Have you ever done something and immediately afterward you said, “Shoot! Why did I do that?” That happened to me the other day. I’d tackled a stack of papers that had accumulated on my desk, you know, the to-dos, notes to myself, as well as important papers like bills. I was quite pleased with the amount I’d shredded. Then, after writing out a check and looking for the self-addressed envelope, I realized I’d shredded it, too.

My haste had made waste. It caused me to stop and think about how I handle my days. Am I running around so busily that in my haste I waste precious time that could be spent with my Heavenly Father in prayer and meditating on the important truths in the Bible?

If you, like me, don’t want to get to the end of your life and realize that in your daily haste you wasted time that could have been spent in prayer and Bible reading, please join me HERE.

Have you ever explored a black cave with only a dim flashlight? Some time ago, I had the opportunity to walk two miles in a black cave. Did I say opportunity? It was only because I knew my time in the cave was temporary. Had I thought I couldn’t return to the outdoors and light I would have gone mad. Is that what hell is? Trapped in what Colossians 1:13 describes as a “domain of darkness”? 

Jesus Christ is Light. The beauty of heaven reflects His nature. Close your eyes and picture an eternity of despairing people screaming for release from Satan’s dark domain. Now open them and praise Jesus, whom Malachi refers to as “the messenger of the covenant”—”‘The Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of armies” (Malachi 3:1).

Having been in the cave has made me mindful of how important it is to live a celebratory life. Why? There are people who don’t know Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, and that He can save them from the black torment of eternal damnation. 

We have the opportunity to celebrate our present-day and eternity. We have reason to celebrate Christ’s Light in our hearts.  Are we a bright or dim reflection of Christ to the unsaved?

Lord Jesus Christ, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, thank You for transferring me from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light! Help me be mindful and joyful about my freedom and take every opportunity to shine brightly and point others to You.

Jesus is referred to as the Light several times in the Gospel of John. To learn more about Jesus as the true Light of the world, watch or listen to Debbie’s teachings on the book of John HERE and HERE. Free listening guides are also included.

 

Quick question: Have you ever been ungrateful? Have you ever needed a loan? Have you ever been wrongly judged? Have you ever crossed the line or done something really bad? 

That was more than one question, wasn’t it? But they all point to topics that Jesus addressed prior to His statement in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

That’s something to think about, isn’t it? 

Our Heavenly Father is merciful to us. 

Now He says that we’re to show mercy to others. That’s a good reminder for me. Is it for you? Why not record a list of ways God has shown mercy to you? Then thank Him for each one and consider how you might show mercy to someone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being MERCIFUL to me each and every day. Fill me with Your Spirit of mercy towards others.

Would you like an organized way to record you prayers and praises? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal.

 

Are you ever concerned that Christ is sitting in heaven eyeing your sin and his holy face is twisted in disgruntlement? In other words, you’re an inch from being zapped as a result of your sin? If so, today is a good day to rethink your view of Jesus.

Paul, a candidate for being “zapped” before he became a Christ-follower, tells us what Jesus is like. “I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:1). When Paul refers to Christ as meek, he uses a word that means “mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit.” In other words, Christ isn’t a cloud-sitting Savior watching for someone He can zap if they take a wrong turn in life. Paul realizes Jesus could have zapped him dead on the Damascus Road, but rather, Christ in mercy called and commissioned Paul to a new purposeful life.

Our Savior is all-powerful, but He has a meek disposition toward us, not a “zap you if you mess up” disposition. He understands what it’s like to be human, to struggle, to deal with daily life, problems, and stress. Relish your Savior’s meekness. Talk to Him. Read His wisdom truths in the Sermon on the Mount and keep reading through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Meditate on the precious words He brought us from heaven. They’re food for a sound mind and a steady course until we reach our ultimate destiny—heaven.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being on my side and for looking at me with gentle and MEEK eyes. I love You and am ever grateful for You. 

Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart Praise and Prayer Journal  to write down your prayers, praises, and what the Lord places on your heart. You can also pair it with the companion 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional, which can be purchased HERE.

In 1953, Baskin-Robbins wowed ice cream lovers by offering customers a choice of 31 flavors.  That’s a great offer for ice cream, but unfortunately, our world has adopted a “31 flavors” viewpoint concerning salvation. In other words, we’ve decided we can be reconciled to God through the plan of our choice, be it self-improvement, doing good things, or a world religion of our choosing. But not so warns God throughout Scripture such as in 1 Timothy 2:5: “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

If we think we can make a Baskin-Robbin choice of how we’re reconciled to God, we’re wrong. Dead wrong. God has warned us that the only way we can be reconciled to Him is through His Son. Christ Jesus is the one mediator who can reconcile us to God for eternity. Tell others!

