November 5

Yesterday was one of those days where my thoughts got the best of me. People can be disloyal, think only of themselves, and forget how much you’ve helped them in the past. Then, I had to think about whether I had done the same to others. Has anyone helped me for free, and when I’ve needed to pay for their type of service, did I forget about them? I never want to be that person. But aren’t we all like that? God has given us everything we need to live in this world ruled by the devil, yet we dismiss him and try to handle everything ourselves. The Word of God is free and full of life-giving advice, yet few people read it. Jesus gave his life for us, but are we loyal to him by obeying his word? We cannot always count on people, but we can always rely on Jesus. I will keep doing what I do for others and forget how they’ve treated me, and remember everything God has done for me. That’s all that matters anyway. So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. 

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8

November 4

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

True Christ-followers have both soul and spirit. The soul is the life of a being, but the spirit is our connection to God. Every being has a soul, but not every being has a spirit. Some who have a connection to the devil think they have a spirit and may even think they are communicating with God, but they are only controlled by spirits and communicating with the devil. People who do not have Jesus are spiritually dead, according to the Word of God.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, Colossians 2:13

It makes me feel sorry for people who don’t know Jesus. Their connection is only on the surface, but to have a deeper relationship with God, one must have Jesus to connect to God’s spirit.

I’m thankful, honored, and feel privileged to communicate with God through the Holy Spirit because of Jesus, and so should you. If you don’t have this connection, you may be able to hide this inadequacy from people, but you cannot hide it from God; he knows!

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

November 3

God has prepared us for what comes next; I don’t know what that is, but whatever happens, he will get us through it. I mentioned this a while back, and nothing happened, and I hope that’s the case this time too, but for your sake and your family’s good, have some non-perishable food on hand and a way to cook it, just in case things get crazy. We are living in unprecedented times, where right is wrong and wrong is right; only God knows what will become of the world. Evil is stirring like never before, at least since my time on earth, and we are the target. Stay positioned in righteousness with your face toward God, and we will get through this together. The most important thing to remember, it is the evil people who will face the wrath of God, not us. Stand firm under the power of God because he is our salvation.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

November 1

Back at the cottage at the end of the lane, the weather was so lovely that I sat on my porch all afternoon. We’ve only lived here since May, so I haven’t been through the blooming season for all the trees near our property. I casually looked up from what I was reading and caught a glimpse of a tree in full bloom; not just any tree, one of my favorites because of its showy blossom, the Ceiba speciosa, the silk floss tree, and it was in my neighbor’s yard! I can gaze at its beauty without having to own it. Though this tree’s bloom is gorgeous, the tree's trunk and branches have these scary-looking thorns that protect it from anyone touching it. Why are some of the most beautiful flowers grown on trees and bushes with thorns? Maybe it’s so we won’t touch them because their process is not complete. A rose goes from a bud to a bloom that will open up to spectacular beauty, then becomes rose hips, an edible fruit. I’m not sure if the silk floss tree does the same thing, but for some reason, it has thorns to protect it.

Because we represent the beauty of Jesus and have accepted him as our Savior, we have a shield of protection to keep us from being snatched up by the devil for eternity. We are firmly attached to the branch and protected from pruning. The crown of thorns he wore when he went to the cross has become our guarantee of his protection. If you love Jesus, you are a delight and are beautiful to behold in the eyes of God.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, Hebrews 2:10-11

October 31

Halloween is nothing more than a dance with the spirits of the dead and demons, with depictions of horror with gory masks and satanic rituals. If it were only about dressing up, I would probably like it. I love creating costumes and bringing storybook characters to life. One of my most memorable times was when we were on a crew for the Gasparilla parades, and I designed intricately detailed pirate costumes. That got old quickly, though; most wannabe pirates stayed drunk the entire time and barely stumbled down the parade route; on top of that, they were interacting with children. That wasn’t a good look for adults. When the devil draws you to participate in something that he fabricates, you must pay the price for your involvement. A good example is Hollywood; look at the price they pay for fame, the devil requires them to worship him, and in many cases, they can’t live with what they’ve done and have their lives shortened by their self-destructive behavior. 

Though many say that this day belongs to the devil, don’t believe it! This day and every day belong to God. As Christ-followers, we should use it as a day to pray for those afflicted by Satan and for God to recover the people who belong to him. Make the devil cringe by worshiping Jesus like never before!

