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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Look to Me and be saved. Isaiah 45:22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works. Psalm 73:28

 About 5 years into my career, I struggled to understand if this was what God really wanted me to do for the remainder of my employment. I was surrounded by several negative people who made it even more challenging to stay the course God had set in motion. I looked at other options, but nothing panned out. After an exhaustive search, I finally made the decision to block out the negative around me, and focus on the tasks before me. As a result, my performance ratings went from good to exceptional for 7 straight years….something that doesn’t normally happen in the federal workforce. After years of loyalty to my agency, I was promoted to a supervisory position which helped me reap a wonderful retirement pension.

 Living the Christian life can be challenging. We live in a world that can easily draw people away from the holiness God calls us to live. Advertisements that promote possessions, pleasure, wealth, and opportunities that are endless to gain personal recognition and social status abound. It’s easy to get caught up in the worldly affairs. Although their appearance seems positive, they come to a bitter end, leaving you feeling empty and sometimes without hope. But,

 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

 God calls us to be separated from the world so we can sustain our pursuit of holiness. Where does your loyalty stand, with the world or God? Chose God and you’ll be able to experience His wisdom, His protection, His encouragement, and most of all His sweet blessings. It is then you’ll be able to declare the wonderful works of God in your life!

 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

 In my master bathroom is a small nightlight that shines when its dark. When I go to bed and turn out the lights, that light is barely visible, but over time my eyes adjust and eventually the who bathroom and part of the bedroom are illuminated. Without this light, I’d probably stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

 Today’s verse encourages us, as Christians, to let our light shine outward, everywhere we go. People should see a difference in how we respond to others, being courteous to our fellow man, helping others when the need is visible, and just giving a friendly smile to passersbys. Why? Because this world is in a state of complete darkness and without the light of Christ, shinning outward from you, no one would see the way to God’s grace and mercy through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.

 Serious question to ask yourself: do others see my light shining or is it dimmed when around certain people or places? In God’s eyes, no where should be off limits to the light He’s provided you. Ask God to help you maintain a consistent glow so others will truly be changed by your presence and feel the love of God touch others through your actions, words, and expressions. Let your light shine bright this year! God bless!   

 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

 In a small town, close by to where I live, an apartment building caught fire and witnesses saw residents being carried out by firemen who came to their rescue. I’m sure for those residents, it was a relief to see firemen come boldly into the fire and help them escape.

 There’s another fire that is constantly burning in this world and many are in danger of letting it consume them for eternity. Before the creation of earth and mankind, God had a plan to rescue His creation from an eternal Hell. His calling to us came in the form of a human, Jesus Christ, who made payment for the sins of mankind, so we could escape the flames of sin and eternal damnation. Sadly, there are people who hide from this calling for fear of the unknown or because they are deceived by Satan, and will eventually face the consequences of their decision to hide from God’s truth.

 As you read this blog, ask yourself, “Have I been saved”? Have you accepted Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins by asking Him to come into your life and committing everyday to His holy path? It’s not complicated, it’s not something to fear, and it’s not something you can gain by your own efforts. God’s love for you comes in the form of grace and mercy with no conditions. He takes you just as you are, no matter how far into the fire you think you are in this life.

 Jesus Christ rescues people every day with an eternal future in Heaven. Are you one of those he’s rescued? If not, don’t delay to respond to His calling.

 Pray: Dear Jesus. I am a sinner. I believe that you made payment for my sins by dying on the cross and resurrecting back to life 3 days later. I ask you to come into my life, forgive my sins and save my soul. I commit my life to you this day and everyday into eternity.

 Now join the rest of your saved family at a local church and thank God for His amazing love! God bless~

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

 Thomas Edison had an idea that would light up the world, the creation of the light bulb. In his efforts to invent the light bulb he exclaimed, “I have not failed, I have found 10,000 other ways that won’t work”. After countless times of trial and error his idea became a product he patented and today there are trillions of bulbs lighting our world.

 As Christians, we try our best to live a life pleasing to God, yet the old sin nature rears it ugly head and we fall flat on our face in shame and disgrace. But in the moments and days following, we find ourselves on a spiritual high that can’t be explained or would not have otherwise occurred had we just been living our normal spiritual routine life. I can attest to this fact; since 2016 I have been led to write over 2,000 blogs, many of the most impactful have been written following a spiritual train wreck on my part. I question how God can use unworthy me to do something for His glory, but that is where His grace and mercy steps in, to forgive my sin, so He can continue to use me as part of His plan for my life. And He will do the same for you.

