A Saga, the definition: a long story of heroic achievement. A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents. Jesus’ time on earth gives us a man of heroic achievements! Our walk and growth with and in him, our history, and a life of adventures! Our Saga!

Drawing closer asks that we consider others, caring for other people in need rather than focusing on our wants, conditions, and desires.

Philippians 2:4 ESV “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

James 3:17 ESV “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Matthew 7:2 ESV “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

We are asked as his representatives that we watch our tones of voice! That we are aware of our style of speech, our language! Oh Boy!!! This is a tough one for me and a daily challenge of wills! My old character nature vs. the new creation I long and strive to become.

By nature I can be rude, cutting, sarcastic and very uppity!!! I have a tone and look that grieves my Lord often and sends me to my knees in prayers of forgiveness! You see I don’t want to be that person who is rude and mean! I want to be a joyful, kind and happy me!

Titus 3:2 ESV “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

Proverbs 22:11 ESV “He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.”

Jesus is my King! Jesus is my Best Friend!

I long to grow closer to Jesus because, through his love, grace, gentleness, and examples, I become a nicer, better me! I’m also a representation of him, and the deeper I grow in him, the more it means to me to represent him properly!

The changes don’t happen overnight! I am a work in progress every day, and so are you! The key to change is the desire to allow him to work in you, in your life and the rest will gracefully fall into place!

Philippians 1:6 ESV “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

So in conclusion we are to be aware of how we treat others! We need to be aware of how we appear to others! We need the desire to grow closer to the one who can produce all these changes within us!

Dear Lord, you know it’s hard down here to always be your shining examples. The world and life are full of challenges, and sometimes people or situations get the best of us. In those times, Lord, that our character nature wins, we ask for your loving forgiveness and the grace and strength to dust ourselves off, straighten ourselves back up, and move forward with you right beside us. I thank you for the changes within me every day. In your glorious name Lord Jesus, I bow humbly before you. Amen 🙏

Thank you for joining me and I hope you have a blessed day and a wonderful week! 🥰

Dear Lord My Father In Heaven,

I lift to you this morning, Lord, the Dads!

It’s a big load these men carry; give them strength to be the example to the eyes that watch and emulate. Within that strength, Lord provide them with the tenderness to gently touch and love.

I thank you, Lord, for peace to the unemployed fathers who are worried about the future; let your quietness rest upon them as they seek and search. Let you hand lead them to their next quest.

I thank you, Lord, for a day of total rest, for the dads who are overworked and underpaid. I pray their families will feel his value and recognize all he is and does! That he will feel honored today!

Lord, I pray for all the deadbeat dads out there! I pray for a revival among these men who make children but then offer nothing, no time, no support, no appearances…nothing! I pray that you put people in their paths who open their eyes to the fact that a child needs a father figure! That children come with responsibilities, grow up and make yourself a man!

Lord, I pray a hedge of protection around the families of the abusive father. Keep them safe from his cruel hands and mouth! Please, Lord, put your arms around them and lead them to safety and the father to jail and counseling! Thank you for showing these children that love isn’t supposed to hurt!

Lord, I say an extra special prayer for the men who step into the shoes of a father. The men who love someone else child as their own, treat them as their own, raising them up in you, Lord, and how they should live in life and make the best choices—being a father to the fatherless.

I lift up the men who aren’t fathers or stepfathers but the uncles, the grandpa’s, the neighbor, the Big Brother or Foster! Bless them Lord for taking the time to pay attention to the kid or kids who need a male figure in their lives, for stepping into a few roles in the life or lives of children who are without that figure.

I lift the sons and daughters to you today whose dads and daddies have passed and are now residing with you. I ask for a special air of peace, joy, love, memories, and miles of smiles to grace their hearts today!

I thank you, Lord, for being the Best Father ever and for your words of wisdom and teachings of how we too can become the best Father/People we possibly can!

Thank you, Lord, for this day! Thank you, Lord, my sons, are fathers! Thus making me a grandma! Most of all, thank you for my daddy! I was blessed with the most wonderful father a girl could ever have, and I thank you that he is still with me.

In your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray these things for all our dads! Amen!

Happy Father’s Day! May your day be blessed! 🥰

The desire to draw closer to Jesus is and should be a lifelong goal, a way of life, your second nature. He isn’t a fad diet, a flash in the pan, someone’s agenda or idea of the time. He is the God of all creation, the giver of life, and guarantor of freedom from eternal death.

He is a lover (as in He loves) a friend, a companion, a confidante, a protector, provider, healer, teacher and parent! Why wouldn’t you want to get to know this guy! He’s amazing!!!

