Keep the Fire Going

VERSE:
 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
  -- Romans 12:11
   

Heating with firewood for my main source of heat is something that is always on my mind. I need to monitor the time I am away from home and make sure I have the firewood on the porch, the piles out side free from snow and the most important thing...


To keep the fire burning.



This takes much work and care as I need to have the right pieces of wood to put in the stove and always have a good bed of ash to start the next load of new wood in the stove. I have to clean the stove out every few days to make sure the ash does not get too high and prevent air from entering the stove. Lastly, I must regulate the air to get the right temperature so it is not too hot or the fire burns too cool, but just hot enough.

I believe this is what Jesus wants me to do in my Christian life too.

As I move forward in the difficult situations in life,

I need to maintain the fire and passion of the Spirit in me to keep moving forward. 

I need the fire and passion of the Spirit to guide me and in seeking wisdom and direction.

I need the fire and passion of the Spirit  in my relationships as I seek the will of God



Jesus made it clear that he wants me to be passionate about my Christian life. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my
mouth" (Rev. 3:15-16).

That is pretty harsh!


LORD and King of the Ages, I confess that I have not been on fire for you as often as I need to be on fire. Please kindle in me a renewed zeal and passion for you and your work in the people around me. Let the fire of your spirit  blaze in me. Help me keep throwing the logs in the fire as you guide me and immerse  me in your word to keep the fires burning in me as the Adventure in Middle Grove moves on to 2009. 

Slip Proof

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:2-4, New International Version

As I come before the Lord this week and ask him to draw me closer, a real sense of awe and wonder comes over me that my help comes from the maker of heaven and earth, not from earthly person or from some guru or mystic. My help comes directly from the one who made the earth we live in and at the same time he cares about me. He will not let me go or even let my foot slip as he watches over me 24x7. He doesn't take time off or let his eyes off of me for one nano second. I am in his care and he cares about me enough that even one little slip is under his watchful eye as I look to him for help and guidance.

Lord, continue to draw me close this week as you watch over me and care for me while I am on this adventure in Middle Grove.

Lord I feel Your Presence

Psalm 51

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

After a very good and perplexing 4 days with all the family, simple things draw me away from the depths of the unknown. God speaks to me a small ways that make a great difference. Yesterday, as I was meditating in his word, a song came to mind that is my "call for the week" as the unknown and uncertainties continue in the Adventure in Middle Grove

Michael W. Smith

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to you

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near

Lord, I know you are near...

Improving my Serve

On this Lord's day, help me be mindful of my purpose on earth. It is not to satisfy the desires of me but to honor and serve the God of the Universe who allows me to come at his feet and receives me as one of his own.


 [Jesus said:] "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves
me."
  -- John 12:26
  

I can't out serve, out love, or out give Jesus. He longs to bless me. He longs to pour out heaven's riches and grace upon me. Even more incredibly, he longs to honor me. When our lives are over, God the Father, LORD of the entire universe, will honor all
who have served his Son and blessed others in Jesus' name!

Unbelievable?

No, just another example of God's incredible grace!


Lord, please help me follow the will of Jesus and serve others in his name. Father, I know that I cannot earn your grace, but I want to serve others in Jesus' name and help them experience  your grace. Help me  reach out to others and serve in your name.

New Clothing for Christmas

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12, New International Version

As I continue to be surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells and after Christmas sales, I am reminded  of the real gifts God give us on a daily basis.

If I really look at this verse from past experiences, I was pretty naked! not because I lacked clothing or even much of what is said in Colossians. What I was missing was the right motivation  for receiving the clothing.
The beginning  of the verses says"God's chosen People" I really did believe this and God has blessed me in more ways that I can imagine because he chose me and I followed him... in my terms

The real spirit of the passage is, the holy and dearly beloved. I can only be holy if the spirit is in me and I can only feel dearly loved if I let God love me.

I held up a long time with inner hurt and pain not allowing the love of God to permeate my being. This limited the work of God in me and really prevented me from moving out and sharing the true love of God with others.

God acted in a great way and showed me his love in a manner I never experience before as his spirit touched my inner most being.

This Christmas I am thankful for the new clothes I have received.

And they were not even gifted wrapped !

Thank you Lord for clothing me in:

compassion,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness and
patience.

Let me help clothe others as you continue your work in me.

A Small Step for Man

As this post Christmas time begins and we rapidly move towards  2009, the talk of  New Years Resolutions start to take over. A big deal is made of carefully picking the right resolution to start working on something that will better me or make me a different person. Unfortunately, many resolutions are weak attempts to try to do things on my own or half hearted attempts to prove I can do something on my own. This is not the right attitude or the right method for making lasting, positive change. I have been learning a great deal about this aspect of my life and how my reliance on God was at best weak as I timidly sought him to change some things about me that I did not like.


Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 TNIV).

Progress and positive change takes time.

I've been there.

Maybe you are there. You are convicted that a change needs to occur and you take the initial steps that produce a sense of exhilaration about what lies ahead, then progress slows. You begin to feel frustrated, you get impatient, and before long you begin to question the need for change.


I've been there.

When that happens, here's a simple principle that might be helpful.

Remember: A small step is still a step.

Here's what I mean.

You know you need to lose weight. Notice that some of your clothes are a bit snug, but assume the clothes were left in the dryer too long.Your doctor gently reminds you, "You gotta lose some weight!" You agree and confidently say, "I'm going to do it!" You set your goal. You buy new exercise clothes and shoes. You pick a place and a time and start running. You run about half a block when you realize that you are out of breath and ever muscle in your body hurts. You think you are going to die right there. You question your sanity. You want to quit.


I've been there.

You have a relationship that is hurting and needs REAL attention, not the superficial attempts of the past. Real positive change must happen to  keep the relationship alive and move to the next level of intimacy and trust.


I've been there.

You decide the best thing for your career is to go back to school and finish your education or change jobs or careers. You doubt whether you'll ever finish or get a new job. You think about dropping out or stop looking. Discouragement sets in and self-doubt takes over about who you are and can you ever change.


I've been there.

Someone you love has died. The holidays are here. You are not sure what you are supposed to feel. You are still not sure what you are supposed to do. All that you know is that there is an ache in your soul that will not go away. Nothing you do makes the pain any less. You pray for strength, you get out of bed and somehow you make it through the day.