As for my costume today, I will stay in my fatigues as I continue to battle the enemy to help bring salvation to as many as I can.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

October 30

Don’t you love waking up on a lazy Saturday morning to a gentle autumn rain? I like it more when I’m in the mountains, watching the leaves fall and breathing in the cool, crisp air. This morning, I have everything but the mountains and the falling leaves, so I would say it’s close to perfection. It’s not often that we get cool weather in Florida this time of year, but when we do, it’s cause for celebration; and by celebration, I mean a comfy blanket and a hot cup of coffee. 

I can see the beach from my couch, and though I’m entirely comfortable where I am sitting, I can see the tumultuous waves crashing against the shore; they are big, the kind surfers love to ride. But, here I am, tucked safely under the wing of the Father, who lets me watch the world around me in an uproar and the recompense of the wicked, and I’m pretty cozy here with no intentions of leaving his presence. 

If you are worked up today and anxiety is knocking on your door, take a moment to breathe and remember to whom you belong. God wants you to be at peace and know he has everything under control; let the pieces fall where they may because they are shattered on purpose to reveal his perfect placement. Relax and enjoy your weekend.

Today is an excellent day for Psalms 91; read it and speak it over your life.

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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

“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. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91

October 29

At 3 am, we were awakened by a fierce wind that sounded like it would blow us away. As usual, God placed a word in my mind to chew on, and at three this morning, the word was “tempest,” which is a windstorm. As encouragement for you today, though the enemy will come at you hard, understand that the LORD is not against you; therefore, deliverance is yours. The wrath of God that the Bible often speaks of is against the enemies of the LORD. Though it may feel like tribulation, we should not worry because he loves and protects us, and we have the promise of eternal life. It is our enemies who will see the thrust of God's vengeance. He chose us, we accepted his offer to enjoy his presence for eternity, and he is true to his word; on that we can count. 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, and he will give you courage as you watch worldly events unfold.

They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:19

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. Proverbs 10:25

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:2-3

October 28

When Richard constructs a building, I always show up to watch the foundation pour, it’s not the first step, but something is interesting to me about the process. There are many steps prior to the foundation pour, like the footers, which have steel rods and blocks. Then it’s sprayed to kill all the bugs, then more steel is laid down, and heavy wire mesh to prepare the ground for the concrete. I’m sure there’s more, but that’s all I see. Richard makes sure I know the day that the trucks are coming because he knows how much I love to watch. God gave me a passion for seeing this portion of the development of a building for a reason, probably because it’s biblical.

Imagine being around when God prepared the foundation of the earth. When God mentions it in the Bible, I think about it like the slab of a building. Imagine the anchors and the steel that it must have taken to pull all of that together! 

My imagination runs wild when I hear that the earth is God’s footstool. I think about what educators have taught and imagine a floating, round stool with God’s feet contouring to its roundness. It doesn’t make sense, but that’s okay; one day soon, we will have all of our questions answered, but until that day, I will rely upon the truth of what God has revealed in his Word and try to piece it together with the science taught.

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; Hebrews 1:10

Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? Isaiah 66:1

October 27

We were coming back from Clearwater on Sunday, and I began to notice abandoned cars on the side of the roadway. I continued to see them down the interstate until we made our exit. When I see things repeated, I think about what message God may be trying to tell me. I can’t think of any reason to leave your car; if I broke down, I would wait until a tow truck driver came to rescue me. Were these vehicles stolen, and they broke down on the thief? Were the drivers too fearful of the traffic to stay with their car? Were the tow truck drivers too busy to help? Symbolically, an automobile can represent people who are part of a ministry or their ministry gift. I think what God was trying to show me is that many people have stalled out, or have broken down, and have left their calling. 

If you are getting burned out, you need to rest, regroup, and possibly change the trajectory of your ministry. There are too many people in this world that need our help. The compassion we have, because we are children of God, and have his mindset most of the time, gives us an advantage over worldly counselors. So, before you become broken, ask God to charge your battery, give you some fuel, and restart your engine because you need to be about the Father’s business. Don’t sit on the side of the road too long; you are needed!

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6

October 26

For most of my life, I’ve considered myself a tolerant human, that is, until recently. Now I watch as people, whom I felt were warriors, get in line with the masses and follow absurd protocols. I have never thought of myself as rebellious, but here I am, rebelling against things I feel are harmful. If you are with me on current issues, stay strong, don’t give in to the hysteria. The world is sharply divided, and it is the governments who are dividing us. We must stand together for our freedom, or we will become slaves. The Bible tells us in Titus 1:3,

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.” 

However, we must remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their refusal to worship the gold image of Nebuchadnezzar. They were willing to go to the grave in obedience to God against the government authorities; we need to be like them. In the same chapter, Titus 3:9-11, Paul writes:

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” 

When it’s the government stirring up division, we should remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, separating ourselves from government tyranny yet staying together as one in our community of Christ-followers. Stay strong, we are at war, and with any conflict, there will be casualties, so stay armored up.

October 25

How much longer can we hold on? I feel like we may be losing our grip as our liberty slowly slips away as each day passes. I’m not crushed or worried because of the hope I have in Jesus. He is our rock and fortress; if God decides to allow the devil to continue with his antics, who are we to tell him what to do? Everything we have was given to us by God; if he decides to allow it to be taken, that’s none of our business. If you haven’t read the book of Job, you need to take some time to read it. God allowed the devil to do what he wanted to Job, but not unto death. He lost everything he had, including his health and his family. In the end, God restored everything he had more abundantly than what had been taken from him because he remained faithful to him. Hold on tightly to Jesus; he is our hope for the future. Be encouraged! If all we have is Jesus, then we have everything we need!

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, Titus 2:11-12

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:21-22

October 24

Throughout my life, I’ve met some very notable people. Specifically, two who’ve overcome obstacles that the devil used to try and harm them, but because God had a different plan, they overcame their adversity.

My first superhero was a young woman I met through a crisis pregnancy center where I worked as a counselor. She came in for help after giving birth to her son. She was raped, got pregnant, and instead of getting an abortion, she chose to spare his life and raise him. Being a single mother, she had to work twice as hard, but she got a good job, raised a healthy, happy boy, and last year she purchased her own home. There’s more to this story, but she overcame many hardships and is now thriving.

My next superhero is another young woman; I don’t know her whole story, but she got mixed up in illegal drugs and had her four children taken away. She was determined to get off drugs and get them back. It took her a bit of time, but she worked diligently through the system, got a car, a good job, and a home. After testing clean for a significant amount of time, she got her children back and is raising them alone. I’ve watched her knock down one goal after another. She is tenacious and unrelenting. Her struggles are real, but she’s making it. 

The devil still tries to throw them a punch now and then, but he didn’t win! I’ve overcome a few obstacles myself, we all have, but what the enemy intended for evil, God used for good. Praise him today for all the adversity you’ve come against and won!

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

October 23

Today is Saturday; it’s my favorite day of the week. Whether it’s only in my mind or not, there is something exceptional about it, and I tend to be more open to the comfort of the Holy Spirit; his voice seems clearer and my soul at peace. I had a thought that it was about time for me to get out into the woods or get away with the Lord for some one-on-one quality time, when suddenly an American white ibis flew up and landed on the light post outside my porch. I never let a surprise go to waste, so I looked up ibis to see what they are famous for; they are the mascot for the Miami Hurricanes, and they chose them because of their legendary bravery. The legend is that they are the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first bird to reappear after it passes. 

If you are passive about our Savior, then you don’t know him very well. Ask him to teach you what it means to be a passionate warrior for him. Like the legend of the ibis, we are the last to seek shelter, bravely comforting those who are in fear of the storm, and are the first to be there to help clean up the mess after the storm passes. It’s time for you to get in the fight! The Holy Spirit will give you strength and courage; listen to him.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:15-16

October 22

If you think it’s cruel and unchristian like to call out others for their wrongdoings and bad behavior, you’ve never read the Bible, and if you have, you’ve not read the whole thing. Those that use the term “don’t judge me” will have to deal with Jesus; he will be the judge of all. They will then wish they had listened to those trying to correct their actions rather than get offended by their words. There is a lot of evil that we are all dealing with right now, and you don’t want to be involved with it or hurt by it, so if someone that loves and cares about you tries to point you in the right direction, you may want to heed the warning. 

People trying to caution you about what is going on in governments worldwide aren’t doing it because they are squawking idiots; they are trying to save you from them. Mandates and lockdowns are only to get you to learn to conform, and it’s working because I see people conforming every day. I wonder if the people trying to force us into submission or do harm to us are descendants of Cretans? Just a thought.

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, Titus 1:12-13

October 21

I’ll begin by saying this, I love dishes! I may be obsessed. When we moved, I gave my Christmas dinnerware to my daughters. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been perusing the internet, trying to decide what to order. Then yesterday, I got a hair-brained idea to go to the Goodwill and possibly purchase a mix of dishes; I think that might be pretty too. As I began digging through all the plates, I started finding pieces to a set; I found an entire eight-piece place setting and all the matching bowls, dessert plates, with the cups and saucers! And they are beautiful! I bought everything they had, but unfortunately, that’s not enough for my entire family. Another lady looking at the dishes reminded me of another thrift store nearby with dinnerware, so I decided to go and found nine plates with cups and saucers and matching flatware! I will still have a mix, and it will make my table beautiful! God knows what I love, and I think sometimes he wants us to take a break from all the craziness surrounding us and enjoy the things he has given us a passion for. Today, I will be gardening, another passion of mine! Take a break from social media and enjoy the life God gave you and he will work out the details and save us from the world.

