Welcome to God's Lemonade Stand

It is my hope that by reading this daily you will grow in your walk with Christ and knowledge of scriptures and be set free from any struggles in your life that are weighing you down. Be blessed to be a blessing.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

No Escape From Holiness


Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
What exactly does it mean to be holy? The Bing online dictionary says it is to "be dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred." Many places in the word of God it refers to being holy. We as believers are to pursue it, or go after it. There is no escaping the fact that God wants His followers to walk in holiness or have holy behavior. 
Lately allot of compromise has been done and you don't hear the word 'holy' in many circles. Still we are to pursue it and not a politically correct version of a watered down Bible. God is God and His word never changes. 1 Peter 1:16 says "Be Holy for I am Holy."
Is your life one of holiness or running away from what you know to be the truth? Is your heart right with God? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Really? Just some points to think about. 

PRAYER: Father there have been times when I have acted less than holy and I ask forgiveness. I know to be Holy is not referring to me chanting or wearing robes but living a lifestyle pleasing to you. Keep me from stumbling Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Stop The Trials!


Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3
Hardly anyone I can think of likes to be tested and tried. Yet we know according to the scriptures above that these trials produce the ability to 'hang in there.' You may face the same scenario over and over again until you "arrive" and are finally able to handle the seemingly 'impossible' trial.  Some day you may actually look back and be thankful you had to endure it,whatever it was.
No matter what this 'test' your ability to be able to praise God through it is what matters.  Think of poor Job in the Bible where he went through hell and back so to speak. Most people could not take it. But God was faithful and Job was restored. Sit down with a cup of coffee and read the book of Job. Most people may be familiar with it but even so it won't hurt to review it. 

Let me end with a verse of promise from 2 Peter 2:9 which says "the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." Whatever it is you are enduring now ask God for His strength to make you strong in your weakness and know this too shall pass. 

PRAYER: Trials are not fun and many of them may emotionally hurt as well. I know Lord you will rescue me and help me walk out of any valley. In Jesus' name. Amen.



Monday, September 28, 2015

Focus And Stay Focused


Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
When a person works full time many times it is easier to not rehash problems in life. You stay occupied so therefore do not think about things. I have heard many messages lately about keeping your mind focused. You have to be intentional about not thinking about stuff that simply drags you down. It could be worrying about finances. Perhaps it is wondering why a friend has rejected you. Maybe speculating about things. Perhaps just plain old worry.
If you have a habit of focusing on negative or worrying or wondering about things try getting up and first thing saying "Jesus today I give you my thoughts." Once you declare that do not start drifting into old habits. Make up your mind you will 'capture' wrong thoughts and turn them about to thoughts that lift and build up. Start saying out loud things like "Thanks for taking my concerns.Thanks for your joy. Thanks for peace only you can give. I choose to focus on things above and reject wrong thinking." 

Now once you have accomplished those statements practice doing them. Open up the word of God and read a few Psalms and some of perhaps the book of John. I guarantee your thinking will improve. Before you know it you will be able to cast off wrong thinking.

PRAYER: Thanks Lord that you made me and you love me. You want me to have good thoughts. Help me live in the present and give me your strength to reject wrong thinking which is not from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Right Thinking



Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

What we think on is very critical. Idol minds and wandering minds often can make a person say or do something they regret later. Sometimes we may imagine things that are not actually real such as what someone is thinking or what is going to happen to us. Just how does a person discipline his mind and his thinking? If you tend to be impulsive it is even more important to capture your thoughts to the obedience of Christ as it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Satan comes against us through our thought life. If you constantly dwell on doom and gloom then that is the kind of life you will lead. We are to keep our thoughts on 'things above' in order to be thinking like Christ. Worrying about being laid off, fired, going broke, the world ending, and things such as this is not 'uplifting thinking'. If you trust God you should be able to relax and know He holds the future. 

If you get in this bad thought habit start praising God out loud and also out loud tell Satan to get behind you as he is puny and has no control over you. He is only trying to make you ineffective for the Kingdom of God. Don't let him!

PRAYER: My mind is set on you now Lord and I will not allow the enemy to make me start having worldly thinking. You are in control and I trust my life and my thoughts to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Snap Out Of It!


