February 7

For whatever reason, I was having trouble sleeping, and I was feeling itchy from the bug bites I got when we walked through Weedon Island, which caused me to move around too much. All I wanted to do was settle down and go to sleep, and my own movement was preventing it. I began thinking about the verse that says, “be still and know that I am God,” which led me to thinking about the verse from a couple of days ago that said, “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The King James Version says to “hold your peace,” for the portion that says to be silent. It’s hard to hear the Lord’s voice when we are constantly moving, and disquiet, hence my lack of sleep. I settled for a moment, let go of my mind, and prayed; then I heard him speak to me through these verses. Thankfully, it worked, and I went to sleep shortly after hearing his voice. I’m going to try this and maybe you should too; when things get wonky, and your mind wanders into infinity, stop moving, quiet your mind, and think only of Jesus. He is God, and he has saved us from every thought that we have. Be still, hold your peace, and feel the comfort of his presence wash over you.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalms 46:10

“The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”  Exodus 14:14

February 6

My daughter and I decided to visit Weedon Island Preserve, which is a mangrove covered area with many trails and boardwalks that lead you on an adventure throughout the island. During our walk we came across armadillos foraging for food, and were witnesses to the mating ritual of Gopher Tortoises; we felt like we had walked onto a scene in National Geographic!

Imagine venturing out into the wilderness as the Israelites did when they left Egypt; their paths weren’t beautifully carved out like that of the preserve we walked through. They eventually ran out of water, and began to grumble, and wish they had never left Egypt, even though they were slaves there. Many people, after deciding to follow Jesus, will turn and go back to the life they once knew, because the path seems easier to follow. Being a slave to sin is not easy; the enemy will tell you that lie just to hold you captive. Once you realize that with Jesus you are free, and unencumbered, you will never want to go back to Egypt again. Allowing Jesus to be in control will enable you to live your best life, and he will provide for your every need just as he did for the Israelites.

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6

February 5

Many of us struggle with battles that no one knows about; whether it’s disease, relationship trials, financial issues, or whatever it might be. Most of the time we try to handle the situation ourselves without reaching for help. The enemy will use our pain to try and cause us to lose our faith in God, and to rely solely on our own capabilities, which can become a disaster. 

As the Israelites stood at the Red Sea with the Egyptians closing in on them, they began to cry out in despair, because they were trapped and saw no way out. Moses told them to “fear not and stand firm!” Then came the famous words that we all know, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Those are great words to live by, but the words in the next line, may be more important than those, “... go forward.” You must move forward with faith, and God will part your “Red Sea,” and allow you to walk on dry ground.

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Exodus 14:13-15

February 4

We all make plans for our day, it’s our nature, and how we get things done. There are days when we make a plan, and due to circumstances, the plans fall through. This is the busiest time of the month for our business; people pay their rent, and I get busy paying bills. I made a plan to get my bills paid by 1:00 pm yesterday, but here I am today, with the same plan, because it didn’t happen. I had an agenda, but had forgotten about an appointment, and it ruined the days production. 

God has a purpose for each of our lives, and no matter what you have in your mind, his plan for you will prevail. For this reason, he tells us not to be anxious about anything, but pray about it, and let him know what you want. Don’t get upset if things don’t work out in your timing; you can bet that things are falling into place as God has planned.

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

February 3

When I first started writing devotionals, I began by posting scripture pictures. I did that for a year or so before working up the courage to post short commentary. Even then, I wouldn’t have done any of it if I hadn’t started hearing God’s voice. Don’t get me wrong, I had always heard his voice, but didn’t realize it was him. He had been preparing me all along, because most of what I wrote about in the beginning, came from my history. God called me to do this for the social media generation, but I was reluctant and fearful. 

When God called Moses to save his people from Egypt, he spoke to him through a burning bush. Even after hearing his voice and seeing the bush burning, and other signs, Moses asked him to send someone else because he was not eloquent in speech. Moses went anyway, but had the help of Aaron. How many times have we done the same thing? We know God wants us to complete a task, but are reluctant and fearful? We should fear God, not fear what people will think of us. If you know God is asking you to step out and do a task for him, trust that he will get you through it. 

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Exodus 4:12-13

February 2

While we were cleaning and getting ready to leave Little Gasparilla Island, my husband took the dogs with him to lock up our golf cart. He came rushing back in a panic, because he couldn’t find Rudy, and he needed me to help him. We searched the entire property, the mangrove, and the beach, with no luck. It wasn’t like him to run off; he usually stays pretty close to us. Richard retraced his steps, looking around the golf cart, and there he was, looking at him and wagging his tail from inside the storage. He had followed him when he was locking it up; he’s pretty stealthy, so he hadn’t seen him sneak in behind him. 

When someone you love is lost, you do everything you can to find them; you search high and low until they are found. When they are found, nothing can contain your excitement and joy. Jesus says there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. This parable makes so much sense when you’ve experienced it. Keep praying for those you love who are lost, and do your best to plant seeds, and one day the heavens will erupt in joy when they turn from their sin. 

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

February 1

My husband and I had a short break before our winter guest took over our vacation home on Little Gasparilla, and were able to spent several days there relaxing and enjoying the water and the beach. It can be a bit of a chore going to and from the island, since there is no bridge; you must either take the pontoon ferry, or go by boat. In most cases we take our boat, so we are free to come and go on our own schedule. We were at the marina unloading, and getting ready to go home when Richard, my husband handed me the keys to the car; in all the commotion of trying to deal with the dogs, I lost the keys. I unloaded every bag I had, hoping that they had fallen into one of them, but that was not my luck, they were nowhere to be found, so we concluded that they had fallen into the water.

Richard, who is a brilliant man, asked the dock attendant if they had a large magnet. As  the attendant went to see if they had a magnet, Richard decided that he would get into the cold, dark water, and dive down. He made it down a couple of times with no luck, then the man came back with a magnet. After what seemed like just a few minutes of fishing with the magnet, Richard found the keys!! 

God’s provision comes in many ways, and one of his ways is to give wisdom to those who ask. In that one instance of wisdom, he provided us with the keys, a ride home, fellowship with the man who found the magnet, then a tip, and praise for that man. Don’t be quick to think that things are coincidental; when you trust in God, he is there to help.

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

January 31

If my husband is watching television, I will sometimes use my AirPods to listen to videos. Most of the time I only use one of them so I can also hear what’s going on around me. Somehow I misplaced the case with the other AirPod. I searched for two hours, turning the couch up-side-down, pulling out the cushions, then searched the rest of the house, and even the garbage. It was still nowhere to be found. I gave up the search. Later that evening, I noticed something inside my shirt! Low and behold, there it was, right next to my heart! Though the AirPods are nothing special, I still didn’t want to lose them. 

If you feel that you’ve lost sight of God, or can no longer hear him, do not worry yourself, he’s still with you. You may search, and search, and may even give up, but he never left you. Don’t be troubled, he’s right there next to your heart.

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”"  Mat 28:20

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."  Jer 29:13

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