christianity

A Smile Found Me

November 11, 2025

Good morning, friends! I have been away a bit, but God has never stopped urging me to write, so here I am. My favorite thing in the world to do is to write, but I have resisted it for a long while because…well, maybe my journal entry I actually wrote this morning is the best way to explain…I am being brave and getting personal. Here goes…

November 11, 2025

I just listened to “The King is Coming” on Spotify and it touched my heart! As i imagined hearing the trumpet sound to signal Jesus’ coming, I got excited. I could almost hear the scurrying of angels feet as they dressed in robes and assembled to sing for the biggest celebration of all. I can feel my lips curving into a smile as the words to this song pervade my heart and mind, my room, my office. (I must look silly, sitting here all alone with a big grin on my face. But I am not alone. HE is here!)

Sidenote…cars are driving by my house in a rush to work and I find myself thinking…”Are you ready for Jesus to come?” I want to ask them. I want to hope they are ready.

Then, I think…Am I totally ready?…Yes! He’s my Savior!, but…

No, I am not ready. I haven’t done enough for Him. for others. Please, Lord may I have more time to love others that need you? May I be able to write again after all the trials of the last few years?

I am not making excuses, Lord. From now on… Hold on…

***Something cool just happened this second, while typing. I heard this phrase being sung, from the song “He Touched ME”…”I will never cease to praise Him” That’s it, Lord. I get it and I will never cease to praise You!

Ok, back to the journal entry…

I am not making excuses, Lord. from now on, I’ll write during trials. Please say hi to My brother John, , Aunt Freddie, Uncle Bill, Dad Crute and now Mom Crute, Dad Glynn and Mom Glynn and David, Sarah, Aunt Carol, Elgie Wilmoth, and especially Momma Dillard and my Momma. Tell her I am writing and singing every day, because of her, because of YOU.

So that’s it. That’s my heart. God is so good. We have lost so many family members in the last few years, BUT, we will see them again in heaven. Sometimes I don’t focus enough on that. We also had a house fire, a small one, that threatened to destroy our joy, but, thanks to our gracious Lord, He has taught us and brought us through it. Friends, I hope you have a great day and week, wherever you are.

Maybe that’s a new slogan for me to cling to, maybe you too. “I have been bought, taught and brought by the lamb of God!”

All glory to God and love to all,

Tina

I Vote for God

January 5, 2025

1 John 5:20 says…And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

The following poem started in my head very early this morning. I jumped out of bed to write it down before church. This poem is based on our decision of who to vote for, to be the ruler of our hearts. There are only two candidates, God or satan. We vote for and follow whoever’s agenda we like best. Only problem with that is… the enemy does not make his agenda clear. He’s a very tricky liar, unlike God who loves us dearly and tells the whole truth. So, who do YOU choose?

We must make our selection

a personal election

our president

heart’s resident

Each voter must decide.

God is a great campaigner

to win our soul’s retainer

He’s needed there

I do declare

our sin needs a maintainer.

The enemy’s employing

sins we find enjoying

we must beware

he does not care

our souls he loves destroying.

The cure for our condition-

to give our Lord permission

to come on in

remove our sin

There’s peace in this submission.

The better choice, our Savior

to live within His favor

we’ll not regret

the friend we get

He’ll never ever waver.

Dear God, I choose You to rule over my life. I am imperfect, as You know, and often try to rule myself and end up making wrong decisions. Please forgive me for trying to do Your job. Preside in my heart and be King of my heart for all my days. I desire nothing more than to be Your servant and do Your will. I love You. Amen.

With love from the Father to you, have a great day! Vote wisely. vote often for God!

Priorities and Promises

December 16, 2024

He must become greater; I must become less.The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:30-31

Good morning. A thought has been running through my heart and mind since church yesterday. Does that ever happen to you? Maybe God presses something into your brain and you and keeps it there for hours or days? Here’s the thought that I think He wants me to share and to utilize, myself…

GOD IS OVER ALL. Yeah, that’s the thought that won’t go away. It is simple but it is everything. We face a mountain of decisions every day. Do we place absolutely everything UNDER Him, under His purposes? Before making decisions, do we make sure we are prioritizing God above all?

Things we can purposely place under His control…They just happen to start with “p’:)

Perspectives…Are we making all decisions based on God’s perspective? (or ours or the world’s?)

Promises…Do we make promises based on what others want from us or what God wants?

Positions…Do we take up positions on societal matters based on what the popular consensus is? Or what God’s Word says?

Posts…Do we post on social media solely to draw attention to US or is it helpful to others and/or does it give thanks to God?

