Author: daisyrayofsunshine

Our salvation


As we celebrated Easter yesterday, I know we, as Christians, were filled with joy and hope. We celebrate because we truly believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice gives us hope of eternal life, forgiveness for sins, and reconciles us to God. 


This is our salvation. It is a free gift from God that we do not have to earn through good works or any other way but our belief. Though it is free, I still wonder what it means to truly walk in salvation!


When we are saved our lives should be transformed. We are born again which means we are a new person in Christ. There should be evidence of this in our everyday lives. Our actions, words and attitudes should reflect our faith. We learn to overcome sin and live a more godly life. It doesn’t mean that we won’t fail daily, but that we will try our best not to and when we do sin we will instantly know and repent to the Lord. 


“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


Walking in our salvation means making Jesus our Lord. Our desires should change to His desires. We should honor Him in all we do. Sometimes this means letting go of things that could cause a hindrance in our Christian walk. It is doing the will of the Lord no matter the cost. We should walk in love and righteousness because it is truly in our hearts to please the Father. It is an act of denying our flesh because let’s face it our flesh wants the opposite of God’s will. It is a choice we make in obedience to God.


“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24


There is so much more to salvation than just believing. We are children of the one true God and we should walk a walk of faith and obedience. Everything we do here on earth should be to further the Kingdom of God! Our hearts should be burdened for the lost enough that we can show them the love and character of Jesus and be able to live out our salvation as an example to others so that they want what we have!!!!


“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Opposite


Have you ever heard of National Opposite Day? Yep, it’s a fact. It is recognized in January as a day when kids (and playful adults) say the opposite of what they mean-“yes” means “no,” and “up” really means “down”, etc. An actual day set aside to catch a glimpse of what the world would be like if the opposite of everything
happened. 


Funny thing is, the way God does things often looks backwards to us. Jesus says in Matthew 20:16, ” So the last will be first, and the first last.” Paul makes a declaration about his suffering and hardships, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Giving leads to gaining according to Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” 


The empty tomb of Jesus stands as the greatest reversal of all. What looked like tragedy became triumph. What seemed like an ending was really a beginning. An empty tomb holds the fullness of life. To use the words empty and full to describe the same thing doesn’t sound right. It’s like staring at an empty pitcher, clearly void of content, and yet insisting it’s full. By the world’s standards, empty is lacking—an absence, a void, a loss.


If our wallet is empty, we are poor. If there’s an empty chair at the table, we are lonely. If our children have moved out, we call it an empty nest. An empty house echoes. An empty heart aches. The world tends to look at emptiness as something to avoid-something sad, something broken. 


But God doesn’t define empty the way we do. “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!” (Luke 24:5-6). The tomb is empty- and this holy emptiness changed everything. It’s a paradox the world may never understand. The emptiest space in history-the tomb of Jesus Christ-is also the fullest. It is through that emptiness that we are given fullness.


Fullness of salvation.
Fullness of peace.
Fullness of healing.
Fullness of riches-not of gold or silver, but of grace.
Fullness of resurrection power.
Fullness of eternal hope.
Fullness of joy in the presence of a risen Savior. 


May you and I look to The One we can trust with our own empty places-the ones we fear, the ones we don’t understand. May we be reminded that if God can bring life from a grave, He can bring purpose from anything. Let the fullness of Jesus’ resurrection fill
every corner of our hearts today.

So that we could

One of the basic needs of the human race is friendship. Man was not made to walk alone, nor is it good for man to be alone. We need people. We need a community around us. We need to socialize and to fellowship because we were actually made for it. 

If you look into the creation of man in Genesis 1-2, you’ll notice two words that describe how man was made. These two words are “image” and “likeness.” In these terms, we can see that when God said, “Let us make man in our image,” we were instantly made for relationships (Gen. 1:26). If God created us in His image, we are then made to be relational just as He is within Himself as the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit). On top of this, we can also see that God created us to be in relationship with Him! 

Now why would this matter? 