I've been there.

A group of people agree that something has to change about worship and church. One more Sunday of the same old stuff is not acceptable. Dreams of what could be are shared. Plans are made. Decisions are made.  Is this what the Lord wants. You entertain the thought of going back to the way it was.


I've been there.


When Jesus was beginning His ministry and preparing for the coming of the Kingdom, He selected a small group of men and challenged them to take one step: "Follow me." They did. The world was changed. Our faith walk begins with a step of faith: "I believe." We are not sure what all is involved or what it means, but we are willing to take the small step in faith. Without that small step, nothing changes.

I am facing many  crossroads in my life. I wonder if the dreams I have will ever be possible, if it is worth the effort, Do I  even want to continue the pursuit?


I've been there.


Lord,You have been there too!

I Trust in the LORD with all my heart
I will lean not on my own understanding;
I will submit all my ways to you,

You will make my paths straight

I've been there.

Take me there again, Lord, As I trust in you

The Never Ending Story

Much of the world celebrates Christmas from a secular point of view and it is a nice day ending at mid-night on the 25th of December.

The best part of Christmas for me is knowing that it never has to end.

Worshiping every week should remind me of the great news that God delivered about 2000 years ago.

God sent his Son to minister among his people so I might have my sins forgiven and have fellowship with him.

God gave his Son to make us part of his family, and I share the good news he gave me.

This is something I need to be reminded of every day.

God gave me the most perfect gift this Christmas and a story that never ends... on this earth.

Thank you Lord for your message of hope on this Christmas day.

  
...This is only the beginning.

Christmas 08 Part 2

"The gift of faith is the supernatural ability to believe God without doubt, combat unbelief, and visualize what God wants to accomplish. It is not only an inner conviction impelled by an urgent and higher calling, but also a supernatural ability to meet adverse circumstances with trust in God's words and messages."

The Bible speaks of several different types of faith which increase from faith to faith (Romans 1:17):

• Saving faith - faith which gets you into Heaven
  (Ephesians 2:8-9)



• Fruit of faith - faith which gets Heaven into you
  (Galatians 5:22-23) .



• Gift of faith - stems from saving faith and the fruit of faith; It is the ability to believe for the miraculous
  (II Thessalonians 1:3).
  

Faith is a gift, the ultimate gift. It is of far greater and eternal value than anything to be found under a Christmas tree. While clothes and toys wear out or are forgotten, faith lasts. It has the additional benefit of already having been bought and paid for by Someone else.

Faith cannot be taught (though teaching plays a role). No one is argued to faith, which is why it is fruitless to debate those who lack it. Better to demonstrate the faith one has than berate and belittle people who do not yet have it.

Christmas offers an opportunity to again consider what matters most.

Friends, family and the greatest gift of all... The gift of faith and the grace and mercy Christ shows us every day.

Thank you Lord for the gift of faith and how you continue to straighten the crooked path of santification as I continue the Adventure in Middle Grove.

Christmas 08 Part1

Proverbs 18:24 (The Message)

Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.

What is really apparent as I continue on with the Adventure in Middle Grove is the need for friends. Not friends that we just talk about the weather, or friends at work. I mean Godly friends.

Friends who you can share your heart with

Friends you laugh with

Friends you can cry with

Friends you can morn with

Friends you can share the love of Jesus with

Friends you can get mad at

Friends who can give and receive forgiveness

As a year of triumph and tragedy begins to close,

The only thing I know for sure is God's love for me and friends who are friends to the end, and beyond!

That is the best gift I can receive this Christmas above anything else

Thank you Lord for true friends who love you. Thank you for loving me and teaching me the greater things of your kingdom as I continue the Adventure in Middle Grove.

Thank you for friends!

No Power Ourage

Over the past few weeks, the area has been faced with many power outages due to bad weather. God rules in my heart even when it looks like the power is out in me. Let your power rule my heart as I seek your will and your direction.

Let this week begin with The Power of God ruling my life

More love, more power
More of You in my life
More love, more power
More of You in my life.

I will worship You with all of my heart
And I will worship You with all of my mind
And I will worship You with all of my strength
For you are my Lord
You are my Lord.

More faith, more passion
More of You in my life
More faith, more passion
More of You in my life

I will worship You with all of my heart
And I will worship You with all of my mind
And I will worship You with all of my strength
For you are my Lord
You are my Lord.

More love, more power
More of You in my life
More love, more power
More of You in my life.

I will worship You with all of my heart
And I will worship You with all of my mind
And I will worship You with all of my strength
For you are my Lord
You are my Lord.

Perseverance

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9, New International Version

I get tired! Living a life that is pleasing to God is hard work. Not that it is a job but I need to be continually immersed in God's  word and his spirit to keep the connection to my heart directly from God.

I was thinking about the "God Meter" last night. This will make sense, bear with me.

I am learning to play the drums and have a new set of Electronic drums that have more features I learn about every day.

One of the coolest features is the "coaching mode" This allows me to play  at a particular beat and a graph is displayed so I can see how I am doing. If I am playing too fast, The graph shows me playing too fast. If I am too slow, it displays below the line, showing me I am too slow.

This is helpful when playing the drums but wouldn't one of these be valuable in life?

Well, I have it but didn't use it all the time.

It is the Holy Spirit with a twist.

I do not have a good and bad meter but I do have the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me in a Godly direction. The difference is this. When I feel I am doing good or I feel I am doing bad, I still have God with me. God does not have a meter  that looks at the good and bad stuff and we are awarded points ever time we do something good or are deducted when we do something bad.

There is no scorecard in heaven.

This does not get me of the hook but leads me to a firmer resolve to follow the direction God has for me and to come before him when I sin and ask for his forgiveness.

He does not give me smiley faces when I am good or throw lightning bolts at me when I am bad.

He does want my heart. This is an act of obedience, perseverance, and prayer.

He will provide me all my needs in time of good and time of bad.

Lord, Help me this day:

to trust in you,

to obey you,

and to follow you

Help me persevere in life to do good, FOR YOU.

I will not give up!

Is it Real or is it Memorex?

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and
live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2, New International Version


Yesterday I was thinking about the "likemindeness" we have in Christ and in each other as Christians. I am not sure it is even a word.

