I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

 We live in a “throwaway society”, if something stops working you toss it out and buy a new one. Many companies might offer an excellent warranty, in hopes that 3 years down the road when something fails, you’ll forget the coverage you purchased, and buy new.

 As a child of God, you were created by God for a specific purpose. He gave you special gifts to ensure your life’s purpose is fulfilled. God paid for your talents through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, who made you eternally secure. Are you using those gifts and talents effectively, or are you bumping your way through this life with an occasional “atta-boy”? God doesn’t demand that you align your life with His will; He gives you the opportunity to decide the path you choose.

 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16

 Are you bearing fruit for the Lord? What some Christians often forget is God choose them for the Heavenly Father’s kingdom work. Yes, you might have made the decision to accept Jesus Christ into your life, but it was God who called you, He put that need, that desire to be saved in you, and you responded. Now to complete your part of the commitment, you need to ensure your life is a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6

 God loves you and wants you to be the best servant to Him. Unless you live a life committed to Him, John 15:6 tells what happens in your unwillingness to serve Him as you were called. Don’t be one of those throw-away Christians! You’ve got a purpose in this life, seek and serve Him. Your warranty is eternal! God bless!

 

 Matthew 11:28-29

[28] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

As I get older, my body reminds me how important rest is throughout the day. It's especially true when I'm working outside in this Georgia summer heat. Yesterday I fixed a spotlight outside, then we ran some errands, met one of our kids/grandkids for lunch, and finished up at 2 grocery stores. By the time we got home and unloaded the car, I was done. Got a good hour long nap in the recliner. 

You know, life can wear you down with all its business, pressures to perform, and occasionally deal with a crisis. Physical, emotional, even spiritual elements of your body can become exhausted, leaving you vulnerable to health issues (physical and mental) and spiritual attacks from Satan. God never intended for you to live this way. 

In today's verse, Jesus actually encourages you to get rest, and find comfort in Him through prayer and Bible reading. You are probably saying, “whose got time for all that”. I used to be that way and finally had to stop the madness and take these verses seriously. What I found out is that the times of rest and a spiritual refresher actually gave me more energy to tackle my responsibilities and kept me from stumbling in my faith. You've got to make time for these renewals or else you'll be running on empty and not your best. Make time for rest and rest in the Lord and you'll see how life runs a little easier when you are fully charged. God bless. 

 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

 While employed, I always looked forward to those peaceful moments when nothing bad was happening, everything ran smoothly, and my heart, mind and soul could rest. Those moments were few and far between, and I allowed my circumstances to dictate whether I was living in peace or turmoil. Maybe your peaceful moments come and go like the wind.

 Today’s verse reminds us that we must always seek peace and pursue it. Allowing your current circumstances to dictate if you’ll have peace is no way to live. God provides peace in our hearts with His love, His presence, and most of all His forgiveness. When we are at peace with God, everything else falls in line. Like a man chasing down a much-needed taxi, we need to pursue God in every aspect of our life: family, work, down time, hobbies, even our pleasures.

 Commit your works to the Lord, and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

 Peace with God is simple, allowing Him to manage your life. For most of us, that can be challenging, because we think we know how to live life. But God’s plans are much more meaningful, purposeful, and require complete surrender of self. When you let go and let God, He works through every minute of your day and you begin to see His hand working on your behalf. In the process this inner peace surrounds you and gives you the confidence to continue on with a surrendered life in Christ.

 When a man’s ways please the Lord, HE makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

 Peace is hard to come by these days. But, when you surrender your life to God, He brings peace in areas you would never expect it, even your enemies live at peace with you. Pursue God and you’ll find a peace like no other! God bless!

 Now no chastening (discipline) seems to be joyful for the present but painful nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

 In 1947, newspaperman James Comstock founded the “University of Hard Knocks” an honorary society that recognize people who have achieved success without earning a degree in higher education. If you look at people’s Facebook pages, you’ll probably find some say they graduated from the school of hard knocks. Most dictionaries define it as the inadvertent education one receives from negative experiences in life.

 If truth be told, most of us have some degree from the school of hard knocks. We’ve made mistakes in life, suffered the consequences of poor decisions, and learned a few things that has kept us moving through life. Maybe you have a doctorate in hard knocks.

 Today’s verse aligns with the theme of today’s blog. As a child of God, you should welcome God’s chastisement or discipline, for it provides a better understanding of how God looks at you and how He expects you to live. So often we get ourselves involved in bad financial dealings, unhealthy relationships, even breaking the law (speeding, shoplifting, and so forth) and we suffer for those poor choices. That period of suffering is God’s chastisement and you should use that time to repent and ask God’s forgiveness, and even forgiveness of those you offended by your wrong actions.

 The end game of your discipline period is a better you, hopefully more aligned with God’s way of thinking, and a closeness to Him that otherwise wouldn’t have happen without you messing up. If you are breathing air, you are still in the school of hard knocks and it won’t end until you pass on the other side of this life. Make each moment count, even when you mess up, God has a lesson to teach you through His loving discipline! God bless!  

 Philippians 4:

[6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; [7] and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Statistics say 20 percent of today's population deals with anxiety. That equates to over 50 million adults. Sadly, children are not immune from anxiety as 7 percent, aged 3-17, also have anxiety. It seems like people have more pressure placed on them these days, pressure to excel, keep up with their neighbors, and overwhelmed with information from an overabundance of social media platforms and the news. 

How do people cope? Some use alcohol or illegal drugs, some seek counseling, and others isolate themselves from the world around them.

