Seasons of…

We are due for a change in our weather as a cold front is moving in bringing cooler weather and much needed rain. Obviously, I am writing from the west coast and not the flooded southern states.

I’ve been noticing the subtle changes, a golden leaf here and there. The crackling sound is starting to appear as I walk around my yard. We are in the beginnings of a change of season, summer is slowly dying, and autumn is awakening from its slumber.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

The Lord speaks much of seasons, signs of seasons ahead, and the symptoms of things to come. We experience weather seasons, but we also share different types of seasons in our lives. We have seasons of friendships and relationships; sure, some of these people are meant to stay and share our lives, but some are meant only for a time. A season!

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Preach the word! What if you don’t know the word? Preach what you know! Preach your experiences! In season and out…preach…in other words share. Reprove: reprimand or censure. Rebuke: sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions. Exhort: the actor process of making a strong urging or appeal. With complete patience and teaching!

The Lord will put people in our lives for a season. We are to be examples of the Lord’s teachings and direction. His grace, peace, joy, and kindness, making sure always to speak the truth with love.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” We are to grow by his example into examples for others.

Who is in your season today?

You are in mine! Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Behind the Act…

God doesn’t look at the grandeur of an act but the heart behind it!!!

Matthew 6:1-4 NIV “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountiful will also reap bountiful. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

I believe that we are to each give as the Lord lays on our hearts. For some it may be financial gifts, for some it may be a bag of groceries left on the front porch, for others it’s the gift of transportation, we can all give the gift of an ear, a hug or simply a smile in passing.

Scriptures tell us when we do for others we are in actuality doing for Jesus.

Matthew 25:40 NIV “The king will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

I know the drop dead down on my knees prayers of thanksgiving for the mighty answered prayers from God who parted my Red Sea problems and swept them away but I also know the sweetness of the little prayers, the floating butterfly against the sunshine when I needed a moment of peace. The smile at the hummingbird that is looking me square in the face as his wings send out cryptic messages. The unique little treasure you stumble upon that screams God’s love for you, just you!

So you see, our Lord is into and capable of the grandest of grandeur but he’s more into the little things that come from the heart.

Be blessed, be a blessing and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Why Bother?

Do you have those days where you wonder why you even bother?

Does anyone notice? Do they even care? Why bother?

The house is clean and comfortable; the sheets are soft and smell fresh. The closets and dressers are full of clean clothes and dinner was perfect!

Does anyone notice? Do they even care? Why bother?

You are always the first to be at your desk or station; you are friendly to all and never fail to lend a helping hand. You don’t cheat the time clock; you don’t cheat the company; you are a faithful and good employee.

Does anyone notice? Do they even care? Why bother?

You work hard; you are a good steward; you are faithful and diligent. You love with a fierce passion, and you share with all your heart.

Does anyone notice? Do they even care? Why bother?

Here’s Why!

Galatians 6:9 ESV “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.“

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Proverbs 13:4 ESV “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

Romans 2:6 ESV “He will render to each one according to his works.”

Matthew 5:16 ESV “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Hebrews 13:16 ESV “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Proverbs 15:3 ESV “The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

1 Peter 3:12 ESV “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord-is against those who do evil.”

Job 34:21 ESV “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.”

So on the days that feel like no one is noticing, no one is reading, no one is thankful…remember God Is!!!

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Today I Pray

Good Morning Lord,

I come before you this morning with a thankful heart. I am so very grateful for you in my life. I go to sleep each night safely tucked in your arms and awake to a new beginning each morning.

Lord, I was reading about your perfect love in my devotions, and even tho I appreciated where the writer went in her studies, I found myself going in another direction.

Thank you for your perfect love Father God, a love that never changes or ceases, a love that grows within us, making us stronger through you. I appreciate that the love you have placed in my heart and spirit is a safe resting place, a lifesaver in the storms of life.

I thank you Lord that you are wisdom when I am ignorant, guidance when confused, and direction when lost.

I thank you, Lord, that your light shines out of me so that I may lead the blind, be an example to the distant onlookers, and an inspiration to the fold.

Grow in me a strength and boldness, Lord, that I may proclaim your word and love in a time such as this!

Thank you for today, your day! May our hearts, minds, and bodies be at rest within you.

In your glorious name Lord Jesus I pray. Amen. 😌

I hope you have a most blessed day and thank you as always for joining me. 🥰

Memories and Morons…

Dear Lord,

I bow before you this morning asking for your forgiveness of attitude because I think our current president and his congregational office are morons and are running our nation into the ground but then you already know this.

I am not sorry that I can’t accept all that is being taught, spread, and adopted in the media and schools. The ways of our land are in direct conflict with your word, so I as a believer, say no and choose to follow you!

We need your truths and strength, dear Jesus, to take a stand and the correct stand. The new fashion of today is to stand for everything and everyone. You can’t do that. You have to stand for something, or you stand for nothing and become a hot air supplier!

We honor all those lost in 9/11…we shout we won’t forget, but obviously, some have forgotten because the President of the United States gifted the Taliban with 80 billion dollars of ammunition and weapons; maybe he left enough for a repeat?

We need to remember history, WWI, WWII, The Holocaust, The Korean and Vietnam wars. We’ve been fighting the Taliban since 2001, and thank you, President Biden, for eleven years later, restocking their bunkers with our equipment, let alone leaving Americans and service dogs behind, oh but news flash, you didn’t!!! Isn’t that the newest lie coming from the White House?

Lord, I know nothing is hidden from you, not the works of Congress down to my attitude. I thank you, Lord, that I am free to be myself with you, and you will clean in me what is your desire. I know you appreciate and love the authentic struggles of your children versus the pithy religious hypocrite.

