April 14, 2023

Yesterday, I spent most of my morning cleaning and sweeping up construction debris in the main house. The dust was incredible. Now that we finally installed our last exterior door, our house is sealed. It has been trying at times because we had to destroy and rebuild the house the way we wanted. Now, the pieces are being put back together, and we can almost see what the finished product will look like. Though I’m happy where I am now, I can see something better on the horizon, and the closer it gets, the more excited I get. 

Refurbishing the old house is similar to our lives as Christ-followers; our interior must be torn down and gutted so God can rebuild us the way he wants us. When we start to see what He intended, we get excited about our new lives taking shape because our future looks so much brighter. The process is not physical, but our bodies can benefit from renewing our minds because of the peace we get from no longer serving the world, allowing us to relax in our heritage as children of God.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:7

April 13, 2023

This year’s garden is blessing us with produce daily. The green beans, squash, and okra are prolific bloomers and have continually given us food. From just one seed came one plant, producing multiple fruits, and the new seeds were more than I could count; that’s if I were to count them instead of eating them. On top of that, we are about to have more tomatoes, peppers, and peas than we can eat.

Why did God give us the law if it is impossible to keep it? The answer is to show us that we need Jesus. God’s promise to Abraham, “In you shall all the nations be blessed,” came before the law was given, and that promise remains. Abraham’s blessing came to fruition through Jesus; we receive that promise because of him. Jesus is the seed of the promise, and only through faith in him did we become children of God. Our genealogy is not part of it; we are saved only by faith in Jesus. Jesus is the one who is multiplying Abraham’s seeds, and we, the followers of Christ, are the fruit.

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:7-9

And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29

April 12, 2023

Unless our government changes and veers off the road to destruction, we may, out of self-preservation, have to hide our affiliation with Christianity. In many countries, Christians have to go underground to teach and learn about Jesus because their lives are threatened by their association with him. However, if you are hiding your faith in Him now, no good will come from it. There are ways to get around censorship online if you use it as a platform for spreading the gospel; it’s by learning not to use specific keywords. However, altogether avoiding telling others about Jesus while we still have our freedom is a form of denying him. 

Paul had an issue with Peter living like a free gentile but reverting to Jewish law when he was around other Jews, so he confronted him about it. Are you for Jesus, or are you against him? You can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in Christ; it doesn’t work that way. Choose today whom you will serve; as for me and house, we will serve the Lord. 

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

April 11, 2023

Have you changed from pleasing the world to pleasing God? I know that it's hard to stop caring about what others think of you, but that's precisely God's expectation of us. Once we go from feeling obligated to people to becoming bound to God, it will result in people becoming naturally drawn to us because of the confidence we exude from our loyalty to Him. We must learn to trust Him with our lives, and He will surround us with His people, those who are like-minded and have also set out to please God. In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he doesn't mince words when he calls them out, telling them that he wouldn't be a servant of Christ if he were still trying to please man. Trying to please man will often result in sinful behavior. Assess yourself and make sure your actions match God's expectations of your life. If you're unsure what that is, open up your Bible; He makes it clear in His word.

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

April 10, 2023

In a small part of my garden, I’ve included perennial food plants that thrive in Florida’s heat and humidity, are relatively cold tolerant, and easily reproduce themselves. I thought it might be a good idea to have some dependable crops if food becomes scarce and we have to forage for it. They are unusual and may require getting used to if we have to include them in our diet. In researching these types of plants, I found some interesting things; we have edible weeds that grow rapidly in our yard and are also valuable for medical purposes like managing pain. I bet they would stop invading my garden if we started eating them! 

There are so many things that God has given us that have long been forgotten or are not taught anymore. Our world is rapidly changing, and if we don’t start learning the basics of living, we may find it hard to thrive in a country slowly collapsing from poor management. Hopefully, you are paying attention, heeding the warnings, and discerning the times so you are not caught off guard. 

