A Very Good Friday

Good morning and happy Friday. Good Friday. Those close to Him are gone and don't  know Him. He's before the courts to be silenced once and for all. Not even the Romans want His blood on their hands. Everyone gets who He is but them. The verdict comes down and the sentence is passed. Because they were so tied up in their own way of thinking and wanting to be vindicated, they did not see who God Himself was. Where does that fit in your life today? 

   He is beaten almost to death before He ever makes it to the cross. Mothers hide their children's eyes from what is happening, that's how bad this is. He feels it all just like a man would. Skin ripped and broken open by the whips. Nails through the hands and feet. All for us. For all of us. When the world went dark and shook, they knew then that what they did was wrong, but will not admit to it. We are just like them. By staying in our sinful ways and not following Him, we are beating Him with a whip all over again and making His death nothing. The kindest loving God sent us hope. Gave us a way Home when there was none. Pours out grace on an undeserving world, so that we will come to Him and be His bride. We are children of the Most High God, act like it. Love each other and help each other. Make what happened on this day mean every thing to you. 

   He came as a man to walk among us and show us the way. He died on a cross to open the door to the Heavens. "It is finished". In love always. <><

Thursday of the Last 7 Days

Good morning and happy Thursday. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread". So Jesus gets His guys to find them a place to have their feast. A lot is going to happen today, but in a nut shell, they have their Last Supper, now our communion. They we're told they would deny Him and that one would betray Him. Thay went to Gethsemane to pray. Here is where I had questions in my learning about Jesus. In His prayer to God, as He sweats blood, He asked if there was another way of doing this. To let this cup pass, but if it's your will.... Why? Was He chickening out? Did He not want to save us now?  Nope. He knew that as He hung on that cross He would become sin and as sin, God would not look at at Him and He would, for the first and only time, be out of God's presence. He could take the beating, the mockery, the humiliation, but not being away from God. Can You?  Can you stand up for what He has you to do and follow His will in spite of what is going to happen because of it? We owe Him at least that much. His buds turned Him in and also left Him, denying Him just like he said. Prophecy fulfilled. This is real and it has happened to save us all. No matter how far away from Him we let ourselves go, there is always a road Home. For Jesus to ask not be away from God, it must be amazing place to be. See you there. In love always. <>< 

Wednesday of the Last 7 Days

Good morning and happy Wednesday. It's the middle of the week and not a lot is happening. Jesus is still teaching, but the big thing going on is the plot behind His back. That gets said as if He didn't know it was going on. One of His twelve has decided to take advantage of a situation. He heard Jesus say He was going to die, why not make a little money and  influence from it. Rationalizing the thought process. Doesn't sound like much has changed in all these years. We still have teachers, on His behalf, and we still think we can do stuff behind His back and get away with it, or at least benefit in some way. It's all selfish thinking and being self centered that causes us to wonder so far away from Him. This thought process ultimately cost Judas his life. The anguish he caused himself was far worse than anything good He could've gained. So before he hung himself, I'm sure he said to himself that none of that was worth it. What plot against Jesus do have in your head? If its not for Him it's against Him. In love always <><

Tuesday of the Last 7 Days

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Jesus began teaching again to show the people who He was and how they have been rejecting Him. He was setting the table for what was to come. It's too long for here but read Luke 20:1- ? about the tenants in the vineyard. Jesus lays the ground work for all the wrong they've been doing. They've been told by the prophets of his coming and rejected what was right before their eyes. So you see, they were looking so intently for the new king, they missed him when He came and ended up killing Him. How much are we missing right before our eyes because we're looking for our own desires of the world? Jesus makes it clear that they knew this day was coming. They grew up hearing it said, and still chose their way over The Way. Mostly because it included the Gentiles. Others besides themselves were getting in on all the good stuff too. "But they didn't have to go through what we did", they said. Why them. This can't be the guy we're looking for. It's not what we think about it, it's what God is doing that matters. This is not about us, it's about ALL of us. Love them all. In love always

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Monday of the Last 7 Days

Good morning and happy Monday. On Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He was being heralded as the coming king of the Jews. They wanted their king here that would overthrow the Roman rule they had been under. But as Jesus rode in, he wept over the city because He knew why He was there and what these very same people were going to do. On Monday He was in the Temple running off all the "robbers" that had set up shop there. Really? This is how they were acting in the Holy City during Passover week. He was going to be giving His last teachings here. What are some of the last things you would be telling your loved ones in your last days? What Jesus has to say is going to be very important to those hearing it and those reading it today. This is Passion Week. The week Jesus came to this Earth for. To save us all. This is going to be a great week. In love always.

