For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

To me, as a Christian, these are the most powerful verses in the entire bible. God himself knew our human frailties and that we could never live right enough for Him to look upon us. As He stepped down from Heaven, He placed himself in our shoes, living the daily life and its struggles…just like you and I go through. He didn’t come into this world like some king, someone we couldn’t relate to, no He came humbly. Even His birthplace was in a barn. No popularity, no riches, no huge celebration. His life was simple and most likely less blessed with the comforts of life like you have today.

Yet all through His life, He never sinned. Why? Because He had a mission to serve as mankind’s sacrifice and He knew was Heaven was like and all the comforts of His heavenly home. He loves you and me. He wants His entire creation to be with Him one day. Will you be there? You might not feel worthy of His free offer. No worries, because of His sacrificial death on the cross, you can come BODLY to His throne of grace, to find love, forgiveness and healing. No sin can disqualify you from His free gift of salvation. Believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for you, then live out your days serving Him in your words, actions and beliefs.

We have a God who knows our struggles and battles with sin. He knows our human weaknesses, HE created us, so He knows what we need. He provided us a savior. What will you provide Him in return? Come to Him with all your sin baggage and find that freedom to live again in Christ. God bless.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

A while back I was traveling and encountered some serious fog. I had my destination plugged into my navigation system, so I relied on it to get me there. At the time when visibility was low, I relied on that GPS to help me navigate the twist and turns of the road ahead. Thankfully I arrived without trouble, but without that navigation system, I’d most likely would have ran off the road.

Our spiritual journey is much like that GPS unit. As we navigate life, we must always trust in the Lord as He guides us through the twist and turns of our journey. There will be times when all you can do is look to the Lord to sustain you, guide you and give you encouragement to keep moving when your body and mind say stop or let’s get off this path. Trust me friend, God’s way is perfectly mapped out and He provides rest stop blessings along the way. You can never go wrong when you trust in the Lord.

Maybe your life seems a little foggy right now and unsure of which way to go. Pray to God for guidance and wisdom as you keep moving forward. I promise you He has a plan and wants you to plug into his navigation system to get you there by faith, not by sight. Trust Him today as you start your day’s journey! God bless!

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

Before you sit down to eat a meal, do you thank God for providing the food? That seems to still be a common occurrence. I am so blessed when I see a person or family take a minute to pray, thanking God for the food He has blessed them with.

But what about the other 23 hours and 57 minutes of the day? Do you thank God for all He has done for you? From the sleep He provided, the bed you slept in, you woke up this morning and hopefully preparing to go to a job waiting on you. From your friends and family, to your clothing, vehicle….the list is endless. Trust me friend, God has blessed you with those provisions of life.

Your daily life and what happens in those 24 hour blocks of time have purpose. “For you, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4. Every minute of the day, God is watching over you, shielding you from certain evils, blessing you with things to sustain. Anything that comes your way is what He has allowed and with a purpose and plan to grow you, making you more like Him. Thank Him for all He does in your life, He has your best interest in mind.

Today, I encourage you to go through this day thanking God for everything. It just takes one second of acknowledgement. When you sprinkle your day with brief conversations with the Lord, it opens your eyes to His hand working in and through you. It takes your eyes of the chaos of this world and lets you see God is real and He wants to be in every aspect of your life. Acknowledge Him today in everything and find those little blessings shower down from Heaven upon you. Say thanks today! God bless!

You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. Psalm 89:9

I watched a movie the other night about 6 men who were sailing across the Pacific. One early morning, while they slept, a rouge wave came along and capsized their sailboat, putting them upside down, yet still floating. Although it was challenging situation, their confidence that someone would come to their rescue sustained them.

Oftentimes we go through life sailing freely and enjoying life, then out of nowhere a rogue event hits us, tumbling and tossing us around like clothes in a dryer, leaving us confused, hurt, feeling overwhelmed and many times helpless. No doubt we need help, and hopefully it will come quickly.

