Temptation... It's a killer!!!!!

Good morning! We are doing a study of the book of James in our Sunday school class and it is deal with some real life stuff! Are you dealing with trials rights now? If your mature, then you are patient during them. Yeah, I struggle with that one. I struggle with being patient! Sometimes the trials are testing on the outside and other times they are temptation on the inside. Trials can be tests from God or temptations from the devil. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it can show us.......

Bible Verse: James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 

Ok, when satan sends temptation our way, it can be fueled by our fallen nature. It also matters where are heart is at the time. What state our heart is in. We must remember, what we take in our minds goes into our hearts. And eventually comes our our mouths or in our actions. So, the condition of our hearts is so very important in dealing with trials and temptations! Think on that today and think about what we are taking in our minds. We must be smart and realize we are battling an enemy that seeks to destroy us. Dig into the Word this week! God bless!

Fear what???????

Good morning! We are learning about temptation in our Sunday school class right now and how to deal with it. We have trials throughout our lives and those trials can turn into temptation rather quickly! One of the main points that we have stated numerous times in this study was that God will always give us a way out. We should fear the trials, nor the temptation. We should realize that they will come and be ready for them. Be prayed up and armored up. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can find.......

Bible Verse: Exodus 14:13 "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." 

Three hundred and sixty-five times in the Bible-once for every day of the year-it says, "Fear thou not," or its equivalent, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do." Sometimes we come to a place where things are out of our hands. There is nothing we can do. Oh, we hurry around, we're so busy manipulating, trying, conniving, and scheming. Yeah, I am a fixer! I can fix this! I'm the man! I can do it! But finally we come to a place where God hems us in, and there is no way out but up. God places us where there is nothing we can do. There is no one to help us. God just says, "Fear not, stand still ... and see the salvation of the LORD." I promise He will help you when you lean on Him and not on yourself!

Read those words again: "ye shall see them again no more forever." When you come to the place of desperation, what does God want you to do? Number one, "Fear not." God wants you to come to this place of dependence that you may learn there is nothing to fear and He may say to you, "Fear not" and "Stand still." Just stand still. "Be still and know that I am God." I know this is super hard for most! Heck, I am probably the worst at trying to fix things on my own and falling flat on my face! I know I have to learn to be still and allow God to take over! Have a great day and God bless!

Let's not be a Chicken Little!

Good morning! Are you swimming laps in a bowl of skittles while looking up at a rainbow right now in your life? Huh, me either! Seems like everywhere I turn there is another car wreck. I listen to folks in my Sunday school class and hear that it is the same for them as well. Why is it that we pray for God to take our problems and trials away from us? Why don't we pray that God would show us a way around them or over them? What will we learn if He just takes them away? We are each going through the trials that we are for a specific reason. Let's look at some of the good stuff and see if it can shed some light on our situation.......

Bible verse: Acts 12:2-3 And he [Herod] killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also." Bible Verse: 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose."

Ok, so what do you do in times of crisis? One thing we all must do, before we panic or sin against God, is respect the mystery of God's plan. Throughout the pages of His Word, we can see the hidden hand of God...working in mysterious ways, in inexplicable ways. Heck, ways that don't even make sense sometimes! God is in the shadows arranging things, moving things people cannot see. That may be true in your life right now. God is working, but you cannot see Him working. What trial are you going through right now that God can use in a mighty way in the future? Bet you haven't even thought of it that way have you? 

You may be in the middle of chaos right now. Nothing seems to be making sense. Everything you thought you had nailed down is coming loose, and the devil is pulling nails. You feel like chicken little and the sky is falling. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. Many of us have questions. As we look at Acts chapter 12, we say, "Well, how could God let a rascal like Herod be the king anyway? Isn't God, God? If I were God, I'd turn him into a frog. And why should James be killed and Peter released? Does God have favorites? Has God lost control?"

We do not live by explanations. Life is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived. Sometimes we must back off and simply see what I call the hidden hand of God. Just because today you cannot see the hand of God working doesn't mean God is not working. Hunker down and pray for God to show you what His plan is. Then wait for it, while continuing to pray. The faith of a mustard seed. 

Don't get electrocuted!

