January 30

Why did God go through all the trouble of coming to earth to save us from our sins? Why did he create statutes that would cause us to sin in the first place? First of all, we have free will, he didn’t make us robots with controls. Left to ourselves, we will sometimes choose sin over righteousness for the sheer pleasure of it. Throughout the Bible, anytime a person was brought before a king, he would have to clean up, and put on the proper garments. They were not allowed to appear before them in their work clothes, or covered in filth.

God is very clear that he should be exalted above all others. He is our King! He cannot look at you if you haven’t clothed yourself in righteousness. The slaughtering of animals offered a blood sacrifice, but would only cover the past sin, and so it had to be done again. Jesus, because he is God, came to give us a sacrifice that was holy, and acceptable, and would cover all of our filth, both past and future. He gave us the ability to appear before God properly clothed. Make a habit of asking for forgiveness, and remember who you are talking to when you pray.

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. Genesis 41:14

January 29

An attorney decided that he didn’t like the use of certain apparatuses on the streets of a small town. He decided to put his spin on the law by distorting it to conform with his own thoughts, and to try and bully the townspeople into believing him. There were arguments, both for and against this man. One person rose up, a common citizen with no interest in the situation, and challenged this man, convincing many that he was putting more into his interpretation than what was intended by the ordinance.

This same type of thing happens when people try to include more into God’s law than he intended. I remember back in my childhood, where a certain denomination decided that dancing should not be allowed. I understand the reason this rule was made, because it gives you an extra step before you cross the line into the sin of fornication, or adultery, but dancing is not a sin. Be careful of your interpretation of God’s law, make sure you are not adding to it, so you don’t look like a bully to those who don’t know much about it. That’s when our relationship with Jesus crosses into religion. Don’t be religious.

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. Matthew 23:4

January 28

Reading the Old Testament has made me realize how important it is to write your story. Not just the good stuff, but all the details of betrayal, grief, and other actions that have taken place in your past. Many of the accounts written in Genesis, show the history of where the initial injury of the heart took place, and shows us why there are wars today. We, being a part of the future, are living with the consequences of the painful past hurt, and betrayal of many people groups. They are still lashing out for things that happened thousands of years ago! My point is, get the bottom of why you feel the way you do! Forgive, even though you weren’t offered an apology. Forgiveness helps you and those around you. Don’t hold a grudge, it takes away your peace, and does nothing to them, they can’t feel your grudge. Our lives are very short, why complicate it by living a life offended? Besides, we must forgive to be forgiven.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

January 27

“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is a lie that many still believe. With words, God created the earth and all that is in it. Jesus is called “The Word.” With words, Isaac blessed Jacob with overwhelming abundance, to the point that there were no more blessings left for Esau. Wrong words can cause fear, self doubt, hurt feelings, inferiority, and so on. Using uplifting words, can create confidence, self worth, love, and bring a person back from the depths. What if your words had power like that of God? Or like Abraham? How are we different from Abraham? We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us! Our words do have power, and we should never forget it, especially when blessing, and cursing others. Don’t take your words lightly; the things you spew from your mouth could be a nail in the coffin of someone else, and we are of Jesus, and should bless, not curse. Don’t speak words of hate, but fill your mouth with words of love. Your words matter, make them useful for the good of our fellow humans.

As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” Genesis 27:34-35

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. James 3:10

January 26

The gathering of family and friends for a special occasion, does the heart good, and brings overwhelming joy. Good food, music, and fellowship, helped us celebrate the upcoming arrival of the newest member of our family. The crowd was mixed with people who were once foes, who set aside their past hurts, and differences to enjoy the day. Making peace with the past brings about restoration, and renewal. Sometimes old wounds are opened and your mind is flooded with memories that burn, but if you set aside your pain for a moment, you may find healing. Facing the past can be hard, but facing it with the guidance of the Lord eases the burden, and gives you a new form of freedom. Let your love overpower the strong arm of the enemy; he knows that if he can keep you defeated, your life will be miserable. Love always wins; hate is defeating. On this day, even though baby Ethan hasn’t drawn his first breath, he is bringing people together in love. It’s not worth it to hold onto the past, let it go and continue in your freedom.

