Say what?

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

Ever avoid talking to someone because you know that they are not going to react well to the information. Your mind plays out this scenario of how the whole conversation will go down and you can do this because you know how this has played out in the past. 

What if you could help minimize that awful situation you played out in your mind by taking a leadership role in the whole thing. During my 23 years in the navy I realized that no matter what rank I was, I was a leader of someone. As a leader I realized that I set the mood, the tone and the pace. The tone and pace are for another day’s discussion but the mood was very important to getting the job done or even conveying a message. I had the power in my hands to escalate the problem or calm it. I realized when I was young, that sometimes you have to put your own feelings aside and be calm and deliver your message with a gentle spirit. 

The bible is full of that wisdom and there are several bible passages about this very answer,  like in the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 9 where it says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” This is so important when people you deal with and are going to have to work with them, or live with them to take this verse in Proverbs and apply it to your life.

Side Note: 

The bible is full of answers, full of wisdom and full of examples do by real life people in the past, of what to do and what not to. Proverbs is one of those books that even non-believers enjoy because of the wisdom contained within those pages. Proverbs was written by Solomon who asked God for wisdom and God granted Solomon to the point of being the wisest man at the time. People who don’t read the bible might know Solomon through the story of the two women who claimed the same baby and Solomon declared that since he could not figure out who the baby belonged to Solomon said he would divide the baby equally between the two women. One woman said she would rather give up the child than see it killed. Solomon then declared the woman who showed compassion to be the true mother, and gave the baby to her. The book that Solomon wrote, Proverbs, is laid out very well addresses wisdom to three groups of people. Chapters 1 to 9 address wisdom for young people; Chapters 10 through 24 is wisdom for the masses or all people. And the last part of the book, chapters 25 to 31 is wisdom for leaders.  If you have never read the bible I would encourage you to read the book of proverbs but realize that wisdom is a gift from God and you should read the Gospels (or good news) to understand who Jesus is, and why he came to earth.

My Prayer

Lord I pray that you help me when I talk to others that I do not provoke those I deal with. I pray that you give me the strength to put my own hurt and feelings aside to convey the message I need to with a gentle spirit. I pray that I listen and understand first then to send the message tailored to them. In Jesus name, Amen.

                                                     

BTW the song below mentions Proverbs 16:24 which states, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Make Praise an Integral Part of Your Life!

"I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Psalm 146:2

Think about your last prayer… did you spend as much time praising God as you did making requests?

I know that I don’t praise God as often as I should. More often than not I go into prayer with my mind focused on requests and pleas rather than lifting my hands in praise, thanksgiving and adoration. Now, I am not saying don’t come to God with requests at all, but before opening up your mouth to cry out with your problems or requests, take time to praise Him for all He has done first.

God has given us more than we will ever deserve; all that we have here and more importantly our salvation. He is worthy of our never-ending praise. In fact, we are commanded to praise Him. It was the reason we were created; we are called to praise Him and we should desire to.

Prayer is not the only way to praise God either. It can be done through songs, words, prayers, etc…  Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well as inwardly in our thoughts. Whatever we are going through, praise is the key. Whether it is in a church service, on our knees at home, while exercising, anywhere, we can praise Jesus and bring glory to His name. Praise shifts our focus from ourselves and our problems to God, and His limitless power and love. It opens the door to divine intervention, and it shuts the door on the plans of Satan. Search out opportunities to bring praise Him. Make a conscious effort each day to notice something to praise God for.

Just think about the Lord’s blessings and His work in your life. What can you praise Him for?

Praise Him for the wonderful gift of life and the gift of “today”. Praise Him for the things we have such as our health, family, possessions, food, shelter, money, etc.. Praise Him for the world around us, the amazing and beautiful creations that are there to remind us of His power and awesomeness. Praise Him for our freedom and salvation. Praise Him for His infinite love for us. Praise Him for His grace and goodness; His holiness, mercy and justice. Praise Him in everything! All power belong to God, therefore all praise belongs to Him.

Oh Lord, I lift my hands to You in worship and adoration for You are an Awesome God. You alone are worthy and deserving of my praises. It is all about You Jesus. I come to you not asking for anything but to teach me how to praise and worship You in ways You desire and deserve. Help me to constantly look around me, and find things to give You praise for every day and night. When I begin to worry, complain, or feel sorry for myself, remind me to shift my focus to You and Your blessings. I stand in awe of you Lord and thank you that in everything I can praise and honor You. I pray today and always, that with all that I do, all that I say and all that I am, I will bring glory and praise to Your name.

Hundreds of songs can be put here... I just chose one. 

Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Oh What a Beautiful Day!

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8

Last week I talked about prayer and how important it is and then a few days ago I mentioned sleep and how we should go to God before bed to help us sleep and to thank Him for the day we had and the blessings He gave us. Now, I am going to talk about mornings.

I don’t know about you but when I wake up in the morning, many times I am not the happiest. My bed is warm and comfy and I have no desire to really get up and start my day, whatever I have planned.

It is those times especially that it is important to turn to God first thing in the morning. It can refresh and recharge our souls and help prepare us to take on the day filled with the Holy Spirit. Most days are packed with errands, work, kids, chores, etc… that keep us busy but it is easy to get worn out and lose both momentum as well as spirit. By communicating with Him right away will set the tone for the entire day and give us the confidence and joy to overcome and do all that we have to get done with the right attitude.

Thank Him each morning; even if we don’t feel particularly happy about the day to come, it is still a gift from God. We should come to Him with two truths in mind. We belong to God, but the day itself also belongs to God. Today is a new day, blessed by God, it belongs to Him, so let us go into it remembering that. And as we walk in this day, know that wherever He leads us that we also belong to God, so let us bring glory to Him and follow His path willingly, obediently and joyfully.

Dear Lord, Thank you for bringing me safely into this new day. Thank you for the today itself for it is such a wonderful gift and a beautiful day. I pray that you would help me to see that beauty in it. Please guide me through any difficult tasks and protect me with your power and love that I will not fall into sin or be overcome by them. In all I do today, I pray you will direct me for your purpose Lord. I am your servant in this day of yours, help me to serve you with a humble heart and with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Help me be a light for you and shine for others to see as well as a soldier in your army and fight for you also. I am not sure what today holds, but make me ready for whatever it may be Lord. If I am supposed to stand up, help me stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me sit quietly. If I should lay low, help me do it patiently. In everything I do, help me be reverent and obedient before you, love those around me and act according to your will. I pray all this in your precious name. Amen

Also, to tie in with the evening prayer I shared a few days ago, this is the morning counterpart. Again the words are great and such a wonderful morning prayer to God. 

We will all be old some day.

"Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:32

Today I saw a video, which I am going to post below, showing a father and son on a park bench. The father ask a whole bunch of questions that frustrates the son. I am not going to give it away but it is very heart warming and the video reminds us what our actions should be.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as we should love ourselves. How about a parent, how about the one who raised us, how about the one who was so patient with us as we learned.

As we age we become slower, we are set in our ways and life gets a little bit tougher. What would make it worse? I think that having a child who is frustrated with me would be take a difficult situation and make it much worse.

So what can we do about a parent that might be driving us a bit crazy because they keep telling you the same story, or needing more help than you have time for, or are set in their ways, or just slower than we would like to be.  The answer is simple to say, but hard to do...... LOVE. 

Remember on an earlier post when I mentioned that Matt told me how to define love and it was in 1 Corinthians. Love is Patient, Love is kind. Now remember you can't do it on your own, you will need God's help and you will need to remember how you frustrate God and yet he still loves you. Pray and ask for help. This is usually what I pray each morning to get me on the right track with God throughout the day.

Lord, I am yours. I ask you to use me to help others and further Your Kingdom. Lord I beg of you to help me and guide me. Lord guide me feet, walk away from sin, and walk toward serving you. Lord guide my heart. Let it love and show compassion. Lord guide my hands. I know idol hands are the devils workshop and I wish to use my hands for good. Lord guide my eyes. Let me look toward that which is pleasing and not for my sinful flesh. Lord guide my mouth, let not sarcasm  and hate exit my mouth, but may I say things that lift others up. In Jesus name, Amen.

Where is my heart?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Click here to to listen to the audio version of this blog

So Christmas is over, and all my hearts desires have been filled, right? Not really, as I prepare for this upcoming move I realize how much stuff (I am substituting this word for another that isn't so nice) I have that isn't worth anything, but I am sure at the time I thought this was what I desired and had to have.

Having children is like glimpsing into a small portion of what it must be like with our relationship with God. After all, we are children of God and I know that I often act like one, especially in this area. My eight year old will come to me saying "Dad, I really want this toy, I need it daddy please!" She wants this toy so badly and will even beg for it. I look at what she wants and I realize it will only satisfy her for a short amount of time. I often shake my head thinking if she only could see how unimportant this toy really is, but then again I wonder how many times God shakes His head at me when I do the same thing. "I need this new tablet, I need a new TV, I need, I need, I need! I might not be begging to my parents like she does, but I vocalize this "need" to people around me and to God. And let me point out that the word "need" is often used here, not want. It is very overused considering the only things we "need" in life are food, water, shelter and salvation; the rest are just conveniences. What I really need instead of the tablet and TV is to put them away and spend more time with my family and friends, and build up the treasures that matter. 

So lets say I didn't have half of the "stuff" I have. What would be the plusses and minuses. What would be the bad aspect of not having it.  What could I have done with the money that I spent on all this "stuff"? Could have I given more to the church? Could I have given to the poor? Could I have invited a non-believer over and given them a meal?

What is scary about the verse is the very end. I look at what I have and according to the verse that is where my heart lies. I am not proud of what I have stored up in. 

Lord, I ask you to really help me with my priorities. As I move and start over I pray that you help me realize what I should store up. Thank you for second chances. Thank you for the amazing gift of salvation. I pray that I use the resources you have given me to help give others the gift of salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

Sleep is so important, mentally, physically and spiritually. I struggle with sleep, often to the point of me looking like a zombie from lack of a good night of rest. I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from my time in Afghanistan and other times in my life as well. This causes me to have horrible and terrifying nightmares. I try to avoid these nightmares in many ways, but one of them is by fighting sleep. I am certain if I sleep I will have a nightmare, so I just force myself to stay up and get close to no sleep. The problem with that is then I create a whole new series of problems.

I am grumpier when I am tired which causes me to snap at people I am close with and don’t deserve to be treated that way. I am tired and don’t have energy which of course stops me from enjoying the day like I should. It makes it hard to get up and do things and when I do they are not done with as much care and thought as they should because my mind is not functioning at full capacity. It lowers my immune system, constantly being tired leaves my body prone to illness and infections. It also affects me spiritually, when my mind and body are so tired, the time I spend with my Savior is not given fully and wears on my soul as well.

The verse above is encouraging to me and if broken down has much to say on many levels regarding sleep and how we should go about it, especially if it is an area of struggle like me.

• Seek a peaceful mind - Just as the first words are “In peace”, the first step in having a good night’s sleep is seeking peace in God. Pray and spend some time with your Father before you go to bed; asking for forgiveness to relieve any guilt, spilling all your worries to Him that they may be gone, and calming your mind with the peace only He can provide. If your frame of mind is relaxed than your body can soon follow.
• The verse applies to me directly - The next step is to acknowledge that the verse is talking to you directly. It doesn’t say he will sleep, or they will sleep, it says “In peace I…” This should be read in reference to yourself. David is the one who is talking about himself, but as you read it, put yourself as the subject. 
• Approach sleep positively - David says, “In peace I will…” not “I will try…” He said with determination and resolution that this is what will happen. He didn’t approach bedtime with negative ideas or resolved himself to failure before he began. Many times I go to bed thinking, “I am going to bed now, but I know I won’t sleep.” I didn’t sleep last night and tonight will be no different.” I am already condemning my sleep in my head. We need to follow his example and be positive in our approach, thinking we will do this! 
• Plan and prepare to sleep - It says, “In peace I will lie down…” meaning you don’t just think to yourself, I will go to sleep tonight and it will happen, you have to take action and go about the process. Just like any part of our daily schedule, there are steps to achieving them. When we eat, we must get the food before we consume it. When we get dressed, we must first pick out clothes. There are steps to everything we do and sleep should be a part of that routine as well. The step to planning on sleeping is to actually “lie down”. By positioning yourself in the position of sleep you are preparing for the actual slumber to occur.
• Focus on sleeping - The next part is the action itself, “In peace I will lie down and sleep…” Now that you are lying down, you must focus on sleeping. That is the reason you got in bed to begin with after all. You didn’t get in bed to read, get on your computer or play on your phone as I often do. When we lie down at night, there is only one thing we should be focused on doing and that is to sleep. Because you already prayed for peace in the beginning, you should not be solving tomorrow’s problems, wondering what may happen next year, reliving all the worries of the day, but just focusing on sleep! When we lie down with the mindset of only going to sleep, then the sleep will usually happen.
• Relax in Him - “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” We have the assurance that God will keep us safe and protect us. In my case, I fear my horrible nightmares or that something bad will happen in the night. With these words, I can rest knowing that I am safe in the arms of the Lord. 

With the breakdown of this verse my prayer is that tonight and every night from now on, I would remember this and turn to Christ to help in my insomnia. I pray that I will seek peace in Him and relax in knowing He is there to keep me safe. With this security in our Lord, I hope that my sleepless nights are over and my mind, body and soul may all be focused and healthy.

I found this today, it is not a song, but rather a soothing prayer. The words are perfect to what we should say at night and it is said in such a calming and relaxing way. I am warning you tho, it put me in a tired mood right away so maybe wait and listen to it this evening, I know I will be. :)

One of my (Many) Problems

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. -Romans 12:19

I have a problem. I have a problem with people who commit crimes and don’t get the sentence I think they should get. I have a problem with people who commit heinous crimes and then right before they die they give their life to Jesus and get saved. I know I should be happy for them and for God that someone chose to follow Jesus. But I am not. I think sometimes that they should spend an eternity in hell. This is a big problem with me. 

First it is a big problem because as it says in the bible passage above to let the vengeance be Gods plan. It is a big problem because I am commanded to love. A friend of mine has always said, “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” I can do that with my friends but I struggle with doing that for the people I despise. 

My other big problem is that I pick sins that are just above mine and make that the standard for all of mankind. I see all sin that is “worse” than mine the real issue instead of having the mindset that my sin is horrible too, in God’s eyes and I am not worthy either of God’s grace and mercy.

