January 28, 2022

Clutter is overwhelming to me. I can’t stand it, and when I see it, I need it to go away! However, some people love that kind of environment and feel comforted by having all their belongings surrounding them. I’m in the process of downsizing the clutter in the office because the first of the month is upon us, and rents from my father-in-law’s commercial properties are beginning to come in, and his office manager is out, which means I have to be in the office to help! 

I am a free person, meaning God has set me free from encumbrances of the mind like fear, trauma, and rejection. Christ-followers are all set free, though most don’t accept it. The office I’m working in is not free; it’s cluttered, but I’m going through it bit by bit, clearing out the debris so that it can function. If it were a person, it would be debilitated because of all the clutter. 

If you are like this office, it’s time for you to ask God for help. Let him take you from hoarding your past to living in a clean and clear environment so that you function properly as a Christian. 

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

January 27, 2022

It’s been a little less than two weeks since my father-in-law passed, and I have learned some precious lessons. First, our Father in heaven is faithful when we trust him. He strengthens us when we think we cannot go on; he lifts us and carries us by his power. I’ve also learned that my leisurely lifestyle is over for a while and that a 12 hour day is barely enough to get my work done; that’s where God’s strength comes in. This adventure that our family is experiencing is both scary and exhilarating, but it will give me a different perspective and new topics for my writing. Only God knows where this is leading, but with him in control, I know we can rest assured that we are in good hands. The Bible is right when it says that when we are weak, then he is strong. 

The lesson today is for you to put all your trust in God, be grateful for what he gives you, lean on him when you are in pain because he has something good waiting for you on the other side of your trials, though sometimes it takes a minute to get there; be patient and rely on his strength.

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:21

January 26, 2022

Jesus doesn’t play around; lukewarm, middle-of-the-road neutrality will get you sent to hell. You are either for him or against him. In this passage, he is not talking about Christ-followers; we’ve already decided in favor of him; this is about people who don’t believe in anything, like atheists. He makes it clear by putting a line in the sand, figuratively speaking, and a person must stand on his side, make a decision, or their decision will be made for them. A lack of decision is a decision against Jesus. 

According to the Matthew Henry Commentary, the Church of Laodicea was demolished long ago, and nothing remains but the ruins; that tells you something about how serious he is. 

How boring must it be to remain neutral? We all know people in this category, and the burden is upon us to keep them in our prayers. Then if God allows us to speak to them on his behalf, the Holy Spirit will guide them into the relationship, and we will be the vessel to help. It brings great joy when he uses us as that vessel, so keep praying for your friends and family. 

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

January 25, 2022

Little bits of information are finally spilling out into the mainstream media that some of us have known all along. After two years, the narrative is falling apart, and the garbage that they’ve poured out to instill fear is slowly fizzling. The truth will ultimately prevail, and God always wins. The regime will still try to keep their narrative going, but hopefully, they will receive proper punishment for their treasonous acts upon the American people and others who were ultimately affected worldwide because of what they have done. We are at the beginning of the end of the lie, and every day that passes, more information is coming out to stop the forced control. It had to happen this way to wake the people to the truth about all the corruption in our government and to know how little they are to be trusted. Are we nearing the thousand years of peace where Jesus comes to rule and reign? Maybe! It’s exciting to think about it; let’s hope.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 3:10-11

January 24

The children knew of key pieces of jewelry worn by their father and wanted to find them because they brought back sweet memories of him. After days of searching, they found them hidden in a remote area. They were stored in a dusty cabinet and looked a bit tattered, but with a little cleaning, surely they could return to their former brilliance. Unfortunately, after having their favorite jeweler look at them, they were told they were fake. 

There is a crucial Jesus lesson in this; do not trust everything you see or hear. Many things I learned as a child had to be unlearned. Even childhood Christian songs can be misleading. The only way to tell the difference is to become familiar with what is real, like the jeweler who, upon first glance, knew they were fake. He knew the weight, the color, and other aspects of these pieces and didn’t hesitate. Our relationship with Jesus must be as intimate, so like the jeweler, we know the difference when a false teacher tries to sway us. Our knowledge of Jesus must be refined by fire and any lies we’ve come to believe, burned up and replaced with the truth. Jesus is our riches!

