Purr-fect Wisdom

August 16, 2019

Proverbs 18:24 KJV: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

I love reading Proverbs. Like all of the Bible, it is the single most perfect guidebook ever written. Sometimes in our busy world, we don’t have a lot of time to eat a whole meal of an expanded text that needs to be chewed carefully and digested, and all we have time for is a little nibble that we bite off and go on with our day. The Proverbs are like that, but what wisdom each of the little nibbles hold. Take today’s verse for example. It is written to be read on its own. The verses before and after it discuss other issues, but whole entire stories could be told with just this one verse. We often read about how people have given their very lives for their friends. Sometimes they even sacrifice themselves for people they barely know. Even if the only friends we have are those we meet on social media, we come to know them and love them and celebrate with their good fortunes and hurt for them when they are hurting. We want to reach through the airways and give them a hug even as we would those we are physically in contact with. 

In thinking on these things, the most perfect example is the love of Christ who would lay down His own life for all of mankind, even those who weren’t born yet (like you and I). He even died for those who turned their backs on Him. Even though he’s not physically with us, his love guides us spiritually, and he ‘hugs’ us through his words and lets us know he is forever with us and comforts us. Are you a friend of Jesus? Are you willing to sacrifice your life to honor Him?  That is what is expected of us; to willingly take up our ‘cross’ and follow Him on a daily basis. 

Have you hugged a friend today? 

The Hopeful Heart

December 24, 2018

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. 

It was dark that night and after traveling for several days to get to Bethlehem, the weary couple only wanted to settle down and rest. By the time they arrived at their destination, they found that all the rooms had been taken because of the crowd of people that were already there to pay their taxes to Caesar Augustus. Mary was in her last days of pregnancy and already she was having labor pains. Although the innkeeper had no more rooms he took mercy on them. He directed them to stable where they could take shelter for the night. He warned them that they would have to share it with the animals already boarded there. Even though it wasn’t the best of conditions, Mary was uncomfortable and wanted to lay down before her next birth pain came. The long hours of labor seemed unrelenting. Joseph was supportive of his wife and he paced the dirt floor of the shelter waiting for the promised Child of God. He should have been jealous of this baby that wasn’t his flesh and blood and when Mary first told him she was pregnant, he almost left her. Had it not been for the angel who came and told him that the baby Mary was carrying was the promised Messiah, he probably would have divorced her. Now every time she cried out in agony he did what he could to comfort her. He made her a bed of straw and laid his mantle over it for a makeshift bed. He took one of the mangers from the corner of the stable and filled it with clean straw for the baby to lay in as soon as he was born. With one last push, the child arrived into the world. The sky exploded in light and the angels came and hovered close to the stable to protect the baby and and sooth his parents. Mary swaddled the baby with her shawl to keep him warm and cradled him to her breast. As she laid back, to finally rest from her ordeal, people started coming. Shepherds with their sheep stating they were led by a chorus of angels announcing the baby that was born tonight who would be the King and the Savior of mankind. Mary wondered at everything that was happening and as she looked in her newborn’s face she remembered the words of Isaiah. This baby would one day be her King too.

September 30, 2018

Although I didn’t have a verse attached to this picture, the sentiment has been laying on my heart. There is much spiritual warfare going on in our world today. Not unlike things that have happened all through history. As long as Satan has free reign in this world there will be evil, and people doing bad things to themselves and others. Satan although he might seem innocent at first, will ultimately lead weak people down a path of their own destruction.  We must always be vigilant because he is like a serpent seeking who he may devour. Keep your eyes on God and His goodness and resist the devil. Stay on the winning side. Make no doubt about it, God WILL be the victor! 

 

August 7, 2018

Even though Daniel was a man of valor and righteous in God’s eyes, when he came face to face with the angel of the Lord, he became so weak he couldn’t move. He was afraid not only because of the vision, but also because of the message he was given to deliver to the people. 

