Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”. – Geneses 2:21-25. Check out my website

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of everything that creepeth upon the earth, there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. – Genesis 7;6-9. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

There is something that stands out in the previous two passages. Do you knw what it is? God clearly wants us to have companionship and lean on each other. That was his reasoning for creating Eve so Adam would not be alone. That was his reason for commanding Noah to put two of every animal in the ark. God even says that in his word, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20. Check out my website

Husbands and wives are to lean on each other. Children are to lean on their parents for wisdom and understanding until they are adults themselves. Our pets lean on us as they depend on us to care for them on a daily basis. Parents sometimes when they reach their golden years look to lean on their children for some assistance. God designed us to be a support system for each other and to lean on each other. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Lean On

Unfortunately, nowadays with all the stress, strife, chaos, and confusion in the world there are a lot of people having mental health issues especially since Covid entered our lives. There are so many clinics and places where you can go to get assistance and just to communicate with others. Communication is a major essence of life. Homeland Security launched a campaign that is titled, “If you see something say something.” In July 2010, DHS launched the campaign in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), with the goal of training state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime. – https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/about-campaign.

This should not apply to just terrorism; this should apply to everything especially those that are suffering with mental health issues. This is one of the reasons why the suicide rate continues to climb rapidly especially with young people. If you are having any strange thoughts or feeling say something to someone. If you are a parent, friend, co-worker, family member, church buddy, etc. and you see signs in someone that looks to be depression, or anxiety or a host of other things please don’t just look the other way. If you see something, say something. This could save many lives.

Lean On and lift up those around you and God and the angels in heaven will be rejoicing!

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24

Are you good at receiving? If not, that is something you will need to cultivate. I don’t mean receiving on those special dates during the year. Sure, ever since we were children, we have been able to receive for our birthdays, graduation, Christmas, and growing older for dates such as Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversary, etc. I am speaking about being able to receive daily. It’s not just receiving gifts it is receiving on other levels. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

Many of us have difficulty receiving compliments. Women maybe better at this than men especially when it comes to glamour. Women receive compliments quite often about their makeup and that’s a good thing since it takes time to apply it. However, compliments come in all types. People give compliments about makeup, dress, hair, mannerism, etc. There are also characteristics compliments such as integrity, ethics, conscientiousness. People can also compliment you on your voice, your smile, how you make them want to be a better person. All of these are forms of receiving. Check out my website

When Jesus was here on earth, he gave us an extraordinary example of receiving. “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore, said he, Ye are not all clean. So, after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” – John 13:1-17. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Receiving

So, you can see from the previous passage that Jesus had to rebuke Simon Peter and chastise him when he told Jesus you shall not wash my feet. Jesus clearly showed us in this example that we have to be willing to receive at all times and the master is not greater than the servant.

Cultivate the attitude of receiving as it will bless your life.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Conscientious – very careful about doing what you are supposed to do: concerned with doing something correctly. Meticulous, Careful, and Scrupulous. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscientious

Are you a conscientious person or a person who does things haphazardly because you don’t care? These traits will tell people a lot about your character. These are things that prospective employers try to hone in on during your job interview. In your personal life as well as your professional life those surrounded around you want to see a person who is conscientious. Being careful and meticulous about what you do is a trait that will go along way with everyone. Your employer wants to see you exhibit this at work. Your spouse wants to see that you are conscientious with their feelings and your marriage. A true friend who loans you their car to use wants to be sure you will be careful while it is in your possession. Parents expect that when they drop off their children at daycare that the personnel are conscientious. People who own pets who are going on vacation and leave their pets at a boarding facility expect that while their extended family member their pet is separated from them the staff will handle and care for them in a conscientious manner. Check out my website

There is a TV show that my husband loves to watch called “Swamp People”. I am not an alligator person, so I only see it when I am in the kitchen, and he is watching it. I will say one thing if these people didn’t live in the bayou and were city people and into corporate America, they would be exceedingly rich. Not just millionaires but billionaires. Their drive, persistence, conscientiousness, never give up attitude, work ethic to fill all their tags for alligators they must catch in the one-month season is tremendous. They believe in hard work, dedication, and will endure the long hours if it takes their last breath. If you want to get ahead in life, don’t expect God to do it all for you. You have a part, and he has a part. If you do your part, he will do his! Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Jesus was conscientious when he walked this earth with everyone he encountered. All the teachings he did, all the miracles he performed. Even with Lazarus when he raised him from the dead. Jesus realized that his power was bestowed upon him from his father God almighty and so he made sure he always prayed and showed reverence.

