What currently troubles you?

We all face troubles from acne to age spots, from first dates to troubled mates, and whatever your issue is currently at work or at home we the truth is we all have them. What is distinct about each of us is how we face them. How we cope with them. It comes back to the most basic of response each of us has with conflict. One great passage that author and pastor Mark Batterson has brought to my attention is in the Bible in a book called 2 Samuel chapter 23 and verses 20 and 21. It tells of a great warrior who beat the troubles of life repeatedly. He was caught up with the challenge with two warriors once. That is not a situation you want to find yourself in, two on one. Like the original Rocky movie where Rocky the no name under dog from the meat packing plant gets to fight the champion Apollo Creed. His own trainer was ready to stop the fight by throwing in the towel (to stop the fight), yet Rocky felt there was something in him bigger than what was fighting him. For Benaiah, the odds were against him, and two were bent on destroying him, yet something on the inside said don’t give up. I think Benaiah had caught that truth, no matter the odds, God’s side always wins. Even if you seem to be down, The Lord will pick you up. Too often I am ready to throw in the towel on a situation God is ready to give me victory. I don’t know about you but I am like most males and I like to win. If I stand strong in the Lord, I do believe I will win, eventually. No matter what trouble I am facing even if the odds are 2 to 1. How about you? What are you facing? Can I challenging you to even the odds and not face it alone. I would be thrilled to pray with you about any challenge or trouble you are going through.

Religion -No thanks...

I am brought back to recent conversations I have had one-on-one with new friends. They refer to my moral compass completetly different Than I do. Have you run into people who refer to their beliefs or faith as "religion"? It may just be semantics or church culture but I almost cringe when I hear about a life following after Jesus as "religion."
I am aware of the response from those who may have a longer church history than others. They may go after the person without truly listening and taking time to understand them. Often well meaning responses are taken offensively by those not knowing the church jargon. The suggestion for those who would immediately respond with the it's not religion but a personal relationship is to try a new approach. Try talking to the person about why it's more meaningful than just a ritualist activity once a week. Try talking to them about what Jesus has meant to you personally. Try to talk about how he has made your life better, not just when you made a personal decision, but last month or last week. Talk about how The Father has helped you through tough times or made a bad thing work out for good. That will help them get that it is way more than religion...the catch is you need to have something to say. Take time to make your relationship with Jesus more than religion. Most of those outside of the church would say yes to that type of faith.

New Beginings

I love new beginings. Like when you were a kid playing baseball & you hit the ball over a wall or fence you would yell "do over"! When everyone agreed you got a fresh start. In the old Testament the Jewish feast could be viewed as at least 3 different times to start fresh and "do over". The psalmist goes so far as to say, "His mercies are new every morning". Isn't that great! We get a new start everyday it's like a gift to start fresh every day. What a present Jesus offers us. Now it is up to us. What will we do with such a great treasure? How will we use such a treasure? Perhaps we will let it sit while we think how it could have been. Maybe we will dispise today because we will compare it with another persons more fortunate. The treasure of today might be spent in celebration of a God who loved us so much that he enabled us to enjoy one more sunrise & sunset. That we could embrace fully whatever The Lord has for us to walk through. I am thrilled for new beginings and new days. I trust you will choose the joy found in a fresh day!

I Love Christmas Presence

What do you think of when you think Christmas?

It is the time of year where anxiety is high, where budgets are stretched, where expectations are elevated. All of these are adding to the madness but not one help with Christmas presence.

It has been said that for males shopping is equivalent to the stress a fighter pilot undergoes while in combat. Of course this activity does nothing to evoke good Christmas presence.

Yet GOD let his presence be known through a baby.

Have you ever seen a baby just after he's been born?
Being a father of three it is hard to explain.
It's amazing, beautiful, wonderful, gross and disgusting all at once.

There is nothing threatening about a baby, yet nothing as distracting, not a thing as captivating. So when GOD decided to make His presence known he chose the perfect way -a child. THE LORD didn't want to scare humanity so he showed himself as frail and nonthreatening. So man would never have to be alone again. So that in the anxious times of life and in the financial crunches and even in unmet expectations He would and could make it better by being there. The best Christmas presence.

The Lord is with us! Immanuel.

What about you?

DO you love Christmas presence too?

I was shocked by the cashier at WalMart

I love this time of Year!
It's more people than usual out in the malls and in the stores.
I enjoy the extra time I get to speak with my wife or talk with someone in line. I also enjoy the overall nice attitude everyone seems to have (except in the parking lot for some reason). I always want to leave each of the new friends I meet with a meaningful farewell it seems that "Happy Holidays!" -seems extremely secular (though I have been told it may have originated from Happy Holy Day), "Merry Christmas!", doesn't quite get it my thoughts were interupted while I was out the other day as I was finishing loading my purchases I was shocked by what the cashier at Wal-Mart said. He said with a big grin and jolly heart "God Bless you!" I beamed as I went out to the parking lot. The Lord himself it seemed answered my quandary. So that is what I will be saying this year and beyond any holiday season. I want to be a person who sends hope to those who are broken to lift those that are down to bring more than just chatter to the ears of the listener. I want the Lord of the universe the creator of all that is, my personal savior and theirs too if called upon and my best friend to bless them with His presence, peace, supply, and power so I'll say, "God bless you!"
How about you what do you say? Why?

What is there to be thankful for?

It seems that in despair and hardship it is often quite difficult to distinguish the clouds silver lining. Two people come to mind in the book of Acts. Paul & Silas were in a down time in a down place all while trying to serve Jesus.

It seems that they came around that evening to thank God in song. Which in turn The Lord Jesus shook the foundations physically, and the gaurd on duty spiritually.

What amazes me is why they were excited. They discovered the joy in looking at there plight from God's perspective. He(The Lord) saw they could handle the trial they currently faced (They were stronger than they thought). It was in that they began to be thankful.

Rejoicing comes from taking your circumstances and letting Jesus show you things from His view.