Category: Month

Posted on

How are you going to spend your day?

How are you going to spend your day? Do you have a list of projects that need to be completed? Are you travelling to far away places? Do you think your activities are mundane and uneventful? Or do you possibly have a “big” appointment that could be life changing?

As you hurry through your morning or stop to have a quiet cup of coffee and reflective moment, I want to encourage you to start your day praising God for the blessings in your life. You have breathe, you have a computer (if you’re reading this), you slept in a bed, you have some degree of health and wealth and you have God’s promises to never leave you or abandon you!

Yes, so much to be thankful for.

I was reading the last chapter of Luke this morning. Jesus disciples and apostles had followed him for 3 years. They thought he was going to set up an early kingdom, overthrow the Roman oppression and bring peace to their nation. Now He had died, they were dejected – He brought them hope after His resurrection and now he was leaving them again but this time they had new prospective.

What did they do?

“Jesus led his followers out of Jerusalem almost to Bethany. He raised his hands and blessed his followers. 51 While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven. 52 They worshiped him and went back to Jerusalem very happy. 53 They stayed at the Temple all the time, praising God.” Luke 24:50-53 ERV

They spent their time praising God! What a great way to pass the time while you’re waiting in traffic, while in the check out line that seems to be at a stand still, riding on a bus or commuter train or waiting to be served in a restaurant or on hold waiting for a live person to take your call.

Whereever you are waiting today, wait on the Lord – praise Him and He will fill your life with joy!

Posted on

The best part of waking up…

The best part of waking up…you know the rest. The first sip of coffee in the morning, cradling the cup in your hands, smelling the aroma, the warm, soothing liquid sliding down your throat. Awwww! It tastes so good, just puts a smile on your face.

Have you tasted the Lord this morning?

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” Psalm 34:8-9

The best part of waking up is Jesus in your heart!!

Posted on

This little light of mine…

Need to be on the road in a few minutes so I am sharing a devotional from a few years back. Have a wonderful Monday and let your light shine.

Our world today needs a clear view of Jesus and His unconditional love!

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Let it shine.
A song many of us sang in Sunday School as children. A way of life that we should all strive for – letting the light of Jesus shine through us to the world we live in.
“People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16
Let it Shine – Let is SHINE – LET IT SHINE!

Posted on

HELP!! HELP!! August 13, 2017

HELP!! HELP!!
Do you ever feel like screaming at the top of your lungs, “I need help”? In our self-sufficient, self-reliant world it’s considered a sign of weakness and even failure to cry out for help. We can’t admit that we aren’t able to “handle it”, whatever it is but in our spiritual walk, its completely the opposite.

“I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the LORD, who created the heavens and the earth. 3 The LORD is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.” Psalm 121 CEV

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” Psalm 124:8 KJV

While doing a search on the word help, I found that it is listed 166 times in the King James version of the Bible and most of those times it is used in context of the Lord being there to help; the others generally refer to us helping others.

It’s easy to get caught up in relying on our intellect, money, position, our government and even our family to be our basis for support and help. However, it’s important that we realize where our help truly comes from.

“ Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said,
“I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.”
6 So we can feel sure and say,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me.” Hebrews 13:5-6 CEV

Look up! You’ll find the help you need!

Posted on

Encouragement… August 12, 2017

Encouragement…we all need it from time to time. Maybe you know someone who has been going through a really tough time or maybe you see a stranger and sense that they just need a smile or a kind word. It might be your child or spouse, it could be a waitress or checker at the grocery store.

Keep your eyes open and your heart ready – ask the Lord to use you to bring hope, strength and joy to someone today.

But maybe you’re thinking, I wish someone would do that for me today. I need to be encouragement – I need a kind word! Take heart. I have good news for you!

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 KJV

David’s wife and children had been stolen along with the wives and children of his men. His men were so distraught they were considering killing David because they felt it was “all his fault”. David needed someone to encourage him but there was no one so he encouraged himself…one version says he strengthened himself.

“All the men in the army were sad and angry because their sons and daughters were taken as prisoners. The men were talking about killing David with stones. This upset David very much, but he found strength in the Lord his God.” ERV

Maybe that’s how you feel today. If you need to encourage yourself today start with this verse. Look in the mirror and read it to yourself.

“You formed the way I think and feel.
You put me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was!

15 You could see my bones grow as my body took shape,
hidden in my mother’s womb.

16 You could see my body grow each passing day. You listed all my parts, and not one of them was missing.”
Psalm 139:13-16 ERV

If no one else is there to offer words of encouragement this should put a smile on your face and hope in your heart! God formed you and He saw to it that nothing was missing in your development. He is still with you promising to never leave you or abandon you! You’re not alone!

Now take what the Lord has done for you and give to hope to others. It’s wonderful to know that you can be used even in your toughest moments!

Posted on

…The weeds are going crazy August 11, 2017

With all the rain we’ve had lately the weeds are going crazy. Dave is out there spraying all the time. They grow so quickly.

Life can be like that too. The weeds seem to grow faster than the good seeds we plant. Rain helps them both.

I am pleased with how well my garden is doing. The tomato plant is getting so big and so are the peppers. The geraniums, hybicus, mums and zinias are all enjoying the fresh water from heaven.

I want my life to grow good things; kindness, joy, peace, love, understanding and forgiveness. Need to root out the weeds of selfishness, greed, bitterness and discontentment.

Lord, remind me to only sow good seeds into the soil of my heart. Your word is the good seed and it will make me healthy and victorious because Your word is health unto all my flesh and life unto all who find it. Thank you for the word.

“And what about the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That is like the people who hear the teaching but let worries about this life and love for money stop it from growing. So it does not produce a crop in their lives.