So here I am, honest, angry, and shocked at the world I live in, the freedom of choice they are trying to take away, and the rights I have due to my Constitution. I thank you, Lord, for your protection in the matter of another man forcing us to inject something into our bodies that we don’t want. You give us freedom of choice; please, Lord, do not let our freedoms and choices be taken from us. We need your protection more than ever. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today is a sad day for many Americans, the memories aren’t just flashes of horror across the television screen, these are graves with loved one resting there, these are people that other people miss. I encourage all reading today to say a little prayer of peace for all those who have given and lost in the craziness of our world today. Be blessed and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Somewhere Between Proof and Faith…

We as Christians live…in a village located in the hill country between Proof and Faith. Our region and home is called Belief.

Genesis 1:1 ESV “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1 ESV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 3:8 ESV “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it’s sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

1 Kings 19:9-13 NLT “There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ Elijah replied, ‘I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ ‘Go out and stand before me on the mountain,’ the Lord told him. And Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

John 20:29 ESV “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Isaiah 7:14 ESV “Therefore the Lord will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This is one of the forty four prophecies Jesus fulfilled!

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The Lord has granted man the ability of choice. We are able to make choices of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, up vs. down, faith vs. proof, life vs. death. It’s all up to us…what choices are we making? Who’s words are you listening to? We are in a tumultuous season, and every day, every choice we make will make a difference, not only in our world but possibly in the world of someone silently watching us! Food for thought…be blessed today, and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Busy Being Busy…

Dearest Lord,

I come to you this morning tired, not sleepy tired but busy tired! My body feels a bit heavy and slow, and the coffee hasn’t helped yet!

All the while, as I am visiting with you in the quiet of my living room, trying to muster the energy needed to begin my day. I am telling you how I’m feeling, and you are showing me the blessings of why!

I am loved and needed! The distractions throughout the day are blessed reminders I am thought of; I am a mom and will be until I pass from this earth and then still! I am a friend and blessed with friendships as beautiful as golden apples in a silver bowl. I am blessed with grandchildren and the fullness of adventure and activity. I am a wife and a partner who walks beside her husband and shares the load. I am a daughter of the Highest God and a love of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have a responsibility to share the gospel of his love and sacrifice.

I am blessed and thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit, showing me how to change how I view life. To rethink the negative into a positive…I am grateful, Lord, that my body is tired because that means it works; I’m thankful I am busy being busy because I am needed; I am grateful for the calls because I am loved.

I pray for everyone reading this prayer Father that you send the Holy Spirit to revive them, show them and love them. In your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen ❤️

Be blessed today, enjoy your day…I’m off to water my yard, and this evening I’m honored to serve Pho with my youngest son, and for this, I’m thankful. 🥰

Check the Backpacks…

Good Morning Father God,

My prayer this morning is for the moms and dads, the grandma’s and grandpa’s, the caregivers, and the fosters…

Lord, I pray that you would tap on the shoulders of each of the heads of families to daily or nightly check the backpacks. I know of many who never even unzip the treasure trove their children pack back and forth to school each day!

We need to be aware of what they are learning, the things our children are being taught! Are their stars on their papers? Are their notes of accomplishment that we also need to praise our child for, or are their messages meant to warn us that there is a struggle in a particular area?

Are these teachings we agree with, or are their lessons and examples being taught you disapprove of? I ask you, Lord, to keep us aware of what is being introduced and left out of our children’s and grandchildren’s education.

I ask you for awareness and discernment, for the strength to stand up and speak out against the new agendas filling our young people’s minds. The world is walking against you and your teachings Lord and I worry about the new norm.

If we as the spiritual heads of families don’t protect what is filling the minds of our youth, we aren’t doing our job; help us each day to do our job, teach your ways and check the backpacks!!!

In your name, I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.

I have grandchildren in today’s school system and the worldly view being that everything is ok, the teachings and flags that aren’t biblical, the thought and signs that seem to say that only black lives matter. Thugs are glorified for weeks on end every night on the news but our fallen soldiers nothing more than a blip. There is so much wrong in our world today that if we don’t stay diligent and aware, it’ll slip right past and become the new normal!

I am excited our youth is back in school where they need to be…have a blessed day, and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Labor Day…

Labor Day is a celebration recognizing the working man. It is celebrated on the first Monday of September and became a Federal holiday in 1894.

In the late 1800s, at the height of the industrial revolution, the average American worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, to barely make a living. The working force consisting primarily of immigrants and the poor; all ages, including children as young as five and six, worked in factories and mines. The working conditions were cramped and unsafe, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities, or breaks. In the late 18th Century, labor unions began to appear and became a voice for the working man. The extended weekend we celebrate today represents the rest that the unions brought for these abused human beings who shaped our country.

I thought it might be interesting today to see what God has to say about Labor!

Psalm 128:2 ESV “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out grain,’ and ‘the laborer deserves his wages.”

1 Corinthians 3:8 ESV “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”

Matthew 9:37-38 ESV “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Side note: The harvest are the unsaved and the laborers are you and me!

Exodus 20:9 ESV “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.” Because on the seventh we are instructed to rest!

Matthew 11:28 ESV “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!

Seems to me that the early standards of the labor unions were in tuned to the Lords instructions. We are to work hard when we work, we are to work as though we are working directly for God! We are also instructed to take a day of rest.

Genesis 2:2 NLT “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

I pray you have a blessed and restful day today! Sadly retail and sales-driven establishments have made the holiday of rest a holiday of sales, and for all of you working today, my heart goes out! For the rest of you, Be safe today and enjoy the sunshine…fall seems to be knocking loudly! Thank you for joining me. 🥰