Perfect Fit! He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT) My husband and I make a great team. We each […]
Consider the Birds Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26, NIV) The deeper meaning behind the parable of the birds and how […]
Together Simply join your life with mine. (Matthew 11:29, TPT) At first my husband asked me to marry him and we began to make plans for our life together. But then we had an actual ceremony and took our vows, pledged our lives and hearts to one another. That is […]
Little Compromises Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16, NLT) Whether it is in business, ministry or family life one element that makes things go more smoothly be successful is the ability to compromise. The definition of compromise is, “an ability to listen to two sides and devise a […]
God Speaks to your Conscience And the Spirit of God hovered—Genesis 1:1, ESV The Holy Spirit has been described as the “Hound of Heaven.” Not in a derogatory sense, as someone who hounds you in a harsh way, or constantly berates you, but lovingly stays on you. To describe him […]
It’s So Easy to Please Him! You will find that I am gentle, humble, easy to please. (Matthew 11:29, TPT) What do you know about your Savior? What have you thought about him? Have you considered his refreshing gentle ways and humble personality? What about the fact that he is […]
Marking Days and Times He made the moon to mark the seasons. (Psalm 104:19, ESV) God put many things in place to mark times and seasons. The Israelites had many times that they marked as festival times or even those times that were not necessarily festive but impactful and eventful. […]
The Medicine God Chooses Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.” (Isaiah 38:21, NKJV) When king Hezekiah as sick and dying God sent the prophet Isaiah to issue a prescription. He told Isaiah […]
God’s Holy Temple The LORD is in his holy temple. (Habakkuk 2:20, NIV) Did you know it pleases God when you take good care of yourself? Although our minds usually go to the highest heavens or the beautiful temple of Zion in heaven, or even earthly edifices when we read […]
Heaven, Not Hell In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death.(Isaiah 38:1)King Hezekiah was in the prime of life and he was sure his life had come to an end. There was no earthly cure for what he suffered from and resolved himself—not only that […]
He is a Real Person The Word became human and made his home among us. (John 1:14, NLT) When you think about Jesus how do you envision him? As a mysterious presence out there winding through the heavens and universe? As a spiritual force? As that invisible presence that shows […]
Such a Courteous Human Being Be…courteous to everyone. (Titus 3:2, TPT) Jesus was a perfect example to follow in this way which Paul instructs Titus. He shows us how to live, talk, and treat others. It did not matter who it was—even his enemies and greatest nemesis—Jesus was never less […]
Whatever It Is! We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it […]
Giving Cheerfully You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NLT) Let’s face it in these days and times especially, there are so many worthy causes that […]
Jesus Crushed It! But the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (Romans 16:20, ESV) Sometimes when we want to say how well we or someone performed we will say “I/we/they” crushed it! When we or others hear that we and they know exactly what’s being said. […]
Jesus, Your Conqueror But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NASB) It is Jesus in you that helps you conquer feelings of inadequacy, jealously, fear, pride, disappointment, anger, frustration, resentment; all those feelings that arise or seek to set up permanence in […]
Okay, Don’t Count That! It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. (I Corinthians 13:5b, CEV) Sometimes, when we are feeling particularly hurt or wronged by someone who has hurt us in the past or has a habit of hurting us it’s really tempting to add up all […]
FavorWhen the LORD brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! (Psalm 126:1, GNT) Sometimes we are asking God for or praying about money or manmade solutions when what we really need is God’s favor. Human strategies will only get us so far and money cannot buy everything […]
Shalom Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14:27, ESV) Oftentimes we can focus on and desire one aspect of peace: that much needed inner peace that helps us be and remain calm under any circumstance. But inner peace is only one aspect or component […]
You are glorious! are progressively being transformed into his image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who] is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Amplified) Here, Paul sums up the entire Christian life and journey and uses the word “glory” twice, but they […]
You Are Stronger than Ever! They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]. (Psalm 84:7, Amplified Bible) It’s nearly Mum season. I love Mums, especially the hearty Mums. They are one of my favorite flowers. And I especially love that they are not only lovely but so strong […]
God Keeps Track of Us. Each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:7) Beforethe invention of social media sites like Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Twitter and the like, it was easy to lose track of people. Even nowadays if someone is not connected to any of these sites knowing where […]
Incomparable. “LORD, there is no one like you.” (Jeremiah 10:6, GNT) We all have people we admire. And that is okay. As long as we are not wanting to be like them to the point we lose touch with who God has made us to be individually and uniquely. And […]
God Cares for and about You. Because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7, ESV) My husband and I have cared for one another for greater than 40 years, getting closer to 50 at this stage. Notice I did not say we have cared about one another for that length […]
