September 10, 2022

Yesterday, I cleaned out one of the many barns on the property. Within the next couple of months, we will begin remodeling the house and need a place to store all our stuff. This barn is relatively new, so I thought the bugs hadn't moved in yet, but I was wrong! I moved a box and out came an enormous spider, the biggest I had ever seen! As big as a tarantula! It was just a wolf spider, and they are harmless, but they can cause such a scare that you harm yourself trying to get away from them. After consolidating all the stuff into one area, I decided to use the blower to clear the floor of the dirt and debris. I didn't think there was much dirt, but when I began, the fine dust created a thick cloud that looked like smoke from a fire. It seemed clean until I started stirring up the dust. 

Doesn't this story remind you our what's going on in our country and worldwide? We were living our lives in harmony, then something evil decided to rear its ugly head, and now the dust is stirred, and the creepy spiders come running from their hiding place. The world has caught on to the sinister plan to take over, and God is cleaning house! A lot is happening right now; keep praying for the nations and for Jesus to command his angels concerning his people.

Another point, don't hurt yourself trying to get away from those creepy spiders; remember, we have Jesus.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Psalms 91:11-13

September 9, 2022

As a person who likes everything neatly pulled together, I've learned to tolerate the messy. I can see a pattern in my behavior that goes back to my childhood. One Sunday, I had to go to Sunday school without socks, and I was devastated and remembered it like it was yesterday. I like to look good and want everything surrounding me to look good, and I continue to strive for that daily. However, since the beginning of this year, God has taken me in a direction that pushes me to the limits of my tolerance. I realize now that he was breaking me of perfectionism and teaching me to embrace my surroundings even though it lacks perfection. I've had to relent and allow him to be in control. How can we see him move in our lives if we control everything? It has been a good lesson for me. If we want perfection, it's only available in God through our Savior, Jesus. This world is messy, and so are my surroundings. The training process is slow, and I'm sure it's not over yet, but at least I now recognize what he's doing. Not only is he teaching me to surrender to him, but he is giving me things to write about and lessons to share. We are only perfect in Jesus; surrender to him and make life easier on yourself.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

September 8, 2022

Be at peace. With all the turmoil surrounding us and the world in chaos, leave your worries to God. As I watch the things going on in society, I’m becoming increasingly shocked; so much so that I am beginning to think we are watching a movie. Are these things really happening? Let’s look back at a couple of clues. Most recently, the raid on Mar-lag-o seemed pretty comical in how it was handled with the leaked photos and the Newsweek magazine cover displayed as a part of their props. Not only that, but our president is a laughing stock internationally. If you look beyond our borders at the new health minister for the UK, she’s obese and smokes cigars. What we are seeing cannot be real. Sit back and relax; depend only on God. He’s the only one we can count on in these perilous days. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

September 7, 2022

If we are nearing the return of Christ, and much of the prophecies show that we are, we must begin to unshackle ourselves from everything God hates. We do not want to get caught in the crossfire of God's anger. God has given us plenty of information on what displeases him and a Savior to hide within to protect us from his wrath, but we must repent and abstain from any further commingling of good and evil. Focus on pleasing Jesus; less of you, more of him. I see too many preachers and teachers teaching us to focus our efforts on pleasing ourselves and pointing us to "self-care." If we look to Jesus, he will care for and protect us, but we must stay repentant. Babylon in Jeremiah's prophecy was destroyed, but the destruction of Babylon in John's prophecy in Revelation is still waiting in the wings, but it's coming! Wait for it, for it will surely come. “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

“Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the LORD! Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler. Jeremiah 51:45-46

September 6, 2022

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.” Jeremiah 50:34

I believe the inhabitants of Babylon are now scattered throughout the world, wreaking havoc on every nation. They present their affliction to make you think they are doing good and are trying to save the earth when they are likely trying to force their control and enslave the nations. However, there is good news; our Redeemer is strong! We will be at rest while the inhabitants of Babylon squirm. You can see them scrambling to retrieve their control here in the United States, but it’s slipping out of their hands. People are becoming aware of their treasonous acts. They have come sharply against the good and excuse the evil among themselves. Their lawlessness has increased and is out of control. Our Redeemer sees and knows all and will not let them get away with what they are doing to oppress his people. No matter what they believe, we will win. We are the children of the One true God! 

September 5, 2022

We are making progress around the house. Many things were left to deteriorate simply because Richard’s dad grew tired of trying to keep up with them by himself. Little by little, we are bringing the beauty he created back to its original glory. A while back, I wrote about the dock to the gazebo over the pond being in poor shape with rotted wooden boards; we finally found someone to replace them. Soon, I won’t have to risk my life walking out there. Maintenance is essential for everything valuable, whether it be cars, equipment, houses, clothing, you name it; we have a role to play in maintaining it. However, the most valuable thing we have is Jesus; many of us don’t value that relationship enough. If we want to keep our relationship strong, we must participate; it is not one-sided; even though Jesus has done most of the work, we need to stay in communication with him by praying to him every day. We must grow to love and adore him like we would a spouse. I don’t know many relationships that could last without communication or adoration. Do your part to help create a solid relationship. The benefits are beyond anything you could ever imagine.

His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Song of Solomon 5:16

September 4, 2022

Whatever you do for the LORD, put your heart into it. I’m still in the book of Jeremiah; it’s very long, and I am ready to move into another book, but this verse stood out today: 

“Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. Jeremiah 48:10

We are not in a war that requires bloodshed yet. However, we are at war, but our sword is the Bible. If ever there was a verse that cut to the core of what we are witnessing in modern-day evangelism, it's this verse. Many of God's servants, preachers, and evangelists, have held back from telling the truth about the wrath of God, and many people will fall victim because of their slackness. Yes, God loves us, but people must accept Jesus as Savior and turn away from their sinfulness. Many preachers are careful not to offend, so they refrain from telling the whole truth. I get it; they are probably trying to keep from becoming censored or canceled. But, I would rather be canceled by the media and other cronies than come under God's curse because I was a slacker and didn't use my sword to cut to the core of the truth. Now is not the time to be gentle. It's time to overturn the tables of the money changers and drive the animals out of the temple. Use your sword; slice through to the core; it may be what's required for the sleepyheads to hear the truth about the ongoing situation happening worldwide. 

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. John 2:14-15