April 7

Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
Psalm 146:3

I wrote this gem five years ago...I can't help but think of all the people who are mourning the death of the Pope. Many people think that he was their way to heaven but they have just believed in a lie.  You may go far here on earth because of how good you are but it won't get you into heaven. I have been amazed at watching these people who looked to him as their savior.
Here at home we had also lost a very dear friend this week. I know for sure that Miss Lucy is in heaven today because of her faith in Christ. She trusted in God for her salvation and because of that we have assurance the she is standing before God right now, rejoicing in Heaven!
There in only one person to trust for Salvation and His name is Jesus!

I just had to share this one today, it still means the same to me as it did then. This week were are reminded of what Christ did on the cross for us. Take time to think about Him and what He did for us so that we could spend eternity with Him. There is only one Savior and His name is Jesus!

April 4

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
Psalms 19:2



If you read before this verse you know better when the writer is talking about. 1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
We seem to forget that each day (and night) God has something for us to experience with Him. It can be very simple as in enjoying the blooming trees and flowers, hearing the birds singing their praises, watching a stream flowing, crossing the lake, many things are there for us to see just how nature declares His majesty and His beauty. He is right before us and we don't even see that He is there. When the sun is going down and it turns to night, look up to the skies, there are days that His setting sun paints us a picture of beauty this is just simply incredible. Another breathtaking sight for me was going into Cincinnati from the south side, coming over the hill and seeing the city in the lights was just incredible for me, and we have to remember - who created those lights? So take time in the simplicity of the day and the night to realize that God is here with us, at all times, just waiting to show off for us and for us to realize that He is here.
I am including pictures I took of the sunset one day just after we moved here. I titled the album - God painted me a picture... Look for Him today. Let me know where you find him!

April 3

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Romans 12:19
 
Sometimes we may not take revenge on a person but we do tend to hold a grudge against them. I think this scripture can apply to that too. There are times when somebody will hurt our family or us and we must put that behind us, recognize who the real enemy is and go on. As I have said before, many times, even Christians let Satan use them to tear down others, and you will be in that path. Realize that is Satan attacking you and instead of getting mad at that person, just let Satan know, he cannot steal your joy! Believe me, this is how I have had to handle many situations. God will also deal with these people in how they treat others so remember that. Keep holding your head up, treat those people how you would really want to be treated and let them see Jesus in you! God will handle the rest! Trust Him.

April 2

Deliver me , I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me , and the mother with the children.
Genesis 32:11

Wow - in the King James Version this is the first diamond that I found. "Deliever me" - what a term we use so often but maybe not in those words. But we all feel like we need to be rescued and we call out to God. It may not be our brother that we need to be delivered from but we all know who to call out to! Sad thing is that in today's world even those who are not religious call out to God to rescue them in their time of need. It's okay to call out to God, but don't let that be the only time that you seem to talk to him, when you think you need Him. He desires a relationship with you and He wants to spend time with you daily! We were created to spend time with Him, so do it! It can be reading His word, singing along in the car with Praise songs, or just taking time to enjoy the beauty around you and letting Him know it! Spend time with Him, there is nothing greater than feeling the presence of the Lord with you.

March 27

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Eph. 6:16

Definitions:
Above: more than
Faith: Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
Quench: put out
So more than anything else take up the shied of believing that God our creator, protector, maker will be able to put out anything that the devil throws our way. We must believe and know that with God all things are possible. Faith is trusting that God is greater than all things, mightier than all things, and that He is the God of everything. Also know that the devil will try to attack us, that is his nature, he wants to bring us down, steal our joy, and defeat us. We do not have to live a defeated life because we know we serve a God that is greater than the devil. Do not give way to the devil when he comes after you to take you down. Tell him to get behind you, let him know that he cannot have your joy, call upon the name of the Almighty to fight this battle for you. Believe above all that God can handle this, and trust Him for His very promises that He has given you.

March 23

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Col. 2:6

There are 24 entries found for the meaning of the word “in”, but here are a few that really fit for us to walk in Him:
After the style or form of:
So as to be available or under one's control:
In a particular relationship:
Influence; power: -

Now let’s think about it, how do we find that “style or form of”? We read the Bible and find out more of how Jesus walked on earth, as we do that we are also spending time with him. “To be available or under one’s control”: We must talk with Him, ask Him what we can do for Him, be yielded to what He wants us to do. We must show up and say “Here I am – use me today!” “In a relationship”, we must realize that to be God’s child we must be willing to spend that time with Him, to grow that relationship. He will always be there for us, but we must take that time to be there for Him. He will never be the one to walk away from us, He will always be the one who is standing there with arms wide open waiting for us to turn back around. And last the “influence and power”, God wants to give us all of that, He wants to infiltrate us, use us, but we have to once again make that choice to be used of Him.
Ask Him daily to use you, look for the opportunities to show others that you are His child. When you give your life to God, that is great, but you must also walk a different path, a different way, one that is worthy of His calling. Be different, be bold, be more like Christ in all you do!

March 21

And have mercy on some, who are doubting:
Jude 1:22

Not everybody has the gift of mercy so this is something that needs to be noted for those of us that don't have it. When others can't see God in the way that we do, we need to love them and pray for them instead of condemning them for not believing as we do. Even for those Christians who don't have the gift of faith, they too need love and compassion as they go through their storms. Whether somebody is a Christian or not, we need to love them where they are and encourage them, pray for them and just be a friend to them that they may see our faith, our Hope! Let them know why we get through our everyday struggles - His name is Jesus!

March 20

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8

It makes you wonder why the term “love will cover a multitude of sins” is put in there. But in everyday life we see where reality takes place. We are going to be hurt by many people and in return we will hurt many people, but when we love them it makes it easier to forgive. We have to have that fervent love, that true, sincere, intensely felt love so it will make it easier to forgive. Life is going to hand you some hard knocks and sometimes it is from those you love but we must remember to forgive and to continue to love. Think of what we did to Christ, we put him on the cross, yet He still loved us enough to die for us. We may not like a person, but God says to love them.

March 19

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen. 28:15

God promises us that He will be with us. That should be such an encouragement to us, that no matter where we go, through the valley or on the mountaintop, He will be right with us. We are all going to go into the valley but we must remember that this is where the fruit grows the best! Let God walk with you, talk with you and carry your burdens for you. Don’t try to take on this valley by yourself! Let God guide you through, He wants to take you back to the mountaintop so you can see wonderful view from there. Learn to trust Him, he plainly tells us that He will be with us! It’s just that easy to hold on to.

March 17

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, it is the Lord who sends the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.
Zechariah 10:1

Think of the seeds that are planted, they need the rain for it to sprout and grow. We are not sure if it will be a soft gentle rain or a torrential downpour, but either way it will be rain and it will be needed. As Christians we need the rain in our lives for us to grow, God’s rain. We don’t want to wither away from a lack of rain in our lives. Remember that if you just get the gentle rain or if you get a storm, that God is allowing it to happen. And as quick as it can come up and as fierce as it can get, it can also be calmed in an instant. Just trust God to get you through and look for the fruit that will come from the nourishment of the rain.