March 31, 2023

My garden is flourishing and beautiful, and I’m so thankful that God has given me a plot of land to sow my seeds and grow my plants. We have already harvested and eaten squash, green beans, and okra. Those are my favorites, and I’ve planted them in different varieties. I would love to be able to share some with my family and others; however, it seems like I’m in a battle against pests that are slowing their production, so I’m barely getting enough for my husband and myself. Just yesterday, I picked okra, and the plants were okay, then last night, as I was grilling, I walked around the garden and noticed that aphids had attacked the okra! I had just looked at them that morning and didn’t see them. I spent a few minutes spraying them with soapy water to remove them. I hope it worked! I’m not complaining because I love it, and it’s worth the battles I face maintaining it. 

Anything you do in ministry comes with battles; never think it will be easy just because God has sanctioned it. No, the enemy hates when God is working through you, and he will do everything within his power to stop you from harvesting a good crop of souls. You must stay armed because you will be called into a spiritual battle. Never fret; it’s worth every ounce of turmoil to see someone trust Jesus because you never gave up. Fight the good fight, and God will give you a bountiful harvest!

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10

March 30, 2023

Take a look around you. Of what people group do you find to be the most generous? Who gives the most grace? Nowadays, the people who consider themselves the most tolerant are the least accepting of differences and are the least giving. God will judge them according to their actions. The cities with the most problems and homelessness are those whose politicians lie to themselves, saying they are more generous than others; if that were true, why haven't they helped these people? They are generous by helping themselves to the coffers provided by us. However, God has set his people above all and has given us the gift of true generosity and a heart for caring. Christian groups started most charities; some are still going strong with Christians at the helm, but others were infiltrated by the greedy, as was the enemy's plan. Make sure you do your homework before giving charitably; I suggest pouring all of your giving into your church, where there is a consensus and accountability of who receives your gift. God gave us an amount of loving kindness to help the saints. Where is your heart today? Do you give generously to your church? 

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5

March 29, 2023

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had our cable to the internet cut twice. We are so used to having access that when it is down, we are out of sorts and must resort to using an old-fashioned antenna to get reception on the local channels. What’s funny is that we ended up watching some old, nearly-forgotten shows. It makes me wonder what will happen if all forms of communication are cut off; how will the government keep us programmed? So much is happening in the world; you never know what’s in store for us. If you don’t live in Florida, you may not know how to act; we experience power outages and our communication being cut off every time a hurricane comes through; we are professionals. One thing is sure; we can always communicate with God. Shouldn’t he be the first one we reach out to anyway? Some of the powers of this world would cut that communication if they could, but they can’t; even in death, those who know and love the Lord will still be able to reach him. I’m sure that irks them. If things begin to go awry, don’t worry about worldly matters, our power is found in trusting God. We have nothing to fear.

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

March 28, 2023

My husband Richard’s working environment changed when he took over his father’s business after he passed. Now, he dresses in business attire on most days. However, he thinks nothing of his clothing and will go from a meeting to making repairs or lending a hand to those working. When I see this, I shake my head because I’m the one who keeps up with his clothes and has to wash the grit out of them. There have to be some downfalls to being good at everything! I have to laugh because when I think of Jesus, I believe he was like this too, except for dirtying his good clothes. Remember, Jesus was perfect in every way. 

Our goal is to be about the Father’s business, like Jesus, and be willing to help others seeking a better way of life to include him. We must lend a hand when needed while staying clothed in righteousness. 

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

March 27, 2023

Gardening and the sowing of seeds brings me such joy. I want to spend all day tending to it, but other things must be done, such as housework! I’m not a fan of it; I’m an outdoor girl, but I’m starting to loathe my surroundings because of the clutter. To discipline myself, I will commit to cleaning the house before I allow myself to tend the garden. 

Though you may dread going to work, especially on a Monday, as a part of being a disciplined human, and because you need money to live, you choose to do your work before enjoying your time off. There are other choices you should make: start your day by spending time with God. It’s a decision you won’t regret because every moment spent with him brings refreshment and joy, and he fills you with everything you need to get through your day. Get up early and devote some time to him; he will give more back than you could ever ask for or imagine. He is our Father, and he loves to spend time with you. It will be the best part of your day, I guarantee you!