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” Psalms 89:1-2

January 25

Two days ago, I mentioned that I was having some type of writing block, or disconnect in hearing from God. During the night while I was sleeping, I heard my ear pop. Whether it was a dream or real, I’m not sure, but I went from hearing a watery gurgle, to hearing more clearly. I believe it was a physical manifestation to usher in a spiritual connection. He may have been testing me to see if I would give up, and made it very clear that the test was over. I’m truly amazed at God and how he maneuvers, because as I’m writing this, it occurred to me that the next portion of scripture that I was to read was about God testing Abraham. I stopped before reading it, wanting to wait on it for tomorrow. Needless to say, I went back and read the scriptures.

God called out to Abraham and told him to sacrifice his son. As he followed the orders, God saw his obedience, and called out to him to stop, and then provided a ram for the sacrifice. I’m not saying that my testing was anywhere near this big, but nevertheless, it was a type of testing of my dedication to him. Thank goodness I pushed through it. 

If you are going through a challenge, step back from the situation for a moment, and see if God might be putting you to a test. Will you continue in your obedience, and pass the test, or will you fail and need repentance? The choice is yours. Choose wisely my friends.

He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Genesis 22:12

January 24

Do you try and force an outcome, even though you’ve prayed, and given it into the hands of God? We make things harder on ourselves by doing such as this. For instance, look at Abraham and Sarah, God had promised that he would make a great nation of Abraham, but because of their impatience, and disbelief, Sarah offered her servant Hagar to Abraham. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, and his offspring has been an enemy of the nation of Israel ever since. This one wrong move has caused issues for the entire world, all because they thought what they were doing was what God wanted. Even though they got ahead of God, he still fulfilled his promise to them by making Sarah a mother, even in her nineties! These two old people became the parents of the nation of Israel, and Jesus is their direct descendant according to the flesh. Next time you decide that you’ve waited long enough for God’s answer, thinking you need to make a move to help it happen, don’t do it, especially if it seems a little sketchy.

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Genesis 21:1-2

January 23

My daughters and I spent the day cleaning and decorating an old barn, getting ready for a party to usher in the next member of our family. The bathrooms are clean, the floors are mopped, and all the surfaces are sparkling. The space is vast, and trying to fill the area with decorations, was quite a task, but together we fulfilled the idea of the mom-to-be. It was a long, labor intensive day, but the end result was a whimsical, winter wonderland, to be enjoyed by all. We go above and beyond for the people we love, even to the point of exhaustion. We work diligently to try and please them because we love them and want them to be happy.

For the past several days I’ve experienced a block, making it hard to put words together for this daily devotional, but because of my love for the Lord, I push through. Though your tasks for the Lord may not be cleaning a barn, or writing a devotional, you show your faith in him by your works. The works won’t save you, but will reveal your faith in him. Put your faith in Jesus to work!

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

January 22

Many people live in fear of what can happen next. Life has treated them so harshly, that they are shy as to what is to come. Anxiety and depression set in, stalling any advancement. The striking blows have given them the feeling of helplessness where the only comfort found is when hiding in bed. 

If you find yourself in this situation, there is good news! It’s Jesus! Set your face toward him, call out his name; it promotes healing, and comfort. There is power in the name of Jesus. Any demonic presence will shudder at his name; they do not want to hear it, and will run. Unfortunately, we forget, and continue wallowing in our pain without evoking his name. If you are dealing with depression today, this is your reminder to call out to him, even if you are rendered unable to utter a prayer, his name will usher in the comfort you need so you can begin to heal.

"And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all."  Acts 3:16

January 21

If you started a diet, Bible reading, or anything else that’s repetitive on January 1st, today is the day it should become a habit, according to experts. Supposedly, three weeks, twenty-one days, creates a habit. If you’ve made it this far, you are well on your way to good health, physically, and mentally! Don’t worry if you slipped up along the way, it happens; because we are not perfect. 

After the flood, and things got back to normal, Noah became a gardener by creating vineyards. He loved the fruit of the vine. I know this because God chose to tell us that, at one point, he became drunk, and lay naked inside his tent. His youngest son Hamm, saw him, and made fun of him to his brothers. The brothers decided to continue to honor their father, and carefully cover him up without seeing him naked. Because the youngest dishonored his father, he was made to become a servant to his brothers through his son Canaan. He received no mercy for his disrespect, and the whole lineage was cursed to become slaves. 

One thing you need to remember, we have Jesus, and our sins are forgiven. You are not doomed if you make a mistake like Hamm. We are like Noah when we sin, we are forgiven, and our sin is covered, no longer subjected to shame. 

