Sunshine Rodgers's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"

So at work, the Viva Gaia street band performs every hour on the hour at Disney's Animal Kingdom. And one announcer says to the guests passing by, "Come join us here at the Viva Gaia dance floor!"



What was once just a pathway going towards Dinoland is immediately the Viva Gaia dance floor once the performers come out!



I was watching this and I thought about this concept: *it is what you call it*



Moses was in the far side of the wilderness tending his flock when God said to him in Exodus 3:5 that where he was standing was holy ground. A place where I'm sure many people have stepped on and wandered to before now had a significant impact on Moses because God came on the scene and declared something different than what it normally is.



I would challenge you to look at your life and your situation differently.

*It's what you call it*



Is it just a marriage? or is it an unending love?

Are they just your kids? Or are they miracles from Heaven?

Is it just a job? Or is it a place where you can find another source of joy?

Are you just cleaning the kitchen? Or are you maintaining a Kingdom?



*It's what you call it!*



Bring some greatness to your 'good.' Realize its better than what it is.

Your life is nothing ordinary - - - it's something out -of-this -world!



If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers
God The Father Jesus The Big Brother Holy Spirit The Best Friend
Last Night, When I Prayed
This Is My Heaven
After You: A Demon Is Always Lurking Nearby

It's been devastating, hasn't it?

Watching the news.

Seeing the virus death count. And the unemployment numbers.

And the only good I see is that now we all have one common enemy.

There is no political division. No hate for each other.

Just compassion. and understanding.

Just know we are all together in this. And we all must do our part!

This week, I was emotional because Travis and I went to get ice cream from an outside ice cream vendor and the line was so long, it went down the sidewalk And the reason the line was so long was because everyone was staying 6 feet away from the person in front of them.

Little things like this make a big difference!

So please, watch your hands, give each other space and respect the orders of the CDC and local and federal government.

Together, we can defeat this unseen enemy!

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

Positive Slime. April 6

I can't help but think of Ghostbusters 2 during this time.

Do you remember that movie?

Towards the end of the movie, the museum is covered with impenetrable slime. The slime rises to the streets, causing widespread chaos.

Determining the need for a positive symbol to rally the citizens and weaken the slime, the Ghostbusters use positively charged slime to animate the Statue of Liberty and pilot it through the streets filled with cheering citizens.

At The museum, the museum's slime partially recedes and the Ghostbusters neutralize the bad guy with positive slime.

A chorus from the gathered crowds outside neutralize the slime, weakening it.

A good analogy, huh?

Let's use the positive slime to weaken this enemy.

The darkness has no place with our positivity and praise. Unity and praise beats out the giant of negativity.

So let's keep singing! Let's keep saying positive things, keeping calm and optimistic and praising the Lord for all the good things!

Because sooner or later, this Corona- slime will weaken and disappear altogether.

And we may have the Ghostbusters to thank...for reminding us that positivity in a time of crisis can make the impossible happen!

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

Are you going through this time with tormenting thoughts?

I feel you.

I can't even watch the news without getting stressed out!

So we rely on what the Word says to overcome what we are feeling:

ANXIETY

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

LACK OF PROVISION

"God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." - 2 Corinthians 9:8

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" Jeremiah 29:11

AFRAID OF GETTING THE CORONA VIRUS

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

"He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave." Psalm 107:20

"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Jeremiah 17:14

I would encourage you today to find a Bible verse that is a Promise to the Problem you are going through today. And let's stand on God's Promises now more than ever!

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

Exodus 1: 11- 21: "...So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own."

I want to emphasize the verse: "The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied."

Fascinating, isn't it?

That though there is oppression, difficulties, stress, anxiety, frustration and fear (sound familiar?), that there can be in the midst of all that negativity....love, generosity, vulnerability and a multiplication of blessings.

The story shows people looking out for each other. The verses talk about a common enemy and God blessing those who fear Him.

And what the enemy took, God provided and increased and gave his people unexplainable blessings.

I want to encourage you that no matter how dark something seems, there is always good to come from it. So be kind to one another. Fear God. Trust in His provision. Know that He is taking care of you even in the middle of your struggle. And God will show up in the most unlikely of ways.

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

So I've had a few car problems in my life.

And where as I don't necessarily thank God for a flat tire and being stranded on the highway and having to call a tow truck...

