August 17

As I’m traveling along a path through the Bible, the path that God placed me on, I’m finding that it’s playing out in real life! A bit of righteous fear of the Lord comes over me, not because He would harm me, but because of how close He is to me! It’s especially haunting, because I’m systematically reading through the Book of James. The words, the situation, and the outcome are the same. If I were an unbeliever, reading this portion of scripture and compared it to the situation before me, I would cry in repentance and come to Jesus! However, if my heart is hardened, the scripture would be twisted by the enemy, to keep me deceived. If you don’t read God’s word with a repentant heart, and a desire to know its life giving truth, it will mean nothing to you. Today’s message is a warning. Be careful out there, God is closer than you think! He knows your every move, and what’s even scarier is that He knows your heart! Come before Him with clean hands and a pure heart.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalms 24:3-5

August 16

Do you ever wake up with something troubling on your mind? This happens to me more often than not. Well, that’s why you’re getting this devotional today. I woke up thinking about home owners association issues! We have stuff going on in our neighborhood and a specific guy who is very needling. I don’t like waking up with a nagging feeling, it’s not refreshing. So before I even looked at the next section of verses in my Bible, I asked God to give me something that would help me as well as others. You're not going to believe what verse came next in my study of James - time is too short for you to be concerned about tomorrow! I am often floored by how close He is and how devoted He is to me and my everyday cares. 

I’m torn about which direction to take this writing. Do I tell you how awestruck I am about God’s love for me and you, or do I encourage you to leave your cares to Him? I just can’t get over this incredible feeling! In a moment's time I went from worry and discouragement to elation, because I know He heard me and because He doesn’t want His daughter to be fretful. This man obviously doesn’t know who I am, or who my Father is! If he did, he might be more concerned with the repercussions of coming against His favorite child than worrying about whether the HOA is going to pay to fill a hole in his yard! Get a shovel mister and fill in your own hole! Okay, so now you see how ridiculous my worry was. What’s on your mind that needs to be thrown in the trash heap? The Father, who loves you because you’re His favorite, doesn’t want you to concern yourself about tomorrow; were not here long enough for all that!

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-15

August 15

We are all guilty of trying to walk the line between God and the world. My picture of this type of double mindedness is someone who is partying like a rock star, drunk in the club, trying to bring someone to Jesus. It could also be a person who had thoughts of disgust and disdain for someone right before going to God in prayer. I’ve used this example before, but it’s fitting to use it again. I love my little dogs! They make me laugh, they are loving and sweet when they curl up in my lap, and they keep me entertained. Sometimes when I turn them loose in the yard, they will make their way to the stinkiest thing they can find, and roll in it. Then they want to love on me! Yuck! Another example might be when your child tries to come into the house after they’ve been playing in the mud. In both of these cases, they need baths! When we want to draw near to the Father, we need to be clean, free from sin. Confess your sin, and clothe yourself in the righteousness of Jesus. When we humble ourselves before the Father who loves us, He will exalt us.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:8-10

August 14

When I’m writing, I sit near a window. Sometimes the early morning sun will shine so bright that I have to shade my eyes. What I noticed was, if I hold my hand or an object in the beam, I can direct the light onto something else. It can shoot clear across the room, and it looks like someone just turned on a flashlight! The light then transforms the object that it’s shining on from darkness to being in the spotlight. When Jesus told us that He is the light of the world, this is exactly what He meant. We are the object that His beam is shining on and we can direct that beam anywhere! Another thing about that bright light, if you look directly at it, you can’t see anything else. If you look directly at Jesus, will you then see everyone through His light in your eyes? Also, if you’re not a reflection of Him, who are you reflecting, darkness? There is no reflection in darkness, you are just consumed by it. If you are a follower of Christ, you cannot be consumed by darkness, and you will not stumble because you have the light of life. There are two lessons here: shine your light on others so they see Jesus through you, and start looking at others through His eyes.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

August 13

I’m one of those who needs my quiet time, so I schedule time alone first thing in the morning before the exuberant, overly excited, extrovert of a man wakes up. Otherwise, no matter where I’m at in the house, I can hear him. Don’t get me wrong, I need him to be the way he is because he helps me reach the potential I could never get to by myself. I’m very independent and can do almost anything a man can do, but do I really want to? I don’t think so. Independence is probably the biggest drawback of being me. It’s just my nature, it’s the way God created me. Opening myself up for scrutiny, or even just letting someone know what I’m incapable of doing, is just unnatural for me. As much as I love my independence, I know that I need others. As an example, my dog Rudy needs me. He has really long hair, and he doesn’t have the ability to trim it out of his eyes, so I have to do it for him. Like Rudy there are just some things we cannot do. No matter how independent we are, we all need other people. Don’t neglect your friends or your spouse, you need them.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I don’t know who this was for this morning, but I had a really hard time writing it. Please tell me so I can pray for you.

