LACED WITH GRACE....do you have a bucket list?

As we close out the year, I sit here thinking over the past 364 days: oh the things that have happened; some sad, some happy and some things that I thought would happen - didn't. So, the calendar moves on and in a few hours we embark on a new year, new adventures, new hopes, new dreams and yes, even some new disappointments.


In my Bible devotion reading today, I was directed to Revelation 19:11:

"Now, I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He Who sat on him was called Faithful and True." (NKJV)

I am sure that most of you are like me and you have dreams. Even though I don't really make New Year Resolutions, I do have a "bucket list", I refer to it more like my dreams, visions and aspirations that I would like to see happen this side of Glory. Do you have some of your own?


Oh, the stories that I could tell on how that "dream list" or "bucket list" has changed over the years. It seems when I was younger, my list was much longer and much more detailed. But now that I am getting a little bit older, I guess you could say my list is more realistic. Like for real, what are the chances that I am going to actually travel around the world in 90 days? I guess you could say that I've had to tweak my list here and there.


All of us have made plans in this life that maybe did not materialize or turn out exactly how we had expected it to. Ten years ago if you would have told me that on my bucket list it appeared that my husband and I would be living in a small, rural town pastoring a precious, small church, I would have laughed and then I would have looked down and crossed it off! One thing that I have learned about dreams, visions and lists is that not everything goes according to our plan.


God sometimes has to tweak our plans and redirect our focus to align with His plans and His focus for our lives. I guess you could say that is what happened when He sent us to this little town outside of Memphis right when I thought I had it all figured out. I'm not at all disappointed with how things have turned out, oh there have been some things that have brought me disappointment in this past year, but standing in the Will of God is not one of them.


Now that I took you on a rabbit trail ... let me return to the daily verse that God brought me to today. You see, even when life brings us disappointments or when things don't go exactly how we think it should or could, God reminds us that everything is going to work out just right and EXACLTLY according to His plan!


You see, we have a Redeemer Who is also called FAITHFUL and TRUE, and He will accomplish everything that He has ever promised. Good will triumph over evil; death, hell and the grave WILL be defeated! The redeemed of the Lord WILL enter into an eternity of worshipping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!


That should make someone shout today! The future that you and I hold cannot be held down to broken promises, faltering lists and disappointing dreams that never come true, not when we have a faithful and true God Who will one day make ALL things bright and new!


So, as you end this year of 2015, no matter what it brought; joy, pain, sadness, disappointment, sickness, death: REJOICE in the promise that 2016 is the year of the Lord and this may be the very year that the Lord comes back for His Church ...may we all be found ready without spot or wrinkle.

"Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." -Titus 2:13

Now, that my friend, would be an awesome thing to cross off our bucket lists! May we all keep a watchful eye and an expectant heart in this new year that God has brought us to.




 HAPPY NEW YEAR and MAY ALL YOUR "BUCKET LISTS" BECOME COMPLETED!



*Check out this and other daily devo's also over at www.lacedwithgrace.com

TODAY'S DAILY...if God is for us, who can be against us?

Have you ever set out to do something but in return you were ridiculed or not supported?

That's a tough one, but I'm reminded of the famous quote by good 'ole Teddy...

"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character." -Theodore Roosevelt

Many years ago I worked for a well known paper manufacturer. It was a company that many people would fight to get hired on at. After a couple of years of customer service work with such company, I decided to take on something else with less stress, less drama and unfortunately less money.

Even though I knew it was the right thing for me to do, those close to me, yes even my family, disagreed. The criticism and lack of support was the last thing I had imagined to come from those who I thought would support me no matter what.

Since then, I've made some other decisions that my closest friends and family haven't quite understood or supported but with the urging of the Lord, I steamrolled ahead.

It hurts when those you love and support don't support you but at the end of the day you have to ask yourself, "Who are you doing this for?"

Not everyone will believe in you or support your dreams but as long as YOU believe it, and God has DESIGNED it ...you can only end up a winner!

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31

Laced with Grace....the empty chair

Last year at Christmas, there was an empty chair. Even though Mom had left this worldly place for her eternal home the summer before last, the first Christmas without her was very lonely and … empty!

I caught myself shopping for that special gift to send Mom last Christmas. And when I printed off the family Christmas address labels, I had to skip over her name.

Not being able to buy her a gift and not being able to address a card was bad enough, but then there was that empty feeling each day that I went to the mailbox and there was no card from her.

That first year without her just seemed so empty. Seemed like I was just going through the motions with no emotion. Everyone said it was to be expected but even though there was that empty seat at the table, noone seemed to want to talk about it.

The question just seemed to linger in the air, everyone seemed to just grasp to change the subject if her name was mentioned until finally someone was brave enough to ask:

“Are we missing someone?”

Well, there did seem to be one too many forks and place settings. And then there was that “empty” chair. As I thought about the missing Christmas card and the present that I wanted to buy but was still at the store and as I looked at the empty seat I began to remember the Christmases past.

I remember the year that when I was just 5 or 6 years old, Mom had “Santa” show up with our presents. And then there was the year that we didn’t have alot of money because my step dad had been laid off, but somehow I still got the stereo that I wanted and a mood ring! (anyone remember the mood rings?)

Suddenly, the empty chair turned my mourning into a sacrifice of praise. In the midst of my sadness and missing my Mom, I realized that there was a reason for joy and love on that Christmas Day…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mightry God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

I don’t know what your empty chair represents this Christmas; perhaps, it is the loss of a dear loved one this past year, perhaps it is the loss of job or empty promises made, or it could be due to conflict with family members. Whatever the cause for your empty chair, I know it hurts and it is sad, but with God, He can bring joy in the midst of your heartache.

Even though we mourn our loss or suffer in our difficult situation, remember that Christmas is a time that we celebrate the birth of Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” What a comforting thought to know that in ALL seasons that God is not only with us, but He is continually our Prince of Peace in times of turmoil and distress.

There will still be an empty seat at the table this Christmas. I wish I could tell you that it gets easier the second time around, but the emptiness still remains. Yet, somehow this year, the peace and joy that only comes from knowing that Christ is in control fills that seat that once belonged to my precious Mom.

Perhaps you find yourself hurting this holiday season, I pray that you will stand upon the promise of the Lord that He causes ALL things “to work together for good” (Romans 8:28) and seek His peace during your time of sorrow.

Not everything that happens is good, but God is always good. May you see Christ when you look over at your empty seat, this year and all years to come.

DAILY DEVO...Peace and goodwill towards men

"Peace and goodwill towards men" is the sentiment on so many Christmas cards that I receive.


Isn't Peace exactly what we all want?

We want peace in the world; but sometimes we have to sacrifice lives to fight for it.


We want peace in our country; so we vote for who we think will best lead us.


We want peace with our friends; so we do whatever it takes to not offend them.


We want peace in our family; so we work hard to provide for them.


Lastly, we want peace in ourselves; so we compare ourselves to others and say how happy we are with what we have.


People will spend all day long seeking peace, sometimes all their life. Unfortunately, peace is not something that can be achieved, it can only be received!


"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7


True peace can only come from God. This kind of peace will not affect our surroundings, only our inner soul. Inner peace settles deep in our hearts and minds.


No President can guarantee it; no friend can seal it; no family member can understand it and sometimes we cannot grasp it.


May "Peace and Goodwill towards men" become more than a holiday greeting; may it resonate in our hearts as a gift from God.

LACED WITH GRACE...a gift for a King

As I move down my holiday list, and checking it twice, I double check all of the names: David, Jeremy, Jordan, Anna. And then there is: Caleb, Sophia and Bell. Don’t forget the new babies: Grayson and Sadie. I ever so carefully shop for each name on my list, making sure not one is left forgotten.

This is the time of the year that gift giving is the most prevalent in our spirits. Wouldn’t it be something if when we double checked our list that we came across the name of Jesus? Suppose this year, we did something a little crazy and bought Jesus a Christmas gift! If you could, what could you give?

Socks? A new worship CD? A knitted scarf?


How could we possibly choose an appropriate gift for the very One Who not only has EVERYTHING but Who MADE everything! I don’t know what gift I could choose suitable for a King. But the wise men did.


Gold, frankincense and myrrh


You and I may not have that kind of earthly treasures to give, but what we do have to give, probably couldn’t be wrapped and put under a tree. Our presents is not what matters to our Lord and Savior, as much as our devoted, presence to Him!


In addition to the gifts the wise men brought, they also brought themselves. While everyone else simply saw a night sky, this trio saw the Light! The star struck a chord in their hearts and when they saw it, they knew they had to find Jesus. For months, maybe even years, it is what the wise men hoped for – to seek and find the Savior!

 “You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart” (Duet. 4:29).

So, these next final weeks, as you finish up your shopping; your to-do lists and checking them twice – make sure you keep Jesus on your list and spend time seeking Him. If you seek Him, you WILL find Him, but He has to make it on your list.

TODAY'S DAILY... The blame game

Have you ever played the blame game? You know, the "he said, she said" monopoly game of life whenever things go sour and we wish things had a different outcome?


When I was a very young child my parents got a brand new leather chair, back then, that was a costly purchase. One day, while our parents were at work, a sibling challenged me to see if I could cut through the tough leather. With a big butcher knife in hand, I found not only could I cut through the to...ugh leather but I could easily make several slices!

Later, when our parents came home and saw the damage, the blame game went into action!
God doesn't want His children to do wrong but when they do, He expects them to own up to their responsibility and admit their part.


Far too often, we shift the responsibility off of ourselves and on to someone or something else. We want to blame others for our mistakes by claiming, “If only he or she had not made me do it" or "if they would have just listened to me".


No one can fix the mistakes that you make except you. So forget about what "he said, she said", instead focus on what YOU SAID!


If we mess up, admit it; ask for forgiveness; take responsibility and move on! The blame game just does not work with God’s plan for our lives.


Jesus never said, “If you had not been so hardheaded, I COULD HAVE avoided the cross.” NO, He knew the responsibility God had given Him, and He was determined to be faithful. When we shift the blame to others so that we appear blameless, it kind of defeats why Jesus took a nail for you and me.
Blaming others for what is our responsibility keeps us in bondage and we can never truly be free. God sent His Son so we could be free, so why are you blaming others for the things that could easily give you freedom?


Admit your mistakes, ask quickly for forgiveness and don't blame others for what is in your control.

"Teach me Your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path." (Psalm 27:11)

LACED WITH GRACE ...Everything happens for God's reason!

Today, I have shared this devotion with the readers of Laced with Grace:

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As I stepped out into the brisk, cool air this morning, I couldn’t help but think about how Autumn is my most favorite time of year. Not only is it the start of planning for my favorite holidays, but it is also the time of year that I can put some chili or soup on the stove and dress in my favorite sweater and enjoy God’s beautiful tapestry of colors all around me.


Taking a stroll out to the backyard, I see the trees beginning to look different; the rustle of the leaves under my feet tell me instantly that indeed we have come into a new season. The bright colors of red, brown and gold always have intrigued me. Why, just yesterday, weren’t they green and blowing in the wind?


Indeed, a new season can bring a fresh, new perspective. Not only outside, but inwardly, as well.
In scripture Jesus uses a tree, planted by the rivers of water, for us to compare our spiritual life to. In fact, the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that “To every thing there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)


I have heard it said before; “everything happens for a reason.” Even those who are not remotely familiar with religious matters or scriptures can tell us something about “destiny”. The idea of destiny shows up in everything from astrological predictions to romantic movies that lead us to believe that the two main characters are destined to be together. The problem with the world’s view of this “everything happens for a reason” outlook is that there supposedly is a impersonal force of some kind mastering things; rarely, will there be mention of a personal being who not only is directing but giving purpose to all of these things.

“A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8)

These times and seasons that are mentioned in the above scripture encompasses all of life; including the beginning (“a time to be born”) and the end (“a time to die”) to the reaping and harvesting (“a time to plant, and a time to uproot”) and so much more. Life can be repetitive in many ways, but it is not an unending circle. Each season propels us towards a God-ordained goal; it is not that “everything happens for a reason”, rather, “everything happens for God’s reason”.


You and I are much like the changing trees in my backyard; sometimes we come into a season of life where we must allow things to fall away for a time; perhaps it is habits, or a specific ministry or taking our hands off of a certain situation. But as we allow things to fall away, God is preparing us for the new season approaching.


Fall is here, but spring is coming. The fruit will be ripe once again but we must go thru the season change to be prepared for new fruit. There is a time for every season and purpose under heaven because it is what the Lord determines. Friends, our lives are not controlled by some impersonal fate, but our lives are controlled by a gracious God Who has a plan that far exceeds anything that you or I can imagine.


Embrace the season that you find yourself in and look forward to what God is pruning and preparing you for; for there IS a time and a season for EVERYTHING!

TODAY'S DAILY...when God asks "What are you doing here?"

Filling out an application can be overwhelming. Take a new job opportunity: an array of emotions go into applying; from excitement of a new opportunity to satisfaction that someone recognizes your value to concern that you are making the right decision.


I suppose Elijah understood this feeling. I doubt he was applying to be the new village clerk, but according to the Scriptures, Elijah was afraid and was found by God hidden away in a cave. (Read it in 1 Kings 19)

God asked Elijah a very important question...

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" -God (1 Kings 19:9b)

God was not asking the question to find the answer. As we all know that God is all-knowing, however, He asked Elijah this question so Elijah would know the answer.


Sometimes questions are asked of us, like in an interview, to give us clarity and understanding. God may be asking you a simple question today, "What are you doing here?"


Take time today to reassess where you are in your walk with God and where He needs you to be. It may be time to change direction.


I'm not talking about changing jobs today, I'm talking about searching for His divine clarity in your life.

TODAY'S DAILY...don't be so discouraged.

Today I want to speak to the one who feels discouraged or spinning in a sphere of doubt.
There are many things (and people) that will cast doubt upon you. I would dare say that many spiritual people have their days of doubt.

Moses did. Don't you think he got fed up with the constant whining of the Israelite children?


Elijah did. He got so overwhelmed after hearing that Jezebel wanted him dead that he told God, "take my life."


Jeremiah did. The constant ridicule for giving God's Word caused him to want to stop speaking about It!

"And the Lord is the One Who goes ahead of you, He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." -Deuteronomy 31:8

You see, my friend, you are not the only who has ever faced doubt or frustration of why God isn't working in a certain way.


But like all these great Bible heroes; stay on course, keep doing what you are doing and trust God. We can't always see the full picture like He can.

Looking at the cycle of life thru a leaf

There is no better season than Fall to me. It’s the beginning of all of the Holidays that I love; the smells of soup cooking on the stove and the sound of rustling leaves in the yard.


I was looking outside this morning and thinking about the beauty of Fall. I began to ponder about the change that autumn brings and it dawned on me that ONLY GOD could design something that is dying to be so beautiful.


Think about this: in the spring, the leaf begins budding with new life, and then it grows into a full leaf. Summer comes along and as it comes to an end, the colors turn a brilliant red, orange and yellow, giving us a vibrant show to watch right before they fall to the ground, where it then becomes nutrients for the tree to produce more beautiful leaves next year.

It’s the cycle of life. Not only for a leaf but for children of God. Each of us have just a short season on earth, but while here we have a specific purpose. Even when we don’t realize it, God turns some of our most difficult journeys into something beautiful. His colors of life, hope and love can be seen by many as we press in and serve Him, no matter the cost. When our final days are at hand, looking back we see what a wonderful season of serving God has been and as we fall and bow at the throne of God, those left behind who have watched us grow and live out Gods purpose now have strength and hope for what is yet to come for their own lives.

“The unfolding of Your Words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” -Psalm 119:130

The cycle of life is simple; we are born, we grow, we die. The beauty comes from what we choose to do with our seasons. ONLY GOD can make something so beautiful out of nothing.


You gotta love and appreciate the change of seasons, the cycle of life.

TODAY'S DAILY...our steps are ordered.

I am a planner. My husband is not. In my perfect world everything would have a rhyme or reason and order!

I would say we all want good things in our life. But we never want to wait for it. We want it now! And when it doesn't happen according to our time line or our comfort, we question..."Why God?", "When God?"

The need to know everything that's going on, the why's and the when's can be detrimental to our Christian walk.

"Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a Man understand his way?" -Proverbs 20:24

Now there is a loaded question for you! None of us can see our circumstance like God can. It is not for us to question; we don't need to know all the details; all we need to know is that we can trust God and He will make a way.

I'm trusting God today, how about you?

TODAY'S DAILY...choose wisely

The Bible has much to say about making choices. From choosing Whom we serve (Joshua 24:15), to choosing how to spend our time (Luke 10:42), to choosing to pursue God's values vs. the worlds values (Proverbs 16:16).


When God created man in His own image, He created us with a free will. He allows us to make choices.

As a parent, I have not always approved of the choices my kids have made but it never stopped me from loving them. This is the picture that I would like for you to get, God doesn't approve of all of the choices His children make but even the bad choices in life never keeps Him from loving us.


"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life." -Deuteronomy 30:19,20


In addition to being given a free will to choose, God also gave to each of us the power of His Holy Spirit. It is up to each of us to seek Him and to make good, godly choices.


It is my prayer today that the choices you make today will have an eternal impact. Choose wisely.

TODAY'S DAILY...Remember the good

Saul was not the most wonderful person. In fact, there isn't a lot of good to say about him. Poor David had been the brunt of Saul's attacks over and over, even when David had been nothing but kind to him.


David had much heartache and hardship at the hands of Saul. So naturally, when Saul died, David had every right to rejoice.

But David chose to do something different. Instead of rejoicing that his adversary was gone, David remembered the good. He recalled Saul to be loving and gracious; he remembered how Saul had strength stronger than a lion and that Saul was mighty...


"Saul and Jonathan-in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than Eagles, they were stronger than lions." -2 Samuel 1:23


It's so easy to focus on wrong doing and getting even. We see it from Presidential campaigns to name calling in a divorce to wishing evil upon the boss who just fired you.


David was able to see the good in Saul because he placed everything in God's hands. I'm urging you today, in the midst of your conflict, in the midst of your heartache and loss, follow David's lead and remember the good!


God will take care of the rest.

TODAY'S DAILY...did the devil make you do it or not?

"The devil made me do it!"

Did he or didn't he? Recently, I had someone tell me that we give too much credit to the enemy. While I agree to that statement that often times the troubles we find ourselves in are simply our choosing, I also cannot discount that the enemy is lurking around, looking for ways to trip us up and destroy us.

Honestly, he doesn't need any help from us. The battle isn't even with us, the enemy is fighting God. You see, by hurting us, satan hurts God. His main goal is to keep us from living victorious Christian lives.

If you don't think satan is working against us, just read the book of Job. Satan stripped everything away from Job, God allowed it, but said, "you can't take his life". 

God had a purpose with Job's life, and He has a purpose for yours. As a believer, we are subject to persecution and attack simply because of Whose we are...

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings-and with Him will be His  called, chosen and faithful followers." -Revelation 17:14

The enemy is real, my friend, he wants to take everything from you but stand firm in your faith because your life belongs to God!

DAILY DEVO...how much joy do you have today?

Let's examine our lives for a minute...how much joy do you see?


I'm not talking about being happy from time to time, I'm talking about a real, deep within, joy! The kind of joy that even in the midst of a storm, you still smile and you still praise God.

Having joy in our life is a choice that we each have to make.


The absence of joy is not pretty. It can make living day to day difficult; everything will seem burdensome and no one will be able to do anything right in our eyes. Stress will mount and everything will spin out of control; leaving anger, bitterness, anxiety and even depression to set in.
Jesus does not want us to live like this, but, the enemy does. Don't overestimate the power of the enemy, he comes to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10a) If he can steal your joy, he kills your livelihood.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Jesus is our source of joy. Today, I am choosing to take my eyes off of my circumstances and let go of the things I can't change and walk in joy.


I pray you will be more than happy today. Be joyful, in ALL things, for the joy of the Lord IS our strength!

LACED WITH GRACE....Who has your back?

Today, I have shared the following devotional with the readers of Laced With Grace! For daily devotionals, check out this site! www.lacedwithgrace.com

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You are my refuge and my shield, Your Word is my source of hope.” -Psalm 119:114


Have you ever gone thru something difficult and just needed someone to have your back? I remember when I was in high school, I had a circle of friends that did everything together. We walked to classes together, we ate lunch together, we walked home after school together, we went to Friday night football games together, we hung out at each others houses on the weekends together; you could say that we were “inseparable.”


The cool thing that came out of that kind of bond was that thru thick or thin, we had each others backs. We knew each other so well that if someone tried to mess with us or try spreading gossip, we knew exactly if it was right or wrong. We knew each others personalities, flaws and character and we had no problem defending one another.


Since then, I have learned a few life lessons. First of all, strong bonds between friends like that are rare these days and secondly, it is difficult to find people who will have our backs thru thick and thin. Nowadays, at the first sign of trouble, people scatter. No one wants to get involved or mixed up in other peoples lives.


When the going gets tough, we need someone to have our backs. And THIS is why I love the scripture in Psalm 119. It speaks to me that no matter what comes my way, no matter how difficult it is, God has my back!!


God IS our refuge and shield. When we need protection – He is our protector! When we need encouragement – He is our encourager! When we need to escape – He provides the way! He is the Friend that will never leave us or forsake us. He won’t lie on us, cheat us, or abandon us. His love for us doesn’t change just because we change. He is the real deal and because He knows us by name; He also knows our inner thoughts, our flaws, our strengths and our motives and when push comes to shove, He will defend us like no one else could.


God loves you and He would have you know today that when it seems like everyone has abandoned you or turned on you, He hasn’t. Keep striving to be more like Him, keep looking forward and don’t worry about what is behind you because your back is covered by the Blood!


PRAYER: Dear Lord, THANK YOU for being my everything. Help me to remember that I am never alone, You are with me at all times, for all times. I can never repay You for my life, but I can give you my life wholeheartedly to do whatever you see well to do with it. AMEN

DAILY DEVO...Tunnel Vision

Have you ever wondered what "the right thing" was?


 So many times, we are faced with those decisions that we wish we could magically speed ahead and see the outcome. I don't know about you, but knowing how things would pan out for me somehow feels like trusting God is taken out of the equation.

Sure it would be great to know who to marry, where to live, what college to go to or how to pay off our mortgage. These things and more life issues come so much easier when we look to God.

"Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." -Psalm 119:105

Trusting God and looking to His plan for our life (not our plan) is like receiving tunnel vision. If you've ever traveled thru a lighted tunnel, you now what I'm talking about.


While everything around seems dark, there's that bright light in the tunnel that illuminates the way to get out. That's EXACTLY what God's Leading does- It illuminates the right way to go to find our destination.


When you are unsure of something, find the Light and let It lead you out.

TODAY'S DAILY...power: now you see it - now you don't!

Power ... We all want some kind of power. We want the power to either change or stay the way we are. We want power to deal with adversity or at least, the power to zap our adversaries away. Power runs one way or another, but either way, we all want power.


This morning I spent most of the start of my day on the phone because the power that I depend upon wasn't there. A storm that went thru recently didn't just knock out the power in our lights, but the power t...hat connected me to our Xerox machine was lost too. Even though the lights were fixed, the power I needed was not to be found. (Thank goodness for smart IT people) Power has a way of "now you see it", "now you don't!"

Life is filled with illusions much like my power outage I experienced today. Just because the lights came on doesn't mean everything else will work. Often times in life, what we see is not really there and what we do not see, is.


People can argue all day long about not being able to see God (physically) but even though I cannot see Him does not mean He is not there. I know God is there because I've seen His power!


It didn't take me long today to see I had no power coming from my computer and without it I could accomplish nothing! Don't you know without the power of God in our lives, the same is true, we cannot accomplish much.

"Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 5:4

God has given us His power, may we use it properly and for His glory and may we realize that what we see is not always what we get.

LACED WITH GRACE...What does it mean to be mindful?

Today, I have shared the following devotion over at the LACED WITH GRACE website. Click on www.lacedwithgrace.com for daily devotions.

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Now here’s a saying you don’t hear too often anymore …   “Be mindful of what you do”.


My Grandmother use to always use the word “mindful”, as a little girl I really couldn’t understand why it was so important to have our minds so “full”, especially when all I wanted to do was go outside and play with my friends.


Of course, now that I am grown, I fully understand what lesson she was trying to teach. Mindful is just another word for “to consider” and my dear Grandmother was trying to instill in us Grandkids to “consider” one another. Not only in how we acted but how we spoke to one another. Because the words that we spoke and the deeds that we did to one another would long be remembered.
In scripture, there is a similar passage that reminds me of this same teaching…


“For He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.” -Luke 1:48a (NIV)


To say that God is mindful of us means that He notices everything about our life. No one cares more about us and our life choices than God. I know it is hard to imagine but He even cares more about our life than we do or anyone else around us. We can be “mindful” of others too, but in our flesh, often times we fall back on our selfish thinking… “What is in it for me?” God never has an agenda except to love us completely and unconditionally. You see, He loves us even when we don’t return His love. He loves even that one that we deem unlovable.


1 Peter 5:7 says,  “Give God all your worries and all your cares for He is always thinking about you, watching everything that concerns you.” What a wonderful thing to know, that there is someone who really cares about the things that we care about. Mary saw this very thing, thus why she could say yes to God’s plan for her life because she knew that God was looking out for her and was always being “mindful” of her. (*Luke 1:48a)


To say that God is mindful of us means that He notices everything in our life. That’s right ….even the bad and ugly stuff. But despite that, He still loves us and is concerned about us and wants to bring fullness to our life.


May today be the day that you become mindful that God is mindful over you!


PRAYER: Father, help me to be mindful of the things I say and do, Help me to seek Your path and direction for my life as I know that You are watching over me and caring for me in ways I cannot even imagine. Thank you for being mindful of me, even when I don’t see it. In return, help me to be mindful of the choices I make, may all of my choices lead me to You! AMEN

DAILY DEVO...don't let your scars limit you!

What would our lives be like if we lived with no limits? I'm not talking about no boundaries, but, no limits?


Sometimes the insurmountable obstacles and heavy burdens that we endure limit us in our thinking, in our serving and in our living!

I have a friend that had twins that were born attached. Over the years, they have had their obstacles to climb and they have the physical scars to show it. But the one thing about their story that I have always loved is that the scars never held them back. They live life to the fullest and the big smile on their face shows it.


I wish we could be more like that. All of us have scars, it's part of life. Some are bigger and deeper than others. But like the twins, we do not have to allow our scars to limit us.


Paul reminds us what can be done with our scars...


"...for Christ's sake, we should delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10


God removes limits in spite of our scars and weaknesses. He will give us the ability to overcome unhealthy relationships; He allows us to conquer fear; He leads us to encourage hurting people; He reveals His wisdom at the right moment; He increases our faith when we are searching. Endless, isn't it?


Scars are just reminders of what you have overcome, not roadblocks. Don't let your pain and disappointment limit you, but recognize that we serve a God Who is limitless!

DAILY DEVO...what kind of a nut are you?

Have you ever noticed what seeds look like?

Most of them are small; some flat, some round, some black, white or another color. They may look different but they all have the same potential.

Seeds are meant to be planted, if we never open up the package, then all we have is...seeds!

Some people wish they were like the seed of an acorn, wanting to grow strong and mighty and do great things. But God didn't make all of us to be acorns, some of us, He designed to grow into willow trees or just a shrub.

You see, God knows exactly our potential, exactly our story and exactly what and who we will impact, He knows exactly what kind of seed we are!

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." -Psalms 139:14

When we allow our spiritual seeds to be watered and grow, beautiful things immerse. Don't let your spiritual seed go unattended...GROW!

DAILY DEVO...HIs ways are not our ways

You may be familiar with the famous poem written by Reinhold Niebuhr, "The Serenity Prayer"...

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Basically, it says there are some things in life that are beyond our ability to control.


Events can occur in our lives that seem at the time totally wrong. We may even ask God why He is allowing this to happen to us? Even though we do not see or understand does not mean that God doesn't have a plan. His ways are greater than our ways.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord." -Isaiah 55:8

Even when life throws you things that seem out of control, and there isn't much you can do about it, know that God is able to turn things around. Nothing is too big for Him, after all, didn't He create the heavens and the earth in less than 7 days?


You may not be able to change your circumstances but you CAN trust God because His ways are greater than ours!

DAILY DEVO...treating the hiccups in life

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks or years) where everything seems to come racing at you all at once?


I call those kind of moments (or days) "hiccups". Because just like actual hiccups, these moments of stress or feeling overwhelmed can just come out of nowhere. And while the hiccups may just last a short while, it's still a disruption that seems like an eternity at the moment.

Hiccups in life can leave a person feeling drained, exhausted and sometimes even perplexed.
I've been running ninety to nothing lately; with wedding plans, ministry duties, family commitments, and just the day to day "hiccups" in life, I've been feeling completely exhausted this week.


So I did what most sensible people do when they get the hiccups. I treated the symptoms, and I removed every distraction and rested. Of course, my rest only lasted a few hours but during that time of silence, my hiccups subsided.


Sometimes we don't see God in the midst of our hiccups, but He is there. And He encourages us to rest in Him, so we won't be so tired and weary...

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will NOT be shaken." -Psalm 62:1-2

Don't let the hiccups of life shake you, rest in God and watch how He calms your situation and reenergizes your soul.

TODAY'S DAILY...people get ready!

As I read my Facebook timeline, I see a lot of panic, a lot of concern and yes, even a lot of hate and anger in the recent rulings of the Supreme Court.


I don't know why so many folks are so shocked? After all, does the Bible not portray exactly the times we are living?

"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power." -2 Timothy 3:2-5


We don't have to look to Washington to see all of this, it's right in our backyards!


I don't know when God will return, perhaps we are closer to it now than ever. But what I do know is, God is not surprised by anything and we, as His children, cannot live in fear. There is no better time than this to be a Christian! We have come to a time that HAVING faith is not enough, we must now LIVE by faith!


Paul urges us in Philippians that the Lord is near, and to not be anxious for anything but in EVERYTHING, pray! (Philippians 4:5-8)


It's time we begin to pray earnestly for our families and for our nation. Don't be found asleep when the thief comes knocking at the door. He is already lurking about.


People, get ready!

TODAY'S DAILY...can you feel the calm before the storm?

