Free Indeed

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 KJV

Some folks wonder how God can wash away sin from their lives. They often think that the sins they have committed are so bad that there is no way they could be totally forgiven. 

“Oh, you just don’t understand all the bad stuff I’ve done in my life. God could never forgive me.” 

That statement comes from the mouths of many who have a hard time believing that Jesus can truly forgive a person, no matter what they’ve done.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28 KJV

It is the precious blood of Jesus that was shed on Calvary that washes and cleanses away sin.

Friend, when Jesus forgives you for your sins, their gone forever, never to be brought up again. Jesus, Himself says in this scripture passage, that when He sets us free, we are free indeed.

When that sinks into to your heart, you’ll want to shout out the famous words from Martin Luther King’s speech,  “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”  

Dear Lord, Thank you for shedding your blood on Calvary for my sins and for setting me completely and totally free. Amen.  

Freedom in Christ

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).                  II Corinthians 3:17 AMP

July 4^th has always been a favorite holiday of mine. I have many childhood memories of July 4^th that I shared in a newspaper article in 1998. I hope to share that with you later this week.

As you prepare to celebrate America’s Independence Day this coming Saturday, take time to reflect on the many freedoms that you have in Christ.

The first freedom that comes to a born again believer is freedom from sin.

And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). Romans 6:18 AMP

Most people can remember the exact moment when they asked Jesus to come into their hearts and to cleanse them from sin.  I know I can. I was only six years old at the time.  

When Jesus removes the sin from a person life, there’s a newfound freedom that is beyond words. That heavy burdensome load of sin no longer exists. It’s replaced with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

If you’ve ever experienced this freedom, I know you fully understand that joy. But, if you’ve never asked Jesus into your heart, let me encourage you to do so today. It’s as easy as A-B-C.

A-    Admit you are a sinner.

B-    Believe in your heart.

C-    Call upon the name of the Lord and confess your sins.

Friend, where Jesus resides, freedom abides.

Dear Lord, Thank you for true freedom that only comes from being saved by your love and grace. Amen.  

Re-Charge Your Batteries – Go To Church!

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 AMP

I just got home from Wednesday night church service. When I sit down at my computer, the Lord reminded me of this scripture found in Hebrews.

If you’re like me, you probably go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Church is where I believe Christians expect to get fed the Word of God. But going to church on a regular basis also means that you’ll reap blessing of love and encouragement from other believers.

It’s that regular bread of life that a person receives from God’s Word along with love and encouragement that helps to re-charge your hearts and minds. 
 
Does a flashlight work when the batteries are down? 

Well, I guess you can try it, but let me assure you, there’ll be no light without first recharging or replacing the batteries. I believe Christians are a whole lot like that flashlight.

Friend, if you let your spiritual battery run down, you’ll be in a heap of trouble. Keep your faith strong by spending time with Jesus everyday and always go to church on a regular basis. You’ll be re-charged, fed and loved by your Heavenly Father and by your church family. 

Dear Lord, Thank you for blessing me with a wonderful church, pastor and church family. Amen.  

Constantly Abiding

Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4 KJV

My dog will be thirteen years old this October. TJ is part Dachshund and Poodle. She recently had an inner infection. Since then, she’s been really skittish at the slightest noise. What was once a good guard dog, now has become my frightened little friend.

I can’t take a step without her being up under my feet. This morning as I walked in the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, I almost tripped over her. 

“TJ, girl, you’re constantly under my feet.” I said.

Immediately the Lord brought to mind a song that we use to sing in church.

Anne S. Murphy wrote Constantly Abiding in 1908. 

Chorus:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/constant.htm

Don’t Let Sin Weigh You Down

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV

My best friend Cherilyn wrote her thoughts down on the subject of sin the other day. She was a little reluctant at first to let me read them. 

“That was really good.” I said, “It was funny in parts. I’m impressed.”

She laughed when I told her I was going to post it as a devotional on my website.

Friends, you may laugh out loud like I did when you read it, but the meaning is very clear. If sin resides in a person’s life, it’s like carrying a heavy load.  

Jesus is the only one who can remove the weight of sin. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness and those sins will be washed away. Try it; you’ll see that your load will be lighter and your future much brighter!

Enjoy!

