Life Sentence

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received.

Ephesians 4:1, New International Version


These two items do not usually go together for a recipe of joy.

Being a prisoner and living a worthy life. But as I think  of the ramifications of being a prisoner;


The prison controls you
The prison provides your food
The prison  provides your housing
The prison provides your protection


The Lord as my "prison" is a great thing and a privilege.

God protects me

God Provides for me

God LOVES me, FOREVER

That is a life sentence, worth living for!

Lord, protect me, love me, provide for me as you mold  me in to who you want me to be.

STAND UP

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
-- 1 Corinthians 10:13

In the face of temptation, God has promised me two things:

(1) a way out, and

(2) the power to stand up under trial. Can I truly believe this? Yes, of course, because Jesus demonstrated this power, God promised us this power, and I can look at brothers and sisters in Christ who have triumphed by this power! However, I must not think that the way out means that I am  not going to face challenges, hardships, or difficulties. Character is produced by both refusing to give into the temptation and also refusing to give up during the challenges I face for remaining faithful. God will provide me a way out, but he is also interested in developing my  character as molded by Jesus Christ. Where the balance is between the two is God's work.


Whether we choose to remain faithful is our work. (Romans 5:1-5; 1
Peter 1:7)

Thank you,  Father, for supplying me the way out of temptation and the power to face it victoriously. Please forgive me for the times that I have succumbed to temptation and sinned.
Forgive me the times I have not wanted to find that open door of escape. Renew and restore me to faithful and useful service to you and your Kingdom.

Hold On!

Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him...

-- Deuteronomy 10:20


What do I find myself holding onto most often? What is my source of security, reassurance, hope, and stability in times of trouble? What do I encourage folks to do and who do I encourage
them to hold onto during times of trouble?

Dear God and Father, please be with a number of people I now that are undergoing great trials and temptations. Use me to bless them and encourage them. Please uphold them by your powerful hand. Finally, dear Father, strengthen and empower them to hold on to you.

Being Wise

  When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his
tongue is wise.
   -- Proverbs 10:19
     

I am constantly filling my world with noise. If it is not the sound of my own voice, then  I turned up some other noise to fill the silence.  Recently I decided to cut back expenses and I cut my cable service down to the  minimum. I also was looking at a time of quiet before God that he will fill the void with his wisdom and pour out his Spirit in a way I have never experienced. Lots of junk fills the air like radio talk shows, endless sports, and products we didn't even know we needed. We are even given the opportunity to sound off to that noise will endless call in shows to "express our opinion". God's wisdom reminds us to learn to hold our tongue and let silence rule over more of our time rather than the noisy words that so
often clutter my world.


Holy God, please give me more wisdom so that I can keep my mouth shut more often and my ears more attentive to the needs of others.Purify my heart and cleanse my speech so that it will be helpful to others and bring glory to you.

Fill the void with  "YOUR NOISE"

Choices

VERSE:
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
-- Proverbs 10:17



God has given me a circle of influence, a place where my life impacts others for either good or bad. In the same way, I am  also influenced by others, some of whom can help me see and overcome MY problems and shortcomings. If I reject or snub discipline and correction, I not only harm myself, but could lead others astray. The choices I make don't determine just my destination; they also greatly impact others! As a leader in my family , my church and my community, I need to come before God every day and ask to be lead by the Spirit who will guide and give wisdom in a Godly  direction.


Dear God, please forgive my foolish arrogance and my lazy indifference to your truth and wisdom. I am humbled by the knowledge that you have made my life significant to others. Please empower me to use that influence to gently and humbly lead them in the way of your truth. Use me as you mold me in to who you want me to be in your kingdom.

Use me for the great and the little things in this life that make a difference in people and your kingdom.

In Memory

It was 30 years ago about this time that a son was born. A son whose parents had great hopes and dreams. A son whose potential was limitless.

Richard was a great kid who lived his life on the edge from the very minute he could.

Richard was a kind and gentle person. He had struggles and demons that he could not beat.

In the end, God was victorious .

The demons and struggles are gone and victory is won.

The pain and sorrow are now joy.

He is with his heavenly father.

Thank you for the opportunity to be your dad.

I know where you are!

Lord, Give me peace in knowing Richard is with you and all is well and I don't worry any more.

