“I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah”

Psalms 32:5 

Two words bring comfort to someone on trial for a crime, NOT GUILTY. Their slate is clean and the weight of conviction is lifted, freeing that person from punishment. 

As a child of God, your sins are covered by the blood of Christ. Jesus took on the sins of mankind so we could have a personal relationship with our Creator. But, there's one thing that can put a damper on that relationship, unconfessed sin. 

“When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah”

Psalms 32:3-4

Sometimes we get caught up in an activity which we know is wrong, but our earthly reasoning justifies the pleasure it brings vs. God's judgement. Over time this unconfessed sin becomes the likeness of a thorn under the skin, and infection sets in, causing pain and grief. It no longer brings pleasure, and we finally yield to the Lord’s discipline. 

Your earthly life was never meant to live under the weight of guilt, caused by ungodly pleasures. Confess your sins daily to God, so you can experience joy and the proclamation, NOT GUILTY! 

 “As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.”. Ecclesiastes 5:15 

Anytime I've driven by former places I've lived, I see the things I focussed on neglected. The shrubs in the front are unkept, the house has mold growing on the sides, and the grass is not manicured. All of these things I spent long, laborless hours perfecting are no longer visible. 

Today's verse sums up the majority of our lives. We work hard to provide for our families, and accumulate things, money, and expensive experiences to feel good about ourselves. A sense of achievement you could say. But, 5, or 10 years from now all of those things you worked hard to provide will simply be sold, broken, or forgotten. How sad it is that we spend a lifetime achieving temporary pleasures that amount to nothing when we are gone. 

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  ”. Matthew 6:19-20 

Doing things that invest in  eternity have benefits now and long after you pass. Spending quality time with family, caring for those in need, and most importantly sharing the message of Jesus Christ with the lost, have eternal value that never dissolve over time. God's word provides an endless number of opportunities to invest in your eternal future. You just have to decide where you'll spend your time and resources. 

Dear God, thank you for your generous provisions. May I use them to bring you glory as I walk through this life and into eternity. 

 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

 Have you ever given much thought to your past? Maybe it’s your childhood, where sweet memories bring you much happiness, or maybe it was a special relationship that you treasured and now is no longer. In our reflection, we oftentimes desire to go back to the “good old days”, to relive those precious moments that seem to stay within our memory. But if you are true to yourself, you probably recognize you’ve come a long ways since then and life is different, and those moments your cherishes probably won’t fit into your life at this moment.

 That’s exactly what Jesus was telling a person who wanted to follow him, but he felt it necessary to take care of other business first. In the eyes of God, nothing is more important than serving Him, worshiping Him, and giving Him your complete and undivided attention. What’s the benefit in that you ask?

 I can tell you after 50 some years of living faith in Christ, nothing and no one compares to the goodness that God provides. He provides you with wisdom to make wise choices, He blesses you when you walk in obedience, and He has so much newness in store for your life, that when you long for things in your past, you miss out on God’s very best. You can even thwart His plans to use you for kingdom work.

 But Lot’s wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26

 You might be familiar with the story of Lot and God’s destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God instructed Lot, his wife, and family to escape and not look back. She looked back and paid the ultimate price for her disobedience. Don’t be like her, focus on the future and trust in God’s provisions. They might not always be the same as what you’ve experienced earlier in life, but eventually they will bring you to a better place, with God’s ultimate blessings in this life and into eternity. Your future in Christ is worth staying forward focused! God bless!

 

 

 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ”

James 4:7 NKJV

Last night I had the pleasure of watching my 19 month old granddaughter. She is persistent in her wants. She wanted to do something that I knew would hurt her, so I picked her up and redirected her to something else. Within a few seconds she was headed for the same dangerous activity. Finally, after 5 times of redirection, she focussed on something else, more safe. 

Temptations come at our weakest moments and the devil tries to fuel the fire by convincing us it's ok to pursue our desires. But, as a child of God, we know the dangers of fulfilling sin. What's difficult is Satan never seems to let up with the temptations, the excuses why you should partake of his temporary satisfactions. Sound familiar?

Today's verse gives us encouragement to remain faithful to God by remaining obedient by not fulfilling the pursuit of sin. It takes much prayer, discipline, and determination to ward off Satan, but over time he will eventually give up and redirect his evil work somewhere else. 

Persistence is the key to preserving your spiritual life from the sins that so easily tarnish your relationship with God. Stay the course, stay prayed up, and stay focused on pleasing the Lord. The rewards of obedience far outweigh the temporary pleasures Satan has to offer. God bless. 

 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by to bear His cross. Mark 15:21 

“Take one for the team” is a common phrase that means someone to willingly accept an unpleasant task, hardship, or personal sacrifice so that the rest of your group, friends, or colleagues can benefit or avoid discomfort. To be in that position takes courage, strength, and complete surrender.  

 In today’s verse, we read about a certain man named Simon, who helped Jesus by carrying His cross to the place of crucifixion. Jesus was beaten so badly that He could barely stand, much less carry a heavy piece of wood in which He’d die upon. Simon took one for the team of believers that day by carrying that cross, so you and I could experience God’s forgiveness through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. Mark 16:16

 As a child of God, you should take part in the words of Jesus Christ by sharing the message of salvation to the people around you. It shouldn’t be a painful message to share, yet we are oftentimes are afraid to discuss Jesus with those who are opposed to believe in Him, or want anything to do with religion. But, unless you speak up, how will they know the truth of God’s willingness to forgive sin and have a personal relationship with His creation?

 This blog is not only to encourage you, but myself included, to share the message of Jesus Christ. By doing so, we take part with other believers in spreading the gospel to those outside the faith. Are you wiling to take one for the team of Christ?  

 

 

 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

 Contentment has been defined as a state of peaceful satisfaction and freedom from worry or restlessness. Feeling content doesn’t shift when the circumstances around you change, especially for the worse. You are able to maintain a sense of inner satisfaction. Can you say you are content in this life?

 The world would want you to believe you are missing out on certain activities, possessions, and relationships. Advertisements, social media, and music try to drawl you into a lustful desire for more. It’s a constant cycle of madness, and one you never fully attain everything you heart desires. God never intended for His creation to experience this emptiness with an overwhelming desire for more.

 Where did it start? Well, Adam and Eve found the forbidden fruit something to be desired, and they partook, bringing in the first occurrence of sin. Searching your heart, what forbidden fruit do you desire? As we saw with God’s first creation, they suffered the loss of the perfect garden, full of everything they needed for life. Mankind continues to suffer from their sin as we toil long and hard in this life.

 Today’s verses gives us insight to godly wisdom and His provision. Following God in obedience is paramount to having an inner sense of contentment and peace that only HE can provide. Food, shelter, clothing, are the essentials and He longs for us to appreciate those things, so your search for more will not stretch far into the toxic offerings of the world. Have you achieved this sense of contentment?

 If you are truly honest with yourself, you are probably still searching for things outside God’s provisions. God gives you what He knows you can properly manage. Ask Him to give you a desire for His provisions and be thankful for what He gives you. Honor God with your resources and reign in those ungodly desires, so you can walk in obedience to His will for your life. God will richly bless you in ways that the world can’t.

 Dear God, thank you for your provisions in my life. Help me to live a life pleasing to you and to welcome your blessings with the assurance my wants always fall within your perfect will. Amen.

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 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 In my carport is a wooden swing. It’s my favorite place to sit to think, reflect, pray, and watch the wildlife in my backyard. No matter what the weather conditions outside, I’m protected from the elements. It’s so relaxing and wish I had discovered the comforts it has brought me earlier in life.

 Looking back over my life, I can tell you life has had its very difficult moments. Moments that left me wondering why am I in this mess, asking God how to get out of this mess, and what was the purpose of this mess. All good questions, and as much as I wanted answers, God had a plan through each and every trial I faced. He might not have provided me with answers, but I learned to trust Him through the trial, all the way to the outcome. Today, I stand weathered by life’s storms, but still here, testifying to God’s goodness and faithfulness.

 Today’s verses provide us a guide to life, where to put our trust. Not in man, because he/she will let us down at times, but to trust God. The path He choses to lead us down might not be clearly understood, sometimes painful (yes painful), and difficult, but the outcome fulfills His purpose, and His plan to grow us into mature Children of God.  

 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

 You might be going through a difficult life storm; sit under the canopy of God’s protective hands, and put your trust in Him to see you through.  

 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4

 Can you say life is joyful? There’s a difference between happiness and being joyful. Happiness is something temporary, like tasting something sweet, having a great moment, or seeing something beautiful. Being joyful, on the other hand, doesn’t change due to the circumstances around you. It’s stable, consistent, and comes from deep within your soul, no matter what is happening on the outside.

 For the child of God, joy should come naturally. According to Psalm 92:4, God has taken care of the bridge that separates you from His Holiness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to life after 3 days. Knowing you are secure in His forgiveness and love should prompt a deep appreciation for His goodness towards you, filling you with joy unspeakable. Sounds good, but does that characterize your life?

 Unfortunately, we oftentimes get bogged down with the issues of life, that turn our focus away from God’s bidding and we find ourselves seeking happiness in the moment and not the true joy God intended for you and me! How can we get to the point where our soul is full of joy and not moved by the negative things of the world?

