July 14

God’s timing is perfect. Early in the morning, while on a quick trip to my favorite little island paradise, I’m awakened by this vibrant light peaking through the blinds. So I get up and look out the window and there it was, the most glorious ball of fire making its appearance on the horizon. I get excited every time I see it! If I had slept just a few minutes more, it’s brilliance would have been diminished because of the flood of light that comes with it. It quickly goes from bright orange to almost white. There is no denying the works of God! As Christians, we are privileged to have been given some understanding of the magnitude of the Almighty God through the Holy Spirit and His written word, but it’s not hidden; even to those who have no understanding of who He is can clearly see the intricate details of His creation, and it testifies to a being that’s more majestic than one can imagine. Aren’t you thankful that you are a part of His kingdom? Give thanks to Him today because it’s an honor to be called a child of God.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

July 13

You know, you’re not going through anything that Jesus himself hasn’t been through. The specifics may be different, but the challenge isn’t. He defeated the enemy at every turn! He came after Him when He was weak and alone, but when Satan quoted scripture telling Him that He could jump from the pinnacle and the angels would save Him, Jesus reminded him, by quoting scripture, that you are not to put God to the test. Do you see what He did? Satan lied to Him and He reminded him of the truth through the use of scripture. Don’t try to battle the enemy without that portion of your armor, it’s your sword! Of all the pieces of armor, the sword of the spirit - which is the word of God, it's the only defensive weapon. It is so powerful that it is able to cut to the core and easily divide between soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. Brandish your weapon when the enemy starts telling you that you are unworthy, no good, ugly, unredeemable, or when he tries to instill fear, or haunts you with your past. Remember what God says about you - you are worthy, you are good, you are beautiful, I’ve redeemed you, and you are my child!

Heb 2:18  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Eph 6:17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Mat 4:6  and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Mat 4:7  Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

July 12

I was honored to be able to read a new book that is in the final steps of being released. It’s called Soul Survivor, by Scott McIntosh. Everyone needs to read this book! I’m a person that has dealt with all the traps the enemy has laid out for me, at least, I thought I had until I read this book. God knows when it’s time to dig deep into that trunk full of junk, all the way to the bottom, and pull out the one thing you’ve been hiding that you don’t want anyone to see. I thought my trunk was empty, but there it was, hiding under a sheet! By me keeping this hidden deep in my soul, the blood from that wound is eventually going to seep out, especially if someone decides that they need to rip the bandage off! Thanks Scott...I think. Don’t get too excited, it’s not fodder for juicy gossip. After my son’s father died, and I was left a widow, my life changed dramatically. He died of a dreaded disease that God had spared me and my son from contracting. There was the initial trauma of finding out, then there were several years of living with the illness before it took his life. I chose to shove it down inside, only to bring it out when convenient. Don’t get me wrong, God was so good to me through this process, but I think He’s decided that it’s time for me to bring it out and work through it. God wants us all to be free from the things in our past, that’s why He sent us Jesus. We’re just responsible for giving it to Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

July 11

Road work is never easy to deal with, especially when they are working in front of your house and you have to park a block away. Most people are dealing with it in an adult-like manner, but others, not so much. Volunteering to be on the homeowners association is challenging and maybe something I’m regretting just a little, however, I know God has a lesson in it for me. So I get a call early in the morning from someone who is very upset about the situation. I had given my phone number so that anyone who may have health issues and needed to park closer could call me. Parking closer wasn’t good enough for him, he wanted us to postpone it. I guess he thought I was going to let him run over me like a bulldozer, but I didn’t! He was nice by the end of the conversation. The point of me telling you all of this is, you will never please everyone. Your best bet is to spend your limited days on this earth pleasing God, because in the end, He’s the only one that matters. I’m not mad at that cranky, miserable old man, I just feel sorry for him.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8

July 10

When you have pets, you realize that humans are not the only creatures that God gave a mind of their own. As I was sitting in my recliner, not wanting to get up, I called my dog Coco to come over to me. She looked at me from three feet away and just sat there. She’s not dumb, she knew what I was saying. She knows my voice, she saw my lips moving, but she chose to ignore me. Calling us His sheep, Jesus said that we would hear His voice. We tend to do the same thing - we know when He’s speaking and calling to us, but like my dog, we get a dumb look on our face and just sit there. How many times have you thought you should do something, then ignored that prompting? I know I’ve done that more than once! Then you see someone else jump in and do what you know God told you to do. Sometimes His voice is so quiet that you’re not sure if it’s Him, but if the voice is telling you to be kind to someone, you can bet it’s Him. He won’t tell you to do something that is contrary to biblical teaching. So I challenge you to clean out your ears and begin listening for His voice.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