He is safe in your arms watching over us.

I love you

DAD

A Good Source of Help!

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?

  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.

  The LORD watches over you -- the LORD is your shade at your
  right hand;

  the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

  The LORD will keep you from all harm -- he will watch over your
  life;

  the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and
  forevermore.
  (Psalm 121:1-8 NIV)

If I really believe those words ...

Admit it.

I am not afraid to acknowledge that I know where my help, my
strength for the day, and my energy comes from. It comes from the
Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

I need to talk about it in a loving and gentle, yet confident way, tell others that I know that He is watching over them, that He will not let their foot slip, and that He is not sleeping through their life.

Remember it.

I need to remember that the Lord is watching over me in the morning when the sun is rising, in the evening when the moon is shining, and at all times in between. Remember it when I am refreshed and protected by the shade
of refreshment that the Lord provides.

Live it.

I need to  live like the Lord is keeping me from harm. I need to live with confidence and hope. I need to live it as I come and go to work, walk into your home, fellowship with my church friends, as I relax, and as I encounter
stressful times.

Live with confidence and hope.

Admit it

The Lord is watching over me. Talk about it. Remind others that He is also watching over them. Remember it. In good days and difficult days take comfort that He is not only conscious of my life, but is going with me as I experience it. Live it.  I need to demonstrate the hope I have in Him and His care for me.

My days will be filled with peace and comfort and hope and confidence. I desire to inspire others to live with peace and comfort and hope and confidence as well.


Forever more... Timing I like!

All Things Work Together

When things are beyond my control;
To You, Lord I lift up my soul;
And when things are hard to understand,
Lord, I trust your perfect plan.

Some things hazy will someday be clear;
Some things hidden will one day appear;
And some things so wrong will be made right,
As I walk in your perfect light.

This is a song we sing in church and rings so true that you have a perfect plan, while I wait on you I must walk in your perfect light.

Lord, teach me, mold me, make me, as I live my life in your perfect light.

I can only do this with you as my guide and with your wisdom and strength.

The Never Ending Story

Hebrews 12:1-2 (The Message)

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Jesus was there for me yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Lord help me continue to be a part of the never ending story.

Fear Not

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy

I have fears in my life, but the fears can best be summed up to a lack of totally relying on God.

He goes before me and will protect me and love me.

I will not be dismayed!

Lord, turn my fears in to victory.

Not a victory of my own but one that is with you!

The JOY of your Presence

Psalm 16

1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.

2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Lord, keep me on a firm foundation

Don't be DUMMY!

 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
  -- Proverbs 10:8

The Bible has a great deal of information but it is more than information, it is guidance and wisdom to guide my life and direct my path in a Godly way so I am more like Christ every day.

BUT...

I have to be willing to accept his commands and do something with them not just hear them  and do nothing.

Lord,

Guide me in my walk to  have greater wisdom in you as I labor every day to accept your commands.

PEACE

John 14:27 (New International Version)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid...

The world gives us disorder,

God gives us order and peace that is

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Don't lose Focus

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God.

Hebrews 12:2

If  I am to follow who is  the author and perfecter of what is good for our faith, Lord keep me focused on Jesus as the way  to Joy.

Stake Your Claim

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

The Bible is usually clear...


Walk as Jesus did. As I look at scripture and follow the footsteps of Jesus in his ministry, it is an awesome responsibility to be a follower of Jesus. If I follow him, I also see that grace walks ahead of Jesus.

Lord, give me a spirit more like that of Jesus and thank you for the grace he shows me every day.

Captive

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to
make it obedient to Christ.
   -- 2 Corinthians 10:5

This is a powerful verse that is an awesome responsibility.

Sounds so easy...

The verse tells us to Demolish EVERY THING that is against God.

And take captive EVERY thought


Demolish = Destroy
Take Captive = Build up

As I take captive every thought I become more obedient to him since I am in sync with what he has planned to me.

Lord, help me to take captive every thought and help me to be more obedient to you.

FOREVER

Psalm 73

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me...

This is a great picture of God being with me during times of good and times of struggle

He takes by the hand and continually guides me.

Continually means FOREVER.

Thank you God for being my guide and my constant companion.

Joyful in Hope

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13


God is great!

Lord, keep my spiritual fervor alive!