August 12

I read an article that pitted one political official against another. Both are seeking the same office. Both officials have failed the people on this particular issue, but neither are completely responsible. However, that’s not what you hear in the advertising. You can see the devil at work in this. His signature is all over the advertising of candidates, and his most useful tool is his lies. He stirs up strife and hatred among people, and causes bickering and fighting. If you do any amount of research on a particular candidate you will find that what is advertised is only partial truth, and is completely unrecognizable from the whole truth. His goal is to keep us at odds with one another, so we believe the lies. We want to believe the lies because it makes it easier for us to choose a candidate, and we want them to give us our desires. That is the key! We want them to give us our desires! It’s all self serving. We don’t even ask God, because what we want is for our own earthly pleasure. When we do ask, our motives are all wrong, and He doesn’t give us what we want. Submit yourself to God and resist the devil and his lies. When voting, ask God to give you sound judgment so that you follow His desires.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:1-3

August 11

I believe that God gives us assignments in the secular world as a teaching tool. Most Christians that I know, have jobs outside of their faith. This is good for observation. Even with our Christian dealings, when you are diligent in your devotion to studying the Word, it’s easy to tell who seeks the counsel of God and who doesn’t. In secular dealings, we see the frustration of misunderstandings, the confusion of misguidance, lack of peace, bitter jealousy, and selfish ambition. Though they think they are wise, their wisdom is not from above, it’s from the demonic. When I see these things play out before my eyes, it just makes my point! I watched as a person, whom I thought had everything together, also a business owner making a good living, get frustrated over lack of knowledge on a subject. They gave up, shut their book, and lashed out at those who were in their presence, rather than seek to understand. People like this do not draw my anger, they draw my pity, because their soul is lost. Here is the difference: you who are saved have the ear of God, a Savior who understands, a companion who guides you to the truth, and a book of God’s very own words. Use these tools to your advantage and the wisdom which comes from above will be downloaded into your heart. 

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. James 3:13-15

August 10

My daughter and I have many dealings together. We are partners in real estate and work very closely on various aspects of our business. Occasionally we will run across other humans who try our patience and push us to the edge of our faith. Though we are careful not to step across the line between good and evil, the temptation is real, and if it wasn’t for Jesus, some poor soul would have their heart yanked out and sliced into a million pieces! I know I just wrote about keeping control of your tongue a few days ago, but James comes back to that again in chapter 3. The timing is perfect, because she and I were just talking about this very thing. She said that when she worked as a deputy in the jail, that some of the people couldn’t hear her unless she stooped to their level and blasted them with the same language they used, and it was the only way to shut them down. The tongue is a very powerful weapon, and it can make you or break you. James describes the tongue as fire, poison, and salt! We are able to tame wild animals, yet cannot tame the tongue! At the end of our conversation, we decided that being we are not dealing with inmates, we would continue to keep our mouths on a tight leash, so that we maintain our good testimony through our dealings. My suggestion to you is that you do the same. We certainly don’t want to disappoint our Savior.

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. James 3:9-10

August 9

My husband and I are partners together in property management. He makes sure the properties are maintained, handles the move-in and move-out preparations, coordinates the contractors as needed, and all the physical involvement. I take care of the clerical side by, collecting payments and keeping track of who’ve paid, preparing and having signed leases and renewals, insurance, and banking. We work together hand in hand. He couldn’t manage very well without me and I couldn’t manage very well without him. It takes both of us to show a profit. The Christian walk is similar to our working relationship. As a comparison, I would be the faith side of the relationship because you don’t see what I do, and my husband the works side of the relationship because what he does is seen by everyone. If you love Jesus and have faith that He is who He says He is, others will be able to see it by what pours out of you. Your faith together with your works will reveal itself as a profit for the Lord. They work together hand in hand.

