Archive | January 2026

The Snow Effect…

Jan28

Tennessee, along with many States in the South got slammed last weekend with a Winter storm. It gobbled up State after State in its move from Texas to the East Coast. My part of the area (southwest Tennessee) hit by this monster storm was minor compared to what those States south of us had to endure. We were impacted with a lovely fluffy snow at first. Unfortunately, sleet and freezing rain joined in and disturbed my moments of contemplation. But before that I sat near my cozy fireplace while gazing upon the enchanting scene displayed outside my window. My memories traveled back to times when my husband and I joined our four children building our creative version of Frosty. One year I recall he wore a red cape (Frosty, that is not my husband!). He was supersized that year and needed the cape to accentuate his vastness, you see! Then my mind move forward to snow play with the grandchildren. One winter they happened to be visiting us when a surprise snow created the perfect setting for our snow shenanigans. Reminiscing about those snowy days in the quiet of my musings inspired the following poem. So, I just thought I’d share it with you.

Finding Hope: God’s Protection Amidst Turmoil

Jan28

With all the disruption taking place in our country these days, we need something to cling to that will inspire hope. Something that will strengthen our grasp on the assurance that evil will not prevail. So where are we to turn? Many turn to the wisdom of man, the power of worldly weapons, the strength of government, or financial wealth. Only to find these fall short to offer the protection we need. We may try religions that promote a variety of methods but fails to direct our focus towards the Triune God of Christianity.

In such trying times, we must be alert to the deception and manipulation of the enemy, aka Satan. Lies are his foremost fiery darts. The weapons he exploits to manipulate and deceive. Especially, those who without a relationship with God through Christ, become his pawns. And if we as Christians fail to search the Scriptures for answers, we will face the temptation of despair, confusion, and doubt.

Nevertheless, if we open our Bibles, that is where we will find the hope and assurance we need in these threatening days. In particular Psalm 91. Psalm 91 is primarily a Messianic Psalm but presents a clear message to individual believers found in verses 1-2

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

And it is by having this mindset that we access peace and assurance, no matter the assault from the enemy. The enemy just can’t compete with this Divine protection of Psalm 91. For this psalm reassures us of God’s faithful presence during our storms. We know that because of God’s protection the weapons formed against us will not prevail. We will ride out the storm. We will persevere. We will rise above and become the stronger for it.

Are we prepared?

Jan20

Ever been confronted with this question? Why do I follow Christ? That’s a profound question and it deserves an answer that stimulates curiosity about Christ.

The pure definition of a Christian is one who has the Holy Spirit of God within them. And following Christ as a result of that encounter is our foundation in answering the above question. The problem is if we don’t build upon that foundation, our answer to such a question won’t contain substance. And our impact to create a curiosity about Christ has little effect.

So how do we build upon this foundation? Spending time with God in prayer and His word answers that question. As we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit’s tutoring, we will build a formidable foundation lesson by lesson. And that is the basis on which we will withstand life’s storms like a house built upon a rock.

When we do, we can go out into the world equipped with all that we need to live as conquerors against the attacks of the enemy. But the key is to absorb God’s word daily. So by the time we encounter life’s storms, we have a source to draw from. For God’s plan is to make us stronger with every tempest. Therefore, our testimony is validated by every storm we encounter. We can then testify boldly, as a result, why we follow Christ!

But remember, the more time we spend with God in prayer and His word, the stronger we will be. Also, the more clarity we will have about how to make the right choices. Likewise, the fiery darts of doubt, fear, lust, anger, pride, envy, despair, bitterness, deception, and unbelief, etc. have less of a chance to lodge themselves into our thought processes. Because these thoughts will lead to actions that undermine our witness and relationship with God. Making us ineffective as Christ’s witnesses. Remember Satan is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His goal is to prevent us from being able to give an answer as to why we follow Christ.

Get the picture? Our ability to give an answer as to why we follow Christ depends upon the strength and depth of our spiritual foundation. And that is measured by the time we have spent in prayer and God’s word on a daily basis. That my dear reader is how we get prepared!

The Freedom of Truth…

Jan13

It burdens my heart to see Christians ignoring their Bibles. It’s pretty obvious who’s behind that. Yep, the enemy is working overtime. I’ve written this before but it bears to be written again. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Everywhere, here in the US and all across the globe is evidence of his deception and manipulation. So how does this happen? I believe the answer is simple. And it is revealed in John 10:10. If he can steal, kill, or destroy God’s word from an individual, that individual’s faith will be compromised. For if we don’t feed ourselves on the Truth of God’s salvation, we become malnourished in our faith.

God’s word is where Truth resides. Without Truth, evil has no restraints. And when evil is not restrained, lies become truth and Truth becomes lies. For the enemy knows that when we know the Truth, his plans are thwarted.

I want to break this down to the individual level. Consider the problems we face. For example, when we have discord in our family relationships and need insight as to how to handle it, where do we go? Friends? Books? Social Media? The internet? Television? Movies? Music? The enemy makes sure we have a smorgasbord of options to choose from. And he will deliberately steer us in the opposite direction of Truth.

So here we are, people who call themselves Christian but are ignorant of God’s Truth. Yes, we too often turn to the patterns of this world. A world that is blind to God’s Truth. When we turn to the world for the solutions we need, it’s like the blind leading the blind. For instance, the world will tell us that we are the author of our own lives. That we should reject any advice from those who contradict what we want. Shut them out. Put up boundaries. Don’t let them in. The very people who love us the most are the ones we are influenced to turn from. Know why?

Because the Bible is going to refute the idea of self autonomy. How? By instructing us to forgive those who have hurt us. And by being willing to ask for forgiveness! By counseling us on how to treat each other and avoid conflict.The Bible might even point out the sin we are guilty of that has contributed to our family problem. God knows we need His wisdom to grapple with the pitfalls we encountered.  

Therefore, Satan’s goal is to separate us from what is True by making sure we are ignorant of it. Keeping us from spending time in the Bible is his default tactic. His goal is to imprison us with lies.

However, the only way to be set free of such bondage is to know the Truth. When we know the Truth, we will be set free.   

This is the day the LORD has made…

Jan6
morning sun

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Whenever I hear this verse my mind flashes back to my Vacation Bible School days. That’s when I first remember memorizing Ps. 118:24. Even as a child my mind could grasp the idea that every day was a gift from God. The notion that a day was a divine gift, fostered gratitude and joy in my child sized heart.

And now, at 77 years of age, this verse resurfaces. However, it’s framed by a life that has traveled many miles. Lots of valleys but lots of mountain tops too. So it impacts me oh so differently now.

There are moments when the weight of present family trials pulls at my heart. Heaviness of heart sets in. The fiery darts of doubt, fear, self-pity, and judgement appear on the threshold of my mind like a stalking lion. Just waiting for the moment to pounce.

However, there is a sentinel at the threshold standing guard. In His possession are all the weapons I need to counter the enemy’s attacks. By reminding me God has made my day then I find I can rejoice. Knowing God has designed my day gives me every reason to face down the stalking lion. My perspective transforms the stalking lion into a powerful Sentinel.

With that awareness, courage and wisdom fashions my thinking. And I know that the weapons formed against me will not prevail. All I have to do is to cooperate with God as He shows me the right path and points out the road for me to follow. The very trials the enemy intended to weaponize against me, God transforms into a strengthening exercise. That’s the ingredients He uses for the day He makes for me.

Isn’t that worth rejoicing over?!