Future Ready?

Proverbs 24: 27                  ESV

²⁷ Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

In 2012, Debbie and decided to move from a home we’d been in for 22 years.

Since the Gibson nest was getting lighter, we made plans to downsize...well sort of.

This move took months of praying and planning.

We had a 30’ x 40’ pole building filled with treasures, that needed to be emptied.

Before we started working at this goal, we were sure we had a good plan.

Without good preparations, our overall plan could’ve been severely skewed.

The older I get, the more intentional my preparations for the future are.

At 58 years of age, it takes a lot less stuff to satisfy the longings of my heart.

I’m getting ready for the future. Are you getting ready for the future?

How well is your personal plan coming along?

I no longer have a 30’ x 40’ pole building to empty, but I’ve got some other things in my life I could do without.

Those are the areas I’m trying to address right now...because let’s face it...none of us really know when that time is going to come.

When it’s time for me to leave this earth, I will have spent many years planning.

A good plan is always great for the greater good, and for final, positive results....

Teachable moments!

Psalm 55: 22                       ESV

²² Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Someone asked me yesterday, how do I know what to write each day.

My simple reply was... “I listen to God”.

I wonder why we don’t teach people how to listen to God?

If each one is supposed reach one, then that should be one of the first things we should teach people.

I wonder why we’re so quick to listen to what Donald Trump has to say? Do we really think that President Obama has our very best interests in mind?

Are either of them going to sustain us when we get in the thick of it? Doubtful!!

When the end of my Mother’s life was nearing a close, we found a journal that she wrote in.

One of the last things she penned was something thought provoking to say the least.

Her last words were in this journal entry were; “My life was not futile...My failures were not fatal...My death is not final.”

Talk about taking a step backwards when that final thought was revealed.

My Mother focused on the God who could and would save her when things got turbulent.

Cancer did win this particular battle in her case, but it did not win the war.

Maybe that’s what we need to teach people? Maybe we should teach folks how to trust in God, and love God?

Like anyone on either side of the political isle can help someone on their death bed with that... 

Favorable time!

2 Corinthians 6: 2              ESV

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I often matter of factly and commonly refer to an important date in my walk with God.

July 29, 1992, was one of those red letter days for me. It’s the first time anyone took a truthful opportunity to introduce me to Jesus.

Since that date, I’ve given my whole heart and soul to tell others about the Person who saved me.

I have to tell people what I know. I have to shout it no matter who it offends.

Actually, this devotional is an opportunity to express my true faith in Christ, and I am not one bit ashamed of that.

A neighbor we lived near back in the old days, (1983) would drive into our driveway to invite us to church on Sunday mornings.

At the time I thought they were either drinking a very strange beverage, or smoking a fine domestically home grown tobacco.

Our church for Easter 2016 sponsored an event entitled... “Each One/Reach One”

It was an opportunity to invite others to church on Easter Sunday. I wonder how many did?

A young man who was suicidal about a year ago, asked me just last week... “Would you teach me how to love Jesus?”

He should be very careful what he prays for, but I’m provoked to do just that. It’s what I signed up for.

My mental stability has been questioned by many in the last 13+ years, but as my love for God, I’m mentally sustainable.

If today is the day of Salvation for somebody, who will you tell? It would appear to be a favorable time as any...

What is Truth?

John 18: 37 - 38                 NIV

"You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" retorted Pilate.

About 5 years ago, a couple of guys came to me after church, concerned about my weight.

They were kind enough to come to me, and tell me the truth.

My first inclination could’ve been... “My weight is none of your business!!”

But then I considered that they told me the truth to help me, and not hurt me.

Debbie is reading a good book right now, and the author quotes this, as it has to do with truth;

“The truth will set you free...but first it is going to make you mad. Truth makes us uncomfortable in the short term...”

And at times, when first hearing the truth, it does often make us mad at first.

People will commonly leave any setting, when they’re uncomfortable with the truth.

Often times, that has to do with people being disconnected with the truth of the Bible.

Why did these guys tell me the truth 5 years ago?