Christ Jesus, I praise You, my MEDIATOR, for making peace between God the Father and me.

Do you ever wonder if we’re in the end times? Would you like to learn more about the signs of the end times? Grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study, End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do HERE. Access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

 

 

We like our freedom, right? We may have heard someone tout, “No one is going to tell me what to do!” Maybe we’ve said that. But, here’s some news that may shock you. God has the right to tell us what to do because He owns us. That’s right. He is our Master as Colossians 4:1 explains: “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.”  Yes, we have a Master. Does that please you or cause your hair to bristle? What is the implication of you having a Master?

The word, “Master,” in Colossians 4:1 means “owner; one who has control of the person.” Maybe we’ve never thought about God owning us, but it isn’t a one-time teaching in the Bible. First Corinthians 6:20 explains we’ve been “bought with a price.” Romans 6:16 says we are slaves to sin or righteousness. Who do you prefer to be your master: Satan or Jesus? I bet you’re waving your hand for Jesus.

Let’s think further. Since Jesus is our Master, what should be our posture before Him? I wonder if we’re too flippant about our relationship with Him. I wonder if when we get to heaven and see Jesus in His glory if we’ll wish we had bowed before Him every morning and asked how we might serve Him. We have a Master in heaven. He’s a glorious, giving, gracious Master. Let’s serve Him well today with a smile on our face.

Heavenly MASTER, I worship and adore You and cannot wait to continue my worship of You in heaven. Remind me throughout my day to serve You well.

Stay connected with Debbie beyond the blog! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

 

Stuck. Frozen. Breathe. Just breathe. Call a friend? Or, Ask UP?

God has given us friends to encourage and support one another. But, He's also given us access to come straight to Him with our questions, hopes, dreams, and concerns. He wants us to do more than "ask around" when we need help. Jesus tells us to Ask UP in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you..."  Why?
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Do you exercise every day?

No, exercising won't prevent every disease. But, it does help us physically, mentally, and emotionally. We either take the time and effort to do it, or we don't. Regardless, we'll be affected by our choice. The same is true with
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We’re more than halfway through 365 days of praising God. Thank you for joining me on our journey to better know our LORD. Today, we’re meditating on how God is marvelous. In what ways?

• God’s works are marvelous. Revelation 15:3 says, “And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God…!’” Thank God for marvelously working in your life.
• God’s lovingkindness is marvelous. Psalm 31:21 states, “Blessed be the LORD, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me….”  In this verse, marvelous means “wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary.” In what way can you testify to God’s lovingkindness being marvelous?
• God’s salvation is marvelous. In Matthew 21:42, Jesus asks, “‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief cornerstone…from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” Praise God for His marvelous plan to save you.
• God’s light is marvelous. First Peter 2:9 states, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  We are to tell others about the excellencies of Christ, His excellent, extraordinary light. In what way are you fulfilling your divine purpose and telling others about Christ’s marvelous light?

Lord, You are MARVELOUS in Your work, love, kindness, salvation, and light. I celebrate, worship, and praise You!

There are countless marvelous and praise-worthy attributes of Jesus. Download this FREE PRINTABLE to explore the attributes of Jesus listed in the book of John.

 

                                                      

In Christian circles, we often speak of the joy of the Lord and rightly so. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, that doesn’t mean every day will be free of sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 states that Jesus, although filled with godly joy, was also “…despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

I remember when this reality hit home with me. I was reading and then praying Philippians 3:7-10: that I “know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” I was changed after that prayer. The Holy Spirit filled me and I read the Bible with new eyes. I had an intimacy with and passion for Christ that I’d not experienced. But I stopped my prayer before the end of verse 10: “that I know the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” I had no desire to experience Christ’s sufferings and sorrows. 

Years later, I discovered what the “fellowship of His sufferings” meant. It hurt. It was not fun. I cried. I journaled Scriptures. And, most importantly, my intimacy with the Lord deepened in a way it might not have had I not gone through that time and other times since then; including a lung cancer diagnosis in 2024.

If you are going through a time of sorrow or grief, stay the course with Jesus. Get up close to Him. “Curl up” in His presence with your Bible. Hold His Word close to your heart. Pour out your fears, desires, and questions to Him. Be still and wait for His comforting thoughts and verses He brings to your mind. Be mindful that He is near to you and will love you through whatever you are facing. 

Jesus, MAN OF SORROWS, thank You for being with me as I go through hard, sorrowful times. Deepen my intimacy with You and trust in You. Use me, my voice, to sound forth Your sufficiency to others. 

Are you walking through a difficult season or know someone who is? Visit our Hope for the Cancer+ Journey page for free, faith-filled resources designed to encourage and strengthen not only those battling cancer, but anyone facing hard times.