Need Because You Love

Good morning and happy Friday. In our feel good society and feel good churches here's what we have learned. The modern day gospel says God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you life. Follow these steps, and you can be saved. The biblical gospel says, you are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. We are dependent on God in our lives to do something we can't. The first part sells the books and draws the crowds and makes us feel ok about ourselves, the second saves souls. We are too comfortable in our place to realize what it is we really need. I've always wondered why God's people were in the desert of all places. It's so they see and understand how much they need Him. We don't see that here. It's too easy and we're too lazy. God loves us and wants good for us, but He wants our acknowledgment of our need for Him. The true need for Him comes first when we truly begin to love Him. Then we need because we love. In love always. <><

Caught In a Trap

Good morning and happy Thursday. We've all seen a documentary or two about animals in the wild that get caught in a trap and gnaw off their leg to survive. It's a great metaphor of ourselves. What trap, small or big, do you find yourself in that you need to gnaw away from? Human, earthly survival comes so easy to us and we do make changes to stay alive. But what about spiritually? What about the life that matters most? What are you willing to do to save and survive in that life? We almost never consider it because we take it for granted. We're in an age that says once you're saved you're always saved. So we don't need to do anything. We're in the club. We're good now. That is why we so desperately need Jesus in our lives today, our schools and businesses. We are so lost in this. We've made enough excuses to get ourselves to Heaven on our own. A prayer at a camp, in a pew, or with a friend gets you salvation but it's not the end. You must follow Him and be at doing the Fathers work. The club you want to join isn't here yet. That's the one you can't leave. Gnaw off the leg that is keeping you from doing the Fathers work. If it's a belief, vice, or just not understanding, find someone to help you. It's that important. In love always. <><

Get In The Mix

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar; maybe some margarine. All ok stuff on their own, but when they're mixed just right, look out. All kinds of things get made. We've heard these old things before though about separate parts and becoming something else when put or used together. Problem is that's all we've done is heard it. We never got together with some butter and sugar and made a difference. We are far too comfortable and happy to just get by with the status quo. There are a few things that are certain; death, taxes, Jesus coming back, and judgement. What is He gonna find you doing for Him when He shows up? Relaxing in the a/c praying for your friends who just got sick, hurt or lost a job. Is that gonna cut it? Will that be enough? Maybe so, I don't know. But I do know there is a lot to be done and the workers are few. Get in the mix and make a difference. Yours and other lives will be blessed for it. It's a win win. And if you said to yourself in this that you're a good person and this isn't for you, it probably was. In love always. <><

What"s The Cost?

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Did you know that in parts of the world it is illegal for people to gather and talk about the Bible? To say the name of Jesus. And yet at the risk of losing everything, including their lives, people are doing that. They have made a choice that few of us here with all the freedom to do what we want, chose not to do, follow Jesus with all we have. To become a disciple. A true disciple. But that kind of devotion is needed there to reach the lost, we say. It's not the way it is here, we say. True, but tongues are cut out in His name and they still follow. How much more do we need to see to know that this is for real? We have got to get ourselves out of this world and into His. We have to decide if we're all in or not. These people are living a life today to make a difference in lives tomorrow and to have a place in heaven with the Father. That's what we the people of this blessed beyond measure of a country has got to do. It's time to stand up and be heard and not sit down and be run over while we think it's gonna be just fine. I gave at the church Sunday, I'm good. We have to do better than this. He loves us way too much for us not to. We are in this country with blessings for a reason. It's time to be used. In love always <><

Service

Goof morning and happy Monday. Service, serve. Those words we say and want to do but don't always. It is the easier part of life to do though. We love to help people when we can. We feel good about ourselves and that's ok, as long as that's not the reason for it to begin with. But the flip of that is the hardest, receiving the service. I blow, and really blew, this one this weekend. It's hard to allow people to help us even when we're neck deep in the quicksand. I had a chance to make a call to a friend, a very dear friend, to help out in a spot, and I didn't. I don't know why, it's certainly not because I didn't want him there. We tend to be great givers more than receivers. And while the serving is the better, we have to be able to receive as well. The same way we have to receive what Jesus came and did for us. I denied my friend the chance to serve. I don't really have the right to do that. Thank you Roger for those words of wisdom. It wont happen again. I love you all and I care for you too and if I need help I will be asking. In love always. <><

Family

Good morning and happy Friday. Family. Its the people who are there when everything goes haywire. They are the firemen of our lives. When everyone else is running out of it, they're running in. Blood family, friend family, church family, it's all the same. I didn't know Rhonda real well, but I'm married into part of her family. She passed away from this life and gone on to the next the other day. I'm seeing family. I love how it holds it's self and each other up when the world seems to try and knock it down. Family is what God teaches us to be with each other. To be communal and not exclusionary. That's how it works best and I know that if we look back we see the times when family were all we had. I wish that there was more time to know Rhonda better, but I will through the stories and the memories of our family. Go and rest Rhonda. Your work here is done. In love always. <><

So You Had a Bad Day

Good morning and happy Thursday. For some it's not a happy day at all. And as bad as things seem to get for us, there is always one that has it going worse. Why, with knowledge of God and what he has done for us through Jesus, do we sit around and mope about it? Really, are we that much better than everyone else that we don't have rough patches to go through? Mostly it's because we don't celebrate our victories. When God has done His work in our lives, do we give Him the credit and celebrate what has been done for us. No not usually. But we do remember all the crap we've gone through this last year or whatever. If we took the time to just acknowledge the small things He does for us, we would see how blessed we really are. People cut us off, work doesn't go well, family or friends die. Life goes on and is hard enough without us dwelling on it. God has many blessing to pour out over souls who desire Him. We have to focus on that part. Celebrate life as God intended it to be. There is someone in the world who would trade your worst day for their best day. All glory to God. In love always <><

