"Wait For the Lord"

(Psalm 27:14)-"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at the age 16, but didn't become king until he was 30. During the interim, he was chased through the desert by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom.)
Waiting for God isn't easy. Often it seems that He isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God in not in control or is a liar. But God is worth waiting for (I am learning this one). Lamentations 3:24-26 "calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us". So, I challenge you to make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

"Is Christianity our Title or our Actions?"

Is Christianity a noun, or a verb? Well, the Bible says, "They will know us by our love", not by holding up a sign (metaphorically speaking) telling the world we are. So, I wonder, is it right to justify who we are by our words or by our actions? I think we all know the answer to this question, if we really think about it. The commandment that was given by God was to love one another. (1 Corinthians 13:4-13-"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.)  So, I leave us with one thought (me included)...are we a doer or do we just talk about it?

"God Doesn't Go Against His Word"

First of all, God doesn't go against His Word...what He says, if we hear Him right, is Truth..the Word of God says, "Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever"(Hebrews 13:8) He doesn't change His mind and put us on this roller coaster ride of emotions...A loving God doesn't play games with our Hearts like that..He heals our hearts...into peace, not confusion..
God is the ONLY one that can provide us with "a peace that surpasses ALL understanding (Philippians 4:7) during our most dark days". And if you ask Him to give you that kind of peace and focus on Him, and not the problem (no matter big or small) God will give you a peace, that no man can give, one that we surely can't explain during our most difficult times. He is truly faithful! Let me say this, as I encourage, God is also using my words to encourage me. Because, I need to hear it over and over again :) So, I challenge all of us to put our faith in God who is the only one who brings genuine peace."

"A Better Life"

"The day will come when we all have to go,

Sometimes sooner than we thought we'd know,

So, be ready at all times to walk across the Great Divide,

Because we never know when our time is drawing nigh,
However, we can be assured of where we are going,
By placing all our trust in the All Knowing,
He has promised to always love and never leave you,
To always guide you through and through,
So, what do you say we,
Get on our knees and pray"

"Resting In Peace"

Everyone of us needs down time..We were created to work hard and then rest (regroup if you will..in body, mind and spirit). It is sometimes so hard for us to realize when we are at our wits end until it's too late. Then we crash. Just as our bodies need rest every night, our spirits need rest too. And by spending time with God in His Word, prayer and meditation (being quiet to listen to God) we get just that, rest.  God longs to talk to us, even more than we want to talk to Him. In another words, He is always there ready and waiting to speak to His children (you and me). We are the ones, and I am definitely including myself, who run such a fast pace in life.We don't stop to think what will happen when we have nothing else left to give. Well, what happens is we drop, and find that it is much harder to get back up because we didn't maintain ourselves (spiritually and physically). If we start each day in prayer with our Father in Heaven, things may not get easier, but they sure are easier to handle with God backing us. You see, there is a peace that only God can give during even our darkest days. This is a peace we cannot fathom. It can't be explained no matter how hard we try. It is one that nothing tangible (money, cars, things) can bring. The peace comes from the inside out (God), not from the outside in (things of this world). Only God can heal an emotionally torn heart. Nothing outside of that can do so. Again, this healing starts from the inside out, not the outside in.

Look at it this way, it is easier to see what is in a cup when it's full. But, when it's empty we have no clue. If we start every morning with a fresh start (spending time with God) then we get spiritually filled up, then it overflows out of us to where others will see. But, if we don't maintain our relationship with God, it also shows, and others will see it in many ways (attitude, the way we treat others, and etc.) Just as if we don't maintain our bodies by feeding them, we will starve ourselves, and again, others will see it.

So, I challenge each of you to find time every day to spend feeding your spirit, mind, and body.
(Psalm 55:22-"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken")

"Weighed Down To Be Lifted Up"

"I might step on some toes, including mine, so here goes. I'm not sure why some people must act ugly. My personal experience is from other Christians. It seems so easy and natural for them to point out your flaws and judge you for your mistakes. While, all along they have their own issues. It's rare for me to voice my opinion regarding this. But, it is all too real for me. Now, let me say, I have been guilty of this a time or two, and really felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. Which is why, I feel compelled to bring it up. A good rule of thumb is, Satan condemns, and God convicts. God, teaches us, while the devil tears down. As Christians, we are of the same family; the Family of God Almighty. You can't be "grandfathered in" into a relationship with Jesus. It's a personal relationship, we must receive it intimately and personally between Jesus and ourselves. No one can do this for us. Jesus wants our hearts to be willingly relinquished by each of us independently. We each have the choice to make a decision to follow Jesus or not. That is our choice. No one can make it for us. We certainly are not called to judge one another. We are all "works in progress". I think we forget this vital point. We are all at different stages of our walk with the Lord. None of us are at the same place. And it's really not fair or just that we judge according to our personal prospective, that's God's job. We all have things in our lives we are working through with the Lord. I want to share that I am simply a man who seeks a better way. I've made some mistakes and will make some more. But one day, I'm going to hear my Lord and Savior Jesus say "Well done my good and faithful servant." We are called by God to love one another, that includes forgiving each other for wrongs done to us. (Matthew 18:21-22-"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? (22) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.) Another words Jesus is saying we are to forgive with no limits. It is hard, but by forgiving someone, it gives you the freedom, not the person you are forgiving.

So, I challenge each of us to search our own hearts and take it to Jesus. The good news is Jesus has already redeemed all of us from any mistakes we have made in the past, or will ever make." Be encouraged!

"God's Reformation"

"Life is a journey we must take alone,

If we aren't careful it can turn our hearts into stone,

Our hardened hearts can invite in bitterness and strife,

If not dealt with, it will eat at us the rest of our lives,

But, it doesn't have to stay that way,
I know someone that can turn that stone into clay,
He will mold it and make it new to receive,
And you will look into the mirror and say "It's a new me",
So, don't give up hope too soon,
Or you will miss out on God's biggest clue, Jesus!"