O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them. O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works. Isaiah 26:11-12

October 20

What is going on? I watched a news report that said the Biden administration has, so far, allowed approximately 120,000 children into the United States, and one-third of them have gone missing; they lost contact with either the sponsor or the child. Under cover of darkness, they flew these children into different parts of our country, like they were trying to cover up what they were doing. Other administrations allowed children in, but their vetting process for sponsoring them was much more stringent, and there weren’t as many. How do you lose contact with 40,000 people who are caring for these children? Are they going to their families? Is this a child smuggling operation? My heart is breaking. Imagine being one of those children and not knowing where you will be tomorrow or how you will be treated. There are too many nefarious actors out there with bad intentions and for them to have unlimited access to children gets my blood boiling! Please pray for these children and that God shuts down the careless Biden administration for the sinister acts in which they are participating. God help us; the lawlessness is out of control.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13

October 19

I woke up at 4 am this morning with an aching back. How could it be hurting when I was doing nothing but sleeping? As I lay there trying to get comfortable, I realized that part of my problem was the dog. He was sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to disturb him, but because he was by my feet, I couldn’t stretch out. After tossing and turning for about an hour, I decided that it was time to move him; precious or not, he had to go. As soon as I was able to stretch out, I felt relieved and went back to sleep. Not more than 10 minutes later, he was back at my feet, filling the void, so I had to change positions so I could fall back to sleep again.

The same thing can happen when Jesus sets you free from your affliction. If you don’t fill the void with the Holy Spirit, that very burden can creep back in. And, because you had cleaned everything up, other encumbrances will make their way in too. Sometimes we indulge our infirmity, like my sweet dog, because ridding ourselves of it means that a precious part of us is gone. Once we realize how much more comfortable we are without it, we work even harder to move it out of our way. Pray for God to help set you free from your burdens so you can sleep peacefully.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?  Galatians 4:9

Also see Matthew 12:43-45

October 18

Good news: 

But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

God knows who you are and that you are his. Rather than being sealed by the enemy unto death, you have God’s seal unto life, the Holy Spirit. Jesus’s message to the churches, “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. ” Revelation 3:11. Stand firm, my friends, you are safe, but life may not get any easier, but since when is it easy? We are loved and protected; we have our Savior, and if we continue to allow the living water to flow through us, we will be refreshed and feel his perfect peace amid the chaos.

October 17

We are always looking for great places to eat in the Clearwater area, so we usually ask people their preference if we know they’ve been in the area for a long time. Unfortunately, some people aren’t as picky about their food as we are. We asked a resident of our community for a list of their favorites, and they gave us a string of restaurants. After about the third restaurant we visited, we decided to throw away the list they gave us because their quality food and atmosphere weren’t as high as ours. Don’t get me wrong, we enjoy a dive bar occasionally, but when your favorite thing to do is eat, you look for quality in your food, and besides that, I prefer a restaurant instead of a bar. 

Here is the comparison: when you love the Word of God and pure spiritual food, you learn the difference between the truth and almost the truth; it tastes different. The truth is as sweet as honey on our lips, and we can’t get enough of it. Food from another source is coated with lies that your itching ears want to hear to make you think what you are getting is good. It’s like putting barbecue sauce on brisket; it shouldn’t need it if cooked to perfection and seasoned correctly. Know your Bible; it will help you discern between a good food source and a substandard.

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

October 16

As I look out the window, I have an obstructed view. If there weren’t a giant, white building there, I would have a full view of the beach. Don’t get me wrong, I can still see the beach between the buildings, and I have a whole panorama of the intercostal, so I’m not trying to act spoiled. However, I wish that building wasn’t there because it keeps me from seeing clearly. All I have to do is take a short walk, put my toes in the sand, and I can see the glorious view of water and sand for miles. 

I compare that building to the fear, trauma, and rejection of our past; it blocks us from seeing the complete picture of Jesus and the vast world he opens up for us when we allow him to remove all of those things from our lives and live in freedom. It’s only a short walk to get past it, but most don’t want to take the time to walk out to the sand for the view to open up. Imagine how extraordinary our lives would be without the obstructions from our past. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remove anything impeding your view of him so you can live in his peace.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7