Optimistic Journey

He Never Leaves You

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:15:22 +0000

There’s great comfort in knowing that Jesus goes with you throughout the journey of life! He’s there to guide you, comfort you, erase any doubts and calm any fears that you may have.

Maybe you’ve strayed away. You’ve lost your way and took a few wrong turns, well be encouraged today. Jesus is still there with you in your heart. The scripture says He never leaves you or forsakes you.

Amazing things happen when the children turn their hearts back to the Father. God doesn’t condemn you. He doesn’t make you feel guilty for straying away. No, He’s there waiting with open arms of love, compassion, forgiveness and mercy.

If there is a void that you have, God can fill it. It you need guidance, He’ll direct you. If you need love, joy and mercy, He can give you that and more. Every need that you have, God can supply it.

Here’s the good news: if you’ll take one step back toward the Father, He’ll take two steps toward you. I’m reminded of the story of the prodigal son. He strayed away from home and moved to a distant land where he wasted all his money on wild living. Soon thereafter, his money ran out. A great famine swept over the land and he wound up starving.

Soon, he came to his senses and came back home to the father to repent. The scripture says that when the father saw the son coming home from a distance, the father ran toward the son with love, open arms, and compassion.

Friends, this is how it is with our heavenly Father. He’s there waiting for you with open arms of love and compassion. He wants you to live an abundant life full of peace, hope, love and joy. But in order to do so, you must first acknowledge Christ in your life.

Develop a relationship with Him. Maybe you’re living a mundane life. You have no enthusiasm, passion, hope, or expectations. When you have a relationship with God, you get that peace in knowing that He’s there to comfort you and give you the abundant life that God has for you.

With Christ, you’ll get your smile back. You’ll get your joy back. He’s there to fill the void that no other person or thing can do.

This relationship is developed by reading the Word of God, praying and spending time in His presence. His Word guides you, speaks to you and gives you peace and comfort. Realize today that God is with you. When you do so, He’ll restore you back to that place of peace, victory and wholeness as you charge forth on your journey!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

June 26, 2011 -- His Mercies Are New Every Morning (1)
April 26, 2012 -- Too Good to Be True? (1)
January 9, 2012 -- Jesus the Same Yesterday, Today and Forevermore! (4)
December 28, 2011 -- God’s Grace is Sufficient (0)
October 20, 2011 -- Every Day is an Opportunity (1)

Seek the Creator not the Creation

Jarrod Clark — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:54:03 +0000

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek after Him. He blesses those who have a heart and a passion to walk in His likeness.

Too often, we’re seeking after the wrong things. Some are seeking after a person as their main source of direction, guidance and provision. Some are seeking after material things. Others are seeking after money, fame and fortune but amazing things happen when you get right down to the Source.

This source is our heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe. He is the one from whom all blessings flow. Don’t seek after the creation, seek after the Creator.

We live in a world where so much is grabbing at our attention. Especially now-a-days, everything is portable. Modern day technology makes it so that we have access to everything right away.

Email is easily accessible via most cell phones. Text messaging, internet, and social media is just a touch away. And although these are convenient and great to have handy, many have grown so accustomed to it that they can’t leave home without it.

The truth is, nothing lasts forever. Just as easily as technology, material things and even people have come into our lives, they can just as easily be taken away. But there is one who never changes. He is the Giver of all life and things.

You may be diligently seeking the internet. You may be diligently seeking a much awaited text message from a friend. You may be diligently seeking the latest status update on Facebook, but what happens when internet goes down? What happens when a friend betrays you?

Yes, it’s true- we’re supposed to live the abundant life and indulge in the blessings that God has given us, but don’t forget about the Creator, the one who supplies your every need- the one whom all blessings flow. Make a choice to diligently seek the Lord today. He will fill every void as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

February 5, 2012 -- Benefits in Seeking After the Lord (0)
March 23, 2012 -- Good Things Happen When You Diligently Seek God (1)
September 22, 2011 -- God Will Stand In The Gap (1)
February 28, 2010 -- 20 Ways God Will Reward You. (1)
May 28, 2012 -- Your Labor is not in Vain (0)

The Seeds of Greatness are on the Inside! – (Video)

Jarrod Clark — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:40:01 +0000

God has given you everything you need to achieve anything you set your mind to do. It’s easy to get discouraged and think that you don’t have the talents, gifts and abilities. But the truth is, God has sown seeds of greatness down on the inside.

