His Richness

The sky, the mountain, and the sea.

Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (NKJV)

The richness of God’s word. Matthew Chapter 26 is so full of the mercy and grace of God. Jesus prepared the disciples for His departure. This chapter brings forth the story of the woman with the alabaster box. The establishment of the new covenant through His blood is made known. His betrayer is brought out in the open. The Last Supper is established to celebrate the Passover. Communion is established and why. Peter’s denial is predicted and described as it happens.

Hope is on the Horizon

What are you experiencing that Jesus cannot bring you through? Do you trust Him? Are you willing to let go of what binds you? Are you willing to give up the temporary for the eternal? Just asking…


This chapter shows many aspects of man’s character that make us recognize our need for Jesus. Betrayal, greed, denial, humility, and the weakness of the flesh are just a few of the things that come forth. Jesus went through it all before death on the cross. His sacrifice for us is absolutely amazing. There is nothing that you will go through that Jesus did not. And, through it all God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. In Jesus’s death and resurrection, He leaves us with the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, direct, and bring us even closer to God.

Be blessed.

Getting to Know Him, this Jesus

Today’s reading and meditation was John, Chapter 14. Jesus talks all about who He is. Many say that they don’t know Him and want to. In this chapter, Jesus tells us everything we need to know to believe in God and Him as the Son of God. God did say He would never leave us nor forsake us. By Jesus’ death on the cross, God made it possible for us to return to Him and give us what we need for this journey. By depositing the Holy Spirit in each person who accepts the free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit is everything else we need. Jesus did tell us He is the way, the truth, and the life. The Holy Spirit is our roadmap. 

Be blessed.

Near to All

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
This chapter of Psalms spoke volumes today. When the physical seems the most real to us, it is time to change the focus. David wrote this chapter after going through challenging times. David calls us out to praise the Lord. He illuminates the benefits of having a relationship with God. If nothing else, David was very candid with God. And David is candid with us. He shares the greatness and the goodness of God. God is merciful and compassionate. He is good to everyone. He is gracious and always keeps His promises. 
“The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.” Psalm 145:14 (NKJV)
Do you have a load you cannot bear today? Call out to the Lord. Have you fallen and can’t seem to get up? Call out to the Lord. David said he would praise the Lord. Let us do that. Praise God today for His goodness and mercy. Praise God for your breath today. Do you have food, shelter, family and friends? Praise God. 
If you need any of this, praise Him anyway.  Verse 14 above says he lifts those who have fallen beneath their loads. The encouragement today is to trust God no matter what it looks like. God is faithful.
Be blessed

Ask Jeremiah

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV)

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Jeremiah speaks directly to us from chapter 3 in Lamentations. His description of going through difficult times and challenges paints a powerful picture of feeling like there is no hope, no way out. The challenges presented are directly relatable to what you may be dealing with right now. Sometimes in reading the heroic steps of the people of God from His Word, the internal challenges they faced may be overlooked. When walking through darkness, there may be the impression that we are all alone. The emotion is so strong we may feel that no one can know what is being experienced. No one can imagine what you are dealing with. No one can know or understand. However, ask Jeremiah. Read his testimony of what it feels like when it seems everything is totally against you in every form and fashion.

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Changing perspective though, he also describes what it looks like to trust God in the mist of the darkness. To wait on God, to cry out to Him in the midst of the pain. God will turn it around, no matter what it looks like. Jeremiah accurately describes the road to change. Turn your heart back to God. He is faithful and His mercies are new every morning. He will answer prayers. Rather than wallow in distressed emotion, speak from the heart to God. Jeremiah did.

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I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I sill hope in Him.’ ” Lamentations 3:2

HIS PROMISES

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV)


In reading Chapter 1 of Ephesians, everything needed to live a victorious life in Christ has been given to us. Believing in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is deposited in us as a guarantee of God’s promise of eternity. However, the blessing is not just for eternity but the journey here as well. In God’s expression of love for us, He provided the means for us to be victorious in everyday life. Surrendering your life to Jesus would not be necessary if we held all the answers. He would not have needed to lay down His life on the cross for us. However, God in His mercy and awesome expression of love for us, tendered His one and only Son that we might have life and have it more abundant. There is thankfulness in my heart today for all He has done for me. What about you?

New Moves

As I continue to heal from surgery and do the work for my Master’s, I wanted to come to say hello. I hope all is well. Not sure if anyone else is challenged with getting everything done on a consistent basis. Time seems to get away from me. Okay, so the grandkids help with time getting away from me.

