Author: Deborah

Here for your enjoyment and to help you with your New Year goals of improving physically and growing spiritually is a copy of the “Holy 30 Challenge”.

This short devotional, 30 days) is based on I Peter 1:16. It was written by unnamed church members and published by First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner  At our church, we are beginning the New Year focused on improving our physical bodies and also growing spiritually in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I didn’t write any of this devotional, but I do have permission to share it with you. Hope you enjoy using it as a tool for self examination in your quest to improve both physically and spiritually.

It has been said that whatever you focus on at the beginning of the year will set the pattern for the rest of the year. Therefore, let’s focus on beginning our year in the Presence of God. After all, He is your best friend. I promise.

If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website:    http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors if you choose. I enjoy listening to them while at church and I think they’re great. No, I don’t think I’m partial. Well, maybe a little.

This introduction page is for church members, but I thought you might enjoy. I’ll try to post each day in succession for you beginning with these. Sorry about the late start, but it just occurred to me “Why not post these? Others could benefit.”

 

 

 

My Notes from Day 1:

Lord, what do I need to change to become more like You? Help me to turn away from the love of this pleasure food and other pleasures as well. Let me give all of my heart to You.

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  1 John 2:15-16 NKJV

Lord, it’s so cold outside. (We are experiencing a hard freeze now. This is very unusual for lower Alabama.)

Child, walk with Me, and you will find warmth in your heart.

I thought to myself, “Okay, you can walk inside the house or out in the back yard with the dogs.” I walked out in the back yard for 30 minutes and the dogs loved it. I hated it. Too cold for me, guess I’ll try walking inside next time.

 

My Notes from Day 3:

Lord, help me remember to drink water and spend time in Your Presence to refresh my soul. So far, I’ve drunk half of my recommended water for the day.

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Hope you have a great and Happy New Year! Be Blessed!                                               Debbie

This past December was full of stress, but none of it for the usual Christmas reasons. No, it’s been an eventful, stressed month with two hospital stays for my Dad and one lengthily veterinarian stay for our dog, Willow.

To begin with, my Dad had knee replacement surgery on Dec. 7. He’s 82 years old and lives by himself in a house on the bay. His house is up on pilings, so he has to go up a flight of stairs to get in his house and another flight of stairs up to his bedroom. My siblings and I decided he should come to my house for his recuperation. My house is build on a slab without stairs and I’m retired. All my other siblings still work, so it was an easy decision that Dad should come to my house.

Then he developed cellulitis in his leg and had to go back in the hospital for antibiotics by I.V.  The doctor talked about another surgery to clean out the infection. We were praying not so.

Praise God, the antibiotics via IV worked. No additional surgery was needed. God answers prayer. Do y’all hear me? Yes, He answers prayers. Thank you Lord for healing my Dad.

STRESSED OVER DOGS – LOOK AT THAT SWEET FACE. WHO KNEW?

Meanwhile . . . during Dad’s stay in the hospital the first time, our little dog bit the gas meter man. What?. . .  This dog has been at our house for almost two years and he has never bit anyone. After all, does this face look like it would bite?

We had let his shots expire last March. Yep, I know. This was stupid on our part. Stupid, stupid, stupid. So first I visited Dad at the hospital after his knee surgery, then I had to take the dog, Willow, to be quarantined at the vet’s for 10 days. Learn from my example, keep up with your dog’s shots.

Guess the gas meter man is happy it wasn’t our big dog. He’s had his shots, but his bite might have been worse. Yep, he looks scary. Just looking at him is enough to make you stressed, but he acts like a big baby.

After Dad returned from the hospital the second time, he again returned to my house for recuperation. The next day I picked up the Willow from the vets. Praise God, Dad’s leg healed, but we found out the dog had hook worms and heart worms. Now I was stressed caring for two patients giving daily antibiotics to both.  And one of my patients could die due to my failure to provide preventive shots. Learn from my failure, keep up your dog’s shots.

In February, Willow has to go goes back to the vet and get heart shots to kill the heart worms. Then we’re supposed to keep him still for 30 days. I don’t know how we’re going to do that. He’s not supposed to get excited or stressed.

Then again in March, back to the vet for another shot treatment to kill heart worms and keep him still for another 30 days. Can you tell me how to keep a dog still? Because I have no idea. Learn from my example, keep up with your pet’s shots.

HANDLING CHRISTMAS

Then Christmas business everywhere, Christmas tree to decorate, shopping to do, Christmas cards to send, and the family gathering meal to cook for. (I make the official “Granny Crocker’s Dressing” for the all family gatherings.) Talk about being stressed.

Thank you Lord, for leading me to buy the grand-kids a present before Dad’s surgery. But then I wasn’t able to go shopping, so Hubby and I decide to give everyone money. It all worked out. Peace on Earth and goodwill to men. It turned out to be a calm, peaceful Christmas after all.

