Saturday, February 25, 2023

February 25, 2023

If I didn’t know better, I would think that Paul lived during our time. His experiences show that what is happening now is nothing different than what was happening during his time. The total disregard for the natural order, the way God intended, was as rampant as it is today. We think depraved minds are new, but we are dealing with the same entity that crept in and sullied the people today and back then. God gave them up to their twisted ways, and they received their due penalty; I expect the same thing to happen today with the people who engage in unnatural acts. 

I don’t set out to write about these issues, but the Bible seems to touch on it quite often, making it an important point to discuss. It is wrong for a Christian to engage in this kind of conduct. The problem with people outside the church engaging in these acts is that, for some weird reason, they want the church to approve of their behavior. God does not approve of such conduct; therefore, the church cannot approve. Keep spreading the gospel; hopefully, such people will accept Jesus and change their ways.


For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:26-27

Friday, February 24, 2023

February 24, 2023

I am not a proper farmer. I get up early and go out in my pajamas and flip-flops to tend to my garden and end up getting filthy and coming back in with dirty toes. I try to keep my hands clean by wearing gloves, but I sometimes forget to put them on and end up having dirt all under my nails. It’s a good thing that I’m washable! Living in this world, we will inevitably get some of its filth on us if we don’t stay properly clothed in Jesus.

With this world so full of variables, isn’t it nice to know that God never changes? We can always count on him to be consistent in his dealings, and even though we are unworthy of his grace and mercy, he found it in his heart to give us Jesus to hide within and cover our filth in his purity. Make sure you Armor-up and clothe yourself in Jesus before you go out and tend to your business. He will keep you clean and worthy.


For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3


If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Thursday, February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

Have you ever caught the sweet smell of orange blossoms as you passed by an orange grove? It is an intoxicating scent and a delight to the senses. I was walking through the yard and didn’t realize one of the trees was blooming and got a whiff of a most wonderful gift. When there are troubled days, and everything seems to be going wrong, God will sometimes remind you to slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy a moment of bliss, even if only for a few seconds. Don’t let today pass you by without seeing or smelling God’s wonderful creation; he always provides something for our delight. We can rejoice in the works of his hand and praise him for allowing us to partake in its revelation. May God bless you today and open your senses to his amazing creation.

Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Many people in government are headed to hell for their involvement in the fleecing of America. If you listen to the news and social media, our country may be headed toward war. It’s just another way to funnel money into the pockets of the bureaucrats. In the meantime, we are paying more for gas, food, and other vitally important things. On top of that, they send our money to help overseas, but the people at home suffer from chemical spills, numerous train derailments, and other tragedies but can’t get help. Is the government to blame for these attacks? It’s happening in rural America; is someone trying to make it easy to grab farmland at a lower price and run the people into the cities? Or could it be because our borders are open to anyone considering harming Americans? Whatever the case may be, everyone should be prepared. Stay in constant contact with the Lord. Pray for the people suffering at the hands of our government and others. We would want their prayers if we were the ones suffering. More than that, everyone should be ready for heaven if God decides to call us home. Don’t wait any longer to share God’s forgiveness through Jesus. We don’t want anyone we love dying without knowing him.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

February 21, 2022

Last week, I started some seedlings in pots; I had some petunias, sweet peas, and a few other things growing. I got up yesterday, and something had been eating them. I had to find a way to keep the critters out of them. The starter packs came with clear plastic lids, so I got the bright idea to cover them with the lids. When I returned home later in the afternoon, the sun had cooked all the plants. I had stacked disappointment on top of disappointment and was devastated. Okay, I know what your thinking; they’re only plants. I know, but I was excited to add them to my garden as vegetable companion plants. Besides that, I was looking forward to having beautiful colors in my garden, and growing them from seeds was satisfying. My day started sadly and ended badly, but I’m determined and will start them again, but this time I need a better plan. You live, and you learn. 

How do you handle disappointment? Do you shut down or pick yourself up and try again? In many cases, giving up is not an option. When God gave me the word persevere for this year, I knew I would face challenges, and how I react to the challenges I face will determine if I’m a fighter or a coward. I’m no coward! The plants were just a test; I pray my challenges don’t get any more complicated than this, but if they do, I will sleep in my armor and keep going. I encourage you to stay steadfast and unmovable and look straight ahead when facing adversity. Stand firm, mighty warriors of God! God is in control, but you determine your reaction.


Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Monday, February 20, 2023

February 20, 2023

When I was a child, my friend Tammy and I would play in the creek beside her house. We had so much fun pretending, digging in the mud, and getting filthy. Not much has changed about me besides growing up; I still like playing in the dirt and enjoying the mud and water with my grand-babies. How funny is it that we think we are grown? We may not believe the same way we did when we were children, but we still don’t know the things of God as fully as we will when all things are perfected upon Jesus’s return. I believe we will realize that we were merely going through the motions of living in somewhat of a fog, and some things, if not all, that we placed value on will then be considered ridiculous; however, if we want something that lasts, we should set our minds to love. We can carry love into eternity; our earthy possessions will deteriorate, but love endures forever. 

Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:8a


So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Sunday, February 19, 2023

February 19, 2023

My vegetable garden is looking pretty good. However, yesterday, I noticed I was missing three okra plants; there was no sign that anything had eaten them, and no dead plant was lying there. I’m not sure what happened to them. I have a few plants that I can move to replace them because I want the whole bed to be complete. Because the okra plants are missing, they aren’t going to produce anything, so I must replace them and put an active plant in their place. The Bible tells us that each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good and that the body does not consist of one member but of many, and those members have different gifts but the same Spirit. I believe that if you don’t use your gifts for the common good and they are missing from the body or are laying dormant within you, God will find someone who has the same gift who will use it to benefit the church, thus replacing you like my empty spots in the garden where my three okra plants disappeared. The church needs you to stay active in your gifting so it stays healthy and works as God intended.

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11