Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

Got a little bit of sun on my upper thighs yesterday, but my reward was that all of my yard looks gorgeous. The new blades, finding the throttle for increased blade speed, equal a wondiferous cut on my corner of the universe. Today I have about six things on my self-induced honey-do list to accomplish.

Over the weekend, I composed two stories for challenges and competitions. My brain is resting for the next couple of days. My littles are here, so we will be spending some quality time together. They will be with us for a couple of weeks. I will more than likely need a vacation when they go home. I will be exhausted but rejuvenated at the same time.

While I was mowing the furthest piece of our property, a story in the bible came to mind … The story of the man who had been by the healing pool for 38 years. I must confess that the first few times that I read it or even heard about it, I looked at it as an ‘oh wow,’ how nice. However, in my growth in the Word, I still look at it with the oh wow, but my mind shifted to “Why?” Why did you not just remain on the edge of the healing pool so that when it stirred, you could just flop in? I mean, if I were in that situation, I would like to think that I would do everything I could to help myself. Jesus, when he approached the man, even asked, “Do you want to get well?” In my head, if Jesus is asking you … there must be something inside preventing you from working towards your own well-being.

Now, while I was looking up addresses for this story, I noticed something that I had forgotten … in verse 14 … after he healed the man, he saw him in the temple and said, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

I find that interesting. In our trials … whatever the trials … Satan has his digs in us for our wrongdoings and holds that over our heads. Each time we fall, the enemy is there to hold us down. He likes to challenge our worthiness because we fall, and when he has his talons securely embedded, it is very difficult to see the Light. That is why the Holy Spirit places particular people in our lives. To work as intercessors, guides, or teachers. To stand guard as protectors … primarily from ourselves. When God tasks a servant with this position, only He can release them from it.

If you are stumbling in a certain area, my question is this … Do you want to be better? Truly. If the answer is yes, what is the hook that is keeping you down? Has the enemy convinced you that you are not worthy of saving? I am here to dismiss that statement. God wants everyone who wants his peace in his kingdom. Like any parent, he will send or do whatever he can to guide and direct you and bring you home. You need only take that step.

Most of our trials come because we started with something that did not seem like a big deal, and now it has manifested into something huge. But there is hope. There is an exit. There is a way to be victorious. The question is … will you silence the enemy and listen to the Father … or will you continue to submit to the enemy’s will?

The choice is yours. He is providing an out. He is showing you the exit. He has given you the protectors. He is extending his unconditional love. What are you waiting for?

Be blessed.

** Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins. –Psalm 130