Sufficient

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"

(2 Corinthians 12:9).

I become anxious when I am challenged to my limits and beyond.I have  even experience anxiety attacks at various times in my life that were very painful and times of complete uncertainty. 

Yet the Bible tells me not to be anxious. 

Where do I find the antidote for anxiousness?

"Do not be anxious about anything ..." (Philippians 4:6 ).

I figure I  must be too weak to be a good Christian because I get scared and I do get frustrated and make myself anxious about not being anxious.

How come I don't have the same absolute certainty about  every issue or  every aspect of obedience that some claim to have? I  must not be good enough, which leads me to be more anxious.

The answer is always simple...

Jesus took on our greatest dilemmas, solved the unsolvable, and brought me God's grace.

Lord, my trust is in you as your grace and love surrounds me.

Draw me Close, Lord

God brought me back to him but he never left

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend

Help me find a way to bring me back to you

[Chorus:]
You're all I want, You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want,
Help me know you are near

You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause no one else
Can take you place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way to bring me back to you

[Chorus:]
You're all I want, You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want,
Help me know you are near


I pray you would keep me near and wrap your arms around me with your love.

Rest For Your Soul

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.

Times are tough

Learn from me and you will find rest for your soul

Let me get my rest from you.

Get Rid of It.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


What if I reverse the order of this verse


Christ forgave me
Forgive each other
Be kind and compassionate
Get rid of malice
Get rid of slander
Get rid of brawling
Get rid of rage
Get rid of anger
Ger rid of bitterness

Because Christ Forgave ME

Lord, cleanse my heart of any slander, rage, anger, bitterness,

and replace this with COMPASSION and FORGIVENESS, because

Christ Forgave ME

What, me WORRY?

So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

(Matthew 6:31-34


I have spent many nights worrying about things that were not really that important or I was afraid to leave in God's hands. That's not healthy for a strong Christian life.

Jesus suggests something different!

I focus my energy on seeking God.

I think a lot of  stress is really worry, and I usually worry about are the things I can't do much  about.
It's funny how I am, really; I worry most about what I can do the least about. Somehow, though, I seem to be under the impression that by obsessing over it and fretting about it, lying awake all night turning it over in my head, and driving everyone I know crazy endlessly retelling and rehashing it, I can somehow solve it.

That's why I don't like it that Jesus seems dismissive of the things that stress us. "Don't worry," he says, and being wired the way I am it's little wonder that my knee-jerk response is something along the lines of, "Yeah, right." I try to tune him out, because  he suggests is that worry is a theological problem. I worry, he claims, because the God I believe in isn't powerful enough or loving enough or concerned enough to watch over me.

Thankfully, he reminds me  the God I'm supposed to believe in is MY "heavenly Father," and that

he cares for ME!

Jesus suggests that I learn some life lessons from the birds and the grass. Neither are strong. Yet, God cares for them. The birds seem to have all they need to eat. They do what they do and live their lives, and God cares for them. 

"Are you not much more valuable to God?" Jesus asks us – who are made in his image, shaped by his hands. "Don't you think your Father in heaven will care for you at least that well?"

Instead of worry, Jesus suggests that I focus my energy on seeking God: his reign over my heart and life, his righteousness lived out in what I do and say. It's kind of a nice way, I think, of telling me to just try to do what God says and be the person he made me to be, and leave the planning to him. That's scary!.

 To live with joy and expectation and trust, instead of anxiety, worry, and gloom?

That's my prayer for a spirit filled life in Christ!

Look at my heart again
Look at the mess I've got it in
I'm trying to trust in You
To know that you'll see me through
Through my pride
Through my shame
Into Your love
Into Your grace
I'm not looking back
Till I see Your face
And I'm running straight to You
Because

All I really want to do is to fall into
The emptiness that is
The space in-between us
To break this division
All I really want to do is to fall into
The emptiness that is
The space in-between us
Erase it and bring us together again

My life's like an open book
Nothing is hidden when you look
You break through my boundaries
Revealing my insecurities
But through my pride
And through my shame
You show me love
You show me grace
I'm not looking back
Till I see your face
And I'm running straight to you
Because

Here I am saying I need you
I know I need you
Here I am, I'm coming to meet you
Cause I want to see you

Must have been written for me!

