Saturday, April 29, 2017

April 29

Have you ever noticed when the wind blows that not all the trees move? Looking out over the lake, I also noticed the patterns the wind makes as it gently blows across the top of the water. The whole lake is not moved, only where the wind touches it. The areas that are in the vicinity of the wind are the ones moved by it; you can't see it, but you can feel it and are affected by it. Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit is often described as wind. When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He breathed on them to receive His Spirit. After accepting Jesus as our Savior, like the disciples, we have been given new life, the Holy Spirit, Jesus breath. His breath, like the wind, touches some and blows right over others. Those who are touched by His breath had to accept Him in order to receive it. Don't you find that incredible? Jesus' breath is what gives us the power of the Holy Spirit! We are so privileged to have been breathed on by the King!


And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22

Friday, April 28, 2017

April 28

We all have to make tough decisions. The harsh reality is living with those decisions. If you decide to steal, you will go to jail if you get caught. If you cross the street without looking both ways, you may get hit by a car. I'm not just talking about bad decisions, even good decisions have consequences. My husband and I have rental property, it's a great source of income. The reality of it is that our job doesn't end at 5 o'clock; air conditioning and plumbing issues happen at all times of the day, especially after the tenants get home from work. I think that it is important that we spend a little time thinking through to the end all the possible scenarios of a decision we are making. I'm not saying we should worry, but we should use good judgment, especially since it can change our life. If you're making a decision today, ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to all the possibilities, so you are well informed.


If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Thursday, April 27, 2017

April 27

Though we try to do our best to reflect Jesus in our everyday life, sometimes we fail. We live among an evil generation of people who care very little about how their actions affect others. It's easier said than done, to always react to their actions against you in a Christlike manner. I'm not writing this to give you the freedom or even an excuse to act in a worldly manner, but sometimes it just happens, we lose our cool and become something other than Jesus. If this happens to you, and the Holy Spirit brings it to your attention, ask for God's forgiveness, then forgive yourself and move on from it. If you see it happen to another brother or sister in the faith, help them by gently restoring them, admonish the sin, but be careful not to get caught up in that sin or even the appearance of being a part of it. Be merciful, for our God has shown you great mercy. We must help one another using great care tempered by love.


save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:23

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

April 26

I see many Christians suffering because they stand up for Jesus. Righteousness is abhorrent to the ungodly. Don't be fooled by those who use the name of Jesus as a disguise and continue with sinful behavior. You will recognize them by their intolerance of Christians and unrelenting opposition to biblical truth. The name "Christian" is just a label to them and has no special meaning to them, like it does to us. How you treat others is a direct reflection of Jesus, if you are filled with His Spirit! Anyone who would act in a manner different than Him, does not have Him! This is where the scripture, "you will know them by their fruit", comes into play. Pray for these people. They need a direct encounter and a correction to set them straight. If they don't trust Jesus with their life, they will suffer the justice that only God can inflict. Until then, stand strong in what you know is right and biblical.


since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

April 25

Spring cleaning is well underway. One of the most dreadful jobs is cleaning out the flower beds and pulling out the vines that weave their way through just about everything. We have this one vine called Pothos, it's a type of ivy; I know you've seen it because they sell it in the stores in hanging baskets. It fills the flowerbeds and then begins to creep up into the oak trees. As it gets higher in the trees, the leaves become enormous! The main vine in very strong and gets very large in circumference. Smaller vines branch off from the main vine and are easily broken off unless they stay attached for a long time, then they also grow very large. Trying to pull those things up is not easy, especially once they take root! We are very similar to that vine. Jesus is our main vine! He is the central vine and is the strongest of all vines. We are the offshoot from that vine and gain our strength from Him. Without Him, we will wither. 


Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

Monday, April 24, 2017

April 24

We all have some debt to pay. Your debt may be a house payment, car payment, credit card or something else. Even if you have all those things paid off, at some point you will owe someone something. My father-in-law had a little bit of a dizzy spell at a restaurant and walked out without paying. My husband went there to help him get home and I went in to pay for his meal. The cashier, who was very curt, refused to accept my payment for him because I needed a ticket! I tried explaining the situation, but he refused to listen. I was shocked and in disbelief that he wouldn't accept payment for that debt. I decided that there was no use arguing and walked out. It made me realize just how ridiculous it is for people to reject Jesus payment for our sin debt. If you don't allow Jesus to pay for your debt, you're going to have to pay for it yourself. That cashier was quite foolish, and so is anyone who refuses Jesus.


And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. Matthew 10:14-15

Sunday, April 23, 2017

April 23

This journey that we are on called life is full of unknowns. Though we always have a type of plan, maybe for an adventure or maybe just to rest, many times those plans change. We must look at life as a set of circumstances which will eventually lead to the fulfillment of God's plan. We all plan to live forever, and we will, it just won't be in this current form. One plan we need to have in place before our earthly demise is where we will spend our eternity. You can accept Jesus as your Savior and live your eternity with Him in Heaven or choose to deny Him and live your eternity in hell with the rest of the deniers. There is no middle ground or a place for good people, you're either in or you're out. This may seem harsh for such a loving God, but keep denying your own parents over and over again and see what happens. Their love may not end for you, but, eventually they will let you live with your own decisions. Choose to follow Jesus and live your life for Him, then your plan for an abundant eternity will be certain.


Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4