DAY 145

Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

We live in a world gone crazy. Voices shout from all around saying this is the way, a new way. Forget what you've been taught.

How do we know which way to go? What is truth?

Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Beware of the times we live in. Many teach new things that tickle the ears but are not truth. The enemy perverts the Way by stating 90% of a truth and twisting the last 10%. We are in the age of deception. Test the spirits. Learn the truth from the Word of God and by the light of the Holy Spirit. And the test is to see if the 'new' things being taught line up with the Word of God.

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

DAY 144

Climbing higher, higher, and higher.

There are times when the Lord is easily found. His goodness and sweet smell of love floods over me.
And I rejoice in His presence and my good favor that He is near.

And although He is always near and promised to never abandon me, there are times that I am far away. I call, and run, and look. Where is He?

Where is my comfort? My joy and peace?

And He says to me, "Seek Me. Climb higher. Take and make the effort and you will not be disappointed."

He knows me, us. We so easily fall into routine, the duty of meeting with Him that we forget Who it is we are seeking.

God is not a formula, a small God that can be contained. No, HE is the Great I Am. To be feared as well as loved. For He is, and nothing is, without Him.

Jesus sought the Lord, going away to the wilderness. How much more do we need to seek Him?

Take the effort, the time, and seek the Lord.

Psalm 14:2
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

DAY 143

Hallelujah!!! Jesus is alive!

Matthew 28:6
"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

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.

Death has been defeated. Sin paid for.

Praise the Lord for His mercy is everlasting. He covers me with His righteousness and love.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

I am unworthy, nothing in me can stand before a Holy God. Sin makes me a stench in His nostrils. Death stalks me, infecting my flesh, perverting my mind.

Then that day, in a moment, He walks into my life, my heart, my soul.

And I walk out of the tomb of the flesh, born again, and because Jesus lives, I am alive forever more.

Lord, help me walk as one who is alive, putting behind me the ways of the flesh. And rejoicing proclaim that Jesus is alive.

DAY 142

Darkness

overshadowed

the world.

Sin and death

reigned. . . .

A time to reflect on why we need a savior.

DAY 141

Wine cups in a field. God's testimony in nature.

Psalm 116:13
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Matthew 26:27
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Luke 22:20
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

1 Corinthians 10:21

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Remember this day and drink from the cup of the Lord. Choose wisely and taste of His goodness and proclaim that Jesus was crucified, dead and buried, and risen on the third day.

Jesus lives and we in Him.

DAY 140

John 10:28-30

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.”

We are the Lords

Romans 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Fear not! Walk boldly in the strength of the Lord, remembering it is His grace that redeems us. His grace that holds us. And His grace that will carry us on.

In Jesus, we win.

DAY 139

Genesis 9:13
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Revelation 4:3
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

God is.

The Great I Am.

And God is love.

Let your heart search Him, awe at His wonder, and worship His Majesty. For there is only One God. He has set His clues about the world. Seek and you will find Him. For He desires us to know Him. To be One with Him. Jesus is the proof. God's Son, sent to show us the Way, died for our sins, and rose again from the dead that we too will live forever with Him.

God is !

DAY 138

Purple Stars shouting His Glory.

Ever wake up thinking about all that is messed up, things to do that you didn't do yesterday, all the bad things that could happen to sink you and your family into a slime pit?

Ugh! The enemy is quick to jump on our shoulders and weigh us down with burdens.

BUT be of good cheer. Knock that whiny voice off your shoulder and think on how good God is.

Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to everygood work:

In Him, we are complete, never alone, never forsaken, always loved, and always secure. Walk in the Goodness of God, shake off the enemy and his lies, and speak aloud the promises of the Lord.

DAY 137

Storm clouds and storms all around.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

And how do we do that? Everywhere we look, problems wave their hands demanding attention.

Where is the peace?

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

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Let us keep our minds on the things of God, His goodness, and trust Him. Be thankful in all things, turning our minds from the idea of lack that the enemy preaches - and realize that God is good all the time. Grace, grace, and more grace be upon us as we learn to walk in His peace.

