Watch That Mouth

The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.Proverbs 18:7


The book of James chapter three is right on when it discusses the dangers of our tongue saying no man can tame it. Just when you might think you have got it all together in that department, whoops, you say something unnecessary that is misunderstood and you are back to square one. Maybe something you said, texted, or emailed was perceived the wrong way.

It is very critical that our brains are engaged before we speak but often a person may be in such a hurry to get his or her words out that the thinking part is forgotten. Then it is too late. You have been misunderstood, hurt someone, ended a friendship, caused a fight, or have to apologize all over yourself. Words can also be gossip,cursing, lying, white lies(Still a lie), or judging others to  name a few. 

Indeed the mouth can bring joy and happiness to many or it can drag them down. Why not start today and make it a habit to think before you speak and maybe ask yourself if what you are going to say, text, or email is even necessary in the first place. 

PRAYER: I am very thankful to have a mouth and have the ability to speak. I know of people who can not speak or have trouble doing so. Help me use my mouth to bless others and not to hurt them. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Just Me And God

A heart at peace gives life to the body,but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

I recently published my first ever devotion book. It was a longtime dream to do this being first put in my heart when I was in my early 20's. I finally got there but not the traditional way with a contract and advance checks but doing it through the self publishing or indy publishing way. Comparing is one big detriment in the publishing world but in any world. Seeing others accomplish something faster or getting a contract and an agent as opposed to the way of stepping out independently with just you and God. 

Do you beat yourself up when you look at what others do and think what you do does not matter? Each person has gifts and abilities. Just because one person went to college or graduate school does not mean God looks at them any different. Our government in the US these past 7 years has tried to instill jealously and envy in the populace by creating a scenario of wealth redistribution making the lower class economically feel jealous of those who prosper. If you do this, stop it. That is NOT from God. 

Be grateful for every blessing God gives you. Stop looking at others and feeling you are somehow less or start to envy the other person. Rejoice with others in their accomplishments and know like it says in 1 Peter 5:6 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

PRAYER: Lord you are good and your mercies are new every morning it says in scripture and indeed how true that is. Forgive me if I have ever been less than grateful for the things you do in my life. You have wonderful plans for me and I thank you ahead of time for how you work in my life. Use me in the lives of others to accomplish your purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Shine Your Light

Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the Lord Rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.Nations will come to your light,and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:1-3

Have you ever thought about that maybe just maybe you don't need to be so concerned about all the mess happening in America right now? Seriously. You do need to be praying but not be worrying and building survival shelters. 

Do you believe and trust that God has a plan and His plan often does not include what you as a mere human may think. He uses people too, that you may least suspect to accomplish His purposes. 

What is your job you might ask? It is to shine in the midst of a chaotic world. Each and every day get up and go out with joy and confidence knowing with God things will be okay. 

PRAYER: Each and every day I need you Lord. I need your word to help recharge that spiritual light inside of me. Use me today as I go about doing my daily duties. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Bases Loaded

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25

Baseball season is upon us. Growing up near a Major League Baseball city, Cincinnati, I faithfully followed the Reds in the days of Johnny Bench and Pete Rose. Then later moved to another baseball city,St Louis,  and followed the Cardinals and Ozzie Smith. About 20 years ago I moved to Phoenix and followed the newly formed Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson. Our little city of Huntsville(AL), lost its minor league team about a year ago. I found baseball exciting and while living in Cactus League territory in Arizona I took in a game or two of the Cubs who spring trained in Mesa. 

When you are at a really close game it is super exciting! Bases loaded and you just can't wait to get a home run hitter up to bat and slam one into the stands and four runs are automatically earned. Bases loaded in life could be when everything seems like it is lining up perfectly and things in life fall right into place. It prepares you for the time maybe when the 'strike outs' of life occur and they will occur, sad to say.

You may have heard others say, "Go with the flow" meaning to perhaps not take everything so seriously and bend with the punches. You may strike out occasionally but God wants you to get that home run of life so keep on keeping on my friend. 