Plans…Do we pray about our plans and submit them to God’s approval before making them?

Priorities…Do we purposefully place everything in a position under God?

This may be the most important one! Do we truly value God over everything else and so crave to use our one earthly life to use as HE sees fit? It’s not just for our entertainment, accomplishment or esteem.

As John the Baptist said in the verse above…We must become less and the Lord must become greater. The Bible tells us that God must be the priority and all things are less than Him.

Jesus, It is so easy, in this crazy world, to be influenced wrongly in our decisions. Please help us navigate this life You have given us. We want to use it for YOUR purposes. We submit everything to Your control,moment by moment by moment. We desire to become less as You become greater and greater in our lives. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have an amazing day of surrender to our awesome God!

Tina

Truth Is…

August 1, 2024

…if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 2 Peter 2:9-10

Good Morning! Have you read 1 and 2 Peter lately? I highly recommend taking just four or five verses at a time only, so you don’t miss anything. If we rush through,we might miss something. It’s good to read, pray, listen to God and apply His truth to our lives deeply. Truth is everything, everything we need.

So, Peter knows he will die soon, because the Lord told him, so he is trying to remind Christians of things they already know, but need to really remember after he is gone. He is all about holy living, loving and obeying God and being effective for God. No better goals!

Peter reminds us that…If God made Sodom and Gomorrah extinct , due to their ungodliness(which He did) and If He rescued Lot, the only righteous man in Sodom who was miserable, seeing so much sinful conduct(which He did) THEN…

He knows what’s going on, who is sinful or not and He is able to both punish and rescue us! It is not our job to punish anyone. Sidenote…I admit I took over God’s job a bit this past week and did a little judging. Oops! It made me feel awful! He understands when we mess up but is so good to forgive us:)

These verses remind me of something we already know, but need to remember about truth…that, in today’s world, we like to decide our own truths, but that leaves God out, which is wrong. He, THE ONLY JUDGE, will judge us all for how we obey or disobey His truth. We tend to obey our own truths. along with His truth… but is it really total obedience if we follow God AND wordly, popular trends, or what’s easiest or what suits us? NOPE! Truth, often is UNpopular…

We can’t create truth. Only God can and has. We can’t decide it or bend it to suit our desires. Since we can’t change His Word, His truth, then our only choice is to accept it or reject it. I am GLAD to accept truth from Truth Himself! I do not want a changeable god, one that humans can influence. Would we really want a god we could each change with our whims? Would he really be a god? NOPE!

I hope this makes sense.My heart has changed from anxious to peaceful today, by reading that God is still true and just, no matter what the world says or does. God’s got this, friends! He knows what is true and what’s not, and He will carry us through a sometimes dark world with His truth to light our way!

Dear Father ,Thank You for Your truth, our anchor in a dark and stormy world. Guide us all the way home to You as You desire. Keep us from falling in love with popular but ungodly lies. Thank You for being who You are, truth and goodness and light and love! We love You back! Amen.

With love from the Father to you, have a great day! Hang onto God’s truths!

Tina

It Is Time

July 15, 2024

If there was ever a time to exponentially increase our prayer and Bible study, it is now. In light of recent events, it’s time to take our time on earth way more seriously and our Father in heaven way more seriously. Engraved on my Bible is 1 Peter 4:1. I felt led to read verses 1 through 9 this morning and boy, do I thank the Lord for this inspired Word. It is so enlightening!

In my own limited understanding of 1Peter 4: 1-9…

A. The Overall Battle Plan-Peter compares our new life in Christ as a battle that’s ongoing. We are to arm ourselves with the right kind of thinking. No longer do we focus on selfish or sinful things we could enjoy; because we have been raised to new life in Christ, we do not strive for the flesh, but for God’s will. (v.1)

Hmm…Do I STRIVE for this or do I often relax, because I feel I have it figured out?

B. The Death of Sin- Peter says we are to live for Christ, since we have died to sin. I like how he says “the time is past” for pleasing ourselves and pursuing earthly pleasures like drunkeness, passions, sensualities and other things. People will judge and criticize you, as they are surprised at your not joining in their “debauchery.” However…We and they should fear God’s judgement, as EVERYONE will be judged.(v.4-5)

Hmm… How scary would that be for someone who does not believe! But, how wonderful that there is still time to die to sin and follow the Savior!

