Good morning Lord,

It’s a brand new day, a brand new week, of a brand new month in a brand new year!

That’s a lot of new!

New is good, it’s fresh and it’s hopeful!

Lord, be with us as we begin all of these new today!

Help us to remember our hopes, wants, desires, tasks, and dreams we might dare to dream!

Some of us may have a few items on our lists this year that we wish to discard! Please help us unload ourselves with unnecessary baggage. Help us to rid the obstacles that hinder and frustrate!

Some of us might be hoping to throw away bad attitudes and outlooks! Lord, our thought life and habits are as much a part of our daily actions as breathing and walking! Help us to reign in our negative, frustrating, angry, and judgmental ways of thinking and blow a fresh breeze through the cobwebs of our minds.

Some of us may be contemplating a new exercise routine, gym, or diet! I would ask for your strength to push through the sore muscles, the alarm clock that’s set a bit earlier to indulge in said workout routine! The no to the second helping or the resolve to not hear the cookie calling from the kitchen. Help us to be diligent in our healthy choices!

Some of us may desire to spend more time with you Lord! Whether it be a few quiet moments in your word, a devotion or simply to start our day in communication with you! Help us to open our spiritual ears so that we may grow within you. Open our spiritual eyes so that we may see you and the path you have deemed for us!

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Thank you, Lord, for your word that never returns to us void!

Thank you, Lord that tomorrow is behind us and today is a brand new, fresh day! Be with us as we go out and live it!

In your glorious name Lord Jesus I pray…Amen

There was a song out when I was in junior high, my mom loved it and played it often. The chorus to that song has always remained in the recesses of my mind.

“One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you. Just give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do. Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord help me today, show me the way, One Day at a Time!

There is so much in this verse…God’s word instructs us to do just that, to take one day at a time. Dealing with today, forgetting yesterday’s mistakes and woes, and hoping for a brighter tomorrow because truly hope for tomorrow is all we can do!

Matthew 6:34 NIV “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Just give me the strength everyday to do what I have to do! We all have our individual mountains we must scale, raging rivers we must cross, and the dry barren deserts we must traverse. The clock that doesn’t seem to move. The pain that won’t let up. The loneliness and solitude that never seem to end. The failed relationship that now feels like chains. The job that is sucking the life out of you. BASIC LIFE IN GENERAL!!!

Turn to this scripture and arm yourself in his might and ability to carry you through any trial and storm!

Philippians 4:13 NLT “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Repeat the above scripture as many times as needed!!! When we speak the name of Jesus into any situation we are freeing him and his mighty power to work alongside and within us!

Yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never be mine. I’m guilty of replaying my mistakes, failures, embarrassing moments, and any disagreements over and over in my head. Reliving the moment as though the repeat button in my brain got stuck!

Philippians 3:13 ESV “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”

The Lord forgives and forgets our sins when we turn to him and ask for forgiveness. We should try to emulate the same for ourselves! Minus the learning curves said lessons taught!

As for the tomorrow that may never be mine…

James 4:15 ESV “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’

Proverbs 27:1 ESV “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

And, while we may not know what tomorrow will bring; we can be certain of one thing…if tomorrow arrives, Our Lord Jesus arrives with it…

Isaiah 41:10 ESV “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.”

Dear Lord My Father in Heaven,

Thank you for being with me today and if I am given another tomorrow I am thankful that it arrives with you! I am but a weak body of flesh and bones all knitted together by your loving hands and I gladly walk beside you and share my life with you! Thank you for your provisions, protection, love, grace, favor and your blessed mercy! I love you and I thank you for being my best friend, my champion, and my hero. Thank you for walking beside me as I set forth on this beautiful sunny day. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!

Thank you for spending a little time in Sunshine with me and I hope you have a most magnificent day! ❤️☀️🥰

One Day at a Time ~ Songwriter Marijohn Wilkin/Kris Kristofferson. Singer ~ Marilyn Sellers. Buckhorn Music Publishing 1974

God cares about everything connected to you…Everything! Yes, he loves us, watches over us, provides for us, protects and leads us!

