ARE YOU A DAISY OR A DANDELION ?

Photo provided by Donna Rogers

Have you ever gone outside in the summer and 

noticed the dandelions in the yard?

Each year there seems to be one that pops

up somewhere in the yard and suddenly 

you go outside and there are dandelions 

growing everywhere. 

My neighbor passed away a few years ago

and there was very little management of his

yard since then.  Last year his yard 

became covered with dandelions.  Instantly 

we knew in a very short time there would 

be dandelions covering our yard also. 

Why is that? Why do the most beautiful flowers 

such as dailies, roses, and iris take forever to 

spread and yet a dandelion just blows in the wind

and plants pop up everywhere? 

Our lives are so much the same.  

It is so difficult to find people who are 

willing to cultivate their lives, get rid of the 

old weeds of sin, arrogance and selfishness.  

Yet it is so easy to find those who live their 

lives haphazardly.  In doing so, they are spreading 

seeds all along the pathway and when those plants 

spring up they naturally follow after the seed 

they sprang up from. 

The daisy, full of vibrant color and great beauty:

also is full of seeds.  These seeds will reproduce

if the dandelion or other weeds don't choke it out. 

They will populate if they are planted in good 

soil and watered.  They will grow and become

vibrant and also produce seed that produce 

more glorious daisies.  

My prayer is that we start to cultivate the ground and 

plant seeds that will spring forth with character and 

Godliness 

Doing this takes time. 

It takes patience.

It takes prayer and the watering of tears.  

What would you rather be, a daisy or a dandelion.  

EVER LEARNING; NEVER COMING TO KNOWLEDGE

Photo provided by Darry Poss

Ever learning, and never able to come 

to the knowledge of the truth. Now as 

Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, 

so do these also resist the truth: men 

of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning 

the faith.  But they shall proceed no 

further: for their folly shall be manifest 

unto all men, as theirs also was.  But thou
hast fully known my doctrine, manner of
life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which
came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but 

out of them all the Lord delivered me.  Yea, 

and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus 

shall suffer persecution.  But evil men and 

seducers shall wax worse and worse, 

deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue 

thou in the things which thou hast learned 

and hast been assured of, knowing of whom 

thou hast learned them;   And that from a 

child thou hast known the holy scriptures, 

which are able to make thee wise unto 

salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.

II Timothy 3:7-17

ARE YOU HEEDING THE ROAD SIGNS?

Photo provided by Darry Poss

This know also, that in the last days perilous 

times shall come. For men shall be lovers of 

their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, 

blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 

unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, 

trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, 

fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of 

pleasures more than lovers of God;  Having 

a form of godliness, but denying the power 

thereof: from such turn away.

I Timothy 3:1-5

WHEN YOU'RE AGAINST THE WALL WILL YOU STICK?

Devotion provided by Steve Long 

They say you can tell when spaghetti is ready to serve by one simple test. Boil the pasta noodles for maybe eight to twelve minutes. Test the spaghetti by throwing it against a wall. If it sticks, it’s ready.

So, my question for you is this: When you find yourself against the wall, do you stick?

All of us face adversity and trials in life – no matter who we are; rich or poor, dark or light, male or female, young or old, educated or illiterate, brainy or mentally challenged, strong or weak.

We all face challenges, difficulties and heartache. All of us have, or will at some point, find ourselves, like cooked spaghetti, with our backs against the wall.

There is a Mexican phrase which can be translated. “between the sword and the wall” or as they say, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea.” There are times in our lives when it doesn’t feel safe to move forward nor is it safe to retreat.

Christians especially should expect this. Jesus said; “in the world ye shall have tribulation.” (We’ll come back later for the rest of that bible verse.)

He also stated:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.[i]

Peter, the Apostle of Jesus, said:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:[ii]

The question is not “if” but “when” will I experience such trouble? At what point any of 

us may find our backs against the wall, we cannot say.

How will we respond when such hardship comes our way?

We can respond with panic, anger, hostility, or bitterness. We can be like a dog that has been cornered – not a pretty sight.

We can cow down and curl up into a fetal position – that is – just give up.

Or – we can respond in faith. The rest of the verse I started above reads:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye 

shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.[iii]

This is the only way you will be able to “stick.” Many of us have seen those who started the race but never finished it.

