November 3

Sometimes I’ll read a scripture and have a deep conviction that He is talking directly to me. Even though the context of the scripture may be that God was giving a warning to Israel in His anger, you know that He still gets disappointed when we are as they were. Though we began as a Christian nation, we have wandered far from the truth and have committed abominations in the eyes of the Lord. As Christians, we have been adopted into the Holy family, to become the bride of Christ. When God has given warnings about conduct, we can take it to the bank that He is also talking to us because of the things we are doing as a nation and as individuals. Pride, haughtiness, excess of everything, including food, prosperous ease; if these words don’t reek of who we are, I don’t know what does. He called them Sodom and you know what happened to Sodom! Tremble before the Lord in repentance so that you may be spared should destruction come upon this nation.

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. Ezekiel 16:49-50

November 2

The countdown to Thanksgiving begins. Though we should always be thankful to God for all the blessings He has given us, there is something extra special about the season of Thanksgiving. Even though we tend to skip from fall straight into Christmas, I believe we should spend some time in between and give glory to the One who gave us these magnificent seasons. Our biggest blessing is Jesus, and we should honor Him every day for His love, and for snatching us from the fire. We should also go back and look at the memorial stones we have set up as important reminders of answered prayers, where we have seen His hand of blessing in our lives. These memorial stones have become our testament to His mercy and a way to show others that He is real. Thanksgiving is a special holiday set up to honor our amazing God, so take a walk back through your history and begin thanking Him for all He has done.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"  Psalms 100:4

November 1

My father-in-law was in the Navy. The ship he was on docked in Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, and they were allowed to go into town. Every day he would walk by this enormous wall, but never thought much about it. It wasn’t until he it was gone that he realized that what he thought was a wall was actually a ship! He was so close to it that he couldn’t see the whole thing. This is how I think of God. He’s right here amongst us, but because of His size compared to our size, we can’t see Him. When He tells us that Heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool, that should give us the idea that we have underestimated how big our God is. He also says that the train of His robe fills the temple. So, if Heaven is His throne, and we live on the footstool, are we in the throne room? I look at the clouds and the stars as His robe, I mean, He is the King, why wouldn’t He have a fluffy, sparkly robe? The moral of this story is, the bigger God is to you, the closer you are to Him.

"Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?"  Isa 66:1

"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple."  Isa 6:1

October 31

I’m very proud of my church for redeeming today by drawing children to a Christian carnival rather than sending them out into the unknown. We have a very active missions team who puts a lot of effort into bringing people to know Jesus, first locally, then in the state, nation, and the world. The great thing about the local mission field is that you get to see the fruits of your labor first hand. Tonight, we will get to watch sweet little faces light up, that might need a little encouragement, and love. We aren’t going into a safe or a well-to-do area of town, no, we’re going where we are needed the most. Just before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He gave us a template for who we are to minister to. He said that we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Basically we are to minister everywhere, but tonight, we will be in our Jerusalem, also known as Plant City. Serving doesn’t have to be drudgery, it can be fun, so get out there and be a witness for Jesus!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”"  Acts 1:8

October 30

Actions speak louder than words. Do you go out of your way to help someone in need or do you turn a blind eye to them? I watched as a man gave some money to an individual standing at the corner near the grocery store, and it did my heart good to see it. That man stood behind what he believes and showed it by being charitable. God saw it, and I’m sure He was pleased. However, when I was finished at the store, I saw the same beggar having a conversation on his cell phone. Is it wrong for him to have a phone? No, but I’m less inclined to give to someone who still has connections. The beggars actions didn’t stop the man in the car from being blessed, and may have been an act of obedience. His kindness shows that there are still good people in this world. I’m not saying you need to give to the beggar, but I say you need to go out of your way to be kind. Open your heart to hear what the Holy Spirit says and your obedience will not be in vain.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

October 29

It’s easy to become hardened towards people, especially this day and age where we are so divided. There is an evil force behind everything you see happening. There are pawns being used to bring about the enemy's divisive plan, people who have made a deal with the devil. If you align yourself with these people, you will surely suffer the same consequences as them. There is only one side to be on where there is safety and that is God’s side. He makes it very clear in the Bible, the things that are acceptable and those that aren’t. Today, search your heart and see if you have any hate, or anything that doesn’t line up with God’s precepts, and ask for forgiveness. If your mind is not clear enough to see it, ask God to search your heart and reveal what needs to be redeemed. Standing firm on the Word of God is the better place to be. Our fear should be of Him and not of man. 

