Saturday, October 3, 2020

October 3

 

If you don’t know Jesus, my posts are not for you. I’ve been sent to minister to the lost “Christians” to help them renew their faith, or even gain trust that they never had. If you learn something and accept Jesus as your Savior through these posts, then good, I will then help you strengthen your faith.

If you are happy, or even smirking over the situation going on in our country and the illness our president is facing, you are not saved, so keep scrolling, and remove me from your list of friends; we don’t see eye-to-eye.


To the followers of Christ: How serious are you about Jesus? I’ve watched those whom I thought trusted in him fall apart over the situation going on right now in politics, the terrible debate, and now President Trump and Melania with COVID. The lack of faith in the Christian community is astounding! Are we going to fall in line with the evil people of this world and trust man over God? Last night I watched as a news commentator nearly began to cry as she told of how nasty people were over the president’s illness; she almost had me in tears! I am concerned about his health too, but I also know that God is in charge. God loves me; he is my protector, my counselor, my peace in the chaos, and the one whom I place all my trust. I’m blown away by the lack of faith. If you are distraught, get over it! Cry out to Jesus to help you shore up your faith and trust in him, and then get on with your life.


He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Matthew 15:24-27


Look it up if you want the rest of the story.

Friday, October 2, 2020

October 2

Have you ever felt refreshed and exhausted at the same time? My husband and I have worked hard while here in the mountains, but somehow, though we are both quite tired, the cold air, the trees, and the scenery have left us feeling energized. We are heading back home today, and though it’s been nice, it will be good to get back to our routine and our own bed. 

I get this same feeling after waking up early to meet with the Lord. I may feel too tired to get up, but once I begin digging into his Word, I become refreshed and rejuvenated. Reach out to Jesus, even when you don’t feel like muttering a word; he will give you the will and the energy to continue doing the things you need to do. 


Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Thursday, October 1, 2020

October 1

One of the things that makes me happy is gardening and landscaping. We are still in the mountains. Because we aren’t here very often, the yard if you can call it that, has become overgrown. Near the bottom of the mountain, there is a waterfall, but because of the overgrowth, you could barely see it. I intended to cut away the branches overhanging the staircase so we could easily get through, but after seeing how amazing it looked by only cutting a few, I couldn’t stop. I spent the entire afternoon cutting down and trimming trees off the side of a mountain with a small clipper and a saw, all the way down to the waterfall. The transformation is dramatic! 

Jesus has transformative power, and it only takes our willingness and trust in him to receive it. Like the waterfall, there is a flood of powerful living water that’s available to us when we submit to his will. The transformation is similar to the mountain submitting to my will and tools when I cleared out a few trees and weeds; it opened up a whole new view.


And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Matthew 14:35-36

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

September 30

The cabin in the mountains is a new environment, and I’m not used to the layout of the house. When I got up this morning, I couldn’t see anything; it was dark without a glimmer of light to be seen. I felt my way past the bed, but after that, I was on my own. Suddenly, I found the door by running right into it! After opening it, I felt free to move and ran into another wall and nearly put my eye out. Now that’s a rude awakening! I’m surprised I didn’t wake up the whole house. 

When Jesus came into the world, he became our glimmer of light in the darkness. Imagine the people who’ve never heard of him; they are just like my experience this morning, groping around in the dark, running into walls, and doors, with no light marking their way. Jesus had compassion for people like these, and healed as many as were brought to him, and gave them food to satisfy their appetite and spiritual sustenance to nourish their soul. Remember, you may be the only light someone sees; refuse to allow your testimony to be tainted by unfruitful works, because you may be the only thing that stands between that person and the darkness of hell.


When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

September 29

When my father-in-law purchased the mountain cabin, it came with all the furnishings. He’s probably owned it for ten years and hasn’t changed a thing. Each time we come, he comes with us, and he likes to keep everything! The last couple of times, we traveled without him, and it has allowed me to sort through some of the old stuff. The last time we came, I sorted through the kitchen, and there were four or five pitchers for beverages, an assortment of ancient small appliances that had seen better days, and an abundance of other things that we didn’t need. This time I’m going through the closets; I’ve only seen more blankets than what we have here in stores! The woman who lived here before us was a packrat! Up until yesterday, it had curtains that were lace ruffled with fabric from that 80’s style country decor; they were so old that the material stuck to the curtain rods! I hope he doesn’t get mad when he notices that they are gone! It’s amazing how refreshing it is to get rid of the things of the past. 

When Jesus comes to rule in his kingdom, he will send angels to sort the people and remove the evil ones who’ve been allowed to grow with the good; much like I’m sorting out the good stuff from the bad stuff. The old stuff, much like the evil of the world, will be gathered and eventually be burned. Then the righteous will shine like the sun.


The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like th

Monday, September 28, 2020

September 28

 

I’m sitting in the mountains of Georgia right now at a little cabin in the woods that belongs to my father-in-law. It sits right on the side of a mountain, and it is constantly wet here, so the mold grows rapidly on the stairways and walkways. The first order of business was to clean those areas with bleach to keep us from slipping and falling. We had a method to our madness and needed to get it done before the rain so that it could wash away all the debris and filth. It’s incredible what bleach can do; the number of walkways compared to the amount of bleach it took to get the process started can be compared to a little leaven added to flour that causes the dough to rise; not very much. 

For those of you who think you’re not doing enough for the Kingdom of Heaven, let me stop you from feeling guilty. All it takes is a word or phrase to spark a heart of sin. That spark can sit there a while, working into full-grown repentance, and all it took was a simple word from you. People will fill Heaven that came to know Jesus because of your obedience to speak what the Holy Spirit placed on your heart. What’s funny is, you may not even know what you said that brought about their salvation; it works secretly within them and manifests into the most beautiful thing a person could receive. 


Just as we planned, it’s raining this morning, washing away the filth and making it all new again.


He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33

Sunday, September 27, 2020

September 27

We planted a crepe myrtle tree a few months ago. It was grown in a nursery in the shade amid other trees of its same size and protected from the overwhelming harshness of the sun. It was very well taken care of in the nursery and looks healthy and robust, but in the late-day sun, it begins to wilt; this is a twelve-foot tall tree! As soon as I notice, I rush out and give it some water, hoping the water will help it survive the trauma. Just as my crepe myrtle tree, we were grown with special care; then we were planted in this world to bring life to it. With all that’s going on in the world, I feel like we might be wilting under the pressures of today, but God, with all his love keeps giving us a drink of the Living Water to quench our thirst and give us hope. Don’t wait until you are entirely exasperated to reach out and take a drink from the cup of Living Water; drink often, so you don’t become dry and brittle.


but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14