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Monday, January 5, 2026

Frugal Living

Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. 

written 2011:
A consecrated Jewish believer, Dr. Max Reich, gave this testimony: "When my wife and I were first married, we felt called to full-time Christian service. God blessed our ministry and many people accepted the Lord. Although our income was small and we had few worldly possessions, our hearts were full of joy. One day, however, my wife said, "Max, there's nothing to eat for dinner!'

I didn't reply at first but stood listening to the birds singing in the trees. 

Suddenly these words from a well-known Gospel song flashed through my mind: 'His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.' Immediately I said, 'If our Heavenly Father feeds the birds, surely He'll take care of us!' Just then a lady knocked at the door. After introducing herself she said, 'My husband was a hopeless alcoholic. Every time he got his check he'd spend most of it to get drunk, so the children and I were often hungry. Recently he heard you preach the Gospel, and the Lord worked a miracle in his heart. Now he's a changed man! For the first time in years he brought home a full week's pay, and I was able to get a good supply of groceries. I thought as I was cooking, part of this food really belongs to Brother Reich. I was going to bring you some later, but I felt compelled to do it immediately. Here's half of the chicken I fried and some biscuits fresh from the oven!' 'We were so happy,' said Dr. Reich, that we sang, 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow!' To this moment the Lord has never failed  to give us our daily bread." 

Worrying can be helpful when it spurs you to take action and solve a problem. But if you’re preoccupied with “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios, worry becomes a problem of its own.

 This picture was taken at La Mancha Spain 2007.

Sunday, January 4, 2026

I am Phone-A-Phobic

 

written January 4, 2011:
Hebrews 4:16  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Seriously! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I do not like to be contacted by phone, it makes me crazy....I have actually felt this way most of my life. It would make my dad so mad, he would say, "what if I have a medical emergency?" And I would reply, "call 911!" So glad he loved me enough to not stay mad too long....

The only thing I can figure out is that I am ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) so I lose focus easily. Most people carry a phone to be able to get more work done but  I would accomplish less on a daily basis. I would be too distracted. I see the phone as one more thing on my to do list. Bondage in other words. I have given up trying to make the phone a part of my personal life and embraced my weakness in this area!

I read this today and thought it appropriate for today's devotional:  Just as your cell phone has an open line to your network provider to gain access to service, praying  is an open line to heaven to gain access to God. Are you connected?  


Don't let the noise of this world keep you from hearing the Voice of God! 



Saturday, January 3, 2026

Need a Pep Talk?

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Why do we always feel like giving up? I think it's just natural as a human being and God understood that so he gave us the scriptures that sometimes feels like a coach talking to the team. These verses are a spiritual pep talk to help us keep going as we do life. The world bombards us so much and we need to be constantly reminded that God is bigger than everything we encounter on a daily basis. Studying the scriptures helps to shoot adrenaline into our souls!

When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don't go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.   - James Brown

This picture was taken at church of Luke and Lilia in 2013.