I am often reminded of “The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard” in Matthew 20 where Jesus paints the image of people who agreed to work in the field for a certain wage and when people came late in the day and got the same wage for less work, they had a problem with it, and what resonates with me is the second to last line, where Jesus ask the question, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” Wow that line hits like a ton of bricks. He is generous to me, to you to everybody, I need to remember that. 

I think of the saying about grace and mercy, “Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve and Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve” I need to remember God is full of Grace and Mercy and I need to be thankful for both.

Lord thank you for Grace and Mercy. Thank you for teaching me daily to let you handle other people and for me to love them despite what they do. Lord thank you for loving me when I don’t follow your word. Thank you Lord for helping me be humble when I mess up and allowing you to making teachable moments for others around me (especially my Daughters) when I do fall short. In Jesus name, Amen.

Accountability

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The first book I ever read in the bible was the book of Daniel. Lots of people remember the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. How faithful Daniel was and how God delivered Daniel from the Lions by closing the mouths of the lions while Daniel was there over night. It is a great story.

But that is not what I am impressed with in that story; chapter 3 is where I was riveted. The story starts by King Nebuchadnezzar making an image of gold and all were commanded to bow down and worship it. Three men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not bow down and worship the statue but prayed to God were brought in and given another chance to renounce God and worship the gold statue. They refused knowing that they would be put into a fiery furnace. The king was so mad and turned the fire up hotter by seven times and threw the three men into the fire. Not only the three men were protected, there is a first look and what people think is Jesus in the fire with them.

This is what I truly believe about this amazing story. I believe that if any one of them were alone they would have caved and bowed down to worship the statue to save their lives. They could have even justified it saying, “I didn’t really worship the gold statue” or “God I pretended to worship the gold idol and it saved my life so that I could serve you later” but since there were 2 friends who shared their beliefs they were strong for each other and encouraged each other not to cave.

How many of us could benefit at having a Christian friend by our side as we go through a difficult time to obey God. Let’s say you have a tough time with overspending, and you tell your Christian friend that you struggle with it. As they hang out with you I am guessing just because they are there you would not over spend, but as soon as their gone you would over spend. They put “Skin on God” and eyes on you.

The key to navigating this amazing journey with God is to do it with God’s Love and accountability. And I believe that God puts people in your life to help you with that journey.

Lord I pray that each of us finds an accountability partner that puts skin on God and that we communicate with and are honest with what we struggle with. I pray that just like the bible passage states that we help each other up and we act better with this accountability. Thank you for the amazing example Daniel gives us, and thank you for the three men of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they stayed strong for each other and you God despite the consequence. Please let me be that for others, and put people in my life to hold me accountable to you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

On My Knees

"pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In the age we live in, we are always connected to one another in some way. We have email, Facebook, Skype, texting and talking. We spend so much time communicating with friends, family, and colleagues, but how much time to we spend talking to God?

God is my Father, my Lord and my Savior, and yet I talk to so many other people more than I do Him. I am not saying I never pray; I pray daily, but it is not as intimate or often as I would like, or need. Communication in a relationship is vital and our relationship with Christ is no different.

My grandma, Ellie, was a prayer warrior. She would pray anytime anywhere about anything or anyone. She used to live in this condo facing a pretty busy street and she would pray as she looked out her window. She would see a couple holding hands walk past her and would thank God for their love and their relationship. She would see children walk home to and from school and would pray for their lives and their future. She would she an ambulance drive by and would pray for the safety of where they were going and to guide the paramedics and doctors working. She would watch the snow or rain fall from her window and thank God for the weather and also pray for the safety of everyone because of it. She would praise God on his creations when she would watch the cardinals and robins feed outside. She would see a distressed or sad person walk by and she would pray that God would comfort her and provide her with support and encouragement and that she would come to find happiness in Him. I could go on and on about who and what she would pray for.   She was filled with the Holy Spirit and was so happy to use her gift of prayer for His glory. Just as the verse says, my grandma truly prayed without ceasing.

She is one of my role models when it comes to my prayer life. I am not saying we all need to pray all day like she would, however we do need to set aside time to pray to our Father daily as well as whenever the need arises.

A lot of people don't pray as often as they should because they feel awkward by not knowing how or what to say. There are several passages in the Bible that tell us about prayer; Romans 8:26-27, Philippians 4:6 and Matthew 6:5-15 (9-15 being The Lord's Prayer) are just a few.  There are also many standard prayers, meaning they are laid out there for you to say. I have heard mealtime and bedtime prayers that children recite; there is the serenity prayer, and so many more. There is nothing wrong with those either, but the prayer I am talking about is more personal that those. I am not talking about praying for something that never changes, but communicating to God your fears, praises, requests, and things pertaining solely to your personal life or about what is happening now.

As a child, I was told of a way to help me pray by using the fingers on your hand, it contains no words to say, just a structure of how a prayer can be delivered. It is not a requirement just merely a suggestion. You start with your thumb and work your way to your pinkie with every finger representing a different subject to pray for. It goes like this...

