June 8

We move about day by day not understanding that there is more to this life than what we see physically. The unseen world is real. My contemplation is not even considering the angelic and demonic forces, but of how the pieces of what we do in this life fits into the eternal life. Why do I think and deal with things that will have no impact on the life I will live in eternity? Why do I concern myself with the thoughts of others? My only concern should be Jesus and what He thinks of me, He is whom I will dwell with for eternity. When reading about the transfiguration, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Mat 17:4) He was so overwhelmed by what he saw that he wanted to stay there and would have been comfortable sleeping on the ground, being he didn’t even mention building a tent for himself. We should be doing the same thing! We should be more concerned about building a tabernacle for Jesus and less concerned about ourselves.

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” Matthew 17:5-7

June 7

Have you ever heard a message that you know came from the heart of God? The messenger was fluent and the words poured out like living water from a stream coming from the throne. Her message was to encourage us as we go through stressful situations. We often want to quit when we are suffering the consequences of following Jesus. We forget to count it all joy when we face trials of various kinds, it is the testing of our faith. In my own study of Matthew, I’m in the section where Peter rebuked Jesus after He told His disciples that He must suffer and be killed. Peter must have selective hearing like many of us do, because he missed the part where He said He would be raised on the third day. At that point Jesus called out Satan and told Peter He was setting his mind on the things of man rather than God. Satan will come in and try to derail God’s plan for us; it’s important that we stand strong in our faith and set our minds on the things of God, just as Jesus did.

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23

June 6

We live in an age where everything is at our fingertips. It’s possible to never leave the house if you are fortunate enough to have a computer based job. Uber can deliver food from just about anywhere locally, and Publix has a delivery service that can bring you groceries. Jesus had been teaching for three days and the people were hungry. He didn’t want to send them away because they might faint before finding adequate food. There were four thousand men plus women and children - that’s a lot of people to feed without Uber! But this was not the first time Jesus had fed a multitude, but the reaction of the disciples was the same! “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” How did they forget so quickly? How do we forget the things He does for us so quickly? We’ve all experienced God’s provision, but quickly forget, especially when we need that miracle again. Do not lose hope. Strengthen your faith by remembering the good He has done for you in the past.

he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Matthew 15:36-37

June 5

When you go outside at dusk here in Florida, you are likely to get carried away by mosquitoes. My dogs decided that it was the perfect time to go out. The minute that I stepped through the door, I had to begin swatting away those vicious little creatures. As I walked into an open area behind my home, I began to notice that the mosquitoes weren’t bothering me. That’s when I saw some tiny bats flitting all around me. They were eating the mosquitoes! Even the most vile creatures have a useful purpose. I am a person that associates fleshly things to beings that are unseen, and bats are creatures that I associate with the demonic. Do you know that I stood in that field and not one of them touched me? However, if they had, I could have easily defeated it because they were about the size of a mouse! If you are being tormented by evil, don’t forget that you have a powerful weapon, and just by using Jesus name, they will flee from you.

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:17-19

June 4

God has worked hard to help me become free from the roots of my captivity. Fear, unbelief, trauma, and rejection are products of the enemy and he works hard to keep you chained to them. Once you are free, you can pick up on clues from people who are not free. I’m very quick to point out the lies of the enemy, which can be quite a shock to the person who is still believing them. Once they realize they were being toyed with by the enemy, then they become angry at themselves for believing his lies, and at him for feeding them the lies. This is a good place to be. It’s a place where the fight for territory begins and where the enemy becomes defeated. When you take away his weapons, he loses! Jesus is waiting for you to relinquish to Him the things He went to the cross for. You no longer need to hold on to that garbage. Pray for God to help you let go of what’s keeping you from coming back to your original self. Then, rebuke the enemy as God reminds you of them so you can break those chains.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

June 3

Have you ever thought about why you do what you do? For instance, why do you close your eyes when you pray? This is not biblical. If I closed my eyes every time I prayed, I would wreck my car, walk into a wall, or stumble down the stairs! This was probably one of the first church traditions that I untangled myself from. There are churches that say you can’t dance or go to the movies and others that require a ritual to have your prayers answered or your sins forgiven. None of these rules are biblical! There are so many more! Carefully examine the things that you do and begin peeling off the traditions that do not match what is written in the word of God. Though some traditions cause no harm, others may become a stumbling block. Jesus ran into trouble because He followed what was written in the scriptures rather than man made rules, but He wasted no time calling out the Pharisees on their pointless laws.

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?.....You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:3 & 15:7-9

June 2

Jesus trained His disciples and sent them out on their own. Bible study is good for you, and it increases your faith and strengthens your character, but at some point it needs to be used to glorify God. All the knowledge you are getting shouldn’t go to the grave with you, it needs to be used. Every church has a few people who do all the work, that’s why you know who they are because they are used in every capacity. I’ll bet if you asked, you would find out that your services are needed and that you can put all the tools to work that you’ve learned through your diligent study. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us in His kingdom, and I’ll bet if all of us volunteered to help in our church, we would find that we may only need to jump in once or twice a month. To serve God is to serve in your church. I challenge each of you to ask God what He would have you do and then step outside your comfort zone and do it! Jesus sacrificed His life you, why not sacrifice a little time for Him.

