September 28

I take a bath every night, I can’t sleep with filthy skin, but my dogs are not done for the day and still need to be taken out for a walk. I slide on my flip flops and walk them around the neighborhood right before bedtime; I’m a little selfish because I don’t want them waking me up too early in the morning to go out. Being I’ve already had a bath, I don’t need to take another one, but may need to wash the dust off my feet. Jesus used the symbolic gesture of washing the feet of his disciples as an example for us to follow. If you are saved, baptism is usually the next step as a public profession of your faith, and is symbolic of washing away your sins, and is a ‘one-and-done’ ceremony. The reason it’s a one time thing is we’re clean, however, we still live in the world and will get a little dust on our feet. That dust is sin and we need to repent of that sin, but you don’t need to be baptized again. Confess your sin, and repent daily, because we all get a little dust on our feet, and need Jesus to wash it off.

"Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”"  John 13:10

September 27

There are times during the month when the tides become unusually high, like during the new moon and the full moon. I’ve noticed that the Holy Spirit works in a similar fashion. Most days you will have normal high and low tides with the Holy Spirit, but then there are times when He fills you to capacity, and even overflow your banks. 

God does things on purpose. For instance, he has holidays and Sabbaths that are set aside for the nation of Israel. The Bible refers to these holidays as feasts. I’ve noticed the flow of the Holy Spirit is stronger during these times, including the weekly Sabbath, Saturday. My writing becomes much more fluid and improved during those times. Though we are not all of the Jewish lineage, we have been grafted in, according to God’s Word. It seems fitting that we, in the very least should acknowledge those feasts. We are coming into the Jewish high holiday season; as an experiment, see if you notice a difference in the power of the Holy Spirit during those holiday feasts.

This year, The Feast of Trumpets spans September 29-October 1

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. Leviticus 23:23-24

September 26

The shift of the light during the fall, brings a perfect glow, especially during the mornings and in the evenings. It filters through the trees and wakes up the day, and then brings it to a close. The shadows shift so that even in Florida, though the heat is oppressive, you can still tell that fall has begun. It may only be a subtle change, but if fall is your season, then any change will do. Just as the earth has seasons, our lives have seasons. As you enter a new season, your view changes, and what was once important, now seems trivial. For instance, when you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you entered a new season. The drinking and rebel rousing become a thing of the past and should no longer bring you pleasure. Within your life in Christ there are also seasons. You begin as a baby and grow to maturity by feeding on God's word. The more mature in Christ you become, the sooner the folly of your youth will fade, and you will set your sight on the good of the future and a more pleasing life following the precepts of God. 

"So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going."  John 12:35

September 25

Have you found what you were looking for? You wake up every day, go to work, or go about your business, eat, drink, sleep, then do it again the next day. What’s the point? To stay alive? If so, for what purpose? Life has no point if you’re not living for Jesus. You chase after a dream in your youth, and once you achieve it, you’re too old to enjoy it. The only thing that makes sense is living a life for Jesus. He gives meaning and purpose to those who love him. You might say that when we die while living for Jesus, our goal is achieved, and that is true, however, you should do your best to live your best life while you have it, by serving him. This world is not easy because it is ruled by the enemy, for now, and because of that, around every turn there are new challenges. If you want to live just to live, go ahead and continue without Jesus, but if you want to make a difference in your life, and change the world around you, then you must live for him. 

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26

September 24

Back in July I sprained my foot and it swelled up like a balloon, and then turned black and blue. It took me a while before I could get back to normal activity, even then a portion of my foot was still swollen. Now it’s September, and we had one of our grandsons over to spend the night and to go to church with us the next day. We have a car seat, and I was transferring it from the truck to my car on Sunday morning, I lost my balance and fell, twisting it again! I laid on the wet ground, crushing some of my caladiums, writhing in pain. I made myself get up, because no one saw me fall. You may say that this was just an accident, but I say that it was part of the enemy's plan to keep us from attending church, because as I laid on the ground dressed, and ready to go, my first thought was that church might be out of the question. I pushed through, got up, change clothes, and went anyway. The enemy lost. We will be fighting him until the end, but he will not win every battle, and he definitely lost the war in the end. Our best life is yet to come, hang in there until Jesus returns.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

September 23

When my son’s father passed away in 1995, I prepared for his funeral. My pastor asked if I wanted the gospel to be presented, and of course my answer was yes. Before he passed, he was quite zealous for Jesus, and was thankful for his salvation. He had lived a rough life, and got caught up in the things of the world, which made his salvation all the more sweeter. He told everyone he knew about Jesus, and when he died, a seed was planted, and a vine began to grow. The funeral was unlike any that I had ever seen, the church was packed to capacity with standing room only! People from all over Florida, and some from out-of-state attended. Then, as expected, the gospel was presented, and we saw the vine produce fruit; hands went up all over the church. It was something that I will never forget. The truth is, that was his second death, because while he lived, he had died to self, and lived for Jesus. When he met Jesus the day of his passing, I know he heard the beautiful words, “well done.” Live your best life and die to self by living for Jesus.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

September 22

Mary took a pound of expensive ointment, and poured it over Jesus’s head, and then wiped his feet with her hair. He said that the whole world would be told what she had done. Are you so worried about what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear, that you deny giving the Lord what rightfully belongs to him? Do you steal from him by withholding your tithe? The truth is that you are not robbing God, but yourself, he already owns everything, but he gives you the opportunity to trust him, and receive further blessings because of your faithfulness. Judas was in charge of the moneybag and would help himself to whatever he wanted. When you withhold your tithe, you are just like Judas, a thief. Judas was full of greed, and questioned why Mary’s perfume was not sold and given to the poor. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” It is never a waste when you pay your tithe or give an offering. You can look at it like you are anointing Jesus, and should treasure that more than your own material wealth.

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:4-6