You have the favor of the almighty God working for you and through you in order to achieve your God-given destiny. Maybe your past has given you every reason to believe that you can’t achieve your dreams, goals and visions, well let me encourage you today to forget what lies behind you. Reach forward unto your God-given destiny.

In this week’s vlogisode, I give pure encouragement to those who have forgotten about the seeds of greatness that are on the inside. It’s simply to remind you that everything you need, God has already supplied. You have the gifts, the talents and the favor. All you need to do is tap into what God has placed inside of you. I hope you are encouraged by this week’s video!

(If reading by email, click Here to watch video on the blog page)

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

April 4, 2012 -- Mind Over Matter… or God Over Matter? (0)
January 11, 2012 -- Stir Up the Gifts Inside of You! (0)
December 28, 2011 -- God’s Grace is Sufficient (0)
July 3, 2011 -- His Power Works In You! (1)
April 25, 2012 -- Utilize the Gifts on the Inside! (2)

Your Labor is not in Vain

Jarrod Clark — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:35:05 +0000

It’s easy to think that your labor goes unnoticed. Maybe you haven’t been recognized for your hard work, accomplishments and strides.

Well, let me encourage you today. Keep working diligently with all your might. God has promises for an expected end.

Every job you do, every accomplishment your achieve, every victory you’ve ever conquered, know that God sees it. He takes notes of every good deed you do, even when no one is looking.

Here’s good news for you, the one who truly matters is the most high God, the creator of the universe. He rewards your efforts with blessings and favor. He keeps score of every time you’ve gone the extra mile.

When you labor for goodness sakes, it all comes back to you. You may not see it in the natural, you may not be able to feel the tangible “pay back”, but the scripture tells us that in due time, you’ll reap a harvest if you don’t give up.

Your great reward is on the way! The one who controls your ultimate pay check is the Heavenly Father. He is the one who has access to your next big break and open door of opportunity.

So be encouraged today! Hold your head up high. Carry on with your work. Fulfill your God-given assignment with a new attitude, a new confidence and a new strength. And watch as God takes you to the next level as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

March 30, 2012 -- The Seeds are Going In (0)
October 24, 2011 -- Harvest Where You Didn’t Plant (0)
June 28, 2011 -- Your Work Is Not In Vain (1)
March 13, 2012 -- Faithful Over the Few Things (Video) (0)
February 27, 2012 -- In Your appointed Time (1)

Did You Hear What You Said?

Jarrod Clark — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:15:54 +0000

Studies show that you believe more of what you say about you, than what anyone else says about you. The scripture says that death and life lies in the power of the tongue.

Motivational speeches are good. It’s good to even hang around others who are uplifting, positive and speak good into your life. Yes, I encourage that. But you take things to another level when you speak life over yourself.

When you speak words of encouragement over yourself, in essence, you’re indicating that you truly believe it. Supernatural breaks happen when you speak blessings, opportunity and favor over your life. Eventually they become manifested.

What you truly believe, comes from the heart. The scripture says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Many times, we get opportunities to take our faith to the next level. Maybe you’ve had a fear of doing something. Maybe you thought you didn’t have the skills, the talents and abilities. Maybe you were told that you were a failure, and that you would never amount to anything.

Overtime, this negativity takes root and sets up home on the inside. And when the opportunity to overcome fear presents itself, many times the first words out of our mouths are “I can’t do this…” or “I don’t have those abilities.”

These limiting beliefs are like cancers that lye in our hearts and keep us from reaching the full potential that God has for us. But if you’ll just start by changing the words that come out of your mouth from “I Can’t” to “I Can”, that’s when the supernatural breakthrough begins.

Your words go to work for you and fight these “cancers” until there is no trace of cancer. The limiting beliefs are gone. The negativity is gone. You then become more confident, more empowered, and you develop more courage for your God-given talents and abilities.

