January 6

We are not of this world; therefore, this world's governments have no power over us. They may do their best to shut down believers, but their plot to rid the world of our kind will not prevail. Do not be dismayed; do not fear. It may appear as if enemy forces are winning, but God is more powerful than any of Satan’s appointees. The forces of darkness have converged over our United States and appear to have won, but God’s plan will prevail. Here is the power that we have; the true believers will not be shaken by these situations and will hold onto their faith in Jesus. We will be given the ability to withstand any torment that we might face and the power to defeat our enemies as we step into the glory they will never see. Feel sorry for them because they are useful tools in the hands of Satan, and they can expect hell to welcome them with open arms because of their continued denial of the power of Jesus. God hears our cries for justice; he sees their evil ways. We will be vindicated; wait for it!

“Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people's land.” Deuteronomy 32:43

January 5

I was coming home last night, and my lights shined on our newly painted bank of mailboxes. It was nothing unusual; however, they appeared to be white! I took a second look because I couldn’t believe my eyes, the boxes are black! Why would I notice that? They’re just mailboxes, but for some reason, God brought them to my attention. 

Here is the insight:

The message I have given you may seem to be bad news and void of the Spirit, but wait, when I spotlight it, my glory will shine through and make it as white as the brightest light.

I’m not trying to speak for God, but this is the message he gave me.

The world is in a time of crisis where evil forces are doing their dirty deeds, but God has something else in mind, and he will shine his bright light on it and cleanse us of this filth! Wait for it!

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

January 5

Dorinda’s Story

The following story is from a friend who physically got lost in the swamp. Look how God turned their life into a living testimony. Thank you, Dorinda, for sharing it.

“We have an airboat and decided to try a different trail - we found the spot we were looking for; however, when it came time for us to go home, we took the wrong trails not once  but a few times - we even got stuck in the trees and pleaded with God to help us - Jeff had to get out of the boat and get us turned around so we could go back to the original spot - all the while we were scared and felt hopeless - we called a friend who called a friend who came to rescue us - sitting there waiting on our rescue there were buzzards flying above us - when our rescue arrived we were so excited we had been found - same goes with those of us who are lost and trying different ways to find the right way, and when the right way, God, rescues you, it fills you with joy and happiness.”

This story is an example of a living parable. When you least expect it, the devil comes to take what you owe him. We are in this world where he is in charge of testing our loyalty to God. We wander through this land, enjoying our time here on earth, following what we think is our own plan, but it’s the enemy’s plan, and he throws up roadblocks to turn us away from God, and this case, the swamp. After making it to what we assume is our destination, he convinces us into thinking we know our way back, and when we least expect it, turns our lives into chaos and confusion because his way is always the wrong way.

As you can see, when they became lost, the devil showed them signs of their pending doom, the buzzards, which further increased their sense of hopelessness. If you get lost in the swamp of this life, there is only One who can rescue you, and that is Jesus. Today, turn your heart to him and lay all your trouble at his feet. He wants to turn you around and give you the right direction for your life.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

January 4

As I was writing and studying this morning, I heard a knocking on the window. It sounded like someone setting off fireworks, so I got up to see what it was. Much to my surprise, it was a dragonfly that got caught in my screened enclosure and couldn’t escape. I caught it and let it out, but it came back in! Unfortunately, when I caught it again, I injured it, because now it’s dead. It makes me sad because I only intended to turn it loose so it could be free.

A dragonfly is harmless to humans, but to other insects, it is a ferocious predator! Ezekiel mentioned a dragon when God told him to raise a lamentation over the Pharaoh king of Egypt. His lament about the dragon was anything but harmless. I know it’s just a bug, but it is predatory, so I assume that’s why it’s called a dragonfly. Here’s the scripture:

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: “You consider yourself a lion of the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you burst forth in your rivers, trouble the waters with your feet, and foul their rivers. Thus says the Lord GOD: I will throw my net over you with a host of many peoples, and they will haul you up in my dragnet. Ezekiel 32:2-3

It makes me a little ill, considering how I caught and killed that dragonfly; it was with a net! Is this just a coincidence? I think not! We had each better get things right with God because the issues in the world resemble this lamentation. The wicked are being gathered and put on display, and the carrion birds will feast. Does the fact that I killed this dragonfly say what might happen to the dragon trying to take over our world? I hope so!