The pharmaceutical companies are getting rich by producing anxiety medicine to take the edge off, in hopes of lessening the ills of anxiety and worry.  

May I offer an alternative to these temporary remedies? Your creator, God the Father, knows you intimately and wants to help you navigate life without the worries and anxiety saturated in society. He knows what's on your mind and heart and is willing, and very capable of replacing your fears with His love, His confidence, and most importantly the shield He provides to those who seek His help. Yeah, life's challenges and struggles won't diminish, but the confidence you'll have to face them, with God's backing, will indeed make life a lot less worrisome. 

Why not replace those pills with prayer. He's waiting to hear what's troubling your heart so He can work His way to make life a little more meaningful and lessen the weight of anxiety you've carried far too long. God bless. 

 Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.

Death, no one can escape it, it's inevitable for every human being. For those who've lost loved ones, death can be so painful. The feeling of hopelessness, the loneliness, regret, and a host of other feelings and emotions, reminds those still living, their loss is great. 

Today's verse paints a different picture of how God views death. When one of His children passes, He rejoices as they join Him in Heaven. Although that doesn't fill your void, it should bring peace in your heart knowing your loved one is rejoicing in a place they've lived for from the moment they said yes to Jesus. 

You'll still feel the loss, but God can bring healing to your saddened heart. Seek Him for the comfort and peace only He can provide til you join Him and loved ones for all eternity. God bless. 

 In the past few months, we’ve watched people being rescued in times of crises, such as floods, fires, airplane disasters, even those lost while hiking in the mountains. In every situation, the victim has their eye on the rescuer, whose either directing them to do something to aid in their rescue or reaching out to pull them to safety. The only requirement of the victim is to keep their eye on the rescuer and not the force that’s causing them immediate harm.

 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live.” Amos 5:4

 God’s chosen people living in Israel had taken their eyes off the Lord and  turned to sinful actions that displeased God. They found immediate pleasure in sin, cheating the poor to get rich, and even committing acts that were an abomination to God. God had enough of their wicked ways and warned them to turn from their sinfulness and look to Him for safety and life. Some followed His instructions, but many did not and they suffered many years of slavery by an enemy God allowed to disrupt their way of life.

 We live in a world today where there are many distractions, temptations, and basically freedom to live and express ourselves in any way we want. Many of these actions and lifestyle preferences are opposite of God’s standards and pretty soon God will give us an ultimatum, either turn back to Him or suffer the consequences.

 You might feel secure in your country, home, or simply your little world…and living life how you want to live it. If it doesn’t align with God’s ways, you too will suffer for turning your back on the ONE who can preserve your life for eternity. Today is never too late to reach out to your rescuer, Jesus Christ, who paid for your sins and is the only way to your Heavenly Father, God. Seek Him today by asking for His forgiveness, committing your life to Him, and turning from the danger that seeks to destroy your soul. God is waiting to receive your call today!

 

 James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 

Well, social media has someone else to judge. A married man and CEO of a financial firm was spotted with his suspected mistress and co-worker. Many social media reporters are having a heyday reporting the bad news and thousands, maybe millions of people are commenting in judgement. 

When I read this story my first thought was, thank heavens I'm not that guy. Maybe you felt the same and probably feel a sense of righteousness for not living that kind of lifestyle. 

Today's verse has something to say to all of us….we are sinners of every violation known to man. Yeah, so maybe you aren't guilty of murder, adultery, maybe even gossip. In God's view, no sin is greater or lesser than any other wrong doing. 

Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  

We all in the same house together, a house of sinners, no greater and no lesser…everyone is equal. Instead of judging and having malicious thoughts about others, let's pray for them and ask God to bring healing, and the same for ourselves. No one, and I mean no one is worthy to judge, except Jesus Christ. Thankfully He took care of sin’s payment for God's children, He needs us to have a repentant heart and follow Him in obedience. 

 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

 The other day I was sitting outside, it was hot, and there appeared to be no breeze. But then I look over at my weather station and the wind anemometer was spinning slowly. Even though I couldn’t feel the wind, my weather station said otherwise.

 As a child of God, you might feel as if God is distant and not involved in your life whatsoever. You pray and hear nothing, you look for His blessings and none are found, you might even feel alienated from other believers. After a while you convince yourself, God isn’t present in your life and your faith grows cold. Have you ever had this experience?

 In today’s society, people have adopted the old saying “seeing is believing”. We’ve got to be convinced of something by seeing or experiencing a feeling or emotion before we’ll believe it exists or is true. Satan does a great job of silencing God’s voice by enticing you into other adventures: sinful pleasures, addictions (alcohol/drugs, smoking, shopping), or simply just living for self and doing whatever pleases you. These behaviors put distance between you and God. He won’t’ tolerate sin and will remain silent until you come to your senses and return to the narrow path of righteousness.

 Let today’s verse remind you always that God IS PRESENT in your life, 24/7, and it’s up to you to believe that fact and keep your spiritual compass focused on Him. Yeah, even when you are doing everything right, you’ll have moments of stillness, but don’t doubt God’s existence in you. Take care of your body and your soul by staying prayed up, and saying NO to anything that takes your focus off what you know to be real and true! God bless!

 Matthew 5:37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

I'll be totally transparent, I often say yes to things out of emotions. Yes, I'll volunteer for this project, yes I'll join this special interest group, and a lot of yeses to simply follow the group. Where has this gotten me? Frustration, resentment, anger, tiredness, and regret. It's not part of me that I am proud of, and quite frankly I've had to learn to say no more often because I know the outcome of a half-hearted “yes”.