How often we pray to be used by God in a mighty way. A way that will be meaningful to bring others into His kingdom, but when we pray in the Spirit; do we take into account that God may answer our prayers and ask of us to sacrifice our own life style to be fully committed to doing His will? Often our heart is willing to be of service, but is our flesh also willing? If we earnestly pray to be used of God for His service, He will also give us the strength to complete it. 

August 6, 2018

King Nebuchadnezzar was troubled. He had a dream that none of his wisemen and sorcerers could interpret. He became angry and threatened to kill all of the wisemen in the land but there was one whose wisdom came from the one true God. God revealed the dream to Daniel and he, in turn, told the king what his dream was and he interpreted for him, thus sparing him, his life.

There are many people who profess to be wise and have understanding, but their wisdom and understanding, unless it comes from God, comes from their own worldview. True wisdom and understanding can only be found by seeking it from the Father of all things. Only through prayer and studying the Word, can we become truly wise. 

July 30, 2018

Does God remove his Spirit from us once we are saved??? I believe in ‘once saved, always saved’. In this verse, God says he won’t hide his face any more from his children because he had poured out his Spirit on them. Even though God won’t remove his Spirit from us, I believe we can deny that Spirit’s power in our lives. During our backslidden state, it may feel God has removed His power in our lives, but He is still there. He’s not gone anywhere. To be restored, we need to claim that promise and recommit our lives to Him. 

July 27, 2018

The verse following the verse in the picture says: “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12. God is not willing that any person should be lost. He seeks us even in the dark places in our hearts and minds and would continue to seek us even if we were the only person on earth. He loves us that much! He reaches out His staff to us to bring us home with Him. Are you ready to return to the fold? 

July 26, 2018

I love the verses preceding this one in the picture: ” And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. Ezekiel 34:23-24″. The rest of this verse shown is: “…and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.” What beautiful promises. Even while the children of Israel were still in captivity, God promised them that one day there would be time of peace where there would be a shepherd (Jesus) to watch over them and they would no longer have to live in fear of their enemies (both physical and spiritual). Do you have that spirit of peace in your heart today?

50 Days of Promises

July 25, 2018

The rest of this verse continues: “…when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.” The children of Israel, because of their disobedience to God were scattered and held captive by their enemies, but even in their captivity God promised them he would restore them and he would accept the faithful ones back into the fold and bless them. The message for today is that although we are sometimes caught and held captive by sin, if we repent, God will restore us and bring us back to Him and we will be a sweet savor in His heart.

July 24, 2018

Is God as good as his word? How many times in the Bible God spoke and when He did, something happened. Even at the very beginning, God spoke the world and everything in the universe into existence, even man and beast. In Exodus God spoke to Moses and told him to go and free the children of Israel. Later on, he gave him the Ten Commandments. There are so many examples of God speaking to His children in the Bible, and never once had God not done what he said he would do. Does the Lord still speak to us today? Is He still keeping His promises to us? I believe God is faithful and He not only speaks through his Word, the Bible, but He also speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, through the impressions he lays on our hearts. Not only does He speak to us, but He will do what He says He will do.

July 23, 2018

One of the things I like most about butterflies and I have referred to them this way in my short stories on my other pages of this website, is that, to me they represent a transformed life. Before their transformation into a gorgeous butterfly, they are a base, self-serving lowly caterpillar who only lives for himself by eating and destroying plants and are even poisonous in some species, but God puts them into a period of time of transitioning during their pupae stage and they emerge as a beautiful butterfly.  Human beings who have accepted the Lord, changed from being people who were also self-serving into something beautiful to be used by God in serving others. Some times we too have to go through a time of trials and remolding, but we emerge as Christians with a new heart, a heart full of love. 

