Saturday, June 1, 2019

June 1

When someone graduates from this life, and moves to the feet of Jesus, we mourn for our loss. Though the thought strikes fear from deep within, the kingdom to come is much more desirable than our current situation. That is, unless you haven’t made Jesus the master of your life, then this hot air that we are all feeling is just a taste of what is to come. I don’t like funerals, but I watched my family members laid to rest the matriarch of their family. She had lived a good, and full life all the way to the end, and her accomplishments were praised at the gates of Heaven as she entered. Everyone feels as though they will live forever, and we have every right to feel that way because it’s true, but not everyone will live on to see Heaven. You see, there is only one way into that Kingdom, and that is through Jesus. No matter what you may have been told, the scriptures are clear on this. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as the one true King, and the only one who can save your soul, then it’s time, today, right now. No one knows the day they will take their last breath. Don’t wait until you’re clean, He’s the only one who can cleanse you, and make you whole. Without Him, you will never be clean.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Friday, May 31, 2019

May 31

We live among other creatures, seen and unseen, noisy and quiet. The armadillo is one of those creatures. Every now an then, they will make their presence known, sometimes in such a way that you become gripped with fear. They don’t make much noise with their mouth, but will sometimes create such a racket rustling through the woods that you think a bear is coming after you! I watched as a grown man stood on the edge of the mangrove with eyes wide and in fear, stating “there’s something big out there!” I knew it was an armadillo, and I wanted to add to his fear by saying, “maybe it’s a boar, or a coyote, or maybe a panther,” but I was kind and didn’t. The armadillo comes with a full suit of armor, and if you threaten them, they will roll up into a ball. As humans, we don’t come equipped with a suit of armor, but we are offered protection from the unseen, we just need to make use of it. David always seemed to be running from his enemies, but he knew who to turn to for help. He knew he was loved, and protected by the Lord, so he always turned to Him. Don’t live in fear of the unknown, trust in the Lord.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. Psalms 6:8-9

Thursday, May 30, 2019

May 30

How does it feel to hold a new weapon in your hands? I’ll tell you, it’s exuberant! This weapon I’ve been given is more powerful than anything I’ve ever touched, and it’s been in plain sight all along. Does God trust me enough to allow me to use it? YES! This weapon is a combination of prayer and the Psalms! I’ve used this weapon before, but not bearing in mind the enormity of the power I possessed. God opened my eyes concerning it this morning after making the commitment to write down my prayers, and study the Psalms together. I feel like the kid on the sidelines begging the coach to put me in the game! Am I insane? I like my peace, why would I want to disturb it? The reason, to maintain it. If we want to keep our peace, we have to fight for it. David knew how to pray, and he prayed against his enemies; they were trying to take him out, but they couldn’t because of his trust in the Lord! I’m handing you a weapon today, pick it up and use it and never put it down again! It’s called a “Combo!” Prayer and the Psalms! Here is a portion of one of David’s prayers against his enemies: 

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. Psalms 5:9-10

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

May 29

I’m starting something new. You would have thought that, by now I would already be doing this, but I’m a little hard headed sometimes. Last night I wrote down my prayer requests! This is not a new concept, it’s been done before, probably by many of you. My plan is to write down everything that I ask God for, so that I have a memorial stone for all that He’s done for me. It will be a book of thanksgiving, and remembrance, and a way to draw into a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. It will also take me beyond ritualistic prayer, and help me to open my mouth about the things I desire the Lord’s assistance in. So, instead of praying and failing to notice when my prayers have been answered, and not giving God the glory He deserves, now I will be able to see it and give Him the credit. If you aren’t already doing this, will you join me on this new adventure? I think it will be exciting to see God’s hand at work on the behalf of His beloveds.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!  Psalms 4:1

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

May 28

The Memorial holiday afforded quite an adventure! We had special guests stay with us at our beach getaway, which included one of our grandsons. There are a few things you can do after dark on a barrier island, a stroll on the beach, fishing, or one of the favorite pastimes on Little Gasparilla, go on a scorpion hunt! We took a black light and shined it in the underbrush near the mangrove, and low and behold those little creepers light up like a neon Christmas bulb! What’s really disturbing is that they were everywhere! They will rarely sting a human unless they are pinned against the skin, like being caught between you and the bed sheets; the thought of that makes my skin crawl! The sting of our Florida Bark Scorpion is probably more painful than a wasp, but isn’t deadly.

In the Bible the scorpion is used metaphorically as the demonic. However, when Jesus sent out the 72, He told them that they had power over the scorpions! The truth is, as creepy as it was seeing those scorpions, we could have crushed them underfoot. We must remember the power we have in Jesus over the demonic spirits. They hide in the darkness, but if you shine your light on them, they will glow and be exposed, and they don’t like being exposed!

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19

Monday, May 27, 2019

May 27

Birds are so slick! I’m sitting in my boat at the dock minding my own business when an American Egret flew in, then he jumped off the dock and looked as if he were walking on the water. He had found a bait net full of fish and was sitting on its edge. Then his competitor, the Great Blue Heron arrived and took over, scaring him away. It seemed as if the heron had won, but the egret moved on and found another bait net. The old saying, “the early bird gets the worm,” didn’t work in this case. Maybe the saying, “survival of the fittest,” describes the situation the best. My own interpretation is that the egret is a Christian, and the heron is the enemy. When the enemy comes in and takes control of your bait net, just move to another bait net. Jesus said that if you are not welcomed, shake the dust off your feet and move on. When we fulfill the Great Commission, sometimes it’s like “shooting fish in a barrel,” other times it’s like casting a line. The key is to keep fishing!

But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ Luke 10:10-11

Sunday, May 26, 2019

May 26

I found a quiet place to enjoy the company of the Lord, and try to hear His voice. Luckily it was beside the pool overlooking the gulf! Just about the time I got comfortable, a woodpecker decided to hammer on the gutter! If I wasn’t awake before, I was surely awake after that! I shewed him away, even though he was cute. 

What does a woodpecker do? He drills into wood looking for insects that are destroying the tree or structure from the inside. Much of what causes us anxiety comes from our mind projecting an outcome. Jesus comes along like a woodpecker to drill in and eat away at the things wreaking havoc on our peace. He wants us to leave everything to Him, not worry about tomorrow, and to handle each matter as it comes along. We are better off not over analyzing something we have no control over. In most cases, our perception is off, and things don’t happen as we thought they would. Leave it all to Jesus, and enjoy your life as much as you can.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:26-27