When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.” Genesis 9:24-27

January 20

Cold air has come to Florida! I’m afraid my garden may suffer, but looking on the bright side, if my plants wilt without dying from the cold, it will give them a fresh start for new growth when it warms up. Having orchids that are getting ready to bust out in bloom, I will give them a reprieve from the cold by bringing them inside. Thankfully, we just had our home sprayed for bugs, so if any of those creepers are in my plants, they won’t get far. 

The life of a Christ follower is much the same; the enemy blows in like a cold wind, standing between us and the warmth of our Savior, causing some to tremble in fear, but the ones that are well rooted, will stand strong through the adversity, and the weaker ones will be brought inside for protection under the guiding hand of the Lord. The orchids are like tender, new Christians, and the others, who are well rooted, are like those with experience, and strong armor. Stand firm under adversity, it won’t last forever, you will be victorious, and come out stronger than ever before.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

January 19

Many years ago, my husband and I decided to build a pool at our home on the lake. We had worked for years clearing out plants, trees, and even took down a small building to open up our view of the lake. We were excited about the pool because it would give us a place to swim besides the muddy lake. All was going well until they began to put in the plumbing. Before I even had the chance to give my input, they had placed the pool pump, and all of the equipment in the middle of the yard, disrupting the view. My husband reasoned that it would keep us from hearing it inside the house. It was a terrible sight! They wouldn’t move it so I began creating a flower bed and strategically placing plants around it to cover it, and eventually all you could see was the garden. 

That has been my life; finding ways to cover up ugly things in my surroundings. That is why Jesus is so important to me; he covers all the ugliness. Not only does he cover our sin, he begins doing a work within us causing us to turn from our sin, keeping us from creating eyesores for all to see. If you are not seeing changes in your life, it may be time to re-evaluate your commitment to Jesus. Are you truly changed? If not, it’s time!

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. Psalms 51:9-10

January 18

We’ve had beautiful weather throughout the entire month here in Florida, however, the forecast warns of a cold front coming. Seldom do we have to worry about the cold because our climate is generally mild, but occasionally, during the winter we will have a cold snap that makes us all rush around covering up the tender vegetation in our yards, and pushes the farmers to get in gear to protect their crops. Technology makes it easy for those in that field of work, to give us warning of what is to come so we can prepare. 

When it comes to predicting the exact time of the return of our Savior, we can’t, but we can look for signs of the times, and be prepared. It’s important the we don't fear or worry, because we hold fast to Jesus, he will deliver us when we call to him, and he will rescue us because we know his name. Keep your chin up, but don’t let your guard down.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. Psalms 91:14-15

January 17

Who is this billionaire funding certain aspects of the Southern Baptist Convention, and giving money to the Catholic Church? He is a puppet master, making puppets out of the leaders, and turning millions against righteousness, when he himself is a puppet of the enemy. He’s been hiding in the shadows hoping to deceive and destroy those who were once avid followers of biblical precepts of those religions, by using his money as a weapon against Jesus. 

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

When I read these verses I couldn’t help but think about George Soros. Mr. Soros doesn’t do signs and wonders, as written about further down in the text, but his money creates the illusion of a divine nature, maybe not to everyone, but certainly to his benefactors. He may or may not be who Paul is talking about in these verses, but this man certainly fits the description written here. We see big name evangelist, who have a form of godliness, who’ve been leading for years in evangelical circles, leaving their stand on abortion, and instead promoting the ideas of this man. Be aware! There are deceivers in our midst. It’s time we stop doing human written “Bible Studies,” and start studying the Bible. Wake up, because something has gone terribly wrong, and it has the enemies fingerprints all over it.

January 16

It’s hard to know who to trust when it comes to teachers of the Word. Many have come, saying they represent Jesus, but teach something contrary to what is written in the Bible. You may think you are safe to buy something in a Christian book store, or from the “Christian” section of the secular book store, but not everything on those shelves lead you in the direction of Christ. There are a few who have been filling those shelves for years who are now echoing the words of the secular media, causing questions about their beliefs, and invalidating their past teachings. A leopard doesn’t change its spots, fingerprints will always expose identity, and the enemy will infiltrate our ranks; remember Judas. 

How will you know? Their roots will be exposed! However, if you’re finding it hard to tell, ask God for discernment, and listen to the check in your spirit; it may be the Holy Spirit guiding you. Know the scripture! If you diligently read and study God’s Word, you will be able to determine the truth, and the enemy will find it harder to change your direction. The day of the Lord is upon us, don’t get distracted.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:1

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Matthew 24:11

January 15

When my husband died, who was a strong believer in Jesus, I was judged, and criticized over laughing as others were telling stories from his past. He was relieved from his suffering, and no longer held down by his mortal body. I was sad for my loss, and for my son growing up without his father, but I knew he was with Jesus, and I couldn’t be more thankful than I was.