This matters because it is so vital and important to have the right relationships with God and with those surrounding us. 

In the miracle of Jesus healing the paralytic, the Bible states that Jesus saw the faith of his friends, the ones who lowered him through a strangers roof “and then” He healed the man. The faith of the paralytic’s friends led to the paralytic being saved. 

The Son of Man Himself also had friends to fellowship with. Jesus chose 12 men to walk with Him, and fewer to be in his close circle. He prayed with these men, ate with them, traveled with them, and gave them power and authority to do mighty works for the kingdom. He even gave them the hefty charge to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” and without their obedience to this command, the world would not know the Gospel. 

This relates to us in many ways. It shows us that if the Son of Man needed a circle, so do we. We need friends that uplift and encourage us as we walk alongside them towards Christ. It shows us that we were made for relationships and community!

With Easter coming up this Sunday, I’m not only reminded of Jesus’s death on the cross. I’m reminded of His friendship too.

The same one who walked out of the tomb is the one who wants to hear about our day so talk to Him today! Build that friendship. He wants to know you and wants to hear from you. He died so that we could know Him. Take advantage of that!! Happy Easter! He is Risen indeed!!











Have you?

God is so good, y’all. It’s easy to praise Him. He has never failed me. Not even once. In my 40+ years of life, I’ve never had a moment where God did not come through for me.
I have had my own blind eye healed and deaf ear made to hear again.
I’ve seen God bring the dead back to life.
I have known Him as the God who supernaturally intervened to protect the lives of my children while we were serving Him in the mission field.
I have watched Him open doors for us to miraculously pay off debt.
I have known Him as the God who restored my marriage after divorce.
I have known Him as the God who kept my son from dying in his sleep because his tonsils and adenoids had his airway so blocked the doctors were marveled that he was even alive.
I have known Him as the God who removed anger and bitterness from my heart without me even asking.
I have known Him as the God who kept me alive and even conscious after a car accident where no one thought I should have lived let alone been walking immediately after.
I have known Him as the God who has spoken to me in dreams.
I have known Him as the God who was my father in the moments my earthly father failed me.
I have known Him as the God who blessed me with great parking spots and items on sale or way cheaper than I expected just because He loves to wink at His daughter.
I have known Him as the God who has held me together when my world was falling apart.
I have known Him as the God who protected my life and life of my son when I had placental abruption, and we both should have died.
I have known Him as the God who was patient with me when I was angry and wanted to know, “WHY?!”
I have known Him as the God who was with me in moments of success and in moments of defeat.
I have known Him.
Tell me.
Have you?
Testify.

God is calling


The world is filled with distractions that slowly pull us away from God. They can be as simple as to-do lists, worries, people pleasing, notifications, and more. 
Many times we forget to include God in our day to day lives because we are overwhelmed and busy.


Colossians 3:2 tells “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.


The world throws so many things at us that we forget what God is calling us to do. We start to put our time and dedication into worldly things rather than spending time with him.


Jesus promises us that if we seek him first and trust his timing, every little piece will fall into place. 


Prayer:


God, I acknowledge the distractions that surround me. Help me Lord to prioritize you and lean on you. I ask for strength to ignore the distractions that steal me away from you. 
May my focus be clear, heart steady, and mind set on you.


In Jesus’ name, I pray. 
Amen.

No worries

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:26

Oftentimes, we find ourselves caught up in worry, wondering how things will work out or stressing over what we lack. We question what our futures will look like or what the next step of life is. BUT… Jesus reminds us to be still, pause, and look at the world around us. The birds don’t plant crops, but God provides food for them. The flowers don’t toil, but they are clothed in beauty. If God cares so deeply for them, how much more does He care for us?! We are His children!

As we read that God provides for the smallest sparrow and clothes the flowers in beauty, He will also meet each of our needs. We can lay aside our worries and put our trust in His perfect plans because knows exactly what we need. He is always faithful!

So, no matter what season of life you’re walking through in, rest in the truth that the Lord will provide!