"But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”"  Ezekiel 11:21

October 28

My husband and I were at a local diner grabbing a bite to eat before heading home. There were some really good things on the menu including beer battered fish! I love beer batter crust, it adds a little extra greasiness that makes it so tasty.  When I got my fish and it looked amazing, and I couldn’t wait to eat! I took one bite and all I got was crust. After only getting crust, I decided to break it open, and found that there was hardly any fish! Don’t get me wrong, the crust was delicious, but there has to be some nutritional value in the meal, otherwise I could just eat cake. It reminds me of how we try to conceal God within other things or secretly worship other gods. Maybe you’re worshipping the god of television, internet, or social media, or maybe it’s the gaming god. You could be worshipping the god of perfectionism, money, or spending. There are so many more! Don’t wrap God in your idolatry and try to pass it off as worship. Remember, whatever is hidden in darkness will be brought into the light and laid bare, just like my fish.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’” He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.” Ezekiel 8:12-13

October 27

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to notice my own reaction to certain unpleasant circumstances. My heart will begin to race and a feeling of dread comes over me. I have to remind myself that what I’m fretting about is minor compared to eternity. It’s fear that has gripped me; it won’t make any difference in how God feels about me. Though it may not be the best of situations, it has been a learning experience; learning to allow God to handle it because He’s better at dealing with these things than I am, and He can see the outcome. I’m sure I’ve always had this reaction, but my awareness of it is now heightened. What do you do when fear takes over? Do you let the anxiety rule you or take control of you? Remember who your God is! He is the creator of the world, the very one who gave you breath, He is your strength. As soon as I tell myself this, an amazing peace comes over me, because I know God will handle it.

"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

October 26

Some things that I’ve learned by digging deep into God’s word have been amazing and impactful. Surface learning as a child kept me hanging on to the Lord, so that when I became an adult I yearned for more of Him. I hope that one day I look back and realize that what I know today was mere child’s play, and it will be, because God is more grand than any of us can imagine. There is so much more to be discovered and the only way to get there is through total commitment to Him. 

I’m studying Ezekiel, and God commissioned him to go to His people and warn them of the coming wrath and for them to turn from their wicked ways. Not unlike our nation, they were doing detestable things. Do you know why they were detestable? Because they perverted what God had intended for good and because it took the attention away from Him. He is a jealous God! 

Things are such a mess here in our own country, and will only get messier as we keep moving further and further away from God by turning to wickedness. Dig deep into His word, and just as God marked those who would be saved from His wrath in Ezekiel, we have the mark of Christ and have the hope of salvation. If you are truly saved, your heart will be set towards Him and your desire for Him will outweigh your desire for the world.

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 11:10-21

October 25

After being at a Christian leadership conference for a few days, you would think that I would have much material to help me bring a word to focus on. However, going to conferences are not really my thing. I’m a calm and peace loving person where solitude is my desire, and not so much being around the high energy exhibited by several hundred people converging together for a common message. Don’t get me wrong, God has a plan for every activity He invites you to join, even if it’s to remind you that you still have some things to work out from within you. By “you” I mean me. He hasn’t told me what it is yet, so if you get a word for me, please don’t hesitate to share it. We are all a work in progress and will not become our original self until we are reigning in the Kingdom together, but in the meantime, we keep striving to be the best representation of Jesus we can be. Here is the takeaway, you’re not perfect, there’s only One who was, so be patient with yourself as you continue to grow, and in due time He will make it clear the changes you need to make. 