Being a conscientious person is one of the legacy’s that you want to leave in life so it can be admired, duplicated, and passed on. If you are not presently no worries just ask God to help you in that area and he will work with you. It’s never too late. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Conscientiousness

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. – Lance Armstrong

Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave. – Mary Tyler Moore

You can’t get around pain and opposition, but you can try to be joyful in the trial, and thank yourself for the trial, and thank God for the strength to get through it. – Mary J. Blige

We have all felt some type of pain at one time or another in our lives even infant children. Whether it is the pain of a headache, toothache, birthing a child, the death of a child, the death of a parent, the loss of a home or apartment, the loss of a job or a business, the death of a spouse, the loss of a person walking out and leaving you, not getting approved for the loan, a bankruptcy, the loss of a limb, losing out on a promotion at work, the repossession of a vehicle, a devastating medical report, the list is endless. However whatever pain we may be enduring we must remember what God said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain. Check out my website

There are a lot of buildings that are engineering marvels and for everyone of them there was great study and detail that went into the construction of them. According to where a building has been erected the engineers had to consider what havoc the elements might bring. For example, in Florida they need to consider the hurricane element and make sure the building is sturdy enough once completed.

Our heavenly father God almighty has considered all of that when he created you as to how much pain you would be able to endure. If you are still here and I’m sure you are because you are reading this then that means you have endured 100% of the pain that has come your way. While going through the challenges, tests, trials, and pain you thought you would never make it but here you are still standing. You are stronger than you think. Remember what the Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. – Ephesian 6:11-18. Check out my website

Don’t waste your pain because it is there to grow you up and develop you into the person God designed you to be when he created you. You have a bright future ahead of you. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pain

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, and you will be singing as the days go by. So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Count Your Blessings

The above lyrics are from the favorite gospel hymn “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. who lived between 1856-1922. It is said that over his lifetime he wrote lyrics for over 5,000 songs. – https://amazinghymns.com/count-your-blessings. Check out my website

Do you realize you are blessed even if you don’t think so? Material and worldly things cannot go with you when you leave this earth. We need to realize that whether we receive small or what we would call insignificant blessings or enormous ones they are all blessings. I want to state this very clearly if you have the heart of a hoarder and not a giver you will never be blessed in the way that you want to. Gods word clearly states that, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” – Mark 14:7. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Count Your Blessings

Do you have any of the following?

A place to lay your head and sleep

Food to eat

Any magnitude of good health

A true-blue friend that is there always

Are your parents still alive or at least one of them?

Do you have a vehicle to drive whether new or old?

Do you have family members that are there for you?

Do you have a church home where you are fed the word of God?

Do you have use of your five senses?

Do you have clean clothes to wear?

Do you have clean drinking water?

Do you have the breath of life running through you?

Well, if you have those you need to count your blessings. Anything above and beyond that is God blessing you exceeding and abundantly which is what he said in his word, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:20. By the way we know that all of us have at least one thing from the above list which is the breath of life or else we wouldn’t be seeing or reading this. Check out my website

They say successful people make a list everyday of at least 10 things to be grateful for. Try doing that and see how God will bless your life if you learn to COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pride vs Humility

Pride – a feeling that you are more important or better than other people. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pride

Humility – the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people: the quality or state of being humble. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humility

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. – Proverbs 29:23

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. – Proverbs 27:2

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. – Proverbs 22:4

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. – 1 Peter 5:6

None of us are capable of doing anything if it was not for the grace of God. Those who go around bragging on themselves and tooting their own horn are in for a big fall. It clearly says in the Bible, “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” – Psalm 75:7. Check out my website

There was a man in the Bible named King Hezekiah who was the King of Judah when Sennacherib who was the king of Assyria wanted to fight Jerusalem. King Hezekiah was a godly man and informed his army of men before the fight “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him.” – 2 Chronicles 32:7. King Hezekiah was a sickly man at the time, and he prayed to God to heal him, and God did. He also gave him the victory over Sennacherib the King of Assyria but instead of giving God the glory he became prideful thinking he was the reason for the victory. Due to this God placed wrath upon Hezekiah and the people of Judah in Jerusalem and then quickly Hezekiah humbled himself and God spared his life and the people of Judah. Humility is always the way to go as it will bless your life and open many doors for you. Check out my website

This is the way that John the Baptist was. John went about baptizing many people, but he said one of the most humble words a person could ever say when he stated, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:28-30. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pride vs Humility

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:10. Practice humility as Jesus did because with all of the miracles, he did he could have been a very prideful person but instead he was very humble in all things including washing the disciples feet. Practice humility as it will bless and elevate your life. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Pride vs Humility

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

God is a God of restoration on any level for all things

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. – Joel 2:25-26. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

God is in the restoration business. If you have lost a job, you had a loved one walk out on you and left you, your health has deteriorated, you have lost your home, you have lost your business, all these any many more can be restored to you by God. Don’t believe those lies that come to your mind that it’s all over, life is forever going to be a downward free fall and you will always be spiraling out of control. The same way that Peter started to drown when he walked on water with Jesus and Jesus extended his hand to Peter and pulled him back up and saved him is the same way that God will do that for you. Check out my website

I am sure you all have heard or read the story of Job in the Bible. Well Job was a righteous man who loved God and lived a righteous life. One day God put Job through arduous testing and took away all that he had. Job lost his business, home, family, and his health. His wife being the only one left told Job to curse God and die. Job did not do that, but he was miserable and at one point did say, “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?” – Job 3:11. After God was finished testing Job the Bible says, “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.” – Job Chapter 42. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