 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they m ay have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 The choice is yours who you’ll allow into your life. The thief OR Jesus Christ? Stay prayed up, keep yourself unspotted from the world, and fill your heart with God’s word. These actions will keep you rooted in joy and not the temporary moments that change like the weather. Joy is something we all need to experience as it prepares us for the next chapter of eternity with our Savior.

 This morning, I was reading one of my daily devotionals and it talked about the importance of having patience with others. Ephesians 4:2 was referenced, “be patient, bearing with one another in love”. At the end of the devotional, it asked to identify two people who I have little or no patience for. To be honest, my list went well beyond two people. Then I had to ask myself, why am I so impatient with these certain people? I’m a people person and will speak to just about any breathing individual. After some reflection, I actually learned something about myself, and I understand now why certain people test my patience. 60 years it has taken to learn something new about myself, and I realize I need to work on a certain aspect of my life so I can better reflect the love of Christ to everyone…even those whom I have not given my complete attention.

 As humans, we are God’s creation. We come with special talents, abilities, and sometimes personal flaws, that go unnoticed in our everyday life. Some struggle to understand their character makeup and it truly impacts the way we interact with others. How can you truly know the real you? What I mean is, how can you peel back the layers of your personality to understand why you do the things you do, how you respond to others, and the talents God has given you.

 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

 Hebrews 4:12 literally cuts to the point. God’s word brings light to who you are as a human, a child of God, and what you can do in your life to bring Him glory. Who better to inquire about YOU than your Creator! Jesus said it well in Matthew 10:30 “But the very hairs on you head are all numbered”. If God knows how many hairs you have (or don’t have), He can also enlighten you on why you exist. He has a plan and purpose for your life, and unless you let His word guide you along the route to sanctification, you are simply traveling through life in the dark. Reach your fullest potential by tapping into God’s instruction manual for this life and into eternity.

 For the Lord will not cast off forever, though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. Lamentations 3:31-32

 When bad things happen in your life, who do you blame? God oftentimes gets blamed for things like the loss of a loved one, a marriage breakup, an accident, job loss, and so many other difficult and painful events that are out of your control. Seriously, who else is to blame for things you can’t control? Well…lets dig in and see what’s really behind the scenes of those things you want to put the blame on God.

 If you are a child of God, you have accepted the fact that God is in control over everything. There is nothing in your life that He lets befall you without His approval. Sometimes those unwelcomed moments are the result of our sinful actions and God uses them as a tool to bring us to deep repentance. People in this category sometimes experience long term repercussions, like jail, a lifetime disease, even isolation. Whatever it takes to yield their waywardness to the obedience of God.

 Another situation beyond your control happens at times when you are doing everything right, then WHAM, you experience loss, pain, suffering, even being wrongly accused. In those moments you seriously ask God WHY ME? It might be difficult in the moment of grief, but you must then put your anger, frustrations, and sadness away and accept you are in God’s spotlight and trust that He knows what He’s doing. I think about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. What a tragedy, but look at how his ministry has taken off…..it’s tripled in size and has impacted thousands of people. There are countless stories just like Charlies that has brought so much good from the ashes of horrific events.

 The one thing you need to realize is God loves you more than you can ever comprehend. No matter how much you want to blame God, you must look to Him for the hope of tomorrow, and realize that His plan is to bring something more meaningful into your life through the tragedies you’ve experienced. Re-read today’s verse and let it sustain your faith in the One who has your best interest at heart. God bless

 September 11, 2001, I was 1/3 the way through my career as a Park Ranger working for the Federal government. That morning was normal at work, myself and another ranger went out to the parks to collect use fees. As we pulled into one of the campgrounds, the Park Attendant asked us if we had heard the news about the planes flying into the Twin Towers in New York. At that time we had no idea what happened, so we parked our vehicle and went inside the gatehouse to catch the news.

 Complete shock is the only word I can use to describe what I saw.  All these years I thought we were securely protected from something so tragic. Fear gripped me as I wondered what else would happen. We left there and continued our work, when my boss called on the radio for us to come back to the office immediately. Since we were federal employees, they wanted to insure everyone was safe and check our facilities for security purposes.

 About 1030 am I called my grandmother to ask if she had heard the news. She hadn’t, so I informed her to turn on the TV. When she did, all I heard her say was, “Oh my God”, and she hung up the phone with not another word said. She lived in a time when Pearl Harbor was attacked and her husband had to enter into the World War II. I’m sure it brought back horrible memories of that day for her.

 The rest of the day was a blur. All I remember was how stressed, angered, and afraid I was throughout the day. Our kids were young, but they could tell something bad had happened and could read it on our faces. The next day was  Wednesday so we attended church services that night and prayed for our country and the victims of that day.

