For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 15-16

Have you ever been on a first time date and found it to be miserable. Maybe it was the first impression, lack of communication, awkwardness or it just didn’t turn out the way you had hoped. Once you realize things aren’t good, all you want to do is end it quickly and move on.

If you think about it, sin is like that first date (or blind date). It looks appealing and has your attention and excitement. But once you go through the motions, you realize it did nothing for you, possibly hurt you in some way, even leaving some long term effects in your life. As you are well aware, everyone has their own weaknesses and Satan knows which cheese to tempt you, so you’ll come out of your protective hole and take a bite. The struggle is so real and can leave you feeling helpless.

I can assure you our Savior, Jesus Christ, lived 33 years and was tempted by Satan at every turn. He was able to sustain those moments when sin and temptation looked so good. How did He remain faithful, by quoting scripture and keeping prayed up. One advantage, He personally knew the benefits of Heaven and I’m sure that was His greatest motivator to stay sin free.

Although your trip to Heaven doesn’t come til death,  you can have the assurance that your vehicle to Heaven knows your struggles and is willing to help strengthen you, so you can overcome temptation when it faces you at your weakest moments. Stay prayed up, memorize scripture and have assurance knowing your obedience will bring far more blessings than taking one bite of that tempting moment of sin. God bless!  

And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? I sit a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” Ezekiel 8:17-18

Sin is never a light thing, especially the abominations that the Judahites were committing by worshiping pagan deities in the Lord’s temple. Yet that is what we do when we forget God and give ourselves to something else on the altar of our hearts. We may get used to some offense that it seems harmless an even inconsequential, but God’s holy nature never changes. Sin never becomes acceptable to Him.

I encourage you to take inventory of your actions, your passions, what is the focus of your pleasure. Then ask yourself, is this acceptable to God? If you find your focus off the mark of God’s righteousness, then you are purposefully sinning. And as we can see from the verses above, God has little patience with disobedience. No one wants God to be angry with them.

Sin is like water, it can slip into even the smallest cracks of our life. Once it gets in there, it slowly weakens our faith structure and soon we will crumble. Sin guard your life by praying to God daily, asking Him to filter out the sin in your life and give you the passion and desire to please Him. When our focus aligns with God’s ways, blessings will nourish your life and sustain you even when faced with the strongest temptations. Sin guard your life daily to avoid angering God. Trust me, life will be much better for you! God bless!

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends. John 15:13

In honor of Memorial Day this blog is written to recognize those brave men and women who have given their life for the freedoms we have in the United States of America. We are so blessed to have a country where our freedoms are not challenged and our hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow can be a reality. From every battle this country has faced, on our homeland and abroad, our military represented the unity of this nation to the world.

“One nation, under God” as stated in the Pledge of Allegiance, clearly signifies this nation has been under God’s protective hand and provided us plentiful blessings. As you celebrate this special day, give thanks to God for all He has done for us. There are many, worldwide, who would give anything to live in this country. Remember those who have served and continue to serve this great nation in the military and government agencies that support military operations. Without our friends and family serving, our freedoms would be in jeopardy.

Finally, thank God for giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins and providing us the freedom to come to Him anytime, anywhere.  Jesus Christ calls us friend. What an honor and blessing to be called a friend from the God of this universe. May this Memorial day be a day of remembrance.

God bless America and those who serve this great nation!  

And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” Luke 22:35

Today’s scripture is just a confirmation that Jesus will meet all of our necessary needs when we follow His plan for our life. Sometimes the things we think we need, aren’t there and we ask God why. His response…”My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. God ALWAYS gives us what’s best and filters out the “junk” to give us only good things in life. What we can’t do to satisfy, He satisfies 10 times over.

What’s God calling you to do today? I can assure you He would say…”follow Me”. Wherever He leads you, follow. He will supply you with EVERYTHING you need for today, tomorrow and the next chapter in life if you simply remain obedient to Him and follow His plan and will! God has some awesome things in store for each of His children. Trust Him as you follow Him today! God bless!