SIN  (by Cherilyn Caraway)

Sin. What is sin? It’s that heavy load (package) that we sometimes carry around with us that weighs us down.

Jesus can remove this weight of sin from us!

Sin is just like the hair on our legs that just keeps coming back, but God can remove it, just as we do when we shave.

We remove the hair and it goes down the drain. It’s gone forever, never to be seen again. Jesus removes our sin and flushes it away. He never brings it up again.

When we get in God’s Word and get full of Him, we’ll get to the point where sin doesn’t so easily come into our lives. That’s because we’re so full of Jesus that we can resist all things that are wrong.

When you’re at the point to where you don’t know what to do or how to pray, just call on Him.

Just say, “Jesus.”

When you do, He will take care of everything for you!

“Jesus, Jesus.”

Just open your eyes to the Lord and let Him fill your heart.

Good Morning Lord!

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV

Have you ever got up late and rushed just to get to work on time?  Maybe, the kids were sick or the car wouldn’t start and everything that could go possibly wrong does indeed. 

I guess we’ve all had those kinds of days before. I’ve learned that the way my day starts out is usually a good sign of how the remainder of the day will go. If I’m rushed, unorganized or grouchy, the rest of my day is well, you guessed it, rushed, organized and grouchy.

However, if I start my day with a well-balanced breakfast and time with the Lord, the rest of my day always seems to goes smoothly. I’ll grab my Bible and cup of coffee and then pray.

After thanking the Lord for the day He made and for all His many blessings, I ask Him to reveal Himself to me through His Word. Sometimes, I may be reading a certain book of the Bible and other times, it’s as if the Bible opens up to a scripture passage that almost seems to jump off the page. 

I love spending time with Jesus all throughout the day, but sharing the morning with Him is my favorite. I read His Word and pray and then listen. I bring my requests to the Lord and then leave them with Him. I know He can take care of my needs better than I can. 

After spending time with the Lord in the morning, I can get up, go about my daily business and expect God to do great and mighty things.

Friend, let me encourage you to start spending some one on one quality time with Jesus in the early morning hours. You’ll soon see that when you put Jesus first in the morning, He’ll go with you through out the rest of the day! 

Touching His Garment

For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.               Matthew 9:21-22 NKJV

I remember learning about the woman in the Bible, who had an issue of blood when I just a small child in Sunday school. Her faith made such an impression on me.

There has been many times in my life that I’ve wanted to have faith like hers. Today, in fact, is one of those days. I went to bed last night feeling bad and woke up this morning feeling even worse. My back has been aching from fever and I’ve just been moping around the house most of the day.

I’ve come to my office several times to try to write a devotional. I had an idea in mind, but it just never came out on my computer screen. Within a few minutes, I'd return to the couch. It’s been an unproductive day, to say the least. 

I prayed and asked the Lord to give me something to write. As I sat down at my desk, the Lord reminded of this story of faith. Did He remind me of it so I could write a devotional about it? Maybe. But, I believe He reminded me of it so I’d believe for a healing in my body.

Friend, there may be days when sickness tries to get you down, but always remember that Jesus is passing by. There’s no need to big.  Reach out by faith and touch His garment today. 

The Gift of Being An Aunt

Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. John 19:25 The Message 

I remember June 16^th, 1977 well. My oldest sister, Tammy was in a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where my parents were waiting on the arrival of their second grandbaby. Since I was only 15 years old at the time, I was staying the night with my sister Tonja and her husband, Danny. 

The phone rang late that night. I remember Tonja coming into my room and telling me that we had a new baby niece. I was so excited. This was my second niece and I couldn’t wait to meet her.

I was always jittery holding the kids when they were babies. But when I held Xandy Dee in my arms, that uneasiness disappeared.

When Xandy got a little older, it was quite apparent that she had freckles. I use to kid around with her and ask if I could play dot to dot on her face. She’d giggle at the very thought of it. Soon afterwards, I nicknamed her, Freckles, a name that she still answers to today.

Since that day in 1977, I’ve been become an aunt and a great aunt a total of 17 more times. Most of my nieces and nephews call me “Bobo” or Aunt Bobo. I guess I should be grateful for that nickname. After all, it could be something much worse, like Bozo.

All joking aside, I take the role of being an aunt very serious. I don’t have children of my own, so to claim 19 nieces and nephews as my kids is a tremendous blessing.

