Does God still perform miracles?

My brother is an owner-operator of a logging truck! He has been driving for over 35 years with a spotless record and thousands of trips down narrow mountain roads onto highways filled with vehicles of every shape, size, and color breezing along!

A little over a month ago, my brother was heading down a two-lane coastal road here in Oregon. He was already loaded with his first load of logs and heading to the mill, the skies were still dark, and for the most part, the world was quiet.

Until up the road come a set of headlights in my brother’s lane! Said set of headlights suddenly swerved back into its lane , but the pup trailer of this dump truck didn’t follow and swung around and slammed directly into my brother’s truck!

The impact was so forceful that his entire load of logs all came crashing forward from the trailer surrounding the cab of the truck!! Not only was the cab encased in logs, but his fuel tanks erupted and became a blazing inferno!

There was a log blocking the drivers door, my brother scrambles to the passengers side and by the grace of God the logs had landed leaving enough room for my brother to get out, by this time it was so hot that his outer flannel shirt was starting to melt!

As my brother came out and around onto the highway side of the wreck, standing there in a state of shock, watching his truck disappear in a gulf of flames. Out of nowhere, a gentleman stood beside my brother, offering comfort and support and to be a witness if needed. Even though this gentleman was headed to an appointment, he stayed with my brother and drove him home!

Does God still do miracles! I suppose it’s all in how you look at things but this sister sure thinks so!

My brother walked out of this; the critical word is walked! By rights, he should have had a Caterpillar diesel engine sitting in his lap! Two, he wasn’t knocked unconscious and unable to get himself out of the cab! Three, the logs fell in just a manner that he was able to open the passenger door! Four, he was not burned, not even a singe. Fifth, God sent an angel to stand and support and talk to my brother in a time of mass shock and confusion. Was this angel one of the Archangels? No, but God uses his children often to help his other children!

I want to add that my brother isn’t a big believer in God. He doesn’t pray over himself and his truck every morning as he pulls away from his house, but his sister does! So if you ever wonder if those prayers work…reread this devotion, as I’m here to tell you, yes, our prayers work!

My brother is ok. He is off work right now as his new truck is being readied to haul logs; my brother is getting much-needed rest as he works very hard! And this sister and his family haven’t stopped thanking and praising God for his hand upon my little brother!

Miracles surround us each and every day! The more intuned you are, the more joy you receive in noticing God’s hand upon your life.

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

We read about all the magnificent miracles God performed throughout the Bible, and there are some incredible ones in the Old Testament!

But does God still perform miracles today?

I believe yes he does!!! The seas may not part, so I can walk through on dry ground! A bush in my yard might not be burning without burning up, all the while talking to me! My donkey, if I had one, probably isn’t going to look me in the eye and ask me why I am so stupid and abusive!

But…

Three weeks ago, my eight-year-old schnauzer was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure! The long and short is for the rest of her life, she will need to be on two medications twice a day!

From the time of the emergency room visit until yesterday with her first veterinary appointment with her new doctors for this new condition, I have had to refill her prescriptions from the emergency hospital at an exorbitant price!

Yesterday morning arrives and I discover I am going to be one pill short, the particular pill I need the new Vet hospital doesn’t carry and will require a call ahead of need to be filled by a more extensive pharmacy and then sent to my vet!

Panic, one pill…Oh Lord, Am I going to have to make another expensive trek back to the ER for one tablet. I called the new clinic as I said, in a panic! I leave my frantic message and begin the wait for a callback!

The call came, and the receptionist proceeded to tell me that there was a bottle of pills sitting on her managers desk. It was Bellas prescription and her dosage strength! She had no idea where it came from, why it was just sitting on the corner of her manager’s desk, not in inventory, and not belonging to another patient. Frankly, she couldn’t explain why it was there but it was and it was now earmarked for my Bella!

She couldn’t explain why it was there, but I could, and I did! She was witnessing a miracle!

I know that it was there because it was a miracle from God! He cares about everything we care about! He is with us through every trial and tribulation that comes our way!

Miracles happen everyday, we just have to be intuned to them!

