Striving Toward Integrity

Utilizing the God Filter

2011-10-26T07:47:00.000-04:00

This morning I am reminded of the importance of always running every thought through God's filter. Integrity is a process that requires every thought (thus every action) to be brought before God's throne for His approval. Anything unworthy for His children will be discarded at once.

To be discarded does not mean to put that thought 'back on the shelf' as it were to be brought out later. As 'far as the east is from the west' is how far God has removed my sins. I too, should separate from my mind 'as far as the east is from the west' any thought that may hinder me in any way.

God expects no less and He gives us the strength to do just that with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us.

Marriage Should Exhibit Mutual Support and Encouragement

2011-10-10T06:48:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I was reminded of the beauty of God's gift of marriage to us.

It rained on the farm... No, you don't understand. When I say rain I REALLY MEAN RAIN! We received just over 12 inches of rain over the past weekend. Last week our little farm looked like paradise on earth. Sheep lazily grazing, chickens chasing bugs and laying copious eggs, vegetables growing all over the place ... beautiful!

Then it rained, and rained, and rained, and rained. The winds gusted to 50 miles per hour and a leak developed in my office. Vegetables were tattered and torn and now are disease-prone. Our barn floor looks like a lake. Animals had to be moved to higher ground.

I was discouraged, downtrodden and depressed. Yet, in the midst of it all, Kay takes my hand and says "Let's pray". She prays for our farm but also fills me with encouragement and hope by reminding me that God is ultimately in control. We've been through the valley before and we can make it yet once again if we set our sights on the mountaintop.

Later in the day, I had the opportunity to give her some support as she was looking over the deluge of water. I was reminded of God's strength because she reminded me earlier. I was able to wrap my arms around her and tell her that it will be OK.

Isn't that what marriage is all about? Having a life-long friend and companion to walk hand-in-hand through the trials and the successes of life. When was the last time you took time to really bless your best friend... your spouse? Do it today!

Dads of Courage

2011-10-01T06:34:00.001-04:00

Kay and I saw the movie 'Courageous' last night. It is a must see for EVERY Dad no matter what age. I am encouraged, inspired and challenged to step up my ability to be a Dad to a whole new level after watching the movie.

It easy being a Father, its a different story being a Dad. Any wimp can become a Father. We need to only look around our society at all of the homes without a man in the house to see how easy it is to wimp out at being a Dad.

Stand up for what is right, men. Ignore and walk against this stupid society that promotes selfishness and be a man! Give ALL of yourself to your wife and you children and don't ever, ever, ever stop!

Stand up and be a man! Be the ROCK that holds your family together against ANY storm that attempts to break your family apart!

Timing... Our's or God's!

2011-09-26T06:35:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed how our timing is rarely the same as God's? Kay and I are slowly creating a farm environment that will have produce available in the fall, winter, and spring. Kay will also be offering farm tours and lesson plans that comply with the Sunshine State Standards. What an awesome way to show children about where their food comes from and the importance of viable and sustainable agriculture.

We want to 'go.. go.. go..' to get things up and going and yet God has us going along at a deliberate slow pace, paying for things in cash instead of going into debt. I certainly see His reasoning with the economy in the tank and so many monetary systems on the brink of collapse, still it's hard to move so slow sometimes.

We have these hopes and dreams for this farm and I wonder what God has in store for our farm that we haven't even considered yet. It is up to us to either stay under the protection of our Lord, moving onward when He says or going out there and winging it on our own. As hard as it is, I choose to go God's speed and pray that those around me will hold me accountable in this regard.

Seeds

2011-09-10T06:49:00.000-04:00

I came home from work last night to a box a seeds that were just delivered for our farm (Google 'Abundant Blessings Farm, LLC' for more farm info). The seeds are all packaged by variety and stacked neatly for our use.

Have you put much thought into a seed? Inside each of every seed in that box is the genetic code of the parent from which they were derived. These days the wonder of this has been removed by the scientific minds of our day and we toss around terms like 'DNA' without giving it much further thought. But really, have you ever considered the miracle that awaits in each and every seed?

As a farmer, my wife will lovingly place each seed in the soil (or growing media because we grow hydroponics as well). She will make sure that each gets the correct amount of water and nutrients (i.e. food) do develop into a mature plant. She will carefully train the branches (pruning where necessary) so that they will be fruitful and multiply. She will protect the plants from pests and diseases that seek to harm and destroy.

What an incredible miracle... each and every seed!

In the same manner, we are God's seed. He places us here and wants to tend, nurture, prune when necessary so that will be fruitful by telling others about Him and leading them to Christ. That is how we multiply.

We get caught up in labels of who we are by what we do (Mom, Dad, Fireman, Farmer, Banker, Lobbyist, etc.) yet that is just what we do part of our life. We came from a seed that was planted by God. Our purpose... our true purpose in life is to do just as those seeds in the box in our kitchen. Our true purpose is to grow in Christ and bring others to the understanding of His redeeming and saving grace that is available to all who choose to believe.

I can't wait to plant those seeds!

Simplicity is What We Make It

2011-09-05T06:45:00.000-04:00

Six episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, that is how I spent a good part of my Sabboth day of rest. What draws us to that show?

For me it has to do with a simpler lifestyle. Family and town folk caring and looking out for each other. A church bizaar or picnic being the focus. Simply sitting on the porch and watching the sun set.

Why is this so hard for us? Why do we allow the world and society around us to push us into their mold of rush, rush, rush and always being active for ... well, active's sake?

We have a farm so time is of the essence for us with all the chores to get done each day. Many lives of both two-legged and four-legged animals depend on us to care for them. That said, it is up to ME to carve out that 'simpler lifestyle' in my day.

How do you do it? How do you make sure that you don't get caught up in the whirlwind of life?

Gods Purpose for Me is Right Under My Nose

2011-08-29T06:58:00.000-04:00

I get hyped up (often it seems) to seek out God's purpose for me. I think of grandiose things like serving in the Sudan or working with Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief full-time. I've considered ministry and have longed to leadership in whatever church I'm attending.

I can't tell you if it is wisdom that comes with age(ing) or if God is finally just able to connect with e through my thick skull after all these years, but I'm starting to understand my purpose better.

It doesn't come with some great plan of things to come but instead comes in the everyday. God wants to use me right here, right now. It may be only speaking to one person today and portraying the love of Christ but it is today.

I'm a planner in general so this is hard for me. Yet I hear God telling me not to forget His purpose for me today while I'm busily planning out tomorrow.

Pray for God to use you TODAY and be open to His leading. If tomorrow comes... repeat!

Matthew 6:34 tells us "Don't worry about tomorrow...". I'm going to set that in my heart today.

Look at what we GOT, not at what we ain't GOT

2011-04-01T06:59:00.005-04:00

OK, I know... the grammar is terrible but I hope that it will ring true with you today. Just finished reading an article in the local paper about the efforts of some to establish a homeless camp in the area to help those that are without a roof over their heads. In reading the article, I could almost hear the NIMBY (not in my back yard) crowd chanting before the County Commission. Oh my, how spoiled we are.

The same thought comes to mind when I see people demanding ONLY organic or the likes and yet so many around the world have no idea IF they are even going to have a meal today. Now I'm not saying that I'm against organically grown food. If that's your thing... OK, but don't demand it on to others.

We are a spoiled people. We want it all and we look down our big fat noses at those who don't have as much as we do and wonder... "what's wrong with them? It's their fault that they're in the mess that they're in."

How fleeting our earthly gains can be. Don't think so, ask anyone that was in northern Japan a month ago.

Walk today with compassion towards those less fortunate. Extend a hand and help. Roll down your window at the stoplight and give him a dollar. Not to make YOU feel better but instead because it is just the right thing to do. Stop with the excuses and reach out to the less fortunate.

The Value of Time

2011-02-12T06:44:00.003-05:00

A song from years back keeps going through my mind...

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

© TIME IN A BOTTLE; CROCE PUBLISHING

This is an incredible love song that really puts emphasis on the value of time. I often think of great people of the past who lived thousands of years ago and yet we still speak of them today. They too had 24 hours in their day just like I do.

I really dislike the saying that "I didn't have time to do (this or that)". It all comes down to priority and not time. Where are your priorities today... that is where you'll find your time.

As Valentines Day is around the corner, guys... take TIME to consider where your priorities lie. I pray that you will find them in:
#1 God
#2 Your Wife
#3 Your Children

Be deliberate this Valentine's Day to spend time with your Bride. Shower her with your time...

Do You Hear What I Hear???

2010-12-21T06:26:00.004-05:00

Christmas Tunes flood the airwaves. What a wonderful time of year. Even the most secular places have music wafting through the air telling of Christ's coming to earth to save all who call on Him to be their Savior.

I hear so many passages in the Bible ringing in my ears this morning. Certainly the accounts in the Gospels of Mary, Joseph and Bethlehem. But also verse after verse after verse throughout the Old Testament fortelling the coming of Christ.

I also hear the verses that speak of Christ's second coming and the events that surround them. Looking back at this past year, it has been an incredible one for natural disasters around the world. The earth is rumbling more than ever in modern times. Earthquakes, floods, fire, extreme drought, extreme cold and blizzards, extreme heat... the list goes on and on.

The rumors of war are increasing daily with a furvor that I don't believe has been felt since the 1940's. The difference today though is the number of countries that have nuclear capabilites. North Korea is a hot bed right now and they are itching to prove their 'superiority' to the world. The UN doesn't believe that Iran has nuclear weapons. I disagree and am afraid that Iran not only has nuclear weapons but is preparing for a battle with Israel to bring forth the 12th Iman as noted in their koran.

Even Joel's prophecies in the Old Testament brought forth some foretelling news as a good portion of the modern world saw the moon turn blood red last night in a spectacular eclipse.
I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved. (Joel 2:30-32)

Do any of these things say "yep, yep, yep it's going to happen soon"? No, not particularly but we are given a blueprint of end times throughout the Bible. The blueprint DOES resemble the events of 2010.

Do you hear what I hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song
High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepard boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light

("Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song written in October 1962 with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair were married at the time, and wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.)

Why is Grandparenting so much different than Parenting?

2010-12-12T19:19:00.005-05:00

I became a Grandfather ("Papa") this past week for the first time. What an incredible experience! The feelings in my heart are useless to try to put into words. It just won't do them justice. Suffice it to say, I am awestruck to see my daughter bring a new little life into this world. A little bundle of joy that is totally dependent on my daughter and her husband.

I am also brought to the realization of the importance of having a firm foundation on the Rock of Salvation, Jesus Christ. My daughter and her husband will depend on that and this precious little granddaughter will also depend on it. More than ever before, I must be the Man of Integrity that God has called me to be.

Reading in Habakkuk 3 and Revelation 3 this morning and I am reminded of what mankind looks like when they are lukewarm in their Christian walk. It's ugly to say the least. You wander aimlessly for the most part trying to do life on your own only to mess up time and time again.

Yet God wants to fight our battles for us. He wants us to put our full trust in Him as we walk through each day. How will that look for this new Grandfather? I am determined to start each day with prayer for each member of my family. I will be silent enough in my prayers to listen to what God has to say to me. Whatever battles they may have before them, I will ask God to intercede.

I am more determined than ever to be the Man of Integrity that God has called me to be. My wife depends on it. Both of my daughters depend on it. Both of my sons-in-law depend on it. Now a beautiful newborn granddaughter depends on it. AND, a granddaughter that is due in February will also depend on it some day.

Only with God's strength can I accomplish this task. If I try to do it in my on flesh, I will be only lukewarm at best. I must depend on God wholly and completely.

Simply: Living the Life: The Prayer Pin Reminder

2010-12-02T06:42:00.000-05:00

Simply: Living the Life: The Prayer Pin Reminder: "As I was putting on my sneakers this morning, I caught sight of something that I tend to ignore. Attached to one of my laces is a small, br..."

Disc Golf - Christmas is Coming!!!

2010-11-24T08:58:00.005-05:00

With Christmas around the corner, you may want to consider introducing a new sport to a family member or loved one. I've been playing disc golf for several years and it is a blast and a great alternative to regular golf which gave me no end of grief! Check out Clint Henderson's site http://www.discgolfstation.com/ for gift giving ideas.

Blessings!

Are you limiting God?

2010-11-18T07:01:00.005-05:00

I came across a Bible verse this morning that I didn't understand at first.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)

My first thought was "huh?" and I started to skip over the verse but was drawn back to it. After further study I found that Paul is simply saying that if I should fear anything as a follower of Christ, it should simply be that I place limits in my mind of what God can do!

I find that I tend to place God in a small box. This box has sides and a top that are all within my scope of reality and understanding. Do you do the same? Why is it that we do that and say at the same time that God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and without bounds?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... (Eph 3:20 NIV)

My prayer this morning was that I come to know the Father for who He really is. One without bounds and limits.

Cholera in Haiti

2010-11-15T06:46:00.003-05:00

My family celebrated an early Thanksgiving yesterday because we have a nephew in the U.S. Navy that will be heading out to sea before the end of the month.

As we eat and enjoy our time together, a mere 600 miles or so away, a nightmare is taking place in the country of Haiti. Cholera has taken hold of the population in most of the regions. It is now affecting those in the capital of Port-au-Prince where tent cities have been the norm since the devastating earthquake in the spring of this year.

My heart is joyous and thankful for where we are and were we're not. Yet, many have put their regular lives on the line and have answered the call to go and help. Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse) has been in the country providing crucial life-saving aid since the earthquake. Today as I write, they continue to answer God's call to reach out to others. Not only are they building homes, removing rubble, providing sanitary water supplies and crucial aid; their medical treatment facilities are providing aid for the masses that are approaching their doors and tent flaps needing critical aid for cholera. Hours make a difference between life and death.

Please consider a donation to Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse) as they continue to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ in Haiti providing life-saving relief.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Tilling my Mind

2010-11-13T06:59:00.002-05:00

Reading Titus 2 today, I am reminded of the following...

God wants me to be of sound mind, controlled and alert. Tilling my mind should be like tilling the soil in the garden. Remove any weeds that have taken root. Don't let it go even for a while because it easily gets out of control. Be diligent, steadfast and prompt. Don’t just break off the top of the weeds but dig deeply and remove them by their roots. Sow the seeds of truth, righteousness and faith in straight rows. Fertilize them with daily time with God and His word.

Operation Christmas Child

2010-10-22T21:52:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow my Wife and I will take part in a Family Fun Day to spread the news about Operation Christmas Child. This ministry of Samaritans Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) takes shoeboxes and sends them full of gifts around the world! What is so incredible about this ministry is that the Gospel message goes with each shoebox to millions of children who have never heard about Jesus.