You’re tougher


Hebrews 12:2:
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 


– this world is the opposite of the Gospel 
– following Jesus daily is actually a really hard task 


These two topics have been consistent on my mind and heart. It’s two very known and clear facts. But I can’t help but remember being so on fire for Christ as a little girl. Life was fun and easy. I never wanted to miss worship or Bible study. I’m still that way a lot of times – but I will always be upfront with the reminder and knowledge it’s not easy anymore. The discouragement is real, and the distractions are real. Oh, & I’ll be real honest, the need for sleep and rest is real. 


As you grow older in age, wisdom, and experience you start noticing the burn this world would like to put on you. You start
noticing the enemy is working overtime to steal your joy. If you aren’t careful – it gets more difficult to keep your focus on The Truth. That’s why I am here to offer up this reminder, the enemy has to work overtime time when naturally your Father is working all the time. The world around you may be the opposite of the Gospel but the Gospel can still be on the throne in your own life. You aren’t too tired for Bible study, you aren’t too overwhelmed to find the words to pray. Don’t fall into the trap. You serve a mighty creator and Savior. Following Jesus may be difficult because the sin filled world wants the opposite. You know better though. You’re stronger than that. 

Fear


Hi again! 
I want to share with you the power of a resounding YES! The body of Christ has been crippled due to fear. Fear is a demonic lie that is often bought into and listened to rather than the voice of a good Father. When Jesus died on the cross and paid a high price for us, that means He bought us. We are no longer our own, but we get to live a life surrendered to the King. But due to fear, we often don’t live out the life that He has for us. As Christians, we get to partner with Holy Spirit when we invite Him into our lives and then we literally get to see heaven on earth when we live with a resounding yes. He may be asking us to move to another country to share the gospel, quit our jobs to stay home and disciple our children, start a business so that the business world will be infiltrated with kingdom men and women, or tell someone in the grocery store how much Jesus loves them. But if we allow fear to keep a NO in our hearts, the world will never get to know Him. If we as sons and daughters of God, don’t tell the world who Jesus is, then who will? The Bible says that the world is groaning for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed! It’s time for us to stand up with a resounding yes in our hearts and do whatever it is He’s asking us to do, no matter the cost. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬
That word resounding means it’s unmistakable. Our YES makes an impact whether small or large, and it’s valuable to the kingdom of God. The Bible says in proverbs that the righteous are as bold as a lion. That means that anyone who has submitted to Jesus and He is Lord over their lives is righteous, so that also means that we are bold! Part of being bold is not caring what anyone else thinks and living dead to yourself. In Luke, Jesus tells His disciples that if you truly want to follow me, then you must deny yourself or do away with your own selfish interests, pick up your cross, or be willing to suffer with me, and follow me or imitate me. True followers of Jesus live unashamed of the gospel and live with a resounding yes, because they honor the King more than the world around them. Let’s be bold and see heaven on earth together! Be blessed! 
⁃ Taylor