²⁸Then
they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their
distress. ²⁹He stilled the storm to a
whisper; the waves of
the sea were hushed. ³⁰They
were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. ³¹Let them give thanks to the LORD
for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107:28-31

I have this weather tool called a barometer. It measures the air pressure. When the pressure drops, you can expect stormy conditions. When the air pressure rises, sunny skies should prevail. I just checked it and the pressure is low right now, and the past few days have proven its accuracy as we’ve had rain and storms pass through. From now until Wednesday we can expect more and even worsening conditions as a tropical storm will arrive here around Monday-Tuesday bringing a lot of rain and wind. I expect the barometer is going to drop even more. It’s a useful tool for us weather enthusiast.

It would be great if we could tell when our next life storm is headed our direction. Unfortunately, it all begins with some bad news, an accident or things get out of kilter in our life. When those storms hit, what is your response? For many, people try to ride them out on their own. Some rely on friends to help support and comfort them. And for a few, running away from the situation seems to be their best defense. All of these might sound good, but the truth is, the situation never seems to dissipate.

I can tell you with certainty, when you call out to God for His help, He responds and hushes the storm, settles your spirit and shields you from its effects. God can change the storm’s intensity, while others can only hold your hand as you endure awful conditions. I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna call on God for help. He has the ability to work that situation out that eventually benefits you.

Maybe today you are going through some storms in life. Troubled marriage, financial burdens, health crises, or things are just chaotic right now. Call upon God to help still the storm to a whisper. It may not totally go away, but it will lessen its intensity and He will shield you through it and bring you good tidings on the other side of the storm. Trust me, I know it works. Let Him have your storm today. God bless!

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145:21

Yesterday I talked to my dad about what was going on in his life. All throughout the conversation he mentioned weather. You see, my dad is a farmer and weather is important when trying to grow crops. Weather is always on his mind. My mom cares for my grandmother, her whole life centers around her care and the impacts of what she does rings out in conversations with her.

What is first and foremost in our life is important and if you listen closely to someone, you will soon discover what is important in their life. I have several friends who I talk with and every time we speak, God and His presence in their life is mentioned all throughout the conversations. They know that God sustains them, blesses them and they keep God active in every area of their life. They can’t help but speak of God and the great things He has done.

How important is God in your life? Do you mention Him in your conversations with others? If God isn’t mentioned, maybe you need to do a spiritual check up and see where He is in your list of priorities. God is a jealous God and wants to be front and center of every corner of your life. If you keep Him active in your life, you can’t help but mention what He does for you and through you.

This world needs to hear more about our Lord and Savior. Pray and ask God to help you put Him first and watch Him work in your life, then share the good news of what HE does for you. Speak the praises of the Lord! Have a blessed day!

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. 1 Corinthians 1:10

As I was on my way to church last night I realized something, I drive right by the last 2 churches I’ve attended in the past. I have no bitter feelings or thoughts from those former churches, I learned a lot from them and met some wonderful people, but God led me to a new church about a year ago and I’ve been blessed ever since.  The last church I previously attended for 4 years was wonderful and felt really plugged in spiritually and with so many opportunities to serve, yet I felt a tugging of my spirit to change.

God led me to this new church and right away felt very welcomed and loved. My participation in the church through worship and service is where God needed me to be. I never thought I would leave that big church previously attended, but God had a different plan for my life. I’ve since learned, its not the about the church, its about where God can use me and my service to Him. By actively attending church, encouraging the preacher, reaching out to other members through words and prayer…God uses us as a body of believers to further His kingdom.

I don’t recommend changing churches because you are disgruntled with someone there. You need to make everything right with that person. NEVER make a decision about anything based on a poor relationship. There is an opportunity for God to work and bring unity. But, if everything is well and you feel God tugging on your spirit to chance locations, pray and ask for His guidance. He will lead you right to the place He needs you to be. Wherever you are today, be a part of your church and remain active. God can use you in great and mighty ways when you surrender yourself to His will for your life! God bless!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Years ago I walked by a sign that had these verses displayed. For a moment I stopped and read each word and let it soak in. To me, these verses define love. Stop for a moment and re-read the verses above.

Now, ask yourself, is this the kind of love I display, give to others and use as a go by in my every day life when dealing with people? It’s a very tall order and for many it may seem impossible to get there. Yet, with God’s help He can mold your life, your attitude and heart to model after Christ’s love for mankind. The very first words are the beginning of learning to love others….”love is patient”.

