Have you ever stopped and honestly thought about the privilege you’ve been granted through the salvation of Jesus Christ?

There are too many to list, but this morning, as I was spending time with God, and he was spending time with me! I was reminded of a powerful privilege…Prayer!

The fact that I can boldly approach the throne of God, sit on his lap, or at his feet, possibly on the arm of his chair with my head on his shoulder, is a powerful privilege.

It sounds like what I used to do as a little girl with my dad, and I still do once in a while. I grew up with a wonderful father and knew the freedom of running to him when I had a hurt or need or wished to share something of joy and delight.

I grew up with a powerful privilege that transferred into a comfortable relationship with my Father God! The benefit of my dad taught me the power of a father who loved me, took care of me, supplied all my needs, and was a best friend. Someone I could always talk to about anything!

We can have all of that and more with God! He loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for our sins. God didn’t want to be separated from us! He wanted a genuine relationship with us! So he sent his son Jesus so that all who would believe in him and call him Lord could run to the throne, plop down, and start talking!

Hebrews 4:16 NIV “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

We can laugh and share our joyous day or run in all a fluster and madder than a little wet hen, just needing to vent. I believe the Lord wants us to be honest with him! He sees us anyway; we aren’t hiding anything; if you don’t understand, ask! If you don’t like what’s happening in your world, ask what YOU need to do to change it…wisdom will come if you seek it.

James 1:5 ESV “If any if you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

We are a blessed generation because of all of our freedoms!

Freedoms that weren’t free!

There once was a solid heavy curtain that separated God from his people, and only the ordained could approach the throne of God in prayer for the people. Imagine taking your prayer requests to a Rabbi, a Priest, or your Minister telling them your deepest fears, trials, worries, and cares so they, in turn, could petition God on your behalf! Uck!!!

Thank you, Father God, for the gift of your son Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your obedience to the cross. Thank you for dying for my sins, causing the curtain to tear in half, welcoming all with your outstretched arms.

I turn to you in prayer, My Lord, and you, in turn, listen!

Now, that’s a powerful privilege!

Be blessed today and thank you for sharing a few moments in Sunshine ☀️❤️☺️

Did you know that God is always with us?

Did you know he is with you even when you don’t sense it, realize it, or at particular moments even want him to be?

Did you know that God never stops loving us?

Did you know that even when we turn our backs on him, hide from him out of shame, walk a side path or two, backslide, and even get lost amongst the hustle and bustle of life? He is always there, waiting, hoping we will turn back to Him!

Did you know it’s never too late?

How do I know that? Because I have done all of the above at different times of my life! But, two years ago, I started my blog called Sunshine and everything was going great! I thought I had finally found my calling for the Lord while my time here on earth.

And, as typical of life, just about the time I thought I had it all figured out, some changes came along in my home and world. My routine and time frames were changed, and along with that, Satan got his hooks in my ears and head that no one reads your blog anyway; you are just wasting your time. Time, I suddenly didn’t seem to have much of!

I have been wandering, stumbling, praying, and growing this past year. I still have the same prayer, “Father, I miss Sunshine and the special connection it gave us; please take the desire to write away if it’s not to be.”

Then a few mornings ago, as I was praying, my whiney little prayer the Holy Spirit placed on my heart that I hadn’t been asking for the same blessing I used to ask for every morning. “Father God, who do you wish to speak to today, and what do you wish to say!”

Dawning! The past couple of mornings, I have had tidbits of a spiritual spark inside and could have written BUT inside me came the thought, “it’s too late; you will now look stupid writing after all this time; you’ve lost the few who read your words so just let it peacefully die.”

Those were lies and tricks from the evil one who roams our earth, filling it with dread and darkness! Because at the same time, in a much gentler voice, I heard, “it’s never too late.”

So, whether you have dropped the ball and want to pick it back up. You’ve made tremendous mistakes and are afraid. You are surrounded by darkness and don’t know what to do! Take hold of our Lord Jesus Christ’s hand and walk boldly into the darkness, for He is our Light.

It’s a simple prayer; “Lord, I am lost, afraid, I feel unworthy, I have believed the lies for too long, I am tired, I am wore out and I need your rest, strength and peace. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for walking beside me always, leading me down your path of quietness rather than the crowded path filled with the ugly noise of the world.”

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.”

Joel 2:12-13 ESV ~ “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; he relents over disaster.

So, here you see! I did it…I ignored the lies of the evil one and held onto my Lords hand and this morning I accomplished something I have greatly missed. You can as well! It’s Never Too Late!!!

Welcome back to Sunshine! I have missed you and being here ❤️

Good Morning My Dearest God,

I am so thankful that you know my heart!