Morning friends! I have been up since about 3am with my mind running a marathon. Our Sunday school lesson this week is from James 1:1-11, and it's about trials that we face. I woke up and thought of nothing more that how the devil hunts! How he hunts us. Let's dig into the good stuff and see if it can help us......

Bible Verse: Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 

Our adversary the devil is prowling about like a roaring lion. Why do we underestimate his power? Would you if you were weaponless on the plains of Africa where lions prowl around? I think not! You would be ever aware of your surroundings, ready for an attack. Heck, most likely expecting an attack. Why are we so naive and don't think  our life should be treated the same way? Ok, let's look at it this way. Satan is an enemy you need to respect like an electrician who has respect for the wires that carry deadly voltage. Just for the record, I have been shocked numerous times while working on the remodel of our new house. I guess I forgot where the wires were insulated at times like a dummy. He knows exactly where the insulation is and he knows how to handle electricity. If an electrician loses his respect for this power, he is going to be in serious trouble. In the same way, if we forget who Satan is and what he can do to us! It can effect us greatly!

Everything may be going great for you right now. You've got money in the bank, a good job, good health, great marriage, awesome life! You're dancing through the forest and picking wildflowers. But behind a tree is a lion so deadly, he can pounce on us and swallow us whole. We've got to be vigilant. Let's be vigilant together and see what the trials of our life are! Most of the time they are Satan doing his best to be a "Wreck-it-Ralph" in our lives! Armor up peeps! Have a great day and God bless!

Helper or Hurter???????

Good morning! Finally got a day off and have a pretty busy schedule today! We are getting a new member added to our family today! The adoption process will be finalized today. I will be picking her up this morning. On another note, have been a knuckle head? Have you ever caused a situation to get ugly? Have you ever not been a helper? Basically, not helped the situation improve? Our behavior can either help or hurt a situation. In our relationships with our family members, friends, and even lost people. Heck, even other Christians. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it shows us.......

Bible Verse: Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

The bottom line is, you are either a helper or a hurter when it comes to reaching the world for Christ and/or reaching those closes to you with love. Why? Because, like "Big Brother," the world is watching your "Sunday-go-to-church" behavior and wondering how it compares to your behavior the rest of the week. I know that I can be a total butthead sometimes and I think little horns even pop out of my head a little. We must realize that, this is exactly what the devil wants us to do! He wants us to be buttheads and show our hind ends! Do you do that? Or maybe it's just me. What do people see when then see you away from church? What do you kids see? What do they hear? I know that I so need a Jesus spanking sometimes! Maybe even stand in the corner! 

Ok, let's break this down Barney style! Do people see you giving your time and resources to help others when they're hurting? Do they witness how you treat your family? Or how you entertain your friends? Remember, you have eyes on you at all times! I am guilty! I struggle with being on my game sometimes and letting the secular world take over. So, if you would pray fro me, please say a little prayer and include me in it today! Thanks in advance! Have a great day and God bless!

Got seed???????

Good morning! Well, finished up my last midnight for a couple weeks. Ready to crash, but wanted to jot down a few thoughts. I was thinking a lot last night about worry and what we worry about. Had to wait till I got home to look up a scripture. See, I didn't take my Sword to work with me last night. Here's what I found. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can find.......

Bible Verse: Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." 

Do you ever worry? I know I am guilty. I have worried about everything from the kids to the weather. Don't look around and point your finger at everyone else. Don't tell me you never worry! Even the least little bit? And yet the Bible so clearly tells us not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. Why is that so hard sometimes? Heck, most of the time! There are really only two classes of things that we don't need to worry about. Those things we cannot do anything about and the things we can do something about. The best thing you can say about worry is that it is useless. The worst thing you can say about it is that it makes God sad!

Worry is the opposite of faith. Faith of a mustard seed! Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

Feel like a broke down pack mule?????

Morning! Just got off midnights and wanted to jot down a bit before I crashed. Have you ever wondered why you were going through certain circumstances in your life that were hard or maybe even seemed impossible. Maybe the loss of a job, loss of a loved one, or maybe something that isn't that bad? I have heard people say God won't put more on you than you can handle. I believe with all my heart that when people make that statement they are wrong. God will put more on you than you can handle! He will load you down like a pack mule with more than you can handle. He will do that so you must rely on Him and not yourself. Maybe, just maybe you are going through those circumstances because He has plans for you in the future. Plans to use you in a mighty way through your scars. Plans to make you a witness for many that are going to go through the same type of thing. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we find.......