Building 429

ALWAYS

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,


ALWAYS

CONTINUALLY


ALL

Looks like there is no Plan B!


Lord,

Help me to be joyful ALWAYS


Pray CONTINUALLY


and Give THANKS in ALL Circumstances


In this way I will know I can rely and trust in you as you care for me and love me.

POWER AND LOVE

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:6-7

Some times I think that God gave me the spirit of love and Power and it was my own doing. I think the 3rd one is the telling attribute of what God gives me if I really rely on him. He gives me the self-discipline to use the first two gifts. It is the self discipline that really makes me aware that if these gifts do not come from him then there will be no self discipline. Self-discipline is something hard to see. Power and Love are very visible things others can see. Self-discipline is something that really cannot be seen by others, In order for it to happen, I must have the spirit of God in me.

God wants me to have the

The Spirit of


LOVE

POWER


But what he really wants me to exercise is the Power of Self-discipline so I know whatever ever I do I am doing with his goal in mind, NOT MINE!


Lord,

Give me a spirit of self-discipline so I may better minister in your name and really feel the power of your spirit.

Use it or Lose it

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose
or forfeit his very self?
 Luke 9:25

What I looked at during periods of my life  was seeking gain from worldly things. Not necessarily material things but things that took away from my focus on Christ and what he had in store for me. This is  not what God wants me to do. He wants me use myself for him so I do lose myself in the world.

If we lose our souls in the pursuit of things, what of lasting value have we
gained? Is it worth losing the only things that really matter, including myself?

No!

Lord, help me keep my eyes on what is truly valuable and use the other blessings in my life to bring you glory and bless those who are around me.

A S K

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8,

Jesus asks us to :

ASK

SEEK

KNOCK

Not in our own doing like we are rubbing the magic lamp waiting for our wishes to be granted.

It is the heartfelt reliance on God as we move towards him in times of decision, struggle and ministry decisions and not on our own strength.

Let me put my trust and hope in you and you make me the person you want me to be.

Let me be like Ralphie

Ralph, our dog is strange , at best. His real name is Sir Ralphsalot. On the way home from picking him up, he threw up many times on Caitlin's lap. Thankfully there was a blanket.

Ralph is alot like all of us.

Ralph is a very sensitive dog. He likes order and routine. When someone new comes to the house and heads up the steps to the porch, Ralph does not bark. He goes to the corner and shakes. He is afraid of something, not really sure what!

All you need to do is go and pick him up and tell him it will be ok. He usually calms right down as long as you hold on to him.

This is how I want to be before God,

Run to him for safety and comfort.

Lord, Help me sek you for my source of love and comfort as I look to grow more in your spirit.

Show me your heart

Slightly modified from it's original words

You, O, Lord are a holy God,
Your ways are perfect and just -
Slow to anger and abounding in love,
You have shown ME Your Father's heart.
But I, Your servant have turned from You
Resisted Your power and grace.
Taking my life into my hands,
I have stumbled and lost MY way.
So I humble myself before You.
And confess my unfaithfulness toward You.
Forgive my sin, remove my shame,
Restore the church that bears Your name,
That revival may come to this land once again.

Revival in the church starts not in some organization or in a program, it starts with me.

Loving people, helping people and showing the compassion of Christ in all I do.

Lord make me an instrument for revival in your church and you use me according to your purposes , not MINE

Compassion of Jesus

"Jesus Wept" (John 11:35)

When I reexamine the compassion of Jesus and what it means to me, I am amazed at the level of care and concern Jesus shows in all his encounters with people. In this well known story, Jesus waits 4 days to go his his dead friend Lazarus.

What is striking is what Jesus does...

If it was me, I would:

Get everyone organized;
Find out where the tomb is located;
Ask someone to put something over my mouth, because it stinks;
Ask everyone to get out of the way because a big healing was going to happen.


What Jesus did...

He wept!

He certainly knew Lazarus was dead, he knew what God was going to do through him, but he was touched by the dedication and care of those around who knew and loved Lazarus.

So...

Before he did the work of God, he emotionally connected to those around him BEFORE he did the work of God

What can I learn about the compassion of Jesus?

Even though he knew what was going to happen, he connected with those around him, and felt their pain before he did the work of God.