We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

One publishing company I talked to a couple years back when I first began my journey to get in print, referred to my devotions as 'confessionals' which he said "was not a bad thing" but they were personal accounts of my own life at times. Perhaps in reading them readers could identify with some situations similar in their own lives. The latest 'problem' with me was having a very miserable day focusing on wrong thinking. Many Bible teachers speak of getting your thoughts and your mind under control. Satan is a master of getting Christians to beat up on themselves. He causes fear, loneliness, worry, wrong thinking, irrational thinking, lies, deceit, confusion. Need I say more. A couple Saturdays ago I was his captive subject and finally snapped out of it Saturday night when I lay down in bed and read scripture. 

We have to be on our guard and that is why it is ever so important to stay daily in God's word so you can defeat the lies then enemy throws at you. That particular day my sister was my 'counselor' over the phone and helped me tremendously. When you go through things you need to find a trusted friend to talk to to help you dig out of those pits we occasionally find ourselves falling into. 

Next time you find yourself in a pity party or just cannot seem to cut through the gloom and doom first stop and think of how great and mighty God is. Next start praising Him for all He has done for you and provided for you. Then talk out loud to Satan and tell Him to leave you alone as he has no authority over you. You can rejoice because Jesus does love you and He is there for you in your good times and bad. 

PRAYER: This is the day you have made Lord and once again I rejoice and am glad in it. I thank you for the opportunities I have to share your love with those I encounter today. Help me always be alert as Satan is a schemer and is in the shadows. He has no control over me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Balancing Act

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

Life is a balancing act. We have to have things in balance to have a productive life. Prioritization of our schedules is essential to maintain balance. The things to balance include but are not limited to work, family, quiet time with God, recreation, hobbies, business side of family, spiritual life, staying healthy, and perhaps clubs and organizations. Christ should be in the center of all these things and take priority in my humble opinion. 

Happiness and joy are found when you are living a life centered around God. To focus on one area and forget about time with God gets us way off balance. Our world tries to make us feel certain things are more important than others. That is why it is necessary to establish a habit of time alone with God and make Him the center of all else. Don't just say you will but do it! 

Often we may say "Yes Christ is first place in my life" but be honest. Is He really? Sure you may be a Christian and love the Lord but do you 'desire' your quiet time or is it a 'duty' you do to check a block. Maybe you don't do it at all. Ouch. Now is the time to take a good hard look to see if your life is balanced around God.

PRAYER: I want to lead a balanced life and I know if I I leave you out I tilt either one way or the other. Help me Lord to focus on knowing you more and putting you truly first. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Thursday, September 24, 2015

Expect The Best, Forget The Rest


Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5
It is good to dream and we should never lose hope. Also keep expecting the best and don't dwell on bad. God wants us to be positive thinkers and keep looking up. When we fixate on bad stuff it feeds on itself and you get in a negative cycle of doom and gloom. 

An exercise in expecting God's best is to know and believe He has great things in store for you. As I heard one minister say once, "Your best days are ahead!" Indeed they are. Don't start thinking you are worthless if you are a stay home mom, retired, or elderly. God has a plan for all phases of life. The enemy, Satan, loves to make a person of God feel worthless. He is the author of confusion not peace. If you are hopeless,forlorn, despairing, agitated, and without purpose know that those are not from God. Immediately resist the urge to let wrong thinking come into your head. 

Today I want you to get up and get going. Jesus loves you. He rejoices over you with singing. He created you and you are no accident. 

PRAYER: I praise you Lord Jesus for where you have 'planted' me. Help me use where I am to make a difference and impact the people around me. Give me strength to cast off negative thinking. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Simmer Down Now, Ok?



You will keep in perfect peace him whose minds are steadfast, for they trust in you.Isaiah 26:3

There was a girl at my first church I attended here in Huntsville who used to jokingly say "Simmer down now" meaning I guess to calm down and smell the roses so to speak. Every time I utter that phrase I think of her and maybe she is reading this today.

Many things can make people agitated. In my travels I see an occasional disgruntled flyer. You see folks angry at store clerks. People who don't like to wait at a doctor's office may boil over. Just sit and think about things that can make people angry. The point is what does getting angry do about it? Nothing at all is the correct answer. Trial lawyers love angry people for that is how they make their living getting back at people.

Be still and be grateful for all God has blessed you with. If you encounter angry ill mannered people do not talk back to them but pray for them. In all cases remember you represent the Lord Jesus Christ so let you light shine in a positive way.

