The Heart Muscle

Good morning and happy Friday. The heart, it's a powerful muscle. It's built and designed to last a lifetime, literally. It's also so fragile. It's not physically hurt by people and things but it is felt to the core. We have doctors who specialize in taking care of the heart. But they can't see what's on the inside even with today's technology. It's that which is on the inside that will be revealed by the great Physician. It's what is on the inside that guides us to do the right and helpful things on this earth. And when we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell there, all things will be good. Doctors can keep it pumping and doing it's manual purpose of circulating blood, but they can't help it to feel the love of our fellow man. It's this emotion that separates us from all other animals. God dwells within us and not animals. It's real and it's more powerful than can be imagined. Every time you feel that tug at our heart, it's God in you. I hope that means something to us. He is with us today the same as He was in the past. He has never changed. Let the love of the Holy Spirit fill your heart today and every day from now on. In love always. <><

Doing It On Our Own

Good morning and happy Thursday. Aka Friday eve. What if no body ever shared a story?  What if we had to learn everything on our own? If we had to figure out how to deal with every emotional issue we faced?  Now really put that to some thought. We have a lot of knowledge. We could get the survival stuff down pretty quick. We would figure out how to eat and get something to drink. It would all be for ourselves first and no one else. We would become as self sufficient as possible and then ultimately die an early death with no one around who cared. Now there would be more for them. Evidence of God is all around us everyday and yet the world is in chaos. When He designed this place, it was to be Eden. We got involved and wanted to be able to rely on ourselves. It seems that the more we move away from God and remove Him from our lives, the more of a mess life becomes. Throughout the old testament and into the new, man as made an effort to be on their own. It's never worked and since we can learn from the past, why is God not the center of everything we do?  We all have different answers and ideas about that, but what are you gonna do about it for your part?  With that knowledge comes the responsibility to put it to use. The smart money is on God and His promises. Put Him first in every decision and action and see what happens. In love always. <><

Prepared to be Equipped

Good morning and happy Wednesday. The power of believing in yourself is amazing. Believing you can do something, knowing on the inside it's possible, can change your life. I watched my youngest daughter play volleyball last night with that same attitude, one she hasn't had all season. She played awesome. She played with more confidence than ever. That same kind of belief in what God is calling us to do will change the world. We don't have all the tools we need to do what is being asked of us, that doesn't require faith. He will equip us as we take those steps of true faith. When we're able to do that, we can play this game of life with the confidence we've never had before. We can make real differences in lives around us. In love always. <>< 

It's in The Small Things

Good morning and happy Tuesday. I called my friends mom, who was my second mom growing up, to wish her a happy birthday. She had been crying as her son, my friend/brother, passed away earlier and she's having a lot of firsts without him here. His sisters were there and the stories were being told of the "days". I'm glad they got together. So as the football game was going and they panned the crowd of thousands, I thought to myself, no one here knows that Trent is gone and his family is missing him. No one knows the impact of his life on his family and friends. It made me realize that it's really not the size of the pool we swim in, it's how well we swim in it. It's the little things in life we do that usually leave the biggest mark. Jesus did some big things in His day, but the best, most heartfelt ones are the small things right from His heart. I used to think I had to make a big impression to do the most good. No, just do the small things of the heart when they're needed and if no one else in the world knows, it doesn't matter. The one who needed you does and the One who lead you does. That's all that matters. Do what you can for Him when you can, especially the little things. In love always. <><

How Far Will You Go?

Good morning and happy Monday. How far would go for your friend? How far for a stranger?  In Mattthew chapter 5, Jesus talks about people asking things of you and what you should give and how to be with them. If someone wants your shirt, give them your coat too. If they want you to go a mike, go two. The Jews were so literal that they would have a stone set one mile away to walk the one mile with them. We have a way of setting those same kind of limits. Caller ID is one, and if you know why it is, you've used it. The distance we go with someone doesn't matter. It's done from the heart out of love for them as a creation of God. We are His and belong to Him, all of us. Jesus was telling them then and us now, give more than is asked of you and give it with a cheerful loving heart that shouldn't be having to be asked in the first place. We see the needs and know what's needed but really don't do much about it. Helping others can be the biggest blessing you ever receive. Helping a friend when he thinks no one cares shows love and gives hope. These are great things. sometimes their own pride won't let them ask, how great is it to be in tune enough to know what they need without them asking. It's time for the world to be taken over with love for each other. Just like in Rocky IV, "If I can change, and you can change, then we all can change". It takes place though, through the relationship with Jesus Christ. Let the love flow. In love always. <><