We have seen soldiers of the faith who have gone AWOL whenever the battle ensued with great heat. Will we be a conqueror or a casualty when the going gets rough? Maybe you have lost some battles, but will you continue to fight the fight?

May we, like the Apostle Paul, be able to say in the end:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.[iv]

Trust in Jesus. Stay in his word. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Walk in truth. Walk in love. Be faithful. Be steadfast. Love God. Love one another. Exercise your faith. Pray daily.

By doing so, you will be one who sticks when you’re up against the wall.




[i] John 15.19.20
[ii] 1 Peter 4.12
[iii] John 16.33
[iv] 2 Timothy 4.7-8

ETERNAL LIFE

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 

Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit 

of wisdom and revelation in the 

knowledge of him:  The eyes of your 

understanding being enlightened; that ye 

may know what is the hope of his calling, 

and what the riches of the glory of his 

inheritance in the saints,  And what is the 

exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward 

who believe, according to the working of his 

mighty power,  Which he wrought in Christ, 

when he raised him from the dead, and set 

him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  

Far above all principality, and power, and might, 

and dominion, and every name that is named, 

not only in this world, but also in that which is 

to come:  And hath put all things under his 

feet, and gave him to be the head over all 

things to the church,  Which is his body, 

the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Ephesians 1: 17-23

SATAN IS NOT AN ENEMY WE CAN HANDLE

Satan is not an enemy we can handle …..

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:14-18

WHAT DOES YOUR ROOTS LOOK LIKE

Photo provided by Darry Poss

Thoughts by Becky Whitemans-Sparks

Woke early this morning, wanting to so I could spend some time in prayer on a difficult situation. As I lay in my bed, warm and cozy, my heart was broken and questioning. “Oh, Lord, how can this complicated situation be handled? Please, My God, fix this … step in and fix what no man on earth can.”

In that quiet, His Words began to come to me, Words that I’ve read over and over came echoing through my mind … “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 (Jesus-the Living Water) that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” OH, there really is nothing more beautiful and healthy than trees that are planted next to rippling streams of water. The fruit they bear is sweet and delicious.

You see, great trees have taproots which go deep in search of living water, water that will bring them great health. That is why you always see healthy trees next to streams or rivers, they know where their life blood comes from. But when that life blood is cut off through drought (cut off from God—no nutrients (the Bible), no communication (prayer) ,no fellowship, (other healthy Christians), or is damaged (Satan taking an axe and hacking away at it), or squeezed off (un-forgiveness), it is seriously damaged, at risk of death. (Hebrews 12.14-15 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" (spiritual cancer) springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.)

This complicated situation is like a very unhealthy tree whose leaves are dropping so fast that you can’t help but know the tree is suffering greatly. Then, the Lord spoke to my heart showing me that the problem is not with the leaves … “They are simply symptoms of the problem … the problem is the tap root. It is not planted in Me. My living water brings love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, meekness, faith, patience and self-control. Until attitudes are changed (repented of-there is that old-fashioned word), the leaves will fall off, the branches will begin to harden and die only to be easily snapped off. The trunk will begin to slough bark and when the bark is gone … death is sure.”

Then My God led me to Matthew 18 … “The tree is being killed by an unforgiving heart. Satan is strangling it by wrapping barbwire around it, squeezing it, choking it, killing it. BUT, I as The Arborist, the Creator, can bring new life to the whole tree. I will renew the streambed (the relationship with Jesus) and cut away the issues that are killing the tree, which will include the tough times of pruning away the dying and dead branches. Health will return. I promise! It’s written in My Word.”

Then I remember an old cedar tree by our canal. Many years ago, a farmer had wrapped barbwire around it, using it like a post. Because it was by a healthy stream of water, it grew new bark over the wire and continued to grow and do well … it was a tree planted by living water (Jesus). Because it’s root was well established, it continued to thrive.

If you are struggling and the leaves on the tree of your life are sick and dying, the quickest way to regain health is regain your relationship with the Lord. It’s not changing those around you, or trying to control or manipulate their lives, it all begins with you and you accepting the reality that you need help and healing. Your healing will come when you deal with you … let The Arborist come in and do His work.