My Granny use to have a saying, "I feel the calm before the storm". The skies could be clear, sun shining bright, but no matter what the weather man said, her bones told her a storm was brewing.


Sometimes, we just feel the calm before a storm. Jesus did. Days before the crucifixion, He felt the calm. There was a sense that something was wrong, and He knew what was coming and He began preparing for the coming storm.

He spent a day preparing the temple for the storm; He spoke parables to people, answering as many questions as He could; He spent time with His disciples, savoring each moment, knowing it was His last. He felt the calm before the storm.


Storms can catch us off-guard. Jesus lost a disciple in this storm, many lost faith, they were afraid and the storm caused them to question everything.


Even when our lives don't go like we think, we must trust that on the other side of the storm, there is a rainbow. The calm before the storm is God's way of preparing us for what is to come.


Can you feel it in your bones - a storm is just on the horizon!

"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." -Psalm 107:29

Get ready, are you prepared to sink or swim?

TODAY'S DAILY... We ALL have a purpose!

Everyone searches for a purpose at sometime in their life. Most people think finding purpose in life is finding something they truly love.


It's easy to find something when it falls into place, but what do you do if things aren't so clear for you? What if you are not sure what your gifts are or your true calling?


First of all, don't panic. You are not alone. There are lots of people in the same boat.


Look at the disciples. What a diverse group of men. Before Jesus came on the scene, they were mere fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, etc. You think they weren't feeling comfortable in what they thought was their purpose in life? After all, weren't they making a living and feeding their families?
But then they met Jesus. And quickly, their true calling became clear.

"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand." -Proverbs 19:21

I don't know what purpose in life you are aiming for, but I guarantee you, if you seek God's purpose, everything will become clear.


We all have a purpose...we can find out what that purpose is if we will just meet Jesus!

TODAY'S DAILY...laughter is good medicine

When is the last time you had a good laugh?

Yesterday I sat down with my daughter and bonus daughter for lunch and the entire time my grandson had us in stitches. There was a time that the girls were laughing so hard, (the snorting kind of laugh), that I thought we were gonna get kicked out of the restaurant.

Researchers lately have been giving a lot of attention to the study of gelatology, the study of how laughter affects the body. It is said that laughter can improve circulation, muscle tone and increase your heart rate. Laughter isn't just good for the body, but for the soul as well.

King Solomon already had the inside scoop on that...

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance." -Proverbs 15:13

So, if laughter is so good for us, why don't we do more of it? Whatever has you stressed out today, take a minute to relax, see the silver lining in the cloud and LAUGH!

If you can't find anything to chuckle about, let my Grandson tickle your funny bone. Laughter is good medicine, and it's free!








https://www.facebook.com/285654372562/videos/10152725391962563

TODAY'S DAILY...don't take offense, take one for the team

Today, I wanted to address an issue that I dare say all of us struggle with.


Offense

It's that one word (action) that climbs all over us when someone says something or perhaps doesn't say something that we expect.


It's a look, a tone, a missed appointment or just someone cutting you off in traffic.


Most of the time, our offense is conjured up in our own mind. We overthink the look or the tone or we misunderstand the missed appointment or we have no empathy for poor driving skills.


The Apostle Paul had issues with offense too. Paul chose to write a letter to the believers at Corinth rather than meet them face to face. The reason is because Paul's first visit was difficult and he did not want to inflict more pain on the people, the church or himself.


Even though Paul's heart was pure in motive, the Corinthians assumed his actions were due to selfish reasons.


I don't think it's a coincidence that Paul's letter was instructing to forgive, right at the time offense was happening all around him.

"What I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us." -2 Corinthians 2:10b-11

The work of offense is a work of the enemy to cause division, and unnecessary stress in our relationships. Next time that green eyed monster rises up, react in love instead of acting upon being offended.


If I've offended you...forgive me. And I will choose to love and forgive you as well if you offend me.
It's a win/win for us and a lose/lose for the enemy! Let's take one for the team! 🙌

DAILY DEVO...we all need friends

When I look over my life, I can recall different people who have come and gone. I'm not necessarily talking about those who have passed away. I'm talking about friendships that once were, but have disappeared.


We all need friends in our life. I don't mean friends that make us laugh or make us feel good. I'm talking about the kind of friends that love us enough to share Christ with us and share correction in love when it is needed.

It is difficult to find a friend like that. I was reminded of this when I was chatting with an old friend of mine. Seems like time can slip away and we don't get to talk like we use to, but when we do, it's so refreshing to hear of how God is working in her life. Every time I hang up the phone, I feel refreshed and wanting more of God in my own life.


You see, a friend with zeal for Christ, will become contagious to you and you will want more of what they have.


It is true what is said, "we become like those we hang around" or "bad company corrupts good morals". I suppose this is what the writer of Hebrews is referring to:

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." -Hebrews 10:25

Be the kind of friend that stirs up Christ in others and more importantly, choose friends who do the same. We all need friends, but we also need the right ones; godly ones!

LACED WITH GRACE...sleeping thru the winds

Today, I have shared the following devotion with the readers of Laced With Grace. Everyday, you can find inspiring devotions written by spirit led ladies. I'm proud to be associated with such a great team. Be sure to check out our devo site... www.lacedwithgrace.com

***

There are two things that are guaranteed to happen during a storm in the night. Number one, my dogs and my husband will be up, sitting on the porch watching the storm approach. And secondly, I will be found in the bed, asleep, unaware.

Have you ever slept thru a nasty storm in the night?

So many times I have. I wake up the next morning and look out the window and see not branches from the trees, but limbs from the tree, slewn all over the yard. To my amazement, my husband will say to me, "Didn't you hear it storm last night?"

Duh...No, because I WAS asleep!

Time after time, as I serve with my husband in fulltime ministry, we have seen people come in our offices that have been caught asleep during a storm.

Fierce storms have come into thier lives such as grief and death, divorce, sickness, addictions, difficult relationships, financial distress and so many more. And over and over again we hear the same thing, "I didn't see it coming".

I am reminded today of the story I read about the farmhand that could sleep thru the storm...

"Years ago, a farmer was looking for a hired hand to work on his farm in the Atlantic. It was difficult for him to find anyone who would be willing to work along the Atlantic where storms raged, causing havouc on farms and crops.