January 3

Yesterday, I decided to take my new bicycle out for a ride through Indian Rocks Beach, it’s a little town just a bit down the road from my place. My new bicycle is an e-bike, which means it has motor-assisted power, so it goes a little faster than a regular bike. I had a hat on my head to help shield my face from the sun, but because of the force of the air as I cut through it, my hat flew off, and I had to backtrack to go and get it. I put it back on and secured it with a clip, but it happened again, only this time the clip held it. It caused me to stop anyway because it was hanging off the back of my head and had become a nuisance, so I took it off and attached it to my handlebars. 

There is so much to learn from this. The hat represents authority or covering. The air represents the Holy Spirit. The power bike represents a powerful or reactive ministry. So I have to think, am I getting ahead of the LORD? Or is the enemy trying to slow me down? However, if the air represents the Holy Spirit, I have to consider that I may be pushing forward too fast because my hat got knocked off twice, except that moving the cap to the handlebars put the authority back where it belongs, in the hands of God because he’s the one steering. If the enemy intended to throw me off my game or discourage me from moving forward with a new ministry, he lost. 

Remember that the enemy hates it when you work for the LORD and will try his best to discourage you. You must push through your disappointments or distractions; never quit.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

January 2

My daughter and I walked out to the beach so Ethan could feel the sand and the water on his feet. As soon as we could see the shoreline, I noticed how stirred the water was; it wasn’t pretty with the sand and mud mixed in. During an earlier conversation, my daughter wondered if he would be sensitive to spiritual things like our precious Luke, and I can say without a doubt that he is. He was okay with the water touching his feet, but as he maneuvered his way out a bit, the water began splashing up a little higher, and he wasn’t having any of that! We came back and took him to the pool where the water was clear, and for some reason, he didn’t mind the water splashing on him and seemed quite comfortable with it. 

Muddy water is symbolic of strife.

But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20-21

Our baby Ethan likes peace; don’t we all! 

I believe the world holds clues from God; he speaks to us through natural occurrences, including the muddy water splashing on the shore at Clearwater Beach. It symbolizes what is happening here in the United States and how the corruption pours from the swamp dirtying everything it touches. Our country, which was once a beacon of light or clear water that trusted in God, has turned its back on him. Here’s an interesting tidbit of information; Washington DC is located in a swamp. 

Here’s the lesson, watch for the clues that God gives you throughout your day. It won’t be everything, but it could be something that catches your eye or draws your attention. If you don’t understand what it might mean, please ask me, and I will help you understand.

January 1

Today is a fresh start, a do-over, a chance to put the old year behind us and begin again. Unfortunately, we will have to take a couple of our disappointments with us, but we will get through it. 

I’m excited for this new year because I’ve received a new mission to help believers. It’s something that I’ve been doing for a while but got confirmation in a dream that it’s time to begin. He has trained me to see the analogies and the symbolisms of everyday life, which will help in this new endeavor, and in turn, help you or anyone else who might need a dream or life issue interpreted. I will not be doing this alone; with much prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit and another human, which he also gave me in the dream, we will do our best to hear what the Lord has said to you. 

I know people have been dreaming and prophesying for years, but could this be the next phase in the plan that must happen before the return of Jesus? We know we are in the last of the last days because we can read the seasons like predicting the weather. If that is the case, then I can see why God would have me take the plunge now to help his Saints. 

If God gives you a dream, be sure to write it down immediately upon waking and include everything you see, even if it doesn’t seem to relate to the story; then let me know if you need help deciphering its meaning, and together we will try to understand what God is saying to you. 

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; Acts 2:17

December 31

If you have not sought baptism, get it done. By doing so, you are openly professing your faith in Jesus. John baptized Jesus at the beginning of his ministry; after that, his disciples began water baptisms to all who became his followers. It may seem like a ritual, but it is an essential part of your calling into the kingdom of God. Three things are imperative to being a follower of Christ; first being converted by accepting Jesus as your savior, second, baptism representing death to your former life and the resurrection to a new life, and third being communion, symbolic of the eating of his body and the drinking of his blood, which should be done often along with confession. Now is the time if you haven’t done these things already. Start the new year on solid ground, and reaffirm your commitment to God.