Jesus said in today's verse, let your yes be yes, and your no be no. Both have positive and negative effects on the people receiving your answer. God wants you to be a man/woman of your word, and half-hearted yeses or nos will only harm your relationships and bring heartache to yourself. 

One sure way to provide a solid answer is to seek God’s guidance. Asking for His help provides a resource that can see beyond the current moment and He knows the outcome with either a yes or no. There have been several times in my life when I've sought God's wisdom and He made it clear the path I should follow. 

Don't be in a rush to commit or excuse yourself from an obligation or relationship for the sake of time. You have a lifetime to live out your dreams. One wrong choice can turn into a lifetime nightmare. Take it to God in prayer and let Him give you the yes or no you need as you navigate life's decisions and choices. God bless. 

 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

 During church on Sunday, I got to hold our 4-month-old granddaughter. She fell asleep in my arms and was so peaceful.  Since the service began, I didn’t want to wake her, so I held her as long as I could. At one point my arm had gone to sleep and thought it was going to fall off, yet, I still held onto her. Why? Because I love her and knew sleep was essential to her health and growth (and I didn’t want her awake and fussing during the sermon).

 Today’s verse reminds us that because of God’s love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make payment for our sins. Why? Because of His great love He has for you and me. God’s love for mankind goes further than our mind can comprehend, but in order for Him to accept us, we need His forgiveness to be covered for our transgressions. Jesus took care of that by dying on a cross, as a substitute for us, so we could have the perfect relationship with Him.

 If you are a child of God, you should go to great lengths to extend His love to others. Yeah, there are people out there who are hard to love, much less like, but God calls us to love others as much as we love ourselves. That might seem like a tall order, but with God’s help, anything is possible.

 Love is what kept Jesus Christ from turning away from death on a cross. He knew why He came to earth, to save us from our sins. Extend that love to others, no matter how difficult it might be, because one day we will all stand before God to give account for the love He gave us and how we extended that love to those outside the faith. Let love reign in your heart this week!

 Matthew 6:9-13

[9] In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

How real is God in your life? Is He like some mystical person far off and too busy to care about your needs? Sadly, many people have this view of Him, and thus they don't spend any time talking to Him, much less think about Him. Friend, if this is you, you are missing out on a deep and personal relationship with your creator. 

Communication with someone keeps the relationship alive, learning more about each other, and sharing the needs and burdens each carries. While Jesus was on planet earth, He provided a model prayer for us to speak to get the day started. Do you pray to Him each morning when you wake? 

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Still not sure what to pray to God. Let this verse in Romans give you some relief, knowing the Holy Spirit knows you better than you know yourself and prays on your behalf. This is one of the many blessings of being a Christian. Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life? 

God isn't looking for some formal conversation, you can make it real as if you were talking to your best friend. When you communicate in this manner, He becomes more real in your life and throughout time, you will hear His response. What are you willing to share with God today? Speak it! God bless.  

 For  this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

 School children are rewarded in the classroom for good behavior. Teachers over the years have come up with ways to reward students for their positive behavior, and for many kids it has worked. My daughter was a rule follower and always walked the line. Teachers would tell us that they could always count on her to be the example for other students.

 Many people today look at Christians in the same way, they perceive the life of a Christian as a rule follower and believe God rewards good behavior, and punishes bad behavior. Although this might sound logical, there is something deeper in the life of a child of God that drives him/her to walk within the will of God.

 LOVE

 When you love someone, your desire is to please them and don’t want to do anything that might harm the relationship. Love of God is the motivating force that keeps His children walking the straight and narrow pathway through this life. God’s rewards aren’t out of certain behaviors, they come out of His love for us, His creation.

 We love Him because HE first loved us. 1 John 4:19

 If you think being a Christian is all about rule following, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s much more than walking the line. No one is perfect and quite honestly Christians are more vulnerable to mess up than those outside God family. Satan only targets God’s children because He knows the damage he can cause by enticing Christians to sin.

 Maybe you aren’t much of a rule follower. God loves you regardless and wants to have a personal relationship with you. Don’t cut yourself short of God’s blessings by thinking it’s all about following rules. It’s about love and what God offers you in return when you love Him, just as He loves you. Blessings

 

 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

 From the moment I heard about the missing young girls from Camp Mystic, this verse played over and over in my mind. As the days passed and news gave the grim details of their final moments, my heart just grieved for them, and their families. I have never personally experienced the loss of a child, but I’ve known several people who have and they still struggle to understand why they had to lose one of their own. It’s painful and the loss runs deep.

 How can anyone find hope in the loss of a child? We know that these children who died in this tragic flood, have left this earthly life to be with Jesus in Heaven. Although we can’t fully grasp the beauty of Heaven and its rewards, these young girls are living their very best life with the Savior, whom they came to learn about and worship at Camp Mystic. What a wonderful conclusion to their camp experience.

 I know these words don’t fill the void of the parents or heal the pain of their loss, but the comfort and peace of knowing the children God blessed them with have come home for eternity. As they rejoice in Heaven, they await the parent’s arrival to re-join them. Living on earth will be painful, but let the comfort of knowing their lives are eternally secure encourage parents to live out the life in a manner that brings God glory and live with the confidence knowing their reward is waiting for the hard work they did raising these sweet young ladies in Christ.

 God bless!

 Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

My neighbor recently spent some money and time landscaping his backyard. To complete the project he ordered 3 pallets of sod. Now to be transparent, he isn't in good enough shape to lay all that sod by himself (I fall into this category too), so he had his young grandsons come over and do the grunt work. I watched as they laid each piece of sod in the sunny, 93 degree weather. It was quite the undertaking, but they completed the job in 2 days. Now all my neighbor has to do is keep it watered until the grass takes hold. Thank goodness for young and able-bodied kids. 

As I look back over my life, I recall more times than I can count, obstacles or trials that faced me and appeared to be more than I could resolve or work thru on my own. I learned pretty early in life, that's when I needed to seek God's help. And when I did, He helped me work through each circumstance with a result far better than I could have ever imagined. 

Maybe you are facing an overwhelming task, trial, or burden that you know is impossible to deal with on your own. Take the advice of today's verse, call upon God and be witness to the power He has to take any burdensome situation and turn it into victory on your behalf. Trust me, He's standing on “Go”, just waiting for you to reach out to Him. Be sure to thank Him in the process as He gives you the best result that brings glory to Him, and confidence for you, knowing He is your ever present help. God bless. 

 Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Today we celebrate the United States birthday, 249 years old. When the founding fathers created the US Constitution, their beliefs were centered around God's view of mankind. The freedom to worship God was one of the primary reasons the people traveled so far to obtain freedom for religion and freedom from oppressive government rule. 

Until recent years the Constitution and God's 10 commandments were posted in many courthouses and government buildings. But sadly, the freedoms signed by the Constitution authors, gave freedom to have these treasured instruments be removed. Why? I believe because people no longer regard the laws of the land and God's standard for living. 

Many believe the ten commandments are too restrictive, but I believe God gave us these parameters as a guide to keep us from putting anything and anyone before Him. 

God blesses a country where its people honor Him by how they live and respect this great nation given to “We the People”. As you celebrate this nation's birthday, I encourage you to commit to being a better citizen and grow in your relationship with the Almighty God. God will bless you for your commitment to honoring Him and living within the parameters of freedom He's given to you and this United States. God bless America. 

 Numbers 6:24-26

[24] “The Lord bless you and keep you; [25] The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; [26] The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” 

During my prayer time, I was thanking God for all the things He's given me, such as a home, family, career that's provided me a retirement, and so forth. As I prayed, God spoke to me, asking if I thought what He's given me was a gift or a blessing. So, I did some research about the two and here is what I came up with. 

Gifts are tangible items, often given because they were earned or simply expected. They oftentimes come with conditions and most likely have an expiration to them. On the other hand, a blessing is given out of a generous heart, without conditions, and has a positive influence. 

God's love for every human being is a blessing that has no conditions and is freely given to anyone willing to receive it. Sadly, many people attach conditions to their desire to receive God's blessings, which do nothing but put false hope in the person asking for God's help. Example: I'll stop swearing if You will heal my sickness. Essentially you are putting conditions on an unconditional blessing, and shouldn't expect it to be answered. 

I encourage you to take inventory of what blessings God has showered upon your life, thank Him, and always be ready to ask without conditions, so you will receive His special blessings out of the simple love He has for you. God bless. 

 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Philippians 3:13

 Change, many of us, including myself, don’t like change. We are comfortable in our current setting and any change to a routine can cause frustration, uneasiness, even anxiety. As I get older, changes to my schedule or patterns of life are less welcomed. But, the last two days, God has been speaking to me about change and the benefits it brings.

 If your life was a book, could you say you’ve gone past the “Preface” and created a few chapters? Looking back over my life, I can say I have many chapters, some good, and some not so good, but they’ve marked seasons in my life that have shaped me into the person I am today. The decisions I make, my likes and dislikes, my thoughts, even my faith has evolved, hopefully for the good.

 One of the challenges to change is fondness of the past. It’s easy to live in the past, with memories that brought certain “highs” and we long to get back to those days we considered sweet. But those memories don’t provide anything new in your life and leave you anchored to what “was” and close the door to new opportunities, new relationships, and a fresh start.

 The apostle Paul noted the importance of change in today’s verse. Literally forgetting what was in his past, and reaching forward to those things which were ahead. You might be thinking right now about certain things in your past (good or bad) that you can’t seem to move past. I truly believe that is Satan whispering those memories to hold you short of what good things God has instore for your future life. You literally have to ask God to tune out the whispers of Satan and open your heart, mind, and soul to God for Him to move you to the next chapter of life.

 God has a new chapter ready for you to dive in and enjoy a fresh start and receive the good things He’s got planned for you. Let go of your past and be open to what new things are scripted for the new and better you! God bless!

 

 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. Psalm 42:1

 One of my favorite things to do in retirement is feed wildlife that lives in the woods behind my home. I have numerous deer that come up to feed on the cracked corn I put out each morning. This morning, I saw a momma deer and her newborn baby. All throughout the day, I see deer coming up to feed in the trough.

 Today’s verse expresses its author’s desire to be spiritually nourished by God. All throughout the day, we need spiritual nourishment to sustain our faith. The world and its ways are counter to God’s ways and work to diminish, even squelch out the wisdom, encouragement, strength, and desire to live centered in the will of God. Anything outside God’s will leaves one vulnerable to satanic attacks with the goal of completely isolating the child of God, entrapping him/her from the spiritual nourishment God provides.

 What does your soul pant for each day? Is it spiritual nourishment or worldly pleasures? There’s a big difference, and visible signs of how you live indicate the desires of your heart. Don’t let the world fool you into believing it has something better for you. God’s resources for this brief life will equip you for this life and into eternity. May your soul pant for the goodness of God! Blessings!

 Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

As many of you might know, as a baby I was adopted and given to a couple who cared for me. My birth mom found herself in a tough situation, where she knew caring for me as a single parent would be almost impossible in those days. Giving me up for a better life, I'm sure, was painful but necessary given the birth father she loved decided to end their relationship.

Have you ever wondered if God's creation of man and woman was a mistake? Did He see how vulnerable we'd be to sin, causing a separation between us and God? I personally believe it was God's plan all along to create a situation where God could show us how much He loved us through His Son’s death, and resurrection. Today's verse confirms that fact, and still today, His love reaches those who are without faith and belief. 

God gave up His Son, to take on every sin of mankind, including yours, so we could have a deep, personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Just like my birth mom, gave me up for a better life, God did the same through Christ. 

You are not a mistake. Although you might have made many mistakes in your life, God's love covers all of them. All you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and seek His forgiveness and commit your life to Him daily. Receive His love today, you'll discover the good life He offers you as His adopted child. God bless. 

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8

 Two weeks ago, my wife purchased a new Kia SUV. It has so many standard safety features that we are both still learning all that it can do. One feature the vehicle offers, it keeps itself centered in the lane. The car will literally steer itself. But, there’s one catch, you have to keep your hands on the steering wheel. You can let go for about 30 seconds, but after that bells start to chime, warning you to grab the wheel. We just returned from a trip to Illinois and I will say it was nice to have some help keeping the vehicle on the road for the 850-mile journey.

 Today’s verse lets us know that God will instruct us on how to live our life. He has the perfect plan for each one of us, but like the vehicle’s safety feature, there too is a catch to God’s guidance, you must keep your hand on God’s word, and read it daily. By doing so, God speaks to you through the scriptures and oftentimes directs you straight to scripture that helps answer questions you are facing at the moment. I can’t tell you the number of times God put scripture in my mind that helped me stay on track with His plan for my life. He will do the same for you.

 Life is full of decisions and choices, make sure you stay centered on God’s path by keeping your hands on the bible and reading it so you can know how God want’s you to proceed in life, today and all the tomorrows! God bless!

 John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  

In 1779, Captain William Jones placed an advertisement seeking “A FEW GOOD MEN” to enlist in the Marines. 200 years later, this advertisement continues today, seeking quality men to serve the United States of America. 

Today's verse says that God is seeking people to worship Him. It's one thing to know of God, maybe even have a personal relationship with Him, but are you truly worshipping Him? 

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

True worship doesn't just reside inside the four walls of a church building, it's putting God first in every aspect of your life. Above your family, your home, your workplace, your thoughts, your actions, the words you speak, even the hobbies and activities you enjoy. If God can't be a part of something in your life, then He isn't #1 in your life. Let that sink in for a minute. 

God has given you the gift of life with every breath you breathe, give Him the respect He deserves by living in continual worship of God. Your life will be full of His blessings. 

 I Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 

The way of Jesus Christ is foreign to the ways of modern society. Riches won't get you to heaven, neither will social status, good behavior, spiritual Facebook posts, church attendance, other family members who are saved, not even one who preaches. No, it's a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and only through Him can you access God the Father in Heaven. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

Why does God only permit entry by Christ? 2 reasons:

As a human, you are born into sin. God is holy and righteous and can't allow sin in His presence. In early times God required an animal sacrifice for sin. At just the right moment in time, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the permanent sin offering. Christ died on a Roman cross, then rose back to life 3 days later, defeating death. 

God gives all of us “free will” to choose if we will accept His gift of forgiveness of sins through Christ, or reject Christ to live life your way. 

Throughout the new testament, Jesus encountered people living for themselves who wanted to follow Christ, but were unwilling to give up their reliance on worldly success and comforts. Their choice will bring judgement upon themselves. 

Don't be that person! Choose Christ, receive Him into your heart today and seek His forgiveness. A life invested in Christ will yield eternal rewards that are better than any comforts this world may offer. Choose Christ and live! 

 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, forgiving his debt. Matthew 18:26-27

 Have you ever had to forgive someone? Maybe they hurt you in some way, or they owed you either money or something tangible. Out of the graciousness of your heart, you were moved to forgive them of that debt. Forgiveness can be hard, especially when you are the one carrying the burden of the offense or loss. I know there have been many times when I’ve had to forgive others. Trust me, it was very difficult, but necessary if I was to maintain a sense of inner peace.

 Forgiveness might sound weak or an easy way out, but it’s actually a bold move on your part, for it shows, regardless of the negative impact on you, you are still in control. You control the situation by forgiving your offender. Well, you might be thinking, but they’ll hurt me again. So, how many times should you forgive them?

 Matthew 18:21-22…Peter asked Jesus, how many times he should forgive a brother who offends him. Jesus replied seventy times seven. What He was really saying, there is NO end to the equation of forgiveness, it’s a constant source of mercy that never runs out. That’s a tall order if you think about it, but still, by your forgiveness, you are in control and close the gap of that offense.

 What motivation do you have to forgive someone? Jesus said it in Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” If you want to enter the gates of Heaven, you need to be forgiven of your sins, and if you still have unforgiveness in your heart, how can you enter into God’s beautiful sanctuary? You can’t. Well, that’s motivation for me to forgive, how about you?

 Forgiveness isn’t about you or your offender, it’s about Jesus Christ, in what HE did to secure your place in Heaven. Follow His lead and always have an abundant source of grace and mercy for your offenders. Forgiveness is the pathway to peace with yourself and God the Father!

 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

 Our youngest grandchild is 3 months old and she has become interactive and starting to make sounds with her little voice. As she babbles with coos, we just smile and relish that precious child, and she smiles back at us. The love we have for her, and all of our sweet grandchildren, can’t be explained, it’s a deep love that goes beyond words! Maybe you are fortunate to have a child or grandchild in your life!

 Today’s verse came to mind when I thought about my granddaughter’s sounds. God loves it when we make sounds of praise to Him. His love for all of us, runs deep and beyond comprehension, as He gave His Son, Jesus Christ to be our sin sacrifice, that bridged this relationship between us and Him. Giving God the praise He so rightly deserves preserves and enhances our relationship with Him, and, as a result, provides a buffer between us and our main enemy, Satan.

 James 4:8 says, Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.  What an awesome privilege we have to come to our Heavenly Father, through praise and words of prayer, that bring us closer to Him. Notice in that verse that He leaves it up to us if we want God to be a part of our life. And why wouldn’t we want Him to be a part of our life, He created us and loves us deeply.

 Maybe you don’t know what to say to God. That ok, God knows your heart, just talk to Him freely and give Him praise. You’ll bring a smile to His face and He will bless your life for honoring Him. God bless!

 Romans 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Today, Saturday, June 14, 2025, there are planned protests across the United States. As we've seen in the news, protests over the past few weeks have become violent, leading one to ask, “what is their true purpose for protesting?”. News media has revealed that many people are paid to come and raise all kinds of ruckus to stir emotions, which they have. But the truth is, those people never had intentions to protest for the actual cause, their intentions were, and are, evil. 

That leads me to today's verse. As we go through life, I'm sure many of us want to do what's right, and even go to great lengths to display our “good acts”. But peel back the layers of the heart and mind, and the real purpose might be done with other intentions, benefitting self vs the one we are working for or lending a hand. 

The reality is God sees through our actions, our thoughts, and desires and knows our real purpose. There's no fooling God, and one day all of those things done with unrighteous intentions will be revealed. One of the biggest smokescreens for people is in the house of God. We get all fancied up in a nice dress or suit, say the right things, even appear almost perfect. Again, God knows your heart. 

If you struggle, as we all do, with having the right intentions, ask God to transform your heart and mind after His, through prayer and reading His word. It all starts in the mind/heart, nourish it with God's instruction book for the Christian life. God bless. 

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if anything praiseworthy, mediate on these things. Philippians 4:8

 One thing I learned pretty quick while riding a motorcycle, where your eyes go, you go. One day I was riding down a road and entered a curve and looked to my right to see a house for sale that caught my attention. When I turned to look back at the road, I found myself headed for the ditch. Fortunately, I was riding near the center line, so I had a few feet to go before exiting the road and was able to correct my trajectory. Lesson learned, keep looking where I intend to go on a bike!

 In today’s world there are many distractions out there can alter your character or much worse harm your relationship with God. Example, I enjoy watching the news and keeping up with what’s happening in the US and around the world. The downside of that is some news frustrates me to the point I become angry, act out of character, and form unrealistic opinions about people. This mix of emotions and thoughts toxify my day and leave me with an attitude that doesn’t represent Christ who lives in me. Get my point?

 To counter this behavior, I oftentimes recall today’s verse and try to refocus my thoughts on spiritual things, God’s blessings, and actually pray for those people who frustrate the hound out of me (that’s a Yankee expression). Those prayers steadily dampen the fire inside my brain and I’m able to calm down and see things for what they really are.

 If you ride a bike or motorcycle, keep your eyes focused on where you plan to go! If you want to maintain a stable relationship with God and keep your character in check, avoid those things that will stir negative emotions and fill your mind with the good things of God. Trust me, your daily journey will be less emotionally draining and you’ll finish the day without regrets. What Godly things can you ponder on today?

  Our community is painfully digesting the sad news of another shooting in our town, which 7 people were shot and one young man died. Sadly, this is just one of many such events our community has experienced and people are asking city officials to help stop this madness. Social media has provided an outlet for people to comment and make suggestions, but the truth is, this battle against evil can only be fought one way, with God’s help.

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord, and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4

 Today’s verses come from the story of King Jehoshaphat who was told of several great armies that were on their way to destroy his people. Many kings would have encouraged their army to get ready for battle, but not this king. He called all the people together to pray and seek God’s guidance as the enemy drew near. As the story goes, God told them the battle was not theirs, but God’s and He would take care of the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:15).  The next day they went down to the area where the battle was to take place and witnessed dead bodies spread out over the battlefield. God miraculously destroyed their enemy and not a single person under Jehoshaphat’s command had to do anything. God answered their prayers.

 Maybe our community needs to come together and pray for God’s intervention, so people can live in this town without fear of being shot. We need God’s help, and if we are faithful to pray, God will bless our community, just as He did, well over 2,000 years ago, for the people of Judah.  

 For God created us for incorruption, and made us into the image of His own eternity. Wisdom of Solomon 2:23

 If you’ve ever worked with tools, you know that some tools can be used for other purposes. As an example, the end of a screwdriver can be used to pry something apart, its handle can be used to hammer something, and it can be used as a stake in the ground to hold something up. But with the unintended use of a screwdriver, or any tool, it can also damage something or hurt you in the process.

 God gives each of us free will to chose how we want to live our life. We can live in strict obedience to God’s ways or pursue our own way of living. Either way, God loves us. He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26) and wants to have a personal relationship with all of His creation. But, He never forces that relationship, He leaves the decision up to us how we want to live.