July 8

I’m sure you hear this often, but it’s true, life is short. Once you hit fifty you realize that you’ve probably lived half your life, I say probably because my great grandmother lived to one hundred and two! Time seems to begin to tick off a little faster and things that were once very important to you have become part of the background. Why does it take us so long to realize that people are most important, and the pursuit of “things” is just a way to pass the time? I love being surrounded by beauty just like anyone, but if you don’t have people around you to enjoy it with, what’s the point. Your children don’t want all the things you plan on leaving them! Jesus had nothing but the clothes on His back and yet He lived the best life. He loved people during His journey and He loved them hard, even unto death. The first mentioned fruit of the spirit is love. The greatest command is to love. Love people while you still have the time.

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. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

July 7

We go from a dry and dusty land to saturation. In the winter you wonder if it’s ever going to rain again and the summer you don’t know when it’s ever going to stop! The winter is too cold and the summer is too hot! Are we ever satisfied? What would we talk about if we didn’t complain about the weather? Not all of life’s situations bring us pleasure, however, we must learn to cope and to find the good in them. For instance, the summer may be hot, but the heat and rain cause the earth to flourish with an abundance of food and beautiful flowers. The winter gives us a break from the heat and lets the earth rest. Though you may be dealing with an uncomfortable situation today, know that seasons change, we need to wait for it. I just finished studying the book of Matthew and within just a few days in time, Jesus was brutally beaten, tortured, and crucified. Sadness and fear overwhelmed His followers at His death. Then three days later He rose from the dead! Just like that things changed and will never be the same again. Be patient in your situation, it will change.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

July 6

Why did God need a blood sacrifice? Why did we need to make the choice to follow Jesus? What it amounts to is justice. God is a just God; if you do something wrong, you must pay the price. The only real payment is your life; life is in the blood! Anything and everything we do is to preserve our life! Look at all the people who are making money selling vitamins, promoting gym memberships, doctors and drug makers, eat this and not that! All these things are to promote health and long life and we all want it! The sacrifices made in the Old Testament were a replacement for offering their own blood for their sin. Giving up the animal was a sacrifice because it was a food source and a part of their wealth. However, the animal sacrifices were just a temporary fix - the penalty was not harsh enough and only cleansed until they sinned again. The only justice is our own life! Then I have to think, is my life really good enough to cover my own sin, because I’m far from pure? I’m not sure. One thing that I am sure of is Jesus! He is pure and good enough. He made the sacrifice once and for all - no other sacrifice is needed, not even my own life! However, you are not covered by His blood unless you choose to accept Him as the atonement for your sin. Not only does He cover your sin for the here and now, but He gives us the reward of eternal life and the ability to see God who is so holy that we must be pure to come near Him! Why wouldn’t you want to accept this gift? I hope this makes sense.

Joh 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:17  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.

Joh 3:18  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.

July 5

History is harsh and there is a lot of bad mixed in. Men used other humans against their will! I’ve toured Mount Vernon and found it to be detestable. It brought tears to my eyes seeing the condition that the slaves had to live in. What’s really sad is that their condition was probably better than most. Until I saw it with my own eyes, I never thought of George Washington as a slave owner, only as the father of our country. We owe a great deal of gratitude to those whose blood, sweat, and tears got this country up and running. God used what was bad to bring about what is good. He had a plan all along. Maybe the only way He could get many nations into one was to allow them to be brought here against their will. I wouldn’t have came here on my own. I probably would have quietly worshiped as I pleased behind closed doors rather than get into a crowded ship to come to some unknown land to camp forever. No thank you! No matter how we got here, what we have now is good. I’m very thankful that I don’t have to hide to worship the God I love so much and that I can freely express myself right out in the open. Don’t let history define you, but let it spur you into thankfulness.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

July 4

When I moved into my neighborhood, I wanted to know the interworkings of it, so I volunteered for the homeowners association board. I didn’t know that little had been done to maintain the neighborhood for nearly a year. There was a home that was in a mess from a tree branch falling on it and the homeowner was refusing to make the repairs. One homeowner had been complaining about a drainage issue for quite some time and nothing had been done. So I come in feeling like a hurricane trying to get everything accomplished. It’s just spinning in the gulf right now, but it’s getting ready to hit! This situation reminds me of our heart. We can’t leave it in disrepair and expect to look and feel our best. Eventually what is broken on the inside, will start showing on the outside. You can try to fake it until you make it, but that’s only good for a short time. There is One who will deliver you out of your affliction and is a champion for the broken-hearted, Jesus! Go to Him with your trouble. Seek godly Christian counsel and let them pray with you and offer you encouragement. You aren’t in this alone! God has given us brothers and sisters in Christ, so we can lean on one another during times of trouble. Open up and let us help you carry your burdens. 

