July 22

I love cake! But, when I start letting myself eat it, my appetite for sugar spirals out of control. One thing leads to another and before I know it, I've added ten pounds, I become sluggish, and tired. The extra weight makes my clothes fit tight and I'm uncomfortable. Why do I do this to myself? I know all this happens every time I go on a sugar binge, and yet I continue. Is that a sin for me? Maybe gluttony. I certainly need to consider it a sin for myself! We all have weaknesses and we know what they are, but what should we do about them? It takes so much courage and self control to refrain from indulging in unhealthy behavior. So, whether it's lust of the flesh or lust of sugar, or whatever has control of you, you must work diligently to give it up. We should allow nothing to rule over us except the Holy Spirit. This is an ongoing process. You may give one thing up, but then another thing pops up. It's a matter of recognizing it before it becomes your god.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

July 21

We are not alone in this world. We are not even alone within ourselves. Though we may feel like an independent soul at times, we as Christ followers, were given the gift of the companionship of the Holy Spirit. What a gracious and beautiful gift given to us by Jesus! We have such amazing power! It's supernatural! If you're hungry, ask for more! As parents, we want to give our children what they ask us for, if it's within our ability. So when we ask for our Heavenly Father to give us bread, the Holy Spirit, scripture says that He will give us what we need! Ask for more! The Holy Spirit is power, so when you ask for more, realize that with more power comes more responsibility. I grew up in the country and was given a B-B gun as a child and was taught how to handle that gun. It wasn't until I learned to handle the power of the B-B gun that I was given a more powerful gun. Learn to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit, ask for more and He will give you what you need!

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

July 20

We all have issues in our families that are hard to deal with. Each of my children has a mess of their own, and I could run myself ragged trying to fix them, but I don't. They were created by our loving Father and I have left that responsibility to Him. He gave me to them to offer love, guidance, and emotional support, but they must seek Him as I do for things that are beyond their ability to repair. Even our prodigal son knows this and when he's down on himself, he will refer back to his upbringing and is remorseful for not following the lessons he was taught. We must be confident in God's ability to see our children through their difficulties. The worse thing you could do is to jump in and try to fix it, you are not God! However, we are responsible to intercede for them, especially when we know they aren't doing it for themselves. My point is, we must leave it to God to help our children, He loves them well beyond our love for them.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

July 19

When you are in a situation you had never intended for yourself, God expects you to make the best of it. If life gives you lemons, make lemon bars! Lemonade is good, but lemon bars, well, they are extraordinary! We all go through changes in our lives, some are good, some are not so good; we need to learn to embrace them and watch the hand of God moving. Believe me, He has a plan for every experience and can use anything for His purpose. My husband and I were called to a different church. At the time, I didn't know where we were going. In my own fantasy I thought we would become part of a church near the beach being we spend a lot of time there. However, God had a different plan and we ended up far from the beach at a church in Plant City, and I couldn't be happier! But needless to say, the lemon bars are quite tasty in Plant City! Embrace the challenges set before you and look for the opportunity to thrive!

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

July 18

Why are you worried about death? There is no sting in death if you are secure in Jesus. However, if you have not committed your life to Him, you have something to worry about. Why, in the simplicity of accepting Jesus as your Savior and the free gift of eternal life that He offers, do we question it?  If you choose wrong, you end up in Hell, a real place. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, showed nothing but compassion for those who were caught up in the misery of sin and gave them a way out, just as He has for us. Choosing to follow Jesus is not the easy way, on the contrary, the forces of evil are angered and will come against you. The choice you're making is, do you want to live in eternity with the evil that comes against you for loving Jesus or do you want to reside with Jesus, who gave you the example of peace and love? Once you choose Jesus, your fear of death and its sting is no longer an issue and your ministry on this earth changes to pleasing Him.

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

July 17

Why isn't life easy? The challenges we face can drag us down. If only things would turn out the way we imagined them. If only everyone would live for Jesus and follow His command to love. If only everyone would open up the Word of God and get to know Him. We know this won't happen, even those who call themselves Christians don't follow these simple rules. When Jesus calls us to meet Him on that great day, it will be clear who understood the magnitude of the choice to follow Jesus and turn only to Him and away from evil. What a glorious day for us and an eye opening day for them! There will still be time for them to change, however, if you think it's hard now, wait until all of the true followers have left the earth; talk about a challenge! Live your life to love others. Open up your Bible and read for yourself how Jesus loved, He is our example. Emulate Him and become the person He wants you to be.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

July 16

Sometimes God sends us into a new land. When He sent the Israelites in to conquer Canaan, he commanded them to listen to His angel's voice and to do everything He says. He promised that He would be an enemy of their enemy and drive out the inhabitants of the land little by little so the beasts wouldn't have time to accumulate and overtake them. There were a lot of things for them to overcome, but God was with them and would help them. He warned them not to bow down to their gods as they would become a snare for them to sin. Each of us has our own land to conquer. We have the power of Jesus, the commander of the army of God battling for us as we move forward. Little by little we will make progress toward our goal, but not by our own strength. We have no strength in our mortal beings. Remember to decrease so Jesus may increase! It's the easiest, and the best way to win! Fight the good fight and win with Jesus!

