March 31

We were ransomed by His blood. From what? From death, the stronghold of Satan. Satan dangles death over our heads every day. If you’ve ever been in the truck with my husband, you’ll understand what that means. Every now and then I’ll forget that I’m the daughter of the King and will let fear grip me when it looks as though we are going to plow into the back of a slow motorist. I’m not sure why I concern myself being he’s been involved in fewer accidents than I have, and the fact that if I’m taken out by death, I’ll have uninterrupted peace and will no longer be in the clutch of Satan’s kingdom. The only reason to fear death is if you haven’t been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and accepted Him as your Savior from your sin. However, for those who have been redeemed, when Jesus comes to rule the earth, we will have the highest positions in the Kingdom and will all be priests and kings! I can only imagine.

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Revelation 5:9-10

March 30

This is a Good Friday! As you read through the Gospels and follow the steps of Jesus, you wonder, as loving and perfect as He was, why did the people of that day choose to let Him be killed. I’m not shocked. Look at what we do today; 4383 babies are aborted daily here in the United States, that’s equivalent to 183 per minute! Innocent beings, never once sinned. Why? They’re inconvenient and they point out the sin of the parties involved. Jesus was inconvenient and made sinners aware of their own condition. Jesus no longer walks on the earth in the flesh and yet He gets crucified every single day by those who deny His deity. There was a time not so long ago that Jesus was revered, but now His followers are blasted and heckled for believing in Him. Jesus told us to hold on to what we have until He returns, so that’s what I’m repeating today; hold on to what you have until His return!

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 3:11

March 29

I finally got HOA approval to redesign the landscaping in my yard, which only means that I have to get started with the backbreaking labor of trying to remove the old plants that I didn’t want, and take out the weeds and grass where the new plants are going. I ended up staying out until 7:00 pm! How’s the garden of your heart? Do you need to do a little re-landscaping by clearing out the old, useless, unproductive branches, and plant some new things? We all have issues that weigh us down and crowd out the good because we haven’t taken control and held captive every thought. It’s the perfect time to do a little digging around in your mind to see what you need to get under control. Start by asking the Holy Spirit to help you pinpoint areas in your life that need to be redeemed; then take control of it in the power of Jesus name. Freedom is just a prayer away!

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

March 28

Every two years I have to complete continuing education to keep up my licensing. This year I waited until the last minute and with only three days left I finally got it done! I don’t like to admit this, but even though it’s an open book test, I can never seem to make 100%. The questions are hard, but the answers are harder! They may change one word to make the answer just slightly off and though it resembles the book, it’s not exactly right. This is such a good comparison to what we have to deal with when it comes to the people bringing the Word of God. Their words seem good and right, but could be slightly off, causing you to be led astray. Jesus warned us that this might happen and will happen! He said that we would recognize them by their fruit. How do you know what fruit is good? We have to be diligent in our efforts to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and know our Bible.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:15-16

March 27

We are in a season of great joy. As we approach Passover and Resurrection Sunday, we should reflect upon all that the Lord has done for us. From the simple answered prayer to the payment for all of our sins, offer praise and thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior. His sacrifice was great, and in anticipation of what was to come, He cried out to the Father to take His cup from Him if it was His will. We recognize His pain, as we sometimes ask for Him to do the same for us. Reflect on His sorrow, but accept the gift, because now we will not have to make payment for and get what we deserve for our own sin. Continue to pray for those who’ve yet to accept His gift. We can see the Son beginning to rise in the east, that beautiful glimmer of hope just on the horizon. Stay awake, be ready!

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:35-36

March 26

Have we, as parents done something wrong? A large part of the responsibility is laid upon us, but we need to stand back and take a look at the big picture. When the enemy attacks you, where are you most vulnerable? Issues of your family! If he can tear the family apart, he will accomplish everything he wants. It looks as though the enemy is having his way in our society today. He’s made us feel as if some children are a mistake, therefore we abort them. He’s made drugs easy to access so the minds of parents become toasted, bad decisions are made, and grandparents end up raising their children. Parents no longer control their children, the children control them. Where we fail, the government swoops in and picks up the slack, teaching them a way that no longer resembles the way God intended. Have we fallen so far that we can’t recover? Cry out to God, He needs to hear from us.

And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:12-13

March 25

When Jesus told us that the greatest command is to love God and the second is to love others, He didn’t list any exceptions. Can you love someone who sins differently than you? What if they have a different political view? I’m here to tell you that you can! Jesus loved all people regardless of the way they sinned. However, He did encourage them to turn away from it and sin no more, but that’s because He knows what will happen in the end. You can’t help someone turn from their sin if you butt heads with them. The conversation needs to be open, at least on your part. You’ll get nowhere if you can’t talk. All people wanted to be around Jesus, even the Pharisees, though some were trying to find ways to trip Him up. Regardless of what you might think, you’ll never reach anyone for Jesus if you only go after people who are already saved. Be kind to those who are different, Jesus was!

Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

March 24

Have you ever been around someone who never has peace? It’s almost as if every word out of their mouth is full of anxiety, fear, and disdain. If you had any peace before your encounter, they work tirelessly to break you and steal it. The funny thing about being a lover of Jesus, your peace cannot be stolen! Our feathers may be ruffled for the time we are in their presence and their mouth is open, but it is restored soon after our encounter is over. The peace is never gone, it’s just in the background for the moment. If you’re like me, you’re praying the whole time they are talking or yelling. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain your peace when they begin to attack you, but with prayer just under your breath, God will protect your heart and mind. Remember who God says you are and don’t allow their hate to penetrate or take you out of character. Just pray “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

March 23

As I got up from my chair, I noticed that something wasn’t quite right. Not wanting to stop, I continued what I was doing. Because, really, who stops when you are headed out to dinner - I was happy that I didn’t have to cook and maybe it would go away. Still feeling a little dizzy, I ate my dinner and went to the store, but it continued to get worse. I remembered reading that vertigo had something to do with the inner ear and that an antihistamine will help. I took a decongestant prayed and went to bed. I got up a couple of hours later and it was gone! Sometimes Facebook has good information! So what’s the solution to other problems? There is a book loaded with wisdom that comes from above. Not only does it give you solutions for your problems, it teaches you how to be wise. Don’t spend all of your free time on social media, spend a few minutes each day reading God’s word.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

March 22

I have a beautiful yard at my new home, and yet I still want to make it more beautiful and to make it my own. I laid out a landscape design and filled it with the plants that I think will make it look fabulous. I have begun to look for the more difficult to find plants. I wanted a specific type of bromeliad. I found the exact variety I wanted, but it was in a corporate landscape - I asked the grounds keeper if he could get me one - and he did, but it was not the variety I wanted. I have a little theme going here, “I want! I want! I want!” The truth is that the Lord, who is my Shepherd, takes very good care of me and I truly have no wants. The other things I desire are not real needs, they are materialistic, and will not make or break me and have no affect on my eternity, nor do they restore my soul. We have a good shepherd, and because of Him, we shall not want!

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

March 21

This country girl is a part of several homeowners associations. There are good and bad that go along with it. The good is that everything is well maintained, pretty, and pristine. That does this heart good, being I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Yes, by admitting that, I’m admitting that I still have a chain that’s unbroken, but I’m learning to let things go. The bad thing with a homeowners association is fees, rules, and board meetings! It’s like living in a country within a country, but you’re only really free once you get outside the gate. I love it and never have to worry about my neighbors having a hog in their yard unless they wander in from the wild. It’s very similar to choosing to follow Jesus. When we made the commitment to Him, we chose to turn away from sin. Now, outside the gate of Christianity you can do whatever you want, but being you chose to live in Jesus’s community, you need to follow His rules - love God and love people!

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 1 Corinthians 7:22-23

March 20

We can be very selfish. Believe me, I’m more selfish than most! Financially, I like to give, but don’t mess with my time! I like to do what I want to do without anyone forcing me to do something else. However, that’s not a good thing. When Mary poured perfume over Jesus’s head, she was scolded for wasting it because it was quite expensive and could have been used for the poor. Jesus came to her defense because what she was doing was giving everything she owned to Him. In another story He had told the Pharisees to give to Ceaser what was due Ceaser and to God what was God’s. What she did was not a waste at all, she was worshiping Jesus in her giving. What you do for Jesus is  never a waste. My thought is, if you’re selfish with your money - give more; if you’re selfish with your time - give more, otherwise, it’s no sacrifice to you at all! Give God the best you have to offer.

There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:4-6

March 19

What have I done to deserve this? I know a lot of us ask that same question because of the situations we are going through. No matter the cause of your pain, God can help you get through it and overcome it. There are some techniques that I’ve found that work to bring heaven down to surround me and to put a coat of healing salve on my soul. The first thing I do is pray; not just any prayers, but I unload my feelings, I cry, I get emotional, and pour out my heart to God. What daddy can stand to see his child broken? Then I will sing; sometimes I just make up my own songs of travail, pleading with God to have mercy on me and take away my pain. Then I praise Him through the pain. After the tears dry, I feel like I’ve been cleansed and a sense of peace coats my soul. My problem may still be a problem, but I’ve pleaded my case before the Almighty and I just have to wait for His reply. 

