Saturday, October 12, 2024

October 12, 2024

The water that overtook our land is slowly starting to recede. We watched it come up, hoping it didn’t breach our house. We are grateful that we are still dry. However, we can see those around us who didn’t escape this trial without water intrusion or wind damage. Our hearts go out to those who feel that they have lost everything. Is this a testing of faith? You bet it is! Will you come out as pure gold or be like the dross that burned away during your refinement? When gold is refined and the impurities burned away, though it seems like some of the volume is lost, what you are left with is more pure and essentially more valuable. Will your focus be on the dross that is gone or the beautiful gold? Will you be a 24-karat Christian or a 10-karat Christian? God knows what He’s doing, so change your focus to refined faith. Ultimately, He has the perfect plan for your life; what you lost may not be part of it as you go forward. Praise and worship Him whether in the valley or on the mountaintop! God deserves every ounce of praise and more!

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7

Friday, October 11, 2024

October 11, 2024

The day of atonement begins tonight at sunset. The Jewish community considers it the most holy day of the year. It is one of God’s appointed feasts in Leviticus 16 and 23. According to biblical law, it is a day of rest and fasting, where no work is to be done and no food eaten except by those who are sick or children. It is the only feast that requires fasting. As believers, we know Jesus fulfilled this prophetic feast through his blood on the cross, covering all our sins. I think it is appropriate to acknowledge this feast, but because we are under the new covenant and not the law of Moses, we are not required to follow its tenets. Because we believe in Jesus and his saving power, we are privileged and can live our lives knowing every sin is covered by him, and even though it is a feast of the Lord, we can be sure that Jesus covers us when we choose not to keep it. 

Could this feast be the beginning of Jacob’s trouble? With all the calamity we see happening throughout the world, it makes you wonder. Stay vigilant, remain repentant, and look for the blessed hope. Jesus could return at any time.


Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14


Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7


Doesn’t it look like these stars are in front of the clouds? Very interesting. I didn’t notice it last night when I took it.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

Well, that was scary!! How is everyone who experienced Hurricane Milton? We now have lakefront property (just kidding) but praise God, we are still alive, and our house is dry and still standing. Richard is out assessing the damage; he’s probably putting a plan together to see how we will get out of our driveway since it’s’ covered with about a foot and a half of water. The hurricane didn’t fizzle as we prayed, but I’m sure God will teach us many lessons as we go through the trials it has caused. Never underestimate the power of God’s season of training. He tends to give us more than what we’ve lost, especially in the area of perseverance. As you face the challenges ahead, don’t forget who you belong to. As a child of God, others will be watching how you act and react to your troubles. Make sure you represent Him well and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in your dealings. This is just the beginning of the recovery, so stay safe out there and remember to praise God that he spared your life and that there is still time to bring others into the sheepfold.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

October 9, 2024

My birthday is tomorrow, and if you want to make a difference in my life and the lives of my family, it would do my heart good to know that everyone wishing me a happy birthday had prayed for me and my entire family. We are all in the cone of uncertainty and near the projected track, except for a few. I wish for no one to be harmed by this monster of a storm, so if we pray collectively, maybe it will prick God's heart and spur Him to weaken it to protect His children. We have done all we can to protect ourselves, so the rest is in the hands of God. 

I have already prayed for you this morning. Whatever situation you are dealing with, once you've done all you can do, leave the rest to God. Trust that He will do whatever is best for you. 


Also, pray for the linemen keeping our electricity on for the air conditioners! It's a hot one here in Florida! 


I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalms 91:2


A few people are missing from this picture, but you get the idea. 😊 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

October 8, 2024

Whether worldwide governments are exacerbating our weather or not, God is allowing it. It's funny that the airplanes flying into the storm are coming out of Lakeland, a local town. As we approach Jesus' return, things will only worsen; it's almost like a last call for the unsaved to repent and accept His free gift of salvation. God's word said it would be like this, though most of us hoped we would be spared the inconvenience of storms and tribulation. I would hate to see full-on tribulation if these are the birth pangs! 

My house is dark because we have covered all the windows with steel. I am confident we will be safe inside, though we won't be able to see what's happening except through the cameras until they go out. Whatever happens, we are eternally secure, hidden inside Jesus, just like we are hidden inside the safety of our home. No matter what happens to our bodies, we will live on, Jesus promised. 


If you are reading this post, I ask for your prayers. Let's come together and take authority over this storm, defying it as a united community. We might need to wake up Jesus to help us, but our collective prayers will make a difference.


And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:24-26

Monday, October 7, 2024

October 7, 2024

Now is your chance to fast in an acceptable way to God. I was watching a video, and a woman was reading from Isaiah. It was beautiful, so I looked it up this morning. She said it meant one thing, but when I looked it up, it meant something different than what she described. Thankfully, I didn’t understand her and sought clarification for myself. I learned a critical lesson about fasting, but it’s funny that I highlighted it on my Bible app and never looked beyond the scripture. After digging into the commentary, I realized I’ve been fasting to God wrong!

I will keep fasting for the health of my body, but that’s not the fast that God desires. Do you know what is? It is helping someone who is in need! Feed them, shelter them, and clothe them! That means you give up something you have rightly earned to someone else. For goodness sake, help people! If you haven’t taken the opportunity to pitch in and help your fellow citizens recover from the tragedy of Helene, it’s not over yet. The recovery will take a long time, but the immediate need is food, shelter, and clothing. If you cannot go there yourself, give money to an area church so they can pass it on to those in need. Do not give to anyone federally backed; we are finding that they are not our friend. If you fast by helping people, the scripture says God will provide you more than you need. Here is the verse:


And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11


To my local Florida sisters and brothers, do something to help the victims of Hurricane Helene because Hurricane Milton is coming, and we will need God’s promise to be fulfilled for us. Go read Isaiah 58:6-12. It’s beautiful.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

October 6, 2024

I’ve had to limit my time on social media because of the heartbreaking stories told by the survivors of Hurricane Helene. The anger I’ve felt and tears I’ve shed from seeing the lack of humanity of public servants pretending to be in the business of helping people, then denying help to the people who are struggling and hungry. Not only that, but seeing them stand in the way of others helping gets my blood boiling! Since when have civilized humans followed the orders of the indifferent left rather than their hearts and the commands of the All Mighty God? For goodness sake, help those in need! On top of Florida continuing to dig out from Helene, another storm is coming in hard, and the current trajectory of the eye is going right over my house. We need to get our act together and stop cowering to a government that cares nothing for us other than to keep us as enslaved people paying taxes for their lavish lifestyles to the detriment of our families. God has the perfect place for those people! Pray for God’s intervention for the people still struggling after Helene, and also pray that this next storm fizzles out before anyone is harmed. Pray that God the Father would send Jesus to get his wife soon!

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:44-46