December 8

Enjoying your family is not always about the occasion. Sometimes the activity turns out to be less than what the boasting implied. If you are determined, you will find good within the disappointment. Family gatherings, a parade in our case, can stink! All those memories from the past come flooding back causing anxiety, or what my daughter calls PTSD. We may have joked as the various floats passed by, but there was real drama and hurt in those memories, things so painful that you want to shove them back into the past where they belong. Some memories can be cleaned up by changing our minds path and by looking at the good things that came from the harsh reality, but there are other memories that cannot be sanitized. In those cases, you have to appreciate that Jesus was with you, even in the most vile circumstances, and He experienced what you experienced; He’s the only one who can get you through it. As we watched those floats pass us by, we created new memories, more pleasant than the old. God is a good Father, and knows just what we need to get through another day.

"God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land."  Psalms 68:6 If you are dealing with past hurt, get your Bible out, and read this chapter, it might help.

December 7

The flesh is alive and well! I got a little vindictive when things didn’t go my way, and turned on a little southern girl justice. I guess I can be a spoiled little brat and revert back to my childhood by holding my breath in anger. Our God in His goodness, decided that I didn’t need a spanking for my poor behavior, and let me off the hook. We have such a loving Father; even though what I meant to do was to hurt someone’s feelings, He turned it into a positive thing. I still didn’t get my way, but because of God’s goodness, and because He didn’t want anyone seeing my bad side, that person didn’t even notice my mischievous behavior. What’s more, I had asked Him to handle the situation, and when He did what was best for me, I got mad! The point of this is, God works all things out for the good of those who love Him. Just know that He’s got your back, and you don’t need to get your cockles up and lash out in a tizzy! You’re covered! Thank goodness that we don’t always get the punishment we deserve.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

December 6

As a Realtor, I’m trying to help my friend find a home, and we’ve looked at nearly everything that comes on the market in her price range, some on-site and other via photos. The photos help us eliminate the bad ones with the most undesirable qualities. Most homeowners that are eager to sell, will do whatever they need to do to get the best price, but some, no matter what their agent tells them, they don’t make changes. If a home looks unkempt, has clutter, dirty carpet, and shocking paint colors, they will not get a good offer. So here’s the good news, we are all like the unkempt house that no one wants, but Jesus wants you, dirty carpet, shocking paint, and all! What’s more is, He pays full price! He goes in and completely remodels you, making your value soar! My point is, never underestimate your worth, to Jesus, you are the most precious.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:4-6

December 5

What if we stopped posting the outrage, would it cease to exist? What if we no longer gave an ear to the ridiculous, and stopped spreading the demented behavior we see, would people decide to move on because no one is watching? I have to wonder, because the people around me don’t usually act or even think like you might see in the daily news or postings on social media. Occasionally unruly actions are seen, or a far reaching opinion is voiced in real life, but for the most part, they are kept in check, and society never sees or hears those insane thoughts or actions. We are the ones fueling the behavior! Believe me, in time, and without help, the unfruitful works of darkness will be exposed for all to see. I’m not saying for you to stick your head in the sand, just stop re-posting stupidity and let it die with you. It’s no wonder people need anxiety medication!

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

December 4

During this holiday season, we get such a mix of feelings. On one hand, we have celebrations where family and friends gather and enjoy the festivities and the company of one another; on the other hand, you have the reminders of those whom you’ve lost throughout the years. Some reminders will bring a smile, but others are fresh, and the pain can still be felt. As a kid, I was excited because of the gifts, but as I grew older, it became more about the people. This season, don’t get too caught up in the hustle to buy gifts, remember that it’s about God’s unimaginable love for us that gives us a reason to celebrate. His love is so big that He wanted to walk among us in the flesh, and then give us a way into the everlasting. If you call yourself a Christian, but haven’t made a whole-hearted commitment to Him, won’t you decide today to turn your face towards Him and honor Him with your life? Life is too short to waste it on things that don’t matter.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;"  Isaiah 55:6 "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's."  Romans 14:8

December 3

Our neighborhood had a type of progression party; there were four stops, with the last one being dessert. The table was filled with many delicacies that were too much for the eyes to behold. After we had gotten our sugar overload, some of us decided that it was time to retire to our own homes and began heading out the door. One of the neighbors had gotten too full and couldn’t hold another bite of food, so she decided to take her treat home with her, and wrapped it in a napkin. The hostess, in her curiosity, asked what she had decided to take; when she showed her, she was overjoyed to find out that it was a cookie that she had baked herself. Her delight was expressed in such a way that it made me think of how delighted God must be when we choose correctly; to do the right things, to follow His precepts, to be kind and loving to one another, and especially when we decide to follow Jesus. Choose this day whom you will serve, and bring joy to the Lord!

