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Good morning! Hope you had a blessed weekend! We had an amazing service yesterday at my church. We actually had a wedding during our morning service. It was very special and made me realize just how blessed I was to be at a church that love drips off the corners of the building! I have been thinking about something all weekend and I wanted to share a bit about it with you today. Happiness. What does it mean to be happy? Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us.......
Bible Verse: Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
I am going to have to say I really don’t like the word “happy.” It’s a slippery word on a slippery slope for a slippery emotion. As soon as I start evaluating the level of my happiness, it starts fading. On the other hand, sometimes I’m hit with a wide-eyed awareness: “I’m really happy right now.” Ok, and reality is sometimes we are not very happy at all!
Now, the world “blessed” that we’re going to talk about today in Psalm 1 means “happy,” but it’s more than that. It means something like “happy because God likes me and he’s taking care of me.” As a Christian, I should always say I’m being blessed by God even as my mood rises and falls with my hunger level. I know this always happens right???? Not!
So, basically what I am trying to say is, blessing can be an emotion, but it’s backed by rock solid evidence of God’s goodness. Any good things or feelings I can point to in my life absolutely come from Him. And when I start counting all the good things I have and feel because of God, it’s easy to call myself blessed. Maybe even happy. But, it's hard for us to not get down sometimes and have a pity party for ourselves. Right? When things seem to be falling apart. I get it, I am right there with you.
Think about this! How often do you think about these words: blessed, happy, joyful? What’s the difference between feeling blessed or happy and knowing for a fact that you are blessed by God? Maybe, just maybe we should thank God for all the ways he has blessed us this year. I am sure if you sit down and think about it you can come up with some. have a great day and God bless.
What's up? Did you have a great Christmas? Are you enjoying your family time? Last night I was chewing the fat with a pretty wise person and they gave me a few things to think about. Well, that opened the door for my mind to try and wrap around things. For me, that's not always good. But, I think it was this time and I want to share some of it with you and see if it helps us reflect together. Let's dig into the good stuff.....
Bible Verse: Matthew 10:42 "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Life is an ECHO! Really! What you send out, comes back. What you sow, your reap. What you give, you get back. What you see in others, exists in you. Do not judge, so you will not be judged. Radiate and give LOVE, and Love comes back to you. Here's a little example. I made it my mission to always show my children affection. This morning when Luke woke up, the first thing he did was come in my bedroom crawl up in my bed and give me the biggest hug and kiss. Then he said "Daddy, I sure do love you!" We must never forget that life is an ECHO! Now, here comes the tricky part. That echo might not come from the direction we want it to or are expecting it to come from. That's what made me think of this scripture. It says giving it to one of these little ones. To a child! See, a child can't or usually won't return the favor. So, pretty much do it being unselfish. Don't expect anything in return and then be blown away when God blesses ya! This is really hard sometimes because we build up expectations in our minds of how things should be. That's what gets us in trouble. I just wanted to share this with ya and poke your brain into thinking today! have a great day and God bless.
Morning folks! I was looking on Facebook last night and again this morning and saw something that troubled my heart. A lot of people feeling very alone this Christmas season. Whether it be loss of a loved one, divorce, kids with the other parent, or just because. This might sound weird but, the last couple of days I have been making chocolate cover stuff. Yes, I said stuff. If I could dip it in white chocolate I would see how it turned out. I made pretzels, strawberries, ritz crackers, oreos, and peanut butter ritz! I know a little overboard but, I had a lot of time to sit and think while doing this. I too have been caught up in the sadness of a quiet house but, I realized it didn't have to be. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us...........
Bible Verse: Psalm 46:1"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Bible Verse: Hebrew 13:5 "...He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
I was at an Exxon gas station yesterday in my town and the clerk looked really sad. I asked her if everything was ok. She said, "I'm just really sad I'm divorced, my kids have moved away, and I don't really know many people here." I said, "Why don't you call a friend?" She said, "I don't have a friend." I sat there and hurt inside for this woman. I said, "I'm sure you have a friend!" She said, "I work all the time and haven't had a chance to make any." Well, I told her of our candle light service we are having at church tonight and invited her. I told her it would be a great place to meet and make some new friends. When I left there it really made me think. How many are just like her this season? It made me think of God being our refuge and strength. But, we for some reason forget that. Hebrews 13:5 says it best ".....He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
I remember doing a lesson on this scripture. The Greek scholars tell us this sentence, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," actually has five negatives in it. A double-negative is supposed to be bad English, but evidently it wasn't bad Greek!!! Here's what it literally says: "I will never, no not ever, no, never leave nor forsake you." That should make us feel a little better. Right?
Here's the real deal! People need someone to love, and they need to be loved. Without it, their lives are filled with fear and frustration. Hebrews 13:5 tells us we can face a new year with the certainty of His provision and with His companionship in our hearts and in our lives. This has all got me to thinking about friends. Did I know someone that just needed some love this season. Who do you know someone that might need a call from a friend today? Make that call today. Have a great day and God bless.
Hey there! Hope you had a great weekend. Last night my little sister asked me to go out to eat and I ended up going to Walmart with her for some reason. In our conversation last night we started talking about pursuing. That made me thing of yesterdays sermon from my pastor. It was from Matthew 2. I read on a little further last night and started thinking about the pursuit. The pursuit of Christ. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us.........
Bible Verse: Matthew 2:11 "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh."
