September 22

During a major storm, a tree fell into the road across from a vacant lot we own. It laid in the road for a couple of days until the county had time to move it. After they cut it up, they began piling it onto our lot. Even though the lot appeared empty, there were utilities running through it. As they moved the tree with their heavy equipment they busted a water pipe that supplied our tenants with water. The county noticed that the water meter was putting out an unusual amount of water, so they shut the water off without notice. My tenants spent an entire day without water not knowing what happened. We are living in a day and age where the living water of Jesus is flowing freely. There will come a time when that water will be cut off and no one will know what happened. What was once a free gift, and easily accessible, will take great effort to receive and will subject, those who are left here, to torture and ridicule. With all that's going on in the world today, it seems that the time of Jesus return is nearing. Please don't wait to tell your friends and family about Him. It will not be easy to live in this world after He returns and takes His bride, the church.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 3:10-11

September 21

For all the years that I've sold real estate, I've never sold anything that I've lived in until just recently. It can be a nail biting experience and a bit of a gamble. You think you have a solid contract and all is going well until the other agent calls to tell you that there's an issue. You're like "What do you mean there's an issue?" You've already moved out because you have to be completely out for the final walk through and you had to find a new home. There's nothing you can do if it falls through at the last minute! I don't know how people do it if they're depending on that closing. Thankfully, we finally closed after a few close calls and our move wasn't wasted. This is why we must depend on God's timing. It could be that He's teaching us to depend upon Him for everything, including the timing of this closing. He could have been training the buyers to be persistent and push through their trials. The lesson is to wait on the Lord, His timing is perfect!

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalms 27:14

September 20

My new yard is full of camellia bushes. It's hard to tell that they are there because they've been left unkept for a very long time. They are suffering from lack of light and are bending under the weight and burden of many different kinds of vines. I'm surprised that some of them are still alive because the vines have twisted around their limbs and are almost choking them. The only way to get rid of those vines is to clip them off at the roots and carefully pull them off the plant. It's a very tedious job, but if we want to enjoy their beauty when they bloom, then it's a must. Are you tangled up and suffering with burdens because you've gone too long without care? If so, it's time to give all of those burdens to Jesus. He cares for you and wants nothing more than for you to flourish and bloom. Let Jesus cut off, the things you're suffering from, at its root and begin to remove them one by one.

 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalms 55:22

September 19

After several months of going through the process of selling our home and moving to a new one, I began to feel like I wasn't hearing God's voice clearly. I'd become so dependent upon hearing from Him that it seemed I'd become hearing impaired, I got a little anxious. Morning after morning I would beg to hear His voice and He would whisper to me and I would strain to recognize His words. I muddled through and still honored my commitment to Him to bring a fresh word to His followers. The truth is that I was so pre-occupied with many other things that my own thoughts were interfering with my reception. It was like being between radio stations where I was only picking up part of the station. God had not grown distant from me, I was the one who muffled the speaker. After I refocused and gave Him the attention that He deserved, something broke and I could hear Him clearly again. I broke! I surrendered! I admitted my weakness and He became my strength. 

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Psalms 28:7-8

September 18

Now that I've moved into the forest, I see and hear different things. One of the gifts from this move is seeing the Eastern Bluebird. Our driveway meanders through an open field before it enters a tree covered area where the house is, that's where I've seen a very large family of them. It is not a common bird that I remember seeing growing up, that doesn't mean that they weren't there, I just didn't notice them. They have beautiful blue feathers and a reddish colored chest and are slightly larger than a sparrow. Imagine my thrill as I walked down the driveway and saw them flitting all around me. In this day where there is so much tragedy and turmoil, it's nice when God opens your eyes to the gifts that only He can give. It's not something that I can hold, so no one can take it from me. That memory is now buried in my soul for me to refer back to when I need a lighthearted moment. God has given us many beautiful things to behold, take notice, it's a refreshing break.

