Good morning and happy Friday. Oh how good it feels to see a light of hope begin to burn. From the smallest ember into just a flicker of a flame. For someone lost in a canyon or forest that little bit  could be the difference in life or death. Being found or staying lost. It's the same with our spirituality, if that little bitty flame isn't tended to when it first starts it dies out quickly. A roaring fire can can go a little while without some attention and be ok, but not the new flickering light. It needs to be loved and given some attention to show that it's good and needed and valued. With that nourishment being given to it, that soul learns to return it and give it to others. It spreads like a wildfire if we let it. Don't give up on anyone or anything that God has before you or in your life. Don't be a fire extinguisher to someone trying to catch on fire for the Lord. Help them to be strong and you will grow stronger too. Tending to their flame will put fuel to yours. Keep the flame of hope alive in the people around you, today and everyday. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. We see it on tv all the time, courts being too lenient on criminals or not giving them enough prison time for what they have done. Stays of execution, appeals that drag on forever (said in your best Squints voice). We want justice quickly and to be painful to the one who wronged us. I'm glad "The" Judge is slow to anger and will listen to my appeals. We're funny people. Flawed in more ways than we will admit, and want things to just be our way. The way we see it, they should be concerning us and not even considering anyone else. Designed to be in community with each other but today we separate ourselves. Why is it about us now? What changed over all the years that brought us to a point where we think of ourselves first? What do we do to get rid of that mentality? How do we get back to the root we came from? Daily commune with God. Not for yourself but on the behalf of others. When we begin to go to Him in prayer for others, and I mean really pray, we begin to see others needs before ours.  One, because we put God first and when that happens a lot of things fall into place. Two, we see others and not just ourselves. When you look into the eyes of another human you see a soul in the image of God. Now they have meaning to you. When we see the people of this world as God in them, it should change our view and our ideas. When we are doing life His way we don't have to be so concerned about the justice to be poured out on this earth. And who knows we may have had a hand in saving someone else from the death penalty. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. When a child dies it seems to effect more than just the family itself. It seems to hit with a lot of people outside of the family as well. A community bonds up with a family in its time of grief. This child, not long on the Earth, but effecting people none the less. How will people remember you when you're gone? What impact are you leaving? And you are leaving one, good or bad, you will leave on mark on this Earth. Most of us have not led the life God intended us to but have come to a point of reconciliation. It's not about what we've done or where we've been, it's what we do next that is most important. As much as I would like to have thousands of people show up to my funeral because I was such a "good guy", I would rather have one person just tell me " thank you for showing me Jesus". The world we live in tells us to look at ourselves and boost our own selves first. The world is ruled by Satan and that's exactly what he wants us doing. Live for God and give all glory to Him, and don't worry about what return you get on that investment. When we live like that, our impact on others will be like that of a baby. Give your life for others to know Jesus. You then are living just as He did, serving others and giving of ourselves. Now you are reconciled. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I love music. I love really good, written from the heart, music. It doesn't matter what kind when it comes from the heart, unless it's just pure evil. But I really love when a Christian artist hears the Lord speak to them and they simply pour out His love on the pages. When the words seem to have meaning to anyone at any stage of their life. It crosses all lines and barriers of protest and ridicule. That when you hear it, you can't deny it's truth. You can't dispute that it's real. When we sing of love it transcends all judgement. Now only faith hope and love remain. And the greatest of these is love. Everyone loves. They love others or even love to hate but we all love. And without true love of God within us, nothing we do or say will matter. Only when we can allow His love to be our love will we really understand. Approach each day and situation and moment with God's attitude of love. His kind of love. The kind that forgives and forgets our sins. The kind that watches His kids hurt Him and still loves them more than anything. The kind of love that allows mistakes that hurt us so that we can grow and be better, all the while hurting Him as we continue to reject Him. We can only have this love from first loving Him. Fall in love with Him and then let your life be the proof of His love. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. I kinda took a week off from here, not on purpose but became an on purpose thing later. I had nothing to study for or get ready for last week. Wednesday night class wasn't going because of the 4th and I already had Sunday school ready. No reason to be in the good book last week. So I got a little lazy and didn't do any reading or digging and found myself having a really cruddy week when it was all over. I hate routine, over and over stuff that becomes a habit instead of holding meaning. I need my morning time with God no matter what. I need Him every hour of every day or it seems like I'm just wondering through a day. And then to top it off, I really needed a boost this morning to get it going again. I can't imagine what it would be like to be away for any length of time any more. It gives me motivation to help those you have wondered off a helping hand. Those who don't even know are really in for a shock. But sometimes we get so lost in the colors, they all turn gray. It's good to stop the spinning wheel and really get back to what we know is good in our lives. God has yet to show us all the colors of His pallet, but in the mean time we, I, need to focus on the ones He has shown me. In love always. <><