Good morning and happy Friday. I love music. I love to sing and wish I could better. But I really connect with songs sometimes. It's funny to me now to think about the song in my head that I haven't heard in long time. So I know God has placed it there for me today. It's Casting Crowns "Lifesong". So am I living my life that I could have Jesus sign off on at the end of the day knowing my heart was true? That's a tough question. But it's the one for today. What am I allowing to invade my heart and my thoughts that makes me not want Him to know that He already knows? When we can allow ourselves to escape this world and live in it while filtering everything through Him, we'd have it made. But we don't do that. We try and try, and that's good but really getting to the core of it all is the key. That's done by going to Him on our knees and talking about it. He is the only one who can save us from whatever is holding us back from the life He's planned for us. Bow before the King and come to Him broken and humbled and ready to be molded. It's gonna hurt a little, but not like what Jesus went through for us to be able to even approach the throne. A small price to pay for all we've been seeking. While we see ourselves as a mess, He sees a work in progress that's to be a beautiful piece of pottery, useful and needed in His kingdom. Live each day so that you can go to Him at the end of it and let Him sign it in the crimson blood spilled for us. Let your Lifesong sing. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Thursday. Why do you believe in God? Have you really thought about it? Is it just because you were brought up to? Really think about it. I have and I'm still not sure. The Native American knew there was something more then them here. All sorts of cultures had gods of some kind because they knew there was more to this life than this. Well we all have a hole to fill and know that there is really something we were made for and to do. God has been where we found that filling. The amazing thing for me has been how I realize that I've needed this my whole life. That it's exactly what it says it is. God is, was and will be everything to me. And while my stupid self walked around "knowing" everything, God, who I didn't even really know, was right there with me the whole time. He's never left my side, ever. For as much as I rejected Him, He dug in closer to me. Now, I can't live without Him. I know who and what He is and I have no real idea of how it came to be. I'm just thankful that along the way I was introduced to Him at least and came to Him when I did. It simply took this long for the planted seed to start being a plant. Plant some seeds with your life today. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Wednesday. Why do you think Peter wanted to come out of the boat and walk on the water? Do you think he was testing or verifying who he was seeing out on the water? I propose another slant. Maybe he just wanted to be like his Lord. He had seen all the things He had been doing. He knew His voice and when he heard Him speak out on the water he wanted to go to Him. Although they were fishermen, they really didn't like the water. This is a huge deal to get out of a perfectly good boat and go out onto water he knows he can't and has never walked on before. He does know however that if it is done with the help of Jesus, then it is possible. To apply that to today is very simple; trust God for who He is and move to Him and His will when He speaks to you or moves you. Once in motion, don't stop looking at Him and begin to doubt that you really are doing this. I wonder what the others in the boat were thinking as they saw Peter walking on water. Keep your eyes on the Lord and the plan He has for you and people will see you doing amazing things too. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Tuesday. Oh my goodness I got to sleep in today and I feel so good and rested. It makes me think about the rest God offers us. There is so much in this world today that occupies our time and keeps us busy and away from spending time with God. Before all this technology there was more time for a lot of things; family, friends and God. Think about your grandparents and the stories they tell about their time. Sure it had its own problems too, but the most important things in life were always first. Now, those things have slipped down our priority list of importance. It's funny how we think we are doing so much better than the generation before us. As we grow older and "wiser" we begin to see the error of our ways. God offers us the rest we seek from this busy world we've created with the help of Satan himself. So if he's helping us in our demise and is in opposition of God, and if we are seeking peace and rest, then God is where it is found. My grandparents have such an ease about God. They know Him better than me. We have to try and get ourselves to that place. This world is temporary, and we have placed too much value on it. Our intent should be on our eternal life and where IT will be spent. This life here only matters for a short time and is not worth all that we put into it. Find the rest from this world in the very loving arms of God. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Monday. Well as a guy, I'm not supposed to like the sappy love story movies of the guy's in love with a girl who doesn't notice him kinda of thing, but Mall Cop is a great movie. Lol. Just kidding. I do like the hopeless romantic thing because it reminds me of us with God. We can get to a place where it feels like He doesn't notice us at all. That we're not worthy of His love. It breaks my heart to think of people in that place in their lives. It's just not possible to not be loved by Him. That's what makes me always watch those movies. I know how it ends every time, yet I still watch. Why? Because it shows me hope. As humans in this messed up world we lack the ability to have true faith sometimes and have to be shown what we're looking for. It also reminds me of the fact I'm never too far away from His love and for Him to pull me into His arms. And yes I know how all this ends, but just like the movies, it's fun to see how and what happens on the way there. How many people will see us make our way to the love of the prom queen and have hope in their lives for a big change? How many will see our journey from the dark and lost to the light and found? How many lives are changed by that? That's why I like the sappy love stories, because God breathed life into the best love story ever written; the Bible. It's His love for us that shows how much He loves us so that we can be with Him forever. Let love rule the day. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Friday. You see them all the time. You know some of them or you may be one too, store front Christians. The ones who have the appearance of a Christian, but who's actions and motives are not in line with it. I know a man who has these very traits of the good image of how a Christian looks and acts. An act is all that it is. At the core, is not a compassionate loving and caring for others no matter what person. Is that you? Do you love and care no matter what? I'm not talking about becoming mad at a situation and going off a bit, but that inner side that has other thoughts and motives. Don't be a pretty house on the block with flowers and white fence and then have a rusted car on blocks in the back yard and a filthy house. Looks good to drive by, but you don't want to go inside. Thats how the world sees Christians. That's how some professed Christians are. A true Christian and follower of Jesus flows from the inside out. And to see how this world has become, it's in dire need of true Christians. You see if Jesus really is in your heart, then He will flow out from the inside. Outward pains and things others think about those kind of motives won't matter any more. But it's also the house they will want to go inside of. I hope my house is a little ugly but made beautiful on the inside by the Holy Spirit. Let your light shine out for the world to see. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Thursday. In the Book of Mark a man named Jarius is begging Jesus to come and help his daughter who is dying. On the way, a woman who was sick, made her way through the crowd to simply to touch His robe. Her faith healed her. This interruption in the trip to the little girl was likely making Jarius mad and impatient. And just as they were about to move on, he gets word his daughter is dead. How would you feel in this moment? If He would have kept going and not stopped He could have healed her. I'm quite sure he was mad and ready to throw his hands up and just give up. "It's too late now, thanks a lot". Bitterness would be settling in too. Jesus remains calm and tells him she is only "asleep". On the way to the house the people are saying to him why bother now, it's too late. The world discouraging him. But he keeps his faith and Jesus takes him and three others with them and tells the little girl to get up. And with the compassion only the Lord has, He has them get her something to eat. A simple thing, but He knew she missed dinner and would be hungry. He just brought her back from death and is concerned about her in the smallest of things. Delayed answers to prayer, because it's in His time. Compassion beyond understanding. Both people being healed and still caring for them in the smallest of details. This is the God we serve. Serve Him well. Wait for Him to do for you. Be doing for him always. It's in His time. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Wednesday. I'm pretty sure that most people don't wake up and say, " Well today is my last day. I'm dying today". I'm sure Dr. King didn't know he was gonna be shot as he was giving his speech that day. The space shuttle astronauts were pretty sure they would be home later on. Is there anything here on this earth worth losing our souls for? I'm not sure I'll make it home tonight, so when I go, I want to be doing God's work, or at least not tied up in this world and it's root of evil. For a long time people knew the earth was flat, people knew the earth was the center of the universe, just think what we'll know tomorrow. Man does not have the answers. Man is not in control. God has this whole thing and we are a part of it no matter how small and insignificant we may feel. In the small things of your life, be doing it for God. Be about His work always. That way when it's time to go home, your work is done. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Tuesday. Do any of us realize how temporary this life is? How the things we cling to will all be gone in the blink of an eye. Yet everyday we all do things that effect our eternity and where it will be spent. Jesus spent a good portion of His ministry teaching about just that. That we are clinging to this earthly dwelling instead of our heavenly home. Our minds and actions lead us down roads of temporary satisfaction. All sorts of things come to mind; our diets, work outs, thoughts of the secretary in the office pool. Tons of things we do or ponder are on the very short sighted, temporary place of this earth. We all do it and we all have ways of dealing with it, but the best way is to make everyday as deeply involved with God as possible. As we do that more and more the easier this world slips away and the thought of eternity takes over. We never know how close we are to moment of leaving this world. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Monday. It was baptism Sunday at church yesterday. A lot of people went public with their faith. It was nice to see hearts being changed and lives headed in a new direction. How long where you wet from your time in the water? In the moment, I felt like it would last forever, but I was about 14 or so and those of you who know my past know it didn't last long. I was dried up and done with the whole mess relatively quick. What happened? I don't believe I was too young. I do believe that there was no one around to help me through the next phases of that change in my life. Too many times people get out of the water and ask, "Now what?". Being there and not letting someone go alone helps them stay wet and keeps your fire burning. God designed us as community people. To be there for each other. To strengthen each other. No isolation or keeping people at an arms length. When your community is all up in your business, you usually keep your business good. Don't be afraid to reach out and don't be afraid to be reached out to. God guides us when we let Him and gives the words to say when we listen. Be an instrument for Him to use in the lives of others. Don't stand by and let another's fire go out. We need each other. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Friday. God gave most places in the world four seasons. Some get all four in one day. A season is a time of growth and a time of rest and replenishing. There are specific reasons for the seasons. We go through seasons as well and it's what we do with that time in our life that will make the difference for the next one. To understand those times we need God near us and we need wise counsel also. Every year that a tree goes through the seasons it grows taller and stronger. As we go through them we can grow stronger and more mature in Christ. Or we can become confused by it all and end up lost and becoming weaker. The weak are prayed upon and devoured. The strength we find in the Lord as we go through a season will take us anywhere and everywhere He has planned for us. It will require submission to Him. It will we require letting go of what we're comfortable in. It will be a joyous time in our lives also. Turn loose and let go, surrender to Him fully. Be glad that the Father is shaping you in this season. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Thursday. Ever wonder why the Pharisee in Jesus' day never saw Him for who He was? The Son of God standing in front of them and doing all kinds of miraculous things and not get it still. They were looking for something more than what He was. They had their own ideas of what their king would be like. They had their own ideas period. He confronted them and showed them the error of their ways. No one likes being told they're wrong. What ideas do you have that aren't part of what He has for you? Following the Lord is not easy and life doesn't just get better. It is better but the world doesn't see you that way. Don't let uncertainty keep you from Jesus. That's the devils tool against us. You know who and what He is, choose today to follow Him and His ideas and let your world see you being Him. His work done through you is more powerful than anything you can do alone. Don't keep a hard heart to who He is and live a new life in Him. in love always <><
Good morning and happy Wednesday. Who do you think of throughout the day? Is there any one person on your mind all the time? Is it you and your stuff you think about? That's where most of our thoughts are, on ourselves and the issues we have for the day. It's natural and needed. But, we need to be thinking of others as much as we can and as often as we can. Driving down the road, any road, helps me realize that people really only think of themselves. They're the only ones on the road and they're the only one that matters. It's not intentional but it's the result of selfish thinking. What if God was selfish? What if Jesus was selfish? Ephesians says to imitate Christ, hello, not selfish. He was thinking about everyone of us as He hung there in excruciating pain and agony. Today we need to let our thoughts drift to others and how we can be a part of their lives and help or just be there for them. Our busyness keeps us from that. Make time for others and give of yourself , even if it's just a little. In love always <><
Good morning and happy Tuesday. Reflecting back on Friday-Sunday, I was thinking about the Roman soldiers who were there. In a way they represent us. They didn't buy into who Jesus was and really didn't want to be involved in any of the stuff going on. They didn't mind making a spectacle of the whole thing for their own enjoyment though. They were involved in an Easter event and that's it. Some however saw first hand the power of God and came to understand just who this man was. Aren't we really the same in our approach to Christianity? Don't we take a stand back and see attitude? Some will jump on the wagon of putting it down while others will see exactly who Jesus is and what He can do in their life too. Then there are those who know and still aren't on either wagon. I pray that those will let Him in just a little and see how big He truly is. Thank you God for your son and His sacrifice to purchase us all. We're not worth that, but thank you for thinking so. In love always. <><
Good morning and happy Monday. I was sitting in church yesterday and young couple with a small, maybe not 1yr old, was sitting in front of me. As kids do, she got a little restless but nothing terrible at all. The dad was holding her giving mom a break. Then I saw it. The look only a mother who gave birth to a child could have. You could see the love for her child all over her face as she watched her girl. She knew what she needed and what to give her and poor dad was just in the way. But as I looked at her face, I saw how God sees us, as only the giver of life can. He knows our needs and wants before we do. I'm amazed at the amount of love we are capable of. If we even get on the scale of Gods love for us we're doing great. Yesterday was a celebration of that love as He looked down at His Son dying for all of us. I can only imagine the smile on His face as He looked at Him as only the giver of life can. He loves us so much. Love Him and His people back. In love always. <><