• Thumb - It is nearest to you and so you start by praying for the people who are closest to you. This is the easiest to remember but not always the easiest to pray for. Your loved ones are close of course and they are the easy ones to pray for, however our enemies, even if in a negative way, are close to us as well and those are not so easy to pray for, but just as equally important that we do.
• Pointer - We use our pointing finger to well... point of course, so next you pray for those who help point you in the right direction. They can be teachers, pastors, doctors. They have great influence on society and personally so we should lift them up in prayer.
• Tall Man - The tallest finger is supposed to remind us of who is in charge; the president, congress, governors and even bosses. Those people are responsible to lead us and they need God's guidance.
• Ring Man - For those that do not know, our ring finger is the weakest finger on our hand. It should help us to remember to pray for those that are hurting, in trouble or weak. They are battling struggles of some kind and are always in need of our prayer, comfort and love.
• Pinkie - Finally we are left with the smallest of them all, which is where we should place yourself in relation to God and others. The pinkie represents "little old me". By praying for all the others first, by the time you pray for yourself, your needs can be placed into perspective better.

Now, that is by no means the only way to pray, but it is a great reminder of who to pray for if you get lost. There is not a set guideline as to the exact words you have to pray. That being said, prayer should always come from a humble heart. In fact the word prayer comes from the Latin word precari which means to ask with humility. We should always come to Him with the understanding that He is in control and remember who we are talking to. We don't even have to kneel, however there is no place more humble than on your knees which is why so often it is done in that manner. We should always pray for God's will to be done in every situation, which as most of us know is not always what we want, but it will be what God wants and what will eventually bring glory to Him. Prayer is an act of faith and so we need to trust God to provide, be there and answer, regardless if the answer is the one we want to hear. Prayer is a powerful thing and amazing work can be done when we come to God and ask Him to do His will in our lives and the lives or others.

So I encourage us all to come to the Lord in prayer more often and more intimately, whether it is in the car, before dinner, during chores, while you walk, or at bedtime, that we take the time to communicate to our Father.  It can be silently in your head, spoken out loud or even in writing, just that we focus more on our relationship with Him.

Dear heavenly Father, I come to you with a humble heart on my knees asking that you please give us all a renewed love for spending time with you in prayer. And regardless of how you might choose to answer, I pray that we trust you to guide us down that path according to your will, that we will surrender to you and will have faith in your perfect plan. Also Lord please teach us to be more bold in prayer, to come to you more, to ask for your help more and to be more unwavering in trusting that you listen and answer the prayers of your people.  It is such a joy knowing that Jesus lives to pray for us and that the Spirit is ever interceding within our hearts; what a most glorious and comforting arrangement, Father. Thank you. So in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Maybe this song choice is a bit unorthodox since it is me who is singing, but I feel that this post is a request for myself to be more diligent in prayer as well as encourage all of you, and since the prayer is from me, I don't find it inappropriate that I be the one singing the song as well. I won't explain the song, but if you are curious, read the caption under the video. More importantly though, just as this post comes from my heart, so do the words of this song and I pray that they both can be used to reach both me and you so that we may all grow in our relationship with Christ. 

Healthy Choices

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." 1 Corinthians 6:19

I struggle with eating too much. I have always struggled with it. Food taste good and I love to eat.  Yet as we learned a couple weeks back, that nothing we have including our own life is ours. It is on loan to us to take care of.

I also know that I am very hypocritical, I will complain about someone and their smoking and yet I think that depending on if you die by smoking related diseases or overeating who am I to tell others until I have my own issues figured out.  I am often reminded of Matthew 7 where it says “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -Matthew 7:3-5. This passage doesn't say not to mention other peoples down falls, but to take care of mine first.

So this week I have started my weight loss journey again, and have several people who are going to hold me to this. I have not decided to count calories, but to just make wise choices. Everybody knows that donuts are bad and apples are better. I don’t need a chart for that. But once a week I am going to weigh and update my spreadsheet, and my goal is 2 lbs a week for 18 weeks and be at a good weight that gives me the most energy.

Lord I pray that each of us knows that everything we have is yours, including our lives. Lord I pray that you hold me strong to make wise decisions toward healthy lifestyles, and that I understand that I have been given a really good body that you have entrusted me to take care of. I pray that when I choose to tell others about their poor habits, that I ensure that I am not a hypocrite and that I deliver a message with love. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Balm of Gilead

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Probably one of the hardest things we have to face is loss. There are several types of loss. I have lost something material that had great importance to me. I have lost faith in myself after a mistake. I have lost my health and had to adjust to an entirely different lifestyle. I have lost contact with friends over the years. I have lost pets, which can be more painful than human loss at times. I have lost friends over betrayal, and breaking of trust. I have lost friends, family and loved ones in death. I have lost a loved one in a relationship, both through death and also through the ending of our love. These losses all cause grief and sorrow.

