February 16

What are you doing? You’ve already accepted Jesus as your Savior, yet you still go running back to your old ways! Is it comfortable there? You have already exited Egypt, but in your mind, it would be easier to go back there, where others tell you what to do and how to live. Someone hurt your feelings, so you turn your back on your one true love because you’ve lost sight of Him. Don’t go back there! March right back to the foot of the cross, ask forgiveness, and be bold in the face of the enemy. However, don’t try to do this in your own strength, step back, and allow Jesus to power you forward. Give up, and give in to Jesus’ ways. If you go back to your old ways, Jesus is of no advantage to you. I know that it’s not easy staying on the narrow path, it’s even treacherous at times, but with Jesus guiding you, you can relax and follow Him with no worries about which direction to travel. Trust Him, He has only your best interest in mind.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. Galatians 5:1-2

February 15

We finally got all of our paperwork to the tax man. What a relief! Now the agony of waiting for the final result. I’m very thankful to have what I have, but sometimes the stress from it is overwhelming. One good thing is, now that it has been put on the shoulders of our accountant, I can relax and move on to other things. I’ve now been set free, and am no longer a slave to this task. It feels so good to be free from it! So what do I do now that it’s over? How do I live now that I’m free? The burden has been lifted. Do I go back and question everything I turned over to the accountant or do I get on with my new life of freedom? Can you see where I’m going with this? Once you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you were set free from your sin. You are free! Stop looking back and rehashing your past! Take steps forward and pursue the good things Jesus has set you up to receive! 

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? Galatians 4:8-9

February 14

For once the secular world got it right with a holiday that focuses on love. Don’t get me wrong, I loath such silliness that makes a single person feel less than, or cause a married person to feel crushed because their spouse doesn’t show love in the way of gifts and cards. Though my heart goes out to those who feel left out today, I think it may help to focus on the One who is the best love giver of all, Jesus. I know you can’t see Him, or feel His physical touch, but there is something sweet and loving about reaching out to Him on such a day as this. Embrace everything He has already given you, and be thankful for the gifts that He has prepared for your future. Reach out and love Him today, that’s all He wants from you anyway. Use today to worship Him and show Him how special He is to you. Happy Valentines Day!

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

February 13

Children can be so sweet and loving when they are babies. However, they soon grow and get a mind of their own and begin using it as a powerful tool. Smart parents find ways to get them under control, because if they don’t, their child could get hurt by their own actions. We had four children who were very close in age, and me, being a brilliant mom, found a way to instill discipline; I created a paddle! The paddle didn’t have to come out very often, because the threat of it was enough to keep them in line. As a grandmother, I wouldn’t dream of bringing out the paddle for my grands. When they come to my house they are free, though the law is still helpful, they are not under that law in my household. Even though they are free under my watch, they are still expected to behave. So in a sense, when the grandchildren are at my house, it’s like being under the covering of Jesus, full of grace and freedom.

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. Galatians 3:21

February 12

I spent a good part of my day at Moffitt Cancer Center, while a dear friend had surgery. I am very impressed with that facility. While we sat there waiting with the other families, the hospital did many things to interact with those who were full of hope and expectation. They invited us to a seminar on how the prevent infection, they kept everyone up to date on how the surgery was going, and even had a guy come in to play the guitar to help lighten the mood. How nice is it that they not only care for their patients, but also care for those who love them? I love that they model themselves after the Holy Spirit, though I’m sure it wasn’t intentional being we live in such a liberal society. No matter how far away from God this world gets, the world will always pick up on His character, it can’t help it, He created them too. Just remember, as sinister, and disgusting as our surroundings become, there is still good in it, even if it’s just you and me.

The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly.  (Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

February 11

Do you have a friend? I’m not talking about any friend, but one who prays? I knew that I had this friend, but never knew how powerful her prayers were. I was struggling, and I opened up my notes and began typing. I do this because I feel like sometimes the Holy Spirit takes over my fingertips. I had just written the words “Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, what do you want me to do? I’ve had enough, I give up. I cry for mercy. Please help me!,” and suddenly my friend’s message popped up on the screen! She said, “Teresa, I don't know your need and I don't need to know. Just know that I am standing in the gap for you. Love ya sister.” And bam, just like that God sent His messenger! I had cried out, He heard me, and moved into action! I felt overwhelmed that He love me enough to have His servant reach out to me. Folks, if you haven’t bought into this idea that God is real, I would say that you are truly missing out. My heart breaks for those who don’t believe.

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, Philippians 1:18-19

February 10

Did you know that God will orchestrate a break in a relationship if He needs you to move? I’m not talking about your marriage! I was a part of a large church who employed some of the best pastors around, and had an enormous following. But God, through a weakness of the lead pastor, broke that church into many churches. Hearts were broken. None of these great men of God, let it be known that they were hurt, but what human heart could bear under such circumstances. Those same broken hearts went on to start their own churches, or they became pastors of even greater churches. It didn’t feel that God was doing it, it felt like evil had come to disrupt; but God in all of His wisdom, used mans weakness for His glory. I write this to say, God will thrust you in the direction He wants you to go, and will use whatever means necessary, even if it breaks your heart.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1

Biblical example: 1 Samuel 29