"But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. Exodus 23:22

July 15

Do you long for Jesus? Is He the source of your passion? Or, do you run after other things? When I read the Psalms of King David, I see his  passion and desire for God. He doesn't hold anything back! He laid his heart out for God and exalted Him like no other. When you lift God up, in worship and praise, as David did, He rewards you. David has the honor of being called a man after God's own heart, can that be said of you? I fall short of that honor daily. My heart desires to be that kind of worshiper, but the things of this world are a distraction and it pulls my attention in a different direction. David was chased by a mad man and he still managed to offer God His heart. We have no excuse for not giving Him our best and worshiping Him as He desires. Spend a little time with Jesus today. Pursue Him with the same passion you have for the other things you love. The reward is great and the honor is glorious!

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalms 63:1-4

July 14

If you've ever sold a home and are waiting for it to close so you can move on to the next home, you realize that there is a lot of preparation involved. There is cleaning and packing that needs to be done and the process can be quite overwhelming. The home you're moving from, is now a temporary home, even though you've lived in it for a long time. You begin to get rid of the useless things that you have accumulated throughout the years and pack only the best things to take to your new home. If only we could be more proactive in decluttering as we go, we wouldn't have as much to do. As a Christ follower, we are living in our temporary home and our new home is Heaven. You can't take all the clutter you've accumulated inside into our Heavenly home, so get rid of it now! It's time to clean up and start looking like the being that resides within you. It's time to start looking like Jesus.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:5-9

July 13

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the incredible things of God. Once again, I'm awakened early, five-twenty to be exact, and I took my dog out. As I turned around to see where she had gone, I saw this green ball of fire shooting across the sky! That's not all, I could see the smoke from it after it burned out. I'm thinking it was pretty close for me to be able to see the smoke! I have no idea what it was and I didn't find anything on the internet that could offer a good explanation. The things of God are often unexplainable; like how He is there, but you don't see Him. Sometimes you get to see the unusual works of His hands with your own eyes. When you feel alone, isn't that because you are blocking Him out? Open your heart, He's right there. He chased after you to make you His own, now turn around and receive all He has for you. His love is better than seeing that green ball of fire rushing across the sky, and it's more tangible!

nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

July 12

After what seemed like months of drought, we finally get the much needed daily rain of the summer. July is notorious for afternoon and evening thunderstorms in Florida. The grass grows at an uncontrollable rate, which makes it necessary to get out and get the yard work done during the heat before the rains set in. What a joy it is to mow and pull weeds! It's a great reminder that we don't live in the Garden of Eden. But, one day, we will be in a place like it! Until that day, we are to be the trees planted near the river. We are to produce fruit, bring the gospel, to feed the world. Our leaves, words and actions, are to bring comfort and healing. Assess yourself. Are you planted firmly near the river, which is Jesus? Are your roots reaching into that water? Are you keeping your grass mowed and the weeds pulled? Fruit trees that are left unkempt don't produce as much fruit. Make sure you are maintaining your garden so you produce large crops!

through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2

July 11

For twenty years I've had blinds on the windows for privacy and to help block the sun. It wasn't until we began preparing our home to sell that we decided to show off our view and raise up those blinds. We've always been able to see through them, but I didn't realize how much the slats were obstructing what we could see. Oh, what a glorious view! All that light filling the room brings such joy! Then, a new problem arises; that additional light exposed all the flaws! The window sills were full of dust and insect carcasses, all needing to be cleaned up and have a fresh coat of paint applied. Until it was cleaned up, it was an eyesore! This is the same thing that happened to Isaiah when he saw the Lord in his vision. Seeing the Lord was magnificent, but he was exposed, and he saw himself for what he was, a filthy sinner. What's more is that Isaiah was a great prophet! Humble yourself before the Lord, we are but filthy rags.

And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Isaiah 6:5

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

July 10

On this journey, I was given the responsibility of cleaning a home that has been sitting vacant for several years; it stinks and has been overtaken by spider webs. I get busy cleaning up the webs so I'm not creeped out, and wash the windows so I can see through them, and begin cleaning this unusual black out "curtain" that's just a monstrosity: it was heavy and filthy! I worked on it for about an hour, using a whole bottle of cleaner. After all that work, it was suggested that we take it down. What! Are you kidding me? All that work and now you want to take it down! I couldn't be happier! Things don't always pan out the way we plan them in our minds and that's not always a bad thing, it's just different. This journey that we're on feels like driving down a curvy road, but that's because we don't see the whole picture. Rest assured that God is preparing the table in this dark world and the enemy will watch as you feast!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5

July 9

My son and his friend took a drive down to the keys for a fishing trip. He was longing to catch and land a bull dolphin. So they chartered a boat and went out to the Gulf Stream and began looking for some rubbish floating on the surface, because they tend to hang out there. Lo and behold, he gets one hooked! He fought that fish until he had blisters on his hands. Just as he was about to land him, a mere twenty feet from the boat, a twelve foot shark snatched him and took off with the whole thing. The captain said that in all his years of fishing, he had never seen anything like that. My son was disappointed, but what a story he has to tell! This is a good lesson for those of us who are fishers of men. There is an enemy out there waiting to devour those people who are hard-pressed to make a commitment to Jesus. Sometimes, as we are reeling them in, the enemy snatches them away. Remain committed to bringing the lost home, but remember, you're not responsible for the outcome, He is!

