Saturday, September 2, 2017

September 2

There are many things out there that will distract you from pursuing the life that God has for you. At every turn you're faced with challenges; that's just the life of a believer. We must stay the course and fight the good fight as hard as it might be. The result of living a sacrificed life is a blissful eternity with our Savior. I know what you're thinking "but what about now? I'm living this life right now and need to enjoy it now!" The truth is that you can still live a good life here on this earth and serve God. Just like the Israelites while in captivity in Babylon were told to make a home there, we are also to make a home here on this earth. The key is to live a pure life, refraining from sinful desires. You can enjoy life without sinning. As a matter of fact, life is much better when you don't! There are no consequences for doing what's right in the eyes of God and for obeying the law of the land. Living a sacrificed life is a form of worship we should all want to pursue. 


I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

Friday, September 1, 2017

September 1

You know you're blessed when you have grandchildren who love Jesus. One of my grandsons just started kindergarten - side note, I just discovered that I've been saying kindergarten wrong my whole life - it's not a garden, I never noticed the spelling before! Anyway, he's like me in his love for Jesus, but unlike me in that I would never put a stray mark on my school work. After he had finished his work in class, he turned over his paper and doodled. It's not that he was doodling that was interesting, it's what he drew. On the back of this child's paper was a picture of Jesus on the cross with a smile on His face. The thing is, it's the truth. Jesus went to the cross willingly. He didn't have to! Jesus is God in the flesh and could have saved Himself at any moment, but He had compassion. He wanted to do it! Isn't that incredible! He did it just like my grandson's picture shows, with a smile. He willingly allowed Himself to be tortured and tormented for our sake. Here's a thought, why would you continue in your sin knowing this?


For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Roman 5:7-8

Thursday, August 31, 2017

August 31

God has an amazing way of reaching His children and communicating with them. If you read your Bible daily, you hear His voice daily! Sometimes He reaches out to you through others to bring you a refreshing and timely message, however, the only way to truly know when He has spoken to you is to know Him. The best way to know Him is through reading your Bible every day. We have such a good Father and if you desire to have a relationship with Him, you need to know what He's like. I use this analogy a lot, but it's true; the only way to tell if money is counterfeit is to know the look and feel of the real thing. Many years ago, I was a bank teller; my hands were always touching money. As I would count, there would be a consistency in the way it felt. If something was off or if one felt different I could pull that particular one out and examine it closer. Staying in God's Word is the best way to insure you've heard from Him and not a counterfeit.


Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

August 30

Hurricane Harvey has had a terrible impact on Texas and many other states including Florida. The flood waters keep rising and people are being flushed out of the safety of their homes. It's sad to see so much devastation. Just as our hearts are breaking, we see one fellow man helping another. If only for a moment, our differences don't matter. Compassion for one another seems to come out of nowhere, thoughts turn into actions and people are saved. I'm sure this doesn't fit into the narrative being portrayed by the media; their plan to destroy the U.S. may have been upended. God help us to remember this when things get back to normal. Out of the darkness the light will shine, hope will return, and we will see the hand of God as He helps us put the pieces back together. Soon there will be a rainbow over Texas, a dove will return with an olive branch, and the people will be able to leave the ark. Don't forget to pray for them.


First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

August 29

If you are reading this today and are feeling downhearted or unloved, know this, God loves you! You can always count on Him because He loves you with an everlasting love that is unmatched by any kind of earthly love. His love contains the power to overcome the darkness that may be draped over you. Many times I've felt the shadow of darkness in my life and have cried out and felt no relief; then I cried out to Him, poured out my heart, asked for His help, and felt the warmth of His love begin to overcome the darkness. The key is that we have to ask. He wants us to rely on Him all the time, but especially in our times of weakness. Run to Him like a child who's afraid of the dark and He will scoop you into His arms and give you comfort. When we are at our weakest, His power becomes the strongest. Won't you begin today by turning everything over to Him and allow His love to conquer any darkness you may have in your life? His love will never fail!


Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalms 42:5

Monday, August 28, 2017

August 28

How long are you going to live with the hurts from your past? The person or people that hurt you have moved on and have forgotten. They haven't thought about you since the day you walked out of their life unless it's to remember what they are missing. They don't think about how they've hurt you or even what triggered your pain and yet you continue to allow it to rule your life and complicate every relationship you enter. Jesus knows the pain you feel, but doesn't want you to continue living a life weighed down by the chains that have you bound. When will you say "I've had enough! Jesus, help me to be released from my bondage?" He came to set the captives free and open the eyes of the blind! His heart breaks for you every time He hears you reminisce about days gone by and when He sees that gaping wound that keeps bleeding and sapping every bit of energy you have. Go to the Lord and let Him heal you.


"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19

Sunday, August 27, 2017

August 27

Have you ever noticed the favor of God on someone else's life? We have some friends who were celebrating their anniversary. They are warriors who had been working tirelessly on a church plant for a couple of years. To surprise her, the husband arranged a stay at my favorite little beach getaway. My husband and I decided that we would pick them up by boat. Well, the weather was a little sketchy, which caused the water to be choppy. After the surprise was revealed to her, we proceeded to try and get across to the island without getting drenched. I was concerned because, who wants to get splashed with salt water as part of your surprise? I'm getting splashed by one wave after another, but I looked over at her and she is as dry as can be. God had planned this whole getaway for them, including where she would sit on the boat! I'm so in love with God! He cares about every detail of our lives, including our rest.


And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while."For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31