March 16

Many times we come across warning signs that instruct us to proceed with caution. What if we are distracted, and miss the sign? God’s Word warns us over and over again to be careful, and to pay close attention to the fruits of the  Bible teachers we listen to. However, sometimes the warning will be missed, especially when it’s covered up by the enemy in order to hide something that goes against God’s Word. Even though most search engines are worldly, they can be helpful in uncovering the reputation of people we are exposed to, and can reveal those who use God as a tool to gain wealth. These people are greedy an will exploit you with false words. There will be those who follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. There is a caveat to this, make sure the one reporting the issue is reputable and not just trying to discredit a fellow Christian. The best way to know if their teaching is correct is to know God’s Word. Stay diligent!

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1

March 15

My daughter and I got up early and headed out to the trails of a local park. We got there just as the sun was rising, and the creatures were beginning to stir. This particular park is an old phosphate mine from back in the sixties, that was reclaimed and then donated to the county. Because of its history, there are many connecting lakes and hills creating a maze of interesting hiking trails. Being it’s a park, it is also a sanctuary for birds and other animals. That being said, there is one particular species of reptile that needs to be thinned out, and that’s the alligator! We saw some so big, that it reminded us that we are not at the top of the food chain! I don’t live in fear of these animals, I couldn’t live here in Florida if I did, but I do have a healthy respect for them. Sometimes you can see them, but other times you can’t, they usually see you first and sink below the surface. They can be compared to the demonic. We are not alone here on this earth, one third of the angelic beings were thrown out of heaven because of their defiance of God. There is no need to fear them, however, you should have a healthy respect for them because they can wreak havoc on your life by toying with you when you are unaware. Keep this in mind when things around you go haywire.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  Revelation 12:9

March 14

Living in a neighborhood of townhomes is a beautiful dream come true for this recovering perfectionist. This week, our homeowner’s association is having all of the buildings, driveways, sidewalks, and border walls pressure washed. There is something satisfying about seeing every home perfectly cleaned as I come in the gate and meander down the street. Soon, there will be fresh landscaping and spring annuals placed, to give each of us who live here and those who visit, a bright welcome. It’s my little piece of paradise until I’m ushered into the Kingdom of Heaven. It is peacefulness amidst the chaos of the surrounding city. Did you know that Jesus is that same kind of respite from within yourself? His peace can carry you through turmoil and uncertainty, keeping you from getting rattled by the insignificant things of this world. Because of Him, you can rest in peace while still alive! Trust Him to get you through the rough patches in your life; He is faithful.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

March 13

We’ve all been disappointed by the actions of the unbeliever, but why? It’s because we expect humans to have a conscience, be moral, and upstanding, because even without Jesus, they can be decent people. This is where we go wrong, we place our high morals on others, and they cannot possibly stand under that pressure, because they don’t have the moral regulator, the Holy Spirit, like we have. When we get mocked and ridiculed by the likes of the unbeliever, we should pray for their salvation, and our hearts should break for them because their destination is hell. However, that’s not what we do, in our anger, we wish them hell and torment for the rest of their days, but isn’t that a sin? We are to love them, because Jesus loved us, though we were far from Him. We can love them with the Holy Spirit as our guide, maybe from a distance, but we can love them. As Jesus said while hanging on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Being children of the Almighty, I pity the soul who comes against one of us.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:19-20

March 12

Supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. The Word of God says that if you lack these qualities, you are blind, forgetting who cleansed you from your former sin, and are fruitless and ineffective. These are harsh words coming from someone who loves you. We must want to be our best for Jesus. Think of it like this, when we do things for pleasure, like play a sport, enjoy a hobby, or something crafty, we take lessons and practice until we get good at it, we perfect it. However, most of the time, when it comes to things of God, we expect them to appear haphazardly, a download by the Holy Spirit without any effort on our part. If we haven’t positioned ourselves to learn from, and listen to the Holy Spirit, it’s unlikely these things will just fall into our lap; if they did, why would there be a need for Him to list them in His word? You can still learn your sport, hobby, and craft and learn the things of God; just take a little time each day to read a few verses of scripture, and acknowledge Him, and your fruit will begin to grow.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8

March 11

God creates encounters just for you. They are not by chance, or coincidence, they are God ordained. Several years ago I joined a sea shelling group on Facebook. It was a breath of fresh air to meet people with whom I had a common interest. We all share a love for the beach, the sea, and collecting shells. Through the years there have been people in and out of the group, hurt feelings, and group splits, it’s just human nature. You might wonder why. Who knows? My best guess is that along with me, there are a few Christians in the bunch, and the enemy will do whatever he can to spoil the chance for a change of heart in the lost. I have many friends from all over the country because of it, and that makes my heart happy! But then there is that one; one who grabbed my heart, a special person that I connected with from the beginning. You know that kind of person, you’ve met them. They’re the friend that sticks closer than a brother, but in my case, it’s a sister-in-Christ! She is a special gift. I would call it sisterly affection, and I believe it’s a love reserved for the children of God. If you don’t know this kind of love, it's time for you to come out of your cave. 

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with... and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5 & 7

March 10

I have an old patio set that I love, but over the years the elements haven’t been so nice to it. It’s all aluminum, so it hasn’t rusted, but the paint has begun to peel. Not wanting to get rid of it, I decided to give it a facelift. I started out by using a wire brush to scrape off all the loose paint, then chose a new color. After eleven cans of spray paint, my trigger finger is a little weak, but my patio set has never looked better! I still have a little more to do, but the transformation is remarkable. Now my table’s outer beauty matches its solid foundation. Did you know that we are to make our best effort to supplement our faith with virtue? Virtue is behavior showing high moral standards. I know this is a stretch, but my table’s exterior didn’t match the quality of its sturdy structure, it wasn’t putting its best face forward and looked a little ragged. Our outside behavior needs to match our faith in Jesus, and not the moral character of our unbelieving friends. Our standard is much higher.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  2 Peter 1:5