I’ve had many slumber parties over the years for the kids. We’d stay up late, watch moves, have cookie dough and bake a few cookies. I’ve played games with the kids, tended to their scraped knees and held them in my arms while rocking them to sleep.

“I’ll kiss your face all over.”  I’d tell them, just to hear them laugh.

As the kids grew into their teenage years, I reminded them time and time again that I was always there for them and that they could always talk to me about anything.

One of my gifts to each of them upon receiving their driving permit has always been a key to my vehicle. They'd jump in the driver's seat and I'd pray. 

My kids range in age from 2-1/2 to 33 years old. I tell the older ones often, that they’re somewhat responsible for my need for hair color.  

When God made me an aunt, He also gave me responsibilities to go along with the job. They've included spoiling the kids, and then sending them back home to their parents. That’s always been the fun part. They’ve also had to include discipline at times, which I must say; I’m not too fond of. But, the greatest responsibility I've been given as an aunt has been to shower my kids with lots of love and prayers.

I can’t tell you how many nights that I’ve woke up out of my sleep and had to pray for one of them. I’ve even gone so far as to make calls in the wee hours of the morning to check on them.

I know it may sound crazy; after all, I’m just an aunt, not a mom. But, I know in my heart that God expects me to be the best aunt that I can be and I’ve always tried to do just that.

Folks always speak of a “mother’s heart” and say there’s no love like that of a mother. Since, I’m not a mom, I can only go by the love I feel in my heart for all 19 of my nieces and nephews. The love they give me in return always reminds me just how blessed I truly am.

This scripture found in John, I believe exemplifies the love of an aunt. Jesus' aunt stood along side her sister, Mary, at the cross where her nephew was crucified. The love and agony of watching her nephew suffer and die must have been excruciating. Yet, she knew in her heart that God’s perfect will had to be accomplished.

Friend, let me encourage you to take the role of being an aunt or an uncle very serious. Nurture your nieces and nephews with your love and always be a good role model for them. Encourage them often and most of all, keep them constantly in your prayers.

Dear Lord, thank you for Xandy Dee, my little Freckles, and for all the other 18 blessings that I call my nieces and nephews. Help me to love them all unconditionally, like you love me. Amen.  


HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRECKLES!



Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You.

Trinity's Angels

One year ago today, June 15th, was Father's Day. It was like any normal Father's Day at my parent's house. Our family all met at mom and dad's to eat lunch and visit. After the meal, some of us went to the nursing home to visit my Grandpa Elon.

Afterwards we ran by the CVS Drug store for my cousin to have digital pictures made. As some of us were standing and waiting, my brother-in-law, Danny's cell phone rang. I could tell by the sound of his voice that something was wrong. I immediately picked up my cell phone and dialed mom's number.

She was trying to remain calm while telling me what had happened. Mom said about 3:30 that afternoon, some of the great-grandkids were swimming in the pool. Their moms and grandmother had been outside watching them while they were swimming. Since all the kids were out of the pool, they knew it was safe to run in long enough to get something to drink.

They left my great niece, Alexis Love, who was 10 years old in charge of watching the other kids play. Approximately one to two minutes later, Alexis realized that 4 year old Trinity was nowhere in sight.

She immediately ran to the back door, opened it up and alerted her mom that she didn't know where Trinity had gone.

Trinity's mom, Nikki and Papaw Gaylon, ran out the backdoor and immediately up to the deck of the swimming pool. Although, there was a latch on the gate that leads up and into the pool, Trinity and her 7-year old autistic sister, Hailie had made it not only through the gate, but also into the pool.

Nikki looked around and there she saw Trinity floating lifeless, under the water on the other side of the pool. When she got to her, she wasn't breathing and her little body had turned blue. She grabbed her and handed her up to her dad, Gaylon, who in turn immediately turned her upside down and began pounding on her stomach and chest.

Trinity began coughing and throwing up water. She was then rushed by ambulance to the local hospital.

After mom told me the story, I jumped in my Jeep and high tailed it to the hospital. When we got there, Nikki and her parents were in the ER room with Trinity. I waited my turn and finally got to go see her. When I went in to see her she was laying there covered up from being cold, watching TV.

Although, I knew she was a frightened little girl, I knew if she was watching cartoons, she was okay. I hugged her and told her that I was sure glad Jesus and all of His angels were with her.

