April 21, 2022

Richard and I are taking advantage of the market and selling some of our rentals. Even though the properties are residential, which is usually an easy transaction, they are income-producing. We have to give the buyer extra information to make a good decision. When we recently moved, I stashed some critical papers and forgot! I was missing about half of what I needed to show the buyers. I looked everywhere and then decided to go through each file in the cabinet because they couldn't be anywhere else. I should have filed them properly, but I found them clumped together in one folder. 

When we spread the seeds of the gospel, people will put them in a file in their minds. Then the devil will come along with other data to create confusion. Rather than having the information filed where it belongs, it gets clumped together, and the necessary information gets lost. Our message to unbelievers must be clear. When we mix ideas like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause with God's message, it is diluted, and people get confused. Too many times have I heard Christians explain that these things can be used to bring people to Christ. Is the message of Christ so weak that it can't stand alone? I think not.

I don't have an answer to how we should separate these traditions, but we need to do something. 

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Romans 1:22-23

April 20, 2022

It’s amazing how light can transform a space. The access to our house was overgrown. The trees had grown so much that the entry was dark, and the roots were causing the concrete to break. Don’t get me wrong, I love trees, but when they are poorly placed and causing problems, they need to go. The gates can fully open now that we’ve removed them and cleared the brush. Are there trees in your life that need to be removed or trimmed back? Maybe there is something that started out as a good thing but has grown into an intrusion, and you’ve taken it too far. Perhaps you’ve become obsessed with fitness, the internet, sports, shopping, or something else taking over your life and causing you to drift away from the Lord. Anything that keeps you from spending quality time with God may need to be brought into check and cleared away so the light can shine in your life. You never want the access to the temple to become overgrown; clear away the brush, so the gates open wide, and the voice of the Holy Spirit becomes more evident.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

April 19, 2022

Yesterday, I began sorting through all the things in the garage attached to the house. My father-in-law liked cars and had a beautiful car covered with dust sitting in the garage. It barely fit in there because of all the other things he collected. As beautiful as it is, you can’t even open the doors because the battery is dead! Going through his things hasn’t been easy, but I need garage space because the front porch is cluttered, and I can’t stand it. Plus, I’m afraid the car will be damaged if something falls on it or scrapes against it. I understand his need to be surrounded by the things he purchased; somehow, I guess they made him happy; a human might need that if they are not seeking joy through Jesus. 

Our minds are like the messy garage; we need to sort through the clutter! The process is not easy because you have to look at each thing and assess whether it needs to stay or go. Undoubtedly, painful things need healing to become functional. It’s like the inoperable car; it’s sitting in the garage, useless. It needs to be recharged and given new life rather than sitting there stagnant and causing more pain; pain because I keep running into it. Change your pain into a ministry; unbelievers should see the joy of your healing rather than the sorrow associated with your pain. They may look at you and want the same contentment you have, and it only comes from having a relationship with Jesus.

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

April 18, 2022

I’ve given up on having a bird feeder because of the raccoons and squirrels tearing them up. It also brings other rodents close to my house that I’m not fond of. So, last night I emptied the feeder onto the sidewalk, and it was nearly full. This morning, I’m watching as multiple types of birds, and the squirrels are munching on the feast I laid out before them. Needless to say, the birds are waiting in the branches to take a turn eating. This may be more fun than the feeder! 

I began my study of Zechariah and got stopped in chapter 3 by a verse that mentioned the “Branch;” it was capitalized, which got my attention.

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. Zechariah 3:8

We know the “Branch” is Jesus. But look what it says a couple of verses down:

In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” Zechariah 3:10

The different types of birds coming from branches to feast on the food remind me of all the nationalities coming together because of Jesus. It also reminds me of the Great Commission, which he gave his disciples right after his resurrection! 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

I love how the Old and New Testaments weave together in perfect harmony with a message that is on time and in order. Only the Holy Spirit can create such seamless lessons.

April 17, 2022

And so the fake news began! Instead of exuberant rejoicing, the cabal of that day sent out a false message among the people that the disciples carried off Jesus’s body. And just like today, the people believed the lies. 

And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ Matthew 28:12-13

So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. Matthew 28:15

Fortunately for us, the back channels of information reached us, and we are saved because we rejected the lies that still pulse throughout our society today. JESUS HAS RISEN! God did everything he said he would do, which means eternity is our destination; God keeps his promises. 

