with Carolyn Goff
Hello from Deanburg! Sorry I slipped up last week and did not get my news in. I have to admit I was having too much fun. Orban and I were in Gulf Shores with my sister and her husband. So good to be with them after not seeing them much for two years.
Belated birthday wishes to Madison Hopper on Jan. 9 and Kim Howell on Jan. 10!
Happy Birthday to Ann Helton Ruth Landers, Todd Julian, and Melanie Morton on Jan. 12. I Hope you all have a wonderful birthday!
Happy anniversary to Mitzi and Eric Bastin on Jan. 10. Hope you have many more together.
Our devotion: “DISTORT/SPEAK TRUTH” – “The enemy distorts truth with lies. One of the biggest lies the enemy wants us to believe is that God does not love or accept us. If the enemy can convince us of this, he has won the spiritual battle we’re all fighting.
“The enemy is a crafty liar who convinced Adam and Eve that God was lying to them. He distorted God’s truth and convinced them that God lied about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The enemy made it seem like God was trying to keep them from becoming like Him, when in fact, God told them not to eat from the tree so they could continue to be like Him. The enemy lied to Adam and Eve, and he continues to lie to us.
“Satan is always trying to distort God’s truth and fill your mind with lies. Lies that we aren’t enough. Lies that our future is hopeless. Lies that we don’t have what it takes to succeed. Lies that no one loves us or ever will love us. Lies that our best days are behind us. Lies that we aren’t enough. Lies that our dreams will never happen. Lies that our mistakes of the past define us.
“When negative thoughts come into your mind, you need to know they aren’t coming from you. After all, who would ever choose to have a negative thought? These negative thoughts are lies coming from the enemy.
“When your mind fills with lies, don’t listen or believe them; fight back by SPEAKING TRUTH to the lies. Talk to yourself and speak words of truth to counter the lies.
“‘We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5
“It is so important to speak truth to our souls, speak words of truth, and be encouraged to counter the lies. But to speak truth to lies, we need to know the truth. Truth is what God says about you. The Bible says you are His child, and He loves you so very much. God’s word tells us God has a plan for your life, and you have a future and hope. The Bible tells us all we need to know about TRUTH.
“So when your mind fills with negative thoughts and lies, stop and ask yourself: ‘How does this thought line up with God’s Word?’
“Going Deeper: What is one lie or negative thought you tell yourself? Speak the truth to that lie. What does God’s Word say is truth? Write down that truth on a piece of paper, post it on your mirror or wall, and tell yourself that truth every day.
“Prayer: Thank God for His Word, His Truth. Thank Him when your mind is filling with lies that you can go to His Word and speak truth to the lies.”
May God bless everyone of you this year and always. To add something to this column call me or text to 879-9777.
