Good morning and happy Friday. Well, we adopted a new dog yesterday. It was to be her last day if she wasn't taken in. It was just by "chance" that we saw her picture on FB and decided to go get her. She got a reprieve from a death sentence. I wonder how many people there are in the world that get a reprieve by "chance" from a death sentence of an eternity in hell because someone happened across them and "adopted" them into the family of God. Nothing happens by chance and I don't believe in luck. God is in full control. I hope and pray for the same kind of attitude for people who are lost as our new addition got from us yesterday. Our other little lap dog is not going to be happy about all this and sometimes other people won't be happy that you took time to spread a little love to someone they may not think is worth it. Every one is worth love, especially the love that comes from a heart after God. It won't be by chance that you run across a moment of "do I or don't I" when it comes to showing love and compassion to someone. It's not by chance that someone showed you love in a time of your life where some may have thought you were unworthy. Love is the greatest of all things and feelings God has given us. At our very core we are designed to and made out of love. It's such a simple thing to love but yet one of the hardest things to do for us. It was never hard for Jesus, never. He's our role model and who we are to imitate. Practice loving and it will become easier, but first loving Jesus makes it all the more better. Let me start today by simply saying to you, no matter who you are or what you may think of me or my God, I love you. I really do. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday. Tomorrow is my youngest daughters last home basketball game. She won't play in that gym again. She has the playoffs but not in front of the home crowd at the home gym again. I find myself sad and happy at the same time. A new chapter of her life is soon opening as this one is closing. I hope she plays like never before. I hope that she has the best game and the most fun ever. What about our last day in front of the home crowd here on Earth? How well have you been playing so far? Have you got a good season going and maybe make the playoffs?  I think this season has really snuck up on her this year and hasn't really set in that its over. But she may be looking right past that and on to the other side of high school. I know she's been hard at work getting apps ready and paper work filled out. She's done a great job of getting and doing all she can to get ready for college. How focused on the other side are you? Are you getting ready to leave this place and move to other side. As we age and the inevitable gets closer we think more about it. What about the younger invincible folks who think they will live forever? Nothing on this Earth is worth losing a place with God in eternity. One thing is for sure. We will die. It's where we will spend our eternity that should concern us. The life we live here is preparation for our life with the Father. Live like there is no tomorrow. Give of yourself to others and serve Jesus to all who are in need. By serving Him while serving others you are gonna make the all district team and move on to play in the big show. The root to that ability to serve and give is love. Just begin loving if you're not and see how much more life can be when you do. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. I was watching a show the other night and in the situation you had grown ups and young adult/teens having a point of view about it. The grown ups were taking the hard line and leaning toward the most callus view and the teens seeing it for just what it was. And it made think about how we and the world see things so differently. On the show the adults were seeing the worst of the problem and the teens were seeing it for what it really was, the truth. It made all the adults step back and rethink what they thought too. So when we speak the truth of Jesus to the world it usually goes against their grain and may take a while for it to take effect. Our job is not to bring them to Jesus but to show them who He is. From there the Holy Spirit takes over and begins the work on the heart. We are the planters of seed by speaking and living the truth. Jesus has changed us and we want the same change for others. Why would we not? Speak the truth and let the world decide for itself. That's really all that we can do. We can't make people think or do think what we want them to, but we can make them rethink the way they see Christianity. That may be all that's needed for a heart and soul to be won over and changed by the Holy Spirit. Go a be the difference in the world today. Live in the truth of Jesus. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Oh when the saints go marching in, do you wanna be in that number?  We've all read about the people of the Bible and we all figure those good guys are in Heaven. Just because we read about someone doesn't mean they've done something amazing. In today's times it seems that way, but back in the day they were messing it up first and the ones most likely to not be written about.  Those are the saints who have gone before us. What are you doing today to be among those marching in? It doesn't have to be much. Stephen simply preached the Gospel and we don't  hear much about him, now most churches have a ministry named after him. God doesn't need us to be stars to the world. He is the star and we are merely the pointers to the Way. So are you pointing people to Jesus or not? Our actions speak volumes more than our words. Living a Christian life out in front of the world is the best way to point others to the light that brings eternal salvation. We all have a purpose and God has a plan for us. It's our job to be there when called and needed. It's not hard to be with those who are marching in. No one may write about you, but in the end of it all as we stand in the presence of God, who really cares? Be the best pointer you can and get your marching shoes on. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. God is Sovereign. Do you trust Him? Really? Have you been worrying about something lately? What have you not given to Him and let go of yourself?  When we were babies we had to trust our parents to take care of us. When we we got a little older and bolder we jumped out on our own but still trusted our parents with the bigger things, food and baths and a house. We got older and a little smarter we took on some more stuff of our own till we were out on our and knew it all. Our life is not our own. It belongs to God. Many don't believe that and those that do still don't trust Him completely. It's a hard thing to do, trust. Who has your deepest darkest secret? Do you ever wonder if they will tell? Do you trust them to keep it? We trust people more than we do God, really. I'm amazed by that. I'm one of those too. It's a tough battle to turn loose of things and let God do His thing. In my older age it is getting easier. Mostly because I can look back and see where people have let me down or betrayed my trust and God has never done that, ever. What I thought was a bad thing when it happened was God moving me out of the way of a bus that would have destroyed me. Since our kids trust us now we really need to be animate about relaying the trust in God as the most important thing in their lives. Let your story be out there for others to see so they see God working for someone else and that it is possible and it does happen. Who better to trust than the one who made and created all things. Why would we not trust Him? Why do we not trust Him?  Give all your worries to Him today. Trust Him to guide you through the storm you're in. Trust Him with everything you have and everything you do. In love always. <><