Saturday, December 4, 2021

December 4

For years, refrigerators have been making ice and distributing water without the need for a filter. Now, manufacturers have devised a plan to keep money coming in from the new refrigerators by making them beep and make noise when the filter requires replacement. The obnoxiousness makes you give in and purchase a replacement, so you don’t have to hear it. Think of other money-making schemes that need us to pay to keep things running correctly. 

What about your own body? I know people who’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol who must go to the doctor at least once a year to get a new prescription for statins. The doctor makes money, the pharmacy makes money, and the manufacturer makes money. Is it really cholesterol that causes heart problems, or could it be the processed food? Are the manufacturers in on this scheme together? Follow the money to the top, and you will see that they are. 


The Bible doesn’t talk about anyone needing continuous medications to stay alive, and they lived much longer than we do. Spend some time in thought instead of allowing others to think for you. We’ve allowed our thinking time to be replaced by television and technology, and we don’t use our brain the way God created it. Put down the mobile device and turn off the tv, and think for yourself for a moment.


Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 2 Timothy 2:7


If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Friday, December 3, 2021

December 3

What gives you the most joy? In addition to my family and friends, I get the most satisfaction from gardening, being near the water, and frolicking in nature. I love seeing the birds and other wildlife, the plants and their blooms, and the magnificence of trees and the nature that surrounds them. All of these God’s hand has made and has given them to us to enjoy. In addition, I like to eat, which is also a specialty of God since he created all the food that feeds us. I’m most grateful to him for sending Jesus to give us a way to cleanse us from our sin. So, you see, the most precious things to me are gifts from God. Think about your life and journey deep into your heart and see what is most important to you; I would venture to guess that they are gifts that only God could give you. The rest of it is just a way for us to pass the time until we meet him in the flesh. 

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:16-18

Thursday, December 2, 2021

December 2

My grandson, who is not quite two yet, is full of life. I got to watch him for a bit yesterday while his mom ran errands. He had just gotten up from a nap when she dropped him off, so I made him a snack. I turned my back for a few seconds, which happens to be a long time for a toddler, and he managed to get out the door. He was very stealthy. I started calling for him, and he yelled at me from just outside the door; I had shown him the doorbell earlier, and I think he was trying to push the button. Thank goodness he didn’t die under my watch! I learned my lesson. God bless his mom and dad; they are going to run themselves ragged, keeping him alive. 


Do you think God looks at us that way sometimes? We do some foolish things that keep him running. He leaves us on our own for 2 seconds, and we destroy the things he put in place to keep us safe. Don’t blame God for the mess you made of your life; he is there to watch over you, but when you do things outside of the perimeters he set, like the closed door for my grandbaby, life will go sideways very quickly. God placed boundaries in your heart and his Word, don’t venture beyond them!


Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

December 1

Welcome to December! Let’s hope the madness ends with the coming of the new year! I’m not going to hold my breath, though. It may seem trying to traverse all the ills of this day and age, but let me remind you that you were allowed to live during this time in history for a reason, even if it’s only to trust Jesus and hold fast to him. We have much to look forward to, not only the promise of heaven but living our daily lives with the power of the truth on our side. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, though we have prophecy as our guide, we can rest assured that whether we live in the flesh or move on to eternity, joy awaits because we are the beloveds of our King and Savior, and he wants only the best for us. Hold tight to Jesus while he refines us with fire and purifies us with his blood. 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

November 30

Why do you like the things you like? The clothes you wear, the decor of your home, the things you buy? I’ve never understood why a plastic-covered canvas bag is worth more than a leather bag; does that even make sense? A natural item given to us by God for our use, and we prefer a man-made, manufactured object over the simple beauty of leather. Why? Because the wealthy are carrying it! It makes us lowly peasants want to pursue it even though we cannot afford it. God help us; we’re stupid. God is speaking to me today! I’m guilty! How do we stop the madness? Ask God for wisdom. 

Solomon asked God for discernment between good and evil, and God not only gave him wisdom, but because he asked for such a good thing, he gave him more riches than anyone who has ever lived, and yet, his attire was still not as beautiful as the lilies of the field. If you are pursuing something other than wisdom, stop! Let God give you discernment, and then maybe you won’t care about wealth because you will focus on godly pursuits.


For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. James 1:11

Monday, November 29, 2021

November 29

“Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” Today, I selfishly prayed for God to increase my wisdom. Then, I got to thinking, I’ve prayed this prayer before, and he increased it a measure, but then I thought, the world needs wisdom to help debunk the lies spewed everywhere. So, in addition to praying for my own wisdom, I prayed for God to increase the wisdom of the gullible. Once the world wakes up, we can get on with our lives and put the culprits to this ongoing disaster in jail, where they belong. Let’s pray this prayer together today, “LORD, please increase the wisdom of the people so that they won’t fall for the schemes of the devil. Would you please move forward with your plan for Jesus to come and rule and reign? In Jesus's name, Amen.” Pray this prayer in faith, and maybe we can walk away from the new fake mutant scheme unscathed. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

Sunday, November 28, 2021

November 28

I’ll never forget my broken-hearted five-year-old the day his dad passed away. I didn’t think he understood what was happening until he accidentally broke one of the wise men from the nativity set sitting on the fireplace hearth. He burst into tears and thought he had ruined the whole thing. It still makes me tear up just thinking about it. From that point on, I quit displaying the wise men when I set out a nativity set for Christmas, and, if you think about it, they were not there for the birth of Jesus; it was about a year later. This year, for the first time in 26 years, I decided to display that particular nativity set; I hadn’t even looked at it for all those years. When I noticed the missing wise man, the memories of that day flooded back. That was a rough time in our lives, but I grew in the LORD immensely during that time; I had to rely on him; he was all I had. There was no superhero to swoop in and save the day; it was Jesus who got me through it. Since then, I have grown stronger in my walk, depending on him every step of the way. 

If you are struggling right now, rely on Jesus, he will get you through. You will persevere and learn to depend on him for everything. He’s all we have, but he’s all we need.


Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3