But did you know he cares!

He cares about what’s going on in your world!

He cares if you are scared, lonely, afraid, intimidated, lost, confused, sad, depressed or ill…

He cares if you are joyful, peaceful, excited, happy, vibrant, positioned, energetic, enthusiastic and healthy!

He is that friend who always has an ear, time, patience, sound advice, and love. You can call Jesus any time of the day or night and he will answer.

It may seem at first and often like a one-sided conversation. I ask you what’s wrong with that? How often do we try and talk with another individual only to have them interrupt and start giving their story, opinion, or advice cutting us off in mid-sentence or thought?

I encourage you to keep conversing, first laying out your problems, issues, hopes, dreams, concerns, or any decisions you may be facing! Pretend he is sitting in the chair directly opposite you! Then open up…it may begin as a rant, reduced to complaining and whining and even begging but as you talk you will find your words turning toward hope, peace, direction and thanksgiving.

Isaiah 46:4 ESV “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

Psalm 145:18-19 ESV “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”

Hebrews 4:16 ESV “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Matthew 7:7 ESV” Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

The Lord is the best friend you will ever have or need! All you have to do is: Ask, Seek, and Knock! He’s always there; he will always answer!

Have a blessed day and thank you for sharing some Sunshine with me! ❤️☀️🥰

I am so excited…

In a few days we will spring forward into Daylight Savings Time!!!

My body seems to resonate with this time frame, my world aligns with these hours that will rise and set with the sun. I as many struggle with the winter hours where there is too much darkness and not enough light!

Last night as I was preparing dinner I rejoiced as I looked out my kitchen window and was met back by daylight!

The Lord is our light in a world of darkness! The Lord promises us his children a destiny in heaven where there is never shadow or darkness! That his glorious light will fill every corner and crevice! For a person who loves light, sunshine, blue skies and fluffy white clouds this is a promise I stand on daily!

John 8:12 ESV “Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Does this mean that once we make up our minds to follow Jesus we are free from the trials and woes of this life? No! But when the darkness of life’s storms hit our docks we stand firm in Him and withstand the storm, knowing we do not face it alone! The light Within!

Psalm 119:105 ESV “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God has given us very specific instructions on how to maneuver through the channels of this world! They often go against the flow of life and would appear as though we are paddling upstream. This is where we put our hand in his. Trusting the light.

Love rather then hate! Give when you have nothing! Forgive instead of harboring! Empathize rather then judging! Speaking positive life into every situation rather than the negative verbiage that resembles and causes death!

James 1:17 ESV “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

One of the brightest of Gods lights is in this verse with whom there is no variance or shadow due to change. This is so big when you truly grasp it! God never changes, his word never changes, his mission has never changed! In a world of constant change, people who constantly change, minds that get changed, situations ever changing, nothing ever sitting still! We have the assurance of Gods promised light!

Get excited! We are steps away from spring when the Lord’s Easter basket of flowers will begin peeking their colorful heads out of the ground. Nature is awakening from its winter slumber with warmth and an abundance of light sure to follow!

Matthew 24:32 ESV “From the fig tree learn it’s lesson: as soon as it’s branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.”

And with that I close and hope you have a blessed day! Thank you for sharing with me in a bit of sunshine! ❤️☀️🥰

The new testament is full of parables, examples, and verses referencing seeds sown! Good seed vs bad seed! Right vs wrong! Spiritual law vs karma!

In chapter 13 of Matthew we read where Jesus is teaching of a farmer who went out and sowed his seeds in his field. As he was scattering the seed, some fell upon his path and the birds quickly ate them up! Some seed fell on rocky ground with not much soil, the seed quickly grew but the ground was shallow and no depth for its roots to be buried within. Other seeds fell among thorns and were choked out by them while other seeds fell in good soil, roots grew deep and a bountiful crop was produced and harvested!

