A Smoldering City

 If today were your last living day, do you know where your eternal place of residence would be? Would your heart be ready and fully prepared to meet Jesus at any given moment?

I think everyone would collectively agree that the world we are currently living in could only be described as a chaotic and crumbling mess. So many tragedies have taken place within the last several months as well, such as weather-related disasters, massive flooding, widespread fires, aviation incidents, and growing presence of global turmoil.

We are truly living through perilous times within a smoldering city.

A noteworthy fact: Did you know that fire often smolders for weeks before its flames ever make an appearance? And in those beginning stages, sometimes even an odor isn't always detectable. 

I thought that was both interesting and a little bit frightening. It's somewhat unthinkable to consider the possibility of looming trouble long before it becomes noticeable to the naked eye. 

But it's not impossible. 

That's exactly what is happening in our world today.

Yet many precious souls are STILL so blinded with their hearts remaining deceived; they are living in total oblivion and are currently unable to see the dangerous presence of evil and the eventual destruction that lies ahead for them. It's sadly not unusual for some to laugh and joke while on social media about the promise of Christ's return. The Bible provides a stark description of scoffers in 2 Peter Chapter 3:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God, the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:3-7)

 I've come across the following thought numerous times and it is so true: 

While the world prepares for war, Heaven is preparing for a wedding.

Jesus loves you and He so freely offers the precious gift of salvation to all. I love these few verses and could not go without sharing them today. The truth of God's Word can sometimes be stark but His love for all is straightforward and evidenced all throughout Scripture.

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to a place of repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". (Romans 10:9-10)

Won't you come to a place of repentance and settle the matter of your eternal residence today?

 

When Your Heart Is Overwhelmed

I was listening to The Goodness of God this past Sunday morning while getting ready for church and I couldn't help but have this thought:

As we look around the world we are living in today, it's easy for our hearts to feel overwhelmed and somewhat forlorn as you watch situations develop.

Isn't this world an absolute mess? 

Even on a smaller scale, day to day life can be messy and overwhelming too. Some days might not all be the best, but I guarantee you that His goodness can be found somewhere in every one of them.

I think we could all use that reminder sometimes. I know that my heart needs it every day. 

No matter what your day looks like, God is still God and His goodness is ever-present. He is our greatest source of shelter from the enemy through times that are about as bleak as they can be. 

When you are without the strength to stand, you can always lean on Him.

When your heart is overwhelmed, you will forever be able to place your trust in Him. 

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah." (Psalm 61: 2-4)

I Need You, Lord

When the days seem long, and the nights get tough

May my heart always remember that You are enough

As my thoughts become jumbled, and my walk becomes weary

Lord, I am forever thankful, for I know You are always near me

When the skies are hazy, and the nights seem long

May my hearr always remember that You've never steered me wrong

As the light grows dim and my walk grows weary

Lord, I still praise Your name, for I know You are always near me.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

The Way of Wisdom

I don't know about you, but I am LOVING the slightly warmer temperatures and the bright sunshine that is beginning to come through my window every morning.

The Lord placed this thought on my heart several days ago; I know just about every area of the country felt the unusual sting of brutally cold winter days that were filled with snow and ice. After the first storm, I attempted to leave my house and my foot got hung as I tried to manuever through the aforementioned snow and ice combination on my own; the second wintery wave led me to fall off the side of my walkway and into another batch of snow that was fortunately soft. There were no injuries and I am still praising the Lord for that! ❤️🙌

I began using my walker as a way of steadying myself throughout the remainder of those wintery days. Thankfully we are FINALLY coming into bright and sunny weather and I have now been able to put the walker away and out of sight.

I don't know why the Lord gave me this particular thought but I couldn't help but think of this hymn I've listened to so many times. 

🎶Lord, I can't even walk without You holding my hand.....🎶

The seasons of our lives are ever-changing. While it may be easy to remember to lean on Jesus through those cloudy days, how often do we put Him away when the sun is shining bright? 

My friend, you need Jesus as much on those sunny days as you do when the skies are grey. 

You can't move through this life without Him. 

You can't even walk without Him holding your hand.

Making the decision to walk in His wisdom through every ounce of weather that life gives will keep you from becoming stuck or stumbling when you least expect it. 

"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." (Proverbs 4:11-12 KJV)

Remembering and Reflecting

We are riding into the final week of January; my greatest hope is to share all of what God has given me for the month within these last few days. We got a late start on Molly's Zone for 2025, but my heart remains so thankful for what God is allowing me to do for His glory.

I named this message "Remembering and Reflecting" because in my heart I know that some days are never meant to be forgotten.

I believe that the most crucial aspect of remembering and recalling the valleys we have traveled through will always be reflecting on the victories that the Lord gives us.