Memories

Good morning and happy Friday. A friend from the past has a birthday and while thinking about the old days, a flood of memories came pouring in. I love the time I grew up in. I love the friendships and the relationships I had then. There's a part of our lives from way back that will never fade away. As we get ready to celebrate the birthday of our Lord, I want to reflect a while on the memories I'm creating by following Him. There's not a whole lot yet as I haven't been at this long, but as I look back on those old ones I can see where He was there with a little guiding hand the entire time. He has been leading the whole time. I've chosen not to follow and enjoy the life He had for me then. It's ok now because He's using that stubbornness of mine to try and do some good with it now. Even though we haven't done what He's asked of us doesn't mean He's done with us for good. It's just better to be in His shadow than out in the world. He will use the messes we make to bring glory to His kingdom. We don't have that ability. Take from the past all the good and bad and give your testimony to those who need to hear "it's ok, you can make it". You've are bought at a high price and you're worth every drop of blood that was spilled for you. In love always. <>< 

White As Snow

Good morning and happy Thursday. Woke up this morning to a beautiful snow covered yard. It's covered everywhere except the sidewalk. Pretty good covering too not just a dusting. White and clean and makes things look so new.  It looks like us when Jesus covers us in His forgiveness, clean and white as snow. But what about the sidewalk?  Reminds me of the fact Jesus gives Himself and the salvation He offers to all but the heart must receptive to it. A hardened heart is like that sidewalk, getting covered in grace but none of it is sticking. Our hearts have to be in a receiving condition and the hardness of life chipped away and to receive His goodness. The grass that is covered will be watered and the ground underneath will receive much needed moisture. The sidewalk just gets washed off and appears to be good and clean. A hard heart will never be what it appears. Prepare the soil of your heart for the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hear His word and let Him water the seed into the growth of a useful and fruitful life. Be covered in His grace and forgiveness. In love always. <><

He's Global

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Have you ever been sitting in a crowd of people and listen to all the different things being said? Not really eaves dropping, just hearing different things going on in so many lives. That's just a small amount of people considering we're nearing the 7 billion mark. But the things going on in those lives are important and have meaning to that person. And somehow in all that, God is working and making things happen for them. And the other 6.9 billion are all being taken care of too. He's amazing. The awesome power of God blows me away. And it's not just a stop by and check on ya. It's full on with you all the time. So while we are only capable of dealing with the stuff we have, think about the others in this world who would trade you in a second. We have a God who is involved in our lives and not passive. He wants good for us but wants us to follow His ways and not our own. So before we tie a major problem or issue around our necks, how 'bout going to our knees and letting the One above handle it with us. Next time you're at a game or in some stands with folks, listen and be thankful. It's not that bad or that big of a deal in the big picture. It may just be a check of where you're at. God is in control if we get out of the way. In love always. <><

Love, a Powerful Tool

Good morning and happy Tuesday. How powerful is our love? We use it as a tool all the time.  We tell our kids, " If you don't do this, then you can't do that". We get them to do something by threatening something they love. We do it subtly in our marriages by withholding our love. We don't give all of ourselves. We do this very same thing with our love for Jesus and the spreading of His word. Love is by far the most powerful emotion and the most powerful tool there is. It can move a mountain. It can heal a broken heart. It can save a life. it knows no limits but the ones we put on it. It's not a device to used against but for people, and the greater good of us all. Watch yourself closely for a while and see if you're not manipulating people or loved ones with the power of love. The love of God was demonstrated on a cross on hill a long time ago. It has never wavered or forsaken a soul. It's the most powerful gift of all. In love always. <><

All in the Way You Look at It

Good morning and happy Monday. Perception and perspective. Hand in hand words but not correct without each other most times. You pass two people on the same street one day. One dressed very well with a brief case and tie. The other in some jeans and t-shirt with tennis shoes and head phones in his ears. What would we perceive from both without having the perspective of where and what they're about? You see the suit and tie guy is out of work and looking for a job and can't get bills paid and has contemplated suicide over the last week. He's losing it. The other is a Christian recording artist that just left a fund raiser where he gave a large amount of money and time to a cause he believes in. Could happen on any street anywhere with a multiple of situations. We pass judgement on people when we don't know the facts or the reasons things are. Jesus teaches us a lot about this with the very people He engaged and chose to help do His Fathers work. The problem this way of thinking has is it builds resentment to the people we place judgment on. We would be more apt to talk to the suit guy before the jean guy but then be blown away and unprepared to hear his story because it's not what we thought. Jesus was always ready, with loving and kind words to build up and not tear down. That's our mission too. Don't judge or make preconceived judgements about a situation until you know the situation. Then act accordingly. It's simply doing what Jesus taught us. In love always. <>< 

