As I said my devotional prayer for inspiration and guidance, all I kept hearing was Psalm 68…Ok! The world is in unrest, and Israel is once again in the headlines. Prophecy is at work, and we are living in a very crucial period.

Psalm 68:1-6 NLT

“Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.

Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord-rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in sun-scorched land.”

WOW!!! These are some compelling words.

When I was raising my children, I used to quote this verse; I lived on this verse and was shown by God every day his faithfulness to his word! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows.

My children had a father, but he was absent…they were fatherless! God provided a wonderful man to help raise my sons and that was my step father! There isn’t a better example of how a man should love as he! Defender of widows, I wasn’t a widow, but I was a single mom who put her hand in God’s, and he took care of my children and me every day. I was always taken care of and provided for!

He places the lonely in families. The NCV version reads, “he gives the lonely a home.” I feel that defines it clearer; family can come in many ways and forms. Family isn’t always blood!

He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy!!! No, the prison or jail cell doors will not fly open, and we become undulated with criminals. Prisons come in many forms; alcoholism, drug abuse, cigarettes, money, spending, power, food, attention, pride, some marriages, or jobs. If you are a prisoner of something that controls you He can set you free. I am living proof of that as I broke a cigarette and pain pill addiction by prayer, desire, and his strength.

But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. A life that feels empty, uncomfortably burdened, barren, dry, brown, dusty, and thirsty. No growth, pretty much lifeless! But, we can also walk through this world looking and feeling as though we own it and have it all! But do we? He who has the most toys wins, but does he? How many overdoses and suicides of the rich, wealthy or famous do we hear about! Rebellion can be pretty isolating and lonely!

There are 35 verses in this chapter…I hope you will join me tomorrow for the continuation. Be blessed today and thank you as always for joining me. 🥰

It’s a new month. I love the first new day of a new month; something is refreshing and exciting as I change the scenes of the pages of my calendars. The pages are clean except for a birthday or two! Ink hasn’t marred up the boxes yet of things to do and things accomplished.

Did you know that each morning when we rise, in Jesus’ eyes, it’s a new calendar, a new day! Your page is clean, it’s a fresh start. Yesterday has passed and so have the actions.

Lamentations 3:23 NLT “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

If Jesus makes it a point to start our days fresh and new, shouldn’t we follow his example? I know I can carry my mistakes, shortcomings, wrong choices, or actions with me until the bag is so heavy and burdensome I can’t move. Stuck!!!

Let it go! Look up, pray from your heart, repent and release, then truly let it go. You’ve given it to God and you are free to breathe his fresh air of grace and forgiveness, so move on!

I am not suggesting we do not learn from mistakes or wrong behavior. I am suggesting you learn and grow, but let go!

There is blessed freedom in Jesus Christ; I pray for you, understanding of the depth of his love. I pray joy in your heart, bounce in your steps, and peace in your spirit.

It’s a new day, a new month! Go out and bless someone, by doing so you’ll be blessed. Thank you for joining me! 🥰

Dear Lord, I bow before you humble.

Today Lord, we recognize, remember and salute our fallen soldiers, our fallen heroes. The brave special men and women that chose to serve as a front line for our way of life and freedom. All gave some, but some gave all.

We recognize, hold up and bow our heads for those who also gave all: the parents, the siblings, the grandparents, the aunts, uncles, and cousins. The spouses, the fiancé’s, the offspring’s, the best friends. They also gave so that you and I still have the freedom of choice.

Lord, help us to remember and reflect as we enjoy this special three-day weekend, and please, Lord, keep it more than just a three-day weekend. It’s a celebration of life and the lives given.

You know what it feels like Jesus to lay down your life for many who don’t recognize or appreciate, just as our fallen are unrecognized by many who shout…it’s a three-day weekend…Yay…party time!!! Oblivious to the honor of this weekend and the river of tears that will fall in remembrance, memories, and missing!

I ask you, Lord, to wrap your arms around all the family members and the comrades today whose hearts have an empty spot where a soldier once stood. Hold them and comfort them, surround them with your ministering angels. Could you help us to respect and remember?

In your beautiful name Lord Jesus I pray. Amen 🙏

I hope your heart is full of joy today because of the freedom with which you are blessed. It’s because of our military strength protecting our shores. Please give a moment to those who serve and give all. Please give a moment of silence for those who served and gave all!

I thank you for taking the time to share this prayer with me. 🥰

Dear Lord Our Father In Heaven,

I sit before you rejoicing in the beautiful blue skies peeking through the trees this morning. The quiet simple joy of Sunday, your day and the peace that comes with it.

I thank you Lord for the hedge of protection around your children today as we know Satan works overtime on Sundays. He will try and rob, steal, kill and destroy our time with you by distractions of life. Anyone trying to get the family out the door to church knows just the chaos Satan throws in the mix hoping to keep us away! Thank you Lord that his tricks seldom work.