I can tell you the first on my notification list is God. He has the power to calm any storm, yet so often He allows the storm to continue, but my confidence in knowing He is with me always, sustains my peace and enhances my joy. Why? Because I know His promises in the bible, I have experienced these storms before and know that He has allowed them for a reason and the end result is something better than I could have ever imagined.

Maybe you are going through a difficult situation today, feeling hurt, overwhelmed and helpless. Stop right now and pray, asking God to help you in your time of trouble, provide you that calming peace and sustained joy as you trust in His ways and know the outcome will be for your benefit! God loves you and has plans for your life. Trust Him on sunny days and stormy conditions…your life is in His hands! God bless!

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:8

Have you ever tripped over something and fell down? Its quite embarrassing, especially if there is a crowd of people around. And most of the time the very thing you tripped over, you knew was there, but tripped anyways.

Our preacher made this comment in his sermon on Sunday, “don’t trip over yesterday.” In other words, those mistakes and sins of yesterday have no place today. When you carry forward the errs of yesterday, you mess up God’s plan to give you something new and refreshing. His blessings are tainted with the sin stains of yesterday. Why do that?

Easier said than done, I know. We all struggle with obedience on some level. Our attachment to the world and its pleasures is like an anchor of a ship. Its going no where as long as its dug into the bottom of the ocean. Time to pull up the anchor and sail towards sunnier skies and a better tomorrow.

Whats your anchor dug in to? Pray, asking God to help release you from the chains that bind and stain your witness for God. God has lined up some blessings for you today, are you ready to receive them with a clean plate? Stay the course, keep yesterday’s sins in the history books and remain obedient as you navigate life towards Heaven! God bless!  

But Moses hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

In the news I’ve read about many suicides, from Hollywood to our hometown, no one is immune from this horrific decision to end life. I personally know of someone who took their life as it hit so close to home. Whose to blame? So often people will say that the person was self-centered to take their own life and not think about their loved ones they left behind.

After the loss of my co-worker years ago, we all discussed the days, months and even a year leading up to this tragic event. We all saw little signs over time, yet didn’t give it much attention. Sadly, there was no tomorrow to offer help, no moment to hug this person and say I love you, none, its finished. Three days later he was buried, and left everyone asking what they could have done.

Friends, we have to watch out for one another. In today’s busy world, we let social media and phones navigate our lives. We become so "self-centered" by relying on technology, but technology has no feelings, no emotions, no sympathy or understanding. It just keeps moving along and we keep following with our blinders on. We MUST take our eyes off the world and watch out for one another. Make that call, give that hug, lift someone up in prayer and let them know you care.

I’ll never forget a phone call I received from a friend at one of the lowest points of my life. That one call lifted my spirits and helped steady my soul so I could continue to stand. Covered by his prayers, and prayers of friends I came through the difficulty strengthened and changed forever.

I encourage you to always keep your heart open to love on someone who needs it. They might not be very close to you, might even be someone you don’t like. Love on them anyhow, just like Christ, who died on the cross, asking God to forgive them. No other love can be found on earth than the love of Christ. That same power to love is inside you through the Holy Spirit. Share that today with those in need. Strengthen the weak through your Christ like actions of love, care and encouragement. God bless!

You were bought at a price: do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23

As a Christian, its good to reflect on the cost of your salvation. Lets break it down.

1.    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. John 3:16. God loves you and wants to have the perfect relationship. But, that thing called sin blocks His ability to look upon you in your sinful, fleshly body. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, He can commune with you no matter where you are in life. His grace covers a multitude of sins.

2.    “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in ME should not abide in the darkness. John 12:46. Once saved, His Holy Spirit resides in you. His light shines brightest when we remain faithful and obedient to His word. His light guides believers each day. Are you relying on His Spirit to guide you?

3.    If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:26. Once saved, God calls His children to follow Him through acts of service. He paid the way for you to live a Christlike life. Its simple, you follow Him, He blesses and rewards you.

