 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Several weeks ago I got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Half asleep in the darkness, I thought I was further from my destination than I was and as I turned BAM! I ran smack into the doorframe with my head. I stumbled back, shocked by the sudden stop. I reached up to check for blood, wondering how I was going to explain a black eye without complete mortification. Thankfully, I hadn’t hit my head as hard as I thought and I awoke the next morning with a slight red mark over my right eye. I know this is a funny story, but I think this illustrates a biblical truth. In John 8:12 Jesus said “I am the light of the world, if you follow me you won’t have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life.” We are faced everyday with the choice to follow Jesus or to walk in the flesh. Walking in the flesh makes us think we know what’s best; that what we want is most important; that our comfort and happiness is all that matters. Sin truly blinds us. It is like walking around in the dark knocking into things that hurt us or those around us. Jesus said, “Follow me…because you will have the light that leads to life.” Jesus is saying, “Do what I do, love how I love, walk how I walk.” Psalms 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. Similarly to John 8:12, this verse in Psalm informs us that God’s word gives us light so that we don’t have to walk in darkness. In John Jesus is saying get to know me, I will show you how to follow me, I Am the Light, you won’t have to walk in darkness, I will light your path. Several years ago the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” was popular. People would put it on bumper stickers or wear it around their wrists. It was a great idea, but the phrase is worthless unless you really know what Jesus did, what He says, and what is important to Him. We won’t know how to follow Jesus, how to walk in the light, unless we spend time getting to know Him. That means spending time with Him every day praying, and reading His Word. I was challenged over 16 years ago by one of my pastors to make a commitment of spending 15 minutes a day with the Lord reading His Word and praying. I took that challenge, and I began getting up 15 minutes earlier every day. Rather than being a legalistic practice, this was about investing in my relationship with Christ. I discovered that this 15-minute time frame began to expand and I found myself wanting more time alone with the Lord. This has transformed my walk, it deepened my love and devotion for the Lord. The more time I spent with Him the more I get to know who He is and how He wants me to follow Him.  Weekly Memory Verse
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 For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. I have played hide-and-seek with many children over the years. While older children understand the object of the game…when you are hiding, you try to not be found by the person doing the seeking, younger children view the game differently. In fact, younger children don’t seem to understand the point of the game at all. The biggest thrill for the hiding younger child is to be found. Most of the time, when younger children are “hiding”, they giggle and talk, awaiting the exciting moment of being discovered by the seeker. And then, when the seeker finally uncovers their hiding place, they erupt in giggles and squeals of delight…they revel in being found. One of my favorite Bible stories found in Luke 19, is about a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a Jewish man who had exchanged the honor of his heritage for employment with the Roman government; a government that was oppressing his people. Zacchaeus was a tax collector for the Romans. Zacchaeus was not just any tax collector, he was the chief tax collector, the man responsible for gathering all of the taxes in the region of Judea, with tax collectors of lesser rank working under him. It seemed the trade-off was worth it to Zacchaeus. He liked being rich. And, Zacchaeus didn’t seem to mind being the object of contempt and disdain of his fellow countrymen. But maybe the money couldn’t fill up the empty places deep within Zacchaeus. Maybe the lack of friends left him wanting; wanting something that a nice house and gold coins couldn’t satisfy. As the story goes, the tax collector heard one day that Jesus would be passing through his town of Jericho. Zacchaeus wanted to see this Jesus whom he had heard so much about. Crowds of people were everywhere trying to get a look at Jesus; there was no way that a person of shorter stature, like Zacchaeus, stood a chance at getting a glimpse of Jesus. Zacchaeus had an idea; he would run ahead of the crowds and climb up a sycamore tree that was beside the road. It seemed a ridiculous idea for a man of his position to risk the humiliation that climbing a tree might bring if he were discovered. The people would surely mock him. But Zacchaeus just had to see this Jesus for himself. Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed the tree. He stayed silent as he watched the crowd approach with Jesus in the center of the throng. He caught a glimpse of the Rabbi. The Rabbi’s steps came to a halt right underneath the tree. Jesus looked up and into the eyes of the tax collector. Jesus spoke and called him by name, “Zacchaeus! You must come down from the tree quickly because I am on my way to your house. I thought we would have a visit today.” The surprised tax collector did just as Jesus told him. With great excitement and delight the chief tax collector escorted Jesus to his home. We’re not told what the two men talked about that day. But we are told that their conversation wrought a change in Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus wanted to make restitution for all the money he had wrongly taken from his fellow citizens. Zacchaeus also wanted to give of his wealth to the poor. On a day that Zacchaeus thought he would simply be a bystander in the crowd when Jesus came to town, he ended up playing host for the Rabbi. Zacchaeus gained a friend who changed his life forever. When Zacchaeus climbed up into that tree seeking to see, he did not know that it would lead to him being found by a loving Savior.  Weekly Memory Verse Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