As a way to thwart the plans of the enemy, I recommend that every Christian take communion tomorrow because communion requires confession, and we all need to lay our sins at the foot of the cross to get our country back on a firm foundation. 

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5

December 30

 One of the very first verses I memorized as a child was John 3:16; even non-believers can quote it, though it may have no meaning to them. If you dig deeper in scripture, you will find that God doesn’t play games when it comes to the eternal life offered through Jesus. Eternal life begins when you accept Jesus as your savior from your sin and condemnation; it’s not only an after-death experience. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is necessary, and we receive it as a gift upon our faith in Jesus. Those without Jesus and his gift are already dead, and the wrath of God remains on them. Jesus is the only way to have life now and beyond. The teachings you hear saying that there are other ways into heaven are only lies; bits of misinformation given by the enemy to draw people away from Jesus. If you are unsure about your eternity, then I’m sure you are missing Jesus. Pray now for God to strengthen your faith and accept Jesus as your savior with your whole heart, unwavering and without a doubt. If you feel drawn to Jesus, it is because of the Holy Spirit; he will help you maintain your faith.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36

December 29

If you follow conservative news, you will know that God is exposing much of the evil in the United States. It is almost too much for our minds to grasp. This evil isn’t one-sided and crosses party lines, and shows that most politicians are involved. There are a few who are good, but you can probably count them on your fingers. Many who once held in their hands the value of Jesus have turned their back on him for earthly gain. They had to walk away from the light and slip into the darkness to keep their cover. 

I prayed a long time ago for God to show us the filth and evil; God is undoubtedly answering that prayer! Be careful what you ask for; God might give it to you. I don’t think any of us knew how deep the swamp was or how long it would take to drain it. I’m not sure if that’s even possible anymore with all the up-and-coming dirty politicians whose hearts intend to get the big bucks while the American people have to work for their pay. I think we all need to start praying for God to give us a way to repair the damage. I’m not sure if we will like the answer to that prayer either, but something needs to happen to turn this country around so that we move closer to the Lord.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:20-21

December 28

Our neighbors got together for an after Christmas white elephant gift exchange. If you don’t know what it is, Wikipedia explains it this way:

“The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item. The term white elephant refers to an extravagant, impractical gift that cannot be easily disposed of.”

The funny thing is that the neighbor who hosted the event ended up going home with the most hideous gift, a water fountain of purple and orange flowers. My husband and I didn’t fare much better though, he got a set of monogrammed Christmas dishtowels with an “M,” and I got a Santa candle that will probably look like Quasimodo if I ever decide to light it. Oh, the things we do for entertainment! I expect that most of these gifts will end up in the trash or stuffed in a closet somewhere so it’s forgotten. 

There is one gift that this season brought that everyone should give away, and that’s Jesus. Once you’ve received this gift, you must give it away; it’s life-changing and life-giving. Won’t you make it a goal of the new year to give Jesus to as many as you can? You will receive joy in return and treasures in heaven. It’s worth it!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

December 27

Did you know that your baptism was symbolic of death? You died to your sins, and yourself; it was the first death. I wonder why some still live as if they’ve never died? One of my friends posted this yesterday:

When James Calvert went out to cannibal Fiji with the message of the Gospel, the captain of the ship dissuaded him, "You will risk your life and all those with you by going among such savages." He replied, "We died before we came here."

Doesn’t that make you think? When you die to yourself, it should change your perspective. The second death should have no hold on you because you’ve already died, and yet we still live in fear of death. If you live in fear of a tiny organism that you can’t see but have heard and seen what it does to humans, why can’t you take to heart what Jesus has done? He has saved me from death so many times, and I’m sure you have a testimony of his greatness that you need to bring back out as a reminder of what he has done for you. Stop living in fear; you’ve already died.

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 2:20

December 26

Absolam set up his government to overtake the House of David. David was a mighty man of God, and Absolam will face defeat at the end of the story; even though it comes at a price and his very own people will die in the process, David will return to rule. All the people who bowed to Absolam will once again be subject to David. What a sad time for David to see his flesh come out against him to divide his kingdom and try to rule it. Even though Absolam convinced many that his ways were better than David’s, he was defeated before the battle even began when his hair got stuck in a tree and hung there for all to see. David didn’t want Absolam killed, but all who went into battle against him felt no remorse and slaughter him because his whole body was exposed, making him an easy target. Even though David was able to return to his kingdom, he was still heartbroken over the death of Absolam and the betrayal of the rest of the kingdom for following him. That day, the sun went down on the evil king who set out to rule unlawfully, and they all grieved because the only good that came from it was the exposure of the treasonous.

Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. 2 Samuel 19:8

December 25

Is your soul anxious or overwhelmed with turmoil? Do you long for peace without worrying about what will happen to you? We are all touched with anxiety occasionally, even those who are at peace with God. If you are at a loss or feeling desperate continually without any relief, you need a check-up to find out what’s causing your desperation. Among all the wonder we hold so dearly this time of celebrating our Christ's birth, there is a somewhat frightening promise, especially if you are dealing with a mental challenge. Observe the following verse.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

Your check-up should start with an evaluation of your life to see if you’ve made Jesus your ultimate King. If you’ve read your Bible at all, you will know that the way to please God is to accept His Son as your very own; in him, you will find peace, even in desperate times. That verse alone can cause fear, especially if you’re going through a trial of sorts, but have no fear if your soul is calmed by speaking his name. When I’m troubled, I reach out to Jesus by calling his name, and my peace returns to me. Know this; God is pleased with you if you love his son Jesus.

December 24

For those of you who love glitter and sparkle, today is for you, and if you are an unbeliever, it may be your day to change. I’ve been studying in the book of Luke for a while, and I tend to get stuck on verses that catch my attention. Here’s the verse of the day for me:

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Luke 24:4

These were angels from Heaven telling Jesus’s followers, the women, the good news that he had risen. The word dazzling dazzles me! The King James says shining, and other verses describe it as a brilliant white. I can picture this as being glittery, mother-of-pearl sparkles. Their clothing was kingdom apparel! What we see here on earth is nothing like we will see in Heaven. I love beautiful things. I love my home to look good, my clothing to look good, my yard, and everything perfectly groomed. I could never live in hell or any other dark and dreary place. Jesus is the picture of perfection; though perfectionism can become a sin if you dwell on it too much, the perfectionism of the heart is the desired quality of a Christ-follower. If you want beauty and perfection, you have no choice; Jesus is the only way to achieve that goal. He will cleanse your heart and make you a perfect being in the eyes of God. Wrap yourself in Jesus today so that you will become a picture of ideal beauty.

December 23

The court of public opinion can be murderous, especially if you are the one who opposes the public’s ideas. Look at what’s going on right now as we speak against the opinion the outlaws want us to have. They tell us what they want us to believe and crucify us for pointing out their lies. Look at the propaganda machine and see how it’s working against the truth. If you follow only secular media, you are not getting the facts because they feed you a string of misinformation that will only leave you dumbfounded when the truth comes out. This behavior is nothing new and has been found in every country that communist have overtaken; some people went to the grave still believing their lies, even after they took everything they worked so hard to achieve. This behavior is happening worldwide right now, a sinister plan that the enemy has so cunningly devised to place us all together under one dictatorship of whomever he decides to appoint. Starvation may be in our future if his plan succeeds, and we may never be able to speak the name of Jesus in public again without facing persecution. Our country may be the last hope for those worldwide watching the situation unfolding in the United States. The world is praying with us. As the media crucifies our president and a hostile takeover set into action, we will watch as the enemy's plans become thwarted. Don’t stop praying! God hears our cries for justice and the resurrection of the truth. 

But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. Luke 23:23-25

Remember, they crucified Jesus, but he resurrected!!

