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!