Hot breath on a mirror..........

Good morning! What is time to you? This morning when I got home from work I stopped in the kitchen and looked out at the back porch. I got a cup of coffee and again went out on the porch to do a little studying. As I sat there and read, everything seem to come alive out there. I didn't hear it all at once. But, little by little more sounds started to fill my ears. It made me realize again today that we rush through life so fast sometimes that we don't stop to listen or enjoy the sounds and smells. We don't get days back, they are here and gone. That brings me to today's Bible verse. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us..........

Bible verse: Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath, His days are like a passing shadow.

I have talked about this a lot over the years. What is a breath? One minute we have it, then we let it out and it is gone. I think David is saying in this psalm, not to waste any piece of or lives, to let God be in every minute. Have you ever put hot breath onto a window? It will leave its mark, but for a brief moment. Then it will fade away. Is that how we are in this world? I guess what I am trying to get at is.......Seize the day! Take chances! Never leave something unsaid that should be said. Open your heart up.

Do we have plans for our lives? What will be doing in ten years, one year, or even tomorrow? Are they all planned out? Is God at the center of those plans? Do you pray about them? Sometimes our lives seem to be spinning out of control. Are they? Is God trying to show us something? I remember a conversation about a week ago with my daughter Joslyn. She was telling me something and I told her "You're getting the cart in front of the horse!" Well, she said "Dad, why don't you just take the cart off the horse and ride the horse!" The more I have thought about that the more I smile. Maybe our plans are right and maybe they're not. Or just maybe we might miss Gods' plan because we are not willing to just ride the horse. I think we get so caught up in our own lives or even listening to others that we forget the big picture. I have said before that we should slow down and listen. God will tell us all we need to know. We just have to LISTEN.

In the book of James 4:14 James writes, Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. I must ask you a question. Is God the center of our plans? Do we let him guide or shape our future? Or do you do what you want and hope God can fit in there somewhere? Think about it. Have a great day and God bless!

Ponder on this........Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will......

Cash and Cadillac's...........

 

Good morning friends. I got off work this morning and put some coffee on and sat on the back porch again today for a bit. I guess I have been trying to slow down some lately. Seems I am always on the go. I just sat there and listened to the birds singing like there was no tomorrow. I glanced up from reading and there stood three deer about ten feet past my fence. I watched them I saw peace in the way they walked and grazed in the yard. Like there was no care in the world but to fill their bellies. Let's talk about worries and storms today. The trials and tribulations. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what God can show us together..........

Bible Verse: Psalm 107:23-30 "...see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof...Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still...so He bringeth them unto their desired haven."

This might be hard to hear but, it is God who is the master of the winds and the waves. He is able to cause storms in life to come or to calm them. Our problem is that most think if we're in the will of God, we'll always sail smoothly on this sea of life. Really? We think we'll have no sickness, no sorrow, no disappointment, know no heartache. That there will be no problems in our family. Wait you've seen the guy's on TV say, "You just believe God and send me an offering of $100, and you'll never be sick. Everything will be fine." If that was the case I would send my $100 every week! Some call this "The Cash and Cadillacs Gospel". I've got a word for that "baloney!"

Here's the thing, we are going to have difficulty. And the first thing you can say when difficulty comes is that God's reigns is over it all. “Now God's plan is not to break you, God's plan is to enlarge you. To enlarge your faith. To get you to lean more on Him and less on yourself. In Psalm 4:1 God's Word say’s “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress."

Alright, let's break this down barney style. If you have been a Christian for very long I have a question for you. When did you grow the most? When everything was fine? When there was smooth sailing? Or when the storms came? Did you not grow more in the storm, in distress, when you felt your ship was sinking? Did you look back later and see how God brought you through the storm or maybe provided refuge? Did you come out after the storm stronger than when you went in? Did the fires of affliction help purify you and little more? I pray that if you are in a storm right now or know you are going into one that you take refuge in the Lord and realize that He is your Hightower! Now, come out of this storm a stronger you! Have a great day and God bless.

While in the darkness......Focus on the light!

