Good morning and happy Tuesday. Love has been the most common thing I've written here for all these years. It's the very core of the being of God. It is what He is, love. Think about how good you feel when you know someone loves you. There is no better feeling known to man than being loved. There is also no worse feeling than loving someone and it not being returned. How much do you think God loves you? Even the birds don't have to worry about being taken care of, so how much more does He love us? I love God, but am I returning it too Him. Not just by saying it. That's easy to do. Am I showing Him love by loving others the way He does? Do I hurt Him when I don't return it back to Him? I need my actions speaking for me much more than they do. If you find yourself in this same boat with me, let's get out onto the crashing waves and don't look down. Keep our eyes focused on God and we can walk all the way to Him. We say it to each other all the time, I love you. Today, and everyday hereafter, say it and mean it from deep inside with the love God has. Do our best to make that happen. With that, let me say from the very bottom of my heart, I love you. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Ash Wednesday. The preparing weeks before Easter. It's a time of looking forward as well as looking back in repentance as well. Many people will spend the next 40 days giving something up that they do or enjoy as a sign or reverence toward God of their thankfulness and gratitude of what Jesus Did for us on the cross. Not to take away from this time at all, because Easter is after all, my favorite celebration, but shouldn't we be doing this all the time? Shouldn't our lives be lived daily in this frame of mind? Of course, but we're human and we're faulty. I'm glad for times of remembrance. I need them because I'm male. I hope that everyone will begin today in framing their mind and their hearts and their worship towards that wonderful day of Easter. Wether you observe lent or not doesn't matter, but it's a tool to use. Giving up of things for our observance of The Lord is a great concept, you think? Giving of ourselves to others and pointing to the cross daily is a great idea too. Let's celebrate this time and remember what it cost for our salvation. You're weren't cheap and we can't live like it was. Praise God on high for His son Jesus. Live with the power of knowing that the tomb is empty. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I've really been missing my kids lately. I think I'm having a bit of empty nest settng in. I know they have a lot going on and are busy, but man I would like to see them more. Seeing them and this situation from a fathers eyes only makes me reflect on THE Fathers eyes. To think of how He sees me and how much He wishes I would see Him more. My kids are doing what they should and are doing well for the most part. They've heard what I've said just not put it into practice so much yet. That sounds a lot like how we grown up kids do our Father. He's called us to do so many things and some get done and others we let pass right on by thinking we know best or just aren't listening. I hope my kids read this and see they need to go see their dad more, just like we all need to. Talk to your Father today. Spend time with Him. Both of them, if you have them, your earthly one and especially your heavenly one. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. It's been a rough week and half that just passed by. My dad had some mini strokes and a surgery. My mom had her back surgery, and my mom in law had emergency surgery. The good news is that they are all doing great today. I asked for some prayers from friends and family and became overwhelmed with response. It's amazing how we turn out for each other when the need arises. I just love it. God brings us together in these times so we can see love in action and not just being mouthed. It gives us a chance to receive blessings from others and to be loved on instead of giving. We focus a lot on the giving of ourselves to others which is always great, but we have to leave room for the receiving part. If we don't, we're not letting others be a blessing. If we can't receive, then what about what Jesus did for us on the cross? That's a gift we must receive. It's given to us freely but means nothing if it's not received as the blessing it is. So when we give of ourselves to others we're merely doing what Jesus did for us, on much smaller scale I might add, but the same just as well. Being on the receiving end helps us learn to be humble and to a degree, allow ourselves to be beneath the giver. It's an awesome thing and feels so good once we learn to accept the things people want to do for us. This has been one of the hardest lessons for me to learn. And in His infinite wisdom, God taught me as I fought Him the whole way. So learn to be open to the gifts others offer. Receive them with in the love by which they were given. Jesus gave us His life so that we can have life with Him. What a gift. So with that let me say again. Thank you all so much for blessing me and my family with your gift of prayers and concern. You are all truly a blessing. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Friday. I'm trying to read through the Bible. I'm doing a reading plan and it gives you the parts to read. I'm reading the beginning and then a few New Testament books to get through in 6 months. I'm having a very hard time in getting through Leviticus and Numbers. Man God gave them a lot to do for their sins. I don't know how they kept up with it all. Then I begin to see them complain not long after seeing a miracle right before their eyes. We're so much like them. It looks to me that the game and the ref are the same it's just the players that have changed. God is so good to us to bring Jesus to us and let Him make all the sacrifices for us. We don't have to remember all those offering rules for different sins and cleanliness. But are we remembering the one thing we have to, Jesus ? How many times do you think you might be sinning in a day? How many times are you calling on the name of Jesus in that same day? Just as those Israelites forgot what they saw in the wilderness and complained about life, we forget what Jesus has done for us. Not they we don't remember, it's just not in the front of our thoughts much. Moses and Arron were not allowed to enter the promised land because of their rebellion and not giving God the glory for things He had done for His people. If we don't keep Jesus first in our thoughts and give Him the glory He deserves we may not make it to that promised land either. Give God the glory and honor in all you do. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. The word of the day today is complacency. We live in an ever changing, can't be still, need to do something different to make things exciting world. Now I'm seeing some friends are doing the 30 day Christian music challenge. I love this idea. I listen to it all the time on regular radio and satellite. Here's the deal with us though. We can't be still long enough. I hope those doing it make it. It will change your music listening habits. I am a music nut. So now back to our word of the day. As I listen to Christian music all the time I find myself just listening. I don't even realize I'm not hearing the message in it anymore. So once in a while I switch the channel to some of the music I grew up with. Hair Nation is the place I land. I hear a few good love song ballads and then some really secular lyrics start up and then I switch it back. Now I can hear the songs again and it's because I got complacent in my everyday walk. It's so easy to do. It goes to remind me that it has to be an every day, every hour, every second walk. I'm too easily distracted by the out side world. Squirrel!!! Those from my Sunday school class know that one. Stay mindful to the things that are not seen. Keep your heart guarded from the world. God is good all the time. Take comfort in that but don't become complacent in it. Keep your faith and your worship and your love for God fresh every day. Don't just listen to Him, hear Him. He's talking to you right now. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. What does your worship look like? True honest worship of our God in heaven. Gonna go to a strange place today with this one; Richard Sherman and Peyton Manning. Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks is catching a lot of heat for his antics on the field after the win Sunday. Manning is again being heralded has the greatest QB of the game. Did you know Peyton was a Christian man. Strong in his faith since he was 13? Yeah me either; at least a strong professing one. I did see him singing the national anthem though, very few do that anymore. I'm not saying a thing about Peyton here. We each have our own ways of expressing ourselves and our faith. Sherman is someone I get the feeling you know right where you stand with him. In a culture that is trying so hard to let people express themselves, we go up in arms when they do. Not saying right or wrong about his tactics that day, but I don't know how I would've felt after just saving the game and helping to get my team to the Super Bowl. So what do see when you see these guys? Who they are or who they want you to see? Which would you rather see? Who they are or who you want them to be? I choose the honest one. The one they are. We had a great study on Psalm 103 Sunday. It's about our worship and our honesty of who we are before God. Him you cannot hide who and what you are. Sometimes it would be good to express our faith just the way Sherman expressed his emotions, and then other times it's good to be a little less vocal, but still seen for what you are. Let God see your worship. Let Him know of your thanksgiving. Let the world see you being a Christian walking the best he can to be like his savior Jesus. Peyton let's his actions speak for him. Sherman speaks out loud for his self. No difference except our loud speaking is for God and His glory, with thanksgiving in our hearts and not asking for anything. Just worshipping God. This is by the way the only Psalm that does not ask for or cry out for anything of The Lord to do for us. It is simply worship of God. What do people see when they see you? I hope it's Jesus. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Friday, and Happy New Year as well. So at work there is a dog, stray, that hangs out there. She's known as depot dog and has the streets smarts of a TV show star. Three dog catchers couldn't bring her in. She's a cute dog and I would love to bring her home. She won't have a thing to do with that. She will just barely let you feed her. She follows me to my truck to get something to eat but that's as far as it goes. I just wish I could get her to understand how good she would have it. Clean bed, a day at the spa,lol. All the food she could want and a nice warm bed to sleep in at night. But mostly to be loved on and shown that she's cared for. She doesn't know the difference though. She doesn't think she has it bad. To her, life is good. To her, this is how life is and she's doing good at it. She doesn't know the blessing she good have with just one choice. It would have to be the right choice, but one to be made none the less. How many depot dogs do you know? The human kind. The ones who think this is just how life is and they're doing just fine at it. The ones who don't see the blessing in knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The ones that are just one choice away from the best "life" has to offer. How committed to your choice you made are you? Have you gotten comfortable now in your new "home" that the blessing of it has worn off and it's just not the same as it was? Make this the year to renew your commitment to Him and to give of yourself to others to show what life is and how it is to be lived, for Him. We're blessed so we can be a blessing. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I was watching "The Bible" on the history channel yesterday, what an amazing job they did. The thing I like most about it is you get of see my favorite thing about the Bible, the people around Jesus. The looks on their faces when something is said or done. That reaction to Him that can't be helped. One that stuck out was the leper moving through the crowd announcing himself unclean. It was no coincidence he walked right into Jesus. Here in a nut shell is the love story of God. A man no one else will even consider to be next to much less have compassion for, Jesus touches and heals right away. And then the expression of gratitude he felt and how he knew someone loved him, was beautiful. We, as a society still cast people under ourselves. Not intentionally for the most part I think, but we do. I hope that the leper saw himself in a different way and did not treat others the way he had was treated before he met Jesus. What about us? Are we treating others the same way they treated us before we met Him? Are we not still grateful for what He has done for us? This guys life was changed forever. Never to be the same again. I hope that his life went on professing Jesus as Lord and not fall into the trap of the world where it only lasts for a little while then it's forgotten. We have all been given a miracle in our lives. We have all been healed of a disease of some kind. Why are we not screaming His name from the mountain tops or in the workplace or the home? Have we forgotten what was done for us or is it just that we want more than where we are today? I doubt that the leper went on to be a millionaire or very successful in his life, more than he was that day. But I would be willing to bet he lived a happier life than many of us will ever know. We have to find the root of our gratitude for what's been done for us. Never let it go and never forget it. Keep it in the front of our daily lives and see just how happy you really are from now on. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. This is one of my favorite older songs from my turning point in life. I've cried over this one many times. It's just the first verse. Well worth listening to. Its called "Still Here Waiting" by Todd Agnew.

It's cold outside
Or is that just the chill I feel inside from standing here
Steeping in my shame
I can't deny
I'm surrounded by the very thing You freed me from
That's why I can't come home

Chorus:
I don't know where I turned around
From chasing what I always found completed me
More than I could dream
I don't know why I can't remain
Safe here where I always came to meet with you
And You always met with me
And You're still here waiting

So how many times have you found yourself right there. See this picture in your head about this song. A meeting is scheduled between you and God, and you don't show. You've done your thing your way instead. You forgot or whatever. I just can't help be see God sitting there heart broken, but nonetheless still waiting. In the chorus we're singing about not knowing why we did what we did. Why we can't just stay right there with Him. Why do we leave the calming ever peaceful presence of God? It's the question of the ages. At some point we make a conscience decision to turn around and walk out of His light and into the darkness we came from. Is it because we're more comfortable there with all out things hidden away from judging eyes of others and even God. Well, we can't hide from God and who cares what everyone else thinks. That was easy to say but it's very hard to do. We've got to find a way to make this happen so that we can live the life He has planned for us. And just like the songs says and the image in your head sees; He's still there waiting. Go to Him. No excuses about not being able to go Home. Ask Him for His forgiveness and then receive it and go live a life working as hard as you can to stay there with Him. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. Listening to some music like I do, I heard an oldie that really got me to thinking this morning. The Bee Gees; " How deep is your love". So, you know where this goes. How deep is your love? What is at the deepest end of the pool? Who's in the pool? What's in the pool? Is God at the infinite non stop end? Whatever occupies our hearts is what directs our lives. There are a few hideously ridiculous reality shows of moms living their lives through their kids. Their kids are what occupy their hearts. So even what seems to be a good thing is really pretty bad when you look at it. My kids and wife and family all have a place in my heart, but I can't let that be the driving force of my life. God has to be first, period. Everything else falls in behind that. So we have that down and we list it as the way we feel, but is it how we live? Is it really the order of our daily business of living? I struggle here all the time. This doesn't mean we don't tend to the business of family needs and things like that. It means are we living our lives so everything we do goes through the filter of God first then into action. Or are we just firing from the hip and doing it our own way. Please don't take this to the extreme because a lot of what we do is daily routine stuff that God leads us through anyway. By knowing how much we want out own kids to do the things we know is best for them, we should be able to understand what God is trying to do for us. His love is so deep it cannot be measured, ever. He wants the best possible life for each of us and to be His instrument of leading the lost back to Him. By going to Him first, we then can go about our day knowing what He wants from us to do for that day and for whoever crosses our paths. It's simple really. If our love for Him is so deep that we can't ignore it at all, then we are better able and more likely to be doing His will. See what's in the deep end of your pool and if you find it's not God, fix it and fix it fast. You can't really swim in the shallow end. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. We've been reading the minor prophets in Sunday school. Yes Sunday school. Those are still around in some places. The minor prophets are those books at the end of the Old Testament. What I'm learning from them is how well God spoke to the people of that time and then it transcends into our time. Many warnings are given to the people of Israel about their evil ways. And what I find in those people is what I see in us today, a longing to hang on to things of this world that we can see and touch. We hear the warning and change for a little bit but go right back to the way we were. I think some of that is because we don't really see the end that is "near". I can see those people sitting around saying "Oh they've been saying that for years". So they go back to what they were doing. How many of us know someone who died all of sudden. That "end is near" just showed up. By reading those warnings and applying them to our time, we should be able to go about life following Him much easier. But like many people, this is the first time I've read these books. What an eye opener. God is real and alive and working in our lives today and giving us the same warnings He did back then. We have to be better than they were and heed them. Why would we not want to live the life the Creator of all things has for us? I believe we can see what is happening to our country as we stop hearing the warnings of our Lord. It happened to Israel and it can happen to us. Speak out to your friends, family and neighbors. We have to get this ship righted. It's not too late. But don't get caught waiting around. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Tuesday. How well do you think you would do in prison? Not a night or two in jail, some of us have made that, I'm talking about locked away and not sure if you'll see the outside world again. We've all heard of a "jailhouse conversion". Some will just wish for life to end because they can't make it. Some will adapt to the life of the inside, acclamation. How many of us would be able to reach the world outside or even those inside and care about their salvation before the needs and wants of themselves? How does that even look; Caring about others before ourselves while locked away for no telling how long? Paul, who used to put the Christians in jail, or worse, was now a Christian in jail. He wrote most of the New Testament we read today from behind bars. He loved Jesus so much that he wanted everyone to know Him the way he had come to. Whether he died or not was of no concern to him. Whether he was free or not did not matter. He loved The Lord and The Lord loves us. While Paul knew it was highly likely he would be put to death, he did all he could to reach out to those he could; others before himself. Oh well Bryan that's easy he had Jesus on his side. He had Jesus helping him back then. Really, read that again and see if you don't come to the same conclusion that I'm about to tell you. (Pause for effect here). So do you. He is always on our side. He is always there to help us. He gave us the Holy Spirit to stay with us the whole time. We have no excuse for not doing what Paul was writing about. We've all been called in some way like Paul for something to do for His Kingdom. Be open to be reached and ready to reach out. God is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. So what He did through Paul He will do through us as well. His work will be done, with or without you. I pray that it is with you, and He's never without you. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. Well, I've been up since about 10 o'clock yesterday and it's now 8 o'clock the next day. I'm tired. But I saw a beautiful sunrise this morning. Then all of sudden I just felt refreshed. It's the bodies clock resetting itself to thinking it should be up. It got me to thinking about how everyday we are, or can be, "refreshed" by the grace of God. The darkness of our lives is gone and put away by the all powerful light of The Lord. No matter what our darkness is and how far it's taken us away from the light, we're still able to be saved and renewed by the grace of God. Just as powerful as the sun is on the horizon, is the power of the grace of God. Bright and illuminating to reveal all His glory so that we may see Him, and come to know Him. I love seeing all the signs and wonders God shows us each day. He is still just as alive today as He was way back when. We just need to take the time to see Him. In love always <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. Have you ever been on a diet because you're just a little overweight? Have you ever tried one of the new fad diet crazes? Supplements or anything like that? Do you know what the doctors say is the best diet you can be on to lose weight? They say to eat right and exercise, simple as that. We all know that, we just find it too hard to do it. There's too many ways to get other food a lot easier. All the junk food we want is just right at a window. We don't even have to get out of our cars. This is the same with our spiritual health as well. Everything else is just too easy to reach for and get. And we all know what we're supposed to do and it's the easiest thing to do, we just don't do it. Our daily time with God and studying His word is the best way to achieve the best spiritual health possible. The "weight" of this world that is lifted off of us is so much better than we could ever know. Why is it we can't just exercise and eat healthy? Why is it we can't just follow God and be everything he wants us to be? Those are the simplest of things we can do to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. With the end-of-the-year coming, and resolutions still to be made for next year, let's start practicing now and do all these things we promise we're going to do and do them well. In love always. <><