May 31

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
How are you feeling today? As Christians we will fight battles, some
harder than others, but battles and warfare are part of this life. The issue
for us is how to handle them. Do you succumb to fear and paranoia? Or
do you ask the Lord to open your eyes, so that you may see? I think we
should opt for the second choice. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119 : 18

In the above thought, I do obey in theory, the second choice, but when
I'm put to the test, the first choice takes over... I hate that, but with God's
help, I'm working on it!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 30

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
It is human nature to push God to the back of your mind when
your needs are being met and you're living in relative comfort.
If is a nice place to be... but danger lurks in the shadows if you
are not careful. Contentment leads to apathy, and apathy can
lead into the deadly trap of self-sufficiency.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
And if you forget the Lord and go after other gods and serve them
and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely
perish. Deuteronomy 8:19

Biblical and non-Biblical history  have proven that prosperity can
lead to complacency. Every nation that has prospered for a very long
period soon forgets God and therefore gets into serious trouble, a very
good warning for us today!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 29

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
An old Chinese proverb, popularized by the late Bishop,
Fulton J. Sheen, says, "It is better to light one candle than
to curse the darkness." How much better to let your light
shine, that transforming light that comes from being part
of Christ's kingdom... so others might see and believe.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

We might argue, "but what can I do? I'm only one!" Think about how
one candle illuminates a dark room, that's how you and I can be in this
dark world.

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 28

Greetings: God bless you this Memorial Day!
Be sure to remember those who have paid such a high price
for our freedom and fly your flag today. If you would like
to view my Memorial Day poem it is on my blog
http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
"Why did this happen?" What have I done to deserve this?
There comes a time when we all ask these questions, feeling
that a trial is undeserved and we are somehow being punished.
These are times when God's promises, scattered through-out
His Word, can be especially precious. His strength is greater
than our weakness. His all sufficient grace  and His power will
rest on us, when we turn to Him. (Majorie Parker)

SCRIPTURE:
My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Being human, we all question God's leading, at times, especially when
he leads us through the valley of sorrow and pain. Take heart, He does
not condemn us for questioning Him... but He does condemn us for
giving up!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 27

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
You defeat the enemy, by putting on the armor of God, Make
a choice everyday to not be a wimpy whiner, but get out there
and win. Kick the day off with prayer! (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Put on the armor of God, so you can stand against the devil's schemes.
Ephesians 6:11

Start and end the day with a prayer and you'll stand a better chance against
the devil's schemes!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 26

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
God preserves us, not just for today, but for eternity. He preserves
our soul and protects us from evil. He keeps watch over us everywhere
we go. Because of His Son, Jesus Christ, all who believe in Him are
preserved for eternity in heaven. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
Psalm 121:7

When you go to bed tonight, you can turn everything over to God. He works
the night shift. He never sleeps or slumbers, so relax and let Him take over!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 25

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Yesterday is gone forever. I cannot undo any act of mine or
unsay any word. All I can do at this point is commit to God
and pray for grace to do better tomorrow. I must be concerned
with today. With faith in God and trust in His promises, I can
fight the battles of today and bear its burdens.
(Majorie Parker-Bred from My Oven)

SCRIPTURE:
As the days, so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25

God promised strength for today... not strength to carry the past
and the future, today as well... this is where we become so burdened
that  we fall beneath the load we carry!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 24

Greetings God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The hardest part of waiting, is for us to wait for God to fulfill
His promises, we wonder sometimes and worry, but God is
faithful to keep His promises. Nothing's too hard for the Lord.
If He says it then He will do it. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14

Our problem: We want it yesterday. and if we do not get an answer
right away, we set about working things out for ourselves. We're
somewhat like Sarah. Human nature hasn't changed!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 23

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Trials and sorrow would be easier to bear if we could remember they
bring glory to God. The glorious fact is that they do not have to be borne
in our own feeble strength, but by His power in us.
( Majorie Parker-Bread from My Oven)

SCRIPTURE:
My power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Trials and sorrow are never pleasant or easy to bear. Thank God we
do not have to bear them alone. Not only do we have the power of God
behind us and within us, but we have each other. I've heard it said," sorrow
shared is sorrow halved!"