December 22

If Peter, who was with Jesus and saw all of his miracles, could deny him three times within an evening, how many times have you denied him in your lifetime? God help us all, we have received our salvation and still deny him daily as we are unable to refrain from sin. We are unworthy of his mercy, yet he loves us and forgives us of our weakness. What an awesome God we serve who, even in our sin, has given us a way to heal our iniquities. Jesus forgave Peter and even fed him breakfast after he rose from the dead; however, he also commanded him to feed his sheep. He has forgiven you much; be willing to help others receive that same forgiveness and feed Jesus’s sheep.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. John 21:17

December 21

Every year, my father-in-law has my daughter do his Christmas shopping, and every year he waits until the last minute to call her. He is careful not to leave anyone out but doesn’t keep up with all the new family members; she has an extensive list, and he’s confident she won’t forget anyone. Why he waits until the last minute, we haven’t a clue. By the time she gets to the stores, the shelves are nearly empty, and finding the perfect gift for the people on his list becomes challenging. Not only that, but he wants her to wrap them all! He provides the money, but she is in charge of collecting the gifts and responsible for the way they are presented to the family. She does this each year without complaint, at least not within his hearing, and completes the task out of love for him and the family. This analogy is similar to what we do as disciples when presenting the gift of Jesus. He gives us a task and the ability, but it’s up to us to package it in an attractive way to his children, so they accept his gift with delight.

There have been years that some of the family doesn’t show up to visit him on Christmas Day, and the gifts have sat there unopened. His ways can be infuriating. However, after reconciliation of hurt feelings, the gifts that he still has after years are presented to those family members. He never took those gifts away out of anger, even though his family broke his heart. So, remember, those people you are angry with, or maybe even detest because they’ve rejected our Father, he still loves them and is calling them to accept his gift of Jesus.

God, our Father, presents the gift of redemption to everyone. He can take all of the guilt, sorrow, and humiliation that has been collected over the years and exchange it for freedom, and all that is needed is to trust in the gift of his Son, Jesus. Jesus is the way to bear with the things of this world until he brings us home to be with him. Continue to fight to help the lost souls of this world accept the gift of Jesus; he has commissioned you for such a time as this. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

December 20

When I was walking on the beach yesterday, God’s voice became clear. I began seeing a seashell called a sailor's ear; they are a delicate clam that is pure white. Their name made me realize that I needed to listen. The next thing I began seeing is sea stars or starfish. I picked up a dead one to keep; I saw where a star had been, someone else had picked it up; then I found a live one that I placed back in the water. There are scriptures that mention both ears and stars; it was a lightbulb moment. Revelation 2 and 3 mentions seven stars representing the seven churches, saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Observe what God showed me:

The dead sea star represents a dead church, which I would associate with a cult or one whose parishioners follow a false prophet. 

The missing sea star represents those who give the impression that they are saved but are missing the truth; those people are pew fillers.

The living sea star represents those who are being saved. The star that I put back in the water was barely alive, but its little feet were still moving. That star represents us, those who Jesus covered with living water; we are still alive. 

There is a list of rewards for conquering and holding on until the end. Though you may face adversity for believing in Jesus, the reward for pushing through to the end will be worth it. Hold on, and let no one take your crown!

To the one who conquers:

I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Rev 2:7

will not be hurt by the second death. Rev 2:11

I will give some of the hidden manna Rev 2:17

I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone. Rev 2:17

I will give authority over the nations, Rev 2:26

will be clothed thus in white garments Rev 3:5

I will never blot his name out of the book of life Rev 3:5

I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Rev 3:12 

I will grant him to sit with me on my throne. Rev 3:21

These are partial verses. Read both chapters for context.

December 19

My husband and I got new bicycles. These aren’t just any old bikes; they are e-bikes, electric, battery-powered, and can excel to 25 miles per hour! We began seeing them a while back on Little Gasparilla's beaches and realized that they might be something fun to experience, so as a Christmas gift to ourselves, we purchased two of them. Oh my! They are so much fun! The air right now is a little crisp to be powering through it, but we forgot about the cold chill the moment we began to pedal, or not; it’s not necessary to pedal! We expect to have endless fun on our new Christmas gift and may never ride a regular bicycle again.

You can compare this experience to having access to the Holy Spirit. On the regular bicycle, you must push forward to propel yourself; it can be exhausting and challenging on the body and not as much fun; it’s like living without the Holy Spirit. Once you try the electric bicycle or e-bike, it’s like having the Holy Spirit; everything changes, life is no longer boring, you are propelled forward by a force that is beyond anything you could imagine, and your purpose in life becomes more apparent. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit as a gift; someone to help us stay connected to him, and if appropriately accessed, he will propel us forward at lightning-fast speeds; we only need to trust in his power.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18