There are so-called gardening maps for the U.S., showing specific zones and when the best times of the year to plan certain vegetables or flowers.

Once you plant most things, you have to routinely water the plants so that they will grow. After a few weeks of nourishing the plants with water and sunshine, the plants begin to take root and blossom and grow.

So it is with God. Once you give your life to God and begin to read His word, and follow His lead, your life will begin to blossom, to take root. This deep rooted knowledge will stand all the forces against you when times get tough.

Psalm 1:1-3 - “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Sowing God’s word will grow us strong and keep us standing during adversity.

Every day of your life is an opportunity to start planting seeds. Once your roots are established, you can start sharing your harvest with others around you.

The harvest is ripe, my friends. Don’t miss God’s plans for you. Seek Him out whatever season of life you find yourself in and being your planting season.

A deadline involves verbalizing a specific commitment. Deadlines area a great motivational tool. Usually if someone asks me to do something, I’ll ask the timeframe of when they expect or want it completed.

Before any deadline is determined you should first pray about it. When we, by faith, set and pursue a particular deadline, it drives us to God. God is the one who will accomplish the task by using us to do it.

After all, nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible for God. After that deadline is met, thank God and tell others what God has done.

God created us to work. Whether you’re a pastor, construction worker, teacher or stay-at-home mom, work is rooted in God’s creation and it’s to reflect His glory.

Be careful though, about your work. Make sure you’re giving God the glory and not yourself.

God is your boss. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

The Bible teaches that there is a spiritual point of no return. There is a deadline. There is coming a day when Jesus will return and take His saints, His children home.

The deadline is approaching. Are you ready? Have you gave your life to Him?

Don’t miss the opportunity to give your whole life to Christ today.

The deadline is near.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”

A testimony is “a formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law.”

Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

For most of my Christian life, I’ve always been worried about sharing my faith. I was scared that someone would ask me a question about the Bible and I wouldn’t be able to answer their question.

I’ve come a long way in my walk and relationship with God. God convicted me when I tried to hide behind my shyness.

I have discovered something wonderful in being a Christian and that is this: I have found that telling others my story (my testimony) gives God the glory, gives Him the praise and shows others how God has taken a broken girl and renewed her to a mission-driven Christian.

I hope that my story shows my humanness. I hope it shows how God used and still uses me when I thought I was unusable.

Without the trials and tests throughout the past 30 years, I wouldn’t have the testimony I have today.

I’ve shared my testimony in the mission fields of Peru, and will devote the rest of my life telling anyone who wants to listen, my story.

What’s your testimony? How’s God changed your life?

Security is the state of being free from danger or threat.

Most anywhere in the world you travel, you are aware of the security in the area, as you should be. With terrorists and unsafe people with guns, this world is getting to be unsafe, no matter where you are.

It’s good to take precautions. It’s a good idea to do what you need to do to make sure you and your family are safe.

But there is a point where you need to relent the ultimate responsibilities with God. We are to do our part, but we can’t do it alone.

Trust God for your security. Believe that He will take care of you and experience the rest that comes with this trust.

I can remember being so scared in my bed at night, alone and intently listening to every noise. Night after night I would wear myself out with worry. It wasn’t until I started talking to God, while I was in bed, that things started to get better. But, more than that, I started getting up early, reading a devotion and reading my Bible. I started talking to God throughout the day. I started seeing a difference in my attitude and how I treated others.

I can honestly tell you now that when I lay my head down at night, within minutes I’m sound asleep. I’m not afraid anymore of who might come in and harm me, or what may happen in the night.

I feel safe in the arms of God. I feel secure in my salvation and trust that God is leading my life to greater things.

My security is found in God alone.

Psalm 127:2 - “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves.”

Faith isn’t faith until it’s been tested.

Have you ever thought of the above statement?

Faith is us believing that God will do it. Hope is knowing He will do it.

Many times in our lives it’s not until we are facing trials and failures that we are fully open to realizing God’s love is perfect and can handle anything we face.

James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

When you’re facing a problem or an upcoming difficulty, prayer should be our first starting point.

When God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real. He will prove to us over and over again that no trial will overcome our faith.

When we face the storms of life, dig deeper into the scriptures. I have learned so much when I open the Bible and read stories of people like me that have been through much worse and have also trusted God with their lives.

Believe in God in everything you set out to do, and know that God will not put more on us that we can bear.

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” by John Maxwell.

Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Change is always a challenge. And change is even more difficult when it’s imposed on us suddenly or without our approval.

But change can also have positive outcomes. The Bible is full of stories regarding men and women overcoming change and difficulties in order to receive the blessings that positive change brought into their lives.

Change requires faith in a Christian’s life, over and over again. The question is: Is faith a part of our life or is faith our life? When faith is just a part of our lives, we do just enough not to feel guilty. Or, when faith is OUR life, then we can’t do enough for God.

I can’t recall one change in my life that didn’t have some pain with it. But, I do know that during some of life’s changes, although painful, I trusted God with the outcome. I put my faith to test and accepted the challenge before me and persevered with God at my side.

Looking back at the times when the most changes took place, I can see where I had my most growth in my relationship with God.

Make your change from part-time faith to full-time faith.

Change will come. Will you accept the challenge and join me in living by faith in God to grow our character?

I used to love watching my daughter play high school basketball. I would cheer her on and get so excited when her team would win. But, as I looked across the court I felt sad for the team that lost. For every winning team, there is also a team that will lose.

Those were precious memories but as I think on the victories and the defeats, I have to remind myself that life is full of victories and losses.

Every day we’re in a battle. Either you’re on God’s team or Satan’s. Which will you choose?

I choose to be on God’s team. Now this doesn’t mean that every day is a winning carefree day. But I found that if God is on my side and I trust Him in the outcome of my day that I can go throughout my day with a little more confidence, a little less stress and conflict.

Ephesians 6:10-11 - “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. Satan is great at heaping on guilt, condemnation and fear.

God’s presence is real. He gives us strength every day. Disappointments come. God sees “mighty,” when we see “weak.” He sees “victory” when we see “defeat.”

God is always with us, no matter how we might feel, or what struggles flood our thoughts.

God’s already won the battle. Stand tall with the victor of life!

Where’s your focus today? Is your mind centered on your problems; the daily tasks you endure and dread?

Are you consumed with worry on how you’ll make ends meet or anxious about the upcoming doctor’s appointment?

Colossians 3:2 - “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Distraction is the opposite of focus. As Christians, we are constantly tempted to pull away from a consistent focus on Christ.

It’s a disciplined lifestyle. We must purposely choose to see every blessing and struggle through the lens of Christ.

It’s hard not to notice a disciplined Christian. Their attitude and overall outlook on life is different. They make an intentional investment of focusing on God instead of their circumstances.

Every day there are different paths for us to take. It’s our responsibility to choose the right thing, even if it brings pain.

I have to deliberately study God’s word (Bible) daily. This aligns my life and my focus to God’s will for me.

Our focus should and always remain grounded in faith that God is in control.

Do you trust God with today? Are you focused on Him fully? Is your faith in God and not your circumstances?

Stay focused on righteousness!

Where’s your faith? What’s your focus?