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. . . though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. . .   1 Peter 7-8

                 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.                   Proverbs 27:23

A good man is concerned for the welfare of his animals. . . Proverbs 12:10

Lord, I’ve gained some weight back. How did this happen?

Child, if you listen to Me, then it will be gone.

But Lord, what do I do today?

For now, eat no more until your stomach growls.

But Lord, what if I get invited out to lunch?

Child . . . Trust Me. Now do you want a life of misery or peace?

Lord, I want peace.

Then let go. Let go of your resentment.

Lord, it’s hard to let go. Would You take it from me?

Child, you must remember I can’t take it from you unless you give it to Me.

Here Lord, I give my resentment to You. I’m so tired of “life.” Nothing has turned out like I thought it would. First of all, my dreams of monetary success didn’t happen. Then I keep returning to my source of failure. I feel as tough I’m just going through the motions of life, putting one foot in front of the other, trudging along in boredom and monotony.

Child, if only you’d allow Me to fill you with Myself, My Spirit, then you would find your life exciting.

Okay Lord, how? Tell me, how do I let You fill me?

First My child, I want you to sing to Me.

What? . . . Okay Lord, what do You want me to sing?

How about “Amazing Grace” for now.

 

 

(After singing “Amazing Grace”) Okay, Lord, I’ve sung it. Now what?

Sing it again.

What? Okay. (Sung it again.) Okay Lord, now I sung it. What’s next?

Now sing it again.

(Sung it again.) Lord, now I’ve sung it three times. So what now?

Child, it’s not about you.

What?

It’s not about you.

Well Lord, tell me . . . what is it about?

My grace.

What do You mean?

It’s about My grace. Look up the word grace. Also, look up regeneration and while you’re at it, look up sanctification too.

To begin with My Child, I give you My grace. It is My grace that heals, delivers, and sets free those who are captive in bondage. For it’s My grace that saves you, even from yourself.

Your assignment today is to sing throughout this day, everywhere you go and everything you do. Your first step toward losing this extra weight is singing.

What? This makes no sense.

Trust Me for I know what I’m doing. We’ll talk again tomorrow, but today I want you to sing.

Okay Lord, but what do I sing now?

I like “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.” Sing that. Through these words you will be released from your personal prison.

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“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. Zechariah 2:10

Acts 16

²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. ²⁷ And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

²⁹ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴ Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Lord, my temptations have not brought me the joy of victory. No, instead they’ve brought failure and defeat. I’ve failed all the tests and have become completely entangled again in bingeing and eating until I’m sick, bloated, and gaining weight. Now I’m standing here before You in guilt and shame at the edge of failure.

No . . . My Child, you’re not standing at the edge of failure. You’re now standing at the edge of victory. Call on My Name – Jesus- for I am your victory.

Lord, I thought I was at victory before, but here I am now back at binge land. At this moment I’m the heaviest I’ve been since 2014. My face has been in the feeding trough, the slop bucket. In the book, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young,  (pg. 321) You stated that You weren’t repelled by our weaknesses. No, instead You said Your power was attracted to our weakness. How can You be attracted by my gluttony?

Yes My child, I am drawn to your weakness for I long to help those I love. I always want to help you succeed just as you always want to help those you love. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

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My Child, I’ve come to offer you mercy, grace, and help you in your need of deliverance. Now I want to see you free of all this that has you entangled in bondage.

Lord, I feel nothing.

My child, you don’t have to feel Me to know I am with you.

Lord, I’m miserable now.

My child, I know this for I designed it that way. At the time you’re in sin, it seems enjoyable, but eventually sin brings forth great misery.  Without the misery within sin, you wouldn’t cry out to Me.

Lord, I’m at another bottom, a sinkhole of misery. I feel as though I’m sinking in a food vat, a greasy food vat. Lord, I want what we once had before. I want to return to my joy within Your Presence. Can I come back to You?

Child, come here.

Lord, I don’t know what to do now.

Come here, I will lead you.

Lord, I want more of You.

Then My child, let go. Let go of what is in your hand because you can’t receive unless you let go.

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2

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Lord, would You cleanse me, wash me, and deliver me again from my own sin of  destruction. Overall I feel doomed to keep repeating this sin of gluttony.

My child, in fact you aren’t doomed for I’ve already set you free.  As a matter of fact it was My Blood that paid the price required for your freedom.

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He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

* Note: The Lord is helping me. Yes I made a lot of wrong choices, but praising God for His love, mercy and forgiveness. I’ve lost 4 pounds since writing this post. I don’t understand how He could be so patient with me.

I remember back in 2014, a potential publisher told me, “If we publish your book, you can never gain your weight back. It would be an embarrassment to our company.”

