Breathe

Breathe

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

As I was driving home this weekend from my sister’s house, I saw a sign on the overpass with the words, “Are you breathing?”

Obviously this sign referred to the senseless death of George Floyd.

But, as I thought about it, I also realized that Covid-19 took away the breath of many people. As we all know this virus attacks the lungs, leaving its victims unable to perform the most basic of needs–breathing.

The verse that immediately came to me was:

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

What sets us apart from every other created animal? God Himself breathed into us.

EVERY human being gets their life from God.

But what do we do with that breath? Scripture tells us…

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

Psalm 27:12 ESV

Our country has seen so much violence over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, there are those who “breath out violence.” Anger and bitterness can breed this kind of aggression.

Forgiveness can put an end to it…even undeserved forgiveness.

Satan wishes to divide us….that is not God’s will. Yet, here we are living in a divided world in many ways, a divided country with divided families.

In John 20, Jesus met with his disciples after He rose from the grave. After He showed them His hands and feet, He said, “Peace be with you…”

…He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20:22 ESV

As Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, He spoke of forgiveness. We need filled with the Holy Spirit in order to live the life God wants us to and be able to give forgiveness as well.

\What are we to do with this breath the LORD gave to us?

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6 ESV

I saw many videos of people praising God instead of the hateful, hurtful speech and actions of some. Where there is praise, the Spirit of God resides. God is the answer for this world.

We are broken.

Only Jesus can fix what is broken…

He gave us His Word that we may know Him and know His ways. It says in 2 Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit can change the hardest or most wounded heart. HIs Word will teach us His ways and His will, it shows us our faults and sin, it corrects us and judges our intentions, and it trains us to be righteous and mature.

God breathed out His Word as Jesus breathed out His Spirit on those He breathed life into. #Breathe #ThisSideOfHeaven #Forgiveness

Without God’s Word, we will not grow and mature. How can we understand His Word?

But it is the spirit in a man and the breath of the All-powerful that gives him understanding.

Job 32:8 New Life Version

Take a deep breath…because you can.

Let the Spirit of God heal our wounds as we forgive. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves.

Does Anyone Read the Bible anymore?

Does Anyone Read the Bible anymore?

by | May 15, 2019 | Uncategorized

I admit at times I am too passionate about Bible study.

The last thing I want to do is turn people off towards opening their Bibles. But, I see a trend in churches, (especially those that are not Southern Baptist; I am not Southern Baptist but they are known for their deep love of Bible study.) there seem to be more book clubs than Bible studies. Meaning, they get together and read a lot of books Christians write on what the Bible says instead of reading the Bible together.

I love to read and read many of these same books on my own time. I feel when we get together in the church, we should be reading the Bible more than any other book.

Almost twenty- years ago, the Lord called me to be a Bible teacher.

I devoured every Bible study I could get my hands on to understand God’s Word better. One year for my birthday, my husband bought me Bible software to make my research easier. I loved it. It is my third program (Logos 7) which I use all the time.

God made me for research. He made me to study and learn and to teach anyone who listens for more than a minute.

I love to teach, really I do.

My husband is often my unwilling student.

Everything I learn, he learns…

If he doesn’t have time, then my kids have to listen. And I will gladly follow them around so they don’t have to sit and hear me out.

But, back to the Bible.

I think the church really wants to make it easy for everyone. But, sometimes, by putting scripture on a power point it can cause some people to become lazy. Hebrews 5:11-14  warns us about becoming lazy or dull of hearing. We don’t need to take our Bibles to a Sunday morning service anymore.

If we don’t open our Bibles at church, why should we open them at home?

 I have been teaching a study on the Parables of Jesus. The only book we use is the Bible. Yet, there are those who do not bring their Bibles to a Bible study.

I know churches where you could never take your Bible and it would not matter. We are becoming Bible illiterate and it saddens me.

 Our lack of biblical knowledge, both in our heads and hearts is clear by the state of our country, church, and of most families.

We need the Holy Spirit to teach us God’s Word, but we have to open the Book, first.

I love God’s Word.

I didn’t necessarily set out to become a Bible teacher. One of my pet peeves is when people take scripture out of context to fit their worldview. It’s not even about memorization; it’s about living and breathing God’s letter to you.


I love getting the mail to see what’s there for me.  I am seriously like a child when I get a package. If someone else in my family gets a package, I want to know what’s in it.

Whenever I get a real card or letter in the mail—not an email or e-card, but the real paper kind—I love to read and reread it. Someone took the time to sit down and write these words for me. I leave it on my table and pick it up a couple of times a day for about a week just to read it again.

That’s how I see the Scriptures.

God spent many years through many of His obedient followers to write me His eternal Words. Words to comfort me, teach me, love me, and save me.

There are Words that show me what I cannot see with my eyes—His Son.
Many people have died to print these Words, take them to other countries, and teach them. We have it so good.

How many Bibles do you have in your house? How many do you read?

 God doesn’t love us any less for not being in His Word. But, He wrote it for you. Ask Him to reveal Himself through the pages of His Word. He will do it!

 Go to Bible studies; get the Book, not an electronic version. Take notes, write in the margins, and highlight the verses you love.

Wear. Your. Bible. OUT! That’s why He gave it to us.

Pray, too. A lot.

This is not condemnation.

I hope this encourages you and sparks a new interest in God’s Word. If you have questions ask me. I will do my best to give you an answer. If I don’t know it, I will find someone who does.

Thanks for listening! I promise I will not follow you around. 🙂

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete and equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV