Well, it's been a while since I did this. Have you every wanted to change something about yourself? Wouldn't it be nice if you could go back and change all those things you wish you would not have done? Some would like to change theirselves completely. I must admit I have felt that way before, and, truth is, close to it right now. Some highly spiritual brother or sister will have some great words of wisdom about this (if someone reads it) I am sure. The bottom line is... they have felt this way too. If someone says they haven't, they are a liar. That may put them in worse spiritual condition, I done know!
It seems like it is a place where you're having trouble getting your heart to believe what your head is telling you. So, I am trying to apply scripture. At times it is working and at times my faith is very weak! You know what I mean. It's just hard to believe what you read. Such as, "All things work together for good... Romans 8:28, how about Jerimaih 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Two wonderful promises from a God who loves us and not only does not but CANNOT lie!
So it comes down to this. It's me! It's me, God has spoken and so it is, period! It's my faith, trust, love, knowledge of the Word, and on and on. What makes me angry is that I am writing this and I know it. Yet in my sin, I still am trying to look for a small hole, just a crack in God's promises, so I can take the blame off me. How sinful is that?? "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24
Lord, forgive me and help me to trust and believe in You and YOU ALONE! Amen!
It's a Wonderful Life if you know Christ!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Fathers!
John 3:16 starts by saying, "For God so loved the world...". Many people can quote this verse before any other verse in the Bible. Yet, I think we become so familiar with the verse that we miss what the verse is telling us.
God loves the whole world. That's what it says! Does He love the sinner? Yes! Does he love the prostitute, the drug pusher, the unfaithful husband or wife? The answer is yes! He loves them as much as the preacher, choir singer, and believer! You might ask, "If He is such a loving God then how could He send or let anyone go to Hell?" Without looking any further than the first part of John 3:16, let me tell you how I would answer that.
The only picture I have of my Heavenly Father, is a small, far from perfect picture I have received from my earthly father. I love my dad very much. He was and is a great father to me but he is a sinner. He loves God, but he is far from perfect. Yet my father helps me to understand God my heavenly Father. When I was a little boy my dad, like every other dad told me, "Son, stay out of the street." When I didn't listen, he would discipline me. He would spank my back side good and proper. Why? Because he loved me. Just because I would go into the street, that did not change the fact that dad loved me. Yet he disciplined me because he loved me. He didn't want me to get hit by a car and get hurt. On a greater and perfect scale, God loves us the same way. If He stopped loving us because we did something wrong then none of us could call Him "Abba" Father. Just because He loves us doesn't mean He will not discipline us. And, if we don't cry out to Christ for forgiveness, then He will punish us by giving us what we deserve. Hell! I don't fully understand His ways but I am thankful for His ways!
My father loves me no matter what. He might not agree with me on everything but he loves me. The Heavenly Father loves me no matter what! The fact is He loves me more than my earthly father could ever love me. I wish I could understand it.
All I can say is, It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
God loves the whole world. That's what it says! Does He love the sinner? Yes! Does he love the prostitute, the drug pusher, the unfaithful husband or wife? The answer is yes! He loves them as much as the preacher, choir singer, and believer! You might ask, "If He is such a loving God then how could He send or let anyone go to Hell?" Without looking any further than the first part of John 3:16, let me tell you how I would answer that.
The only picture I have of my Heavenly Father, is a small, far from perfect picture I have received from my earthly father. I love my dad very much. He was and is a great father to me but he is a sinner. He loves God, but he is far from perfect. Yet my father helps me to understand God my heavenly Father. When I was a little boy my dad, like every other dad told me, "Son, stay out of the street." When I didn't listen, he would discipline me. He would spank my back side good and proper. Why? Because he loved me. Just because I would go into the street, that did not change the fact that dad loved me. Yet he disciplined me because he loved me. He didn't want me to get hit by a car and get hurt. On a greater and perfect scale, God loves us the same way. If He stopped loving us because we did something wrong then none of us could call Him "Abba" Father. Just because He loves us doesn't mean He will not discipline us. And, if we don't cry out to Christ for forgiveness, then He will punish us by giving us what we deserve. Hell! I don't fully understand His ways but I am thankful for His ways!
My father loves me no matter what. He might not agree with me on everything but he loves me. The Heavenly Father loves me no matter what! The fact is He loves me more than my earthly father could ever love me. I wish I could understand it.
All I can say is, It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Granddaddy to Be!