Scripture gives me another glimpse of how important this is as we labor to be followers of Christ while we are here on this earth.

There was an old TV commercial from the early 80s

It had 2 versions but the one I liked the best was

" Is it Real or is it Memorex "

It was a commercial for Memorex tape. I bet there are alot of people who don't remember the reel to reel tapes for music. They had the best sound quality but were expensive.

The key element to good sound recording back in the 80's was a good quality tape.

Memorex came out with a tape they believed was so superior, listeners could not tell the real singer from the tape. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the singers they frequently used  in their commercials.

OK..

What does this have to do with anything.

The verse here gives us guidance to be imitators of Christ. I am to live a life of love for  others as I try to live in harmony as believers in Christ.

I cannot be God. ( Although  sometimes it appears I am trying)

But I have a great example of the God of the Old Testament and the living example of Christ as he walked with us. We also have the Holy Spirit to guide us and mold us as we seek to be imitators of God. This is not to mean we are to become God but to look at the attributes of Christ so others will see "Christ in us" as we attempt to live a life of love.

Today , Lord as I come before you let me  more like you so I can be a imitator of your love. Use me  so others might see a glimpse of you through me.

Let others ask as I continue the Adventure in Middle Grove,

"Is it real or is it Memorex"

Out of Your Mind

Philippians 2:1-5

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and purpose.

If I am to live in harmony in my relationships, I need to rely on God for my daily bread so I will hunger for him and ask. him to feed me.

I have to be "out of my mind"!

Not because I am crazy but because I need to not be thinking of the individuality and self-centeredness of what I want to be but what God wants me to be. He also ask me to have comfort in his love.

More importantly, he asks me to be like minded. He is telling me I need to look to my fellow believers and look at them with an eye of harmony, not contempt.

He tells me to have:

the same love
the same spirit
the same purpose

I cannot do this or every unless I am like minded and by God and the Holy Spirit.

I do not have to be perfect to make this happen so there are no excuses like;

"I am not ready yet"
"God is still working on me"

He says we need to do this if we have:

ANY ENCOURAGEMENT
ANY COMFORT
ANY TENDERNESS

NOT later, or when I am ready

ANY....the least bit amount.

To be:

Be ONE in PURPOSE AND SPIRIT

I need to do this in my family relationships and in my church relationships.


Lord, Help your HOLY SPIRIT move in me as I sit at your feet and you teach me to be more like you. Help me to be more like minded as I learn more about you every day

and from:

Your COMFORT
Your ENCOURAGEMENT
Your TENDERNESS

Thank you for making me out of my mind

Harmony

 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
-- Romans 12:16


I don't believe that I can follow through with the words of yesterday  unless I really start to follow what scripture says about the me in relationship to others and how should I be as a person. How do I do what is right in the eyes of everybody? How can I truly be someone who is a giver of encouragement and hope.

"Live in Harmony with one another"

...not a term I heard much of today. I believe this is for people who are Christians who need to really look at themselves before God and see who we need to love together as brothers and sisters in this adopted family God has created. This was also written to the Romans who were very independent people and needed to heard what it meant to be a believer in this new faith and how we , as Christians need to be like a family where we strive to live together in harmony with each other.

I need to also consider people who  "low in position" I think this is all of us! We are all made lower than God therefore I need to be aware that my self- righteousness and view of myself, without God would tend to not be willing to associate with people in low position.  We are all in low position so I guess I am part of the crowd again!

"Don't be conceited!" That's a command for someone else, right? I don't think I've ever met someone who felt he or she was conceited. But, when we're looking for someone with whom we want to associate, we seldom look for someone ignored by the crowd, forgotten by the pretty people, and easily overlooked by others. We want to "hang around with" those who are important, who are superstars, or at least who carry some clout. We believe we deserve to be noticed and valued, too. Oops, guess that's where the commands in this verse come from!

Don't be conceited

Don't be proud

Live in harmony

Just what it means to live in our families and with our Christian families.

People who are like minded and are seeking the same goal and the same direction


Father, thank you for making me in your image, designed personally by you to do something to bring you glory. At the same time, Father, I don't want to be a snob, thinking too much of myself and my importance. Please help me to continue to see those who are less fortunate in spirit and position so I might be a light in a dark world where harmony and peace seem like a distance thought never to be approached or attained. Help me to be more like you every day as I continue the Adventure in Middle Grove.

Encouragement

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you
see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25, New International Version

This was really evident this weekend when I was asked to sing the solo in the church performance at the last minute. I didn't hear people say things like, "Wow Rick I am glad that wasn't me, it sure sucks to be you!"

I heard words of encouragement from everyone. There was no doubt in their voice. They had confidence in me even if I was not really sure about what was going to happen.

The prayed for me that the Holy Spirit would move in not only me but in the people who were going to listen and the people who were going to sing.

It was an atmosphere of reliance on the Spirit in our midst to counter the sickness with may people who were going to sing and for confidence that this was the Lord's message and he would be in this place as we met to give him the honor and glory with our presence and our voices.

God you were there to not only let us sing but to cover us with your grace and mercy as were encouraged each other. You were in this place

Your love was evident.

Lord, let me be a person encourage others and show the love and grace you gave to me.

Be Still my Soul, Don't Lose Heart

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix out eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth!

This past weekend was a very emotional one. I was in the Christmas performance at church and was intending to just blend in to the choir. We started singing in September and practiced most every week to get ready for the Christmas performance.

On Saturday December 13th, we had a dress rehearsal and I was prepared to be a voice in the crowd, although I was singing in a trio. So, on Saturday morning, God worked in a way I never expected! The director "asked me", if I would sing a solo since the person who was going to sing it had NO voice. Not just hoarse, NO VOICE  AT ALL. I listened to the song but really did not pay attention too much since, he was doing a great job and I had other things to  attend to for the performance.

Well, God changed that for me!

He had me singing a duet about Mary and Joseph, "Be Still my Soul"

Talk about an emotional time. God knows when we need things and he was right again!

I should be getting used to this!


I took the entire afternoon to learn the song and sang it in the evening performance. The singing went well  both Saturday and Sunday and God was at work in me as I listened to the song and the message of hope and reliance on Him.

I read Psalm 46 this morning and read it in a new light !  I also read a section in Corinthians about fixing my eyes on what is not seen.

