November 21

When I worked at Publix back in the 80’s, today, the day before Thanksgiving, would be a big push! The grocery carts would be gone, and the lines to check out would be clear down the aisles. My shift would fly by because there was no time to pause, no time to think, it was hustle and bustle until the store closed. All of this frenzy for one meal, and one special day to give thanks to the Lord for all He has blessed us with. Because of that experience, I do not wait until the last day to get my groceries. The point is, don’t wait. If you are reading this and haven’t given your life to the Lord, it’s time. The time of His return is drawing near, and you won’t get more warning than this. There will be no last minute hustle, only chaos if you’re left behind. No one can do this for you. You will not be saved because of your heritage, it’s a decision that only you can make. Please accept Jesus as your Savior today.

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

November 20

What are we doing? The people of our country have gone mad! To try and say that there is no gender difference is a crazy notion, and we are playing with fire! God created us different, and each of us has our own role. You cannot decide to be the other gender if you are unhappy with who you are. To try and blur the line between the genders serves no good purpose. More often than not, we see men taking advantage of this craziness, posing as a woman in a boxing match, or as runners in a women’s race, where they go on to win. It only proves God’s point, that He made us different. The takeaway is, don’t try to be something you are not. God created you, and loves you the way you are. He created both genders in His image, and we are here to please Him. He is the only one that matters. In God’s eyes, we are not the same, but are equal in value and are to be treated fairly.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27-28

November 19

Let me start out by saying, I’m not much of a card giver. However, giving a card will fulfill two of the five love languages; gifts, and words of affirmation. On this particular day, I received a special card from a sweet little seven year old girl who wrote, “I love you Teresa Gonzalez.” She had decorated it herself with stickers, making it even more special. It was out of the blue, and for no particular reason. Then, a few moments later, I received a stack of giving cards made for our Sister Keepers for special occasions, or when someone is ill. First, I received a card, and then a prompt to give a card. I don’t know if this will change me into a card giver, but it does make me think about how the Lord gives us love, and wants us to show others the same love He gives us. Remember to be loving to other humans. One kind word given could make a difference, and brighten someone’s day.

"We love because he first loved us."  1 John 4:19

November 18

Sometimes I carelessly go about my day without a thought or remembrance of God. It’s not that I’ve completely forgotten about Him, I’m just living. He knows. He understands. Let’s be real, it’s like that with anyone that lives in your household; you know they are there, and you acknowledge them when you’re not busy, but we have certain requirements of life to fulfill. Am I like Paul and do what I do not want to do? Yes! I would prefer to live harmoniously with, and in the Spirit all day long, but because I’m made of flesh, I’m drawn to doing what the flesh calls for. Here’s the good news if you’re like me; you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you! He lives within you if you have surrendered your life to Jesus.  Stop worrying about your commitment to Him, your every breath is living for Him. You are not condemned, you are privileged, because you are a believer!

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus... You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Rom 8:1 & 9

November 17

I’ve always loved Brandon. There is something beautiful about the grand old oaks with their swaying moss that adorns every tree. To have a home nestled among them is so sweet. This morning, with a chill in the air and the sun shining, I decided that it was the perfect time to start a fire in the fire pit. There aren’t many days that we can do that because we live in such a hot climate, so anytime I get the chance, I become a fire bug. It makes me feel like I’ve been camping. All of this to say, enjoy your moments. Life is not easy when you’re displaced from your home, meaning, we are just ambassadors for the Kingdom to bring about the reconciliation of others to God, until He calls us home.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

I’m still in Florida y’all, so I’m in my mermaid hat and bare feet!

November 16

Have you had some trying times? We all have! It’s when we try to muddle through it alone that causes us the most distress. Many times I have to remind myself to ask for help! How ridiculous is that? God is right here among us and we forget just how powerful He is and how He has promised to always be with us and keep evil away. When we become arrogant and think we can do it on our own, disaster strikes and things go haywire, but notice, because you belong to Him, everything turns out fine. I keep getting lessons of trust that I wish I didn’t have to go through, but hopefully I will be calm when the next anxiety causing issue arises and am able to fully trust in Him who created all things. Put your trust in Him, He is where our help comes from.

