Keeper

How many days until I am home?  How many miles to rest weary bones?  Keep fighting, keep living, keep the faith, keep loving. 

Unprepared

We as humans are ill prepared for death.  Unless your Elijah, Enoch, or Moses, we will all perish from life as we know it.  I believe, with all that I hold dear, that when it's my time to leave this earth, I will go to heaven.  I think the first sentence is more about wrestling with those times when we lose a loved one.  Our hearts cry out in anguish because of the love we hold for them and death removes the opportunity to see them, hear them, and tell them we love them.  As a Christian I should be celebrating the life of my loved ones, particularly if they are Christ followers.  Based on my beliefs I know where they are going.

Why fight?

All week long I've been hearing messages of victory.  Joel Osteen keeps saying we are victors not victims.  I can only speak for myself when I say for much too long I've felt like I have to fight all the negativity in life and those attacks seem to come from everywhere and seemingly non-stop.  

I have failed to realize that all the promises are true.  The battle has been won and it's not our fight.  As a kid when a large bully was after me I would run to my big brother and get behind him.  I knew he would protect me and I felt safe.  As Christians, we have that same protection behind the love and power of Jesus.  I think it's because I can't see it with my human senses and struggle to not stand and fight on my own.

I'm done fighting since I have the greatest power in the universe fighting my battles for me. 

Don't miss the boat!

I have lived most of my life believing something that isn't the truth and I have missed out on so much love. I've always heard that it's never to late for this or that.  That's fine if you haven't missed out on the truth of being loved. But the fact of the matter is is that if you're on the "other side" it's never too late you don't know what it's like to have regrets about being loved or feeling like you aren't loved. I know my family loves me and I wish from the depths of my heart that knowing that I am loved is how I lived the past 56 years. 

It's always the same

What I realized in church today is that the Holy Spirit that first came to us in the Acts of the Apostles is the same today as when the friend first came to earth. It helped me realize that we get the same gift of the spirit and the same love of Jesus and of God the the first disciples received. #GodNeverChanges

Cinco de quatro

Keep on keeping on...

Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light. ~ Rick Warren

Take 1

This life we are living is 1 frame in a movie that lasts forever once we are gone. 

The cortisol protocol

I know when I am stressed about a situation that medically, cortisol and adrenaline are released.  There are exercises in learning to control the body's natural reactions to those hormones and the most effective one for me is a type of meditation.  My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Outcry concert over the weekend and when Jesus Culture played "I exalt thee", I was lost in the thousands of people singing.  Especially when everyone repeated "I exalt thee" over and over.  It was a meditative, serene, calming, and powerful moment.  To me, it was a glimpse of what I can imagine heaven to be like.

A kick in the pants

I have a mission to make my way to heaven and not just by the skin of my teeth.  When life is tough and I am clawing tooth and nail to make my way to my goal and the devil is breathing down my neck telling me to give up, it's at that moment when knowing that all I have to do is say the name Jesus to claw the next inch in the dirt to get closer to "home" gives me the strength to kick the devil to the curb. 

I sometimes have to be reminded that the devil has no control over me. That weasel has no future, yet mine is eternally joyful. 

An empty me

When it comes to compassion and helping others there is part of the population that does so many good things to help others in need.  From my perspective I'm one of those people.  The desire to do good for those that are down on their luck fills me with a sense of joy and purpose.  Not because it gives me any sense of doing better in life.  

What it does for me is empties the "me" mentality that can keep my focus on what I want out of the world and places me in the service of God by serving others.  Admittedly, when I'm tired and at times, frustrated with the world, I am reminded that this life is not permanent and what waits for me on the other side is my true home.

His call is gentle

When the world seems to be swirling around in my head, there always seems to be some spot in the midst of the commotion where I hear His gentle call.  It is at that time that I find my thoughts becoming quieter as my heart and soul are filled with peace.  I long to live in that harmony constantly and I am thankful that Jesus' soft voice calls me home to Him.

In the wind

We have dreams and often we lose sight of them while in the midst of living life and trying to just keep our heads above water.  I have found that my dreams have changed over time and I think for the better.  My dreams were once about fame and fortune, but I've achieved neither of those in secular terms.

What I have for dreams now is to just be helpful.  Yes, to some it may seem that dream is low level.  That's okay.  My dream is from my heart and it truly is what drives me.  I often pray that God puts people in my path that need a kind word, a prayer, maybe even a sandwich.  God never fails me in that prayer.  So my dream comes true quite often and I can keep dreaming the same dream because I know it will always come true.

In 50 years...

This is one of my go to statements, "In 50 years will it matter?" 

Now that I really think about it; It won't to me, but it will matter now.  I say that because any worthwhile legacy is made with the everyday choices in how we live our life and how others see us living it.  To me, that's the greatest testimony of being a Christian.

It reminds me of a great song (posted below). 

A special note to my wife...I want to love deeper...IB

One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture (lyric video)

It's valuable

With all that is going on in the world, and in particular in the United States with the economy, it came to my attention today that the value of life seems to be leading to a sacrosanct mentality.  Everyday I read of people being shot (at an alarmingly increasing rate), beaten, tortured and taking their own life.