April 16, 2022

It was a quiet day after all the activity surrounding Jesus’s crucifixion. His body lay in the tomb. He was alone, except for the guards posted outside. They were there to keep the disciples from carrying off his body, but I bet they thought they could stop Jesus from exiting when he came back to life, as he said. They had seen the miracles he had performed, but they dismissed the truth. The enemy uses weak humans to do his bidding, and they fall in line with his plan. He still whispers into the ears of the unsuspecting, making them doubt the story of Jesus, and yet they call us gullible. We’ll see in due time. Until then, I will keep believing in my Savior. My sins were many, and he cleaned up every one of them, and his purity envelopes me and covers those sins. Rest assured, my fellow Christians, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and Jesus is our guarantee.

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Matthew 27:65-66

April 15, 2022

I'm offended by the term "Good Friday." It goes against my heart, and I feel repulsed by it. Whoever came up with the label couldn't have loved Jesus. I mourn on this day and find no glory in it. I'm disturbed that Jesus had to endure our filth. However, I am grateful to him for what he did, but my heart breaks every time I read the account of his suffering. Nothing can compare to the love he showed us by giving his life for the redemption of our sin. Today, I mourn in remembrance of my Savior but come Sunday, I will rejoice because he overcame the darkness of death to give us hope for an eternity spent with him. 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

April 14, 2022

If a friend has ever betrayed you, then you may understand how painful it is. Richard and I had this happen to us during the time when his dad passed away. We considered this couple our friends, but obviously, they didn’t feel the same way. We were grieving the loss of a parent, but we were also grieving the loss of a friendship. We were not on the same page spiritually or politically, but we overlooked that out of love; and who knows, maybe someday they would have come to know Jesus because of that love. It’s still harrowing for us. If we are still feeling that pain months later, imagine how Jesus felt knowing Judas was going to betray him unto death. We have to be thankful they didn’t turn us over to be killed, even though it feels like a part of us died inside. When we accept Jesus as our savior and continue to sin, aren’t we betraying him? We’ve thrown his sacrifice out the window like it never happened. Imagine his pain and how it cuts clear to his heart.

Today, as we celebrate Passover, remember Jesus’s heartbreak, and do your best to avoid betraying him with your sin.

For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” Luke 22:22

April 13, 2022

As we continue to honor Jesus this week for what he did for us on the cross, we must remember we still live in the territory of Satan. He is the same being that lied to the officials about what Jesus was going to do, causing them to go after him. The governments of the world haven’t changed. As more information comes to light concerning what they are doing at the guidance of Satan, we must persevere in the fight. Continue to reach out to God in prayer; he is the only one who can save us from all the madness. The author of confusion is roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Who’s it going to be today? What lie are they pushing to try and control the masses? Are we going back to the Covid narrative because it worked before? Or do they have something else up their sleeve? I’m so over this! It’s time for the followers of Christ to start listening to him, tune into the Holy Spirit, and follow his direction for your life. No one is looking out for you but Jesus. The truth is coming into the light. Will you believe it, or will you continue to believe the cycle of lies? It’s up to you to discern the truth. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you; your life may depend on it.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

April 12, 2022

Holy Week is a time to reflect on how amazing Jesus is and how grateful we are for him delivering us from our sins. As a person who loves to garden, I see a lot of parallels between gardening and what he did for us. For example, the weeds and vines tend to take over if they are allowed to grow unkempt like sin and can strangle the plant you want to grow. However, when the gardener, Jesus, keeps the weeds under control, the plantings, me and you, become strong and flourish. With a bit of fertilizer, prayer, and a healthy amount of water, the Bible, we can live for eternity, create beautiful blooms and produce food for the lost. Keep tending your garden, my friends; this is a sinful world, and it needs Jesus.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

April 11, 2022

During the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus, he took action that is important for us to remember. After he was presented as King in the procession into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, he spent the night in Bethany. The next day, on the road back to Jerusalem, he came across a fig tree that didn’t have fruit, and he cursed it. I would not want to be cursed like that fig tree for not bearing fruit! It wasn’t the season for the fig tree, which makes me think that we had better bear fruit in every season! 