What is Jesus saying here? The seeds of the birds are referred to as those who hear the word of God but the evil one quickly snatches it away! It’s no fun being a Christian, all those rules, and church is boring!!! What will your friends think? The rocky ground is those who hear the word of God and receive it with joy until trials appear and then are dismayed because children of God shouldn’t have problems…Right? They walk away disillusioned! The seed among the thorns represents those who hear the word but the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the allure of the ways of the worldly, slowly choke out the word! But the seed that fell on the good soil represents those of us who hear the word, believe in it, understand what is being said, and have total trust in the Lord our God…Our Creator!

The fruit of the spirit are: peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control and love. These are the packets of seeds found in Gods store.

Across the street, on the dark side, we can and do find seeds of evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

Plant love, harvest love. Plant kindness, harvest kindness. Plant sharing and giving, harvest bounty! You get the picture. Whatever seeds we may be sowing at any given moment is a sure harvest for us in the future.

2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountiful will also reap bountifully.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Luke 6:38 ESV “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Life is a daily challenge and so is our garden. We daily need to pull the weeds of discontent, greed, selfishness, negative thinking, and speaking, anger, self-pity, unforgiving, and malice.

Then replace the hole the weed left with prayer, seeking the Lord’s direction in your life, asking him to help you curb your tongue and thoughts. To take away the angst and frustrations we may find ourselves in. To take away the tormenting thoughts that may be clouding our minds and vision. Ask him to replace them with joy, laughter, quietness within, the sun to shine, a flower to smell and gaze upon. The point is to change the mindset!

Jesus is our master gardener and we belong in his garden! And, He is always walking beside us in ours. Today is a new day what seeds are you going to plant?

Be blessed and thank you for taking a walk with me in Sunshine. ❤️☀️🥰

These two characters will help you make it through your day much easier than their cousins, Criticizing and Complaining!

When we actively put our trust in the Lord we instantly gain power over any said situation. How does one actively put their trust in the Lord?

1. Prayer, when we pray over our situations with God action is immediately set in motion in the heavenly realms! He sends out his guardian, warring and ministering angels to our sides, fighting the spiritual battles we don’t ever see but certainly feel!

2. Controlling Our Mindsets, when we give the Lord our problems we are throwing them up into God’s hands and releasing them from ours! So, when worries try and seep back in, take hold, stop them, and give them back to God. Each time they try and return, give them back and repeat as many times as necessary. Then, work on refocusing and speaking positively! What might that be, within our negative situation? God! His love, His strength, His protection, and His deliverance!

3. Controlling our tongues, when we constantly speak out our negatives and woes, we are giving said issues all the power and control over us! Hashing and rehashing just keep the flames lit! Instead, practice speaking with a positive attitude and verbiage. Repeat the issue with a positive twist rather than the popular negative ones.

4. Trust, trust in the Lord God with all your heart and mind! Remembering the past and his hand of grace, mercy, and favor upon your life. When we confess that we believe in the Lord and trust in him, his word, his provision, and his blessed salvation, then it’s easier to face our daily dilemmas because we know we don’t face them alone.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

So whatever your day holds, whatever stage of life you find yourself in, remember you are never alone! Our Lord and all that he is is but a quiet whisper away!

Be blessed and thank you for spending a few moments with me in Sunshine ❤️☀️🥰

Good morning,

I have been locked in an emotional battle as of late!

I hate them, they are consuming, draining, and real but then again not! Aging has become a new nemesis I am having to accept and get under control. So, yes aging is real but the errant fears are not!

I of course have been praying for the peace of mind and spirit that can only come from God, the peace that surrounds all understanding. I have been reminding myself of and quoting aloud scriptures that speak of God’s hand of protection over those who seek and trust in him!

Philippians 4:7 not “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 30:5 NLT “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”

I remind myself of the past and the many miles I have traveled within the security of his love, protection, and provision. I have hope and with hope, I can move forward with confidence.

