IN THE GARDEN DEVOTIONS

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Proverbs 8:17 Once while at a church service, with thoughts of needing answers for the many things that were going on in my life, the Pastor prophesied that God would come and wake us up early in the morning to tell us some things we needed to know. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3 It was a timely Word for I was in a despe

“...Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 One of my greatest battles took place in the Operating Room. I remember when I was told I that I needed a defibrillator (see About the Author). While in the doctor's office the surgeon explained the procedure and discussed what would take place. He explained that he would cut me, p

“So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (Amp) Testimony of the God's Word producing what it said: After 23 years of being in prison, falsely accused, my nephew was released with all charges dropped and his record completely cleared! There were many court appearances. Each one set with hopes of him being

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia , and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia , and help us. ” Acts 16:9 I once remember being called to an office to assist someone, only to find out she did not need my help. As I sat at one of the desks, a manager of another department passed by and stated, "I need help!". She looked at me and said, “Denise, what are you doing?” I said, “I was called here to assist in this office.” Right at th

"And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.". 1 Corinthians 8:2. There was a time when I would hear 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 preached from the pulpit and thought the pastor was criticizing and speaking directly about me. I didn't realize it was the living Word of God, sharp and powerful, doing its work of conviction within my heart (Hebrews 4:12). Back then, I had a serious need to be right. I truly believed I knew some stuff and wa

Jesus saith ..., I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 There is none right

“…and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.” Nehemiah 7:3 "Neighborhood Watch - Battle Night!" I remember several years ago attending church and as I drove up, we would watch the drug dealers openly selling their drugs. Our church sat on the corner. So, on one side of the corner was God's people (army) and the other side was Satan's (army). At times it seemed there were more attendees to their side

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Philippians 4:12 I can remember a time when my daughter was a baby and I did not have enough milk for her. I remember watching her suck the last drop. During this time I was anxious and praying, “Lord YOU said in your word, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, n

“Our Father Who art in heaven,...” Luke 11:2 I remember times when, while I was cooking, my children would gather together in the kitchen and begin to talk to me. My son would not say much but my daughter said a lot. It seemed like as soon as she would come to a point where she really tried to get an important point across my son would begin to talk. She would become irritated and say, “Why is it every time I talk you want to say something. You never say anything until I star

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 Often, I found myself regretting things that I've done or didn't do, mistakes made, and problems because of those mistakes. Thoughts of what if I had done that or what about this? While in a moment of fee

"But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes." Judges 1:6 In the midst of the battle in Judges 1:1-7 God stops for a moment to tell us about King Adoni-bezek. He once captured seventy kings and humiliated them by cutting off their thumbs and big toes and made them eat the scraps from under his table. You see, part of the attack of the Enemy is to humiliate you. He strips you of your dignity, mortifies you, and bri

"And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" Genesis 3:9 I remember when I was about 11 years old, I received a list of chores to do when my mother went to work. I would play until the very last minute until my brothers would say, Mama is coming! I remember putting everything that was on the floor in the closet. I did this for several days. When my mother came in this time, I don't know what made her open that closet door, but when she did, EVERYTHI

"And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not." Ezekiel 33:32 Back in the day, I used to love the song "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" and knew every single word. But it wasn't until I was in my thirties that I actually understood what the lyrics meant. As my relationship with God deepened, I found myself drawn less and less to those types of songs. My s

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them,because they fainted, and were scattered abroad,as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 There is something that should happen within us when see someone in desperate need. Although Jesus had been teaching, preaching the gospel, and healing every sickness among the people, when he saw that there were still multitudes fainting and scattered he did not stop but compassion caused him to continue. The amplif

“…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 2008 - 2011 were the most trying years of my life. It was in those years God was calling me to a higher level of servitude. Looking back at the beginning, I believed He was calling me to a place where I was simply going to serve the leader He placed before me, but it turned out

"...yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25 There was a time in my life that whenever I needed money, I would always ask my sister. It was strange because my income was more than hers, but I never had enough. I was never a person to waste my money, and I did not buy extravagant things. I was always working hard just to make ends meet. I was a child of God but was always broke. Hmmm.... This particular time my light bill was overdue

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…” Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV Have you ever checked the balance on a Gift Card only to find there was not enough to make a purchase? Or, even, found a zero balance? The gift giver decided the amount and placed

“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;..." Isaiah 11:6 NLT On July 25, 2017, three pit bulls attacked and killed my sister's pet dog, Saint, while he was on his leash in their backyard. When I got the news, I began to cry. I experienced seeing a pit bull viscously attack and kill a small dog before. He was relentless and no matter how much we screamed he would not release the dog's neck from his grasp. My sister, niece, and nephews were devastated. I never exp

“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 Did you know Doubt is a vehicle Satan uses to take you away from God? Have you ever prayed for something, and initially had faith and believed, and as you waited you started feeling like it would not happen. Recently I went on a fast praying for something specific and desperately n

“And We will build…cities for our little ones: But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel , until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.” Numbers 32:16-17 KJV There was a time when you heard of someone being shot it was someone about 40 or 30, then 20, then 19, 18, 17, 16. Remember when you heard about the first 12-year-old, then 10, then OMG! 8, Oh Jesus! 5,