In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. Matthew 21:18-19

After that, he headed to the temple to teach, and once again, they were selling their products, and he ran them out! We are the temple and the house of prayer! Bear fruit and keep it clean! We need to get this right; Jesus is free to everyone, and we shouldn’t make him a business for profit, and we should be skeptical of anyone who does.

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” Luke 19:45-45

April 10, 2022

Today is the perfect day to cover Haggai; it's Palm Sunday! Haggai was instructed by God to encourage the people to rebuild the temple. They were only concerned about their own well-being and the construction of their homes. I know from experience that God gives us tasks to concrete our understanding of what is important to him. It's not about the building, never has been; it's about building our relationship with him and doing what is right in his eyes. He wants the same for us as he did in that day, and he promised a shaking.

For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7

He plans to empty the coffers of the evil empires, "the nations," and pour all the money into his church. It's the same today as it was then. It is essential that we are prepared but increasing our righteousness, draw closer to God, turn our backs on our sin, and worship him like never before. So today, we celebrate as we usher in Jesus and honor him by recognizing that he is our foundation. Upon him, we will build our temple.

April 9, 2022

Isn’t it amazing being a Christ-follower? The joy that he brings is sometimes overwhelming. Open up your mouth and praise him! He has taken away the judgments against you! 

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. Zephaniah 3:14-15

His kingdom is coming! Haven’t we prayed for that over and over again? I know I pray for it daily. Zephaniah 3 gives us a glimpse into what it will look like when Jesus comes to rule and reign. He is getting ready to deal with our oppressors; I can feel it! Pure joy will overtake us when we see how much better our lives are without them. Then there is this; one of my favorite verses that I couldn’t resist including today:

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Praise him now; our waiting is almost over.

April 8, 2022

I hesitated to comment on Zephaniah, though it contains one of my favorite verses. It includes some of the same types of information as the other minor prophets. That’s why I posted an analogy yesterday. In Zephaniah, evil people get destroyed, and those who love God win; it’s as simple as that. We shouldn’t fear the coming destruction of the bad people controlled by Satan; we have nothing to fear and everything to gain. God wants us to thrive under his direction and sees what the government thieves and their cohorts are doing to his children, and he doesn’t like it one bit. They wallow in the filth of their sin, push it into our faces, and want us to agree with them and say that sin is good and accept some of their most perverted sins, like pedophilia. They want us to believe that teaching our children filth is part of freedom when all they are doing is trying to groom them for their sexual pleasure. We live in a sick world which makes me relish the notion of God removing them from existence. This behavior is nothing new; it was going on back in biblical days. That’s why Zephaniah received this prophecy. It was for the people of his day but also a warning for the people of today. I would love to see God open the earth, swallow them up all at once, and remove them from the face of the planet. 

And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud. Zephaniah 1:8-9

April 7, 2022

My mom loves to go to the casino. She’s not a habitual gambler and only does it for entertainment. I’m continuing to clean out stuff at my father-in-law’s house after his passing in January, and yesterday I ran across a slot machine in the garage. I decided to plug it in to see what would happen. It lit up! I was so excited that I ran back into the house to get some quarters to give it a spin. If this thing works, I thought it would be a great way for my mom to have some fun without leaving the house. I stuck the quarter in, and nothing happened. The leaver wouldn’t pull, and it didn’t spin. What a disappointment! It may be illegal to have one that works. Still, it would have been fun. That slot machine is like living a life without Jesus. You are attached to some kind of power, but you are empty inside and have no purpose other than to decorate a space. Jesus is the one who gives us purpose, and the things we do for him and because of him make a difference in the world in which we live. My heart breaks for those searching for something to fill their emptiness; they can’t pull the handle because it’s locked, and the wheels don’t spin. If only they knew that if they had Jesus, they would hit the jackpot. Keep putting those quarters into those empty slot machines, and maybe they will come to life one day. Jesus is life.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:11

April 6, 2022

Habakkuk is one of my favorite of the minor prophets. One of the verses that I’ve used for a long time is in this book.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

Habakkuk lays out what we can expect as part of God’s retribution for all the evildoers have done throughout the years. It is good news for those who have struggled to make ends meet, especially those who’ve had to rely on whatever crumbs they could get from the banks; they are shysters and have plundered us for years. 

Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. Habakkuk 2:8

Did you hear that? They will be the ones who we plunder! We will be avenged by God and have our riches restored; everything taken from us by ill-gotten gains will be returned. Think about how much they have taken over all your years. Now imagine getting it all back at once. I believe we live in the days that God will fulfill this promise. I can see him putting all the pieces together now. It may seem slow, but wait for it; it will surely come and not delay! 

April 5, 2022

The Book of Nahum gives you a glimpse into how God plans to deal with the evil we are currently experiencing. God doesn’t change, so the way he promised to handle Nineveh back in Nahum’s day is what we will probably see when he decides to avenge his people of the evil tyrants of our day. It won’t be a pretty picture. Their worship of Moloch and Baal by sacrificing children through sex trafficking and abortion will be what nails their coffin shut and sends them straight into the fire of hell. But there is good news! God is our stronghold; we are protected and will not see his wrath come upon us; even though we have all sinned and did nothing to deserve his grace, he will save us through our faith in Jesus. I do not pity anyone who hurts a child and look forward to the day I see God’s recompense. If you want to see what God has in store for our enemies, read the three short chapters of Nahum. It’s encouraging to know that God will not let them get away with their evil deeds.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. Nahum 1:7-8

April 4, 2022

The Book of Micah seems to have dual information, much of which is appropriate for this day and time, as well as predictions for the time it was written. Not only is the Lord speaking to Samaria and Jerusalem, but he wants "all the earth" to hear his message. Like many prophecies I've read, the prediction is justice for the people of God and the destruction of the perpetrators. No matter what happens to us, it will be God who avenges us. 

Micah prophesied the issues that are clearly happening today. 

Remember this verse in Matthew? "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household." Matthew 10:35-36

Jesus was quoting Micah! Look at this: "for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house." Micah 7:6

We see families torn apart because some members are repulsed by our faith in God and want to live at a lower standard. They prefer to mix with the occult and satisfy their ungodly desires. Keep praying for them; hopefully, they will see that their actions are wicked and turn to Jesus.

April 3, 2022

God cares about stupid people. How do I know this? I just read the book of Jonah. The people of Nineveh were wicked, much like the liberals here in the United States and around the world. They promote ideas they know aren’t true and support everything that goes against good moral conduct and the truth about God. Yet, he is the one who created them, and if he chooses to destroy them or save them, he will. We must still speak the message he gave us about salvation through Jesus, even if we would rather he take them out. There are many wicked people that I would like for him to rid the earth of, and he probably will, but until he does, we must continue to do as he has commissioned us; to teach all nations. Do I want him to avenge us over the actions of the whole rotten cabal? Absolutely! I’m waiting on that day, but I will rejoice over their conversion if he chooses to save some of them. 

And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:10-11

April 2, 2022

Within the city of Tampa, there is a historical place called Ybor City. It’s an old city where you can take a trip back into history by walking its streets. Evil forces have taken over much of it, which is confirmed by the kinds of shops and nightclubs presented there. Yet, something draws you to want to reminisce about the old days and immerse yourself in the Latin culture. A friend and I had lunch there, and we got a wild hair to go looking for the infamous tunnels, bolitas, as they were called back in their day. These tunnels were said to help move alcohol during prohibition. Together we were pretty brave and found many clues that led us to believe that the rumors were true. The door to the Italian Club was opened, so we walked in and took a look around. We got our biggest clue there because we were at street level, and there was an elevator located on the outside of the building that went down. 

Nothing unusual happened until we found the door to the Cuban Club open and went in. It was rumored that a child had died in the swimming pool back in Ybor’s hay day and that his ghost was there. I don’t believe in ghosts, only demons, and there was definitely a demon living there, probably more than one! When we walked in, we immediately felt a heaviness. We continued to look around, but the air seemed to become thin and made it hard to breathe even with the doors open! We didn’t find any tunnels because they prohibited us from looking further. Why am I telling you this story? Because it’s exciting and because it confirmed that there is a physical way to discern between the spirits. What the devil intended for evil, God intended for good. The demons didn’t know they were doing me a favor, or they probably would have disappeared into the walls. They were stirred by our presence because of our association with Jesus. I know this is true because a guy working there didn’t seem to be affected. I knew I could discern between the spirits, but confirmation is always welcomed. 

Pray for discernment. You need to know what you are dealing with day in and day out to understand how to pray.

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 5:14