DAY 136

Quiet Reflections.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

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 Peter 1:3-6

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

DAY 135

Look at that beautiful flower! Umm, which one? Is it the pink one to the left, the red one to the right?

Too many choices. How do we go after one thing when there are so many choices, opportunities, chores, -- you name it? - We live in the land of plenty and drown in our choices.

Yesterday, I was meeting a friend before going to our critique group. I was going to be maybe 15 minutes early, so I grabbed a bag, shoved in a book, smiled when I saw my Kindle was already in the bag along with a couple of writing magazines, and then snatched a notebook so I could make notes about my characters in the book I am working on. Seriously, how did I think I was going to do all that and talk to my good friend in Idaho in just 15 minutes?

Focus. I am in major need of a vision adjustment.

Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish...

Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

And there it is-His purpose. His will for my life, for this day, this hour.

Father in heaven, thank you for this day, this moment. Show me what You would have me do. What you would have me finish. I give this time to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

DAY 134

A red flower of spring.

Red - reminds me of the blood of Christ that was shed for us. Poured out as an offering to pay for our sins. That though our sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Red - the color of God's love through Jesus sacrifice for us.

DAY 133

Berry beginnings.

I planted the strawberry plant, watered it, but can't do a thing about making it make a strawberry. God created the plant to do that. I can just watch and then hopefully pick the fruit and eat it.

John 15: 4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We are branches. Our fruit comes as a result of who we are following. Good fruit results from following Jesus, for without Him we can do nothing.

Bad fruit comes out of following the enemy and his ways. The ways of the flesh.

Galatians 5: 18-23 ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Walk in the Spirit and be fruitful.

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DAY 132

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 59:12
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

James 3:10
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Hmm, think I will have a quiet morning, except to praise the Lord.

DAY 131

Pretty purple flowers even though they're sitting on a weed. If this plant were found in a pot in a nursery and for sale, would it cease to be a weed?

Often things are not as they seam.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

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

That's why it is so important to seek the Lord and learn to listen to Him. to develop ears that hear.

Luke 8:8
And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Seek the Lord, listen, and obey.

DAY 130

Having a bear of a Monday?

I woke up worn out. Had dreams where I felt like I had to work all night. Whew - glad it's day.

On my morning walk, I figured out I was feeling overwhelmed. Ugh! Not just feeling, but I am overwhelmed.

overwhelm - actually means to be overcome. Comes from whelm - which means completely submerged. So by saying I am overwhelmed means I am completely submerged by ... fill in the blank. Mine is things I need to do and haven't-chores, writing, things I think I should have done.

Actually, I am happy to discover what that overwhelm means. Now I know how to fight.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Whatever has you feeling overwhelmed has you in bondage. Yikes, I am joining the Overcomers! No more feeling overwhelmed.

1 John 5:5

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Read the promises of the overcomers in REV 2 and 3.

Ahh, I feel better now.

DAY 129

Redeemed

She opened her eyes. Nudged awake by the ache in her womb, she stared at the date and knew why. Seven years ago today, she’d lain on that table. Her heart pounded as hard now as it did then. And like that day, she recited the reasons she’d agreed to the termination. It had all made such perfect sense.

Her barren womb screamed otherwise. There would be no children. Any future offspring were ripped apart along with what would have been their firstborn sibling. All those that were to be - died that day.

The woman struggled through the day. Would the stain on her soul ever be wiped away? She spent her weekends at the soup kitchens, her vacations building homes for the homeless. What more could she do? How could she pay the price for her sin?

A familiar hiss whispered in her ear, “Nothing, you are condemned. You destroyed a life.”

She shivered. That same whisper had urged her into the cold room, held her captive while the doctor killed her unborn child. Hopelessness seized her heart. She could never feed enough hungry people or do enough good works to pay for what she’d done. There was no way for her to undo her sin. The burden too heavy, she dropped to her knees. “God help me. Oh, Jesus, I knew you when I was small. Forgive me.”

Silence filled the room.

The accusing whisperer fled.

Holding her breath, she stayed, knees to the floor, head bent. Quiet.

In her mind’s eye, she saw One come toward her. Jesus.