The next step in growing closer to Jesus is wisdom. How does one grow in understanding? The desire to learn is the first key; second, absorbing knowledge of the said subject. In today’s world of technology you can read online, be read to online, find an Utube study, teacher, and sermons. A word of caution, be sure your teachings are from the Bible, in the days ahead, many false teachers will lead many in the wrong direction. The ‘if it feels good, it’s ok’ society and propaganda are alive and loud!!! Open your Bible as you listen; make sure what you are hearing and learning lines up with the word of God! Ok, a little effort is another key! 😉

Like 2:52 NLT “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people”

Be Humble! Set your ego aside, let your pride down, let yourself be ok with the fact you don’t have it all figured out and need help! Open up to the thought that you don’t know it all and some guidance would be a breath of fresh air! Learn to put other before yourself and that’s as simple as just caring about someone other then yourself. It’s difficult as we live in a ‘Me, Me, Me culture! Don’t ever be too big to say you’re sorry or too little to accept one!

Ephesians 4:31 ESV “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.”

John 13:12-17 NLT “After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done unto you. I tell you the truth; slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

In these passages, the message is not literal, we aren’t expected to go out and wash people’s feet, and for this, I am most thankful. Still, Jesus’ message is one that we as Christians should work on adopting, and that’s an attitude of humility and self-sacrifice. We should never be above loving and serving (help) others.

I hope this brings you more insight into your path to a world that includes Jesus! The world is still a mess, but he’ll bring peace into your little corner! Ponder that, and while doing so, remember that you mean the world to Jesus!

Be blessed today and try and be a blessing to someone else!!! Thank you for joining me…🥰

Good morning, I am up before the early bird! I am blessed to be one of four adults to be allowed to attend my grandson’s honorary ceremony as he graduates from grade school to middle school! I am so proud of him, but…middle school…already!!!

My prayer for you is to have a blessed day!

One of the most incredible things to come from this blog is how my relationship with Jesus has developed and grown. Yes, I’ve been saved and believed in Jesus since I was eight years old. However, I grew up in a Jewish family, and we spoke of and to God!

In prayer this morning, I was thanking Jesus for my ever-changing walk and growth within him. I am excited as our friendship/relationship daily reaches a new pinnacle of understanding and depth!

So, how does one go about doing just that…creating and having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

1st and foremost, you need to get to know who he is and what he did! The four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament of the Bible is the first place to start. The accounts of his ministry and time on earth are recorded and written by four men who walked beside him in the flesh! They walked with him, talked with him, laughed with him, shared meals with him, and he taught them!

Second, you need the desire to know him! When you meet someone who piques your interest, you have a natural desire to want to spend time with them, talk to them, be around them. We can do the same thing with Jesus! Jesus has been with God from the beginning of time. Genesis 1:26a NLT “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” The Old Testament prophecies usher in Jesus, and Jesus within the gospels of the New Testament fulfill all the prophesies, again read his word and talk to him” he will talk back! I Promise!

Third, you need to care for and about other people! Matthew 25:40 NIV “The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” What Jesus is saying is when we lend a helping hand, visit a shut-in, feed the hungry, give to the poor, love when we would rather fight, speak the truth and speak it with love. These actions are not only a reflection of our Lord, but these acts draw us closer to him in our spirits.

As we spend time with Jesus, He spends time within us, something magical happens, we begin to experience a renewed mind, a different way of thinking and viewing!

Romans 12:2 ESV “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Philippians 4:8 ESV “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

So I shall try and be a help to others in need. I shall read my Bible, starting with the four Gospels. I will try and not judge those who are different than myself and pray for others alongside prayers for my family…

That’s a great start…join me the day after tomorrow for a few more steps in our walk towards drawing closer to Jesus!

Thank you for joining me. Have a blessed day! 🥰

Pappa God, My Father In Heaven…

I sit before you this morning, waiting for your word, your spark of inspiration, listening to a bird sing its beautiful morning sonnet. The skies are blue, most of the clouds have passed, warm weather on the horizon.

So, why then, Lord, does my soul feel so sad today? Why does it feel like I have a big empty hole inside of me? I look around my home and see the furniture needs dusting, the floors need to be mopped, yet I don’t feel like doing that! I don’t feel like doing anything!

Lord, feelings, and emotions are so real, but they aren’t! They come and go; they are high then low, full to become empty and empty to become full again. Often we can pinpoint where the trouble stems; many times, it’s a bouquet of events or challenges that weigh us down. And yet, there are days when the spirit mourns!

Lord, Covid has affected much more than physical health. It’s affected our society. Once a culture of freedom, we now live behind our doors and masks because strains three, four, and five have evolved.

Nothing and no one is the same, and I find myself within a great struggle. A daily grind, Lord, that I can’t seem to get a grip on! I ask you for wisdom, clarity, insight, and understanding of what, why, and where these feelings come from.

Bring peace into my spirit! Laughter into my heart! Contentment in my soul!