C. Judgement Comes for Everyone-We, they, everyone should fear God’s judgement, because it is for ALL believers, unbelievers, dead or alive. (v.5)

D. The Gospel Saves Lives- Peter explains that the gospel was preached to former believers to bring them back to life in Christ. We can either live in “the flesh” for self and sin or we can “live in the Spirit the way God does.” (v.6)

E. The End is Near, so Focus!- Verses 7-9 should be bolded and highlighted in our houses, offices, cars, hearts, souls and minds! Here goes the answer to the question, “What should my focus be, in these end times?

Peter says, The end is near so do something that is appropriate for the time. Be self-controlled, think straight, be soberly-minded devoted to prayer. But above all else…LOVE ONE ANOTHER! LOVE people despite their sins, their supposed sins, their appearance of sin, your suspicion of their sin. This is how my brain and heart read God’s Word today. Simply put, DO NOT JUDGE! Be hospitable, charitable, and loving to everyone, even if they are a republican or a democrat! They are God’s beloved!

Hmmm…Itd be cool if we stoppped watching any news that bashed the other political party, just saying. We are not to judge each other. That is not of God. God’s Word should be our guide to all we do, no matter if we don’t fit in to the world and because we are not MEANT to fit in this world, because if we do, we will not be fit in our world to come, with the Lord forever.

I pray that you readers and I both continue to grow in Christ, spreading love and God’s Word and praying with an urgency for others. Jesus is coming back and with our own gifts God has given us, we are meant to tell others that.

Dear Father,

Thank You for shining Your light on Your Word for us today. Lately the world has seemed to grow darker and a bit scary. Thank You for Your light that guides our minds, hearts and feet every day. Please comfort the families affected by the shooting at the Trump rally and guide others who know them to love them like Jesus does. Give us boldness to spread the gospel and to be constantly convicted of Your will for us. You are so great in every way, Lord and we are so thankful for You!

Sorry this was so long, friends. My heart is heavy for those affected by our world’s sin and violence. We ALL need love and the gospel. Let’s live it and share it generously, and love others deeply, as Jesus did and does:)

Tina

Only God Can Satisfy

May 22, 2024

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

This devotion is inspired by my pastor’s sermon. It really hit home to me how we search for satisfaction in different areas of our lives, but often in the wrong places.

Solomon searched quite a bit! He discovered how and where to have a good time. He found delight wherever he could. He chased it through work, play, accomplishment, with no limits. Know what he gained? In his own words, “Nothing was gained!”

That makes me think…He did the research that we do not need to do! We do not need to chase after anything to satisfy us or make us feel worthy or accomplished or pleasurable. We need only seek Jesus. He has everything we need. Any “pride” we gain should be confidence in following His will for our lives.

These thoughts inspired this simple poem… “Only God”

Only God can satisfy a sinner’s guilty heart

quenching it with holy grace, forgiving every part,

Only God rejuvenates a tired and searching heart

He takes away what is no good and gives a brand new start.

Only God can satisfy, based on all that’s true.

Written in His Word we find good news for me and you.

Search the world for happiness and you may find some fun

but for lasting peace and joy, the answer’s in the Son.

Dear Father, Please forgive us for all the times we strayed from Your Word and will and looked to the world for joy. We never find it there. You supply all the joy we long for and even allow us extra blessings we do not deserve. You are a good Father. Please help us to strive for eternal things, not things that this world chases after. Thank You for being our shining light to truth. Amen

With love from the Father to you, have a wonderful day!

Tina

A Personal Day

April 24, 2024

Today’s post is a bit different, more personal. I want to share with you what the lord has done for me, although I do not deserve it. I am sure you, friend, have had a time where trials swirled around you and the best you could do was to keep your head above water. That has been my experience for awhile. However…

The Lord is faithful to deliver us from trials! Even DURING trials He can deliver us to a new perspective of trials, an eternal one. Trials are meant to produce perseverance and make us more like Him. We fight it though, don’t we?

Short and sweet for now, because I have the blessing of tending to a new grandbaby and must run, but…remember this…

Although we feel the best we can do is keep our head above water, keep in mind…

The VERY best we can do is to submit to HIS best. If He allows trials, they are for our good. There’s an eternal reason!

More about this later, I promise! I will tell what trials the Lord allowed and how I barely scraped thorough, but learned a lot for the next trial. For now, here’s a verse to encourage you! It is about our response to God when we have maybe had the wrong perspective of trials and ,if you’re like me, failed to use and shine His light at times I should have. He’s a loving God that forgives us for our mistakes and revives us with new energy and holy insight. Praise Him!

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

With love from the Father to you, have a great day. I will pray that your trials are lessened and your heart is lightened and your way is lit by God.

Tina