Saturday, August 27, 2022

August 27, 2022

Richard got the last two cows penned last night. He has carefully attended to them since his dad passed away in January, but he didn’t want to be responsible for them anymore. There is some good news in this; a local couple that raises Angus and Brangus cattle in our area has agreed to rotate their cattle into our pastures. I must admit I’m a bit sad to see them go; I guess I’ve lost my hard, country girl shell and become soft in my older age. However, I’m looking forward to seeing all black cows every day; besides, these cows have all been lovingly raised and are calm and gentle. Hopefully, they will let me pet them, which is also not something I’ve ever wanted to do. I will blame my character change on Jesus; he has made me a softy for all living creatures. Here’s the lesson: if you do not see a difference within yourself because of Jesus, you may need to assess what you may be doing to undo the work God is trying to accomplish in your life. There might be something you need to tweak or a sin that needs to be cleaned up. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Friday, August 26, 2022

August 26, 2022

Do you ever feel like you don’t honor God enough? Sometimes I reflect and wonder if I’ve thought about him enough throughout my day. I begin my day with him, but how do I keep that momentum? Many years ago, I started seeing a series of numbers. I would see them everywhere. They would come up on license plates, advertisements, road signs, phone numbers, you name it, and I saw them several times a day. I wasn’t sure who was making me aware of these numbers, so to counteract any plans the enemy might have for me concerning them, I began praying scripture every time I saw them. That’s when I realized it was God who was using those numbers as a way to make me pay attention to what was going on. It helps me to engage with him regularly throughout my day. Then this year happened! And those numbers are everywhere! That hasn’t stopped me from praying when I see those numbers, but it has made me wonder what God has in store for the rest of this year. Whatever he may have planned is not my business, but staying in touch with him is my business. So today, ask God to give you something that will help remind you to talk to him throughout your day. We don’t want to forget about him as we get caught up in the monotony of daily living. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thursday, August 25, 2022

August 25, 2022

Many people seek to become famous, but at what cost? Jeremiah is one of the most famous prophets of the Old Testament, but he was hated by kings and noblemen of that day. Not only that, but he wasn’t famous during his time on earth. He’s only known to us because God chose to use him to deliver a message to his people, and that message became part of our Bible. I would venture to guess that most people of celebrity status have taken an oath to another god who promised to give them fame at the cost of their servitude. In plain language, they are Satan worshippers. They are not limited to movie and television stars. I’m very cautious of famous preachers; what did they have to do to make it on TV or social media? Who have they bowed down to in return for their fame? Some of the best preachers and teachers I’ve sat under do not have a large congregation but produce some of the most meaningful and sound teachings I’ve ever heard. The others have a form of godliness but deny its power. This message is cautionary, so you carefully select the preachers you listen to or watch on television. It doesn’t matter if they are the ones who pay to be televised; it’s about who is providing those funds. I’m not talking about live streaming services; my caution is about television preachers you know by name. It’s best to go to church, hear your preacher and see their fruit for yourself. I wish this weren’t true, but the more I dig into the Word of God, the more this truth becomes unveiled.

having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:5

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

August 24, 2022

After planting a garden a couple of months ago, I finally got to pick some peas. I felt like I had entered a new era; the last time I picked peas was when I was a kid because my dad always had a garden and still does. So I picked, shelled, and cooked them, and they were delicious. It was a process to get to harvest. I thought it would be easy, but it wasn’t. After clearing the ground, creating rows, planting the seeds, and watering daily, I had to fight the pests. As soon as my plants began growing, I had something munching on their leaves and had to treat them with 7-Dust. After they got a little bigger and started producing peas, I noticed that aphids were causing the growth of the new leaves to stunt. I had to rinse off every bush to get rid of them. I didn’t even mention the weeds! That’s still a fight that I seem to be losing. Not only that, but I get bit by ants every time I try and pull weeds. And that, my friends, is a picture of our lives as followers of Christ. These same trials and tribulations exist as we set our minds to follow him. It’s work. It’s a fight. It isn’t easy, but the harvest is tasty and delicious and worth every ounce of energy and effort we put into our commission to go and tell the world about Jesus. You’ll slay a few pests along the way, and believe me, they will keep coming, but there isn’t anything else I would rather be doing with my time here on earth. God is good so keep moving forward with your mission.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

August 23, 2022

It’s primary day in Florida; make sure you vote! It takes a little effort to make sure you vote for the right person; I spent last night looking up each person on the ballot hoping to find clues into their character. Before I made my selection, I prayed for God to guide me through this process and show me things that would help me in my decision. I become very judgmental during this process of elimination. If the candidate wasn’t raised in Florida, they are out. We have too many people coming into Florida getting into our business when they know nothing about it. I do everything I can to find out if they are a Christ-follower. I also want to know if they are family oriented; how can they make a good decision about family issues if they can’t place themselves in the same situation. If any of them voted for the lockdowns in 2020, they are out, a least that’s the way I’m voting. We must take this process seriously. These people are making decisions that effect us, so we need to be responsible enough to choose carefully who will represent us. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you to make the right decision. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Monday, August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

Richard and I have jumped from house to house over the last several years. In my mind, I had specific criteria and expectations that I felt our home should meet. It never had anything to do with the interior design because Richard can fix anything. It was always about the land and something so simple as a fruit tree and maybe a water feature, but the fruit tree would be the sign. I knew if it had that, it would be the perfect place. I didn’t pray for it, but God heard my thoughts and checked off all my boxes, things that weren’t on my list! Did I know what I truly wanted? Of course not, but God did. Now we are settled on a property where I never imagined living. God knew I would love it. As for Richard, it brought him back home to a place his dad built from the ground up, and he loves it too. 

Call on God, and he will answer you and tell you things you didn’t know. Delight yourself in him, and he will give you the desires of your heart.


Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3


Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

Sunday, August 21, 2022

August 21, 2022

Poor Jeremiah. He was locked away in prison because they didn't like his prophecy. But they were so intrigued by what he had to say that they moved him to the court of the prison where the elders and the king's officers might consult him with greater ease. He spoke out against the government, and they threw him in jail! Has anybody here been put in Facebook prison for speaking out and telling the truth? Facebook has become boring since it started cracking down and limiting free speech. I tread carefully in my post by trying to avoid certain words that might get caught in the algorithm, so my voice continues to stand out, but I still get censored occasionally. I haven't been banned from Facebook but have received limitations and had posts shadow banned from the newsfeed. I prayed for years for God to give me a voice, and I'm not about to lose it because of petty censorship. Jeremiah didn't stop saying what God told him just because they imprisoned him. They may not have liked what he said, but he still said it, whether or not it cost him his life; he wasn't going to disobey God. We should be as bold as Jeremiah and speak out so that all people hear the truth of God's word. 

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: Jeremiah 33:1-2