Proverbs 16:17-33 Today a sale is being held to help one of our senior saints in my church prepare to go and live with her daughter a few hours away. Even as I have pondered how hard it is for our sweet friend, I am reminded of the many times she has been a prayer warrior for me personally and for many around me. The verse from Proverbs we read so describes her.
31Gray hair is a glorious crown;
it is found in the way of righteousness.
Now granted her gray hair is always covered with a little color, but it is there underneath. I laugh thinking about the time she said “You know how I get rid of wrinkles?” We were all like NO HOW. Immediately she threw her arms up and stretched out her mid section and said, “Just like this.” We all rolled laughing. She is the woman you call when you know things aren’t going well and you need extra support. I went to her house one day to visit and she said, come here and let me show you my prayer closet. Sure enough I walked to a closet in her hallway and she had set it up with a lamp, a small desk, and prayer notes and scripture was pinned up all around the tiny room. The righteous way is certainly found in her. I grieve for our community as she prepares to move, but I know she will love being with her family. Instead of grieving I believe God would want all of us to step up. He would desire for us to become prayer warriors as she is. She would long for us to smile and show the love of Jesus to all around. We will never take your place Jeanette Harris, but we can spread your message of Hope. You are loved!

Titus 3:1-8; The gospel is pure and so simple yet not everyone receives it. Titus was written so that Paul could instruct this young pastor in the elementary and doctrinal sound issues. The most important one is found in today’s reading.
3:4 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
5He saved us not by works of righteousness that we had done,
but according to His mercy
through the washing of regeneration
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior
7so that, having been justified by His grace,
we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life”
Our salvation is a gift from God. I love how he put it, “when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,” that is speaking of Jesus. He indeed is the kindest of God and a visual picture of His love for us. Then to be given His Spirit to indwell us!!! Oh My how blessed we are. As a believer You are truly NEVER alone because The Holy Spirit is with you. Not only that, but we are now heirs of the hope of eternal life. My friend, Jesus, our hope is the open door to our living forever with our Father in Heaven. He is “The Golden Ticket!” We don’t have to wait though to receive the benefits of being His. It starts today! Live in the bounty of this blessing and let His Spirit fill you and have control. Oh sweet friend the best is yet to come! Glory and honor and power be unto HIM!!

Luke 19:1-10: The story of Zacchaeus stole my heart and thoughts in this reading. I can almost sense the anxiety as a vertically challenged man is longing to see this man they whole country side has been talking about. I can just picture “figuring out” how he is going to see him. Wonder how long it took him to calculate the plan of climbing the tree? Where there others up there with him? Did he have a sense of anticipation as he saw Jesus and the crowd getting closer and closer? Did his heart nearly jump out of his skin when Jesus looked up? And then, yes then He looked directly at Zacchaeus! I can almost hear the ruffle of laughter in his voice as He said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house?” WHAT!!! I can just imagine the gasp from the crowd as Jesus makes the statement. “Doesn’t He know that Zacchaeus is a rotten thief who collects taxes?” I can just hear the murmuring of the good church people. Jesus with a big smile on His face probable embraced Zacchaeus and began to carry on a conversation with him. It must have been quite life changing because of Zacchaeus’ response, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much! ” True heart change is reflected by actions. Zacchaeus wasn’t just honored to have Jesus in his home. He was changed. Jesus said it like this. 9“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” What a great reminder to us all.
If you are reading this and have never put your trust in Jesus, don’t delay. He is still changing lives and saving people today. Feel free to PM me and I would be honored to walk you through how that happens. For those of us who have already made that commitment, look for those around you that are looking. They may even be “up a tree”. Share the good news of Jesus that has changed your life.

Luke 18:31-43: Do you read the Bible sometimes and just not understand? If so, you are in great company. Listen to what Luke 18 says about the disciples. “31Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on; 33and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.”
34They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”
When Jesus was talking to his disciples there were times they were in the dark. They had no clue what He was telling them and they walked with Him daily. It is a reminder to me that I can’t understand all things on my own. I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me understand. When I read my bible if there are things I just don’t get, I need to pray and ask the Father to help me understand what He wants me to get from the passage. There are many times I do finally understand, but there are other times I stay “in the dark”. Those are the times I just need to realize it is not time for me to understand that yet. In time I will. I am sure the disciples looked back at this conversation and thought, how could we have been so blind. I know I do that sometimes, but take heart you are in good company and when it is the right time you will understand with greater clarity. Don’t give up!

