August 27

Have you ever noticed the favor of God on someone else's life? We have some friends who were celebrating their anniversary. They are warriors who had been working tirelessly on a church plant for a couple of years. To surprise her, the husband arranged a stay at my favorite little beach getaway. My husband and I decided that we would pick them up by boat. Well, the weather was a little sketchy, which caused the water to be choppy. After the surprise was revealed to her, we proceeded to try and get across to the island without getting drenched. I was concerned because, who wants to get splashed with salt water as part of your surprise? I'm getting splashed by one wave after another, but I looked over at her and she is as dry as can be. God had planned this whole getaway for them, including where she would sit on the boat! I'm so in love with God! He cares about every detail of our lives, including our rest.

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 26

The summer has flown by. I finally get a day to relax at the beach and we end up in what seems like a tropical storm. Getting there was no problem, it was raining on the way down, but once we got there, the skies cleared and the ride over on the boat was a breeze. It's an overnight stay, but who wants to get stuck on an island when the weather is nasty? Well, maybe I don't mind it that much. Here's our mistake, we never looked at the forecast! There's not a dry day in sight for more than a week! Our situation was predicted and we failed to notice! What other things are we missing because we didn't pay attention? The Bible is full of predictions call prophecy. Most of them are warnings and calls to take action. Prophecy can sometimes be hard to understand, but if you know someone that God has given wisdom in the prophetic, they can fill you in on what to expect. What's important is that we don't bury our heads in the sand and ignore the obvious.

He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3

August 25

We sometimes complain about technology getting in the way of living a real and fruitful life, however there is a lot of good it has brought. I was reminded by a friend through an email of how close we can be to one another, though the distance between us is nearly half a world away. I've chatted online, over the phone, and through email with people that I've never touched or laid eyes on; people from places I've never been but hope to one day visit. The doors of opportunity have opened wide for ministry all over the world and you don't even need to leave your couch! I wonder how Paul would have used this technology if he'd had it. My friend encouraged me to continue in my calling and reminded me of all of those who had gone before us and carved out a path for us to follow. So in turn, I encourage you to continue in your upward call and to reach out to others all over the world; it's right at your fingertips!

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

August 24

Are there times that you just want to unplug from the world? Just to be able to escape to a place uncomplicated by the things happening today sounds inviting. As part of my journey to freedom, I was invited to do just that and spend a few days alone with God. To be able to go to a secret place and be swept into the presence of my Savior, saunter in the garden alone with Him, and leave the world behind, makes the anticipation so sweet. As life becomes more and more complicated, the simple pleasures become cherished. I invite you to give yourself a time out, away from the rush and hurry of the world we live in. Jesus is our example of how to live and He made time to get away from people and spend time alone with the Father. Even if it's just for a few hours, what that does for your mind is incredible. It gives you the opportunity to reset, unwind, and relax. Give yourself a break, you deserve it!

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. Luke 22:39

August 23

When I walked into my pool area, I noticed a dragonfly was caught in the screened enclosure. It kept bumping against the screen looking for a way out, to no avail. It's now stuck in an area where there is no way for its life to be sustained. Do you ever feel like that? Maybe you keep bumping into walls, or like the dragonfly, you're stuck in a screened enclosure where you can see freedom but there is something blocking your way. When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, He released you from your prison, the walls are gone! Just like when the Israelites gained their freedom from Egypt, that had to learn how to live free. It wasn't easy for them, they kept wanting to turn back to their captivity. That's why God gave them so many rules to live by. It was to change their thought process and to train them to rely upon Him. God's Word is a book that points you in the direction of freedom. Don't look at it like a book of rules, look at it as a tool to break you out of your bondage, the keys to the jail cell in your mind. God's Word is full of power and freedom, use it to your advantage!

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

August 22

Offer your praises to the Lord, for He is good and His mercies are new every day. Some days you are just thankful for a new day. Days where you hope the skies have cleared and the atmosphere around you has changed. After having a day where you've taken one hit after another and all you want to do is run away or hide, there is hope. Hope for changed hearts, hope that you see the hand of God moving, clearing the evil out of your path, or maybe just taping their mouths shut! Sometimes we need a respite, or a place to escape for a moment, but that's not always possible so we must rely on God and His mercy to get us through. We must take cover under His wings and remember that He is walking with us and taking every hit we take. Those who've sinned against us will be brought to justice because He is a God of justice and no sin will go unpunished. Today is a new day and our hope is in the Lord, His love endures forever.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:22-24

August 21

Heaven will be full of light! It will not be lit by the sun but by the Son. No darkness will befall it. The wrath of the enemy will be no more. No depression, sickness, or disease will over take it. No worry, or fear. It's unimaginable because we've never been anywhere like it, or seen anything like it. There will never be a shadow cast over it or it's light blocked. Just who will be there? The King of All Glory and those who chose to follow Him and believe. For those who love Him, life will be given. How do you receive that eternal life and the promise of Heaven? You accept and believe that Jesus is Lord of all. It's unwavering faith that the one who died as payment for our sin, rose again and still lives, even today. If you haven't committed your life to follow Him as your Savior and King, maybe today should be the day. Today should be the day that you turn from you sin and the pain from your past and begin a relationship with the greatest example of love that has ever lived. What's the cost? It's free!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

August 20

After trying times and things start to ease up, there is a great sense of relief. The storm is over! After posting about my mom and dad's tornado experience and the destruction that they had to deal with, their phones never stopped ringing and there was a steady stream of visitors checking on them. I watched a community coming together, willing to jump in and help in any way they could. It did my heart good to see! On top of all that, my nephews, their friend, and my brother all got up on the roof to get it covered until a roofer could get there to repair it. There is good in this world, we just have to pay attention. Wouldn't it be nice if, during a tragedy, the news would point to the heroes and to those who jump in to help without any concern for themselves? For our hearts to heal, we need to see God's love in action and to show that what the enemy set out to destroy, God's bigger plan of love will prevail!

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:2 & 9-10

August 19

My mom and dad's home was hit by a tornado. They heard this storm coming through, and the roar of wind, it caused them to fear so they sought safety in the hallway. They were unharmed, but most of the roof was ripped off and water poured into their home. My friend Joe has a canoe business and was clearing out brush in the river so his clients could have a clear path. He had an angry alligator that kept growling at him only feet away. He escaped unscathed. We've all had close calls, but we're still here. Why did He choose to keep us alive when others are called home? God has a purpose for each and every one of us. The enemy may make it difficult, but we are living in his kingdom and our allegiance is not with him, it's with God. Our lives will not be easy because of that, but we are safe for eternity, and that's much longer than our short lives here on this earth. Count your blessing of an eternity spent with Jesus as your most precious.

Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 1 Corinthians 15:30-32

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