23 “But what about the seed that fell on the good ground? That is like the people who hear the teaching and understand it. They grow and produce a good crop, sometimes 100 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 30 times more.” Matthew 13:22-24 ERV

Posted on

Good friends who speak wise and godly words

It’s so important that we surround ourselves with good friends who speak wise and godly words.

When we are hurt we often want to hear things like “you don’t deserve this, you were wronged, etc” but a faithful friend will help us see objectively and honestly. What a wonderful gift!

“Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. 12 Wise advice to a listening ear is like gold earrings or fine jewelry.

13 To his master who sent him, a messenger who can be trusted is as refreshing as a drink of cold water on a hot summer day.

14 People who promise to give gifts but never give them are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15 With patience, you can make anyone change their thinking, even a ruler. Gentle speech is very powerful.”
Proverbs 25:11-15 ERV

I love how Jesus was able to speak honestly to people with love and compassion and their lives were forever changed. The Samaritan woman needed help and Jesus brought her hope for the future. Zaccheaus had been a deplorable tax collector and Jesus came bringing him forgiveness and respect.

Yes, wise council is truly better than gold. It changes our lives, bringing us into line with God’s word and that brings peace.

If you don’t have a friend who will speak wisdom into your life ask the Lord for one. Know this, Jesus is the best friend you can have and he will always give you wise and sound advice!

Posted on

Peanut butter and honey sandwiches

When I was a kid I loved to eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches but they had to be made right. I mean you couldn’t just butter the bread and smear peanut butter and honey on it – there was a process.

First you had to have soft butter. Put a rounded teaspoon of butter in a dish, now add a big spoon of peanut butter and finally top it with a rounded teaspoon of honey. Now here’s the important part, stir until creamy and smooth and then spread it on the bread. On my now that was a sandwich.

If no other time of the week this was generally what I call supper on Sunday evening. You see we would have our big dinner at noon after coming home from church and before we would head back for evening service we needed to grab something quick to eat and mine who be the sandwich described above. Delicious!

That’s where my mine went this morning when I was reading in Proverbs.

“Honey is good for you my children, and it tastes sweet.

14 Wisdom is like honey for your life—
if you find it, your future is bright.” Proverbs 24:13-14 CEV

Wisdom is like honey…sweet and delicious. Wisdom makes life better; fewer regrets, more joy when we act wisely.

“Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you—
and delicacies that melt in your mouth.
Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—
Get that and your future’s secured,
your hope is on solid rock.” Proverbs 24:13-14 MSG

When our lives are guided by wisdom, Godly wisdom, we are building a solid foundation that won’t be shaken by life’s storms.

” My son, eat honey; it is good. Honey straight from the honeycomb is the sweetest. 14 In the same way, know that wisdom is good for you. Wisdom will give you something to hope for that will not disappoint you.” Proverbs 24:13-14 ERV

Wisdom builds hope and when we hope in the Lord we will never be ashamed.

So get out your spoon and scoop up a big helping of honey – it’s good for you physically and spiritual honey is good for your soul!

(and if you want a real treat – go make a peanut butter honey sandwich as described above)

Posted on

City Slickers

It’s important that we keep our lives filled with purpose. How many of you remember watching City Slickers? Ok, so it’s not a top cowboy movie – in fact, it’s not even a cowboy movie but there was some of the cowboy way of life in it and so we watched.

Mitch was having a mid-life crisis and this was his buddies’ way of helping him out. He was searching, for what he didn’t know, but Curly did. He was searching for “one thing” – what was that one thing – Curly told him that’swhat he had to figure out.

That’s the same thing Jesus told Martha when she got so busy with the things of “life” that she forgot to truly live. One thing is needful Jesus told her; her sister Mary had found that in listening to Jesus words instead of being busy with all the responsibilities of running a home.

The Apostle Paul said he found that “one thing”.

“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.” Philippians 3:12-14

King David found that “one thing”.

“Even if an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid. Even if people attack me in war, I will trust in the Lord. 4 I ask only one thing from the LORD. This is what I want most: Let me live in the LORD’S house all my life, enjoying the LORD’S beauty and spending time in his palace. 5 He will protect me when I am in danger. He will hide me in his tent. He will take me up to his place of safety.” Psalm 37:3-5

Finding your “one thing” you will find that your life has meaning and purpose and you will truly be blessed.

“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:33

Posted on

Do you have a tendency to compartmentalize your life?

Do you have a tendency to compartmentalize your life? Family, work, health, friends, finances, social activities… Things have to be kept in their own little box, not touching or interfering. Like vegetables on a dinner plate, don’t let them blend.

So people do that with the Lord. It’s ok for Him to have their Sunday and even occasionally, when times are tough to be brought in to areas of career or life’s passions but they aren’t ready to allow Him to permeate each area.

I found an interesting assessment of the Lord this morning in I Kings. Benhadad, had attacked the King Ahab of Samaria. The Israelites had gone to aid in the fight. King Benhadad was defeated and look what he was told.

” King Ben-Hadad’s officers said to him, “The gods of Israel are mountain gods. We fought in a mountain area, so the Israelites won. If we fight them on level ground, we will win.”
I Kings 20:23 ERV

God won’t be limited. He won’t be kept in a box. This was the Lord’s reply to their limiting of his involvement.

“28 A man of God came to the king of Israel with this message: “The Lord said, ‘The people of Aram said that I, the Lord, am a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys. So I will let you defeat this great army. Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!’” I Kings 20:28

The same holds true in our lives. God wants to be involved in every aspect. He has the knowledge, the plan and the power to bring us through in victory.

So my question today is this, where have you limited God? Isn’t it time to let Him have it all? Let the Lord show you “Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!’”

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress