DAY 180

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Praise the Lord. I say, "I can't wait!" Then wonder, am I ready? Are those around me ready?

Thank You, Lord for Your patience and mercy.

Guard your hearts and minds for the enemy is prowling about seeking whom he can devour.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul - for the day will come.

Be ready, draw near to the Lord while there is time.

That day will come.

DAY 179

Psalm 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Thanks to soldiers now and past who have put their lives on the line to preserve and protect this country.

Thanks to all who work tirelessly to serve others.

Thanks to pastors who give their lives to shepherd believers in the truth.

Thanks to parents who train up their children in the way they should go.

Thanks to God, who provided the way back for wandering children, that they may know the One True God by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord and walk in His way.

DAY 178

Bold!

But what do you do when there is no boldness to be found within? When the world is crazy, the wicked prosper, and whatever good there is around - is cast down as evil.

Good people suffer and die. Why?

Is there an answer? Comfort to give to those who are perishing?

The psalmist in Psalm 73 asks similar questions. The answer he finds:

Psalm 73 16-17 ¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Could it be that such questions and pounding against our faith comes when we are shortsighted?

When we see this life on earth as all there is, and forgetting what comes ahead, an eternity with the Lord, we look to the right and to the left instead of up.

Luke 21:28
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Keep the faith, your eyes looking heavenward, and know that He will make all things right.

DAY 177

Ever feel like you were meant to soar high but someone was holding your strings, keeping you flying low?

Sometime those strings are merely God's statutes held by His loving hands.

Psalm 19:8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Proverbs 6:23
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

The Lord is not a party pooper. He sets His commands for our help. As we learn to follow His ways, we will soar without fear.

Psalm 42:8
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Trust Him, live according to the ways of the Lord, and rejoice!

DAY 176

A love note from God.

We all need encouragement from the Lord and each other.

It's easy to forget that we have an enemy who pounds us 24/7. His job is to sow disbelief into the hearts of the faithful.

Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear the things of God. Immerse yourself in the Word, prayer, praise, and worship.

Cultivate friendships with those of the faith and encourage one another in the Lord.

The stakes are high.

Hebrews 3:13-14 ¹²Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

¹³But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

¹⁴For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

DAY 175

A field of yellow sunshine.

What really matters in this life?

I believe it's the answer to the question - Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life?

John 3:17

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Isaiah 45:22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Acts 16:30

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

You can know. You can be assured. Once the eternal question is resolved, life on earth can come into focus. No longer does one assured of their eternal destination need to scrap and fight for position on this planet. As heirs to the kingdom, all that the Lord has is yours already.

Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life.

Not sure? Seek, Ask, and Knock - your Father in heaven is waiting for you. to show you His abundant life and grace through His son, Jesus.

DAY 174

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

That is wisdom!

Who hasn't thought outloud and regretted it? Behind the loud words you will most likely find pride.

Pride demands to be heard and to be right. And feels so good while giving in to it.

Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit

Trust in the Lord takes away our need to be right and to be heard.

The thing for us to do is to hear God, do and say what He would have us do and say.

Step one is to be quiet before the Lord. Then listen. Then act accordingly.

Power is not found in the loudest voice or putting another in their place because we think we know better or are the only right way.

The most powerful are humble before God, understanding that He is all in all and only His way is right.

As the Bible says - even the fool looks wise when he holds his tongue.

Be wise, listen, and hear the Lord, and then speak in His wisdom.

DAY 173

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Honor one another. Sounds easy. But in our competitive world - many clamor for recognition, climb over each other, and look for fault to broadcast to anyone who will listen. A very much vulture mentality.

To honor one another is humility - the opposite of pride.

Remembering that God knows us by name, chose us, and has a plan specifically designed for us, will help in our outlook toward others.

It really doesn't matter that he was blessed, she looks great, they make more money. Your life is not going to be better because someone else is doing worse.

So honor one another.

Because God has your place, your plan, your destiny in His capable hands.

And He is complete and has enough to take care of the entire population.

Honoring others, honors God.

DAY 172

Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Mark 12:31
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these

I am thankful to the Lord for all the people who respond to a disaster and help those in need.