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:18-19. This whole chapter is very uplifting. Go and read aloud!

July 3

It’s that time of the month where I pay all the bills. I spent a good part of the day with my accounts payable hat on. I couldn’t put that hat on until I had finished my duties as accounts receivable. No money received, no money to pay bills. So the first thing I have to do is to gather the payments and go to the bank and make a deposit. Then pay my bills. I don’t write out any checks until I write out my tithe, I pay God first! He has been too good to me to make Him wait until all my bills are paid, heck I don’t even wait until all the payments are collected before I pay Him! It should be like that with everything in your life. I pay Him with the first part of my day too. My mind is like a sponge first thing in the morning and I can offer Him praise for letting me wake up. God deserves our first and the best of everything we have. It’s the least we can do. Everything we have belongs to Him and all He wants from us is a small sacrifice as appreciation for all He does for us. Make Him your first priority, if for no other reason than the fact the He deserves it!

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

July 2

I love to eat salmon! I like it best grilled with lemon butter sauce. If it’s on the menu, I’m ordering it! When we went out to dinner Sunday after church, I did just that, ordered the salmon. As I began eating it, I realized they had overcooked it and it had a burnt taste. I sent it back and they cooked me another one. It came out exactly the same, burnt on the bottom. At that point, I lost my appetite. I do not desire the burnt taste. Sin is like burnt fish, you can try to feed it to others, but if they are forgiven of sin themselves, they may reject your offer. The taste of sin is no longer a desire, not only that, but we try to avoid it because of Jesus. If you are toying with sin and foolishness, avoid trying to drag others into your games, and turn from it so you may be forgiven too. 

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10-11

July 1

After heavy rain, Lake Okeechobee and Lake Hancock fill up to overflowing. Lake Hancock is highly polluted and pours out into the Peace River. All of those pollutants then flow downstream and spills out into Charlotte Harbor. Lake Okeechobee is also full of contaminants and runoff from farms that is full of nutrients that overwhelm our ecosystem; it flows into the Caloosahachee River which pours out just south of Charlotte Harbor. We’ve had heavy rains before and the harbor has been full of brown water, but this time the fish kill is quite overwhelming. Not only is there an alarming amount of fish dying, but larger animals like manatees and sea turtles are washing onto the shore. It is a devastation like we’ve never seen. God gave us this land to use and to manage for our food and shelter and when you look at what has happened, we’ve made a mess of both. Our food is dying and the air from the red tide is hard to breathe and the waterways and beaches are full of death. This is a cause and effect of rerouting the water so that it no longer filters through the Everglades. The huge river of grass is not able to do its job and clean our water. I don’t know the answer to this problem, but it would be nice if we found one. All the land I know and love lie on the banks of the Peace River and at its mouth. God help us to heal our land.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

June 30

As we were coming back from the mountains, the sun was shining, traffic was clear, and we were beating the GPS in arrival time. You know what it means if you’re beating the original arrival time on the GPS! When we got close to Atlanta, the lanes became confusing and we missed our turn, I think we may have been heading to Alabama! It was a slight detour and we were back on track. We were right on schedule until we reached Gainesville and someone turned on the faucet and the clouds opened up and traffic slowed to a crawl! We got home right on schedule, but not before. You know that God has us on a path that is part of His plan. Sometimes we are sidetracked by getting off at the wrong exit because we fail to listen to His direction. Other times we are delayed, like getting caught in the pouring rain, but we are on schedule and will arrive at our destination right on time! Don’t get frustrated when things don’t go as planned, it’s not your plan!

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

June 29

It was quite refreshing to enjoy the cool, crisp mountain air for a few days. To go from a daytime temperature of 95 degrees to a high of 79 degrees was fantastic! I’m sitting in Helen Georgia right now, but in about 10 hours, I’ll be back home in the unbreathable, high humidity, sweat dripping, sunny Florida. It makes me want to become a “sunbird” where I travel north to escape the heat, just like our friendly “snowbirds” from the north do in the winter. Just one problem, I think I might go stir crazy! I mean, how many mountains can you gaze upon before they begin to look the same? The winding rivers and rocky shoals are soothing, but will put you in a trance if you fix your eyes on them too long. Where are the beaches? Yes, the mountains are a great place to visit, but I’m satisfied with the location that God has placed me in. Maybe vacations and travel are a way to make you appreciate what you have, at least that’s my take on it today. Learn to appreciate God’s provision. He has you where you are for a reason and will let you know if it’s time to move on.