The Marriage is First

Good morning and happy Friday. Ever notice all the stickers on the backs of car windows about the kids of the family and their sport or school activity?  It's cool to let people know how proud you are of them and you support them too. I was one of those parents for a while. But as I look back I see that that became who our family was. The kids and their sports. The marriage was left out as second if there was time for it between games or tournaments. Our children are special and dear to us but that weren't there the day you got married. They won't be there in the house when you're older. The marriage is the beginning and the end. It's always there and should be the foundation the family is built on. We are the bridegroom of Jesus. It's what is coming and the importance is exactly what it is here. Sure we're His children too, but the marriage is coming and it is what matters for eternity. We have to reevaluate the check list of the important things and get them in the right order. God first is a given but we slip up when we generalize family second. It's marriage second and children third. Then everything else falls in after that. Marriages today are splitting up all the time because there's no  time invested in them. What are you losing? You get to see the kids still right?  But what are they learning and how do we teach them to stop the cycle? By teaching them they are second behind the marriage. It doesn't mean neglect them, it means the foundation is strong to raise them up in. Know your place with God and how it plays out when this is over. Keep the stickers and be proud of your kids, but know that the two front seats of the car are what grows them up right. In love always. <><

Restart

Good morning and happy Thursday. Well, back to work from quick trip to Dallas. Get back and the computer has to updated and restarted to get the day going. Isn't it nice that we have the chance to restart everyday?  A bent knee is a very powerful position to be in. God forgives us for the screw ups we are. It's done out of love for you but it requires a devotion to Him that must remain. Out of that devotion we become less likely to screw it up. The more we're with Him the less we leave His guiding ways. The more we don't want to be like the world says is ok to be. The longer we maintain this relationship with Him the easier it is to do it right. It doesn't mean the trials of life go away, we just know how to deal with them better and lean on Him to get through it. So if you haven't lately, I really recommend a restart. Its a chance to start over at this moment. In love always. <>< 

Stuck in a Rut

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Routines. We all have em. I'm in Dallas and out of my routine and everything is behind it feels, but I'm on time so far to everything. But it reminded me of how when I get away from God it feels funny and lost. I like to get to a point like this because it helps me keep perspective on what really matters. I miss the routine but I like the reminder. I miss being home. It's only a day but it's a day to learn from. Thank you God for the things you do to keep us close to you. In love always <>< 

Poor Pitiful Us

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Do you know or are you someone that is in place or funk you can't get out of? They want to move forward but can't. They want to leave it behind but can't seem to. They usually try to do it alone and become isolated in trying. This isn't how Jesus instructed us. Life has some hard times in it. Sometimes it seems like it's not worth living anymore. But that also is not what Jesus taught. You need to rely on others to help but not to become the crutch. You need more water in the tub to help the boat float. No more excuses. No more pity. It's just plain ol' getting on with life. And when people see how you came through, they see Jesus in you. See this life is not about us as much as we would like to think it to be. This is about God. He's wiped us out and started fresh before. The next time is permanent. Wallowing around in our junk isn't helping with the cause. It really shows a lack of trust and faith. We ask for prayers through it but don't mind the Spirit when He talks to us. Don't let Earthly issues keep you from an eternal reward. In love always. <>< 

Integrity

Good morning and happy Monday. Integrity, a trait not found as much as it once was. But it's still one of the most important traits one can have. It will help in those times of testing because it has become second nature to you. it will also mean that people will check your integrity more often. It's a trait that really speaks volumes about your faith though. When in a situation where it is called upon, your integrity shows your faith in God to take care of you. It also let's people see Jesus in you. When they see a situation they would have chose the wrong way while watching you chose the right way, they can witness Jesus doing it right. It all sounds simple and easy, and for the most part it is, but when it comes to being able to put food on the table or care for a child, it may not be so easy. Think like Jesus and be like Jesus and it will be for the better no matter how bad it all may seem. In love always. <><