Saturday, July 22, 2017

July 22

I love cake! But, when I start letting myself eat it, my appetite for sugar spirals out of control. One thing leads to another and before I know it, I've added ten pounds, I become sluggish, and tired. The extra weight makes my clothes fit tight and I'm uncomfortable. Why do I do this to myself? I know all this happens every time I go on a sugar binge, and yet I continue. Is that a sin for me? Maybe gluttony. I certainly need to consider it a sin for myself! We all have weaknesses and we know what they are, but what should we do about them? It takes so much courage and self control to refrain from indulging in unhealthy behavior. So, whether it's lust of the flesh or lust of sugar, or whatever has control of you, you must work diligently to give it up. We should allow nothing to rule over us except the Holy Spirit. This is an ongoing process. You may give one thing up, but then another thing pops up. It's a matter of recognizing it before it becomes your god.


But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Friday, July 21, 2017

July 21

We are not alone in this world. We are not even alone within ourselves. Though we may feel like an independent soul at times, we as Christ followers, were given the gift of the companionship of the Holy Spirit. What a gracious and beautiful gift given to us by Jesus! We have such amazing power! It's supernatural! If you're hungry, ask for more! As parents, we want to give our children what they ask us for, if it's within our ability. So when we ask for our Heavenly Father to give us bread, the Holy Spirit, scripture says that He will give us what we need! Ask for more! The Holy Spirit is power, so when you ask for more, realize that with more power comes more responsibility. I grew up in the country and was given a B-B gun as a child and was taught how to handle that gun. It wasn't until I learned to handle the power of the B-B gun that I was given a more powerful gun. Learn to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit, ask for more and He will give you what you need!


If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

Thursday, July 20, 2017

July 20

We all have issues in our families that are hard to deal with. Each of my children has a mess of their own, and I could run myself ragged trying to fix them, but I don't. They were created by our loving Father and I have left that responsibility to Him. He gave me to them to offer love, guidance, and emotional support, but they must seek Him as I do for things that are beyond their ability to repair. Even our prodigal son knows this and when he's down on himself, he will refer back to his upbringing and is remorseful for not following the lessons he was taught. We must be confident in God's ability to see our children through their difficulties. The worse thing you could do is to jump in and try to fix it, you are not God! However, we are responsible to intercede for them, especially when we know they aren't doing it for themselves. My point is, we must leave it to God to help our children, He loves them well beyond our love for them.


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

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

July 19

When you are in a situation you had never intended for yourself, God expects you to make the best of it. If life gives you lemons, make lemon bars! Lemonade is good, but lemon bars, well, they are extraordinary! We all go through changes in our lives, some are good, some are not so good; we need to learn to embrace them and watch the hand of God moving. Believe me, He has a plan for every experience and can use anything for His purpose. My husband and I were called to a different church. At the time, I didn't know where we were going. In my own fantasy I thought we would become part of a church near the beach being we spend a lot of time there. However, God had a different plan and we ended up far from the beach at a church in Plant City, and I couldn't be happier! But needless to say, the lemon bars are quite tasty in Plant City! Embrace the challenges set before you and look for the opportunity to thrive!


But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

July 18

Why are you worried about death? There is no sting in death if you are secure in Jesus. However, if you have not committed your life to Him, you have something to worry about. Why, in the simplicity of accepting Jesus as your Savior and the free gift of eternal life that He offers, do we question it?  If you choose wrong, you end up in Hell, a real place. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, showed nothing but compassion for those who were caught up in the misery of sin and gave them a way out, just as He has for us. Choosing to follow Jesus is not the easy way, on the contrary, the forces of evil are angered and will come against you. The choice you're making is, do you want to live in eternity with the evil that comes against you for loving Jesus or do you want to reside with Jesus, who gave you the example of peace and love? Once you choose Jesus, your fear of death and its sting is no longer an issue and your ministry on this earth changes to pleasing Him.


"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Monday, July 17, 2017

July 17

Why isn't life easy? The challenges we face can drag us down. If only things would turn out the way we imagined them. If only everyone would live for Jesus and follow His command to love. If only everyone would open up the Word of God and get to know Him. We know this won't happen, even those who call themselves Christians don't follow these simple rules. When Jesus calls us to meet Him on that great day, it will be clear who understood the magnitude of the choice to follow Jesus and turn only to Him and away from evil. What a glorious day for us and an eye opening day for them! There will still be time for them to change, however, if you think it's hard now, wait until all of the true followers have left the earth; talk about a challenge! Live your life to love others. Open up your Bible and read for yourself how Jesus loved, He is our example. Emulate Him and become the person He wants you to be.


Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Sunday, July 16, 2017

July 16

Sometimes God sends us into a new land. When He sent the Israelites in to conquer Canaan, he commanded them to listen to His angel's voice and to do everything He says. He promised that He would be an enemy of their enemy and drive out the inhabitants of the land little by little so the beasts wouldn't have time to accumulate and overtake them. There were a lot of things for them to overcome, but God was with them and would help them. He warned them not to bow down to their gods as they would become a snare for them to sin. Each of us has our own land to conquer. We have the power of Jesus, the commander of the army of God battling for us as we move forward. Little by little we will make progress toward our goal, but not by our own strength. We have no strength in our mortal beings. Remember to decrease so Jesus may increase! It's the easiest, and the best way to win! Fight the good fight and win with Jesus!


"But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. Exodus 23:22