Take some time to go on-line to Samaritans Purse website and find a collection location near you. You only need to enter your zip code. You may also 'pack a shoebox' on-line if you don't have the time. Its a great family tradition to start today!

Christianity - A Process and Not a Destination

2010-10-22T08:21:00.004-04:00

As I was reading Galatians 5 -6 this morning, I came across the 'Fruit of the Spirit'.

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"

I am reminded that becoming a Christian (Christ follower) is not a destination. There is never a point when we have arrived. Yet, it is more of a process that is not unlike a traveling. We are always striving toward the perfection of Christ, knowing that we can never achieve it until we are indeed at our destination which is heaven and in His presence.

Don't ever think that a church membership, baptism or other ritual will get you to the point that you are at your destination. All are well and good but they are yet part of the process of traveling toward Christ.

Instead, strive toward integrity by keeping Christ-centered. Paul tells us in Galatians that we can do this by focusing on the fruits of the spirit.... love, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I wrote those on a 3 x 5 card today and will carry them with me. How will you focus your heart on the fruits of the spirit?

Agriculture - Foundational to Society

2010-10-21T09:25:00.003-04:00

My wife and I just returned from the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo in Moultrie, GA. It was a fun and enlightening two days as we wandered among the equipment and new and innovative ideas to make farming more productive and sustainable.

I can't help to think of the disconnect that our society in the United States has with where their food originates. As political pressure increases from groups that claim 'environmentalism' as the end all means of thought and purpose, I am saddened to see the vast valley between their views and the foundational environmental views of the farmer which he/she has had since God placed man on earth. The farmer understands the environment intimately as it is the basis for his production of food or fiber. He understands and respects the delicate balance that is needed to protect what God provided through nature because an imbalance will mean total failure.

I am proud to be a farmer and to support farmers through what I do in my waking hours. They are a group of people that have faith in measures that are incredible as they sow, till and harvest the 'fruit of the land'. They have no problem believing in God and place an untold amount of faith in Him.

Agriculture is foundational to any society. Review history and where you see agriculture fail due to weather or politics, the failure of the country is not far behind.

The Seed

2010-10-03T07:15:00.004-04:00

I spent most of yesterday in the garden (as my body can attest to today). We are blessed in Florida with growing conditions that almost encompass the entire year. In fact, the hardest time for me to grow anything is in the dead of summer when it is just too wet and hot.

The weather yesterday was perfect... mid 80's and sunny. I spent several hours behind a 'scuffle' hoe removing weeds and then a couple of hours putting new seeds in the ground.

As I dropped each seed into the soil after making the perfect hole (I like to use the eraser end of a pencil), I thought about all that is within that little seed. All of its DNA for life is in there, just waiting to come out and show itself to me. God designed and perfect! Each corn seed will become a corn plant, each lettuce seed will become a lettuce plant and so on.

I was thinking that indeed God designed us the same way... with HIS DNA! We are to grow in the likeness of God and He sent His Son, Jesus to give us an example.

I have two grandchildren on the way, each starting as a mere 'seed' and now growing into the likeness of Christ within my daughters. Amazing!

I look forward to seeing my corn "pop up in rows" and I look forward to beautiful little girls from my daughters and their husbands in the months to come. From God all blessings flow...

God Ways are SO Much Better

2010-10-01T21:41:00.003-04:00

I am reminded tonight of just how much God's ways are better than our ways. We think we have it all together and our lives are in control. Yet, how much control do we really have on our lives.

Lately, I just have not been consistently focusing on God. I go through the motions and I roll through the day. The sun sets... the sun rises and I do it all over again. My prayers have been only so-so and my Bible study has been more routine than really seeking and searching for God's direction.

It has been many, MANY months since I've posted here and it took a person that read one of my older posts to bring me back to reality, back to the drifting that I was doing. It is AMAZING that God loves me so much that he used a man in another part of the country to bring me back to my senses.

Thank you to this person for jolting me back to what is really reality (a life walking hand in hand with God) and what isn't (the day-to-day of this world).

My life is but a weaving between my God and me...

Don't Trip on Today While Looking at the Horizon

2010-01-11T10:30:00.004-05:00

The past few months can be summed up by one phrase --- "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalms 46:10). I have spent a lot of time just thinking, just pondering, just being still. Last year I spent so much time looking to the horizons asking God where He wants Kay and I to be and what He wants us to be doing. I want to please Him more than anything. Should we be somewhere else serving You, God? How can You make that happen? Where will the resources come from? What do we need to do to prepare? The questions go on-and-on.

I have found that this process is equivalent to looking through binoculars at the horizon. Have you ever tried to go the daily things that today requires while holding the binoculars up to your eyes? Sooner or later your going to trip and probably hurt someone or something!

One verse keeps coming to mind, "For I know the plans that I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) With that in mind, I have come to realize that I my focus was in the wrong place. Certainly, I should not walk looking only at my feet either but God has given us an incredible ability to look ahead and see both what is ahead of us several steps away as well as well ahead of us. God has given me today, He has not promised tomorrow. What am I doing for Him today in the place that He has set me in history? How can I witness of God's saving grace in a loving way to those that I meet by chance today in an appointment or even at the gas station? How can I reach out to my wife, my daughters and their husbands today ... those that God has entrusted to my spiritual care?

I am learning how to 'refocus my focus'! Help me in this area, please God. I want to honor You in my thoughts, my words and my actions.

Where do you find your focus? I'd love to hear from you.

Changing Winds - The Calling of God

2009-11-09T06:44:00.004-05:00

The past two months have almost been surreal in nature. God has changed us in so many ways and shown us different ways to look at His calling in our lives. I am starting to understand how the soon to be disciples "dropped left their nets and followed Him" (Matthew 4:20). The nets are a symbolism of the things that hold you back from being sold out and following Jesus completely.

My (not speaking for my wife although she too has some of the same) nets have been plenty as I live comfortably here in Florida on a farm. We have been attending a church where we felt everyone needed to be hearing the word from 'our' pastor. I have a job that is secure which is incredible in these insecure times. Our daughters and their devoted husbands are close by and well within reach. Yet, with all of this, we have felt 'called out' by God.

Our farm belongs to God. We have determined that in our hearts for years. We have felt the call to develop our farm into a outreach for missionaries to use for training and furlough. It has not gone as far as we dreamed but along the same token, we have hosted several missionaries and learned a lot about different types of farming and animal husbandry. Are WE the missionaries that will use this farm as a primary place of training and furlough?

Due to some external circumstances beyond our control, we no longer attend the church where at the time, we felt that everyone needed to be. Instead, we are attending a much smaller church where the Word of God is preached and indeed feel 'at home' among the people even though we know almost no one.

Wow, how can that be? I'm really starting to understand 'the church'. You see when Paul was writing to 'the church' in Galatia or Corinth, he was not writing to one church. He was writing to the followers of Christ in a region. There would have been many small groups of believers to whom Paul was writing. I have come to understand this lately. Being a believer in Christ and a devoted Christ follower is not about A church but about ministering to His kingdom.

We both work extensively with Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse. We have also been introduced this past year to the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators and their support organizations such as Wycliffe Associates and JAARS. Our hearts have been drawn towards countries in Africa such as Sudan and Ghana.

God, where are you calling us to go? I now understand that wherever you call us to be, you are already there. The road that you are asking us to travel, your footsteps are there to guide us. God, stretch me out of my comfort zone and into your zone of service and protection. Where you lead, I will follow.

May the following video be your prayer as it is mine.

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=c8d315e08ff1ddf7db8f

Turning Fear and Anxiety into Trust

2009-09-22T07:55:00.005-04:00

I have been studying Learning to Pray by Billy Graham in my devotion time each day. The chapter that I'm in presently is 'Emotions that defeat us'. When he started talking about worry and fear, it started really hitting home. This is an area that I really struggle with. I know the promises that God has for me in the Bible yet I do not live them out. With that in mind and wishing to share my heart with you, what follows is an exerpt from my journal today:

Bible Study:
In speaking about emotions that defeat us, Billy Graham says that when our lives are "overrun by fear, we can easily become paralyzed. We also fail to trust God when we allow worry and fear to dominate us." This is one of the biggest things for me. Fear and doubt. Why?

Proverbs 22:3 "A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." Have I done my part? If so, am I willing to allow God to protect and guide me?

Dangers can come from things seen and things unseen. 1 Peter 5:8 says to "be self-controlled and alert, you enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

When fear and worry are present, God's peace is absent. I must learn to trust God's promises. They are throughout the Bible. What do I fear the most? Believe it or not, I think I fear the lack of God's provision. How stupid of me. God has always come through, yet I fear … hmm, I fear that I will make a decision that is outside of His will that He will not provide for and I will jeopardize our finances.

Another area is direction in Kay's and my life. I am the spiritual leader yet I feel so inadequate.

Billy Graham speaks of Psalm 118:6 "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" I don't fear man but instead it looks like I fear myself! Can I rephrase this verse to read "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can I do to me"?

Fear and faith work against each other because they are mutually exclusive. Could it be that I cannot live in faith because I've never really had too? Or have I and yet I didn't recognize it as living in faith?

Steps to change:
1. Turn my anxiety and fear over to God
a. Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
b. 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
2. Stand on God's promises
a. Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""
b. Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
c. John 16:33 "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
3. Pray diligently
a. The end result of inviting God to live THROUGH me is found in Philippians 4:6 - 7 "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."

Prayer:
Dear God in heaven, creator of the heavens and the earth. King of kings and Lord of lords, you know everything and you know my heart, God. I love you so and want to be the absolute best servant that I can be for you. Yet, doubt in myself is holding me back from living in faith. I am grasping on to what is tangible and not reaching out to you like I should. If Peter did the same, he would have never taken a step outside of the boat.

God, my Father, give me the faith of Peter. Give me the courage to step out. God, you have called me to lead my family. We have so much to do here on earth. The fields are abundantly white for harvest and you have given us the tools that we need to harvest the crop… Our farm, our work with the church body, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan's Purse, Wycliffe Associates. Oh my… Lord God, please guide us… guide me as the spiritual leader. Help me to trust in you more daily. May I have a hunger for your word that passes all understanding. God I don't want to be anxious about anything but I want to present all my requests to you that I may have the peace that you are so willing to provide. God, guide me today. Amen.

Prayer - As Vital as Food and Air

2009-09-11T07:39:00.003-04:00

I am studying prayer in my Bible study and it is incredibly enlightening to me. I am learning that it is not an 'accessory' to a victorious Christian life but as absolutely vital as food and air. If that is the case, why do most Christ Followers treat it like a map folded in the glove box?

What follows is some of what I wrote in my devotions today. I am posting it here because, well truthfully I feel that God is leading me to do so. I pray that it will be enlightening to you as you also seek God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.

Yesterday:
Just an ok kind of day. Governing board meeting and the like. Left my wallet @ home so it was a day without meals until I got home. My mind just kind of existed and I didn't have any formidable conversation with God. And I feel it too… my spirit's fuel tank is running on low. All I wanted to do when I came home was to sleep.

Bible Study:
Studying about the 'process of prayer'. It starts with a 'broken and contrite heart' (Psalms 51:17). God will only hear my prayers and will only be open to my conversation with Him if I am of the right mind. This is why confession is towards the front of any prayer. ACTS A-adoration, C-confession, T-thanksgiving, S-supplication. This is not a magic formula but it is vital to approach a perfect God.
Romans 12:2 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.' The 'renewing of my mind' involves prayer.

Billy Graham says "It is apparent that prayer, when prioritized in the Christian life, is the difference between thriving Christians and struggling Christians. If you find yourself struggling, take a close look at your prayer life. In doing so, you'll rediscover the key to growing stronger in your faith." Wow, yesterday was perfect example of a 'struggling Christian' kind of day… blah, no direction, and it affected every part of my day! Prayer should be as necessary to me as breathing and eating… an necessary and vital part of my life.

Prayer:
God, my Lord and my Savior, you reign supreme. Nothing occurs without your knowledge. It all becomes confusing to us when we see things happen because you have allowed mankind to have free will. We question 'why' when we see suffering yet you provided free will to allow us to love you. Forgive me, Lord when I let my free will just allow me to coast through the day without acknowledging you and asking you for direction and guidance. Forgive me for not just communing with you throughout the day. You want to guide me and yet I treat you like a road map left in the glove box. God, please forgive me. God, I come to you with a heart and mind that yearns to be led by you. Holy Spirit, please take my hand and guide me today.

God, I have been feeling overwhelmed this week. You gave us such a wonderful time of rest and reflection last weekend in North Carolina and Tuesday hit me like a brick wall and it has been that way all week. Each day drained me a little more and now it is now Friday and God, I am tired… out of fuel. I know that it is because I have not been pulling up to your 'fuel pump' to be refreshed and refilled via prayer. Forgive me, God.

So many things are on my mind regarding the farm and how to make things happen. The fencing for the hogs and the sheep fold, walling in the shelter to create a lambing shelter, a barn, a way to pay for it all. God, if it weighs me down, it is obviously because I am not giving these concerns to you. God, I am sorry and ask for forgiveness. Help me to learn to become a victorious Christian through prayer. Not for my glory but for yours.

Thank you, God for loving us so that you gave your one and only Son for us. Thank you… Amen.

America - The Modern Day Judah

2009-08-20T06:41:00.002-04:00

I was reading 2 Kings 24 - 25 this morning. The troops are destroying Judah, killing masses of people and taking the rest captive back to Babylon. Only a few are left to tend the land. Judah gets destroyed just as the prophets predicted.

Bottom-line, if God says it then it's going to happen! 2 Kings 24:3 spells it out clearly. "Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord's command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood." Our Holy God cannot withstand sin in His presence. If He did, He would not be Holy.

The blood of 3500 innocent unborn babies are shed each and every day in this country as a result of abortion. How long until America is like Judah in God's eyes. I will add America to my prayer list today. It makes me think of 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land".

Will we repent as a nation or will we be "thrust from His presence" (2 Kings 24:20) due to the Lord's anger.

Sheep

2009-07-28T06:56:00.000-04:00

I sit here this morning looking out over our sheep thinking of how David did the same thing 3000 years ago. They depend on us for food, water, and safety. Alone, they are helpless and destined to die prematurely due to starvation, dehydration, disease, or predator. We are also the same in God's eyes. Yet, he does not fence us in but allows us to have free will to come and go from under his protection. It is amazing to watch these guys in this lush pasture reaching through the fence because I guess 'the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence'. Without fences, we as Christ Followers can do the same if we do not have our eyes on our Creator.

Gardening

2009-07-10T07:13:00.004-04:00

I was reading Isaiah 5 - 8 this morning. What follows is an excerpt from what was written in my journal.