Ok, here's the deal real wise men seek the Lord. I asked my self last night, was I seeking the Lord? Do you seek the Lord? Is that the burning ambition of your heart and life? You probably saying, "Well, I come to church." I'm not talking about that. Think about these men from the east. Do you know where "the east" was? They're talking about Babylon. Three hundred miles across Syrian Desert, distance and difficulty. I did say desert!
Now, think about the Christmas cards you see and the pictures of them coming on camels. I don't know how they came, but I know how they didn't come...by airplane, bus, automobile, or motorcycle. I know where they didn't stay. They didn't stay in the Holiday Inn. No one left the light on for them!
And on top of that, they came in spite of danger. It was the time of King Herod and he was insane with jealousy and rage, who had had his own wife and three sons wacked! Yeah, I said wacked. Soprano style! These men in the face of that danger said, "We have come to seek Jesus Christ." Wise men will seek Him in spite of distance, danger and difficulty. I only wish I could be that wise!
Wise men who seek Him will see Him. When they came into the house, they fell down and worshipped Him. It's worth seeking Him because, friend, when you seek Him, you will see Him. "Ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) They searched, found Him and saw Him.
I guess the bottom line is, do we have a desire to know Him? To love Him? To serve Him? Do we find something drawing us to God? That my friend, is Someone. He's the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for The Holy Spirit. Have a great day and God bless!
This Christmas season I have really been thinking a lot. I guess self reflecting, examining, dreaming, learning, and even making some decisions. A friend of mine looked at a house yesterday and she was telling me about it. I guess it got me thinking about when you want something, what you do to show that you really mean it. That your serious. Stay with me...... Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can learn......
Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:22 "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
Your probably wondering what this verse has to do with buying a house. I mean what does this mean, that God has given us the "earnest of the Spirit in our hearts"? When someone intends to buy something they can't afford to purchase at that moment, they can put down "earnest" money. The greater the down payment, the greater the indication that full payment will be made. Following me? Most people have probably already done this at some point. For instance, if you're selling your home for $100,000 and a prospective buyer gives you $5, you probably won't look for that person to come back. But if he gives you $50,000, he means business, and you know he's coming back!
I guess we could say that God has given us a down payment of the Spirit. Do you think God is going to forfeit His Holy Spirit? Not a chance! Really God's earnest money was Jesus Christ! Wow, now that's a down payment! God is not going to forsake you! He has too much invested in you! Now, isn't that some good news. If this doesn't put a smile on your face then you better check your pulse. Have a great day and God bless.
Hello everyone! I was talking to a guy at the pilot today while getting a drink and next thing you know we are in a 20 minute conversation about everything he was going through. I was in a hurry but, I realized that I needed to stop and listen to what this guy had to say. Our conversation turned a corner when he started to talk about Christmas and not having anything for Christmas for his kids and being very depressed. Well, we talked for a long time and I invited him to church with me Sunday. Not as a fix all but, as a help focus day. His next comment brought up the reason for this devotion. He told me that he was a Christian but, didn't need church. He was fine on his own. This hurts me so bad when I hear people say this. I know that some of us have been hurt severely by the church but, that doesn't mean that you quit going and here is why! Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us.............
Bible Verse: Ephesians 5:29-30 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones."
Ok, let's cut through all the bull! So many believers think they don't have to go to church. They say yes to Jesus, but no to the church. Now, this happens for many reasons. But if you love God, you will love Jesus. And if you love Jesus, you will love what He loves, and Jesus loves the church. Well, can't a man be a Christian without being a member of the church? Let me answer that question with another one......... Can a bee be a bee without a hive? Can a sailor be a sailor without a ship? Can a person be a parent without a family? We need one another. We were made for one another. Jesus didn't say, "I will build you a church" or "You will build My church." Instead, Jesus said, "I will build My church."
What is wrong with us? We need each other. Trust me when I say this. I thought I could do a lot on my own and have fallen flat on my face. We need battle buddies! We need a support group. If you don't have that at your church then maybe it's time to find another church. That is what church is supposed to be about. Now, understand that some churches have forgotten that and are all mixed up about their mission. But, there are still some out there that get it and if you look you can find them. If you can't find one come visit with me and you'll see what it is supposed to look like! Have a great evening and God bless!
Hello everyone. I have been sitting here today in a quiet house having some really good alone time. I guess reflecting time! I sat and thought about the sermon today at church and what Christmas is. I guess what Christmas has become. See, I had lost focus on what it is really about. I got to thinking about what I was going to be able to get my kids and family for Christmas. I guess today was needed to regain my focus. We get so caught up in the presents and the meals that we forget about that baby being born. With the weight of the world soon to be on his shoulders. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us.........
Bible Verse: Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Ok, now this was written 700 years before the first Christmas. Isaiah wrote these words about the coming Savior. That's pretty crazy isn't it?
Now, check this out! Some years ago, you may remember when man first stepped onto the moon. The President of the United States said, "The planting of human feet upon the moon is the greatest event in human history." Everyone got so caught up in that and really believed it. Now, in my humble opinion the greatest event in human history was not stepping on the moon but when God came to Earth and planted His feet here. Let's think about that for a sec. God stepped out of heaven, Heaven! Into this world. This awful world! He put His feet upon this earth. And that is the greatest event in human history! Let's think about that for a bit and reflect on what Christmas really is and means to us. Have a great night and God bless.