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:10

December 2

There are a lot of things you have to do to prepare for a party. First of all, I get crazy about cleaning, lets just say, you could lick my baseboards right now! Then, there is the task of preparing the food. This is where things got a little crazy. I found this recipe for jalapeños poppers. It was a seemingly easy recipe with only three ingredients. I’m not sure if God intended for us to eat jalapeños, I think they might be poisonous! I say this because, I was just going about my usual routine like I would when cleaning any pepper, but as I started cleaning out the seeds, I decided that I should breathe as I usually do. That’s when everything changed. You would have thought that someone has just shot me with pepper spray! I started coughing, my nose started running, my eyes began tearing up! I had to move away from the combat zone! Then my daughter Christina decided that she could handle it and took over. So now we are both crying, snotting, coughing, and laughing! The poppers were a hit, and the party was a blast, but next time I make them, I will be sure to dawn the proper attire; mask, eye gear, and maybe a respirator!

"All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast."  Proverbs 15:15

December 1

My friend was given the gift of a massage for her anniversary. Massage feels like such a luxury, but there can be more to it than that. As the therapist began massaging her feet, she pointed out areas of concern within her body. She could tell right away the she had a few health issues. I was intrigued by it because it was so telling, and it didn’t seem real. After digging around on the internet, I found that it’s called reflexology, and it’s a Chinese method of healing. Whatever it is, a foot massage always feels amazing! The Bible mentions the earth being the Lord’s footstool, and in Ezekiel, he mentions the temple as the place of His throne, and the soles of His feet. I feel there is something significant about Him mentioning the soles of His feet, especially in this portion of scripture where He speaks of Israel burying their dead kings next door to His temple. Our world is so defiled right now that the Earth is not worthy of His feet, however, when Jesus sets up His new Kingdom, we will then become a soothing massage for our King.

While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,"  Eze 43:6-7

November 30

On November 30, 1995, my son’s father succumbed to the disease that had taken over his body. His ashes are now buried in a family cemetery. He didn’t die in vain, he was a seed that was planted; people heard about Jesus because of him. He was zealous for our Savior, and thankful that He had forgiven him of all his sins. His memorial service was packed, and the gospel was presented. I watched as hands went up all over the congregation. It was a testament to the power of Jesus. When someone dies and you know that they went to heaven, the sting of death is not as harsh or as hard to bear. You still grieve, but it’s more about yourself than the one who’s in the presence of the almighty. What will be said of you when you die? Will people know that you followed Jesus? If you don’t know the answer to that question, you might need to make a change. Set your heart toward Him, and allow His power to flow from you like living water.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:38

November 29

As I continue to read and study Ezekiel, I see practical lessons for today, and for the gentiles, those of us who are not Jewish. Any who come against the nation of Israel will not stand! God is very clear about that, but what about you and me? We have accepted Jesus as our Savior and are called by His name. Most of the Jews have not taken on the name of Christ and still have hardened their hearts towards Him. Paul says we are adopted, and are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Though most of Ezekiel was written to the Jews, we can still glean quite a bit of food from these scriptures. The correction the Jews have faced comes because of their disobedience, but those who come against them face His wrath and annihilation. How much more will He protect and defend those of us who love His Son? You can take every promise written in the Word as truth for you! We are blessed and privileged to be called by His name.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:3-5

November 28

The Lord is for you, not against you! Though sometimes it seems that He is slow to react on your behalf, it may not be slow at all. There are pieces to the puzzle that must fall into place in order for that plan to work. When we have to wait, the results seem so much sweeter. I’ve had people come against me in the past, causing me anxiety, and an overall sense of turmoil at that time, only to watch as God’s plan for them unfolds before my eyes. Woe to those who come against God’s beloveds! He will not let your case go unavenged. He is sovereign over all that He has given you, and over what he has left in your care. He will take up your cause, though it may not be instantaneous, or in our timing. Know that if you’re going through troubled waters now, the storm will pass, the seas will calm, and you will be able to swim out of it, and you might even get to watch as your enemy is defeated!

