February 8

Way back, nearly twenty-seven years ago, I did a study called Master Life. I dug deep into God’s word, memorized scripture, and began growing closer to the Lord. One of the studies led us to Galatians, and a memory verse that I’ve never forgotten. It took many years later to finally understand its meaning because it was being  taught in a church that was not entirely free. This is a reminder, because sometimes we forget how free we are. Even Peter, the guy who walked on the water, had to be reminded! He would act one way with the gentiles, then switch back to the law when he was with the Jews. Paul wasn’t having that, and gave Peter a stern warning about being two-faced. This is just a reminder for you not to revert back to the religion from your past. So many of them are very strict and condemning. Jesus died to set you free from the law, and you have been justified by your faith in Him.

For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:18-20

February 7

We’ve had a very hectic start to the month. Four of our tenants moved out, causing four homes to need refurbishment. That’s a lot of work! Today is the seventh, and they are all completely done and already rented! When you have the favor of the Lord behind you, things get done quickly! We’ve learned to never underestimate the power of the Almighty. His power is concentrated behind those who love, and trust in Him. Don’t get me wrong, you still have to work, and be diligent in your efforts, but when you know that you are powerless without Him, your work, though still hard, will be rewarded. So if you are freaking out about your workload, just stop, take a deep breath, and say, “I trust you Lord.” Believe that He has everything under control, then rest assured of His help. It’s also important that we give Him credit, be thankful, and praise Him. 

Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Psalms 90:16-17

February 6

As a grandparent, there is something special about being able to read the Bible to your grandchild, explain their dreams, and wage war on their behalf. Do yourself, and your family a favor, and become knowledgeable in God’s Word so that you are proficient in the fight. There are prayers we must pray, praise we should offer up, evil that must be removed, and a battle that must be taken up on their behalf. We must teach them to armor up, because the devil knows the call on their life, even if you don’t, and he will do whatever it takes to impede their progression. There are people around them that won’t help in their advancement, that have been specifically placed in their lives by the enemy as a stumbling block, watch for them, and give warning. We must be mindful of the plans of the enemy, and pour as much of the Lord’s promises into them as you can to help them know their worth. More of God and less of the enemy.

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 1 Timothy 1:18

February 5

By order of our insurance company, we had to remove some limbs that were hanging over our house. The issue for me is, I’ve created this beautiful shade loving garden, and to take those limbs away will bring more sunlight into that space. I’ve seen this happen once before at my previous house. Our yard was similarly tree covered, until late one night a humongous branch fell, making me think it was time for the rapture! After removing the debris, the area became full sun, causing all my plants to wither. They never got used to the bright light and looked sad most of the time. We all know people who are so accustomed to the shade that when they are exposed to the light of Jesus, they run. They don’t want to hear it, they fight against you, and they try to cover you with their shade. Believe me, when Jesus appears, and the darkness is removed, all of those shady people will wither. Our job is to pray that one day they will tolerate the Son, and flourish in His light!

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:11-14

February 4

It’s moving day for my daughter, and the last thing she has to do is empty the refrigerator. What do you keep and what do you throw out when the place you are going has limited space? She got up early and began sorting through everything, and only saved what was necessary. For most people, moving is a time to de-clutter, but for some it is a time to reminisce about the past, and to save that cherished plastic cup, left over from a former adventure, and ensure it survives the trauma of being sorted into the pile headed to the trash. Moving day is getting close for those of us who are in Christ. It’s not too late, the moving truck hasn’t pulled away yet, there is still time, but not much. Soon, Jesus will call to His cherished, the ones called by His name, and we will be whisked away to an amazing party waiting for our arrival. While you still have time, make your reservation. It’s a party that you don’t want to miss! There is a bouncer at the door, but all you have to do is accept Jesus as your Savior, believe that He died and rose again to cleanse you of your sins. Guess what? This is your formal invitation to join us!