PRAYER: When I feel like life is throwing me curve balls and can never get on base, help me to keep hanging in there for eventually things will get better. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Weeds Will Come

The sower went out to sow his seed and as he  sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out." "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."Luke 8:5-8

Ask my husband or my former neighbor, and you will discover I am no gardener. I do not have a green thumb nor do I know much about growing stuff. My husband is the one with the passion and degree in agriculture. But I try. Recently as he was instructing me in the fine art of the proper way to plant different types of seeds I was thinking, " should have put down black plastic to keep the weeds from coming" but alas no black plastic. Weeds will come and weeds will have to be yanked up by the root so my crops will grow and thrive.

In life 'weeds' come as well. In the verse above the 'weeds' or 'thorns' choked the word of God out so it was unfruitful. These 'weeds' or 'thorns' could be problems, unbelief, lack of faith, hanging with the wrong crowd, filling your mind with wrong things, jealousy, hatred, anger, bitterness. If there are any of these in your life it is hard for the word of God to take root less it be choked out by these. 

Do you need to cultivate the soil of your heart and prepare it to be receptive to the word of God? Only you can answer that question truthfully. It is hard to fill your heart with things of the Lord when other idols are choking it out. You be the judge and do what is necessary to 'weed' the garden of your heart to make it fruitful for the Lord. 

PRAYER: I am tired of having weeds in my spiritual garden. Satan loves to keep them coming and I choose to yank them up. A good dose of the word of God daily is like weed killer to strengthen me for each day's journey. Forgive me when I make excuses why I have no time and help me reorder my day around my time with you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Fresh Ideas For The New Year

(Fresh Ideas For The New Year was originally published 3 Jan 16 but inadvertently left off of Blogger. )

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13

A new year provides new ways to get a brand new start on life. It is a good breaking point of sorts to start fresh with things you maybe want to change or accomplish.  Perhaps it is cleaning out the attic, losing weight,writing or calling your  parents more, trying a new activity, going back to school.

Whatever it is, why not get alone with God and formulate a plan?  Of course plans are always subject to change, but maybe try to commit to start out and complete a task. This would be a good way to get your spiritual life charged up as well. Not just the "I will read through the entire Bible" although admirable. A fresh start to maybe read your Bible purposefully daily. Join or start a Bible study. Get in a prayer group. Start attending a dynamic church where the word of God is not compromised. Start journaling. Fill your mind with great praise and worship songs instead of listening to other things on the radio. There are many ways you can make a start to grow in Christ.

Take a moment and just think what you could do to get closer to Jesus and God in 2016.

PRAYER: Lord I want to know you more and better. Many excuses always pop up when I try to do something to get closer to you Lord so help me recognize those as attacks from Satan to take me away from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

As It Was In The Days Of Noah

(As It Was In The Days Of Noah was dated 4 April but somehow I forgot to put it out on blogger that day. So one month later here you go)

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, Matthew 24:37-38

I have heard lots of speculation recently wondering if we are truly in our last days on this Earth. Is the time ripe for Jesus' glorious return?

Most people know the story of Noah and the Ark and God bringing a flood to destroy the Earth and start over from square one. Only Noah and family and one male and female of each animal species were spared. The people had become so sinful that God destroyed them. We know the Bible says there will never be a flood again but we know the promise of Christ's return and the verse above saying as it was in the days of Noah.

Have we fallen to the level of Sodom morally? Have we ignored God and warnings in scripture? Have we compromised what we know to be the truth? Have you spoken out against evil in society? Have we become numb to sin and wrong around us? We know scripture says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "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." Are you doing your part in this verse with a promise?

PRAYER: Oh Lord it saddens me how Satan has blinded the minds of so many and how many have compromised what they know to be the truth. We need deliverance. You are on the throne. I pray for anyone I know who is blinded to evil and pray their eyes are opened. In Jesus' name. Amen.