Gods garden


It’s Spring and gardening has begun. I love the act of putting seeds in soil and watching God grow amazing things. I was looking at the plants and thinking about them and how each is unique when it struck me that plants and gardening can teach us a lot about people. 
When we first plant our seeds we are so excited to check on them. We want to water them, take out any weeds that try to sneak into our planters, and sometimes we even feed them with Miracle Grow or some other fertilizer. When the garden is new, we cultivate the soil, we lovingly tend out plants and most gardeners like to talk about gardening. We want to tell othersabout what we are growing, ask what you are growing, and share tips and tricks of the trade. Likewise, when we become Christians, we begin to tend out relationship with the Lord. We feed and water our souls with prayer and Bible study, we try to pluck those weedy sins from our lives. We want to share what God is doing in our lives with others and we want to hear what he is doing for them as well. 
1Peter 3:13 
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
As we tend our garden the seasons change. You know it gets really hot in Texas and some years rainfall is abundant. Other years, you have to drag the water hose around and water your garden daily or it will wither and die. The hotter it gets, the more time and effort it seems to take. And the weeds don’t seem to mind the drought. They keep thriving all the while. If that isn’t a metaphor for life, I don’t know what is. When weeds abound and a spiritual drought seems to grip us, we need to spend even more time cultivating out relationship with God. We should dig into our Bible like never before to remind ourselves of God’s truths. We need to sit with Him and water our souls in His presence.  We should keep plucking away at the weeds, growing each day to be more like Jesus our Savior and as we spend time with God, the fragrance of the Father will rub off and cling to us like the most fragrant flowers.
Psalm 63: 1-3
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
A thriving garden is so exciting. We love to pick the fruit and veggies we’ve planted. Isn’t harvesting your crops the most fun?! My fellow growers know what I’m talking about. After the time and effort spent on your crops, it is thrilling enjoy the fruits of your labor. We like to pick the tomatoes and peppers, squash and cucumbers. We feast on them all season long. Where I live, we are in Zone 9, I think, and we have a pretty long growing season, and certain plants thrive here that may not do well in other locations. Luckily, God’s growing zone is infinite, and you are never out of season with the Lord. He can transform hearts all year round. In every situation you find yourself, the good seasons, the painful seasons, they are all used by God to grow us closer to Him and to make us more like Him. Sometimes the cultivation doesn’t feel nice, but it helps us bear pleasing fruit for God. So don’t give up when the weather turns bad or the work seems hard. Keep going. The greatest gardener, God, never leaves you on your own.
Galatians 5: 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
There is one thing that has to happen for you to thrive in God’s Garden. You have to plant the seed of your heart in Him. Those who may read this who don’t know Jesus as their Savior, please listen. God can grow glorious things in your life, even among the weeds and drought and floods life can bring, but first you must trust in Jesus. God is holy. He is perfect and sinless, but we people are sinful. That creates a huge problem. You see, God cannot be with us in our sin, so we are cut off from Him now on Earth and for an eternity in a real place called Hell. But God loves us so much that he sent his one and only son Jesus to die in our place, on the cross we deserve, so that we can be reunited with God through the sacrifice of His son. So now, all who trust Jesus to be their Savior and ask Him to be the boss of their life will live forever with God. He gives you the choice. Please invite Him to be your Savior. 
John 3:16 
“For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Go plant a garden if you haven’t yet. It is good for your mind, and body, and soul. Every time you look at your garden and examine it for what it needs to thrive, take a second to examine your life and see if you are getting the things you need to thrive. Don’t worry, none of us are perfect, but when you nourish your soul like you should, the greatness of God is made manifest. How pleased must he be, our God and gardener, when he sees a lovely harvest in us.
 

Jesus wept


“Jesus wept.” John 11:35


Last week, I had to care for someone that was victim to some of the most atrocious human behavior. As I looked at the mental and physical scars, everything just felt so heavy and hard. I was sharing with a friend how I was just feeling weary at the state of things, and she reminded me that Jesus wept when Lazarus died. 


I’ve thought about that day a lot. Mary runs to him knowing His power and His kindness. She had sat at His feet. He was her friend. She boldly tells Him that if He would have been there than Lazarus wouldn’t have died. The scripture goes on to say that Jesus was deeply moved and troubled by her weeping. Here’s the thing. He knew He would raise Lazarus. He knew death wasn’t final. Jesus was moved to tears because of the pain of His people. 


It’s easy to feel guilty for being sad as a believer, like maybe hope and faith are commodities and your supply dried up. Perhaps there is a tendency to think that faith means avoiding that tension where you actually feel like it’s all broken and wonder if He is paying attention. This week I’m reminded that not only is God not angry with that tension, He is moved by it. 


He will defeat evil for good. The kingdom is coming, now and forever. But if you feel weary while we wait, take heart, the Wonderful Counselor knows what it is to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. Even when He knows He will work all things together for good, He still holds space to wipe your tears.