 From that day forward, everything changed at work. Security was tight, we implemented measures to protect our resources and for a long while we planned for the worst. Thankfully nothing else bad happened, but we were definitely on edge and concerned for our safety.

 On this 25^th anniversary of 9/11, I want to thank the brave men and women who protect our nation, and I pray for the victim’s families who still hurt from their loss. Most of all, I thank God for our President, who loves this country and has shown strength across the globe.

 May today’s generation (who never experienced this event) not lose sight of the enemies who attacked us and elect leaders who love this country and will do everything in their power to defend the United States of America! God bless!  

 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

 Before the turn of the century, toothpaste tubes were made of a pliable metal, often aluminum, which allowed the user to roll up the end of the toothpaste, forcing the last of the toothpaste to come out the small hole, leaving an empty tube and no waste. Today’s toothpaste tubes are made of a form of plastic that doesn’t roll up and you have to work at getting the last ounce of toothpaste out. Many people discard that tube with probably a few more ounces of toothpaste left in the tube, that could be used several more times. But we’ve become lazy and want to discard it when we have had enough of its supply. I’m guilty!

 You are probably thinking, what does a toothpaste tube have to do with today’s blog and scripture. Let me share a thought God placed on my mind yesterday.

 As a child of God, you probably have a bible in your possession and take it with you to church on Sundays, maybe even read in on occasion during the week. You read just enough of it to get a spiritual high and shelve it till your next prompting to read it again. Today’s scripture tells us that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. How we use it will determine the outcome of our spiritual growth. Sporadic use of God’s word limits your growth to what you think you need or gratification of your wants and needs. In reality, you are discarding something very useful for everyday life.

 Don’t treat your bible like that tube of toothpaste….only getting what you think you need. Squeeze out every ounce of God’s word in every area of your life so you’ll be equipped to make decisions that are pleasing to God, which yield blessings upon your life and your family. Grab your bible today, hold it and know that it’s truly the inspired word of God and will give you everything you need as you journey on your pathway to Heaven! God bless!

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

 This morning, I read in one of my devotionals about a married couple who participated in a walking event. At one point they sat down to rest, when another couple joined them. Through their conversation both couples shared a horrific event where they lost a young child, and were able to explain how they got through the loss by what God did to strengthen their faith. For two strangers to get that deep into conversation, they had to be transparent, peeling back the layers of their life, to share one of the darkest moments they’ve ever experienced.

 In today’s world, people frequently “build walls” around themselves. They feel this protects them from emotional damage, and getting involved with others, when all they want to do is live their life. This behavior isolates self from the outside world and misses opportunities to share insight into the wonderful and not so wonderful things experienced.

 If you know me, I am one who loves to meet people and peel back their layers of information to know them better. I find it challenging for me to see how deep into their life I can explore in my attempts to connect through life’s experiences. And what I’ve found is some pretty amazing people and their stories have encouraged me in my personal and spiritual life.

 Wrapping this blog up with today’s verses. If you are a child of God, He’s given you something special, the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and a love that comes with NO conditions. Those unique characteristics should be shared with those in your circle of influence. Lighting up your world with the Gospel message of salvation brings hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved, and the removal of guilty burdens often found deep within their soul. Don’t hide your faith, don’t put your light under a bowl, let it shine brightly through your daily interactions with others. You’ll be amazed at how your interactions turn positive, no matter what environment you find yourself. Let your light shine for the glory of God!

 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

During my time in college, I briefly dated this girl from the state of Ohio. We had met on campus and became good friends. On occasion we’d travel to Ohio to visit her parents. Her father was a preacher with the Apostolic church. The Apostolic believers live a simple life without much worldly influence and have a strong desire to be obedient with the bible’s guidance.   I recall her father was very peaceful and holy in every aspect of his character. You could tell he was a man of God and certainly had a positive influence on my life at the time.

 Every now and then I reflect on this verse and wonder, do people see Christ in me? Do they consider me a man of God? I might not stand behind a pulpit and preach God’s word, but my everyday life should, hopefully, influence people in a positive manner, just as my friend’s father did for me. I know my human frailties, and they are many, and God is working in my life to shape me into the character of Jesus Christ. It’s a lifetime process and every day He removes part of the world and replaces it with a spirit of holiness. I still have a long way to go to perfection.

 How about you? Are you a child of God? Do people within your influence recognize Christ in your life? Do you even desire to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ? If you’ve truly chosen Christ, then your life should be a reflection of His life to the outside world. God calls all of us to be missionaries to the lost, whether its locally or across the globe. Without peace with our fellow man and holiness, how will the lost find their way to the light of Christ? Let your light bring others to Christ! God bless!