Don’t let wickedness win

 Isaiah 54:20 “But the wicked are like a tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.  21 “There is no peace,”says my God, “for the wicked.”   It’s hard to think of ourselves as wicked.   Most of us identify with being a “good” person.  When we are actively sinning our actions are wicked,  therefore we are acting wickedly.  The word wicked is very harsh.   When walking in unrepentant sin, justifying it all the way; we are walking in wickedness.  This is a harsh truth.   Sin enslaves us and we become who we don’t want to be.  Good news; Jesus frees us!!   John 8:36

“So if the Son sets you free, youwill be free indeed.” 

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  8 Come near to God and He will come near to you.”   We fall prey to many different sins, at different times in our lives.   Be careful not to fall victim to wickedness today.  Pray, turn away, turn to God.  Be the righteousness of Jesus not the wickedness of self.  We are saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ!!! Walk in His Grace and Mercy today!!

Gods’ peace

 John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  This is one of my favorite verses.  His peace He gives us.  Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will gaurd your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   Today is my 64th birthday.  A strange birthday for me, next year I will be on Medicare and Social Security (If Im still here).  What will I do with what I have left?  I have found that life on earth is soon to pass only what is done for Christ will last.   Today, let’s pursue His peace no matter what we are facing.   God has us where He wants us.   He can and will use all things for His glory and our good. Trust in this and follow, walk in His peace with thanksgiving today!!

Humilty verses Pride

 1 Peter 5:6-7 " Humble yourselves, therefore , under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  7Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."   God's way verses our way; Humility verses pride.   When I accept What is, as the way it is supposed to be, peacefully, trusting God I am walking in humility.  When I fill myself with pride  trying to control everything and change things that I can not change I am filled with anxiety.   "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." Be inspired to accept the things you cannot change, change the things you can and have the wisdom to know the difference.    Walk in Humility verses Pride.  

Enemy or good friend?

 Galatians 4:16 “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”  Hard conversations produce good fruit.     Life giving rebuke, done in love is helpful.  I used to hate it when someone would point out my alcoholism when I was caught in its clutches.   Yet, I needed to hear it.   I didn’t like it when  my dear friend and sister in Jesus pointed out that in my grief I wasnt trusting God.   Yet, I needed to hear it.  It’s hard to talk about things that we know our beloved doesn’t want to hear.  Yet if we are to bring life to each other we need to.   One of my friends is going to council her friend that is suffering from severe depression.   The depressed friend is not a believer.   So, she doesn’t want to add to her discomfort by pushing faith on her.  Personally, I know no hope outside of Christ.   I have been in many dark places.  I have found true hope in the powerful gift of Jesus.  It takes a tremendous amount of courage to share the Gospel in our present culture.  What are we afraid of?   Do we think we will become our beloved’s enemy by sharing true hope?  I am convinced that I have been in dark places so that I can tell others how through the powerful gift of Jesus I have been healed.   Today, may you too have boldness to share you experiences, how Christ has healed you.   We go through so we can give to.  😇❤️🙏. If you have a friend suffering with depression may you have courage to tell them of your own personal struggles with it and how reading the Bible can help  the reader discover true hope in Christ.

Leave the old ways and cling to the new!

 Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”   Proverbs 19:3 “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.”  

Romans 6:12 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you obey its evil desires.” 

Romans 6:16 “Dont you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as a slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

When I quit drinking I had to chose to STOP turning to alcohol and START turning to God.  I had to concentrate on what I wanted to do now,  not what I wanted to stop doing.   I had to leave my sin in the past and pursue a sober fulfilling life.    In AA we say, “Don’t drink go to meetings.”   Stop and Go!  Go is what helps me stay clean.  I pursue right living.  When I  pursue the right, the wrong falls away.   When we stop a bad behavior, we leave a vacuum.   Fill that vacuum with pursuing God.  Pursue what will help you not hurt you.   What will you pursue today?

Glorify God or yourself

 Isaiah 40:6 “A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”  “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like a flower in the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely people are like grass.  8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

I struggle with pride.  I have since I was young.  I like being the center of attention and love to show off.   No matter how “cool” something I did was it all fades into the sunset.   None of my athletic accomplishments mean anything.   The only thing I do that will last is if I speak the word of God to someone and that “Word” changes their life.   “The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of our God stands forever.” Be inspired to speak His word today!!  Will you glorify God today? Or will you  glorify yourself?

Do not despise your mother when she gets old

 Proverbs 23:22. “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”  I was so relieved when I read this verse!   When my mother was older I had to intentionally choose to love her.   She had developed dementia and for a long stretch of time she was very ornery.   I was the only one in my family that had a schedule that allowed me to look after her so I did for the last 15 years of her life.    The first 5-10 she swore at me a lot.   At the end of her life,  the love of Jesus was what I saw the most.   She became very pleasant again.   Today,  and many days I miss her.   This verse gave me such comfort the  first time I read it; I realized other people must struggle with their mothers too. 😇.  I am so thankful I choose to love my mother when I had the chance.    I chose to love her even when she was  ornery.    We are to love others as Jesus loves us. He loves us so much that he died for us while we were at sinners that means he loves us when we are ornery.   Today, if you are blessed to have a mom that is still with you here on Earth.   Love her no matter how many how many times she has messed up.   Love her as Jesus loves you!! 😇❤️🙏💃.  My mom gave me many amazing gifts.   I am a dancer and a kind woman that loves to make other people feel special.    I always try to put my beat foot forward and I love to throw a good party.  These  are a couple of the many beautiful gifts my mom instilled in me.   I’m very thankful for the life of my mother.   I’m so glad I didn’t let myself despise her as she got old.  This verse is in the Bible for a good reason!!