Dah, Dahdadah!!! Can you hear it? The Starwars theme song…Maybe?

I have just finished my morning reading. I have said my morning prayer asking before beginning Sunshines devotion “Who Lord do you wish to speak to today, and what do you wish to say?” Then I sit quietly and wait for his inspiration. This morning I am blessed by the sound of raindrops on my roof. I am a Pluviophile: a rain lover; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

The sound is peaceful, my faithful companion Bella resting beside me, coffee is hot, and for this moment in time, my world is at peace.

True peace comes from within; the quiet I am blessed with is because of the faith I walk in. Again, if you read or have read much of Sunshine, you know I fight the battles of life as everyone else does, only I choose to walk in the peace that comes from my relationship with Jesus.

John 14:27 NIV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

1 Peter 5:7 NLT “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

When you free yourself from the black clouds of worry that are gathered overhead, you can enjoy the beautiful multi-colored raindrops gently falling from the sky; possibly, your raindrops are big fluffy white snowflakes that now cover your yard like a new carpet. There is peace and beauty in nature if you take a moment to observe the details around you. Photographs taken with your mental camera seem to hold the cares at bay, if even for a while. The fresh air does something for the soul and revives the spirit.

Send your cares, hurts, woes and fears upward! Keep your eyes on Jesus, and the path ahead will straighten, let go and let God. The peace that envelopes us is beyond anything we can understand, but it happens as you learn to let go. Of this I know!

Philippians 4:7 NLT “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.”

I pray for your ability to let go. I pray for blessings and peace in your world today. If you need prayer, please leave me a message in the comment section. Have a great day and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Those of you who follow me very closely know that I’m excited this morning not only because it’s payday, but it’s a new picture day on my calendars! I would like to begin our month with a prayer.

Dear Lord Our Father In Heaven,

I come before you this morning with thanksgiving. I am thankful for another day and a new beginning. Your word tells us your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for watching over me and mine as we slept.

It’s a new month, Lord, February, a month that symbolizes hearts, Cupid’s, and love; red ribbons, pink lace, and white doilies. Fill our hearts with your love. Help us to be a shining example to all we meet and those who watch from afar.

Help us hear your voice amongst all the confusion and help us to see ourselves when we look in the mirror truly. I ask that you show us your truths, the truth that we are beautiful in your sight, loved, and whole, but I also pray we see the error of our ways, too, for this is how we grow.

I pray for your life-giving waters, Lord. We are but seeds in your garden; some lay dormant still buried in the darkness of the dirt surrounding them, some are tiny little shoots peeking out, just starting to feel the warmth of your rays of love, while others have sprouted into glorious flowers striving towards the growth in your Son. In whatever stage we are in, help us to continue growing in you.

Walk with us and talk with us. Thank you for your words of wisdom and guidance and the teachers we are blessed by. I pray for all who share you, that they would be strengthened and protected. We are in a time of many battles; Lord helps us to know what battles to fight and what causes you to wish us to defend.

Let us walk in peace, joy, and love; after all, this is the month of Love; help us, your children spread some around.

In your glorious name Lord Jesus, these things I pray.

Amen!

Matthew 21:22 NIV “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

As I read this verse this morning, I thought that seems so simple. I just need to believe! God isn’t a magic genie who grants us three wishes, we have no limits on our assistance from the Lord, but neither is He into Poofs!

So, I want to go back to the believe part. I challenge you to think about this line. “If you believe,” Sounds easy enough, right?

Of course, you believe if your answered prayer only took a couple of days, right? Still hanging strong, but a few weeks have gone by, you scratch your head. I will ask again God might have been busy and didn’t hear me! Wrong!!! He heard and He’s never too busy!

How strong is your belief after a few months, a few years? Are you still believing? When Abraham was 75 years old, God promised him decedents, as numerous as the stars. Abrahams wife Sarah was barren! Abraham is recorded for his unshakable faith, as 25 years later, Abraham became the father of his son Issac by his barren wife. Look at all the negatives here: Abraham, the age of 75, Sarah is recorded to be past childbearing years, let alone she was never able to have babies. Abraham was 100, and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born to them.

Are you praying for a home of your own? Are you taking care of your rental? Are you being wise with your money and putting any extra no matter how small in your dream house savings account? Are you giving God the first fruits of your crops so your fields will grow to produce a bountiful harvest? I mean financially giving of your blessings, and yes, paychecks are a blessing; just ask the person not receiving one.

When you take care of the little God gives you, He will continue to provide you with more. Believe in the truth of his words no matter the obstacles, no matter how big, or silly your dream and prayer is, and no matter how long it takes!