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2

November 15

I don’t know about you, but my home office can become a big mess! Stacks of mail, file folders, and other office stuff can pile up, and become a catch-all for clutter or things I’m trying to hide from guest. When I’m home, I get a little lazy, and preoccupied with television, food, and the recliner, so paperwork gets no attention until it becomes necessary. I spent a good portion of the day filing, and moving all that mess, and still didn’t get to the bottom of the stack, but at least I made a little headway. We are closing in on the end of the year, so I need to get everything in order, because tax season is just around the corner. Have you ever noticed that our daily lives reflect a spiritual truth? Things can get messy in our heart, fear, pain, and other thing left unchecked can pile up, making us miserable. As Christians, we need to be free of the clutter. We must get out of the recliner and make an effort to cleanse our hearts. “Tax day” is just around the corner, and we need to be prepared. Make your confession to the Lord, pray, and trust what He’s doing.

"let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  Hebrews 10:22

November 14

Along with a few couples from my church, my husband and I attended a gala for the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City. Their theme was “Every child deserves a birthday.” We had finished our dinner and the guest speaker was wrapping up, when I got a text from my sister saying that the newest member of our family had arrived, a sweet baby girl. She, not unlike the babies we were celebrating, was the product of an unplanned pregnancy. When I say unplanned, I mean it wasn’t planned by her parents, but obviously God had planned it, sometimes we have to catch up to His plan. I believe God has a special assignment for this baby girl, because just after I got the text, they instructed us to sing “Happy Birthday!” It was so fitting for that particular moment. Sometimes God shows you how the pieces of His puzzle fit together and when they fall into place, it paints a beautiful picture and lays out a glimpse into the future. In addition to that, the speaker kept calling babies a gift from God, and it just so happens that this baby girl was born on her daddy’s birthday! Such a sweet, sweet, gift.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Psalms 127:3-4

November 13

Sometimes the words of the enemy come through someone you love. They don’t mean to be his tool, they don’t even know they are being his tool, but it happens to the best of us. The enemy can use us too, so don’t be arrogant. Well meaning people may think they are helping when offering you advice, but their words slither through our mind and turn into something that makes the devil do a dance. When fear begins to creep in, shut it down immediately, before it takes you for a ride on the dark side. When the devil tells you, “you can’t,” God says you can! 

As an example, after telling a few people about taking my paddle board around the tip of the island, I heard more than one say, “oh, I’m so afraid of the current there.” I knew about the current before I tried it. I also knew about the sharks that hang out in that area, but I did it anyway and I’m still alive to tell about it. The enemy says you can’t, but God says you can!

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  2 Timothy 1:7.  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

November 12

We get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget about our brothers and sisters in Christ living in other parts of the world. They are fighting battles that we know nothing about, and dealing with issues that we’ve never dealt with. Though we are from different cultures, our struggle against darkness affects us the same way. We have heartache and tragedy, and feel the pain of the war waged against us in the heavenly realm. Take some time today to help them by standing in the gap and offering prayer on their behalf. If you don’t know what to pray, open your heart to the Holy Spirit, He prays on our behalf every day, and will go before the Father, if you are sincere. 

If you are located outside the United States and need prayer for anything, please post it here so we can come together as one in Christ. For those who are in the U.S. that need prayer, you can private message me, and I will pray for you and share your request with other prayer warriors.

"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"  Eph 6:18

November 11

It’s been a long time since I took my paddle board out on the water, but this day was the perfect. The breeze was nice and the water was as clear as glass. I always peruse the bay side because there is less wave action and the seashells are more plentiful, but because the water was clear on the gulf, I put in on the beach to see what I could find. There wasn’t much to see other than red tide particles floating just below the surface, until I came across a sand dollar grave yard. I picked up enough to finish filling my giant jar. Since it was nice out, I decided to keep going and rounded the end of the island at Boca Grande pass; there is a strong undercurrent in that area. I crossed the pass to an island and began finding all kinds of shells, making it one of my best shelling adventures. I seldom go into deep water, however, sometimes you have to cross a deep cut to fulfill your calling. The water can be treacherous, but collecting empty souls and giving them hope for a future can be all the incentive needed to do what God sent you to do. Venture out beyond your comfort zone and let God fulfill His work through you.

"“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."  John 14:12

November 10

It’s exciting to find out who you came from. In two evenings, I’ve traced one branch of my family back to the pilgrims! The pilgrims I found last night were planters! My family has always farmed! I have a great grandfather who was killed by the Algonquin Indians in the Jamestown massacre, and some who fought in the Revolutionary War, Confederacy, and the Indian Wars, and a grandfather who was pardoned by Andrew Johnson for some reason; I plan on looking into that a little further. I also found a family member who raced horses; my dad does that now! So much of what we do, can be traced back to something that was done in the past, you know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This is why God sent word through Ezekiel to warn Israel to get rid of their past habits, and idols. These types of things can be passed on from generation to generation, with little knowledge of where they came from. So again I urge you to survey yourself and see if there is anything within you that doesn’t follow the Word of God, and cleanse yourself of it today. 