 I do believe; help me In this day of modern technology, words often take on new meanings. For example, if someone asks, “Could you please send that to me?”; they could be referring to sending a letter or box through the mail. But, more often than not, a person is referring to sending a picture from one cell phone to another. Recently, our daughter took a picture of our 2 1/2 year old grandson sitting on his daddy’s lap. As soon as the picture was taken, our grandson said, “Mommy, send this to me.” We all had a good laugh over this, as he obviously didn’t have an understanding of what he was asking. I remembered this story as I was reading the father’s question in Mark 9:22-24, it reads, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can?All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately, the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Did this father understand what he was asking Jesus, the great Physician? I find that the answer to this question is found in the way the word “understand” is defined. Our grandson is too young to “understand” what he was asking... based on the intellectual abilities of a two-year-old. Scripture gives us some details about the father’s perspective on his son’s illness. In verse 21, Jesus asks the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, ‘From childhood.” This father had been searching for help for a long time. As parents, we understand the hurt of this dad that can’t seem to find answers for his child. His question for Jesus is in desperation. But it was not in desperation for Jesus, but for an answer. He is coming to Jesus without faith. Sometimes, we are not much different with the circumstances in our lives. We search for answers in the flesh and we try to control the situation. Then when we do come to the Lord in prayer (asking), but we approach it as just another option to attempt. All the while, we need to see that Jesus is THE answer. When Jesus says to the boy’s father, “If I can? All things are possible for one who believes.” I picture Jesus, in His love and mercy, emphatically saying: “If I can” in order to shake the father’s fleshly thinking, and cause him to really hear Jesus’s words, “All things are possible for one who believes.” Is there a circumstance you are attempting to control? Are you trying to understand it from a fleshly perspective? Are you seeing prayer only as an option to throw into the mix? May our hearts cry out to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” I am so thankful for this verse. It welcomes you and me to be real with the Lord. For I do believe, but for the many times I get it wrong; Jesus accepts and welcomes a heart that is real, calling out transparently, “Help my unbelief!”  Weekly Memory Verse Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash
 ... by His wounds, we are healed Recently, we visited Brasstown Bald which is the highest point in the state of Georgia and is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We hiked up the steep trail to the summit of Brasstown Bald where we had a view of four states - Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The panoramic view was spectacular! At the top, there was a visitor center and a theater showing a documentary film regarding the history of Brasstown Bald. Thankfully, we were able to sit and rest after our hike and watch the 15-minute movie. In the middle of the film, the narrator made an odd comment. He described the red and white oak trees growing on the mountain as “grotesquely beautiful.” Then there was a picture showing the thick branches and vines gnarled together in a strange formation and, indeed, the term “grotesquely beautiful” was appropriate. As we hiked down the mountain, I thought about that strange comment: grotesquely beautiful. How could those two words go together? Then, I envisioned another grotesquely beautiful image - Jesus the Christ. According to Isaiah 52:14, Jesus was so badly beaten that he was unrecognizable: “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness….” He was spit upon, struck on the head, scourged and delivered to be crucified (Matthew 27:26, 30, NKJ). Trying to envision that is extremely difficult!! Have you seen pictures of what people think Jesus looked like? Most likely, those pictures were of pain-free men who were enhanced with theater make up and definitely not as grotesque as what Jesus really looked like. Jesus was perfect, He did not deserve to be beaten and crucified. When we think of Jesus dying on the cross, we should ask ourselves - Why? Why would a perfect and sinless man be willing to be beaten? Willing to be Crucified? Willing to be separated from His Father while He carried my sins? Your sins? Why? Because of His intense love for us and His desire for each of us to have eternal life with Him and with His Father God! Jesus was and is the only one who can bridge the gap between a person to a Holy and perfect God. “…He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV). Not too long ago, we celebrated Resurrection Sunday, also known as Easter Sunday. That day when Jesus rose from the grave. Can I get a Hallelujah??!!?? We are only able to celebrate His miraculous resurrection because He endured the cross on Good Friday; the day when He was grotesquely beautiful for you and for me!  Weekly Memory Verse |
Kim White
My precious husband, Bill, and I have been planted in Fort Myers, Florida for almost 35 years. As a newly married couple, God most graciously had placed people in both of our jobs to share Christ with us. Its hard to believe it has been almost 34 years since we asked Jesus into our hearts! Bill and I have been blessed with four children, 3 daughters, then a son. These blessings came quickly, all within 6 years!! During these years I'm so thankful I was able to be part of women's ministry classes at our church, helping me to grow in my walk with Him. Then came the day when I was asked that question that stretched me way outside of my comfort zone...will you teach a class? Its hard to believe that I have now been teaching more than 20 years. Bill and I love to travel, most of the time going to visit our 9 grandchildren, oh ya, and their parents! I also love reading, walking and hanging out with some very special young moms in Beloved that bless my socks off!
