Friday, July 29, 2011

Forgotten Plans

Good morning and happy Friday. So many times we make plans to do something. I'm gonna do this and this and then I'm gonna do this. We have every intention of getting it done but one thing or another comes up and we never get them done. Not all the time, but most of the time it's because it's not as important to us as the thing that came up and distracted us. Well good news, God does not get distracted or forgets the plans He has made for us. He will never forsake you. You are always on His mind and most importantly His heart. The only requirement of us is to follow his plan. Fall in love with Him and His Son and follow. What an amazing journey He will lead us on. The things on your heart is what you don't forget. You are on His, put Him in yours. In love always. <><

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Just Passing BY

Good morning and happy Thursday. Ever have someone just pull out in front of you and then just drive on like they never saw you? They never gave you a moments notice. And then we all say it, " what are you blind? Can't you see me here?". How many people do we pass everyday needing to hear about Jesus and what His salvation brings? How many times have we just kept walking?  Not always do we see, but are we really looking?  Sometimes it's people we know and just don't think about talking to. They are the ones seeing you with everyone else and not seeing them. This awareness for people comes from having a close relationship with God. It's in those times He lets you see through His eyes what needs are to be met. Spend time getting close to Him and see what He has for you to do. In love always. <><

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Easy Road

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Been up driving all night and came to realize something; I can't do it all night and when I get in the construction, I really have to concentrate. When I'm on the regular non-construction it's nice and easy. It's the same with God, when it's hard going I can find Him easy. When things are good, I don't call on Him as much. It's in those long easy times I really need more time with Him. That's when it's the best to grow with Him. But we seem to rely on ourselves then way too much. We forget we need Him so He puts up some construction signs and makes us concentrate more on Him. Enjoy the drive today; especially the tough spots. In love always. <><

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Refreshed

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Doesn't it feel good to be refreshed? To have the days that have beaten you down be melted away and just find that sense of renewal. Most of us don't realize the need for it and so don't ever really step away from things long enough to get it. I bet everything would be handled and covered if you weren't there to do it. We act like we're the ones in charge and it will all fall apart if we don't handle it. Now we can't all spend 40 days on vacation. Jesus' time in the desert was spent staying close to the Father. We need that renewal in our spirit to get back to a closer place than ever before. It's how we grow. So if you haven't, try and take some time away from the world and just be with God. It can be as easy as just letting everything go for a while and simply taking in the world around you. No hustle and bustle, just letting go of the worldly things that keep us occupied and away from God. Breathe, relax and enjoy life a little bit more. In love always <><

Monday, July 25, 2011

Life Is Hard

Good morning and happy Monday. Parents shouldn't ever have to say goodbye to a child. It just doesn't seem right. The bewilderment in their eyes and the wonder as to why is so easily seen on their face. We know that a better place is where they've gone and that we will see them again, but it doesn't help us now. I think of Mary as she watched her son die. With all that she knew about who He was and from where He came and to where He was going and what this meant for the world, it hurt. Why? It's a reminder of our humanity. We're not whole yet. Until that day that God calls us home we need Him. For our strength, comfort, and provision. When people pass, we begin to examine life. Theirs, ours and see the good in them. We beat ourselves up enough with the bad. Find God in all things and there you will find the good. And it may have to hurt a little. In love always. <><

Friday, July 22, 2011

Life's Elevator Ride

Good morning and happy Friday. Why is it when I get in a crowded elevator and I have to just squeeze in and ride facing everyone, it feels so weird? Is it really any different than being turned around facing the door?  No, it just doesn't feel right. When we go through our lives facing the wrong way but doing the same thing as others, two things can happen. One, just feel weird and want to turn around and do it like everyone else and feel comfortable. Or two, we see the faces of the people we're riding with in life and can get a better look at them and how they are feeling. Not judging but seeing. A woman in the corner with her face down. A man in the middle looking straight up. Whats happening in their lives and can I be a help to them. Being uncomfortable and out of our comfort zones can be uplifting and powerful. Don't just ride along life like everyone else. Be the person God made you to be and listen to His instructions for you life. Next time you can, ride the elevator backwards. See if God shows you people's lives if you look. In love always. <>< 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Life is a Snapshot