I thank you Lord for your hand of protection always on Israel and those who stand up for her, defend her and all of your prayer warriors praying for her. I pray for protection over our country as a nation that honors God will be honored. Your word speaks strongly about nations that go against Jerusalem and Lord I’m afraid our nations government has lost sight.

Our schools have taken you out of them but now pray to Allah! Allah a god that has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and no character, resembling human life. I pray against these teachings in our schools, schools are to teach our children academics leave the religion to the churches.

Lord I thank you for your loving hand of rest and protection over us, that we may learn and grow in you enabling us to share your word, your love, your example and your saving grace.

I thank you Lord for the ability to share you through this blog and the growth it has brought to me. I thank you for my family, my friends and my neighbors.

I thank you Lord for health, healing, joy, and lots of fun and laughter today.

I thank you for this beautiful day and the spirit upon us all to appreciate you and your beauty that surrounds us.

In your glorious name Lord Jesus I pray these things with thanksgiving. Amen 😌

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

Joseph bar Jacob. The son of Jacob, his father being a Patriarch of Jerusalem and former envoy (a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission) to Egypt at the request of Julius Caesar. (Quota.com) We know him simply as “Joseph” betroth to Mary and destined to become Jesus’ stepfather.

Are you a stepfather? Are you waiting for God to send you the man who will become the step father to your child or children? Are you being cautious about who you allow being your child or children’s stepfather?

It’s not easy loving someone else’s child or children! First off, the natural physical bond and emotion are not there; second, you are filling or sharing someone else’s shoes.

Those shoes may fit great next to yours, and the relationships are mutual and respectful. Those shoes may need to gently mold and shape but remember, a potter’s pot isn’t crafted in a day; this will be a lifelong process. Those shoes may need to undo emotional or physical scars left by the words or hands of another. Those shoes may squeeze and hurt because they’ve never been worn before, and the new person in your world doesn’t want you wearing them!

Joseph is a beautiful example of a godly man. A respected man. You can find his accounts in the four gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Joseph came from a very affluent family. I imagine his mother was all a tither, the rumors, the gossip, the embarrassment. Joseph’s betrothed is pregnant! Not only that, but the story she is claiming is preposterous. His father presumably warned him against a future relationship with this gal, let’s take care of it, but we will do so quietly!

God sent Joseph a dream! Joseph chose to believe the Lord rather then what the actual circumstances appeared to be. A godly man and a man of his word. He gave his word to Mary and he kept it and by doing so honored God. He showed obedience by his trust and faith in his God.

Patience, now here’s a word that’s a struggle for most. Mary was pregnant when they married. Joseph waited until after she gave birth to consummate his marriage! He needed to have patience as he was raising God’s son, talk about pressure. Jesus was a toddler into everything, a kid who forgot to put the hammer away after he, his brothers, and buddies used it to build a fort. He indeed needed patience as Jesus, at the age of 12, stayed behind after one trip to Jerusalem, celebrating a Passover feast. The family had to travel back three days to find him in the synagogue, teaching.

Patience, honor, and respect! Luke 2:49 NIV “Why were you searching for me?’ He asked, ‘didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house.” I don’t know, but that must have hurt Joseph’s heart a tiny bit but also knowing who Jesus was and carrying Mary’s secret all these years. He knew one day Jesus’ mission would begin, and as he stood on that dusty street, Mary gathering her son to take him home knew that the time was coming closer.

Unconditional Love! Joseph is a perfect example. He cast aside his pride for his betrothed. He ignored the rumors and side glances as he walked down the street. He took a child, not of him, and raised him, loved him, taught him, and stood back when the time came and let him go.

We didn’t hear anything of Joseph when Jesus was crucified as his stepfather, and having raised this boy from birth, was not his heart torn apart also. Tradition has it that Joseph, died somewhere between the incident at the temple when Jesus was 12 and the start of his public ministry at 30 or so. (Quota.com)

So whether you’re looking for a stepfather, considering a specific man to be your child or children’s stepfather, are about to become a stepfather, are already a stepfather, or one day the circumstances have you becoming a stepfather. Please, take a good look at the example of the step father who raised our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a valuable job not one to be taken lightly.

Thank you for joining me and be blessed this weekend! 🥰

That’s what I think of when I think of Jesus! Great big mushy love that I can dive into, play in, splash around in, laze in, giggle in, and rest in!

You might be asking yourself if I am being a bit disrespectful in comparing the Lord of the world to a giant bowl of jello! I think not! I think it’s just the picture the world needs right now! Safe fun mushy Love!!!

Jesus is love!!! He loves you just as you are, just where you are! I don’t care if you are pristine white and glow or covered in filth from head to toe, He loves you! He died for YOU!

Galatians 3:28; ESV “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

There is neither young nor old, rich or poor, funny or sad, good or bad! Their is neither to right nor to wrong, to far ahead nor to far gone! Neither the healthy or the sick, the lost or the found! We all belong to Jesus, some just haven’t realized it yet!