 Maybe you’ve had a spiritual setback and you feel unworthy of even stepping back into church, much less claiming to be a child of God. Friend, have no worries that God has rejected you, He loves you and gave His all for you to live a life of service, so you can know your sins are covered by the blood of Christ and restoration has already been handled. It’s so true, all things work together for good to those who love God! Continue on with your mission to serve Him, under the blanket of grace and mercy! He’s got great things in store for your life!

 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

 When I hear thunder, wind, and rain, I usually open the door to confirm my suspicious…yes…it’s storming outside. Here lately I’ve taken the same approach to the news. I know its bad, and occasionally will glance at it and confirm, yep it’s still chaos. One of the biggest news items of this year has been protestors displaying their dislike towards our government’s actions, especially ICE agents capturing illegal aliens and people who have done bad things in our community. It’s crazy to think that someone would oppose a law enforcement agency whose trying to help keep America safe, but it’s people’s freedom to protest.

 With all the protesting, you’ve got to ask…”what is it accomplishing”? In my personal opinion, NOTHING! It costs local communities money to have additional security staffing, it impacts people’s ability to move freely on the sidewalks and actually drive down the street, protestors have caused significant damage to buildings, vehicles, and some people’s personal property. And sadly, it’s cost some people’s lives.

 Can I offer a different action that in the past has gotten more results than protesting.

 PRAYER! Some of you might know the power of prayer and have been witness to its life changing power when done with perseverance and faith. Others reading this might think it’s funny to pray to a God to change things to your liking.

 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced fruit. James 5:17-18

 Wouldn’t you like to have Elijah pray on your behalf? That guy had power in his prayers. Well, you my friend are no different and have the freedom in this county to protest or pray. Why not stay home and do some praying, earnest praying, and be patient as you see things transform over time to bring peace, positive change, that aligns with the perfect will of God! Blessings!  

 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

 At 19 months of age, Helen Keller became ill and lost her sight and ability to hear, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the first blind/deaf person to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and go on to become a famous author and speaker. Stevie Wonder was born 6 weeks pre-mature and developed other complications that left him blind, but that didn’t stop him from learning how to play the piano and a world-famous musician. There are countless others who’ve suffered loss of their sensory organs, yet gone on to make a name for themselves. How did they do it?

 Medical research has confirmed that when one or more of the body’s sensors are lost, other sensors are enhanced, allowing the person to excel and achieve success they otherwise wouldn’t have accomplished if everything in their body worked. The human body is amazing, and when those sensory resources focus on the impossible, success is achieved.

 One thing this world lacks is peace, and if you kept up with the news over the past few days, you know that peace has illuded many in this country and around the globe. We live in a world where chaos and violence are the norm anymore and it leaves individuals with much anxiety and worry over the future. You might ask yourself how you can find peace in this troubled world?

 Today’s verse provides the time-honored solution to your peace problem. We expose ourselves to life’s troubles through various means, such as social media, watching the news, heck just leaving the house and driving across town anymore is a challenge to my peace. We must take steps to cut out the non-sense of this world and focus on the God of peace. How can it be done?

 Staying focused on God through prayer, bible reading, do a daily devotional, and withdrawing from those things that ignite anxiety, anger, resentment, hate, revenge, and other negative emotions. At first you might find it difficult to separate yourself from the world, but over time it will become easier and your relationship with God will grow into a steady stream of peace that will rule the day, even when there’s chaos all around you. Stay your mind on God today!

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

 Have you ever asked God a favor, praying diligently with the hope that He’d respond in a positive way? The bible is full of stories of people requesting God for healing, wisdom, victory in battles, even requesting a child. With each request God responded in the most appropriate way according to His will and perfect timing. Some requests were provided an immediate answer, others were answered but it took time to come to fruition to align with the will of God.

 One of the many instances that I can speak of personally, my mother decided to sell her country house and move into town so she could be close to my grandmother to care for her and have all the amenities a town offers. We prayed for her house to sell and it was almost a year before we had someone interested. As my mother began to look for an intown home, one came up at just that moment and it was perfect for her and just one block from my grandmother’s house. Had she sold it sooner, who knows where she’d buy in town.

