Live free!! Freedom isn’t free!

 Romans 6:21 “What benefit did you reap from the things you are now ashamed of?  Those things result in death!”   Are you toying with something that you will be embarrassed about if found out?   Stop!! Turn toward God and He will give you the strength and courage to leave what you need to leave and pursue what you need to pursue.  Sin is enslaving!!!  Be dead to sin and alive in Christ as we celebrate our Fallen heroes this weekend and beyond.    They paid the ultimate price so we could live free here in our beloved country Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice so we could live free from the enslavement of sin.   Live free today!!!   I thank Jesus.  I. thank our troops.  I thank God for our troops!!!!    Please join me in a prayers of thanksgiving and protection for our Beloved Military. 😇🙏❤️

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!!

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 " Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority on Heaven and on Earth has been given to me.  19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nathions, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The Lord is with us always even to the end of the age.    I take such comfort in this verse.   Today is the anniversary of  one of my best friends going to Heaven.   She was a great Bible teacher, and an excellent example of the love of Jesus.   Her friendship and sisterhood is with me always.   She touched my heart in a way to make me want you to be a better person.    Because Jesus is with us always, we need not fear, we can boldly proclaim the Gospel.   In doing so we give people the "Powerful Gift of Jesus" which will be with them always.   Be inspired to go make a difference that will last a life time and beyond today!!

Slave?

 Romans 6:16 “ Dont you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey- weather you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” I used to be a slave to alcohol. It was my first desire. I am so thankful I have been freed from that overwhelming desire. I have addictive personality traits. I have to actively pursue godliness over my sinfulness in order to be free from my sinful obsessions.  When my identity is in Christ, I seek to be pure in thought and deed.  Which makes my life is better.  I hope this helps you today. Recognize if there is a sin in your life that is causing you to be enslaved.  Be free, through the powerful gift of Jesus!!   Seek godliness over sinfulness, and eventually the sinfulness will leave and the Godliness will stay.

God’s way will become your way

 Isaiah 53:6 “We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”    Okay, so you have gone astray….. get back on the horse!!!    We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  Don’t let your fallen state keep you down.   Get back up and try, try, try again!!   Edison said he didn’t fail 9,999 times he learned that many ways to how not to make a light bulb.   Through Jesus Christ we persevere!!   Perseverance builds character and Character builds hope and hope does not disappoint us. ( Romans 5:3-5) Yes you will go astray, you will turn to your own way, but the more you keep  shaking it off and keep trying to do it God’s way, the more God’s way will become your way!   

Slave to sin?

 Romans 6:16 “ Dont you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey- weather you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” I used to be a slave to alcohol. It was my first desire. I am so thankful I have been freed from that overwhelming desire. I have addictive personality traits. I have to actively pursue godliness over my sinfulness in order to be free from my sinful obsessions.  When my identity is in Christ, I seek to be pure in thought and deed.  Which makes my life better.  I hope this helps you today. Is there a sin in your life, causing you to be enslaved?   Be free, through the powerful gift of Jesus!!   Seek godliness over sinfulness, and eventually the sinfulness will leave and the Godliness will stay.

God is our refuge and strngth

 Psalm 46: 1 “ God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”  Do not fear!   No matter how hard things are; God is our reguge and our strength.  He is our ever present help in trouble!   Trust Him, in what ever you are facing.  God’s got this!!

Don’t be afraid just believe

Luke 8:50 “Hearing this Jesus said to Jarius, “Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed.”   

Do you have something in your life that feels a bit scary?   Don’t be afraid, just believe!!  God in His infinite, intimate wisdom will heal!!   Sometimes healing comes in ways we don’t understand at first.   But He does bring healing!!! Don’t be afraid just believe!! 

Unreasonable expectations?

Proverbs 20:3 “ It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.”   This last weekend I was waiting tor a girl friend to pick me up from the airport.   She was a bout a half hour late.  I didn’t think much of it.  I didn’t read into it.   I just accepted she was running late.   Then I thought to myself, if she was a romantic interest of mine, I would have been irritated that she was late.  I would have expected my romantic interest to want to be early and excited to see me.   I would have been upset if he would have showed up late.    Do you hold your spouse  or romantic partner to a higher level of expectation than you do your friends?   Are your expectations unreasonable?   In AA we say, to be healthy and well we need to let go of our expectations.   Hope this helps you today.  😇❤️🙏

What type of person are you? One people like to see enter a room or one people like to see leave.

 Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."   A freind that has kind words is a friend to enjoy.  What kind of friend are you?   Do you gossip and complain or do you build others up with kind, trustworthy words?  One of these types of people,  is a person people like to see enter the room.   The other is the type of person people like to see leave the room.  What type of person are you?

Anxiety verses Peace

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has know the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ.”

Last night a lady from my Bible study said, “Do you think when we get to Heaven we can give God a few suggestions about what He could do differently here on Earth?”  That would be thinking 1.  God doesn’t already know. 2. We know more than God.   3.  He’ll hear us more in Heaven than He hears us now.   There are so many  things here on Earth, I would change if I were God.  I am not God. (Thank God!) For my heath and wellness I choose to TRUST Him in all things, when I question God, my anxiety takes over, when I TRUST Him, I take on His peace.  I can not possibly understand many things.  Through it all, I choose to TRUST; He knows, and He is in  control working all things out for His glory and our good.  Remember He is God, He knows and it is right, even when it seems so wrong. 

Seek good of others above own good?

 1Corinthians 10:24 “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”   …..31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.  33 Even as I try to please everybody in every way.   For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many.”  Selfless service that honors God is rare.   In todays culture we have been taught, “ Take care of Number One!  That number one is you!”   That is not at all what this passage says, at least as I understand it.  When I intentionally do good for others when it is not at all convenient for me to do so, I can feel my selfish pride roar.  When I overcome this pride, and do what I need to do, with a good attitude, it always pays off.   Not in me getting my way, but in me knowing I did the right thing.   Today, whatever you do; do it for the glory of God.  Do not seek your own good but seek the good of others.

Will you walk in pride or selfless service today?

He is faithful even when we are not.

 Romans 3:3 “What if some did not have faith?  Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?”  Certainly not!!! We will waver in our faith all our lives because we are human and it is impossible to understand God.  He knows every star in the sky, every grain of sand, every hair on everyone’s head and every word on all of our tongues before they are even formed.  We cannot begin to fathom God.  One prayer I use is, “God I believe,  help me with my unbelief.”   His faithfulness is constant. His love for each of us is constant!!   Trust His faithfulness today!!

Fight the good foght, finish the race, keep the faith

 2Timothy4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  This verse says it all!!   Fight the good fight of righteousness.  Do what is right.  Keep trying even when you are weary.  Finish what you start.   Keep the faith above all!!  Stay in hope, trusting the Lord even if your race doesn't turn out the way you think it should,  finish it.  Finish strons know He who began a good work in you will see you through to the end!!  Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith!!

People pleasing verses God pleasing

 Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”   I can be a people pleaser, and attention seeker .   I look for accolades from others to help me feel good about myself.  This people pleasing, looking for approval from my fellowman can take the place of looking for approval from God.   If my hope is truly in God, then my focus will be unity with Him above all.  Today, let’s seek God  “likes” verses man’s.  If my confidence is in getting man’s “ likes” I become drained and weak, weary and faint because those “likes” are fleeting.   Only the Lord can provide true strength!  Let’s put all our hope in Him today and soar like eagles 🦅!!!

Happy Easter!

 Luke 24:45 “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49. I am going to send you what my Father has promises; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from in on high.”   

Happy Resurrection Sunday!! Lord please open each of our minds that we can understand the scriptures and fill us with the power from on high!! Thank you Father for Jesus our Hope and Life!!

John 16:33 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. Inthis world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Hope

 Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”   This is the perfect verse for the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday!!   It’s the perfect verse for each of us in so many ways.   We all have struggles that take time, wait patiently on the Lord.   Watch in hope for the Lord!! Wait for God our Savior, He hears our every prayer 🙏.   He will rise, we will rise!!

Good Friday

 John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”   In the garden, before He was crucified Jesus. prayed for us!! He continues to intercede for us daily!!   Yesterday, we went to a moving Maundy service.   It was on John 17.  If you can take ghe tkmeto read and reflect on that chapter. Jesus, knows and loves each of us intimately.   This is imparative to remeber in our Christian health and wellness.   We are loved!!! Take this eternal love and truly live your brother and sister today.   Let us be one!! As the Father, son and Holy Spirit are One.  May your Good Friday be reflective today. 😇❤️🙏

Dont do anything that will make ypur brother stumble

 Romans 14:21 “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”   Holidays can be very difficult for people that har issues with over eating or over drinking.   This Easter, try to let your behavior encourage others, not hinder them.   Happy Holy Week!!

