August 18

Do you trust God with all your circumstances? I had a dream that I was being chased by an enormous alligator. He had me backed up against a fence with barbed wire across the top. My only way to get away from him was to climb over. It was either risk getting a few scratches or get eaten alive! I chose the barbs and safely got away; then I ran and hid in a room. This dream reminded me that there is safety from those who are attacking you. I had to trust that the fence was going to hold back the giant gator, and though it continued to come after me, I found safety. Believe me, after a dream like that, you pray hard! I have to trust that my prayer will set the angels in action to help fend off an attack, and to not allow fear to grip me. Whether this dream was a warning of the enemy's pursuit or a scare tactic, it's my job to humble myself and pray for protection. The lesson for you in this is to be vigilant and look for the warning signs, then pray hard!

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psalms 91:5-7

August 17

Do you notice the signs that you're being tested? Anger or depression sets in, people begin throwing darts at you, circumstances change, people are lax in their jobs, and so on. It's like there is some kind of flare up around you and you wonder what in the world is going on! Being in the midst of it, you sometimes forget how you've prayed; certain types of prayer can cause havoc in the heavens and can stir the enemy into action. You can see how he uses people to bring on discouragement. Here is my advice: don't let this get to you, stand strong in the Lord, He's got your back! He's also watching your reaction to see if you sin in the wake of your trial. Also, be very careful, you never want to be a part of a chain reaction that may cause trouble in the hearts of others; they may be dealing with their own trial. Look for weaknesses in your prayer. When you prayed for protection, did you remember to include yourself? Pray through the rough patches, and you will prevail!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3

August 16

As rotten as we are, God loves us. We disappoint Him every day. Yet despite our iniquities, He continues to profess His love for us. We are holy because we are redeemed. He loves us passionately and longs for a relationship with us. He pursues and we turn and run, rather than be lavished by Him. What is wrong with us? Our loving God only wants us to love Him back, honor Him, and praise Him. Despite His love, we continue to chase after and give our hearts to other gods. He created everything including those other gods. Why would we worship anything but the original. Many believe that they are self made and that God didn't have anything to do with it. They have fooled themselves into believing that they don't need God or that He doesn't exist. These people are foolish! It's time that we connect with the Holy Spirit and listen to His counsel on these matters. Engage with Him to help counter all excuses made for self worship. 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:9-10

August 15

This time of year is the worst for mosquitos! It's one thing to deal with them outside, but you expect that when you come inside you will be safe from them. As you sit quietly, you hear one buzzing around, flying by your face and annoying you. You swat at it, but you can't see it! Then it gets quiet, did it fly away or has that little blood sucker stopped to get a drink? You'll know later when you find an itchy bump somewhere on your body. The evil of this world is the same way! Sometimes you know them because it's obvious; then there are other times you don't know until you're suffering the consequences. That's why it's important to be educated in all the forms that evil comes in, so it doesn't suck the life out of you while you're unaware. I'm not saying you should focus on evil, but the more you focus on God the more aware you are of how evil this world is. There are many false prophets and teachers out there; know the Word and you'll know the difference!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

August 14

Adoption is forever, and is not to be taken lightly. Many years ago, I worked in a crisis pregnancy center. Most of the women who came there just needed a little boost because food stamps won't cover diapers. Then there were those who felt they were in crisis and that their situation was impossible for having a child. That's when they were encouraged to place their baby for adoption. Adoption allows those who cannot have children the opportunity to love and care for a human, raising them as their own and teaching them the customs of their family. Too often we don't respect our adoption into the family of God. We are being raised into the likeness of the one who adopted us. We are chosen and are no longer in the family of the world. A child who is adopted does not go between the family who placed them for adoption and the adoptive family, they are forever in the family who adopted them. We must stop running back to the family of the world, we no longer belong to it.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:5

August 13

Gone are the times where you can have peaceful and uncomplicated days. It's so hard to unplug from the world because so much of our lives are wrapped up in our instruments of technology. Sometimes God calls us out, away from the madness to be enveloped in quiet, peaceful surroundings, so we can hear only His voice. He says to us, 'leave that instrument on the counter, come away with me so we can be alone; I've got something to tell you.' When you set aside time for only Him, He will begin to reveal to you things you never knew about Him. He will open your eyes to the truth of how much He loves you. Start off with prayer and ask Him to release your mind from the chains that have you bound, and get those things off your chest first. Then quiet yourself and begin to listen. Do this without a plan of your own, other than the plan of quality time with the Father. He will share His love for you in ways you've never imagined.

And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31

August 12

We all have days where our hearts are heavy. You might feel that things haven't turned out as you had planned. The truth is that it's not really your plan that matters, it's God's plan. Sometimes we pity ourselves for the issues and burdens we face; God is not unaware! He sees what you're going through and His heart breaks for you, but He also sees the big picture and knows that it's only for a moment that you must deal with the pain. Take a sober look at your life. You've had your ups and downs, but that's the thing, there have been ups! The valley is not forever! As a matter of fact, the ground in the valley is quite fertile, plant a garden while you're there so you can have a picnic when you head back up that mountain. The water that flows from the mountain top down into the valley is the purest. So eat and drink so that you have the strength to begin your ascent. Remember, you're not alone on your journey, He will never leave you or forsake you!

