My Mom!

I have no idea on where to start with this. My mom passed away on December 1, 2019. We had her funeral services over the weekend of December 6th & 7th. The day that she passed, my world forever changed. I lost a cheerleader, my number one fan, after my wife. She was always there for me, no matter what. From of course birth but so much more. Surgeries, birth of my daughter, divorce, moves, my pastoral credentialing, everything! Even when laying in the hospital she would try to help me. That is a real funny story, but I'll tell you in person if you see me. She would be the first person to like my blog post that I made. Or a Facebook post that I would make. She encouraged me in everything that I did. She simply was the best! I've always said that you will never see me going on Jerry Springer complaining about my mom or the way that she raised me or my brothers.

Proverbs 6:20-22 (NLT)

²⁰ My son, obey your father’s commands,
    and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
²¹ Keep their words always in your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
    When you sleep, they will protect you.
    When you wake up, they will advise you.

 

I will always remember what my mom taught me growing up. I have always treasured her wisdom, even though I didn't like it sometimes. She always spoke the truth. Even into adulthood I would call her and ask her advice on things. I told someone at the visitation the other night, that since I could no longer do that, I guess I would have to grow up. We had a good chuckle! She taught me and my brothers how to work hard. She had the best work ethic and passed it on to her three sons. She taught us how to drive, how to love, how to laugh, how to enjoy life. Most of all, how to be a good parent. If I could be half the parent to my daughter that she was to me and my brothers, I would be doing okay!

 

She will be missed by me and my family for sure. But if her visitation and funeral were any indication, she will be missed by a whole community of extended family and friends as well. The stories and memories that were shared with us, taught us even more about her and her love for everyone!

 

The best news out of all of this, her hospitalization, surgery and subsequent death, is that she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. So we know that we will see her again, for all eternity.

 

Romans 10:13(NLT)

¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

So we are all mourning mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, aunt, friend. God's word gives us this promise,

 

Matthew 5:4(NLT)

⁴ God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

 

It hurts right now, but God will comfort us and give us peace. I give Him thanks for that.

 

Much love to all who loved my mom!

 

Keven

 

 

 

 

 

Truck Dock.

As you may or may not know, I work in our shipping/receiving department at work. This means that I load/unload trucks all day. The dock is well lit, but the trailers are not. We have lights on our forklifts, but rarely use them. Last week in the middle of loading a truck, God revealed this to me. He does this to me all the time at work. As I'm driving into the trailer, I notice that it is getting darker the further that I get in. The light from the building starts to fade and I'm almost in total darkness. Then as I put the forklift into reverse and start to back out of the trailer, it starts to get lighter as I am heading toward the building and the lights. I'm not sure how many trailers I have loaded/unloaded over my career. 1000's probably, but never ever thought of it this way.

I started thinking about what if it's this way when we sin against God. Every sin we commit, or anything not pleasing to God is like going into the trailer and away from the light. It gets darker and darker the deeper we get into our sin. Every foot we drive towards the darkness, is a foot away from the light. But there is good news. Just like we can change direction in the trailer, to drive back towards the light, we too can turn around and reverse our direction and head back towards the light.

Acts 26:18 New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁸ to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Every step we take towards Jesus, is a step away from the evil one and his wicked ways. As we get closer and closer to Jesus, His light shines brightly on us.

John 8:12 New Living Translation (NLT)¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

As I kept driving in and out of the trailer, from light to dark and back again. I kept thinking about Israel in the Old Testament. They would follow God, then abandon God, then repent and follow God again. A cycle that unfortunately still exists in today's world. We do things are own way, and then when they go wrong, we want God to help us. Then when He does, we go back to our old ways again.

 Once I start to follow God, I don't want to do a return trip back the other way. I want to keep seeking after God, and what He has for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation (NLT)¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 

Transformation.

I am a board member at our local pregnancy resource center here in town. Every year we hold a banquet to raise funds to cover operating expenses and other things that we provide for our clients throughout the year. A local church let's us use their sanctuary to hold the banquet. We have back to back nights of the banquet. Thursday and Friday nights. So on Wednesday night we get a group of people together to transform the sanctuary into a banquet hall. We remove almost all of the chairs from inside the room, and then we bring in the tables, set them up and place chairs all around them. From the beginning of set up, to the final placement of the chairs, the transformation from one kind of room to another is incredible.

As I was preparing to leave Wednesday night after set up, I turned around and looked at the room. The tables, the chairs, all set up in perfect order. From what I saw, to what it was when I first arrived that night was nothing short of amazing. That got me to thinking about the transforming power of Jesus. When we accept Him, we became a different person.

2 Corinthians 5:17(TLB)
¹⁷ When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

You see, that room was being changed from the inside out. Just like moving the chairs out of the room, to make room for the tables, Jesus is cleaning the junk from the inside of us, to make room for Himself and His Holy Spirit. Just like the room was now a "new" room, we are a new person. Our old life is gone. We now have a new life in Jesus!

Galatians 2:20(NLT)²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Unlike the banquet hall having to be transformed back into a sanctuary at the end of the second evening. I am not going back to my old life. My old life is gone. There is no going back. I am a new creation with Christ Jesus.

