April 18

The children had grown tired of worshiping a God they couldn’t see, so they ventured out for new gods. Because of their disobedience of putting other gods before God, they were punished by being oppressed by Jabin the king of Canaan for twenty years. Deborah, who was the judge and prophetess, instructed Barak to gather men to go down and defeat Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, and return freedom to Israel. God gave Sisera’s army into the hands of Barak, with Deborah by his side, but Sisera got away. It would have been better for him to die by the sword, at the hand of Barak, but instead he hid, cowering under a rug in a tent, only to have a tent peg driven through his skull by a woman, Jael. Now, he will forever be known as being outsmarted by a woman unto death. Who is the hero of this story, Deborah, Barak, or Jael? Non of the above! God had heard the cries of his children who were being oppressed, and he alone designed a way to release them from the hand of their oppressors.

We too must cry out and ask God to release us from the hands of our oppressors, those who are willing to kill innocent babies, and the pre-born. This cannot be allowed to go on; laws giving women the right to sacrifice their young for the sake of convenience is an abomination. Let God hear your voice, keep pressing hard, until the lawless are destroyed, and God will turn our nation around for the better. 

So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. Judges 4:23-24

April 17

Daily praise. Outside my window within view, I have a staghorn fern. I love gardening, but had never desired to have one, until I found one that had been left unattended for years on the ground in the yard of a house we purchased. I cleaned it up, and brought it home. I added chains, and bought an old chair hanger, and re-purposed it for my fern. I’ve had it for less than a year, and it is growing beautifully. A few weeks ago, I noticed something interesting; its leaves look like hands reaching up in praise. So every morning since then, I take notice of it praising the Lord. It reminds me that if I don’t praise him, my plant, without a voice, will. We were made to praise him, so don’t let a day go by without showing admiration to the One who breathes life into you. When Jesus said the rocks will praise him, he wasn’t kidding. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! My daily routine begins with repeating verses from John’s vision in Revelation, and I will often repeat them throughout the day. Memorize a few verses of praise, so you're always equipped to honor him who sits on the throne.

saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 5:12-13

April 16

Darkness is being brought into the light! I’ve been free for too long to allow a power hungry official to step in and take away my rights as an American citizen. I understand the need for protection from the plague, but here’s the thing, we need to protect ourselves, the elderly, and those who don’t have the ability to protect themselves. Those who choose to continue to live as if nothing is going on, take their lives into their own hands, and will have to live with the consequences. How long will we hold the hands of the ignorant? I’ve done my best to stock up on items I need so I can stay home, but there are times I must venture out. Trying to maneuver through people who act like they are invincible becomes a challenge, and it angers me that they are putting my life in danger, but it is still my responsibility to protect myself from careless, and stupid people. I never realized the power of the local officials until this virus; we cannot haphazardly vote in our local elections; they seem to have more power than our constitution! Please do not forget how your representatives voted or governed when they come up for re-election. Vote for those who preserve our freedom, and vote out the tyrants, or we will be like Israel living in Egypt as their slaves.

"For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light." Luke 8:17

April 15

We are living in a time of misunderstandings. This is nothing different than what has happened throughout history, and because of the anxiety it caused, it has often led to war. There are so many conspiracy theories going on right now, that my head is spinning! 

I’m reading Joshua, and the land has all been conquered and divided up among the tribes. Joshua has released the tribes of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to go back to their land across the Jordan. They were so excited to go home that they built a replica of the altar. The other tribes came together to make war because it looks to them as a breach of faith against the Lord, and they didn’t want to suffer through all the plagues from the sins of others, like before. Once they cleared up the misunderstanding, all was well and no blood was shed.

The world is in crisis right now, it is best if we don’t fall for all the conspiracy theories, and stay in prayer, honor God, and fill our days with praise to him. The verse I’ve included is so beautiful, it says, “cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Nothing could be more important right now, than to “cling” to God, and trust that he has everything under control, and not allow our heads to go down the treacherous path of conspiracy! God will thresh out the lies, and shine a bright light on the enemy of the people, trust him.

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

April 14

We are all essential to Jesus! I surveyed my past jobs and realized that I’ve always worked an essential job, according to the new description of essential employees. I’ve worked in a grocery store, doctor's office, bank, and housing. However, my most precious job description is devotional writer, and I don’t get paid in money for doing it. I’m most excited to get up early and meet with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and try to understand which direction he wants me to take his message to his people. Today, I believe he wants me to tell you how essential you are to him. Though you may be sitting at home waiting for the economy to open back up, with worries about how you are going to pay your bills, you can be sure that this time of rest is to rejuvenate you, and make you appreciate all that God has given you. Sit back and relax, your part in the kingdom is no small part, and you are essential in making sure everyone who was invited in, is welcomed, and accepts Jesus as Savior. You may not know about the seeds you’ve planted in this lifetime, or how you cultivated the fertile ground, just know that you did, and people are coming to know Jesus because of you; the details will all be sorted out in Heaven, it’s then you will see all of your good work.

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

April 13

Many people witnessed Jesus’s ascension into heaven, to sit at the right hand of God the Father, and he remains there today. Jesus is on his throne! We can be sure that whatever we are going through, and any trials we may face, he is there to see us through it. It’s more important now than any point in our lives, to be mindful of those who are part of the count of the chosen ones. We don’t know who they are, but he does, so if you hear him call to you to bring a word to someone, resist the urge to disobey his voice. Step out and be bold, be strong, and be courageous; Jesus is with us. Submit to his authority, and you will witness his power as it comes upon you to walk in your calling, and as you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, so others may come to know him as Savior. 

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]] Mark 16:19-20

April 12

When Mary went to the tomb on that early morning, she was expecting to cover Jesus’s body with the spices she had prepared, but instead, it was empty. HE HAD RISEN! She encountered the two angels, but didn’t seem to be alarmed by that, just disturbed that his body wasn’t there. Her heart was broken, and she was disappointed. Then she heard a voice, saw him, but didn’t recognize him or his voice until he called her name. 

Isn’t it funny that before we came to know Jesus, we knew of him, but until he called our name, we didn’t recognize him? Many people know of him, but not everyone has their eyes opened to see him as Savior and King. It’s not until he makes his presence known that we even notice how sinful we are; his presence makes us aware. Think about him today, as you remember how blessed we are to know him, and that he called our name out of the darkness, and into his light.

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). John 20:14-16