The Pruning in Life

Good morning and happy Friday. Well the groups are reset and back to an easier way of posting. It's really been an eye opener to go through this little time of refreshing. The groups are fewer and less people to text. I wonder if I was bugging people and just didn't realize it. Is this how it is when you take the Word to other places? But do you stop?  No, obviously not. I simply can't make this about me but about what God shows me in His crazy little way he does things. When you know it's Him, you have to tell it. Someone may truly be hearing a message He has for them and no one else. God talks with us all, all the time. Sometimes you can't help but hear and others it's so quietly spoken because He needs you to lean in close. Our relationship with Him is very personal. Who else knows everything you've done and thought about doing? It's an intimacy that can't be described. So when He prunes us a little, it's really for the good of the body. So He has pruned me some and got me to step back a little. Who knows what He has in store for us next?  How else will He shape and mold the lump of clay we are?  I'm just glad He cares enough to do it. In love always. <><

The Demons Within

Good morning and happy Thursday. We studied the demon possessed man last night at church, and the story got me to thinking about what possesses me. It's a dig into the truth of who we really are. Once we can find it we can be set free from it. The demon's name was legion, because there were many of them. How many "demons" do you have hidden away that are keeping you from a closer relationship with Jesus? This is why stories that are in the Bible are there. Written a long time ago to still be relevant today. We have to be on our knees before God and let Him cast out our demons, but we have to name them and claim them in order to be set free. When Legion saw Jesus they immediately knelt before Him. Even the evil spirits know Him and bow before Him. Who are we not to? Find what it is that keeps you from Him and have it cast out of you. Turn loose of your demons. In love always. <><

Are You Ready?

Good morning and happy Wednesday. The week is half over and if I live to be 80 so is my life. Not really a whole lot of time left when you look at that way. All of our lives could be over by the time we're done reading this. The point is, are you ready? Are you really ready to die and stand before God and have judgment of your life on Earth passed? I think that we feel like we have time to get it done and clean up some loose ends just before we go. But we don't know two important things: when we're going to die and when Jesus is coming to get us. I believe very much that we are in the end times here on Earth but it still doesn't make itself known has to when. Eternity is a long time and this life here is so short compared to it. It doesn't even leave a spec on the time line. So which is more important to you? And if it's this life, carry on. If it's eternity, what are you gonna do to ensure your place there? God is waiting on you. He's ready for us to be with Him. We have to decide if we want to be with Him. That relationship is what keeps you going in the right direction. In love always. <><

All The Pretty Things

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I like to look at all the scenery along the road when I'm driving. To see all the pretty things along the way. It's ok when the road is straight and easy, but when it's in the mountains and curvy and stuff; forget about it. But isn't that us with God. All the "pretty" things in life take our eyes off Him. We get distracted by doing too much "good" for others that we forget our time with Him. And I hear you saying, Bryan you've talked about helping others, doing for others and then another day it's time with God. Well which is it? It's both. A balance has to happen. Mary and Martha with Jesus is your example. Some times it's ok to just sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Work and feeding people have to be done too but it's ok when it's time to. This is not easy this road of Christianity. It requires our time and an effort that does not look normal to the world. Please don't let all the pretty things of life distract you from the One who gave it to you to begin with. In love always. <><

Putting on the Good Front

Good morning and happy Monday. So every things good in your life and you're just workin. Chasing kids from one thing to another, but it's all going good. Sounds like what we say when we run into someone we haven't seen in a while. When really it's not so good, but that's the front we put up to not look as though we aren't making it. FB is full of our good life. Not much in there about the bad stuff unless it could get another job or info towards something we need. Nothing wrong in that, but we are a community of Gods people. He wants us helping each other and in order to do that, sometimes we have to share some stuff that's kinda messy. Being a Christian is being willing to get messy. Homeless moms with kids trying to feed their babies is messy. It's gonna take being involved. But just our regular stuff is a good place to help so that an able body is back on track to help ones in deeper need. We all need our hands out, but not for help. To lend a hand. It's not easy and good intentions sometimes get in the way of the work needing to be done. This is the work Jesus did and others were shocked at what He was doing. Our world today is still shocked by people helping "those" people. Give your time and your love to help others see a Jesus who came and died for them so He could be with them for eternity. In love always. <><

