Simple Devotions

  • limited

    Yes the Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.

    But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of darkness and will pursue His enemies.

    Those who conspire against the Lord. He will make an utter end of it.

    Affliction will not rise up a second time.

    Nahum 1:7-9

    Sin ends forever.

    The whole universe has been a witness to the nature and the results of sin. What started in the garden of Eve, bringing sin and shame to dishonor to God, will one day be vindicated because of His great love, in that He gave His only begotten son Christ Jesus the Lord to lay down His life once and for all.

    It is by this demonstration that the whole matter of Satan’s reproach to the law of God “saying it was a yoke of bondage” will now forever be honored as God’s law of liberty.

    Sin makes us slaves to bondage and the law of God gives liberty.

    The world today is like Nineveh in the day of Jonah, it was the center of crime and wickedness, full of lies and robbery. Nahum the prophet of that time used language to say that it was a cruel ravenous lion, which was continually wicked. (Nahum 3:1)

    This passage reminds me of the one about the ” the adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

    However because God see’s all sons of men (Psalm 33:13 ) and He sees every precious thing ( Job 28:10) even those few in numbers (Matt 18:12) who if granted opportunity to learn of the living God, would put away their evil deeds and worship Him.

    So He revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner to lead them if possible, to repentance.

    When God finally convinces His prophet Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, the whole city responds with repentance and Nineveh escaped destruction.

    The people humble themselves before the one true God, but their humility soon changes to arrogance as their Nation (Assyria) reaches it’s peak as the most powerful empire in the world. Only a century after the preaching of Jonah, God calls Nahum another prophet to proclaim the coming destruction of Nineveh.

    This time there will be no escape, because their measure of wickedness if full.

    Unlike Jonah, Nahum does not go to the city but declares this message from afar. There is no hope of repentance. Nineveh’s destruction is decreed, described and deserved.

    Friends this is for all the nations today, the decree is going out and has been, we must not slumber or live like we are not limited in time.

    There is a Faithful Remnant who will be able to call upon the name of the Lord. They will serve Him in one accord. They will eat and lie down, and no one will make them afraid because they trust in the name of the Lord, keeping His commands and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. ( Rev 14:12 )

    The Lord your God Zeph. 3:5, in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; Deut. 30:9; Is. 65:19; Jer. 32:41 He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”’

    Zephaniah 3:17

    If you are uncertain about your path, OR you don’t know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Today accept this invitation to let Him come into your life and show you these truths.

    He is reaching out for you, the end of time is coming and today is your day of salvation.

    And to those who are His and walk in His assurances, today let us be purposed to boldly share the truth of His word with whomever and whereever He sends.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • lift up the trumpet

    Daily writing prompt
    What books do you want to read?
    View all responses

    These are the books that I have been reading and want to encourage you to also read.

    You may be asking “what trumpet?”

    You can look up the verses in these books which I have linked so you can understand what I am referring to.

    • Psalms 81 God’s goodness- He rescues and saves.
    • Jeremiah 4 a loud warning to repent, destruction is coming.
    • 1 Corinthians 14 knowing the truth and sharing it for God.
    • 1 Corinthians 15 the last trumpet will be one that calls those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ and keep His commands.
    • Revelations 1 tells us that the trumpet is a voice from Heaven.
    • Revelations 4 The voice of the Lord in Heaven.

    Those who are called God’s children are to use their voices to share what God has done, through the saving grace of Jesus Christ the Son of God Lord and Savior.

    We are to use our voice (trumpets) to tell others about the gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus. We are told to warn others of the destruction coming to those outside of God’s will, they will have no protection.

    Serving yourself, means no protection.

    There is no peace to those who deny or refuse to give their lives to Christ. Instead there is swords of strife. This means God’s Word is like a sword to your conscious.

    To live for Christ is to give Him first place in our hearts. To accept that we are sinners in need of a perfect Savior, Christ Jesus the Lord and son of God.

    All of this is in the word of God.

    The Word is God and He is telling us that the great controversy at hand – the war between good and evil is coming to an end.

    A last “trumpet” is being sounded.

