September 20

I got up, got moving, and walked five miles on the beach yesterday. I walked past some charming homes of either extremely wealthy people or extremely poor because the cost involved in owning a beachfront home is crazy. Everyone has their own taste when it comes to their residence, and the styles vary from traditional Florida style to modern, to the “why would you build that on the beach in Florida” style. Some people are just plain quirky, and included oddities as decoration, like the people who have mannequins displayed in their yard, one of them has no pants! I’m sure they must have a good reason for it, but I can’t figure it out. Maybe to creep out robbers when they come in the darkness to do their stealing. God made us each different with our own personalities and preferences; if not, then those mannequins wouldn’t be entertaining to see. 

The Bible has one source, the Holy Spirit, but the personalities of the writers differ; that’s why when reading the gospels, you get a slightly different spin to the same story. Remember, the Holy Spirit has a reason for the things he includes and the things he leaves out. I use an app called e-sword that allows me to read them simultaneously, which helps me see the whole story; it’s a great tool to have for in-depth study. Do whatever you can to help you get to know God; the closer you get to him, the less you will concern yourself over what seems like the crumbling of the world around us. He is in our midst, nothing gets past him, and your trust in him is all you need to calm your concerns, and to quail your anxiety.

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