But more importantly,this morning, God revealed himself to me a a new way and used a person who lost his voice to teach me an important life lesson on the Adventure in Middle Grove.

What a great promise that no matter whatever the present circumstances I can fix  my eyes on what is unseen not on what is seen!  For what is seen is only temporary but what is unseen is eternal!

Be Still my Soul!

Thank you Jesus for your amazing timing and care.
Thank you for your people and for how you make plans that I can not even think of to work according to your good.
Thank you for new life and a moving of your spirit.
Thank you for the cross for none of this would be possible without your work to allow me to even come in your presence.

Be Still My Soul!

Direction of Unity Part 3

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17, New International Version

If I am able to do things without vain conceit or selfish ambition and consider others better than myself, this is the parallel step as I really look to the Lord on how to continue my adventure.

Scripture has some really good words like "Do nothing" or in this case, "whatever you do"
They are words that meet the human condition in our depravity. They meet my heart and how evil it can be. God put these words in his book for me as I walk here on the earth for instruction and direction. There is not room for "what about this" or "what if I do this."

The verse says in word and deed. This covers our thoughts  and our actions. No "what ifs!"

I am also to do it not for me, but in the name of the Lord. This takes away any credit I may desire. It puts the focus in the right place and gives God the credit, not me.


Wow, this seems so easy...


I  hope I really get it now. God opens my eyes during my walk with him and "meets and greets us" with challenges and  suffering. He doesn't say do these things in scripture only when you feel good. This is not about how I feel but about the graciousness God shows me as a sinner and how he demonstrates his grace and mercy every day.

Father I give you thanks for allow me the opportunity to serve you in a way that gives you all the honor.


Let me serve with humility and grace.

Thank you for loving me!

Devotion

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another
above yourselves.
-- Romans 12:10


One of the most blessed things in time of trouble and pain is my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been provided great comfort from my Christian family.This is a term the gets thrown around a great deal and probably has lost much of the intended meaning. But, it really  has a significant standing if we are believers in Christ. Jesus said we are adopted as sons and daughters. Not just members of a club, but part of a heavenly family. If we are adopted, we have all the rights and privileges of the real family. We are no different. Because we are all adopted as believers in to God's family we need to treat each other as family members. I think the church is really not doing a good job of this, but I am the church so I need to do my part and rely on other family members for encouragement and help and be a source of encouragement and hope. "He who toots his own horn plays in a very small band!" A very selfish part of me wants all attention and appreciation to be focused on what I have done, sacrificed, and accomplished. One of the signs of spiritual maturity that Paul lists here, however, is a devotion to others who are our fellow Christians. This means that I genuinely rejoice when others are honored. In fact, I am even more interested in honoring others than in receiving honor myself.  We are really "all in the faily"


Dear God, my loving Father, thank you for surrounding me with so many godly and honorable people.  People who care about me and my family not just as casual observers but as interested participants who walk along side of me when there are times of rejoicing and times of pain.

This is what a family does for each other!

Please help me see ways each day that I can show them my:

love, 

admiration, 

and appreciation. 

Thank you for putting me in your family!

The Direction of Unity Part 2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3, New International Version

Feels weird writing at night. A wakeup call from work at 3:45 was not what I was thinking about as I dreamed last night. The huge ice storm really did a number on the Capital District yesterday and today.

The second part of this verse is something that really brought a conviction to me and my struggle with relationships.  The verse should almost be written in the reverse order.

Here is my un-greek interpretation.

"If you feel good about yourself,you will treat people with care,respect and concern for them."

For a long time, I did not feel good about myself and did not want to really share my emotions. I do not believe this was a conscious thing but was something learned in my youth that I never broke. Instead of sharing my emotions, I would get angry to try to hide the hurt. Not to hurt the other person , but to hide the pain that was in me.

I can say anything I want but this was sin.


So my sin of covering my emotions, prevented me from really thinking good about myself before God.

Not a "I can do anything wrong good"  but a contentment from God because I knew he loved me and I needed nothing else. I didn't need happiness from Julie or from what I did in life. I can intellectualize about it now, but that was not reality until God showed my who I really was and who he really wanted me to be in his eyes, not mine.

So, here is the crux of the problem.

If I did not feel good about myself and this verse says "consider others better than yourself"

I was really shooting low.  Because of my sin, I was not really able to really bless the people around me with  Spirit of God  in me because there wasn't much to give based on my low assessment of who I was and what I wanted to be!

A great fiend opened this up for me in a very non-intentional way but God does that in our relationships.

He said to me if I truly desire blessed relationships with my friends , spouse and family I need to drop all the sin I have at the feet of Christ.  I then need to ask him to forgive me for the junk I passed on due to my sin. I also need to go to the person and tell them this, " If it was ONLY my sin in the relationship that took it off tracks, that would be enough to prevent the spirit of God working in the relationship"

There is no blame of the other person. There is only a heartfelt desire to bring to God the sins in the relationship and ask him to forgive me and then go to the other person and tell them "my sin alone was enough"

No blame game, "no I could have done better", no "you were part of the problem"

Just an individual initiative to acknowledge the sin in my life and how it affected others. It is up to them to deal with their part and work together with God for forgiveness and restoration.

So Today...

I put my sin a particular relationships at the feet of Christ and totally turn it over to God. Lord forgive me for the times when my sin became a stumbling point in relationships and did not allow your spirit to totally work though each person. Forgive me for the times where I did not think of other more than me because I really did not think much of myself. Forgive me for binding people in my sin and the projections and assumptions I put on them because of how I felt. Restore relationships in a new way with the working of your Holy Spirit and a new way of thinking about me.

A way of love; 

grace; 

and mercy. 

A love that never ends.

A love that cannot be moved or taken away but only made better as I continue on the Adventure in Middle Grove.

Thank you for loving me!

The Direction of Unity

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3, New International Version

Wow!

God hit me with a 2x4 again!

The kind of pain that is worth the price.

This will be a few days to have this all thought out but here is a start.

All the stuff God has shown me about his love, his mercy and his grace has not been new but has been revealed to me a way I never experienced in my life to this date.

I have known of the love of God for decades but have not let his spirit flow through me so I could have him move in my heart and in my life.

This is my favorite verse that I really have tried to follow my whole Christian  walk. I have this verse on my wall at work and try to live this out not only at home but with my employees.

