L. Kathleen Cline

Most of us spend a great deal of effort to keep ourselves from vulnerable positions. We do this because if evil sees an opening, it will take full advantage of the situation. Whether it is your money, credit, identity, health, or safety, the corrupt are always looking to take the stolen upper hand. Let’s say someone stole your identity, and the damage was substantial. Do you feel it is your duty to press charges so that the criminals do not steal from someone else? How would you feel if a fellow follower said you had to pray for your enemies and proceeded to ask God to bless them? Are they asking God for their success? What are they saying? Are they correct? The context of Bible verses is very important. Once again, Satan will take full advantage of the ignorant and twist verses to pervert God’s character. We need to make sure that we are not participating in this behavior. To ask God to makes someone’s sin prosperous is absurd at best. God does allow free will acts to occur, but He ha...

I heard a testimony that has stuck with me for many reasons. Here is a tiny portion. “My grandson was too still in his little bed, so I went to check on him. He quickly sat up, and I thought, oh, no. He said, ‘YaYa, my stomach hurts. Will you lay down with me?’ I thought I don’t want to be up all night, but then I said, he did not say stay up all night. He said, will you lay down with me. So I did.” There is much more to the story, but this is what I want to emphasize. How many times do we add to what God is saying to us? For example, God may ask you to have lunch with an unsaved acquaintance, but you hear, be their best friend. It is funny, but seriously, most of us need some help when it comes to actually understanding what was requested by God. Just last night, I was trying to clarify from God a message spoken. I won’t exactly say what was communicated to me, but here is the gist. “That is man’s timeline, Lori. I never said a timeline; man did.” Prayer journals are the best way to k...

We spend so much time on our outer appearance. Would you agree that most of the ugly in this world has nothing to do with how someone looks? Yet society spends billions a year on fade diets. If you were to look at a spiritual diet, how would it appear on paper? What would be your favorite spiritual snack, drink, or main meal? Is that five minute-devotion all you have been eating for substance? Seriously, when it comes to your spiritual self, you want to be that fat, pretty one. Only God’s word eaten in abundance will get you “fluffy.” So once again, what is in your spiritual diet? Now, like all diets, you must have self-control and determination to maintain your goals. David said it this way in Psalm 119:30-32, “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.” If you have already stopped your prayer journal, this is the day to pi...

  At the end of the day yesterday, my faith faltered for a few minutes. When you are tired, I must say that is not the time to discuss concerning issues you are waiting on God to answer. Then I did the worse thing; I spoke my doubts aloud, which made my husband begin to question things. Immediately God quickened my heart to stop and remember. I apologized for my comments and then began to list everything God had done to direct us in our faith walk. If you find yourself wavering in your faith as you are waiting on the Lord for an answer, please practice this exercise. Once I finished the list, my husband and I began listing stories in the Bible. Those stories are there to help bolster your faith in God. These are trying times, and Satan is working overtime to rattle God’s children. We must remember Who are God is and His capabilities. Father, give your children vigor, persuasive arguments, and the power to rise and remain firm in our faith. In You alone, we trust! Photo by Vicky Sim...

There are many reasons there is poverty on this earth. Many governments oppress their people and steal them blind of their possessions. What about America? It was hard for me to comprehend that children in America go hungry even in my tiny town. I am not here to debate the reasons. God calls everyday citizens like me to participate in relieving the suffering around us. Let me be clear. At no point do I believe throwing money at people is the answer. To me, that is a perversion of what God called us to do, which is to minister, mentor, and disciple. Yes, the money will help, but with people like the ladies I serve, money only feeds their addictions. I know many ministries have a platform for mentoring. They will help with food for a month, but after that, they require you to sit down with a counselor for budgeting education. I love this policy because having a bad month can happen to anyone. Budgeting is not taught in schools anymore, so teaching someone to be self-sufficient is a bless...

January is Poverty in America Awareness month. A local artist friend gave me her two Little Tracy books to read. I would like to recommend these books to help children and adults acknowledge poverty's impact. These books can also help everyone understand the effects of people's actions and words. The names of the books are Little Tracy Goes to School and New Shoes for Little Tracy. Take a look.  https://www.amazon.com/Little-Tracy-School.../dp/1732474648

People use all kinds of words. You have the hollow, empty words that sound pretty but hold no value. There are the lying words that flow like honey but are bitter to everyone that listens. Then there are evil words spoken to cut and harm as much as possible. Finally, you have honest words that are only received according to the listener's conscience. In today's platforms, you must decide what type of words are being spoken and what you will allow to influence your heart. I often wonder if a prophet of old came back and attempted to teach the church if the people would receive his teachings. You see, I believe we have listened so long to hollow, lying, and evil words that our tolerance for God's truth as intended would be rejected. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. By words alone, people can gauge what kind of person you are and what you believe. Please take care in how you are expressing yourself with oth...

How many miracles happen around us, but we never take note of them? As I taught my class today, I witnessed God’s ability to transform. You see, like many first step classes, a few of the ladies made the beginning sessions challenging, to say the least. The joy in the room, six weeks into the session, was stunning. It is because every mission class, I pray the same prayer. “God, please, bond our hearts together, so we become a support system for each other.” There is no common ground to build a relationship because my ladies are homeless, and their trust level of other humans is nil. Today, we laughed together, and we happy cried together as different ladies stopped the class to give testimony of the changes in their lives. Believe me, if one of the ladies were telling a lie, the others call them out immediately. Today though, they all rejoiced over the changes in each other’s lives. It was stunning. Maybe the cynic in you wants to discount this as a miracle because the odds of some la...

One of my dear friends is taking Red Devil chemo, which is the most powerful chemotherapy drug. It can kill cancer cells at every point of their life cycle, but unfortunately, it comes with many damaging side effects. As my friend shared her blood results, she asked for key points to be lifted to God in prayer. My reply to her came from a prayer warrior friend who encourages the prayer group the other day with this reminder. I think all of us need to hear the words. God exercises our weak and undisciplined spirits to prepare us for future battles. “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle,” Psalm 144:1. Maybe this New Year has you still in the same nightmare as last year. Like my friend, you may not have a say in your circumstances, but you do have a say in how you react or live despite the situation. It becomes challenging and sometimes flat out exhausting, but if we allow God to move in us during these times, He can build in us a spiritual r...

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be eliminated, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9

  Romans 13:10 teaches, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." We also know from 1 Corinthians 13 that love never fails. Fail is an acting term used by Paul because the Greeks only used male actors. If an actor played a female role and was not convincing, they got pulled off the stage. Using this thought process for Christ-followers, our behavior should not be the opposite of what we claim. We should not be bad actors or hypocrites. I guess then the question falls to us as we seek God to show our hearts' intentions. How do people see us on social media, as shoppers, as church-members, as friends or family? Can we live out our faith with dignity, or is hateful religion showing? Only God can answer these questions for you because evil will always proclaim our beliefs as hateful. Satan will always give voice to confuse and deceive. Start this year off with a promise to yourself that all heart checks are for God to do. Only He knows t...

Now, therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord GOD, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever,”2 Samuel 7:29. This verse hangs on my wall and not for the reason you may think. It is a reminder to seek God for His will. You see, David wanted to build God a temple to dwell in instead of the tent. Even Nathan, the prophet, told David, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.” That night God came to Nathan and gave him instructions to tell David not to build God a house. David’s descendant would build the temple. Just because something sounds like a good idea does not mean it is God’s will for you. Even the man of God agreed with the plan till God had a say in the matter. This year, please dedicate this verse as a blessing along with the warning that only God knows the correct path for your life. May God bless us with His wisdom in 2021!!! Photo by S...