Emergency

Good morning and happy Wednesday. As God seems to do more and more, I found myself in a place yesterday where He showed me something. I would be willing to bet that more people have called on the name of the Lord or cried out to God in a hospital than have in a church. Church people know God. They pray all the time. But do they call out to Him or just going through the motions. People, including the church ones, really look for and cry out to Him. It may be the first time or the millionth but it's an honest plea from the heart to be heard. Here's the interesting part, even the ones who say they know Him cry out the most not really getting that He's right there with them anyway. Desperation will bring a non believer to Him. One with doubt will see Him clearly. We all need to know that He's right there with us, holding His children as they hurt in this trial. He reveals Himself all the time. And you can see if you just get to know Him. He's right there with you, waiting to talk about it all. Call out to Him now so in the emergency, it's not an emergency, it's just a talk. In love always. <><

Sacrifice

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I hope you had a great Memorial Day. It's always good to honor those who gave their lives for us so we can continue to enjoy our freedom. Every Sunday I have communion in church in remeberence of the one who showed the world what a sacrifice is. He gave His life for all of us no matter what land or language or color we are. Two very similar parallels of love for others. There is no greater love than for a man to give his life for another. Although many of us see that as dying physically, but you can give your life to another without having to die. Lead a life that leads. Be where you are needed. Love without condition. Give without expecting. Give all glory to God. We make this all too difficult. Remember those who gave for you and do the same for others yourself. In love always. <><

The Other Side

Good morning and happy Friday. Cool as the other side of the pillow. I love that. The other side. Do we really stop and consider the other side of things? Or are we so focused on what a good idea this is for , fill in the blank, that we forget about other people and there ideas and needs? This is the best for everybody. No it's the best for who we considered. When Jesus was feeding 5000, there was a guy about 5 rows deep who was thinking to himself, there's not gonna be enough for me. No way will two fish and five loaves make it back here. But Jesus thought of everyone including the women and children who are in addition to that number. When dealing with people we have to look at things from their side. We have have to see their point a view. This is how we make this life work because we then become more sacrificial and giving of ourselves to help and do for others. Jesus gave all of himself. Nothing was withheld. We should strive to meet that as best we can. In love always <><

Real Friends, Real Love

Good morning and happy Thursday. I was scrolling through my facebook friends and randomly stopping in at some to see what is going on with them. It's amazing how we can view a life in about 20 secs, with good wi-fi speed. People used to have to visit each other to get caught up on things. You could hear their feelings. I love to listen to my granddad tell his stories of his past. He had a relationship with those people. In all honesty how many of our FB friends are our friends. God wants us in relationships with Him and others. Real relationships. The kind that if things were bad you know who you could call. Like if I was at the gates of hell and needed someone in 15 min, he would be there in 10. That's what this life is for. To love each other and grow in our love for God. God wants us happy. Happy comes with a price. Real friends, real love and a desire to be close to God. Sounds pretty cheap in price to me. So to my friends, and family, I love you. I really do. In love always. <><

Fear

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Fear is a terrible thing. It keeps us from so much in life. From blessings being received to being a blessing to others. Roll away the stone of fear and leave the tomb it has you in. When we hear the calling of God, He is asking us to look at Him. To turn toward Him. Fear is what keeps us from looking. Fear is what keeps us from doing God's work. He is pulling us to Him and has work for us. The work is a blessing to others and to us. Why would we not answer the call? This is not out of obligation but out of gratitude. It's time to realize that you have been saved from a death you deserve, and at the highest price that could have been paid. God makes no mistakes. If He's calling you, it is you He wants for what He wants done. Listen to His call and don't be afraid. Turn and look at Him in all His glory. In love always. <><

May 21st

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Well, May 21st came and went, and if you're reading this, you didn't make the cut either. But all joking aside, if that didn't do anything, it got people to talk about it. But for some May 21st was their last day. Read the obits and see in your town how many went home that day. I pray they were ready, as we all should be. Just as we don't know the hour the Lord will come, we also don't know the hour we die. Our lives have to be lived in a way that reflect the glory of God just the way the moon reflects the sun at night. Our lives need to bring light into the lives of those living in the dark. Then when the Lord does come, He finds us doing His work. And it won't be because we are trying to look good on one day, but everyday. Lord bless us and keep us as we do your will in our lives for others. In love always. <><

Let the Past Be the Past

Good morning and happy Monday. Is the past the past? Just forgetta-bout-it. Sometimes. But not always. There's a difference in forget and forgive. The past that we left behind, is usually the same thing we look down on in others. Our past is where we became broken to a point of being rebuilt. We cannot forget what broke us. This will be our well to draw from to quench the thirst of others who are in the same spot we were. Understand, it is not by ourselves that this gets done. It is our dependence on God that brings us through those times. God is always showing us so many ways that we cannot do this alone. We have to have Him in our lives. Past, present, and future; He has to be there in those last two. If not, you will be repeating the past again with no real future. In love always. <><

What's A Day Worth

Good morning and happy Friday. How much or what would you give to spend a day with God? Asking Him all the questions you have about this life, hanging out and just seeing His awesomeness. To be a part of His activities kinda like a take your kid to work thing. Besides the complete awe and wonder, it would be so cool to talk about everything. So if you could, what would you give for a day like that? What about everyday like that? It's easy to get lost on the big picture sometimes. We think too much about the end results. Take care of today and give that to Him. Tomorrow is not even a guarantee so just give what you have each day and there will be an eternity of time to spend with Him. That's not too much to ask is it? Give Him today and reread this everyday. In love always <><