I went to my daughters home in Louisville, KY today and helped my son-in-law Matt paint the nursery. In a few short weeks, my wife and I will step into the world of Grandparents! When I think about it my mind runs wild. Who will the baby look like, color of hair, boy or girl? So many questions in my mind. The one thing I pray for is God's mercies. May God be merciful and save my grand baby at a young age! All else dose not matter! Heavenly Father, please save my first grand child and everyone after this one. Amen!
My mother said if she could skip having the children and go straight to grand kids she would have. I know she is just kidding me. I think I'm going to like this grandpa gig!
It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
My mother said if she could skip having the children and go straight to grand kids she would have. I know she is just kidding me. I think I'm going to like this grandpa gig!
It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Remember
My reading today took me to I Corinthians 11:23 - 25. This passage is read every Sunday during the Lord supper. Both verses 24 and 25 end with "remembrance of me". I know this passage is dealing with taking the Lord's Supper and as we take it we are remembering the Lord's death. Without His death we have no salvation! Praise God for His mercy and grace!
As I read it today, I began to remember Christ and who He is, not was. I remembered He is the King of kings, He is the Lord of lords! I remembered He is the healer, provider, deliverer! In remembering Christ I remembered it is because of Him I live and move and have my being! I remembered He knew me before I was formed in my mothers womb. I remembered that He has plans for me, plans that are good for me and not to harm me! I remembered that he chose me, I didn't choose Him. I remembered how he purchased me while I was a sinner and that he loves me even though I am a sinner! I remembered that in my weakness He is strong!
"Remembrance of me"! I don't know how your day is going or how tomorrow will be. One thing I do know... It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Let Freedom Ring!
One great privilege with my job is the many places I go. I have been in 48 of the 50 states in this great country, in all the provinces of Canada, and to England! I have seen the statue of Liberty, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, Been to the most southern point of the United States in Key West, Ice skated at Rockefeller Center in New York City while it was snowing and holding my wife's hand (that was the greatest ever!) My son and I walked the streets of Tombstone, Arizona and stood where Wyatt Earp and the boys fought at the O.K. Corral. I have seen the Grand Canyon, The Little Big Horn, Yellow Stone, Valley Forge, Gettysburg and much, much more. I love my job, (most of the time! The part I don't like is being away from my family and church family.) I have been blessed.
Today, around 7am eastern time, I stood where great men have stood over 200 years ago. Men like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and others. Today I stood where I have never been before, In front of Liberty Hall and next to the Liberty Bell. I believe if these men where to come back and see our country and where it is today, and where the President and congress are taking us. They would be heart broken, angry, and ready to give their life for this great country all over again. They were willing to once before because when they signed the Declaration of Independence they were committing treason against the King. The penalty would be death if they didn't fight for freedom and win. As I stood there I was caught up in thinking about what pride they must have felt as they signed their name. They were signing a piece of paper that would change the world and build a country most people in the world would only dream about living in. We have been blessed to be born in this great country! I also thought about what our country would look like if we were writing the Declaration of Independence today and what names would be on it. That is a sobering thought! If the leadership we have today were writing such a document, I don't think we would have such a boarder problem like we do because no one would want to come here! Talk about going back in time! The leadership of this country is taking us right back under the oppression that was fought against to bring freedom to this great nation! Tell me that the early people of America didn't "racial profile" when they saw a red coat? They didn't worry about being "politically correct" when the were talking about freedom and liberty or the hard hand of the British Government?
I am struggling on how to end this post, so let me say this. I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! I believe that ALL men are created equal, but I believe it because of Christ! He purchased it for those who believe and He freely gives it to those who believe. NOT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT!!! So, if Christ gave us "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". If God "created all men equal", then only the person who gave you something has the right to take it away! We need to fight and not let someone else like the government take away these God given things from us! What will happen to Liberty Hall and the Liberty Bell if we become a Socialist Country? There's no place for them in that type of country! What will happen...
It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
Today, around 7am eastern time, I stood where great men have stood over 200 years ago. Men like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and others. Today I stood where I have never been before, In front of Liberty Hall and next to the Liberty Bell. I believe if these men where to come back and see our country and where it is today, and where the President and congress are taking us. They would be heart broken, angry, and ready to give their life for this great country all over again. They were willing to once before because when they signed the Declaration of Independence they were committing treason against the King. The penalty would be death if they didn't fight for freedom and win. As I stood there I was caught up in thinking about what pride they must have felt as they signed their name. They were signing a piece of paper that would change the world and build a country most people in the world would only dream about living in. We have been blessed to be born in this great country! I also thought about what our country would look like if we were writing the Declaration of Independence today and what names would be on it. That is a sobering thought! If the leadership we have today were writing such a document, I don't think we would have such a boarder problem like we do because no one would want to come here! Talk about going back in time! The leadership of this country is taking us right back under the oppression that was fought against to bring freedom to this great nation! Tell me that the early people of America didn't "racial profile" when they saw a red coat? They didn't worry about being "politically correct" when the were talking about freedom and liberty or the hard hand of the British Government?