Judgment and Generosity “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2, NASB) I love working picture puzzles. They are good for strengthening us cognitively and helping us pay attention to detail. I have a […]
Don’t Get Caught in a Time Crunch Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. (Mark 13:32-33, Holman Christian Standard Bible) I’m not easily stressed. But there is one thing that stresses me above all else and that is feeling […]
Time and Patience. “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others,] joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22-23, Amplified Bible) It takes five years for a […]
Overlapping Grace “From his fullness we have received grace upon grace.” (John 1:16, ESV) One of the things I really enjoy doing is sitting by the water. I especially love hearing and watching the waves roll to the shore or hit again the breaker wall. It’s such a calming sound […]
Truth and Consequences? Guide me by your truth and instruct me. (Psalm 25:5, CEV) Sometimes there is not an option. Sometimes when you tell the truth there will be consequences. It does not matter how you tell the truth, in love or with some anger or resentment; there will be […]
Staying Relevant. “O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.” (Psalm71:17, NLT) I get what David was asking God. After so much time in the Lord’s service. Dating as far back as his youth when he killed […]
The Head and not the Tail. “The LORD will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:13, Amplified) What a […]
Something New. “Behold, I am going to do something new. Now it will spring up; Will you not be aware of it?” (Isaiah 43:19, NASB) I have some pretty decent crochet skills. Even though I specialize in shawls and wraps I can make most things if I put my mind […]
Be Encouraged: God loves the sinner but hates the sin. “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” (Psalm 5:4-5, ESV) We all have things we cannot stand. Fingernails on a chalk board; yikes! Egg shells in our scrambled eggs. Gross! With […]
Be Encouraged: God made both good days and days that don’t turn out so well! This day belongs to the LORD! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.” (Psalm 118:24, CEV) We might find it easier to rejoice and be glad in the day that goes well, to see how God […]
Be Encouraged: Your God is Sovereign. “—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.” (I Timothy 6:15-16, ESV) What a description Paul wrote Timothy […]
Encouraging Affirmation: The Old You is Gone, the New You Has Come Into Being! “Therefore, if anyone is new creation, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV) At one time I worked in a garment alterations shop. It […]
Be Encouraged: God has given you skills to solve problems and become part of the solution. “If you see that your neighbor’s donkey or ox has collapsed on the road, do not look the other way. Go and help your neighbor get it back on its feet!” (Deuteronomy 22:4, NLT) […]
Be Encouraged: The LORD will fight your battles for you. “The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” (Exodus 14:14, Amplified Bible) Pharaoh’s army was approaching fast, gaining ground rapidly, and in hot pursuit. The Israelites were in a frenzy. With a […]
Be Encouraged: In Christ, you are a spiritual powerhouse. “I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power that he used.” (Ephesians 1:19, CEV) Did you ever read the Christian classic The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. […]
Be Encouraged: You have a heart like God’s! “We love each other because he first loved us.” (I John 4:19, NLT) This is one of those passages in the Bible that reads about the same no matter what translation of the Bible you are reading. Out of the overflow of […]
Be Encouraged: God is making sure every detail of our lives will work together to cause good to come out of it. “So we know that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers wh9o have been called to fulfill his designed […]
Be Encouraged: It’s not difficult to fulfill the greatest commandment. “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31) When we distinguish loving as showing kindness from loving as affection we can see how easy it becomes to […]
Be Encouraged: The Word of God is powerful and Effective for your life and circumstances “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130) Have you thought about the power and efficacy of the written Word of God? perhaps you can remember a time […]
Be Encouraged: You Don’t Have to Be a “Super” Saint or Christian in order to enjoy the benefits of heavenly wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” ((James 1:5) It is one thing […]
Be Encouraged: God Can bring you in on boards and pieces if he needs to! “he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely […]
Be Encouraged: You Don’t Need to Worry About Tomorrow or Things in the Near or Even Distant Future And why are you anxious…But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you?” […]
Affirming Message: I Am God’s Child! And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the LORD Almighty—2 Corinthians 6:18 Sometimes when my two sisters and I are ribbing or teasing one another we will say, “You are definitely your mother’s […]
Affirming Message: I Will Bloom Where I Am Planted! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem into Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons […]
Affirming Message: I Will Cast My Bread Upon the Waters and Find it After Many Days! Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.—Ecclesiastes 11:1 Solomon preaches a powerful sermon with these words and promise from God. If we were to sum it up, […]
Affirming Message: “I Will Not Faint on the Day of Adversity, But I Will Endure!” If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.—Proverbs 24:10 Be cognizant of your “self-speak” when you are going through adversity. Adversity is any kind of misfortune, any difficulty, any serious or […]