Be blessed today and I pray your spiritual eyes will be opened to all the miracles we are blessed with daily! Those of great magnitude and those of quiet grace. Be filled with our Lords love and thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine. ❤️☀️🥰

Faith is something we have.

Trust is something we do.

Trust is faith in action…It is faith that has been released! Joyce Meyer~Quiet Time with God

Faith is something we have, but we also need to actively feed it, nurture it, build it, strengthen it and keep it in constant motion. Liken it to going to the gym or your daily exercise routine. To build lean, solid muscle and a healthy body, proper maintenance is required.

The same goes with our walk, trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:17 ESV “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”

We are living in a blessed time regarding information about anything and everything right at the end of our fingertips. The Internet is a wealth of opportunity and options. There are numerous online sermons, podcasts, devotions, and teachings. This includes The Bible in many translations, all teaching the word of God.

Hebrews 1:1 ESV “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We’ve read, listened to, and attended. Now comes the time to flex our spiritual muscles. We cast our cares upon him in prayer! Then we trust, standing firm in our beliefs. Standing even stronger when the storm winds of doubt or fear threaten our test of faith. Standing firm, never wavering or doubting because we trust and know that the Lord’s word always rings true.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Ok, here comes the test! This is where the endurance starts, faith, not sight! Your life might resemble the storm in The Wizard of Oz; everything is up in the air and spinning out of control. You just received news causing the light at the end of the tunnel to go very dim. The fog is so dense you can’t see, and all you can feel is the dark, cold dampness!

Then, flex that faith muscle and keep flexing because…

Luke 1:37 ESV “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Of this, I have no doubt! On this I stand! On this I believe!

Be blessed today, and thank you for spending a little time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️🥰

Have you noticed that this year not only is the retail world adorning their shelves and commercials towards Christmas now at the same time as Halloween, but we as a collective group seems to be more anxious to put up our own Christmas decorations?

I have heard people griping for years about the fact that the retail world, minus the grocery stores, has rushed over Thanksgiving without a thought in pressure to start the Christmas Holiday shopping season!

I am not big on Halloween, and I try and be thankful every day…so bringing in Christmas early has never bothered me, but this year, it feels different! Hurried!!! Needed!!!

We are living in a weird and rough time. Inflation is full-blown, and people are suffering. Fear of the unknown is rampant; tomorrow feels daunting, and today, people are scared and struggling.

This is just my opinion but…

We, as a people, are ushering in Christmas earlier this year because whether you believe in the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, or just get swept away in the spirit of the season, which again is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We desperately need the hope, love, joy, festivities, glitter, and sparkle that arrives in December!

Matthew 1:21 NIV “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 2:11 NIV “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:14 NIV “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Isaiah 9:6 NIV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

And I think it’s right there in a nutshell…Prince of Peace! We are all looking for joy, smiles, good times, and peace.

Thank you, Father God, for the gift and salvation of your son Jesus Christ!

Jesus, we celebrate You and your birth this month of December

Let the Holidays begin!❤️

Thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine and may your Sunday be a blessed and peaceful one! ☀️❤️🥰

I don’t need a special day to be thankful for all the love and blessings in my life, but today is a good time to reflect and for some to slow down enough to count their blessings and not reflect on their sorrows.

We can be thankful for our health, our families, our places of employment, or possibly our state of retirement. We can be grateful for the food on the table, a roof over our heads, and the simplicities we have due to the period in which we live.

We can be thankful for our friends, laughter, fun, and joy. We can be grateful for our accomplishments and the life we’ve created around us! We can be thankful for the beauty of nature, the sounds of the wild, the smell of the outdoors, and the scents emanating from the kitchen…

But of all of these earthly, fleshly gratitudes, the thankfulness needs to start with above!

Psalm 107:1 ESV “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Ephesians 5:20 ESV “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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.”

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” Our Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Colossians 3:15 ESV “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Psalm 95:2 ESV “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.”

Psalm 118:28 ESV “You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.”

There are to many scriptures to list but I shall end with a scripture I stand on, daily!

Psalm 28:7 ESV “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

I pray you have a bounty of peacefulness and thankfulness today. May the love and warmth of our Lord Jesus reign in your hearts and spirits. May we slow down enough to count our blessings and to give thanks!