I will forever pause and reflect on the day of January 30, 2005. I LOVE sharing this part of my testimony because it teaches such a simple, yet valuable life lesson:

No amount of fire that is put into our lives will ever too much for God to put out. There is no valley where victory isn't possible. 

Mom and I lost nearly everything we owned after experiencing the devastation of a house fire. It's unimaginable to me to think that two whole decades have passed since that horrible life altering day.  That moment will forever represent a turning point in the storybook of my life. While effectively bringing one tumultuous chapter of our lives to an end, the events of that day simultaneously marked the beginning of another.

I always love remembering and reflecting on every ounce of God's goodness that pulled us through such a difficult season. The outpouring of love and support that was received will forever be one of my favorite blessings from the Lord.

It's tough remembering what all was lost that day. I think of my seven-month-old puppy, Tobie. I hate that her last moments were spent hiding in fear. It hurts me to imagine the thoughts that were running through her mind. 

Mom and I made it out of the house with our trunk of pictures, the Bible I received on the day I got saved, and precious keepsakes from time spent with my Mamaw Ruby that would have been irreplaceable. It is still such a blessing to know that He remembered my love for her and made sure those belongings were kept safe. (They made it out on the first load we took to my grandmother's house; unfortunately, we were never able to return)

I cannot bring today's thought to a close without praising the Lord for who He is. 

The Lord gave me the sweetest little closing thought that I hope and pray will be an encouragement to you as you go about your day: 

You may feel the weight of the world on your shoulders; you might be living as 'stuck' in the fire that is your situation, but you can always count on Jesus to walk you through it.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2) 

The Building Of Your Life

I wrote and published a New Years themed message earlier in the month that never felt as though it was finishable; following the Lord's continual tug on my heart to remove "What's Weighing You Down?" from Molly's Zone, He placed such a special thothought on my heart that I knew couldn't be left unwritten. 

The simple thought of buildings and the process of creating them exists as the foundational aspect of today's message....the mentioning of the word foundation especially carries significance because the structure will not stand without a solid foundation and you can't even begin to build it without following a blueprint. 

Have you ever attempted to put something together without following instructions only to be met with confusion, frustration, and eventual disaster? 

I began thinking about the DIY attitude that we all carry more than we'd care to admit (my own guilty heart is included on SO many levels) 

It's too easy to find ourselves wanting God to follow along with all of our plans, instead of humbly choosing to follow His. 

The message He gave me to write and share today is such an important reminder for every day; everyone needs it, including me, and I hope the thought speaks to your own heart as much as it did to mine. 

Why am I telling you this? 

Because there's SO much tragedy that can result from not following His plan for our lives. Jesus gave His life for ALL and He continually seeks to save those who are lost and on their way to Hell. (If you do not know Him as Savior, please do not shrug off the seriousness of dealing with eternity. Hell is a VERY real place.) 

What would a building look like if no blueprint was followed? What would your life look like if you didn't follow Jesus? 

The building of your life would forever possess an unsteady foundation that would never be able to withstand those circumstances 'that you never saw coming'; it's easy to be happy with those self made plans when it seems as though every detail about life is falling into place, but what happens when it all starts to fall apart in your hands?

A foundation of faith is ALWAYS important to have, but especially carries significance in times of trouble. Faith is what keeps you moving when you're unable to walk. Faith is what holds you steady when you are left without enough strength to stand. Faith is what helps you to hold onto joy through those moments where happiness is nowhere to be found. 

 

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

A life lived without Jesus will forever lack a clear sense of direction or purpose; the youth of today comes into my thoughts as I'm writing this out. We live in a Tik Tok influencer obsessed society. Lost souls are aimlessly and relentlessly searching for the sort of peaceful satisfaction that the world will never be able to give them. 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38-39)

Living without a foundation of faith & having no sense of direction or purpose will slowly but surely pave the way for the eventual destruction of whatever you've built. As we're continuing into the month of January (we are officially half-way through) think about what you want to build on in the coming weeks and months ahead. I heard this thought on a favorite podcast recently and it truly resonated with me: 

Every day the Lord has given to us should be given back to Him. Let us not allow those days to be wasted.❤️

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" (Matthew 7:24)

The Gift of Jesus

Three days stand between the world and the happening of another Christmas. I truly LOVE everything about the month of December, and I find the season of gift-giving both exciting and heartwarming. Nothing compares to the beauty of a well-decorated tree and precious time spent with loved ones. 

So much about the season is wonderful but the commercialism surrounding the holiday so often leaves many hearts forgetting the actual reason for the season.

That reason would be the birth of Jesus. We celebrate Him on this precious day (and we should honor Him with each day that we live, but that is another thought for another time)

I have thought a lot about gift-giving. I love to buy practical gifts; items someone uses daily and something that they truly need. 