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 22

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
It is the Lord's desire that His people live together peaceably,
showing the world a foretaste of His Heaven. When Christians
disagree, they should be able to do so peaceably, not with hostility.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Psalm 133:1

One of the last prayers of Jesus, before He went to the cross, was for unity!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 21

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Facing our giants... David majors in God. He sees the giant,
mind you, he just sees God more so. No one else is discussing
God, David discusses no one but God. (Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:
You come to me with a sword, with a spear and with a javelin,
but I come to you in the name of the Lord of host, the God of
the armies of Israel. 1 Samuel 17:45

We all face giants in our lives, things beyond our control, problems
too big to solve, let us not be like the Israelites and leave God out,
we need to call on Him for help!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 20

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY
God is faithful and just. He will complete the work He has started.
Do not let fear or discouragement keep you from following the Lord.
Get back up and trust Him and take that next step. The enemy will do
whatever to keep you from taking the next step, but the Lord will help
you to "see" that He has delivered you and will lead you forward.
(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed. Joshua 8:1

Sometimes pain, disappointment, betrayal and loss can distort our vision
and cause us to lose our way. We need to just keep moving... God will
find us!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 19

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Worry! Fret! Stew! Satan is pleased when that is the order of
the day for us. (Majorie Parker-Bread from My Oven)

SCRIPTURE:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you; not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid. John 14:27

The above Scripture is such a comforting promise and yet so hard to follow!
To let go and let God... is one of my weaknesses!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 18

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If you have areas in your life in which you struggle with submission,
take it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him for wisdom to help you
understand. Do not let the devil deceive you into thinking that submission
is weakness. He knows that it really equals power that can cause defeat
for him and victory for the Lord. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

And don't we all struggle with submission... thank God for His patience
and grace!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 17

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Never be ashamed of tears. Tears of compassion or sympathy
reveal qualities of the soul that this old world greatly needs.
(Majorie Parker-Bread from My Oven)

SCRIPTURE:
Jesus wept. John 11:35

The above Scripture is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it reveals a lot
about our Savior. He was filled, not only with love, but compassion and
humility. He did not think tears were unmanly and He was not afraid to
show His emotions!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 16

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 7: 9 says, "If you are not firm in the faith, you will not
be firm at all." In other words, believe God and you will have
stability! Your problems may not go away, but have faith that
the Lord will keep His hand in your life, guiding you and giving
you relief from your fears. Stand firm believer. Lay your  concerns
at the foot of the cross and leave them there.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart.
Isaiah 7:4

I have no problem laying my concerns at the foot of the cross, my
problem is leaving them there! I'm so thankful for the Lord's patience!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 15

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Trials  are confusing and difficult. But we can see God's
love and care through them. When we come through
the fires of this life, and walk through the test and trials, the
crown of eternal life awaits us. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
We went through the fire, through the water; but you brought
us out to rich fulfillment. Psalm 66:12

Trials are not always joyful or welcome, but after they are over,
like the rainbow after a storm, we can see the hand of God working
in our lives!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 14

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Daily do a deed for which you cannot be paid.
(Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:
Let you light shine before men, that they may see your good
work and glorify your father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Today, I'm send off money from our Sunny Hills Ladies Bible Class,
to purchase sixteen (CDK) clean delivery kits for expectant mothers in
Africa. These women live in remote villages where medical help is not
available. As many as 1600 a day die from childbirth, many from infection,
these clean delivery kits save many lives. ten dollars will buy two kits.
It's incredible to think you can save two, maybe four lives with ten
dollars. Here in America we think nothing about spending ten dollars!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 13

Greetings: God bless you this special Lord's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Every parent makes mistakes. The only one who hasn't  is God.
He gave the right child to the right mother. The best way to thank
Him is to honor her. (Touched By An Angel)

SCRIPTURE:
Honor your father and your mother-which is the first commandment
with a promise-that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy
long life. Ephesians 6:2

Today if your parents are no longer with you, honor their memory, if
they are still living, honor them by telling them how much you love
and appreciate them. When they're gone, you can think of a thousand
things you wish you had said!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 12

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
You can courageously move through your circumstances when
you put your trust in God. Remember how powerful the Lord is
and allow Him to help you fight whatever battles you're facing.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord who goes with
you. Deuteronomy 31:6

And what a scary world this would be without God!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 11

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Psalm 23 is an awesome promise from the Lord. He is
the Good Shepherd. He knows all about us. His path of
Righteousness will sometimes lead through the shadows
of death. We hate those paths though the Lord is holding
us by the hand, oh, how we resist! It is hard to acknowledge
that the God of love is truly leading us through a dark valley.
It's only by going through this valley that the Lord can help
us break hurtful habits and behaviors, so that we can receive
His grace and rejoice in His love. (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil. Psalm 23:4

I've not grown to that perfect faith yet... so I do, at times, fear evil,
but God's still working on me!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 10

Greetings: God bless you this day!
Today's thought inspired today's poem, if you would like to view it.
http://fredasgardenofpoetry.blogspot.com