Right now I am hurting over a deep personal loss. I am in enormous amounts of pain; pain that feels like a sword with flames of fire piercing through my heart.  I am filled with the hopelessness that accompanies grief and even some of the bitterness. But most of all it is the pain and sorrow that has encompassed me; that feels as though it will never end. My eyes are red from crying and yet the tears continue to flow. I am thankful that God gave us tears to express our grief and pour out the inner pain, because I know that holding it in is far more dangerous.  

In fact one of the most freeing verses in the Bible is also the shortest one, John 11:38, "Jesus wept". Those two words give us permission to weep in our sorrow because they reveal how Jesus modeled for us this normal response to grief. Don't think it's more spiritual to hold in your tears, even men. Despite what society has told you, it is okay to cry when grieving.

I know it is also normal for the flood of emotions to feel like a roller coaster. The feelings of despair and depression are not a sign we are unspiritual. Many prophets of God have asked the question “Why?” Even Jesus, our Savior without sin asked “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It is normal to have these questions, but I pray that I, as well as all of you, remember that God is still here and wants to comfort us and heal our pain.

He will heal our pain, but He will also use our pain. He will use it to make us more like Jesus. In Isaiah 53:3 it states that Jesus was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”. We can’t bypass that sorrow and grief and still expect to develop emotional and spiritual maturity; we must go through it so God can use it to bring us closer to Him, even if right now, the pain feels unbearable and probably will for a long time.

Dear God, I know from the verses above that You can “heal the brokenhearted” and “save the crushed in spirit”. You are the God of comfort, our balm in Gilead to soothe our wounds and help us recover. Thank You for that. Lord, please wrap us in Your arms and hold and comfort us in our times of grief and sorrow. I pray that we will put our faith in Your promises, trusting that our Heavenly Father knows best and will get us through whatever we face. I know You have a plan for each of us and pray that You will continue to provide us with hope for tomorrow. I pray that when we experience grief, sadness, loss, pain, etc…that You will restore our life and give us love, grace, hope and joy. I pray that we will remember that Jesus knows our pain and sorrow and is our source of healing and our source of life. Help is to know that You have a higher purpose for us, and are faithful to use our most painful times to mature us, to draw us into closer dependence on You. On a personal note…I don't know if time will ever help me, but I know You can. Please Lord, heal my pain and hurt so that I may rejoice in you. Thank you, Lord for always being here for me. I pray these things in Your holy name. Amen.

Take this bread for it is My Body

**Note: Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday. This is one of the two I will post today. Thanks for your patience.**

 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.  For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. - 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Yesterday we had a wonderful sermon on Communion, great job Pastor Keith Potter. Churches all over earth perform this ceremony in remembrance of Christ and what He did for us. This ceremony, depending where you come from has similarities and differences. The core of the message is usually the same, that we are remembering the last supper when Jesus celebrated the Passover. 

For those who don’t know, Passover is a Jewish (remember Jesus was a Jew) holiday remembering when Pharaoh was being stubborn. The story is laid out in the Old Testament or the Torah in the book of Exodus Pharaoh said no to Moses in letting the slaves go, and God kept sending plagues to Pharaoh to convince to let him to let God’s people go, each one getting worse than the previous one.  The tenth and worst of the plagues was the death of the Egyptian first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to pass over the first-borns in these homes, hence the name of the holiday.

Now as Pastor Keith said yesterday, People read this bible passage in 1 Corinthians and think that non-believers should not take communion, and I believe the same thing that Pastor Potter believes, that it is actually written to believers. 

As Keith said yesterday, “This Ceremony should be a thoughtful celebration, a knowing joy, a sober reflection, as if to say, Lord I am so sorry this happened, but oh how good it is to have access to your throne.” 

When you take the bread, don’t demean or put down the celebration of communion, examine yourself and think about what it means to you. What Christ did for you? This is a word to believers to not take communion carelessly. 

Lord I pray that whenever I take bread and remember your body that I am happy but am somber in my reflection. And I thank you for the awesome gift you have given me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Have a Happy Heart in Jesus

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13

“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

Have you ever been around someone who is laughing so hard they can’t stop? Even if you have no idea what they are laughing at or about, usually it will at the very least bring a smile to your face, and if you are anything like me, you will start laughing yourself as well (that is if I am not the person who was laughing to begin with). Now you are laughing yet you don’t know why, you just are, you are enjoying the moment. The happiness has rubbed on to you. 

I am also reminded of my grandpa. He is a short full-blooded German who tends to come off a bit gruff, but is actually quite the opposite. And even though he may pretend to be grumpy, anyone who been around my grandpa, particularly in the mornings, knows that he whistles all the time. He always wakes up smiling and whistling and it doesn't' matter what kind of mood I am in, I smile and my mood improves.

Now, the Bible tells us that we should have a “happy heart” or “cheerful heart” and having them can have a world of difference on the outcome of our circumstances, and make it easier to get through the hard times as well as make the good times that much better. Our attitudes and how we handle situations in this world can give us cheer, or tear us down. They also affect the way people feel when they are around you.

When you are happy, just like when someone can’t stop laughing or when I listen to my grandpa whistling in the morning, it is contagious. Our cheerfulness usually causes other people to have a cheerful attitude as well. "Happiness breeds happiness." 

And not only does the Bible tell us a “cheerful heart” is good for the body and soul, but it is God’s will for us to be joyful and happy. Like the second verse above, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, God lets us know what He wants for us in just three short commands. But let me point out that “Be joyful” comes first, before “pray” and “give thanks,” which are two big repeated commandments to all Christians.

As Christians, in the midst of trials and tribulations we always have something we can be “cheerful” or “joyful” about. We can rejoice because of God’s forgiveness for our sins, His presences in our lives, the blessings He provides daily, the gift of salvation, the promise of eternal life with Him; the list goes on and on. So not only should we take time to find the happiness in life but also have the joy of Christ’s love and forgiveness and just as the laughter and happiness, this joy will also be seen and acknowledged by others.

For example (and this is just one example as we should be share the joy of Christ in many different ways), what if upon hearing that someone accepted Jesus into their hearts, we just responded with, “Oh, that’s nice, I am glad for him.” How would others, especially non-Christians, who look in on this conversion view the importance of that miracle? Not much, not when we ourselves didn't seem to think much of it. Now, we know that repenting our sins and receiving Christ’s forgiveness is the most important thing we could ever do in our lives and I hope we would never react in that way, but it just goes to show how vital it is for people to see our joy of Christ’s saving grace and how important it is.

Now, I’m not saying that we should be happy all the time. That’s physically impossible. I struggle with depression and I am in a near constant state of pain, both physical and emotional and have my fair share of bay days. However, my prayer is that everyone, me included, takes time to fill our minds and hearts with joy, laughter and happiness whenever we can as well as no matter what’s going on in our lives that we don’t forget to always show the appropriate joy for Christ. Not only will it put ourselves in a joyful mood, regardless of the circumstances, but may also plant a seed in someone’s heart that may lead them closer to a relationship with Christ. 

And this song was a song I sang as a kid all the time, and it is appropriate too. :) 

Only here for a little while.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14


After listening to the song “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney I found this bible verse. How many have gone a week, a month, a year, a decade and not accomplished something. Has life slipped past you like a runaway train? The song has this line in it “Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think, So "don't blink” If you have let life slip past you, the beautiful thing is that you can still be used by God. The whole understanding with God is not to really focus on your past, but turn from it and more forward. 

So what are you to accomplish? What do you need to do? Well it is a one word answer that Jesus has given us long ago. The greatest commandment, “LOVE” and the most powerful word. 

Matt my friend that I mention a lot in this blog helped me define Love. He said when he is communicating with his wife and he wants to see if what he is saying is love, he bounces it off of First Corinthians. He starts with just the first two criteria. “Love is patient and love is kind” He said that if what he is saying is patient and kind then it probably loving. So if I am to love I start with First Corinthians and see if I meet the principles laid out in that passage.  

You have been made to love and to Love in the unique way that only you can. John Mason said, "You were born an original. Don't die a copy." God has made you unique to accomplish only what you can in the way you can. So again, what can you do? You can - holding a hand, give food to someone who needs it, listening, not complain when you have to do something difficult for someone else and just be there for someone. Be important to someone else, that’s how you can love someone.

Lord, I thank You for the love You give us. Thank you for giving us great instruction on how to love. I pray that in the short time we are here that we let you take control and do your will. I pray that we love unconditionally like You have modeled for us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Love Song for a Savior

"For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body." James 3:2-3, NKJV

My mouth gets me in trouble a lot. If I could control this one thing then over half my sin would dissolve away and I would be a better man. It also seems that if I don’t actually say it, I think it. And when I think it, I am sure my face shows exactly what I am thinking. Jesus really changed the situation when he mentioned that it was not only action but impure thought that was just as bad. Like Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  

I share my friend Matt’s ability when he says, “I am a Black-Belt in Sarcasm”. And of course I came up with another formula, “Sarcasm ≠ Love” and we all know that Jesus gave us the greatest commandment of all time as He laid out in Luke 10:27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 

If I would learn to control my heart and mind then the rest of my whole body would follow.

Lord- I pray that you hold me accountable for my actions, speech, and thought. Keep me grounded in love and help me show respect to those I love. I pray the world holds your greatest commandment “Love” in their heart. In Jesus name, Amen.

Safety in Our Savior

"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 121:7-8

So this week, I started school. I am going for my degree to be a  Veterinary Technician and I am excited for this new chapter and adventure in my life. But that is not what this post is about. You see all 6 classes this week had me read and study the same thing… safety.

Safety is imperative in a medical environment as so many lives depend on it and there are so many things that are harmful and can cause harm to us. The same thing could be said in the spiritual aspect of our lives. Our safety or salvation from the things that can harm us is vital for survival.