So start today- Speak life over yourself. Speak encouragement into your situation. You’ll believe it more if it comes out of your mouth. Speak victory, wholeness and courage over your life and watch as you excel to a higher dimension as you charge forth on your journey!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

July 10, 2011 -- Make Positive Declarations (0)
February 13, 2012 -- Think About What You’re Thinking About (0)
January 10, 2012 -- Meditate on These Things (2)
January 5, 2012 -- Preach Always, Use Words Only when Necessary (0)
November 30, 2011 -- You Must Believe! (2)

Look Forward with Expectancy

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:15:04 +0000

Good things happen to those who put their hope in the Lord. Their strength is renewed. The scripture says they will mount their wings and fly.

If you’re going to come into the full victory that God has for you, develop an earnest expectation. When you wake up in the morning, look forward to the things to come with expectancy.

You may have every reason to doubt that today can be the day where good things can happen. Maybe you’ve had disadvantages in the past. You’ve had some setbacks, challenges disappointments. Well let me encourage you today, look forward to the “lovelies”. Look forward to the abundant blessings that God has for you.

It’s easy to focus on the downfalls of life. But you can’t look forward and look back at the same time. You can’t look up and look down at the same time. You’re going to have to choose one or the other.

Choose a hopeful approach. Expect the goodness of the Lord to rain down and shower blessings over every area of your life. Spring up in the morning with a pep in your step. Get your smile back. Say “thank you Lord, that more blessings, honor and favor are coming my way.” Declare victory in your future. Declare health, good breaks, divine appointments and goodness to shower down in your favor.

I believe the Lord is moved when we put our hopes and expectations in Him. He’s pleased when we look to Him as the source of our blessings. We’re not putting our expectations in man. We’re not putting it in a material thing of some sort. But when you realize it’s the almighty God who has the power to bring about a change, He’ll go to work behind the scenes and cause abundant blessings to flow in your direction as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

September 8, 2011 -- Look for Your “Suddenly Moment” (1)
April 17, 2012 -- It Starts With a Vision! (Video) (1)
February 15, 2012 -- What’s In Your Picture Frame? (0)
January 1, 2012 -- Your Best Days are Ahead of You! (2)
October 4, 2011 -- God Wants You to Prosper! (2)

True Intentions (Video)

Jarrod Clark — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:27:16 +0000

God has a heart after those who have a pure heart. Good intentions and right motives are one of many ways to having a heart after God.

We have many interactions with people on a daily basis. And God looks not so much at what we’re doing as much as He looks at why we’re doing it. He has an eye to see straight through our actions and deeds to the motive behind it.

Do you ever volunteer to do something only with a wrong motive? Do you compliment someone expecting a compliment in return? Do you do a good deed for a friend based on an ulterior motive? These are all questions worth asking ourselves.

Here is this week’s vlogisode. In it, I talk about our motives and intentions. I also give an example that everyone uses on a daily basis which, often times, is based on an ill motive. I also give an interesting Proverb scripture that sheds some light on how we “joke” with our friends. I hope you’ll check it out and I hope it blesses you!

(If reading by email, click Here to watch video on the blog page)

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

April 23, 2012 -- Vlogisode #3 – Launch Out Into the Deep (Video) (0)
April 13, 2012 -- Accepting the Opposition (Video) (0)
April 9, 2012 -- My First Vlog… Happy Easter… and… (video) (0)

Grow Into Your Full Potential

Jarrod Clark — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:15:42 +0000

We are forever evolving into the person that God has called us to be. We can never learn too much. We can never experience all there is to experience.

We can never be too wise, or too strong, or too smart. God always has more for us. But the fact of the matter is that it’s easy to settle. It’s easy to get comfortable where we are in life.

Many stop growing. They stop pushing and striving to reach their ultimate potential. But know today that God wants the best for you. He wants you to continue to grow. He wants you to continue to thrive, flourish and blossom into your God-given destiny.

Here’s encouragement for you- don’t get settled. Don’t get so comfortable that you miss out on the next dimension in life.

Continue to grow. Let the lessons, the hardships and the setbacks of life catapult you into a better, stronger and wiser person.

Before long, you’ll be able to say, “I’m stronger than my yesterdays.” “I’m more equipped and empowered than I was before.”