Work on one thing at a time and finish it. Sometimes I am all over the place, starting something and moving on to something else without finishing the previous item. Moving forward in the Master’s program is challenging as I deal with medical issues. However, this process is calling for me to glean things unimportant. I never knew how much I added things I didn’t need to do. I am also learning to prioritize. What’s most important to be accomplished today? As I answer these questions, things become clearer. The good thing is that God is giving me the grace to do this.

I would just like to encourage any reader who is challenged with that ominous to-do list to prioritize. I have accepted that I can not do everything every day. Days need to be set aside for certain things. That way I can accomplish excellence in what I do on that day. Boy! If I was only practicing this in my thirties. Back then, I had the delusion I was superwoman. You know what is said, “Hindsight is 20-20.” No fretting though. Got it now.

Last, but not least, make sure to get rest when needed. Since having the surgery, I don’t have the same energy I used to have. My body will tell me, “You need to sit down, lie down, or go to sleep.” I obey. Side note. With the heat wave that is all over the place, not just Las Vegas or Phoenix, but areas all over the place are experiencing high heat warnings, it’s best to make sure you are not only resting when required but hydrated as well.

What is Your Captivity?

James 1:5 -“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

 I was reading this verse and I was led to the reference Scripture, Jeremiah 29:12. I did read more than the one reference Scripture and wanted to share my thoughts.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 – 11) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14) I will be found by you, says the Lord and I will bring you back from your captivity.”

Although the reference is wisdom, I was drawn to the last verse with God stating that He would bring the Israelites back from their captivity. It struck me that although God references the physical captivity of the Israelites here, we today are held captive by many things; the past, the present, and the future. Hence, my title for this post. It makes me think about so many things that keep us captive and not truly worshiping and seeking God. We do not rest in the peace He references above. There are times when we are so consumed with what we want, we are unwilling to accept that God is all-knowing and He knows what is ahead for each and everyone of us. Sometimes what we want will bring evil upon us.  His thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil, to give us a future and a hope.

There is a tendency when we read the Scriptures to expect God to respond in what we want and according to our mindset instead of what He knows is His best for us. When we ask God for wisdom, do we ask according to His thoughts toward us? Do we ask for true wisdom or do we just want what we want? The foundation of truth is that the beginning of wisdom is the fear (reverence and awe) of God.

Something to chew on. 

Be blessed,

God’s Got This

Trusting God can seem very challenging when things are not going as planned. Men have their own plans, which may or may not include God. I have come to understand that however challenging things may be, God desires the best for you; not only in this world but also for eternity. God sees the future, we do not. In our anxiety when things don’t go as planned, we forget to thank Him for His hedge of protection. He protects us from ourselves: the choices that would bring destruction and harm when we trust Him. He comforts us in the pain we are going through when we feel hurt and rejected from not getting what we want. Notice I said “want”, not “need”. God does meet our needs.

We definitely need to remember that God answers every prayer: yes, no, and wait. We also forget that when He says no, there is something better He has for us. Everything is in God’s control, whether we believe it or not.

Today, I would like to leave you with this. God’s got this and you; whatever your “this” is.

Be blessed,

Hello There

His majestic artistry

It’s been almost three weeks. Been dealing with some health issues. Here I am, though. Ready to encourage and inspire. Pray that all is well with each of you. By well, I mean that you are dealing with whatever challenges you have. “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.”. This excerpt from the Serenity Prayer (most popular and to me, straight to the point) speaks to everyone of us as we deal with life. I believe that when we accept what we cannot change_what’s not in our ability to change_the stance puts us in a position of power. We can move on to the things we can. From that point, we are able to walk forward in spite of fear_courage_ and the most important part is the wisdom to know the difference. This comes from God. We need to ask and keep asking for discernment. Each day may bring new challenges. However, God is with us every day. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He said in His word to “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.” Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB)

Be blessed in the Lord!

Wisdom, Instruction, Understanding

Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

Wisdom is defined as:  “the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.”

The Word of God says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Education in the Word of God is critical for every believer. Daily presence in the Word of God allows the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Today’s culture promotes education fiercely. Believers should be fiercely motivated to educate themselves in His Word.

Instruction is defined as: education.

Understanding is defined as: intellectual faculties; intelligence; mind.

The Word of God tells us to love the Lord our God with all our soul, strength, heart, and mind. When we understand and accept that God is in control, He truly is as the Creator, it brings about a certain understanding. When we see that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it brings about a certain understanding. When these understandings are accepted, we receive truth. God’s truth. I believe that education is important. When we have a passion for something, we educate ourselves. I believe that when we educate ourselves in the Word of God, He shines the light on who He is and how much He truly does love us. My encouragement today is to read the Word; and, not just today, but everyday. Let us seek the Lord while He may be found.

Be blessed and have a great week!