July 22, 2018

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. What does that mean to you? To me, it means that God has no beginning, he was always there. Regardless of what scientists want us to believe, they cannot explain the the infinity before recorded time and they cannot explain what happens after our death and what happens to our souls as we face our future into eternity. The God who was present at the beginning of all things will be the same God who will be there throughout eternity. No matter how much Satan thinks he can overthrow God by putting evil into the hearts of God’s creation, it will never happen. God will be God forever and ever. 

July 21, 2018

Have you ever wondered how on earth God can still love us after we deny Him and continually turn our backs on Him? We are so undeserving of His compassion and mercy. Just as righteous parents unconditionally love even their wayward children and are willing to forgive them if they repent and turn from their wicked ways, so is our Heavenly Father willing to forgive us of our sins. He has such a great love for us that He was willing to sacrifice his only Son to save us from our sins, and Jesus loved us enough to willingly become that sacrifice. Does God’s mercy last only for one day? Is it a one time deal? No, if we are His children, his compassion is new every. single. day! 

July 20, 2018

How is your prayer life? Do you pray expecting great and mighty things to happen in your life because of your petition to God? Or, do you pray as a sense of obligation, believing that God will withhold blessings in your life if you don’t pay penitence by performing rote prayers daily that don’t really mean anything?  In Luke, Jesus told of two men praying. One was a publican, a sinner who deeply regretted his sins and begged God to forgive him, the other was a pharisee who boasted to God about how much he did for Him and how thankful he wasn’t a sinner like the publican. Two types of prayer, two responses. God honored the publican’s prayer and forgave him his sins, the pharisee? Not so much. Pray with a sense of expectancy, knowing that God can still work miracles.

July 19, 2018

When you behold the wonders of the universe with the seemingly infinite number of stars and galaxies flung even beyond what the eye can see or the mind imagine, and then narrow your focus down to even the smallest atom, how can anyone ever deny the existence of God and His power? The greatest and most elaborate computer in the world is still no match for the human brain. Even though man has been able to recreate robots that can take the place of workers to do our jobs, Man has never been able to create a living soul. Is anything to hard for the Lord to accomplish?  Not if He could do all of these things. But, after saying all that, there is one thing that is hard for our Lord and that is seeing mankind turn away from Him. 

July 18, 2018

Although Jeremiah prophesied about the captivity of the children of Israel and the destruction of the temple, he also said that the Lord would one day restore them to their homeland and save them as a people. As Christians, we are the chosen of God. When we turn from God, as the children of Israel did back in the day, and turn to worship other things in our lives, it isn’t God who turned his back on us, but we left Him. As the prodigal returned to his father and gained back his love and forgiveness, so can we return to our Heavenly Father and He will welcome us back into his arms, that is, if we return with a truly repentant heart. 

July 17, 2018

Does God wish evil on us? Why do bad things happen to good people? That has been an age old question. You could even trace it back to the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve weren’t inherently evil. At least not to begin with, but because they succumbed to the voice of Satan and made bad choices, mankind has been struggling with sin ever since. Does God want us to live with the trials, unrest and evil in our hearts? Of course not. As His children,  he wants only good things for us. Unfortunately, the hearts of mankind often reject the God of peace, and look to the evil one for answers in their lives. Therein lies the problems in this world. 

July 16, 2018

I love the book of Isaiah! It is amazing how he not only foretold the birth of our Savior and His ministry with amazing accuracy, but also his death and resurrection! During the time of Isaiah, Israel was in captivity in Babylon, which makes his prophecy even more amazing. It had to give  the people hope that one day one of the descendants of David would be the salvation for the world. Could it be that their captivity wasn’t the end of them? Do you feel like you’re living in captivity by the weight of your sins? Are you looking for answers and the sweet release of your burdens? Look no further than God today. He can make all things new, just as the butterfly leaves behind his chrysalis and emerges into freedom, we too can break the bonds of sins and be set free.   