PRAYER: Today Lord I thank you for life. I thank you for your many blessings. I even thank you for opportunities to practice patience and to pray. Help me not fall into the trap of being a complainer or getting riled up. I turn my situations over to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The Pity Monster


And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

Being able to control self means being able to keep the pity monster in check too. It isn't just about self control of eating, watching our words and other things. Making statements to yourself like "if I weren't here things would be better". You know the gist of it but the "whoa is me" martyr of self. I admit I have done it. If we are honest probably we all have. We throw a giant pity party but we are the only one in attendance. 
The way to not allow the pity monster into your life is to think more of others than yourself. Take your mind off yourself for a change and dwell on the goodness of the Lord. Think of ways you can be a blessing to others. Go out of your way to help someone. If you are blessed to still have one or both parents alive, sit down and write them an actual letter with a stamp. Buy an unexpected gift for a friend. Maybe do an anonymous gift to someone like paying for the guy behind you in a drive thru lane. Get rid of any wrong thinking that causes you envy, jealously, or makes you want to gossip. 

The pity monster loves disrupting loves and pity is pitiful. Don't allow yourself to fall victim to feeling sorry for yourself. There are always people worse off than you are. Go find one of them and bless their day. 

PRAYER: Lord there are many opportunities to share love, joy, and hope with those around me. Help me Lord to get my mind off myself and onto others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Don't Be A Drifter



We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. - Hebrews 2:1

We all have probably heard news stories about people that are classified as 'drifters' or seemingly those with no purpose or home that wander from place to place. In our spiritual life we could easily fall into the trap or 'drifting' or complacency by ignoring God's word. By ignoring I mean not ever picking it up except maybe to carry with you as a prop on Sunday. 

  God's word is so full of truth to get you through the day. Rushing about each day and spending time watching the morning news is not going to strengthen your spirit. The more you get away from the word of God the easier it becomes to 'drift' away. After a while you find yourself acting like those in the world and getting sucked into the system of the world. 

Why not try this week to develop a good habit of scheduling Bible time in your day. Do it before you get caught up with everything else. Go in your closet if you have to. Don't allow the things of the world to become more important than God.

PRAYER: Father I need you in my life 24/7. At times I have allowed busyness to squeeze you out or maybe my to do list becomes more important. Give me wisdom to make a schedule where you are first place so I do not become a drifter. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Oh No, Now What?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:18

Sometimes our best laid plans do not work out. Recently I had a large iced latte and sat down to do writing and my iPad did not want to come on. I stayed calm which is something I am getting better at. Eventually the problem was solved. How many of us maybe get ready to go somewhere and the car won't start. Maybe you go out to parking lot and have a flat tire. Your water pipe breaks and floods your kitchen. You cut yourself shaving before having to leave for church or work. Dog chews up your homework or an important paper. You get the idea. Stuff happens. 

All the above scenarios are opportunities to practice calmness, peace, and trust. Also if we are in a public place and our reaction is one of being calm we can be a witness for someone who may be watching our calamity. When you are faced with a situation that you did not anticipate and it throws you off course first and above all stop, be calm, and pray. This too shall pass. Count to ten and say "I thank you Lord for your help". Trust that all things will be okay in time. 

Rest assured that in time all things will pass. Learn to just relax and let God give you peace as only He can. 

PRAYER: I am grateful for tests and trials even though I do not ask for them. I know it is through going through them that I learn and grow and become more like you Lord. Help me as I go through knowing I will make it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Stylish?



Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2

Recently on a flight I observed a fellow female passenger reading a magazine called 'Style Watch' which apparently highlighted all the trendy fashions celebrities were wearing. Personally I don't care but the magazines are flying off the shelves of bookstores. Why do people care so much what the celebrities are wearing or doing? Why waste energy or money on magazines focusing on this? But people do. It is a challenge for parents with teen girls to combat this as they want to be trendy. Why? 

In the big scheme of things having the latest fashionable purse, necklace, pants, shoes, or makeup does not matter. Millions of dollars are spent though marketing these products to people who want to fit in and be 'with it' so to speak. My theory is to be yourself and do not think you have to be so conformed to others. Sure maybe in the business world a certain 'look' is desirable when working with the public. The Bible speaks of not being conformed to 'this world' in the sense of having a different worldview or mindset. The ways of the world are not always the best ways particularly when God is left out of the equation.