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”Revelation 19:9 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5

February 3

My sugar free diet has me feeling better than ever, yet, there is something lingering that I can’t put my finger on that has me spiritually concerned. It’s like my computer when it’s running slow because there are windows opened in the background, or like having a two year old and things get really quiet; they’ve either fallen asleep, or they’re up to something. I have spiritual gifts that usually give me a heads-up about the movement of evil near me, but right now, I don’t see anything. My thoughts are that either God is doing something, or the enemy is regrouping for an attack. He obviously has things rolling in his direction for this country, with all the sinful madness going on right now. So, here’s what you do in a situation like mine, you engage with the Lord. You draw closer to Him. He is your covering, even when you’re not sure what’s going on. He will either protect you or rejoice with you. There is no better place to be than resting in the comforting arms of the Lord. Stay connected with Him, whether times are good or bad.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. Psalms 5:11-12

February 2

The Greek word ‘meno’ is used eleven times in John 15. It means ‘abide.’ Ten of those times, Jesus was telling His disciples to abide in Him. Abide means to remain at home, stay where you are, don’t wander off! Hmm... I wonder if He wants us to stick with Him? I have a three year old grandson, and he is quite a handful! You cannot take your eyes off of him for a second, because he will wander off. At that point, he is no longer under our protective cover. What happens to a mom when she can’t see her little one? She panics and starts screaming for them. We are adults, we can understand what it means to ‘abide,’ and you can bet we understand that command! If you move out from under His protective cover, your consequences will be yours to deal with. He will call to you to try and bring you back to Him, but you have to be listening. When He tells us to abide in Him, that’s exactly what we need to do!

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15:4

February 1

There are going to be times when we disappoint ourselves. The key to dealing with it is to find out where things went wrong. Were our expectations set too high, or are we doing something that’s causing the problem? For instance, I’d been following a diet plan that cuts out all sugar and anything that turns into sugar in my body. I was doing pretty well, and had lost eleven pounds, but within a twenty-four hour period, I gained back almost five pounds! I stayed well within the parameters that I had set, so what went wrong? What I realized is that I had added something back to my diet that causes me inflammation! I will never eat another peanut again! Now that I know that peanuts are not my friend, I will do whatever it takes to avoid them. We never want to sabotage our own advancement. Compare this to areas of your life where you may not be seeing fruit, and survey your actions to see if you need to prune an unproductive limb.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2 

January 31

When I graduated from the Bible Training Centre for Pastors, we were required to come up with a mission statement. My mission is, “Training believers to break bonds and live free.” Not only is this my mission, but if you read your Bible, you will realize that it was also the desire of Jesus and His disciples. Break the chains that bind you to this world, and begin living a whole life, bound only to Jesus. The problem with that mission is, I can only tell you so much. You can’t read a devotional and become free, you have to want it, and you have to take the steps to free yourself from your own prison. The only way to know what it means to be free is to have a relationship with the Lord; and the only way to know Him is to read His love letters to you, trust Him, and keep your communication open with Him. Today, ask the Lord to show you where you are still bound, He’ll show you. Then ask Him to help you become free from that bondage.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17

January 30

You can love people without accepting their sin. Jesus loved people, but He called out their sin and told them to stop. Sin leads to brokenness. True love will not allow you to stay in a broken state, but will encourage you to improve yourself, and will help you align with the precepts of God. True love sees what’s broken inside of you, and gives you guidance to help you mend. Jesus is the cure for the pain caused by sin! When you became a Christian, all of your sins were washed away, but somehow you tend to linger in the past, and keep rehashing the pain it caused. If you knew how good it felt to let all of that go, you would search for it and not stop until you found that freedom. You can’t do it alone. It takes the help of the Holy Spirit revealing your area of captivity, and then guiding you in prayer to release it to Jesus. He took all of that burden off of you, but sometimes you keep trying to carry it yourself. Just let Him take it, He’s stronger than you are. 