July 15, 2018

I don’t know about you but I love nice surprises. I’m like a kid at Christmas. How fun it is to receive wonderful things from those we love, but how much nicer is it to receive gifts from the Heavenly Father. He provides for our needs when we least expect it or even when we least deserve it. Just like the children of Israel when they were wandering in the wilderness, when they were hungry, he gave them manna, when they were thirsty, he gave them water. Every day is like a new gift to us. It’s all bright spanking new in the morning and holds a promise of something special that is about to happen over the next twenty-four hours. Will you claim this gift of this new day and live it to its fullest and in honor of the God who gave it to you?

July 14, 2018

Have you ever been so stressed out that you felt like, if only you could get a warm hug from someone who loves you unconditionally and without judging you, your troubles would melt away? I love this image of our loving Father, our Shepherd. I’m reminded of the story Jesus told about the lost lamb and how He rejoiced when it was returned to the fold. Yes, He loved all of the sheep, but when the lost one was found, how He loved it. He took that lamb and wept over it, rejoicing in it’s salvation. This may sound strange, but sometimes when I feel troubled over something so much, it keeps me from sleeping, I imagine lying in the arms of Jesus until I can relax again. It’s so much better than counting sheep!  

July 13,  2018

Passing through the waters. Where have we heard that before? Could Isaiah have the escape from Egyptian slavery and into freedom from their oppressors in mind when he said these words? What about the rest of this verse in Isaiah 43:2: “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Did Isaiah have a vision of what would happen to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace later on in history in the book of Daniel? Was his vision, or these historical events included in the Bible to show us that even in these situations that God is still in control? If God can control the seas and fires, can he not control the storms and trials in our lives too? Trust in Him to bring us through whatever we are going through in our lives. 

July 12, 2018

How is the peace in your life? If you say you have no peace, where does your trust lie? If you trust in others, they will often disappoint you. If you trust only in yourself, you will be among those who are loneliest because you are afraid to let others get close to you. How well do you sleep at night? Is the worries of this life keeping you awake? Is it keeping you from reaching for your dreams and accomplishing your goals?

Our lack of peace could be because we haven’t fully committed ourselves to trust completely in the God who only wants what’s best for his children. 

July 11, 2018

The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love story told with beautiful poetry and on the surface it would appear that the book was written as a dialogue between a man and a woman and their love for each other. Even though they were separated for a while through a misunderstanding, they remained committed to one another. On a deeper level, and one of the reasons it was included in the Bible canon is that it reflects the love that the Lord has for His church. The man represents God and the woman, His church. As you read the Song of Solomon, read it with the deeper meaning of God’s love for us. 

July 10, 2018

How comforting to know that God doesn’t change. When we become a Christian, it is for always. Christ died once for our sins. Once we accept Him we are saved. The same is for the Word of God. In Revelation, John gives us a warning from God about what will happen if people try to remove anything from God’s word or add anything to what had been written (see Revelation 22:18-19). It breaks my heart when I see some of the newer translations of the Bible leave out part of the scriptures. That’s part of the reason why you’ll see my devotionals using the KJV. And one more thing; What God called sin throughout the Bible is still sin, no matter how it is portrayed in today’s society, but we can be freed from that sin because of the cross. 

July 9, 2018

King Lemuel asks in Proverbs 31:10; ‘Who can find a virtuous woman?’ The verses in Proverbs 31:10-31 contains a listing of those things that makes a woman virtuous in the sight of her husband and others around her, as well as being honorable in the sight of God. It is quite a list of things to aspire to, even given the time in which it was written. We can paraphrase those tasks to reflect modern times, but it still isn’t any easier to complete those things in our daily lives. So how are we as mere mortals to become the women (and men) that God expects us to be in our relationship to others and Him? We need to seek the Lord and fear Him and everything else will fall into place. 

July 8, 2018

What is the most important thing in your life? Is it your family or friends? Is it your home? Is is your job or money? Is it enough food to eat? One of the Biblical meanings of the word “fear” is a reverence or awe for something or someone. Given that meaning, do you fear (revere) any of those things I mentioned? Maybe to some degree we worship them. If you lost any of those things would your ‘fountain of life’ dry up? Most of us would day yes, I’m sure, but if we were to lose everything, our Lord, the creator of all things, is still there and he will provide a new fountain of life if we fear and worship HIm. 

July 7, 2018

In James 1:5,6 James says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. How do we get the faith to ask God for wisdom??? Paul in Romans 10:17 says; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. You’ve heard the axiom; ‘There are no dumb questions’, well in Christianity there are ‘no dumb requests made of God’, God doesn’t upbraid us when we come to Him in faith and humility, seeking His love and understanding and answers to our problems. We need to continually seek His face and heed His words given to us through the scripture. God also impresses on our hearts the answers we seek through communing with us through the Holy Spirit. 

July 6, 2018

Almost  two-thirds of the way through my Fifty Days of Promises and I feel I’m at a crossroads. Do I continue when so few people are following me here on my blog page? How easy it is to become discouraged. Why do I have to have so many weak, mortal feelings when I know God wants me to continue? I truly believe the God who supplied the verses for me to expound on, also gave me the words on my heart to share and the ability to create the colorful post pictures to go with the verses. But now I have a decision to make. I know its easy to say that God and I are the only audience I need, but am I only saying that to make me feel better?  I pray God will pour out His Spirit on me and make His will known unto me. Shouldn’t we do that in all our decisions??? 

July 5, 2018

God is omniscient, Man is finite, God knows everything, Man only knows the things in his own sphere of experience. God has been there from the beginning of time and will continue to be there throughout eternity. Man’s physical presence is from birth until death. God knows us better than we know ourselves. When we put our trust in the Lord rather than leaning on our own finite wisdom, our outcome will be infinitely better.  Who are you trusting in today?

July 4, 2018

This verse is so appropriate today as I think on America’s birthday. In America, He has truly blessed our great country. He blessed us with so much here including our natural resources. We live in freedom and we can worship Him, and whether or not people want to believe it, we are a nation under the one true God. Times right now are troubling and many things are happening that are displeasing to God, but it brings home the fact that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion, and it’s a good thing for us that he is slow to anger. How is your relationship with God today? Are you thankful to be living in the greatest country in the world today? I am. 

July 3, 2018

What are you afraid of today? Are you afraid of what another person can do to us? Thieve’s can steal what we have in material goods, but they can never steal our souls. Other people can take our lives, but again, they can’t murder our souls. Greater than the threats from our fellow man, is the threat of the one who can rob us of our souls and condemn us into an eternity in hell. To combat the evil one we need to put our trust in God and praise his name, and we will never have to fear anyone else again.

July 2, 2018

Why do we as mere mortals have such a hard time letting go of our problems and putting them in God’s hands?  I think maybe it’s because it is in our nature to try and solve things and do everything ourselves. The world places so much emphasis and praise on those who seem to be in control at all times and are masters of their own destiny. Others tend to look down on people who have no control over their situations in life. The worldview is that we should always be strong and in control, The heavenly view is that we should be humble and put our circumstances in God’s hands. As a flawed human being, I would rather trust God’s intervention in my life than my own feeble attempts to solve my own problems. 

July 1, 2018

Psalms 46 continues to say in verses 2-3: “Therefore will not we fear; though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” The Psalmist is depicting rather graphically what sounds like a volcanic eruption or an earthquake. He is using it as an example of utter devastation. If God can protect us through such horrendous upheavals in the earth itself, can he not protect us through our various day to day trials and tribulations? Look to God as our refuge no matter what we are going through. He will be a strength and a present help in whatever is our trouble is. God’s blessings be upon you. 

June 30, 2018

A sleeping infant, a slumbering cat, the sweet blissful sleep of innocence. They are able to rest, knowing they will be taken care of. They are untouched by a troubling world.  Their sleep is unfettered by the cares of their caretakers or parents. What about us? Are we burdened and worried about our future and the state of our lives so much, that we are unable to get the rest we need and add yet another dimension to our troubles by being too exhausted to handle our problems? Maybe if we put our trust in the giver of life and, yes, sleep, He will give us rest. God never sleeps. Let Him carry our burdens long enough for us to refresh our hearts, minds, and body and to awaken with a renewed purpose in our lives.

June 29, 2018

I have so many favorite verses in the Bible, and Psalms 1:1-3 has to be one of my all-time favorites. The two verses leading up to the one in this post says: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. When I read these verses I can’t help but think; what are the effects does our spending time on social media do for us, or spending time with people who are constantly bringing us and other people down. In these verses the Psalmist says not to seek the counsel of the ungodly or associate with sinners and scornful people. Sometimes, we are barraged with hate speech as we scan our ‘timelines’ and twitter feeds. Maybe it’s time to step back for a little while and do what the Psalmist recommends; spending time in God’s ‘Faithbook’ and meditating on His words instead of the words of people who have been compromised by the world. If we do that, he promises us that whatever we attempt to do will prosper.

June 28, 2018

Another one of my favorite passages in the Bible: Psalms 23. What a coincidence that it is also Promise #23. All of Psalms 23 is a promise and a hope. I love the image of the Good Shepherd. He is the one who leads me besides the still waters, to calm my anxiety. He restores my soul when I am hurting. He leads me in paths of righteousness, he is my spiritual guide. When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death He makes me brave enough to face tragedy. He prepares a table in the presence of my enemies, He gives me victory over the enemy of sin. He anoints my head with oil, He prepares me to do service for Him. My cup runs over, He gives me everything I need and more. And then comes today’s verse: God’s goodness and mercy will be with me in all my days here on earth and for eternity in Heaven. 

June 27, 2018

It has often been said that God ‘hates sin, but loves the sinner’. That is true. That is why He sent His only beloved Son into the world to take our sins into His own body and be sacrificed on the cross for us. But, unfortunately, many people who have sinned don’t believe this and it breaks God’s heart. As I said in an earlier post; God’s not willing that anyone should perish. But God is also wise and mighty in strength. When He created mankind, He created us with a free will. It is up to each individual to decide whether or not to accept His Son into their hearts to be saved from their sin. There is joy in the heavens when a sinner repents, but deep sorrow when someone is lost for eternity. Using your own free will, what will your choice be today? 

June 26, 2018

Do you ever wonder why there is no peace in our lives or in the world around us? It could be because we individually, and the world as a whole, have taken our eyes off God. We have sought to do things our own way and have not relied on the one who created us in the first place. Maybe in order for peace and good to return to us and the world we need to reacquaint ourselves with our loving Father. Seek Him through prayer and through the Word and peace will follow. 

June 25, 2018

Has there ever been anyone who had been more tested and tried than Job in the Old Testament? After losing all of his children and his home and his crops and livestock and finally his health, he still refused to curse the God who created him and gave him life. Eventually even his “so-called” friends and wife mocked him and told him he must have done something wrong for God to punish him in this way and to just give it up because there was no hope. But Job didn’t lose hope, even though he bemoaned his circumstances, he still believed in a righteous God who would one day redeem him and be victorious over the evil that beset not only him but the evil in the world. Are you going through trials in your life? If you’re a child of God, he will see you through it, have faith and hope in one who is mightier than your trials. Will evil be victorious in this world? I read the last chapter in the Bible; spoiler alert: God wins! Amen! 

June 24, 2018

There is a saying that may seem a little vulgar but it’s true; “God didn’t create no junk”. Every soul was born with a purpose and has the potential to be used of God, but unfortunately not everyone believes this and turns from what could be a useful life to one of self-doubt or not allowing God to help them develop to their full potential or even worse, to darken their souls with evil intentions. This is not a new concept in our time and age, but there has always been a war between good and evil ever since Cain slew Abel. Fortunately, God will always raise up those “lights” in the darkness who will shine as a beacon of hope to others as Esther was in her day. We need to ask ourselves; are we living up to our full potential as a child of God? Are we a light to someone else’s darkness? Were we born into our kingdom for such a time as this? 

June 23, 2018

“Got Joy?” The phrase “Got Milk?” has been around for a few years now and the whole premise of the ad campaign was that if you drank milk you would be healthier and happier. It was, and is still a popular phrase but I’d like to propose a new one: “Got Joy?”. To live a healthy and happy life because of drinking milk is certainly good, but to drink of the joy of the Lord is better and unlike the benefits of drinking milk that only lasts for a day or two, the joy of the Lord lasts for eternity!  

June 22, 2018

The whole verse of Nehemiah 1:9 says this: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

What a beautiful picture of God. He is not willing that anyone should perish. He wants his people to enjoy everlasting life. He created us to live and not die. Unfortunately, who among us can keep all of His commandments? That is why he sent Christ into the world to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Through Him we can be forgiven as if we had never broken the commandments of God and can enjoy eternity with him in heaven.

June 21, 2018

God will never leave for forsake those who trust in him. But the rest of the verse says that His power and His wrath will be against all those who forsake Him. I know which side I’d rather be on, don’t you? It’s nice to know he’s in my corner. Pray for those who are unbelievers and mockers, they don’t understand what’s waiting for them in eternity. They need our prayers and our positive witness in seeing Christ in us. 

June 20, 2018

Are you a ‘fair weather’ friend? Do you hold grudges so much so that your relationship with others suffer and sometimes are even severed? Humans can often be fickle. As long as our friends, co-workers, and family agree with us they can be in our inner circle, but just let them step outside that circle of our expectations and we give them the boot. Thank goodness our God is not like that. How many times have we disappointed Him. He has every right to turn His back on us, but if we are truly His children He will forgive us our transgressions time after time if we seek his forgiveness. How willing are we to forgive others who do us wrong? Just as God forgives us we should go and do likewise. God’s mercy is forever, can we say the same thing about ourselves?

June 19, 2018

In the troubling times we are going through where everything seems to be spiraling out of control around the world and in our own country, this has become one of my favorite verses to lean on. Some say we are living in the end-times and and the political climate seems to reflect this. Prophecy appears to be unfolding day by day and Satan is gloating in his ability to bring havoc on the earth, but he knows his time is short. We need a revival in our land. We need for every Christian to get down on their knees and cry out to Heaven and God to not only heal our nation and the world, but to heal us because if Satan can convince us that there is no hope and that evil is victorious over good, then he has won. Heaven help us, we can’t let that happen. 

June 18, 2018

Sometimes when we feel the weakest and the most vulnerable that is when God can do His best work in us. We need to get our own pride out of the way and realize that if we put our lives in God’s hands that the outcome will work out much better. Think about this; If we thought we could handle everything ourselves, we would have no need of our God and what a sad thought that is. Sometimes our ego needs to be taken down a notch, maybe through disappointments or what we could consider as failures, before we ask God for help. Wouldn’t it be better to ask for God’s lead in all our situations at the beginning of each journey?

June 17, 2018

God loves a humble heart. In Micah 6:8 it says: He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Many people mistake humility and meekness with being weak, but it takes great strength and courage to place your life into the hands of someone else. Walking humbly with God demonstrates the very essence of the faith that He requires of us. When we have that kind of faith and a tender heart, God will hear our prayers and provide for our needs.

June 16, 2018

God gives His children gifts. This verse follows Solomon requesting of God to give him an understanding heart and discernment to rule over his people. Because it was an honorable request, God was pleased to give him what he asked. Solomon used his gift of wisdom for many years. He gave us most of the Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. Words of wisdom for all of us. Solomon was indeed wise as long as he followed God and kept His commandments. God has given each of us a gift too, as long as it is in accordance with His will. I’d like to think that encouraging people is mine. What is your gift? Have you asked God for an understanding heart to seek his will and then follow through with it? 

June 15, 2018

Do you ever feel like giving up? I know I do. Sometimes, I’m like; what’s the use. Why am I even doing this anymore. That’s what the enemy is telling me today, but God has promised me that even if no one else is reached through my writings, he sees every word and hears what is on my heart. He encourages me to persevere. God has given me the desire to share His words and has given me a gift to see beauty in art and nature. Every word spoken will not return void. God has promised goodness to his servants who seek to do His will, even if it is hard sometimes.

June 14, 2018

One of the hardest things for people to do is place their trust in someone else, let alone someone they cannot see. We have such a hard time letting go of our problems and giving them to God to take care of. By nature, it feels like we should be able to take care of ourselves without help from anyone. That is where faith comes in. Because it was God who created us, He knows the best way to help us during our time of need. We don’t know our future, but trust in God who does. He will not fail us in our journey.

June 13, 2018

Unlike what the TV evangelists “prosperity” preachers preach. God is not in the business of handing out the “candy” of wealth, health, and good fortune if we but listen to them and contribute to their ministry. What God is promising is if we will hearken unto His voice by diligently seeking Him through prayer and studying His word and listening for his answer, our spirits will be blessed and even though we may be having trials at the time, His grace is sufficient to see us through all of them. His blessings are all we need. 

June 12, 2018

After traveling and living in the wilderness for so many years, the children of Israel were becoming discouraged. Where was God? Where was the new land he had promised them? Moses heard it over and over again from the people. He had to remind them in the previous verse: (in verse 4:29) “If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” With everything we have to deal with on a daily basis, especially during tribulations, we need to remember the God who has brought us so far. He will not forsake us even during our time of need. It is during those times we need to draw nearer to Him with all our heart and soul. 

June 11, 2018

If we look in the news and focus on all the things going on around us, we can be overwhelmed at all the evil happening in the world. It seems we are in a constant warfare that is taking place between ideologies and factions. People are being persecuted and bullied for their beliefs and it seems there is no end in sight. But, did you know there is also a battle for our mind and soul? Satan will stop at nothing to convince us that God doesn’t have the power to win the war, either in the world or in our heart. But make no mistake, when you give all your battles to the Lord he will be victorious!!!

June 10, 2018

In this verse in the Bible, Moses was desiring to see the Glory of God. Even though he knew God led him and the people out of Egypt, Moses needed the reassurance that God would continue to go with them. Sometimes when bad things happen in our lives we feel like God has abandoned us. Even when the earthly presence of Christ left the earth he promised his followers a Comforter in the Holy Spirit. That promise was made not only to his disciples at that time, but to all of us. Claim that promise. If we trust in Him, he will give us the rest we need in troubling times. 

June 9, 2018

There are few things in the world more majestic than an eagle as it soars in the heavens. What a picture God gives us when he tells us he will bare us on eagles’ wings. Can you imagine soaring through the heavens far above the cares of the world? That must be what Heaven will be like, to be taken away from the sins of this present world and be flown on eagles’ wings straight into the arms of Jesus.

June 8, 2018

Imagine the devastation that Noah and his family felt when they woke up on the day when the rain had finally stopped. Except for the ark and the animals and his family, everything and everyone they knew had been destroyed in the flood. But God remembered Noah on that day and gave him a sign of comfort. He set his bow in the sky as a sign of the covenant that he would no longer destroy the earth by a flood. God continues to give us this sign in the sky and even though we continue to sin and our world seems to be failing all around us, God has kept his promise to us. There has never been another flood to destroy mankind. 

June 7, 2018

God is faithful! When we feel we are far from God, it’s not because He moved, it is because we did. Seek to focus on Him again. He yearns for our love and faithfulness. He is still with us!

June 6, 2018

Claim it! God promises us that if we follow Him, we will be a blessing to those who look to us!