I know I can’t be the only one who has fallen into a slump! I pray for those reading my words as well. I ask you, Lord Jesus, to breathe an air of fresh air through our minds, bodies, and spirits today! I pray for your breath of healing on our land! I pray for your return!

In your Glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray these things with a heart of gratitude and love. Let your sunshine into and on us today! Amen 🙏

Thank you my friends for sharing this prayer with me, I already feel much lighter! Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Guilt is a heavy and harmful piece of baggage to carry for very long! You need to reduce the size down to a small fanny pack! We are forgiven through Christ Jesus. Why carry any at all!

I believe guilt in its perimeter is valuable! The definition of guilt is “The fact of having committed a specific or implied offense or crime.” A small dose of guilt keeps us in check, in line!

Here’s the thing! Satan will use your guilt and twist it, knot it, and blow it up. He then uses it in the form of manipulation! Guilt in its verb form is to “make (someone) feel guilty, especially to induce them to do something.” It can also cause people to not do something! Think about that! Like pray! Read the Bible! Walk into a church!

Romans 8:1-2 NLT “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

Did you read that? The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you FROM the power of sin!!!

So the next time evil whispers in your ear that you have sinned too much, gone too far, can’t change, have no right to pray, read or attend, that you messed that up, fell again, or you’ve strayed too far!

Or, whispering, you aren’t good enough, look where you came from, look what you’ve done, look at what you haven’t done, you don’t pray enough, you don’t love enough, you aren’t smart enough, you’re not worthy, and you certainly don’t know enough to share Gods message, they knew you when who do you think you are!!! Lies, Lies, Lies!!!

Here’s what God counteracts with:

Psalm 103:12 NLT “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” From one scarred hand to the other …

John 10:10 NLT “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Take God at his word! Live a life of peace and joy through him! Let the evil whispers lead you to God not away from him!

I pray for you a blessed day, a chance to be a blessing and I am blessed by you! Thank you for joining me. 🥰

We all have them, and they are so often every day we don’t even realize they are there? Distractions…

Take this morning, for example…I had finished my morning devotional reading! Check! I then said my routine prayer to the Lord, asking for his inspiration for today’s devotion! Check!

My freshly made cup of coffee. Check! iPhone off the charger and in hand for scripture checks and studying tools. Check!

Ping! Oh, it’s some of my teammates/girlfriends from my internet game!!! Some of them were busy and absent over the weekend; I must say, good morning. The conversations go from there!!! Ping! Ping! Ping!

DISTRACTIONS!!!

Romans 12:2 NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing.”

1 Peter 5:8 NLT “Stay Alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

Did I do anything wrong this morning by a quick chat with my friends? Of course not but had I let myself continue in the conversation in which I was enjoying I would have allowed fleshly fun and joys get in the way of my designated time with My Lord!!!

I spend the beginnings of my day with My Father In Heaven. The enemy would love to interrupt that! Satan would have loved for me to continue visiting with my friends rather than send a message about his great enemy! God!!!

So, today’s message is about being aware of the millions of distractions that are out there, the many ploys satan uses to distract and sidetrack! It is up to us to recognize the distractions, tell our friends or self, I will be back! Shut off the TV, internet, music, or phone and dial into God’s word!

Start your day with his love and direction, let his peace fill your heart and spirit as your share time with him in his word! Then open the windows, breathe in the fresh air, and say good morning, world!

Thank you for sharing your time and busy days with me! May your day be blessed and your week full of wonder! 🥰

Dear Lord My Father In Heaven,

I bow before you this morning with thanksgiving for another day.

Another day to learn more of you and your love. To learn more of your word, assisting my walk in your ways. I am at an age, Lord; I look back on my many paths and see the times I stumbled and fell. Those times were the times I was walking far from you.

As I look back, I also see you never left me; you were always beside me, protecting and providing for me, even when I didn’t deserve it and certainly wasn’t worthy.

I know as I walked the wild side, the darker side, the disobedient side, I loved you, prayed to you, trusted in you, and walked in the assurance of your love. We, your children, need to share that message right now!!!

That even in our filth and grim of sin, you never left us, never left us to drown in the pit we created. We certainly had consequences of our choices; that’s spiritual law. But look at us now! We aren’t perfect and never will be, but we’re in better shape than before! Each day is a new day.

That’s the lesson; our actions are rewarded with the reaction of its kind!

Help us, Lord, to make the most of our lives, to use the time we have left on this earth to grow stronger and wiser in you and your ways so that we have the proper tools to share you with a world that is in pain and darkness.

Please help us to choose the correct side of the street to walk down, to walk in your grace, favor, and mercy! Thank you for giving us the strength when faced with opposition to speak your words with love, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us!

Now is the time for your words and ways to be spoken, and give us your children the strength and power to do so! Your word tells us in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.

Give us your strength Lord Jesus, and in your mighty name, I pray. With Thanksgiving and Praise…Amen!