L. Kathleen Cline

  This week I am teaching my class about Eve. As I sit and read over my notes, I feel this is something we all need reminding concerning Satan. Even when you teach something, it is entirely different than experiencing an event for yourself. The first reminder is that Satan misquotes God. In the last five years, I will say, people abusing God’s word for their own benefit has become common. We all need to make it a practice to go and read God’s word for ourselves and don’t just read the one verse. Read a chapter above and the chapter below to make sure you understand the verse in context. I recommend Gotquestions.org as an excellent website to inquire about different Christian topics. There has become this lazy approach to God, where we allow others to tell us what He says instead of us seeking God. The next reminder is Satan will play on some sort of benefit that you desire. I think this is where prosperity teaching went so wrong. Just because you feel something will be right for y...

  “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts?” James 4:1 As you brace for another storm, this would be the perfect time to ask God what “pleasures” of yours are hostile to Him? I did, and it wasn’t pretty. Photo by Chunlea Ju on Unsplash

“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth,” 1 John 3:18. My prayer is that you honor God today by going above and beyond in whatever task is at hand. I also ask that God reveal any opportunity to serve, so others feel God’s love in action. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash  

  "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life Proverbs 13:12." The passion translation says, "When hope's dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life's sweetness will satisfy your soul." Why does prayer sometimes leave you feeling heartbroken? Within a month, I will be going to my third funeral. My mind is screaming; this is insanity. My heart, I think, stopped speaking because you can only mourn so much before you start to go numb. Satan keeps pushing my thoughts towards, "Where is your God in this?" For me, he is an idiot because my personality will research and answer questions that come my way. So, where is my God? Here is my answer. God blessed us with free will, but with choices, there comes the possibility of unfavorable outcomes. It does not matter if something is an accident or a deliberate act; everyone connected to that event is going to be affec...

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...