been diligently shopping for gifts for all those special people in your life.   I love hearing people  speak of being mindful that Christmas is not about the gifts we give or receive but rather our focus needs to be on a wonderful God that sent His Son as a gift to all mankind.   As He transforms my life every day I live I am forever thankful for Him and how He delivered me into a life of His ultimate love, peace and joy.  I could never live without Him.

Your life is also a gift from God and you are a gift to people around you.  When He created you within the womb of your mother, He saw purpose, He saw a future for you and He has wonderful plans for you to fulfill.

Psalm 139:14 (GW)

“I will give thanks to you

    because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.

        Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.”

Now I want to add to this thought that those that are in your life are also a gift.  No…I did not say they were perfect.  God has put family and friends in our life to love us, help us and walk along side of us during the good and the bad times.  I thank God for all my precious family members, and my friends, and especially my church family.  I think the more you go on you realize that the real gifts in this life are not those that come in boxes with beautiful bows but those He has called along side of us to do His will and help us when we need help!  Sometimes we just need to stop and remind ourselves of things that are everlasting because  these are the things that truly matter.

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by Dona Hake

When I see people exhibit patience in trying and tough situations it always strikes me as such a wonderful strength. This strength may be part of your makeup yet we all have our limits in how much we can take. Only the patience that comes from above and developed within our soul is the patience that will help us forbear tough situations and people that seem to have that wonderful ability of pushing you over the edge, and flipping your switch!

Proverbs 19:11 (ERV) 

“Experience makes you more patient, and you are most patient when you ignore insults.”

I especially like this translation of Proverbs 19:11 because I think the more you go on in life and you walk through experiences you begin to understand things more deeply. In any trying situation IF you allow the Lord to teach you, you will walk away with more wisdom under your belt. Another translation brings even a different side of understanding to patience and forgiveness.

Proverbs 19:11 (MSG) 

“Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.”

Today I want to encourage you to ask Him to help you grow in patience, and then take opportunity to extend forgiveness even when you would rather not. I promise you that what you feel as you extend forgiveness will keep your soul at peace. You will be glad you did!

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by Dona Hake

It is vital that we continue to walk patiently with those we live with and work with.    There is also the whole realm of patiently waiting for circumstances to change in our life, but how many times do you think about being patient with ourselves?

As we pursue to grow in God’s love and in His Word sometimes we focus too much on what we are NOT rather that how far He has brought us.  With any work that needs done in us there needs to be a time of waiting for His loving hand to work.  I guess there are all times we wished He would work a bit faster, but His wisdom encompasses more than we will ever understand. As He works, He promises that the transformation will indeed happen, but remember sometimes we can tend to be impatient in that which we have to wait for.

Be encouraged today that as you are applying yourself to do that which is right and good in His sight that His loving hand is at work in your life.  Guard yourself from focusing on your weaknesses but rather the gifts, the strengths and abilities He has blessed you with.  As we keep our hearts humble and open to Him, He will be faithful to show us the areas in which we need to give  attention.  He leads and guides us into ALL truth in every area of our lives!  God bless you.

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by Dona Hake

We are so blessed and yet I can say at times that some blessings have spoiled us. What do you mean spoil us? I am glad you asked!!! I love all the modern conveniences that I am blessed with. The microwave makes dinner come quicker, and there are days that I certainly appreciate that. We go through the drive through window and we no sooner hand our money, our bag of food is being handed to us (sometimes even thrown at us!). Short and simple…we are way too used to reaching for something and we do not have to wait for it. Modern conveniences can spoil us in a way that we forget the importance of patiently waiting.

I think this has sadly spilled over into our attitude toward our loving God and how we see Him dealing with us. We pray a prayer and if it does not happen in the timing we projected in our mind, and immediately we are tempted to think that He did not hear our prayer. Maybe He answers our prayer and it was not how you imagined and you may be tempted to be disappointed with how He decided to solve your problem.

We must always remind ourselves that He has His timing, His wisdom and His understanding of exactly how to deal with us and the issues in life that we face. I thank God for the times that God seemed to delay answering certain prayers because along the journey of my wait He was working out other issues in my life. Many times He used those waiting times to bring my eyes to focus on areas of my life that needed His divine attention in order that He may help me in another area that I was not aware of. Be encouraged when you pray and remember to wait, rest, and you will receive!

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by Dona Hake

“Life is not a bed of roses.” How many times have you heard that? To some it may be a cliche but there is much truth in it. I have seen many individuals walk through great adversity and quite honestly they seem to exhibit characteristics of extreme compassion and they have a beauty in character. They chose not to quit or be bitter but instead they stood back up in their weariness and took hold of God’s courage. The Lord has shown us in His scriptures that we need to hold fast to endurance and when we fall (and we will) we should stand back up with every bit of strength coupled with His strength and try again.

There is a price to pay in this life whenever you take risks, step out on a limb, and reach for goals. Life itself can trip you up when you lose focus. Sometimes it does not go the way you planned but take courage and try again. No, it is not always easy but with the help and strength that God is always willing to extend, we are able.

Proverbs 24:16

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”

Hebrews 10:36

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

As we stand back up let us embrace courage and try again. Continue to do His known will, step out in new paths that He shows you, and patiently endure that you may receive the blessing of what you are hoping for!

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by Dona Hake

Have you ever have something happen to you that was above and beyond what you ever dreamed?  These are experiences that serve to bless you with a special memory for a lifetime!    Sometimes experiences such as these are hard to articulate as you try to share them with others.  Today I was reading Psalm 139:1-6 and the last words are what really stuck out to me.  “…too glorious, too wonderful to believe…”   These words explain the acts and nature of our loving Heavenly Father.

Psalm 139:1-6  Living Bible

” O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought.  You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it.  You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.  This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe!”

What an awesome thought to ponder.  God examines and knows our hearts.  As we trust the greatest of all Heart Doctors we can put our life in His hands.  He knows our whereabouts at all times and every thought is known whether it becomes words or not.  We are all on a path and He knows the footsteps of each of us.  He was there when you succeeded and He stayed by your side when your failed.   His loving hand holds tightly and faithfully remains your friend in spite  of how you view yourself.   He also  walks ahead of you to guide you.   This is just way to glorious and wonderful to believe.  These are thoughts that should help us all to trust Him more and know His loving Hand is upon us.  God bless you.

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