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30

April 9, 2023

He has Risen! Jesus defeated death, which is why we celebrate Resurrection Day, the holiest of all days! It’s not about the prolific reproduction of bunnies and the abundance of eggs; those things distract from what happened on that wonderful day. The enemy always dangles a carrot in front of the people to take attention off the truth. That is why we must break through the lies in search of the truth and make it our mission to reject anything intrinsically evil. Though bunnies and eggs are innocent and not evil individually, using them as a replacement for the observance of the glorious resurrection makes the practice idolatry, primarily since its roots can be traced back to idolatry. Today is a good day to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus; what he did for us on that special day could not be replicated by any other human. How privileged are we to be included as part of the chosen? Set aside your woes for one day, give God the glory he deserves, honor our Savior, and be thankful for receiving the Holy Spirit as a placeholder until Jesus returns. Forget your burdens for a moment and make today a happy day.

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

April 8, 2023

Last night, we passed by a fatality on our way home after having dinner with some friends. We don't know what happened, but we could see a body lying on the road. They may have been crossing the street or possibly gotten thrown from a vehicle; it was dark, so your guess is as good as mine. Others were standing alongside the road; I don't know if they knew the person, but I began praying for them and the victim's family. One moment this person was alive and walking across the street, and seconds later, they were dead. That's how quickly it can happen. Did they know Jesus? There was no way for me to know, but I felt sad. Maybe God would have given me a sense of peace if Jesus had welcomed them into his arms.

We don't know when we will take our last breath, but it is comforting to know that when our flesh dies and we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, our spirit will live on in his presence. How sure are you that you will live on in Heaven when your body dies? If you're not sure, don't wait for another second! Trust him today. We are celebrating his resurrection tomorrow, and if you believe that he is alive and that his death on the cross was to save you from your sins, tell him that right now. You don't need a fancy prayer; tell him; he hears your every thought. Accept him now; tomorrow may be too late. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

April 7, 2023

One of the most precious days we hold in the highest regard is the day our sin was covered by Jesus’s death on the cross. Though it seems wrong to celebrate his death or to call it good, we know the rest of the story; it’s Friday, but Sunday is coming. Though the days seem long and quiet between his death and resurrection, the magnitude of what happened during that time has given us new life and freedom never before experienced by those who love the Almighty Creator. Every wrong you’ve done or experienced is now hidden and covered in the puddle of blood that drained from the body of Jesus, spilling onto the ground under his feet while he hung on the cross. As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus delivered all our sins to Hell and no longer remembers it, and death was overcome! Would a stranger do that for you? Absolutely not! Though many still don’t know Jesus, they are not strangers to him; He has known them since before creation. Take a moment today, rejoice, and be thankful for all Jesus has done. We are indeed a blessed people.

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. John 16:20

April 6, 2023

The other night, we had some storm clouds brewing, but lately, they pass on by without leaving a drop. Rather than expect that they would pass, I gathered the towels hanging outside, believing the rain would fall and soak them. By the time I got back inside the house, the rain had begun to fall. I could have continued to believe that the clouds would pass and God’s blessing would miss us again; however, I put action to my hope, and my prayer materialized. I’ve prayed for rain; we needed it desperately. We can’t just think or say we believe; we must act upon it. How can you say you love the Lord without showing it? Faith without works is dead. You don’t have to work to be saved, but once saved, the Holy Spirit prods you and makes you want to work towards good. 

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

April 5, 2023

Those who have been called to Christ may have to put up with a certain amount of discomfort or burden. Our calling prohibits us from becoming conceded or overly wrapped up in our own well-being. To keep us in check and remember who’s boss, we may have to live with a type of infirmity as Paul did so that he would rely entirely on God. Nevertheless, we should continue to pray for our healing as Paul did. He got an answer, but it probably wasn’t what he had hoped for.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The way I look at it, I would probably be dead if I were pain-free. We have everything to boast about because we are children of the Most-High God, and our inheritance is immense, and with any inheritance, there comes a certain amount of burden. We often forget what’s waiting for us and continue to live for the world. Reevaluate the way you handle daily issues and allow the power of Christ to rest upon you, but most of all, remember that his grace is sufficient. 

