June 8

We got a call in the middle of the night saying that there was someone creeping around my father-in-laws pasture. After a quick change, my husband bolted out the door and the next thing I hear is him shouting "get down!" He had caught the trespassers! For this night, the drug of choice for these men was the mushrooms that grow on cow dung! If that doesn't give you a clue, I don't know what will! Law enforcement showed up and their fun was over. I know what you're thinking, "how's she going to make this into a God story?" Easy! When you go after the things covered in darkness, you will eventually have to pay the price and sometimes it's with your life! Other times, you will escape unharmed only to pay for it later. Sin never goes unpunished, but thankfully we have a merciful God who has given us a "get out of hell free card" through Jesus. These guys got to live another day and just maybe they will find Jesus before they meet their end.

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Romans 6:19

June 7

How do you deal with disappointment? We all expect things to happen in a certain way and when they don't, our hopes are dashed and our heart is broken. The problem is that we put our trust where it doesn't belong, in people. We may also have unrealistic expectations. A girl may expect her man to bring her extravagant gifts for her birthday, but when she receives a simple card, she's disappointed. A boy may expect that he will meet and fall in love with a covergirl but his hopes are dashed when he finds out that most of what he loves is just makeup. We take power out of the hands of the world when we put our trust, hopes, and expectations in the hands of God, the power of the world is then diminished. We can become disillusioned with God too, but remember, He has impeccable timing. Relax and enjoy your life moment by moment and don't get discouraged when things don't go just as you had planned. It's all about God's plan anyway.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

June 6

Chances are that if I'm writing about it, I'm dealing with it. Yesterday's message dealt with spiritual warfare because I was under attack. We have all kinds of critters that make their way into our presence. Some of them seem cute and cuddly while others appear to be slimy and slithery. I prefer the cute and cuddly ones! So, as I'm enjoying the view, I heard a thud on my window, and there it was, a sticky, slimy four inch Cuban Tree Frog! Those things are nasty! They are also an invasive species here in Florida. They will take over and decimate the population of our native species of frogs and lizards. Thankfully, my window protected me from getting jumped on by that creature, just like the invisible shield of protection we get by praying. Sometimes we are under attack by simply doing God's work, but after praying heaven down, you feel a sense of relief that God has you covered. That frog outside my window reminded me that I'm protected.

Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. Psalms 25:19-20

June 5

How do you move on after the enemy threatens you? Now and then you have a few zingers thrown at you from the devil and you wonder how you will ever recover, but there is a solution. You begin by remembering the truth of who you are. You are a child of the Most High God! Stand strong in your faith, knowing that your salvation comes through Jesus! The enemy's plan has already been thwarted, but nevertheless he will continue to try and sift you like wheat. You must seek the Lord in prayer, call out to Him for help. This is where you will gain His strength, He is the one who will be your backbone, and you will prevail because of Him! Open up the Psalms, read a few out loud! Do you think the enemy will stick around while you're reading God's Word within his hearing? I doubt it. Let the words that you read be your encouragement, and the Holy Spirit comfort you, and you will find that His peace will rest upon you.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

Pentecost Sunday June 4

We are very spoiled! Imagine living in the Old Testament times when the things of God were not so easily understood and our belief could be snatched away in a moment of weakness. But thankfully, before Jesus left, He gave us the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit! He is our precious companion that dwells within us to teach us and bring to light the things of God. In the Old Testament days God would send His Spirit to rest on certain people and He would leave once the task was accomplished. Today, because of our belief in Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit and He stays with us continuously. I can't imagine my life without Him. How boring would my writings be if I didn't have Him prompting me along the way? Because of Him, people are touched at just the right moment and when they need a word of encouragement the most. Spend some time today to speak to the Holy Spirit and thank Him for His help. It's okay, it's Biblical, He's part of the Godhead.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

June 3

I get up and have coffee with the Father every morning. It starts off pretty good, but then my mind wanders onto other things. I think He just looks at me and smiles, He understands, He's the one who gave me my mind. As I was contemplating the next phase of my life and what I will be leaving behind, I was reminded about a banana tree my grandmother gave me long before she got sick and passed. The original tree is long gone, but before it died, it reproduced. I'll be able to take one of those with me when I move! I could even share it with others and it wouldn't even put a dent in the crop of trees it has produced. Unlike trees that are reproduced by seeds, a banana tree sends out new plants while it's still alive. But, once it produces a crop of bananas, that particular tree will die. It stays alive until it has done what God called it to do! So, be a banana tree, be fruitful and multiply!

