Good morning and happy Tuesday. Went to bed last night with nothing but home on my mind.  I know I have to be here. I know I have to get this done, but it still doesn't keep me from missing home. My grandmother is in the hospital after a fall and I'm not there. My wife feeling bad at work and needing to go home and I'm not there. No telling what little things are going on that I'm missing. But that's just how it is and it's part of life for a lot of people. But how much of "Home" am I missing? How many times has there been a chance to visit with God at Home and I missed it? No excuse for that. Can't find a good enough reason. Sure, like most I don't really want to go Home right now, but I believe the place being prepared for me is based a lot on the time I spend there with Him. Oh I'd take a shack in the corner and sweep the streets all day but what am I missing at Home? How much of Home am I giving to the lost that are here looking for Home? I've been blessed beyond measure and I know it. What am I doing with the blessing? How much more does the blessing really belong to someone else because I'm simply the messenger God chose today? Do I sift through them and decide how to use them or when it's most convenient for me?  I'm missing Home because I choose to. I'm missing out on some things that He is trying to show me and to use me and to give me. Only by staying in His word do we make it through the worldly fog that separates us from Him. Don't miss Home by just not being there. Soak yourself in it daily and you'll feel that presence of stillness all the days of this world. Get Home today by talking to God and reading His word and letting Him guide you in all the ways of your life. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Why is it that we can't control our egos? Why do we feel we must take charge or at least stop letting God have control over our lives once the wrecking ship is righted? We bring a problem or trial or need to Him because we finally got to the point we realized He was the only one to help us, and then as soon as its fixed and better we forget who done it for us. That's how we avoid most of the pitfalls of life anyway is by being with Him, always. Sure we're gonna stumble some still that's growth, but to just not be there at all is stupid. Continuing to be grateful is what the ego keeps us from doing. Continuing to not be humble is what the ego keeps us from being. If you find the method that keeps the ego of man at bay, tell the world so it can be a better place. Wait, we have been told by the very maker of the ego itself, but we don't listen to Him much anymore unless we have a problem because, we got this. Come on man, yes I love ESPN, you gotta do better than that. Our toughest battles in life are within ourselves. Once we can turn loose and let God, all will be good. Have a great and ego free day today. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday. So you wanna know how to impact a life? How to help someone see that everything is going to be ok? Be a part of theirs. Stop being afraid of what people will think of you because of what you've done or where you've been. You never know who is watching you from in the world or from your Facebook.  I think a lot about the stories of Jesus and when He heals someone or some other miracle, what the people around in the crowd are thinking and how many lives changed because of what they saw. Then I think more about the no good sorry people that He hung out with, Zacchaeus for instance. He was not liked among the people. Jesus was very intentional though about having dinner with him and staying at his house. Why? Why this guy? Jesus was setting an example to us that we have to go and be available to all His people. I wonder how many thought Jesus was a good guy then? Well we know the top dogs didn't like it, but that was because they were being shown they needed to get a little dirty to get the job done. They were too pious for that. But some where in the crowd some one didn't listen to the rhetoric but saw what Jesus was about. This person made a difference in others by what he learned from our Lord and Savior. You won't read about him and we don't know who it is, but there are some Christ followers in Heaven because of what he learned and imitated from Jesus. His ministry was a short three years and there are a few really good stories and lessons about lives changed, but there are probably a million other stories untold about others the same way. We are the other stories of life. We are the ones that need to be out getting dirty for others. Living with intent for our Lord so that everyone sees Him alive today. Be an untold story to some one today. I promise they will tell someone what happened to them, only God will get the credit. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. I hope you had a great Christmas and end of year eve and waking to a great new year ahead of you. It's been two weeks and a day since the last post here. Time sure does fly. It seems like only a few days. That bothers me that that much time can go by and it not seem like much. Lets me know how it's possible to slip away from God and not really realize I've been gone. A Sunday here, a Bible study there and well it hasn't been too long since I got together with God. I missed it and felt a little ashamed of myself too. My reason was mostly not to bother folks in the morning during their time off for the holidays. You know, what if there was someone needing to hear something one of those days? I know my days didn't start off as well as they usually did because of my lack of time spent with Him in the morning. Oh I spent some but not as much. Thought really hard about the fact of just making it a long vacation for all of us. God said no and that's that. Now as my job change begins to take place it will change some as my hours of work will kinda dictate when things get sent and stuff. But what I take from all of this is the fact, no matter what, my time with God and people has to be a part of my life all the time and the best way will be to start the day with Him. And, well, you may wan to put your phone on silent till you get up in the morning if you get this by text. I've made my resolution known to God so He can keep me convicted this year as it goes by so fast. Stay in touch with God daily. Don't let time pass without noticing its passing. Don't let a moment go without noticing it. Thank God for each one. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. So is satan winning? According to the news and other media and the opinion of most people it would seem so. Since when does a nation of Christians let an event take them down. I don't know that any are but I don't see or hear many out there pointing to God with this. The message is about evil and sinister things and now that's what we talk about. All satan needs is a small crack to weasel his way into a life. A view just off the mark that may look like God but in the end is not. In the Book of Revelation do you know why John describes those horrible images? That's how he sees satan and evil. That's how Christians will see it. In the end days the world will see a good kind hearted man leading them to their unforeseen doom. The Christ followers will see him as the serpent and dragon that he is. So how do you see the world?  As a terrible place void of God or a terrible place ruled by the dragon. Make no doubt, God is here, and is by the way, satan's God too. We are being allowed this time to come to Him on our own out love for Him. Not tricked or deceived but pure love for Him. Find a way to love the hurting people of this world and not call them names and cast them aside because its easier to do so. That's how we win more souls with Gods love for us and others. We have to make our lives about Him in this chaotic and crazy world that satan uses to draw us away. People will ask, where is God in all of this? He's right there holding a hand some else wouldn't. He's hoping that by putting them in our path we will find the compassion for them He has.  I have so far to go. Help me Lord Jesus. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. Well, last week God was laying ground work for today it seems. Prayer and the subject of them. With the school shooting and the way the economy is and the election, there's no telling what if anything is being prayed about. There was a man named Saul who wanted Christianity gone. The people of Damascus knew he he was coming for them. What would you as a group of Christians there be praying for? That the wheel on his chariot fall off and he be hurt or killed?  You could rationalize that it's a Godly prayer because if he doesn't get us we can spread the Gospel better. I know if I were there I would have prayed for his demise. Do you think anyone stopped to pray for his salvation instead? Well in spite of us God saw to it and now we read the things he's written about our Lord and savior. The news has been about 26 victims at the school. For God He sees 28, and many more still left alive. There was a mother killed that no one is saying much about. There was a lost boy who no one seemed to understand or at least see this coming. Never to take away from those 26, please understand that. But the point is the same as Saul, what is being prayed over people who are lost? God lost some of His children that day. Some will be with Him I'm sure but who knows where the others were in there relationship with Him. We are so quick to get after the thing we think will bring immediate relief to a situation instead of what brings the best and most glory to God. I would have never prayed for Saul to be saved knowing he was coming to kill me. We need to be in prayer for our leaders, our teachers, our families, our nation, our world, for all of our salvation. I'm saddened by the shooting but from the heart and mouth of child came these words about it; " I feel most sorry for the guy that did this. He must've really been hurting the most to be able to do this". I never thought of it that way, but God does. Be careful what you pray for, and be mindful of what you say in it. You never know how God is going to use the event for His glory. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Friday. How long do we wait for God? Do we just give up at a point and say well I guess it's not gonna be? How do we know the answer is no or if its not yet?  