Jesus Christ paid your sin debt. No longer walk in darkness, but use the light He has given you. Serve Him daily through your words, actions and beliefs. Your eternity is secure, be a blessing to the Lord today, He gave His all for you. Blessings friend!

This morning I woke up with these lyrics on my mind from “Fear Is A Liar” by Zach Williams. Take a moment and read the lyrics and watch the video. I’m pretty sure you’ve had times like this in your life. I know I have. Sleepless nights are the result living in fear.  I’m reminded of Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  Friend, if you have some fears in your life, through a person, thing, health issue or other circumstance, GIVE IT TO GOD! He is bigger than any fear you have and He will never allow you to be moved! Trust Him today with all your fears, for fear is a liar! God bless!

When he told you you’re not good enough

When he told you you’re not right

When he told you you’re not strong enough

To put up a good fight

When he told you you’re not worthy

When he told you you’re not loved

When he told you you’re not beautiful

That you’ll never be enough

Fear he is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear he is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire

Cause fear he is a liar

When he told you were troubled

You’ll forever be alone

When he told you you should run away

You’ll never find a home

When he told you you were dirty

And you should be ashamed

When he told you you could be the one

That grace could never change

Fear he is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear he is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire

Cause fear he is a liar

Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears

Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feel

Fear he is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear he is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire

Cause fear he is a liar

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Fear+is+a+liar&view=detail&mid=495CEE0EF9E2AA281BED495CEE0EF9E2AA281BED&FORM=VIRE

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly. Proverbs 17:12

Bad company results in bad things. Makes sense. Yet, we often find ourselves in the company of people who are toxic to our character, our livelihood or our religion. These people are gossips, negative, rude, find it easy to create drama. The list is endless. The scary part about this is they usually have some characteristic that draws us in and we find it easy to adopt their beliefs, attitudes and actions.

Thank goodness for the Holy Spirit who provides eyes to see and wisdom to reason from the good and evil people in our life. Every now and then it’s a good idea to check the company you surround yourself with to see if they are a positive influence and not leading you down a path of destruction. If they are, its time to cut ties with them…and do it quickly, without regret.

The truth of today’s verse is clear, hang with a fool and you will become foolish. Better to meet an angry bear than the fool who cares nothing about your character, yet wants you to follow him/her in their crooked ways. Don’t fall for the trap of fools, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pick and chose who you spend time with each day. God needs servants who are not influenced by the wicked and fallen ways of the world. Find a good friend today! God bless!

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. Proverbs 10:25

Ever have a period in your life when you feel like there is a dark cloud hovering over you? Everything in your life seems to be in turmoil, nothing good appears to be happening and your body is exhausted from the waves of adversity. Can you relate?

I truly believe that God brings storms in our life to help clear out those things and people that need to be gone. Why does He allow this? Because He wants to have your complete attention. He most likely has a new course for you to chart and your willingness to trust Him is all He’s asking for as He clears out the path before you. Some things and people need to be removed because they either are a hindrance to your life or you are trusting in them more than God.

Maybe today you have a dark cloud hovering over head and your worries seem to be more than blessings. Look to God for wisdom, direction and trust Him as He clears your path for calmer waters. God’s plan is always best and He needs you to trust Him for the journey ahead. God bless!

Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. Psalm 54:4

“Whats your hurry boy?”, I recall hearing those words from my grandfather when he could tell I was focused on something and hurrying to get it done. That phrase was usually followed by “slow down and don’t be in a rush”. When you get in a hurry, you often miss certain steps that are necessary if you truly want to accomplish a certain task or overcome a hurdle.

How true in life when we get so center focused on something that we often times forget to make God part of our plans to complete a project, tackle some challenge at work or even pray before eating. Today’s scripture is a reminder to keep God front and center of your life and never walk ahead of Him. He knows the way, He has the safest route planned and will help you every step of your journey through life. He is our sustainer and by putting Him first you’ll accomplish more that you could ever do on your own.

