She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 1 Timothy 5:5

It seems marriages are being torn apart left and right. Couples who’ve endured some of the most challenging times simply give up after years of sacrifice and defeat in the battles they encountered. But what about the widow? The man or woman who was deeply in love with their spouse, then lost them due to an illness or accident. Forever gone, they have left a hole in their life and heart.

God spoke to me yesterday about this topic and impressed upon my heart that a widow should be a “window” for Christ. That void is real and your love for your spouse was genuine. Why not transform your life into a widow so others can see the love you had by talking about your spouse, sharing those special times and displaying a love for him or her just as if they were still with you today. By doing so, you allow others to see the example of genuine love and might be an encouragement to a couple who is struggling in their marriage.

Just because you are a widow doesn’t mean your marriage has ended. It’s a beautiful story to share with others and an opportunity to show the love of Christ to a world who encourages giving up over fighting for the marriage.  Share your story with others this week and see a change in the lives of those around you! God bless!

Remember that Jesus Christ, descended from David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 2 Timothy 2:8

The other day I was driving along and came upon a sharp curve in the road. As I slowed my speed and entered the curve, I thought to myself, this is pretty dangerous and if someone isn’t careful, they will fly off the road and hit a tree. No longer did I finish my thought when I looked up to see a memorial cross along the roadside. Sure enough, someone died in that bad curve.

God spoke to me at that very moment. As we go through life, we can oftentimes see trouble ahead. We think we’ve got a handle of our circumstances, but quite often we aren’t equipped to tackle what very well could be a trap, set up by Satan himself, to derail our life. The best advice I can give you is to always remember Jesus Christ when you see danger or a challenge ahead. He already paid the price with His life and opened the door to a personal relationship with you. Upon receiving Him into your life, He promised never to leave nor forsake you.

As you approach those twist and turns in life, remember Jesus Christ. He can help keep you safe no matter the challenge or struggle. He is simply one prayer away…Jesus..take the wheel of my life and help me get through this day! God bless!

And the people spoke against God and against Moses; “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” Numbers 21:5

After years of enslavement, the Israelites were freed through the leading of Moses and the power of God. Once separated from their enslavement, they were questioning God’s next move and how they would survive in the place they had to go before He delivered the “Promised Land.” I’m sure many of them thought they were better off while being slaves as their basic needs were met. As we read further in scripture, we see that God did feed His people and cared for their needs for 40 years.

 When someone breaks away from something they were enslaved to, they might find life more difficult because they have to cope with the changes that face them. Some might be tempted to go back to the comforts they were used to. Drugs, alcohol, pornography, wild living, casual sex….and more. These things can become addictive and enslave us. The void they fill is real, but in the end can destroy lives and character.

Maybe you are trying to give up something to better your life, and you feel like you are in the wilderness, feeling all alone and longing for those simple comforts you found while in bondage. Don’t take a step backwards. God is with you and will provide you the willpower to make it through another day as you move towards your promised land of reward for your commitment to staying free of those addictions. Keep your focus and replace old thoughts with thoughts of how life will be better once totally freed from your enslavement to sinful ways. God loves you and will help you today and every day! Call upon Him in the wilderness of life! God bless!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

As a child, I had a healthy respectful fear of my dad. He was a big man, in comparison to me. When he spoke, I listened. After a few times of being disciplined, I knew very well who was in charge and that if I wanted to have a painless life, I needed to heed and follow his instructions.  As I grew into my teenage years, I began to develop this appreciation for my dad in knowing that his rules and expectations were for my own good, so I could succeed in life. Still today his words of wisdom resonates in my mind.

As Christians, we have a loving Father in Heaven who cares deeply for us. He knows the things that will throw us off course and provides wisdom for a less painful life, if we simply heed His instructions. How do we get there? Just like me as a kid, I figured out who was in charge of my life. To your surprise, its not you! As a child of God, you were bought with a price and the moment you surrendered your life to Him, He assured you a place in Heaven and His commitment to be with you for all eternity. God often allows moments of trials and tribulations to come our way as a form of discipline to correct our behavior and bring us back on the single, narrow pathway He provides.

Have you figured out who’s in charge of your life? If you seem to encounter a lot of problems and heartache, maybe you need to rethink who is directing your life. Gain that healthy respectful fear of God and follow His instructions closely. When you do, your find favor with God and His hand protects you. Fear Him, for He loves you unconditionally! God bless!

Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 50:15

Yesterday was very challenging at work. I went through one disappointment after another…all day long. The first frustration set in motion a day of angry words, strong emotions and very little patience. By the end of the day I was completely spent, felt worn out and beaten up. Score 1 for Satan. When I got home, all I could do was get on my knees and ask for God’s forgiveness for not focusing on Him in the heat of the battle and let His Spirit work out the details of the day so I could remain a good example of Christ.

Thankfully today is Friday and I started out my day, on my knees in prayer and asking for God’s help. I already have an agenda of issues that need to be worked through and I know I can depend upon Him to come through, now that I’ve put in a request for His help.  I have confidence in knowing this day will go well.

Maybe you are having a “Monday” on a Friday. Break away for a few minutes from the battle and call upon God for help. It’s a spiritual battle and Satan is pulling out all his weapons to diminish your joy. Don’t let him. Give it to God and see things work out for the better. Trust me, you can’t do this on your own. Your fleshly body can’t fight the demons of Satan, but God can! Call upon Him today and be blessed!

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15

On Monday I got very sick. I felt like I was ran over by a train, every muscle and joint ached, I ran a low grade fever and just felt miserable. I asked for prayers from friends on face book and by the end of the day I felt much better. So much better that I was able to return to work on Tuesday…just like nothing had happened.

I truly believe in the power of prayer. When two or more are gathered together, God is in their midst. The same is true when others pray for you, those focused prayers drawl God’s attention to one specific request and He responds accordingly.

Maybe you are battling something bigger than yourself whether it be sickness, financial crises or a struggling relationship. Call for your friends, family and church family to pray for your specific need. Trust me, God is very willing and able to help you, if you simply put your faith and trust in Him through the prayers of others. Give it a try today and see Him work in a mighty way! God bless!

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.  Romans 10:3

On Christmas 2013 I gave my grandmother a journal and asked her to write thoughts on her daily devotions. The first notation talked about the “hypocrite”. She wrote the following….”A hypocrite is one who is just acting a part – they are going through a religious ritual without experiencing any reality at all!” She went on to say “The heart must be involved if it is genuine.”

My grandmother has been studying God’s word all her life, right up to her death at age 99. As a child growing up, she’d share her thoughts and wisdom with me about God’s word, so I knew I’d have a “gem of wisdom” if I could capture her thoughts before she passed. From today’s passage and her words I get the feeling there is an element of hypocrisy we often overlook….not knowing God’s word.

If we are going to live a genuine Christian life, we MUST study God’s word on a daily basis and absorb its truth. So often we get little pieces of the Word and begin to form our own opinion on what God would find good in His sight. We develop our own set of rituals, but the truth is they often don’t measure up to God’s standards.

You might be living right and attending church, but how deep are you in God’s word? Unless you know the truth, your mind and heart will be easily deceived by Satan…..giving birth to the best hypocrite on a church pew. Friend, I speak to myself as I share this message….study God’s word so you know how to live the life God has call you and I to live. We can’t go wrong when we know the truth and are a living testament of our faith in God! Blessing!