Help me Lord to continue to look at Jesus as the example of compassion. Let me be more compassionate in YOUR way, not mine.

Bad Attitude?

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
Phil 2:5

This somewhat changes the game of life. How many times did I have a bad attitude, or say an unkind word, or not help someone with a Christ like attitude. Well, The answer is here. My attitude should be that of Jesus Christ. What does this mean?

More to follow...

Lord, make my attitude the SAME as you as YOU make me who you want me to be!

Amazing!

Proverbs 30:18-19

There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman

Three things mentioned in this proverbs are the Land, the Sea, and the Sky. All things God has made and are under his control. He also made women. As I try to understand the sky, the sea and the land and the great power of God, help me love Julie because God made her just as he made nature..

Except he made her to Love too!

Lord, let me be more gentle and loving as I look to you for your LOVE and guidance.

108 Steps

Each day I walk up 108 steps probably 3-5 times a day. Family court is in our building and many times there are people fighting in the elevator and it can get somewhat dangerous. Also, Probation is on the 2nd floor and has its own set of difficulties.

So, I take the steps, all 108 of them up to the 6th floor. While I am plodding along making my way to the office, I use the opportunity to pray every few steps for concerns in my extended life situations. Some times I just stop and spend a little extra time, praying for a concern or stop to take a rest. God uses this time that would otherwise be wasted thinking about myself.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

The Right Path

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight


Trusting in my own understanding is not a good idea nor one what God wants me to follow.

Too many times I trusted my knowledge and wisdom which lead to a longer path to what God really wanted to do with me.

So...

In all my ways, I need to acknowledge him, trust him and look to him for wisdom,


My path will be straight and in the right direction.

Lead me Lord, your way

Daily?

Luke 9:23

New International Version (NIV)

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

I try to exercise regularly and don't do too bad a job at it. God, also, asks me to do something everyday.

Give up myself and give it to him.

It is only when we are immersed in his presence we can really see the work on the cross and the gift that God gives us every day as we listen to him.


In giving up I am receiving,

In losing myself, I am gaining,

In relying on him, I can feel the warmth of his grace.

Lord, let me give myself up for you today.

A Hot Day

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
[repeat 3 times]

Holy Spirit come
[repeat 3 times]

As deep cries out to deep
[repeat 2 times


Let me thirst for you!

Abounding

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding
in love.

Psalm 103:8, New International Version


I looked up the word abounding and it basically means "you have more than you need"

I am amazed at the clearness of scripture in this passage. God is a god who can be angered. As I look back at the old testament, his anger and wrath are evident. But in this Psalm, it is said God is slow to anger. This means he is patient with me. That is a good thing!

If I got what I deserved, I would be hit by a lightning bolt and be taken away.

BUT,

He has abounding love. God is the author of grace and forgiveness. Lord, let me be more like you....

SLOW to Anger

and Abounding in LOVE

A NEW WAY

Romans 7:6

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code


Looking back is easy... but painful. I see all the unfulfilled promises, broken relationships and lingering pain.

Forever you are faithful, forever you are strong,

Looking back, I see the sin of my human desire, selfishness and the broken road to glory

Looking back, I see the desert and wasteland of hurt and self deception.

Looking back, I saw the face of Jesus and did not look him in the eyes for what I am

Looking at the eyes if Jesus, I see the reflection of my soul, created in his image.



Looking forward,

God sees....

A new WAY in me, crafted by HIM.

Forever your are faithful, forever you are strong,

FOREVER,

Whatever...

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
(Colossians3:17 TNIV).

Whatever, is a common phrase used in the English language as a dismissive form to put someone off or to just ignore what they are saying.

What a contrast to the "whatever" God tells us about in Colossians.

God speaks of the , "whatever" as all that we do and say should be done in the name of Jesus.

I pray that God will be with me in my interactions so the "Whatever" is done in his name.

A Gift

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32


In reading " No Man is an Island", I can only do this by looking at others through the eyes of God and gain the understanding of who they are through "HIS" eyes, not mine.  My filter is one that conforms to my desires and wishes. Looking at others through his eyes, allows me to to look deeper to see the image of God made in that person.

Lord,  Open my eyes so I can see your face and look at others through you!

Pay it FORWARD

When someone does you a big favor, don't pay it back … Pay It Forward.