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:17-18

January 22, 2022

Jesus wept. John 11:35. Why did Jesus weep? I think I’ve figured it out. Other theologians may have a different option, but I am excited about my answer. 

Let’s think about it for a minute; Jesus, who is God in the flesh, cried at the death of someone he loved, and indeed Lazarus loved him back because Jesus called him “our friend.” He wept as he neared the tomb. Lazarus has been dead for four days, and he already knew it. Where was Lazarus' spirit for those four days? Jesus knew he was about to yank him out of paradise to live, once again, and bring him back to a place where the devil is around to torment and challenge him at every step. Can you imagine how many people Lazarus brought to know Jesus after experiencing Heaven? I’ll bet he had a following of his own. Jesus didn’t weep over his death; he cried because he was about to put his spirit back into his body to live on earth again.

Lovers of Jesus don’t mourn over the death of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as others do; we grieve for ourselves because they’ve left us behind.

January 21, 2022

Are you there yet? Have you had enough of the fake preachers and distrust the words coming from their mouths? I have! The enemy has infiltrated every aspect of society, so what makes us think he hasn’t sullied the schools that teach our preachers? There are good ones mixed in with the bad, but I’m having difficulty telling them apart lately. Even minor inaccuracies could cause some to turn away or even cause innocent people to repeat their lies. You must know the Word of God! Catching it on the fly is not good enough. Spend time reading and studying daily. When you engage with the Holy Spirit, he will guide you to the truth and help you avoid being misled. 

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.  Revelation 2:2

January 20, 2022

God has a purpose for death. It’s not for the dead; it’s for the living. Miles and years may have separated families, but death can reunite, rekindle, and heal. I know that doesn’t always happen; it can also cause division and pain if minds don’t come together in agreement. The broken seek to divide, but those who are united in the love of Jesus are equally yoked and can put away childish arguments and pull together for the sake of the memories of the loved one who was lost. Isn’t that true in most situations? The broken divide, but those healed in Jesus unite. Pay attention to yourself; if you see a pattern of divisiveness in your life, you may need to seek Jesus to heal your pain. 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

January 19, 2022

When extraordinary circumstances arrive at the doorstep, the human acts in such a way to meet the expectations they present. I know this is true because I’ve watched as my husband and his sister have delayed the grieving process to handle the business at hand; checking off the boxes on the to-do list of funeral arrangements while continuing to keep a business running that they were thrust into, all the while still managing their businesses. The appearance is as though chaos is the new normal, but the reality is, it’s only temporary. Life and death are now tangled together in a beautiful dance that will eventually lead to a memory explosion; the living will remember the deceased in the glorious light he once held, all while making new memories as family and friends come together to pay tribute to a soul that made lasting impressions on everyone he met. 

Death is sure; life is not guaranteed. God created all of this but didn’t leave us alone; he gave us Jesus, who did not escape death but changed it, so we no longer have reason to fear it, and he holds the keys to the everlasting. If you are unsure which direction you are going upon your death, seek Jesus now because, at any moment, God could call you home.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

January 18, 2022

 

At long last, my father-in-law, Leroy Gonzalez, Jr., lost his battle with heart disease. The hearts of his children, grandchildren, and loved ones are broken. However, we do not grieve as others do because he accepted Jesus as his Savior about a year ago. He wasn’t a perfect Christ-follower, none of us are, but he knew he needed Jesus. He was a hard worker and experienced what it was like to be poor, so he fixed his mind to never stop until he achieved every goal he had set. He fought hard to reach the pinnacle of human existence and dreamed big. He enjoyed his work more than anyone I’ve ever seen and worked up until he took his last breath. The riches and lifestyle Leroy worked so hard to achieve, were forgotten when he took his first breath in heaven, and now he can finally say, “Thank you, Jesus. You’ve fulfilled all of my dreams and restored my soul!” 

We miss him already.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3

January 17, 2022

Today’s message is to provoke thought.