God bless!

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Love! Its powerful, life changing and will make us do anything for the one we treasure the most. Who do you love the most?

Today’s passage doesn’t tell us to “like” someone, no, it says to love one another. Loving others takes work. There is the human side of us that has difficulty getting past our hurts, disappointments and we can easily hold grudges. When you hold a grudge, you hold back God’s love from flowing freely out to those who really need the love of God in their life. Hold back God’s love makes you part of their problem. The love of God can change ANY heart, so never hold back what God has freely given you, His love, His grace, His all!

As a child of God, your life should display the character traits of Christ. He gave His all, right up to the His last breath on the cross. Love forgives, love goes against all logic, love overcomes pain and persecution, love is necessary if others are to experience what Christ has done in your life. Who do you love the most? I hope the answer is everyone, for God’s word calls us to love all. Find it in your heart today to love everyone, even your enemies. By doing so you display the love of Christ to a world who needs more love, grace and forgiveness! God bless!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Ever feel like you are at the end of your rope some days? The pressures of life and the daily challenges push you back until you realize you are barely holding on. Friend, that’s where you’ll find God’s strength.

So often we start our day with determination to tackle everything by our own wisdom and strength. For the child of God, pride and self-reliance is outside God’s will for you. He knows that you are only capable of handling the challenges of life for a brief moment, then you tire and your defeated self is not able to live the life God has called you to live.

You are not defeated when you rely on God’s strength 24/7. The more space you give God in your life, the longer you can sustain those trying moments when bad news comes, when disappointment hits at the most unlikely time, when things are taken from you that you have embraced and made a part of your life. When you trust God to hold your troubles, your burden is light and you can go the distance.

Today, let God lead you, give you wisdom and be your reliance so you can run freely through the day. No problem or challenge is too big for God to handle. Let him take care of this day so you will find strength in your weakest moments. God bless

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

Its sad when you read about someone’s relationship troubles on social media. Just this morning I read a girl’s post where she was done with her man lying to her, cheating on her, ripping her heart out and stomping on it, getting cussed out…. I sat back in my chair and thought good grief girl, why have you put up with this poor treatment for so long?  

I like to refer to the above scripture in 1 Corinthians for the definition of love. It provides the perfect list of specifications for finding a significant other to share life with and develop that love that never fails. Today’s society lives at a 100 mph pace and we want to hurry up the relationship. After some commitments through words and actions, we discover this person didn’t line up with our initial expectations and we find ourselves trapped in bonds of enslavement, not love.  

They say a good wine takes time to age so it will reach perfection. Why not take the same time table to let your new friendships grow and see where its headed? If they don’t line up with scripture above, toss them out! Your willingness to “accept” someone’s lack of love for the benefit of company will poison your soul. Trust me, I speak from experience. Find that someone special for your life by the characteristics of love and you will be blessed and life more fulfilling! What’s in your love recipe?

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8

There is a sign that hangs on my office wall that reads…”It is what it is”.  Things can get pretty hectic at work, all the deadlines, meetings, challenges and sometimes victories. All in all, you just have to go with the flow every day and be prepared to wait at times, move out quickly at times and often take a few steps back to re-evaluate and take a new direction. Things will never be how we want them, but if we can accept where we are and deal with it, work (and life) will be a little easier to accept.

As a Christian, you might have a lot of wishes and needs. Some of those needs might be in a state of chaos or complete absence. You wonder where is God at this moment and why He hasn’t fixed your situation or fulfilled a prayer request that’s been elevated to Him daily for a LONG LONG time. I can tell you God works every single day. Let me say that again, God works every single day. I was reminded that yesterday as I thought over my life and I can see how He did not allow certain things and relationships to happen, so I can be in a better place today. At the time that was my complete focus…to posses certain things or relish a special relationship. But, things just didn’t work out.

