Therefore, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

 When looking for a job, you want the best pay and all the benefits that accompany that position. In today’s job market, that usually comes with working full time, which means dedicating no less than 40 hours a week to your employer. Part time employment only yields a smaller paycheck with few, or little, benefits.

 Today’s verse challenges Christians to be devoted to God in a full-time position. With it, comes a responsibility to make decisions that are God honoring, such as the television programs you watch, how you raise your children, the places you go for entertainment or relaxation, and so many other decisions you make about your life.

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burdens are light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 God’s call to the child of God isn’t a life of struggle, burdens, or weariness, although you can experience those things in this world, BUT, His way brings rest to your soul, wisdom to make right choices, and all He asks of you isn’t anything you are not capable of handling. He equips you for life’s challenges so you can sustain your life’s purpose, according to His will. That’s what a full time Christian’s life looks like.

A part time Christian is one who might experience intermittent blessings, but the emotional rollercoaster of life will make you feel overwhelmed, exhausted of trying to live life by your own strength. Allowing God to touch certain moments of your life will not give you the full benefit package HE longs to give you.

 So, are you a full time or part time child of God? Maybe it’s time to do some soul searching and look over God’s description of a full time Christian. The benefits and blessings far outweigh the part time efforts you try to achieve by living your way.

 

 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

 My wife and I had a discussion the other day on living out our faith in holiness, especially when we leave home and interact with others. One of my challenges happens while driving. I get very frustrated when people drive crazy, putting others at risk, especially those who don’t obey traffic laws, or better yet park at the front of a store in the fire zone. It’s funny when you think about it, but those things can flare up my blood pressure pretty quick, and I have to constantly remind myself, I am a child of God, supposed to have a spirit of holiness. What gets under your skin?

 Today’s verse should be memorized and mentally repeated anytime we engage with others. We live in a world where everyone has an opinion and some are on the opposite end of the scale than your thoughts and beliefs. It’s easy to let our feathers get ruffled, but by conditioning our mind to rehearse Ephesians 4:32, and heed its advice, we can interact with others, and express the love and kindness of Jesus Christ.  It isn’t easy, and it takes time to transform your mind to think differently, especially when your morals, beliefs, and standards are put to the test by others. But it can be done with God’s help through His Holy Spirit living inside you.

 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

 Let God’s Spirit feed you the wisdom and encouragement needed to be the light in this dark world. You don’t have to agree with or accept other’s beliefs that disregard biblical standards, but you can and should show love, seasoned with patience, and peace. Otherwise, no one will see Christ, especially living in you! God bless!

 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

 Over the past two months I have battled sickness with sinus issues, bronchitis, stomach flu, and diverticulitis. Because of these illnesses, I’ve missed church more than I’ve attended and I feel a void in my heart as a result. Thankfully, I’m on the mend, AGAIN, and look forward to joining my church family this coming Sunday.

 If you think about it, church attendance is like getting together with your family. Each person comes together with different views, different appetites, and various stories, yet, are all related by blood and hopefully unified in love for one another.

 Maybe you don’t attend church on a regular basis, or never even considered attending. In today’s blog I want to share the benefits of attending church in hopes that you will see how a church family can benefit your life and personal family.

 Church is a place where people of all kinds come together to worship God. Each person has their own way of worship; all you have to do is sit and observe. After a while or after a few weeks of attendance, you’ll feel the motivation to join in the worship: through prayer, music, or receiving a powerful message from the pulpit that touches your heart.

 A church that is centered around Christ will be very welcoming, and you should feel their love and heart-felt conversations, just like you would your family. Over time, those conversations turn into friendships and you begin to know the people around you. You’ll learn about their life, and hopefully how their faith keeps them going, even when life becomes difficult. I’ve learned so much from people sitting around me, and those who’ve stepped up to the stage to share their testimony.

 As weeks pass by, you’ll feel a tug to get involved in some sort of ministry. An active church should have some special ministry for you to get involved, such as food pantry, distributing clothing to the homeless, going on mission trips to other countries. The list is endless, but there is always something you can plug into.

 But the most important reason for church, is for you to understand the heart and characteristics of your Creator, God! His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life as a ransom for your sins, so that you can have a personal relationship with Him. Christians are unified by the blood of Jesus Church! You’ll learn more about that special relationship as you attend church.

 Social, physical, and spiritual benefits abound when you give church a try. Not all churches families are the same, and it might take a few visits to other churches to really find the right fit for you and your family. No matter what, just know that God loves you, He wants you to know Him better by attending His house as He will bless you with a special family of believers, who will soon become a part of your family. God bless!

