Saturday, March 24, 2018

March 24

Have you ever been around someone who never has peace? It’s almost as if every word out of their mouth is full of anxiety, fear, and disdain. If you had any peace before your encounter, they work tirelessly to break you and steal it. The funny thing about being a lover of Jesus, your peace cannot be stolen! Our feathers may be ruffled for the time we are in their presence and their mouth is open, but it is restored soon after our encounter is over. The peace is never gone, it’s just in the background for the moment. If you’re like me, you’re praying the whole time they are talking or yelling. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain your peace when they begin to attack you, but with prayer just under your breath, God will protect your heart and mind. Remember who God says you are and don’t allow their hate to penetrate or take you out of character. Just pray “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”


do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Friday, March 23, 2018

March 23

As I got up from my chair, I noticed that something wasn’t quite right. Not wanting to stop, I continued what I was doing. Because, really, who stops when you are headed out to dinner - I was happy that I didn’t have to cook and maybe it would go away. Still feeling a little dizzy, I ate my dinner and went to the store, but it continued to get worse. I remembered reading that vertigo had something to do with the inner ear and that an antihistamine will help. I took a decongestant prayed and went to bed. I got up a couple of hours later and it was gone! Sometimes Facebook has good information! So what’s the solution to other problems? There is a book loaded with wisdom that comes from above. Not only does it give you solutions for your problems, it teaches you how to be wise. Don’t spend all of your free time on social media, spend a few minutes each day reading God’s word.


But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Thursday, March 22, 2018

March 22

I have a beautiful yard at my new home, and yet I still want to make it more beautiful and to make it my own. I laid out a landscape design and filled it with the plants that I think will make it look fabulous. I have begun to look for the more difficult to find plants. I wanted a specific type of bromeliad. I found the exact variety I wanted, but it was in a corporate landscape - I asked the grounds keeper if he could get me one - and he did, but it was not the variety I wanted. I have a little theme going here, “I want! I want! I want!” The truth is that the Lord, who is my Shepherd, takes very good care of me and I truly have no wants. The other things I desire are not real needs, they are materialistic, and will not make or break me and have no affect on my eternity, nor do they restore my soul. We have a good shepherd, and because of Him, we shall not want!


A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

March 21

This country girl is a part of several homeowners associations. There are good and bad that go along with it. The good is that everything is well maintained, pretty, and pristine. That does this heart good, being I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Yes, by admitting that, I’m admitting that I still have a chain that’s unbroken, but I’m learning to let things go. The bad thing with a homeowners association is fees, rules, and board meetings! It’s like living in a country within a country, but you’re only really free once you get outside the gate. I love it and never have to worry about my neighbors having a hog in their yard unless they wander in from the wild. It’s very similar to choosing to follow Jesus. When we made the commitment to Him, we chose to turn away from sin. Now, outside the gate of Christianity you can do whatever you want, but being you chose to live in Jesus’s community, you need to follow His rules - love God and love people!


For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 1 Corinthians 7:22-23

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

March 20

We can be very selfish. Believe me, I’m more selfish than most! Financially, I like to give, but don’t mess with my time! I like to do what I want to do without anyone forcing me to do something else. However, that’s not a good thing. When Mary poured perfume over Jesus’s head, she was scolded for wasting it because it was quite expensive and could have been used for the poor. Jesus came to her defense because what she was doing was giving everything she owned to Him. In another story He had told the Pharisees to give to Ceaser what was due Ceaser and to God what was God’s. What she did was not a waste at all, she was worshiping Jesus in her giving. What you do for Jesus is  never a waste. My thought is, if you’re selfish with your money - give more; if you’re selfish with your time - give more, otherwise, it’s no sacrifice to you at all! Give God the best you have to offer.


There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:4-6

Monday, March 19, 2018

March 19

What have I done to deserve this? I know a lot of us ask that same question because of the situations we are going through. No matter the cause of your pain, God can help you get through it and overcome it. There are some techniques that I’ve found that work to bring heaven down to surround me and to put a coat of healing salve on my soul. The first thing I do is pray; not just any prayers, but I unload my feelings, I cry, I get emotional, and pour out my heart to God. What daddy can stand to see his child broken? Then I will sing; sometimes I just make up my own songs of travail, pleading with God to have mercy on me and take away my pain. Then I praise Him through the pain. After the tears dry, I feel like I’ve been cleansed and a sense of peace coats my soul. My problem may still be a problem, but I’ve pleaded my case before the Almighty and I just have to wait for His reply. 


A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Psalms 143:1