 Today’s verse above comes from the Wisdom of Solomon, historical text that was never included in the original bible. But it’s words certainly speak the truth about God’s intended purpose for each one of us. He desires for us to live a life without the corruption of the world’s ways and model after His Son, Jesus Christ. No, you’ll never achieve complete perfection of holiness (not even the Pope), but you should strive to live for Jesus Christ each and every day, surrendering pursuits of a sinful lifestyle that distances you from your Heavenly Father. The benefit of living a life pleasing to the Lord will only bring God’s blessings upon your life and shield you from the negative effects of sin.

 Seek God’s will for your life, so you’ll live it the way He intended. God will take your life to a new level, through the equipping of His Holy Spirit. What’s your purpose in life?

 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

 It’s Friday, June 6, 2025 and also National Donut Day. I have plans to visit a donut shop soon and celebrate with indulgence of a fresh donut. If you know me, donuts are my favorite food. As a kid growing up in the mid-west, we had several bakeries in our small town that made fresh donuts daily and any chance I had to get one, you could bet I was there.

 In 1992 I moved from Illinois to Georgia. At that time, I was not able to find a donut shop that produced a fresh donut like ones made up north. Yeah, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin donut stores were around, but their quality just didn’t satisfy my appetite for what I was used to eating. Since then, several other donut stores have opened and I’ve found a few shops that come close, but nothing compares to the fresh, family-owned bakeries from my hometown.

 Today’s verse encourages us to enter into a relationship with God. Sadly, there are many people in this great USA who’ve never had the opportunity to see what an eternal relationship with our Creator can do for them. Those people are walking blindly through life without knowing the reason for existence and try to find happiness in things that don’t completely fill their heart. Yeah, there are momentary pleasures that might satisfy for the moment, maybe even for years, but compared to eternity, nothing can come close.

 Maybe you’ve never experienced the One and Only God of this universe. It’s actually quite simple: it’s believing that His Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth over 2000 years ago and died on a cross and rose back to life 3 days later, as payment for the sins of mankind, including your sins, it’s confessing your sins and asking Jesus Christ to come into your life to save your soul and commit to living His way each and every day. Following that decision, you’ll still experience the ups and downs of life, but the consistent joy and satisfaction, knowing you are saved, and having God’s Holy Spirit to guide you daily, will yield much peace, joy, comfort, wisdom, and healing like nothing on earth. Why not give God a try today, taste and see that the Lord is good and will forever be in your heart! God bless!

 

 

 

 Revelation 8:13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The Bible predicts how earth will end and the impact on humans living at that time. The wrath of God will rain down on earth because of mankind's wickedness and disobedience to His word. If you look around, you can tell the hour of Jesus Christ return to take His followers out of here before chaos erupts is closer than ever. 

You still have time to repent of sins, believe in Jesus Christ, that He paid for your sins by dying on a cross and came back to life 3 days later. Receive His forgiveness and commit your life to Him today. Don't delay, the trumpets could sound anytime.

 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15

 Think back to a time when you made a significant purchase; maybe it was a car, a house, a boat, a pool, a special tool or cookware. That something was meaningful to you. How do you feel about it now? Does it still work, have you sold it, or maybe it’s somewhere collecting dust. Take it a step further and walk around your home and see all the stuff you possess, does it have the same importance as the day you bought it?

 We live in a world that encourages you to buy stuff, and some of it might be useful, but over time it has probably become a financial burden with monthly payments and maintenance cost. You thought it might make life better, but in actuality it’s just one more thing you own (or making payments on) that has lost its luster.

 Today’s verse comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ. He knows you want a things that make you happy, but He also knows the limits of its benefit, and most of it runs out of excitement over a brief time. Nothing you own makes you who you are!

 Your life was created, by God, with a special purpose, and He wants you to discover it by searching out His will for your life and pursue it with the same passion you put forth in buying stuff. The worldly stuff only provides temporary pleasure, but a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, will bring lasting joy, in this present life and beyond.

 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-34

 You don’t have to sell everything you’ve got. Gods provided you the resources to buy those things. But don’t let your purchases define who you are. You are a child of the living God and He wants to enrich your life with the blessings and joy only He can provide. Focus your heart on God and seek after His will for your life. You’ll soon see your priorities change and become more Christ focused. Your desires will become pleasing to Him and He will bless you for your faithfulness as you store up treasures in Heaven! God bless!

 

 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Studies reveal that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions each day. That's a lot, and some come easy, others take some thought, but every decision has an impact, whether it's immediate or long term.

Today's verse encourages us to “test all things”. That doesn't mean we should proceed with a decision to see how it works out. That only leads to frustration, unwanted commitments, and shame if things don't work out as expected. Sadly, that's how many people go through life, with decisions that have no fore-thought.

Time spent praying and seeking God's will for every decision is the best way to navigate the 35,000 decisions you'll face today and beyond. Some won't take much thought, others will require you to “wait upon the Lord” (Isaiah 40:31) for an answer. By putting those big decisions on hold till you have God's guidance will ensure a more meaningful and purpose driven life. Make your next decision with God's help today.

 Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

If you are like most people, you wash up before attending a special event, such as a church service, wedding, birthday party,....you get the point. We want to look our best for the event and out of respect for the people who are being honored.

Today's verse encourages us to clean up our lives for God. Although we are riddled with sin, the blood of Christ washes us of the condemnation we so rightly deserve. But that doesn't exclude us from doing our part. In a world full of worldly pleasures, it can be difficult to separate yourself from them, but God provides His Holy Spirit to give you the strength and encouragement to say “NO” to sin, so you can honor God's Son, by your faithfulness and commitment to Him.

