Saturday, November 17, 2018

November 17

I’ve always loved Brandon. There is something beautiful about the grand old oaks with their swaying moss that adorns every tree. To have a home nestled among them is so sweet. This morning, with a chill in the air and the sun shining, I decided that it was the perfect time to start a fire in the fire pit. There aren’t many days that we can do that because we live in such a hot climate, so anytime I get the chance, I become a fire bug. It makes me feel like I’ve been camping. All of this to say, enjoy your moments. Life is not easy when you’re displaced from your home, meaning, we are just ambassadors for the Kingdom to bring about the reconciliation of others to God, until He calls us home.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20


I’m still in Florida y’all, so I’m in my mermaid hat and bare feet!

Friday, November 16, 2018

November 16

Have you had some trying times? We all have! It’s when we try to muddle through it alone that causes us the most distress. Many times I have to remind myself to ask for help! How ridiculous is that? God is right here among us and we forget just how powerful He is and how He has promised to always be with us and keep evil away. When we become arrogant and think we can do it on our own, disaster strikes and things go haywire, but notice, because you belong to Him, everything turns out fine. I keep getting lessons of trust that I wish I didn’t have to go through, but hopefully I will be calm when the next anxiety causing issue arises and am able to fully trust in Him who created all things. Put your trust in Him, He is where our help comes from.


A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2

Thursday, November 15, 2018

November 15

I don’t know about you, but my home office can become a big mess! Stacks of mail, file folders, and other office stuff can pile up, and become a catch-all for clutter or things I’m trying to hide from guest. When I’m home, I get a little lazy, and preoccupied with television, food, and the recliner, so paperwork gets no attention until it becomes necessary. I spent a good portion of the day filing, and moving all that mess, and still didn’t get to the bottom of the stack, but at least I made a little headway. We are closing in on the end of the year, so I need to get everything in order, because tax season is just around the corner. Have you ever noticed that our daily lives reflect a spiritual truth? Things can get messy in our heart, fear, pain, and other thing left unchecked can pile up, making us miserable. As Christians, we need to be free of the clutter. We must get out of the recliner and make an effort to cleanse our hearts. “Tax day” is just around the corner, and we need to be prepared. Make your confession to the Lord, pray, and trust what He’s doing.


"let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  Hebrews 10:22

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

November 14

Along with a few couples from my church, my husband and I attended a gala for the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City. Their theme was “Every child deserves a birthday.” We had finished our dinner and the guest speaker was wrapping up, when I got a text from my sister saying that the newest member of our family had arrived, a sweet baby girl. She, not unlike the babies we were celebrating, was the product of an unplanned pregnancy. When I say unplanned, I mean it wasn’t planned by her parents, but obviously God had planned it, sometimes we have to catch up to His plan. I believe God has a special assignment for this baby girl, because just after I got the text, they instructed us to sing “Happy Birthday!” It was so fitting for that particular moment. Sometimes God shows you how the pieces of His puzzle fit together and when they fall into place, it paints a beautiful picture and lays out a glimpse into the future. In addition to that, the speaker kept calling babies a gift from God, and it just so happens that this baby girl was born on her daddy’s birthday! Such a sweet, sweet, gift.


Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Psalms 127:3-4

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

November 13

Sometimes the words of the enemy come through someone you love. They don’t mean to be his tool, they don’t even know they are being his tool, but it happens to the best of us. The enemy can use us too, so don’t be arrogant. Well meaning people may think they are helping when offering you advice, but their words slither through our mind and turn into something that makes the devil do a dance. When fear begins to creep in, shut it down immediately, before it takes you for a ride on the dark side. When the devil tells you, “you can’t,” God says you can! 

As an example, after telling a few people about taking my paddle board around the tip of the island, I heard more than one say, “oh, I’m so afraid of the current there.” I knew about the current before I tried it. I also knew about the sharks that hang out in that area, but I did it anyway and I’m still alive to tell about it. The enemy says you can’t, but God says you can!


"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  2 Timothy 1:7.  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

Monday, November 12, 2018

November 12

We get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget about our brothers and sisters in Christ living in other parts of the world. They are fighting battles that we know nothing about, and dealing with issues that we’ve never dealt with. Though we are from different cultures, our struggle against darkness affects us the same way. We have heartache and tragedy, and feel the pain of the war waged against us in the heavenly realm. Take some time today to help them by standing in the gap and offering prayer on their behalf. If you don’t know what to pray, open your heart to the Holy Spirit, He prays on our behalf every day, and will go before the Father, if you are sincere. 

If you are located outside the United States and need prayer for anything, please post it here so we can come together as one in Christ. For those who are in the U.S. that need prayer, you can private message me, and I will pray for you and share your request with other prayer warriors.


"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"  Eph 6:18

Sunday, November 11, 2018

November 11

It’s been a long time since I took my paddle board out on the water, but this day was the perfect. The breeze was nice and the water was as clear as glass. I always peruse the bay side because there is less wave action and the seashells are more plentiful, but because the water was clear on the gulf, I put in on the beach to see what I could find. There wasn’t much to see other than red tide particles floating just below the surface, until I came across a sand dollar grave yard. I picked up enough to finish filling my giant jar. Since it was nice out, I decided to keep going and rounded the end of the island at Boca Grande pass; there is a strong undercurrent in that area. I crossed the pass to an island and began finding all kinds of shells, making it one of my best shelling adventures. I seldom go into deep water, however, sometimes you have to cross a deep cut to fulfill your calling. The water can be treacherous, but collecting empty souls and giving them hope for a future can be all the incentive needed to do what God sent you to do. Venture out beyond your comfort zone and let God fulfill His work through you.


"“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."  John 14:12