Bible Verse: 1 Chronicles 4:10 "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." 

The story of Jabez is one of a man who wanted his influence to be enlarged. Hey listen, God can stretch you, as well. I feel like I have been stretched over the years. Now, I feel God is starting to restore things back to me one by one. Here is the problem, if you ask that God enlarge your influence or to help you be a better witness for Him, remember this! Psalm 4:1 says that God enlarged him when he was "in distress." Yeah, that means when he was struggling and hurting! You can expect that God may use distressing circumstances to do that same thing in you. You may not think so now, but the pain and the scars the pain will be worth it all.

When God enlarges you, He does so to fill you with more of Himself. Don’t be satisfied with God’s filling a small place if God wants to fill a larger place. Have you ever asked God for more? Have you ever said, "God I want more. I want You to enlarge my coasts. I don’t want just a blessing. I want to be used in a mighty way! Let's pray big prayers to a big God. If you know someone who is struggling today and going through some rough circumstances, lift them up in prayer and let them know you are praying for them. Have a great day and God bless!

Stay the course and remember your anchor...........

Good morning! I know I have been gone for awhile. I sat in our Veteran’s Outreach Small Group last night and was sharing about the devotion that I used to share. Well, I am unable share that devotion anymore and it got me thinking. I used to take the time and write my devotions and even had this blog. Who know’s, maybe its just for me, for me put my thoughts down, or maybe someone else is dealing with the same kind of things. Not all the things I write are about my life. Some are things friends share or struggles I know someone else is dealing with, but they are pretty much all problems that we all have at one point or another. So, I am going to try and start writing again. Hope you guys like them and if so, pass them along or not. I do take constructive criticism too! My wife might disagree, but I try! 

Bible Verse: Hebrews 6:19-20“…which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…even Jesus."

So, how is your new year going so far? Going as planned? Have you hit some tough times already? We went on a cruise for Christmas and spent some amazing days out to sea. It brought back memories of my Navy days. What was cool in my eyes, probably wasn’t in many others. See, you could go to sleep and the sea be totally calm, and you could wake up and it be totally rough with a pretty good sea state. Alright, let’s dig into some of the good stuff. The New Year is like the ocean. There are going to be rough winds and waves at times. Heck, we’ll meet ships we never knew and we’ll have all kinds of opportunities as we travel into an uncharted time in our lives. The problem is that we can sometimes lose sight of where we are going and get caught up in the rough waters and storms of life, we must be careful that we do not drift into the narrow shoals or jagged rocks. We must keep our course going true and even at times alter our course to avoid terrible storms ahead.

The worst thing that could happen to us this coming year is that we just let this year happen to us rather than charting a course and going where God has planned for us. More than likely, you won’t decide to drift or get off course. It’ll just happen. You’ll be sailing along at a good clip, and then before you know it you’re off course and heading toward troubled waters or a rocky shore . . that can totally happen unless you have an anchor. I think we totally forget about our anchor and try and sail the seas on our own! Because we are prideful beasts! Yes, I am guilty of being prideful. Don’t tell anyone though!

Can you do me a favor? Take a few minutes to look on this past year. What were some things you did right... what were some things you would do differently this next year? Let’s dare to be different and so much better than we were last year!

God Goggles???????

Good morning! I must say that the last week has been one for the record books for us! I don't think I have ever been more drained and tired, yet I seemed to keep going until last night when I finally crashed super hard (Even drooled on my pillow). I have seen God do some amazing things over the past few weeks or so. When the things first started happening, I was like "Man, we sure are pretty lucky!" Then, as things kept happening and lining up. It started getting clearer and clearer that it was all God! At the start, I was trying to help things along, guide them the way "I" thought they should go. Boy, was I ever dumb to try and stand in His way or even mold them to my way. His plans for us were so much bigger and better than I ever could have dreamed. I mean HUGE!!! Our problem sometimes is us, or maybe what we think others might say if they aren't seeing things with their God goggles on! Maybe we all need a really good pair of night vision God goggles! Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can find......... 