I am struggling on how to end this post, so let me say this. I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! I believe that ALL men are created equal, but I believe it because of Christ! He purchased it for those who believe and He freely gives it to those who believe. NOT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT!!! So, if Christ gave us "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". If God "created all men equal", then only the person who gave you something has the right to take it away! We need to fight and not let someone else like the government take away these God given things from us! What will happen to Liberty Hall and the Liberty Bell if we become a Socialist Country? There's no place for them in that type of country! What will happen...
It's a wonderful life if you know Christ!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thankful for the Small Things!
Well, I have finally entered the blog world. I have been hesitant to do so because I aint got good grammar, and my speling is terrible! So please look past that and hopefully as I continue to post, all will improve. At this time I will refrain from having a Spacebook or My Face page. That is yet to come!
As many of you know, the flooding around Nashville has destroyed many homes. Today I drove through a neighborhood where the water liked inches of completely covering houses earlier this week. The owners were standing in the driveway with everything they owned scattered across their lawn. The look on their faces is hard to describe in words. They stood there as if to say, "What should I do next? How will we ever move back into our home?" I know that our city is not the first to go through a flood, and we won't be the last. However, this is the first flood I have been involved in. I helped a brother from our church on Wednesday pull the carpet out of his home because of the flood. His neighbors working in the yard with their treasures drying on the ground. Seeing what they may be able to salvage. Looking at their faces as we would drive by, you could see the hurt, worry, and frustration in their eyes. This was the first real look for me. You see, for many of us, we get up out of our bed, eat at our table, sit in our recliner, drive down our street, and go to work with no problem. Many homes, including mine, received no damage from all the rain. I was hurting for these people. I wonder where they are looking for their strength? Where is their hope? I was ashamed of myself because I wasn't praying for these people like I should. "Out of sight, out of mind!" It didn't happen in my world so I somewhat forgot about it. It only effected me on Sunday while it was raining. The creek below my home was up and we couldn't leave our neighborhood. Wasn't that horrible? The water was down by Monday morning at our house and we were fine. It wasn't until Wednesday when I saw this neighborhood that I be gain to hurt for all those who were forced from their homes.
The Bible says, "It rains on the just and the unjust." Believers and unbelievers alike. The difference is where your hope is. That may sound simple and easy for me to say because my stuff is not all over my yard drying! Yet it is the truth! Our hope must be in Christ! All else will fail! This experience has made me more thankful for the little things!
If you are reading this and your home was flooded. I am praying for you every day! I pray you will put your hope in Christ! He will not let you down. It's a Wonderful Life if you know Christ!
As many of you know, the flooding around Nashville has destroyed many homes. Today I drove through a neighborhood where the water liked inches of completely covering houses earlier this week. The owners were standing in the driveway with everything they owned scattered across their lawn. The look on their faces is hard to describe in words. They stood there as if to say, "What should I do next? How will we ever move back into our home?" I know that our city is not the first to go through a flood, and we won't be the last. However, this is the first flood I have been involved in. I helped a brother from our church on Wednesday pull the carpet out of his home because of the flood. His neighbors working in the yard with their treasures drying on the ground. Seeing what they may be able to salvage. Looking at their faces as we would drive by, you could see the hurt, worry, and frustration in their eyes. This was the first real look for me. You see, for many of us, we get up out of our bed, eat at our table, sit in our recliner, drive down our street, and go to work with no problem. Many homes, including mine, received no damage from all the rain. I was hurting for these people. I wonder where they are looking for their strength? Where is their hope? I was ashamed of myself because I wasn't praying for these people like I should. "Out of sight, out of mind!" It didn't happen in my world so I somewhat forgot about it. It only effected me on Sunday while it was raining. The creek below my home was up and we couldn't leave our neighborhood. Wasn't that horrible? The water was down by Monday morning at our house and we were fine. It wasn't until Wednesday when I saw this neighborhood that I be gain to hurt for all those who were forced from their homes.
The Bible says, "It rains on the just and the unjust." Believers and unbelievers alike. The difference is where your hope is. That may sound simple and easy for me to say because my stuff is not all over my yard drying! Yet it is the truth! Our hope must be in Christ! All else will fail! This experience has made me more thankful for the little things!
If you are reading this and your home was flooded. I am praying for you every day! I pray you will put your hope in Christ! He will not let you down. It's a Wonderful Life if you know Christ!
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