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Have To And Want To

Good morning and happy Friday. What's the difference between want to and have to?  The heart. When you have to do something, its hard to really get into it. When you want do something, it's all you wanna do. So what if you had to love God? It wouldn't be much for either of you. But since we have free will and choose to love Him, because our heart really does, is't that much better. So where are you on the scale? Feeling like you have to or in it whole hearted? Or are you somewhere in the middle in the luke warm water bobbing up and down.  It's always good to step back and look in a full length mirror instead of the shaving/makeup mirror we usually use. Let your heart lead you to where your brain is keeping you from going. Find the want to inside you. It's there, it just has to be found. In love always. <><

Let The Past Be The Past

Good morning and happy Thursday. Have you ever seen a dog tied to a park bench or a pole so the owner could go into a store or something? That's your past you're tied to. You can't go anywhere until you own it and make good from it. Too many times we use our past as the excuse for our present and future. Our past has happened and that's it. We can use it for the good of the Kingdom or we can blame our lives on it. When we go to God for forgiveness, He gives it to us. Now we have to let ourselves be forgiven and not let satan use it to hold us down. Untie yourself from the past and quit trying to drag it around. Quit making excuses for everything going on and move on. Use the past to help others in similar situations. This is community. This is being part of the body. No more excuses. In love always. <><

Walking To The Cross

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Who are we, that the Lord of all the Earth, that the eyes that see my sin, would look on me with love, and watch me rise again (paraphrased). I love that song so much. It just blows my mind how much He loves us, how much He cares about every little thing in our lives. How can we not devote our lives to Him? As we near my favorite season of Easter, I want us all to start picturing our Lord drawing near to Jerusalem to die for us. All the things done and given to us sinners from the beginning. He never left our side, it's us who pulled away thinking we could do it on our own now that we're through the rough stuff. He died for us. A horrible ugly death that we deserve, He did for us so that we could be with Him. He must really care about us a lot. And this is how we treat Him in return?  Get ready for the walk to the cross. In love always. <><

Not A Word To Say

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Sometimes I find myself without a single word to say to God. I love and take comfort in the fact that I don't have to. He hears my inner most feelings and thoughts and concerns. Along with those groans and sounds that only He can understand. And then give the comfort of letting me know He hears me. I feel like I'm in a whirlpool sometimes with all the thoughts in my head. And in the middle of the chaos He's standing there. Has been the whole time just waiting for me to reach my hand out to His. The one that's been stretched out before for me. Refuge is found in the Lord. There is no other place to be. Tell the world of this place you know. There's room for us all. In love always.

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Putting The Father First

Good morning and happy Monday. When our kids are little they really need us parents. As they get older and mature more they need us less and less. Some hang out and see their parents more then others as they get out on their own.  And some just stop in when they need to talk or in a situation that calls for some advise. Either way, a foundation of where to turn to is in place. It's about going to the source of knowledge and know how that makes a life easier to live. Now grown ups, which child are we in our relationship with our Father? Do we go to Him daily or just become and an EC, (Emergency, Crisis or as it approaches, Easter,Christmas) kind of kid? I want and need to see my mom and dad more than I do, but I really need more time with God. What a neat idea of us getting together to do that. Family is always family and our parents are our mentors. But when the first Father is first it all is good. Spend some time each day seeking His guidance and wisdom for the path of life He has for you to walk. It's the best road you can take. In love always. <><

