May 8

Yesterday I sat all day. My husband and I did not have a load. We had several load opportunities but none that worked into our needs. So we sat and waited. To help pass the time, we used the Internet, used it to work on our daily devotions and then share them with others. We also caught up with the goings on of our friends through social media. And we wasted some of the time playing games. 

Time is one thing that we can never ever get back. We can't save it either. Once the seconds, minutes, hours, days pass, they are gone forever! 

Make the best use of your time. 

Do you have something that needs done? Do it.

Do you have something that needs said? Say it.

Do you have somewhere you need to go? Go.

Do you have someone you need to forgive? Offer it.

Do you need to seek forgiveness? Humble yourself.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15, 16 ESV)

May 7

Verse of the day.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 ESV)

This is verse is the all time encouragement to the Roman Church. Remember it was the Roman Empire in control at this time. They are persecuting anyone that gets in their way, especially those that were followers and believers in this Jewish King that was just crucified. 

When the news of Jesus' resurrection and appearances spread, the churches grew, including into some of the Roman people.  So those Roman believers now Christians are especially persecuted.

Paul is telling them to be strong and do not lose the faith. No matter what you face, great is the reward in Heaven.

I believe that too often, we too, forget that this life is temporary. We are to be focused on the life that is to come for eternity.

Do not listen to the enemy as he whispers to you that your God doesn't care about you. Do not listen when he tells you that you will never be good enough for God's Kingdom. That is what grace is for.

Know and believe that God  loves you so much that He provided The Way for us to be with Him forever.

Nothing we face on this earth will ever compare to the joy that is waiting.

What are you willing to stand up to today?

May 4

Submit

Resist

Draw near

Cleanse

Purify

5 actions words, verbs; they tell what YOU need to do to have the devil flee from you. He is a formidable enemy. He is described as a prowling lion, seeking someone to devour. And that someone is you.

Have you ever watched a cat stalk, catch and then toy with a mouse until the point of death? That is what satan does with us. He stalks us, waiting for us to be vulnerable, then he catches us and toys with us until we feel we could die or would rather die than endure.

Yet God's words tell us that to have satan flee from us we must put into action the 5 words above. 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7, 8 ESV)

May 1

Don't we all love a new baby? How excited do we get over a new babe in Christ?

We need to be gentle, loving and nurturing with them.

If we don't, they will not survive.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

May 3

As a child I had a bad dream. I woke up terrified, in the dark. I called for my mom. When she came She turned on the light. "It was just a dream,"  she said. I asked her to leave the light on. 

With the light on, everything was ok. I could see what was really there and didn't see the things that scared me.

Verse of the day: For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. (Psalm 18:28 ESV)

God is our light. He lights our lamps. In His light I do not have to be frightened, because I "see the truth" and In His light, my fears are not there.

May 2 votd

Remember how fun it was to skip as a kid? I wonder why you never see adults skipping? Our verse today brought these questions to my mind as I imagined The Father leading me down the paths of my life. Hand in hand with Him, I have joy no matter what bumps are along the way.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalms 16:11 NASB)

May