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

August 11

My husband and I live in a gated community, but not in the way that you might think. Like the verse to that old Hank Williams, Jr. song "I live back in the wood you see, the woman and the kids and the dogs and me." You might laugh, but I sing that song every time I drive down that long driveway back into the woods to my house. A couple of my kids came to visit and didn't leave until late. We have a neighbor living on the property temporarily and they had locked the gate. They were trapped and all they wanted to do is go home! Then I had my son lecture me on the dangers of a locked gate. Yes, there is a danger of having a locked gate, but it's being locked out that could be a problem. You never want the gates of Heaven to be slammed shut with you being trapped on the other side. The only insurance you have for that is Jesus!  You must call on Him to let you in! If you haven't made a commitment to Him, I encourage you to do that today. Time is at hand! Do not tarry!

For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; Hebrews 10:37

August 10

My grandson thinks he's ready to be grown up. Little does he know the challenges we face as adults and that some adults long to be children again. There is a threshold in life where once you cross it, you begin a countdown and time seems out of control and ticking faster! You realize that you've probably lived more than half your life at best. Even then, that is presumptuous because we don't know the limit God has set on our particular life. Being we are not certain about our number of days, shouldn't we try and make each moment the best that it can be? I've heard it said "If I'm wrong about God, then I wasted my life. If you're wrong about God, then you've wasted your eternity." Part of this is true, but is it really a waste of life to love others as God has commanded? If only we could make every child understand that this short life we live would be best if we learned to love God and love the people He created.

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14

August 9

At what point do you decide that enough is enough? You keep reliving your past as if it was a dream world. Looking back with regret for what could have been is a bad place to be. Ask God to forgive you and to help you move on to what He has for you. There is nothing you can do to change what happen back then, but you can change how you move forward, with either a positive outlook or with grim regret. We must think of our lives differently than others who do not know our Savior. We have a promise of an eternity in Heaven with our King, so anything that is preventing the advancement of the kingdom, should be the only thing that concerns you. We must strive for the prize of the upward call as if running a race. You work out and prepare, forgetting about sitting on the couch and the days that you were lazy, and you get satisfaction as you compete and complete! So, leave the past in the past and move on to the future.

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 3:13-14

August 8

Have you ever forgotten about things you've collected over the years?  For instance, I found a concrete chicken that had been hidden in some overgrown shrubbery. It is so cute! Years ago a sweet lady gave it to me out of her yard when I sold her house. What treasures do you have hidden in the garden of your heart? We all have stories from our past, some are painful and some make us smile just thinking of them. I call them treasures because they can become useful tools to bring out when testifying to the goodness and mercy shown to us by our Savior, Jesus. Others may look at you and think that you couldn't possibly understand them because what they see appears healed. They don't know what you've gone through! So, don't neglect to bring out those treasures to share with someone who might be struggling. Your story might be just enough to keep them from giving up. Besides, God didn't pull you through it for you to bury it.

"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

August 7

My daughter and I work together in real estate. We had the opportunity to sell a decent home in a price range that a lot of people can qualify for, which makes them harder to find. This woman knew she had finally found the right home after months of losing out to others who scooped them up ahead of her. Her real estate agent didn't like the house, so he began trying to pick the house apart. It blows my mind that a person, whose paycheck depends on a sale, would try to undercut his own prosperity. This woman was so excited to have finally found a home, that no amount of negativity was going to stop her from being overjoyed. On top of that, she was praising God for leading her to the right home. We all need to be this way when we know we've received a gift from God. The enemy can come in and try to place doubt in our minds and sap every bit of joy we have. We need to remember that the devil is a liar and it's okay to be happy when we receive something God wants us to have.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

August 6

Have you ever been given an assignment that you know God has qualified you to do, but are fearful to complete the task? My husband and I are leading the new membership class for the first time at our church. Though the steps have been laid out and the training has taken place, there is still the uneasy feeling jumping into something new. The biggest part of this is to love people. How do you love people? You tell them how to come into a relationship with Jesus; you meet them where they are, tell them that God has a plan for whatever they are dealing with, and show them that you genuinely care about them. You see, building relationships is one of the most important things we can do to show others the love of Jesus, they need to witness His love first hand and it needs to come from you! So, whatever you have been assigned to do, if you faithfully complete the task and show others His love while doing it, He's going to cover you and everything else will fall into place.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

August 5

In this age where the internet rules the world, it has given a way for everyone to speak their mind. Live video streaming, thoughts captured in a tweet, bloggers sharing their mind, and pictures of everything. You can tell what's in their hearts by what comes out of their mouths! We can sometimes get so caught up in what others are doing and saying that we forget to fill our minds with the good things. When we fill our minds with worldly material, our hearts become like the world. Jesus tells us that we are not of this world and to set our minds on things above. If we continue to pattern ourselves after what we see, then we will become like it. After filling up with what pours out of these boxes that we watch, the things that come out of our mouths begins to resemble what we've seen or heard. It's no different than eating bad foods and then wondering why you look bad. Pour good things into your heart, so good will come out of your mouth!