This was the premise of a 2000 movie , "Pay it Forward" It was about a 12 year old boy who was given a project by his social studies teacher to change the world. I really need to watch this movie again.

Scripture has a more power example of what it means to "Pay it Forward"

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work.
-- 2 Corinthians 9:8


God has freely given us his grace, even though we don't deserve it. What a gift!

It demonstrates how I need to let God use me as his servant, not for my own purposes but for his good works and build relationships that show the grace of God at work.

Pay it Forward, God's way!

An Uplifting Experience

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord (echo)
Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord (echo)
And He shall lift you up
Higher and higher
and He Shall lift you up

So I will humble myself in the sight of the Lord (echo)
Humble myself in the sight of the Lord (echo)
And He shall lift me up
Higher and higher
and He Shall lift me up

So I will humble myself in the sight of You, Lord (echo
Humble myself in the sight of You, Lord (echo)
And You will lift me up
Higher and higher
And You will lift me up

Yesterday in Church, I was distracted and was having trouble focusing until we got to the praise songs.

God showed me how to lift myself up, I need to humble myself. But not humble myself for my own needs and desires but the desires of my heart, changed and molded by God.

If I do this, I will be lifted up as I humble myself.

An HE will lift me up!

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love

Maintaining Joy

Verses for meditation and memorization this week.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you

(John 15:10-12 NIV).


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

(Philippians 2:1-3)

When I surrender my will to His, get rid of my ego, sacrifice for the good of others, welcome God's presence into my life, and express my love to others, the Scriptures promise that our joy can be complete. I can experience this by giving my life to Him completely. 

Joy is His promise to us

Give it all up

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

Philippians 3:8

I pray that God would keep my eye on the prize, Jesus Christ!

Where is our hope?

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose


Let that verse sink in...ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, to them that LOVE GOD and to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Do I believe this? As one who follows Jesus Christ, all things work together for good. Am I the called according to His purpose? I serve the Lord and the best place I can be is in the center of His will. God works all things out for our good. Trust in the Lord! Believe His promises in His Word. The Lord will never fail.

Through the eyes of God

Thomas Merton, in "No Man is an Island" says,

The closer we are to God the closer we are to those who are close to him. We can come to understand others only by loving him who understands them from within the depths of their own being. Otherwise we know them only by the surmises that are formed within the mirror of our own soul.

To see through the Eyes of God is to see humanity as Christ sees humanity. With unconditional love.

In order to see with the Eyes of God, we first have to see God.

And when I understand how God sees me, I can look at all my relationships and fully understand what God sees in each and every one of them.

“ For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16: 7

The Sharpening Stone

Sharpening a knife with a stone is a unique process. You start with a rough stone to get out the imperfections and get to a flat and level surface. Next you proceed to a medium stone to put the bevel on the knife. The third stone is the honing stone. You add a few drops of oil and hone the edge with slow strokes to get the best possible edge. It takes a long time to get a good edge.

This is what our Christian friends should be in our life. Help us take out the rough edges and be with us as God hones us just the way he wants us to be.

Thanks to a good friend for last night.

May I be a good Christian friend and allow myself to be "honed" by God.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17

Amazing Grace

After a tough weekend, God came to the rescue again just with a simple word, GRACE. No matter how many times I fall, I can get back up again with God's grace. Seems really simple. He rescues us from our insecurities, our in inadequacies, and incompetence,

He rescues us from ourselves!


Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Eph 2:

For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you;

it is the gift of God

Good thing I have nothing to do with it!

In Who Do We Trust

Yesterday I was working at a raffle table for the Backstretch organization and I had a good deal of money as ticket sales were brisk for the SMART car we had for a prize. I was counting the money at the end of the day and realized how many times a day people, including me, look at the back of a dollar bill, a twenty or a fifty, or a hundred and look at the words:


"In God WE Trust"

This is not something we even notice as we carry out our day to day business.

What if every time we took out a bill, we looked at it , turned it over and read and meditated on:

"In God We Trust"

What would happen if everyone in the country did this every time. God certainly would be honored if the God we honored was the God and Savior, Jesus.

What would happen if I did the same every time....

In times of Joy...

And Times of Sorrow

"On mine arm shall they trust." 
             -- Isaiah 51:5


May I put my trust in God minute by minute