Posted on Oct 20, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog, THE CAGE
By Anita Mondragon
As many of you know, my dad was a Baptist Preacher for over 40 years. He used many illustrations in his sermons to get his point across. He likened them to parables that Jesus used in the Bible so that folks could understand more easily.
The following is based on one of the illustrations he used. I heard it many times during my growing up years and turned it into a poem for my grandchildren.
“Gotcha!” screamed the boy,
With excitement and delight;
As the cage door slammed shut… Read more…
Posted on Oct 15, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: a lifeboat, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog
By Anita Mondragon
The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently, He will forgive if they only believe. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful…Jesus will save! -Fanny J. Crosby 1869 and William H. Doane, 1870
I wrote the following poem years ago. It came about like this: Every day, I saw this man in my neighborhood on his way to the bus stop. He was elderly, and in poor health. He walked with a cane, and would momentarily stop because he had trouble breathing. Read more…
Posted on Oct 8, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, buy now pay later, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog
By Anita Mondragon
“For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back…no turning back! -Unknown
I received a catalog in the mail today…
YOU’RE PRE-APPROVED! BUY NOW-PAY LATER The cover was striking! It bore my name with some advice: Save your credit cards for other things – you’re pre-approved for ***** credit! There was also an ominous sticker below that read: LAST CHANCE: We don’t want to bother you with unwanted catalogs. This could be your FINAL CATALOG. Please order TODAY to receive future editions! Payments as low as $20 per month.
Now, let me say…I’m not usually sucked in too easily by that kind of stuff, but it was packaged so attractively, and presented so well, that I have to admit…it looked pretty tempting!
Read more…
Posted on Oct 6, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: daily blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog, God is good, presents or presence
By Anita Mondragon
I hear people all the time ask for the blessings of God…I daresay I’ve done it myself a few times. Nothing wrong with that, except most of the time, we crave the blessings-the PRESENTS more than the actual PRESENCE of God. There’s something about our flesh that desires the material things of this world more than the unseen indwelling of God with us.
Have you ever found yourself in deep thought of God and His goodness? You begin to thank Him for the big things in your life, you know…your health, your job, your house, your car…. Then you move to the “small” things, the things we take for-granted, like our next breath…
Read more…
Posted on Oct 1, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven bog, the mouse in my garage
By Anita Mondragon
“There he goes!” screamed grandma as she lifted her feet high in the air. We were sitting on the patio, enjoying our breakfast when a tiny mouse ran by our feet. He was running as fast as the wind! We didn’t see him for the rest of the day…he was in hiding. “I think we scared him more than he scared us!” I said, with a chuckle.
We didn’t see hide nor hair of him for days. Then one day, as I sat on the patio, deep in thought, he stuck his wee head out the side door of the garage. Our eyes locked, and we stared at each other for some time. He was the cutest, tiniest, little creature I had ever seen. He was dark brown and had two shiny black eyes that never seemed to blink. All by himself, he seemed so insignificant and harmless; but, my husband saw him and said we needed to get rid of him.
Read more…
Posted on Sep 29, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, fogiven blog, I dont know you
By Anita Mondragon
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’-Matthew 7:21-23
You speak to me and call out my name when others are around;
In pious tones, you thank me that you’re not like those OTHER sinners…there…kneeling on the ground.
But…I don’t know you.
You’re self-righteous, full of pride…oozing with conceit.
You’d never bow, or smite your breast; you’d never humbly entreat.
No…I don’t know you.
I called out to you for many years before you tried to do things your own way;
Before you relied upon yourself, you heard the things I’d say…
But…I don’t know you.
You did things in my name, but they were done for YOUR honor and glory.
Now, here you stand before me, telling me you’re sorry.
Posted on Sep 14, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog, Praise the Lord, sing your praise to the lord, sing your praises God
By Anita Mondragon
I wrote this a few years back…
This morning, I stood at the open door of our house, seeing my husband off to work. As I waved and threw kisses, I noticed how crisp and clean the air was as I gulped in the goodness of God. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and the distant farmhouse became a silhouette against the blazing orange! As if that were not enough for my eyes to behold, the birds in the near-by trees burst into song like a glorious choir. One lone Turtle Dove sat perched on the neighbor’s roof and began cooing his praise like a solo part. That’s when I was reminded of some verses in Psalm 150:1-6 They say:
Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies; Read more…
Posted on Sep 11, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: a praying mom, aproned warrior, blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog, mom, moms, prayer, pryaer, war
By Anita Mondragon
One day, while in prayer for my children, God gave me this poem. I hope it encourages all of you “mamas” out there. Never give up! Keep on going to war and pray for your children!
**
The most violent battles that are ever fought,
Do you know who fights them and when?
In history books, you will find them not,
For they’re fought by the mothers of men.
Not with tanks, guns, or swords
Posted on Sep 9, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, church blog, daily devotion, daily devotional, forgiven blog, good intentions, PCC, weight loss
By Anita Mondragon
I was just making our nightly cup of coffee when I busted out laughing. My husband yelled from the living room, “what’s so funny?” I yelled back, “if you’re ever looking for the Milano cookies, you’ll find ‘em right next to my SlimFast carb cutter pills!”
Oh my gosh! no wonder I can’t get rid of this weight!
That happened last night. It was funny at first, but then I looked at it in a Spiritual light, and it wasn’t so amusing then.
You see, I have this secret place where I hide things…so we don’t overeat. It’s my secret stash of goodies…my place of indulgence. But God showed me that I do the same thing in my personal walk with Him. We all have a place like that. We have good intentions, but sometimes the flesh gets the best of us and instead of reaching out to God in prayer, we go ahead and do things that please the flesh.
Read more…
Posted on Sep 4, 2020 in Forgiven- A Daily Devotion | Tags: blog, daily detinal, daily devotinal, daily devotion, forgiven blog, jesus, my jesus, PCC
By Michael Mondragon
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” -2 Cor. 9:15
If I could leave one thing to you,
Riches of this world, just would not do.
A beautiful home would be so nice…
But security and money would not suffice.
So, if I may…I give to you
The gift of Jesus, to see you through!