The operative words words her are "what I have tried  to do", not  asking God where he wants to lead me and how he wants me to show his love.

Do NOTHING out of selfish ambition or vain conceit 

How many times did I do something for the "Glory of God" but I was doing it for the glory of Rick. How often did  I think I was honoring God but what I was really doing was satisfying my need to feel wanted by doing things for my wife, my kids and others. My intentions were good for helping and satisfying a physical or emotional need but my motivation was not always pure. I was doing it for Rick and my satisfaction. not for  honoring God. I did not do this all the time, but the word NOTHING does not leave any wiggle room or , BUTS. It does not leave any room for thinking about myself. Selfish ambition or vain conceit are pretty bad.

I am guilty of both of these and I ask, you, God as I bow down on my knees  to forgive me for the times when I thought more about myself than I others. Let me come in to your presence as  you are the great healer and comforter. Let your spirit work in me. God forgive me for the times when I valued myself more than others and did things for Julie and the kids with selfish ambition and vain conceit. When I was thinking about myself more than others. Forgive me for making "me" the giver of good, and not give the honor and thanks to you. Forgive me for not giving you myself, totally, and letting you guide my actions, thoughts and words. Restore me and love me and use me for Your good, not mine

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.


Humility is the first step in realizing who I am before God. I know I did this, or at least tried. Based on the first part of this verse, I fell far short in allowing God to work in my heart to be a humble person.

I really did not consider others better than me. I thought I did but now I realize that I thought of them "as at least as good as me"

What a mistake that was. As God reveals the junk in my life, if I considered them as good as me, I really wasn't honoring them ,  AT ALL.

God is burning away all the dross. One of the meanings of dross is:

"something that is base, trivial, or inferior"

He is taking away those things that are  not important for his purposes to mold me according to his purposes.


Lord, forgive me for trivializing your word according to who I was and trying to project me on to other people. I  cannot be something,"I want to be"  but who you want me to be. I need to consider others WAY better than myself not just like myself.

That would not be honoring to God...

I was considering others like me, which was not what God wants me to do.

Restore me to a place where I value others better than myself as I humbly come before you this morning:

FALLEN
   BROKEN
          AND FORGIVEN

If I considered people like me, what was I doing to them. 

Tomorrow

VICTORY

God brings us through the streams of living water for a reason. So, we may have a small taste of the victory he has for us when we are in union with him in heaven. The story below is a story I have read many times but touches my heart again of the power of God's love and how I need to rely on him as I wait for the union with him in heaven. While here let me taste the faith found in the streams of living water.


Peace Like a River, by Tim Archer


"Saved alone. What shall I do?" Those were the chilling words Horatio Spafford read in the telegram from his wife. It was November, 1873. Anna Spafford had been traveling to Europe with the four Spafford children; Mr. Spafford was to join them later. The ship the family was traveling on, the Ville du Havre, was rammed by a British iron sailing ship, the Lockhearn. Mrs. Spafford was rescued by the Lockhearn, but the four children were taken by the waves.

Mr. Spafford was a prosperous lawyer and real estate developer in Chicago until his fortunes were reduced to ashes by the Great Fire of 1871. Still reeling from that financial disaster, now Spafford faced an even greater crisis. He was a man of faith, but these were times that would try even the greatest saint.

Making the Atlantic crossing to join his wife, Spafford was shown the location of the wreck that had cost him his children. Reflecting on that moment, he wrote his wife's half-sister saying "On Thursday last we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs."

During the crossing, Spafford sat and wrote the words to one of the best-loved songs of all times. The first verse reads:

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot

It is well with my soul

Thou hast taught me to say
"It is well with my soul."

It's an amazing story. Most of us would have trouble reacting in such a way. When faced with loss, when dealing with grief, the common reaction is to fall back on self-pity. What enabled Spafford to respond as he did? Faith. Spafford believed that death was not the end for his dear children. He believed that the grave was a stopping point, not a
destination. To him, his children lay, not beneath the cold waters, but folded safe in the arms of Jesus.

Without God, such hope is not possible. Without God, death is the end. But God has overcome death, through the history-changing resurrection of his son. We can read in the New Testament: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"
1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Thirsty, one more time

If I am truly seeking God and his precepts. than I must be thirsty ALL THE TIME. I must desire the streams of living water Jesus spoke about to the Samaritan woman and I must be willing to give up myself and let the Spirit of God work in me as he continues to make me who HE wants me to be. I need to come to his fountain every day as I wait expectantly for his return. It is ONLY God's fountain that can take away the pain and the sorrow as I give it all over to him.

It is ONLY in turning it all over to him that I can really receive the JOY and BLESSINGS God has for me.

Lord, lead me to the fountain so I might seek your will and the streams of living water will flow in me.

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep (we sing)

Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come

Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come

As deep cries out to deep
As deep cries out to deep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCwDtSFMjdw&feature=related

Where can you get this living water?

...whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4

All this water stuff has been leading me to the same place as is mentioned here in the encounter with the Samaritan Woman. I have known God and Jesus for a long time but I have not know HIS spirit like he wants to me for very long. I have known my spirit and what I want to do but have not been earnestly seeking HIS will.

I am no different than the Samaritan woman. She had 5 husbands. I do not have five wives. Wow! I would really be in trouble! I did have more than 5 other distractions that were taking my eyes away from the one and only God and his spirit that needs to direct me down his path, not mine. God knew I had "5 husbands" He knew the distractions of life, he knew that I was following Rick's path not his path.

God knew my heart!

Just as he knew the heart of the Samaritan woman, he knew my sin and my pain and my desires.


He told her, just as he told me, to seek something other than the worldly water but seek the living water that brings eternal life.

He told her, just like he told me, to seek the pleasures of heaven not the pleasures of this world.

He told her, just like he told me, to bring all my pain and suffering to him.

He told her, SHE could have life! not life on this earth but the promise of an eternal life with God!

All she had to do is give up herself.

He told me too...

"Rick, give up yourself and seek the living water that only I can offer.

Stop seeking the worldly pleasures that detract from what I really want you to do.

Seek the spirit of the living God and let me work in your life to bring the real peace only I can offer."

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Use me Lord for your good and your purposes

Let your Spirit fall fresh on me!