"You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. Nehemiah 9:6 

September 16

As Christians, we need to be careful whom we condemn; especially when it's those who are spreading the gospel message and teachers of the Word. When we label others as heretics and false prophets who are working diligently for the kingdom and who are bringing a solid, Bible based message, we are the ones who look bad. I attended a conference where the women who spoke has been labeled just that. I listened with skepticism and like a Berean, I checked on her every word. I found that this woman is real! She loves Jesus with all her heart! You just can't fake that! We need to stop tearing one another apart! A real heretic or false witness will be found out, look at the sons of Sceva! They evoked the name of Jesus when they had no relationship with Him and the demon possessed man tore them apart! Take notice: it was a demon who tore them apart, not another Christian! Stay diligent in your studies so you know the difference. Be more of a fruit inspector and examine their fruit!

But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Acts 19:15-16

September 16

Our mighty God has given each of us a portion of something useful for His kingdom. What are you doing with yours? When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit went to work encouraging you to get involved. He gave you the feeling of gratitude and an overwhelming desire to give back to the One who saved you. Your salvation is not something that you place upon a shelf and dust every once in a while, there are responsibilities that go along with it. We need to stop waiting for someone else to do the work of the kingdom and get out and do our share. Contrary to what most people think, church is not a spectator sport, it's a community! We are a family! We must all get involved. In my family, everyone had to work! If you weren't busy cleaning the house or pulling weeds, or doing some other chore, you had better be sick! So, just as your mom or dad might say, "Get your butt off the couch and get to work!"

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

September 15

Who wakes up the sun to warm the earth, to grow the food, to give us light? Who pours down the rain to fill the rivers and lakes to quench the thirst of the living creatures? Who provides the wisdom for mankind to create the things that bring us the luxury of transportation, communication, and, if you're from the south, that all important air conditioning? We must give credit where credit is due! We must remember where our help comes from, our help comes from the Lord! The maker of all heaven and earth, the Father of all creation is our guide, our wisdom, and the only reason we are who we are. Lift up your hands in praise, worship Him with all your heart. You wouldn't exist if He didn't have a plan for you or a reason for creating you. You have a part in the function of this world as insignificant as you may think you are, this world wouldn't be the same without you. You were created for a purpose. Live your life to honor Him and thank Him for creating you!

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2

September 14

You may have already guessed this about me, but just to confirm what you thought, I drive a truck. I've always had some type of truck or SUV. I've had other types of vehicles and even a couple of luxury cars, but I always come back to the power of a four wheel drive. There's just something that appeals to me about being able to maneuver through all types of terrain. There is a drawback, even though my husband has a work truck, when he wants to haul something, he uses my truck. That makes me consider going back to a car! Aligning yourself with Jesus is like owning a truck! He's powerful and able to maneuver through any and all situations! The problem is that we still think we're in a car and never go off the main road. We're too afraid of getting dirty or maybe even getting stuck. We forget that He is all powerful and has four wheel drive! It's time to go off-roading with Jesus and get a little mud on those tires!

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

September 13

There is something so beautiful about being on an open porch in the morning watching the sunrise filter through the sprawling oaks. Such a sense of peace overwhelms my soul. It's a quiet respite from all the chaos being played out in the world. There are times that it's good to get away from the pressures of living and spend time with the Lord. I think occasionally, He stops us long enough to reset our life and change our focus from ourselves to Him. It's then that we realize that our lives aren't about us at all, our lives are about Him. He created us for Himself! We are here to worship Him, love Him, and bless Him with our praise. We must care for ourselves for Him. He's given us only one life and our every breath should be to glorify Him. When we change our focus to Him, the rest of our lives will fall into place. Begin today to make God your priority and take note of the changes in your life that happen because of it.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

September 12

For days after a tremendous hurricane knocks down trees and fills your streets with water, your power is probably out! If you were lucky enough to get through the storm unscathed, resources become precious. People who live in the city and have city water, don't understand, but when you have a well and the power goes out, you don't have water! You can't jump in the shower to clean off the filth after pulling the limbs out of your driveway, or turn on the faucet for a glass of water. It takes power to run the pump that generates water! It's then that you realize why people pummel one another to get the last bit of water and snacks left on the shelves at the stores! These people were preparing for what happens after the storm! Don't wait until it's too late, you won't get a last minute warning of Jesus return! Heed the warnings now and make a decision to follow Him! He is the only powerful resource you will need when our days are cut short!