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”"  Romans 12:19

November 27

Discouragement sets in after you have tried and tried to help turn someone around. You’ve talked until you’re blue in the face to get them to change, but nothing happens. They are like the dry bones that Ezekiel saw in a vision. Just as Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy over the dry bones to hear the word of the Lord, we must do the same. Command those lifeless people, dry bones to hear God’s word! Once they’ve heard the word, they become modern day zombies, alive but dead. So, if you think about it, zombies are real! Anyone who has heard the Word, but doesn’t believe in Jesus is the walking dead. Ezekiel was also commanded to prophesy to the breath to come from the four winds and breathe on these lifeless bodies to live, and they came to life! Maybe that’s what we’re missing, maybe we need to command breath to come into their lifeless bodies, that they may know Jesus. Now, how you do that without looking like a freak, I’m not sure. I’ll let you figure that part out! I’m sure Ezekiel looked like a freak too!

Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD”... "Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:4 & 9

November 26

I watched my three year old grandson while his mom enjoyed some time with other adults. He’s just like his pawpaw in so many ways that it’s a little scary. He loves heavy equipment, and cranes his neck to see construction sites as we drive pass them, just like his pawpaw. He doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty and doing a little work. Richard and I had filled his truck with fire wood and hadn’t unloaded it, so I had Trey help me. We got out the wagon and I began handing him some of the cut wood from the truck. He was so proud that he got to use his muscles. There are good things that are passed on to our children and generational things that they may need to overcome. With our help, we can accentuate their positive attributes, and teach them how to overcome the sins that get repeated that can sometimes derail their lives. This may be an ongoing process, so we need to pray for them to become a new creation in Jesus.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  2 Corinthians 5:17

November 25

As I’m trudging through the book of Ezekiel, I use the word trudging because every day I want to put it down and start another book. It’s a prophecy, and a warning to Israel, and very little of it has to do with me or you. Then I come to chapter 34, which seems to go quite well with Psalms 23, still a warning, but to the shepherds. Then God orders Ezekiel to speak tenderly to His sheep and give us a hope for the future, and a promise. Finally, there is a  bright spot in this doom and gloom, and that bright spot is the promise of a good shepherd, Jesus. He is our promise of peace, He fills our bellies with the knowledge of the Holy, and His precepts, which is what God had intended for His shepherds, but they just fattened themselves and let the sheep go hungry. This is an important note, share what you know about Jesus! Don’t just fatten yourself with knowledge, share your food. Don’t be a fat sheep!

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Ezekiel 34:15-16

November 24

Twenty three years ago, my relationship with Jesus changed. I had been a Christ follower for a long time, since I was nine, but sometimes the circumstances you are in will draw you closer to Him. My first husband was very sick with a dreadful disease and was drawing close to his death. We had nurses and hospice coming into our home and were very busy. Because of all the stress and uncertainty, I spent a lot of hours in prayer and reading my Bible. There is amazing counsel in the Word, and comfort in the Holy Spirit. There is nothing good about any disease, however, there is good in what it brings you to, if it brings you to Jesus. He was my safe place, my refuge and strength, a very present help in my time of trouble. Let whatever struggle you are dealing with today, bring you to your knees in the presence of the Almighty, and collapse under the weight of His love.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Psalms 46:1-3

November 23

It had been a while since we use the electric knife, so when I got it out of the cabinet and it was dirty, I was surprised, because I know I wiped it down before I put it away. I either hadn’t cleaned it very well, or grime just grows! I cleaned it up and we used it. Before putting it away again, I decided to give it a really good cleaning, getting down in the cracks where it comes together. I got a wild hair and decided to take it apart, and much to my surprise, the inside was filthy! I was disgusted! It’s an electric device, I don’t think opening it up should be part of the routine! If that knife was human, I would say it was like a Pharisee, what Jesus would call a whitewashed tomb! If you were to look inside some “Christians,” the filth inside would disgust you.

The name “Christian” invokes the same connotation in the secular world as Pharisee does in the Christian world. Stop using Jesus’s name if you’ve not turned away from your sin. We are the reason our world is turning up-side-down. The enemy uses our behavior to trap us. We can’t turn anyone to Jesus until we turn ourselves around. 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:27-28

November 22

“All our disquieting fears arise from our ignorance of God and mistakes concerning him.” Matthew Henry Commentary. There it is in a nutshell, the reason we have fear! It’s true that in our minds, we don’t give God the power He deserves. Part of my daily praise includes the words: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” From this verse it sounds like we are the ones who give Him power, which is not true, He’s certainly not powerless without us, but we need to be confident in Him. If we give into our fear, and let anxiety overtake us, we are ignorant of who He is. I’m in God’s word every day, and I still don’t take to heart who He is, and sometimes become consumed with fear of what man can do to me, when I should be more concerned with what God can do to the unholy one who is causing me the anxiety! Let go of your fear of man, and be confident in God!

"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

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