    We must pay attention – by reading His word He will prepare us for when the last trumpet does sound, this is when He will call the dead in Christ to be raised and all of those who are waiting on the Lords return, will be caught up with Him made incorruptible.

    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Read John

    This book is telling us to be ready – Jesus IS Coming!

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • writing the words of life

    Daily writing prompt
    What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?
    View all responses

    If you know, you know.

    But if you don’t you should.

    Writing about the Word of the Savior, son of God, Christ the Lord is my favorite thing to do.

    He is life and His word gives it more abundantly then you could ever ask or imagine.

    I could quote all the verses in the bible to prove which is true and most accurate but today I want to share personally why I believe in Him and His love.

    I am a daughter, a sister, wife and mother. All have special meaning to me but the one title I have that means the most is being called a child of the most High.

    Every relationship has it’s ups and downs. We all struggle with expectations from each other and this can often cause disappointment. Letting each other down in our own selfish tendencies is not a foreign concept.

    These positions we are given are even at times limited and not always secure because it’s takes two individuals to work to support one another’s role. Many relationships end because this work wasn’t being done.

    There’s so many conditions – it’s very conditional.

    But with the Heavenly Father – it’s forever.

    And because of His devotion towards me, it makes me a better person in each of those roles I have carried in this life.

    So life is sweeter, because all goodness comes from Him.

    He knew and formed me in the womb and He knows how to speak to me, teaching me what I need to know.

    It is because of Him I am able to read and understand His words, and then write about the hope and inspiration He gives.

    It’s because of who He is and what I mean to Him that has taught me to trust and obey Him. It’s His love for me that gives me the desire to share with others in this way.

    If you are on the fence about who HE is, and why you should even consider allowing Him into your life, I want to appeal to this question with another.

    What do you have to lose?

    Seek The Lord, ask Him and the answers will be given to you.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • all is vanity

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s your dream job?
    View all responses

    No one can transform themselves by his own will.

    Read that again.

    Yet that dream job is something we have all wished or hope for.

    We have no power by which we think we can posse to be changed forever. None, if something appeals to us that would give us what we think we want, there is always a catch.

    We are like dough which is made of flour and water, but without leaven (yeast/life/good bacteria/ a thriving colony) dense, unformed and heavy laden.

    If you try to make bread with it, it will only be a cooked dense heavy brick, a harden piece of dough.

    The only way for that bread to become a big beautiful loaf of bread – filled with bubbles which rise to the challenge of the ovens heat in the process becoming a tasty and enjoyable life giving piece of bread, is that special ingredient it needed at the beginning. A life giving ingredient, Jesus Christ.

    We have free will to run the way we want as long as we have our breathe, but if we are not purposely seeking the Kingdom of God, the one who created us. We will be like that bread, not made right.

    The only way to run this race is to commit your life to Jesus Christ, then the desired change will be done, it’s when we give Him permission to lead and teach us in the way we should go that change will happen.

    Those dreams we once cherished will instead be a desire to align with Gods will, when we give our lives to Christ as sinners this gives Him permission to lead and teach us in the way that we need to go, then the true dream will happen

    Gods grace is for everyone, but it must be received by the sinner before he can be fitted for the Kingdom of glory.

    ‘Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?— Only what he has already done.

    Then I saw that wisdom excels folly

    As light excels darkness.

    The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all. So I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.” For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool! Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

    For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.’

    Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

    So let us run to Jesus, He is waiting and willing.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • WORD 126

    I have to share this and I have to share this today!

    When He gifts us these inspirational drops that we like to refer to as “God drops” we should glorify His name ! 1 Chron 16:24

    Today as I was about to go out the door, I was encouraged to slow down and look at my devotion for the day.

    Sharing these simple devotionals has inspired me to look at words in the bibles concordance, giving me a more intentional study, which has helped me to better explain what the word teaches. It started with the word “healing” and I came away with more understanding of what is needed for healing.

    Now studying the word: WORD this 1st month of year 26 (I noted this on purpose, stay with me) as I continue down the list of the word “Word” each day is a new scripture insight in how its being used. Todays was:

    Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure;

    He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

    I am certain of this truth and have told many we can trust His Word.

    Yet I love these reminders though because many believe that men can undo what God has done, altering it or breaking down the “original” by the way … kjv is no more orginal then the nlt or niv.