Patience is the key when learning in life. Nothing comes immediately. To learn to love is a slow process that develops over time. Through life experiences, and biblical study, you can learn to love unconditionally, you can love when you aren’t shown love by those close to you, and most of all you can forgive when there is nothing left but to forgive.

Learning to love by God’s standards is challenging but can be done through His Holy Spirit living inside of every believer. Draw upon His strength to begin a new kind of love, a Christ like love today. The world needs it and so do you! Go love someone in Christ today! God bless!

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7

One of the most comforting things for me is knowing God cares. He cares about every aspect of my life, from the daily decisions I make, the progress I make at work, taking care of my home and things He has blessed me with, the friends in my life. He cares because I have surrendered everything to Him. Although I work and pay for the stuff I have, its all His and I thank Him daily for blessing me with the necessities of life.

He cares about you too! He should, He created you! Think about that for a moment. The God of this universe created you with a plan and purpose. When you align your life with His plan, things go much smoother. Unfortunately, we often get off track by pursuing things, people and pleasures that aren’t part of His plan. They can become a stumbling block to our faith and mess up His perfect plan for our life, not to mention missed blessings.

Pride is the number one thing that gets in the way of pursuing the right plan, the right way for our life. We think we know what’s best and somehow turn a deaf ear when God calls us back to that narrow pathway. Here recently God has called me to make some changes in my life to get me back where I need to be. Maybe He is doing the same for you, are you listening? The ONLY way to keep to His plan is to humble yourself to His ways, His thoughts and His desire to grow and bless you.

If you want to be on the right path, come to God with a humble heart and be prepared to take action to pursue His ways and plan for your life. Trust me, His ways are perfect and will benefit you down the road. At times you might not understand why He is calling you to a certain action, just TRUST HIM completely and leave the consequences of your obedience up to Him. He will bless you! Have an awesome day in the Lord!

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

As a Christian its always important to know God is constantly working in and through our life through the Holy Spirit who resides in every believer. Nothing goes unnoticed, nothing happens without a purpose...even when we detour off Gods path, He protects us and teaches us lessons along the way. His route, or plan, is made out for us to discover and follow closely.

How to know His plan for your life is by drawing close to Him through bible reading, much prayer and walking in obedience. The last one may be tough for you...walking in obedience. To get to the point of deciding to not pursue sinful pleasures but remain obedient takes time and a heart conditioned to always follow His way because we know blessings will befall us. When we dont remain obdient its like you add more training days to your life. God will never advance you to the next level until you have matured in your walk with Him.

Our teacher, the Lord, is always with us, instructing, protecting and blessing us when we chose to follow Him and grow. He has a plan for your life, study well and remain committed to His calling. He never leaves you alone, He is always there...follow and learn every day and find His blessings.

But he who listens to Me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil. Proverbs 1:33

Well, it finally happened, the royal wedding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle came together in marriage yesterday as millions watched all across the world. I’m simply amazed at the audiences and their passion for a fairy tale wedding. But not everything has been a fairy tale for Harry and Meghan. For a period of time they have been front and center of a media frenzy. So many people were against this union, from both sides of the family as royalty joins the common people. I watched a movie about their struggles, and it was a struggle indeed. Far more drama than what I would have put up with.

So what kept them together? Their love and commitment to each other. They could have easily listened to their family’s discouragement, the media’s predictions for failure and the dread of having their personal life advertised all across the world. It would have been enough for most to run and hide. But, they didn’t. They listened to each other and their love is the bond that held them together.

The question for you today, whose voice are you listening to? Sadly, there are people in our life who want to see us fail and bring about misery to our life. If you listen to their critical words and negative thinking, you will succumb to their intent to belittle you and destroy you emotionally, spiritually, even physically. Don’t listen to them.

Listen to God. He is a God of love and wants you to succeed. In a perfect world we wouldn’t have those negative nannies that try to keep us down. But, God allows their existence and through the challenges they bring to you, it makes you turn to the Lord for comfort, strength, healing and resurrection of the winning spirit Christ gave you! Listen to the voice of God always and the evilness of this world will quickly dissolve into nothing but a little nugget you simply walk over as you step forward into better days. Listen to God today, He is the voice of reason and eternal happiness! God bless!

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

This morning I was praying for a person in a very difficult situation. As I prayed for the situation to improve, in the back of my mind I was thinking there was no way things could get better, but actually worse. Then God laid this verse on my mind as a reminder, He can fix whatever troubles we have.

