Saturday, May 5, 2018

May 5

You know how it is said that freedom isn’t free. That’s true of our freedom in Christ. It may sound like a bad thing, but in this case you are giving up something heavy from your past. So today, if you feel you need to break a chain, here are a few steps you can take. Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal to you something from your childhood that may have set you on a path of destructive behavior. Mine was a simple comment from a girl when I was in first grade. It didn’t seem so bad, but in my heart, I had been rejected. She told me I had a ski sloped nose and asked me if it grew when I lied. REJECTED! My thoughts are, to ask the Holy Spirit to take you back to the first moment the devil decided that you were a threat and threw a stumbling block in your path. If He reveals that moment, you will see the path that he set you on and the behaviors that stemmed from it. Then go back and break every chain that resulted from it. 

Some things that you might look for are: spirit of rejection, spirit of unbelief, spirit of fear. Here are some words you might use as an example: Spirit of _______________ - flee from me, be gone in Jesus name! Embrace your freedom today!


For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Friday, May 4, 2018

May 4

After taking my dog out this morning, I noticed a couple of my new plants looked wilted. It caused me concern, being the other plants around them were standing tall as if nothing was wrong. I immediately stopped what I was doing, turned on the water, and showered them, hoping they would stand tall again. That’s just a plant, what do you do when you see someone looking like a wilted plant? My first instinct is to try and console them and maybe help them carry their burden, but more often than not, they will say all is well. It’s important to make an effort. We don’t know what might be on their plate, or the load they are bearing, but just offering some help might be just the encouragement they need to continue on. When Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, He healed every disease and affliction among the people. He didn’t leave them to deal with their issues by themselves, He offered healing and hope. We may not be able to heal them, but we can offer hope.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. Matthew 4:23

Thursday, May 3, 2018

May 3

The past few days have been quite interesting. The other morning, I heard a screech and a crash. I didn’t think much of it because we are close to a main artery and there are wrecks all the time. We live in a small community, and word began to spread fast that some crazy driver ran into one of the neighbor's garage door and then sped off. Someone saw him and reported it to the police. 

Though many of us had suspected it, no one knew for sure, but it was thought that it was my daughters next door neighbor, she also lives in my neighborhood. They knocked, the police knocked, but no one answered. My daughter, just like any mom, was concerned for the safety of her son. This guy drives like a lunatic all the time. She and her husband knew the time he leaves for work, so yesterday, Doug my son-in-law, piddled around outside waiting to see if he had damage to his car when he opened his garage door. Low and behold, he did! Doug intended to take a picture, but something came over him and he stopped him. He approached him in a gentle way and encouraged him to do the right thing and go tell the neighbor. He didn’t demean him, yell, or accuse. The guy was sorrowful, apologetic, and offered recourse. Watch the God connection here! The woman had prayed the night before that he would come to her and admit his guilt. God told her his name! She didn’t know him! He was shocked and she was shocked when she said it!

Do you realize that it was God that gave Doug the courage to handle this situation? Here is the big deal, this guy waited for Doug to get off work so he could thank him for doing what he did. The guy had been riddled with guilt for leaving the scene and was relieved to have it off his chest. The guy asked him how he remained so calm, and Doug explained that it was because of his trust in God. Then Doug invited him to our church. I’ll bet he will come one day. Doug made a new friend and our neighborhood is safer for it. 


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

May 2

As you read and study the scriptures, you begin to see patterns of teachings that flow throughout. It speaks of a man leaving his father and mother to hold fast to his wife and a wife to leave her family and become one with her husband. When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, essentially they were doing the same thing. It says that they left their boat and their father and followed Him. Though the Bible couldn’t possibly record everything that Jesus did, the Holy Spirit made sure that certain details were told, and this detail is important to note as we are called to follow Jesus. He wants our wholehearted devotion to Him. We cannot hang on to the things from the past. The things you were taught, the way you were raised, the religious training many endured as children, or any other habits you’ve picked up over the years, must all be left behind or measured against the teachings of Jesus. We are the bride of Christ and must hold fast to Him.


 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:22

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

May 1

When Jesus called His first disciples, it wasn’t His first encounter with them. Peter and Andrew had been followers of John the Baptist. They knew Him. He also gave them proof of who He was without saying it. Peter and Andrew were fishermen and had a rough night with no luck catching fish. Jesus came along, gave them instructions to pull out into deeper water to cast, and they filled up their nets! It was then that Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah and fell at His feet asking for mercy. I’m sure they thought He was crazy because He wasn’t a fisherman! But, because He was a nice guy, they accommodated Him. Jesus had a purpose for everything He did and maybe He wanted them to cast a little deeper to show that they would be going deeper into the teachings of God. That’s just what Jesus did. He took them deeper into the things of the Kingdom. Jesus is the way into a deeper relationship with the Father. Follow Him! See Luke 5:1-11 and John 1:40-41


And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

Monday, April 30, 2018

April 30

Over the past few days, I’ve been expanding the scriptures from Matthew. I haven’t been telling cute stories of my life, just giving a lesson from the scriptures and giving examples of how we can use it today. Some of my posts have been received well and others have been ignored. I completely understand because I also respond to topical teaching as well, but at what point are we going to learn to love God’s Word, in and of itself? When will we get to the place where we can open up our Bible and feed on the words? I enjoy reading and studying the Bible; what it brings is more interesting than anything I can tell you about my life, and there is power behind it. My words, though I believe they are guided by the Holy Spirit, because He’s my constant companion, are not living or as sharp as a double edged sword. If you have trouble reading the Bible, pray right now and ask God to help you love His Word.


For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Sunday, April 29, 2018

April 29

When Jesus began His ministry, He was kicked out of Nazareth and had nearly been run off a cliff. After John was arrested, He took His message to the country to continue where John had left off. John was His forerunner and He came in with the same message, but with the power of the Holy Spirit. He decided to make His home in Capernaum by the sea. He brought His message to those who were living in darkness, in the shadow of death, and they received Him. When He was run out of Nazareth, He shook the dust off His feet and left them in the dark. I found it very interesting that that the area He decided to dwell in was referred to as the “shadow of death.” This is the same area that we dwell in! Every day we must bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of our surroundings. Though the sun is out, it is filled with darkness. If you are not received, leave just like Jesus did, and take the Light with you! Their loss!


the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4;16-17