After many applicants turned down his offer for employment, finally a short, thin, older man approached the farmer about the job. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep thru the winds", the little old man replied.

The farmer didn't quite understand what that meant but he hired him anyway. Soon after, a nasty storm swept over the Atlantic one night. The farmer jumped out of bed, grabbed his lantern and rushed to the farmhand's quarters and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!"

The little man, who was agitated to be awoken at such a late hour, rolled over and said, "I told you, I sleep thru the winds."

His response infuriated the farmer, he wanted to just fire him but first he needed to get out and save his crops from the storm. To his amazement, he found that all of the haystacks had been covered, the cows were put up in the barn, the chickens were in the coop safely and all of the doors were barred closed. Everything was tied down and secure, nothing could blow away.

Finally, the farmer understood what the farmhand meant. So the farmer returned to his bed and slept thru the winds."

I wanted to share that story today with you because often I think you and I are like that farmer, but all the while, God intends for us to be more like the farmhand. He wants us to be prepared for the storms brewing and coming our way. God never wants us to be fearful or live life restlessly.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." - Psalm 4:8

 

I don't know what keeps you awake at night, but God wants you to rest in Him. When we learn to do that, it is then that we can sleep thru the winds. Trust God and sleep well, my friend!

TODAY'S DAILY...everyone wants to be first!

When I was still in school, as a young child, everyone wanted to be picked "first" for the team. I seldom was. But everyone wants to be picked first for something! First to reach the top of the mountain during a climb, first one across the finish line, first one in line at a concert. 

So many firsts, but yet, the one "first" that I don't think I would have wanted was to be the first mother. I'm glad Eve took that spot for all of us girls.

With Mothers Day coming up, I was thinking about Eve and all of the things she went without. She didn't have a Lamaze coach, no pregnancy books, she didn't have a mother or mother in law to help with laundry after delivery, she had no midwife, no other mothers to have mommy days out with, no childcare facility to apply to. She didn't even have a Babies-R-Us to register at.

Poor Eve!

"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living." -Genesis 3:20

But even without all of that, the first mother set the tone for all mothers to come. She loved her children. She laughed with them, grew up with them and even cried with them and for them. The first mother had to bury one of her sons, a death that came at the hands of another son.

I don't envy the first mother at all, but yet, I see that our own mothers and I, as a mother, have become a lot like her. Feeling the emotions that she felt, from giving birth to living as a Grandmother, and all of the in-between.

Being "first" isn't really something we should crave, after all, it isn't always the best thing for us to be first. Instead, the best thing is concentrating on Who is first in our lives. Make sure Christ is the center of your world, living a life that is Christ-centered will ensure that you are number one (first) in the eyes and hearts of those watching you.

Whether you are a mother or if you call someone mother...put God first in all that you do!

DAILY DEVO...live a life worthy of less of you

I see so much self-centeredness in today's world. So much focus on "self" and little consideration for others, including God.


I read a quote from Billy Graham that said this...

"Hypochondria, a mental disorder which is accompanied by melancholy and depression, is often caused by self-pity and self-centeredness."

Now, I'm confident that most of us are not hypochondriacs, but I do think that having a self-centered attitude can be the cause of much of the distress in our lives!


We can suffer from spiritual nearsightedness...that is, a condition where people put their interests, their attentions and their energies upon themselves and their world. They don't see things very clearly.


Jesus implored His disciples to live for others rather than live selfishly.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." -John 3:30

Selfish people do selfish things because all they think about is themselves, but selfless people seldom think about themselves over anyone else.


John says it accurately, the more of Him we seek, the less of us we require, which will in turn lesson our distress.


Live a life worthy of less of you, less of distress and more of God!

Laced with Grace...Buried Bones

Today I shared the following devo over at Laced With Grace. If you haven't checked this devotional site out... do it today! Www.lacedwithgrace.com

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Our new dog thinks she is quite clever. She thinks that in order to keep bones away from our other dog, she can bury them in the ground and no person, and no other dog will ever be able to see them or find them. One of the funniest dogs we ever had was our little Maggie, a little silky terrier who is no longer with us. We had three dogs at the time, a lab mix and a beagle and then Maggie. Maggie always felt threatened by the bigger dogs and thought she had to outsmart them when it came to treats and bones. She would ever so carefully carry her treat to the rug in the living room and with her nose push what appeared to be invisible dirt on top of her treat and then she would plop down next to it and guard it. If either of the larger dogs would come near her “buried” treasure that was in plain sight, she got irritable.

As humorous as that is, I came to realize that it was just natural for dogs to hide bones. It is also natural for humans to hide things too. Everyone, at some point will try to hide something, perhaps our weight or age or something embarrassing to us or even sin in our life.

The thing about trying to hide things or the effort to put our feelings, or emotions, maybe our burdens, or our disappointments under wrap is that we end up doing what our dear Maggie would do… we try to bury something that is still out in the open. No matter how hard we try to hide our pain, shame or our sin, God sees through it all.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” -Hebrews 4:13

Isn’t God full of grace?

God shows us so much grace in regard to our bones that we try to hide on our carpets. He allows grace when we pretend that we’ve buried our bones; and He then offers us grace to pick our bones up and make things right.

God’s grace is life changing, not only does It cover our sin, but It also exposes it. Because of God’s grace, you and I can recognize what our bones are in our life and with God’s help we can make sure we don’t trip on them, or allow others to trip over our exposed bones. (sin)

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” -Psalm 139:23

What bones are visible on your carpet today?

DAILY DEVO...what do you see?

What do you see when you look out across a field -do you just see a field?


Any two people can look at a masterpiece of art and see two completely different paintings. I wonder how often you and I look around and actually recognize the hand of God?

"This is the finger of God! The magicians exclaimed to Pharoah." -Exodus 8:19a

As the story goes, even the magicians of Pharaoh were able to recognize the hand of God in something. While being able to replicate the plagues of the blood and frogs, they failed to be able to produce the gnats from the dust. Immediately, the magicians cowered in fear before God.