"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

October 24

Your identity is in Christ. You are a child of God! You are a new creation in Jesus! We tend to say these words as part of our Christian lingo, but do you believe it? Are you walking the walk or just talking the talk? I can pull out verses and Christian sayings all day. If you start a sentence, I can finish it. It’s not hard to pick up on the lingo, just watch any television evangelist and you will get it, but have you taken it from head knowledge to your heart? It’s easy for us to say that our identity is in Christ, but it’s also easy to go on living as if we are still in the world, because we never made it a part of our life. How do you get there? You can’t do it alone, you have to partner with the Holy Spirit, it’s the only way. You have to quiet yourself and begin listening for His voice. Let Him begin to tell you who you are. Let His voice become the loudest voice you hear, so that the power of the world’s voice is drowned out, and so the enemy has to work hard to get your attention. Stop walking with one foot in the world and one in the kingdom, because if you think about it, having one foot in the world is like not being in the kingdom at all. Jump into the deep end! Jesus is waiting.

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

October 23

I’m in the lobby of a busy hotel that serves breakfast, so finding a quiet place to write might be impossible. There is the hustle and bustle of people going about their business, people are eating, and a hotel employee preparing the food in a rather noisy manner. Through all of this, God is still in it. He is among us, the very breath we breathe is His. You can’t hide from Him, he knows where you are, and sees all you do. Could it be that this is why there is such fear in people who know they are doing wrong? When someone lashes out against a segment of people, namely Christians, whom they feel are judging them, is it because of their own feelings of guilt? Though we may not be engaged in what they are doing, or thinking about them, their constant whining and presence in the media, keep them in the forefront of our minds, and remind us of the depravity of this world. Deep in their hearts, though they say they don’t believe in God, there is something within them that makes them feel guilty for their actions. I think it’s God’s presence that is stirring them up, and because they can’t see Him, they lash out at the people who know Him. Hold onto your belief, Jesus is coming soon. 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12

October 21

The worries that come with having a target on your back can be overwhelming. There is the fear of what will come next, and the anxiety of the anticipation. I don’t like it! No one likes it! Oh, and by the way, if you are a Christian, you have a target on your back! The enemy knows your reaction, he has studied humans for thousands of years and knows just what to have his “tools” say and do to cause you to react. He will stir someone against you, and have them come after you, using mere words, harsh, and disturbing words. The less you react, the angrier they get. What is the worse case scenario of the situation? Jail? Death? I think it depends on what you consider the worse case. God will protect His own. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with issues, but it does mean He will be your place to find comfort. I would say that death would be the worse, and it doesn’t seem so bad when you have Jesus. When facing a situation, take a look, and consider the possible outcome, and know that God will make a way for you, even if it’s different than what’s in your heart.

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. Psalms 118:5-7

October 20

There is a dead tree branch hanging over my yard. The tree has already begun to heal around the branch, but it can’t heal completely because the branch hasn’t broken off. So many things in nature teach us about ourselves. We all have scars as reminders of our past hurts. Emotional scars may be more significant than our physical scars and can be used to help others. However, unhealed emotions will bleed all over other people and cause them to receive gaping wounds too. The blood of emotions cut deep. If you think you have control over them, you’re wrong, we can all see them. They are revealed through your attitude, the words that come out of your mouth, and your thoughts and actions. I would call these compound fractures, because you’re not only broken, you’re bleeding. Stop lying to yourself by saying you don’t have a problem or an issue. If you can’t control your emotions, you have a problem. I could say this all day, but no one will hear it, you have to take this to God. Ask Him to heal you. He may send someone special to help you, a doctor, or a friend. Receive their help and stop denying that you need it.

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

October 19

After months of rain, then record heat, I had not done very much in my yard. Mold and mildew were growing on the brick pavers and the wall of the garden. It was time to do a little sprucing up. I trimmed the hedges, cleared out some overgrown fern, and sprayed bleach on the pavers and the wall. I thought that the wall might need painting, but after a good dose of chlorine, it was sparkling clean. We are drawing near the time when Florida people will be able to comfortably enjoy the outdoors, and maybe have a fire in the fire pit and soak up some refreshing cool air. Even though we don’t have much of a season change here, we enjoy other things that remind us that there is something different in the atmosphere. This whole scenario is a reminder that we may not know the exact time for the Lord’s return, but there will be changes in the world that signal a nearness. My suggestion would be that you stay vigilant, and spruce up around the temple, cleaning, and polishing! Ready yourself for the call of the saints to join Him.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7