Or because they think there are to many rules and would have to change, they turn away or worse don’t even give Him a chance. You don’t have to do anything but believe and be open to hearing his voice. The changes that come about are so gradual and light you don’t even notice until about halfway through, and the changes you are seeing become exciting and full-filling. Life changing to the highest degree!

So I hope that the next time you listen the words of Satan’s lies, you will remember Jesus’ words instead.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

Psalm 100:3 ESV “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Romans 14:8 ESV “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s .”

On this, you can dive into; On this, you can rest!

Be blessed and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Psalm 46:10 NIV “He says, ‘Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still … to relax, let go, to stop, an act of surrender.

Know that I Am God … to know God is to trust in Him and his word. By being in and learning his word we learn about God and his faithfulness, love, forgiveness but also his great protection.

I will be exalted among the nations … the word exalted means to be placed at a high or powerful level; held in high regard.

Those of us who know, follow and love the Lord, exalt him. We place him above all else in our lives. We long to praise him for the love he gives, the grace we receive that we don’t deserve, the protection and direction he brings into our lives.

Exalted among the earth … Revelation 1:7 ESV “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen”

Our world is in great unrest! People are worshiping many gods and false idols; self, money, fame, notoriety, toys, toys and more toys! A life no longer seems to matter, everything moves at the speed of sound and everyday more and more people are lost.

Now is the time to build your foundation and make it firm. The ground is going to continue to shake and crack. The waters will continue to break their invisible boundaries against the shoreline. The clouds will continue to form into swirling funnels of death and destruction. Mankind will continue to destroy.

I am sorry to be so gloomy on my page called sunshine but we need to be aware of the signs of our times and be prepared. The good news is we have 2 Chronicles 7:14 …

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Be blessed today, rest today, Gods got this and He’s got you too! Thank you for joining me. 🥰

I can easily fall into this trap and, upon speaking with others lately, find it’s easy for them also; what this trap is, is discontentment.

I will speak for myself, and you might get a glimmer of yourself as you read along! I am bored! I have plenty to keep me busy, but I’m bored with that! I am longing for summer and the warm breezes that accompany it.

I long for simplicity, to be able to go to the zoo without having to make an appointment—the ability to have an idea to do something and go and do it.

Possibly life isn’t quite like you had it pictured! The days of youth are gone, and so is the feeling of being carefree! Maybe your career, your mate, your children, your church, your friends, or your neighborhood have put certain limitations on you and your spirit. You might be feeling penned up, oppressed, frustrated, something inside you is screaming to get out, but you don’t know what or how!

Everything is just fine visibly, but everything is not alright in your spirit!!! Now What? Pray asking for clarity of what and why your are feeling this way and then Stop Dwelling!!!

Turn that negative thinking around, start thinking of the positives! Start thanking God and praising Him with a grateful heart that; …

I am healthy. My children love me, and we are friends. I have a good husband who takes excellent care of me. I am blessed with friends from my childhood, throughout the travels of life, and in a game called ‘Junes Journey.’ I have a roof over my head and food in my pantry.

I have the freedom to love my God openly, vote for whom I want, speak my mind, have an opinion, like or dislike regardless of another person’s stance, and to be! Thus, turning your hateful heart into a grateful heart.

Psalm 118:24 ESV “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I challenge you to try this because it genuinely works. The next time you find yourself bored, discontent, and grumbling, change your mindset to some positives. They are there…I know you can find at least one or two!

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

I was reading in my Max Lucado devotional this morning, and I have to share. (Max Lucado ~ “Before Amen”) (Paraphrased)

The scene; a dark, cold, poorly lit room. A long table and around it sits Satan’s minions we call Imps. One of the imps is defending himself against a blown mission.

They all ask him what ploys he used? He reply’s, “I took his health away but he just forged on. I robbed him of his finances but he stood on faith. I tried to shake his purity but he was to moral. I stripped the man of everything I could think of, yet he just kept on rejoicing.”

For a few moments, silence and then a tall figure rises from the back of the room. Deathly pale face obscured by the hood of his dark robe. The entire council turned to face the fallen angel.

He raises his bony hand and makes his point. “You must take what matters most!” “And that is,” the subordinate asks

“You Must Take Away His Prayer!”

Satan hates it when we pray!

Philippians 2:10 NIV “that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Every knee, including Satans…

James 4:7 NLT “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

2 Timothy 4:18 ESV “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:8 NIV “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

So as scripture warns us, beware of his tricks and lies. You know the ones; your not worthy enough, look at who you are and all you’ve done; God can’t save or help you; you will always be this way; you aren’t strong enough, smart enough, rich enough, or good enough! All Lies…

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Remember this, you can never do bad enough for the Lord not to forgive you, restore you and love you.

Romans 8:28 NLT “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow..not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

See why Satan hates prayer…Keep on praying…Jesus tells us to pray without ceasing. It’s our connection, direction and protection!

Be blessed today and be a blessing. Thank you for joining me. 🥰

I am in the middle of a project, and my mind is so sidetracked this morning. I pray for you a blessed day!