    You have to understand.. that God is not limited and will make sure His message is given.

    So I know by faith and believe what God can do because of what He has shared and shown me in my walk with Him. I put my whole trust in His word.

    He is always reminding me that when I share it, I am backed up by it.

    His word should always be reverenced, shown respect. Not handled in a careless way. He has given it to us in such a way that we will not be mislead or deceived by trusting in His word.

    So to not look at it indeed as infallible or as it was a bunch of men who authored it, is an attack on Gods character.

    2 Sam 22:31 The anointed King David is praising the Lord for what He has experienced by His word. He says it’s proven, it’s been tested, it’s shielded him. David goes on to say who is God, except the LORD. Who is the rock except our GOD. God is our strength and power, and He makes my way perfect! He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places. It was His word that did this.

    I’m right there with David today.

    I want to tell everyone that as I was studying the WORD, I was reminded that while there’s treachery all around us, God is constant.

    I know without a doubt that the Lord God my Rock is true and is leading me to walk in trusting obedience to His word.

    As I’m journaling this, the next place I find myself looking at was more proof :

    Psalms 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words,

    Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,

    Purified seven times.

    It is pure and perfected.

    Perserving to those who seek it.

    I looked at the passage seeing I had been there before – I decided to put the month and year this time, 1/26 numbers and it was then I realized that God has got me right where He wants me this month and year.

    It was like .. THIS is what I want you to share!!

    This is the life giving truth, His Word.

    Imagine if I ignored the invitation and instead ran out the door.

    I am elated to sit here and share, this is the day that the Lord has made! Let us be glad and rejoice in Him!

    I love when He inspires me.

    In His perfect timing He reveals more reasons we should have trusting obedience towards Him.

    Friends stop rushing out the door of your life, look to the Savior who died for your sins and wants to save you. TODAY.

    He is holding out His hand. Take it.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • mind clutter

    Daily writing prompt
    Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
    View all responses

    The family knew if it wasn’t nailed down, I may get rid of it.

    I have always been this way.

    Even at the beginning of my marriage 30 years ago. Once I tossed out a broken lamp and some dust collecting airplane magazines. The lamp in question had an electrical short and would shock me every time I would turn it on, it belonged to my husband and he thought is was the coolest thing but never fixed it. So I put it in the closet out of sight and later in the dumpster. Imagine my “shocked” face as we visit a families house to see it hanging up in their living room. He looked at it, looked at me and said something like “I had a cool light like that..” they replied how they found that one in the dumpster at the apartments their mother lived in. And if that wasn’t enough, those magazines also resurfaced when a friend thanked my husband for the awesome airplane magazines, that were given to them by the dumpster diving family.

    There may have been a set of golf clubs he never used, they looked like relic, they were taking up space in our little one bedroom home. You can be sure I still haven’t lived that down and am known as the toss~ier of all things.

    Much later in life we endured a house fire which was 98% smoke damaged, l never cried over the replaceable items. Even after rebuilding and starting over, l have lived even more like a minimalist.

    I also learned that our mind is on full display in how we care for our homes, cars and even jobs. It shows others who we are by how we keep our surroundings.

    So this prompt intrigued me to write about it.

    I remember watching a series once about how clutter causes more harm then good, it can wreck relationships and cause people to feel overwhelmed. I agree and I love the practices put in place for those that needed help to simplify.

    My favorite tip is organization, if it has a place and it’s not causing any issues with space, keep it. But if the object is in the way and serves no purpose ..get rid of it.

    But today’s prompt also brings a another issue to mind.

    Clutter of the mind.

    This part of life can be very messy, full of emotional clutter, but mostly noise.

    Social media adds to this immensely, if you start with just looking at one picture, or watching a video then the next and before you know it an hour is gone.

    Now that algorithms are a thing it keeps feeding us what we show interest in. It can actually become a full on deep dive and your mind is still reeling from one to the other, emotions are being played until you look up and say ..ok enough I’m done.

    I know, you know.

    Social media platforms are purposed to distract us from the real platform called LIFE. With all the instant information we struggle to keep our minds and hearts de-cluttered daily.