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

September 11

Every year on this day we mourn the loss of lives from a most violent and vicious attack upon our country. Our hearts broke when we saw a plane had crashed into the first of the Twin Towers. Then, as we saw another plane collide with the second tower, we knew we were under attack and were stunned! Fear sets in without even knowing that the Pentagon had been attacked and another plane had been hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania. We all gathered our children and glued ourselves to the television just waiting for what might happen next. My mother got stranded in Mississippi and had to rent a car to get home because they closed down all the airports. What kind of person would dare try to take our country down? We are the land of the free and the home of the brave! Only a sick mind and depraved soul would do such a thing. We must continue to tell the real story to our children and grandchildren from the eyes of those who lived through it before it gets sanitized by those who've forgotten. I'm not sure if our hearts have fully recovered from that horrific day. It was a great awakening for our country and many returned to God that day. What is it going to take to set us straight now? We can only hope that we are spared.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bear us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. Psalms 68:19-20

September 10

I live in the beautiful State of Florida. I'm very happy that my great great grandparents decided to settle here. There are a few areas of high ground, but for the most part, Florida is a swamp! When a hurricane threatens, the whole state is on alert. No one is completely safe, and when the storm track changes, it just means that someone else has to fear. We just pray for it to move out into an area where no one will be hurt. The storm that we are dealing with for the next few days has everyone fearing for their lives. This is one of those things that no matter how much money you have, you can't control it, you can only prepare for the worst and pray for a good outcome. Whatever devastation we may face, God will still be there to guide us through it. What's really good to see is everyone reaching out to help one another. If this storm does nothing else, it's teaching us to love again. I'm praying for everyone to make it through this without injury.

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalms 91:14-16

September 9

Who do you call when there's no one to call; when the storm rages and everyone has fear? There is only one who has the power to calm the storm, stop the wind and hold back the rain. If you wait to ask for His help during a time of crisis, how do you know He hears you? If you fail to notice His intervention in your life during the good times, what makes you think He's listening now? Do you offer Him praise when things are good, or tell Him how thankful you are for your blessings? Maybe you're being tested to see if you really believe that He's in control. Do you have peace knowing that whatever happens is a part of His plan? I can assure you that He does hear you, but your fear is lack of faith. Fear of the Lord is healthy, fear of anything else is not! Having concern is prudent as long as it's a part of the wisdom He has given you. Don't allow fear to overtake you, it is not of the Lord.

He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?" Luke 8:25

September 8

Are you ready for the storm? I've been watching the reactions of the people around me who like me, are getting ready to face an enormous storm, and it's not good. I'm a little bit of a prepper and have been ready for this storm for a long time; my cupboards are full of emergency supplies. I've seen people panicking over getting water and food, and the store shelves are empty! Our faucets are still pumping out water, and I doubt we will starve if we miss a couple of meals! It reminds me of how it might have been in the days of Noah, everyone waiting to the last minute when it was already too late. These are the same people who will see Jesus coming to collect His bride and rush to try to make things right with Him, at that point it may be too late. Don't wait until He's here to decide to accept His free gift! It's going to get crazy in this world without Him! He's the living water and the bread of life and you can't live without either!