Watching the news after the tornado damage, it does give one hope about mankind as you see so many rush to help others.

DAY 171

Sunshine after a storm. Bright and tinged through a prism of pink and orange the light it makes is different than that of a cloudless sky.

Psalm 40:16
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

Though storms come, as they will, though many mock God and those who follow Him, as they will, though people throw out what is good and embrace what is evil, as they will- We who are alive in Christ will magnify the Lord and tell others what the Lord has done. Telling the Good News to those who are perishing. For there will come a time of judgment.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NASB)

DAY 170

The End of the World?

I don't think so. Not today anyway.

Mark 13:32
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

But at least the man who is proclaiming this as the last day put his money where his mouth is.

And who is to say, of the many who find that this is their last day, maybe some will cry out to the one name that can save them - JESUS!

And people are talking about the end times. I get a sense that the whole world understands that something is up.

^{Mark 13:33} Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

DAY 169

Don't waste your time chasing the devil's dogs.

I'm not sure where I heard this bit of wisdom, but it's good advice. What is a devil's dog? It can be anything that riles you up, gives you a sense that you need to defend or set something right, or an irritating individual.

Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Even though you have good intentions, the devil's dogs are often our own fleshly pride. The sly ones are those that make you feel so right when you chase after them. I am sure they are barking - sucker.

We are in the Lord's army and He is our captain. His orders and His only we are to follow. When we go off on our own we are the proverbial loose cannon.

I am talking to myself right now after a bout of running after one. Like a silly dog after a squirrel it will never catch - off I went. Okay, today I am wiser, will do what it is I am supposed to do.

And that picture of that mean looking animal - well below is my pup on a happy day.

DAY 168

Hope!

How many times have you heard or said - "Don't get your hopes up."

Yet, that is exactly where they are supposed to be. If our hope is in God, then I think that is pretty up there.

To lower our hope is fear that God is not good or worthy of our trust.

Psalm 71:14
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Set your hope high. For we serve a living loving God. He will not harm us. Although His answer may be no, we can trust Him.

Hope big, hope high, hope for the impossible. For with God, nothing is impossible.

DAY 167

What a cool looking little flower and plant.

Our God is amazing in the diversity of His creation. And it is in seeing His creation that man is held accountable.

Romans 1: 20 ²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The truth is all around. Amazing stories of proof how God created the heavens and the earth. Check out creationist sites and see what they would have to say. Evolution? It takes more faith to believe in mans explanation that disorder would jump to order than it does to believe Genesis 1:1 ¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Who can look at a sunset, the stars at night, or a newborn baby and not know in their hearts that there is a God. One who designed it all.

And what is more amazing - that God loves you, knows your name, and has plans for your life.

Wow! What a way to start the day.

DAY 166

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” - Romans 11:33

The Lord is so much bigger, wiser, and amazing than we can even begin to understand.

Read His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and be amazed at the new things He reveals to you in the scriptures.

The Bible is a living word just as we serve a living God. Not bound to our ideals and religious thinking, but alive and ready to quicken our spirits with His wisdom.

Seek a quiet place, ask the Holy Spirit for understanding, and read the Word.

It is amazing.

DAY 161

1 Peter 2:16-18 ¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. ¹⁷Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Honor - treat with respect.

That is not easy to honor all others. In fact, our society takes great joy in mocking everyone, especially those in authority.

And by so doing, we are not fearing God.

I would think the Lord knows what He is doing. He places authority over us - like it or not.

Along the same idea of forgive so you will be forgiven, give honor to others in the spirit of grace and you will receive grace.

Let this day be one where we walk in honor, respecting others despite what our natural mind wants to do, seeing with eyes set on heavenly things not earthly, and know that the Lord sees us and knows our hearts.

Rejoice for in Him it is all good.

DAY 165

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

It's Monday.

When I read this verse, how can I not go gladly into the day?

My God, rejoices over me with joy, sings over me. Dances over me.

Romans 8:31
...If God be for us, who can be against us?

So go boldly into the day.

You have a new day, a new week, and God loves you.