No matter what you are going through God can restore you. If it is a health issue call out Jehovah Rapha which means the Lord that heals. If it is a financial issue like your job, your business, paying for your home or apartment, paying your bills etc. call out the name Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord will provide. There are several Hebrew names for God in The Old Testament in the Bible. I have just listed two but you can look them up. Check out my website

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. – Psalm 51:12

For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. – Isaiah 61:7

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

God is in the RESTORATION business.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Procrastination

Procrastination is the thief of time – Edward Young

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday – Don Marquis

Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill – Christopher Parker

Procrastination meaning – to be slow or late about doing something that should be done : to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procrastination

Do these quotes reference you? Do these mirror your life? Well, if so, don’t feel bad. Procrastination at one time or another has hauled us all into its grip. Whether it was for a day, a week, a year, or a decade. Once we finally wake up from the comfort of delaying our lives then we realize just how much time we have lost and are trying to come up with a plan to erase all the time we wasted and execute at the rate of warp speed. Check out my website

In the bible in the book of Acts is a story of a man named Felix and his wife Drusilla. “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” – Acts 24:24-25. Now you can go to the book of Acts and read the entire chapter regarding these people. What I want you all to understand here is that Felix called for Paul to hear the word of God and get knowledge regarding Christ but then he decided to delay and send Paul away. The danger in procrastinating in life is that we feel we have control over tomorrow which none of us do. In the book of wisdom in the Bible which is the book of Proverbs it states, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” – Proverbs 27:1. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Procrastination

When we procrastinate we are actually committing sin. What do I mean by that? We are professing that we know more than God and that we know what tomorrow will be like when we don’t. Only God knows the future. We can make our plans like we do for a weekend getaway or a vacation, but anything can happen. It is very vital that when we are professing what we want or expect to happen that we include the phrase “God Willing”. My best friend’s cousin just passed away unexpectedly and for years all he talked about was all the places he intended to visit when he retired. He had the finances to travel as well as the time, but he chose to keep delaying it when he could have traveled when he had vacation time from work. Now unfortunately these are dreams and memories that he never created. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Procrastination

We all need to “Live Like We Were Dying” the famous song recorded by Tim McGraw. The Bible says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10. Satan wants us to be lazy and never work and delay everything. This is one of his tactics to prevent us from living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” – Proverbs 13;4. Check out my website

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.” – Dawson Trotman

“Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” – William James

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Choices

Everyday that God provides us with the breath of life we are presented with choices. What am I going to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Am I going to do intermittent fasting today? When I go to the gym what type of workouts am I going to engage in today? Am I going to work on that proposal for work today or am I going to clear up some backed-up issues? I have a nail appointment after work what color should I have my nails painted and do I want a design? Should I carry an umbrella today since the weather report says there may be rain? The list is endless of all the choices that can be presented to us each day. However, are we being prudent and using wisdom when we make these choices? Check out my website

“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding. – Proverbs 2:1-3. When we are young, we don’t always use prudence when we are making choices but when we get older, we are supposed to become wiser however unfortunately a lot of us don’t and that is the reality. Recently a man I know wanted to give his girlfriend a great few days celebrating her birthday. He made a reservation at a charming hotel and intended to show her an exciting time. He thought he could just have a wonderful time for the few days and then do a charge-back on his credit card regarding the hotel and get his money back. He issued the charge-back and the credit card company deposited the funds back onto his card. What he didn’t expect is that an investigation would be done and after they completed it when he least expected it all his funds regarding the hotel expense were withdrawn from his credit card and that left him overdrawn and despondent. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Choices

Be careful regarding the choices you make on a daily basis because as we grow older, we should give up foolishness and have the maturity of mind.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Integrity

Are you a person of integrity? Do you have a strict code of morality? Every day daily we are presented with integrity choices. Are you willing to lie on a job application so you can get the job? Even though you raise your hand in court and swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, do you? You are desperate for a loan? Are you willing to lie to the bank or financial institution instead of trusting God for a beneficial outcome? Your goal in life should be to always reflect integrity. This is something that should be reflected in every aspect of your life. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Integrity. Check out my website

What is the definition of integrity? Integrity means having a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity. One person who had great integrity in the Bible was Joseph Mary’s husband. When Joseph found out that his wife Mary was pregnant, and the news spread that he was not the father he had to have several emotions surrounding him. Embarrassment, anger, disgust, sadness, betrayal, etc. He had several options he could have pursued such as divorcing Mary quietly; he could have had her killed since that was the penalty for adultery according to the law. According to the law in the book of Leviticus in the bible it states: ‘And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. – Leviticus 20:10. However, he chose to have integrity and stay with her especially after the angel spoke to him and advised him that Mary was carrying the baby Jesus. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Integrity

The bible has a lot to say about integrity: “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.” – Proverbs 10:9, “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. – Proverbs 28;6, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” – Proverbs 11:3.

Living a life of integrity is always the most prudent thing to do. Check out my website