Saturday, March 10, 2018

March 10

Our church is preparing to move to the new location. The church that vacated the building, left behind many things that were not necessary for them to take. For instance, we are boxing up hundreds of Baptist Hymnals and moving chairs off the platform. Technology is such that we don’t have a need for the hymnals and our worship doesn’t include a choir. This doesn’t mean we won’t sing those old songs, our music minister always includes snippets of them for those who cherish them. Sometimes we need to make modifications in the way we do things so that our worship doesn’t grow stale and to use the amazing things that God provides for us to worship Him with. My point is, don’t get so stuck in a routine that you are no longer useful in your service to the Lord. While the world is growing and changing, we must be willing to change the way we minister in order to continue to draw the lost. 

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22

Friday, March 9, 2018

March 9

As I’m looking through my windows, I realize that it’s about time for me to get outside and clean them. It’s not a chore that I look forward to doing, shoot, I don’t look forward to doing any chores! However, my view is distorted because of the grime that has built up, and as the light shines through it, there is a haze that is messing up the spectrum of colors. On top of that, the screens need to be removed before they can be cleaned! What an aggravation! If I want unobstructed scenery, cleaning is necessary. Do you have something in your life that is obstructing your sight? Maybe there are hurts from your past clouding the truth. If that’s the case, you may need to do a little window washing yourself! Take a little time to assess your view on issues or ask God to reveal to you the things that are distorting your opinion. There’s nothing like a little clarification to renew the mind!


But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24

Thursday, March 8, 2018

March 8



My husband and I went to dinner from the island to the mainland in our boat. When we left it was still light, but when we got back from dinner it was dark. We had equipped our old boat with a light system so we would never be stranded in the dark again, however, our new boat has a system but it’s not operational. So, once again, we have no lights! The distance from the mainland to the island is just a ten minute ride, but there are obstacles everywhere! There are no lights on the channel markers and if you get outside of the channel, you’re sure to run aground. If you can’t see the markers because you have no lights, they then become a hazard. We managed to get across unharmed, but it took almost thirty minutes. Are you trying to move about in this life without your beacon of light guiding the way? Jesus is our light! Don’t try to traverse this world without him! You could run aground or worse, slam into a channel marker!


Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

March 7

God is the God of miracles! A person close to our family was diagnosed with a tumor on their brain. The family began to pray for their healing. At the next doctor's appointment the tumor had disappeared. Some attribute it to being a misdiagnosis, but others believe he was healed. No matter the case, their brain is fine and now all is well and God received the glory. I got caught up in reading comments on a story that was similar to this and was shocked at the great number of people who are convinced that there is no God. Christians were praising God for the miracle and were being belittled for believing. It’s such a sad thing to believe in only the deteriorating flesh. Call me crazy if you want, ridicules, and simple minded, but people without the Spirit of God cannot understand the things of the Spirit. One day they will bow before our King, but their fate will be disastrous. God help our unbelieving world! 


For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:36-37

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

March 6

Although the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, the earth’s tilt makes it appear to be in different positions which gives us seasons. I notice this the most when I’m visiting my favorite little beach getaway in south Florida. When I’m there in the summer, I can see it’s boldness arising directly from the comfort of the living room couch. If I want to see the sun rise during the winter, I have to walk out on the dock and watch it come up over Boca Grande. God is like the sun and never moves in His position, but we are like the earth revolving around Him, and sometimes our position changes depending on our season. However, no matter where we are, we are never out of His presence. If you are feeling like you're in darkness, take note of your location, maybe you have rotated to the dark side and need to reposition yourself and turn back towards Him.


Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8

Monday, March 5, 2018

March 5

As spring approaches, so does the urge to get outside and tool around in the yard. Except, now I’m in a place where they take care of everything, so there’s not much to do. So I got the bright idea that I would add some new landscaping and do a little designing. There is a list of plants the association will approve and the plan has to be submitted to a committee. There is good reason, the community has a design standard and they want to maintain a consistency and keep out any invasive species of plants that could take over and destroy the posh look. Does this scenario sound familiar? It should, because God also has a design standard for your life. Though everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. That’s why we have this amazing book as our guide to help us weed out the bad and keep the good. It helps us keep our “yard” manicured to perfection.


"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Sunday, March 4, 2018

March 4

Enjoying the company of two of my grandsons is such a joy! As I cleaned the chartreuse dust off of my patio that the grand oaks dropped on it, I watched as they played together in the yard. It reminded me of when I was a little girl, pretending to be a different character than I was. Being the boys that they are, they fought off the vicious bear and deer! It makes me thankful that I was insistent that my children play outside, and now they are encouraging their kids to do the same thing. You don’t hear about children enjoying the outdoors, just complaining that they spend too much time on their games, but if they had something else to do and weren’t so bored, they might play pretend a little more. Children need you to be available and not so wrapped up in your own life drama or technology that you miss seeing them interact with other children. Spend some time in the real world today!


Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9