As our family members were talking about the incident, we realized that Alexis was indeed a hero for being sensitive to the nudging of what we believe was one of Trinity's Guardian Angels.

We found out later that Alexis had already grabbed Trinity's 1-1/2 year old sister, Piper, who was climbing up on the steps that lead to the pool. Moments later she saw Hailie on the pool steps. She made her get out of the pool, but knew something was wrong, because she couldn't find Trinity.

What could have easily been a tragic Father's Day for our family turned into a day full of miracles. We also learned to never ever leave children unattended near a pool for any length of time.

Our family believes in angels and we know that this scripture found in Psalm 91 is true. There's no doubt in any of our minds that angels were in mom and dad's back yard that day watching out for Trinity. I also believe with all my heart that one nudged Alexis to go get help.

Friend, isn't it great to know that God loves us so much that He puts angels in charge of us to accompany and defend and to preserve us.

Today, a year later, Trinity is five years old and will going into Kindergarten when school starts up. She also attends the Bar None Cowboy Church in Tatum, Texas. She's learned about God the Father and Jesus, His Son in children's church. She goes swimming in Memaw and Papa's pool and knows that angels are always there with her.

She loves her cousin Alexis very much. Alexis was presented an award for saving Trinity and given a key to the City of Carthage from the Mayor.

Dear Lord, Thank you for sending angels and Alexis to save Trinity. You are an awesome God and we give you thanks and praise for keeping our little ones safe. Amen.

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken To You!

A Time For Rest

And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while – for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.  Mark 6:31AMP

I’d rather be at home than any other place. I guess maybe because I’m most comfortable here. It’s where I eat, sleep and work. However, at times, I find it hard to relax.The truth is I’m not sure that I actually know how to relax and get away from it all.

When I was younger, I could. It came easy for me. Now, that I’m older, I find it hard to leave home, go on a trip and completely forget about everything and everyone for a few days. The idea of taking time out just for me sounds so selfish.

Yet, in this passage of scripture, Jesus told His disciples to do just that. Why would Jesus tell them to go away for a while and rest. 

Maybe, He knew they were physically exhausted and mentally wore out. Maybe, He knew they were tired from the pressures of everyday life. Maybe, they were so busy learning from the Master and trying to help others that they were just run down. Whatever the reason, Jesus saw their need for rest and encouraged them to get some.

As a Christian, there are times when you too may feel physically exhausted. Sometimes dealing with your own problems and helping others with theirs can drain you and leave you feeling empty and burned out.

It’s at those times, that you may need to take time out for yourself. You may need a mini-vacation to get away to rest. You may need some quite time to be alone with Jesus to read your Bible and pray. You’ll find that when you take time to rest in the Lord, you’ll soon be renewed physically mentally and spiritually.

There’s a saying that goes something like this, in order to be a good caregiver, you must first learn to take care of yourself.

Friend, find some time to get away and rest. Do it for yourself and for all those you love. You’ll come back renewed and ready to focus on any task that comes your way.

You’ll have a fresh new outlook on life, and you'll probably be shouting these words.

“Look out world, I’m back!”

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me needed rest to renew my heart, soul, body and mind. Amen.  

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You. 

It was so nice outside this morning that I decided to go out early and work in my yard. I needed to trim a few shrubs, use the weed eater and then mow.  

One of my nicknames is the neighborhood lawn lady. I do mine and my niece’s yard. She lives next door to me, so I try to help her out. Being a single working mother with an autistic child and two other children leaves her little time for yard work.

Although I have a lightweight weed eater, I get extremely tired from having to constantly fix the line. This morning was no exception. 

I filled it up with gas, made sure there was plenty of line and then cranked it up. I started along side the driveway. I barely got going when the line broke. I had to kill the engine, pull the spool off, fix the line and thread it back through the hole before replacing the spool.

This happened over and over. I’d start it up, walk a few steps, and then have to stop again to fix the line. After fighting with this stupid machine for about 15 minutes, I became very annoyed.
 

As I pulled the spool off to fix it for the umpteenth time, I took a deep breath and said a prayer.

“Lord, please make this line on this weed eater work properly.”