THOUGHT OR TODAY:
Knowing God, comes by diligently attending to His Word.
The Psalmist knew the Lord as his hope and shield. You
too can take refuge in Him. He will be your hiding place
in times of tribulation. (Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
You are my hiding place and my shield;  I hope in your
word. Psalm 119:114

Need a hiding place? You won't find one in money,  a bottle,
food or pleasure. You will, however, find a hiding place beneath
the wings of God!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 9

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
To pull ourselves out from circumstances, we can remind ourselves
of the attributes of God. To pull ourselves out from our emotions,
we need to be in the Word of God. We have to claim verses as promises
to keep us focused on doing things that please God, even if it doesn't
please our emotions at the time. Pray for self-control to maintain a steadfast
life that brings Him glory. Choices we make today matter forever.
(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8

God can even work through our wrong choices, but it's so much easier on
us to make the right ones!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 8

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Are you up against something bigger than you? Remember, God
fights your battles. Like many people, what may put you in a panic
could be your own weaknesses and shortcomings. You are not and
never will be perfect in this life, but God sees you as flawless through
the lens of Christ's sacrifice. Ask for His help in any situation and trust
that His love is greater than your weaknesses.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them
(your enemies)  Deuteronomy 20:3

Just remember, His love and strength is greater than all our fears and
weaknesses!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 7

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Do you have fears that stop you in your tracks? Are you
consistently afraid of the unknown? Sometimes we are
far more comfortable with dangerous places, just because
we're familiar with them. Let's be willing to be uncomfortable
sometimes and let God lead us. The Lord promises to protect
us, regardless of where we go with Him!
(Daily Disciples  Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord Is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1

And when we do fear, and as humans, we all do fear at times,
God will calm our fears and reassure us that He is still with us.
So, when God urges you to move out of your comfort zone,
follow the urging, you will not be alone!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 6

Greetings: God bless you this Lord's Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
We tend to long for mountain top experiences of life. But even if
we find them at times, we do not live there consistently. Let's face it,
we spend most of our days in the valleys and if the greatest amount
of our time is spent in the valleys we ned to discover, "the Word of
God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path." As we walk through
the valleys, holding God's hand, every step of the way, we can find
victory in the valleys, when we keep our focus on the Lord.
(Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
They flowed over the mountains; they went down into the valleys to
the place assigned for them. Psalm 104:8

We grow most through our valley experiences... our mountain-top experiences
are there to refresh us and get us ready for the valley experiences!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 5

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Engulfed in bad news, fear can put you in its grips.
Apprehension can build. "Lift your drooping hands
and strengthen your weak knees," so you can endure
the race set before you. God is the antidote to fear.
(Vantage Point Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Lift your voice up and fear not. "Behold your God."
Isaiah 40:9

Isaiah 40 is talking about the cities in Judah, but the same
God that comforted Judah, is the one that will bring comfort
to you!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessing-Freda

May 4

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
How can we be bumped off self-center? We move from me-focus
to God-focus, by pondering him, witnessing him, following the
counsel of the apostle Paul (in the Scripture below)
(Max Lucado)

SCRIPTURE:
We all, with an open face beholding  as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
we are changed into his image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)

As long as we're in the flesh, we will never move entirely from the
me-focus, but God who made us, understands us and forgives us.
The above counsel is good to help us move in the right direction!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 3

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Trust God for today and prepare for tomorrow.
(Our Daily Bread)

SCRIPTURE:
(The ant) provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers
her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:8

The above Scripture reminds me of "The Little Red Hen" Story.
I wonder if anyone in our Government has ever read that childhood
story?

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 2

Greetings: God bless you this day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The blessings we experience with family, Christians also experience
with church family. We find we learn valuable life lessons from those
who attend our church. We also share memorable activities and spiritual
insights with each other. Every member brings a special gift, a unique
contribution so that all help to build up,"the body of Christ." It is a
wondrous blessing that ordinary human beings, working together with faith
in Jesus, can become "the body," that does the work of Christ in the world.
(Christian Voices)

SCRIPTURE:
We are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25

If you're not experiencing the joy of a church family, you're missing a
double blessing!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda

May 1

Greetings: God bless you this day!
Happy May Day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
How much time do we waste in trying to complete our plans,
meet our standards, control our progress and make our deadlines?
How do you personally plant and water specific areas in your life?
Is God your Farmer? If you're feeling frustrated, fatigued and frazzled,
comparing yourself to others, then you are missing the point. God has
given you the skills and talents to plant and water, but all for His purpose
and His glory (Daily Disciples Devotional)

SCRIPTURE:
Neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but God who
gives the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7

This certainly is a comforting verse. We need not fret or worry about
the harvest, that's God's job!

Know I prayed for you today. Blessings-Freda