Bible Study:

God carefully tends us as a farmer lovingly tends his vineyard. He prunes us and cultivates the weeds away from our roots to allow us to grow to our fullest potential. How does my yield look for Him? Am I doing my best?

One of my very favorite verses in the Bible is found in Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said “Here am I. Send me!”

Wait upon the Lord, put my trust in Him. Isaiah was a great prophet that I can tell was in ‘tune’ with God and what He had to say. How can I emulate that in my life? Wait upon the Lord and put my trust in Him. Clear out anything that is a barrier between me and God. Develop my focus to be on Him as a farmer tends his crop.

This is making me think of our vegetable garden. We have had a hard time cultivating an abundant crop of vegetables. The lack of nutrients in the soil (Bible study/Prayer), weeds and pests (Sins of commission as well as sins of omission. Things in my life that certainly are not bad in themselves yet they consume my time and energy thus keeping me away from God’s plan for me to be abundant for Him). How do I change this in the garden. I must start with sterile soil (forgiveness of sins). Before planting my crop I need to test the soil and add the correct nutrients to promote seed germination and growth (consistent study and prayer). As my crop grows and develops, I must be diligent to check for pests everyday (sin). These pests (weeds, insects, whatever) must be removed… one by one if need be. If the crops grow tall, I need to support them with trellises or stakes (supporting those that are actively spreading the Gospel). Harvest comes with thanksgiving to the One that made it all possible (praise/worship).

Our garden this fall will be different. It will not be choked with weeds and pests. We will be diligent on a daily basis. I pray for my life to be likewise.

Prayer:

My precious Father, my Redeemer, you are too glorious to fathom. You see all, you know all, you are everywhere and yet you know my heart, my thoughts and you wish to commune with me. My King, I worship you. I deserve death and you give me life, I am nothing and yet you scoop me into your arms with a love that is beyond comprehension.

Forgive me, Lord for not tending the garden of my life. Help me to start again even today to carefully cultivate, test and plant with loving care. Help me to see the pests and to not ignore but to take action immediately to remove the pests from my garden. I ask all of this that I may produce an abundant crop of souls for your kingdom. Help me to be ever-learning and ever-seeking your direction for my life. Amen.

I pray that these words may encourage you. If they do, please take time to encourage me as we can both grow towards what God is calling us to do by supporting each other.

Blessings...

Time - 24 Hours

2009-06-19T07:30:00.004-04:00

Time...

We are all given 24 hours of it each day. How we use this time determines what we will look back on as accomplishments after the day ends.

I wrestle with this because I always doubt myself when it comes to time management. I want to be doing the things that God wants me to do, yet so often I look back and wonder if I have wasted yet another day.

Should I outline my day to be efficient? Should I set one or two priorities each day? Should I just "let it flow"?

'There is a time for everything...' (Ecc 3:1) This verse speaks about time and how precious it is to each of us. This chapter though seems to speak of the key pinnacles of time where big decisions are made. OK, but what about today? It is just a normal day... hey wait, doesn't most EVERYDAY start as just a normal day?

Two passages in the Bible are really speaking to me this morning though as they reference this 'normal' day ahead of me.

The first one is Romans 13:11-12 which says "...understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." I am to be alert to God's guidance and not dragging around half alert. I can plan my day but I need to be aware of the times that God REdirects me during the day. This passage also tells me to pay attention to what is happening in the world today. "Understanding the present time" to me doesn't mean to worry about the politics around the world but I should pay attention as it will help me to prioritize my tasks.

The second passage about time that is Hosea 10:12. "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." Sow, reap, and break up unplowed ground. In relationships, always be tending the garden as you would your flower garden. Is it full of weeds and pests or beautiful flowers? In my daily walk... my 24 hours, tend my time with care as to make the most of today. I need to take time to aim for the completion of tasks that God has laid on my heart as important to Him. It could be reaching out to another as I am seeking to do in this post. It could be as 'mundane' as mowing the yard or doing the laundry.

How am I doing? How are you doing? Do you have some weeding to do in your plans today? I pray that you do. May we all be alert to the gift of TODAY. God has given us 24 hours. How will you use this precious gift?

Grand Canyon

2009-05-25T13:17:00.000-04:00

Kay and I are on our way back from an incredible trip to Arizona and the Grand Canyon. We saw sights that cannot be put into words. We learned about many of the Native American people that have inhabited this area for thousands of years.

I look forward to taking time to study more about this land and its peoples. I look forward coming back and hiking some of the canyon as well as going into the canyon on a mule.

It is a trip that I will cherish always.

Retooling my DevotionalTime

2009-05-17T06:32:00.004-04:00

How many of you have those times when you just can't seem to get out of first gear with your daily devotions. I've been that way lately and some mornings I can't even get out of Park!

For the last year-and-a-half I've been using a really cool Bible reading plan (http://eword.gospelcom.net/year/31/cjan01.htm). It is a chronological reading of the Bible. What is so cool about it is that there are so many portions of the Bible that deal with the same time period and same events yet they are books apart in the Bible. This reading plan pulls them together.

That being said, it is time for something different. I don't want to do the 'ol read a short passage and then read a 'relevant' story of today either though. That to me isn't studying the Bible. It is equivalent to listening to a sermon where the pastor reads a short passage then takes off on a story for the rest of the sermon. In these situations, the Bible is only being used as a springboard instead of a textbook on life.

No, I need to come up with something different. What is coming to mind right off and is using my study notes from the weekly message from my church as a focus area. I usually have no less than 20 Bible references and passages included in my notes. Journaling on that may be an interesting option. What do you think?

One other practice that I will continue though is reading a chapter of Psalms and Proverbs each day. This allows me to read Psalms close to 5 times per year and Proverbs 12 times per year.

What kind of plan do you have? If you don't have one, consider the one above. Remember, if you don't aim for a goal, you'll likely miss the mark!

Blessings as we all learn together from the Textbook on Life... God's Word... The Bible.

Abundant Blessings Farm and Missions

2009-04-30T06:43:00.006-04:00

God has a great plan for our farm, I just know it. Actually, it is HIS farm and we are just caretakers... let me tell you about it.

It is 20 acres west of Vero Beach, Florida. Citrus surrounds the farm and we also have 7 acres of citrus. We also have three pastures which will soon be home to a small herd of sheep. We have chickens and a vegetable garden. God has given us heaven on earth but He has given this to us for a reason.

We are being led to develop this farm into a place where missionaries can come and go. A place of furlough, , a place of agricultural training, a place of peace and rest.

It is exciting and we have had several missionaries stay with us already over the past couple of years. We feel led to do more though. A barn needs to be built that will be for the farm. This barn will not only be for the farm itself but will have the facilities to hold meetings and small get togethers. It will be a place of worship and teaching, a place of fellowship and revelation.

I've been studying faith lately and am amazed at the ways Christ Followers have step out of the boat and walked on water in so many regards and in so many ways. How can I do that with this barn... How can we do this with this farm! I don't see where the finances will come from. (hmm, faith)? I don't see the logistics to make it happen. (hmm, faith)? I don't see how I can get this vision out to others. (hmm, faith)? I just seem to be in the land of "I don't..." instead of in the land of taking a step and seeing what God CAN do.

Please lift this venture up in your prayers and if you have any comments or suggestions, we would love to hear them. You can reply to this blog or email me directly at kb4plh@yahoo.com.

Blessings...

Green - The New Religion

2009-04-22T06:42:00.003-04:00

Religion (a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects).

I watch each day as the 'green' environmental movement gains steam in the United States and elsewhere and have determined that this is the religion that is gaining steam the fastest.

It is being taught... albeit indoctrinated in our preschools, kindergardens, elementary, middle and high schools. Many pastors are preaching green from the pulpits. We are spending billions in the government and public sectors to be 'green'... while at the same time, billions are starving around the world due to hunger.

Where is our balance? Where is our reasoning? Do we now care more about some microbe that scientists have determined is nearing extinction than humankind?

I care plenty about this beautiful globe that God has placed us on. In Genesis, God tells us that we are to care for the earth and the creatures under our care. I don't see anywhere where we are to elevate their status above mankind.

Pull back and think, please! Sure, we need to do all we can to preserve what God has given us but within reason.

As Earth Day (yep... green) approaches, think about the 6.7 Billion people that are on the earth and how we can help them. God will take care of the rest... yes, he is able.

A New Mission Vision Emerging?

2009-03-25T06:19:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been digging deep into the Word of God and exploring what God is speaking to me through His text. I am also in the midst of taking a class on Missions and filtering what I'm learning there through what I see in today's society and the movement of our country.

My wife and I have a vision from God that we are to turn our small farm (actually His farm) into a place where missionaries can stop over during their furloughs to rest, relax and recharge. In addition, we see the farm as an opportunity to extend basic training in crop production and animal care to those that are in need of additional training.

Watching how our country is spiraling from a democratic republic towards socialism and beyond though has given me a new vision. Our focus thus far has been toward helping those that have been sent from the United States to other countries and are back in the U.S. on furlough. Could it be though that God actually wants us to stay put here while our country sinks deeper to be a stopover and source of support to foreign missionaries coming to the United States? Could the United States be the next big mission field?

No matter what the answer, we want to be obedient to the call. All we have is His and we want to use the resources entrusted to us for His glory and for His Kingdom. Time is short and the second coming of Christ is neigh. There are billions of souls out there that are destined to an eternity in hell if they do not hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am ready to be used by God today, are you?

Spreading the Gospel is Not an Option

2009-03-20T05:31:00.004-04:00

I went to my first 'Missions 101' class at my church last night. My church is big-time into missions and sends people constantly around the world on short and long-term missions. Although these trips many times are designed around a building project or whatever, the primary purpose of all missions trips is evangelism... spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19 says "go..." and it does not make it optional. Whether my mission field is local with someone I meet today or global via an Operation Christmas Child shoebox or a trip around the world, I am to spread the Gospel.

Until now I have always thought that I'll spread the Gospel when I am trained and yes, I should work towards that goal but I can still use the knowledge that God has given me to spread the Gospel today also. A person that I meet today may die tonight! If I do not allow God to reach them through me, their eternal life may be spent in hell! Oh my...

Today is the day of salvation. Christ Followers, today is the day to spread the Gospel. God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and strength (1 Timothy 1:7 - 12).

Today is the day.

EACH Day is Precious

2009-03-01T19:19:00.003-05:00

I found out last night that my father-in-law has cancer. The Big "C". That kind of news is common to many of you and you may even be the one with cancer. At work, my executive director will be having surgery (yet again) for cancer. Each day is precious...

Today, more that 850,000,000 people are either hungry or starving... a little under 1/6 of the world's population. Each day is precious... and critical for their survival.

Today, many people died without hearing about the ONLY way to heaven... by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Each day is precious...

Coyotes

2009-02-16T07:16:00.003-05:00

Last night on the farm was somewhat busy and restless as we have our closest encounter with coyotes since we have been here. I didn't hear them but Gustav (our nighttime guard dog) and Kay heard what sounded like plenty of them. I'm used to hearing them yelp in the distance but Kay said they were close and were not only yelping but howling.

Kay woke me as I had already gone to bed and I went out into the pasture at midnight to check on the animals (all of which were fine). I listened for about twenty minutes and then fired off a couple of warning shots with my shotgun to scare them away if they were still around. The rest of the night was filled with light sleeping but it was quiet.

It makes me think about the spiritual battlefield that where we are all presently standing. Just like a sheep in our pasture with coyotes stalking around in the dark; we are sheep in a pasture with satan's demonic forces stalking about.

There is one vital difference though. As Christ Followers, we are protected from the stalking forces by the Holy Spirit. We must be on our guard with the armor of God on our bodies and realize that we are indeed on a battlefield but the battle is not ours to fight, it is God's and he will fight for us. We must just be prepared.

I am so thankful that I have a God that cares enough about me to be my Shepherd and my defender.

In God We Trust

2009-02-11T07:07:00.003-05:00

As I read news of 300 people being laid off from Piper Aircraft in my little town of Vero Beach, Florida, I am reminded of the motto that is on the coins and paper money in the United States of America.

"In God We Trust" is something that our eyes probably glance on every day. Do we REALLY trust God though. Sure, it is easy to say that I trust God during the good times when money is in our bank accounts and we are healthy. But what about when the money is short and there is no job available? Do we continue to trust God in the same way?

The Israelites HAD to trust God for their daily provisions when they were in the desert for forty years, they had no other choice. Can I do the same? Am I called to do the same EVEN when I do have a good job, bills are being paid and my family is healthy and happy? I believe that we are indeed called to trust the same way.

I have to admit that it is difficult though and as we read Exodus, it was hard for the Israelites then also. That does not diminish what I SHOULD be doing. God, help us in our unbelief that you will provide... that you will sustain... that you will provide a way. God, please come to the point of our need.

Spiritiually Leading Takes Responsibility

2009-02-04T07:20:00.002-05:00

As the husband and father in my family, I am called by God to be the Spiritual Leader of my family. I see this extending even to my two son-in-law's as they in turn develop spiritual leadership in their new families.

I was reminded this morning in my quiet time how much responsibility that this entails. Just as Moses was the spiritual leader of the Isrealites during the forty years in the desert, I am to be a lead and guide to my family to constantly point them to God. My pastor said it well in church several weeks ago... He (God) is the Shepherd and spiritual leaders are the under-shepherds that help guide the flock.

As a Spiritual Leader, I must take responsibility when someone under my care falls. Where did I fall short and how can I change to become a better leader? How can I help to lift them back up and place them back on God's path for their life?

I was reminded of how I let distractions enter into my personal time with God. I have made some changes that will lessen these distractions. Before I start looking at the morning news stories, I will get my devotions and prayer with God done first. Sounds simple enough and I get up early to do just that but so many times, I let the morning news crowd out this time.

One other thing that I am doing is that my prayers will be deliberate and with purpose. Although it isn't a formula for prayer, a good format is known as ACTS. A is adoration, praising God for who He is. C is confession, looking back at yesterday and confessing the times that I have fallen short of His goals for me. T is thanksgiving, thanking Him that He is a God of second chances. Finally, S is for supplication. Not focusing on things that I want but things that I need to do His work. Lifting others in intercessory prayer. As the spiritual leader of my household, lifting my family in each of the activities going on in their lives.

I'm being deliberate in my prayers by writing them down and then kneeling in a submission to God, praying them out loud to Him. I'm doing this to keep distractions to a minimum. If I am voicing my prayers, my mind is not wandering on dozens of other things. I want to be focused totally... completely on Him.

Dissappointment or Success

2009-01-29T04:16:00.003-05:00

The past several days have been ones of mixed emotions. I applied for a promotion with my company when my Director left for another job. I knew that I have the qualifications that my company is looking for and was encouraged by many in my industry to seek the position.

