Day 36

Psalm 106:47 "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise."

Why do troubles come in multiples? Why do they come at all? Why does a soldier go to bootcamp? Can this earthly home be our training grounds for heaven? Whatever the reason, when they do come, let's look to Christ for answers -- that we may give Him glory.

Day 35

Philipians 4: 6-8 "...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Oh that we could undo all the harm that blows to the heart have caused! If we could delete all the wrong doings that have been permanently imprinted in our minds and souls. We humans can't but God can. His blood covers even that. Look to him for healing, forgiveness and peace.

Day 34

Proverbs 25:11 "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."


A word well spoken can bring great healing.
A word cruelly uttered can do much harm.
Like poisonous vipers that bite unprovoked
can be the wounds produced by man.

Day 33

Jude 1:10 "Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them" James 3:5
"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."

How can it be that we, humans, seen to destroy in one moment the very thing that has taken us years to build? ---Friendships, our own lives, and the lives of others---- all so very fragile in reality. The "strongest" building like the "strongest" man can somehow come down in no time at all. Let's be sentinels, ever watching over our actions and words.

Day 32

Ecclesiastes 3: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,......"

There is a time to speak and a time to listen; a time to help and a time to refrain from helping; a time to believe and a time to doubt; a time to hold and a time to let go.

Help me Lord to know when it's time for what.

Day 31

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
I Thess 4: "13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."

What is real? Whatever the Scriptures say is true. Some go through life being tossed to and fro because they have no roots. Jesus is the rock. His Word is our standard and the only absolute. Study it for direction in life. It will help us to make decisions and form opinions on every aspect of life.



Inspired by conversations with a co-worker who was also grieving-- the loss of her child-- and having "visions" of her child at night.

Day 30

Ephesians 6:10-17 :" 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Life can be an illusion- good or bad. What do I want mine to be? What does Christ want it to be? The reality can be scary if we dwell on it. There's a spiritual warfare going on all around us. We can't see it, but we can be aware of the one going on in us. Let's be prepared for it!

Day 29

Psalm 25:2 "in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me."

In Whom can I trust? Only in the Lord. My friends and family will let me down; my enemies will seek my ruin but the Lord spreads His wings over me and gives me peace.

" Oh my God, I trust in Thee. Let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me."

Day 28

Genesis 1:4 "God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness." Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

Light and darkness
Good and Evil
When and why do they mix?
Light overtakes darkness.
Good MUST overtake evil;
Especially the evil within us.


Lord, separate me from the darkness -- all darkness-- especially the darkness in my mind and heart.

Day 27

Proverbs 17:9,17 9 "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. 17. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Secrets, Mistakes, and Trust
We all make mistakes. We all fall, succumb to temptations of some sort--- maybe they bring shame if repeated. We all need a friend that we can trust- One that will understand and keep our secret safely. Who can be that friend? Our family and a few who pass the test of "friend".

Day 26

John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Love that transcends all times and all occasions..... Who can have such love for another?..... A mother?A brother? perhaps a sister? a father?

More precious is still the love of a friend, whether she also be mother, brother, sister, father, or just friend.

Day 25

Proverbs 17:16-18 :"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."Ecclesiastes 4:10: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Friendship is the most essential possession anyone can aspire to have. Ironically, to have it, one must first give it-- except in Christ's case for He loved us first and loves us still, even when we neglect Him.

Day 24

Psalm 62:7-9: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah"

Trusting in Him is a phrase too commonly used. We show we trust in Him when we quit trying on our own. Relax.

Day 23

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:25-27

People need to accept their own realities. We would all be happier if we just did not try to cover who we really are or pretend we are somebody who we are not.
I am growing in Christ each day and learning to lean only on Him. Only He and His Holy Spirit can truly effect changes in me,

Day 22

1 Corinthians 7:3-5: "The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife."

Being a helpmate to our husbands means that we must first know our husband"s needs and then be willing to meet those as best as we can. Sometimes, it means getting out of our comfort zone and even doing something we do not agree with.

Day 21

Ephesians 5:20-22: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Ephesians 2:14
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,"

Take care that you treat your family members-above all- with tenderness and respect. Create "positive memories". Resist the urge to "major on minors". Remembering our own troubles and reactions can help us to be sensitive and avoid inflicting the same troubles on others.

Day 20

1 Peter 5:5-6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time"
On change: Sometimes we resist it- at other times we welcome it. How we react depends probably on our degree of comfort with the person making the change --before the change. Doesn't God bring all change into our lives? He cannot teach us unless we are willing to accept change-- at least a change in our minds.

Day 19

I Peter 4:12-13:"12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed"

Though troubles and sufferings seem unbearable for the moment, someday we will be full of joy when God's glory is revealed and we realize that He did indeed have a good purpose for it all along.

Day 18

Mark 13:26-28 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.


Beware of judging people by their appearance. Beware of comparing yourself with others. Even unbelievers deserve our friendship-- they may be some of the "elect".

Day 17

I Peter 5: 2-3: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

When one is in a position of "authority" over another-- whether at work or in ministry-- it is good to remember that a true leader is he who serves.