    At times I will set my phone out of sight so I don’t pick it up needlessly. It’s hard because we use them for everything. But a little discipline goes a long ways.

    So if you need to purposely de clutter this part of your life, here’s what can we do intentionally:

    Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    Altering even a little in this way gives your life peace. The words of the Bible give assurance and reasonable instructions to become more in tune with Gods will for you, which in turn makes you happier.

    Proverbs 4:23 says above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

    The word of God is very effective in de – cluttering.

    And best of all it gives faith which comes by hearing the word of God. The only thing left to do is get started.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • faithfulness

    Daily writing prompt
    What makes a good leader?
    View all responses

    You may be asking how would faithfulness make a good leader.

    • A good leader will go the extra mile with you and ultimantly trust is earned because they did what they said, they were faithful.
    • A good leader plans, teaches and supports. They prove to be faithful by seeing things to completion, a good leader doesn’t just lead, they do. Faithful to the end.

    Words in action, faithfulness is key.

    You can not find a leader so great as the one I serve today.

    Christ Jesus is the only leader that lacks in nothing and does everything perfectly. He is the prime example of faithfulness. He went the extra mile for all humankind, He laid down His life for us, He has earned my trust. He died for you, for me and for all humanity.

    He took on the sin of the world. So that we could receive the gift of life. The only thing left to do is let Him Lead.

    He is our perfect atoning sacrifice – what do you have to offer?

    He is our advocate, do you have a better advocate?

    He stands up for those who love Him and calls us His brethren before the Heavenly Fathers throne.

    He, Jesus Son of God, has redeemed all whom believe and follow before the throne of God.

    While here Jesus suffered the crisis we live in today. He endured more then any man due to this worlds sin and pain, He knew heartache deeper and felt it all with tender compassion.

    What leader has ever done so great a deed, leaving His perfect heavenly home coming here to a dark sin filled world.

    Still many today don’t believe or accept His leadership. This is pure rebellion.

    He lived to serve. He taught and shared everything He had. He came to lead a lost world back to God the Father whose love in depth we cannot understand. His life is our example. His words our instructions. His death our redemption.

    I write this to say most urgently, we need to be careful with what’s leading our hearts, it could cause us to go astray.

    The only good leader that is most faithful is the son of God, Christ Jesus. Let Him come into your heart today, He will lead you all the way. Be encouraged, He will give you the faith you need.

    Just say YES to Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He saves and He is coming back for those who said Yes to His Leadership.

    In Christ Love, Amen

    For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • go.. go.. go..

    I received this testimony from a loved one and I know she will not mind if I share it.

    As she was getting ready for church, she was reflecting on how pleased she was with her choices over the past week. She purposed to not spend any extra funds this college quarter/semester on coffee runs; mindless eating out or stress shopping. However she had a gift card, and thought to treat herself that morning to her favorite drink before going to the campuses young adult church.

    Here’s where it gets interesting, she attends church on the 7th day Sabbath. It was how she was raised and while its natural to think “well if I don’t work, it’s all good” however more recently she also purposed to honor what God asked better, so while preparing to leave her room these words came to mind “you have six days in which to labor, buy or sell, but on the 7th day remember the Lord set it aside as a day of rest to be kept Holy..” as she considered this she knew she had a choice, I may not be working but I would be asking another to work”. This thought did not sit well with her. She decided right then to leave her card in her room and wait. Feeling good about her decision she headed to church.

    When she arrived to church the scripture of the service was :

    Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12

    She realized those earlier thoughts were divinely inspired.

    As she listened to the testimony of the speaker she felt certain that the Lord was making a call on her heart, her new found devotion towards Him was calling her to recommit her life to His will. A new place at 20 years old, knowing that at 14 when she was first baptized it was a different time, but now she knew things were different. The speaker was wrapping up the service and began making an alter call.

    He was pleading for the hearts of those there to come to Jesus completely, after a few more minutes he said he would count to three but continued persistently asking those there to come forward as the Lord was calling them.

