Confusion!

1 Corinthians 14: 33         KJV

³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...

 

Deb and I went out on a mini date last night, and we couldn’t help but notice a car in the parking lot.

Literally, there was barely enough room for a person to sit in the driver’s seat. It was “stuff” from front to back!

 

Deb even noticed a partially used mayonnaise jar in the clutter.

Safe to say, you wouldn’t want to drop your car keys, or you could be looking for quite a while.

 

Seriously, I am not picking on the owner of the car, because they’re obviously suffering from some sort of handicap.

Every day as I prepare to share what I believe God wants me to write, I look for obvious, object lessons.

 

Am I the only one willing to admit this, but can our minds sometimes get this cluttered?

It’s tax day on Friday, and most of us have a lot on our minds beside that.

 

Experts suggest that we can think between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day.

Is it any wonder why some of us are walking around confused.

 

Be encouraged this morning, God is not the author of confusion, but of perfect peace.

Many of us have learned in the last year, that we need to consider and focus on only one thought at a time.

 

That would sure make life a lot easier, wouldn’t it? What if we spent our time thinking more about God, and less about needless confusion?

Maybe we’d have more peace than we currently do...

Walketh Wisely!

Proverbs 13: 20        KJV

²⁰ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise...

I don’t have too many friends who are friends of the world.

I try to hang with men who will build me up...challenge my thinking...and hold me to a higher standard of holiness.

I have a number of guys that I hang with, that when our meeting is over, I’m a stronger man for having had the experience.

I spent almost three (3) hours with a  very wise man yesterday. I spend as much time with wise men as I can...in part because I need all the help I can get.

The wisdom he has shared with me over the years, has certainly rubbed off.

He wouldn’t want me to share his name publically, but this guy has imparted wisdom to me every time we’ve met.

He’s one of a few guys that still love me, in spite of some of the dumb things I’ve done over the years.

He’s certainly not afraid to hold my feet to the fire when I need it.

He even wants me to share something at his funeral when he dies, and we’re currently debating on who’s going to go first.

He’s at the top of my list for speaking at my departure service too.

Men like this come along only once in a person’s lifetime.

Timothy had Paul, and Dan has Jim. Do you have a wise person in your life? If not, why not?

I’m more profitable spiritually, for having had this great man in my life. I’m a better guy for all the wise men I have in my life.

Especially because of Jim though, I’ve grown deeply in my love for Jesus, and I’ve grown in wisdom too...

Abundant life!

John 10: 10

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I meet so many people these days, who don’t truly know what abundant life is. Actually, I meet many folks who are getting robbed.

Some people think abundant life is only going to come after we’re dead.

I don’t believe for a second that’s what Jesus meant.

Since I attempt to hear every word that God speaks to me, I believe He would have me say this to you.

Have you taken an abundant life inventory as of late?

As I took a spring walk yesterday afternoon, God spoke to me and reminded me of the abundant life He’s given me.

·         Every time I see the sweet smile on my granddaughter’s face, I experience abundant life...

·         When I witness my grandson looking to his Mom for reassurance, I see abundant life...

·         As I consider how my two boys have grown up and have taken ownership for life, I see abundant life...

·         When I read the precious words of my daughter-in-law’s blog, I consider abundant life...

·         As I sat watching a movie with my gal last night until late, I embraced some moments of abundant life...

·         Abundance came yesterday as I embraced friends, following our time of worship...

Maybe you need to take an abundant life inventory before you start your day.

Sometimes I believe we miss abundant life all together.

Actually, I’m going to go out today, and live all those abundant moments all over again.

Maybe that’s the single thing that will bring us lasting, abundant hope...

What's your Sacrifice?

Romans 12: 2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice...

I’ve never been shy from speaking the truth.

Actually, that very thing has gotten me into a bit of hot water from time to time.

There’s a candidate running for President that has all the young people flocking to this persons support.

This person is trying to sell a free lunch for everyone, that is until you look very closely at the price tag.

Have we forgotten that to live in America...the greatest country in the world...that it cost a lot of people, a lot?

Have we forgotten that over 419,000 American people (soldiers/civilians) died in WWII? Many more came home wounded by war.

Was it free for them? What cost did these families pay, for the freedom we enjoy today?

I’m getting a little tired of people trying to sell free lunches these days.