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

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

March 26, 2023

We all have unsaved friends or acquaintances that we hope do not stay that way until the end. No matter what you think about them or if you consider them in high regard, we are not equal to them. Even if our worldly position or financial situation seems on the same footing, they are morally and spiritually bankrupt without Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They don’t think as we do, and their cares are not the same as ours. The conversations are without substance and shallow. Their pursuits are different; we want to please God with our actions, but they want to satisfy themselves, or as I’ve seen in many of them, they want to please their friends or impress their neighbors. The Bible tells us not to become yoked with them. We are not the same; we have died to the world, but they are still living for it. Don’t change who you are to try and impress them; we have the reputation of Jesus to uphold and should set the example of how good it can be to have a relationship with him. The Bible uses strong words to encourage us to pursue friendships with Christ-followers; as brothers and sisters, we are more compatible, and it pleases God to see his children loving one another. 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

March 25, 2023

Last night, we went to see the play Wicked. It is a prequel to the Wizard Of Oz. It is a story of how the Wicked Witch of the West became evil and how, as it turns out, she wasn't evil at all, at least that's how this play portrayed it, but that the propaganda minister started a rumor that she was. She was shunned as a child because her skin was green. There was much more to the description, but I won't go into detail. As I was watching, I couldn't help but see the underlying political message. Do they have to tell us the truth about what they are doing? Is that a requirement of evil beings? It replicated what we are currently experiencing with the world's governments controlling the narrative and feeding lies to the people to keep them under control. When you wake up to the truth, it's nearly impossible to go back to sleep, though it would have been great to enjoy the play without seeing the underlying message and being oblivious to how we are being controlled to keep us in line. I've been trying to keep my head out of the news, whether mainstream or otherwise, but even when I try not to become influenced, it is woven into every aspect of society, making it nearly impossible.

God is in control, and your strength in him will depend on you submitting to him and not others. For this reason, you and I must stay in close contact with God through prayer and reading the scriptures. Keep the lines of communication open with him, so you don't fall into the trap of lies created to control your behavior.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

March 24, 2023

There are a wide variety of food plants that I’ve never heard of, and after browsing a rare seed website, I have found several that I would like to try. Because my garden is complete, I decided to make room to add a few of these unusual crops. After digging out weeds, new pathways, and building a couple of trellises, the beds are ready for me to plant, but my body is in pain. I have muscles in my shoulders that have never hurt in my entire life; aging is getting to me. The pain reminds me that I’m still alive. I sure hope I like these new yard-long beans and sour cucumbers! 

My work in the garden will eventually pay off by producing interesting food. Still, those plants will die, and I will have to plant more if I want to provide fresh food, but the time and effort I put into my relationship with Jesus and planting new crops for the Kingdom of God will continue into eternity. That harvest will meet me at the pearly gates when I enter Heaven. 

Chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians is beautiful. If you need a pick-me-up, take a moment to read it; it’s short but impactful.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

March 23, 2023

Today is my grandson’s birthday. I was thinking about how we look like our parents because of genetics. Trey looks like his mother, almost a carbon copy. However, she has a mild manner, remains calm in challenging situations, and is very even-tempered, but not Trey. Trey may not look like anyone from our family, but he acts like it! His personality is in the image of his grandfather Richard, who is anything but calm. If personalities had a reflection, Trey would be the perfect replica of Richard. 

When we trust Jesus and accept him as our Savior, we transform into his image. Don’t get me wrong, this process can take some time and requires a daily renewal of our minds, but how awesome is it that we reflect the image of Jesus and are transformed from glory to glory? We are so privileged. We go from looking like our parents to becoming the image of Christ. People try to better themselves by making more money when all they need to do is accept Jesus as their Savior; that’s when the true transformation begins. 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

This is an old picture of them together, but it reflects their personalities. 

March 22, 2023

Can you imagine challenging God? Yesterday, I read that Israel is trying to pass a law that makes it a crime to speak, write, or make posts about Jesus in that country; they will send you to jail! If that happens, the church will go underground, and that means the strength of Christ will become even more powerful. Try as they may; they cannot stop God! It will not end well for them. Their faces will continue to be covered with the veil, and some people will never know about the freedom they could have because of Jesus. Here is the question; do we pray for this law to fail, or should we pray for it to pass? People don’t like their freedom being taken, and like spoiled children, they will become defiant and go against a law that stifles it. The truth is, we don’t pray for either. We pray for God’s will to be done, and if that means he has to go to extremes, then so be it. The people who need to hear about Jesus will hear; I can guarantee that. 

