Even in winter, you are the sunshine of my soul

Ah, my Lord God, what a wonderous artist you are. You delight my senses with the gentle touch of a snow 0-Joseph-Cover-Kindle-Mediumflake and the crunch of my feet as I walk among your whited wonder. The wind is cold, but inside I am warm. Oh, look at that Woodpecker. How much fun he is having with that tree. And that squirrel scampering across the snow with something in its mouth; I’ll bet it’s some morsel it buried during the fall.  Oh, my, that child has made snow angels, and those children over there are making snowmen. How beautiful and enchanting you made everything on earth, my home.

Father, how can you forgive me for doing the same wrong thing over and over? How can you forgive me for leaving undone the good things I need to get out there and do? Help me forgive others in the same way I need you to forgive me.

Thank you, dear Lord, for loving me with a love so powerful, nothing holds it back. When I sin, you ache, then call me to you. When I ~ with your help ~ convince someone to become a Christian and saved from Satan, you notify the angels, and we all rejoice together. When I feel lonely, all I have to do is call one of the many friends you have given me. Oh, and thank you for children who remind me of innocent wonder. Even in winter, you are the sunshine of my soul.

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0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailJOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER was selected to raise the Son of God.  The responsibility! How was he supposed to keep the child safe in a violent world, even on the highways where skirmishes occurred?  And up in the mountains cutting lumber where bears and lions wandered? And in foreign Egypt where there were pockets of Jews willing to take bribes for information about him? And in his own town where his uncaring children called him bastard and their fathers called his father a fool for marrying a woman already pregnant by someone else?  To READ NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/30FFlbC

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How can I touch your holiness?

The scripture for today, February 10 (2/10), is James 2:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-“Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Do we pray on Sunday and curse on Monday? Do we sing on Sunday and lie on Monday? Do we recite a scripture on Sunday and mock someone on Monday?

On the other hand, do we use this as an excuse not to go to church? Do we refuse to attend because there are hypocrites in the church?

Do we refuse to go to work because there are hypocrites there who talk behind the boss’s back? Do we refuse to go to school because there are hypocrites there who would skip school if they could? Do we refuse to sit for two hours in a boring airport because there are hypocrites there smuggling things in their suitcases? Do we refuse to go to sporting events because there are hypocrites there that would literally “kill the umpire” if they could?

Even Jesus had a hypocrite among his 12 Apostles ~ Judas. That didn’t stop him from doing what was needed to save us from hell.

In a sense we are all hypocrites because we go to church and sing songs about giving everything for Jesus, then we go home and don’t. Or we sing songs about going into all the world and teaching the gospel, then we go home and don’t. Or we talk about the importance of praying for everyone around us and their loved ones, then we go home and don’t.

Perhaps Jesus was the biggest hypocrite of them all because he, who never, ever sinned, took the blame for your sins and went through excruciating body and soul death in your place.

Oh, my Lord Jesus, how can I worship you enough? How can I thank you enough? How can my spirit touch your holiness?  I am weak and need you.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE.  No one could stop him from cursing, jailing and torturing Christians.  Then Jesus got hold of him and he joined the camp of the enemy.  Once again, no one could stop him.  Not any of the beatings he endured, and going hungry, and being thrown into the sea and being stripped by thieves and being stoned until he was supposed to be dead.  For years he dared anyone to stop him from telling people the truth about Jesus and save their souls.  People hated him for it.  But always, in the midst of torture, he would shout, “Jesus!  This is for you!”  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://bit.ly/3fw2mlA

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Oh, how you have spoiled me.

Oh, how you have spoiled me. You placed diamonds in mountain-top snow, rubies in the flowers, emeralds in 365 Dat by Date-Front-Thumbnailthe meadows, and delight in the birds that daily sing to me. As I climb the mountain of my life I think back of all the enormous opportunities I had as a youth. As I grow older and climb higher, my choices are narrowing and I am glad. My focus is more and more on you. Someday I will reach the mountain top, and you will be there. You will smile and say, “Welcome home.”

Forgive me when I refuse to forget a hurt and let myself become bitter.  Help me not forget those who have mistreated me. Perhaps they did not know they did. Or, even if they did so on purpose, bless them anyway.

Ah, thank you, my Lord, for all you have done for us through the history of mankind. I, along with everyone else, travel a wilderness, often not making good choices. The frustrations you must feel when I don’t pay attention to you but they do not stop you from loving me. You have been too patient. But you also give me your Word map in my wilderness to show me just where I am. And give me work to do in order to make sense of life. Thank you for entrusting me with that work. I will do the best I know how. I know you smile and reply, “That’s all I ask: Do your very best.”

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365 Dat by Date-Front-Thumbnail365 LIFE-CHANGING SCRIPTURES DAY BY DATE is a daily devotional guide with scriptures based on the date, using month numbering.  Therefore, 3/16 is John 3:16,   1/1 is Genesis 1:1,   8/28 is Romans 8:28 and   6/4 is Romans 6:4. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/3887z0L

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See? He’s running after you.

The scripture for today, February 8 (2/8), is Genesis 2:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Medium“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.”

Just think: Mankind’s nursery was a garden. How God wanted to spoil us, his children. And dote on us.

He even visited us sometimes. He walked with us in the cool of the evening through the beautiful home he had given us. It was the first of many times in the future he would walk with man. It was a beautiful time.

Then jealous Satan appeared out of the shadows of time and lied to us. He claimed God was our enemy. How could he say that with God providing us with tasty food to eat and sparkling water to drink beautiful flowers and trees and…  Well, we had everything.

Satan knew he couldn’t deny that, so he planted in their minds what they did not have.  “See that tree over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you touch that tree.  See that fruit over there? God doesn’t like you or he would let you eat anything you want.”  Oh, and the biggie. “God doesn’t want you to be as smart as him.  Evil is fun, but he is keeping you from knowing what evil is.  It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. If God hates you that much, then hate him back.”

So, they did. And Satan laughed. They were so gullible. Too late they discovered God had been trying to protect them.

Do you believe God doesn’t want you to have any fun? That is not true. God does not hate you. God is not trying to keep you from having a good time. The real good time is in heaven and he is trying to get you there.

Do not listen to Satan. He is the one who hates you. Do not wait until it is too late. Turn around and try once more listening to God. See?  He is running after you. He wants to protect you. He loves you beyond comprehension. And wants to spoil you. In heaven.

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When he is in your heart, is he home?

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Medium-NewThe scripture for today, February 1 (2/1), is Mark 2:1 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.”

Just think of it. Jesus coming home. The place where his family lives. The familiar places he’d seen walking around town in earlier years. The familiar faces. Hearing a voice in a crowd and recognizing it and automatically knowing s/he is a neighbor. Being able to walk through a market almost blindfolded because the same shops are in their same places selling their same goods.

Has Jesus come home to your heart? Is it familiar to him? Does he recognize you? When he hears your prayers, does he automatically know who you are? Can he walk beside you as you walk through life, knowing the places you will be visiting? Does he live with you?

When he is in your heart, is he home?

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Hyperactive Paul

The scripture for today, January 29 (1/29), is Colossians 1:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-
“To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works in me.”


Wow! Hyperactive Paul, Paul who preached even while in jail, Paul who went back to preaching after he’d just been beaten and told not to, Paul with the “A-type personality” said he got all that energy from Jesus Christ (see verse 28).

Who provides your energy? It depends on what you are being driven to do. It depends on what consumes you. It depends on what you’re spending your time doing and what is on your mind all the time.

Think about it today.

On what things do you use the energy of Jesus?

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The “naked” conqueror

05-FLOOD GATES-Child'sCartoon-ThumbnailThe scripture for today, January 21 (1/21), is Job 1:21 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“ ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ “

Wow!  Is he for real? Job had every reason to turn against God. In one day his entire wealth was stolen from him, nearly all his servants were killed by an invading army, and all his children died in a storm. Why hadn’t God protected him if he loved him so much?