He held out his hands, scars visible on His wrists. “Woman, I paid the price.”

She stood on shaking legs.

The Lord took off His robe of righteousness and wrapped it around her shoulders. “In Me, you are clean. Your sin has been wiped away.” And He was gone.

Peace reigned over her. And for the first time since that day seven years ago, she felt clean. Redeemed.

Romans 5:6-8 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

DAY 128

Hebrews 1:3

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:”

The Three in One. One God. Three persons.

Hard to understand, but then how can we, who are but a vapor and creation of His own hand, understand a Majestic Almighty God?

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Three in One

DAY 127

Looking up to Jesus, our example, just what would Jesus do?

Luke 4:18-19 ¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, ¹⁹To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

John 14:12
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in (Jesus) Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

Jesus made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to speak, healed the sick, set free the captives, and raised the dead, and preached the gospel. That is what Jesus did, that is what we are to be doing.

Raised any dead lately?

Me either. What do we do about that? Seek Him. Daily, cling to the Lord and ask, knock, and seek. Study His word and listen. Invite the Holy Spirit into your lives and follow His lead. As you Hear and See what the Lord would have you say and do, step out in faith and obey.

The world is dying for the church to walk as Jesus walked.

DAY 126

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

John 1:3-5

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 8:11-13

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:45-47

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world.

Jesus is our light. When we believe in Him we should turn our backs on darkness and follow that light. We may stumble, but if we but cry out and look to the Light, He will pick us up and show us the way.

Walk in the Light of the Lord, showing others the way. For His glory has risen upon us.

DAY 125

On the level?

We hear much about balance in the Christian life. What does that mean? Should we cut our lives like pieces of pie? One for the Lord, one for the family, one for work and one for fun?

That sounds way too much like what man would make up. You know the finger thing Christians do so they can remember their priorities.

Although it is wise to understand that the Lord did give us our authorities, like them or not. And we are to obey them as long as they don't go against the Lord

So how are we to be in balance?

Jesus did and said only what the Father told Him

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Balance will be found in seeking the Lord, being quiet before Him and listening. And He will set our days. Do as He says and you don't need to worry if you are balanced or not. We live to please Him, not man.

DAY 124

GRACE

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Many try to reach perfection by works, but that is not possible. You can't do enough good to get into heaven.

Praise the Lord! God sent His son to become perfection for us. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Son of God and died and was resurrected on the third day, to them grace flows and with it eternal life. The abundant life that flows from heaven even now. Living waters that bring life.

Walk in His grace. And as it is given unto you, give it to others. Grace, can't live without it.

DAY 123

Thunder, lightning, rain, and hail last night. Today sun and wind and clouds.

Spring, so full of life and unpredictable.

And that is life. We know winds will blow, troubles arise, and uncertainty attempt to rule over us.

BUT - believers, those who have been born again by the Spirit, the children of promise and heirs with Christ, have a strong anchor.

Hebrews 6:18-20 ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

¹⁹Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

²⁰Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Stand fast in the faith. Look neither to the right nor to the left, but to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Though the earth shake and the sky fall, we can stand and know that God is good and for us. And that we have life eternal.

Stand fast. Resist the devil and he will flee.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Stand Fast. Stay the course. And know that God has only good for you. Trust God.

DAY 122

Hebrews 12

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are not alone. Heaven cheers us on. Hear the roar of the Heavenly Host as you run your race. Keep your eyes on Jesus and run.

DAY 121

Another spring surprise.

Psalm 149:5
Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Ahh, waking to a new day, new mercies, new joy in the Lord.

Shrug off yesterday's failures and disappointments. Reach toward the goodness of God and rejoice that He is good.

Today is a new day!

DAY 120

Friends! I love them. They're gifts from God. Wonderful creations of the Most High, bought by the blood of His Son, and each a special glimpse into the image of God.

I've heard it said that at times we need God with skin on...that is a description of what our Godly friends are to us.

Reach out to a friend today. Give them some of God's love wrapped in flesh.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times...

Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

John 15:13-15

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

¹⁴Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

And the most awesome friend we have is Jesus.

What a friend we have in Jesus.