October 18

I woke up to another song playing in my mind, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” What I learned today is so good! When someone makes me mad, I always repeat the words “hot burning coals, hot burning coals.” It refers to the scriptures in Proverbs and Romans where it says “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” It reminds me to stay nice. Today, I learned that the hot coal burns away sin! In the vision of Isaiah a burning coal was touched to his mouth and the guilt of his sin was atoned for. What can wash away your sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! That coal is Jesus! So, when I pray for hot burning coals on someone's head, I’m praying for their salvation. Pray Jesus down on the head of your enemy. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself and for them.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:6-7

October 17

Don’t you love waking up with a song in your heart? I woke up singing “Come Alive in the River,” and it has set the tone for my day. One of my favorite portions of scripture is in Ezekiel, and his vision where he was led into the river, a very wide river, it was almost a mile before he reached an area where he was in over his head! In this vision the sea became fresh where the river poured out, was teaming with fish, the trees bear fruit every month, and their leaves are for healing. This river represents the message of the gospel! Are you being led, little by little into the river or are you going to jump in over your head and swim? I say go all in! Live it, breathe it, and become it! Jesus has given us an amazing life and we should take full advantage of all it has to offer. We have been set free and should live like free people. We have been washed and cleansed in the living water. Go deep and go all in for Jesus!

Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. Ezekiel 47:5

October 16

Our church is having a Harvest festival as an alternative to Halloween. As I was researching Bible stories that I could use as a theme for a game or booth, I came across a rather weird story about a creepy old bone yard. It’s the perfect story for this season, with all its ghoulish shenanigans, except that it might be too much for a carnival for little kids. However, it is the perfect story to explain how amazing God is and shows what He can do with a bunch of old bones. This, like all Old Testament stories, points to Jesus. It might not seem that way at first, but once you hear the whole story, you realize it’s about the resurrection of the dead, and those lifeless souls who are dry and dusty coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Not only that, but it is a commissioning of the servants to preach to the unsaved, though it might seem futile, we are to do just as Ezekiel did in this vision, and keep preaching to those lifeless bones in the hopes that God will breathe life into them. I find this to be very encouraging, especially when there are those we love who are stubborn and won’t submit to the authority of Jesus and accept Him as Savior. We must keep speaking life into them and commanding the slain to breathe. Go to your Bible and read this story, especially those of you who love Halloween and darker themes, because it still includes death and darkness, but with the focus being on life, which is what we, as Christ followers, are all about. This story is found in Ezekiel 37:1-14

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. Ezekiel 37:11-12

October 15

I started my devotional three times this morning and kept running into a brick wall. Why am I not hearing from the Holy Spirit? Have I done something wrong? Am I hearing Him, but ignoring His voice? Am I so anxious and unsettled that my movement is causing a blockage? The truth is that it could be any of those things, or it could be none of those things. It could be that the atmosphere is heavy because Halloween is near. I saw bats coming out of my neighbor's house, which is very creepy. This can happen to you at any time, no matter what time of year it is. The key to breaking through this invisible barrier is to keep praying; it’s one of our weapons in spiritual warfare. You will always have times like this, just remember that there are battles going on that you know nothing about, and just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Like this morning, I could feel it, but didn’t understand it. Remember Daniel and the battle that was fought in the heavens on his behalf? The point is to keep moving forward, don’t get discouraged. Repent, praise, pray, and get out your sword and cut through the thickness with the Word of God.

Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. Daniel 10:20

October 14

When a hurricane has drawn down on your location and everything you have in this world is about to be tested, you begin to realize what is most important. When you look at the photos of the most recent devastation, you are humbled by how temporary this present life is and are reminded that there is something bigger than us out there. In minutes a healthy, well built city can become rubble, and lives can be lost. In light of that, what is the most important lesson we can learn? We must always be prepared for the inevitable. Most of us will not get off this planet without facing death, unless Jesus comes back today. The material things we have are not important in eternity, so we must take time to sow spiritual seeds. You see, when looking at homes and businesses demolished, those people facing that reality will be thankful for their lives and the lives of their family and friends. The ones who were lost, left only with the things stored in their hearts. This is why it is so important for us to love others, and share with them the most important gift of all, Jesus. 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10