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

June 1

On a little island in South Florida there are no streets, however, there is a path that runs the length of the island. It is there to help the utility company and other services reach the homeowners in need. The homeowners like to use it to explore and visit friends. This path cuts through private property. One homeowner decided to fence off his property which cuts off the path. Word spread through the power of Facebook, and the whole island was up in arms. Even though it was known to be true, some needed to see it for themselves to believe. Those same people had to turn around and go back home. Because of their unbelief, their path was cut off! Had they just believed the testimony of friends, they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble and could have chosen a different way to reach their destination. Take power out of the hands of Satan and believe what the Bible tells you. There is only one path to the Kingdom of Heaven and that is through Jesus! 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

May 31

When I look for treasures on the beach, seashells are the main thing I seek. However, many things wash up, like fishing gear, bobbers, lures, chunks of wood, seeds, sharks teeth, bones, and much more. I collect all of it! Some things are very old, like the sharks teeth - I know this because they are black; some of the shells are old because they are very white and considered fossilized. Other things like the bobbers and lures are brand new, the fisherman probably lost them just a few days before. When you read my post, you realize that I give you a mix. The stories I tell gives you a little old with the new. The old is the Bible verse and my story is a new way to look at it to help you understand how it fits into todays lifestyle. It makes you realize that even though the Bible is ancient, it is living and sharper than a double edged sword. Train your mind to begin seeing things through the lens of the Bible.

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matthew 13:52

May 30

My hope was that being on the island during a storm would give me the first opportunity to gather the treasures left on the shore. So last night I went out during the first low tide we’ve had in nearly a week. It was dark and I was the only one out there with my little red headlamp scanning the shore. I made a beeline about a mile down to the place that will have shells if there are any to be found, and found nothing! I didn’t even get to see a turtle coming up to nest! It ended up that the only treasure I found was some alone time without human interference. With no one to distract me, my heart poured out to the Lord of how grateful I am for all He has done for me. I needed to be reset, and ready for the next challenge. Though I had set out to find gifts from the sea, I walked away with so much more, a treasure that can only be found by reaching out to the Father - peace, comfort, and a feeling of being loved.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

May 29

It’s day five of my beach vacation. Even though the weather has been less than perfect, I’ve still been able to get out on the beach and walk every day. There is something special about the place where the sand meets the sea. The gulf is full of living things that unless you explore, would never know they’re there. The same goes for spiritual beings, just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they are not there. Like the seashells that wash ashore is evidence of their existence, there is also evidence of spiritual existence. Like when someone shows up at just the right time to encourage you when you need it the most, or you hear the same message two or three times from different sources confirming that you’ve heard from God. Maybe something stopped you from going through the intersection just before a huge truck blew through the red light. Whether it’s the Holy Spirit or ministering angels, watch for the subtle clues and you will see that we are not alone.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. He’s 13:2

May 28

How many times have you wanted to speak your mind and then after doing so, regretted it? We all have moments like this, where we are bothered by something someone does or says and want to lash out and give them a piece of our mind. What good did it do? Most of the time we’ve just thrown fuel on the fire and brought more hardship upon ourselves. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! When Jesus said these words, He was talking to the Pharisees who had just said He was doing His miracles by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. He reminded them that a house divided cannot stand. Is your house divided? Are you divided within yourself? Do you say you love Jesus and then speak badly of someone? Immerse yourself in God’s word and follow the example that Jesus sets in order to change your heart, then maybe what comes out will reflect Jesus rather than Beelzebul!

Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. Matthew 12:25

May 27

As the storms come in from the gulf, you get a mix of wind and rain, the sea is stirred causing the water to be rough, and the dark clouds are rushing by. By this you can see why the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind. You can’t see the wind, but you can feel and see the effects of it. The Holy Spirit is more like a breeze or a breath of air, not like a tropical storm. However, His movement can feel like you’ve been hit by the force of a hurricane because of the change that is brought about. A good comparison might be when you accepted Jesus as your Savior. Some had a quiet transformation like a breath of air, but others had an immediate life altering experience like a hurricane; both being life changing and transforming. Pay close attention to the things happening in your life, and don’t respond like it’s business as usual. The Holy Spirit is with you at all times and His work is a daily occurrence.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