April 4, 2023

We put up with a lot of garbage coming out of the secular world, and yet many look at the church with condemnation. Here we were, thinking America's country music was part of the conservative voice, only to find out that they, too, have been infiltrated by woke society. I knew it, but I was hoping there was still some good coming from that genre. They are the same as the rest of the entertainment industry; a product of evil. Don't be fooled by their use of God's name; their god differs from ours. Some may believe in the one true God, but when they use his name and plan to get drunk at a party afterward, you can bet they don't know my God! And I don't know many who know and love Jesus that will wear clothing that barely covers their private parts. I'm not going to lie and say that I hate it because I'm an artsy person who loves extraordinary and lavish costumes with glitzy shimmer, but enough is enough! We all need to wake up to the truth. It's time for us to stop putting up with such foolishness and turn away from worldly folly. Pray for God to help you stay on the path of righteousness and discern what is right in his eyes. 

For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:19-20

April 3, 2023

There is a struggle in life, and we sometimes forget to thank God for it. Would you be where you are today if it weren't for those struggles? We all undergo periods of testing and refining; there is nothing new about that, but thanking God for them might seem odd, except that he's the one who allows it but also gets us through it. Each step we take in the refining process burns off the impurities and creates in us a clean heart that shines like gold and puts the spotlight on Jesus, which is our purpose, to show everyone how good he is and create righteous jealousy in others who are looking for more than this earthly life has to offer. So if you are struggling today and can't see a reason, seek God, submit to his will, and he will get you through it. No one loves us as he does, so go to him and ask him for help; he's waiting to hear from you today. 

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

April 2, 2023

Yesterday morning, a raccoon walked right by my door, only a few feet away from me. It was daylight, and he was hungry and looking for trash. Thankfully the dogs didn’t see him, or they would have awakened my husband with their barking. I’m sure he came in so close because if I don’t have time to take the trash to the road, I will sometimes leave it right outside my door. Though he startled me, he only did what a wild animal naturally does. 

That raccoon was like thoughts we get when we don’t control our minds. The enemy comes close because we’ve had similar trashy ideas, and he thinks he can conquer us by captivating our attention. When that raccoon went by, I was reading and meditating on God’s word, and immediately, my thoughts were distracted by the raunchy trash picker. My dogs would have gone berserk if I had reacted rather than calmly let it go without incident. The enemy will try to control you through your mind by putting things in front of you to cause your mind to wander into his territory. When you get wild, fleeting thoughts, don’t react; hold them captive and repent if necessary.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6

April 1, 2023

Did you know culinary herbs have medicinal value? According to what I've been reading, their potential to make you feel better may go beyond traditional medicine. I'm starting to believe that the cure for whatever ails us may be right at our fingertips, under our noses, readily available, and quite tasty. We've gotten so used to rushing off to the doctor that we've forgotten that God has given us everything we need to heal our sickness. Those recipes have long been forgotten and are no longer passed down to the next generation. It makes me wonder if herbs were added to our food to heal us rather than spice it up, similar to hiding bitter medication in a sugary syrup.

As I tried to eliminate strongholds in my life, God began to clarify things that I had not considered. When he exposed the lies I believed about myself, he also opened my eyes to the enemy's lies. Don't get me wrong, complete mental and physical healing is an ongoing process and will not end until we are united with Jesus, either in our death or his return. However, we must continue to work on ourselves to glorify God. As far as herbs for healing, I believe their value was hidden on purpose. As an example, look up herbs such as oregano and basil, and you will see how much God was concerned about our health and gave us what we needed right inside plants and weeds. It's something to consider and a much tastier way to take medication. 

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

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