Julie Fuller
Julie is a Kansas girl who resides in sunny Southwest Florida. She's been married to her husband Sean for 23 years and they share two boys ages 21 & 17. She enjoys baking and biking, but her absolute favorite thing is snow skiing which is a little difficult to do in a sandy 80 degree land.
She became a follower of Christ at age 10. She loves studying and teaching God's Word. She has a passion for encouraging moms to love and follow Jesus. 
Beth Calhoun
Beth grew up in a loving home; however, in her early 20s she faced a very lonely time. During that time, she cried out to God and asked “If You are real, please show yourself to me!” God met her where she was and she trusted in the Lord Jesus at that time. Her life verse and desire is “no matter what happens, to conduct herself in a manner worthy of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27
Beth now resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband Larry. The Lord has blessed them by blending their family of five children. They currently have eight grandchildren and are hoping that there will be more grandchildren in the future. 
Donna Brown
Donna accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of nine and has been amazed at God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout her life. She has been blessed to have had many mentors through each season of life, who have shown her what trusting God looks like. Donna and her husband, Bryan, make their home in central Arkansas. They have five grown children and are grandparents to wonderful grandchildren. Donna enjoys spending time with her family, laughing with friends (usually over coffee), going for long walks with her husband, and reading a good book (which may also be accompanied by a cup of coffee).
Sarah Spencer
Sarah is a true Florida Cracker. She was born and raised in Southwest Florida. At the age of 6, Sarah accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and she hasn't looked back since. Hebrews 13:8 is one of her favorite verses, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Eating delicious desserts, spending time with her family and friends, and teaching people about Jesus are a few of the things she enjoys to do in her spare time.
Sarah has been married to her best friend and husband, Brandon, for 7 years. They have been blessed with one beautiful, determined son, Asher, who keeps them on their toes. Sarah and her family live in the Tampa area. They love exploring their community together, family hugs, and eating pizza whenever possible. 
Katie Flint
Katie Flint just recently moved back home to Fort Myers, Florida with her husband, Ryan and two children, Collins and Madden. At the age of 5, Katie accepted Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of her life, after attending Vacation Bible School. Through each phase of her life, God has shown her that He alone is trustworthy. The verse that has been her life source is Psalm 46:10- “Be still and know that I am God.”
She is a stay-at-home mom and enjoys exercising and baking. She has been married to her husband Ryan for almost 9 years, who is her high school sweetheart. They enjoy trying new restaurants, family trips to the beach, and relaxing at home. 
Marsha Sommer
Marsha grew up in a small rural town in upstate New York. In 2006, after finishing college, she moved to sunny SW Florida where she met her, now husband, Shawn. Together they enjoy spending family time with their two fun-loving toddler boys Zachariah and Kairos.
Marsha enjoys living an active lifestyle, which is helpful, considering that her favorite hobby is baking. Though she attended church as a child, Marsha was not saved until adulthood when her eyes were finally opened to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Since being saved, God has placed a loving burden on her heart to share the truth about God’s healing grace with those who may feel like forgiveness is not possible for them. Archives
December 2021
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