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

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

January 29

No weapon formed against me shall prosper! I’m so glad to put 2018 in my rear view mirror! It seemed as though the whole year was tainted by one little gnat that kept buzzing around my head. The outcome wasn’t great, but the consequences were not that bad. The gnat was able to live for another day and may come back to try and do some damage again, however, knowing who I am and knowing who my Father is, that enemy won’t be able to hurt me beyond what God allows. That gnat is not my enemy! My enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour! But, those who align with him will suffer the same fate, and we already know what happens to him. Look past your problems, remember your memorial stones, the things where God has shown you that He’s with you, and have faith that He will get you through this hard time too. 

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

January 28

To those who identify as Christians: Do we follow the will of men, or do we obey the commands of the Lord? Far be it from me to allow man to dictate and rule over me, and cause me to bring sin before the Father. In all things we should desire what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and turn our backs on sin. The sin of this world runs rampant. What is bad is looked upon as good, and what is good is looked upon as bad. We are living in a mixed up world where the good things that God has set before us are frowned upon, mocked, and regarded as evil. Woe to all who call evil good, the fiery pit of Hell is waiting for you. These are the days that the Lord has warned us about. Here is another warning: stop the madness, repent and turn from your sin and the acceptance of evil, or you will suffer the same consequences as those who commit the act. Calling yourself a Christ follower and accepting evil as good, shows that you do not have the Holy Spirit! No Holy Spirit, no salvation. These words will fall to the ground of those who are already dead.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13

January 27

Lessons learned from our girls shooting day: 

1. Most of the girls had zero knowledge about guns, and needed the help of the men, not all, but most. Ladies, our Christian brothers are an important part of our world, don’t neglect to acknowledge that truth.

2. You can’t be afraid to choose, and pick up your weapon of war, don’t leave it sitting on the table, the enemy will devour you. 

3. Don’t just choose the easiest weapon to use, step out of your comfort zone and pick up something with some kick! 

4. We need one another when our weapons of war fail. 

5. A revolver is more reliable than an automatic. 

6. The fellowship is so much sweeter than the activity. 

7. The main lesson is that no weapon alone will help you when the enemy is coming after you. You need the big gun for that! One that won’t jam in an emergency situation. We need the help of our God, who can move heaven and earth in defense of His kingdom. We can put on all of our armor, but it will do us no good if we forget that all important piece of equipment, the Holy Spirit! 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

January 26

It’s chilly outside for most of us, and I have plans to be outdoors! Today, I will enjoy spending a little time with my Sister Keepers girls. We will all become pistol packing mommas before lunch! My girls in Plant City aren’t just pretty faces, no, they are die hard lovers of Jesus with a sassy side, who want nothing more than to enjoy all that God has to offer. So, we will enjoy a little target practice. I know that it’s different than what you might think of when you look at the Christian lifestyle of church ladies, but what I want to know is who set that standard! We are going to break every mold, and become what God wants us to be, not what someone else has decided is appropriate and proper. I want to encourage you to examine your life and see if you are living like you do out of tradition, or are you making the most of your life and breaking molds. David was bad to the bone, but had an undying love for the Lord. Maybe you need to change it up a little and slay a few giants too.

And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 1 Samuel 17:57

January 25

And, there is joy in the morning! I think that sometimes the Lord makes us aware that we are just traveling through this world by giving us a glimpse of who we live among. He doesn’t want us to be too comfortable. We need to make the best of our time here, and surround ourselves with other soldiers in the ministry, our sisters and brothers in Christ. Who better to feel our struggles while dealing with the enemy’s attacks than our co-heirs. The older I get, the more I realize what little time we have to make a difference in this world, so don’t get stuck in pitiful misery, use your time wisely. Give the Lord the praise He deserves. Lift up your voice to Him in thankfulness and adoration. He sees us, He knows our struggle. Our joy is found in Him, not in this place.

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalms 30:2-5

January 24

After spending time in my favorite place, I came home to heartbreak and disappointment. It was nothing major, but just a reminder that there is a better place than this, and that my ambassadorship here on earth is just temporary. Thank goodness! I do not want to spend eternity in a place like this, and continue to rub elbows with the weak who follow the desires of Satan! This world is becoming more and more undesirable as the Lord prepares for His return. Satan has so many people hoodwinked, and they can’t see beyond the lies. God help us as we endure living among the dead. We may not see changes until we see Jesus on His throne sitting in judgment of the world. Keep following what God has called you to do, and try to make a difference the best you can. Hold on to what you have, He’s coming soon!

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:13

And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

January 23

I’ve started this new journey in my life. It began with the 21 day fast that a lot of churches do at the beginning of the year. Many years ago, during this time, I cut out meat for a healthier lifestyle. Believe me, that was a hard one to do, being I come from a long line of cattlemen, and because bacon is my friend!  Now, I’m on a new journey to cut out sugar and other things that add to the production of sugar in my body. Did I mention that I also come from a long line of incredible cooks, and dessert makers! Is there anything left to eat after you cut all of that out? Well, there is much more than I expected. Part of the battle is to keep my weight under control. So, twenty-two days ago, I started my sugar free life. It was all going well until I stepped on the scale today and had only lost the initial eight pounds. I’ve been working hard too! I’m not going to stop though, I feel healthier and more energetic than I’ve felt in a long time.

Doing things God’s way can lead to the same results. You are doing what you are supposed to be doing, praying, trusting, staying in touch with Him through His Word, loving one another, and loving Him. It feels good, even though your situation is still the same. You don’t just stop when you don’t see miracles happening in your life, sometimes it takes patience. Just like with dieting, things are happening behind the scenes that we know nothing about. The point is, keep going! Don’t stop!

"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Isa 40:31

January 22

Our Savior is preparing for His return, and some are living as if they have all the time in the world. I had a dream about being a part of a wedding party where thousands of people were coming for an unknown couple. There were only two of us trying to get people in their places. The groom took his place on the stage, but the people were not ready. He waited a while, but it was taking so long that he left. There are people in the church that are good disciples, and there are those who think they are. Examine yourself and your actions, and determine if you need to make some changes. Don’t be like the five virgins who were locked out of the wedding and have Jesus say, “truly I say to you, I do not know you.” It will be your own fault if you’re not prepared. Get over yourself! Be ready for Him! True belief, adoration, and love for Him are great places to start.

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. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:10-13

January 21

I’m no scientist, but I expect that the full moon, and possibly the lunar eclipse from last night may have contributed to the extremely low tide this morning. Grassy areas that are usually covered by water were exposed. A few docks over I heard a boater trying to get their boat out that was beached, it made for a nice wake up call on the early morning bay. When you choose a home built on a sandbar, you have to expect a few unusual situations to pop up now and then. It’s like the road less traveled, it’s not an easy trip, but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Jesus is the road less traveled, and we are seeing it more and more as today’s society tries to pass off the heinous and disgusting as moral. You might get stuck on the sandbar occasionally, but while you’re there, take a look around, you might find a few treasures. If you do get stuck, just wait, the tide will change and you will be well on your way once again.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14

January 20

In the underbrush of the mangrove, grows an insignificant plant. It seems to thrive in the salty soil, being that it gets swamped by the high tide during the dark moon phase. If I were going to clean up the mangrove and create a lush landscaping, it would be one of the first weeds that I would pull out. However, knowing what I know about it now, I wouldn’t touch it! On occasion, while walking down the boardwalk, an amazing smell wafts through the air. I always look around for the culprit of fragrances, but this is one of those plants that I kept overlooking. One day while walking through, I figured it out. The flowers are small, and barely noticeable. Now that it’s winter, I found out something even more interesting about it, it has brightly colored red berries that look like Christmas bulbs, or a small red pepper. As you consider your significance in the kingdom of God, never underestimate your importance. Keep loving God, and loving people. You might be like this plant in the mangrove underbrush, and have a bigger impact than you think.

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15