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. <><

Good morning and happy Friday. Well for about two days now, between dreams and conversations, God seems to be telling me about doors. See where this fits for you. A long hallway/corridor type place with lots of doors all around. You can't tell the difference in the doors. One looks like the other. Nothing special about any of them. Which one do you choose? So as I walked around and just randomly tried them, some were locked and others hard to open. The ones that opened, I could not tell what was inside. Then as I got tired of trying the doors with no success of moving forward, I began to talk to God. When I lifted up my tired hanging down in self pity head, I could see the doors now looked a little different. Some were dark and not very appealing, while others were ornately fashioned. But then right in front of me, and had been the whole time, was a very plain and simple door. It opened with ease and smoothness, but I could not see beyond the threshold. Knowing, by the feeling I was having, I stepped inside the unknown. There before me now laid the road to heaven. All the things I had ever imagined God could do was now in front of me. This road to travel is the one He had for me to follow.
We have to stop searching on our own, or believing we are alone. We have to come to God. We have to take the step first into Him before He will reveal His plans for us. There will be more doors and more leaps of faith, but now that you know what it took to get there, those decisions should be easier as you go. Satan will come hard after you but as long as you continue to look forward into the face of God, you will never be taken. Chose to follow Him. Take the first step into the unknown. This is how you know your heart is ready to follow. This is faith in God to take care of you just as He promises. Find the door today by asking God to reveal it to you and prepare yourself to go where He sends you. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy, I'm not gonna say it, Wednesday. Question; do you hate your family and friends? Strong words for someone to ask don't you think? What could I possibly mean by that? Why in the world would I ask that? If you know the answer, then you know why I asked. In Luke 14:25-35, Jesus tells us that is exactly what we are to do. Whoa. Hold on wait a minute, really? Yes He does. So let's look at it. First the word "hate". It doesn't mean the same then as it does now, at least not the way we use it. Part of our problems today. It really means "loved less". I hear the ooohs now. This is how the Bible gets twisted and used against us. Take a verse out if it's context or without knowing the meaning of ancient words and phrases. That is why it is so important to read and learn your Bible. So, with that, let's see what He is saying. Love your family and friends and self less than Me. Put Jesus first and above ALL things in your life, including yourself. The verse that is the parallel to this explains it. Matthew 10:34-39. But if we don't read we don't know. Jesus said at the end of Luke's words. "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." We have to study the words of our Lord. He is our only way to the Father and so why would we not try and learn from Him. Sorry for the harsh words at the start, but I hope it got your attention. It did mine when I read them today. I think it's great the way Jesus teaches us. Study on this passage of Luke. It's a very interesting read. Love God first above all things. Not how anti-Christians would use that verse is it? I love you, but not more God. In love always <><

Good morning/afternoon and happy Friday. I hate gettin old. I love the wisdom gained from failed trials and things gone through but the old things like aches, pains and poor vision, I can do without them. But this morning all I wanted to do was see. My eyes were tired and the little dogs were in my lap and I couldn't read or watch a movie. My eyes just wanted to close. And while they were open they couldn't focus enough to see very good at all. Most days the inevitable would have happened, take a nap. But I have things to do today and really need to get going. So I made myself go get in the shower. Man there is something to be said for the refreshing feel of water. Then God showed up, now that I can "see". I think we can find ourselves in the same thing with God. So tired and run down, that as we try to see Him we can't focus, not even able try really. We get that way because of satan. And he does not want you to get that rest. Not tonight or any other night. Loving God and following God are two different things. Loving Him is easier than following Him. It takes work and rest in Him to make it. Sometimes we have to make ourselves move to Him. Sometimes we have to be washed by the water. Move toward Him today. Get as close as you can. There you will find rest and focus. In love always. <><