So often people ask, “so why doesn’t God fix this?” That’s a good question and I have one question to ask you….”how strong is your faith and trust in the Lord?” In Matthew 17: 14 – 21 we read about a man who brought his sick son to the disciples, asking for them to heal him in Jesus name. They couldn’t do it. Eventually Jesus healed the boy and he was released from the demon that lived inside him. When asked by the disciples why they couldn’t heal him, Jesus responded in verse 20: Because of your unbelief, for assuredly, I say to you if you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Maybe today you are in a marriage that is described as Hell and there seems to be no way to improve your conditions. Friend, I know of a woman who prayed her husband would go to church with her. For years she prayed and finally one day he went. After that day everything in his life changed and he began serving the Lord. His witness changed many lives all because of that diligent wife who never stopped praying and trusting God to work a miracle.

Maybe your doctor just closed your file and looked at you and said “we’ve done all we can do, there is nothing else that can be done”, leaving you with no hope for tomorrow. Friend, I know of several people dying with cancer and God completely removed it from them and they are living life today, completely healed, because of their faith in God and His healing power.

Whatever your circumstance, you can’t do it by yourself. But with a strong faith and trust in the Lord, He can fix your situation according to His will. The closer you draw to God, the more real He becomes in your life and He leads you down the path He’s chosen for you. Trust in Him with every matter of life and never doubt what He can do. Trust me friend, He can do the impossible. Trust Him today! God bless!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Navigating life can be challenging. Circumstances, other people, your job, church, family members….so many things can influence your life and the decisions that have to be made. Not sure about you, but between my job and personal life, its everything I can do to maintain a healthy balance. Sometimes I’m faced with a crisis and have no clue which direction to take. What do you do when this happens?

For me, I seek God’s wisdom and direction. Every morning I pray, asking for God to give me wisdom for the day’s events. At work, it seems like I am making decisions by the minute at times. Decisions that impact me and those around me, as well as the public. I don’t know everything and Lord knows I don’t always have the right answer. But when I ask for God’s help, He provides me soundness and quiets my soul so I can think through the challenge at hand and make the best decision possible.

What challenges are facing you today? Might be work related or something in your personal life. As a child of God, He loves you and wants to give you the best advice so you won’t be burdened by poor decisions. Trust me when I say He gives wisdom liberally! Its free for the taking, just ask God and He will show you the way forward. Seek Him for wisdom every day and life will be a little smoother and less painful when those tough moments hit! God bless!

….I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. Acts 13:22b

I was reading a story in the bible about a man who had an affair with a married woman; even placed her husband in danger and was killed, just so he could have her to himself. If this was today’s headline, we’d think what a mess this guy made of his life and horrible for those affected by his poor choice. Yet God said, this guy named David, was a man after His heart. No, God did not approve of David’s poor decisions, and He forgave him. Yet, David did acknowledge God and worked at keeping his heart devoted to the Lord. David had a strong faith and trust in God. He loved God and God loved him.

Unless you are completely perfect, I’m sure you have reflected back over your life and looked upon those shameful moments when you were at your worst. You know God was not pleased with your behavior and you probably fear He is punishing you today as a result of your poor choices. Put your fears to rest. God is in the business of forgiving and forgetting. Any child of God pent up from past sins has forgotten the reason Christ came to earth…to take on the sins of mankind. All we have to do is acknowledge our sins and ask God to forgive us. Done deal after that. Then turn from your wicked ways and keep God front and center.  

Do some of your worst moments in life seem to come back up in your mind? Fear of not being forgiven is Satan’s tool of keeping the child of God bound up and less effective. Trust me when I say, give your sins to God and let Him restore you from the inside out. It may take a while to recover from one bad decision but know that God is always there by your side to help in the recovery process. He loves you and wants you to love Him, just like David. No one is perfect, we all mess up at times, but God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.         1 John 1:9

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Yesterday I helped my son move into his new home in the Atlanta area. While riding through the local traffic, I was impressed that my son navigated down streets like a champ. I was totally in the dark as to where we were and where we were going. Then I noticed he had everything mapped out on his phone’s navigation system. That little device guided him to every destination without any difficulties. Thank goodness for technology!