I am so thankful that you know me better than I know myself.

I strive daily, Lord, to do right, to be aware of those around me, not only those who belong to me but those living on the outskirts.

Often all I can do is offer a prayer to you for those on the side of the road, homeless, hungry, and dirty. I give when I can and share what I have been blessed with.

I often miss the mark!

I try and have good and pleasing thoughts but often fall way short…I am thankful when I reign in my out-of-control mind, turn to you and ask for forgiveness, knowing you will forgive! How am I so sure you will forgive? Because you know my heart, and you are a loving God who understands and forgives when his children seek.

Thank you, Lord, for your word and example, teaching me, showing me, growing me. I am thankful that you have taken residency in my heart and spirit, helping me every day to be a better me.

I love that I live in the peace and comfort of your arms. I know life will and does strike, but when I stand in the shadow of your protection, I know that I am standing on the rock, and even tho storm winds may blow, I will stand firm!

Lord Jesus! You are my Rock!

So as I begin this glorious Sunday, your day, My Lord! I start it with a prayer of thankfulness, a prayer of gratefulness, a prayer of peace.

Peace knowing you love me, good and bad, that you will help me weed out my bad, bringing forth joy, life, and laughter to my spirit.

Knowing, my heart and desire are to please you!

I thank you for your forgiveness when I come up short. Thank you for loving me just as I am but never leaving me that way! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your sacrifice on the cross, enabling me to go past the curtain into the sanctuary of our God!

Sitting at the foot of the throne, a child of the highest! I am humbled and thankful from the bottom of my heart!

In your beautiful name Lord Jesus, I commit this prayer! Amen 🙏

Prayers are easy! Why do we try and make them so hard?

Prayers are simply communicating with Our Lord.

They don’t have to be fancy and long-winded, using only thee’s and thou’s, along with big fancy words in which you probably don’t know the meaning.

First off, relax, knowing God already knows your circumstances. He already knows the turmoil, confusion, dismay, temptations, disasters, and your sins.

Our Lord is our best friend! How do you visit with a friend…you talk! So talk, ‘Lord, I don’t know what to say, I am feeling, I am so mad, I am so sad, I am confused and don’t know what to do, I am tired of hurting, I am tired of being sick, I am tired of…it can go on and anywhere!

Once you’ve talked your heart out, screamed your heart out, or cried your heart out…then take a big breath, thank him for listening and then ask for guidance, direction, a plan, peace, health, strength; it’s your prayer and need so ask for it and his assistance in achieving.

THEN, towards the end, start thanking him for the good in your life, your family, health, eyesight, home, car, job, friends…even amid our pain or confusion, we can always find something to be thankful for, such as We don’t have bombs going off yards away from our homes and our air is fresh and breathable.

Again, prayers don’t have to be fancy or wordy!

Dear Lord, HELP ME…in your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen

Dear Lord, I LOVE YOU AND TRUST YOU…in your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen

Dear Lord, I am so tired…please give me the strength I need. In your name Lord Jesus I pray. Amen

Father God, I know I am a sinner, and I fall short. I believe you sent your son to save my sins and I ask for you to come into my life and heart. Be my Lord and Savior, help me grow within you as I know I will now spend eternity in heaven with you. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen

If you can take a few minutes of quiet alone time and truly let your heart out to God, you will come away so refreshed. Whether that prayer is a prayer of pain or a prayer of rejoicing. But, again, it doesn’t have to belong and be prim and proper!

Just pray what’s in your heart and on your mind.

And always remember to Thank and be Thankful…

Have a blessed day and as always, thank you for joining me. 🥰

Good Morning Lord,

I was moved by my morning journal/devotion to writing a prayer rather than a response to the message, and, in doing so, I felt the nudge to share.

Dear Lord Our Father God,

You always have our best interest at heart! Your word tells us you have a plan and a path for each and every one of us and that you would reveal that plan if we were only to ask!

We have ideas, desires, dreams and goals! I ask Lord that you would help us to remember to invite you into those ideas, desires, dreams and goals.

To be reminded to discuss said thoughts and plans with you! Asking for your direction and a guidance. Turning to your word for wisdom and knowledge.

Thank you for helping us understand that your no answers are just as magnificent as your yes’s, and your silence is ‘a not yet,’ help us be patient and cognitive of your timing.

Trust, Lord, help us to trust you as we navigate through these troubled times. We don’t know which news station to trust, our government is on its own agenda these days, and world war seems to loom on our horizons; people are scared.

I pray for an outpouring of You Lord, that those of us with mouths will speak, that our eyes will see and reveal the truths and our ears will hear from you and your word, along with ministers teaching your word and your word only!

