​A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.
                                                                                                                          Isaiah 35:8
 
 
Hello Friend,
 
            We are waking up to a brand new week. Our scripture today tells us that God has set before us a highway—a way that he wants us to live this week—the way of holiness. 
I don’t know about you, but I am not wild about driving on US 19.  It is so congested with traffic—some drivers moseying along with no place to go and seemingly no care in the world.  Others are racing, crossing in and out of lanes, running lights, tailgating.  God sets before each of us a highway and it is our responsibility to decide how we are going to navigate it.
How are you doing on this “Highway to Holiness?”  Are you cruising on auto-pilot?  If you are driving with the sure belief that God is in control of your destiny and cruising along trusting Him, then that is a good thing.  However, many of us are on auto-pilot—letting circumstances define our course, following our emotions and fickle feelings.  Some travelers feel like they are running out of gas.  It might be time to stop and refuel.  How are you making sure that you have the spiritual energy to travel life’s highway?  Are you stuck on the side of the road feeling broke-down or lost? 
God promises to prepare this road for you.  God doesn’t just point the way; He travels with you.  He will keep you safe.  Verse 10 says that those who travel on God’s way of holiness “will sing songs of everlasting joy.”  As you are driving down the highway this week, think about what your driving pattern might be saying about your spiritual life.  Determine to travel the highway to holiness with a song in your heart. 
 
Prayer:  Lord, I trust you to be in the driver’s seat of my life.  Lead me safely home.
 
                                                            Traveling together down the highway,
                                                      Linda

I will confess and praise You for the wonder of my birth.                                                                                                Psalm 139:14
Hello Friend,
            This week I want you to ponder the wonder of your life.   You are important.  Uniquely made.  A one-of-a-kind masterpiece.  Knit together in your mother’s womb by God.  Yet, how many of us feel our lives are a mistake?  Or that we should be smarter?  Or funnier? Or skinnier?  In our eyes, we see imperfections, but not in God’s eyes.  He sees us as his beloved child, perfect just as we are.  I came across a quote this week and it is surely worth sharing.
“Every second that you spend on doubting your worth, every moment that you use to criticize yourself; is a second of your life wasted, is a moment of your life thrown away. It’s not like you have forever, so don’t waste any of your seconds, don’t throw even one of your moments away.” ~ C. JoyBell C.
            This week, I want you to practice waking each morning with an attitude of gratitude.  Each day I want you to focus on one thing that you are grateful for about your life.  Eyes to see.  Wisdom.  Ability to learn from your mistakes.  Lift yourself up!  Write positive affirmations about yourself that confirm your self-worth.  Write them on an index card and carry them with you as a reminder to love and care for yourself.  You are a child of a King.  Royalty.  Worthy.  Blessed beyond blessed.  Count them, name them one by one this week.    And remember to be thankful to the God who created you. 
                                                                                    Grateful to be your friend,                                                                                                                                                    Linda                                                                                 

​Honor God with your body.
                                           1 Corinthians 6:20
Hello Friend,
 
            Do you know that you can serve God by honoring your body?  Honoring your body means that you respect it.  True, this particular section of scripture deals with sexual immorality; but a careful reading reveals so much more.  Paul says, “Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial” (vs. 12).   Then he goes on to write about food and says, “I will not be mastered by anything.” 
 
            We are all three parts: spiritual, emotional, and physical.  Some of us are very spiritual and try to live holy lives.  Some of us are emotionally well-balanced—leading stable lives.  But we don’t always think of caring for our body as part of God’s mandate of holiness.  We need to get proper rest, eat nutritious food, and exercise.  Verse 19 of the same chapter asks us to consider, “Did you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?”  Can you imagine if you owned a million dollar race horse?  Would you feed it candy bars?  Yet, how much more valuable are you to God and still we continue to consume large quantities of junk food.  Paul says everything is permissible.  Sure you can eat candy, drink sodas by the case.  But is that food beneficial?  Are you mastered by your appetite for food?
 
            Your body is the temple of the Most High God.  You live in it.  God does also.  Would it change the way you feed your body if you thought you were feeding God?  Would you bring burgers and fries into the temple, or bring the very best you could afford?  If you are not feeling well, you might not need a miracle.  You just might need a life-style change.  Remember this:  It is easier to maintain your health, then to regain it.  Make taking care of your body temple a priority!!  Honor God with your body.
 
Prayer:  Lord, free me from my addiction to unhealthy food. 
 
                                                                        In the daily struggle together,
                                                                                           Linda
v

          

     Live in harmony with one another.
                                Romans 12:16
 



Hello Friend,
 
            Isn’t the scripture above just as sweet and benign as can be?  Live in harmony with one another!  I can do that.  However, in the amplified Greek definition, the same verse reads “readily adjust yourself to people.” 
 
            Do you have someone in your life who won’t change?  Wow, can they be frustrating!!  They can drive you crazy.    Most of you know my dear, sweet husband Jim.  I always tell you how perfect he is, and 99% of the time he is.  The other 1%, I could just smack him—especially when he is holding the clicker and flipping from channel to channel to channel.  For me to act in a certain way, there is always a good reason.  For Jim, there is just NO excuse.  Yet, scripture tells US to adjust to them. 
 
            In 1 Corinthians 9:20 Paul has learned to adjust and adapt.  He writes, “To the Jew I became like a Jew; to those under the law I became like one under the law, to the weak I became weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some . . . and share in the blessings God offers.”  One of the blessings God offers is peace.  If you want peace in your home, peace in your workplace, you just might have to adapt and adjust yourself to other people.  We can’t always have our own way.  I am not suggesting that you become a doormat.  But there are times when we must change. 
 
            How does your dedication to God show in your relationship with others—your spouse, children, co-workers, friends, enemies?  This week, think about how you can practice love and peace.  How might you need to change?
 
Affirmation:  I have the calm peace of God in my soul.  I am a loving person.
 
 
                                                              Linda