I did my homework and studied the issues. I burnt the midnight oil in making sure that I'm up on all the angles. I created one awesome resume (if I say so myself) and received numerous letters of recommendation. I was ready!

But there is one hiccup and that issue lead to my downfall in a promotion. My superiors wanted the position to be based out of a different city that is three hours away from where I presently live. I came up with what I felt was a reasonable compromise but in the end, I was passed over due to this issue.

I prayed often about making the move but God told me over and over again "no, you are where I want you to be right now". So, I am disappointed that I was not offered the promotion but I feel relief and successful that I am within God's will in this area of my life. I could have chased the increase in pay but in the long run, being outside of God's will is not where I want to be.

The past several days have been filled with mixed emotions.

Making the Most of Today

2009-01-13T17:06:00.002-05:00

I’ll be finishing Kirk Nowery’s book, Make the Most of Your Life today. It is a very interesting book that is not like the time management and life management books that are on most bookstore shelves.

Kirk speaks of making the most of your life from an eternal perspective as a Christ follower. He stresses Jesus’ words about how we need to be viewing even the mundane daily activities from an eternal perspective.

I know that this is how I should live and it will be an interesting exercise as I look at my waking hours and the things that I think, say, and do. You see, I ‘know’ that I should operate in this manner but knowing and putting into practice are many times two different things.

This will involve commitment to give my life to God as I wake each morning then following through on my devotions and time to study the Bible and spend time in prayer (conversation) with God. If it is a weekday, I then will need to look at my schedule and my to-do list and ask God if I need to make changes that will better accommodate what He wants me to do. Then as I go through the day I must be open to His direction which may seem like detours to me. This will be hard at first as I tend to get ‘tunnel focus’ looking only at what I have before me. I must do a better job of not only expanding my vision but also expanding my audible senses to hear others and God.

Are you also trying to ‘Make the Most of Your Life’ using God’s perspective instead of your own? Tell me about your experiences. Maybe we can encourage each other along.

Blessings to you as you journey out today!

The Alamo

2009-01-11T21:58:00.003-05:00

I had the unique opportunity to visit The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas today. It is the location where 185 brave men joined together in a single cause willingly giving their lives against an army of several thousand because they felt that freedom was worth fighting and dying for.

It is sacred ground. The building itself is now considered a shrine in honor of those that died as it well should be. The history was palatable as I walked around the place and on the grounds where the battle occurred.

Two things concerned me though as I was there. First was the tourist atmosphere that surrounded the grounds where The Alamo is located. One tourist shop after another, Ripley's Believe It or Not, on and on and on. Is this how we as a society view such a honorable and sacred location?

The second concern on my mind is how these men ... these ordinary men, from all walks of life, stood together for a single purpose and felt it worth dying for if need be. Certainly we have our young men and women in the military that make that stance and I am so grateful for them but they are indeed, military. What about you... what about me? Ordinary people doing ordinary things from day to day. If the time and the cause arose, would you ... would I lay down my day-to-day routine and be willing to die for a single cause? Is our society willing to do that or have we become to self-centered in our lives.

Chickens, Coffee, Arthritis and Sore Muscles

2009-01-01T07:30:00.003-05:00

The past week has been consumed with building a chicken coop for Kay. I gave her six baby chicks for Christmas and they are presently 'living' in my workshop in a cage. "Peep, peep, peep" is what I constantly hear when I go into my shop and see them staring up at me with one eye. Little do they know that they are going to be moving into a Chicken Mansion soon.

It has been a solid week of designing in my head and trying to make that design a tangible piece of reality. I am amazed at people like my brother who can build just about anything without plans. I'm a planner though and the more detailed the better. I have thought of Noah often over this past week. There was Noah at a time when it had never rained and God told him to build an ark because the rains are coming. Build an ark with no plans. I can imagine that those years of building were filled with conversations with God on plan details.

Believe it or not, my chicken coop had some of the same conversations. I couldn't have done it on my own. I have asked God to guide me through something even as mundane as a chicken coop and He has come through.

It has been a good lesson for me in realizing just how much God wants to be part of our lives everyday.

I don't get carried away about resolutions as the new year comes around. I figure that if it is a good goal to work for, you can resolve on any day of the year to start working in that direction. Be that as it may though, I have resolved to take the lessons learned about including God in even the mundane parts of my life. The conversations have been good and they have provided me comfort, strength, guidance and assurance. That is good and I am thankful that I have a God that wants to spend time with me.

Christ Follower or "Christian"

2008-11-05T21:34:00.001-05:00

I was catching up on Facebook this evening and ran across a post from an Associate Pastor of a United Methodist Church. His comment was "how sad" he was that the voters in Florida chose to limit marriage in the state to between only a man and a woman.

People, it is time to stand up and start to confront people like this! They are leading their flock to HELL by teaching false doctrine and picking and choosing what they wish to present as fact from the Bible.

I believe the WHOLE Bible from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation... every word... EVERY WORD is inspired by God. If I choose to throw out even one sentence, what gives me that right? If I pick and choose, why can't someone else? If we all did that, what good is the Bible to anyone?

Listen and listen up good. I'm angry and SICK AND TIRED of 'pastors' and 'ministers' that are tearing apart the Bible. Watch out for the label "Christian" as it means little in today's society. Lots and lots of churches have church members that use the term Christian very loosely yet have little interest in following Christ by believing the ENTIRE Bible.

If your church is not preaching the entire Bible from the pulpit, run away quickly! This sort of false teaching is rampant in our country and becoming more so by the day.

We are in the end times, time is short. Are you a Christ Follower or just a "Christian"?

Climbing Back Out of the Valley

2008-10-31T07:11:00.002-04:00

This past week or so has personally been a rough one for me. There was not one event or thing that I can point my finger at but it has just been a spiritual valley.

The turning point though was what I heard from a message that I heard at church this past Wednesday evening.

No matter where I am, on top of the mountain or in the midst of a valley, seek God with ALL of my heart. Don't let off!

I found that indeed I had let off. I was having this internal pity party in my head and looking at myself instead of looking up. What I learned in my Bible study from Luke 7 is

My faith in God is what saves me. My faith is what should also guide me and protect me.
Just because I do not 'feel' God's presence, it dosen't me that He is not there.
Keep looking up, keep praising, keep pursuing God... NO MATTER HOW I FEEL.

I'm climbing back out of the valley. I see God's hand reaching down to me and I see the path before me. I walk forward today in faith.

Christians, Do You Have Your Eyes Open?

2008-10-27T21:10:00.004-04:00

We are one week away from the most important Presidential election ever in the United States. This election has the potential to hasten our country towards insignificance and distruction or a path that may (and I do stress 'may') lead toward recovery.

No country in the history of man has ever lasted more than two hundred years where moral values have taken a back seat to personal wants and greed.

If Obama is elected as President a week from tomorrow and if he follows through on his promises to the American people, moral values will plunge. The killing of the unborn through legal abortions (presently at four thousand per day) will continue and be expanded. Restrictions in abortions that were signed into law by President's Clinton and Bush will be recalled. Homosexual 'marriage' will become the law of the land. Rights of free speech will be quelled in the name of tolerance.

Indeed if McCain becomes President, he must prove that he will not continue the distructive spending habits of the Bush administration. He will have a very hard term with what will probably be a Congress that is solidly controlled by the Democrats. We do have the opportunity to start moving back in the moral direction that God's Word speaks of.

So what will it be, those of you who label yourselves "Christian"? Is that just a label or are you true Christ Followers that seek to follow God first and foremost in your life? Do you have the guts to live dangerously by swimming against the flow of the immorality or are you more concerned about the economy and your wallet?

Please pray, fast, and seek God in this election. I love our country and I seek to honor our country by standing with our founding fathers in honoring our Creator.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G or Existing

2008-08-31T16:35:00.002-04:00

I was reminded today of the need to be constantly stretching my relationship with God. If I am to live on the edge... to live dangerously for God and put my full trust in His ability, I must remove myself from my comfort zone.

How often do you go to church not really expecting to learn anything new that can be applied to your life. And of those times, how often are your expectations confirmed. I wish to challenge you (and me) to think outside of the box. Go with great expectation and KNOW that God will deliver direction and purpose!

Satan is alive and well and is lulling us into a sense of contentment and satisfaction going through the same old routine. Both my wife and I have an intense heart for missions, both local and worldwide. Even when we are working in our mission field, I have noticed that we must not become complacent. We must be ready for change. God will lead us in one direction for a season and then lead us in a different direction. I am working on being able to comprehend when God changes my direction. I must not become too burdened with 'stuff' that it is hard for me to change.

My wife is already in full-time missions. Will there come a time when He too will call me to that field? I feel that the answer is 'yes' and I must be ready.

What are you doing in your mission field? Is God stretching you to reach out in new areas or are you merely existing?

Get Up Off of Your Duff and DO Something!

2008-08-25T06:39:00.003-04:00

Some call it an epiphany, I just call it waking up and smelling the coffee.

I got the message from God yesterday that I have been thinking too much of ME lately and not enough about Him and what I need to be doing for His Kingdom.

You see, I've been plagued with tension headaches for the past four weeks. They usually come in the late morning and little medication takes them away. It has been a cycle that has created an 'oh, woo is me' attitude that has placed my eyes on me instead of on God.

It is time that I change that. It is time that I lay these headaches at the cross and get back to God's business. Time is short and I have so much to do. OK, today I move forward and get off my duff!

I heard a great quote yesterday and it applies here. "We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death." (Mark Batterson Wild Goose Chase) As I sit here writing this morning, the sun is just about to rise above the horizon. My heart is beating and my lungs are breathing in and out, therefore God has given me purpose for today, He has a job for me to do.

What is your purpose of life? Is it to focus on yourself or to focus on others? Please take the time to reply and I would like to see your views.

God's Judgement on Jerusalem

2008-08-08T07:41:00.003-04:00

I have been reading the book of Joshua in the Bible the last several days. What an incredible job that God gave Joshua to do. Jerusalem's impending doom and destruction was at hand. God basically told Joshua to phophecy to the people about the upcoming destruction. Yet, God also tells Joshua 'oh and by the way... they won't listen'. Wow, how is that for an encouraging word.

The bottom-line though is that Joshua is FAITHFUL to what God called him to do.

God judges the people of Jerusalem and they end up in captivity for 70 years after a 2 1/2 year siege on the city. Why? Because they have forsaken their first love. They have turned to idols for worship. The priests of the day told the church goers only what they wanted to hear. They included 'idol' worship even in the services. The people longed for debauchery, lust, greed and the like.

How might that compare to America today? What are we wanting to hear in a church service instead of the voice of God? Good music... the hymn played correctly? Words from the pulpit that underscore what we are doing and give credence to it? Or do we want to hear the WHOLE truth from the Word of God... the Bible?

What are we saying to others... are our ears itching to hear tidbits of tantalizing information about celebrities and friends, or do we want to hear God Himself?

What are our eyes longing for... more and more violence that we see on TV and in the movies? More and more bed-hopping and lust that is so common today? Or do we want to see Jesus face-to-face?

It is time to wake up and smell the coffee, folks. I envision that America is not long for this world in the path that we are presently on. We look A LOT like the citizens of Jerusalem in the days of Joshua. Will we as a nation wake up and REPENT (i.e. turn around)? Or will we continue down this path to destruction?

The day is near...

The Prophets are Speaking

2008-07-11T07:29:00.002-04:00

I was reading from the book of Amos in the Bible this morning. A verse that really popped out to me was Amos 3:7. It says 'surely the Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets'.

I started thinking about that verse and how it relates to us today. Does God have prophets today that are 'revealing His plan' or were they all in Biblical times?

I do believe that He has as many prophets today as He had during Biblical times. There are men of God that have true insight of the spiritual realm of God and the spiritual warfare that is ensuing around us. Take some time to read the works of Chuck Smith, Mark Balmer, Skip Heitzing, Franklin Graham and Joel Rosenberg.

God is speaking to us today not only through His Word, the Bible. He is also speaking through modern day prophets.

Am I listening? God will guide my actions of the do so that I am most productive for Him if I am #1) listening, and #2) obedient.

The Blessings of Living in the United States

2008-07-04T16:03:00.004-04:00

I sat this morning in awe of what is around me. I have a roof over my head. I live in a warm and muggy climate but I am comfortable. My wife was out in the yard with a friend. My daughter and a wonderful young lady were tossing some hoops with a basketball. I sit here knowing in my soul that my other daughter and her husband are safe in Botswana on a trip.

This all is incredible but what additionally is incredible is the peace that I have in my heart knowing that we are all safe, fed and clothed. I didn't have to go and look for a good source of water this morning. I didn't have to think about where my next meal is coming from. I didn't have to worry about others close by that are wanting to kill me.

I am at peace.

I can't help but think of the incredible large list of things that we take for granted living in the United States. Sure, there are some that are dealing with disasters due to the floods in the Midwest or the fires in California, but that is a small part of this nation's population.

Other countries around the world aren't so blessed... hunger, starvation, sickness, strife, nakedness, thirst, war, hate, and just a lack of hope for tomorrow. How can the people of this country just ignore their fellow man. How can we place our own desires, the environment or our own greed ahead of someone in another country that will not live through today without our help?

God placed me here for a purpose and I know for a fact that it is not to satisfy my own selfish desires. All I have is Gods... ALL of it. If He were to take it all today to help others to live or to give them hope, I pray that my attitude of giving will allow me to place it ALL in God's hands.

How can I do any less for my fellow man.

I pray that anyone who reads this will stop and think about how God wants to use YOU today.

Happy Independence Day...

Devotions - Spiritual Hunger or Just Routine

2008-06-14T06:41:00.003-04:00

OK... I'm all torqued out because I didn't do my devotions yesterday. I really meant too but I let the early morning get away from me and I just never got back to it.

You see, I'm a routine kind of guy (just ask my wife). I get up at 5:30 in the blessed AM and drag myself down to a cup of coffee that has already been brewed. I look at the weather (I'm also a weather nut) and then I do my devotions.

My devotions take place in three parts. I first look back at yesterday and write my down my thoughts of how I feel the day was spiritually. It takes discipline as don't want to just write what I did like a diary but instead look inward at the condition of my soul.

I then turn to the Bible. I'm reading through the Bible chronologically (you can get the schedule at http://eword.gospelcom.net/year/31/cjan01.htm). I add to that a chapter from Psalms and a chapter from Proverbs. I write notes as I read on what I'm seeing and application to my walk.

I then write down some prayers for today. Again looking at application and certain struggles that I'm facing.