Once again, I wound the line around the spool, making sure to follow the arrows. Then I noticed the two notches on the spool. I had tried putting the line in one of them, but it wouldn’t stay, so I used the other notch, which honestly didn’t seem right either. I had been doing this the same way for the past two summers. Nothing however, seemed to work.

Trying to remain calm, I noticed these words written between the notches, stop winding here. I had read those same three words for two summers now and never paid much attention to them. There were no notches by the words, so quite frankly it didn’t make a lot of sense.

At least it didn’t until that very moment.

“Hmm… what if it really means what it says, stop winding here. Duh! Okay, I’ll try it.”  I said silently to myself.

I held the line tightly over those words as I thread it through the hole and then replaced the spool. I cranked the weed eater back up and started working again. As I walked along the curb, I realized that the weed eater line was working properly.

“You mean to tell me that for two years, I’ve been feeding the line in that machine the wrong way and now it’s working properly. You’ve got to be kidding.” I said, talking to myself again.

It was at that moment, the Lord spoke to me and said, “It’s pretty simple Tracy, if you’ll just follow the directions.”

“Thank you for answering my prayer Lord. I know I’m slow at times, but I get it now.”

But the Lord wasn’t quite through teaching me. He began to show me that there are many times in our lives when we struggle to the point of frustration. He then, reminded me that He has a simple solution for every problem that we as Christians encounter. They’re found in His Word.

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Proverbs 8:33 KJV

Had I followed the simple directions on my weed eater spool two years ago, I’d have saved myself a lot of time and aggravation.

Friend, let me encourage you to make time in your daily schedule to read God’s instruction manual. Following the directions and instructions found in His Word, will lead to a life of peace and understanding.

Dear Lord, thank you for The Bible. Help me to always follow your directions and instructions. Amen.  

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You. 

Pray For Our Nation, Its Leaders and our Armed Forces

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quite and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 KJV

Hello Friends,

I’d like to share some information with you about The Presidential Prayer Team. The website is located at: http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/

The Presidential Prayer team was started after the national tragedy of 9/11. Since that time, millions of people have joined through the PPT to pray for the President, his cabinet and our Armed Forces. This is the largest organization dedicated to praying for our President and our nation.

I joined the PPT shortly after 9/11. It was during this time that I owned a gift shop downtown Carthage. Like most Americans, I felt helpless while watching the events happen on the news on that September day in 2001.

I wanted so much to help. I remember taking an ad out in our local newspaper to encourage everyone to Pray For America.

Did you know that God’s word tells us to prayer and intercede on behalf of our leaders?  It doesn’t tell us to complain about our leaders or their policies. It does, however, say to pray for them. You may not always agree with them or what they do.  But God’s Word encourages us, (you and me) to pray for our nation's leaders.

Prayer changes things. Please join the PPT and join all its members in prayer for God’s perfect will concerning our nation and its leaders and for the protection of our Military Troops.

There is also a Deeper With God Daily Devotional from the Presidential Prayer Team that you can sign up for. It will be delivered to your email box Monday through Friday. I’m honored that I have been asked to write a devotional for the PPT.

Sign up today by clicking on this link: The Presidential Prayer Team:

Friend, with all of our prayers, I know God can change things for his good and perfect will.

Dear Lord, Help me to do my part as I pray for our nation, its leaders and our Military Troops. Amen  

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You. 

The Bully and The Old Grouchy Lady.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 KJV

I was walking in my kitchen last year, when I heard this loud ruckus. I walked over to the window and looked outside to see what it was. There were three young boys; probably 10 to 12 years old, walking in the middle of the street.

As I watched, I saw one of the boys hitting and slapping the smaller boy. The young boy looked terrified as the older one hollered at him and then pushed him. I stood there thinking how sad it was that an overgrown bully was picking on this young boy. However, it was what I saw next that got my blood boiling.

The bully had pulled a knife on the young boy. He was jabbing it towards him, when I flung open the door and quickly made my way to the street.

”Young man.” I blurted out. “I had better not ever see you pull a knife again or I promise you one thing, I’ll follow you home and tell your parents. Do you understand?”

“Yes mam.” He said, as he closed the knife and put it away.

The three boys scared half to death, quickly walked down the street and out of my sight. I went back in the house and after I calmed down, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I thought back to when I was a kid to the “old grouchy lady” in my neighborhood that all the kids stayed clear of. 