God's in the Small Stuff

Good morning and happy Friday, Friday. A friend was telling me about how good God is to him. He said he really wants to learn to cast a fly fishing rod. In among the crowd of folks hearing him say that is a guy who says, "I'll teach you if you want to". God is in the small stuff too. Most people call it luck others, coincidence, but it's not. It's God. Did the light turn red and stop you while you're in a hurry so that something didn't happen to you down the road? Is God keeping you late because you didn't manage your time well so He wants you to learn something? Really it can and is that simple sometimes. That's what amazes me so much is that He keeps the universe in order and still is present in my life to care about each hair falling off my head. His most powerfully intimate times are those when it is so small of a thing that you don't even know it happened. He was there and you didn't have a clue. That's how He wants us involved in others lives too. So at the end if the day when we sit back and take it in, we see those little spots of help and give God the glory for it because we couldn't have made it without Him. God is good. In love always. <><

Just Let Go

Good morning and happy Thursday. I heard a prayer last night that brought a vision of God so clear. Thanks Shawn. In movies the hero is standing on the ground or above on a ledge with a hand out to someone to save. "Just let go and I'll catch you". "Give me your hand and I'll pull you up". All the catch phrases. The hero is willing and able to catch or pull them up. The problem is the one in need can't let go or grab a hold. They're afraid to turn loose. They know how to hold on. They don't know what letting go is. Free falling into the arms of their savior. Paints a pretty cool picture for me. I know it was the hardest thing to do. And I can't say why. To know that letting go and falling to the Savior will save my life; why is it so hard to do. The only answer I have is that we rely on ourselves more than God. Our times of struggle are our chances to reach out to His hand He's been holding out since the start. And when someone jumps off the high spot into the water, they always yell up to their friends "C'mon it's ok". We need to spread that message of salvation to everyone. Let go and fall into His arms. In love always. <><

A Time To Train

Good morning and happy Wednesday. You've seen or been an athlete that has trained for the game, match or race. It takes a while for that to come about and you feel like you are really ready for the task at hand. The same is true for your spiritual race and battle. You have to be in practice and training all the time. When you stop you get beat bad. You're gonna lose some games, but you can still win the championship. It's how you handle the losses that's gonna do the most good; what you learn from them and how it shapes your life and walk with Christ. When you do take a fall, don't be afraid of getting up and moving forward. This is the point where a champion and cellar team are divided. Get up move forward and be stronger or lay down in your defeat and fade away from the book of life. Our God is a champion, we should behave as good sported ones as well. That's what you learn in the losses. That's what helps you pick up a brother laying down and quitting. Go win the race today, there's still another one tomorrow. In love always. <><

The Eyes of a Stranger

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Have you ever just caught the stare of a stranger?  They're just staring a hole right through you. Most people look away and wonder what's wrong with themselves or what's on 'em to make someone stare at them. Next time just smile and give them a look of " I love you too". One, it will freak them out or two they will see that you are a person who cares. Sometimes people just want contact with people. They want to know that aren't too far away from things to be loved by someone or just cared about. In our hurried world we don't have the time to just be human. When Jesus was tired and worn out from the day, He still took time to heal a man in need. He made those connections that lasted. Even when He was admonishing the high priests of the day it was still in kindness with a purpose of directing them to do better. He was among the people. The poor and the disadvantaged; the ones no one else would give a second look to. We have to be aware of those moments; it may be God himself looking right through you. Straight into your heart and know just how you really feel. Pour yourself out into the world and see the real love of God come through. In love always. <><

Humble Justice

Good morning and happy Monday. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8. What does that look like?  How does it look in our society? We've been called to a greater calling than just taking care of ourselves. God has blessed many so they may bless many. I see a person who is like a movie character going around helping people, who are less fortunate and being taken advantage of, from behind the scenes. No one sees or knows where it came from or how it happened. Just seeing a need and tending to it. Comes home and the wife asks "where have you been". He says, " just down at the store picking up a few things". He is in such an intimate relationship with God that he can't tell what's gong on because for him it is what's going on. It's just as routine as brushing his teeth. Boasting is not part of it just like you wouldn't boast about brushing your teeth because it's what you should be doing anyway. God's work being done in a way that only He can get the credit and praise. And if your question to this is what about the guy who done it, then you don't get it yet. This life is not about us. Find it in your heart. It's there because Jesus said so. Find it and bring it to life if it's not already and get to the work you're called for. In love always. <><