It troubles deep within me that the raging crescendo seems to be gaining momentum and the only thing that can stop it is prayer for a paradigm shift of how people value other people.

If you are reading this, please pray for those that are feeling dejected, lost, or hopeless, to find a permanent relief to their situations in a peaceful manner and that we, as humankind, value the lives of others and that of our own.

Philippians 4: 6-7
 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Pray For An Easy Path

While driving to work last week I was listening to a short sermon and I can't remember the name of the gentleman providing it.

What struck me, and has stuck with me was his statement, "Pray for an easy path."   It wasn't just the statement alone, it was the context that surrounded it.  God doesn't like to see us suffer and in Matthew 7:7 it states "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Pray for blessings, pray for life to be better, pray for an easy path.

Lineage

If you have read the bible and read the lineage of Jesus you will know that many, many people in his family tree have done terrible things and it's the same for many in the world. 

It matters not if you come from a long line of despots or saints we have the opportunity to make our own path.

Whether your family tree looks like a majestic oak or a typhoon damaged tree, you can plant your own seeds and have a great life.

Revelation 22
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, ² in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; ⁴ they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Voices in the storm

On my may to work today I was listening to the radio and the hosts of the show were talking about some of the podcasts they listen to.  I wondered how many podcasts were out there.  No, I didn't go look, but what I did think was, that with all the blogs, podcasts and websites, there must be hundreds of thousands of options for people to read or which to listen.

I also thought, with all the options, why do I write on my blog.  I do it in faith.  My prayer is that what I am compelled to write will help someone, somewhere.  What makes this cool is that even after I'm dead and gone, this will exist until the internet goes dark.

Timing Is Everything

I sometimes feel the speed of society with everything seemingly traveling down the instant gratification path has made me expect the same in seeking answers to my prayers.  

I am going to take life slower because, A- nobody is getting off this earth alive and a forever afterlife is beyond human conception, and B- speeding up everything makes miss some of the simple joys of life like sunsets and watching the snow fall.

Waiting is not my strong point.  Over the past few years I have been taught the power of patience and still struggle with waiting on the answers to prayers.  I listened to a Rick Warren sermon on waiting three times because I knew in my heart that I needed that reminder.

I am guilty of not remembering the prayers that were answered because I am focused on the next answer.  

When I pray for something or someone, initially it is a planted seed and continued prayers are the nurturing of that prayer until it's time for the harvest (answer).

I can't make it on my own

I'm grateful this was on my radio today....

You can too

What we all hope for

My deliverer is coming!  My soul aches for the return of my king. It's what I desire  and what my heart seeks. Oh how I pray that the suffering of the innocent would cease. My heart aches about the injustice in this world and I know that the only peace is in my Lord and savior. I pray for those souls that have heard the good word and desire to see them in heaven. Time is shorter now than it has ever been. He is coming!  Be prepared and accept the Good News. Join me in heaven and suffer no more. 

Powered By You: Knock knock

Powered By You: Knock knock: Opportunity comes knocking in many shapes and forms.  Sometimes it's in the area of work to get a better job.  Sometimes it's in th...

Sweet Freedom

No longer a prisoner to an enemy that uses deception and lies as chains.

Broken free of the darkness when the veil has been lifted.  I am placed on the path that has been awaiting.

Striding forward slowly for the vision of my savior is on in which I could linger for an eternity.

I know where this journey ends and it is with that faith that I carry on without concern.

Two types.

Type 1	Type 2
Those that work.	Those that take the credit.	Ghandi
Think they can.	Think they can't.	Henry Ford
Those that say here I am.	Those that say there you are.	Frederick Collins
Those that hold up individuals.	Those that put people down.
Those that do.	Those that criticize.
Rise and shiner.	Rise and whiner.	Susan Miller
Live with intention.	Drift.

Something Fun!

The Untouchables

1 John 5:18 "We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them."

In the realm of the war over my spiritual life I am comforted that the evil one cannot touch me.  Sure, the miscreant can insert poor thoughts into my head, try to lead me astray and other foul little tricks, but those don't work.  I know, without a doubt, that the spiritual battle is real, continuous and furious.

It helps me to know how secure I am in my walk of faith.  Nothing can withstand my will because it is reinforced by the overpowering, never ending, all encompassing love of Jesus that surrounds me.

Pick up a stick and hit the devil!  As Christians we have the biggest stick available!  What great news that we have the cross where Jesus suffered and died.  It's not the power of the cross, it's the power and truth of the resurrection that gives all the love we need to win.  We win an everlasting life in a place that the words of man or the greatest imagination could ever conjure.

This the truth and shall always be the truth...God's not dead!

Evidence is Key

Certain laws of evidence hold in the establishment of any historic event. Documentation of the event in question must be made by reliable contemporary witnesses. There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived, or that Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. It is strange that historians will accept thousands of facts for which they can produce only shreds of evidence. But in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they cast a skeptical eye and hold intellectual doubts. The trouble with many people is that they do not want to believe. They are so completely prejudiced that they cannot accept the glorious fact of the resurrection of Christ on Bible testimony alone.

Daily Prayer

Lord Jesus, I know You are alive—for You live in the hearts of all those who love You! 

-from Billy Graham