And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah. I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.".... But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Psalms 55:6-8 & 16

September 7

Our little dog Rudy, is very vocal. When he wants to play, he whines and stares at you until you throw the ball. He knows what he wants and won't stop until he gets it. When he's hungry, he will pick up his bowl and drop it so it makes a noise, just to get our attention! We always give in to him because he doesn't stop. He's a spoiled little monster, but he's the cutest thing ever! I wonder if God looks at us the same way. I can just see Him looking at us saying "aw, look how cute they are!" We wouldn't be much fun if we didn't talk to Him, even if it's just to ask for frivolous things. We may not get what we ask for, but I'll bet He's amazed at our fervency. According to scripture, He wants us to ask. If our prayer agrees with scripture we should keep asking until we get an answer. If you want more of the Holy Spirit or wisdom, ask! You will start to see a difference in your reactions and your thinking. Wisdom takes time, but He will train you until you are very wise. If you want more of the Holy Spirit, He will teach you to tune in. We have a good, good Father, so ask!

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

September 6

I don't know about you, but I'm in the boat with Jesus! When the storm raged and the swells on the sea began to rise, Jesus was resting. When he awakened, He reminded them of their lack of faith and then calmed the sea. Even though we worry and toil over what might happen next, Jesus is at peace within us. We must take a minute to tap into that peace. The storm on the horizon may be something like we've never seen, but our hope is not in the protection of this world. Even when "the war goddess, Irma" threatens to destroy us and our way of life, she cannot take the most precious thing we have, our salvation. Think about this: what do you really fear? Losing your life? That's in the hands of Jesus! Is it your lifestyle or your possessions? Your lifestyle and possessions can be replaced, but there's nothing that can take the place of Jesus, He is the only savior. If we should see our end, we will finally meet Jesus!

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

Are you ready? If not, now may be a good time to turn your life over to the one who holds eternity in His hands. He is the perfect love that cast out all fear.

September 5

There is a lot to be learned through the average things we see every day. For instance, when taking a stroll on the beach you see all sorts of seashells, some are common, some are extraordinary, but others are broken. The broken ones have probably been rolling around in the sea for a long time, crashing against rocks and the reefs, and have been pummeled in the surf over and over again. By the time it lands on the beach, it's been through the ringer! As an avid shell seeker, I only choose the perfect and unusual shells, however, I have a friend who chooses the broken ones and neatly fits them together to create beautiful topiaries. When I look at the church, I see broken seashells coming together to make a masterpiece, beautifully perfect in every way. We are by no means perfect within ourselves, but crowned with Jesus and covered by Him, we are the picture of perfection. Only through Jesus can our brokenness be seen as beautiful. 

to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

September 4

It's always nice to wake up and see the sun rising on the horizon. The animals have already been up for a while and foraging for their next meal. They begin singing their sweet song to let everyone know that they made it through the night and are happy about it. At every hour of the day there are birds singing for the Lord. As our birds go to sleep, others are just waking up to bring a joyful noise to Him. I wish I could wake up singing, but if takes a cup of coffee for me to become fully awake! Bring your praises before the Lord and let Him know how happy you are to be alive. Each step in a new day is another opportunity for you to show Him how much you love Him. It's funny how giving God what He deserves brings happiness to you too. He's a good Father worthy of every ounce of praise you have in your being. Don't forget, you owe Him everything, so give Him all you've got!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalms 100:4

September 3

After many months, I finally get a long desired stay at the beach. That beautiful turquoise Gulf is calling my name. As we get situated in our boat, I notice that the water isn't very clear. I wasn't even thinking about it because it was the bay side and sometimes it's not as clear. We get to the island and after putting all my things away, I finally get to walk out to the beach. To my disappointment, the water was brown! Yuck! We are near where two different rivers pour into the gulf, and with all the rain we've had and the hurricane stirring up the water, it ends up an icky brown. Even then a bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work! In life, things don't always turn out as you've planned, but there is always a glimmer of hope on the horizon. As I begin my walk down the beach I notice that the shells have piled up. I sit down in a pile and begin collecting one beautiful specimen after another. A blessing within my disappointment. God is good! 

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24