2 Timothy 4: Yesterday I sat around the table with some young moms encouraging them and trying to pour a little wisdom and experience into their lives. We talked about finding rhythm in life, strengthening marriage, surviving parenthood and so many more real life topics. I went to bed last night refreshed and encouraged because I know God never wastes a hurt or a life lived to give Him honor. I think that was what Paul felt as he wrote to Timothy, “6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.”
I don’t think I am close to the end of life, but I know we are to be poured out on the lives of others to encourage and strengthen their walk with the Lord. We are to spot areas where they are doing well and speak life into them. We are to correct if necessary, but do it with love and gentleness. Our lives are lives to point others to the Truth of the Gospel and growing as a disciple. It is one course and one race at a time. One person, and one friend at a time. At the end of our days we should be able to look back and say “I have been pour out as a drink offering before the Lord.” May we run well today with those God puts before us. May we be filled during our time with the Father so we can pour out again all week.

2 Timothy 3:10-17: God has reminded all week this week that persecution is going to come. If I am a child of God it will come because it came to Jesus who showed us the example of how to handle it. Paul writes to Timothy, 11″What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God Lit breathed out by God ; the Scripture is the product of God’s Spirit working through men; and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ”
When we go through persecution or trials of any kind, we need to know enough of God’s word to hold onto during these difficult times. If you are not in a bible study now, I would greatly encourage you to find one. It is through feeding daily on God’s word that you will be equipped and ready for anything that comes your way. Come and join me. I would love to have you study with me. No matter where you study or how, as long as you are feasting on God’s word you will find strength you don’t have.

Luke 17:20-37: wonder what would happen if each of us prepared for the second coming of Christ like our part of the world has prepared for the eclipse that will happen on Monday. How many people have you seen looking for glasses? How many have asked where you will view the eclipse from ? How many have planned out exactly what they will be viewing so they are knowledgeable about what to expect? Luke 17 reminds us that though some will be ready others will be doing life as normal. They won’t even be aware that Jesus is returning. One will be taken up and the other will be left right where they are. I can’t imagine how that day will unfold, but I want to be ready. No special glasses needed, just a heart right with God. I am looking forward to the eclipse, but I am really looking forward to Jesus’ return. Are you ready? The easiest way to prepare is daily spend time in prayer talking to Him, confessing all sin, and living according to what He taught. Then we will be ready no matter the hour. Praying we all are rapture ready!

2 Timothy 1:1-7: It is easy to get discouraged when you see all of the evil that is going on in our world. There is much good going on as well. I think of two of the young women who went with us on mission who know that God has called them into ministry. As I read 2 Timothy today I could not help but think of them and our children who are all serving the Lord. The verses that stood out the most are, “6Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze Or to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit Or us the Spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
During our last day in Swaziland we went to a church service where I sat down beside a young man. He was maybe 10 years old and had his bible in his hand. I asked him what his favorite bible story was. He said Daniel and the Lion’s den. We exchanged more small talk. Then I ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said a pastor. I smiled and told him my husband, my father, and my sons were all pastors. I told him each Sunday I pray for them as they prepare to preach. I told him I would pray for him too. I haven’t neglected to do that each Sunday. I can’t wait to see how God will use this young man. Before I left that day he gave me a note with several verses. He also included 2 witnessing tracts. That young man shows so much potential! May he too fan into flame that which the Father has placed within him.
As you get ready and go to church today pray for your pastor and for those who are coming behind that will be future pastors and godly lay men. There are many good things going on even in our world where evil abounds.

Luke 15:11-32: The story of the prodigal son has always captured my heart. today the verse in it that jumped off the page at me was when it said, “and when he came to his senses.” How often I have needed to come to the point that I “came to my senses”. It is so easy to be carried away by my own self interest or selfish desires. It is not that what I am doing is always bad. It is just doing what I want or directing my life in my own paths instead of going with God. I find myself discouraged or down hearted because the end result of sin is always separation from God. It usually comes to a point where my heart is empty even if my stomach is still. filled. What a great reminder to us all. If we come to the point we just feel down or empty we may need to check to see if we are still on the right path. If we find we have strayed away from a daily walk with the Father, communion with the church family or even having allowed sin to separate us that we know we should not be involved in. Take heart my friend. God is still there waiting for you to return home. He still have a fattened calf and a robe in your size waiting for your return. He wanted to hold you and remind you that you are His. Thank you Jesus for paying the price so I could come Home.

Proverbs 7: I don’t believe anyone wakes up in the morning and thinks, I want to become an adulterer today. Just as people don’t wake up thinking today I want to become an alcoholic or any other sin that can so rob you of peace and true life. It is usually a slow fade to those places. It usually starts with a conversation or even a simple compliment that turns one’s head and heart slowly from what is the right path. The only way to overcome this is to stay away from the path. Keeping our eyes on Jesus and on what we know is the right path must be our priority. Prov. 7 paints the picture of a man who sees the woman and then listens to her pleas to come and lay with her. That man could have and should have stopped at the glance, but when you allow your heart and mind to stay in places it should not it is not long before your feet follow.
May we all check our glances and when temptation comes our way quickly divert our eyes and minds back to the things of the Spirit. It is the only way to prevent following the things of the flesh.