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:15-17

March 21, 2023

Consistently will pay off in the end. Years ago, I begged God to give me a voice. In my mind, I needed him to open my mouth to speak in front of people, but little did I realize the voice he gave me would be through writing. I started by posting Bible verses; then, I became brave and added commentary or an analogy. I committed to posting daily and have been posting biblical messages since 2015. It's not always good, but I'm committed and consistent, and my heart is right. Whatever task God assigns to you, do it diligently. Remember, some will accept the gospel's message and see it as life; others will reject it to their own demise, but we are responsible for getting it out there. Hopefully, others will see God's grace in it, accept Jesus, and live in eternity. We are the sweet aroma of Christ as we spread the word of his love, grace, and mercy. I want to encourage you to keep trying; at some point, God will make your assignment clear, and like me, you will be grateful. 

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

March 20, 2023

Did Jesus give the woman at the well a drink of water? Yes! He asked her for a drink and then shared with her the living water he had to offer. She believed him and told her village that she had found the Messiah. He knew she was a sinner! When we deny lost souls the opportunity to serve us or for us to help them, we also withhold Jesus from them. I’m not saying to participate in their sin, but we can profit from them or buy products from them and, in turn, show them the love of Jesus. We have a light within us that others don’t understand. How else are they going to see his love at work? I’m not talking about the big conglomerates who could care less about Jesus, but the mom and pops who may not know of his love for them. I’m not telling you to get your palm read; we know they know what they are doing is wrong, but maybe the local sandwich shop or bakery; their soul may need salvation in Jesus, so don’t feel bad about planting seeds there, or if they require service from you, help them; in doing so you will become the hands and feet of Jesus. Their particular sin may cause you to cringe, but think about how Jesus feels when we sin. Don’t withhold the love of Jesus because someone sins differently than you. Jesus covers your sins; their sins send them to hell forever because they don’t know him! Help them if they can be helped.

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” John 4:26-29

March 19, 2023

I went out to my garden early yesterday morning to check on my plants. I wanted to ensure nothing was eating them and eliminate any harmful bugs. The first thing I saw was some of my cosmos lying on the ground; they were flowers I planted to help draw the insects away from my peas. Something had cut them off right at the base! I decided to pull back the layer of mulch and see if I could find anything, and there it was, the culprit, a caterpillar! He wasn’t eating the stems; he just cut them off for no good reason. He had cut his last stem in my garden. Those flowers were beginning to flourish, and it’s disappointing to have to throw them out. It shows that not everything planted in the garden will make it.

I also went to a funeral yesterday. We didn’t know the person who died; we were there for her brother, so we were unsure of the status of her salvation. However, the priest prayed for her to get out of purgatory to go into Heaven. Though it seems like a nice thing to do, praying for the dead is not biblical. If you don’t decide to follow Jesus before you die, you won’t get into Heaven. No amount of prayer by the living will help. There is no holding area called purgatory, waiting for the prayers of others to help you. You must make that decision in the flesh, or you will be cut off like my cosmos. Pray that all of your family accept Jesus as Savior while they are still alive; it’s too late after they die.

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:9-11

March 18, 2023

We have cameras around our property because when we first moved in, there were several incidents of people skulking around our barns and garages, and at least one made off with some loot. Now, rather than seeing robbers on the cameras, we get to see wildlife which I find fascinating. We have a couple of coyotes that pass through the property occasionally. Two of our neighbors have chickens, and I expect they are on their way to try and break into their cages. We don’t have anything for them to eat, so they pass on through. 

The enemy causes the battles that disrupt your life to distract you and steal your peace. When he decides to take a swipe at you, he will fail to take you out; nevertheless, he will try. However, we have the ultimate protection of Jesus, and we sleep in our armor! He may leave his footprints on our property, but because we don’t have anything for him to eat, he passes on through. Stand firm; God will have the victory!

