And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Matthew 9:20-21

 One of the definitions for “faith” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is: firm belief in something which there is no proof. For the average person, we have faith in something because we know it to be true from what we’ve seen or experienced. So often though, we go through life with a touch of faith, believing the plane we fly in won’t crash, the medicine we take will make us well again, or the vows of marriage will last into eternity.

 Here comes Jesus Christ! This woman who had an issue with bleeding for 12 years heard about the healing power of Jesus. She was considered an outcast because of her medical condition, and probably didn’t think Jesus would pay her any attention, so she had faith that touching His garment would heal her, and it did exactly that. Jesus, sensing the power had gone out from Him, looked to her and said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

 The most powerful message in this interaction is the fact that Jesus didn’t touch her, like He had with many other miraculous healings. No, this healing took place because she had faith in just touching His garment. That my friend is a level of faith very few of us posses these days.

 Whatever you are going through in your life, have faith in Jesus, that He is right there with you, ready to heal your broken heart, mend a relationship, give you wisdom in life’s decisions, find the right person to marry, and so many other opportunities to test your faith. If you lack faith, I encourage you to read stories from the bible that tell of people who overcame simply through faith in the One who changed their lives forever. He will do the same for you when you put your faith and trust in Him. God bless!

 

 “Who considers God in everything”. William Law, 18^th Century Church of England Priest.

As a seasoned Christian, I’ve been digging deeper in my biblical studies, currently focusing on growing in holiness. To aid in my desire to live a more holy life, I’ve read The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. An amazing book that helps the reader look at his/her life to better understand sinful habits and how we can learn to hate them, in effort to remove them from one’s life. My second book I started reading is entitled, The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges. I just started reading it and within the first few pages, writer William Law is quoted, “Who considers God in everything”.

 I had to ask myself a simple question, do I consider God in everything I do? After some reflection and deep thought, I find myself coming up short in several areas of my life. Whether is just a simple oversight on my part or pure neglect, I recognize those areas are my weakest link in my pursuit of living a more holy life. The word, “AVOIDANCE” screams loudly in my mind as I realize there are things I do, say, and think that pivot me in the opposite direction of holiness.

 1 Timothy 6:11 comes to mind, “But I say flee sinful actions, man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

 God has given each of His children the Holy Spirit. Just like when the hair rises on a dog when scared, the Spirit alerts us to the lure of temptation and sin, and at that moment we are to flee, run like our life depends upon it (because it really does), and don’t look back. One of my weaknesses is looking back. I feel a confidence that I won’t fall for another one of Satan’s tactics to sin, yet somehow that forbidden fruit becomes the focal point of my eyes and my defenses are weakened. You probably know the rest of the story, reset the holiness clock back to zero, lets try this again.

 As Christians (this includes me), we MUST always consider God in every action, every thought, and every word spoken. When we do, He acts as a filter to help us screen out anything unholy that will hurt our relationship with Him. Staying prayed up, continually, and avoiding those things, places, and thoughts that easily distract us from living a life of holiness, we can be assured another day of victory for the sake of God and His desire for us to stay the course.

 

 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