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

July 8

When God nudges me to wake up at five thirty in the morning, all I want to do is go back to sleep. I roll over thinking it was just my imagination and that He couldn't possibly want me to get up this early, especially since it was Saturday! It was impossible, I couldn't go back to sleep! So I grab my coffee and go sit in my usual place; and there it was, the most beautiful thing my eyes could behold. I hear Him whisper to me, "Who hung the moon and the stars for you?" Then I knew why He had awakened me. It was as if He were eager to give me such a lovely gift that He couldn't wait for me to get up and see it. I was overwhelmed with its beauty and I felt so honored that He had thought enough of me to share the sight of that big red moon. What are you missing by ignoring God's voice? He speaks to you all the time, but you haven't tuned in. His voice is in those fleeting thoughts that you later regret not putting action to. Pay attention or you may miss something amazing.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:3-4

July 7

When you see your children go through a rough patch in their life, it breaks your heart. Your instinct is to jump in and handle the situation for them. The problem with doing that is that they don't learn to manage their life for themselves. It's okay for them to deal with situations on their own and it's okay for you to console them, but it's better for them to learn that life isn't easy as children rather than become an adult that runs to mommy and daddy every time life challenges them. These times are also good for teaching them to pray and to rely on God and His power to overcome evil and adversity. Children are very pliable and if you teach them at an early age that God is their source, it could help them stay free from the bondage of hurt and emotional distress. Imagine how your life would be now if you had learned to rely on Jesus in your youth. Jesus loves the children and He is merciful to them, help them to understand that.

but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

July 6

Every now and then the Holy Spirit will highlight a few words in a verse making it impossible for me to ignore. I was reading the Book of James chapter 5; the context of the scripture was about patients. James compared waiting for Jesus like the farmer waiting for the early and late rains to produce his crop. The early rain of the fall, waters the seeds he has planted, and the latter rain in the spring, right before the harvest, plumps up the fruit. I couldn't go past it; I was stuck on the beauty of comparing Jesus to rain. We've all been through a drought where every drop of rain is precious; when it finally makes its appearance, all you want to do is dance in it. Those of us who are ready will welcome that thirst quenching rain, but those who didn't notice the drought will be overcome by it. Imagine that day when our Savior makes His appearance and we are able to dance in His rain; be patient, it will happen!

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8

July 5

When you market your house you go through and clean, paint, declutter, and make repairs. Once you find a buyer, you've only jumped the first hurdle. The next and most important hurdle is the home inspection. The first hurdle was like taking a bath and getting dressed, but the next hurdle is like going to the doctor for a physical. However, if you have a home that you want to unload quickly, you discount the price and sell it "as is" without going through the trouble of making repairs. An investor will come along, make the repairs and get it back into good condition and will probably sell it for a profit. Jesus is like that investor. He saw our potential, paid the price though it wasn't cheap, cleaned us up, and moved us into His neighborhood. We were that broken down, "as is" house, and we didn't have to do anything to prepare, He did it all. 🎶Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow🎶.

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

July 4

Though we are a nation separated from the State of Great Britain and free from the tyranny that was once placed upon our thirteen colonies, we are not totally and completely independent. The appeal for this independence was made to "the Supreme Judge of the world" whom as we know is God. If you are of total independence, why would you need to appeal to "the Supreme Judge of the world?" Because the men who agreed to this separation knew that our ultimate allegiance is to God and that He would make a way when there seemed to be no other. As we celebrate this day we must also give thanks to God for His intervention in the life of our country and that He continues to keep us from a cruel and oppressive government. We must continue to appeal to Him and intercede on behalf of these United States of America, that we remain free to worship Him, the creator of Heaven and earth.

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. Psalms 5:8

July 3

As Americans look forward to celebrating independence, there is a long standing tradition of blowing things up. It gives everyone a thrill to see the sky lit up with the colors of the rainbow as we watch the "bombs bursting in air!" I love that we are now friends with the country that we fought so hard to gain our freedom from. It's interesting to watch as they seek independence, though they did it through a vote. Whether you are captive or free, as a Christ follower, you have your own personal freedom through Jesus. He has set you free from the bonds of sin and you are no longer a slave to it. Though it is nice to be in a country where we are free to worship Jesus as we please, that freedom is slowly being eroded and we must value it and fight to keep it. We are not the enemy. The enemy is anyone who comes against Jesus and if you open your eyes you can clearly see who that is. Stand up strong for Jesus because without Him, there's nothing worth fighting for.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36