May 26

We decided to spend some time at the beach for the Memorial holiday, even though it’s wet and soggy, and a tropical storm is traveling through the gulf! On our way over we had to wait for a break in the clouds before we could get in the boat to go over to the island. Once it stopped raining, we quickly loaded everything; we had about a week's worth of groceries just in case we couldn’t get off the island. We made it there, barely getting wet. Then, as we pulled into our slip, the clouds opened up and we got drenched! We were safe and my prayer was answered. Sometimes the things I’m praying are the things He’s saying, or maybe it was my lack of faith! As I was praying, it somehow changed to “as long as we get there safe, a little rain won’t hurt us”, and that’s what happened. God is faithful to protect, however, you may still have to deal with a trial, like the pouring rain that we encountered.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

May 25

There will be those who will be offended by you because of whose you are. Jesus, who is the cornerstone for our temple, is also a stumbling block for those who go against His word. When you’ve shared Jesus with someone, and they reject Him, He just became their stumbling block because they have heard the truth and disobey His word. It would have been better for them not to know because they now have to answer for their rejection of Him. In our society today, there is always someone offended by something! We have to stand our ground and continue to speak the truth about Jesus and what is right, whether it offends or not. Jesus said, “and blessed is the one who is not offended by me” So, consider yourself blessed, because you are!

and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2:8

May 24

Hurricane season begins in just a few days and preparation is well underway. Our home is surrounded by trees which could become a detriment during a storm. It’s important to survey their health and remove any dead or unhealthy branches to make sure they don’t end up through the roof. It also helps to remove some of the weight because they become extra heavy during the accompanying rainfall. Our mental health is very similar. After going through a stressful time, you feel like you’ve just been through a hurricane. In the same way you prepare your home for a storm, you should be preparing for life’s personal storms so that it takes a lot of effort on the part of the devil to rock you. Armor up with the Word of God, pray, forgive and seek forgiveness. Do a mental checklist to make sure you have handled any fear, unbelief, trauma, and rejection; because when the storms come, the weight of your past will come flooding back.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8

May 23

Have you ever watched a family of raccoons as they dottle around? The babies follow their mom around very closely and are almost in perfect step with her. My neighbor had a dead tree in her yard with a hole that I had seen some in at one time; I saw a video recently that reminded me of the family that lived in it. In the video, the babies had followed the mom up the tree to get back into their hole. They had no fear and they waited patiently for her to help them get back into their home. If they were having a hard time, she would grab them by the scruff of their neck and pull them in. It was their lack of fear that amazed me the most. They knew no different, it was the way they were raised. If we would follow Jesus as closely at these babies followed their mom, we would lose our fear of man. Jesus always has us and will grab us by the scruff of the neck when things get rough, and draw us close.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

May 22

Earlier this year, I bought a few orchids that were in full bloom. After all the rain, I decided I needed to check on them. It turned out the pots they were in were full of water and the material they were potted in had begun to rot. I poured all the water out and decided to repot them in new material. After getting well into it, I decided that I should probably check the internet to see if it was safe to repot the ones still in bloom. It turned out that I shouldn’t because it might kill the plant. It was too late for one plant! How often do we set out to do well with little knowledge and end up causing more harm than good? My orchid is an example, but it’s just a plant. One little deviation from the word of God could cause death or destruction to the hearer. Pray for knowledge and wisdom, then seek to gain it by studying the Word. You never want to be responsible for someone heading in the wrong direction, it would be better for you and for them if you hadn’t said a word.

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you. 1 Timothy 6:20-21

May 21

After a break in the weather, I was able to get out on the beach for a long walk. I didn’t find any shells worthy of keeping, but the air was refreshing, there is nothing that cleanses my soul more than the gulf breezes. I took Rudy with me and it was his first time walking the entire two miles. He’s been with me before, but I’ve had to carry him for at least half of the walk. It’s probably been more than a year since the last time I took him so he’s matured considerably since then. When we go the distance with Jesus, it takes time for us to mature. There are times when we get tired and He carries us and other times we follow Him closely. It’s not always an easy walk; we encounter many things that try to keep us from going the distance, but if we stick with Him, He will refresh our soul like the gulf breezes. Do not grow weary, let His strength carry you down the treacherous path you are on, then walk when you are able.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

May 20

The whole state of Florida is a soggy swamp right now because of all the rain and thunderstorms we’ve been getting. It just so happens that the next scripture in my daily reading is about Jesus calming the storm. This is one of my favorite stories because it reminds me that I’m not alone in my boat. When everything feels chaotic, sometimes it will get to you. No one knows what you are dealing with that causes your boat to rock or how powerful the storm is that is making you feel flooded or overwhelmed. There are well meaning people that may be bringing a funnel cloud with them, not realizing that your boat is taking on water. If you are feeling this way, it might be time for you to wake up Jesus and let Him calm that storm. He might rebuke you saying ‘where is your faith,’ but that may be all you need to hear to bring you back into His peace. Don’t let today’s trouble get to you. Ask yourself this, “Will this have an effect on my eternity?” When you hear the answer, take a deep breath and smile.

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:25-26