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:8

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. Matthew 28:19

June 2

I'm not saying that I know the mind of God, but, sometimes I think He lets us get away with quite a bit before we start feeling the effects of our disobedience. I believe wholeheartedly in giving, but I think we should go beyond the tithe. Years ago I had set it up so that the church could automatically draft our giving from our account. I noticed that things started going a little wacky. Our income is from residential rentals and anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Air conditioners began to break, vacancies increased, and plumbing issues were non stop! Something, the Holy Spirit, told me to check our account. It had been almost six months since we had given to the church! You think it's hard to write out a monthly or weekly check, try writing out one for six months! Was this a coincidence? Maybe, but, everything we have, has been given to us by God and He expects us to give back to Him.

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

June 1

My grandson Lucas stayed with me for the day. He came in his pajamas and requested to stay in them. I, being a wonderful grandma, allowed him to wear them all day! We even went to The Home Depot! He's only five, so who really cares! Our grandchildren are very special, they are the future of our country and will probably have a lot of say in our care as we reach the conclusion of our days. I think it's important that we spend quality time with them and impart to them some of the knowledge God has given us. These are the good things in life. It's not how much money you leave them, it's the wisdom you give them that will help them achieve the desires that God has given them. They might just ignore you at the time, but one day that information will become useful and a part of their fond memories of you. But, the most important thing you can teach them is about Jesus! He is the wisdom from above, without Him, no other wisdom matters.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

May 31

Once in a while I have the pleasure of watching one of my grandchildren. My two year old grandson is full of wonder and notices things that we take for granted. He's learning more and more every day. He loves trucks and notices every truck that goes by. We can be so oblivious to the things going on around us that we fail to see the things that are important to God. What are you missing by not observing your surroundings? Are you forgetting to smile or acknowledge someone as you walk by? I've noticed that people aren't cordial or friendly anymore, and if you're friendly to them, they look at you like you're a freak. I'd rather be a freak than act cold hearted and unresponsive. Hold your head up and show love and compassion for others, even if it's just a smile. Everyone needs to feel like others see them and that they are not invisible in this big world.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8

May 30

One weekend I sprayed my paver patio with bleach to bring back the color. After doing that I determined that it needed new sand. What a job! Pouring out heavy bags of sand and then sweeping it into the cracks left me exhausted! The end results were worth every ounce of energy that I expended, it now looks brand new! I'm determined to not let it get that dirty again and to maintain it regularly to keep the filth under control. As Christians, we have the same opportunity to clean up our lives through Jesus. The thing is, we're already clean through Him, we just have a hard time accepting that. I've often heard people express that they don't understand how believing in Jesus and asking His forgiveness, could cleanse you. It's true! Our problem is that we don't truly believe it and hold onto all that past guilt, sin, and hurt. My word today: forgive yourself, because Jesus already has. To keep yourself free, seek forgiveness often.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

May 29 Memorial Day

Many wars have been fought to give us the freedom that we relish. The nationally born Americans of today have never had to live under the oppression of a totalitarian regime where the government controls every aspect of the lives of its citizens. That's because of the men and women who have fought and died to keep us free. Today, when you crawl out of your comfy bed and go to the refrigerator and grab a bite to eat, remember how precious that is. Other countries aren't as rich as we are and aren't afforded that simple luxury. In the same way that our soldiers fought for our freedom and died, Jesus died so that you could be free from your sin and no longer have to pay the penalty for it. So, take a moment to remember those who've died so that you may live. We live in a free country and have freedom from our sin. What more could you want?

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

May 28

When I first got my little dog, Rudy, I thought that I may have made a mistake. He was rambunctious, full of energy, and would wake me up in the middle of the night. I also thought that he may have been sent to me from the devil as a distraction for my morning fellowship with Jesus. Well, if that was the case, what Satan intended for evil, God used for His good, because I've been able to use him as an example to drive home many Biblical principals. For instance, the neighbors very large black dog, Chopper, wandered into our yard just as I was letting my dogs out. As soon as Rudy saw him, he bolted out the door and chased him out of the yard! We had a David and Goliath moment! I thought Rudy was going to become a snack! We could all learn a lesson through this. The One who dwells inside of us is bigger than anything we could ever come against, which means we should have Rudy's confidence when we are facing our giants.

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45

May 27

One thing great about social media is that you get to connect with people from all over the world. Someone you may have never had contact with is now just a few clicks away. I'm friends with an amazing pastor who lives in Nigeria. I am blessed by his writings every day. I don't know him except through his post. He has an impeccable character and is very well studied in The Word of God. I don't know his struggles, the kind of home he lives in, or any other personal details about his life, but, I know about his passionate love for Jesus. Doesn't that say it all? The things of this earth are of no importance. It's Jesus that connects us, and through Him we are family. It's important that we pray for our brothers and sisters doing the work of God. We don't know the battles they face or the struggles before them as they push to get God's message out to the world. War is being waged against our faith, so pray for the strength of those fighting on the front lines.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:3

May 26

The summer kickoff is just around the corner and soon vacations will be underway. Though my husband and I are empty nesters, some of our fondest memories are of vacations with our kids. We waited many years for our youngest son to reach the age of twelve so we could all become certified scuba divers as a family. We spent an entire summer taking classes and getting out there and experiencing underwater life. One thing we didn't have to experience was having a child wander off during vacation. Can you imagine leaving your child in a city that you just visited? It must have been horrifying for Joseph and Mary when they left Jesus in Jerusalem while there for the Passover Feast. It took them three days to find Him! Though we must remember, Jesus was always God, even as a twelve year old. He was found at the temple amazing those who heard Him. Your child is not God, so be careful not to leave them in the city!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

This story can be found in Luke 2:41-50.