I am thankful for you! Be blessed today and thank you for sharing a bit of sunshine with me today! ❤️☀️🥰

Do you feel as though you are invisible?

Are you in a situation that feels out of your control?

Did a series of events lead you to a place of shock and dismay?

Are there people in your world who are in places where all you can do is cover them daily in prayers of protection, safety and deliverance that can only come from God above?

I could ask one question after another of different scenarios where we might feel lost and alone; forgotten and forlorn!

I have two words of comfort and hope, “God Sees.”

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

Psalm 33:18 ESV “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.”

Psalm 33:13 ESV “The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man.”

Job 3:16 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.”

Jeremiah 23:24 ESV “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ Declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth? Declares the Lord?”

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 right hand.”

I find great comfort in the fact that our Father in Heaven always has his eyes on me! I strive to walk as clean and right as I can, knowing God sees me but the greatest comfort is when I am in the midst of an earthly battle that my God not only sees me but he sees the ones I love as well!

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

So, if you are sitting uncomfortable, waiting, and wondering … or if you are praying for others who are in an uncomfortable position, place them in Gods hands and sit back and trust in the fact…He sees us and He loves us!

Be blessed today and thank you for stopping by and spending a couple of moments with God in Sunshine. Have a fantastic day! ☀️❤️☺️

I will love you forever! Till death us do part! I will go to my grave loving you! I loved you yesterday. I love you today. I will love you tomorrow.

Have you ever been told these promises and declarations of love?

All sounds great until it isn’t! I can’t speak for 100% of the world’s population, but I can surmise that more of us have broken those promises and had those promises broken than those who haven’t.

We are human, mere flesh and blood with emotions that run hot and cold regularly! So, where does that leave us? Whom can we trust with our hearts if we can’t fully trust the fickle man?

God! That’s who!

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.”

Hebrews 13:5 ESV “Keep your life free from money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you not forsake you.”

Joshua 1:5 ESV “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 94:14 ESV “For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage.”

Forsaken: adjective. “To be abandoned or deserted.” Oxford Languages

It’s hard to trust in the world today! Maybe it’s always been this way, perhaps I was blessed to grow up in a small eastern Oregon community where life seemed slower, and everyone knew everyone and seemed to care.

Covid isolated us and severely changed our society. A curious new fear has seeped in that wasn’t there before, and the world seems colder and more separated than ever.

Has life left you alone and lonely?

Then daily pray this scripture to our Lord and let his love, peace and presence gently wrap itself around you!

Psalm 25:16 ESV “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”

There was a song out when I was about 13 that had a verse, “put your hand in the hand of the man who stills the waters; put your hand in the hand of the man who calms the seas.”

This still rings true today. Reach out and find comfort in the one who holds all the waters of the world in the palm of his hand…that’s a mighty big hand that can hold you too!

Please, remember, You are never alone.

Thank you for stopping by Sunshine and may your day be blessed with such! ☀️❤️☺️

“Your history is not your destiny!” Joyce Meyers: Quiet Time with God

The actions of our youth, the mistakes, the wrong choices, the stupid repeats, ignorance, corrupt associations, the thrills, unhealthy living!

Do any or all of these sound familiar?

Have you been labeled? Have you labeled yourself?

History can and should teach us, but it doesn’t define us!

“We need to stop remembering what God has forgotten.” Joyce Meyers: Quiet Time with God”

We need to stop worrying about what others might be thinking about us, remembering about us, or how they are possibly judging us!

As my pastor so eloquently puts it, “who you were and what you did BC is in the past, buried and forgotten”… The BC is Before Christ came into your heart and life.

Psalm 103:12 NLT “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Remember the east and west have no poles as the north and south do…you can travel east and west circling the earth indefinitely and never reach a pole…

In other words God has removed our sins into infinity! Gone, forgotten, never to resurface again. You are a new you!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone and a new life and begun.”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Your word tells me I am forgiven of my history. Your word tells me my sins have been removed from me and forgotten by you.

Lord, I need your help forgiving myself and meditating, and letting your words of love, forgiveness, and newness become my new mantra.

Please, Lord, help me to see myself and others as you see! You don’t see us as the world views us; allow me to see through your eyes.