Someone once told me that angels are watching us and cheering us on. It’s occurred to me that I must follow God’s will especially with my eating. After all, when I overeat am I embarrassing God in front of His angels?

I’m so grateful He is giving me another chance to eat with Him again. Thank you Lord for Your love and mercy.

He’s patient with you too. He is full of love and mercy for you too, no matter what your past choices were. Go to Him and tell Him all about your issues. I promise He’ll listen. If He listens to me, He will listen to you. He loves you ever so greatly.

 

Change is headed your way. Can you see it coming?  Look for it.

(Several weeks ago when the Lord first spoke these words to my heart, they gave me hope especially considering the horrific events of these past few months: hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes. And now this week a mass shooting of  innocents. We all need hope that only He can give. Find a quiet spot, let Him speak to your heart because if you’re like me, you could use some inner peace right now. First, quiet your inner thoughts, then listen for His voice to calm your stress. Allow Him to touch you and fill you with His overwhelming love.) 

More of His words to my heart:

My child, I enjoy creating sudden changes in order to bring hope and joy into each life. Do you remember the words of your earthly Dad, “It’s amazing how quickly things can change?”  Also, “Things can turn around for good just as quickly as they can for bad.”  Do you remember these words spoke by your husband? Yes Lord, I do. Dad was talking about how gloomy the sky looked, but then after a few minutes the sky was blue, with the sun shining and clouds floating by. My husband said these words after several hours of figuring our finances. He was talking about our debt. 

My child, I’m in the “changing” business. In fact I specialize in turning people from the mindset of defeat to expecting victory, from discouragement to hopefulness, from debt to prosperity, and from lack to the fullness of My blessings. Not to mention how I can change relationships from estranged to restored, from broken to healed and from cursed to blessed.  Yes, I’m in the changing business. It brings Me pleasure to turn defeat and depression into victory and hope. I turn abandonment into completely restored. My death on the cross restored love to those destined for eternal abandonment to adoption and unconditional acceptance into My family. The Father loves each one, no matter the human flaws. My death brought victory to all those broken without hope.  Lord, what about those sick and suffering?

My child, I give victory to all those who come to Me. Overall, they will have victory over circumstance and victory over death. While I don’t erase struggles, I do indeed grant victory over struggles. Yes My child, in life you will have struggles and suffering, but because of what I suffered you can have victory. I paid the price for victory for all, especially those struggling and suffering now. They will all have victory. As they come to Me I’ll give them the victory I bought with the price of My blood.

Thank you Lord for talking with me.

My child, it’s My pleasure to talk with My children.

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.                2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to be victorious. And His Name will be the hope of the world.                       Matthew 12:20-21 NLT

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NKJV

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.           1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

 

Have you ever seen the heavenly “lights” of God, either the brightness of angels or even the Light of God? I haven’t, but I’m looking for them. This all began with a dream I had the other night about “The Lights”. After you read this, let me know what you think about my dream.

To begin with, Lana was in my dream. She was my bestest (Is that a word?) BFF, my most beloved friend. Sept.1, 2014 was the day of she entered Heaven. I celebrate her victory.

For six years I visited her once a week unless I went out of town or was sick.  We enjoyed praying and studying the Bible together.  She’d share her secrets with me  and I vice versa. She’d tell me how God spoke to her heart and I’d write these thoughts down for her. She encouraged me to listen for God’s voice and to write what He spoke to me too. My time spent with her is one of the greatest treasures of my life memories. She’s with God now, talking with Him face to face. Oh, and she’s probably dancing for Him too.

Lana had been bedridden with M.S. for over 18 years and was completely paraplegic. She could only move her head, but Lana was the most beautiful person I have ever known. Her smile would light up the entire room. I’ll always believed she had a straight connection to God Himself. Now she’s living with Him in that “good” neighborhood. She once shared a dream with me about being in Heaven. She said, “I lived in that “good” neighborhood too. Jesus’ house was just over the hill. ” At that time I laughed at her because in Heaven everyone lives in a good neighborhood. I’m smiling as I write this.

Lana’s mother and mine were best friends throughout our childhoods, but somehow we never connected until adulthood, by then she was bedridden. Lana  made such an impression on my life. I want to be just like her, except for the paraplegic part. I want to have her connection with God,  her outgoing personality, her love for God’s Word, and her genuine interest and concern for others. Lana might have been contained in her bedroom, but her prayers impacted the world.

She spent her time either watching  preachers on television since she was homebound, shopping QVC for the same reason (Others made the phone calls for her), or listening to the Bible by audio. She could quote you different scriptures too. But most of all she spent her time praying for others. She prayed for everyone she knew and others she didn’t know. She prayed for world leaders, people-groups within different countries and over current events in the news. When God allowed her to enter Heaven, the world lost one of its greatest prayer warriors and I lost my best friend. He took her home on September 1, 2014 and I’ve missed her ever since.