Faith when petrified

 Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.    Even though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death…..Have you ever been petrified with fear?   Yesterday I was.   We were hiking on a trail in AZ.   My friend heard a rattle and said, “that sounds like a rattler”.  I yelled out, Bob! There is a snake-by your feet!. He jumped back and the snake slithered away.  He said, “It’s safe the snake is curled up now under the tree.”   I didn’t want  to go close, but decided to trust my friend since he knows the dessert.   When I got close, I heard a huge amount of rattling in the tall grass to the side of the trail.   I yelled out, “ We have to get out of  here!”   We both took off and I stated quoting Psalm 23.   If you are in fear today.  May Psalm 23 comfort you too!

True forgiveness heals

 Matthew 18:35 “This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”   Do you have someone you need to forgive?   Forgive from your heart and you will be healed!   

Be strong and Courageous ! For tge Lord your God is with you wherever you go!!

 Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”   Be strong and courageous today!!! The Lord your God is with you!!! Do you know what you need to do, yet lack the courage to address it with your full heart and your full fight?   We are not called to be cowards, we are called to be courageous!!! If you know it’s God’s will … go get it!!   What is the worse that can happen? You have miss read God’s will and it won’t work out the way you hoped.   So what.   You were courageous and God is still with you!!

Getting sucked in?

 Jude 1:16 “These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow thier own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for thier own advantage.”    Do you know these people? Their grumbling, complaining and faultfinding draws you in. They make you feel like you’re a part of their elite group with their flattery.  Be careful.   All of us are sinner and fall short of the glory of God.  We are not to think more highly of ourselves then others.  We are not to judge we are to love!!

Health in our minds verses depravity

 Romans 1:21 “ For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but thier thinking became futile and thier foolish hearts were darkened…….26 Because of this God gave them over to shameful lusts……28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”    Do you ever feel like you have been given over to a depraved mind?    When I get caught up in the cares of this world and my desires for things that are not of God, I can feel the depravity of my mind take over.    My desires for my own way, out shine my desire to walk in God’s way.  To combat this erroision of my minds health; I will intentionally be thankful for what is from God today!    We dont have to look far to see the many beautiful things we have to be thankful for.  Let’s steer our mind to health!  Let’s fill ourselves with His word, His peace and His truth no matter how tempting it may be to let our mind go to dark places.   Stay in the light!!!

Be the example

 Proverbs 20:7 “ The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him……..22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!  Wait for the Lord and He will deliver you.”

We are examples!!   Our children are watching.   We maybe justified to want to take revenge, but forgiveness leads to peace.   Peace in our own hearts.    Peace for those watching.  May you have His peace today!!

True humility not fear.

 Hebrews 13:5-6 “ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because the Lord said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”   Be content with what we have!   Never will He leave us nor forsake us.   Be content!! Yesterday I was playing with my Grandchildren, the sheer contentment they have in the here and now amazed me.  Jesus said, "unless you humble yourself like a child… "true humility is contentment.  How many moments I have wasted wishing things were different than they are.   I find when I am struggling with contentment it helps me to stop and be thankful for what is.  I need not be afraid thatbI wont get what I want.   If God wants me to have something, aHe will provide.  He is very capable.    We need not be afraid.   Let’s practice contentment, which is practicing humility.

Happy St Patrick’s Day

 Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!   Today is one of my favorite days!!  22 years ago today, I was at a low point in my life, I had been a Christian since I was a child but felt far  from God. I got down on my knees and said, “Lord, I have known you, but I don’t know you now, if you are real, please make yourself real to me.  He did!!  I was given an epiphany later that evening of how He has made me clean, pure and beautiful as a virgin.  He made me realize I am deeply loved.   I never wanted to forget His immense love for me and I knew I would if I continued on my then current path.  He has this immense love for you too!    For me to keep remembering God is with me always, loving me through every step of the way; I try to read His word daily, fellowship with other Christians and pray continuously.     I Hope my testimony helps you today too.   Remember you are His beautifully beloved always!!   Through the powerful gift of Jesus!!  Happy Saint Patrick’s day!!! John 3:16. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”