Thank you for the forgiveness of my past and the security of my tomorrow with you…Lord Jesus, you are my destiny.

I love you, I praise you, and I humbly thank you for all the good that is in my life as it is from you. In your glorious name I commit this prayer. Amen 🙏

I pray for you a blessed day of freedom! Thank you for stopping by and spending a few moments in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

I don’t know about you, but I have been meeting myself coming and going. I sit down with a cup of coffee only to get back up again, leaving it to turn cold. This errand, that appointment, what meeting, what time, and how will I fit that in? Sound familiar?

I was discussing this with God this morning. I haven’t been to church in over three weeks; my husband was amazed I had nothing to do this weekend! I am empty!

Now What?

I begin by sharing my feelings and emotions with God and asking him for strength and refreshment!

I look up scriptures using words describing what I need!

I go upstairs to my pink room and turn on last Wednesday nights sermon and watch it! I take advantage of a free weekend and join my pastor tomorrow morning for some spiritual breakfast!

The great news is there are more resources for us today than ever to unplug from the world and its constant noise and plug into God and his quiet peace!

Jeremiah 31:25 ESV “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

1 Corinthians 16:18 ESV “For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.” Thank you, Pastor Brett Meador!

Psalm 19:7 ESV “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

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

Philemon 1:20 ESV “Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.”

Refreshment locations…

Brett Meador: Athey Creek Christian Fellowship…atheycreek.com

James Grizzle: Calvary Galveston…calvarygalveston.com

Greg Laurie: Harvest Church…harvest.org

Steven Furtick: Elevation Church…elevationchurch.org

Jack Hibbs: Calvary Chapel Chino Hills…calcarycch.org

I have listed a few pastors who preach straight from The Lords Word; directly out of the Bible! Not their take or their opinions but actual teaching of the actual word and it’s meaning and context!

If my Four Square church isn’t your style then simply do a search for Christian, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Evangelical…you know your denomination the lists of churches in your area or…online! Your possibilities are endless!

Please, be sure your teachings are words from the Bible and not participles from someone’s mouth. Be careful as one word delivered in a wrong context can change the whole verse meaning!

Matthew 7:15 NIV “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

In today’s society, it’s all ok! If it feels good, it’s ok! Don’t speak the truth or someone might be offended! The law of the land, we refuse such laws. It’s old. So it’s worn out and has no value any longer! Authority, we hate authority!!!

However, it’s not all ok! We are a big mess down here! God does have specific rules and laws of nature. Hell, isn’t a beer truck surrounded by the good old boys laughing and having a party! It’s real…its dark…its forboding and forever! Beware, be careful and be AWARE!!!

Thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine. I’m off to refresh; maybe I’ll see you there. ☀️❤️☺️

Today we honor the men and women from the beginning of time who sacrificed their time and lives protecting you and me.

Psalms 144:1 ESV “Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

Our society today rises up and proclaims to be anti-war! I’m not a warmonger, but where would we be right now without our histories mighty battles. Scream, carry signs, yell for peace, but you have the freedom to do so because of those who fought and laid down their lives for you!!! Don’t ever forget that!!!

Those little old men shuffling along in the parades, proudly wearing their uniforms, displaying medals and stars that tell of their once bravery. There was a day not long ago these little old gents were some mean lean fighting machines. They weren’t 90 and above in Germany, Italy or Japan. They weren’t 70 or 80 in Vietnam. They were young, trained and mighty warriors.

The nightmares still ravage these defenders of you and me, who shuffle and wear their veteran’s hats proudly atop their gray crowns. They deserve our love, respect, gratitude, help, and comfort in their later days. These men and women deserve a Heisman Mansion.

Psalms 71:9 NIV “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

Job 12:12 NIV “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding.”

Leviticus 19:32 ESV “Show respect to old people; stand up in their presence. Show respect also to your God. I am the Lord.”

So, the next time you see one of our prestigious soldiers, whether of today or yesterday, offer them a smile, a salute, a nod of gratitude because where would we be without them. Thank you, Veterans, young and old; I am forever indebted to you! Be blessed today, and Thank you for spending a little time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️