Move Me Holy Spirit

Good morning and happy Friday. Why do we leave a comfortable place? What moves us to do something different than what's good right now? Well, we say we hear the Holy Spirit move us. Really? The Spirit moved you to do something stupid? I know I need to grow so I've gotta move to grow right? We amaze me. We can rationalize everything we do. If you have teenagers then you know best of all. But the Spirit and our own desires sound the same because they come through the same voice, but not the same source. So we hear what we want and call it the Spirit. How fast do we move on that? But when we really hear the Spirit move us we ponder and think it out and "pray" about it. The Holy Spirit will move you to uncomfortable places, but as long as God is leading, then it will always be good.  This is a struggle for everyone I know, including me, especially me. Be led by the Holy Spirit today and act as quickly as possible. It's really a blessing for us when we do. In love always. <><

Going Back Humble

Good morning and happy Thursday. It seems like the longer I stay away from something that I was closer to before, the more I don't like it and the harder it is to get back to it. With people, it depends on how things were when they last saw one another. With God, it's usually in shame for what we've done but sometimes it's anger. In any case, we have to make the effort to move back to that place of relationship. It's up to us to move. When we've been away from God for a while, that's got to be the hardest to come back to, but really is the easiest and most forgiving place we could find. The past is not held against us in a way that keeps us from Him, but because we've come to Him with a confessed heart, He sees it no more. That's not true with each other. It should be but it's not. Reunions are great and time does heal most wounds but don't take too much of it, you're missing out on a relationship you probably need more than you know. Mend your fences with those who you share them with. Make peace in your heart with God. Find His peace for you today. In love always. <><

Alone In A Storm

Good morning and happy Wednesday. It's tough to go through a struggle or trial by yourself. It's worse, in my opinion, to feel alone in it. Going through something alone can be a choice but feeling alone means that there may not be anybody reaching out to you. There may not really be anyone there at all. We all know God is with us always, and He is all we need. But if that were all if it, we wouldn't need each other. We're sons and daughters of the Most High God, making us brothers and sisters. Family is always there. Not the ones in your house growing up, the family of humanity. We have to be available to each other and help when a brother or sister calls on you. This is God at work in the physical. Not expecting a thing, but to simply love the one in need. It's amazing how we feel when it's given and received. Just like that feeling you have when you really ponder the love if God hanging on a cross for us. Sacrifice part of yourself for others. It's the least we can do. In love always. <><

How Much Is He Missing In Your Life

Good morning and happy Tuesday. So to finish up yesterday's message: the point was about me clearing out my life junk, but the other was those who were texting and seeing if everything was ok. It's great to be loved and missed, but it's not about us. After we're dead and gone, the people left after us will miss us but they still have a life to live. So, if we're missing the people in our lives this much when gone for just a while, why aren't we missing God in our lives who, for some, hasn't been there in a while? I miss my girls every day that they aren't with me. I know that I still have to keep God first in my life so that my life in Jesus makes a difference to them. So how much is He missing in your life, or have you even considered it?  Take a day, or two and escape to Him. Leave this hustle and bustle behind and reconnect with Him and just see the difference. Then keep Him right there and don't take your eyes off of Him. He's in control of everything else. He doesn't need your help for that. He needs you showing Him to others who have left His side so they will come home too. To you I hurt or frustrated, I'm sorry and I love you more than you know. It's hard to do but I needed to check myself and where I was. In love always. <><

Missing LIfe

Good morning and happy Monday. I haven't missed many days at this in nearly two years of this morning text. I missed Friday on purpose. Late Thursday evening I checked out of this busy world we live in as much as I could. No text, computer, t.v.  Like I said as much as possible. What I found was a sense of how busy I let things get. How I miss people in my life, and how they, missed me. It brought to life some things about community and the need for fellowship. And then it hit me, how much am I really checked out of God's life and much like my mom and dad, is He missing me. I've got to have Him first and that's what I seem to have found as we talked a lot more than before this weekend. My thoughts were clearer and more poignant. I needed to clear a bunch of life junk out and connect better spiritually with God and now with you. It was a good mind and heart get-a-way. And  for those I left alone for what seemed like no reason, I'm sorry,  but I really needed to get connected. God, thank you for missing me and holding on a minute while I get it together with you and not without you. I know I was not fully committed and that you have shown me the error of my ways. I love you and give you all the glory. My life is you being lived today. Help me to live better for you. In love always. <><