June 16

Is there a special place that you go where once you are there you never want to leave? My favorite is this country place surrounded by water just across from a salty little sea town. It's a place where I can breathe deeply and exhale all of the worries of my day. I can watch the sunrise in the morning and when it gets ready to set I can meander down a short path an see that too. Though it's a dream of mine to live where the salt water meets the sand, the possibility appears to diminish each day. That's okay, it may not be part of God's plan for me now, but I have the hope of living my dream in eternity, and it's a place that will bring me even more peace. Are you satisfied to know that God has your best interest at heart? Things don't always turn out the way you imagine them, but isn't that what makes life exciting? New adventures every day! Don't fret or be dismayed, God's plan is much better than your own.

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"— 1 Corinthians 2:9

June 15

My feisty little dog Rudy, thinks he needs to protect our yard from the ducks. Every time I let him out he runs around the yard looking for some to chase. When the lake got low from the drought, he began jumping down from the sea wall onto the bank of the lake chasing the ducks as far as three houses down. There are some fierce creatures that live in our lake just waiting to devour that tasty bite sized morsel. So I leave Coco, hoping she doesn't find her way to the road, and I run through my neighbors backyards after him. Do you see where this is going? Yes, Rudy is my lost sheep! Jesus trusts that the flock will remain where He left them while He searches for and brings back the one who is missing. Just as Jesus rejoices when a sinner turns from his sin, I am happy to get Rudy back in our yard! I don't love him less because he does crazy things, so you can be sure that Jesus loves wholeheartedly that repentant sinner.

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

June 14

For some reason, there was a dead spider sitting on the floor right in front of where I sit in the morning. It was there for more than a day. Spiders are creepy things that I do not want near me, so why didn't I clean it up as soon as I saw it? I don't really know, I guess it's because I hadn't gotten the vacuum cleaner out. Here's my question for you: what old, dead things have you yet to clean up? I'm not just talking about your sinful past, although that needs to be cleaned up too! What I'm referring to is past hurts, those things that trigger an emotional response, maybe deep-seated anger or self pity. It's time to do some house cleaning! Jesus blood is the best way to clean the temple. I know this seems too easy, but a simple prayer, to ask Him to wash away your pain and tears, is all you need to do. Don't let the fear of letting it go, stop you. But, if you want to keep looking at that dead spider, you go ahead.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

June 13

We decided that it was time to change auto insurance companies. The rates were just getting too high for the one we were using, plus, the customer service was terrible! So I called a very famous one here in Florida and got an amazing rate, until, she pulled my record! That's when my past came back to haunt me. She reminded me of my lead foot and then decided to punish me for that again, as if a ticket wasn't enough! That's when you realize how amazing it is to have a Savior to forgive your sins, never to remember them again. If only the insurance companies were like that! Humans don't forget. That's why it's so important that we turn from our sin and begin to change into the image of Christ. But, isn't it like Jesus to want to move from one place to the next at an alarming rate? I wish! Unfortunately, we still have to obey the law of the land. The lesson in this is to turn away from your sin, others are watching!

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. Mark 9:42

June 12

I live in a great neighborhood. It's truly a place where "love thy neighbor" is an easy commandment to obey. Though we are only minutes away from the big city, it feels as though you are still in the country. Our house is up for sale and it's a custom in real estate that the seller leaves while potential buyers look at the home so they can speak freely. So, we grab our dogs and go sit on our neighbor's porch! That has been the highlight of my experience! How amazing would it be if everyone treated their neighbors with such love. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. The enemy has set us against one another and it's getting out of control. It's failed communication and he has infiltrated every form of it, and the narrative is against the good. It's time for us to put down our devices, turn off the television, and have a real conversation with the people around us. There is common ground! We just need to find it.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

June 11

When I was going into the sixth grade, my parents sent me to a private Christian school. I think it was probably to make the transition of to going to school in another town easier. The learning would probably be comparable to the Florida Virtual School, where you need self motivation to achieve a goal. I was not a self motivated child so I didn't do very well there. However, I was pushed to learn the 23rd Psalm, which has now become an important part of my prayer life. I find it quite amazing how God will give your life a detour just to set in stone something for Him. When I feel anxious or fearful I turn to that Psalm for comfort and let God's own words settle me. We must remember that the Bible is a compilation of God's words written by many men, imparted by one Holy Spirit. I know that I'm thrilled when my kids have remembered something I've taught them. Imagine how God must feel hearing His own words being quoted back to him.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

June 10

Sitting down to a good cup of coffee is so delightful. The aroma fills the air and invites you to enjoy. Then suddenly as soon as you take a sip, your mouth is filled with a lump of something! So, you run as quickly as possible to spit it out. That was me, I had forgotten to check the inside of the cup and there was lumps of old coffee left inside of it. That cup came straight from the dishwasher and should have been clean. The outside looked perfect, but the inside was full of filth! Are you like that filthy cup? Are you hiding filth in your heart? Do people see a perfect picture of you not knowing what's really going on inside? Imagine having Jesus point you out and embarrass you in public, calling you a white washed tomb like He did the Pharisees, beautiful on the outside but full of bones and rotting flesh on the inside. Examine your life. Ask the Holy Spirit if there is anything you need to rid yourself of so that no one can call you a hypocrite.

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Matthew 23:26

June 9

The beautiful Roseate Spoonbills nearly became extinct when Florida was settled because of their beautiful plumage. I can't blame the tourist for wanting their share of those pink feathers, I long to find one that has been shed. The spoonbill population has since become reestablished and are seen quite often feeding in the shallows. It's now illegal to kill them. Isn't that just like humans? We tend to want to kill the most beautiful things so we can hold them close to us. Jesus is the greatest example of this. He was so amazing that the Pharisees and Sadducees were very jealous. They couldn't wait to find a reason to kill Him, but He was perfect and He never did anything that would give them a lawful reason. Nevertheless, they trumped up charges to make themselves feel better about what they were doing. It was all part of God's plan, and now we have our salvation because of it. How scary do you think it was for them when they found out He came back to life? 

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

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