You see, occasionally, even the unbeliever can see and recognize the hand of God in something. It not only happened when the magicians tried to repeat God's miracles but the writing on the wall was also seen by Daniel's followers when the King literally saw God's judgement written on the Palace walls.


Too many times we look at what is going on around us and we just simply do not see the writing on the wall. We see the stars and the moon, but we fail to see His creation! We look and see our past mistakes, but we can't see His grace! We recognize the testing of our faith, but we lose sight of His miraculous power!


We look, but we can't see. We just can't see His Hand that is all around us, but It is there. Keep looking until you find it!

DAILY DEVO...put on a gratitude party instead of a pity party

There is no escaping having troubles in our lives. God even tells us that we will have it...

"...in this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Many of us have realized that life is full of trials and trouble, but few of us have realized how to handle trouble when it comes our way.


I was so blessed and brought into check these past couple days while visiting with my dear friend who lays in the hospital after being involved in a 4 wheeler accident. Even though my friend is suffering with pain and a few set backs, she is grateful that she feels the pain because she realizes how close she was to not being able to feel anything.


That right there is the very gratitude I want to have whenever pain and trouble comes my way. Instead of burying my head and throwing a pity party, I want to throw a gratitude party!


Put your trust in God and allow His strength to change your perspective in the midst of trouble. I want to be more like my friend...complain less and thank God more!


How about you...what difference could gratitude make in your trial today?

LACED WITH GRACE...Don't be in the dark for April Fools!

Today, I have shared the following devotion with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE! Be sure to visit www.lacedwithgrace.com for other great Christian devotions!

***

A few years ago, my husband and I had the blessing of being able to take a trip to Europe for our 25th Anniversary. Our trip took us to Rome, London and Paris. A trip of a lifetime! Our all time favorite place was definitely ROME! On one of our sight seeing excursions, we were able to spend the day at the historical catacombs in Rome.


In Rome, the Catacombs is the home of the oldest and longest underground burial tunnels in the world. Hundreds of kilometers of catacombs run underneath the city and its outskirts. Not all of the catacombs are open to the public but we were able to visit the catacombs of the said burial place of many Christians dating back to the first century.

To get down to the burial area, we had to take an elevator and once you stepped off, you found yourself in a dark, closed-in area where the graves were. Talk about eerie but yet interesting. The guide thought it would be funny to pull a little prank and dim his light for a minute, which caused everyone to draw real close to him. Of course he was only pulling a prank and quickly began giving us the history lesson of the historical catacombs.


Today is April Fools day and for some reason this trip to the catacombs came back to my remembrance. I remember the sigh of relief I felt when that tour guide shone his light again but I also remember that for the rest of the tour down in that gravesite, I clung pretty close to my husband. No doubt, this day will not end today without someone trying to pull a prank on you for that is what we do on April Fool’s day. But I want you to remember that many foolish things (and people) on any ordinary day can leave us feeling like I did down in the Rome Catacombs …afraid and clinging!


When life seems to turn the light dim on you, who or what do you find yourself clinging to?

“I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, You won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” -John 8:12

Jesus promises that as long as we follow Him, He will provide all of the light that we need to guide us through the dark journeys in life. Do not let the foolish ways of the enemy cause you to cling to the wrong thing. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE …you can cling to that and never be fooled again!

DAILY DEVO: I write to encourage others, what do you do?

I had someone ask me "why do you send out daily devotions?"


Besides the fact that God has given me a love for writing devotions, God has given me a platform in which I can speak love and encouragement into people's hearts and lives.

Someone close to me once told me that they receive my devotions but rarely read them. At first that hurt my feelings but then God reminded me of why He has me writing...that if just ONE life is affected, it is worth it all!


We are commanded as Christians to encourage one another. Encouragement, in fact, can drastically change a persons life!


We all get distressed from time to time and need encouragement. If I write about comfort, you may not need comfort that particular day, but I promise you one day you will, and no doubt, you will rub shoulders with someone who is desperate for it.


Today's encouragement may not be for you at this time. But God knows the exact time and the exact person it is meant for. I don't have the power of knowing who needs what, but I do know that when I'm obedient in sharing encouragement from God's Word, He will build up the lonely, the depressed, and the hurting.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Be an encourager! I write to encourage, what are you doing to build others up?

DAILY DEVO...know the truth from a lie

Armor is the most vital thing that any warrior needs to have in place prior to engaging in battle.


Protection is deemed necessary for the soldier, and the firefighter and even the goalie for the hockey team, but when it comes to the average Christian, we assume position at the front lines unarmed, with vital pieces of our protection missing!

"The devil...does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies." - John 8:44

The only power that satan possesses is in the lie. He has no power over us except what we allow when we fall for his lies. When we expose him and his deceit, we break his power.


It grieves me so when I see once godly warriors who use to serve God not give Him the honor due Him.


How does that happen?


It happens when a Truth was traded for a lie. Just this past week I've heard of two beautiful ladies who listened to the voice of lies and attempted to take their life. One life was ended, the other hangs on.


The lies of the enemy is very real and we must be sure to have all the armor intact so to not listen to the wrong voice. Satan has no power over you, or your mind or your soul. Dealing with the enemy is not an encounter with his power, it's an encounter with God's truth!

"You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free". -John 8:32

Be free. Know the difference between the truth and a lie.

DAILY DEVO...Taking God seriously.

It is estimated that there are over a half a billion practicing Christians in the world. Half a billion? But yet, it all started with just a small group of disciples. Twelve men who were sold out for the love of Christ. The things of God were not a part time hobby or a convenience to the early believers, it was their highest priority...

'The believers met in the Temple every day...' (Acts 2:46)

Every day?


They took church seriously! It is difficult for Pastors to "pack a pew" on a selected Sunday nowadays, so how crazy would it be if your Pastor asked you to come to church EVERY day?


I don't know about you, but my life gets busy, and I have hobbies and sometimes I even get weary. These and more are the reasons some of us give but are we that much busier than the original twelve?


Probably not. They had far less convenience than we do but yet somehow they found themselves in the Temple daily.


Lord, give us a hunger like that for You! We may not be able to go to God's House daily, but at the very least, we can daily go to His Throne!


Examine your faithfulness to God and His house today. We may not be the first 12, but we are just as needed in the Kingdom. May we make our relationship with Christ top priority!