"The" Light

Good morning and happy Friday. When the stage is dark and the spot lights get turned on, with you in the middle of it, you really can't see a thing. Cops use it in the movies to confuse and disorient a suspect. Criminals do the same with their kidnap victim. It's a tough spot. In real life we walk in a dark world with lots of lights showing us a way. But when our hearts are open to the one true voice, we see "The" Light. He has been lighting our pathway from day one. The world, Satan, has merely added more to the path so has to confuse us. Satan can't talk to our hearts the way God does. Deciding which lighted pathway is the right one takes discernment. That comes from a relationship with God the Father. His light is beautiful and not confusing or disorienting. It leads us to the places He has planned for us. Open the ears of your heart and hear His voice speak to you. Open the eyes of your heart and let Him lead you. In love always. <><

"How Deep Is Your Love"

Good morning and happy Thursday. The Bee Gees had a great song that asked "How deep is your love" ?  What a great question. Every body is at  least skin deep with love. But how deep is your love for your family and friends? Is that how deep it is for your neighbors? Do you even think of your neighbor?  And in case you were wondering everyone is your neighbor. We all live on the same rock. Millions of people, all going somewhere and doing something. Do you see them? They're your brothers and sisters. Our love has to be for them too and it needs to be love at the heart. It needs to be that deep. Imagine God's love, you go to the edge and can't see the edge. It's like the end of a rainbow. You never get to the end of it. I want a deeper love for others around me. It's easy to love the ones who love you. It's easy to have compassion for those who you know. Find it in yourself to have it for your neighbor. In love always <><

Why Do We Pray?

Good morning and happy Wednesday. So how many of you have prayed for rain? How many gave thanks for the little bit we got? We seem to be good at the asking for what we need part but then forget the thank you part. Do you think we need more rain so you're still praying? Could the answer to our prayers be "no"?  Someone else could be praying for no rain at all, who's gets answered and why?  Why do we think we can change the plan God has with our prayers to Him?  Prayer is for us to open ourselves up to Him to accept His will in our lives. It's not to get what you want. He gives you what you need and He blesses you with what you want  in His time. We will get rain. We may get a lot of rain soon, I don't know. But I do know it will be when God wants it to rain. Don't stop praying. Talk to Him everyday about everything. Just be ready and willing to accept His plan and will in your life. "Let your will be done". The very words of Jesus as He asked not to be nailed to a cross. The answer was "no". He accepted God's will and went and died for us all. "No" is the best answer sometimes. In love always. <><

The Good Water

Good morning and happy Tuesday. John 4:13-14 is about drinking water. Around here that's a subject talked about a lot. I used to hear people talk about how bad the water tasted here. I hope that through this drought we learn about the resources we have been given and how to be better stewards of them. But what about the water Jesus offers us that never leaves us thirsty? There's a resource worth protecting.  We have got to find our way to a place of relying on God and not ourselves as we have been in the past. He will not withhold His love for us. But He will withhold the blessings. He's a loving God, but He's just and not a push over. It will be done His way, so why do we fight it. Drink of the Water of Life, quench the thirst you know you have but only now realize. His water is good and never runs dry. In love always. <><

What Would You Give

Good morning and happy Monday. What would you give to have exactly what you want? How much would you sacrifice to have what you want? What if parts of your life were a test to see just how committed you were to what you want? That beckons us to examine what it is we want and how badly we want it. God wants us and sacrificed everything to have us. How much are we giving to be with Him? Is being with Him even on your scope? So if the answer is yes, what are you doing to make that happen? How committed are you really to the whole idea? I think it's good to self examine, but it has to be done honestly. The level of commitment usually determines the amount of success. If you are really wanting an eternity with Him in heaven then commitment has to improve to a point of revival. This is not a test. In love always. <><