A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Psalms 143:1

March 17

The day is coming when Jesus will call the elect to come. Those who’ve made the decision to love Him will be called away and only those who’ve rejected Him will be left. It’s necessary to bring all to the saving knowledge of Jesus now, do not wait! The time is near! If you have loved ones who haven’t yet made a decision to follow Him, pray with faith that the Holy Spirit will draw them. Pray that someone they trust will convince them. Pray for seeds to be planted, watered, and growth begins quickly. When you see that a country founded on the principles of God, has diminished to only half who say they believe and less than that who are true followers, you can bet the end is closer than you think.  Bring the gospel message to anyone who will listen, someone may have prayed for them and you are the means by which they will accept Jesus.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Mark 13:26-27

March 16

My grandson and I went on a nice long walk. We had an agenda, but we were in no rush so we were able to enjoy our surroundings. We met many people along the way, but there was one in particular that stood out; she worked in a jewelry store, probably the owner's wife. She spoke a little English, but understood none. My grandson said it best, “how could you not know English, everyone speaks English!” We were there to see if they had a setting so we could make a sharks tooth necklace for him. Unfortunately, she didn’t understand what we needed, so she couldn’t help us. So we left there without accomplishing our goal. The same thing is true about knowing God; you can’t truly speak or understand His language if you haven’t studied His word. Like the woman trying to speak to me without understanding is the person trying to explain God’s word without any knowledge of it.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

March 15

Our church is honored that God would entrust us to bring new life into an old, but exquisite building. The first task was to get it operational and then to make it fit the image we like to portray. Our colors lend themselves to be very contemporary and a little ridged if you are trying to decorate with them. I was given the task of trying to add some warmth and maybe take the edge off, so to speak. I shopped for two days straight, hunting and gathering items to bring in. It would have been enough to overwhelm any home, however the foyer and the spaces are so large that the decor was almost absorbed. In the presence of God, which is all the time, His magnitude and majesty are well beyond our comprehension, if we only understood how grand He is, the things we consider significant, would pale in comparison. My point is, don’t sweat the small stuff, they disappear in His presence anyway!

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 1 Kings 8:27

March 14

I was sitting at a very long red light waiting for it to change, when I noticed a man crossing the street. He was chatting on his phone and then stopped right in front of me and stood there as the light changed. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but then saw a car making a right turn; he was waiting in front of me while that car turned. He smiled and waved apologetically. Before he moved from in front of me, a huge van blew through the red light at a high rate of speed. I would have been killed if that man hadn’t stopped me from going. Was that guy an angel or was he a human sent to intervene? Either way, He protected my life. This is not the first time I’ve seen God use human ‘figures’ to do His bidding and I am thankful that He makes me aware when He does it! God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and I believe that until our mission is complete, He sends His protectors to keep us alive. 

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

March 13

The winter is a busy time in Florida, but with good reason, it’s cold in the northern states! People escape the snow to bask in the sun. The little island that I like to frequent gets booked up and almost everything that is rentable is rented. Because it’s an island with no bridge or stores, it takes precise planning. If your flight is not scheduled properly or your grocery list is missing an important ingredient, you could be left without transportation or have tasteless food. There have been people left standing on the dock late at night due to poor planning, just as there are many people who have not prepared for the return of Jesus. He is our connection to the Father and if we are hidden in Him, the Father no longer sees our sinfulness. Jesus is our boat, our ark, and our bridge. If we put our trust in Him, we will never be left standing alone on the dock having missed our transportation to paradise.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

March 12

Where I grew up, other than farming and cattle, the best source of income was phosphate mining. Needless to say, I’ve seen my share of draglines, gypsum tailing piles, and pits. So, imagine my excitement when I heard that they had built a beautiful new golf course and hotel amidst all that carnage! As my husband and I were coming back from watching my brother sing, we saw the signs for Streamsong, which is that fancy new golf course. Being curious, we decided to go see it. Much to my disappointment, it still looks like an old phosphate mining area and the buildings were made to somewhat blend in, with rusty slabs of sheet metal for signs and rustic barn siding as decor for the clubhouses. I’m sure all of that makes for a challenging course for the golfers, but it wasn’t much for the eyes to behold. This is similar to how the devil lures us in, with the vision and promise of extraordinary things. When we finally reach the pinnacle of what he has to offer, all we get is hell. Be careful of what you believe; test it to make sure it’s pure and biblical.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

March 11

You know you’re from the country when you go back home to watch your brother and his friends play. We don’t have garage bands in the county, we have barn bands, and they were fantastic! We thought we were just going to watch, but with every country gathering, there is food! Not just any food, but fried catfish, gator tail, barbecued chicken, and the best dessert you’ve ever tasted! Little white haired ladies from the church, listened a while, ate their food and then headed home. It made me miss home for a moment, but then I remembered, that’s all they have to do! I’m so thankful that God had me raised among such fine humans. It’s nice to forget your troubles and enjoy precious moments like these; it’s somewhat of a reprieve from the drudgery of everyday life. We weren’t meant to do life alone, and there’s nothing more precious than being among a community of believers.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, Acts 2:46