Saturday, December 24, 2016

December 24

I try everything I can to avoid the craziness of the stores at Christmas time, especially the Saturday before! They are crowded and the traffic is pure madness. My husband insisted that we take a platter of sandwiches to church that you can only get from Costco. We had to be there in less than an hour! I get halfway there and realize, I don't have my purse! I did have a credit card stuck in my phone, but Costco requires a membership card. So I start praying! I just want you to know that God answers prayers on the spot. I get there, walked in and the customer service line is empty and I got my pass without identification, this never happens!  I went from the front of the store straight to the back without getting stopped by other carts, this never happens! When I got to the checkout and it was quick and I had twenty minutes left to get to church! Make sure you present all of your request to Him, even the small stuff, because He answers those too!

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:5-6

Friday, December 23, 2016

December 23

Are you ever just going about your business and start to notice God's work in your life? It's almost as if it just suddenly happened, but the truth is that it has taken Him quite a while to orchestrate the events leading up to that moment. It's like baking a cake. You look for a good recipe and gather the ingredients. Then you carefully follow the directions, adding just the right amount of sugar, flour, butter, eggs, and flavoring. No one in your home really knows what you're doing until you put it in the oven and they start smelling something cooking. Our faithful Father is an amazing chef and He knows how to create the most wonderful delicacies that are so hard to resist. Once the cake is out of the oven we have to wait until it cools before we put the icing on. We are all at different stages of the process, but we can all agree on one thing, we can't wait for Jesus to come so we can all have a bite of that cake! 

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

Thursday, December 22, 2016

December 22

I love to take my paddle board out onto the inter coastal waterway. I'm a collector of seashells and even though I find plenty on the beach, the larger ones usually only wash up after a big storm. One day, during a full moon cycle, the tides were very low and the water was calm, it was perfect for paddle board shelling. I found a lot of large lightning whelk mollusk, but every one I turned over was occupied. Then I saw something under some grass and mud. I got off my board and used my paddle to get underneath it and turn it over. I'm just not brave enough to stick my hand down there because you never know what's hiding in it. Air bubbles started rising to the top and then I knew it was empty! Imagine the excitement I felt as I carefully reached down to pick it up finally realizing the treasure that I had. It was HUGE! That's what it's like to have Jesus, until you pick Him up, you don't realize the treasure you have. 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

December 21

I'm writing this from my own perspective and I'm spoiled by the conveniences of the modern age so I feel pity for the young woman Mary, who had ridden ninety miles on a donkey! I know that I would have been complaining! Yet I'd forgotten that she was hand picked by God as His transportation into this world as a man. She certainly hadn't forgotten; she calls herself a servant to the Lord. She was given an enormous responsibility and remembered whom she was carrying. She was a witness from the beginning of His earthly life all the way through to His death and possibly a witness after His resurrection, but that is not made clear in the Bible. Now, we are responsible for carrying Him! I believe that we too are highly favored servants of God, cleansed of all unrighteousness and are witnesses of His life through the knowledge we get from the Word of God and through the Holy Spirit. 

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Luke 1:46-48

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

December 20

When my family gathers for the holidays, we are sometimes blessed by the labor of the young men in our family who make a trip into the woods to gather the ingredients for a Florida delicacy called Swamp Cabbage! It's the heart of the state palm tree, locally known as a cabbage palm, but lovingly referred to by others as the Sable Palm. Now to all you tree huggers out there who might be reading this with worry, these trees are a renewable source of food since they grow like weeds! The preparation is usually done by the men in our family since they can't trust such a fine dish to just anyone. Most of us are quite happy leaving it to them. This is an old tradition in our family probably dating back to the pioneer days. It is good for us to enjoy the bountiful feast the Lord puts before us, rejoicing, prayerfully giving thanks continually, and holding fast to what is good, especially the Swamp Cabbage!


Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21

Monday, December 19, 2016

December19

I can't help but keep thinking about the circumstances of Christ's birth. It's quite heartbreaking to think of the situation that He was born into. Isaiah in his prophecy calls Him despised and abhorred by the nations and a servant of rulers. He was born under the authority of Roman rule and that for the first time Judea was being registered, which is a sign of their servitude. Not only that, but for the innkeeper to turn away a pregnant woman who was obviously ready to give birth; you wonder where the compassion was. But, more than likely it was because they were poor that they were sent to the stables, rejected and deprived of the proper facilities for His birth. Born under the rule of the Romans, turned away by the people at the inn to face a humiliating birth in a world far from His Kingdom of Heaven. He was born with nothing, accumulated nothing, yet He carried away a world of sin upon His death. 

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3

Sunday, December 18, 2016

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December 18

The events leading up to the birth of Christ, on the surface, may have seemed as though there was no planning involved, but the plans were actually well under way. Every jot and tittle were perfectly placed to welcome onto earth the Savior of all mankind. Just think about all the things that had to fall into place. As an example, I'm not sure of the legal consequences, but why would Mary, being so far along in her pregnancy, have to make an appearance and be counted in Bethlehem? The Father had a perfect, well laid plan, and it all makes sense here in hindsight. Bethlehem means 'house of bread'. So you see, Mary having to trudge all that way to be counted was all calculated by God and He used Caesar Augustus to accomplish His task so that divine perfection could be met. Just notice all the clues that God gave us! Jesus the bread of life, born in the city of the same name. He gives us clues about our life too, so pay close attention!

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:4-5

December 17

Christmas time is a beautiful time of year. Temperatures have cooled and the unbearable heat of Florida has gone into hiding for a while. The hustle and bustle of the mall and the stores can be crazy and somewhat overwhelming. What is it all about? So many people add to the madness in the name of Jesus. But is the holiday really about Jesus? I hear very little mention of Him other than using His name to describe the appointed gathering "Christ-Mass". I myself, have had to step away from the American traditions of Christmas because it had become an idol to me. I got caught up and carried away with it. Believe me, I cried when I felt God telling me to let it go, then I felt bad for crying. But, I can now celebrate with a heart that leans only to my Savior. I'm not saying you should do the same as me in regards to Christmas but, is there anything that God is asking you to give up for Him. Could you do it if He asked? 

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

December 16

Children have their way of getting the things they want. Sometimes they scream and pitch a fit thinking that it's the best way. Many parents will give into them, especially when they're in a store, because of the embarrassing show that they put on. Well, we certainly don't want to deprive others of their peaceful shopping experience, do we? I suppose you could do this to the Heavenly Father and get what you're asking for. Jesus himself told the story of the persistent friend who nearly woke up a whole family and even the whole town with his imprudent behavior, asking for bread. The friend ended up giving him bread just to shut him up. Then there are times where the children look up at you, bat their big ole eyes, and love on you. I don't know about you, but I want to give them the world when they show me love like that. God wants your love. Don't do it just to get your way, but because you really love Him.


"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalms 14:14-16

December 15

How many times have you felt all alone in the battle of life? Sent out like David against the Philistine while the rest of the troops stand back and watch as you slay the giant? Here's some good news. Just like David, you're not alone. The battle that David fought was not his battle, it belonged to God and God only. If you're feeling weary from the war that's raging around you, then rest. The Father never intended for you to do this by yourself. Just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings when an enemy approaches, God desires to do the same for us. We are so arrogant and think that we can handle it and so reject the help that He offers. We say the Him, "I can do this, let me keep trying", then we fail.  Never once did we look back to see that if we'd just listened to our Commander's orders, we would have been protected. When you're worn out from the battle, retreat and gather under His wings.

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalms 91:3-4

December 14

I realize that some reading this may not have a trusting relationship with the Father. You may be living with torment, whether in the body or the mind, but haven't completely turned everything over to Him. You must recognize His efforts in your life, and place Him high above your circumstances so you dwell in His shadow. Talk to Him. Give Him dominion in your life. Though you may still struggle with things, knowing that He has a plan and is working on it, will give you the encouragement to move along with your life. We all have struggles, but we all don't all put our trust in the Lord, but those of us who do find ourselves with more hope. Don't wait any longer, turn your will over to Him and allow Him to take control of every aspect of your life. Who better to turn your life over to than the one who knows you best and loves you the most. He's just a prayer or thought away, talk to Him.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalms 91:1-2 (This is the chapter I go to the most when I struggle. I encourage you to do the same.)

December 13

Imagine what it must have been like back in the days leading up to our Savior's birth. Unlike today, where we plan our hospital stay and reserve our room for the perfect delivery of our child, they didn't have that convenience. Mary and Joseph headed to Bethlehem to be counted in a census. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem is over ninety miles and probably took more than four days. They must have been exhausted after such a long trip only to find out that there was no room at the inn for them. As tired as they were, they probably didn't care where they slept and ended up in a barn! Since the ride on a donkey is probably not that smooth, I'll bet that it helped bring on the labor and thus His birth in a stable. Not what you would expect for a king's birth! But nothing about His life resembled the kings of today. But, it was all part of the plan and the beginning of our freedom from sin. A savior was born! 

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

December 12

Jesus had a purpose for His birth through a human. He came to show us that He understands what we go through daily and that through His death on the cross and His resurrection, He has redeemed every hurt, sorrow, and pain that we deal with. My heart breaks for those who are up in years who wait until just before death to accept Jesus. They've missed a lifetime of living with the forgiveness of their sins. I have some friends whose ministry is to bring Jesus to those who are forgotten in a nursing home. These are people without hope and are very lonely as most of their families have abandoned them. My friends show them Jesus every week by teaching them the Word of God and by showing them there is hope for a future beyond this world. In your daily walk, don't just assume that every old person already knows Jesus, most don't. Make sure you reach out to everyone regardless of age. 


Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together and say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him." O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Psalms 71:9-12

December 11

This is the time of year that we, as Christians, focus our attention on the birth of our Savior. The story told of a young woman, Mary, who was a virgin, engaged to be married to Joseph who was part of the ancestry of King David. She was visited by the angel Gabriel and given the news of her pending birth. Can you imagine the fear she must have felt seeing and being talked to by an angel but also because of the news he brought? "How will this be, since I'm a virgin?" She asked him. He told her that she would conceive in her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit! Being a true servant of God, she accepted the responsibility of carrying the holy, Son of God. What has God asked you to do, but you have allowed the fear of man to stop you? What has He conceived in your heart that you have yet to give birth to? We too are servants of God and must accept the responsibility that He has given us.


And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

December 10

Have you seen the picture depicting an image Jesus with a little girl holding a teddy bear asking her to give it up? It shows Him holding a bigger bear behind his back that she can't see. This is a very good illustration of how we need to give everything over Him. I'm not just talking about our possession, though we need to do that too, I'm talking about everything we cherish in our hearts. Give Him EVERYTHING! Imagine the things you value most in the hands of God. He created all that we see from a little dirt and water, I'm sure He can handle a few of your measly things. Trust Him. He is our creator, our most Holy Father who only wants the best for His children. We tend to want to hold on with a tight grip but if we lift those things up to the Lord He will take special care of them and throw out what we really don't need. If we give everything over to Him, what then will we have to worry ourselves with? 


Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalms 55:22

December 9

There are days when you wonder if your effort to be a good parent will ever pay off. Especially when you've taught your children to love and honor the Lord and you see them do things that you never expected to see them do. You ask yourself, did I really make a difference in their lives or was I just going through the motions? Then this happens: I had a conversation with one of my sons and he told me that he knows that God has a purpose for him and that he plans on living his life for Him from now on. He knows that his life was spared for a reason and that God has a call on him. My prayers were answered in a big way and I'm seeing sweet fruit being produced. There's nothing better than to hear your child speak these words. So, keep praying for those you love! The Lord hears your cries and will answer you and you too will receive a special gift from Him as I have. It may take time as their story begins to unfold so don't give up. 

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. Luke 15:23


Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

December 8

Before boarding an airplane, a lot of things must take place. The first thing you do is get your boarding pass, then you drop off your baggage. You board the plane, find your seat, then sit back and enjoy the ride. Well, most of the time you enjoy the ride but sometimes you experience turbulence and sudden drops. The turbulence and sudden drops can be quite frightening but in almost all cases you arrive safely and unharmed. I always pray through the turbulence, it just makes me feel better. Do you see where I'm going with this? Coming to know Jesus is just like a trip on an airplane. You get your boarding pass; your salvation. Drop off your baggage; give that baggage/sin to Jesus! Then there is that exhilarating take off! Sometimes the ride is smooth, but a lot of the time it's quite rough; pray through the turbulence in your life. And remember, the landing will be quite exhilarating too! But, there will be no need to ever pick up that baggage again!


The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

December 7

I'm not too much into fishing so when my husband wants to go, I'm not all that thrilled. It's not that I don't catch them, because I'm actually pretty good at it, it's just that it's a little boring to me. However, one day we began fishing in the cove off Boca Grande when the water was crystal clear. Every cast caught a fish. That wasn't the best part of it though, I could actually watch the fish chase my bait! It reminds me of when Jesus sent out the seventy two to teach others about Him. He said if they receive you in peace, then stay in that house. If the fish are biting, stay there! You can't expect someone to receive you if they are hostile to the message or messenger. These fish were receiving my message and taking the bait and eating it up! The point is that if someone doesn't want to hear the gospel just move on along, it becomes their problem at that point. Those who receive you, keep on feeding them for as long as God tells you to. 


Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Luke 10:5-7

December 6

Satan is the definer of death. Jesus defeated death and is the definer of life. Our sin is what brings on death. Job, in all that he was put through by the enemy, did not sin. If he had sinned, by cursing God during his trial, he would have surely died before receiving his reward. Job lost his health, all of his children, and his wealth during that trial. But, God had a plan. In order to bring glory to Himself and show that Job would not curse him, even under duress, He allowed him to be refined. In the end, God restored all that he had lost and doubled it. Don't give up before receiving your reward. Don't sin while you're waiting for it. You may not receive a reward such as Job's but there are rewards that are beyond the material, look for those, they will survive the fire and will not be eaten by moths. Our greatest reward is Jesus Himself and our eternity with Him, so hold on to what you've got while waiting. 

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:22


Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

December 5

Living on a lake draws all kinds of wildlife into our yard, especially ducks! We have made our yard into a place that draws them to many areas that they feel safe enough to make a nest and lay their eggs in it. One day when my kids were very young, I noticed that a snake had come upon one of the nests and was beginning to make a feast out of one of the eggs. It was just getting ready to swallow one when I called all the children over to watch this incredible act of nature. Duck eggs are larger that your average chicken egg. God had given this serpent the ability to dislodge its jaw and wrap its entire head around it and swallow it whole. Then we watched it twist and turn trying to crush it in its belly. This is the reptile that God likens to Satan. The innocent duck had her children devoured by the snake and if we don't protect our children by immersing them in God's Word, Satan will devour them too!


And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9

December 4

Out of sheer determination I decided to take my paddle board for a ride from the beach side of the island, around the southern tip, and back up the bay side, just to see if I could do it. It's about two miles total. The one thing I didn't count on was the wind and the possibility of it changing directions. It was calm when I started out, but the water gradually became choppy which made it harder for me to control the board. I eventually learned that sitting down helped me resist the wind and gave me a little more propulsion with each paddle. Doing something new can be a little frightening, but exhilarating at the same time. When you think you feel God calling you to do something but feel that you know you don't have the ability, I can almost guarantee you it's Him.  If we can do it in our own ability, our nature is to take credit for it, but if we can attribute it to His ability then all the glory will belong to Him. So, go ahead and step out in God's ability!


And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20

December 3

Visiting a new city full of history makes you reflect on an era gone by. New history is being made as we prepare to set a new president into office. Washington, DC is alive with activity. The structures are being built in honor of the occasion as the January 20th inauguration is quickly approaching. As much as DC would like to take God out of government, the evidence of His existence cannot be denied, even in a city where the enemy has a stronghold. The One in charge of all government is stronger and more powerful than any being trying to control the people by bidding them to enact laws to prohibit the continuation of the freedoms that our military has fought so hard to protect. Our system of government has been set in place to protect the people from tyranny and it's still working but will only continue to do so as long as God's people call on Him for support. Keep praying, He hears us!

December 2

I have a friend who went through a divorce many years ago. She was given the family home to continue to raise their children there. The children grew and eventually left home as most do. Her ex husband decided he needed a little cash and came against her in court to force her to sell her home. She was anxious and distraught feeling as if she was being attacked by the enemy. What had happened? Why wasn't God protecting her from this? She had put all of her trust in Him so why was He allowing this? She prayed and knew that in all things that, no matter what the outcome, God would handle it. Her court date came and the judge, seeing what was fair, made her sell the house! The victory was this: the judge also said that all of the proceeds from the sell belonged to her! She now has a new home that represents everything she could have ever asked for or desired! So just wait for it! You will be victorious too!


But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34

December 1

I found myself not wanting to return to the doctor to have my stitches removed from a minor surgery on my leg; so I decide to take them out myself. I got two of them out without a problem but then the last two were buried! It made me queazy so I had to stop. I was so fearful of possibly leaving a part of the stitch and having to have my doctor dig it out. My husband said he could do it, I was scared but I let Him take them out for me anyway! I was dealing with two issues here, fear and trust. I think we all must deal with these issues occasionally. That fear of uncertainty and our lack of trust in God to handle things can certainly weigh heavy on our minds when things aren't going as we had planned. But sometimes He leaves us with no other choice but to trust Him to handle it. If you are dealing with a situation where you don't see away out, maybe it's God teaching you to trust Him. After doing all you can, let Him handle it!


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6