Many ministers sadly have started blending into the world’s views and ways, trying hard to make and keep everyone happy! Your word tells us not everyone will be! It’s not a free for all, and the ‘if it feels good, it’s ok’ era was a lie.

It’s not ok, we’re not okay and it’s going to get worse! Lord, I pray for your spiritual awakening amongst your warriors, a boldness that we’ve never experienced before, and the audacity to speak the truth!

We thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in us and ask him to be loud! He would show us your plan and path for our lives and that they are illuminated, shining brightly for us to see and follow.

I humbly thank you, Lord, for all that is good in my life and the lives of those I love. I commit this prayer in your glorious name Lord Jesus. Amen 🙏

Some of the dynamics in my household changed a few months ago, causing changes in my life that caused more changes and a few more after that!

My sleep patterns are always a roller coaster ride, and my husband has been waking before me rather than the usual, me up with plenty of quiet morning time to myself and God.

I started noticing my writing was sporadic and seriously missed it. The world doesn’t care, but a few do and noticed along with me that Sunshine hasn’t been around much! I am so touched by the kind words of those who share God’s messages with me!

Within my prayers, the last few months, I’ve received those quiet promptings that I know are the Holy Spirit! Make Time! Get up earlier! Hmmm, that’s a commitment, Lord, you know I’m retired; I no longer have to succumb to the nasty, noisy alarm clock!

I move along, continuing my prayers of missing Sunshine, desiring to write once again, Lord, but I don’t have the time anymore, excuse, excuse, excuse!!! I once again hear the prompts! Only this time, I got up out of my chair, walked into the room my husband was in, and asked him to please gently wake me up in the mornings that he rises before me so that I have enough time to read and write.

He did just that, and here I am!

1 John 5:14-15 ESV “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Isaiah 65:2-4 ESV “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” God knows of our needs and desires before we do but turning to him in prayer opens the door to his will, his way, his power!!!

John 10:27 ESV “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Jeremiah 33:3 NCV “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

James 1:5 ESV “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Our Lord hears our prayers; he may not act as quickly as we want or hope. He may give us gentle nudges and promptings, leaving it up to whether we truly desire or love the excuse.

I hope you have a blessed day, and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Have you ever felt too small? Have you ever felt defeated before you even attempted to try? Have you ever felt unworthy of a task set before you?

Allow me to introduce you to Gideon. He was a young Israelite who lived in fear, despair and intimidation. For seven years, the enemy tribe of the Midianites waged war against Gideon’s people.

When we first meet Gideon, he’s threshing wheat in a wine press! Why, is he threshing wheat in a wine press rather then outside where the wind would separate the chaff from the grain? Because the enemy has already destroyed crops and stripped the land of everything they could carry away. He was hiding!

Judges 6:12-16 NCV “The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, ‘The Lord is with you mighty warrior!’ Then Gideon said, ‘Sir if the Lord is with us, why are we having so much trouble? Where are the miracles our ancestors told us he did when the Lord brought them out of Egypt? But he has left us and has handed us over to the Midianites.’ The Lord turned to Gideon and said, ‘Go with your strength and save Isreal from the Midianites. I am the one sending you.’ But Gideon answered, ‘Lord, how can I save Isreal? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.’ The Lord answered him, ‘I will be with you. It will seem as if the Midianites you are fighting are only one man.”

So, Gideon was able to summon 32,000 men, and they set up camp near the Spring of Harod, located above the Midianite base, their total being 135,000 men…now that had to be a bit intimidating!!!

Then on top of that, God gave the Israelite men who were afraid the option of going home…20,000 departed! Then the Lord instructed Gideon to lead the men down to the water and to pick only the men who reached down with their hands to scoop up water to drink. Out of the 10,000, this whittled the Israelite army down to 300! WHAT!!!

In the middle of the night, as instructed by God, Gideon divided the 300 fighting men into three groups, giving each a trumpet and an empty clay jar with a torch burning inside. Then they silently encircled the sleeping Midianites!

Judges 7:20 NCV, “All three groups of Gideon’s men, blew their trumpets and smashed their jars. They held their torches in their left hands and their trumpets in their right hands. Then they shouted a sword for the Lord and for Gideon.”

The commotion and confusion of the unaware sleeping soldiers caused chaos and defeat within the Midianite camp. All because of God the uncommon and 300 Israelite men.

I love this about our God! He is the God of deliverance. He is the God of WOW!!! He hears our prayers and, in His timing and way, answers those prayers. He is a God of the uncommon so that when he does work on our behalf, we know that we know that we know it was Him!

