Saturday, February 17, 2018

February 17

Since we’ve been having beautiful spring like weather, we decided to enjoy a fire in our outdoor pit just after the sunset. As the fire became brighter, I noticed we had a visitor creeping along the wall. At first I thought it was a cat, but upon further inspection, I realized that it was a raccoon! It decided to do a balancing act as it walked across a section that had a chain link fence, it was quite a sight! Me being proactive and not wanting it to come into our yard, because my dogs would probably roll in anything they might leave behind, did my best to shoo it back into the woods. It was very determined and I had to get pretty close to it to get it to finally scurry up a tree on the other side. As much as we love God’s creatures, they are not all friendly or beneficial. The same goes for people, be careful of the company you keep, you don’t want to find yourself rolling in whatever they leave behind!


Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33

Friday, February 16, 2018

February 16

My husband and I went to the Florida State Fair. I realized that I’m no longer amused by the chaos and crowds that surround such an adventure. There were people from every walk of life and of every age, all there to fill up on fair food and possibly catch a glimpse of something unusual, both of which are easily achieved. We spent the money to get in, walked around until we found the delicacies we were seeking, sat, ate, and then found our way through the peddlers and bought a new American flag for our house, then we left! We didn’t even look at the farm animals as we usually do. The things that were once a thrill as a kid, no longer excites. Can you imagine what it will be like when we know fully what we do not know now of the truth about the Kingdom of God? The things we thought were so wise will become rubbish. So for your short time here on earth, love well - it’s the best we can do!


When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Thursday, February 15, 2018

February 15

Watching blessings fall into place is an exciting part of being a follower of Jesus. So many times the enemy’s attacks keep us focused on fighting him rather than looking toward what’s being accomplished for the Kingdom of God. One important lesson that I’ve learned is that, when you are under attack, it’s best to focus on Jesus! Our eyes should not be turned in any other direction. If you are getting worn out from the struggle, it might be time to hit the refresh button on that page! The battle is not yours to fight! Our power comes when we call on the name of Jesus - we are too weak for combat - He is our strength! The Israelites were encouraged to set up memorial stones so that every time they passed by, they would remember what God had done for them. Write your blessings down, set up memorials, and never forget the battles He’s already won for you.


And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' Joshua 4:21-22

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

February 14

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today is a special day dedicated to love! Hearts and flowers adorn the shelves in the stores and sweet treats covered with chocolate make it hard to resist enjoying the day. The Bible’s main theme is love! Jesus called it the greatest commandment - love God and love people! Solomon, the king of love, wrote a whole book about it, and it’s full of passion; the Song of Solomon!  The story of Ruth and Boaz is one of my favorites! All the love stories in the Bible point to Jesus! Jesus our King, who loved us more than any other, was willing to sacrifice His own life because of His love for us. If you don’t feel love, it may be that you’re not focusing on our most important love; the love Jesus has for us! Make Him the love of your life and all other love will fall into the proper order. Spend time with Him today and tell Him how much you love Him - He’s worth it!


And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12;30-31

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

February 13

Do you ever have days where you wake up with a song in your heart? I know it’s going to be a great day when it’s a song that’s praising the Lord! That sets the tone for my day and puts it in proper order. When we praise God, great things happen! Some times the great things are just aligning ourselves with God’s plan and opening our eyes to the things He has waiting for us. The best way to see God’s work is to bless Him with your praise, worship Him with your actions, and make Him the center of your life. When your relationship with Him is strong and you align yourself with Him, you can expect amazing things to happen. Do you want to see Him move? Seek first His kingdom. A breakthrough comes when our faith overpowers what we see in the natural. Our God is the God of miracles and can override nature, but it all starts with our relationship with Him. Go to Him first and watch what happens!


But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Monday, February 12, 2018

February 12

There is a portion of scripture that I had always thought was a little disrespectful. When Jesus’s mother and brothers sent for Him and He said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Jesus was not the one being disrespectful, it was His mother and brothers! Jesus was teaching, had a crowd around Him, and was doing what God sent Him to do, bring salvation to the lost! They didn’t even bother to go in and listen to His teaching, but instead, stood outside and sent someone in to get Him! His family knew who He was, why else would Jesus say to Mary during the wedding at Cana, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." He made it very clear that those who do the will of God are His family, that includes me and you! We are to love everyone, but there is a special connection between those of us who love Jesus, remember to welcome them like family.


For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:35

Sunday, February 11, 2018

February 11

I learned a valuable lesson while attending church with one of my children. The pastor began to muddle through the sermon he had prepared, which seemed to be scattered with no purpose. I’m sure it wasn’t his intention and it may have come together to make sence at his conclusion, but something changed. The Holy Spirit took over! The message that the Spirit brought was full on gospel! I learned, in that instance, that the Lord wants the message of salvation brought! When the Spirit decided to take over, everything changed and man’s message was tossed out. If you weren’t saved by the end of this service, then your heart was hard. Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit’s influence in the church! You may not see tongues of fire as the early church did, but that doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit is not in charge, believe me He is!


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8