Good morning and happy Monday. Just got done reading a few news spot headlines and scanning through FB only to see nothing but bad stuff all over. It's the same all the time and has been for a while. I know that bad things have happened since Cain killed Able, but it really seems to be accelerating more quickly now. I wonder why? ( note sarcasm ). Since the Jews ignored the heeding of God they have been slaves and oppressed and not even a nation until not too long ago. America has been blessed by God since it was founded because it was founded with Him at the head; no matter how "they" try and distort our history. But ever since we have asked Him to leave our schools, offices, government, and lives, things just haven't been the same. I know people can see it but no one seems to be willing to admit it. Even those who don't believe in God know something is wrong and have a million excuses for it. None of which hold water when tested. This country is in need of a revival of its faith in God to deliver it. It has to be done with love for each other and fir those who do not see it this way. Love is all that remains. When Jesus died that was all that was left for us. Complete selfless love for each other. All the hate that these "Christians" pour out is not what Jesus had in mind as the nails were driven through His skin. Westboro and the hate mongers at protest rally's are not what we need. It's time, it's passed time to stand up and show some love to others and bring the purest of love back to our country.  I have lots of friends who do not see it this way, but I love them and I pray for them and I hope that they can see Jesus is real living through me. We're all sinners just the same and all in need of the same grace of God to be saved. No one is above or below another. Together we stand, side by side and together we are all in the same sinking boat of an America that's asked God to leave. So He has, but He's right there with us waiting for us to ask Him back into ours lives, all parts of it. As frustrated as I am getting, it's the peace Jesus brings that's has kept me sane. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Ever feel like if you don't do it, it won't get done; or at least done right? It's one of my biggest issues I struggle with. It's not that I don't think someone else can do it, it's just I lack the trust to of them doing it. (Probably the way I want it done). I did a little studying for Sunday school class as we go through the book of Acts. Growing up I heard and sang a song about Paul and Silas. But as we have been reading Acts, I've been seeing Paul and Barnabas. Now at the end of chapter 15 Barnabas is replaced by Silas. We hear no more of Barnabas except for a few mentions. We are replaceable and disposable. We have to make the most of the time that God is using us for the moment He's using us. His plans will be carried out with or without us. He does not need us. We are not a necessity that He requires. That's what makes His love for us so beautiful, He wants us. He wants to use us so that we can be blessed by Him and the moment that we are a part of. I don't know about you, but I would rather be wanted than needed. With that though, are you ready to be used when He calls? Are you prepared to answer?  You will not always have the tools needed to do the task, but you can rest assured that if He calls you to it, He will equip you for it. He needs to see you step out in faith in Him before you get it. He loves us and wants no harm to come to us, so why would we think this was a set up for failure. Barnabas did great work for The Lord and continued to do so afterward as well, but his time was up and it was time for Silas to step up. It's not about us, it's about Him. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. When I see my girls and think of memories of them when they were younger, my heart swells. There is so much emotion when you see your kids. The good times and the painful ones as well. You begin to question what you could have done to protect them. Well, we did the best we could. But the stuff we feel when we know it could have been different. That " not in our control " feeling of them making a choice hurts to the core sometimes. We understand now what we did to our own parents now that we have our own to raise. Let me say now for all of us, I'm sorry mom and dad. But I need to really be directing that more heavenward though. I'm sorry God for the things I do and choose that hurt you. Just like all parents, He is there with us till the end. Shaking His head and eyes filled with tears as we miss another blessing He had for us if only we would listen to Him. How many times do you say that to your kids, "just listen to what I'm telling you"? What makes us any different than them by not hearing God the Father? Be still and be quiet and listen. Read that again only, with a stern voice, not in anger, but in loving frustration of a parent doing all He can for His children. There is no greater love than what we receive from God, and it's there for the taking. So when you look at your kids or just kids in general, feel the eyes of God upon you and know that He's watching over you. What a great comfort that is. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. In the beginning God was with us Himself. As time went on He stayed among His people throughout all their trials and oppressions. Next Jesus came to be with us. He came to show us the error of our ways and to show us the way home. When Jesus left us, He did not leave us alone. He left us the Holy Spirit, never to be left alone or without the guidance of the God Himself. With that said, it is safe to say that we are never alone in this world. Since the dawn of time God has tried to lead us and guide us in the right direction. The Jews didn't do so well at following along. Jesus came to help and they didn't do so well again, but this time the rest of us are allowed in. And like the Jews some have done well and others have not at following His will for us. Then there's today, it seems the further into this we go, the worse we as a people are doing at following the guidance of the Spirit. So the question for today is this; are you following the Holy Spirit or are you trying to guide the spirit to your will?  Sometimes it's easy to be confused as to wether or not we are leading or following. Looking back over history and knowing the promises of tomorrow, we should all be making sure we're doing all we can to follow the will of God in our lives. After all, He only wants the best for us, as any Father would. Happy Father's Day everyday. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Sometimes when you feel the absence of God, like He's not talking to you or hearing you, it's probably that you have moved away from Him. What's happened to our longing for Him and to be in service for Him? We've become very self reliant and putting God in our lives as an add on. The Bible days are relevant to us today in many ways. So in keeping with that, look at the simplicity of their lives, God and family. Now we have our kids playing sports year round with games on Sunday even. Just a few short years ago when I was a kid that was unheard of. Even on Wednesday because church was on that night too. A poll was taken asking for your most favorite Bible verse. Guess what won? "God helps those who help themselves". Really?  That ain't even in the Bible. He will place Himself within us if we ask Him to live there. From there He will guide us and direct us to what should be our ultimate goal, Home and an eternity with Him. Along the way all things we do should point to Him and His glory. That nothing we've done has been possible without Him. "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing". Jesus. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Just like everyone else in this country as we woke this morning to all the terrible news of the devastation in Oklahoma, my heart is heavy, for a few reasons. Many people are going to ask where is God in all this? How could God let this happen? Others will use this to condemn our society, by taking God out of everything this is what we get. Others will point to the end times and try and create panic among non and young Christians. Still others will simply point out there is no God. My heart is heavy for the obvious reasons; death of people and loss of homes and communities. But it's also weighing on me about how quickly death can come and in this case so wide spread that many may not have been ready to meet the Father. We are after all a lost people and this has become a lost nation. More and more people are living here not knowing or believing in God the Father. That should bother all of us. It's not too late to turn this around though. Those of you who know me and especially those who know my past can see change in direction is possible. But how did it happen? What took place and what is my role in it?  Well it didn't happen over night and it was just a few people who spoke God's word to me. They allowed themselves to be used by Him to reach me in a place some might not have gone. Oh it wasn't that bad where I was. For some it may have looked pretty good. Hell will be filled with a lot of "good" people. Every time we have a major event like this in our country, many different views spring to life. Be prepared and become the voice of Truth about the Father who loves us all, no matter what. Help others find their way home to Him now, before anything else can happen to them. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. I'm in a conversation with my youngest daughter who is getting ready to graduate from high school in a few weeks. She said there's a lot of stuff going on at school and people acting up and causing her some issues. "This is not how I thought my senior year would end up", she said. Is life ever how we thought it would be? Are you where you thought you would be when you dreamed of your life as a kid or teen? Why do you suppose it's never how we think?  Well, maybe just maybe it's because we don't know what's best for us or what we need to be doing for others. It's the second part that usually throws us off. God has plans for us, for and with other people. Our society today has become so self reliant and self sufficient, we have forgotten about other people in the world until they bother us. In the Old Testament days the people relied on each other for all kinds of things. They were communal people. The reason it took a community to raise a child is because the community did raise the children, together. We're losing touch with each other and all of our technology today is making it easier to isolate ourselves from each other. God wants us to be in community with each other today and with Him. It makes us a better and stronger person because when we are together we tend not be able to hide our garbage and so satan loses his tools against us. When we are alone we are vulnerable to our secrets. These are the tools of the devil. Don't try and make life what you think it should be. Instead be pliable to God's will and ready to be placed in the path of others so that we can build community, together. In love always <>< 