So the next time you are facing a mountain, an enemy, a giant, a raging river, or everyday life…remember to pray and be ready for the Uncommon!

God used Gideon, and he can use you too! Thank you for joining me, and I hope you have a blessed day!

Joshua 23:11 NIV “So be very careful to love the Lord your God.”

Be on guard, have care, beware, be alert…all synonymous with…being careful.

What does this mean to beware to love God? To be on guard to love God? To be alert to love God? Well, precisely that, we can get so busy, so hurried or worried, so stressed or depressed that we forget to turn to and or to praise too.

These battles are when the flesh outweighs the spirit! We are trying to figure it all out on our own with our limitations. I believe that when we love the Lord and have a relationship, a friendship, a parental relationship with him, we think of him first, we turn to him first!

Here are the two verses that read before instructing us to remember to love the Lord!

Joshua 23:9-11 NCV “The Lord has forced many great nations to leave ahead of you. No nation has been able to defeat you. With his help, one Isrealite could defeat a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, as he promised to do. So you must be careful to love the Lord your God.”

Do you have a nation that needs to be defeated? Probably not, but things are broken in the house that needs to be repaired, a broken car, a broken marriage, a broken body, a broken spirit, a shifting mind, fear, pain, heartache, addiction, jobless, hopelessness? Big nations within worlds!

It may be hard to believe, but God cares about every aspect of your world. He hates to see his children suffer and is waiting for us to remember him, look up and say, Help!

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpassed all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Jesus Christ.”

So, the next time you are feeling alone, lonely, scared, defeated, or especially pleased, blessed, and peaceful, don’t forget to remember to love God!

James 1:17 NIV “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Thank you, Lord, for loving us, waiting for us, protecting us, helping us! We turn to you as a child would their parent asking for your strength, peace, deliverance and blessings. Papa God, you know our needs, and I thank you for supplying them to those who look to you for help. Thank you for always being with us, even when we feel alone. I love you, today, tomorrow, and for eternity. In your glorious name Lord Jesus I pray. Amen

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

It sounds like something Buzz Lightyear would say to Woody, and I believe he did!

It’s what Jesus is saying to us! He held out his hands on the cross and invited us to hold onto them and walk with him.

We don’t need to be perfect! We don’t need to have it all together! We don’t need a title or lineage to belong to God’s family!

We need to believe in the one who came to save us from ourselves. We need to walk in faith and trust in the words of our Creator.

I am reading a devotional/journal this year, and I love that this one reads like a love letter from God every day! This morning’s reading was about Rahab, the prostitute who hid the spies and helped them escape in the book of Joshua. It was her faith in the One True God that spared her and her family during the invasion of Jericho.

The devotion was speaking of God using people of faith and how the world looks at the outside while God looks at the inside. I so appreciate this about God; However, there was another line that stood out to me this morning, “Your belief that I can do wonders in your life is precious to me.” (Grit and Grace by Elle Claire)

To think that our simple act of faith is precious to God! That by loving him, acknowledging him, and honoring him to the best of our ability is all we need to bring to the table; God will do the rest!

Ephesians 3:20 NIV “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Immeasurably More ~ Above and Beyond!!!

John 16:33 ESV “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Peace, protection, direction, provision, eternity are just a few of the many blessings the Lord gives to those who love him and call him father. He loves you right where you are, dressed in designers or rags, whether you are sober or drunk, or even madder than hell at him! He’s there; he loves, he’s waiting…won’t you reach out and take the hand that he offers? Talk to him; I promise he’s listening!

I hope you are blessed today, and if you are, try and share it! Thank you for joining me. 🥰

Good Morning My Lord, My Father God…

Here I am once again bowed humbly at your feet.

I pray for your will to be done, dear Lord, as we watch more destruction come upon the world. Another war, more innocent lives lost, and yet your word tells us to watch for signs such as these.

You give us a payable in the book of Matthew to learn from the fig tree; as soon as its twigs get tender and the leaves come out, we know to watch for summer!

Are you giving us warning signs? Are you putting prophecy on display right before our very eyes? I personally believe you are and know now is not the time to sit back and watch!

Lord, give your warriors young and old ears to hear, eyes to see, and mouths to use for your glory. Please give us your strength and wisdom to share with the blind and lost.

Now is not the time to bury our heads in the sand, to look the other way. We need to be loud and proud, Lord!

Thank you, Lord, for your loving hand upon the innocent, your protection of the oppressed, peace, and news for families near and far who are worried about loved ones caught in the crossfire.

Today and tomorrow belong to you, and I thank you for your direction, provision, and protection upon those you call yours.

In your mighty name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!