No Water This Time

1 Kings 17

God has me sitting by the brook.

He is asking me to wait on him.
He is asking me to trust in him.
He is asking me to ask for wisdom from him.


St. Augustine said, 'God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.' In Elijah's case, although the brook had dried up, God had Plan B. God did not give Elijah Plan B until the brook was completely dry. When Elijah came out the first morning and found the water level had dropped a bit, he probably would have appreciated it if God would have rang him up right then and said, 'Don't sweat it, Elijah. You've got about a week left. And at the end of that week, I'm going to send you somewhere else where you'll be taken care of.' No, I think God let the brook go completely dry maybe even for a day or two before He spoke to Elijah. That's the way God works often. Maybe Elijah was on his knees in the middle of the brook, crying, 'G-o-d!' finally the Lord said, 'Get down to Zarephath' Elijah probably said, 'Alright!' - until he heard that it would be a widow who would take care of him. 'A widow?' he must have wondered. 'Are You sure You have that right!

Just as God was refining Elijah, God is refining my soul for much greater things in his kingdom The sum will be much great than the parts.

Elijah didn't know what the Lord had in store. He didn't know what the future held. But God did, and He was preparing Elijah for tomorrow. My brook may be dry. But I don't know what God has in store.

He's refining me.

He's teaching me faith.

He's preparing me for greater things.

This dry brook taught Elijah to trust in the Lord and in His Word. As a result, when God spoke to Elijah, Elijah obeyed.

God speaks to me as well.

I need to learn to surrender in obedience to His refining process in my life.


It's difficult when God allows us to pass through times of difficulties and trials. But I need to learn to trust and obey Him, for God is teaching me faith.

Remember Hebrews 11:1

Faith and Obedience - How can I practically turn calamity into capital as Elijah did? Two simple ways:

Faith and Obedience.

Verse 2, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.
Verse 5, he did according to the Word of the Lord.
Verse 8, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.
Verse 10, he did according to the Word.

'I don't know what to do,' I cry. 'My brook is dry.'

All God wants me to do is simply trust and obey

Lord, help me as I learn every day to trust and obey. Bring me from the dry brook to springs of living water so I may experience the joy of what greater things you may have in store for us. While I wait, give me patience and wisdom as I come before you every day and ask that your grace and mercy to be evident in my life as I continue the Adventure in Middle Grove.

(based on sermon and notes from JP Miller )

Thirsting Again

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

1 Kings 17:2-4 (New International Version)

Elijah went to the brook because God gave him a command to go eastward and drink from the brook and the brook dried up. This could be bad since there was famine and lack of water in the land. But God provided people to help him and in turn he was used by God in a more powerful way. The drying up of the brook is a metaphor for me in the things that I thought were important that were there until God stopped the rain and the brook was dry. Elijah need to rely on even the ravens to give him food. They left after the brook dried up too!

I had a brook dry up on me over many years but not a brook that God sent me to. It was a brook created by me to get water to drink but not the spirit of the living God. I was thirsty for the wrong water and God dried up the stream.

God asks us to thirst but thirst in him and not on or own.

What should I do when the brook runs dry...

Tomorrow.

Lord, help me thirst on the living water you provide and help me look towards you daily as I thirst for your spirit. Mold me and make me who you want me to be as I sit by the brook of your creation.

Continue to Thirst

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for the water,
So my soul longs after You.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You.

You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You.

I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy-giver
And the apple of my eye.

You're my Friend and You are my Brother,
Even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other,
So much more than anything.

Yesterday, I continued to be intrigued by this idea  of thirsting.
It is the last and most powerful human need before we die.
We can go for quite awhile without food but  not many days
without water. We are over75% water so without water our bodies
shut down and die. This idea of the deer panting by the water is
interesting. It shows me the deer must be very thirsty
since it is panting near the stream waiting to get a drink of water.
Just like the dear panting by the stream, I should be daily
panting for the stream of living water found in the spirit of God.
This stream should be my life's desire and should satisfy my
needs just as the real water refreshes and brings life to our bodies.

Bring me to the stream every day so I can be refreshed
with the living water only you can bring. Restore my soul as
you are my strength and shield.

Lord, You are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.

Let me yield to your spirit.

Thirsting

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6, New International Version

One of the things that struck me yesterday from the verse in 2 Peter was the phrase

..." make every effort to add to your faith..."

This did not say, "give it a good try" or "see what I can do"

It says to do everything I can to add to my faith. This is why I was drawn to Matthew 5

What I am really trying to make an effort for is to live a righteous life and in living a righteous life, I will add to my faith. I think it is interesting how  Matthew uses 2 human conditions to highlight out spiritual needs and desires.

I have been hungry and thirsty but never to the point that I thought I was going to die. If I was ever at this point, I can imagine that there would be nothing else I cared about other than getting food and water. Nothing would stop me from reaching my goal of satisfying my hunger and thirst. I would do nothing but think of satisfying my hunger and thirst.

I would think of nothing else

I think this is what Matthew is talking about! I am to hunger and thirst for righteousness like there is nothing else that can satisfy the need. There is nothing that will stand in my way of being filled with God and what he has to offer me.

To thirst for righteousness, is the first step in adding to my faith. Without the desire and the acknowledgment of the need, the foundation of faith will not grow.

Lord, Help me in the Adventure of Life that I would continue to know what it means to thirst for you. I would hunger and desire you and you will fill me with your righteousness so my faith will be added  on a daily basis.

Satisfy all my needs for building the kingdom and in putting your relationship in a place where I "make every effort".

A Firm Foundation

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,
self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7, New International Version

My walk with God is built on a firm foundation of faith but look at a building that only has a foundation and you are not looking at much! Usually a big hole in the ground and walls protruding up out of the ground.

As there is much more to a building, there is much more  to my walk in faith than the firm foundation of faith. God has taking a long time to make sure the foundation is built on him, not me. He has taken the foundation down a few times and said to me that "this isn't the way I want it done." He has shown me a foundation built by me is one that will crumble and not last. The foundation of faith must be built on him being lead by his spirit.

My life was truly spiritually transformed by God’s indwelling presence, my affections and attitudes are different toward people.  God removed the fog from me to see more clearly through him. First of all, within the church I  will really exhibit “brotherly kindness”. People in churches don’t even treat each other as friends sometimes much less as family. I don't see much joy in the church. My trip to NYC was really invigorating a few weeks ago. I saw people who loved each other but more importantly they had the "fire of the spirit" living in them. They were excited about their faith and how it was the driving force in what they did and said. It was a great experience and restored me spiritually to continue to seek the excitement of God's spirit. Thank you NYC! This kind of love should be the outgrowth  of my relationship with God and through this love I should be able to be patient with others  because we love one another (Eph 4:2).
Not only should my treatment of those of our spiritual family be different, my treatment of all people should be different. Peter lists the final attribute in his list as “love”. This, as I’m sure you could guess, is REAL love. This is he highest, most sacrificial form of love. This love seeks the good of the one loved with no regard for self. I should be willing and able to serve my wife, my family, my neighbors, my community as a way to demonstrate God’s love. People should know I am Christian because of how loving I am toward people.  When I serve, I should serve out of love.  Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, listed this quality last because it binds all the others together. In fact, if we don’t have love, our lives really do not reflect the character of God. If we don't have love, the foundation of faith will never see the roof of love that protects and covers us with God's grace and mercy.

Lord, let me be an instrument of your love. Use me to  to bring love to my family , friends and community like I have never done before. Let your spirit work in me so your love will be evident in all I do, think and say. Let your love pour out from me like I have never experienced before. Guard me, with your love and by your spirit, not mine.

Thank you for the love that binds me together with my family and friends. Thank you for showing me a "new way" in you that really is not so new.

Thank you for you love!, and a new way in you.

Boasting

VERSE:
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my
weakness.
 -- 2 Corinthians 11:30
 


Now that is a thought that goes counter to society and the culture of today!  Probably would not make a good commercial. Like "Army WEAK", or The Marines, Proud and WEAK, or a politician saying, "come and join the WEAK for change"

One of Paul's recurring themes throughout 2 Corinthians is that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. In 1 Corinthians, he emphasizes that the strength, wisdom, and power of God are shown in what is normally a sign of weakness and humiliation -- the Cross (1 Cor. 1:18-2:5). Paul wasn't a wimp -- remember all he endured and kept on serving the Lord. (2 Cor. 11:24-27) He just knew that even with all his training and talent, he wasn't skilled, smart, or strong enough to do all that needed to be done for the Kingdom of God. But he knew that when I recognize my insufficiency, God takes my weaknesses and uses them powerfully when I offer myself  to him! He has already shown me I have the power  to ask for his love and his compassion for me is one of grace and mercy. He does not ask me to be strong. He asks me to be obedient to him and not be afraid of my weaknesses. It is in my weaknesses, God is working, making me more like he wants me to be in his eyes, not mine


Heavenly Father, thank you for all those times that you have:

strengthened me when I was under trial, 

given me wisdom when in a difficult situation, 

or empowered me when I faced situations and opportunities greater than my ability to handle. 

I recognize that you saved me by your grace; but each day that I serve you, I
am again reminded that your grace continues to enable me to serve you.

Graciousness Beyond Belief

  The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom (Psalm 145:8-12 NIV).

Yesterday God showed me the unimaginable power I have in obtaining his love and how enormous his love is for me.  His compassion for me also touched me as I look at the things in my life that I did that were sinful  and how I can come before him and asked for forgiveness and he will touch my soul.

The Lord is gracious. 

His compassion draws me to Him. 
His compassion touches my heart.
His compassion proves I am loved. 
His compassion reaches to the depths of my heart. 
His compassion compels me to love Him and follow Him.

The Lord is gracious. He is slow to anger. How quickly He could condemn me! He would be justified if He chose to reject me and turn away from me. I would deserve it if He unleashed His anger upon me. I could not defend myself if he were to decide to put me on trial. His patience is unfathomable.

I deserve His anger. 
I deserve His wrath. 
I deserve His judgment. 

I am saved because He is gracious and slow to anger.

The Lord is gracious. He is rich in love.

Because He is rich in love I have hope.
Because He is rich in love I have peace.
Because He is rich in love I have joy.
Because He is rich in love I have salvation.
Because He is rich in love I have  eternal life.
Because He is rich in love I have a Savior.
Because He is rich in love I have been redeemed.
Because He is rich in love I can experience His love.
Because He is rich in love I have no fear of judgment.
Because He is rich in love I can know His gracious nature.
Because He is rich in love I can know I have a home with Him.


The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Let me, His creation, praise Him, fall down before Him, tell of the glory of His kingdom, and speak of His might, so that all people around me may know of His mighty acts and the glorious splendor of his kingdom.

Lord, thank you for your compassion and love as you continue to work in me.

I have the POWER

...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3

It is in verses like this that I am humbled and brought to my knees as I considered the greatness of God's love and how it is personal for me. Many times, I tried to go it alone and tried it under my own power. This past week , God's word touched me about the importance of what I do before him as I make a meager attempt to walk in his way. I stumble and fall and he is there to pick me up. I say things that are not Godly and he is here to listen to me confess my sin to him. I feel unloved and broken and his hands are there to reach out to me and tell me , "come with me, I will lead you down the path of hope"

Then today, his word tells me that I have the power to understand how much God really does love me through Jesus. Scripture says in Ephesians that I will have the power if I am rooted in love.

For many years, I know I was rooted in love.
Julie is a Master Gardener, she is a good teacher who taught me that when you plant something, the soil is prepared and all consideration is given to making sure the plant has the right conditions for growth. Great care is taken to ensure the rooting of the plant is done to minimize the trauma and shock of a new environment.

I was rooted in God's love for many years...

Now comes the established part. Continuing with my Master Gardener, establishing a plant is the hard part. The environment is always trying to take it down. Weather, water, nutrients, and especially weeds will try to ruin the life of a plant or stop it from growing.

I have been a bad gardener.

The weeds had grown up so I could not see and the nutrients of God's love were almost gone.

The GREAT MASTER GARDENER took the gardening chores away from me as I was really doing a bad job. He is showing me the real substance of life is not in me, but totally in him and his Holy Spirit is the nutrient I need for growth and contentment.

Then Today...

He blew me away..

That I,

Broken

and

Fallen

have been given the power, established in love. to know

HOW LONG

HOW DEEP

HOW WIDE

is God's love to for me

God says "how far is the east from the west" This is the measure of his love.