After that incident, I saw the boys several other times walking down the street. I’d look their way and the boy I scolded would glare back at me. If looks could kill, I’m pretty sure I’d have fallen over.

While growing up, my mom always taught my sisters and me to be nice, no matter what the circumstance.

“Kill them with kindness, it works every time.” She’d say.

A few weeks later, I was riding my mower in the front yard, when this same kid walked up the street towards me. Of course, I cringed at the very thought of once again being the old grouchy lady that the young boy would glare at with his eyes.

As I continued to mow, I turned the corner to go back the other direction, when I noticed the young man was only a few yards away. Without even thinking, I raised my hand and waved at him. To my shock and surprise, the young man lifted his hand and waved back.

“Wow!” I thought to myself. “Mom was right.”

As a Christian, there are times when being nice to some folks isn’t an easy task to do. It’s especially hard when it’s someone who has caused hurt in our lives or in the lives of those we love.

Jesus told us to love our enemies. He showed us through His example that it could be done, as He spoke these words while he hung on the cross.

…“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do…” Luke 23:34 KJV

Friend, it pleases the Lord when we follow His example and when our ways are pleasing to Him, He can even make our enemies be at peace with us.

Yes, it’s truly amazing and sometimes hard to understand. But, trust me, if the Lord can make peace between a young bully and an “old grouchy lady, all things are possible.

Dear Lord, I haven’t seen my young friends in a while, but I ask you to watch over them and Lord, it’s my desire to please you in all that I say and do. Amen  

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You.  

Praise The Lord!

Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:6 KJV

I was sitting outside in my rocking chair earlier this evening, with my Bible in my hand. As I thumbed through the pages, I came upon this scripture. As I read it, I heard birds singing their praises to the Lord.

I was thinking how beautiful the birds sounded when suddenly a Texas–size mosquito bit me. Ouch!  I immediately stood to my feet and made my way back in the house.

It dawned on me that within a few moments; I went from reading God’s word and singing His praises, along with the birds, to a not so good mood.

I don’t have to tell you how annoying mosquitoes can be and that if you don’t stop them, they’ll bug you silly. Sound familiar? Turns out those old pesky mosquitoes are just like the old devil. 

God gave us His Word to drive away the old devil the same way mosquito repellent drives away those annoying flies.

Friend, I think I’ll remember to grab the mosquito spray the next time I go outside in the evening to read my Bible. That’ll stop the mosquitoes from annoying me, and I’ll get to annoy the old devil by praising the Lord! 

Heavenly Treasures

Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21 AMP

Most people have collectibles in their homes. You know the ones in the glass cases or on shelves that are usually covered with dust. 

I started collecting Elvis memorabilia when I was a teenager. Throughout the years, I’ve accumulated other collections, such as Coca-Cola, John Deere, Cowboy Memorabilia and more. 

I’ve always been one to decorate with a theme, too. In fact, most of my home is decorated in western.

My Grandma always referred to our collections as "stuff." 

If any of her kids or grandkids wanted to go shopping for something, even at an antique store, she’d say, “Kid’s that’s just stuff.”

“You're right Grandma.” I’d reply. “But it’s good stuff.”

Since I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize just what Grandma meant. I guess that’s why I recently went through every room in my house to try to de-clutter. In fact, I decided it was time to get rid of my Coke and John Deere Collections along with lots of other stuff that’s going in a yard sale this Friday. What doesn’t sell will be taken straight to the Goodwill store.

I believe Grandma fully understood this passage of scripture found in Matthew. She was absolutely right. Material things are just stuff. I believe the good Lord wants us to have nice homes, decorations and even some collections, but we should never be consumed with them. Material stuff is not eternal stuff.

There’s a saying that goes like this, “The main thing is to always keep the main thing the main thing.” 

Friend, that main thing is to make sure your treasures are eternal ones.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

I believe eternal treasures are winning souls for Jesus, giving to the needy and poor, praying for those in need and anything else that would bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m hoping that my yard sale will be a success and that this saying is true, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” But, more than that, I hope people realize that material things are like Grandma said. It’s all just STUFF!

Dear Lord, Help me to always know the difference between material stuff and eternal treasures. Amen  

Until Next Time, Happy Trails and May the Good Lord Take a Liken to You.