Bible Verse: Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

This word "trust" is an interesting word. Its root is from the word that means "to lie face down on the ground." The idea is that a person is totally helpless. He has been laid down and has nothing to stand upon. Some would say his feet have gone out from under him. To truly trust we have to not lean on our own understanding. This is the place where God wants to bring us! Where we are focused on Him and are fully trusting Him! As a matter of fact, did you know that God will sometimes demolish your plans out from beneath you so that you might learn to trust Him? Yep, that happened to me! I have all these grand plans to stay comfortable and go the easy route. When Gods route was definitely a harder one, a more difficult road, but at the end, so much better. What it all comes down to is faith, faith is no longer an option or a luxury, it is a necessity. To the world your situation looks crazy, but that is right where God wants to show Himself powerful in your life. Is there an area in your life today for which you must trust God completely? Perhaps you need some "face time". . .face down on the ground before the Lord. Bring that issue before Him in total surrender. Give it to Him and then trust Him when He tells/shows you what His plan/road is! Have a great day and God bless.

Are you listening???????

Good morning! Hope you are having an amazing weekend! I must say this week has been a pretty crazy one! I sold my house and we bought another in the same week and neither was even for sale! To say I have seen God move in our lives this week would be an understatement. I have really been seeking His counsel the last couple months and He has revealed so much to me. I am at true awe of how He has orchestrated my life lately. Sometimes we have to do as the song says "Jesus take the wheel!" We all have choices in our lives. But, we must make one. Not choosing is essentially a choice! Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can choose to find..........  

Bible verse: Psalm 25:12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

Here's the thing, you are free to choose. You are not free, however, not to choose. After you make a choice, your choice chooses for you. There are consequences for your choices, always! If you choose to step off the roof of a ten story building, you are not then free to choose the consequence of your choice. Your choice has chosen for you. What if you make a bad choice? What is God's reaction? We must remember, That He is in control. Your choices will not take Him by surprise. Now, He can prevail over our bad choices to restore us! He also will be very happy when we seek His counsel and then listen to it. Then let it effect or choices and decisions. I guess my question for you today is. Have you made a choice in your past that has brought you consequences that you are still dealing with even today? Never, never forget that He is the restorer and the forgiver! He can and will restore you if you seek Him and then follow! Can you do me a favor? Share todays topic with someone that might be in need of a little lift up! Thanks and have a great day!

Wait for it...... Wait for it.........

Good morning! I must tell you that yesterday God revealed Himself to me in a few amazing ways! I won't go into detail but, all I can say is that His plan is so much better than ours! If we can just learn to stop white knuckling our lives and trying to control them or guide them where we what them to go, He will show us how much better His plan is! I know this is hard for some of us to do. Well, maybe it's just me that struggles with this, but I doubt it. Even if you have been struggling and have seen your fair share of heartache and hard times. Trust in the Lord and He will never leave you nor forsake you! Let's dig into the good stuff and see what we can find.......

Bible Verse: Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

God allows us to have "blue" seasons where there is more crying than laughing. What we must remember is, it is only for a season. Guys, this is crucial. Joy will come in the morning, just as sure as the sunrise. I remember sitting in the woods hunting or on the water fishing and just before sunrise the temperature drops. I always sit there and try and pray the sun up faster, so that it warms up! If you get up tomorrow morning to see the sunrise, let me tell you what not to do. Don't try to make it hurry up. It ain't going to happen! You can get a trumpet out and some cheerleaders, but that sun is not going to come up one second sooner than God intends. Waiting on the Lord is like waiting on the sun to come up. You can't hurry it. You also can't stop it. God is going to bring a sunrise to your soul. Just wait for it. And trust Him while you wait. Then when it does come and it will, rejoice in it and give Him thanks! Have a great day and God bless.

HOPE..........

Good Sunday morning to ya! I pray you have had a great weekend so far. Yesterday was entertaining for me. My six year old Luke, had his first baseball practice! I have been smiling all day about some things he and his best friend say. After Luke's first team meeting this week, he said "I really don't want no woman on my team!" So, after their first practice yesterday, the young lady comes out and throws super hard, runs like the wind, and hustles like a major leaguer! Well, the conversation tonight in Luke's room with Cooper Queener, Luke's best friend that was spending the night, says it all! Cooper say's 'She's like a man! I mean she throws and runs like a boy but, she's a girl!" I had to leave the room before a busted out laughing. I think this young lady is going to spur these boys to hustle a lot more this season. It's funny how Luke and Cooper's expectations were that she wasn't going to be good. Boy did they have to eat some humble pie! And believe me we used this to learn a lesson. Both of the boys have a different opinion of girls playing sports with boys now. let dig into the good stuff and see what we can find.......