“And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim. Joel 3:18

June 28

During our trip, one area we explored was where Richard had spent quite a few summers as a kid. He helped his uncle build cabins in the mountains of northern Georgia. One of the cabins he helped build belonged to his grandmother, and he was determined to find it even though he had no idea where it was. He had an old, outdated address that included a rural route, which are no longer used. He did some research online to no avail. He decided to go to the county office and see if they could help, but they were no help and led us on a wild goose chase. After hours of driving through the mountains on some very rough roads, he decided to call a family member who had been there within the last couple of years and she was able to direct us right to it. Many of his memories began flooding back. It’s so funny how things you thought were big when you were a kid, end up being dinky. The best part of all of this was the interaction with the people; the personnel at the county office, the woman who currently owns his grandmother’s home, the tenants and owners of the hotel, his cousin, and more. When you focus on people and not just the destination, you will abound with blessings. Change your outlook to people and your destination will be fantastic no matter where you go.

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

June 27

After a ten hour drive, with only one stop for gas, you get a little anxious to stand up and stretch your legs. That long trip where all you see is the interstate highway can become mundane and loathsome. However, when the scenery changes something inside you begins to perk up! Our heart and soul are awakened and we long to breathe in the freshness of the mountain air. The majesty of the mountain terrain draws you to want to explore the surroundings a little closer. The rocky streams, the towering trees, and the overall comfort of the mountain lifestyle causes you to relax. Is this Heaven? If not, Heaven must be pretty close. Though this is a nice treat for me, we can find a little slice of Heaven wherever we are. It’s as easy as tuning in to the Holy Spirit; ask Him to make you aware of the glimpses of Heaven that are around you right now. They are there if you are willing to take a moment to notice. God is so good to us and doesn’t want us to be anxious. Take a moment to relax and refresh, even if it’s just to glance out the window and see the beauty of His creation. 

Psa 19:1  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalms 18:1

June 26

I watched this video of a young woman who decided that she wasn’t going to let someone else define who she was. She took matters into her own hands and began to love herself the way she is. It took so much courage for her to do this and to embrace what others see as imperfections. She was ridiculed by men and women alike. We all know how hard it is to feel like we fit into society, so why do we treat one another so badly? You know, Jesus was not a perfect looking man for our standard of perfection - most images we see depicting Him, are of a gorgeous man with luscious locks of hair and smooth skin. I can assure you he didn’t look like that. As a matter of fact, He was described by Isaiah as a dry root and he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. Jesus came to point us to something much more lofty than our outward appearance, our heart. He wants us to love beyond the looks and see into the depth of others. Stop judging people on how they look and stop judging yourself so harshly. We can learn a lot from someone who’s been set free like this woman.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

June 25

Another dog story! Rudy’s favorite toy is a small rubber ball about the size of a racquetball. It’s only his favorite toy because it’s the only thing he can’t destroy, all other toys end up scattered all over the house and in his belly. The only time he’s not playing with the ball is when he is sleeping, and even then it’s right beside him. He will bring it to me and lay it down in front of me waiting for me to throw it. Sometimes when I reach back to throw, he anticipates the direction and starts to run; other times he waits until after it stops moving before he goes to get it. Which method do you think is the smartest? It’s the one where he waits! God is like the bouncing ball. It's better to wait to see what He’s doing before we make a move. “Wait” is a command that is repeated throughout the Bible. It is one of the hardest things to do. When we pray, we expect Him to answer, but sometimes He has to move things into place before the answer comes, like the bouncing of the ball before it stops. Wait patiently my friends, God has heard your prayers.

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

June 24

Are you ready for Jesus to return? Is your lamp and flask full of oil so your light doesn’t go out? A year ago, I bought a couple of plants that had a pretty spiked flower. The plant had beautiful wide leaves which added more interest. By the time November came the plant wilted and dried up, even though I was taking good care of it. Being that it was a type of ginger, I decided to keep it. I left them in their pots and kept them watered, even though there was nothing but dirt in it. So, for almost a year I looked at those black pots full of dirt, hoping they would come out again. Much to my surprise and great delight, I began to see them sprout. Not wanting to continue to look at the nursery pots, I planted them in the flower bed. Now they are fully grown and have bloomed! If they didn’t come back out, I would have just thrown them away, however, I held out hope and have received a reward for my patience. This illustrates the hope we have in Jesus. We can’t see Him, but we must never give up the hope we have in Him. Keep your lamp and flask full, the King will return for His bride and it will be a beautiful union.

but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. Matthew 25:4-7