Focus! Where is yours today? Is it on your wants and desires? If it is, you might be looking in the wrong direction. Unless you have your own special bag of blessings, you probably can’t work miracles like God. When we keep our focus on HIM and trust in what He provides us, we will be much more blessed and satisfied in life. Friend, “it is what it is”. Trust in the Lord every day to receive what He gives you and the blessings He bestows on your life. You will thank Him down the road once you see why His plan was always best for your life! Have an awesome day in the Lord!

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Lighthouses are fascinating to me. They are so tall and stand out along any shoreline. The main purpose is to provide light for boaters navigating at night and low visibility to shine on obstructions so ships wont crash.  Another purpose is to give sailors landmarks along their journey so they know where they are in relation to land.

As Christians, we are like lighthouses for those around us. The light of Christ should shine out from your life, giving those outside the faith a landmark of the characteristics of a Christian. Without you living your life for Christ those who are outside the faith would never see where they are going and realize they need that same light to help them navigate life.

Is your light shining brightly or do you have it hid in fear of ridicule? God never gave you a spirit of timidity. He has strength and power like no one else on earth, and His Holy Spirit resides inside every believer. So if you are a Christian, let your light shine brightly through your words, actions and beliefs. The world needs to see Christ, be a landmark for others so they wont crash into the ways of the world. Shine bright today! God bless!

I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. Jonah 2:6

Have you ever tried to take a trip alone and without any gps device, relying on your skills and resources to arrive at a destination you’ve never been? If you have, I’m sure you encountered moments of feeling lost and wondering if you’ll ever get there. It seems foolish to have confidence that we’ll arrive at a location without any help or navigation system to guide us.

Yet, as humans we do this often in our daily life. We think we know what’s right and we ignore God’s prompting. Eventually we end up at a place in life where disappointment, hurt and feelings of depression awaits us because we trusted our self and not followed God’s planned route. That’s exactly what happened to Jonah. He chose not to follow God’s directions and ran from God. Eventually he found himself inside the belly of a big fish for 3 stinking days. YUCK!

Friend, God has a specific plan for your life. It may seem like a solitary path for a while, and it most likely is that way. But, trust that God is with you and is leading you in the direction of blessings and satisfaction. Your pursuits will NEVER bring the kind of lasting satisfaction like God’s ways and plan for your life. Trust Him every day as He leads you. The results of your obedience will be void of disappointment, hurt and depression. Joy will abound and you will see why He was leading you where He did once you  arrive at your perfect destination! God bless!  

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12

Do you remember as a kid having to take some nasty medicine and your mom tried to mask the taste with something sweet. Today, they make liquid medicine for kids with flavors they love, just so they’ll tolerate it. I’m up for some kid’s medicine myself…who wants to taste some nasty meds?

Lets take this topic to the real life of a Christian. Ever watch a tv show that has lifestyle behaviors that contradict God’s word? You might not even realize it because of the beautiful people on the program or their strong character that you are attracted to. All the while, they are displaying the purest form of sin and you are absorbing it in. Let’s not forget music. Whew, I’ve heard music with lyrics that would melt a preacher in the middle of winter, but its masked by the beat of the music.

So Dave, where ya going with this? Satan is a professional at masking sin and putting temptations of lust, greed, sexual sin and hate right in front of you, as you sit back and take it in without the realization of what’s happening. All that crusty scumbag has to do is get into your mind through your eyes or ears and he will entertain your heart with toxic things of this world.  

What you see and what you hear might seem good, but beware it could be toxic to your soul. Just like masking that nasty medicine, Satan can mask his bag of temptations in something that looks and feels good. Not everything that seems good is good. Stay prayed up and keep that Godly filter over your eyes and ears so you can block out what’s toxic to your soul. God bless~

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. Romans 7:15

Have you ever climbed a mountain? I have, and I can say its fun, challenging and yet takes every ounce of strength and determination to keep going when your body says turn around. The struggle is in the elevation. As you climb higher, the oxygen level decreases, making your muscles ache and cramp, hard to breath and less oxygen to the brain can mess up your reasoning.  The goal is the top of the mountain, you have to keep that in mind as you continue upward.