Bible Verse: Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

What are expectations? What are some of the things you expect? A paycheck at the end of the work week? Your electricity to be on when you get home? Your car to start? The sun to come up in the morning? To be treated kindly? To be loved?

Now, what happens when time after time your expectations aren't met? Do you become pessimistic? Or maybe a even negative Nancy? We should really think about the above verse and really let it sink in! If we truly believe it then we should realize that God is with us, will protect us, and is in control! We should have HOPE! Hope for today. Hope for tomorrow. hope for our relationships. Hope for our families, Hope for our jobs. Hope for our happiness. Hope for our usefulness. Hope for our needs to be met. Hope for our lives making a difference. Hope for spending eternity in Heaven with Jesus! We should and must have HOPE! 

Now, how many times have you heard..... Don't get your hopes up! Or, don't expect too much! To some it seems life is just one disappointment after another. I guess we just have to get used to it. This is wrong on so many levels! We must change our way of thinking. HOPE is a good thing! here's the thing, the more we walk with Jesus and spend time in His Word.... The more we should HOPE! Our outlook should be one of HOPE! God made us resilient with the ability to bounce back from disappointment. Let's not let disappointment shape us into something we are not supposed to be! Have a great day and God bless!

Got the glasses on.......

Good morning everyone! I hope you are having a great weekend. I would like to talk about expectations today and how they can really cause us to struggle. See, here is the thing, our mind will start going a lot fasted than we do. It can't help it. So, if we don't paint or start to paint the picture correctly then if can get way off kilter! The key to all of this is communication. This can be in a friendship, relationship, or even church. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it says........
 
Bible Verse: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen

Church! Why do so many have a bad taste in their mouths for church? Well, it's simple, people join churches today with wrong expectations. They think church membership guarantees them blessings and no burdens. We should have a disclaimer when you join the church or when you accept Jesus as your Savior. "Warning: You just made the greatest decision of your life. Remember: Now Satan will come at you harder! Have faith and study to show yourself approved. Armor up!" Some think that God is just like Shoney's or a  buffet. Come get what you want, when you want, how you want, and if you want. Surprise, surprise, when it doesn't work out as they wish or thought, they say, "Well, it's not paying off! I thought if I gave my heart to Jesus, then He would supply everything I want. And I'd have no more worries." People then  fall away because their expectations are not met. Let me tell you what real faith is. Real faith is not just receiving from God the things you want. Real faith is accepting from God the things He gives. How are your spiritual eyeglasses? Are you looking at life with the eyes of the Lord or do you have those DUI glasses on and are stumbling around looking dumb? How about we trust that He will provide, not necessarily what we want, but what we need? Have a great day and God bless.

 

Let's be some iron.........

Good morning! Have you ever sat back and looked at your friends? Or maybe the people that you hang around the most. Are those people instrumental in your life? Do they have influence on you and/or your decisions? Let's be real, is the advice they give you their advice or godly advice? I have called "my" advice, "Tonyism's" in the past. I think we all get can't up in giving our thoughts and not what God would say about the matter. Let's dig into the good stuff and see one of my favorite verses..........

Bible Verse: Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another

True friends will put an edge on your life. They will make you a sharper person. I want to become a razor sharp ninja sword! But, reality is, not all my friends do that for me, but my close friends do. Have you ever had a friend who cares for you so much that they would even hurt you in order to help you? Tell you something that you really don't want to hear? Maybe even tell you that your in the wrong? Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." What truer words of love can be spoken than from the heart of a friend who is going to spend an eternity with you? Even if those words hurt, they are words that will heal. I have been blessed with a new partner at work. We started out unsure of one another but, I guess when you spend 12 hours a day with someone you get to know them real quick. I will say that God has blessed me with a solid Christian friend and I look forward to how he will use us to sharpen each other! God knows what we need and when we need it! Do you have a friend who sharpens you? It will only take you a moment to send that friend an encouraging text or a quick phone call. Do it
today. Have a blessed day!!!