This was my dream:

Life was busy. We’re all were running to and fro, back and forth to many different activities, all except Lana. Her first focus was to always look for the Light. Wherever she was the Light would come, shine over her and talk with her. She was with the Light so much we could see the twinkles of many lights surrounding her. Every time she talked with the Light she was surrounded by many twinkling lights and she glowed as she reflected this Light.

She spent so much in the presence of the Light with those twinkling lights surrounding her that we started watching. When we would see the twinkling lights come forth, then we knew she was coming to talk with Light. As we watched from a distance she talked with the Light and glowed in His love.

Then one day Lana left to be with Him. She was gone. I thought to myself, “I miss her, but I’m going to miss seeing the Light too, now that’s she gone.” I wondered if we’d ever see the lights again since she was gone now.

As I looked around, it’s dark and the sky is foreboding. A powerful wind is blowing and leaves are swirling about. Storm clouds are brewing.

Then Yahweh speaks to my heart, “Child, look for the Light. The Light will come to you if only you will look for it. Look for the Light, My child.”

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Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.” John 8:12

Arise, shine; for your Light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1  (This was one of Lana’s favorite verses.)

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Revelations 21:23

 

 

I did not write this, but I cried when I read it. I felt it needed sharing.

Where is God ?    http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/31/where-is-god-in-terrible-tragedy-in-houston.html

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Lord, forgive our sins. Let us return to You. Give us the wisdom and strength we need to turn from our wicked ways. Bring healing to this land, this people, our families, and even our selves. Lord, we are so broken as a people and as families. Bring hope and healing where there seems to be only despair and brokenness. Lord, You are our source of all- help us to keep our eyes on You. Bring us back to You. Forgive our sins individually and as a nation. Cleanse us from all not pleasing to You. Help us to realize it is not our will that brings us victory, but Your will that brings the victory. Lord, You are our victory. Thank you for having mercy for all of us. Amen.

Lord, I don’t know what to do. Could I have another chance?

Child, I keep all My promises. I know sometimes you don’t keep yours, but I always keep Mine. I keep My promises from one generation to another and I’ll keep My promises to you too.

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Understand therefore that the Lord your God is the faithful God who for a thousand generations keeps His promises and constantly loves those who love Him and who obey His commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 TLB 

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Lord, I do love You, but I can’t say I’ve always obeyed Your commands. Sometimes I do, but a lot of times I haven’t. Is there hope for me? Can I have another chance?

Child, there’s always hope for another chance, a new beginning.                                                                                                                        

Lord, will You give me another chance? Psalm 32:8 is a promise You made to me long ago and many times since. Now I’m looking for Your direction again.

Child, I am leading you. I’ll guide you. But first things first.

But Lord . . . what’s first?

I AM first, My child. Come to Me. Let Me wash you from the filth of your sins: anxiousness, greed, worry, judgmental attitude toward others, self-criticism, overeating, procrastination, laziness, and selfishness. My child, you’ve given your heart to Me, but then you chose to walk your own way in your own wisdom. As you walk through life, the earthly drudge and filth gets in your mind and your heart too. I’ve come to set you free from this bondage of earthly things and ways.

Lord, I don’t know what to do. I just know I need another chance, another chance at life. It seems I’ve messed up in so many ways.

Look to Me for I will guide your steps and your ways.

Lord, I want You.

Child, I am here with you now.

Lord, I want to write but what’s happened? I’m blank.

Child, look at Jonah.  “Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time . . .” I am the God of second chances. Jonah got another chance, so will you.

Alright Lord, I’m getting another chance. So what do I do with it? What direction do I go?

Go with what you have now. Save up for more increase. Write.

Lord, what do I write?

Write what I give you. Then sell what you have and use those funds to pay expenses. Forget your man-made rules of post 3x this or 3x that. Forget your keeping records of how long you pray. Who’s that for, your self pride, that’s who. Man-created Pharisee rules don’t please Me. I’ve come to set you free. You have another chance. Now go and follow as I lead you constantly throughout your day.

You know- “Pray without ceasing.” It’s not just saying words, it’s talking with Me. Discuss all the details of your life with Me. Listen for My voice leading you. Remember I don’t scream, “Do it now.” No, I speak to you quietly and always confirm My written Word. Teach others to talk with Me and how to listen. Tell them I’m the best friend they’ll ever have. Tell them I’ll give them another chance.

You’ll start writing and talking with Me every morning as I wake you Myself.

OK, Lord. Do I share about this financial mess I created?

How will they know about My deliverance unless you tell them? How will they know I will give them another chance unless you tell them?