May 25

Fear is something that can keep a talented person from pursuing a God given dream. If it's truly from God, and you ignore that calling, it will be taken from you and given to another who, may or may not be as talented, but heard the call and accepted the challenge. If you are fearful, take small steps towards that goal. God will give you confirmation at each phase of your journey. Make sure that you are following a dream that God gave you and that it's not for your own selfish gain. If it's truly from God, He will bless you every step of the way and give you a little more with each step of obedience. If you start experiencing push back from the enemy, chances are that the kingdom will be affected, so make sure you armor up! Don't be afraid to keep going, God is on your side and will help you advance. There is nothing more exciting and fulfilling than to do the work God called you to do!

May 24

Many people are grieving after heinous acts of terrorism continue to break out all over the world. Though it may seem that our fight is with flesh and blood, the Bible is very clear that it isn't. Could it be a last ditch effort of the enemy to show how powerful he is? He knows his fate and his everlasting place in hell and may be trying to bring as many with him as he can! Who is the one lying to these deranged souls? And, how did they become so deranged in the first place? What is the enemy trying to do? He's trying to control the world and paralyze it with fear! It's working! But, we as followers of Christ have nothing to fear. Even if we become a victim of a cowardly attack, our place in the kingdom has already been reserved. What could be worse than knowing that someone met an early demise without Jesus? This is why it is so important for us to do what God has called each of us to do and tell others about Jesus. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13

May 23

As I was thanking God for creating me, He reminded me that he created me from nothing. There was an empty space, and He filled it with me. This was by no means a deep thinking intellectual prayer, just a sweet download from the Father. Just think how amazing it is that, from nothing, He created the world and everything in it, including you! You weren't there and then you were, and He gave you a soul that will never perish! You came from nothing and now you are an everlasting being! Other than deception of the enemy, why would anyone follow another created being and call them their god? It's no wonder that the world hates us! They've chosen wrong and are jealous of our relationship with the Creator. They are like a tired child that doesn't know why it's crying! Be thankful that you know the truth and share a little bit of that truth with those that are crying.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3

May 22

There are a lot of sensitive people in this world today. They tend to get their feelings hurt over mere words. Offense is just a tool that the devil uses to cause division. Quiet people internalize the offense and stew over it until they're sick and angry. Loud people spew it everywhere, bringing other people in, causing even more offense. We all just need to take a step back and look at exactly what this is doing to us as individuals and as a society. Here's something for you to be offended by: Jesus had to go to the cross because of issues such as this! Our King and Savior died not so you could continue with your offended attitude.  What good is it doing for you to remain offended? Here is your answer - none! Hand it over, give it up, leave your offense at the foot of the cross and get on with your life. I'm sure your heart will be healthier if you do. Free yourself and live in peace.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

May 21

Graduation is a time for new beginnings. It's proof that you've completed a portion of your education and it's time to move on to the next phase of your life. For some, this means going on to higher education, and leaving the comfort of the childhood home. For others, it will be time to move on into adulthood and begin providing for themselves and become a productive member of society. No longer do they need someone to spoon feed them because they've learned to feed themselves. As believers, we also need to graduate from being fed to feeding ourselves. When we attend church on Sunday mornings, this should be like "continuing education", a time to confirm what you believe and not so much the whole of your biblical education. If all you're getting is coming from your preacher, your missing out on a lot of the wisdom contained in the Word of God. God speaks to us through His Word. Don't you want to hear what He has to say?

You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

May 20

It's not too often that you are invited to an old Florida ranch for a party. It was for my nephew and a few of his buddies graduation. One of the families raises cattle in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, but I think that they probably own the middle of nowhere! It wasn't a mansion like you would have seen on the old television show Dallas, more like the Ponderosa from Bonanza. Although, I'll bet there was a mansion somewhere on that property! We were greeted by a friendly older gentleman who happened to own that little spot of heaven. He said that he didn't own it, but was just given use of it, and then proceeded to introduce us to the one who did, Jesus. That man was first and foremost concerned about our soul and shared Jesus with us right away! We could all learn a lesson from a servant like that. Rich or poor, we are all assigned the duty of introducing others to Jesus.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6