Saturday, August 26, 2017

August 26

The summer has flown by. I finally get a day to relax at the beach and we end up in what seems like a tropical storm. Getting there was no problem, it was raining on the way down, but once we got there, the skies cleared and the ride over on the boat was a breeze. It's an overnight stay, but who wants to get stuck on an island when the weather is nasty? Well, maybe I don't mind it that much. Here's our mistake, we never looked at the forecast! There's not a dry day in sight for more than a week! Our situation was predicted and we failed to notice! What other things are we missing because we didn't pay attention? The Bible is full of predictions call prophecy. Most of them are warnings and calls to take action. Prophecy can sometimes be hard to understand, but if you know someone that God has given wisdom in the prophetic, they can fill you in on what to expect. What's important is that we don't bury our heads in the sand and ignore the obvious.


He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3

Friday, August 25, 2017

August 25

We sometimes complain about technology getting in the way of living a real and fruitful life, however there is a lot of good it has brought. I was reminded by a friend through an email of how close we can be to one another, though the distance between us is nearly half a world away. I've chatted online, over the phone, and through email with people that I've never touched or laid eyes on; people from places I've never been but hope to one day visit. The doors of opportunity have opened wide for ministry all over the world and you don't even need to leave your couch! I wonder how Paul would have used this technology if he'd had it. My friend encouraged me to continue in my calling and reminded me of all of those who had gone before us and carved out a path for us to follow. So in turn, I encourage you to continue in your upward call and to reach out to others all over the world; it's right at your fingertips!


And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

Thursday, August 24, 2017

August 24

Are there times that you just want to unplug from the world? Just to be able to escape to a place uncomplicated by the things happening today sounds inviting. As part of my journey to freedom, I was invited to do just that and spend a few days alone with God. To be able to go to a secret place and be swept into the presence of my Savior, saunter in the garden alone with Him, and leave the world behind, makes the anticipation so sweet. As life becomes more and more complicated, the simple pleasures become cherished. I invite you to give yourself a time out, away from the rush and hurry of the world we live in. Jesus is our example of how to live and He made time to get away from people and spend time alone with the Father. Even if it's just for a few hours, what that does for your mind is incredible. It gives you the opportunity to reset, unwind, and relax. Give yourself a break, you deserve it!


And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. Luke 22:39

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

August 23

When I walked into my pool area, I noticed a dragonfly was caught in the screened enclosure. It kept bumping against the screen looking for a way out, to no avail. It's now stuck in an area where there is no way for its life to be sustained. Do you ever feel like that? Maybe you keep bumping into walls, or like the dragonfly, you're stuck in a screened enclosure where you can see freedom but there is something blocking your way. When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, He released you from your prison, the walls are gone! Just like when the Israelites gained their freedom from Egypt, that had to learn how to live free. It wasn't easy for them, they kept wanting to turn back to their captivity. That's why God gave them so many rules to live by. It was to change their thought process and to train them to rely upon Him. God's Word is a book that points you in the direction of freedom. Don't look at it like a book of rules, look at it as a tool to break you out of your bondage, the keys to the jail cell in your mind. God's Word is full of power and freedom, use it to your advantage!


So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

August 22

Offer your praises to the Lord, for He is good and His mercies are new every day. Some days you are just thankful for a new day. Days where you hope the skies have cleared and the atmosphere around you has changed. After having a day where you've taken one hit after another and all you want to do is run away or hide, there is hope. Hope for changed hearts, hope that you see the hand of God moving, clearing the evil out of your path, or maybe just taping their mouths shut! Sometimes we need a respite, or a place to escape for a moment, but that's not always possible so we must rely on God and His mercy to get us through. We must take cover under His wings and remember that He is walking with us and taking every hit we take. Those who've sinned against us will be brought to justice because He is a God of justice and no sin will go unpunished. Today is a new day and our hope is in the Lord, His love endures forever.


The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:22-24

Monday, August 21, 2017

August 21

Heaven will be full of light! It will not be lit by the sun but by the Son. No darkness will befall it. The wrath of the enemy will be no more. No depression, sickness, or disease will over take it. No worry, or fear. It's unimaginable because we've never been anywhere like it, or seen anything like it. There will never be a shadow cast over it or it's light blocked. Just who will be there? The King of All Glory and those who chose to follow Him and believe. For those who love Him, life will be given. How do you receive that eternal life and the promise of Heaven? You accept and believe that Jesus is Lord of all. It's unwavering faith that the one who died as payment for our sin, rose again and still lives, even today. If you haven't committed your life to follow Him as your Savior and King, maybe today should be the day. Today should be the day that you turn from you sin and the pain from your past and begin a relationship with the greatest example of love that has ever lived. What's the cost? It's free!


"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

Sunday, August 20, 2017

August 20

After trying times and things start to ease up, there is a great sense of relief. The storm is over! After posting about my mom and dad's tornado experience and the destruction that they had to deal with, their phones never stopped ringing and there was a steady stream of visitors checking on them. I watched a community coming together, willing to jump in and help in any way they could. It did my heart good to see! On top of all that, my nephews, their friend, and my brother all got up on the roof to get it covered until a roofer could get there to repair it. There is good in this world, we just have to pay attention. Wouldn't it be nice if, during a tragedy, the news would point to the heroes and to those who jump in to help without any concern for themselves? For our hearts to heal, we need to see God's love in action and to show that what the enemy set out to destroy, God's bigger plan of love will prevail!


Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:2 & 9-10