Get a bulldog grip...........

Good morning! I am going to continue with the conquering theme! We all have that giant in our lives that we really don't want to deal with. Heck, we may even be frozen in our tracks when it comes to it. The faith of a mustard seed! Have you seen a mustard seed? They are pretty dang small. So, basically it only takes a small amount of true faith for some major things to happen. Let's dig into the good stuff and see what it tells us..........

Bible Verse:  Mark 11:23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him"

Did you ever play "king of the mountain" as a child? When you were on high ground, you could shove the others down, even though they were entrenched and determined to overtake you. In Joshua 14, we read that Caleb faced a city of giants, and yet because he had wholly followed the Lord, he had the strength of the Lord and said, "Give me this mountain" (Joshua 14:11-12). All of us face giants every day - giants of doubt, fear, discouragement, financial ruin, sickness, broken relationships. Do you think the giants in the Promised Land took God by surprise? God knew they were there all the time. They were part of His purpose to strengthen His children's faith. It's time you got a bulldog grip on the Word of God and believe what He says to be true. let's have the faith of a mustard seed and believe our giants will flee from us or be under our feet! have a great and faith filled day!

Be a window.......

Good morning! I was talking to a friend yesterday and just being a sounding board. I must say that people are funny. I mean look at some of the reality shows about people living together and how things can be going good and then all of the sudden...... Dum, dum, dum..... drama! He said, she said, they said! Why do we or can we get caught up in it sometimes. Boy, if life was just rainbows and skittles, we would have it licked! Have you ever showered someone that has hurt you with compliments? Maybe, even make them #1 on your prayer list and not for a meteor to fall out of the sky and crush them, but for them to be blessed! That brings me to today's Bible verse. Let's dig into the good stuff.......

Bible verse: Acts 20:35 "...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Here is a little check up of our hearts! Let's try this on for size, unhappiness comes from mirrors. Happiness comes from windows.  If you want to be miserable, then think about yourself first...what you want, what people are saying about you, what you ought to have done for you, how down you feel, how good you feel. Just focus on yourself.  Feeling good yet? If you are, then something is wrong. Selfishness and happiness just don't go hand in hand. If you are thinking it is better to receive than to give, you'll never be happy. You'll never experience the blessing of giving that Jesus taught. Hold out your hand and make a fist for at least one minute. Now, relax. Which feels better? Now imagine if your spirit is tight like that and how that will quench His work in your life. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, don't be a tight wad with your dough or your love! To quote Kristian Bush, "You can't take it with you when you go, never seen a hearse with a trailer hitch!" Have a super blessed day today!    

Just a little chiseling.......

Good afternoon! I spent my study time this morning looking at why certain things happen. I mean, why sometimes a Christian is treated different. I know people at my workplace that might say and share that they are Christians with someone they know is a Christian, but when it comes to being open in front of others that might not be, they are closed lipped. Maybe because they don't wish to be persecuted or maybe because they don't want to be held to a higher standard. I am not sure. Heck, maybe for some totally different reasons. Funny thing is, we think persecution is being treated a little different. Try reading "Jesus Freak" and then let's redefine the term "persecuted" a little or a lot! My studies brought me to this verse today and made me sit back and ponder a bit. Let's dig into the good stuff...... 

Bible Verse: John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Check this out,  when Solomon built his temple, he employed eighty thousand stonecutters. They chipped and shaped those stones in the quarry before bringing them to the temple mount. Why? Because Solomon didn't want the sound of the hammers and chisels heard on the temple mount. Kinda sounds crazy doesn't it? In the same way, we are part of the living stones of Gods temple and God is shaping us here in the "quarry" of earth. I really think that part of our shaping might be in the form of persecution or maybe hard times. Maybe, the loss of a loved one, job loss, divorce, or maybe even ridicule. So, don't look at your persecutors or the hard times as the enemy, but really as God's stonecutters.

Next time someone comes at you, say "Thank God, another stonecutter." God is shaping us to be what we ought to be. How about we let Him and rejoice in what is to come! I pray you have a great day and God bless!

Might be a hard knock life........

