To Our Veterans

Good morning and happy Friday. Warriors. The defenders of their country. The ones who are willing to give of themselves to help others. Our military men and women are example of selflessness. The example of willing to die for someone they don't know. Jesus did exactly that. They die for our freedoms, He died for our souls. We set aside a day every year to remember those who died and another to celebrate with the ones who served and made it through. Just like Jesus, we need to be thanking them everyday. Thanking them and their families for the sacrifice they are or have made. We need to be on our knees everyday thanking Him for His grace and mercy. He has fought for us and the war is still raging for our place in eternity. I pray we can all find time to thank those who fought for us. I pray we can to do the same for those still fighting for us. In love always. <>< 

No Apologies

Good morning and happy Thursday. There are a lot of things written about Jesus and the words He said to people. I've thought about it and can't remember Him ever apologizing for the things He said. For the toes He step on or the eyes He poked. It's because He spoke the truth and there is nothing to apologize for. The truth is what sets us free. He did all those things out of love for them all. He didn't want a single soul lost. He wanted them then and us now to know what it is to be with the Father. He knew they would curse Him, laugh at Him, mock Him and ultimately kill Him. How much are we doing in spite of all those things, except the killing part? I don't think many here will die because of the truth but others have and will in other parts of the world. We have to begin to care about more than just friends and family. We have to be stretched a little to reach those in need that we don't see. We have been called to spread His words and we don't have to apologize for them. Just speak them into the lives of others. In love always. <><

Time For A Revival

Good morning and happy Wednesday. The political season is upon us, and I am amazed by the things these candidates say they will do. It's like watching the student body speeches from the movies where they're gonna get snack machine in all the class rooms and no homework on the weekends. What happened to the integrity of man? We've become so singular in our thinking. They say they want it to good for everyone and for all to prosper. What are they doing about the spirituality of our country? Nothing. And they shouldn't. That's our job. See how we all forget.  We've become a silent voice. No longer speaking up for children of God. The churches are who started all the helping programs for people. All with the right intention. What happened?  We quit. We got beat up by the secular world and quit. It's time this sleeping giant arose. A revival of the spirit within us to take this country back and use it's blessed resources for the good of it's own and world it's a part of. It won't happen tomorrow, and that's what the enemy counts on. Our perseverance cannot wane. It has to be strong so our kids see it and can carry on behind us. It's that big of deal. I know it sounds like a crazy idiot with some kind brain problem rambling on, but we're lost as a nation. It starts by a few deciding to do it better and for God. It has to happen. Too many people are playing it safe and trying to simply take care of themselves. People all over our cities need us. They need the love of Jesus we have in us. They need to see they have not been and never have been forgotten. The elite have. Not all but most. But taking the gospel to the downtrodden is not a campaign slogan on the side of any bus. It's our job to do that. Please find a place to plug in and help those who truly need you. In love always. <><

Do You Believe In The Devil

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Do you believe in the devil?  If you believe in God then you do. Good and evil, the classic story line of a lot of movies and stories. It's no wonder we have become so insensitive to it, the power of the devil. So if both are in existence and both wanting us with them for eternity, how can the devil win. He knows his place. He knows the power of God. He wins by taking God away from us. We have all seen this happening. Hardly a child today goes to school and says a prayer in it. We're not allowed to do a lot of things in the light of PC, (political correctness). So the power of Satan comes from us. We allow and become complacent in our beliefs and actions to not stand up at all. Satan's folks are though. They're loud and making headway. So do we shrink into our homes and just be thankful we're saved. What about the one outside your door? Are they not worth saving?  That's our mission. To bring the good news to those who have not heard it in many cases. Think about the kids of today who probably haven't ever heard the news at all. It's not their fault. It's the churches and the lazy people in them. We have got to get loud about Jesus and not let Satan snatch another soul. Evil is winning because it's evil and doesn't care who is offended. Right is right and it wins in the end, but we don't sit back and lose battles along the way just because we do. I hope I haven't offended anyone. In love always. <><

Why Do We Get To Choose

Good morning and happy Monday. The wind and waves obey Him. All things are created by Him. He has power over everything. Why did He give us free will?  So that we would make our own choices to do what He has led us to. So that our love for Him would be pure and true from the heart. The hardest thing we need to do is to submit to His will in our lives and not our own. We have the choice to make and the result of that decision is because of  how we choose to live. But not always do you see the good for the good or the bad for the bad. Why? Because then it would be an us choosing to do good to just get good in return, not to do good because God has asked us to. The ultimate reward is Heaven and an eternity spent with Him. That's where the good really gets the good. True love for Him and a passion to help others the way Christ did is all that He asks of us. Believe in what He has said and follow the example He sent. Rejoice in the salvation He paid for you on the cross and walk in humbled adoration for the God who controls it all. In love always. <><

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. <><