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. <>< 

Good morning and happy Friday. I never realized how easily distracted I can get because of a habit. I leave work and drive the same way home every day. Just before leaving I need to make a stop by a store on the way. I just talked about it and walked out but visited on the way to the truck with someone else and completely forgot to stop by the store. I was almost home when I realized it. It's because of the habit I have of doing the same thing over and over again. Without thinking of what I should be doing, I just go along doing what I always do. Not good if I have some really bad issues. How routine are we making our Lord? Usually I sit at home in the same spot to write down the things He has put on my heart, so today I left early and went to work and done it differently. I'm gonna get out of this routine place I let myself go so that I can think more about what's going on at the moment. I don't want to make my worship and my relationship a habit in the way that I don't put much thought or myself into it. Conviction will do more for us than we know, and I know I've done just that in my daily walk. So today I'm gonna walk the long way and around the way and all kinds of other stuff and thank God each time I do for letting me know what I was doing. He doesn't want us wondering off from Him. He wants us close, but by our choice. He's already chosen us, now we need to choose Him. It'll be a little different today but it should be a great awakening for me today. So take a different way when you can and see God in a new light. Don't make Him a habit you just go through the motions with. Live for Him everyday. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday. We have an old wall clock that you have to wind with a key about every two to three days if you want it to keep good time. Every once in a while I forget about it and days turn into more days and then I look up and there it is, stopped. I usually find the date hand on a date two days ago. I didn't even notice it had stopped and that familiar sound of it tick tocking was gone. It really needs more attention than I give it but surely I can keep up with it every couple of days. Not really, it was stopped this morning. I know it's a small thing but I'm very anal about clocks and time in the house, (OCD),so it's higher up my list than on most peoples. But it made me wonder how much I neglect my God. I often I take Him for granted and just know He will be there and don't worry about putting in some time with Him. Well, I study a lot and talk in the mornings with Him and lead a singles group and a Sunday school class, I'm doing okay, right?  That's not it at all. It's not bad but I'm missing the point that I study about. He's about relationship and I have to do better at mine and His. He's doing His part and I'm failing at mine. One day the clock won't be ticking at all and I'm gonna wonder what I've been doing that let me forget to keep it wound up. We can get caught up in doing a whole lot of good things and neglecting to spend time, good quality one on one time, with God. Hell will be full of good people who do good things. God will bring Home those He knows. Make more time for Him, just Him and nothing else. Not just the fleeting moment between the last thing and the next thing. I'm gonna stay on top of my God clock and make sure it doesn't come to a stop anymore. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Wednesday. I've been watching the Hatfield's and McCoy's series on the history channel. I'm amazed at how each side is able to justify killing the other. It just goes to show you what side your own helps you to see your point of view. It's always easy to make a good argument for something you believe in. You have conviction for it. You know it to be true that way until someone comes and shows you another way. Welcome to the 21st century of knowing a bunch of ways to find peace and harmony in a cruel world. People didn't and don't buy into Jesus and who He is and what He did. But never has anyone found the evidence to prove different either. They have a lot of theories though. It's easy to write history from here back. It's different when you write it as it happened and it still stands firm. But it's about the side you're on and the perspective you have that help decide your own point of view. There were people who stood behind the cross and those in front of the cross. Some saw the horrible things done to our Lord and saw in His eyes the pain. Some saw the back of cross and some nails through the wood. To get the whole picture you have to move around to see what's really gong on. What is your view and your justification for what you do in life? Have you moved around and asked others and really considered their ideas? Are you in a good place and have seen from other sides? Which ever the case, if you really go to hunting the answer, you'll find it all comes back to Jesus every time. His side and view are all that matter when it's all done. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I hope you had a great Memorial Day. It's good to reflect on memories. It can help with the present. We have lots of mantras from war and such; remember the Alamo, more recent; Never Forget. Gone but not forgotten. Have we forgotten what was done for us a long time ago. I don't think so, but I do think we set it aside and call on it when we need it. It makes us not look very loyal to those who don't believe it anyway. How do you show your praise to God? How are you giving Him glory? Are you taking it in as your own?  Reflection on our lives helps us with how we deal with today. When we look back and see how good or bad we were giving Him the glory, then we can do a better job of it today. Besides the fact it keeps us ever mindful of what has been done for us. Jesus felt pain and anguish for he souls who would not receive Him. That the wrath He was about to bare is what would come to those who remained lost. Remember the soldiers and fighting men and women of our nation; never forget them. Be thankful for them, but never ever never forget what was done on Calvary for you and me. Look back just enough to keep a better path going forward. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Friday. Thankfulness. Be blessed today and be thankful for it. Give God glory for all He does and has done in your life. Be thankful for the freedom we enjoy and take for granted. This weekend thank the men and women of our military for their sacrifice for our country so that we can give thanks to God. It's a long three day weekend. Take the time to enjoy it and rest and give thanks. Don't save it till November. Be thankful everyday. Let it be humble thanks. Thank you all for listening to these rambles everyday too. God puts things on us and we just have to say them to somebody. Thank you for being "it". I love you. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. Have you ever read the Ten Commandments? Do you know all ten?  Do you think you can live a week and not break one of them? Ever wonder why God made the rules so hard to live? Yet they seem easy enough really. I can go a week or two and not kill anyone. But there are some others that I don't know if I get through a day without breaking. The bar is set real high for a reason. So that we quit trying to do it alone. We need help. We need God in our lives so that those things are doable. We need Him. That's the whole idea. We are His to do whatever He wants. But He wants us to willingly choose Him. Making us love Him, which He can do, is not love at all. It's our choice to love Him or not. When we reach a point of maturity in our lives and start to see God better, we begin to understand all that rules and needing Him to live by them stuff. We begin to see with His eyes. We see people's hearts and not their shirt. It's our choice to be there though. Choose God. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. How much stuff do you have? How many things do you have?  How many toys? Are they yours? Do you own them? Sure, on paper and in this world we do. People always say the poor talk about possessions and the rich because they don't have anything so they point to others to feel better. Might be true for some. Did you know Jesus and His disciples were homeless and poor? Had no food or jobs for three years? The example He was living for us was to rely on God and He will provide. It doesn't mean to sit around on your butt and do nothing. It also doesn't mean that the one with the most toys is doing better than everyone else. I have gotten to that place in my life where I've seen God give and take away, and then give right back. He truly is in control of all of this and when we come to see it, we will be much more willing to follow His will. Fear drives our need for things. Fear drives our failures in life because we believe those things. With God there is no fear. To be like Him is to be fearless. But we're human. We can't be totally fearless. No, but we can be a lot less fearful than we are. That comes with our relationship with the Father. Knowing I don't "own" this stuff and it's His to take when He wants leads me to another place. A place of dependence on Him. That's what we have to come to. He's got this. It's His anyway. Enjoy the blessings of life and the things He has blessed you with. Just don't let them own you or He will remove them from you so you can focus better on Him. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. My patio has needed to be cleaned off for a while now. Just not enough time in a day or week sometimes. It's been a good busy though. Lots of stuff going on and a little neglect in an area that doesn't have to be tended to today. Well, the patio is pretty clean without me lifting a finger. As a matter of fact, with the mowing of the jungle back there, I added to the mess. We had a nice rain last night. Real heavy drops here too. Patio is clean and fresh. Just needs a touch up. God shows up in the small stuff of our lives just like that all the time. He knows the whys behind something like why the patio isn't done. He knows why the things at work are going the way they are. He knows why the marriage is at the place it is. He will move on our behalf when we are doing what we can. Sometimes it's just simple perseverance. He needs to know if you can go the distance in the bigger race He has for you. If not, you will be doing laps to get into shape for it. None of this is new, it's just how and when we recognize it in our lives. We are quick to let others know that God will get them though it, but blind to the fact when it's happening to us. The people I know that have that kind of faith and trust blow me away when they're running those laps. Nice a smooth and an easy pace. Do what has to be done and Trust God to be God. It has helped me live a better and more peaceful life. And to see other struggling in the same water lets me know I'm doing it right. What to do with those struggling is another day, today it's about getting our faith in line so we can help those others. Trust God to help you. Have faith that it's going to be ok. Because when it's over, you'll see that He was right there with you all along. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. Can there be happiness in sacrifice? Even if the sacrifice is painful?  Can you let something or someone go, while wanting it or them the whole time, and still find happiness? We all know that if it's for the best and greater good that we can find it inside somewhere to be happy. So, what about Jesus on the cross? It was physically and emotionally painful to be there and still see how many would reject Him. To go through all that for us, to have so many turn away from Him. Yet there is happiness and great joy found in this most giving sacrifice of all. All those who have come to Him to be saved and have a place at His table in eternity. Are you breaking His heart by holding out til the last days? He sees you and He knows you and He died for you. He did that so we would have a way Home. Follow Him the rest of your days to gates of Heaven and throw your arms around His neck and say thank you for your sacrifice for me so I can be here. There is great happiness in sacrifice. Bring joy to others and yourself by giving of yourself.  It's worth any pain you may have to go through. In love always <>< 

Good morning and happy Friday. True friendship and blessings. Those two go good together. I was so blessed by so much love yesterday from so many people. It really is humbling when you think about it. But even with all the messages from people all over, the best ones came face to face. Where you see it in their eyes that they mean what they are saying to you. That's a blessing. We've lost that some but gained in other places, but I don't think Jesus wants to text me about my issues. He wants to be face to face so I can see it in His eyes how much He cares and see it on His hands how much He loves me. I love that we can reach around the world in just a few moments to comfort and show love to our friends and family, but I really love to give and get hugs. It's relationship, personal and meaningful. That's what our Father wants with us; a relationship. Deep and personal. It begins with prayer and honesty with Him. He knows it all anyway, He just wants us to say it and put it to the light so it doesn't hold us anymore. While you're praying, look deep into His eyes and feel His love for you take over your whole world. In love always. <><