BUT, not only does he tell me that I can understand this but I can have this!


He says I can be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.

This fullness is unmeasurable since we cannot measure how deep and how wide and how long is, to grasp the unbelievable dimension of the love God has for us.

God is GREAT!

Lord, continue to establish me in the soil of your spirit so I may continue to grasp the greatness of your love as far as it is from the east form the west. Breathe on me the live of your love as I continue on the adventure from Middle Grove.

Thank you for new life established and rooted in you!

A Good Man

He [Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith,
and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
 -- Acts 11:24

Barnabas was a good man! Why? For many reasons. But, the key reason was that he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. This shouldn't surprise me. When the Holy Spirit lives in me, he is at work producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and
conforming me to the character of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). No wonder Barnabas' influence was so great on the lives of those who lived in Antioch;

his life was under the influence of God's Spirit!


Dear Heavenly Father, I want my life to be influential for the good of the Gospel and the growth of your Kingdom. I offer myself to you as a living sacrifice, asking that you conform me to the nature of your Son Jesus and bring forth in me the fruit of your Spirit. 

Watching your Mouth

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
(Ephesians 4:29 NASB)

How easy it is to "talk trash" To put others down and to make my self feel good because I feel I am better than another person or I have it more together.

Well, I guess, no wholesome word  sums up what I am to say in situations

AND

only say things that are edifying and good for the moment. This means I am not supposed to project in to the future about what someone might say to me and my response. I am only to look to the moment.

A moment in time that is rule by God. 

A moment  in time where I make a conscious decision to say something edifying and good. 

A moment controlled by God.

Lord, let no wholesome talk come out of my mouth. Let me not say anything unholy, un-Godly, vindictive, hurtful, spiteful, damaging, and unloving.

Let me be edifying in my life and use me to influence those around me for your good and your purpose.

REAL THANKSGIVING- The Lord is Faithful

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:13-16
NIV).

This Thanksgiving as I come before God as a renewed creation in him, I am thankful for my family, my friends and for a job to provide for my family.

BUT..

More importantly...

I am thankful for the faithfulness of God and his everlasting kingdom. Our influence and memories fade after a few generations. The Lord's last through all generations. His promises are honored and he lifts up all who fall. He opens his hand to us. This gesture is one of complete openness and welcome. An open hand is there for us to accept it to be lead in his time and his place to a kingdom everlasting.

I thank you Lord for accepting me and loving me. Let my love be evident in all I do, think, and say to bring you all the honor and glory. Use me as an instrument of your love and mercy.

Thank You Lord

God caught me

Psalms 37:23-25:

 The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in
 their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD
 holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old, yet I
 have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging
 for bread (NLT).


This has been something I have been waiting to write about in a condensed version so I could  have a picture in my mind that will last for ever.

Since Rick died, I was very troubled and traumatized by his death. I did not have any inclination that I would experience the death of my only son. As a father, this is the worse thing imaginable. I had good experiences with Rick but there were 12 years of a troubled son. This took a toll on my relationships in the family and  in life. It was a constant pit in the stomach that Rick was in trouble and there was not much I could do about it.

After his death, I went in to a state of shock that lasted over 3 years.  This was not good for me or my family.

Over the past year, God was breaking me down...

to rely only on him,
to trust only in him,
to look for direction only in him

I fought hard to do it on my own like I did for many years.

But God wants to win the tough battles of the soul

He took me places I did not want to be and showed me things about me that I did not like

But God wants to win the tough battles of the soul

He showed me the inadequacies of who I am alone without him and what I would become if I continued on the path of self confidence and control

But God wants to win the tough battles of the soul


God brought me to my knees and showed me the who I was trying to be and not who he wanted me to be.

But God wants to win the tough battles of the soul

Summer of 2008 will be a personal memory for  a life time

It was a warm night and I was having trouble sleeping but finally fell to sleep.

About 3:00 am, I woke up and was shaking and sweating and saw in front of me a stream and I was on my back going down the stream.

The rocks were slippery and I was grabbing on to the rocks and trying to hold on but I couldn't. I kept going down the stream trying to grab on to anything but  I could not hold on to the rocks. In the distance I heard a waterfall and the current was getting stronger. I tried but I could not hold on.

I was now caught in a current that was not going to let me go and I let go and did not try to hold on any longer. In shear terror, I was swept over the waterfalls and was falling to my death.

Little did I know, it was a different kind of death. As I was falling over the falls,  in front of me I was caught with the outreaching hands of God.

He grabbed me and held me

But God wants to win the tough battles of the soul

He told me,"Rick, you don't have to worry any more, I am here." I will hold you and never let you go"

A peace came over me like I never experienced. God really did want me

I knew who God was, I knew Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I knew the Holy Spirit.

I didn't know me...

God brought me down the waterfalls to show me about me.To show  me the junk in my life, to show me the path I was heading down.. and it was not good.

He showed me who he wanted me to be not who I wanted to be, because it really did not matter.

He showed me the inner core of my soul.

He also showed me that his love was far greater than I imagined and reached in places I did not know I even had.

He also showed me...

 God wants to win the tough battles of the soul

He showed me life and a relationship with him that can not be surpassed by any other means.

He showed me that true spirit of his love.

Lord, keep showing me your love . Help me Lord share this love for others. Help me show your love in my relationships and in my life.

Thank you for wanting to win the tough battles

Thank you for catching me and holding me with your hand.

Thank you for a renewed life in you, not in me!

Life Insurance

The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect "ME" from the evil one.
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:3


The Bible repeatedly reminds me I am in a spiritual war with forces that are strong, malicious, and evil (Ephesians 6:10-12). I should steer clear of every appearance of evil. I shouldn't involve myself in anything related to Satan and his work. But I also need to remember that our Lord is greater than Satan and all of his evil angels. He is faithful. He will not abandon me to our enemy. He will strengthen me and protect me from attack if I will let him!

He is my Strength and my Shield. Without him, I am lost.


Lord, thank you for giving me victory over Satan through the sacrifice of your Son, his resurrection from the dead, and his promised return to take me home to heaven. Please strengthen me and empower me to overcome temptation and resist the deceptive
enticements of the Evil One. O Lord, it is only you that I want to worship, serve, and obey. To you belongs all glory forever, and ever.