As the word 'practical' has continually swirled around in my thoughts, I couldn't help but remember Isaiah 9:6; the sweet and powerful reminder of who Jesus is and how exciting and amazing His birth was. 

I can imagine so much planning going into every intricate detail just as parents often spend weeks or months preparing for Christmas, hoping that everything about the holiday will become a precious memory.

The presence of Jesus provides many wonderful and practical gifts that can and should be applied in our lives daily: 

The Gift of Counsellor refers to the infallible wisdom that He graciously provides all throughout His Word. Jesus is the ultimate advice giver and He will never steer you in the wrong direction.

The Gift of His Might: Many life circumstances leave families weakened and without any source of strength. You will forever need the gift of His might. Perhaps whoever stumbles upon my words today finds themselves traveling through some situation that proves to be overwhelming and difficult to understand. The gift of His might will provide you with every ounce of gumption you'll ever need to walk right through it. 

The Gift Of Eternal Life: The promise of an eternity to spend with Jesus is perhaps the sweetest gift of all. The gift of salvation is offered freely to all who are willing to accept it. Jesus loves you and His greatest desire is for you to place your life in His hands. 

The Gift of Peace: The incomparable peace that is experienced through knowing and trusting in Jesus truly IS wonderful. The world holds no promise of hope, but Jesus IS our blessed hope. The gift of peace comes from knowing that this world is not our home. 

May the focus of our Christmas holiday be more about celebrating the gift of Jesus and remembering the need for His presence in our lives. 

"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." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

What Are You Eating?

 

We are truly living through dangerous days. Our surroundings are filled with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and unfamiliarity, and the continual presence of societal poison has now been thrown out into the open for the entire world to see.

The staggering amount seems quite overwhelming. Studies show that most of what we consume daily is considered harmful. The fast-food industry continues to crumble as many are now avoiding what they're selling. 

That only places the foundation for my message today----the nasty ingredients found in what we are consuming don't only exist in our edible food---they are within everything we take in through our senses---the music we listen to, the television shows we're streaming, and those little devices that occupy so much of our time (that last part was written from personal experience)

One quick Google search about the dangers of processed foods will show their harmful effects on our bodies. While we should care about our physical condition, we must also remember to be diligent about our spiritual health. 

It's so easy to drift away from what is healthy for us; spiritual warfare surrounds us and those areas are continually under attack. 

How can what we eat spiritually open the door to darkness? 

Where do the problems begin to surface?

Through The Condition of Our Heart:The spiritual condition of the heart is reflected in every aspect of life. The world often encourages you to 'follow your heart' but the Bible warns us that the heart is deceitful and that we are to keep it with all diligence. 

The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the word 'keep' as   "to preserve from falling, or from danger; to protect; to guard, or to sustain." 

Failing to guard the heart will leave it diseased and endangered. Jesus loves you and His greatest desire is for you to be healthy. We all need a check-up on the heart from time to time. How is yours looking?

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23 KJV)

Through The Condition of Our Minds: . You'll find so much about the condition of the mind throughout Scripture. It's often said that if you live without filling the mind with the truth of God's precious Word, the world will never fail to fill it with thoughts that are rooted in darkness, fear, and doubt. Perhaps you are facing an uncomfortable or uncertain situation at the moment. Pray about it, ask the Lord to calm you down, and think about what His Word says. He's always by your side and He'll always be there. All you need to do is trust Him.

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

Through the Condition of Our Rest: The world is surely not a place of peaceful rest; endless turmoil surrounds us, and the power of spiritual warfare can keep you tossing and turning (literally and figuratively). Looking to Jesus will keep you resting in His perfect peace. This powerful truth is short and sweet, but it's so simple. There's never been a problem that God couldn't solve, and there's never been a battle that He couldn't conquer.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8 KJV) 

Don't buy into the poisonous garbage of this world. Choosing to fill yourself with it will forever leave you hungry and without proper nourishment.

You may get what you want, but you'll never find what you need. 

It's often said that you are what you eat.

What are you eating today?

Questions And Answers (Revised Version)

 I have grown to love Bible study SO much more throughout the past few months. (I love listening to Scott Pauley's Enjoying the Journey as well...I started listening to his podcast in September.)

I have loved to learn since I was little and there's so much wisdom to be found all throughout God's Word. And because we are human, we will never have the capacity to know it all. 

(Sometimes we DO think we know it all, or at least I know I do.)

There will always be questions that run through our minds that we might not have the answers for, and that can be disheartening. Sometimes the process of waiting comes into play and that's never really easy. (That's another thought for another day)

It can sometimes to be difficult to accept that we don't know everything, but that there's Someone who DOES. 