We must consider information uncovered in the Bible. For example, the Israelites followed a cloud by day and a fire by night; both represented the presence of God. So when we venture into the New Testament, what changed to make us think that those two clues would have a different meaning. Let’s consider the cloud and become rational in our thinking. If a cloud represents the presence of God, then after the resurrection when Jesus was taken into the clouds, wouldn’t that mean he was enveloped in God?

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Acts 1:9

The part where it says “lifted up” also has the meaning: to exalt. So, when Jesus returns, will he come exalted and enveloped in the Spirit of God? Of course! But, will we visibly see him coming in the clouds? Seriously, it can be all the above! But another question I have is if the earth is round like we’ve been taught, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, how will we all see him at once, when some of us will be on the other side of the earth? God is big and can accomplish this extraordinary task, but my finite mind seeks to grasp something rational. God is not ordinary; for goodness sakes, he created everything we know; who am I to question? You may think you know the answer, but I’m trying to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.  Revelation 1:7

January 16, 2022

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Instead of pursuing goals that lead to material wealth, why not go after the precious gifts only attainable through Jesus? When he went to the cross, he promised to cleanse anyone who believed in him of all unrighteousness; that includes wounds left behind from past sin and the sinful actions of others who caused you pain. He stops the gashes from bleeding, heals them, and gives you a testimony to share with others who are bleeding, and that, my friends, leads to peace, and satisfies desires you never knew you had. You cannot get that from worldly possessions. 

How do you get there:

I wish I could teach you what I already know. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to put the Father first. Spend time with him as soon as your eyes pop open in the morning; you’re rested, and your mind is fresh; give him the best part of your day, even if it’s ritualistic prayer. Do whatever it takes to cultivate a loving relationship with him. Then, one day, you’ll see the precious gifts he has waiting for you because you sought first the kingdom of God.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

January 15, 2022

How do you know who is evil and who is good? Rats and roaches come out under cover of darkness so that we won’t exterminate them in broad daylight, but we know they are there because they leave their droppings all over the place. The only way to expose them is to draw them out with poisoned bait or traps set with the food they love. 

Evil humans are comparable to rats and roaches, and I think this scenario is playing out because who has ever seen so many villainous people becoming exposed? Though we may not understand the way God chose to draw them out, like medical tyranny, congressional insider trading, and other fraudulent activity of our “so-called” leaders, his methods are perfect in every way. They’ve taken the bait and are scurrying around like a sprayed roach! Some are starting to eat the cheese in the trap; the smackdown is coming! 

The following verses are true of what is happening now; we are witnesses to the fulfillment of prophecy! Thank you, Jesus, that we didn’t fall for their schemes and get caught up in this mess!

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— Jude 1:5-6

Reminder: in these verses, he removes the evil, not the good.

Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:40-42

January 14, 2022

It’s that time of year when you see the most seashells wash up on the beach. I don’t usually pick up broken shells, but yesterday, I found a tiny piece of the elusive Junonia, a sea snail that lives in deeper waters and rarely washes ashore. It’s like the holy grail of seashells, and it’s every collector's dream to find one. I have one, but I found it at an antique store in the North Georgia mountains and paid $20 for it. I recognize its value; however, there is more value in finding one myself. It’s similar to acknowledging who Jesus is but not knowing him personally; it’s also comparable to me finding a sliver of the Junonia; it carries little value. Finding a whole Junonia is like knowing him as your Lord and Savior and is the ultimate treasure to be found. Many religions and cults claim to know Jesus, but according to them, his attributes are not the same as our Messiah; they worship his name without understanding the truth of who he is, they have a sliver of him, but not the whole person. Soon, they will see the real Jesus, and he will expose the truth. We pray as we wait for that glorious day.

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11

January 13, 2022

I glanced out my window toward the bird feeder, and I thought my eyes were deceiving me; I saw a Painted Bunting! I had only seen such a bird in pictures; never did I ever believe I would see one, especially not at my own backyard feeder. He sat there for quite a while too, so I was able to share my excitement with my husband and snap a picture. 

A couple of hours later, I looked out, and there was a chartreuse, greenish-yellow bird feeding; it was the female Painted Bunting! We’ve all seen the unique creations of God, but when it shows up in your backyard, it gives you a sense of how special and blessed you are to him that he thought to add a bit of joy to your day.