David grieved over the sickness of his child, but as soon as he died, he shook it off because he knew he would see him again. After the child’s death, he understood that no amount of grief or lamenting would bring him back, and that he would go to him when he died. He cleaned himself up, ate, and got on with his life. As followers of Christ, we are not without hope. Those who die that are part of our faith, should not be grieved as those who are not. It’s not wrong to grieve for ourselves over our missing piece, but prolonged grief may show signs that we lack hope. It is up to us to show the world that we are strong in our faith by rejoicing over our loved one’s entry into the realm of Jesus. 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

January 14

My car has been in and out of the shop lately. First with the crash, and then with issues stemming from the crash. But now, I’m dealing with a noise that is obnoxious that only happens when the technician is not in the car. I sat for two hours waiting for them to correct the issue only to have them tell me that they didn’t hear anything, so I left. On the way home, it started again, but it kept doing it, so I went back, and finally someone heard the sound it was making. 

This same thing happens to us physically, and mentally. Sometimes our mental trouble stems from something physical going on in our body. However, there are things that go back to past hurts or trauma that stems from someone else’s sin, or even our own past sin. You may also be dealing with fear; maybe you’re dreading something that’s coming up. Rejection always causes pain; you may be trying to tough it out, but God knows the truth. So now you see why the technician needed to hear the issue with my car! How can you eliminate the problem if you don’t know its cause. We have a technician who knows everything, but he needs you to ask him for his help. If you feel troubled, the next time you are alone with God, ask for help, and then trust him for the outcome.

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

January 13

Do you ever feel off, or out of sync? Maybe you’re having a hard time getting it together, and wonder what you’ve done that’s causing your dilemma. For several days, I’ve been fighting off a cold. For me a cold can lead to asthma because of all the coughing and drainage, so I don’t waste time, I start medicating right away. The side effects of the medication cause other issues, and make it harder for me to hear God’s voice. So if you noticed a difference over the last few days in my writing, that’s why. The enemy will intervene in any way he can to stop the message of Jesus from going out. 

Paul was no different. He had to contend with being a prisoner, and the whims of his accusers. He had longed to see the church of the Thessalonians, but had been hindered because of the enemy and his schemes. Just know this, the enemy will use anything he can to prohibit God’s message from going out, and will even throw roadblocks in your way to prevent you from living out God’s plan. Keep pressing forward, muddle through it if you have to, but don’t stop. 

because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18

January 12

My mother, along with my daughters, and I, took a day trip over to DeLand to tour the Stetson Mansion. It was a beautiful old house that the owners decided to open for visitors. If you’ve seen a real mansion, this one pales in comparison, and I’m not sure why they even called it a mansion. They wanted to make sure you got your money’s worth so they dragged out the tour with ridiculous stories that had no historical significance at all. The owners are just a couple of guys trying to pave their way into society without lifting a finger. Remind me the next time I want to tour an old house, I just need to go look at a couple of listings in a historical district.

Even though our initial purpose was to go and see this “mansion,” the day ended up being a success! Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” The ride was two and a half hours there and back, so we got in a lot of girl time, full of laughs and conversation. It gave us a chance to catch up. We need to look at our walk with Jesus the same way; instead of looking at it as our destination to heaven, we need to focus on our relationship with him.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2 

January 11

What does God want from us? He wants to spend time with us, hear our praise, worship, and thankfulness, and for us to make him the center of our world. Doesn’t that sound like it’s all about him? This is how good he is: when we do the things he likes for us to do, it becomes about us! He made me aware that spending time with him makes me a better person, so the time I spend honoring him, improves the quality of my life.

Jesus sacrificing his life was not about him, it was about us, and giving us a way to spend eternity with him, and it starts the moment we accepted him as our Savior. It helps us deal with life here on earth, and gives us a way out when the end comes. So you see, everything he does is because he loves us.

Can you see God’s ability to turn this around? You can look at your time spent in worship as honoring God, but the truth is, it’s also a selfish act because it improves your own life. Those of you who are all about “you,” honor God with your praise, worship, and thankfulness, and it will improve your life, and that’s how he wants it! That is lavished love! It’s overwhelming, abundant, and totally unselfish of him! 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5