For the child of God, have you wanted to be on top spiritually? Maybe you have visions of living free of sin and temptation, having peace in your life and abundant joy. The struggle to live a righteous life is clearly stated in today’s passage by Paul. He knew how he should live, yet the higher he climbed spiritually, he was met with more temptations and battles that challenged every ounce of his being. His weak flesh gave in to temptation and sin. Unfortunately, our bodies weren’t made to easily overcome those hindrances to living a Godly life. The only way to keep going is to rely on God for His strength, wisdom and encouragement to keep going in our spiritual journey.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 Your inner strength comes from the word of God. The bible is the best guide for helping you overcome those challenges as you climb higher in your walk with the Lord. Staying in the word of God will keep your mind and heart focused in the right direction and condition you when met with temptations and life’s challenges that can make you want to give up. Stay in His word, stay prayed up and never give up as you walk towards Heaven’s home. Perfection waits those who overcome! God bless!

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly saying “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

Yesterday I wrote about how God uses us in certain places and situations to allow His light to shine through our life to those who live in darkness. It takes a lot of courage and faith to trust in the Lord, to go where He says go, do what He commands and live a life free of the world. The further we live from the world’s ways, the more we will stand out and be noticed. That’s the light of Christ that shines brighter when we surrender our selfish will for His perfect way.

When you stand apart from the crowd, you become a living example of Christ’s character. As a result, things begin to change around you, people are curious about your strong faith and want to get on board with your Christian walk. The world needs stability, love, joy and peace. Only through Christ can those traits be experienced, even in the most turbulent times of life.

Today’s verse shows the results of Christ obedience to death on the cross. Those there that day became believers in Jesus Christ and what His purpose was here on planet earth. What’s your purpose? To live a Godly life and remain obedient to the very end. Does your life impact those around you? My prayer is you will seek out Christ and follow His ways. The world needs to see Christ. Let them see Christ in you and change the world around you! God bless!  

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Yesterday while at work, I took a break from the office grind and sat on a park bench and looked out over the lake. It was a very tranquil setting for sure! As I looked around, I noticed this small plant growing in the crack of the wooden bench. I thought to myself how did that seed get here and how was it thriving out of a wood bench. And then God began to speak to me.

As Christians, God often plants us in places that we don’t understand and question how we can survive when there is nothing around to sustain us. I can assure you if God has planted you there He has a purpose and is more than able to equip you with everything you need to shine your light into the darkest of places around you. Maybe you are in a very difficult marriage, a hostile work environment or your neighborhood isn’t the safest place to be. Trust God in everything and let that light shine bright.

One thing I noticed with that plant, it stood out! There was nothing around  but wood and this little plant stood all alone. You might be the ONLY Christian in your home, work place or neighborhood…shine bright. Your life will stand out and you will become the center of everyone’s attention. Live the Christian qualities God has instructed for you in the bible. You may want to return evil to those evil people around you, turn the other cheek. You may want to avoid them, Jesus willingly walked to His place of death. He remained obedient to the very end and look what His life did for mankind, that’s you too!

There is NOTHING easy in this world for the child of God. We are called to stand apart and shine our light by our actions, words and show the love of Christ. Without you, how will they know Christ? Hang in there friend, your mission is not completed until you take your last breath. Shine bright for the world to see Jesus! God bless!  

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Ever feel spiritually dead inside? Maybe circumstances and things around you haven’t gone well and the joy in Christ has diminished to almost nothing. We all go through times when we feel out of touch with God, feeling like we have no purpose and our existence is so mundane we wonder why God has allowed us to live in this state. Has this been you?