His Word not only provides answers to the countless questions that we hold in our hearts, but it also has the power to breathe so many good things into our life: it builds our hope, strengthens our patience, and ultimately grows our trust in Him.

"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." (Proverbs 19:8 KJV)

Ready, Waiting, And Watching (Revised "Ready And Waiting")

  The Lord placed a thought on my heart several weeks ago and I just couldn't wait  to share. As we're continuing along on the journey through unprecedented and unpredictable days, the act of preparing and being prepared for anything is a MUST.

It is SUPER important to have ourselves ready, waiting, and watching for the Lord to return. The Bible says no man knoweth the day, nor the hour.....but would you be ready if that moment were right now?

I keep thinking about when I'm preparing to go somewhere. I have cerebral palsy, so sometimes I'm sort of a professional doddler. I take my good ol sweet time even when I shouldn't. 

But I have learned to move it along when necessary. I take my shower and get dressed long before it is time for me to be somewhere. Those extra moments that are sometimes left to spare are spent either tidying up an area in the house or simply watching out the front door in the event that I am waiting for someone to come and pick me up.

I have made the mistake of cleaning before getting myself dressed in times past and I was caught in a state of not being ready AT ALL when it was time to leave for wherever I was going. 

That's never a good predicament to find yourself in. 

It is SUPER important to be sure that you are already ready and waiting on the Lord in these last days. If you've never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, please, don't wait around.

Don't worry about the mess you're trying to clean up.

Life is messy, and no one is perfect, nobody will ever have it all together. 

Be ready and waiting for Him to come; the time is drawing nearer with every day that passes. 

Don't worry...

Jesus will help you clean up your mess while you wait. 

 Just don't allow yourself to be caught unprepared. 

Be ready.

Be waiting.

Be watching.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

The Season To Start

How is it almost November already?!

It truly feels as though September vanished into thin air without a trace. And weren't we just at the beginning of October?

I have not had the opportunity to blog since unfortunately coming down with COVID in the middle of September and my heart is SO happy to finally share more of everything with you----my upcoming projects were understandably placed on hold.

I am so thankful to the Lord for His continuous love and care in every circumstance—even those detours that we don't quite understand. 

The passage of time presents us with numerous trials that were never meant to be fought alone; Christ gives us the power to have victory over all if we choose to trust in Him. If you've never trusted in Christ for salvation--you're missing out on something truly precious! 

The good news is that with the arrival of each new day, there are countless opportunities for new seasons to begin---life is ever-changing, but God is the One who never changes. 

Early September saw me celebrating the ninth anniversary of my cherished blog, Molly's Zone with a thought that was entitled Running The Race. I loved how the Lord placed that analogy on my heart for that particular post and I felt compelled to continue with that theme today by first presenting a personal challenge:

When will you be ready to start running your race?

It's important to note that while every good race eventually reaches a finish line---the runner must first decide to approach its starting point. While placing together my anniversary post, I couldn't help but think about those who haven't yet trusted in Christ as their Savior----those souls who are lost and on their way to Hell solely because they have never approached the starting point of their personal relationship with Him.

There are a multitude of reasons why someone may be hesitant to come to Christ, and whoever reads this, I want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through. So many are facing similar daily struggles. Maybe the Lord has tugged on your heart for the longest time concerning eternity, and you just don't know what to say to Him. Prayers never need to be perfectly polished; they only require a willing heart.

One popular worldly belief is that people are strong enough to endure every season on their own; asking for help is often seen through the lens of the world as admitting defeat or showing weakness. Friend, leaning on Jesus through every season is NEVER the wrong thing to do. Humans are weak beings and we ALL need Jesus. By showing Him our imperfect weakness, we are then given His perfect strength to endure and embrace the challenges that come our way. 

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Another popular worldly assumption is that someone is good enough or worthy enough for salvation by their own merit---society today continues to submerge itself into the culture of self-love and a sense of entitlement---while on the flip side, some find themselves drowning in depression or anxiety--maybe because of sickness or tragedy or just the general state of our surroundings---these truly are perilous times. Some feel as though they have committed sins that are much too powerful for Jesus to forgive. 

Your soul will never be too lost to be saved and your sin will never be too much to be forgiven, my friend.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9 KJV)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Come and stand with Christ at the starting point of your race and He will lead you through to victory in ALL the seasons that life brings---the decision that deals with eternity should never be taken lightly and it is one that you will never regret. Jesus loves you beyond all fault and is seeking to save you from an eternity spent in the fiery pit of Hell and the agonizing pain of becoming forever separated from Him.

The world may leave you feeling empty and alone.

But Jesus never will, my friend.

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Are you ready to come to Him and start running your race?