As Christians, we have a similar device to help us navigate life, its called the bible. Over the years of my life, and I have a few of them under my belt, I have found that the bible addresses all issues you’ll face. Many times I’ve headed into unfamiliar territory and referred to the bible for guidance and direction. It has never steered me down the wrong path and has always gotten me through some challenging moments unscathed spiritually, emotionally and even physically.

Why does the bible work so well, because it’s the inspired word of God. Who better to lean on than God in troubling times, in moments when we head into unfamiliar territory and those travels that has found us at a dead end and no clear direction in sight. Plug yourself into the word of God daily and find direction, purpose and safety. And the coolest thing about the bible, it never needs updating! Go find your day’s direction by reading His word, its proven to be the most valuable and beneficial tool you have to navigate this thing we call life! God bless!

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38

Have you ever been asked to do something that you didn’t enjoy? Maybe it was a work assignment, helping your neighbor or taking on a home improvement project that challenged your abilities. Although it wasn’t what you really wanted to do, its something you knew had to be done. Without your diligence to see it through, it wouldn’t get accomplished.

The same is true in the life of a Christian. God often times calls us out, asking us to do what we don’t feel comfortable doing. He has a plan and purpose behind His request and without your help, it won’t get done the way God intended for it. After years of life, I know that if God calls you to it, He will provide the resources necessary to see it through. The struggle is real when God calls us out of our comfort zone, but unless we remain faithful to His calling, we will miss out on spiritual growth and sweet blessings.

What is God calling you to do? You might not be able to hear His voice clearly because of things going on in your life. Life’s drama and clutter can often times block out God’s voice. IF that happens, don’t be surprised if He starts to remove those things/people that take away your ability to hear God speak. Once you have a clear direction, trust God that He will equip you, then proceed in confidence and see it through to completion. God has a plan for your life and its up to you to discover it! Not your will, but His! Find it today! God bless!

I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 1 John 2:12

Have you ever offended someone, asked for their forgiveness and never received it? The guilt of your actions and lack of their forgiveness can weigh you down. Sleepless nights, fear of running into them, the continued shame that you feel as a result of your trespasses against; these and other feelings will haunt you until you hear them say “I forgive you”.

Friend, I can assure you of one thing, you are forgiven. If you’ve asked for their forgiveness and God’s, He will hold up His end of the deal and forgive you. We serve an audience of ONE. God is the one we always want to be in good graces with every day. People will be human, sometimes people chose to hold onto grudges, just so they can taunt you and hurt you emotionally. That said, they have bigger issues than you can help overcome.

Carrying around some personal guilt for what you’ve done to another? Ask for their forgiveness, ask God to forgive you and pray for that person. It might take days, weeks, even years to hear them say, “forgiven”. Just know your trespasses are covered by the blood of Christ…”And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…..1 John 2:2. Find forgiveness in Jesus Christ and walk freely today! God bless!

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7

In today’s verse, Paul describes his ministry as gentle, in comparison to a mother loving her children. That is exactly God’s approach towards mankind. He loves each of us and wants His creation to acknowledge Him, love Him and spend eternity with Him through the sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ. What an honor to have this kind of love compared to that of a mother’s love.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. Your love is like God’s love. Always giving up your time and energy, always helping your child ease their pain, and those affectionate hugs and kisses do more for a child than anything else you could ever speak or do. Moms, you are an extension of God’s love and we thank you for displaying the love we need.

Without a mother’s love, a child would not learn to love others, forgive others and know unconditional love. Moms, you have a huge responsibility, and hopefully there is a helpmate there, by your side, loving and supporting you. Moms can’t do it on their own, they need support, as well as the children need a father who sees that love bond between mother and father. If you are a husband, love your wife, care for her and support her. God gave her a huge responsibility and its up to you to help her.

I can say that I have been blessed with an awesome mother. I was adopted by her and my father, many years ago. 😊 Mom has ALWAYS been there to love me, support me and give me sound advice. Not one time has she ever failed me as a mom. I will never forget when I went through a difficult time, she mailed me a card every week for months, providing me love, wisdom and knowing she was praying for me. That single act of love once again confirms her Christ like love for me, her son. Thank you mom, and all those moms who do it right! You’ve got a huge role, but with God’s help and those He has blessed you with, you can do it! Happy Mother’s Day and God bless!

