September 16

Our mighty God has given each of us a portion of something useful for His kingdom. What are you doing with yours? When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit went to work encouraging you to get involved. He gave you the feeling of gratitude and an overwhelming desire to give back to the One who saved you. Your salvation is not something that you place upon a shelf and dust every once in a while, there are responsibilities that go along with it. We need to stop waiting for someone else to do the work of the kingdom and get out and do our share. Contrary to what most people think, church is not a spectator sport, it's a community! We are a family! We must all get involved. In my family, everyone had to work! If you weren't busy cleaning the house or pulling weeds, or doing some other chore, you had better be sick! So, just as your mom or dad might say, "Get your butt off the couch and get to work!"

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

September 15

Who wakes up the sun to warm the earth, to grow the food, to give us light? Who pours down the rain to fill the rivers and lakes to quench the thirst of the living creatures? Who provides the wisdom for mankind to create the things that bring us the luxury of transportation, communication, and, if you're from the south, that all important air conditioning? We must give credit where credit is due! We must remember where our help comes from, our help comes from the Lord! The maker of all heaven and earth, the Father of all creation is our guide, our wisdom, and the only reason we are who we are. Lift up your hands in praise, worship Him with all your heart. You wouldn't exist if He didn't have a plan for you or a reason for creating you. You have a part in the function of this world as insignificant as you may think you are, this world wouldn't be the same without you. You were created for a purpose. Live your life to honor Him and thank Him for creating you!

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2

September 14

You may have already guessed this about me, but just to confirm what you thought, I drive a truck. I've always had some type of truck or SUV. I've had other types of vehicles and even a couple of luxury cars, but I always come back to the power of a four wheel drive. There's just something that appeals to me about being able to maneuver through all types of terrain. There is a drawback, even though my husband has a work truck, when he wants to haul something, he uses my truck. That makes me consider going back to a car! Aligning yourself with Jesus is like owning a truck! He's powerful and able to maneuver through any and all situations! The problem is that we still think we're in a car and never go off the main road. We're too afraid of getting dirty or maybe even getting stuck. We forget that He is all powerful and has four wheel drive! It's time to go off-roading with Jesus and get a little mud on those tires!

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

September 13

There is something so beautiful about being on an open porch in the morning watching the sunrise filter through the sprawling oaks. Such a sense of peace overwhelms my soul. It's a quiet respite from all the chaos being played out in the world. There are times that it's good to get away from the pressures of living and spend time with the Lord. I think occasionally, He stops us long enough to reset our life and change our focus from ourselves to Him. It's then that we realize that our lives aren't about us at all, our lives are about Him. He created us for Himself! We are here to worship Him, love Him, and bless Him with our praise. We must care for ourselves for Him. He's given us only one life and our every breath should be to glorify Him. When we change our focus to Him, the rest of our lives will fall into place. Begin today to make God your priority and take note of the changes in your life that happen because of it.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

September 12

For days after a tremendous hurricane knocks down trees and fills your streets with water, your power is probably out! If you were lucky enough to get through the storm unscathed, resources become precious. People who live in the city and have city water, don't understand, but when you have a well and the power goes out, you don't have water! You can't jump in the shower to clean off the filth after pulling the limbs out of your driveway, or turn on the faucet for a glass of water. It takes power to run the pump that generates water! It's then that you realize why people pummel one another to get the last bit of water and snacks left on the shelves at the stores! These people were preparing for what happens after the storm! Don't wait until it's too late, you won't get a last minute warning of Jesus return! Heed the warnings now and make a decision to follow Him! He is the only powerful resource you will need when our days are cut short!

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

September 11

Every year on this day we mourn the loss of lives from a most violent and vicious attack upon our country. Our hearts broke when we saw a plane had crashed into the first of the Twin Towers. Then, as we saw another plane collide with the second tower, we knew we were under attack and were stunned! Fear sets in without even knowing that the Pentagon had been attacked and another plane had been hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania. We all gathered our children and glued ourselves to the television just waiting for what might happen next. My mother got stranded in Mississippi and had to rent a car to get home because they closed down all the airports. What kind of person would dare try to take our country down? We are the land of the free and the home of the brave! Only a sick mind and depraved soul would do such a thing. We must continue to tell the real story to our children and grandchildren from the eyes of those who lived through it before it gets sanitized by those who've forgotten. I'm not sure if our hearts have fully recovered from that horrific day. It was a great awakening for our country and many returned to God that day. What is it going to take to set us straight now? We can only hope that we are spared.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bear us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. Psalms 68:19-20

September 10

I live in the beautiful State of Florida. I'm very happy that my great great grandparents decided to settle here. There are a few areas of high ground, but for the most part, Florida is a swamp! When a hurricane threatens, the whole state is on alert. No one is completely safe, and when the storm track changes, it just means that someone else has to fear. We just pray for it to move out into an area where no one will be hurt. The storm that we are dealing with for the next few days has everyone fearing for their lives. This is one of those things that no matter how much money you have, you can't control it, you can only prepare for the worst and pray for a good outcome. Whatever devastation we may face, God will still be there to guide us through it. What's really good to see is everyone reaching out to help one another. If this storm does nothing else, it's teaching us to love again. I'm praying for everyone to make it through this without injury.

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalms 91:14-16