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

August 4

As I sit in a home that I'm not used to, I find it a little harder to write. Is it my surroundings? Have the airwaves become so congested with traffic that I can't hear God speaking? Maybe I'm just plain tired after working from sunup to well past sundown. Whatever has caused this interruption, it's within me. God hasn't moved, He's still there cradling me in His arms, urging me to rest easy. He tells me that I must take a moment to slow down. When He tells me this, He's talking about the traffic within my head! So the answer to one of the questions is yes, the airwaves inside my head have become congested with traffic and His quiet voice is getting drowned out. How could I possibly hear Him when I have so many other things going through my mind? God deserves to be the loudest voice you hear, so you have to let go of all the idols in your mind and make Him your priority! He will never take second place to anyone or anything. That's why He tells us to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and all our mind.

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

August 3

I marvel at the splendid beauty of God's creation. Looking at the intricate details of living things, I often wonder how He came up with so many different ideas. For instance, think about the soil and seed. The seed appears to be dead until you plant it in the ground and water it. It then comes to life and creates a home for other creatures, food and shade for us, and also cleans the air. All of that from dirt and seed! There are so many varieties of plants, and most have a purpose that is useful for our well-being. Not only are they good for food, but they create magnificent gardens that are a feast for our senses. They give us peace and tranquility as we soak in their beauty, fragrances, and textures. We are lured in by the songs from the birds, the majesty of a butterfly in flight, and the scurrying of the squirrels and other creatures that call it home. Take a stroll through a garden and enjoy His creation. (Exert from: Jesus Will Meet You In The Swamp-August 3)

And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. Genesis 1: 11

August 2

Tools are an important part of our lives. Have you ever been putting something together and needed a tool you didn't have? It can be frustrating! So, instead of buying or borrowing the tool you need, you try desperately to make what you have work, but those tools are just making the job harder. As a follower of Jesus, we were commanded to go teach and make disciples. Jesus has given us the tools we need, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Well you already have the Holy Spirit, you got Him when you accepted Jesus as your Savior and King, but what about the scriptures? Do you study them or commit them to memory? If you haven't, trying to muddle through the process of making disciples can be impossible because you don't have the proper tools. So, before you try to make a presentation, you need to know what you're talking about. You can only do what God has called you to do if you truly know His heart through the scriptures.

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 7:1-3

August 1

I've learned from experience that the persona given by others on social media can be much different than what you see in person. I am part of a woman's Facebook group where we all have a common interest that's all about the love of the beach. Once a year we meet in Sanibel for the shell show and then enjoy lunch together afterwards. When the group started, most members had never met. When meeting someone for the first time, things can become a little awkward, especially when a person's writing is bold and their personality is quiet. By the way, my writings are bold but my demeanor is meek. The apostle Paul was much the same in that his writings were fierce but he was calm when face to face. Rest assured, he lived the way he wrote. His enemies pointed this out and used it against him, but Paul was humble and admitted that it was true. We should also be strong and acknowledge our own weaknesses.

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 Corinthians 10:1

July 31

Cleaning a pool that has turned green is not easy, especially when it's been sitting for quite a while. It's a little scary when you know how deep this pool is and you can't see the bottom! What kind of creatures are hiding in that murky mess? You have to start somewhere so you take a sample to the pool store to see what kind of chemicals you need to balance the water. After you treat it and get the water balanced, it is perfectly clean. But how can it be clean if you can't see the bottom? Well, it is, you just have to remove the junk! Then you begin the process of brushing, vacuuming, backwashing, and cleaning the filter. We are just like this dirty pool. Jesus comes along and cleans up our spirit, but our mind and body are still dirty. It's a process to begin cleaning up our minds to match the cleanliness of our spirit and requires us to change our mind and take every thought captive. If you haven't started cleaning up that mess, it's time!

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

July 30

You never have to try and guess where God is. He's there. He's with you. He's around you. He's next to you. He's inside of you. There is no where you can go that He's not already there. I have been to places where it felt like He wasn't, and the presence of evil felt powerful and overwhelming, but He was. In that same community, there was only one church, and it was boarded up. Does that mean that the presence of God can be felt more powerfully because of people carrying the Holy Spirit? I believe so. When I felt that strong evil presence, I was alone, even though I carried the Holy Spirit myself, He was telling me to flee. So I ran as fast as I could to get out of the area. You see, we were never meant to walk out our faith alone. That's why it's so important for us to be surrounded by a community of believers, the church. If you're not part of a church, pray and ask God to direct you to the place He wants you to serve. Plus, it just feels good to be surrounded by the family of God!

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrew 10:24-25