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

When was the last time you were pained? Maybe the break up of a relationship, deceived by someone close to you, difficulty at the work place. There are so many things that can go wrong in life and it greatly impacts us emotionally, spiritually even physically. The pain and hurt can carry on for days, weeks, even years for some people.  Just last night I was overwhelmed for a moment by a painful memory in my past.

Where can we look to for hope, healing and a brighter tomorrow? Jesus Christ. Friend, He bore every transgression, painful moment and shameful event in your life on that cross. He knows what pain is, and He has a remedy for those boo boos in life. His love, His grace and the power of His healing touch can turn the most painful thing into something new, something better, something very special.

You probably have a memory bank of painful moments. Maybe even now you are experiencing much pain and emotional turmoil. Bury it in God’s graveyard of sorrow and suffering. He will resurrect you from everything that has tattered your soul. Trust me, He is the healer and He will restore you back to good if you simply give those painful moments over to Him. You weren’t meant to carry the burden of pain and suffering…He took it for you. Have a blessed day friend!

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Proverbs 4:20

 

As a child growing up, I often heard the words “do you hear me?” exclaimed while I was being corrected. Those four simple words reinforced what I was being told. And, of course I heard it loud and clear and knew if I disobeyed, the consequences would be painful.

 

As Christians, we should always heed that inner voice, The Holy Spirit, talking directly to us. His words come straight from God, and the bible, in clear form. When God speaks, there is NO confusion. And what He says, is solid, wise and for your benefit. You can trust that voice that says “NO” or “YES” or a word we often hate to hear….”WAIT”.  I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a NO over WAIT any day of the week. I can be so impatient.

 

What is God saying to you today through His Holy Spirit? Listen closely for His voice. Sometimes the drama and clutter of life is louder than His voice. And He speaks softly for a reason, so you will turn away from everything else and focus on what He is trying to say. So, if you want to hear His voice, block out everything for a while and pray. I promise you, if you make time for God, He will speak so much wisdom into your ears you’ll wonder why you ever allowed outside influences to overwhelm His voice. He is watching out for you and your best interest! Are you listening?  

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Colossians 1:13

As you are well aware, as a child of God, the struggle is real when it comes to living in this sin filled world. The darkness of evil is all around, and sometimes our light struggles to shine in the every day places we go. You ever feel exhausted spiritually, emotionally and physically? Yea, me too! Yesterday was a prime example of “Monday” chaos on a Wednesday. The enemy had me on his radar. I could literally see the missiles of trouble coming my way. At the end of the day though, I overcame and everything smoothed out.

How? By praying through the day. When every attack came, I prayed it over to God. I know I can’t win the battle, but God can, and today’s verse is just a reminder of that fact. And when we call out for help, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:19 God doesn’t want us to fail, He is on our side and willing to do whatever it takes to help us overcome the enemy. All we have to do is surrender it to Him and He takes the wheel when life is going sideways.

Maybe you are facing some big giants, maybe the enemy has some plans to disrupt your day with stress and chaos. Don’t give him a chance to foil your plans for success. Give it all to God, praying throughout the day and thanking Him for His hand of protection and help. Trust me, it’s a battle you can’t fight, but with God, all things are possible. Have a blessed day friend!

Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:4

With much certainty, we are all going to die. That appointed time is unknown for just about everyone. In the big scheme of things, life is very brief. Although we can accumulate 60, 70, heck even 90 plus years of life, its simply a speck in time.

Although your time is short, what are you doing with your life? Is it a crazy mess right now? Maybe you are young and just getting started or accumulated a few years and you are closer to the end than the beginning. There is no better time than NOW to start living life the right way. Living for God and maintaining His standards as your compass, you will find life more meaningful, with purpose and pick up some blessings along life’s journey. Every second you take your eye off that compass is one moment in time when you can simply veer off course and cause a wreck of your life and the effects can last for a very long long time. I can speak truth to this fact.

Find your spiritual compass today so you can stay on track and better manage your life. Life is too short for complications and drama, you need to stick to a plan and find purpose by living God’s way today! God bless!

My son, eat honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is prospect, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:13-14

Honey, I love it. Goes with so many foods to sweeten them. Ice cream, cereal, bread, mixed with peanut butter on bananas…or just by the spoonful. Honey also has a health benefit, if you eat local honey it helps fight against pollen allergies. Give it a try….you can’t go wrong.