Good morning. I sat out on my back porch this morning with a big cup of coffee and my Bible and read for a while. I got to thinking about some people that have been in my life that are having a rough week. One of them lost their job yesterday and one with have their last day this Friday. Both are single parents and my heart is so heavy for them. The thought of being uncertain of what's around the corner is pretty scary. Kind of like when I was a teenager we would walk through a long train tunnel. We would enter into that dark train tunnel and have this feeling of not being sure if we would make it all the way through before the train came. I remember being in total darkness and when I finally saw the light from the exit I would know everything was going to be ok. I am writing this for those two people but, I would dare say there are many others that are struggling with something like this right now too. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what God can show us........

 

Bible Verse: 1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Ok, this is hard for us to understand when we are in the valley. The One who created the valley is there with us! He has prepared the way through the valley. It is not a permanent place, but a place that we must make our way through. Hey listen, He knows every twist and turn, every changing shadow, every pitfall! You have to believe and know that He is with you! He won't leave you nor forsake you.

Now, here comes the hard part. You have to focus on the light and not the darkness. God has made us to walk through shadows. When the shadow approaches, you must just keep walking. I remember when I was in Navy Diver School and the PT got so hard I wanted to just ring out and quit. I thought I couldn't go on. I just kept running and kept my eyes looking toward the horizon. We must remember the One greater than death is in us! He is ever present. His grace is greater. His peace is purer. His devotion is dearer. Satan is going to try and cast some major shadows on you right now. Remember Philippians 4:13 and call on the Lord for strength. Have a great day and God bless.

 

 

 

Stretched out??????

Good afternoon. Just had a great visit with one of my first youth I was ever blessed with. His name is Quinn Sosa and I have seen this young man grow spiritually and how God has molded him into an amazing worship leader. Quinn led worship for me for years and now is traveling to different churches or events leading worship for them as well as assisting worship at the church he now attends. We were able to share our hearts and what was going on in our lives. While we spoke prayer came up. Prayer has been on my mind a lot lately. To be exact my prayer life is what has been on my mind. I must say that it isn't what it was nor is it what it should be. Why is it that we forget to pray when we are on the mountain top? We should totally be praying and praising then. Maybe more so than when we are in the valleys. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can learn together.........

Bible Verse: James 5:16 "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Ok, two words there. These words, effectual and fervent, literally mean "stretched out." Think of a horse jumping over a barricade, really stretched out as he leaps over. Or it's like Usain Bolt running for the gold at the Olympics, and he bursts for the tape and stretches himself out for the goal. See, James is saying that's the way we are to pray. Our prayers are to be on fire! They're to be stretched out, and I don't mean stretched out on your bed half asleep. We are to be striving for the goal. We're to be eager, earnest, fervent, and impassioned in our prayers. I have to tell you that after Quinn left, I knew I needed to get in the prayer closet. I needed to ask God to forgive me for my cold, lukewarm, just cause, take-it-or-leave-it type of prayers. What do we expect from Him when we pray that way? When we give without sacrifice. When we pray without fasting, without tears, is it any wonder we don't see results?

God has convicted my heart today. I will be reading the book of James tonight! I've bowed my head and asked God to forgive my cold, lukewarm, indifferent prayers. That I may I learn how to pray effectually and fervently! I think God looks at the intensity of the asking. That's the kind of prayer that brings results. Can you read James with me. I will tell ya that I have been reading a lot lately and it can and will help you with whatever battle or struggle you are in. Have a great day and God bless.

 

Don't hit it!!!!!!!

Good morning! Had an awesome day yesterday with my kiddo's. We had a nice lunch, saw a cool movie, and finished the day off with church. Then came last night, I had a pretty sleepless night. My mind seemed to be in turmoil. It was going 100 mph and appeared out of control. I was up numerous times and just laid there in the dark. I would drift back off and then I was up again. I finally realized at 5:17am that I was thinking how I could solve my issues. Well, I must say I have talked a big game at times about relying on God and now look at me. These words kept popping into my head "Ye of little faith". I think sometimes things are supposed to be uncertain. If that wasn't the case, why would we need faith? Let's dig into a couple verses and let them sink in today.......

Bible Verse: Psalm 103:7 "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel."

Bible Verse: Psalm 37:7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him ..."

Ok, now check this out. Peter and James were both put in prison for preaching the gospel. But James had his head cut off while Peter was delivered miraculously out of the same prison. Did God love Peter more than he loved James? I'm sure you have seen someone else get out of something and another get caught right? Next, seems Peter again gets lucky. Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost. He stood up for the Lord Jesus Christ, and 3,000 souls were saved in Acts 2. But then poor Stephen preached, and he got 3,000 stones. They stoned him to death in Acts 7:59. What's up with that? Got your mind wondering?