Good morning and happy Thursday. As I write this I'm at the ER with a dear friend of mine. Between this and some other good friends losing a son, I have been able to see just how life is really just a snapshot. My friend here is older and the son lost was a mere 22 yrs old. It doesn't really matter the age we are, it's how we lived our life. Aaron died saving someone else. That speaks volumes in itself. Delbert is living helping to save others. It's how we do this thing called life. God does things we just can't see or sometimes can't understand. But if we take the time to draw close to Him we can take comfort there and find a peace beyond understanding. He does that for us in those times and more importantly so we see our need for Him. So no matter the age of the picture, young or old, it's the life the picture shows the ones left behind that attests to God the Father. Aaron left a beautiful picture and Delbert is still making his. His work not yet done. Paint a beautiful picture of God in your life. In love always. <><

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Feed The Fire

Good morning and happy Wednesday. In the weeks that have past I've noticed less hoopla over Casey Anthony. Make no mistake, she's still hated by plenty. But it's not dominating the FB pages and tweets and conversations like it was a week ago. Already the fire waning out. Someone will fan them and start it up again but it will only go back out quicker until soon it's just gray ashes. I love going to mens retreats for that renewal and fuel for the fire in my heart that fades out from time to time. We're passionate people we humans. But are we passionate about the right things? I wish that the fire of hatred we can turn up so fast and high was lit up for God instead. That we could become so passionate about Him that we don't stop talking about Him. The next big news break doesn't take our mind off of Him. Because just as we are passionate we are also easily distracted. Our focus is short lived. But like an athlete who trains for the long race, training and practice helps us with our focus on God. Get in the Word and let Him reveal Himself to you today. Keep the fire burning. In love always. <><

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Trust His Ways

Good morning and happy Tuesday. God is in control. He has a plan for everything. Why can't we trust that? We want to feel like we're driving our lives? We trust people so easily and then when that trust is, and most of the time will, be broken, we have a hard time trusting again. Is that it? We lost trust in people some time ago so we just don't trust at all? To someone who doesn't really know God, His ways would seem confusing and not possible. That is exactly why it's that way so that we see it can only be Him that is involved in what's going on. The plan is so crazy and unpredictable that it can only be Him. He is revealing Himself to us just like He did with Moses. God doesn't change, we do. He's the same as He was and if He showed Himself and His power then, what makes us think He won't now. We got smart and stuff huh. We figured it out. That's what Satan did in the garden. Convinced us of our own power apart from God. Seems like history repeats itself a little. Trust Him. He is handling our lives if we let Him. Understand that this is all temporary and He wants us with Him. Live for that idea for a while as you start to trust Him more and more. In love always. <><

Monday, July 18, 2011

His Ways Are Not Like Ours

Good morning and happy Monday. Isn't it strange how we so desperately want to be forgiven but yet we can't give forgiveness. We want things to be a way that "we're" used to but don't consider what others may think, feel or need. We always put ourselves first. We're good, when reminded, to put others first. But generally it's ourselves. And the one that should be first is the One who helps us to understand all this. His ways are not like ours so we tend not to follow them because they seem so weird and strange. His plans don't seem to make much sense so we put it away as odd and not possible. We want; but we're not willing to give. To give into His plan and His direction and until we do, life will not make much sense in the long run of it. No one can explain why things happen the way they do. But I do know this; if God was in it, it was for good and if He wasn't, good will come from it. The choice is ours to except or reject Him. He will be where He is no matter what our choice is. Thank you God for your forgiveness. In love always. <><

Friday, July 15, 2011

American Dream, Really?