The things of this world will one day all pass away. What we do for Christ is what matters. Who do you want to be conformed to?

PRAYER: It is tempting to want to be like everyone else in fashion but Lord help me not to be conformed to a secular worldview. I know you are on the throne and rule and reign over all. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Are You Standing?

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

Are you cowering under fear when you hear the world news? Terror attacks. Police killings. Military cutbacks. God did not give us a spirit of fear it says in 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." Some translations say He gives us a 'sound mind'. I don't know about you but peace and a soundness of mind sounds pretty good to me. How do you achieve that in the midst of the evil around us? 

The verse I highlighted above in Ephesians is part of the verses dealing with spiritual warfare. We put on the armor of God which is God's word and we go out and we stand. We do not hide, or sit, or squat. We stand and do it with strength and confidence. Our enemies have no power over the power of God living inside of us. Do not let world chaos make you fear. Read the word. Know that the King of kings is bigger and more powerful than our enemies and He wins in the end.

Next time you feel bothered just talk out loud and tell the devil and his little minions to leave you alone and tell him he has no power over you and God is bigger than him. 

PRAYER: United States has always been a place of relative peace and safety but these past few years many attacks against U.S. have  occurred on our own soil. Lord you are greater than any attacks against this Christian nation. When I start to fear help me to read my Bible more and to pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Cares Choking Out The Word?


But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:19
Work tension, financial problems, health concerns, world turmoil? So many things can cause us to get our focus off of the word of God. There is enough stuff going on in the world to cause worry and concern but God does not want His people all caught up in the cares of this world or earthly concerns. How do you maintain peace when things seem to be going crazy around you? 

First off you have to be intentional about ordering your day so that you spend quality time with the Lord before you start carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. In 1 Peter 5:7 it says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." To cast is to literally throw. Talk to God and tell Him you can't go it alone. Ask Him to give you His wisdom. Worrying about things that could happen is wasted energy. This is a tool in Satan's arsenal to get believers all wrought up in chaos and confusion and thus become ineffective in fighting battles against the enemy. Refuse to allow Satan to drag you down to the pit of no return. 

Maybe it is time to sit down, take a deep breath, and start thanking God for things and defeat the enemy with your praises. Before you realize it your cares will be diminished and may disappear completely!

PRAYER: I confess at times when I have not given you time in the morning I start getting drug down into concern and fears. Lord I choose to not let this be a habit. Right now I purpose to put you first in my day and to sing your praises. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The Devil Is A Schemer.....Yes Indeed!



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

There are churches who do not ever talk about Satan then there are those who practically seem to hyper focus on him. He is real and he is our arch enemy. Christians need to be alert as he is a schemer. First of all he hates this Christian nation and have you noticed lately many people are trying to say if we fear radical Islam we are Islamaphobics? That my friend, is a trick of the enemy. Disagreement with anything and we are bad people. Those who practice radical Islam shout "death to America" so a thinking person would say be on guard and do not allow this infiltration.

In Ephesians 6:11 we are told "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." He schemes, lies, deceives, tricks, manipulates and I would venture to say is cunning enough in the fact that if evil persists in a political party the followers devotion to the party traps them blindly in Satan's scheme. Guess what though. We are not ignorant and God is way more powerful than puny little Satan and his demon spirits. All of what we enjoy here in America is because we have worshipped Jesus Christ and were founded using the Holy Bible. He therefore blessed us. When our highest government officials start cuddling up with the enemy beware. 

Keep alert and keep in the word. Do not fear but pray and keep praying. Imagine a lion devouring another animal. It is extreme. Those Satan has captivated want to do that to this freedom loving country. Do not hate but stay vigilant and pray for those who are deceived and pray for our enemies. 

PRAYER: Father I love your word. I pray for those people the enemy has led astray and has captivated with deceptive spirits. Break the chains of darkness in Washington, DC and in our world. Help godly men and woman stand up for the truth in love. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Not Politically Correct, But God Correct



"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. " John 15:18-19

We Christians are in a battle of good and evil, right versus wrong. Even Christians who know the truth are acting like the 'world' many times and caving in to what they know in their hearts is not right. Our media saturated society makes it seem like conservative Christians are mean, hateful, terrorists, homophobic, islamaphobic and the bad guy. It breaks my heart to think how misled the world is becoming. But hey, no surprise there, when we allow a President to try to divide us instead of unite us. 