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:17-18

August 8

A person who is rich has financial freedom and are not restrained by the cost. If they see something they want, their wealth will give them the liberty to get what they desire. Though they are free to purchase whatever they want, they are careful with their money, that’s how they got rich to begin with, and that’s how they maintain their wealth. Compare that to freedom from the law of Moses - including the commandments. We are under the gospel, because Jesus was the only one who could keep the law of Moses, everyone else sinned, because it is impossible for the natural man to keep the law. Because we trust in Him and what He did for us by His death and resurrection, we are free from having to keep the law! God’s grace, undeserved favor, is what we have to be thankful to Jesus for, and is what gives us freedom. Mercy, withholding punishment, and is what keeps us from having to pay the price for our disobedience. Like the wealthy person, we are free to spend our freedom however we want, but we don’t because we don’t want to waste it on frivolous things. However, we should show mercy to those who frivolously spend their freedom. Mercy triumphs over judgment! 

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

August 7

My church does many things well, but there is one thing it does best, it loves people. We don’t look upon one person as being more deserving than another, we look upon everyone the same, as deserving of love, and love them with the love of Jesus. We aren’t concerned with their status or how much money they have, were concerned about their heart. In all my years of going to church, I’ve seen nothing like it. So many people have a preconceived idea of what church looks like, and let me tell you “church people,” it doesn’t look good for us! They see us in our Sunday best and we don’t look like them, and they can’t identify with us. The man standing at the door with a suit and tie will make the average person feel uncomfortable. We should make it a point to love everyone like they are Jesus in disguise, or that we are entertaining angels unawares. We should love our neighbors as ourselves, even when they don’t seem lovable. James calls this the royal law. I love that, don’t you! If you are turning your nose up or looking down on anyone, does the Holy Spirit really reside in you?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:8-9

August 6

My grandson, who is six, knows Jesus and the Holy Spirit resides within him. How do we know? Because of his actions! He’s just like the rest of us who struggle with sin, but he knows where to turn when he does. Here is more evidence: His mother kept hearing him mumbling under his breath and ask him what he was saying. His reply was, “I keep thinking of cuss words and have to ask Jesus to forgive me!” We had quite a chuckle over that! He doesn’t know the Bible fully, yet the Holy Spirit is teaching him. We certainly don’t want him to cuss, but his use of the proper words is hardly a problem unless he’s cursing the Lord’s name when it should be revered. What matters is the condition of his heart. The Holy Spirit is teaching him to be obedient to his parents who want him to keep his language clean. When the Bible talks about keeping an undefiled tongue, it’s referring to trashing others, and cutting them down. When you are tempted to blast someone for their faults, remember to bridle your tongue! As a parent, we should set the example and not let our children hear us talking bad about others, but when we do, they should hear us ask for forgiveness.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. James 1:26

August 5

The area of my business is in the neighboring town from my home. During the first of the month, I will go there a couple of times a day. Yesterday, after my wonderful encounter with the Lord in the woods, my husband and I went out there to take care of a few things. On our way back home we came across a road block where a tree had fallen in the road. We were able to go around it by following the direction of the police officer. Later that day we had to go there again and came across another road block! This time a whole company of military vehicles were blocking the roadway. We were unable to pass and had to turn around and take another route. This is what it’s like to navigate through our lives as a Christian. Sometimes God will help you get around a road block and other times He’s the one blocking your path. Make sure you recognize His hand of guidance. Can you imagine what would have happened if we had tried to force our way through the area that the military had blocked? Someone would have gotten hurt and it probably would have been us. 

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. Revelation 3:7

August 4

I know that I’m a little late with my post this morning, but with good reason. God has drawn me out into the woods for some quiet time so I can hear His voice more clearly. I took a trail that I had never been on and He brought me to a spot beside a lake. The place I sat was right at the edge and there was a tree bent over touching the water. This is what God said to me: This is my picture of you. You are well anchored along the bank, but you have grown and are now dipping into my living water. At some point, the day of my choosing, your anchor will be released and you will be totally immersed in my presence. Do not dwell on that day, but soak up as much of Me as you can while I take you down this path. 

There was this branch that was broken off and completely rotten, but it was still hanging on. That was a picture of something that is dead in me, but I keep looking at it. He told me I need to push that branch down and never look at it again. So I physically tried to push that branch down, but it still hung on. I felt like He wanted me to document it so I took a picture. Then I said to Him, “if you want me to break this branch off, I will need your help.” Well guess what happened, it came right down! I don’t know what it is that He wants me to let go of yet, but I will now focus on doing what He has told me to do. 

What is dead inside of you that you need to break off, never to look at again? Ask God what that is. Then ask Him to help you rid yourself of it!