I knew a man who wrapped his legs with gauze every day before work, because of the jungle rot received from WWII. He had literal skin in the game.

I attend church with some of the most sacrificial people on the planet.

They don’t expect free, and they would be very skeptical of having freedom, without having someone to pay for it.

What did it cost God the Father, so that we could have eternal freedom?

I realize preachers should never enter into the political spectrum, but I wonder sometimes if we’ve completely lost our blooming minds.

This scene from the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” always reminds me about the costs of everyday life... https://youtu.be/tj6yK9RXzPA

So what sacrifice are you making these days? Please tell the countless crazy kids out there today, that nothing in this world, is ever free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sincere Faith?

2 Timothy 1: 5

⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now,

I am sure, dwells in you as well.

I heard something sort of startling last night as I watched the evening news.

It’s suggested that most grandparents spend 70 times more on their Grandchildren, than Grandparents did just 25 years earlier.

Timothy’s Mother and Grandmother had a great spiritual influence on their boy.

Timothy turned out to be a strong man of faith, because of his Mom and Grandmother.

There was a time when I felt that if I parented my child, that once they left the coop, my responsibility for raising kids was over.

And yet I know so many Grandparents who have active roles in raising they’re Grandbabies.

My Grandmother lived until she as 105 years old, and I learned so many life lessons from her.

Old people are smarter than we think.

If you’re a Grandparent, what kind of lessons are your Grandkids learning from you?

Grandparents must firmly take a leadership role in our society. I love the chance I get to teach my Grandchildren.

I have learned so much from older Grandfatherly/Grandmotherly people, as they were willing to share their intimate life experiences.

I believe the Grandparents in churches, should be allowed to have an active voice in teaching the younger folks.

It is suggested that old people are gaining popularity again.

It is believed that many older Grandparents, are still the glue that holds this crazy society together.

So I wonder if our Grandkids will be known for our sincere faith?

Heritage!

Psalm 127: 3                       ESV

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

I don’t ever want this devotional to sound a bit egotistical, but my children are a direct reward to me from my God.

I often wonder how I deserved to receive three (3), really great kids?

My daughter-in-law, Ashley, became my third child when her dad passed away tragically. I’m honored to be her de facto dad.

This Trifecta of blessings completely boggles my mind.

All three of my kids love to serve in the church. Every time the doors are open, they are serving the interests of God’s Kingdom.

They serve faithfully and quietly, and rarely look for the applause that they so richly deserve.

My children love serving God, not because of their old man, but in spite of him I guess you could say.

In Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, he uttered the words... “I consider myself, the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

Sorry Lou, but honestly, I think I’m the luckiest guy on the face of the earth.

I have no doubt that I will leave my children a Godly heritage one day.

I also have no doubt that they too, will leave their own children a powerful spiritual heritage of their own.

I know so many parents who can hardly wait for their kids to fly out of the nest.

Actually, I would love for mine to fly back in.

Will your children make you proud? I know mine have and will, and apart from God’s great influence, I have no idea how in the world that happened...

Famine!

Amos 8: 11

¹¹ “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread,

nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”

The leaders of North Korea have announced to their people, that they should ready for a famine.

Because North Korea has distanced itself from the rest of the world, they will undoubtedly pay the price for doing so.

Deb and I were talking last evening about what we know of the Bible today, compared to what we didn’t know years ago.

Even in this past year, I’ve learned the true Biblical definition of “GRACE” and “LOVE”. It just proves a point that you can teach old dogs, new tricks.

Actually, I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but I wonder if we Americans have distanced ourselves from God?

It isn’t for a lack of Biblical resources, but it seems as though Americans are currently starving themselves to death.

It shows statistically in the number of people who no longer attend Bible studies, or who even attend church on a regular basis.

Christians of years past, they were known as the people of one book.

They read the Bible and studied their Bibles, but they cared more about the “GOOD BOOK”, than any other book.

Christians used to meditate on the words of God, and memorize those words, too.

But we don’t do that anymore it seems, and in a very real sense Americans appear to be fast approaching an epic famine.

People who used to tell the truth have become politically correct, for fear they might get into big trouble.

Fewer and fewer people are willing to take a stand.

I wonder what people will do when the famine hits? One day we may experience that in a very real way...