Amidst tragedy, do you sometimes forget that Satan exists also? Job understood that whatever Satan does, God can undo.

Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10), but God is the forgiver. Satan can cause you to get sick, but God can heal. Satan can cause you to die, but God can bring you back to life. Satan can make you miserable in this world, but God can take you to a better world.

Shall you leave God to fight Satan alone? You were made in his image.  And how do you fight Satan? The same way Job did. Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” There’s more….

In all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
Neither angels nor demons,
Neither the present nor the future,
Nor any powers,
Neither height nor depth,
Nor anything else in all creation
Will be able to separate us from the
Love of God
That is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:37-39)


How can you be “more than a conqueror” unless you have something to conquer? How can you have “victory in Jesus” unless you have something to be victorious over?

You have periodic assignments from God. What bad thing has happened in your life lately? That is your assignment.

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My soul soars with you

0-Cover-MediumI praise you, eternal God, who always was and always will be. You are all light and love and truth. You are the way that takes me from troubles on earth to safety in your realm. You are the way that leads me through dry deserts of sighs, meadows of everyday doings, mountains of victory.  You are alive in my heart and my soul soars to you.

Yesterday I bragged to people about something I made. Forgive my sins of attitude so I can be more like you. Instead of bragging on myself, help me brag on others.

Thank you, God, for your Bible that tells of your dealings with mankind so I can know what you expect of me. Thank you for your amazing love. You let me learn from my own mistakes. Afterward, you let me return to you and say, “You were right” and love me all the more. Thank you for fighting for me in a spirit realm to which I have never been and do not understand. And taking my place and encountering Satan in that realm and crushing his head. How can I, so weak, thank you?  I worship you.

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The stars sing their praises

02-Noah-KindleMediumThe stars praise you, oh God, with their singing. The mountains praise you with their rumbling. The meadows praise you with their whisperings. The oceans praise you with their ebb and flow in tune with the rest of the universe. Ah, my Lord, to be with you without Satan always trying to lure me away from you. His lies won’t work, Lord! I will not let them. And when I am weak, you will stand between us not let him get to me. Nothing praises Satan except emptiness, shadows and hollow egos. All things good and grand and glorious and praise you now and forever.

Lord, sometimes I eat too much. Why do I do that? The taste is with me but a moment, then whisks away and I have to take another bite to get it back. And another. And another. Help me eat until I am no longer hungry instead of when I am full and about to burst.

Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for the animals that sometime show more love than do humans. And for birds that hop around and flutter and fly and sing to me. And the fish that wiggle and splash and sparkle. And touch ~ the softness of cotton, the smoothness of silk. Bumpy tree bark and smooth flower pedals. And knowing for sure that spring will return some day.

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Keeping the cosmos synchronized

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-ThumbnailAh, Lord God. I praise you for your greatness and minuteness.  You dwell in the cosmos and you dwell in each tiny atom. You are directed energy, determined love, the head, heart and soul of the universe. Nature praises your reliability and predictability. My spirit praises you for bringing life and brightness and wonder into the world. When the sun shines on me, I know it is you. When rain drops happily onto the ground, I know it is you. When the rainbow emerges among dark clouds, it, of course, is you.

Help me not look down on people with weaknesses. When I do, it makes me weaker than them.

Your patience with mankind through the centuries is beyond comprehension. You answer sometimes silly (to you) daily prayers while having to keep everything in the cosmos synchronized. And, Jesus, you came at just the right time after mankind had tried everything to be perfect and realized it is impossible. Oh glorious thought ~ all you have done and continue to do to rescue me from Satan and keep the way clear for me to live on the heights with you someday forever. Thank you, too, for seekers around the world.  Send more to me so I can reach out to them. Thank you for their souls that I may offer up to you.

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