Obedience through faith

 Romans 1:5 “Through Him and for His name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.  6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. “.  Obedience that comes through faith, this is hitting my heart hard this morning.    Left to my own thoughts, I  live in compromise.   I want to do right, but can feel defeated and think, “ A little compromise, that will be okay”.   I do not get away with this type of thinking when I seek God first.  When I seek Him first, I remember He is with me always, and He is working all things out for His glory and my good.   I remember He sees my every action and loves me.   I want to be obedient because I want to be pleasing to God,  I have faith that He truly knows and cares for me. This is faith.  This discernment helps me accept the things I cannot change, have the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to not the difference.   Thank you Lord, for giving us the desire for obedience because of faith.   We are saved by grace not by works but walking a good walk is a much better life here on Earth. 😇🙏❤️

Better to cut off a relationship than to sin together

 Matthew 18:8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.  9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”

These have always been difficult verses for me to wrap my heart around.   I don’t think, I could ever cut off a limb or gouge out my eye.     Today, as I am reading them, I am thinking about relationships that lead me to sin.    People that when I am with them I end up in gossip, complaining…….  When I used to drink I had “friends” that were drinking buddies.  Those are the people, I had to cut out when I needed to stay clean.   It is hard to cut off relationships.  It is better to be alone with God than to be in bad company.

Procrastination is sin

 James 4:17 “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.”

Procrastination gets me every time.  I know what yo do, but sometimes I lack the fortitude to do it.   This is sin.   The more I know the word of God, the more I realize how much I need a Savior.   Thank you Lord, for the powerful gift of Jesus!!”

Better not Bitter

 Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 

See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.”   Dear God let me have a pure heart!!! Romans 5:3 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character and character hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”   Hope floats!!  

If you are dealing with difficult right now, know God has a plan!!  His goal for each of us is to be more like Jesus. Often we become more introspective in adversity than in pleasure.    Let God do His good work in you today.   Don’t get bitter , get better!

Faith not Fear

 Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”   Yesterday, I was coaching snowboarding.  🏂.   One young man was afraid to go up the T-bar because the year before he  had a bad experience with it.   I told him, “You  have to be courageous!   Don’t let your fear ruin your fun.    He responded, “I hate snow boarding.”   I said, “I’d hate it too, if I had to walk up the hill every time taking my boots in and out of the bindings, while getting a really cold, wet butt.   I promise you, you’ll have a lot more fun if you use the T-bar.  He didn’t try the T-bar immediately.  I kept checking in with him and he eventually did try again.   He mastered the T bar!! He started having fun!    He was bale to board from the top of the mountain!!  He went from asking me, “When can leave?” How many more minutes do I have to stay?”  To one of the last kids on the hill for the night.   I am so proud of of that young man!!  He overcame his fear and was able to enjoy snowboarding.    Fear is paralyzing!!!   We are to be courageous, not afraid, not dismayed.   The Lord our God is with us wherever we go!!   Do you have a fear that is paralyzing you?    Be courageous today!! Choose faith not fear!  The Lord your God is with you wherever you go!!

With a whip or with love?

 1Corinthians 4:12 “We work hard with our own hands.  When we are cursed, we bless, when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly.  Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. …21What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

This was Pauls instructions to the Apostles of Christ.   How are you doing in this area?   Do you retaliate when someone wrongs you?   Do you take offense and lash out?   Or do you respond in love?   Hurting people hurt others.   This is a statement that helps me respond in love when someone treats me poorly.  When someone hurts me, I reason,  they must be hurting to treat me that way.  I try not to take their behavior personally.  Everything we go through in life takes us to who we are now. Many people have been treated very poorly. They may feel like they are “caged rats” and sometimes they just lash out.  Sometimes people need to be right, because they’re afraid that if they’re not, you won’t respect them.   They may hold onto being right,  even when they realize they may be wrong. These are the things I’m reminded of what I’m reading Paul’s instructions to the apostles.  Today, may we all bless when we are cursed.  Endure persecution and be kind when we are slandered.  It not worth the fight to hurt hurting people.

Brand new, white as snow! Live loved

 Isaiah 1:18 ““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”

We are made brand new!!    We are forgiven for All our sins!   Jesus died once, for All sin!!   I remember the feeling I had the first time I sinned, after my “revelation”,  that I was forgiven.  I felt ashamed and dirty again.   I was identifying with my sin not with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.     I have to continually remind myself who I am in Jesus , so I don’t become self condemning.     When we get to Heaven we will be done with sin.  Praise God!  Until that time we will have to deal with our propensity to sin.    Shake it off!   Repent and try, try, try again.  Accept the forgiveness Jesus died to give you.  We are Made white as snow, we are new creations.   Live that  way!   Live loved!!  

No matter how unloveable you may “ feel”.  Know you are forgiven, made new and deeply loved!!