If all you see are the works of God, you're going to be really confused.  If you don't have a deeper insight into the ways of God, you're going to be pushing the panic button all the time. Here is the bottom line. You will never be able to rest until you know God intimately and to know God intimately is the way to have inner peace. To know God intimately begins with two things. Time in His Word and time in prayer. You can know God intimately by direct dealing with God. Hey listen, talk to Him. Here comes some reality! You can also lose that inner peace if you aren't seeking Him actively. You can't know anyone that you don't spend time with. Have a great day and God bless.

What do we see???????

Good morning! Happy Wednesday! This morning I again was woke up by my neighbor’s dog barking at a little after 6am. As I lay in bed and got angrier and angrier, God laid some stuff on my heart and it worked. I woke up in a warm bed with a roof over my head. I have food in my cabinets. My children are sound asleep and healthy in their beds. I have a good job. I have some people in my life that truly love me. Yeah, sure my life has had some pretty crappy times here of late but, really! I guess what I am trying to say is that I was humbled right there in my bed! Let's dig into some of the good stuff and see what it can show us...........

Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 listen to how Paul describes some of his "light and momentary" troubles later in this same letter to the Christians in Corinth

"I have . . . been flogged . . . severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea."

"I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers."

"I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"

I don't know what you are going through or have been through. But, think about Paul. I mean what kind of eternal glory could possibly outweigh troubles like that? I don't think our troubles are anywhere close. But, maybe they are. Hey, let me tell you something that I have realized lately. Sometimes the trials and troubles that we go through in life are for more than one reason. Maybe they are to open our eyes. Maybe they are to humble us. Maybe we go through them so that we will appreciate something good even more. That we will cherish the good times with all our hearts. Maybe so that we will see things differently. Maybe you can't travel the bridge of success without crossing the streets of failure. These are just a few of the things that are on my mind. 

Hey listen! I can truly say that I have thanked god lately for some of my hardships. I know that sounds totally crazy. Can you thank God that your troubles? Whatever they are, remember they only last for just a moment when compared with eternity in heaven. Try this make a quick list of some of your own light and momentary troubles. Now compare them with the "eternal glory" you will receive. Does that change your outlook on your problems? It sure did mine. Have a great day and God bless.

Never enough..........

What's up everyone? Did you have a good weekend? Today I would like to talk about something that cause relationships to fall apart, friendships to crumble, and people to lose control. I want to talk about $$$$$! Yep, let's talk about money and what it does to us. To be honest, I hadn't really stressed about it until recently. I always had an emergency fund for just in case and could always just work a couple extra days of overtime if needed. Well, I have caught myself getting way too focused on the dollar bills lately and need to put all that in check. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it can show us..........

Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 5:10 "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."

Does it seem like the whole world is crying or cheering or worrying about money these days? Today I want to talk about being broke and being rich and loving money and how worthless money is and why it's a trap and a gift from God. Money is complicated.

So, what is Solomon's financial advice from Ecclesiastes 5. Not only was he super wise, David's son was also loaded. He had money and wisdom to burn. So his words should be worth hearing.

His first observation was people with an appetite for money never get full. They never say, "No, I couldn't possibly take another dollar. Where would I put it? How could I hide it?" One way that money fails as a life goal, Solomon wrote, is that it doesn't have a finish line. You can never win the race. You can never stop running. You can never satisfy your hunger for it. I know guys at work that get caught in the trap of working overtime every possible day. Next thing they know they get used to those big paychecks. We call them "The seven day" checks. Then, their family gets used to them too! They look back and they have missed so much family time, ball games, birthdays, family outings, and so much more. All for the big check! Well, they say "I just want to pay stuff off"! Then, they end up buying something else. Do you see the never ending cycle?

Now, let's be honest lots of people who hear this verse don't believe it. They think they could be satisfied if they just had "x" number of dollars. How much money do you think it would take to make you satisfied with your life? Don't be dumb and answer that! Even people who win the lottery say that their problems got worse with all the money!

How about we thank God for revealing to us through His Word that no amount of dollars will ever make a money-lover happy. Ask Him to help you not to love money. Now check this out! Take a notice in your real life and media life this week how many conversations have to do with loving and/or desperately needing money. I think it will blow you away. Have a great day and God bless!