Lucky for us, we have someone who is prepared to offer that to us. Just as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the authority on providing safety to a workplace, God is the authority of the salvation and safety of our lives, not so much physically or emotionally (as we need those to bring us closer to Him) but safety from the temptation and trap of the sinful world, the Devil and our eternal salvation.  

The mission of OSHA is to "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance".

Let me change the wording a bit to illustrate how God is our OSHA. One of God’s missions is to “guarantee safe and healthy living environment for His children by giving and enforcing standards and providing guidance and education (Bible and church), outreach (church and fellowship) and assistance (always being there) to keep us safe from the sinful world around us and from eternal damnation in hell.

Not only is He our OSHA in life, but He even provides us with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), our own personal warning label. For those who don’t know what an MSDS is, it is a document from the manufacturer of a product (God made us) to help give us information and instruction on how to prevent mishaps (keeping us away from the Devil) what to do if there is an accident and we slip and fall (make a mistake and sin) and just everyday procedures on how to keep us safe (from sin, Devil and hell)... I don’t know about you, but that sounds an awful lot like the Bible.

Just as in a work environment where you are the only person that can fully control your own safety, the same goes for our lives. You are also the only person who can make the decision regarding your complete and eternal salvation. You have to believe and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, trusting in Him and obeying His safety manual, His word, the Bible.

God is the protector of His children and the keeper of our lives. I pray that we would commit ourselves to His care, trust in Him and follow his instructions for our safety. He wants to shield us from sin in this life and give us salvation in the next and not only does He want to, He WILL if we let Him. Let us all remember God's love and promise to keep us safe today and always. Thank you Lord.

The Rooster Crows for Me

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” -Matthew 26:33-34

Most of us have read that passage and for those who haven’t let me tell you that Jesus was right (duh). As soon as Peter denied Christ the third time the rooster crowed.

I think about that and the times I have denied Christ in my words or actions. I wonder how much would I continue to deny Him if that every third time I did I heard a rooster crow. How would my heart sink that every time that i denied him one way or another I was reminded some way with a sound. Maybe my phone would beep or something, just to let me know that I denied him again three times. I am willing to bet that it happens more than I think.

And how do you define denying him? I have made my personal list, because in my mind it doesn't always mean that I am just flat out saying, "No I do not follow Jesus" it is also inaction that is also denying him.

1. Not taking a chance to witness to someone when it's on your heart to minister to someone.
2. Being afraid to mention that you love God when it's not popular
3. Not saying grace in a restaurant because it is in public
4. Having an atheist parent and not taking a chance to witness to them because you are afraid of your relationship for them
5. lowering your standards to fit in, instead of standing out as an advocate of God
The list could go on and on.

Now we can learn a lot from Peter in you continue on verse 74 when the story continues with the third time Peter denied Jesus and the rooster crowed. Peter went out and wept bitterly. Denying Jesus you would think is the one sin that can not be forgiven. But Peter proves that as long as you repent (turn 180 degrees from your previous action) and confess and feel remorse for what you did, anything is forgivable.

My prayer:

Lord, I pray that I am aware of my actions and that make decisions that are brave. Lord I pray that when I mess up and deny you that you make me aware of it and I repent and turn toward you. Please forgive me for the past when I have denied you because of my cowardness and I pray that You make me strong in the future. In Jesus name, Amen

Guilt be Gone!

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12

Have you had huge guilt over something you have done and feel as though you would never be forgiven? 

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I sure have and more than once. We are all sinners and so everyone of us have done things that we should not have done and have felt some sort of guilt in our lives. 

For me this is a struggle because I not only feel guilty; I let it get to me. I allow myself to dwell and think about how badly I've messed up and the sins I've committed which leaves me feeling unworthy, discouraged and beat down. That feeling robs me of my relationship with God and just what Satan wants to do. The Devil loves to remind us of all our past and present failures so that we keep thinking about them and forget about what God tells us. Jesus not only came to cleanse us from our sins, but also to set us free from the guilt of those sins. 

This verse says that He will not only forgive us but then also forget what we have done. We don't have to worry about God holding a grudge about past, they are no more, gone, wiped clean. We so often talk about our spiritual "clean slate" and it is true. Our sins are washed away and so should the guilt follow.

There are 4 steps that I heard one time about guilt. I often forget these when I need them the most but I pray that we all will read these and remember them. 

1. Understand the nature of God's forgiveness towards you and that He has come to set us free in that area as well. 
2. Repent of your sin. Acknowledging your mistake and then truly repenting to God and asking for forgiveness is vital. 
3. Know that you are now forgiven, you have a clean slate and God will not remember or dwell on anything you have done in the past.
4. Forgive yourself! (This is the one I struggle with the most) Jesus makes it clear that we are to be forgiving and that also includes ourselves.  

My prayer is that with this reassurance that God not only forgives us but completely forgets and clears away our past sins, that we all will remember God's words and these 4 steps so that we do not let guilt tear us down by dwelling on the past and what we have done. Praise God that our salvation does not depend on what we do and that we have such a forgiving, gracious and loving Savior. Thank you Lord!