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!








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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

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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!