But it all starts with a mindset to grow. It starts with the decision to overcome mediocrity and stagnation. Here’s my question for you: Will you dare to explore new horizons? Will you dare to be all you can be and grow into the full abundance God has for you?

Don’t get comfortable where you are. Always strive to grow and reach the next dimension in life. When you do so, you’ll come into your full potential as you charge forth on your journey!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

May 2, 2012 -- Did You Get Bitter or Better? (2)
May 1, 2012 -- Vlogisode #4 – The “Dirt” Post (Video) (0)
February 1, 2012 -- Get the Inside Information! (0)
December 19, 2011 -- How the Words “So What” can Change Your Life (4)
December 4, 2011 -- The Man with the Master Plan (0)

Trash In, Trash Out

Jarrod Clark — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:42 +0000

What you expose yourself to is the course that your life will take. Day in and day out, we’re exposed to a lot. There is so much grabbing our attention.

From the people we hang out with, to the music we listen to and the shows we watch, there are a lot of influences that can either help or hurt us.

That’s why it’s important for us to guard what goes on the inside. I love the way Proverbs 4:23 puts it. It urges us to guard our heart with all diligence, for everything we do flows from it.

It’s hard to totally block everything that comes at you on a daily basis. But for much of the time, you can control a great majority of what goes in.

Let me encourage you today. Guard your ear gate and your eye gate. Choose to listen to something that is uplifting. Watch something that’s encouraging and inspiring. Read a good book. Open up the Bible and meditate on a scripture.

Don’t expose yourself to something that’s going to tear you down. Don’t listen to something that’s going to discourage you and influence you in a negative way. Make a choice to watch something that’s going to build you up.

You may be familiar with a quote that simply says, “trash in, trash out.” This says it all. When you put trash on the inside, it’s going to be reflective in your interactions with others. If you listen to music that’s degrading and is an overall bad influence, it’s going to affect you in one way or another. When you watch movies that promote violence, negativity, and immorality then it’s going to affect your decisions and bring the same out of you.

Make a choice to guard your heart. Watch what you allow to enter your eyes and ears. Listen to something that’s going to promote empowerment and positivity. Then, the course of your life will take a turn for the better as you charge forth on your journey!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

September 26, 2011 -- Change The Channel (2)

Your Name Has Been Changed!

Jarrod Clark — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:15:22 +0000

When you come into Christ, the old becomes past away. The scripture says you become a new creature.

Many things change. Your thoughts and your actions change. You take on a new way of living. You project a new kind of fruit: peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are known as the Fruits of the Spirit.

In the supernatural, another thing changes. God changes your name. Often throughout the scriptures, God would change the name of a person He wanted to use. For example, Abram became Abraham, which meant father of many nations. Sarai became Sarah, which meant princess.

Saul used to be a persecutor of the Christian church. When He came into Christ, his name was changed to Paul. He then became a major influence in the Christian church. Simon became Peter who was a follower of Christ who was later given the keys to the church.

In the same way, God changes your name. The person you used to be doesn’t matter. The things you used to do have no meaning. What matters is that you’re a child of the most high God. He has changed your name.

Others may know you by who you used to be. But God knows you by who He has called you to be. With Christ, you’ve gone from a victim to a victor. You’re no longer a failure you’re a success. You’re not poor, you’re rich.

Let this seed take root. Your name has been changed. Your story ends in victory. Don’t answer to the name of your yesterdays. Answer to what God has called you to be as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

September 14, 2010 -- He’s Doing A New Thing! (1)
May 31, 2012 -- He Never Leaves You (0)
April 23, 2012 -- Vlogisode #3 – Launch Out Into the Deep (Video) (0)
March 22, 2012 -- Take Captive Every Thought (1)
February 9, 2012 -- Stuck between a Rock and a Hard Place? (0)

Optimistic Journey

He Never Leaves You

Related Posts

Seek the Creator not the Creation

Related Posts

The Seeds of Greatness are on the Inside! – (Video)

Related Posts

Your Labor is not in Vain

Related Posts

Did You Hear What You Said?

Related Posts

Look Forward with Expectancy

Related Posts

True Intentions (Video)

Related Posts

Grow Into Your Full Potential

Related Posts

Trash In, Trash Out

Related Posts

Your Name Has Been Changed!

Related Posts