Did the haunting leave right away? No! Did I sit and entertain the monkey on my back? No! I fought against the dark fears, got down on hands and knees and scrubbed cupboards, rearranged closets, dusted, repotted plants…you get the idea!

I believe this is why the Lord instructs us to take today and it’s worries and deeds and let tomorrow be tomorrow!

Matthew 6:34 NLT “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

My devotions this morning were all based on: his quiet love, resting quietly within the circle of his love and protection, gentle reminders that he is always with us and is but a quiet whisper away! That he will never leave us or quit on us! He is with us till the end of time!

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Matthew 28:20 NLT “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Am I still going to continue to age? Yes! Are the fears of future treks still there? Yes! But, today I was comforted by his words that spoke directly to my heart, letting me know that God does hear our prayers, he does hear our fears, and that he is but a whisper away!

By this, I am blessed and I pray you will be as well! ❤️☀️🥰

Our earth is in constant motion twenty-three hours and fifty-six minutes a day, 365 days a year, and within that, movement evolves, and changes occur.

The only thing about change we can be sure of is that it will!

The Lord set us up this way. With seasonal change comes birth, life and death. He set us and our earth up on this renewal cycle. With each season, we pass into a new journey, each day a new adventure.

Change, as we know, must happen, but within the natural cycle comes shaky ground, unforeseen mountains, dreaded deserts, and tumultuous waters.

The cycle of change brings with it the dawn of each new day unfolding before us, yet as I sit here and look out my window, it’s still pitch black, and I do not know what my day holds. The only thing I do know is that it will be different than yesterday, and my tomorrow will be other than today!

I am in the golden age of my life cycle, and as I view aging, it seems daunting! The body creaks now and aches in various places. I wear a crown of silver, and my pantyhose always seem to be sagging in various places, but sadly, I’m not wearing any!!

As I age, I become a bit fearful of the future and what my path has in store for me; the aging process leaves me feeling vulnerable. I am uncomfortable with these thoughts, so I change my thought cycle!

And with that comes change!

Psalm 62:5-6 ESV “For God alone, O’ my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”

Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

The Lord is our anchor in our sea of life!

Within all the changes that occur every second of our lives, we can find rest through the beautiful promises of our Lord.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 ESV “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Lamentations 3:22 ESV “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”

So, as we look in the mirror and notice subtle changes, we struggle through life-altering changes, and as we bounce through life and its daily potholes of changes, remember this!

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

I’ve said it and will repeat it many more times; I’m sure, “I don’t know what my tomorrow holds, but I do know who holds it.” And with that comes all the comfort and security I need!

Thank you Lord for anchoring me to you! 😌

Be blessed today and thank you for spending a few moments in Sunshine. ❤️☀️🥰

Fear of the Lord…

Specific translations of the Bible read to fear the Lord! I was so relieved when I heard a message one Sunday and the pastor used the word respect in place of the word fear! My heart relaxed!

Oxford Language terms fear as; unpleasant emotion, belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat! To be afraid!

Okay, but that certainly doesn’t portray God and his love for us!

I think the early writers who translated this word did God a bit of an injustice! It left an image of a mad God, riding the clouds waiting to zap us, mere humans, in our stupidity!

Leaving the feeling we are likened to a video game, one wrong move, and zapppp, you’re out! “Got that One,” He exclaims, laughing as his score goes up!

No! Here is a message God sent to his prophet Elijah! Elijah was being hunted down by Jezebel after delivering a message to her and Ahab from the Lord that they didn’t find favorable. He was on the run and hiding. He was scared and feeling very venerable.

1 Kings 19:3-4 NIV “Elijah was afraid and he ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a days journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

1 Kings 19:5-6 NIV “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel of the Lord touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and lay down again.”

1 Kings 19:7-9 NIV “The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.”

1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

Is our Lord as mighty and powerful as the wind? Is He stronger then the earthquake? Is He as engulfing as a blazing fire? Yes, and so much more, but he is love, care, peace, wisdom, joy, help, direction, laughter, and the gentle whisper within our hearts!