 

 

 You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

 Ever have big dreams, knowing that the likelihood of them coming to fruition is almost impossible? Every now and then my wife and I talk about moving to an area with some space to have a pool, bigger kitchen, and not have neighbors within earshot of our outdoor conversations. Jokingly we always say, “if we win the lottery” we can do such and such. Maybe you’ve had similar conversations with yourself or significant other.

 As children of God, we have to be careful what we ask for in this life. It’s easy to get fixated on big things that can actually result in stress from more debt, responsibility to maintain the bigger stuff, and Lord only knows the tax man will want his share of that big picture. God doesn’t object to fulfilling our dreams, and He’s richly blessed so many people in our country who are some of the strongest Christians I know.

 Today’s scripture offers advice on asking for things we dream of, we long for, and sometimes an actual need. But God, in His all-knowing wisdom, has placed limits on His blessings. Why? Because He knows specifically what will help us or what could potentially derail us spiritually.  Let’s use an example. Say you have a child who has a spending problem and comes to you, asking for money to buy an expensive boat. Would you give it to them? Most likely not, because you know they are probably struggling to make ends meet, and this big-ticket item would cost more money to maintain, putting them in a financial mess.

 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:5

 God loves you and gave you His all, so you can make personal request. The key to asking is aligning your request and life’s plans with His perfect will and purpose. Anything outside of that, God knows, will eventually turn to ashes. Make your petition and accept God’s blessings with a spirit of gratitude. When you do, you’ll have everything you need for this life and future home in Heaven! God bless!  

 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

 If you’ve ever been on a pontoon boat, you know that even though it has a motor and you steer in a certain direction, a strong wind can alter its course. During my career, I was on boat patrol quite often and can attest to this fact, the wind is a factor when boating on the water. The best way to navigate on windy days, is to work with the wind, not against it. Sail boat operators are keenly aware of this fact and use the wind to their advantage.

 Today’s scripture came to mind after reading a brief devotional from Oswald Chambers. After reading those words of wisdom, I had to sit back and do some soul searching, asking myself: do I leave room for God to work in my life? Then, this thought came to mind: Whose steering this boat? As much as I would like to take credit for my accomplishments, I can tell you that they were all governed by God Himself. Even though I was the person in charge, God actually charted my course, through the highs and lows. I might have tried my best to control the bad days; that’s when I left little room for God’s perfect will.

 The question we all need to ask ourselves: “Whose steering my ship?” When we leave no room for God to work in our lives, we work against His Spirit, against His perfect will, and find ourselves headed in a place of danger, regret, shame, compromise, even death.

 As a child of God, you are blessed to have His presence in your life to guide you. Don’t struggle against Him, use His Holy Spirit to guide you by working together through prayer, having an open heart, and surrendering your will to His. When you do, your daily journey will lead you in the right direction every time! God bless

 Look to Me and be saved. Isaiah 45:22

 Have you ever watched a child after they got hurt? Their immediate attention goes towards a parent, as they cry out for help. Any loving parent would be quick to pick up their child and offer a loving hug and comforting words to bring an end to the child’s pain. And, that is exactly what happens in most cases.

 As adults, we might not have that option to reach out to our parents when something bad happens, so where can you turn for comfort? Today’s scripture is brief and to the point, “Look to Me and be saved”. For those of you who’ve looked to God in times of need, you know that focusing on Him through prayer and thought, yields an inner peace that calms your soul, it heals the brokenness, and provides encouragement to keep going when your circumstances scream GIVE UP. I personally can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve looked to God for healing, and He’s come through each and ever time.

 Take today’s scripture to heart! Look to God when you face painful moments of life. God is the healer and comforter to everyone of His children, that includes you and me. Look to Him and be saved! God bless!

 James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

Several times in my life I've had people at my table indulge on the food plated to me, leaving theirs untouched. The results left me a little hungry, angry, and short changed at the cash register. As funny as this story is, there's something many of us are guilty of doing that's even worse. 

Envy. It's something that might seem harmless, but it is no laughing matter and has damaged many relationships, driven people to do things outside their normal character, even committing crimes against the one they are envious of. Let me explain.

You see someone has something you long for, maybe it's a certain character trait, financial status, position in a company, the list is endless. Envious of that person stirs emotions towards that person, eating away at your heart, mind, and soul. God has made them the way they are for a purpose, just as He has done the same for you. When you try to take or mimic them it's like taking food from their plate. No one wins and you end up living with a guilty conscience later in life and truthfully will eventually realize what you took really wasn't the right fit for your life. 

God doesn't bless envy, jealousy, and self-seeking behavior. Let it go by asking God to help you see the portion He's given you is enough and you should use it as scripted for your life. Your plate is only filled with God's blessings when you stay in your lane and focus on God with a spirit of gratitude.