Good morning and happy Friday. Yesterday I was talking about selling out to Christ. Is He worth that? In my studies and reading I'm finding more and more how deluded and disconnected I am in my relationship with Him. Our culture is partly to blame but my willingness to accept what is preached and perceived versus' what is really at the heart of it all is more to blame. I've talked before about Jesus in the garden and as to why He was in agony as He prayed. It wasn't because He didn't want to go or afraid to go it was because He would be bearing the full wrath of God, which was ours to bear, and be out of God's presence while it takes place. If God is just, and He is, then if He's pouring out His wrath on Jesus for us, He must be mad at us. Why else would He have anger? Well it's because we're sinful and ugly. We don't deserve to be with Him. So the loving part of God that is so over used so that we can justify things we do, sends His Son to take it for us. Imagine standing below a dam 10,000 ft high and 10,000 ft wide and it breaks. Just before you are destroyed a gapping hole opens and takes in all the water. Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath for us, which we could in no way handle, and after the last drop, turned the cup upside down and said "It is finished". So does He deserve us to be sold out to Him. Absolutely. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Thursday, Friday eve for the optimist. Have you sold out, sold out fully for The Lord? During our lesson last night it really occurred to me that I don't really think I have. I don't think I know too many people who have. I have this image of me flying off the earth toward Heaven as I grow and mature in my relationship with Christ. It was harder at first and my trials and tests seemed too hard to break the bonds of gravity to move upward. As I get stronger in my relationship and could see that I was way above the earth but seemed to be in a holding pattern. Closer examination shows satan on the ground holding a few lines still tied to me. As I thought I was free of those things, which I am set free but true freedom comes only when I let them go and put them in the past forever. Jesus set us free, we have to decide to accept His gift. I may be just a speck in the sky from where I was, but what scares and bothers me most is that I really haven't let go of some things that keep me tied to the ground. That's all satan needs to reel me back down to him. Sure it will take a while but for him it may be worth the effort. So the question is, have I gotten to a point where now I'm just comfortable and not willing to work to move further on? When I meet and talk with young Christians, no matter their age, I see the fire that drives us off the launch pad toward the stars. How do we keep our fires burning so that we don't settle into an orbit of lifelessness and comfort not to be moved anymore? It's different for all of us, but for most it comes when we study and read the Word. Selling ourselves out to Christ, Jesus told the young rich ruler to sell all his things and give it to the poor and then he could follow Him. He's only telling us to let go of what holds us to this earth. To know that it costs us everything to follow Him. At least everything worldly. Join me in cutting loose of our strings that hold us back and keep us tied to this world. Remember, we're not of this world. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Tuesday. For all practical purposes, Saul, later known as Paul, was a terrorist to Christians. He over saw the stoning death of Stephen and was on his way to Damascus to haul some more off to prison if not kill them. But along the way he had an encounter with Jesus. Forever changed, he went on to write most of the New Testament. I'm sure no one really ever prayed for his salvation and realization of who Jesus was. Not to ever excuse what happened yesterday in Boston, it just shows us that we live in a fallen world and there are many people in need of Jesus. Here in our own country and all over the world. The mission of the first followers of Christ has not changed at all. Living in the Bible Belt can some times dull me to the need of the message of Jesus to rest of the world around us. Pray for those families and for those who are responsible. It's what jesus would do. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Friday. I'm so tired of the news these days. It's so full of violence and crime and hate. Facebook is becoming the same way. We don't have much control over the news but the social media is ours to make it good or bad. From the looks of some people's post, they need to figure out how move into another point of view. Jesus always saw things in a way that was different from what was popular of the day. We've become just the opposite and seem to just go along with what's popular or makes us "look" good on our page. I know sometimes its hard to find the good in people, but if we make that our habit in our dealings with folks, then it becomes easier. A very good friend of mine a long time ago taught me that, you just need to find the good in people and love on that part. Then the love will spread over to those bad parts and make em fade away. It can't help it cause love always wins. In not so many words that's exactly what Jesus taught us. He, Jesus, is love. The purest of love. When life and the news and Facebook start to pull us away from the love we know and are finding in others, refocus and change lanes from the road you're on. Find Jesus and talk to Him about it. He's a great listener and a healer of our wounds. Receive the healing. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Good Friday.  So last night, almost two thousand years ago, Jesus was in the Garden praying. On this day He was beaten and whipped so bad, that as He was marched down the road with His cross on His back, mothers turned their children's eyes away. This is something they had seen before but obviously not this bad. Skin was torn from His back. His face was beaten so bad you could hardly recognize Him. All of this, He did for us. The punishment we were meant for is taken upon Him. The last sacrifice to God. The veil that separates us from God is torn and is no more. We have direct access to God Himself through this sacrifice. That is why we call it "Good" Friday. It's good for us. We are saved by the blood spilled on this day. As we look back on this day, we see the saving grace of God. On that actual day, they could not see it really. So tomorrow would be a day of great worry about what was to come. He's gone, the leader of this movement is gone. What do we do now? They lacked the kind of faith we have today. But they also saw first hand what our Lord endured for us. Please find the time this weekend to be prone on your knees with thankfulness for the sacrifice given to buy you back into heaven and an eternal life spent with God. We were bought at a very high, unrepayable price. We are worth that to Him. Honor Him now with a life lead to pay respect for what He did for us. Bare your cross proudly and live your life for Him as He gave His life for us. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Monday. I don't about you, but I'm loving this Bible movie on the history channel. It's really made me look at how we see Jesus in today's times. To realize that our passion for Him is waning as our passion for religion grows. It's just like those days with the Pharisee. Seeing the people in the desert reminds me of how we are to depend on God for our daily sustenance, but instead we've become self reliant and self dependent. While we think we're getting closer to Him, it really seems to me, we're moving farther away. I've always said the devil is good at what he does and we're being lead farther away every day. We need to find our place in the desert and draw nearer to God. We need to show others the same thing. It's never too late with God. In love always. <>< 

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Be still and listen. Be quiet on the inside. Find a place to hear, to hear the still calm voice of God. He's saying "Cone to me". Just listen and you will hear. "Come to me. You've been filling your life with everything to fill a void in it. Come to me." I know you can hear it and feel it. It's because He made us. He placed Himself inside each of us. It's our choice to follow Him or not. It's not forceful or demanding, it's with love for what He knows He has for you. The life He's planned for each of us. " Come to me". Everything else falls short of the least God has to give. Lord I pray we all hear you. I pray that we all walk towards your voice and live not wanting or needing to find something to fill us. To you all glory and honor Lord. Thank you for the very next breath I have so that I may still come to you. In love always. <><

Good morning and happy Monday. Who knows your history better than you?  Who knows the things you've done that you want to forget? Yep, you guessed it, satan. He keeps a detailed record of the junk we've done and don't want anyone to know about. These are the very things he uses against us in a battle for our eternity. His only victory is the number of souls he can keep from being with God. He knows he loses the war, but he'll take any battle he can. As for us individually, this is his winning tactic. To bring our past and inequities up at the time when begin to look to God for the answers we seek. He makes us feel unworthy of approaching God and that we don't matter, so why bother. Now let that sink in a little as you answer this question. How many people do you make feel that same way by doing the very same thing? I've got my own list and I'm ashamed of myself. But that's a battle we lost, not the war. A simple retreat back to the arms of God and all will be ok. As much as we seem like pawns in a game, to God we're much more than that. To satan, that's all we are, and he uses us against others. Don't be a toy in satan's game, be the royalty you are in the House of the Lord. In love always. <><