Good morning and happy Friday if you haven't seen interviews with Minn. Congress woman Michele Bauchman, you've got to YouTube her. This is really who they chose to represent them? It just made me take a look at our country as a whole and see how we've just settled for how it is. We just go along and no one really stands up for the things wrong in our government. The old days were full of protests about even the smallest of stuff. Complacent is the word for today. And we're doing it to God too. We don't stand up for Him anymore. We've let all this happen. We're just concerned with our own dreams. The "American" dream. Live and let live just as long as a get mine. Without God nothing can be done. Oh it may get built or finished and look like it's done, but it won't stand the test of God. They're winning in the battle to remove Him from here. We are letting them. And it's letting because we know who wins in the end. Stand up for God from this day on. Be involved in the daily things as well as the nation things. Let's get Him back running the country and see if we don't get some change. In love always. <><

Thursday, July 14, 2011

God"s Bungee Jump

Good morning and happy Thursday. If you were gonna bungee jump, how many cords would you want put together to hold you?  Most of us would say more than enough. But the guys in charge are pretty smart and know the business they're in pretty well and for you to have the best experience, they know just how many to put together for your size. The experience is what you're paying for. The thrill of it all. The bungee company wants the same thing for you too. That's repeat business. Playing it safe and not letting go of the control of the jump would not be worth the time or the effort. Life is the same too and in life God is in control and He has just the right amount of cords bound together for you to survive the jump of life He has put together for you. Trust Him to do what He has promised. Trust Him to not lead you astray. Playing life safe and not sharing His word and doing His work is not the plan He has for you. Take His leap of faith and see what kind of life He has for you. It's really more fun than you think. Embrace Him and His plan for you. Just like the cords at the bungee jump, it's not the same as your neighbors. Take your own jump. In love always. <><

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Family Time

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Family, our biggest ties in life. Mom, dad, I'm sorry I haven't been around as much to see you. To my brothers the same. It's funny how we don't realize what we're doing to people we love until it's being done to us. There's not any intentions of doing wrong to someone, most of the time. But it's been a while since I sat down with my girls just to be with them. And it hit me that I've done the same thing to my own parents. We're all too busy with life. So knowing how I feel in this shell of a man's body, I wonder how I'm making God feel by not spending more time with Him. Family surely is worth my time. I need to do better. God is definitely worth my time and I have to do better. He has to be first, and then one day we will have all the time we want to spend together. But in the mean time, family time is a great time. In love always. <><

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Not of This World

Good morning and happy Tuesday. All the blogs and twitters and other forums have just been full of a question that is asked so many times. It's not spelled out plainly as this but it is being asked, "Where is God in all of this?". The Anthony case and Josh Hamilton's deal. Well the answer is simple, He's right there. We will never really see the good that comes from those events, but there will be some. A family is mended and hearts changed by the mere seeing of these things and beginning to feel. We get upset about all this because we forget this is not our home. We're like puppies in a cage waiting to be picked up and taken home. God took them home to a better place. I don't wanna leave until He's ready for me to. I've got some work to do here first I know. But I take great comfort in the fact the my Father is right here with me all the time. I can feel Him, I can hear Him, I can see Him in all the world by the things He has done. He's right here with us and if we let Him, He's right there inside of us. He's with Josh and Cooper. He's with Casey and her family. Caylee and Shannon are with Him now. He is amazing. In love always. <><

Monday, July 11, 2011

God's Got It

Good morning and happy Monday. When you find yourself alone in a desert of life, don't we always seem to be able to find God. He's always with us. And when no one else seems to be there or get it, He is and He does. What token then, of appreciation do we show Him in return? Usually we can't make the time for Him. We forget shortly after the crisis and go right back to the way we were doing things before. The purpose of the crisis that lead us to our desert was to learn and grow from the errors we were making before. We have to see these as opportunities for our growth and more reliance on Him. Instead of a slogan of " I got this" it needs to be "He's got this". Let Him have those things and then you can have more time with Him and grow a deeper relationship. Gratitude and thankfulness is how we should feel when we find ourselves in the green pastures. When we reach that point the desert isn't as bad as it once was. Spend more time with Him everyday. In love always. <><