November 5, 2022

There is a point in your life where you must let go of your past and move on. Yes, people have hurt you, but it’s time to forgive them, not for their sake but for your own. It’s okay to be selfish; you need closure, but they aren’t a part of it; this is about you. The pain they’ve caused you probably doesn’t bother them, and I doubt they ever give you a second thought. Time heals most things, but sometimes the pain runs deep, and time doesn’t soften it. That’s when you know this pain is too immense for you to handle. When you’ve done all you can, it’s time to hand it over to God and ask him for his healing touch. When Jesus was here on earth in the flesh, he tried to teach us how to be free and leave our cares in his hands. Don’t take his sacrifice lightly; not only did he wash away our sins, but he took upon himself all of our burdens, even the ones we are carrying right now. Today, ask God to heal you so you can move on with your life and live free.

As I finished writing this, I had to pray for myself, realizing that I have some things from my past that I haven’t released. I then asked God how I could tell others to do this when I haven’t even conquered this myself. Then he showed me this portion of scripture where Paul writes: 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

Originally written November 5, 2019 

November 4, 2022

When I think back on my life and where I would be if I had gone down a different path, I can’t even imagine it. God placed the pieces perfectly to put me where I am now. Thirty-two years ago is a prime example of God’s hand in my life; I delivered a beautiful baby boy that brought me joy. He looked perfect but was very sick when he was born and ended up staying in the hospital for nine days. I later found out from a pediatrician that he could have died. They didn’t tell me that in the hospital; I cried. What is God’s purpose for him? He’s fulfilled part of it; he helped me through one of the most challenging times in my life by being there. That’s not all. We were both spared the dreadful disease that killed his dad, and we are grateful God saved our lives. When the enemy tries to take you out before you get started, you know that God’s plan for you is greatness. He was the missing piece that perfected the family when I married Richard. The children’s ages were 4, 6, and 7, and Zachary was 5. I brought balance to the family, and Zachary filled a void. We are very proud of his accomplishments, and he’s barely getting started. 

Happy Birthday, Zachary! The world is a better place because of you. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

November 3, 2022

Yesterday, my sister-in-love and I went shopping to find the perfect dress for a wedding she is planning to attend. We had so much fun! They had all their fall and winter lines on display, so it was easy pickings!

Reading John 20 this morning, I wondered where Jesus got his clothes. It says he left his grave clothes behind in the tomb, so what was he wearing? There is a lot of significance in this portion of scripture.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. John 20:6-7

Jesus was perfectly pure, unblemished by sin, yet he left his grave clothes behind. Shouldn't we follow his example? We are filthy in sin, so our grave clothes are dirty. We should have changed into our wedding clothes when we accepted him as our Savior. We are now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus and should never look back at the grave and the sin that put us there. Prepare for the wedding; he's coming back soon to collect his bride.

Side note: I don’t know the little girl in the photo, but my niece is standing behind her. The picture attached is one of my favorite photos. It seems she’s had enough and is ready to get this show on the road (as we say in the South). I concur. I’m ready for Jesus to come back and take control as King. Notice the cow? 😂 

November 2, 2022

Why do we doubt the sincerity of Jesus? He did not mince his words and was who he said he was. Pilate knew who he was, yet he sought to wield power over him by telling him that he had the authority to release him rather than crucify him. Can you imagine God standing before you and acting as though you could control him? We do it every day when we pray, telling God what he must do rather than asking him to fulfill our needs. 

So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:10-11

I love that he said he was sinning, though it was not as great as the one who sent him to Pilate. Yes, you can ask anything in Jesus’s name, and he will do it, he said so, but I believe those kinds of prayers are humble prayers and that we remember his deity as we ask. Jesus is our friend, and we can speak to him openly and confide in him, but we must keep in mind that he is also God. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 1 Peter 5:6

November 1, 2022

The takeover by Elon Musk uncovered that Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms colluded with the government to censor critical information about the candidates in the elections. They suppressed valuable information about some of them but allowed lies to continue about others. That’s part of the reason we have a corrupt president who has sold us out to the highest bidder. If you don’t understand how the enemy works, consider how governments are run under his authority; it’s a shambles! I think the Lord allows him to run with his ideas to show the world how ridiculous it is to trust Satan and his cronies; believe me, that is who’s running our government right now. We can tell the liberals the truth until we are blue in the face, but they won’t listen; God has hardened their hearts. 

Jesus is the Truth! As his followers, we must listen to the Holy Spirit, not rely on our own conclusions by becoming part of the lies being strewn. Look intently at each candidate, verify the information coming from their lips and vote only for the ones whose ideas most closely resemble biblical truths; our freedom depends on it.

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

October 31, 2022

The horrifying faces representing monsters and scary things you see in movies reveal the true nature of the demonic. However, that is not how they will appear to you. They will lure you in with their beauty and capture you with their cunningness. They will lie to you and promise you the world, but they can’t deliver. Only God knows your heart’s desire and is the only one who can fill the emptiness. The problem is that most people don’t seek him. When you’ve had enough of the dark side and want true peace that lasts more than a night, call out to Jesus. Until you trust your life to him, every prayer you pray will go unheard by him, but the demons hear it, know your struggle, and will keep piling onto your problems. There is only one way out of the tragedy of this world, and that’s through Jesus. Trust him with your life, and he will come to your rescue.

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:2-3

October 30, 2022

My husband and I, along with his sister and brother-in-law, attended a youth steer show and sale at the Tampa Fair Grounds yesterday. When I walked in, it was as if I had stepped back in time. Little did I know when I was a kid that I would cherish the moments I spent in the show barn showing steers. My dad had also shown cattle at his youth fair when he was a kid, so he ensured my sister, brother, and I had that same experience. It makes me feel like I did a disservice to my children by not taking them down that same path; I’ll bet it would have made a difference in their lives as it did mine. However, at the time, rather than remembering all the good things about it, I remembered having to get up early while it was still dark and making sure they had feed and water, whether it was raining or not. Cleaning a muddy stall was not my favorite thing either, and knowing my kids, I probably would have had to live it all over again. Anyway, that’s my excuse.

Here’s some truth; anything worth having takes work—even childhood experiences. Look back at your childhood and remember 4-H, FFA, baseball, football, cheerleading, and other events your parents may have involved you in; it all takes time and work, but we are all better humans because of it. God is that same way; he wants us to have a meaningful life and challenges us to follow his lead. One day we will look back on the trials and tribulations we underwent and feel grateful for those experiences because they put us on a path that led us straight into his arms. I call that success.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33