For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:19-20

March 17, 2023

I just discovered that one of my lime tree's leaves could be used as a seasoning. I have to admit that I thought it was possible when I checked them for bugs and was astonished that the aroma tantalized my senses, but I never considered using it in my cooking. The things you learn on YouTube! I've started looking into edible perennial plants that can tolerate our Florida heat and drought. I'm amazed to find many plants that fit that description. The more I learn, the more I realize that God thinks of everything; he provides for our needs and never leaves us without options. Imagine growing food that doesn't need care! The earth's powerful beings have suppressed our knowledge, so we need to seek ways to become self-sufficient in case our supply of food and finances becomes halted. Even if that never happens, wouldn't it feel good to know you could survive if it does? We've become so comfortable in our easy lifestyles that we may need to reassess our situation, dig into ways to provide for ourselves, and become less vulnerable. It's just a thought. 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

March 16, 2023

I'm standing firm on the mission statement I made years ago: "Training believers to break bonds and live free." Many of us are still bound by our past. When Jesus saved us because we accepted him as our Savior and committed to trusting him, he gave us a clean slate. We no longer have to feel guilty about our past, but it's harder for some of us to let it go because its pain still lingers. Years ago, when I decided to work on myself, it took time, but with the help of the Holy Spirit reminding me of the things still lingering and buried in my mind from the past, he helped me pray my way through it. It feels good to be set free. 

My ministry is to believers; however, Paul broke new ground and entered into areas that had never heard of Jesus. Can you imagine finding someone nowadays who has absolutely no knowledge of Jesus? Christmas alone tells anyone listening who he is, even though most people ignore the significance of the celebration. Because Paul started from scratch, he had to cover a lot of material to bring the church into compliance with the Word of God; that could be why he wrote so many letters. 

If you haven't started cleaning up your wrong thinking, start today. Talk to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth about who God says you are. 

and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” Romans 15:20-21

March 15, 2023

I’m so excited about growing my own food. I’ve harvested a few green beans and expect to pick squash in a few days. Almost everything I planted was low in sugar until yesterday; I planted sweet potatoes. Hopefully, their high fiber content will help counterbalance the carbohydrates. They should do pretty well because they love the sun and the heat we have here in Florida. I try to be careful about what I eat because I don’t want to be overweight and because sugar seems to slow me down. I love food; it’s my weakness. Limiting my carbohydrate intake allows me to eat as much as I want of other foods, which makes me very happy. However, I don’t condemn others for eating sugar and carbs, though indulging may be a sin for me because it’s part of me taking up my cross daily. I like to carb-load occasionally, too.

There are a lot of limits to what a person can eat in the Jewish faith, so Paul wrote a portion of the letter to the Romans about them condemning others for what they choose to eat. God made everything clean; eat whatever you want, but be careful that your food doesn’t affect your health. 

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. Romans 14:14-15

March 14, 2023

If ever there was a time for these verses, it is now!

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12

Too many Christians are still asleep, and it’s’ time for their slumber to end. We all need to engage in the current spiritual battles and the ones to come. Just pull up one headline, and you will see that the world is getting restless, and it seems the time for the Lord’s return is nearing. Put on the armor of light and let it shine for all to see; just admitting that you trust Jesus will sometimes cause a battle to begin. Be brave, mighty warriors of God! Bring as many as you can into the saving grace of God. Time is short, but salvation lasts into eternity. 

March 13, 2023

Last night, we went to dinner at a restaurant we’d never been to. We thought it was Mexican food, but it was Colombian. Rather than leaving, we decided to try it. It was still Spanish style, but we weren’t sure what to order. After sitting there for some time, we realized we had entered a different culture; it was almost as if we were in a foreign country. I only noticed one other couple that wasn’t Spanish because they didn’t speak broken English like most people there. The food was good, just different than we expected. 

The smiles on faces spoke volumes. People were enjoying one another’s company. They were probably happy to eat an authentic meal without cooking it at home. It’s nice to embrace a culture that is different from our own. Sometimes we need to slow down, take in the moment, and observe others genuinely loving one another; it’s a change of pace from all the negativity that seems to rule the day. Love God and love others. It’s not that hard to do.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10

March 12, 2023

Romans 12 is my favorite chapter in the book of Romans. It covers how you should act as a Christ-follower. It is a checklist of behaviors you can go through to see if you measure up. It first explains that our lives are meant to be a living sacrifice as a form of spiritual worship. Did you ever consider the way you live to be a form of worship to God? Our entire lives are to become so wrapped up in God that every move we make indicates our loyalty. He wants us to live for him becoming separated from the things of this world. 

Years ago, I set my mind to undoing anything I had come to believe wasn’t the truth, things I picked up on and was taught that may not conform to the teaching of the Bible. I considered the things I believed and measured them against biblical truths. You would be surprised at how many things we were taught aren’t true. You must ask yourself why you believe the way you believe and correct your thinking; that’s how you hold every thought captive. You will be surprised at how good it feels to be set free from all the lies. 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2