Matthew 21:21 NIV “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what has done to the fig tree, but you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.”

I was a single mom of three for 13 years. I drove cars that smoked more than I did (cigarette-free over 20 years). I used to joke I would pull up at the service station and ask the attendant to fill the oil and check the gas! I put a prayer in motion for my dream car one day, after all I am a kings daughter. Do I have said dream car? Yes, I do. Did I receive dream car right after I set prayer in motion? No! That was a blessing of belief that came about 15 years later. In the interim, I was blessed with a nicer car each step up because I took care of every vehicle and I never stopped believing one day!

Debt, cast it into the sea, believe, and stop spending. Illness, cast it into the sea and every time you hurt, Cast!!! Loneliness, cast it into the sea and join a church, an online group of your interest, hobbies, NA, AA, there are many online support groups. If you have an interest or need help in something, you can be assured there are others also. Look!!!

Again, if you are faithful with the little He gives you, He will continue to bless you with more! Just don’t forget to continue to be faithful.

So, all I have to do is believe? Yep! Through the trials, doubts, fears, time, and Satans daily lies, it will never happen. If you feel it, believe in it, it doesn’t matter what it is, pray about it and keep it between you and God. People like to stomp on other people’s hopes and dreams. Never give up and one day…Oh that One Day! When your belief and prayer come into fruition!!! Its like fireworks on the Fourth of July. It’s glorious, trust me on this!

It’s Sunday, I pray you are blessed with peace. Thank you for joining me.🥰

I have a real personal issue with My Lord’s name being used as a cuss word. I think it bears weight for food for thought.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

What does that mean? I believe first we are being reminded of the power to hurt and destroy or love and build up with our tongue. Secondly, those who love to use their tongues will eat the fruit their words produce. Positive words produce positive thoughts and lives, Negative, well you get it!

What about the cussing and swearing group! Those with a barrage of slang words used in place of any intelligence. The “God Damnit” people!

Damning- bringing damnation. Causing or leading to condemnation or ruin. God Damn what? Sin? Yes! Her, Him, Your Neighbor? No!

Ephesians 4:29 ESV “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may be grace to those who hear.”

Matthew 15:11 ESV “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what come out of the mouth that defiles a person.”

The definition of Blasphemy-the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

I have sat at my kitchen table visiting with friends and or acquaintances and have had them use the Lord’s name in vain, all the while stating they would pray for me! Huh!!!

One of the definitions of “Vain” is Having No Real Value…

In other words, when you take God’s name in vain, you are stating He has No Real Value; you have demoted the Creator of our Universe to an ignorant cuss word, all the while believing He will honor your prayers?

I believe in Spiritual Law. Some call it Karma, title the act however you wish, it still means the same thing and the results are the same. “What Goes Around, Comes Around!” I’m cautious at damning because it just might backfire! I need to honor and give honor if I except to be treated with and receive.

Just some food for thought…Be blessed today, and thank you for joining me. 🥰

If you know or have known a little person, you have probably played the “I love you more game.” To the little person, you are a source of safety, someone they know and trust, a comforter, a provider, a friend. All they know from you is love.

As an adult, you look back at that little person with joy, laughter, happiness, and delight. The power of protectiveness is beyond any emotion you’ve ever felt, the overpowering love bounding beyond heights you’ve ever experienced.

Isn’t it awesome to know that we can look at our Lord through the same eyes of a child, and our Lord looks back at us with the parent’s eyes?

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

If you happen to be a parent or a blessed aunt or uncle, then you understand the love you feel when that baby is born. It is a love that genuinely can’t be described. Then, one day you become a grandparent, and the love takes on a whole new world and meaning.

My point is that we, as humans, flesh, and blood, born into a world of sin and imperfection, can love in the depths we do, then we can’t even begin to comprehend the perfect love of God our Heavenly Father.

It’s a comfort to me when trials and tribulations come knocking at my children and grandchildren’s doors, that as much as I love them and would do all to help and protect, that I know God loves them more!!! When trials knock on my door, I let My Heavenly Father answer it; after all, I’m his little person.

Take a moment today and examine the depth of love you feel for yours and try to imagine that times infinity! He wins! He Loves Us More! Be blessed, try and be a blessing and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Satan hates us; let me just be upfront and clear about that from the get-go! He can wrap death in paper so beautiful that suicides and overdoses are at an all time high. I repeat, Satan hates us, and he hates us even more when we are about God’s business.

Ephesians 6:12 NCV “Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.”

I’ve been preaching pretty hard lately about taking it to the cross! Getting in the word and hearing what God has to say about any said situation! Keeping your faith when the storms of life huff and puff, rattling your walls and windows. Guess what?

I’m under attack, not me personally. Oh no, that would be too easy! He’s attacking one of my children and their innocent child. I’ve been on a heart-wrenching roller coaster ride for the past year and a half. One step forward, three steps back, I’m in a chess match, but the rules keep changing, and I don’t seem to be informed of rule changes until they’ve been changed. It’s a very private and vulnerable place so forgive my cryptic writing. The point is Satan knows my weaknesses; He knows all of our weaknesses.

As I was on my knees yesterday in my favorite pink room, looking out the window that is my private spot of God’s endless sky tucked perfectly between two glorious treetops, I take my tears, fears, exhaustion, and request to the cross. I humbly bowed before my Lord thanking Jesus, that through Him, I was able to boldly come to the Throne of God, praying intercession for my afflicted ones.

Psalms 91:1-2 NCV “Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the almighty. I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you.”

Psalms 91:4 NCV “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection.”

Psalms 91:14-16 NCV “The Lord says, “Whoever loves me, I will save. I will protect those who know me. They will call to me, and I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them. I will give them a long, full life, and they can see how I can save.”

Do I know what today holds or tomorrow will bring? No! Do I fear more roads to travel within this dark journey? I fear the unknown as all humans, but I trust I’m not alone within this darkness, and no matter what the next path is, Jesus will be holding our hands. Of this, I do not fear!

So, don’t give in and never give up! It’s darkest just before the dawn. Satan fights the hardest when he’s about to lose so that I will count this battle as a victory in the making.

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

Exodus 13:21-22 NIV “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day not the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

Don’t you wish God would send you his pillar of cloud to follow safely through the day and his pillar of fire to guide you when your world looks and feels dark? Guess what? He did!

John 8:12 NIV “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Throughout the Bible, whether in the Old Testament or the New, we see example after example of God being there for those who trust and believe in him. You have to believe it! When it all looks, feels, seems hopeless, bleak, and dark, that’s when you have to press in and believe the hardest! Prayer sets it in motion; belief keeps it moving!

Exodus 14:13 NIV “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

John 14:27 NKJV “Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The peace that Jesus is talking of is the peace you carry, knowing that by trusting in Him, no matter how your circumstances look. The Red Sea in front of or The Egyptian army closing in behind. Remember, God loves us as much today as he did back in Moses’day. He even sent us his Son to die in our place. (John 3:16)

If you have needs, trials, fears, uncertainty, heartache, loneliness, illness, depression, or are suffering from the actions of your own doing. Take it to the cross, give it to Jesus, keep giving it to Jesus and giving it to him until you feel his peace, see his pillar and move forward. Trust me; it will happen. I’m at the cross all the time; maybe I’ll see you there.

I pray you have a blessed day, don’t forget to be a blessing if you can and thank you for joining me. 🥰

“There’s grace in trusting that where you are today matters for who you will be tomorrow.” Joanna Gaines~Magnolia magazine

Do you dislike where your life is at the moment? The fire you might be walking through, the waterline right at nose level, trials swarming like bees, feet aching from the miles of rocky terrain?

Well, I get it, I understand it, I live on the same planet, fight the same battles. What I have learned from years of walking with Jesus is that the trials, fires, whirlpools, and mountains created the person I am today.

Am I anything special, heavens no! Is God through refining me? Not by a long shot but each trial, each fire that comes along cleans more dross from me, and the more useful I become. Proverbs 25:4 NIV “Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith.”

I can look back at different stages of me in my life and can see many glorious changes. I can look at myself today and see many more still to come. That’s the beauty tho; I know my Lord is with me till the day of my departing this life or his return, whichever comes first.

He will never leave us dangling. He will never leave us dirty and soiled. He will never leave us. So, relook at your situation or scenario, ask for his strength and guidance as you go through more dross removal, to become material worthy of the silversmith’s use.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV “ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

Some of us don’t have the call to baptize, but we are all called to be an example and to share his word, love, and redemption.

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

I’m reading in my Women of Faith Study Bible, (NIV) this year. I am currently in the book of Exodus, where Moses is pleading with Pharaoh to let his people go.

We have heard of the plagues of Egypt all our lives; we are even prone to correlate earthly epidemics, destruction, and disasters to the plagues of Egypt. “God must be mad at the world today!” We’ve heard it; we’ve probably said it.

I learned today that the plagues were not only signs of the power of Moses, God, and the determination of Moses, God, for his people, but God was also undermining the gods the Egyptians worshipped.

Hapi-Egyptian god of the Nile; his symbol was a water bearer. The plague–water turned into blood. There was not a glass of freshwater to be found in Egypt.