Our job as believers is to love. None of us is perfect. We are to pray for our enemies. We are to pray for these people who think because we believe a certain way it is hate. We are to pray for those who disagree with us. We are to pray for those who label us hateful just because we stand for truth and love this country and care about national security and Israel.  Satan has done an excellent job deceiving millions of people and his trickery is entering mainline churches too. This is why it is ever so vital to stay saturated in God's word and know the truth. 
Our job is to pray and pray some more. Stay away from too much media or it will make you angry. Spend more time in God's word and less watching news. Ask God to give you a heart to love the unlovable. Above all pray for those who have authority over us to be transformed and to know Jesus. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus there is no one I hate. I confess my anger at the lies the enemy tried to spread. Lord Jesus some I love are being captivated by the enemy. Protect them Lord. Above all help me share God's love in these perilous times. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Angry? Tell Me About It!


My dear brothers and sisters,take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20


Being angry is a normal human emotion we all can experience whether Christian or not. It is trying to control anger that matters. Different situations can set up anger. Broken promises or contracts. Being taken advantage of. A government that won't listen to those who elected them. Being cut off on the highway. Yes anger is normal but acting on it is not. Look at all the black versus white shootings lately. Anger out of control is the culprit. Lives ended, jail time for others, and race relations seriously injured.

When you are angry do not overreact and say things you will be sorry for later. The 24 hour rule is best. Don't completely go ballistic with a poor phone agent who is just doing their job. Try to act as if Jesus were sitting right by you. Know that this too shall pass. If you have road rage perhaps it is best to not drive. Concentrate on your own driving and pray for the guy you want to call 'idiot'. If someone dings your new car try to blow it off. Anger is not the answer. 

Satan is the one who wants you stirred up and itching for conflict. Beat him at his game and stay cool, calm, and collected. 

PRAYER: Some people think they have a right to be angry but all it does is rob joy and peace. I choose to be peaceful and to apologize to those in my life I have hurt with actions or words. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Jesus First, Facebook Second!


Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.Colossians 3:1-2

What is the first thing you do after getting up each day? Many folks like to get a cup of java and sit down and check their Facebook friends. No one is faulting Facebook, but is finding out about your friend's lives really going to improve your day?The best thing I think for starting out your day right, and believe me it does take discipline, is opening up God's word and reading some scripture to hide in your heart for your busy day ahead. Often times morning news, the paper, or Facebook can squeeze God totally out of the picture. Ask yourself why it is necessary to know every detail of a life and check it later on during day if you are really compelled. 

A Christian life requires discipline. Similar to athletes who train to run races, we as believers have to train ourselves for the battles ahead in our own life. Our enemy Satan wants to make you believe listening to a Christian radio station on the way to work or going to church for one hour is enough but it is not. Well it is if you want to remain a babe in Christ and never seek maturity. 

I challenge my readers today if you have a problem with spending too much time on Facebook and very little time in God's word, make a plan to change that and ask God to help you. Use your Facebook as a tool to witness for Him as well. 

PRAYER: I confess to you many days I get up and run to social media when I know it does not matter anyway. Give me the strength to do important things first and more importantly give me the desire for reading your word. Help me resist Satan's attempts to get me off course. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

I Don't Like Waiting Mommy

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

I don't know of anyone who really likes to wait. It actually is a good disciplineto teach children while they are small though. In my travels I was at an airport waiting for a flight delayed three times. I was not bothered but this young girl waiting to get on a flight next to mine said to her mom "I don't like waiting mommy". Children can be brutally honest and that is why they are so special.

We are in an instant society. We rush about and want immediate gratification for so many things. To be able to just sit and be still is indeed a skill that needs to be developed to have a successful life. If we go about all the time demanding everyone to hurry, not only is our own peace robbed but we are not setting a good example for the kingdom of God. When we pray often we wait years for answers. God is not a genie in a bottle found on the beach. He is patient, loving, and kind and so too should we be likewise.
What do you need to do today to gain peace and learn to be still? Maybe it involves trusting God more and learning to ignore little inconveniences.
PRAYER: Today no matter what happens Lord help me to react with stillness, peace, and patience and oh yes, love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Burying Our Heads In The Sand



If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 

Our job as a believer it to show love and be an example for Christ. We are also  to stand up against unrighteousness and evil. When we turn our heads to things or just don't want to be involved that is bad. What is going on now in our nation is an infiltration of evil. Baby parts being sold. Terrorists nations being coddled. Our friend Israel being dissed and ignored. The list goes on. We are becoming numb to it all. This is a bad and evil time. But it can be turned around. Our enemy Satan hates America. We were founded by Christians and our laws are based on God's word as well. 

