Overcoming Is An Action Word

  By Marilyn Okoye (Originally Published on 11/23/2020.  Modified, 11/30/2020) A Prayer for Hope:   Heavenly Father, 2020 has been a year filled with uncertainty, grief, fear, and doubt.  My prayer over these next few weeks is that the God of hope will fill us as we put our trust in you. I pray that the peace of God that passes all understanding would guard our hearts and minds.  I pray that you comfort those that have lost loved ones and make provision for those who have lost their jobs. I pray for a firm foundation to rebuild our communities at the local, state, and federal levels.  I pray for healing in our land, both naturally and spiritually. In Jesus' name Amen. 

At a time when lights are glistening and the neighborhood is all aglow.   Sleigh bells are ringing and we’re all wondering if there’ll be snow.   Let’s take some time and turn our hearts, not to the anticipation of what’s under the tree, but let us focus on the one who was born to die for you and me.   O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Savior is Born.  So let’s join together in our homes and celebrate a tradition that has, to some, gotten lost and unfortunately, just as commercialized as everything else as it relates to the birth of Christ, a time we’ve come to know as Christmas.

by Marilyn Okoye Giving thanks and being grateful is easy when all is going well.  How do you remain grateful when we are in the eighth month of a pandemic?  In our last post, Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart , we talked about different ways to express our gratitude.  I can't say this enough, especially in the midst of this pandemic.  A good reason to live with an attitude of gratitude is that it may help improve the quality of our health and well-being.

A lthough every day is a day of thanksgiving, November seems to mark the season that many people begin to really hone in on why they are grateful. 2020 has been full of distress, to say the least, and one may wonder, "What reason do I have to be grateful?" It may not be easy, but I implore you to look beyond the despair, grief, injustice, and uncertainty of this nation and turn your heart and mind to a place of gratitude.