With everything going on in society right now, look for bits of delight, even if it’s as simple as the sighting of a tiny bird. God knows how to bring us joy while we wait for his return. Be patient in adversity and joyful in the simple things. 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

January 12 Round 2

We are watching the swamp drain with many in Congress leaving their seats by not running again; I say we need to watch the pulpits too. Some preachers are part of the swamp. Pray with me that God opens the eyes of the parishioners by revealing the false teachings of the pastors and teachers who sold us out to the enemy. Remember, though, some of them may have their hearts right but were deceived and taught wrong; forgive them if they come clean. Ultimately, for this reason, it is vitally important that you know God’s word!

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:7-9

January 12

These four verses are the only places in the Bible the word “antichrist” is mentioned and in each case, it’s it eludes that there are multiple and that they are already here, and that was back in biblical days:

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 1 John 4:3

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 John 1:7

Other names mentioned are:

Man of lawlessness

False christs

False prophets

Son of destruction

There is no easy fix to avoid deception, but if you stick to the Word of God, listen to the Holy Spirit, and pray, you may avoid falling into the trap set by the enemy.

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4-5

January 11, 2022

My husband has been clearing a property that we may build on; I say “may” because nothing is ever sure in this world but Jesus’s return; however, we must continue to live while we wait. I’ve been looking for a sign that this property is the right one and yesterday, I saw it. It’s something so simple, but it’s a tell-tell sign from God that we’ve chosen the right location. I say this because he always meets my request, maybe not immediately, but eventually; that’s why you must remember the things you petition for in prayer. You don’t even need to state your request out loud in the form of a prayer; sometimes, he answers your desires, like my mental checklist. God is probably the one who gave me the list; remember, he gives us the desires of our heart, meaning he’s put those desires in place to get credit for fulfilling them. The sign he gave me was a fruit tree, not a tree that I plant because I could do that on any property, but one already there. I can’t tell you the joy that came over me when I saw it. This parcel of land has everything I love. Now we wait to see if everything falls into place. 

Stay sharp, pay attention to your desires, and give God thanks when he fulfills them.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 

January 10, 2022

A couple of years ago, my mom, my daughter, and I took a walking tour of Ybor City in Tampa. It’s an old Cuban cigar factory town established in 1885. It is full of history, with row houses and fancy clubs that once entertained the workers and their families on the weekends. The tour took us through a portion of the city that the Scientologists purchased to do whatever Scientologist do. As we walked through their establishment, I began praying for us because I knew they had bought into something other than Jesus. I could see them jeering and even thought that I’d heard one of them hissing. Thankfully we got out of there pretty quickly. 

As the tour came to an end, the tour guide mentioned that they have ghost tours that take you through The Cuban Club, where they have seen the spirit of a child who had drowned in the pool back in the heyday of Ybor. Let me remind you that if you have felt the presence of spirits in situations like these, you can bet you are in the presence of demons who’ve made themselves known to instill fear. 

These two situations make it obvious where the spirits are coming from, but what’s less obvious is when it comes from the pulpit or an evangelist. Make sure you are prayed-up and tuned in to the Holy Spirit so you can distinguish the difference.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 1 John 4:1-3

January 9, 2022

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4

We see this verse play out on the news, television, movies, and even children’s cartoons. The left is pushing some of the most disturbing practices and requiring that Christians accept this behavior or receive punishment for calling it out as sin. My first reaction was anger, but after much thought and God pressing his heart upon me, I began to have compassion for the people who’ve fallen for the deceitfulness of the enemy. They’ve succumbed to their desire to be accepted by society rather than look to God for his acceptance. Now, because of their lack of a moral compass, and the healing salve of Jesus’s cleansing blood, they’ve fallen into sin are now lawless in the eyes of God. Many have tried to help them understand the devouring practice of the enemy, only to be shut down and called out as an adversary. Man is sinful, but God’s desire for us is righteousness, and there is only One, Jesus, who can make us righteous, and when we hide within him, God no longer sees our filth. 

Pray that those who’ve been misled would be released from the clutches of the enemy and that they accept Jesus as their Savior. He welcomes anyone who believes in him and turns away from their sinfulness.