"“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things?"  Ezekiel 20:30

November 9

It’s unfortunate, but if you have to deal with people, “Christian” or non-Christian, you will not have a peaceful life. Though Jesus left us His peace, it’s a different kind of peace. God’s kind of peace is knowing that when we leave this earth, we will be with Him. No longer must we worry about the ever after. However, we must live our lives, and in doing so, we will encounter people who do not have the same mindset as we do, and who do not have their hearts set toward Jesus. I get frustrated when I’m dealing with people who say that they are Christian and they do not listen to the Holy Spirit or follow the tenets of God. Unbelievers call them hypocritical, and so do I! I get angry because they have identified themselves as believers, yet follow a worldly mannerism. We must remember that they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions, not with us, but with God. Keep your heart turned toward Jesus, and all of the unrighteousness will be burnt up in the fire.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  John 14:27

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”"  John 16:33

November 8

We are all guilty of it; following the ways of our parents or our church into useless traditions or unhealthy habits. I’ve included church because there are some traditions that need to be set aside for the sake of the lost. While Israel was held captive in Egypt, they began worshipping the idols of the Egyptians. After God brought them out into the wilderness, they continued using those idols, even after He gave them the Ten Commandments. Because of that, He waited for the whole generation of those who had lived in captivity to die before He allowed them to enter the promised land. Moses taught the children the ways of the Lord and to follow His precepts. Are there some areas of your life that you need to let go of that are against God? Maybe He’s waiting for you to give Him your total devotion before He blesses you with the promise He made you. Do a survey of your life and begin to release those long held family traditions that separate you from God and are harmful to you and others.

“And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols. I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, Ezekiel 20:18-19

November 7

I felt the Holy Spirit draw me outside this morning. So I built a fire. He said to me, ‘I have placed you in a sanctuary in the middle of a city and surrounded you with beauty, though you cannot see it, you can still hear the sounds of what is happening around you. I did not want you so far removed from the public that you forget why I commissioned you.’ This is such a good reminder for all of us. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our home, and our need for peace that we forget that there are many out there who do not know the love of Jesus. The fire reminds me that the Lord is a consuming fire. That means the He is able to burn up any iniquity, that lives within us, and from anyone else who puts their trust in Him. Those who don’t trust Him, will be burned up along with their sin. A sinful being cannot occupy the same space as our Holy God. That fire that burned up your sin, will become a light within you, make sure you let it shine for all to see.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

November 6

Once a month I try to take some time in the woods to meet with Jesus. It gets me away from the house with its distractions, and helps me keep my attention on the Lord. There is much to be learned by spending time among the trees. One of the ways He speaks to me is through nature. I found the perfect spot, but had to make my way through many spider webs to get there. Before sitting, I looked around at my surroundings, and right above me was a cypress tree with a large birds nest. I decided to take a picture of it. As I was taking the picture, I noticed another nest, this one was a squirrel nest, so of course, I need a picture of them both together. Then I noticed another one! Three tall trees, each with a nest! I got all kinds of meanings for this, but today I got His answer! God planted a branch on a mountain, and under Him, we would be protected. That branch was Jesus, and He is a noble cedar and our protection. Rest easy today my fellow Christians, we are safe.

On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. Ezekiel 17:23

November 5

Did we, as a country, make a deal with the devil? The only way I could describe what we are seeing in our country is war. We may not be using physical weapons, but nevertheless, the words are sharp and cutting. A prime example is my church. We are in a city of many churches, more than most towns, yet we have been opposed on every side, not by people, but by spiritual forces. It’s like trying to get through a battle line and the hits keep coming. We are taking ground that hasn’t been touched by other churches, so it’s been like stirring up a hornets nest. I believe the same is true in our country. We are touching on areas that haven’t been touched and the devil is angry. Have we closed our eyes, closed our ears, and shut our mouths to the evil that has abounded from the beginning? We must keep moving forward and keep fighting for truth and justice, and take back ground that was lost to the enemy. 

Though Ezekiel is speaking of King Zedekiah, because he broke his covenant with the Lord, the lesson is similar to what we are dealing with today.

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head."  Ezekiel 17:19

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