Good morning everyone! Well, the kids are home out of school again due to the weather or should I say possible weather! I'm thinking some cleaning is in order.... Hmmmm..... Picturing a scene from Annie! It might be a hard knock life at The Ruff house today! I want to share a little bit with ya today. Last Sunday, a sweet lady shared a little bit of her testimony with our Sunday school class. I have thought a lot about what she shared this week and this verse has kept popping up in my mind. I know it's one we have all heard a bunch but, I want us to stop and really think about it today! Let's dig into the good stuff.......
 
Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
 

Are you in the middle of a troubled time in your life? Here's the thing, you are either in one now, gonna be in one soon, or just coming out of one! That's a fact Jack! Not trying to be all doom and gloom on ya, but if you read this verse and believe it, you can handle a lot more than you think! Remember this, Jesus loves you! So much that he even knows the number of hairs on your head! Our problem is we think that God’s plan for us is always going to be a “feel good” plan with the intent to make us happy. Jeremiah’s message in these verses is actually radically different.  He’s writing to a group of people who are being held captive, and are in exile from their homeland.  He’s writing to let them know that although they’re not where they would have expected, nor where they would have asked God to place them, God has not forgotten them and He still has a plan for their lives. Even in the midst of a difficult situation, God wants them to know His plans.

In the verses just before 11 we see that a big part of God’s plan is for them to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:7).  So, pretty much, God wants them to know that His plans are not just to benefit them personally. God is also telling them that He is not removing them from the situation immediately. So, button down the hatches and put their seatbelts on!  He does promise to eventually restore them, but it’s not coming quickly (70 years out when many of them will be dead).  God is letting them know they can move forward, because in the end, God’s justice will prevail and everything will even out.

I know many of you are in the midst of difficult situations, God wants us to know He has a plan.  He also wants us to know that as we submit to His plan that He desires to use us to bless the world around us, maybe just maybe, we are going through these things to be able to help someone else in the future that is struggling! Let's keep our eyes on the prize embrace the storm. I pray you have a blessed day!

 

Lace up those runnin' shoes.......

Good morning! This blog has been dormant for almost a year and God has laid it on my heart to get it back going again! It's been a hard and trying last couple of years for us and to be honest, I kinda lost a little focus. Well, my God is patient and always had His hand out to help me back up on my feet! So that I could continue running the race He has called me to run. That brings me to today's scripture. Let's dig into the good stuff!

Bible Verse: John 12:24 "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit." 

You can tell the size of a Christian by what it takes to stop him. Hebrews 12:1 says we are to "run with patience the race that is set before us." And this word "patience" is not used in the sense that we use the word. It literally means "endurance."  Everybody knows that a runner is going to win or lose primarily by his endurance. You cannot quit. When it hurts, you cannot quit. When your lungs are on fire, you cannot quit. When your feet feel like lead, you cannot quit. When your sides ache, you cannot quit! You'll never be a spiritual athlete if you're a quitter! No pain. No gain. God has a purpose for you! He has a plan for you! Now, get to work! Have a great day and God bless!

God's Kiddo!!!!!!!!!!!

Morning everyone! As you have started this new year off, you probably have already decided to do some things different this year. Maybe even called in a New Year's Resolution. We all do this even if our lives are going good. We have things we want to change. Maybe get a different hair style, lose weight, or buy a new car. All this stuff is great but, I want to talk about the inside first. Let's dig into the good stuff.........

Bible Verse: 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Ok, here's my question for ya. Who are you? I'm not asking how you described yourself in your Facebook profile! I mean, who are you really? Could I figure it out from looking closely at how you live your life? In the verses leading up to today's verse, Peter has just finished describing our salvation. How God brought it about and how it has changed our destiny with Him forever. We have been shown this awesome mystery of Jesus. We have believed and become children of God. Right? What now? Peter is telling us to "become who we are." Start with this verse: Prepare your mind for action! Are you ready to get to work? We must exercise the power of "no" to the things that are bad for us, so that we can say "yes" to the things that are good for us. We must set our minds on grace. Let's live for the heaven we could never earn, the heaven we belong in because we are God's kiddo's through faith in Jesus!

My question to ya today is. Is your mind prepared for whatever action God has in store for you? Are you ready for action? Are you controlling your desires, or visa-versa? What are you hopeful for today? Let's ask God to help us have a mind prepared for action and our hope set fully on His grace and focused! I hope you have a great day and God bless.