It doesn't get better than that.

DAY 164

“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.” - Ecclesiastes 11:5

What a comfort that I have a God bigger than me.

One who places the stars in the universe just so that life on earth exists.

One that calls those stars be name and and knows my name too.

One who places authorities in power for His purpose.

One who longs for His children to come unto Him and provide the way with His son Jesus.

One who is worthy of praise and honor and glory.

One who answers our prayers. Showers us with His tender mercies and grace.

Seek Him while He may be found. Time is short.

DAY 163

Perspective - it's all in how you look at it.

Or is it?

Isaiah 55:8 ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Truth is how God sees things.

Psalm 86:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

In these chaotic times where many shout and clamor their wisdom, seek the Lord's wisdom. His truth.

Proverbs 14:12

¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

DAY 162

Philippians 2:3-4 NASB

³Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

⁴do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Basically - we are to live as Christ lived.

Hmm, easy to say, hard to do. Just think about when you drive and someone pulls out in front of you. : )

So, how do we mere mortals live like Jesus?

Good news - we don't do it on our own. Can't. If we were capable of being perfect, we wouldn't have needed Jesus and His sacrifice.

We have the Holy Spirit. Listen to Him. Spend time with Him. The Word says to guard our hearts and minds. We can do that with spending time with the Lord and learning His Word.

With Jesus, all things are possible. Even for us to smile at the person who just pulled out in front of us as we are driving.

DAY 160

Outlook - how you look outward.

Yeah, that's me. I used to hate pictures of myself. Still not my favorite thing, but at least now I don't cringe.

If you find you don't like yourself in pictures, start taking a bunch of them and you get used to yourself.

I don't look at others and go -ewww, so I figured I shouldn't do it to myself. It does work.

All this to bring me to the point of the day -- how we see others effects how others see us.

Try it, put on the shades of grace and look at others as Jesus would see them. I bet you get more smiles.

Look past the clothes, flaws, scowls, and see someone that Jesus cared enough about to die for.

Perspective is powerful.

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

DAY 159

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Gospel means good news.

So what exactly is it we are to preach?

Jesus, the promised Messiah, came to redeem whosoever will believe that He is God's Son. He proved who He was by healing the sick, setting the captives free, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor.

Good news - we who believe will not perish but have life everlasting.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

1 Corinthians 9:14

¹⁴Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Interesting Gospel verses that challenge.

DAY 158

Colossians 3:1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

I read that little book - Heaven is for real.

About a little boy who went to heaven and came back.

His descriptions of Jesus and heaven are amazing. But what I found most interesting was how it changed my thinking. Or maybe a better way to say it is how it gave me a reality check.

I knew Jesus, knew He was real, my Savior. But now - Reality check - He is real!

And how I look at and treat others - well, He sees and knows. Yikes!

Matthew 25:39-40

³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Rejoice that Jesus loves you. Live like it and love others.

DAY 157

I like tree-covered roads. They're like hidden treasures shaded from the sun.

Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Jesus covers us, shading us from the pure light of a Holy God. Without His covering, we would be undone.

And in His covering shadow, we find security and peace.

Seek the special times where you come under His shadow. Place yourself, your will, your life under the Father's care.

And rest in His good will.

DAY 156

Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

As a writer, I love stories. We all have a story.

And our stories of how and when and where the Lord touched us are important to remember.

When we first believed.

When we saw His hand work in our behalf.

When he healed us.

When we saw the light of life enter a sinner.

Write down your stories. Remember them. And when the enemy comes to deceive us, trick us, and try to persuade us that God is not real or good, rejoice that you've been bought by the precious, innocent blood of the lamb and proclaim your testimony and overcome him.

DAY 155

Peaceful morning.

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Pursue peace. How do we do that? Many times I think peace is out of my control. But is it? Are there things we can do to walk in His Peace?

Here are some ways to pursue His peace.

*The above verse says to depart from evil and do good.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

*Be meek, submitting unto the Lord.

Proverbs 3:1-3

¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

*Keep His commandments close to your heart.

Go after peace, pursue it, and delight in His goodness.