There is something else that goes well with everything, the word of God. It provides beneficial wisdom and resources for all of life’s trials and circumstances. Its wisdom keeps you out of trouble, if you apply it to your daily life. I can’t tell you how much the bible has guided me through challenging circumstances, provided encouragement to stay strong when I’ve been weakened emotionally or physically, and best of all sweetened the sour moments of my life. But, unless you read it on a regular basis, you will miss out on its benefits. Wisdom is the key to living a successful life. Knowledge is power and the bible provides just that.

Wisdom doesn’t come easy, it takes time to slowly develop and guide you as you become more Christlike in your everyday life. You have to surrender “me” time for it. I encourage you to set aside a block of time each day to simply sit down and read scripture. Pray before you do, asking God to provide you scripture to read, and have an open heart to what you read. Trust me, He will provide for you as you dive into His word. Sweeten your life with some Godly wisdom today by reading scripture, it nourishes the soul! God bless!

Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice. Proverbs 16:8

Have you ever debated doing something you knew was wrong? Your lust for something: a person, a thing, or a behavior… As you think about it, you are asking yourself “what will this cost me?”. You know if you pursue it, most likely something negative will happen…heart break, spiritual weakening, emotional or physical injury to others, maybe something illegal which could end up in your arrest. Although it may sound absurd, many people debate the issue of doing right or wrong every day. Why not always do the right thing….makes sense…but our human, fleshly bodies tell us otherwise. Can you relate??

So, what’s the cost of doing right or wrong? I like to compare this to use of a debit card or credit card. As a child of God, your sins are forgiven. But, when you chose to pursue something outside God’s will, you put your sin on credit with God’s grace. Just like a credit card, there will be interest added on your purchase to sin. It will cost you either immediately or down the road by missed blessings, hurting others or yourself. Its like you pay for it twice. Over time your debt is so heavy, it weighs down your spiritual life and you become ineffective in your Christian witness. Who wants that? Sadly, many chose the path of disobedience and it cost them much.

On the other hand, obedience doesn’t cost you a thing, its already paid for by Christ. When you walk the fine line or righteousness, you might not gain much, but you wont lose out on God’s blessings. And I’ll take one of God’s little blessings over anything big this world has to offer. I hope you feel the same way. Let me share a verse with you that I often refer to when I stand at the decision point of choosing to do right or wrong.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

As you face daily decisions, chose to always do the right thing, remaining obedient to God. Your day will be sprinkled with God’s blessings which nourish, strengthen and give you hope! Chose obedience today! God bless!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:6

Do you think God really cares about how you live your life? I can tell you He does. As a child of God, you are His representative to the world. How you conduct yourself through actions, words and your motives display the condition of your heart. If your heart is full of the “world”, worldly ways (or the flesh) will come out. But if you are in tune with God and focus on living in obedience, without wavering, the true character of Christ will show the world what it needs to see.

The truth is, when we strive for obedience, God sees our motives and helps us walk that straight and narrow pathway. When we allow detours for obedience, we move away from God’s hand of protection, and things can get pretty disastrous from the point of diversion. I can tell you first hand, God blesses obedience. When I’m truly walking within His will, blessings abound, even in the middle of life’s challenging moments. But, when I veer off course, just a bit, I miss some blessings that could have been beneficial at that moment or down the road in time.

You truly reap what you sow. If you want to reap a plentiful harvest of blessings, then walk the line God has clearly laid out for you. God’s word is the best source for living in obedience. It may be counter to how you are living today, that’s ok. God’s blessings are for those who desire to please Him and not the world and those who occupy it. Sow Christ through your actions, words and motives, and life will be full of sweet blessings every day! God bless!

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Today we celebrate with my oldest son as he graduates with a Masters in Engineering from Auburn University. Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. My son has spent countless hours studying, working in labs, planning for his thesis. But, through all the struggles and worry, he has overcome those challenges and will walk across that graduation isle he so greatly deserves. And this Dad couldn’t be more proud of him and his accomplishments.  

I know my son has prayed, many a prayers to God to help see him through those challenges. I’ve prayed for him daily as well. When you commit your plans to the Lord, He provides what’s necessary to get the job done, and He blesses you when you make Him part of your every day life. How active is God in your daily life? Do you come to Him when you need help, when critical decisions need to be made? He is simply one quiet moment in prayer away from responding to your every need.

Matthew David Barr, I am so happy for you and proud of your accomplishments. I know that with God on your side, you can do all things through Him who gives you strength. Blessings to you son and my best to you in your future career and soon to be married to a very sweet and loving young lady, Madison! Go get life!

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Some days you have to ask, why the struggle? Why do we have trouble at work, with our friends, neighbors, our health, even things in our own home can be turbulent at times. The hallmark of a Christian is suffering and enduring to the end. God never promised us an easy life, but He did promise to never leave, nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8

I can personally say the times I’ve been closest to God, and have seen Him work, is when I was going through much difficulty. And recalling those times, its just amazing what a role He played in helping me ease through the challenge. His actions literally mimicked my prayers. Although He didn’t remove the problem, He helped me work through it, He sustained me in the struggle and provided hope for the next battle. Over time, a sense of confidence in God will began to develop. That confidence didn’t come easy, but it happened as I went through various trials and trusted in God to see me through. Trust Him with your battles and watch out for His workings.

You might be going through some difficulty today. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. God has a plan for every battle, every struggle you face. As you come closer to Him, let Him carry your load and sustain you today! He’s ready, are you willing to endure with Him? God bless!

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:2

Have you ever found yourself investing either your money or time into something, only to see it fail to produce a return on your investment? In life, there are many things you can invest in….relationships, hobbies, financial opportunities….the list is endless. Although some succeed, others fail, and usually fail miserably. If you are living life, you will encounter these times of failure and disappointment.

I can tell you, your time invested in the Lord NEVER runs short of positive returns. Living an obedient life brings blessing after blessing. Even in the moments of difficult circumstances, God provides a way to sustain you, keep you moving forward and blessing you along the way. The more time you spend with the blessing maker, the more blessings you will receive. Trust me, its truth.

Tired of the failures and let downs of this world? Try investing more of your time and energy in the Lord. Through obedient living, keeping in daily communication with God and turning away from life’s shady deals, you will find satisfaction un-ending, even when the earthly well runs dry, God sustains! Invest in Him today! God bless!

Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Hebrews 3:15

A few days ago, I was on a motorcycle ride and stopped at a gas station for fuel. As I was about to get on my bike, a man walked up and started asking me questions about my bike. At the time I had just put in my iPod headphones and had the music up, so I had to pull them off to hear the man. Frustrating, because I was all set to take off, he delayed me by 15 minutes talking gibberish.

As children of God, we know that His Holy Spirit lives inside of us. Its an internal voice that can be heard and felt at any time. Its not a loud voice, but its there, and if you keep your mind focused on Christ, you can always hear the Spirit talking. Its when you take your focus off Him, you begin to hear Satan and the world talking gibberish to you. Talking you into doing things dangerous, outside of God’s will for your life. If you listen long enough, you’ll find yourself headed for dangerous waters and could drown in your sins.

Whose voice are you listening to these days? If you take those ear buds of Christ out, you’ll hear things you don’t need to hear, and find trouble. Keep your focus on Christ constantly, keep the outside world blocked out as much as possible, so you can hear the voice of reason, the voice who loves you and wants to bless you for your continual obedience. Listen for His voice and do not harden your hearts. God bless!

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

Temptation. It always starts in the mind. Once the seed of temptation is planted, its up to us to either remove it from our minds or let it stay. The longer it stays, the more it matures and eventually leads you to see it through. Afterwards you feel the letdown of your weakness and guilt overshadows you. Satan scores again.

How can you endure temptation? Stay Christ focused. Its no easy task in this sin filled world. Temptations and ungodly pleasures abound and free for the taking. A child of God MUST learn the value in self sacrifice. Giving up those pursuits of temporary pleasures for eternal rewards and blessings. When you stay prayed up and Christ focused, you easily identify when temptation comes your way and you immediately ask God to help you remove that thought and turn away from it without looking back. He will help you if you have the desire to please Him more than yourself.

What temptations easily distract you? Ask God to provide the wisdom and strength to turn from temptation and not entertain it for one second. God will bless you for your obedience and willing ness to pursue goodness over evil. Stay true to the Lord today by walking in obedience! God bless!