The did so, so that I would benefit from their expression of love...or in this case, truth.

We should only share the truth with people, to only make them better in the long run.

I never had to wonder when my Dad told me the truth as a child!!

Jesus only shared the truth, so that people wouldn’t suffer long term loss.

Truth is sometimes very different than what we’ve learned in the church for many years. No wonder truth can make people unhappy... 

Each one Reach one

Acts 14: 27                  ESV

²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Our Missions group has encouraged the people of our church to engage in something called... “Each One/Reach One”, during the Easter Season.

Without even hoping or praying for a demonstration, God provided an opportunity for me and a friend to see.

I went to visit someone from our church family at St. Luke’s in Milwaukee on Monday morning.

On the way home, my plan was to grab some lunch at everyone’s favorite restaurant...Schreiner’s!

While I was seated I noticed a man and a lady seated nearby. I knew the man had visited our Winneconne church some time back.

The lady looked familiar too, and then I found out she was someone who worked a retail outlet, but I remembered her for her kindness.

Upon leaving, I stopped by the table and introduced myself and my friend, and the conversation just flowed from there.

This precious 91 year old man was witnessing the love of Jesus to this wonderful lady.

She confessed about going through a rough stretch in her life, but this man took the time to really care.

This man was also a recipient of this woman’s kindness, when he too was walking through a low time, she was there to offer genuine help.

I prayed and this lady listened intently, and allowed God’s sweet Spirit to sweep over her heart.

The man called me later in the evening, and thanked me and my friend for being at the right place, and for arriving at just the right time.

I witnessed “Each One/Reach One”, in full and in living color. What 91 year old man do you know, who witnesses the love of Jesus on a regular basis?

He confessed that he felt inadequate, and was thankful that I came along to help him tag team this precious soul with the great love of God.

Loving people at their lowest is risky business, and yet in this case, I don’t think we can ever use the excuse... “I’m too old to share my faith!!”

I wonder how many people will actually engage in...one of them...reaching another one of them? Time will tell... 

Witness

Matthew 24: 14                  KJV

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We’re on the precipice of something historic, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the weather.

A friend shared an article with a few of us yesterday, and I wonder if it really got anyone’s attention?

“Since 1980, the number of Americans who believe in God has decreased by half and the number who pray has declined five-fold.

Has America lost its faith?”

And as long as ISIS keeps blowing up people in other parts of the world, why do we need to pray?

And yet Jesus said this would happen, but what does He know.

For almost 14 years I’ve been warning people to get ready for a storm.

Many have thought I’ve lost my mind, and that’s entirely possible.

Everyone I know has this sense that something just isn’t right, but it doesn’t appear too many people want to do anything about it.

I wonder what it will take, for God to get our attention?

Would you be ready if He decides to execute judgment?

It is possible that prayer & worship, are the things in place to ready us?

I guess one day we’ll all find out, when the forecast comes to fruition...

March Madness

1 Corinthians 15: 57

⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

March Madness attracts many basketball aficionado’s during the height of the College basketball season.

A local High School team (Waupun) just tasted victory that hadn’t been at the championship level since 1927.

Actually, I went to bed on Sunday night, right before the last second 3 point shot by Bronson Keonig of Wisconsin.

Honestly, as I watched that game, all I saw was mis-matches. I didn’t think Wisconsin had a chance to see victory.

It looked pretty glum for the human race some 2,000 years ago.

We were way behind, with almost no time left on the clock.

Then God went to the bench, and He chose His best Player by far.

We could’ve been down by 10,000 points, but Jesus would’ve settled the score.

When I think about that, it almost overwhelms me.

This week especially, I am overcome with the thought and taste of victory.

What if we went to church on Easter Sunday, and celebrated like most Wisconsin people did on Sunday night?

What if we hooted and hollered on Sunday, like we did when Aaron Rogers threw that desperate pass to Richard Rogers against the Lions?

As you prepare to go about your day today, maybe this is the kind of spiritual moment we need to savor, considering how sweet the victory really is...

https://youtu.be/iHM_9xggaMQ It’s good!!