I am grateful in the moment to have car insurance who gives me 24 hour road side assistance.

I am thankful to the tow truck driver who is able to find me stranded and helps out of this predicament.

Even though I hate spending hours at a mechanic, I am thankful that someone is working on my car and that I have the money for the repairs, all the while remembering that very soon I can drive home. Safe and sound.

During this pandemic.. I'm not going to lie...it's horrible being stuck and stranded...

But what are you thankful for?

Who do you appreciate working for your safety?

What comforts you knowing that at the end of all this, you'll arrive safe and sound.

Something to think about.

I want to personally thank all those who are working to keep our country safe! I want to thank all the frontliners, the hospital workers, the service men and women, the safety officers, the cashiers and truck drivers, the media teams and government officials for being on our side, for being a service to our community and for working on behalf of others. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed. Your efforts are applauded. And let's get out of this pandemic together, stronger than ever!

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Acts 16: 22- 34

This story shows how HOPE can be found in prison.

The POWER of God through a desperate situation.

And the STRENGTH of the gospel even while being detained.

What I wanted to share from this Bible passage was that no matter how bad things look, God can show up in unbelievable ways. Use this time of isolation to pray and sing hymns to God and just watch what happens! Live in hopeful expectation of God's movement.

Know that God can use any situation - good or bad - to reveal Himself and to show off His Power. And I pray that souls will turn to the Lord during this time.

You can find a PURPOSE for this MOMENT. And God will reveal His plans. And the end goal for anything we go through is to draw closer to God.

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you

Sunshine Rodgers

I was taking my usual bike ride around the lake and it was such a great time in nature.

I saw a turtle and several cranes and there was this one large black bird that got my attention. He was sitting near the side of the lake with his wings just spread out, enjoying the wind and the nice sun....just relaxing and taking in the day!

I talked that bird, whispering my internal struggle, "Teach me how to relax like that!"

That black bird had no cares. Just catching the breeze. Not at all worried about its food or where it was going to sleep or the cars racing near it.

That bird was steady. Confident. stable.

Immediately, I was drawn back to the Garden of Eden and how Adam and Eve were designed to be... free!

Sure, they had assignments in the Garden, but they walked with God in the cool of the evening. They took in the wonder and beauty that was around them. They didn't hustle and bustle like we do now, always stressing out from one hour to the next.

Can we just rest? And relax? And enjoy life again...at a slower pace...in a meaningful way...

Where we can stop and spread our arms wide in sheer gratitude of just the blessings around us...

If this time of self-isolation taught me anything, it taught me to loosen my schedule, to breathe and to be confident in God's power and to rest in His care.

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

I was experiencing quite an emotional roller coaster these past few weeks.

And I recalled Psalms 61:2. Lord lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

I wanted to share some verses about THE ROCK. We can hold on to solid ground when everything around us is sinking sand!

God is my rock. He is a solid foundation. He is an immovable, unshakable, faithful, fortress. In times of trouble God is our source of strength. God is stable and His children run to Him for shelter.

Psalm 18:1-3: I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 62:7-8 : My honor and salvation come from God. He is my mighty rock and my protection. People, trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection.

Psalm 28:1-2 : To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalm 31:2 : Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

2 Timothy 2:19 : Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his."

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers

I was taking a nice mini-vacation with my husband and we were staying at a castle-looking resort near the epicenter of the city.

Of course, it wasn't as busy as it normally is.

And I had recently watched a movie called "The Out-of-Towners" with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn.

And at the end of the movie, Steve Martin pitches to an advertising agency that ONLY IN NEW YORK can you live in a big city where people live on top of each other, where they don't have enough room to walk , and where you step in garbage and where you travel on trains with no seats.

On and on he talks about New York City only to end with a loud "ONLY IN NEW YORK!" which then lands him the job (spoiler alert!)

Well, I walked up to the 9th floor of the hotel and gazed at the very top of the building to view the wonder of the city. To my right, I saw roller coasters out in the distance. I saw a gigantic Wheel and beyond that a large volcano.

And I laugh under my breath...ONLY IN ORLANDO.

What are some things you can appreciate where you you live?

What differentiates your area from others?

What are you proud to call home?

What are individual things around you that you can celebrate?

Show me a picture or describe how much you love your city.

Because there is nothing like applauding the spot you are in. Right now.

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.

Sunshine Rodgers