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:9-11

August 3

During a recent church service, I watch some lives change before my eyes. My friend has been fervently praying for her family. She’s been watching Bible prophecy unfold before her eyes, as many of us have, and has a great fear of her family being left behind. When she walked in, I saw that she had her husband with her who has a fear of crowds, and her daughter, I’d never met either of them. She also had her son and daughter in law with her who are part of our church. My friend is very expressive and without saying a word, I could read her face. It expressed, shock, and overwhelming joy, and that was just because they came with her. Before the evening was over, her husband had stood up before the church and gave a short testimony and her daughter had accepted Jesus as her Savior. Her tears flowed uncontrollably. This is a prime example of praying with faith without doubting. And she wondered why the enemy had targeted her! Obviously it was because her relentless prayer would be part of the reason the rest of her family would enter the Kingdom of Heaven. My friends, pray without doubting. Our God can do amazing things and sometimes it happens unexpectedly. 

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

August 2

I had the opportunity to speak in front of my church last night. Let me preface this by saying that I’m a writer and speaking in front of a crowd is not in my nature. The Holy Spirit gave me a message over a week ago and I worked on perfecting it until last night. The bad thing about doing it that way is that what I wrote becomes a crutch and I can’t get away from the words on the page. Lacking confidence, I decided to go to the church earlier in the day to practice and to become comfortable with my surroundings. Sometimes you think that God has you walking through something like this for one reason, like stepping out of your comfort zone; then you realize that it wasn’t about that at all! It wasn’t about getting up in front of the church, or breaking out of my comfort zone, though I’m sure there was a purpose for that too. It was about God drawing my attention to a community of people who lovingly encouraged me and blessed me with their prayer. I’m so grateful that He has given me a family of believers where I can love and be loved. If you do not have a church family, you need to actively pursue finding one!

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

August 1

My friend Edgar DeJesus said in a sermon, “Wisdom is the application of knowledge.” That struck something within me, so I wrote it down. Years ago, before I started writing these devotionals, I was reading the book of James and ran across the verse that says, if you lack wisdom, just ask for it. So I prayed that prayer, several times, I still pray that prayer. Now years later, I can see that He has answered it! I couldn’t write these if He hadn’t. God has taken my study to a different level and shows me His word coming to life every day. If you’re not studying the Bible, how do you expect God to teach you to apply the knowledge you’re not getting? On the other hand, why study and never put it into practice? It’s like going to college to become a doctor, but never working in that field. If you want wisdom, ask for it! Then do your part by digging into the Word of God and learn His way and He will pour out His wisdom upon you.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

July 31

I just began a study of the book of James. The words are beautifully arranged, but will cut straight through to the heart. It’s easy to read, but a single verse can impact your whole day. Just after the greeting in verse two, James tells you to be happy that you’re facing trials! What the heck!! I’m not happy I’m going through trials of various kinds! To count it all joy, which to me is beyond happiness and more like jubilance or jumping around in excitement, seems insane! This guy must have had too much wine! All kidding aside, God allows us to go through trials to burn off the dross. He is purifying us like gold. Why does He do that? Because we are precious to Him and He wants us to be able to stand strong during any challenges we may face. The reason we should be joyful is because God does not send His weakest warriors into battle, or the ones He knows will cave to the wiles of the devil, but the ones He knows are battle ready and armored up. If you take a pounding now, you will regain your strength and be more fierce and ready for the next round! Every blow the devil takes at your hand is a reason to be joyful!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

July 30

You are good enough. Many have been told their entire life that they aren’t good enough. You’re too young, too old, not skilled, uneducated, too tall, too short, too pretty, too ugly, the list goes on. In God’s kingdom, none of those things matter. All God wants from you is for you to accept His son as savior, to love Him, and to love others. When you get those simple things placed at the top of your list, the rest will fall into order. It doesn’t matter what others think of you. You don’t have to fit into some cookie cutter image to be accepted into the kingdom. God loves you just as you are, and He uses the most unlikely people to bring about change in others. When you ask Him if you can help, He says yes! You are important! You are worthy! You are exactly what He’s been looking for! He welcomes you with open arms and will satisfy your every need, if you let Him.

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? John 2:5

July 29

All of us have been rejected at some point in our lives. The pain felt in our hearts because of that rejection can last a lifetime if you let it. You are not alone in your brokenness, though I’m sure that doesn’t make you feel any better. Just being a Christian subjects you to rejection! But God, in His great love for us, feels our pain, and His heart breaks for us like most fathers when they see their child hurt. Our Heavenly Father is not like any other, His love is beyond what any of us could possibly imagine. He accepts us and if we go to Him, He will never turn us away. So, today if you are feeling hurt or rejected, turn to Jesus, He will never leave you or forsake you. You can count on His love to get you through even your most trying times. With Jesus you are accepted.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 6:37