Good morning and happy Friday. Enough said. Anyway, today is my oldest daughters birthday. It sure makes me feel old for her to be 22. Yet other friends of mine my age are grandparents already, not ready for that yet. But as I look back at the years of my daughters life I'm reminded of where I was in mine. It wasn't a bad place but it certainly wasn't in the light much. I can honestly say that when she was born, my life took a whole new direction. There are a few people along the way that helped to polish me up a bit but that has to be the main course changer in this river of life of mine. The view I had after that was now through a different set of eyes. Eyes of a father. The love and care I now had for this child would slowly mold me in a way I couldn't see. That love of a father for his kids is being lost today by the way side. It's not the same anymore. It saddens me, because this is the love our Heavenly Father has for us. We all need to know it and to feel it. The good part for those without an earthly father loving them, the God of Heaven loves us all the same all the time. He is truly a God of love. But make no mistake that if you go along trying Him, you will feel the sting of life. Just like every good dad, bad behavior has consequences. But it's the love part that I can see as I reflect on my life as a dad with two kids, now four, and one already in Heaven that I get how much He loves me. He really does love me. The screw up, the teen on the wayward side of things, the young adult lost in the worldly world of satan. I've never been too far away. In fact, the furthest I've been is one step away. Thank you God for my children and the tool they are to show your love for us. Thank you for always loving us, no matter what. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Yeah you know what day it is. Anyway, this morning, after a long night at work, I woke up to tragedy. My heart sinking in my stomach and then also a feeling of pure amazement of caring. I had several texts and PM's about the train wreck this morning. First, my brother works in that direction and was actually at work but not involved. Thank you Lord. Prayers though for those who are injured as I know all of them. But on the flip side I was blown away by the number of people who had checked on me, either through me or my wife. It feels good to be cared about. It's humbling to to know that people care. This is what God wants us to do for each other. This is the feeling we should all have all the time, knowing that we are loved. But as said here before, God loves us just like that. Why do we forget or need an event to take place to remind us? I envy those who really get it every day, all the time. That never take it for granted. It's a place in my relationship with God that I am trying so desperately to get to. To feel that love, like what was felt through concern today, is amazing and uplifting. God gives us this all the time. I don't know if it's because we don't trust what we can't see or because we're afraid to surrender to what is right. Either way, there is nothing greater than the love of God. To know how we, as a whole, turn on Him so many times and hurt Him in so many ways and yet He still loves us like we can never love another. I hope and pray that we can get to that point of knowing and accepting His love for what it really is. To be able to bask in His love and wake every day with that feeling of knowing we're loved more than we know. In love always <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. So to conclude with Jonah. He's prayed that God save him and guide him and basically going along with the plan. So he preaches to the Ninevites and warns them of their ways. Keep in mind Jonah wanted these people eradicated from the earth. He couldn't stand them and thought their behavior and ways should no longer be tolerated. After the sermon, the Ninevites repented and returned to God. So what does ole Jonah do? Celebrate? Jump for joy? No, he goes and pouts outside of town. How many times do we feel like someone deserves one thing and then something really good happens for them instead and we got all miffed over it? Why would a heart full of love feel that way? Hate and love can not abide within the same heart. As we grow closer and more mindful of the ways of God, we should also be pushing our ill feelings of people out as more God comes in. It's a process, but I'm so thankful God is patient with me. But more so I'm thankful He's patient with all of us so that we can all turn back to Him. Jonah should have been so excited for these people who were lost and now returned to God and His ways, but instead he's pouting. A man who had just been in the belly of a fish and knows that God caused and calmed the storm that got him there is still not grateful for what He's done with these people. Thankful and grateful. I'm thankful for a lot of things. I'm grateful for our God's ability to forgive and to show mercy and grace where it is not deserved, because if He didn't, none of us, certainly me, would not make it or even have a chance to make it. Be a willing servant of The Lord. Be a useful and grateful tool, ready and willing to be used by the God of the universe. Even to save the one you like the least. Celebrate the victories won in the name of The Lord every day. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. Everyone knows the story of Jonah in the whale. I heard a sermon on it yesterday that reminded me of a few things we do today that Jonah was doing then. God told him to do something. Jonah tried to run from God, as if. But think about that for a minute. Jonah tried to run from God. We know today that that is impossible. How close was Jonah with God to believe it possible to do so. How personable was God to Jonah? I think he knows he couldn't, but the fight or flight in him told him he could. They have a close relationship for that thought to be possible. We think we can hide things because we're not close to God and therefore He doesn't enter into the equation. So then Jonah is on a boat going the opposite direction he was told and huge storm threatens to sink it. Jonah knows God has found him and the storm will go away from the ship if they throw him off of it. Have you ever been caught by your parents at that party you shouldn't have been at? If you leave the cops won't be called and you alone can face the punishment for your actions. Jonah is busted and then in only God fashion swallowed up by a whale. Alone for three days and nights he has no hope but one, God. That's the same for us too. And when he's let out of the fish he's on the beach of the very place God was sending him to start with. Why do we force God's will on ourselves instead of surrendering to it? This story of Jonah has so many things to offer us about ourselves today. Tomorrow we'll finish up this wonderful story and see if we see ourselves in Jonah some more. For today, hear God's voice. Listen for it and follow His direction. He has only the best of things for you. It might be a little rough along the way but some how it is always worth the ride. It may also not be for you that you endure something. It may be for a complete stranger or friend. But it will be worth everything to see the life of someone else changed to see the glory of God. I want everyone there. All of us. No one left behind. Do your part today to do what God is calling you to do. Don't get swallowed up. In love always. <><