So that's it. It is a good 'routine' but since I am a routine kind of guy, am I going through this process for the right reason? When I miss a day like yesterday, am I upset because I didn't spend time with God to start my day or am I upset because my routine was changed? I need to always strive for that hunger that is deep within my soul to be closer to God. Then just as our physical hunger drives us to eat, my spiritual hunger will drive me to communing with God.

What do you think?

Answers in Prayer... Coincidence? I Don't Think So!

2008-05-04T07:25:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday an old friend came to mind. He was my very best friend through most of High School and my first year in college. We were like Mutt and Jeff, we were just always doing things together. Our college years separated us and for the last 20+ years, I have not heard from him. I made several attempts to find him but failed each time.

This past Sunday something different happened though. You see I have been putting a lot of study in to prayer (the TWO-way conversation between myself and God Almighty). I've known about talking TO God for a long time... all of my life really; but it only recently that I have come to know about seeing how God 'talks' to me.

Back to my friend. I lifted up a prayer for him last Sunday. I didn't know where he was, or even if he was living. I just felt the need to pray for him so I did. On Tuesday evening I got an email on my Blackberry from my friend! He simply said that he found my email address with a Google search on the Internet and he was wanting to say 'hi'!

He is completely on the other side of the country and now married with a young daughter. Since that first email on Tuesday, I have now seen pictures of his daughter and have spoken to him for close to an hour. What a wonderful conversation it was! I look forward to others and hopefully to once again rekindling a friendship that had long gone cold.

There are so many that would say that this was just coincidence... I thought of him and he emailed me. I am truly coming to understand the incredible power of God though. He wants and desires to have a two-way relationship with us. Yet so many times we treat Him as if He were a genie in a bottle. When we want something, we go and ask and plead with Him for it.

No, this wasn't coincidence. Yes, it was answered prayer but answered prayer sometimes is 'no' also. If we are in a right relationship with God, He indeed answers all our prayers. What I'm trying to relay to you today is that you focus first on your relationship with God and following Him wholeheartedly throughout each day. Secondly... look for the multitude of ways that God speaks to you. It may actually be audible. It may be a thought in your mind. It may come as advice from another. It may even come through a donkey speaking to you (see Numbers 22:27-31. This is a riot. I can only imagine what Balaam was thinking)!

Don't limit God in your mind and in your heart. He is without bounds or limits. His ways are not our ways and its 'OK' to not understand or find reason to the ways that He speaks to us. Just enjoy the conversation with your Creator.

Carpe Diem!

Definition of Integrity

2008-04-26T07:14:00.002-04:00

I am reading from Psalm 78 this morning in my devotions. It speaks of God's incredible compassion. The compassion that He had for the Israelites as He walked them out of captivity in Egypt and through the desert to the promised land that He had set aside for them. The whole while they are complaining and forgetting the incredible miracles that He was doing to keep them alive. It is even this compassion that causes Him to turn away (verse 65) and allow them to once again go into captivity.

What really spoke to me though was the very last verse of Psalm 78. "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." (emphasis my own)

'Integrity of heart'... Indeed the heart is the source of integrity. I cannot buy it, I can not learn it, I can not create it. It is something that is within that only God can create. Webster's dictionary defines integrity this way.

in·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation:
\in-ˈte-grə-tē\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire
Date:
14th century
1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility 2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness 3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
synonyms see honesty

Firm adherence..., Unpaired..., Undivided...

It is interesting how this compares to the definition that is put forth in Wikipedia

Integrity is the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key factors. One is said to have integrity to the extent that everything one does is derived from the same core set of values. While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine the person's integrity.

Now keep in mind that Wikipedia is a 'work in progress'. In other words, the information is never complete and is always evolving depending on input by millions of users. Do you see that in Wikipedia's definition above?

Back to David in Psalm 78. David shepherded the Israelites "with integrity of heart". I do not believe that this integrity ever had 'values that change'. David fell short in so many areas of his life. This is a really cool thing about the Bible. God doesn't make anyone out to be a super hero. They all fall short; hence the need for a Savior. Although David has many shortcomings throughout his life, one thing stands firm. He has 'integrity of heart'. His moral code never changes. After the times that he falls, he sees the er of his ways and comes back to the moral code that is steadfast in his heart.

Integrity is of the heart. Look deep within and pull out what God has created. Cultivate this integrity through spending time in the Holy Bible so that you will have a 'firm adherence to a code' as described by Webster. The only firm foundation is one created by God. All others are as shifting sand.

Integrity...

Listening to God

2008-04-20T07:38:00.002-04:00

I have been focusing on 'listening to God' in the past several weeks. I have been seeking His path for my life and wanting to be in His will for me. More and more I sense that I need to hear Him in the various ways that He chooses to speak to me.

Certainly reading His Word and being in deliberate prayer daily is foundational. I say 'deliberate prayer' as that is time carved out of my day just for that purpose. I try to be in constant prayer with God throughout the day but when I'm driving down the road, I know that God does not have my entire focus.

I also picked up a book last week and have been cruising through it. Hearing God by James W. Goll is an interesting book on honing your skills to hear God more consistently. Some tools that he recommends from chapter six:

Don't make it complicated. Submit to His lordship, resist the enemy, ask questions and expect God to answer!
Allow God to speak however He chooses. This is an area that I'm really focusing on. Sometimes it is that inner voice but it can be through His written Word, through another person, through dreams, etc.
Confess any known sins. Psalm 66:18 states "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear."
Obey the last thing God said. This is interesting when the last thing God said, I may not particularly want to do! Why would God give me new marching orders when I haven't obeyed the last one that He gave me?
Get your own leading. God wants to talk to us personally. He may use others as noted in number two to reach us but He wants to talk to us individually also. Don't be codependent on others to hear God.
Don't talk about your word too soon. Pride, presumption, missed timing, and confusion will step in when we are not completely within God's will. God tells us something as a trusted friend. We need to ask His permission to 'spread the word'.
Know that God will confirm what He's telling you. This confirmation may be through His word or other means.
Beware of counterfeits. Satan is crafty and is the great deceiver. Don't think that you will be ignored by satan. The closer you get to God, the greater the threat you are to satan.
Practice hearing God's voice. When you think that God is speaking to you, REALLY listen. Get to know His voice.
Cultivate an intimate relationship. God wants us to draw close to Him. Really work on this in your daily devotion time.

I look forward to working on these ten steps from Goll's book and recommend the book to others.

Well, gotta go now... God is on the phone! :)

Prayer Warrior - My Purpose for Today

2008-03-08T10:08:00.003-05:00

Like many Christ followers, I am asking God for direction and purpose. Are the things that are in my mind and on my schedule for today... are those the things that God wants me to be accomplishing?

Many works in the mission field are on my mind today. Kay (my bride of 27 years) is at a Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child missions conference in Georgia. Our daughter and son-in-law are in Albania serving several villages in the missions field this week. I also spoke with a dear friend yesterday in Mexico (YWAM/Mazatlan - see websites I view often). They have been under some spiritual attack and are boldly hanging on to the promises of God.

Where is all of this telling me that God wants on my schedule today? I believe to be a prayer warrior. That term is bounced around a lot in Christian circles and it is basically someone who devotes themselves to prayer. To spend solid time in study and prayer each day an then to be mindful to God throughout the day. In other words, to be in continual prayer... a continual conversation with God.

In some of my study this morning, I was reading from Proverbs 2:1-5.
'My son if you accept my words,
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.' (emphasis my own)

Then on down in verse 11 it says,
'Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.'

What do I see from these verses? Accepting 'my' (God's) word and storing up His commands is study. Turning and applying are an actual turning away from unwise thoughts and actions. Then calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding are prayer. Doing these things will provide for me what is in verse 11 where I will have discretion and I will know the right decision every time.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I do know who will guide me towards tomorrow and when tomorrow comes, He will be there. Jesus Christ, my Savior, my King, my Lord is guiding me through His Word to be a prayer warrior today. To pray for mission work in Mexico, Albania, Georgia and even here in Indian River County, Florida.

My purpose today is to pray. It is not the first thing that I will do and it will not be the last thing that I do today. All of my day today will be a day of prayer.

We Are Only Promised Today

2008-03-04T06:41:00.003-05:00

I had an eye opening experience yesterday in my little protected world here in the United States. I was eating at an Arby's during the lunch hour in West Palm Beach when only three blocks away, a shooter came out of the restroom at a Wendy's and randomly shot at the people eating lunch. As I went by the Wendy's minutes prior, I decided to not eat there because the last time I was there I had poor service.

Ok, ok I know that we all have our lives at risk daily. Multitudes die on the highways daily. Our law enforcement officers (I know several) put themselves on the line daily. My best friend from college is serving our Country in the war zone of the Middle East as I write. Certainly they experience these 'eye opening' brushes with the end of life almost on a daily basis... but I don't. I didn't... until yesterday.

It reminds me though that God has only promised us today. We in this Country plan for tomorrow in so many ways. We save money, we climb the corporate ladder, we set goals, we make reservations for vacations. As I look at other countries, other societies though, this is such a luxury. They only can look to today... finding enough food for their family today. Keeping themselves safe from the elements today. Fighting the battle of disease and ill health today.

This safe zone that I live in is a GIFT. How should I use this wonderful gift today? God has made it known that He doesn't want one... even one to perish by spending eternity in hell. Yet we all will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. God has also made it known that we cannot be good enough to earn a place in heaven. The Bible states that we all fall short of the glory of God.

In His love for us though, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ who put His life at risk and died on the cross for you and for me. He took our sins upon Himself because of His love for us.

You have today... you are not promised tomorrow. How will you spend today. Will you come to the point that you alone cannot be good enough for heaven and repent (turn away) from your worldly lifestyle and start to live for God by accepting His Son as your Savior? Or will you decide to wait until tomorrow or the next day.

We are only promised today...

Are You Watching? Do You Notice?

2008-02-16T06:34:00.003-05:00

I just spent the first 30 minutes of my day the way that I do every morning. I have set up RSS feeds to scan newspapers across the United States and around the world. I like to review the news this way as it keeps me on focus and I'm not bogged down by articles that just really don't make a difference in the long run.

One of my RSS feeds happens to be Joel Rosenberg's blog (joelrosenberg.blogspot.com). He mentioned that since the summer of 2005, 4200 rockets, missles and mortars have been fired at Israel! All while the U.S. and other countries do basically nothing! What would we be doing if it were Canada firing into Chicago or western New York? This is just amazing to me and is spoken so much of in the end-time prophecy of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation... No one comes to the aid of the Jewish State.

I also read of Putin's progressively aggressive stance to the countries that used to be under control of the USSR. His retoric is also aimed at the European countries and the U.S. All the while, Putin has had very cozy relations with Iran.

All of this is ratcheding up in real-time. Are you watching? Do you notice? Most importantly... are you in prayer?

Time is short and there are SO many who are not Christ followers. I don't mean 'Christian' either, I mean 'Christ followers'. The term Christian means close to nothing in the United States except that the person professing that they are a Christian know that God exists and that someone walked around several thousand years ago by the name of Jesus who called Himself 'Christ'.

Time is short and we have do not have time to 'play' Christian. Spiritual warfare is running rampant and we must be diligent and solid in our stand for Christ. I am a Christ Follower. Please join me in prayer for salvation for unbelievers as well as fortitude and strengh for Christ followers as they stand solidly and firmly on the Rock of Salvation for what they believe.

Step Back and Listen to God

2008-02-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

Today I am brought to my knees thinking of the awesomeness of our Creator. I start each morning with a quick review of what is going on in the world around us through various news feeds that I have set up. I then go into Bible study to receive guidance for the day and for my spiritual life in general. I was reading from the book of Exodus about the plagues that engulfed the Egyptians because the Paraoah would not let the enslaved Israelites leave. The Israelites were in Egypt for approximately 430 years and in that time went from 70 people to over 2 million in number.

Feeling threatened by the number of Israelites in the land, the Paraoah enslaved God's people and treated them harshly. God, hearing the plea of His people, came to their rescue although it should be noted that He never left them. He lead Moses to speak to Paraoah on behalf of the Israelites to 'let His people go'. Only after ten plagues ending with a killing of the first born of all the Egyptians and their livestock were the Israelites allowed to leave.

I am sitting here trying to place myself in the sandles of the Israelites. What was it like to be enslaved, treated bitterly... each day seemingly without hope? I wonder how many heard God the way that Moses did. Were they able to step back and listen to God ... hearing His comforting words that He is in control?

Today is upon me. The sun has just risen above the eastern horizon. God's word is within my heart from the time spent reading. What will I do with that knowledge? I pray that the awesomeness of my Creator will overwhelm me so that I can hear His direction for my life today. God, I step back right now and open my ears to you. Help me to focus on your purpose for me today. God, I'm praying for revival. May it start in my heart and then spread to those within my influence.

I step back and my heart is listening for your voice...

Questioning God's Work in Me

2008-01-26T06:45:00.000-05:00

I have been reading through Genesis this week and have come upon one of my very favorite characters in the Bible. Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Judah (Israel) is a man of integrity and a great role model. He gets 'the shaft' often in his life as his brothers don't care for him even to the point of selling him to some travelers that were on their way to Egypt. Joseph's upright walk was just too much for them to handle.

Joseph arrives in Egypt and God places him in a place of power taking care of the household of Potiphar, Pharaoh's Captain of the Guard. While Potiphar is away, his wife continually tries to seduce Joseph (probably over some time) and after some time of remaining faithful to God, she accuses him of rape and Potiphar has him thrown in prison. He remains there many years only to be freed by Pharaoh himself and placed second in command of all of Egypt. The story is remarkable and I recommend that you read it in Genesis 38 - 45.

All this to say that I so often question God's work in me. There are days when I say "it just doesn't 'feel' like I'm in God's will. Surely I should be doing full-time ministry in the missions field." Yet, God is working through me right where I am today just as He was working through Joesph's life each day that Joseph sat in a prison cell in Egypt. I wonder how many times Joseph questioned his actions while he had PLENTY of time to think in prison. No doubt, that Joseph thought more than once that "I must have gone away from the will of God or I would not be in this situation."

In reality, he was completely within God's will for his life. Did he have the opportunity to minister to the other prisoners and the guards? Reading the account indeed informs us that he did just that. He took advantage of the opportunities set before him.

Am I doing that today? This very day will I walk with solid integrity no matter what? Will my thoughts be on eternal things and not on my earthly comforts, needs and desires? Will I trust God THAT much? I pray that I will.

The sun is peering over the clouds on the eastern horizon. I awoke today because God has something for me to do for Him. My prayers are that I will seize the day for God. I will be like Joseph and will walk with integrity with my heart, mind and soul set steadfastly on the only secure foundation... the will of God. I will not let my earthly circumstances dictate my success following God's will. So often like in the life of Joseph, His ways are not our ways. God, help me to see and follow YOUR way alone.

