Saturday, September 30, 2017

September 30

You spend your whole life collecting things. You go on vacation and buy souvenirs, search high and low for beautiful mementoes to add to your collection. Then one day you decide to move and all of those items have to be packed up. Do you take them with you or do you sell them off? I thought I had a lot of stuff until I went to an estate sale! A lifetime of gathering and now it's being sold off at a fraction of what was paid for it. I would say that the emotions involved are mixed; sadness because of all the memories and relief because of the fresh start. How is this picture any different from ourselves? We start collecting pain and sin as children and keep gathering it our whole life. It becomes a burden weighing us down, almost crushing us. Jesus took on all of our burdens at the cross. Why are you still carrying them? Are you rejecting His gift? Starting today, unload your baggage at the foot of the cross and allow someone bigger to carry it for you.


Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Friday, September 29, 2017

September 29

I went to dinner with my husband and father-in-law. As we were leaving, I noticed a young woman whose hair was beautifully braided, so I complimented her; she smiled and said "thank you." After my husband passed her, he asked me what I had said to her because she had rolled her eyes. I'm not sure what to think of that reaction other than there may have been something offensive in the statement "your hair looks really pretty!" Many women have such poor self worth that I feel it necessary to try and lift them up by saying something nice to them. It may have been a plot against me from the evil one as a discouragement to engaging in conversation with others. It won't work! I'm not that easily dissuaded! This is a word of caution for you to remember that the devil roams around seeking whom he might devour. He knows the human reaction and will try anything to discourage you from being salt and light to this world, don't let him win!


"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:13-14

Thursday, September 28, 2017

September 28

As my friends and I were enjoying the beach together, I realized something interesting; they love seashells more than I do! That may not be entirely true, but because I live near the beach, I tend to be a little more picky about the shells I pick up. When you come from a landlocked area of the country, being able to get, what seems like an unlimited amount of shells, is glorious! The beach I go to usually has a lot, but because of Hurricane Irma, we had an abundance! We almost needed a pickup truck to haul their bounty! As Christians, I think we sometimes take for granted the love of Jesus. He is abounding in it and because we've known it, we forget how great it is to have. Watching my friends lavish in the benefits of a beach, fully loaded with shells, is what it's like for someone to come to know the love of Jesus. The unlimited amount of love He has for us brings such joy to a new believer, and to an old believer if we reflect on it.


See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

September 27

I don't know about you, but when I want to do something fun, I'll get up really early to get my work done just so I can enjoy my day without worry. My friends and I decided to spend the day together at the beach for a little rest and relaxation. I know that my steps are planned by God and He knew that I would need a little break, specifically for this particular day. It's a gift from the One who loves me more than any human ever could. Jesus offers us a place to rest from the burden this world has placed upon us. He tells us to trust Him and allow Him to guide us through the challenges we face. The yoke of this world is quite heavy with its rules to conform; if you don't you will be ridiculed. It was the same in His day! The Pharisee's placed undue hardships on their followers that were unintended by God. But, Jesus came! Through His teachings we can learn the right ways apart from the ways of this world. Go to Him and find rest for your soul.


Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

September 26

There is one message of healing that is above all others, and that's the message of the cross. What Jesus did on the cross led to our salvation from sin and death, a healing of our soul. No matter what you go through physically, if you don't accept healing for your sin, nothing else you do on this earth matters. He has released us from a trap and we are no longer held captive by the enemy. So, why then do you we sometimes feel like we're bound, still in chains? It's a lie of the enemy! It's one that he has perfected so that we won't prosper and so that we won't take that message of deliverance to others. We must rebuke the lies of the enemy and fight for our freedom. Freedom isn't free. What is the cost? You must give up your anger, malice, fear, hatred, disbelief, and anything else that might have you trapped. It takes purposeful prayer, intentionally giving up those things, and asking forgiveness for them one by one. Ask God to tell you what you need to confess. Don't dismiss what you hear and ask for forgiveness immediately. Break those chains one at a time until you've been completely released!


But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Monday, September 25, 2017

September 25

Are there things that you've been praying about for years and it seems like God can't hear you? I know that I have! I feel like I have enough faith to move a mountain, but for some reason, that mountain won't move! I'm not sure why some of my prayers haven't been answered. It's probably because other humans are involved and they've been given a free will just like me! The disciples ran into a problem with a demon possessed child who had seizures that would sometimes throw him into fire or water. The people involved came to Jesus not understanding why he wasn't healed. He told them that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed, that he could be healed. So why then aren't our prayers for another human answered? It takes faith and relentless prayer. It takes ridding yourself of all unbelief! We need to believe, that Jesus can answer our prayers, with the same amount of faith it takes to believe that He has saved us for an eternity. 


He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Sunday, September 24, 2017

September 24

Well, I thought that I would try and hatch my own plan. You know, we all try to handle things on our own and try to carve out the lifestyle we want to live. I thought that if we sold our home, we could downsize, get rid of all the extra stuff and simplify our lives. Well, that's not what happened. We're now in a slightly bigger home, a much bigger yard, and more room to entertain! You've got to love it though, especially when you see God's plan falling into place. I've seen my family more during this process and have had wonderful gatherings of the saints here in the new home. God showed me who was in control and even though I had a plan, it didn't quite match God's. When you're committed to following God's call on your life, you have to be ready for things to change. It may be different than what I had thought, but what I got is very good! God's plan is always so much better! 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28