I wish I had an answer, but apparently 4 1/2 plus years isn't too long. I think that for the most part it's about our continual relationship with God. When we stay in touch with our family and friends its easy to know what's going on and needs that may be needed to be met or joys to be celebrated. When it's been a while since we've seen them or talked its hard to have conversation other than catching up kind of news, it doesn't become very personal and close till the gap of time gets closed. I think when we realize that God made us for Himself, we could better understand the relationship we should have with Him. I've made a thousand promises to my kids over the course of their lives, some kept and some still to come. They ask about them every once in a while and about the status of it happening. Nothing big, but still important to them. Unlike God, I can't just make things happen so some will have to wait but they aren't discouraged by how long. We have a relationship. Draw near to God. He asks us to do so. He wants to be all you want Him to be. Be prepared to follow His plan and the direction He is leading you though. You will not win against God. So why not follow along the way that has already be won? In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday. Coincidence or God? Fate or luck? How easy is it to forget or look past God in action, to see His hand in things today? When we read the Bible we easily see how things were put together to bring about the things prophesied. Out of the blue, Augustus decides to count all the people so that brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem out of Nazareth. No big deal unless you know about what all was said about Jesus coming from there. But those things are easy to see from our perspective today because we're looking back. Isn't it also in the Bible that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow? So if He was doing those kinds of things then ( yesterday ) isn't He still doing those things today and continue on in the future? We are surrounded by His miracles everyday and some wonder where He is in their life. The question is right except the emphasis is on their life and not where is He. Where is He in our life, first, second or even in it at all? That's for us to do. He's been there since the dawn of days so it must be us. I don't believe in luck or coincidence any more like I did when I was younger. Even my golf ball bouncing just right off a tree is not luck. It's how well I use that opportunity to make an errant shot turn out to be a great day at the golf course.  In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. What if your prayers get answered? I'll make it easier, what if your biggest prayer is answered the way you would like it to be? Lets leave off the table the health of someone close to you, because those involve a lot of people praying the same thing. You're biggest prayer for yourself, something for you and you alone gets the answer you want? Now what?  How do we change or do we? Does it become a testimony to God's goodness? Do we just keep it locked away and to ourselves so no one knows we prayed it? I'm in the middle of that happening right now and after today and the final stuff is done I will be letting you know how it all turned out. I can't help but feel that a lot of people have let their story of God in their lives die or simply not acknowledged Him being present. As big is our prayers can be, we seem to only let it be known when the big one gets answered. Oh I know it should get some extra bells, hoots and hollers and such but we need to remember the everyday small things He does for us and make those our testimony and praise to Him. Maybe it's the big ones He uses to push us to speak out. Lets all be a voice of God in this world. We all know it could use more of it. In love always <><. 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Not much to say today except. GOD IS GOOD, always. More to come later. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. Why and when does God answer prayer? Your guess is as good as mine. The one thing I do know is, it is in His time and His time alone. Some may be answered immediately because He's been waiting for us to talk to Him and others because the timing is just not right yet. The first though, of waiting on me to ask Him saddens me most. To think that He's been waiting to "help" or do for me but I haven't asked Him. Then when I do, I feel like that's all I come to Him with is my needs and wants. But wait that's what we mostly do. To think that He is holding an answer to a prayer because I haven't prayed to Him also means I must be trying to do this on my own and without Him. But the one He's waiting to answer is the one that makes me the happiest, at least now that I have grown up some. This is the one He's letting me grow, mature and be ready for. It's the one He's wanting all things to be right so that we can be blessed and people will see Him in it because we gave Him the glory before the answer arrived. We're always ready to pray for others, at least we say we'll be praying for them. How often do we go to Him on our own behalf just to talk out the day and how things went and are going?  When we get to that stage of it all, our prayers to Him are simple conversations and the understanding of the timing to answers is gotten. I like it when He's grooming us and preparing us for the answer to a long awaited prayer. It means we're ready and pleasing to Him so that we may do what it is He is blessing us for, to bless others. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Friday. How do you feel today? How about yesterday? What was the difference between them and say last year at this time? Do you remember what you were doing and how your life felt the day before 9/11? Yeah me either, but we remember where we were that day though. The day before your life changes forever, feels like any other day. Until you know Christ nothing seems different. Everyday is the same and then one day it changes and you wonder how you ever lived without this before. How do we pass this to people so they don't waste days of their life not knowing Him? It's different for all of us but it's a question we have to find the answer to, lives in eternity depend on it. Those days that are behind us are for us to remember so that we realize the day it did change. I once was lost, but now I'm found. I once was blind but now I see. We have all been lost and blind in the past. Can you imagine physically being blind and then seeing clearly in an instant. Being lost somewhere in the mountains and wondering if death was your next day, and then rescuers turn the corner to find you. Your life would never be the same. You would remember the day it happened, but the ones before may all seem alike. Live for the day He found you and opened your eyes to see. Be an instrument for Him to use to help others the same way. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Thursday. I love to meet with people in a group and discuss issues. I like to see and hear other points of view and weigh them out with what I think. Used to no one was right but me and everyone else just wasn't as smart as me.  There are a number of places in the Bible about maturity of the church and how the mature are to deal and help the immature. Thank you Shawn and John and many others just like them who showed me patience and kindness to explain what I didn't understand. It's people helping people. Showing each other the love of Christ. Jesus spoke in parables to His disciples for a reason. Once they matured they would understand the deeper meaning of what He said. Everyone, including the heathens could make something of the surface meaning. Christians today, as I have said many times, are lazy and not really interested in going a little deeper anymore. We take the surface stuff and call it good and tell others how good God is. Then the person they told digs a little deeper on their own and finds out how GREAT God is. We're missing so much of God and our savior Jesus if we don't get into the Word and study and get involved in other people's lives and hear and learn more so we can grow more. Find a group to get involved in that wants to study and grow. Get to a place where you can lead a group yourself. Multiply our passion for Him with others and set the world on fire again with the name of Jesus. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I tried an experiment last night. At least I paid more attention to it anyway. I listened to my phone music in my ear buds all night. Each time I woke up from the ear buds hurting my ear I paid attention to what song was on. I have all kinds of music on there too. But last night every time it was one of my favorite Christian songs. I kid you not. Now what do I make of it? For most people it's just a coincidence and nothing more. For others, big deal. Who cares?  Me, I thanked God for the most wonderful nights sleep and serenade of music. Just a small little thing in my life that doesn't really mean a thing to anyone else. Just something for me from God. When we really look at all the things He is involved in, how can we not be in awe and amazement? With a God who loves us this much, how also can we not love people more. Take hate out of our lives and begin to let the light of the Lord shine for all to see. Yesterday was a call to arms. Today is how it begins. Thankfulness and humbleness before God. Allowing Him to lead the way and us willing to follow. It may start off small at first so don't be looking for the big miraculous event. I wonder how the army felt marching around a city wall for seven days as part of the battle plan? Sounds stupid and ineffective to them. My favorite songs each time I woke up last night. Sounds stupid and unimportant, but both were very effective. Thank you God. I love you. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. At what point in our lives do we realize we really need God? Is it when everything has fallen apart and we feel we have nothing left? Do we live our lives how we want and then decide to receive His grace and mercy at the end of it? Many people have come to Christ in by those situations. Of the many examples, these are just two for the sake of argument.  But the question I would ask is this; If God is good enough to be sought out for at the end or most desperate time of our lives, why isn't He good for the whole thing?  As humans we seem to think we have it all under control, or at least the idea that we can control things in our lives. To some degree we can by our decisions., but we have an illusion that we can do more. We can turn things around. For people who don't believe in God I could see this but Christians do the same thing. The evidence is in a good look at our countries history. Founded on beliefs in God and prosper till we begin to allow satan to whisper in our collective ear that its all ok. We are deteriorating slowly as we continue to push God out of our country and our lives. It's time, it's past time, for the Christian nation to stand up and no longer be silent. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your church. Make it happen. Quit being comfy in your Sunday pew and realize you're being called to action. We owe it to the One who gave us all. In love always. <><