Good morning and happy Friday. Nicodemus could not understand how a man can be born again. He was thinking in earthly terms. In the physical light of things. He was not grasping the spiritual realm of God. The apostles did the same as Jesus told of things to come. They looked to what they knew, the world they were in. Until we wrap out own minds around some of what God is and about, because we'll never get it all, we will continue to be of this world. We have to get our minds into a place of spirituality. The heart will lead if we let it, but our mind tries to keeps us earthly because it's what we know. Let your heart know Jesus and give it the authority to lead the mind to that place of spirituality.  Our time here temporary but we've tied ourselves to it like its forever. God is forever. He loves us so much and wants nothing more than for us to be with Him. But it's up to us. He's done all and is doing all to make that happen. Give your all. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday. How many times growing up did we get told to not do things and still did them anyway? How much would you like to go back and listen to your parents and see how it turned out? Some of us are lucky and not much worse for the wear. Others weren't so lucky and have some scars of the past that we wish we're gone. Still others are locked away or dead from the choices they made back then. It's so hard to see the good and the benefit of doing things right when we want to do the wrong because it's fun or what we would rather do. As a parent now watching my own kids make immature choices and seeing the result can be eye opening to the way the Father in heaven is looking at His kids and thinking the same thing. Why didn't we listen? Why don't we now?  There is a common thread in it all that leans us toward the wrong choice. It's our lack of faith in God to do and be all He says He is. We think we can handle our lives as we live them. I pray for us to find total surrender to Him. That our life becomes driven by serving Him alone. All else will take care of itself if we get to that place. It's just so hard to trust that. Satan has us believing it's not possible. Stop listening to the world and listen to your heart. (thank you Roxette). The Holy Spirit dwells within us and will guide us if we allow ourselves to be lead. He will not make you, it's your choice. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. I'm borrowing from an article I read yesterday. It's a little long but worth the read. This is so true after seeing a friends angry and upset post yesterday. 

Tweeter gets 10 years in jail for insulting Islam

A court in Kuwait has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for Twitter posts it deems insulting to Islam.  Hamad al-Naqi claims that he did not post the messages and that his Twitter account was hacked.  He was attacked in jail by another inmate and has now received the maximum sentence for his alleged crime.  In similar news, last April an Egyptian court sentenced a 17-year-old Christian boy to three years in jail for publishing Facebook cartoons that mocked Islam and the Prophet Mohammad.

That same month, Islamic extremists in India attacked a Christian prayer meeting, beating a 65-year-old widow and other women.  Closer to home, ABC's television show "GCB" (I won't print what the initials stand for) made headlines earlier this year with its depictions of Christians as hypocritical, manipulative and judgmental.  Many noted that similar denigration of Muslims, Jews, African Americans, or any other group would never be tolerated in our politically correct culture.  The show has been canceled, not for offending Christians but for low ratings.

Can you imagine the response in the Muslim world to a TV show belittling Islam?  Why do Muslims and Christians often respond so differently when their faith is insulted?

One answer has to do with their sacred scriptures.  Some Muslims believe that the Qur'an teaches forgiveness for those who insult Islam, citing Sura 7:199: "Cultivate tolerance, enjoin justice, and turn away from the ignorant."  However, Islam's holy book clearly calls Muslims to defend their faith from any attack or insult: "fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.  And slay them wherever ye catch them" (2:190-191; cf. 9:12).  The head of the ruling Muslim council in Jerusalem recently stated that anyone who insults Muhammad, the Qur'an or Islam "has become an infidel and must be killed."  By contrast, Jesus taught his followers to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

Should Christians be more vocal in defending our faith?  Absolutely.  Peter defended both Jesus and his followers from slander at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36).  But he did so reasonably and graciously, following the example of the One who prayed for his Father to forgive the very men who were crucifying him (Luke 23:34).

My wife often reminds those she teaches that we should expect lost people to act like lost people.  The next time someone demeans your faith, join the early Christians in "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41).  Note what came next: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (v. 42).  Neither should we.  

I love that. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I can't stand going into the kitchen wanting a little something to snack on, to kill a craving or sweet tooth, and can't find a thing that sounds good. Lots of choices just not "the" right one. Nothing sounds good and then I settle on something and wished I would have had nothing at all. Every time a people or tribe is found, they are found performing rituals and ceremonies to a god or something. Never hearing the Gospel they know there is more that needs to fill them. We, humans, have an innate awareness of a greater power among us. Some of us are still searching for what will fill that void in our hearts. We search and search and have lots of choices and Satan has done his job well in providing many that sound and feel really good. He points out the bad in the ones who have found the Way so it does not look appealing to the lost. That's why we have to be better at being Jesus in this fallen world. We have to be able to help with the right choice one makes in the world. We have to have made the choice as well. Not just buy it and put it on the shelf, but use it and live it daily. That is part of the not easy part. Make the choice of Jesus and live for what He died for. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. When the chief priests met at the Sanhedrin to hear the case against Jesus, they already had their mind made up, it was just about how to convince others outside of them to crucify Him. They told lies about Him to get their way. They were so hung up in the letter of the Law, they could not process the new covenant Jesus brought to them. They had lived the old way too long and could not except change. They refused to see Jesus for who He was. How many of us does this apply to? How many people do you know that are so set in their ways they can't make a change for something that's better? Life saving and life changing and still can not change no matter what and justify their claims as well. The date on the calendar is different, but the same things are happening today as they were when they hung Him on the cross. I say that because from here we look back and can't imagine how or why they would do what they did or how they could not see Jesus as their Messiah. Well, it happens still today and people still refuse to let Him in their hearts. One day though, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God as King. It's never too late. And He's still there waiting. In love always. <><