Friend, I’m here to tell you, as a Christian, God lives inside you through His Holy Spirit. The power of God that raised Jesus Christ from death to life, is the same power that resides in you. Maybe its time for a spiritual revival, a renewing or awakening of your spirit. Start today on your knees praying to God, asking for Him to awaken that spirit that has gone dormant. That out of touch feeling with God is the result of you letting go of His hand somewhere along the line, and its time to reconnect. Don’t let another day pass without reconnecting with God. He didn’t raise Jesus back to life to set His Spirit into a dead soul.

God has a plan and purpose for your existence. The devil tries his best to make each Child of God feeling useless and unworthy of anything great God has planned. It might take a spark to get your fire going again, light it up with the help of God. Then commit yourself to God every day and He will warm that cooled spirit back to life. If He can raise Christ to life, think about what He can do in your life today! God bless!

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14

Lets face it, the struggle with temptation and sin is great these days. The world in which we live centers around self-pleasure. The world says…”just do it, its your own body and unless you please yourself, who will.” Sadly, many people get caught up in this self-centered attitude and they dilute any moral fiber in their being to justify their actions.  

The truth of the matter is, sin separates us from God.  God will not bless you when you are pursuing a sinful lifestyle, and over time you become completely useless for the purpose He had in mind for you. As a Christian, He will never leave you, but He will certainly not find favor in your life.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

As you read this blog, stop for a minute and evaluate your life. Is God pleased in all areas of your life? Are you holding back in a certain area and you know your thoughts, actions and words are not God honoring? If so, time for repentance and turn from those ways that don’t yield God’s approval. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19.

God has a plan for your life. When you make provisions for things outside His will, you will suffer loss, missed blessings and potentially long-term effects. Turn aside from the ways of evil and pursue God in your daily life. Put on Christ today, He’s the best armor you’ve got to battle temptation and sin. He will bless you for your obedience in Him! God bless!

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Years ago the company, Leatherman, came out with a multi-purpose tool that did it all. Screwdriver, hammer, knife, plyers, can opener..it did it all. When you purchase this tool, you have the confidence in knowing all your tool needs are met with this one device.

The same is true for the Christian. The day you accept Christ, is the day you turn in your body of sin for a body cleansed of all unrighteousness, purchased with Christ’s blood. The cool thing about being a Christian, is you have the confidence in knowing God equips you for any challenge you face in life. Whether its financial difficulty, relationship issues or health problems, God gives you the strength, courage and power to work through your difficulty. And what’s even better, He has your best interest at heart; so when trouble comes, He has a plan for the way forward and wants to bless you when you remain obedient to Him.

As a child of God, you were purchased at a high cost. So, live life to glorify Him every day. He deserves your faithfulness and obedience as He provides what’s necessary for you to survive in life. He’s got you covered in His blood of redemption, use what God gave you to bring glory to Him and help others see the benefits of being a child of the King! God bless!

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 1-3:12

As Christians, I believe our greatest hindrance to serving God is our memory. We can never seem to get past our mistakes, failures and times we’ve displeased God by some terrible choices made in life. Those memories creep up every time we are asked to do something for the church or God calls us to speak to someone about His grace. Without hesitation, our mind churns up the past and we don’t feel worthy of serving the Lord. I can tell you Satan has been whispering in your ear and its time to put that crusty crab in the trash!

As a child of God your past sins are forgotten (as today’s verse states) and your future sins have been covered by the blood of Christ. There is no big mistake that will remove you from the lambs book of life John 10:28. The struggle to live for Christ can be a challenge in this sinful world, but you must continue in obedience and turn from sin. How do you do that? Removing those things, habits and people who poison your Christian walk. There is NO ONE and NOTHING worth enjoying if it causes you to step outside of God’s perfect plan for your life! Whew…good reminder for myself.

Begin today by turning aside from the things of this world and focus on God and His plan for your life. He has cleaned the pathway before you with His great sacrifice so you can serve Him without guilt and shame. Walk towards Christ everyday and you will reflect His light into the world around you! God bless!

