Saturday, August 12, 2017

August 12

We all have days where our hearts are heavy. You might feel that things haven't turned out as you had planned. The truth is that it's not really your plan that matters, it's God's plan. Sometimes we pity ourselves for the issues and burdens we face; God is not unaware! He sees what you're going through and His heart breaks for you, but He also sees the big picture and knows that it's only for a moment that you must deal with the pain. Take a sober look at your life. You've had your ups and downs, but that's the thing, there have been ups! The valley is not forever! As a matter of fact, the ground in the valley is quite fertile, plant a garden while you're there so you can have a picnic when you head back up that mountain. The water that flows from the mountain top down into the valley is the purest. So eat and drink so that you have the strength to begin your ascent. Remember, you're not alone on your journey, He will never leave you or forsake you!


Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Friday, August 11, 2017

August 11

My husband and I live in a gated community, but not in the way that you might think. Like the verse to that old Hank Williams, Jr. song "I live back in the wood you see, the woman and the kids and the dogs and me." You might laugh, but I sing that song every time I drive down that long driveway back into the woods to my house. A couple of my kids came to visit and didn't leave until late. We have a neighbor living on the property temporarily and they had locked the gate. They were trapped and all they wanted to do is go home! Then I had my son lecture me on the dangers of a locked gate. Yes, there is a danger of having a locked gate, but it's being locked out that could be a problem. You never want the gates of Heaven to be slammed shut with you being trapped on the other side. The only insurance you have for that is Jesus!  You must call on Him to let you in! If you haven't made a commitment to Him, I encourage you to do that today. Time is at hand! Do not tarry!

For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; Hebrews 10:37

Thursday, August 10, 2017

August 10

My grandson thinks he's ready to be grown up. Little does he know the challenges we face as adults and that some adults long to be children again. There is a threshold in life where once you cross it, you begin a countdown and time seems out of control and ticking faster! You realize that you've probably lived more than half your life at best. Even then, that is presumptuous because we don't know the limit God has set on our particular life. Being we are not certain about our number of days, shouldn't we try and make each moment the best that it can be? I've heard it said "If I'm wrong about God, then I wasted my life. If you're wrong about God, then you've wasted your eternity." Part of this is true, but is it really a waste of life to love others as God has commanded? If only we could make every child understand that this short life we live would be best if we learned to love God and love the people He created.


yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

August 9

At what point do you decide that enough is enough? You keep reliving your past as if it was a dream world. Looking back with regret for what could have been is a bad place to be. Ask God to forgive you and to help you move on to what He has for you. There is nothing you can do to change what happen back then, but you can change how you move forward, with either a positive outlook or with grim regret. We must think of our lives differently than others who do not know our Savior. We have a promise of an eternity in Heaven with our King, so anything that is preventing the advancement of the kingdom, should be the only thing that concerns you. We must strive for the prize of the upward call as if running a race. You work out and prepare, forgetting about sitting on the couch and the days that you were lazy, and you get satisfaction as you compete and complete! So, leave the past in the past and move on to the future.


Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

August 8

Have you ever forgotten about things you've collected over the years?  For instance, I found a concrete chicken that had been hidden in some overgrown shrubbery. It is so cute! Years ago a sweet lady gave it to me out of her yard when I sold her house. What treasures do you have hidden in the garden of your heart? We all have stories from our past, some are painful and some make us smile just thinking of them. I call them treasures because they can become useful tools to bring out when testifying to the goodness and mercy shown to us by our Savior, Jesus. Others may look at you and think that you couldn't possibly understand them because what they see appears healed. They don't know what you've gone through! So, don't neglect to bring out those treasures to share with someone who might be struggling. Your story might be just enough to keep them from giving up. Besides, God didn't pull you through it for you to bury it.

"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

Monday, August 7, 2017

August 7

My daughter and I work together in real estate. We had the opportunity to sell a decent home in a price range that a lot of people can qualify for, which makes them harder to find. This woman knew she had finally found the right home after months of losing out to others who scooped them up ahead of her. Her real estate agent didn't like the house, so he began trying to pick the house apart. It blows my mind that a person, whose paycheck depends on a sale, would try to undercut his own prosperity. This woman was so excited to have finally found a home, that no amount of negativity was going to stop her from being overjoyed. On top of that, she was praising God for leading her to the right home. We all need to be this way when we know we've received a gift from God. The enemy can come in and try to place doubt in our minds and sap every bit of joy we have. We need to remember that the devil is a liar and it's okay to be happy when we receive something God wants us to have.


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Sunday, August 6, 2017

August 6

Have you ever been given an assignment that you know God has qualified you to do, but are fearful to complete the task? My husband and I are leading the new membership class for the first time at our church. Though the steps have been laid out and the training has taken place, there is still the uneasy feeling jumping into something new. The biggest part of this is to love people. How do you love people? You tell them how to come into a relationship with Jesus; you meet them where they are, tell them that God has a plan for whatever they are dealing with, and show them that you genuinely care about them. You see, building relationships is one of the most important things we can do to show others the love of Jesus, they need to witness His love first hand and it needs to come from you! So, whatever you have been assigned to do, if you faithfully complete the task and show others His love while doing it, He's going to cover you and everything else will fall into place.


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34