Leadership in the Work Place Starts at Home

2008-01-20T05:57:00.000-05:00

I just arrived back home from a Leadership Institute that my employer has asked me to attend. It was most interesting with 20+ people from all aspects of life (varied ages, varied careers, varied goals and varied perceptions on life).

What I found interesting is that no one in the many small group breakout sessions spoke of a foundation to their leadership. When leadership examples were given, the only credit given to others was co-workers and this was rare.

I just think of leadership differently I guess. I can say that "yes, I'm a leader, follow my example" but what or where is my leadership based? What makes me a 'leader'? Just success in my career area? That is great but it is ... well, temporal.

I brought up in one of the breakout groups that my definition of leadership starts in the home as being a spiritual leader for my family (i.e. the foundation to the leadership that I'm striving for uses the text of the Bible for its foundation). To me that is the most important job that I can have. The looks that I got you would have thought that I have three eyes. Why is that? One hundred or two hundred years ago if the great leaders of that time would have said that to a group of peers would they get the same response? Why is leadership in the home not seen as important as leadership in the workplace today... and why is spiritual leadership so foreign to so many of us?

Historical leaders... Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and so many others when speaking of leadership point not to themselves but to to God and to the Bible for which they build their foundation for leadership. Over and over again we read in their speeches of the their reliance on God for the strengh of their success in leadership. (By the way, when reading their speeches; do not read 'snippets' in textbooks, read them in whole --- one book that I recommend is Great American Speeches.

On what is your leadership based? Why have you chosen that basis?

Prayers for My Bride

2008-01-16T06:19:00.000-05:00

My precious bride of 27 years is now traveling to a Sustainable Agriculture conference. We have 20 acres and grow crops on 7 of those acres. The rest is mostly in pasture and we are looking for ways to utilize the pasture to the greatest extent.

Now this sounds like a business decision and it certainly is but it is much more than that. It is also a movement of faith. We have been learning over the past several years how important it is to seek God's direction in all that we do. I have family members that say that making decisions like that is weak as 'God gives us a mind to make our own decisions'. Yes, He does that is true but He honors those that seek to follow Him and make decisions that are in keeping with His will for our lives. It is those decisions that will be considered worthy to Him. In all that we think, say, and do; we want to bring our Lord glory.

We have been praying for direction for our farm and ask that you join us. Pray also for my life mate that she travels safely and feels God's presence all around her as she is away.

Blessings to you all.

Consistency

2008-01-05T07:07:00.000-05:00

The word 'consistency' is on my mind this morning. You see, I've been reading from the book of Job in the Bible. Job is a great example of consistency. His walk with God was blameless yet he had trials and tribulations like few others in history. Through it all, he shows some confusion and bewilderment as to why these trials have come upon him but he continues to trust in God and look to Him for strength and answers. I look back at the minuscule trials that I have had in comparison and the number of times that I turned away from God during those times. Job does not turn away but instead worships God! Incredible.

As I move in to 2008, I want the word 'consistency' to be on my mind continually. My walk with my Savior, Jesus must be consistent. My conversation with God (prayer) must be consistent. My spiritual leadership to my wife and family must be consistent. In all that I think, say and do... I want to be a steadfast rock... consistently depending on the Word of God for my knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

If you are reading this, let us make a promise together to walk consistently with God today.

Continual Conversations with God

2007-12-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

I came to the realization this morning that I have not been in conversation with God the way that I should. Most people consider a conversation with God to be prayer and indeed it is. But I have come to realize that prayer is not an event but a lifestyle.

I remember in the past just going through the day in continual prayer. We all have conversations with ourselves (with our soul)... ah, come on now... admit it... you talk to yourself! Continual prayer is just letting the Holy Spirit in on my conversation. Instead of a two-way conversation, it becomes three-way.

I have been good at allowing this to happen in my mind in the past but it seems to eb and flow in my life. Lately, I have been very good at setting aside time to study the Bible and to start my day in prayer. What I haven't been good at is praying all day long though. I made a recommitment to this lifestyle this morning in my 'prayer' :) and I ask that you also pray that I will allow the Holy Spirit into my 'self conversations' all day, every day.

External and Internal Storms

2007-12-14T07:06:00.000-05:00

In the latter part of Paul's ministry, his is shipwrecked on the island of Malta south of Italy. The shipwreck occurred after fourteen days of 'hurricane-force winds'. The ships crew had literally tied the ship together by putting ropes around the hull. In the process of the fourteen days, they threw off all of the cargo that they were carrying, the anchors and even the lifeboat itself. I could only imagine how exhausted they all were... sea-sick so probably not able to eat or hold food down, lack of sleep, continually drenched, fearful... exhausted.

I'm sure that Paul was also probably sea-sick, tired and wet. He too was exhausted physically. But mentally, he had hope. He was told by God in a dream that he would go to Rome and he believed what he had dreamed. Although he was a prisoner being transported by Roman guards, he encouraged the others on the ship that they all would make it to safety. He had hope.

Beside external storms, we have internal storms. How often do we go through a day or a situation without hope that God will be there to help us through it? How often do we see the glass as half-empty instead of half-full with the 'poor me', 'everyone's against me' mentality?

In Paul's case with his external storm, he chose to trust in God even with all looked absolutely hopeless. His heart was at peace. Can we chose to trust in God with our internal storms? I think that we can and we must if we are to have true peace in our hearts. When you are thinking "everyone's against me", "I just am not progressing like I should", "I am being overlooked for my accomplishments" ... Where is the focus in these internal storms? I see 'I', 'me', 'my' as the focus. Should it rather be on God? If your not progressing in your job like you should, have you thanked God that you have a job in the first place? If your being overlooked at church for a position, are you thanking God that you have the ability to worship freely? If no one is calling you to just chat, have you made a call today to someone else to do the same?

Internal storms... Ones that we allow satan to create within us. They bring turmoil, exhaustion, sickness and even death if we allow. Reach out to God today with the hope that He will give you peace today. When an internal storm thought crosses your path, immediately push it aside and replace it with a praise to God. Turn it 180 degrees and make it a positive thought. It CAN be done but it takes a willing heart. That is where to start. I pray that you will start today...

Condemnation Is NOT From God

2007-12-09T07:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I spoke of directing my five senses towards obedience. I ended the post by saying "I choose this day - OBEDIENCE".

I awoke this morning feeling the same feeling that I felt most of yesterday afternoon and evening... condemned. Let me explain...

Yesterday morning I my wife was showing me wedding pictures on the internet from a photographer that we may use for our daughter's wedding. As I was standing behind her viewing the pictures, she came upon a very provocative picture of a bride-to-be. I not only did not 'bounce my eyes away' (see an earlier post for the explanation), I stared. I'm not sure if I did that because I was so shocked but that should not make any difference.

I asked for forgiveness and know that when I do ask that God forgives me and separates the sin from me as far as the 'east is from the west' and that 'He knows it no more'. Yet, I felt condemned last night and this morning. I was not only remembering what God has already forgotten, I was replaying the scene in my mind (thus making me more angry at myself and feeling the need to ask for forgiveness yet again). Have you ever been there? I think that we all have been.

The very first verse that I read this morning though was Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (emphasis my own). I remember from that verse that as a Christ Follower if I feel condemnation, it is not from God but from satan. He was making me feel unworthy and feeling like God did not accept my remorse for letting down my guard. Satan condemns... Christ convicts my spirit of what is right and wrong.

After reading that verse, I basically commanded satan to scram and I now feel free! I will build my moral fences higher and once again thank God for TODAY. It is a new day to serve Him fully.

Directing My Five Senses in Obedience

2007-12-08T06:49:00.000-05:00

I was reading in Romans 6 this morning. Paul is trying to explain the motives for right living to the Christians in Rome. He says that we should 'count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus' (vs. 11).

We have died to sin when we count Christ as our Savior. We are to not allow sin to remain in our lives. This takes a LOT of discipline in todays world. I must always be on guard - on alert for sin that will tempt me. What I see, what I hear, what I taste, what I smell, and what I touch.

My senses can carry me towards God through obedience or away from Him towards satan. I am reminded of Jame's words (James 1:14-15). If I look once again at my five senses and how they can carry me towards satan, James notes the succession to be desire --> enticement --> sin (which is desire conceived). And sin ultimately leads to death and eternity away from God.

I CHOOSE this day... Obedience.

Knowledge or Wisdom?

2007-12-07T07:31:00.000-05:00

I used to think that knowledge and wisdom were basically one and the same. If I ran into a really smart person, I would think that 'wow, they seem so wise. They have all of the answers'. As I study though I am seeing these two terms growing further apart.

Paul in Romans (and elsewhere) speaks constantly about the condition of the heart. He says that a person can be performing all kinds of rituals, be a member in the right organizations, or can come from a line of spiritual ancestry but if the heart is not devoted, it is all meaningless. How often do I see this today as people call themselves 'Christian' and are members of a church but their heart is worldly in nature. They may have all kinds of worldly knowledge but are they wise?

Solomon speaks about wisdom all the time in his Proverbs. In particular in Proverbs 4, verses 4 and 5, Solomon says "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them." Wisdom here is not earthly knowledge but learning God's Word and imprinting it in my mind and upon my heart.

Our conscience is a moral compass that has been placed in every human being. It is a moral sense of right and wrong that affects ones thoughts and behaviors. Knowledge does little to program the conscience. It is just worldly facts that have no eternal value. On the other hand, wisdom programs the conscience to obtain a true understanding of right and wrong. It has eternal value to the person obtaining the wisdom as well as those around him (or her) as their actions will be an example of moral balance and right living.

Are you striving to obtain Knowledge or Wisdom?

Is my Spirit in Control of My Body or Vice-Versa?

2007-12-01T06:38:00.000-05:00

In reading Paul's first letter to the believers in Corinth, I have come upon some interesting information. 1 Corinthians 9:27 is a little strange in the NIV. It starts out by saying 'No, I beat my body and make it my slave...'. I have to admit that this did not make any sense to me 20 minutes ago.

Reading the same verse in the KJV makes more sense. 'But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection...'. NOW I am starting to see what this means. I keep my body under the control of my spirit. This is directly in opposition to how the world operates. Listen to most any conversation at work or on campus, you will hear the person speak primarily about his body - about his financial concerns and recreational pursuits, his occupational goals and physical needs. (This is from Jon Courson).

Now that I am a Christ Follower though all this is turned upside down. I am to constantly place the wants, needs and pursuits of my body (my flesh) under the control of my spirit that is one with Christ Jesus. This is something that I have really been striving for lately.

One way that I have found that works for me is a change of mindset. I have changed 'I have to...' in my mind to 'I get to...'! An example for me is that starting this past month, I have made it a practice to get up at 5:30 every morning to dive into God's Word and to just spend time with God. I started out with the mindset of having to get up and it was a drudge. Lately though, I have noticed that I jump up out of bed (mind you knowing that my automatic coffee maker already has the first cup ready). I GET to spend the first several hours of my day with the Creator of the universe! What an awesome opportunity! My body (who wants to keep on sleeping) is not in control or 'on top'. I have my spirit in control of this situation. It is not always easy and I have a LONG ways to go but this is a start.

I now see Matthew 6:16 more clearly when thinking about this. Jesus does not say "IF you fast (abstain from food)" but "WHEN you fast". He knows that part of keeping our bodies in cheque and under the control of our spirit requires discipline on our part. Taking time to abstain from eating to instead spend that time praying for others. Getting my tired body out of bed at 5:30 because the King of Kings and and the Lord of Lords wants to commune with me personally.

I will strive TODAY for my spirit (under God's authority) to be in control of my will, my personality, my emotions, my all. Tomorrow morning, I will strive for the same goal.

The End of a Christian Nation - Apathy

2007-11-17T06:14:00.000-05:00

I feel that the end of the United States as we know it is close at hand. To read and hear quotes from the founding fathers of this nation is to understand how much our fathers were devoted Christ Followers. Oh yes, you can find the one here or there but they are very rare.

Today, we have a nation that is blurring the lines of morality for its own pleasure. It is interesting though that I do not feel that the end of this great nation is at hand due to satans work outside of the church in the hearts and minds of unbelievers. No, the end of this nation falls on the responsibility of those that are warming the church pews on Sunday but living like this world the rest of the 6 days and 23 hours. Apathy among Christians will be the ultimate downfall of this nation.

As I spend more time in the Bible (THE WORD OF GOD), I am more convinced that there are very few 'grey' areas that are open to interpretation. There are a few... but areas such as homosexuality vs. sex only between male and female, sex outside marriage, evolution vs. creationism, only ONE way to heaven vs. only believing in a god... these are very, VERY clear.

Christian people are you listening?!? This nation is heading towards hell as we sit back on our rears and do nothing! Stand and be a Christ Follower! From 2 Timothy 1:7-8 in the Holy Bible, Paul is saying to Timothy "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God (speaking of the Holy Spirit), which is in you though 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. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE "SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING???"

I am sick and tired of people telling me that my faith is a personal thing and I should keep it to myself. Yes, it is personal but that personal relationship to my God gives me an intense desire to see the lost with the love of God. I can't just sit back and watch them tumble towards hell. I must do SOMETHING. Please join me...

Sign Posts - Are We Listening?

2007-11-12T07:28:00.000-05:00

I read about Christ's crucifixion in two of the gospels this morning. It was hard to read and yet I am awestruck with the love that God has for us. Over and over and over again, He is saying 'here I am'. He is pleading with us to follow Him for eternity but with the love that only He can have, He allows us to make the decision.

The Bible is chock full of prophesy ... sign posts of things to come. Many, many, many of the prophesies of the old testament come true in the new testament. Many more have yet to pass but I am assured that they will indeed happen. The Bible is the Word of God... all of it and God cannot lie. Therefore it will happen.

Am I Listening?

2007-11-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

I have read all of one sentence in Matthew this morning and I am aware of God saying... "Are you listening to what I'm saying"? Jesus is talking to His disciples saying "As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:1)

Here is Jesus speaking to His disciples and it could not be any more clear... at least to us. You see we know what happens. How often is God speaking to us just as clearly and yet we hear only what we want to hear. This is quite convicting to me this morning.

Will There Be A Tomorrow? TODAY IS THE DAY!

2007-11-07T06:53:00.000-05:00

I was reading in Matthew 24 this morning about Christ's second coming. We are to be on our guard. to be vigilant in our watch. But not only that, we are to be tending to the responsibilities that God has placed in our care. I believe that that means that we are to be always tending to the the souls of the people that God has placed within our circle of influence. How will I minister to them today? How can I show God's love? How can I tell them that time is short and that He will come again SOON to collect His children unto Himself? We are told that as birth pains increase in intensity and come at closer intervals.... so will the signs showing the second coming of Christ. Wars, rumor of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters will increase. Godlessness will be rampant. The elect will have their eyes on Israel looking forward to His second coming.

I don't have time to mess up today. God has given me today to serve Him and I will do so with all of my heart and with all of my strength.

Please God or Please Man?

2007-11-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

I just spent a weekend on a retreat with 170 men from my church. Our focus was on a verse from 2 Timothy 1:6-8 (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. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.)

What a tremendous weekend to rest and reflect on where I am today and where I see that God wants me to go. A major revelation came to me over the weekend on how I focus myself. It is really important to me that those around me have a favorable opinion of me. Now keep in mind that it is not everyone but those whom I respect, I also seek their respect of me. People that have a Godly character I long to have them say 'good job' or 'well done'.

That in and of itself is not bad but this weekend I came to the realization that I was placing this before seeking to please God. Now if I'm seeking approval from Godly people isn't that the same? NO WAY! Even the pharisees did that in Jesus' time. They paraded around seeking the approval of man but could care less for God and His approval of their thoughts or actions.

Starting this weekend all of that is changing... I am seeking GOD's approval first. I know that He is right beside me (even now) and His Holy Spirit dwells within me.

It reminds me of a scripture verse...

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Satan's Attacks - Cower or Fight?

2007-11-02T06:06:00.000-04:00

This week has been a classic example of how satan can attack me and my marriage. Through many small issues throughout the week, he has created an enormous amount of friction between me and my eternal love. None of these issues by themselves would hardly even get a glimpse but piled up together, they have created all kinds of turmoil.

My wife and I have become short with each other... we have been taking words and issues way out of context... we have both been dealing with feeling inadequate towards each other as well as towards the missions that God gives us each day. You know, the bottom line is that it has been a really stinky week as far as our relationship is concerned.

It is often said that if your on a mountaintop to hang on because there is only one way to go and that is down. Down, down, down to the valley's of life. Down in the valleys where the scenery is not as spectacular but it is where things bloom and grow. Several weeks ago we were on that mountaintop. We rode on a Dinner Train and spent an incredible weekend together. We laughed. We praised God. We dreamed. We planned. We focused on the trinity that makes up our marriage (myself, my wife and God).

I also have come to know that spiritual attack from satan is a true sign that I (we) are on the right track. Well if that is the case, we must be doing God's work because we have been attacked. Spiritual warfare is not new to me but I look upon it in a different way than I used too.

In the past I have tended to cower and play the weaker role waiting for the attack to cease. I 'holed up' within myself saying little and doing very little but having a humongous pity party in my soul. This past week, my soul has wanted to take that path and I have taken a couple of steps down it several times in the past couple of days.

But no more, satan! I'm standing my ground. I'm standing on the Rock... the Rock of Salvation in Jesus Christ. As spiritual leader of my marriage and family, I will NOT let my anchor be set in this world. It is steadfast in God's promises and God's oath. I do not need to drift in pity and sorrow. I WILL rejoice in the eternal strength and allow Jesus to embolden me to fight the battle with His strength and not my own. I have decided to trust God and live with hope... even in the storms of life. GOD WILL COME THROUGH!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

Do I choose the doubt that satan places in my path or the faith that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. I choose faith!

Do I choose the anxiety that satan throws at me or the contentment that God has everything under control. I choose contentment!

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

That reminds me of my very favorite verse in the Bible... my 'life verse' so to speak...

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)(emphasis my own)

Finding the Gifts in Everyone

2007-10-27T08:31:00.001-04:00

I am struck this morning as to how we as individuals in our society in America look and thus treat others around us. We see some people as 'important', we see others as 'busy', we see yet others as 'worthy'. But how does God see us?

The Bible in so many verses tells us how much God loves us and cares for us as His children. I am a father of two so I can understand that feeling. I love my daughters more than words could possibly ever express. It is a gut thing... nothing that can be placed into words. If God loves each of us in that manner, shouldn't we at least attempt to view others in like manner?

How often do we see someone in a job that we consider menial and say to ourselves 'they probably deserve it'. Other times we get upset with someone and think to ourselves 'wow, how dumb are you... you can't even do that'.

How dare we as followers of the one true God and savior, Jesus... How dare we treat HIS children in that manner. My heart breaks for those whom society sweeps to the gutter. The thing is through... I am guilty of doing the same. God, please forgive me.

I can think of a family where there is a lot of talent except for one. "Why can't you be like your brother or sister?" is the common phrase for that one. He doesn't know why he can't be like them... he only knows that he isn't them... God made him unique with special gifts of his own.

I can think of how upset I got with a checkout clerk at a local store because she needed the bar scan to enter a sale in the cash register. "I told her the price... that should be enough", I thought in my mind. Yet, she is trying to the best of her ability to do her job as she was trained. God also made her unique with special gifts of her own.

Shouldn't we be all about showing the love of Christ to others so that they will want what we have found? Shouldn't that love be shown in acceptance at least of the person (but maybe not their actions if they are contrary to God's Word). God loves them as a child of His. As Christ followers shouldn't we do the same?

God, help me to be more sensitive to those around me. Help me to approach others seeing them through your eyes. Help me to show them your love. God, help me to be the man that you have called me to be.

Today is New Day!

2007-10-26T07:50:00.000-04:00

What a crummy week I've had. I've been low on self-esteem all week and my heart has just not been in sync with God and what He has been calling me to do each day. I'm not sure why but I do KNOW that I should no be striving to get my 'self-esteem' from this world. Even my loved ones will let me down on occasion. We are all human... it happens.

My self-esteem should be coming from God and God alone. Luke 13:22 - 28 speaks about the narrow door. There are so many that think that 'being good' will get them into heaven. Others think that church membership or warming a pew seat on Sunday morning will get them into heaven. It is ONLY a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that will lead you through the narrow door.

It is time that I get off my duff and stop having a pity party for myself. People are dying everyday without a relationship in Jesus. They are thus condemned to an eternity in hell... eternal separation from God. I cannot let this day pass without being obedient and sold out to God and being responsive to His leading.

Today is a new day...

Does My Way Always Have to be Right?

2007-10-22T07:15:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a day of expanding my boundaries. You see, I'm a person that tends to do things in a set pattern or fashion and do not venture far from that path. This can be helpful at some times but limiting at others. In the areas of integrity, it helps to set up fences that help guard my integrity (see October 1 post). In these instances, I need to do it the same every time.

Where it is a problem though is in areas where the alternative method of doing something isn't wrong or incorrect... its just different. Truth be known, many times the alternative way of doing something is better!

I had two such instances of this yesterday. I had someone assist me in ushering yesterday in church and she did her job differently than my usual assistant. It was fine and she did very well but I was all torqued out of shape because it was different. (I hear me telling myself to 'Get Over It'!)

Yesterday afternoon was a time of great bonding as a family as my wife, daughter and I worked on a fence in the front yard. I so appreciate their help but felt tension on the inside when something was not done exactly as I would have done it. I'm sure that they felt that tension also. Here they are helping me and I'm not able to bend. How much better would the bonding moments have been if I was flexible on the things that just really don't make a difference in the long run. I'm sure that there would have been more laughter and just plain fun.

Help me God to be flexible and not rigid on the things that ultimately just don't matter in the long run.

Doing things 'Well'

2007-10-19T07:17:00.000-04:00

"He has done everything well." This was said by the people of Decapolis when they were speaking about Jesus after seeing a miracle. Decapolis was considered a gentile and pagan city of cultures from ten regions. Yet, many of these people look at the heart of Jesus and see Him for who He truly is.

If I am to use Jesus as my model and since I take on the term 'Christian' (meaning Christ-like), am I doing everything 'well'? Do my actions model my heart or do they model what I want those around me to think?

This is a real struggle for me as I want to please those around me. I want to be steadfast for God and dedicated to Him but my flesh wants to please. If I'm around other Christ Followers there is no problem with this as those around me are the same as my heart.

The problem comes when I'm in the workplace where those, maybe even those I respect, do not have the same heart for Christ as I do. I want to please them with my knowledge of the subject at hand or working through a situation. The problem comes in that I must stand on my foundation in Jesus to work through things and they are using worldly wisdom.

I guess the end-result comes down to this... WHO do I want to please? My answer must always be Jesus... in EVERY situation. Easier said than done. I can only do this by dedicating today to follow Jesus in every instance and every situation. Tomorrow, I will do the same. Continually drawing closer to my agape love of Christ will draw me closer to my wife, my family, my friends and the lost around the world that are hurting and looking for answers.

I want to do things 'well' for God.

Little to Offer But Enough for God

2007-10-17T07:17:00.000-04:00

My bounds are being stretched in many directions. I am a person of routine. My wife and family laugh (and sometimes grumble) about my routines. I wake the same time every morning, I go through basically the same process. I try to go to bed at approximately the same time each night. Even my weekends have a set check-off list of things to get done around the farm.

God is stretching me though. Yesterday, as I was in my office (within my home); contractors were busy looking at our house to bid on an addition to our family room. Although there is only several of us in the house, we view all of our possessions as not ours but Gods. Lately, we have had an urgency in our hearts to open our farm up to small groups and others that need to get away from the commotion of the urban setting. We feel that the extra space will help to accommodate these groups.

Then last night we had two new friends join us for dinner to talk about the small group ministry at church and expanding it in our area. By the end of the night, we felt led to begin next month!

This morning I was reading about how Jesus fed 5000+ people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. His disciples were wary and wanted to send the people away because they wanted the people to provide for themselves. Jesus though used the time for a lesson of dependence on Him. The people were fed (they actually gorged themselves) and yet twelve baskets of scraps were left over.

My routines are being challenged as God instructs me to expand my horizons for His work. I'm hesitant but after reading this story, I will allow God to work through me just like He worked through the bread and the fish. I have little to offer God, but I lay at His feet all that I have. He will provide the rest.

Integrity in the Word of God

2007-10-16T07:16:00.000-04:00

I have been studying chapters 10 and 11 in Matthew this morning. In these verses Jesus raises a twelve-year-old girl from the dead and gives sight to a blind man. He also sends out His twelve disciples as apostles or literally 'sent out ones'.

He speaks to them about integrity in being true to their word. He tells them to be humble and open to all but at the same time to be wise and to be alert for danger.

That speaks so much to me as a Christ follower because I too am to be an apostle for God. I am to to out into the community that God has placed me and I am to be a light in the sea of darkness that is around me. I am to be bold in my witness to tell everyone that they too can be saved from their sins and that the only way to heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

In doing this though, I am to be wise to my surroundings, to be prepared for attacks from satan. If I am making an impact, I will be attacked! Do I have the armour of God on me today? I am praying that I am fully prepared for today.

In turn also as the spiritual leader of my family, pray continually for each of them. I pray that my wife, my daughters, my son (in law) and my son (not 'in law' yet) will be bold but will also be prepared for battle.

Spiritual warfare is not a game, folks; and it is all around us. I believe it. I believe it. I believe it. Look to the Word of God for your marching orders and walk in integrity for God today.

A New Week and A New Focus

2007-10-15T06:34:00.000-04:00

A new week is upon me. With this new week is a renewed focus to be solid in my faith and looking for opportunities around every corner to study God's Word and apply it to my life.

My church has daily devotions that are based on the message given on Sunday (www.calvarymelbourne.org) and I will be studying these in detail. Additionally, I have been on and off going chronologically through the Bible and I want to give renewed focus on that time.

What is most important to me is to get this time in early in my day. I get up at 5:30 am to get my day going right and to make sure this study is done before I start my official day. Please give me encouragement so that I do not slack off. Let me know what your doing in the same manner I will encourage you.

OK... Time to study!

Blessings!!!

Focusing My Heart

2007-10-12T06:07:00.000-04:00

I have been attending a conference for work that has placed me out-of-town and in a hotel for the past several days. My schedule (I'm a routine kind of guy) is all out of whack and other than getting up at 5:30 am, everything else is out of kilter. On top of that, I have not walked outside to breath fresh air since the time that I arrived which was 10:30 on Wednesday morning.

With my schedule being different, I also find my focus on my study time in the Bible and my dependence on Christ being different. That should not be the case and I know it. Why does that happen? I so want to be focused solely on Christ and in doing so I know that the world around me will fall into place.

I should not be looking for excuses though but should instead be looking for opportunities to do the things that I do better. My wife often comments about my routines and I know that I put too much emphasis on them. God doesn't call me to a routine life but to a challenging and exciting life. I need to look for the opportunities that He places before me and then TAKE them.

Am I preaching to myself? Sounds like it. Charlie, take this opportunity where God has placed you (me) and use it for His glory. Yes, it is different. OK, show Him how you will take that challenge and run with it.

OK, God. I think that I get the picture but I need your strength. Thanks for being there for me. I want to glorify You today.

I Just Got An Integrity 'Check' From My Wife!

2007-10-10T06:55:00.000-04:00

I got a call yesterday that lifted my spirits. The leader of the Men's Minsitry at my church has asked me to be a group leader on a men's retreat that will be held in November. I immediately said 'sure, I'd love too' to the offer.

Excited to spread the news to my wife, I told her of the conversation when she got home from running some errands. Her response was not what I was looking for BUT her response was a conduit from God. She replied, "Great. Did you tell him that you would pray about it?"

Oh man... caught in making a rash decision without God's input again. I have learned that the offer may be Godly, it may be an opportunity to help His kingdom. The offer ALSO may not be God's direction for me. I know it, I know it, I know it.

During these next few days, I will be praying about this offer and will try to be open to God's leading. Please also include this in your prayers. I WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING! I WANT TO BE ALWAYS IN THE WILL OF GOD. We need to always keep our pride in check with God's will and purpose for us. Just because it is a 'good thing to do', that doesn't mean that it is God's will for me. He will use the mistakes in judgement for His glory but how much better is it when my decision is in keeping with His will to begin with!

1 Kings 22:5 '... first seek the counsel of the Lord.'

Fences to Protect Your Integrity

2007-10-01T07:44:00.000-04:00

As I strive toward the integrity that God intends me to have, I have found that I must place in my life fences to protect this integrity. These are Moral Fences to guard my heart. I am taking part in a Leadership Class at church and one of the Character Traits of a godly leader is that they are sexually pure. This is an area that our society in America scoffs at and belittles constantly.

So, what are the moral fences that I have placed around my heart? Here is a list that I have developed over the past year.

I will not turn on the TV in a motel room when staying alone. Sound silly? Well, tough beanies. I am serious about my integrity and I want my bride to be completely at ease when I am out-of-town on business.
I will not drink any alcohol when I am away from my wife. I only have an occasional beer anyway but I see to much happen when people 'loosen up' after a drink or two.
I will not ride in a car alone with any other women except my wife or my daughters. Is it that I'm some pervert? NO, it is just a faith issue to me to have these fences in place.
I will not watch any movies or TV shows that show sex scenes. This is difficult as some happen without much warning and when that does happen, I will leave the room momentarily or even close my eyes. Again, I do not want ANYTHING to tug at my heart in that way but my bride.
I use a technique that is know as 'bouncing of the eyes'. I live in Florida and women here sometimes dress pretty scantily. When someone dressed like that comes into my view, I quickly 'bounce my eyes' away from her. Its not the first glance that would get me in trouble; it is the second. I will not allow that to happen.
I compliment my wife constantly to others. I also have an 'I Love My Wife' bumper sticker on my car which I have found to be a great tool that starts conversations. People constantly ask me if my wife 'made' me put the sticker on my car.

Do you have any additional moral fences that you use? Tell me about them. Maybe it is something that I can incorporate in my life as well.

Two Shall Become One

2007-10-01T07:33:00.000-04:00

I went to a marriage conference this weekend with my bride of 26 years. What a wonderful time we had and learned so much that can make our marriage even better. I want our marriage to last a lifetime as God intended when He created it. For that to happen, we must take the time necessary to look inward as well as outward to see what we can to to better meet each others needs.

God brought to light an area that I need to make a lot of change. I have taken the role as 'spiritual leader' of my family very, very seriously and in doing so, I seem to have crossed some lines toward dictatorship (not really that extreme ... still, read on).

We live on a farm whose income comes primarily from citrus. There is some unused acreage that we want to develop in some way to help with the income of the farm but we have not come to any conclusions. Kay has often come up with ideas but I have squashed them quickly thinking that I'm the know-it-all. This weekend, I have come to the realization that on many, many subjects; I'm in fact the 'know-it-little'. I have not honored Kay's ideas as I should have. For that my precious love... I am sorry. I will try harder in this area.

Loving the Lost

2007-09-24T06:14:00.000-04:00

I learned yesterday how important it is for all of us who consider themselves to be followers of Jesus to be reaching out to the lost around us no matter where we are or what we are doing. In Matthew 27:37-40, Jesus sums it all up.

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law
and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

In our churches in America it is so easy to just wander in and wander out week by week and never reach out to those around us. But look at the second command above... if we are to truly love our neighbor (those around us in the work or social setting), shouldn't we be concerned for their eternal destiny? Remember good works doesn't cut it. They can be a 'good' person in the eyes of society and yet be heading straight down the path of eternal damnation. Do I care? I better if I truly stand on the commandments above.

God, today show me how I can reach out to someone around me. I don't want to do this under my own power though and certainly not for my own glory. I want to be obedient to You. Please open the doors and give me a gentle nudge to act... to love my neighbor as myself.

5 C's That Can Change the World (One is CONNECT)

2007-09-20T06:31:00.000-04:00

In church last night the 5 C's came up yet again. These 5 C's are being continually brought up because Jesus was the perfect model to change the world around us. His model can be condensed to 5 C's. They are:

Commit - to be a growing follower of Jesus.
Celebrate - and live the fulfilling lifestyle.
Connect - to others in personal vibrant relationships
Communicate - the good news to everyone everywhere
Contribute - your time, passion, talents and possessions

I didn't like it at first when these were mentioned. Not sure why but I guess that it was probably conviction on my part. I was convicted that one of these C's was something that I didn't do and really didn't care to do.

Connect.... my bride of 26 years and I are relatively quiet people. Oh, we're pleasant around others but we enjoy each others company and are just ... well, satisfied with that. Oh yeah, I connect to my little family just fine. My two daughters, my son (in-law... whatever that means) and my daughter's boyfriend all 'connect' just fine. But this is going beyond immediate family and now I'm getting out of my comfort zone.

Throughout each day that Jesus walked this earth, he showed us the way to have vibrant and meaningful relationships. He had twelve others that followed Him and communed with Him. We catch very brief exchanges between this group in the Bible but I have often thought of what the everyday conversation sounded like. Imagine the laughter and the serious discussion times in your mind. I often have done just that. How was this connected community cultivated?

I would imagine that on top of the list would be transparency with all except Judas who obviously was not totally transparent. Lots of fellowship would have taken place, eating and just plain having fun together. They worshiped together and you know, even just wasted time together.

Do you remember some of the close friends that you had in middle (junior) high or high school? Do you remember the calls that you made to them? Could they have gone something like mine did? "Hey, Lawrence... what 'cha doin'?" "Just sitting... nothing much. How about you?" "Not a thing here. Just watching paint dry."

Why do we remember those relationships so much? BECAUSE THEY WERE MEANINGFUL IN OUR LIVES! My high school buddy Lawrence knew all about me. We went through good times and bad times together... ups and downs and we were always there for each other. That is what 'Connect' is all about.

If your church works at connecting people to each other in small groups or cell groups, please consider taking advantage of this. God did not place us here on this earth to tackle life all on our own. I'm still learning this but it is starting to sink in and I look forward to the day that I can call one or two guys on a fairly regular basis and say "Hey, what 'cha doin?" only to hear them say "Nothing... how about you?"

Blessings!

Why is God's Direction Sometimes So Foggy?

2007-09-17T21:55:00.000-04:00

My heart is somewhat subdued this evening. Just not quite up to par.

My wife has recently taken on a career in a mission field. We are so excited that she is able to reach children around the world for Christ in a tangible way. It is with an incredible outreach organization that provides so much to so many in dire strates. We feel that the 'pay' is rewards in heaven and that God will provide. This may sound naive to some who don't trust fully in God but we have (and are still learning) to do so.

That is great but the organization has her going through training at a snails pace. Is this satan attacking through others to try to get her discouraged? He certainly has been known to work this way. I am working on encouraging her but I pray that God will move in a mighty way soon. I ask that you all pray as well.

Please also pray for my 21 year old daughter. It sounds like she may be close to getting a job but hit a bit of discouragement also today when an interview did not materialize. All we want is God's direction.

Why is that so foggy sometimes?

The Transitioning of Society

2007-09-12T06:40:00.000-04:00

I heard recently of a study by a small college about how younger people communicate with each other. Most colleges depend on their students to read their emails and yet this college found out that this does not occur. Those in their 20's are depending more on text messaging and social sites such as Face book.

I find this most interesting and a bit concerning. I am WELL into my 40's and my communications survive using email. Business associates know that they can contact me in this fashion and I am prompt to respond.

I am not familiar with Face book at all. I have heard horror stories about parents finding out that their children have been communicating with people that they do not personally know using sites such as these. Apparently each user has to invite or accept an invitation from someone else before they are able to communicate. Knowing that my adult daughter and some missionary friends of ours in Mexico use this portal, I tried to sign on this morning to see how it worked. It was all to confusing so I gave up.

So, because I don't know, I am posing a question. Once people accept each other as 'friends' on a site such as this, are they able to read each others postings and mail to others besides what is sent to them? If this is indeed the case; does anyone besides me think that this can lead to a creeping degradation of moral values for those that are not well-grounded? I remember back in grade school the game 'I dare you' and 'double dare' and each dare lead to something more extreme. If postings in social sites such as Face book can take this sort of avenue, where does it all lead?

All forms of technology can be used for good or for evil. We all know that the Internet as a whole is no exception. Therefore, I'm not criticizing this change in communication... only expressing my concerns for the misuse of it.

The bottom-line seems to always fall to where one's heart is focused and founded. "But seek His kingdom, and all (good) things will be given to you as well" (Luke 12:31)

Full-time Christian Ministry

2007-09-11T02:23:00.000-04:00

I can't sleep tonight. This is a very rare thing for me. I know there are many who would be jealous of how well I can sleep ... but not tonight.

Kay and I spent the evening in a Leadership Class at our church (Calvary Chapel, Melbourne) http://www.calvarymelbourne.org/. It is a class that is for potential leaders within the church body to help them find where they may be spiritually gifted and then plug them into areas where they can Go, Grow and Glow! We need to be on fire for God and working in the areas that we are gifted allow us to do that. As said tonight, its like being able to run at 100% and to never grow tired.

Kay has recently entered into full-time missionary work with Samaritan's Purse working with the Operation Christian Child program. The opportunities before her are incredible to make a difference in the lives of children around the world for Christ. I'm so excited for her and am looking forward to seeing how God provides in this area.

Kay and I have thought on more than one occasion that we both may be heading for full-time ministry of some sort. Tonight I feel it more than ever before. I have always thought in my mind that I am already in full-time Christian ministry and I think that we all are as followers of Jesus. Jesus calls us to minister wherever we are in whatever we're doing. I try to approach each day that way. Some days are better than others though.

What will the future bring? Only God knows but I can take comfort in the fact that He does know. Will I someday go through training for ministry? Will I someday take a road that leads me into full-time missionary work as well?

Full-time ministry... How about you? Are you the spiritual leader of your home? That is the place to start.

As you think about this, bear in mind that Jesus may come again before your next breath! Make the most of today.

Carpe Diem!!!

I Love My Wife

2007-09-10T06:34:00.000-04:00

I have a bumper sticker on my car. It says "I Love My Wife". Simple in text but it creates more conversation than any I have ever seen.

Most of the comments come from men who ask if my wife made me put that on my car. I had such a comment this past week from a person who serves on a committee with me. He then asked if my wife made me put the sticker on my car when she caught me with my girlfriend. I responded "no, man... I put it on my car because I love my wife!"

A good response at the time but later I wish that I spent a little more time witnessing to this guy about the love for my wife as well as its source (God).

You see, my wife IS my girlfriend. She is all I ever need. I feel that way because I do not want to seek the worlds description of 'love' but want to only depend on God's. Jesus came and walked on this earth to show us the perfect example of love. That perfect love as abused to the point of being unrecognizable and then nailed to a cross because of His perfect love for you and for me.

Perfect love... not love as the world tries to describe or redescribe. Why would you want to have a dime-store copy of a Rembrandt when you can have the actual painting by the creator himself. I have a Rembrandt whose beauty is beyond description. I am blessed beyond all measure.

Being the Dad that God Expects

2007-09-05T06:42:00.000-04:00

I found myself yesterday sitting on the floor speaking with my 21 year old daughter. She has been searching for direction to go in a career after finishing college and she just keeps hitting dead ends.

Something told me that this was the most important use of my time. It was time to drop everything and just listen.

You know, being a Dad... I feel that I need to have all the answers. I need to be able to 'fix' things but sometimes, I just need to sit and listen. I didn't have any answers for her and only marginal guidance. I did have a heart for her though and I do know who does have the answers... Jesus.

I sat and I listened. Yesterday was a good day...

Remember K.I.S.S?

2007-09-04T06:43:00.000-04:00

I remember that acronym from years back when working with computers. K.I.S.S. stands for 'Keep it simple, Stupid'. I don't particularly like the stupid part but the keep it simple has some merit.

Back in the days when Jesus walked the earth the religious leaders of the day had turned the 10 commandments from Moses day to 613 rules and commands that one must obey to be 'upright' in God's eyes. Basically impossible to all including the Pharisees who came up with the additional commands.

When they tried to corner Jesus by asking Him the most important commandment, His reply was simple... Love the Lord your God with all heart, with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:38). That to me is 'keeping it simple'.

I find as I strive toward integrity that this simple response is vital to my striving towards integrity. It is a constant battle between my selfish thoughts and desires and those that I would honor God with. If I love God with all my heart, soul and mind, there are things that I just will not entertain in my heart. Selfishness, jealousy, lust, among others.

Jesus' simple commandment is all I need. You see to love God in such a way, I will keep all of the Ten Commandments and my walk will be upright and steadfast. Will I ever achieve this here on earth. No, only one could have done that and His name is Jesus. Is that reason to give up and throw in the towel? By no means!

I want to constantly strive towards that goal... to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind. I want to throw off and immediately turn away from any thought or action that may lead me otherwise. It is a constant battle but isn't that why its called spiritual warfare? Life is not easy, its hard and the battlefield is no place for wimps.

God, help me be a spiritual warrior for you today. I put on your armor and I confidently go into battle knowing that you will provide the victory.

Use me today...

Intriging Dream

2007-09-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

I had an intriguing dream last night that I'm still trying to figure out. In the Bible in Acts 2:17 it states:
"In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old me will dream dreams."
Hmmm, I guess that this verse puts me in the latter category if we are in 'the last days' which I think that we are.

Anyway... back to the dream. I was speaking with an older women who was excited about her daughter moving to California to become pregnant. No mention of marriage, no mention of a particular soul that she was going to see. I don't know why it was California that she was going too either.

What was interesting about this dream is that she was as excited about this as if her daughter was going to the animal shelter to pick out a dog to bring home. What is disturbing about this dream is that it isn't too far from reality in today's society in the United States.

Families and marriage are both created and ordained by God. It seems like the more we move away from God's Word, the more we take all of this stuff at what ever value that our surrounding society places on it. It thus spirals downward.

I've been reading in Ezekiel lately. In Ezekiel as well as pretty much throughout the Old Testament, God is trying to move His people, the Jews back toward Him. They continually are wandering off and worshiping other gods and idols. Calamity hits and they turn back only to do the same thing all over again.

Where are we today in the United States? Where am I? I fear that God will soon allow (not create or cause but allow) great correction to take place in the United States. I can't change the direction of our country but I can take responsibility for myself today. Today God, I place myself under your authority. Today God, I give myself to you. Use me... I close with one of my favorite verses to provide my direction. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15... Bold is my own)

What god will you choose today?

A Man of Integrity is Hard to Find

2007-08-31T09:53:00.000-04:00

As I venture out into the blogging world I do so wanting to speak my heart hoping that it will encourage others of the same mindset. You see I am just a family man who is seeking God's heart in all that I think, say and do. I strive to see the world around me as Jesus would have me see it.

I am a husband of the wife of my youth for 26+ years and I have two grown daughters and one son-in-law. I absolutely consider myself to be the most blessed (I don't like the use the word 'lucky') person alive. I adore my wife and my family more than I could ever possibly express.

I only feel that way though because I daily throw off the things of this world that are considered important and ... well, just the way that guys are. I'm far, far, far from perfect. I have made so many mistakes in my life that I deeply regret. I know that I will probably make more. Yet, I approach today reaching for God's hand, depending on His word (The Bible), and trying my best to please Him.

I pray that you will join me on this journey. A journey to make a difference in the lives of those around me. A journey to stand up for what is right. A journey to be a man the way that God intended. Join me, will you?