But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:3

If you’ve ever ridden on a motorcycle you know it can be windy. Thankfully I have a windshield on my bikes that helps protect me from the wind, debris, rain and bugs. That shield protects my body and face from anything painful coming at me. After a good ride, I look over that windshield and see the things that could have hit me; makes me appreciate that piece of plexi-glass that stands between me and trouble.

The same is true with God. When you put your faith and trust in Him, He shields you from the storms of life, from the muck that people throw at you and the challenges you face while navigating life. You can see it coming, but His protective hand keeps you safe, so you can continue abiding within His will without distraction and worry. The key is keeping Him between you and the journey ahead. There are times when you’ll feel the environment you are in, but if you look closely at the positive, you can clearly see Him working. You might have a few emotional scars and spiritual bruises, but God was working. It takes a strong faith to see it.

How strong is your faith? You might think God has cut you loose to navigate life. I can assure you He is right there protecting you from chaos. Trust Him, believe in Him and always look for the positive outcomes in every situation. What you search for, you’ll find….if its negative, you’ll see negative things….if you look for the positive, you’ll see the good things. Just keep that in mind as you go about your day, trusting the Lord to shield you. He’s working for you, are you trusting Him? God bless!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Christmas and Easter, two of the most significant moments in world history, yet reality is distorted by a fat man in a red suit and a bunny rabbit who delivers candy in baskets. Sadly, our society puts more advertisement and focus on the fake part of these special holidays than the reality. Jesus Christ is the main reason for these two special holidays. His birth and sacrificial death have done more for mankind than all the efforts spent covering it up with fictitious characters.

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” Phillip K. Dick. As one grows out of his/her childhood years, the reality of these fictitious characters is revealed. With the beliefs gone, so does Santa and the Easter bunny. I can say without a doubt, God never leaves you nor forsakes you. Even when your belief waivers, He is always there, steady and sure, ready to reconnect with you.

From time to time its not uncommon for someone to have doubts and wonder if God really exist. I went through a period of time in my early 20s where I questioned God. I prayed and prayed, asking Him to reveal Himself. One night, when I was all alone, He showed His presence, just as real as I’m sitting here typing out this blog. That moment of revelation changed my life forever. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for me!

Do you believe in God? If your belief in Him is wavering at this time, I encourage you to pray to God and ask Him to reveal Himself. He might not do it right away, it may take some diligent searching on your part. But over time He will take one special moment and show you His presence. By doing so will change your life forever and send you in a direction God has called for your life! Find Him, seek after Him and He will bless you beyond anything this world has to offer! God bless!

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14

Friendship is a wonderful relationship. Its time spent with a person you care about, enjoy talking to, count on to be there and most likely share the same interest. Time does nothing more than strengthen that relationship, sustaining it no matter the differences you two may have with each other.

God wants to be friends with you and me. He compares our relationship with Him to a friendship. Friendship with God is awesome because once you accept Him into your life, that relationship never ends John 10:28. Over time, you get to know God better through prayer, bible study and keeping your eyes and heart open to His hand working in your daily life. I can speak personally, He is by my side every minute of the day. I see Him work through situations in my life, at work, finances, even at times of rest, He watches over me and helps me recharge.

God doesn’t want puppets He commands to do this and that. He wants loyalty, because He is loyal to us. Even in times when I’ve stepped off the righteous path, He has protected me and helped bring me back to the path of safety and blessings. One of the dangers for a child of God is friendship with the world. Although you may be a Christian and living life in this world, God does not expect or want you to become friends with it. “Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). God knows the world has nothing to offer His friends. Getting caught up in the world and its ways, habits and social beliefs are enemies of God and His love. Yes, enemies….”Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” James 4:4.

Are you friends with God? If so, how loyal are you to Him? If there are things, people, pleasures and habits that come before God, you need to rework your priorities and remove those things that hinder your relationship with Him. Anything or anyone outside His will for your life brings division. Division is what separates us from friendship with God. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be friends with than God. Friend God today by cleaning your spiritual house and see an everlasting friendship blossom into something beautiful for your life! God bless!