Does your life truly represent the character of Christ? Ask Him to help you stay unspotted from the world (James 1:27) so your life can shine brightly the light of Christ into this dark world.

 Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Many years ago my mother gifted me this beautiful cowboy fountain. It stands about 2 - 3 feet tall and water cascades over 3 levels, making a peaceful sound. On the back is a small door that when open allows you to add water. When I first used it, I'd keep the door open, and over time, debris would enter the fountain and clog the pump, preventing water from flowing. I'd have to take it apart, clean it, and refill the fountain. Now I keep the door closed and have no more issues. 

Today's verse talks about peace, and looking at the world today, there's very little peace. Just like that little door to the fountain, we open ourselves to unnecessary things of the world, and other people's drama, that clogs up our mind, disrupting the perfect flow of peace we long for daily. We want to be involved in other people's lives, but that often comes with a price, loss of peace and harmony with God. 

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: 

How can you live in peace without having to isolate yourself from everyone? Only by closing your mind off to the world's logic and focusing on God's words of wisdom, will you find peace, even in the most chaotic situations. 

Yes, my marriage isn't working and by the law I can divorce my spouse, but God's word encourages you to pray for your spouse and remain regardless (Ephesians 5:27)

How can I forgive this person who has wrecked my life, but God says if you don't forgive, neither will God forgive you (Matthew 6:14-15). 

The Bible is full of Godly wisdom, that if followed, yields a deeper peace than anything the world can offer you. But you must enrich your mind, heart, and soul with its words, so you'll be equipped to deal with things that come your way. Read your Bible and become familiar with passages that specifically address issues you face, and follow its advice. You will soon see peace freely flowing through your soul, untouched by the drama and stress of the world. 

 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Psalm 55:16

 Yesterday I was listening to the news about the tornados that have been wreaking havoc across the middle part of the US. One man stated that he and his wife had sheltered in their home when the tornado hit, it picked them both up and he prayed, “Jesus, please save our lives”. He stated that once he prayed, the tornado dropped both of them to the ground and they were not injured. What a miraculous story!

 Today’s verse assures us that when we cry out to God, He responds in the way He sees best. In the case of this story, He responded immediately, which is always nice, but sometimes it doesn’t always occur that quickly. God has a plan and purpose for every storm we face in life, whether it’s an actual weather-related storm or life event. His plan for each occasion will either grow our faith or touch the life of someone else. This man’s story touched my life by giving me the confidence of God’s reply to those who call upon Him…and I’m sure others feel the same.

 Whenever you call out to God, have the assurance His response will come at the appropriate time and have the most impact on your life and the lives of those around you. He’s got a plan for your next crises and ready for you to enter it with faith and trust in Him! God bless!

 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

 My favorite bottled water is Callaway Blue. It’s bottled spring water, in the next town over from us and sold locally. I’ve tried a variety of bottled water, but nothing compares to this brand. I’ll admit, it cost more than other brands, so sometimes I refill the bottle with regular tap water. The bottle is blue, so you can’t tell the difference between Callaway Blue Spring water and tap water unless you drink it.

 There are many people today who claim to be Christians; they look like Christians, act like them while in public, even speak like them, yet deep inside their heart is a counterfeit soul that deceives everyone. Today’s verse says that we, as Christians, are not to lie about our belief and faith. We are to be genuine and live out the truth of God’s character in our words and actions. True, we are all humans and fail miserably, but you know your heart and if it’s not in tune with God’s Holy Spirit, you are living a lie and God will judge you for being a deceiver.

 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

 Ask yourself, “am I living for God”, “do I live out my faith behind closed doors”? If you can’t answer yes to these questions, maybe it’s time to fill your soul with the truth, the gospel truth and God’s Holy Spirit. What you fill your mind with affects your heart. Reading your bible fills you with God's truth. Your heart is what God sees and if it’s not genuinely true, your “good deeds” will not be recognized on the day of judgment. Live out your faith in truth, so the world can see the true character of Jesus Christ. 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

 It’s been 4 days since I’ve written a blog. God usually drops a thought or verse in my mind and I let His Spirit guide me as I write. After 4 days of silence, I begin to question if He’s really there, or maybe I’ve done something wrong. Maybe you’ve felt that way as well, God’s silence is difficult for His children, who are constantly relying on Him for wisdom, encouragement, and love, especially in this world that is out of sync with His ways.

 After years of having a relationship with God, I can assure you, He is still within the heart of those who’ve accepted Him as their personal Savior. Sometimes He remains silent to see how we live, given the wisdom He’s already provided us. A good example of this is, as parents we help our kids learn to walk, and once they get on their feet, we allow them to go wherever their feet take them. But, when they start heading for something dangerous, we intervene, better yet, when they are about to fall, we try to catch them. I believe this is what God is doing in our lives when He remains silent. So, what should we do when God remains silent in our life?

 Today’s verse encourages us to keep the faith and seek after Him, even when we don’t hear Him speak. As a child begins to walk, they usually head towards their parent, because they know that’s his/her safety net and within the grasp of the parent’s arms are lots of love. When we sustain faith in the moments, days, even weeks of silence, God wants us to continue reading His word, praying, and living the way He has purposed for our lives. Yes, we need God daily, and He is right there with us, but sometimes we need that time of quiet to strengthen our faith and show God how much we utilize the resources He’s given us. When you encounter moments of silence, don’t fret! Just keep doing what you know to do and He’ll join you on the other side of your steps of faith. God bless!