So, yes, we are to fear the Lord, to respect him and his law! To respect means to honor! To trust in him and walk beside him in unison and a relationship. To build a relationship with Jesus and to grow because of it. That’s the fear he speaks of…

So if you happen to be one of God’s kids who walk in constant fear of not doing it right, always falling a bit short of his kingdom and glory, your flesh overriding your brain, faith in prayer but getting a bit weary in the wait, which is causing frustration. Any and all of the above!

Get in line and join the millions of us!

Philippians 1:6 AMP “I am convinced of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of his return].

Simply saying that God knows we will never get it all right! It’s impossible but with our faith and his assistance we can grow and learn as we strive daily to walk in his grace, favor and blessed mercy!

Take this message of Elijah, a great prophet and miracle worker in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. He defended the worship of the Hebrew God over that of the Canaanite deity Baal. This was not a popular stance of this time period in this region!

He got tired, scared, frustrated, and over it! I imagine he felt inadequate and that he had let God down! Note though, He also sat down, grumbled and talked to God! Then, what happened? God comforted and fed him!

Rest in our Lord; the world is hard enough and demands so much! Whatever season you may be in within your walk remember Elijah the next time you sit under a broom bush and grumble to our Lord…get ready for him to minister to your needs!

Be blessed today and thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine. ❤️☀️🥰

This morning one of my devotions likened listening to God’s promptings to a daffodil!

This bright, beautiful little flower blooms in early spring. They commonly peek their pretty yellow noses out at the beginning of March when the ground is still cold, hard, crunchy, and often still covered in a light blanket of snow.

It would behoove us to follow the example of the daffodil! God asks them to awaken from their winter slumber before winter is over! He assigns them the task of delivering the hope of spring by the blooming of their glorious pops of color and the delight in their re-appearance.

Imagine for a moment a conversation between God and the daffodil! God gently nudges the flower from its winter nap. The flower is warm and comfy in its bulb and slightly moves away from God’s tap and snuggles further inward. Another tap on the shoulder from the Lord.

The daffodil responds, “Right now? Can’t it wait a day or two? I’m so comfortable; it’s cold, the ground is so hard; I don’t want to do this, Lord!” All the while thinking, maybe if I ignore the tapping, it will go away!”

Tap, Tap, Tap!!!

Can you find some resemblance in the little daffodil? Often God will lay on our hearts and spirits a task to do something, to make a phone call, to give away something, to go and visit someone. The giving of ourselves and our precious time!

I am reminded that not long ago, I had a daffodil moment. One of my dear Eastern Star loves was passing. The cancer had finally won, and we were losing her! My heart was in such turmoil because, one, I loved this little lady, and two, I was scared because I knew I would be saying goodbye.

I drug my feet and found many excuses as to why today wouldn’t work! My heart was heavy, I knew I wanted to see her, hold her hand, hug her and say goodbye, but I was almost paralyzed in fear! The ground was cold, crunchy, and hard!

Tap, Tap, Tap…

So I prayed!

Philippians 4:13 NLT “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:7 NIV “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

I did receive strength! I did go and visit, and the smile that I received as I walked through the door of her room, I will carry forever. I did get to hold her hand, share smiles, and a hug I won’t ever forget. Tears fall again this morning as I miss this little gal. Within our chapter meetings, there is a big hole where she used to sit, but she’s still with us as we all carry her in our hearts.

So, the next time the Lord taps you on your shoulder and your first instincts are to shy away, ignore, and grumble, trust in him. Be a daffodil and break through the hard, cold crunchy ground with his strength.

You can do this! If God brings you to it, he will get you through it! Don’t wait for the perfect moment, as there often isn’t one. If we wait too long, we may have to live with regret. I am so thankful I didn’t wait, as the memories I now carry make me smile and leave within me peace. Take the opportunities while you can because too late is always too late!

Be a daffodil! This devotion is dedicated to Isabelle York, I sure miss you, girl, but we will meet one day again! ❤️