 Satan will do anything to bring this once great God fearing nation to its' knees. He deceives, lies, distorts the truth, and even works through things like endearment to a political party at all costs to make us complacent.  It is time for those of you in America reading this to rise up and take a stand for the Bible and for truth. Those of you reading from other nation's can pray for us. 

Now is the time to pray and pray for our enemies too many of which are leading our government. Pray for America to stand on God's word and pray for Godly leaders to be elected to office in 2016. Then do your part and go vote. God is still on the throne but don't use that as an excuse to not act on behalf of the cause of truth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for America. Our nation has always been strong and able to help out so many hurting countries. But lately we have become complacent to sin and evil creeping in. Wake us up Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Note: Do yourself a favor and go see War Room while it is still on in theaters. Www.warroommovie.com for times and places. 

Note: What were you doing on 11 September 2001 at 8:45 EST? We all know that is the time the first hijacked commercial flight hit the first of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center marking it as worst terror attack on our soil. Please pray today for victims families who still deal with this tragedy 14 years later.  Victims in the air, the towers, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA and even those in surrounding buildings and on the ground. 

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Forget About It!


Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6

Have you heard the phrase "Don't sweat the small stuff?" It is very true. Many minor things in life can put us in a tail spin as we hyper focus on them. In the big scheme of things so many tiny issues do not matter anyway.  

In my devotion time recently I was listening to the audio stream on the app called 'Abide' and was told to breathe in God's goodness. Do that right now. Stop what you are doing for a moment and thank God for this day. Next ask Him to use you to make a difference. Next breathe out concerns on your heart and give them to God. He has your back. So much that we think is important really is not. 

So today right now ask God to take the controls of your life and give your cares no matter how big or small to Him. 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord for thinking anything I can do will change something. I know you are in control of the 'big picture' and all the little things I let bother me are not that important. I trust you Lord to guide my steps today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

You'll Never, You Can't! Oh Yeah!


I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

I am very blessed that I grew up in a very affirming atmosphere where my parents encouraged me to be all I could be and not be a quitter. They did not put me down and tell me I would never amount to anything. Sadly, I know not everyone has this same experience. They might have been told they were worthless, an accident, or would never amount to anything. How very sad.

Guess what. You can be who you want to be and do all you want with God's help. Especially if you live in America the land of freedom and opportunity. The sky is the limit. You are not washed up. You are not a loser. There is hope. There is a new tomorrow. Start affirming yourself through Christ. He has a purpose for your life. No matter how you got here you are here for a reason. Don't quit and never give up. 

God loves you and has a plan for you so run your race with your head held high. 

PRAYER: Lord I am very thankful for the promises in your word that keep me moving forward when I may feel like quitting. I will not allow Satan to lie to me and get me to be a quitter. I am special to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Trust. Don't Freak Out!


Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Recently  I got the idea for this title and subsequent devotion when a praying friend said she was trying to trust God and not freak out when it came to waiting for a certain medical test result to come back. Waiting on news such as this can humanly make us conjure up all sorts of scenarios that don't necessarily tend to bring peace and comfort. Even if they do turn out bad in earthly terms does not mean the outcome is going to be bad. God has ways of using things to turn situations around. 

So what do you do if you lose your job, find out you have cancer, or end up getting sued by someone? Human nature says to get scared and worry. Those two reactions are not on God's agenda of things to entertain. As hard as it is, the first thing to do is to talk to God in prayer. Confess your fear and ask Him to help you trust Him no matter what. Don't start feeding your mind with worse case scenarios. Get into the word of God which should be a daily habit anyway and search scriptures to bring you peace. God is a God of comfort and He will see you through.

Just like the word 'through' we know this is not a permanent thing. God will in fact be watching over the situation for His purposes. 

PRAYER: Lord God no one likes to get bad news that devastates their life but if we only hang on we can maybe see the bigger purposes in all that is going on. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Yikes! Look At The Dow Jones!

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

The past couple weeks the New York Stock Exchange has gone haywire plunging to record lows several days in a row. Our reaction, for those of us blessed enough to have 401k and retirement funds, has probably been one of fear and concern for the future. Riches and wealth are only temporary. We are not to trust in our money, for one stock market plunge or depression could send it right into the toilet so to speak. 

God is our source of being able to attain wealth and even maintain it. When we are blessed with abundance we are not to forget to help others too. Not in a socialistic government grab  but we should want to in our hearts. The government is not God nor should they play God. Every person has to decide on their own what and how to give. Scripture tells us those who give are also blessed. Do a word search on money, giving and other similar words in the Bible and you will find a host of valuable promises. 

In the meantime do not sit around worrying or bury your money underneath your house. Continue to give to the kingdom of God and to share when you are able and God will take care of you. It tells us that in Matthew 6:30-32. Give it a read.

PRAYER: Thank you for the abundance in my life. I know it is humanly easy to fear when we see savings accounts going down the tubes but I know in fact my hope and trust is ultimately in you, not in money. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Not Just About Sunday

 "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Welcome to Sunday! A day of rest for many. The day traditionally to go to church. Mind you, not to punch an attendance card, but to go out of love and devotion for the Lord. We are not under the 'law' anymore but those who love Jesus should want to attend worship this day. If you have been in a rut over church because you just don't like going there, then ask God to open the door to a new vibrant church where God's word comes alive to you. Also ask Him to change your heart and your attitude. 

Once Sunday has passed and Monday rolls around it is not time to put away anything related to Jesus. We need to keep the 'armor of God' on each and every day because our enemy, Satan,  is not taking a vacation the other six days. (Read Ephesians 6:10-18). If you are not prepared for spiritual battle by studying and meditating on God's word daily how will you stand up to the enemy? In physical combat soldiers train ahead of time before they meet their enemy. We too as believers need to be doing likewise. 

Does Christ hold first place in your life? I I am not saying this to bring guilt or condemnation but only to ask you to search your heart. Maybe it is time to have your spirit renewed and come alive again. 

PRAYER: I desire to delight myself in you. I know the sprit of complacency and disinterest is not from you Lord. Give me a renewed sense of joy each and every day and not just on Sundays. Convict those Lord who do not care to spend anytime with you of their need for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Extremist? For God, For Sure!


Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

Here in the United States we are called 'United' but the past almost 7 years we have had a sitting President trying his best to divide us. It saddens me. Our media also divides us. If we are those people who stand for truth, the Bible, the flag, patriotism, and the Constitution we are labeled as extremist. The word 'hate' is thrown out so much to try to brainwash those who hear it to think maybe yeah if we disagree we are extreme and we do hate. 

I beg to differ. Christians who stand up for truth and stand for our country remaining the land of liberty are doing what the Founding Fathers intended. We are a nation founded one nation under God. There is a standard of truth for Christians and that is the Holy Bible. There is not supposed to be a Democrat Bible, a Republican Bible, or a Independent  Bible, but just the word of God, period.  Our government was constructed using the Word of God as a standard too. Satan and his evil forces do not like Americans and  what we stand for and are working through people to destroy us. We believers are to love, pray, speak the truth in love. When you get angry at being called extreme simply pray for those who think that. 

We have to stand together for truth or we will fall. A nation divided can not remain. Now is the time to be 'extreme' for what the Bible says and start living it out in our world. 

PRAYER: I love you Lord. I confess my anger at those who try to destroy this great nation. I pray for those who are blinded and do not see it happening mainly due to a political persuasion. I pray for revival in this great land. I pray for the truth of Jesus to be spread throughout the world and no weapon formed against us shall ever prosper as it says in Isaiah 54:17. I pray for unity among the races as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Make A Difference


"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16


What have you done recently to make a difference in someone's life? Think on that for awhile.  We are meant to be able to not be self centered but to be God and others centered. Of course this world we live in does nothing through advertising to make you think that but it is all about me, myself, and I. When you can go beyond self for a change and help someone in need it is a good feeling. When you do something there is no need to boast about it as God knows and He is only one who matters.

Look around you and see what needs are out there that you are able to help with. Perhaps just a listening ear or making time for a friend. Treating someone to coffee or lunch. Sending a note or card to an elderly relative. Praying for your enemies is a good one and does not require much. Donate money to a friend in need. Help with someone's medical bills. Give a gift for no reason. Visit a nursing home. Volunteer to help someone pack up if they are moving and seek help. Volunteer time at a shelter. Do hospital or prison ministry if this is an area you are drawn to. Make a meal for someone who has had death in family or just needs a friend. Remember to help widows especially if they have no family around. 

When you do things do not expect rewards for it but do it because you truly want to. Resist the urge to tell others as well. God is your true rewarder. 

PRAYER: Lord make me aware of needs around me. Thank you for providing things in my life so I in turn can bless someone else. Help me never be selfish with my money or my time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Evil In Our Midst!


The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. Proverbs 21:10

There is good and evil. Right and wrong. Wicked, bad, wrong, and immoral is how the dictionary defines the word evil. Satan is evil. God is good. You are either for God or against Him. You are either doing God's work or being sucked into the world's system. Satan is called the 'prince of the power of the air' in Ephesians 2:2. Many people may be serving him and assisting him without being aware of it because he is sneaky, deceiving, and subtle. And oh yes, did I mention, evil?

In these United States right now evil seems to be winning out when a government tries to dictate rules and behaviors to its' formerly freedom loving people. Guess what? God is still on the throne.  Psalm 37:1 reminds us not to fret because of evil doers and we in fact should not. We as believers need to pray we are not taken captive slowly by things of the world that can get us believing wrong or acting wrong. Stay in God's word and do not change it to be politically correct but instead insure it is 'God correct'.  Because of immoral laws passed by a Supreme Court who is only supposed to interpret laws we as Christians stand up against a society accepting of evil practices and may soon find ourselves ostracized for standing up for the truth.

Do not fear but make it your daily aim to get into God's word and know right from wrong. God and His laws and truth will win out over any evil in the end.

PRAYER: I am very thankful for my Bible. Many countries believers can be jailed or killed for speaking out for Christ. May we never get to that point here. Help those I know stand on guard against deception often masquerading as something that is okay. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Restoration! It Can Happen.


And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

Restored relationships with friends, a parent, a sibling, or a spouse are indeed possible. Different things drive wedges in relationships and sometimes human nature takes over and forgets the 'God nature' and gets selfish. Often times other factors enter in that we can speculate about but have no true knowledge of. Recently I had a friendship restored with a long time friend who I knew in one of many places I have lived. Out of the blue this friend wrote me through messaging on Facebook and asked for forgiveness. Oh my goodness what an extreme surprise and joy this was.

I know of people waiting for healed relationships between siblings. This might be healing of a step family situation. Being rejected hurts no matter who it is that has done it to you. If a family member, I can imagine the wound would be very deep. Once again, hope is held out for restoration. Many situations can separate people and if you have been hurt, you need to keep praying and to also be willing to forgive.

Start today and give your painful situations to the Lord. Don't ever hate or seek revenge. Just keep praying and wait and see what God does. 



PRAYER: I am thankful for the gift of love. I am thankful for people who choose to forgive and love when treated poorly. Help me Lord to keep looking to you for restoring relationships that may have gone bad. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Too Far Gone? But God!


Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Psalm 119:116

Have you ever heard someone say such and such a person was too far gone and there was no hope? Maybe you yourself have uttered those words. No matter what, there is always hope. Whatever you are believing God for,  do not cave in to doubt, fear, or a time table. God has His own time and His own purposes for the deliverance of our loved ones. It is the enemy, Satan, who puts lies into your head that there is no way this individual will ever change. Don't believe it!

I was thinking about the word hope and how we do not need to be around nay sayers who feed the negative aspect of the waiting game for God's miracle. He answers in His time and in His way. Praying is what you need to keep doing and never give up. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says "pray continually"! No matter how seemingly earthly impossible it seems or how far gone a person appears to be, God is the God of miracles. 

Do you have a situation in your life or the loved of a family member that seems like it will never change? Guess what, it can change. Keep praying and keep believing.

PRAYER: I believe in hope Lord and I believe in prayer. I know you work things out in your time and maybe it is me who needs to grow through this entire process. Help keep me patient while I am waiting. In Jesus' name. Amen.

More of God's Lemonade Stand devotions can be viewed at www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com