Heket-Egyptian, the goddess of fertility, water, and renewal. The goddess bore the head of a frog. In the second plague, frogs came upon the land and covered every space, beds, palaces, kneading bowls, ovens, and troughs.

Geb-Egyptian god of the earth. Geb was over the dust of the earth. The third plague was the dust of the ground thrown into the air and the air returning as gnats. Exodus 8:18 NIV “But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals.”

Khepri-Egyptian God of creation, movement of the sun, rebirth. This God had the head of a fly. Yep, the fourth plague was the plague of flies. Exodus 8:22-23 NIV “But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarm of flies will be there so that you will know that I am the Lord of this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. The miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.”

Hathor-Egyptian goddess of love and protection. This goddess was depicted with the head of a cow. The fifth plague was the death of cattle and livestock. Note, no animals died in the land of Goshen.

Isis-Egyptian goddess of medicine and peace. The sixth plague was the first to attack the Egyptian people physically. God instructed Moses to take ashes from the furnace of affliction and throw it into the air. The plague of boils covering every Egyptian from head to toe. Again, the Hebrews were not afflicted.

Nut-Egyptian goddess of the sky. The seventh plague the plague of hail, God told Moses to warn the Egyptians to bring in their slaves and livestock. Scripture tells us some Egyptians believed, and brought in their slaves and animals. Exodus 9:23-24 “When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightening flashed down to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; hail fell and lightening flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.” Again, no hail fell in Goshen.

Seth-Egyptian god of storms and disorder. The eighth plague Locust sent from the sky. Exodus 10:5 NIV “They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields.”

Ra-The Sun God. The ninth plague was complete darkness for three days. Besides Pharaoh himself, Ra-The Sun was the most worshipped god in Egypt. By the God of Israel exhibiting his power over the sun, he is also showing he has control over life and death as well. The sun is vital for survival.

Pharaoh-The Ultimate Power of Egypt. The Egyptians worshipped Pharaoh. Pharaohs were believed to have been born a god, that the pharaohs were actually born of Ra, the god of Sun. The final plague, The Death of the Firstborn. The First Passover! The Hebrews were given specific instructions (read chapter 12 in the book of Exodus), one being to take the blood of the lamb you are to prepare and put some of its blood on the top and sides of the door frame. The blood will be a sign, and the angel of death will Passover your home.

I found the side note referencing a few of the Egyptian gods and Gods wrath so impressive that I did a further study this morning and thought you might enjoy a more in-depth look into the fact that our God has a reason for all he does or doesn’t do. We just need to know He is the God of All, and He works everything out for the good of those who believe in him and his word. He heard the oppressive prayers of the Hebrews in Egypt hundreds of years ago, and He still hears ours today.

Be Blessed, Be a Blessing, and Thank you for joining me. 🥰

Psalms 96:3 ESV “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.”

We are a walking, talking, breathing testimony. I often speak of a girlfriend who was one of my most excellent mentors. She knew the Lord; she knew scriptures inside and out and exactly where to find them in the Bible. (Still does)

I used to sit sometimes in awe at her knowledge, how she taught with authority and total belief in what she preached, and how she lived.

More than twenty years later, I think back to the question I always would ask Paula, “how can I ever share our Lord as you do? I have no clue where to find all these verses, let alone quote them to people.” Her response was simple; “Share What You Know.”

I’ve been blessed through the years to sit under beautiful teachers. I read the Bible and have read through the Bible enough times to know scripture. Still, I can’t recite where to find them, but I have a smartphone, and it finds the scripture addresses for me. What I have discovered throughout the years is share your experiences. “Share What You Know.”

Don’t worry about how to share your faith; the Holy Spirit will be there to assist. As you share your faith with others, he will remind you of truths that bring light. Please, remember that not all people are going to want your sunshine; some will prefer to remain in their darkness. Minister, if or when you can then simply be an example and turn them over to God.

The authority Paula spoke with I now know was a real relationship with Jesus. As you walk with him, talk with him, grow in him, He grows in you. Then one day you notice a trophy room of Gods blessings and deliverances, guess what? You have something to share; Your Testimonies. That’s where it all begins.

So, don’t fear what to say; the Holy Spirit will be right there with you; never be afraid to share your darkest deliveries; people need to see that Jesus’ kids are, in actuality, just people too. We stumble, we fall, we make mistakes, we lose our tempers; it’s how we pick ourselves up and move forward that matters.

Be blessed this Sunday. If you ever feel a prompt to share your walk and testimony take it, you will be so glad you did. Have a most beautiful day, and Thank you for joining me. 🥰