    Praying the Holy Spirit would move on the hearts that needed to rededicate their lives to the Lord. She says at this point only one person went forward, she sat there “feeling the pull” but not wanting to go forward, she didn’t want to be the center of attention. She knew the invitation was for her, she felt it strongly, but she was waiting for the speaker to say three, it was so intense she was physically shaking. Her friend next to her notices and ask if she was ok, she tells her friend she was thinking about going forward. She knew she should go forward but was scared. She sat there hoping the speaker would count to three soon, and it would be over. Resisting the urge to stand up and go forward in front of the crowd. The speaker says again, “I know there’s someone here who needs to do this, the Lord is near and is waiting to see you stand up and walk with Him.”

    At this point she is pleading for him to say three and it will be over but instead then she hears these words inside her mind “go..go..go..” and it was then she stood up and walked forward.

    The room starts clapping in praise to God and as she went forward five more stood up to join her.

    Later she sends her mom a text message “so I guess I’m getting re baptized..” If I’m right in the recount of this story that’s a perfect 7 that came forward on the 7th day, Sabbath to give their lives to Christ, regardless, it was a special day for this young lady.

    And here’s why the power of prayer really is needed and works.

    Her mother has been prayerfully asking the Lord to place a desire in her daughters heart ~ to walk more closely with the Lord, that He would reveal Himself to her in the same way He did in her own life 32 years ago. That He would provide for her daughter the experience only He could in His transforming power of love.

    And that He would send her a man, who loves and serves God and would love her too.

    This is where I tell you .. I am that praying mother.

    And while I am watching from the side lines cheering on the team of Jesus, I know that my prayers matter and are heard, I sit in amazement of the wonders of His love. To God by the Glory!

    Yesterday Jesus walked in to her heart, took her hand and is leading her to love and serve the Heavenly Father as we all should.

    That’s the man I prayed for and that’s why she will always have what she needs and be loved forevermore.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • His Word

    Daily writing prompt
    Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
    View all responses

    The question “when have you felt loved..” is one I can answer by personal experience I have in reading and studying the Word of God. The Bible.

    Love is a word many use to describe an emotion. But the real use of the word is an action word. To understand what true love means is to know what it does.

    In the book of 1 Corinthians 13 it is written what love is and what it does. It’s also known as “the greatest gift”.

    In Romans 13:10 Love is described as the fulfillment of the law – to love your neighbor.

    1 John 4:7 says everyone who loves is born of God.

    As I sit here writing , thinking how I have felt it personally from Him ~ His words are love in the truth He teaches me. His words are life giving and freeing. This love He bestowed on the world when He gave Himself a sacrifice John 3:16-17 shows me in action what I mean to Him.

    His words of instructions leads me to safety.

    His love is everlasting not temporary but always – never ending.

    How do you describe a love that never ends a feeling that is a constant companion. His word brings rejoicing to my heart because in it I have seen how deeply He cares for His people. No one and no thing has ever given me all the feels.

    His words are the life, the way and the truth.

    His words are Love.

    In Christ LOVE, Amen

    In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

  • hope found

    Every time I try to do life on my own terms, I stumble and fall.

    And every time I come to the realization I am in need of help, the only place I have found it consistently was in the pages of God’s book, the Holy Word of God.

    The seeds of hope in those pages are what feeds my faith, its words will set my emotions straight and give clarity in moments when nothing makes sense.

    And when I surrender my will towards His ways, this is how repentance begins. It’s a process of sanctification.

    His words cause the troubled heart to lay down its brokenness, so that it may be healed.

    The only way to describe this simply is like “seeing the truth and knowing it is going to change your life.”

    This is what the Word does.

    Psalm 119:89, God’s word is eternal as the Universe. Never changing. But always changing the hearts and minds of men who would take counsel from it. His faithfulness never ends.

    He created the earth and it endures no matter what men say, because of God’s love and care. Because of His word, nothing stops, it only cycles – unending and only His word will change this.

    Everything He created serves Him. And it is because of His Word I have not given up in despair.

    So why then should we invest our thoughts and time anywhere else.

    There is no person, place or thing that would ever give what He gives. There is no void to big for Him to fill~He is the way to hope. He will make a way every time we ask. We only have to look to His Word.

    Life is fragile handle with care – His care.

    This is where HOPE IS FOUND.

    In Christ love, Amen