 Many years later, when my mother became disabled, we planned to move her into a nursing facility that could properly care for her medical needs. We had to sell her home quickly. I agreed to handle the sale of her house. That afternoon I contacted a realtor about her home to be sold. Early that evening the realtor called to say she already had a buyer and they put a down payment. God answered that request immediately because it was in His plan to have her taken care of properly.

 For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8

 I share these stories to provide you hope that God does hear your prayers, and already has a plan to fulfill them. It’s your responsibility to trust Him completely with how He responds and the time it takes to respond. When you do, you can be encouraged to know you will get His very best for your life. Pray with confidence knowing God has already planned to fulfil your request! God bless!

 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. Genesis 6:14

 The biblical story of Noah is fascinating! God created man and everything in the world in Genesis, yet man turned wicked and everything they did centered around self. God decided He had enough of man’s wickedness, so He planned to flood the world. Noah was found in favor of God and He instructed Noah to build a huge ark to house himself, his family, and all the animals, that would save them from this great flood.  

 What’s interesting is the fact that this ark wasn’t near any body of water and there was no way to move it, water had to come to it. As God commanded the rain to fill the earth, flood waters lifted the ark and it floated for 40 days and nights until the water receded and anchored on dry ground. The only survivors were those on the ark, everyone else who mocked Noah for building such a big boat perished.

 Noah was favored by God because of his obedience. If Noah waivered in his obedience, he and his family would have perished in the flood. Historians estimate it took Noah 75 years to build the ark. That’s a long time to follow God’s instructions without any results, but Noah was faithful until the waters came and the fruits of his labor were on full display.

 Maybe God has called you into obedience to do something that is strange to other people, even your family or closest friends. You doubt God really wants you to do His bidding, but deep down there is a burden left unattended by your doubt. Don’t neglect God’s call for your life. Although your purpose hasn’t been truly fulfilled, it will when God is ready to put it on display for others to see, including yourself.

 Obedience in the dry times of life is necessary before God brings the water of blessings to your life’s purpose and Godly mission. Keep the faith and do as He’s called you! God bless!

 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Psalm 132:3-5

 Not too long ago you might have recited the Christmas story, where Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem to register for the census. At that time Mary delivered the baby Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who came to save mankind from their sins. Unfortunately, there was no room for them in the local Inn, so Mary gave birth to Him in a barn. Our Savior, born in a barn, if only the people knew who He really was and what He’d do for all of us.

 The author of today’s verses states that he would not sleep until he made room for the Lord of his life. Can you say the same for yourself? Have you made room for Jesus Christ in your life? He came not to demand your acceptance, but to offer you a free gift of unconditional love, grace, mercy and a forgiveness like no other. The purity of His love can’t be found in this world, only through Jesus Christ. Won’t you receive Him today?

 Pray something like this: Dear God, As I start this new year, I seek the forgiveness of my sins through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection. I believe in Jesus Christ and what He did to save my soul. I ask Jesus to come into my heart, forgive my sins, as I commit this day and my life to Him. Amen.

 If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of God. I encourage you to begin your eternal journey by reading God’s word daily to learn more about Him through the life of Jesus Christ ministry on earth (New Testament), study the bible, and connect with a biblically sound devotional that will help guide you on your spiritual journey. Trust me, there is nothing like having Jesus Christ occupy the center of your life and heart! God bless!

 Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

 In a dark bedroom one night, my grandmother laid wide awake, watching every breath my grandfather took. His recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure had shortened his life expectancy, and my grandmother was worried sick each night would be his last. That night, my grandmother heard a voice inside her that said, “Be still and know that I am God”. An overwhelming peace calmed her soul, as she let go of her worries that night, and was able to sleep.

 The next day she consulted with her pastor about those words and he quickly referenced them as scripture in Psalm 46:10. Although my grandmother studied God’s word daily, she had never seen that verse and she knew deep in her heart God was assuring her that no matter what, He was in control, giving her the peace and comfort, knowing the outcome, God would be there to take her through each day.  

 Maybe you are in the process of losing a loved one and the worry about their passing is troubling your soul where you lack peace and understanding. As my grandmother experienced, I encourage you to let Psalm 46:10 be your rock as you go through the days, weeks, and months ahead. The Creator of your loved one has you in His loving hands and will calm the turbulent waters of your soul when you let Him into your heart and hear Him say, Be still, and know that I am God!