Ezekiel 36:26(NLT)
²⁶ And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Thank You Lord, for Your transforming Spirit. Thank You for making me a new person in You! Amen!

Window Sticker!

I saw something tonight that just made me stop dead in my tracks. I volunteer with our local food bank handing out food to people who are in need. They order online and then on the designated date they come and pick it up at a specified location. They just drive up and we load it up for them, and off they go. Well tonight I saw something that I could not believe. I stood there and stared in disbelief at what I was seeing. A car pulled up with a couple of young ladies in it. As it pulled into position to get loaded, and I pushed the cart towards their trunk, I noticed a sticker in the back window. It wasn't large or obnoxious, but what it said was disturbing, at least to me. It said that "Satan Loves Me." I could not believe it. My first instinct was to go over there and tear it off, but that would be kind of frowned upon. I thought to myself, "my dear girl." "If you only knew the truth." Satan doesn't really love you. He is a liar. In fact he is the father of lies.

John 8:44 New Living Translation (NLT)
⁴⁴ For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Satan's job is to steal, kill and destroy. Not to love. The only thing that he loves is to get us further away from Jesus.

John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.

I prayed a quick prayer for her. If she only knew how much God loved her, that she might know the truth. He wants her to live and have an abundant life.

John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁰ My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

He loves us so much, that He sent His only Son to die for us. So that we might have eternal life.

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He loves us so much that He is patient with us. Waiting for us to believe in Him and His truth. He wants to spend eternity with us.

2 Peter 3:9 The Message (MSG)
^8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

I pray that one day, in a moment of  time, God will soften this young women's heart and she will seek Jesus' love. Not Satan's. I pray that the next time that I see her vehicle, that sticker would be gone.
 

Getting Into Heaven!

I had a conversation the other day with a friend of mine about getting into heaven. He was telling me about a friend of his who was in my friends opinion a "saint". There is no way that his friend was not getting into heaven because of the kind of person he was. My friend was telling me about how hard his friend worked. Provided for his family. Helped out at church and was very generous in their giving, of both money and time. As he was talking, I stood there shaking my head a little at what I was hearing. He finally asked my why I was shaking my head. I told him "dude, it doesn't work that way." "You can't work or give your way into heaven." I told him that you can do everything right according to our human way, but this is what God's word says.

Romans 3:23 New Living Translation (NLT)
²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

That's right. We are all still sinners. Until we get to heaven to spend eternity with our Lord and Savior, we will still sin and fall short of God's standard for us.

Romans 6:23 New Living Translation (NLT)
²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Aren't you glad that God doesn't give us what we deserve, but He gives us grace, which is enough!

Ephesians 2:8-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

We can't earn our salvation. It is a free gift from God. All we have to do is accept it. People will try to talk a good game to get on the good side of The Lord but,

Matthew 7:21 Living Bible (TLB)
²¹ “Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven.

Jesus wants us to repent and turn from our sins. Accept Him as our personal savior.

Mark 1:15 New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁵ “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

So I explained all of this to my friend. Telling him there is only one way to get to heaven and none of it involves what he does on his own.

Focused Relationship.

A group that I volunteer with, recently held a focus study for the people that we serve. They were asked what they liked/didn't like about the service being provided. They said that the one thing that they really liked was that it is always the same people working when they came to the pick up site. With the same people working nearly every week, they/we can build a relationship with each other. We get to know them by name and vice versa. The same goes for the volunteers. The more that we work together, the more that we get to know how each of us works. Our mannerisms. The way that we do things, and start feeding off of each other. If I grab something and I  am working with a certain volunteer, than I know that he/she will grab the next thing, and so on. We have really great volunteers and we work really well together as a team.

Well, if you know anything about me, you know that this got me to thinking about Jesus, and His relationship with me. I love having my own personal relationship with Jesus. He knows everything about me.

Psalm 139:13-16 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

 

If this is not knowing somebody, then I don't know what is. He created me, and knows everything about me.

 

Matthew 10:30-31 The Voice (VOICE)

^30-31 You, beloved, are worth so much more than a whole flock of sparrows. God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. So do not fear.

 

So as much as I want to serve my volunteer opportunity with excellence, and serve our community with compassion and love. How much more do I want to serve my Living God. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. I want to follow His example of servant hood. I want to continue to be used by The Lord. Everyway possible.

 

Hebrews 6:10 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

 

That is what I keep telling people who ask me about this. We are here to help each other out. To lift each other up and encourage. If we are not doing this, then why are we here.

 

1 Corinthians 16:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

 

That's what I want to happen for myself. To love others, just as Jesus loves me.

 

BLOOD!

Blood. That one simple word can cause such drastic and different responses from people. Some can simply donate or have some drawn and have no issues. Others on the other hand can simply see blood, either their own or someone else's and pass out or faint. I have seen this on many occasions, unfortunately. I have no problem with it. I can see my blood being drawn. I can see a cut or an abrasion and it does nothing to me.

I donated some blood last week, and it got me thinking about the blood of Jesus. If the same blood that I am donating is compatible with another persons blood, and we are two different people, and can save their life, what more can the blood of Jesus do? His blood covered all of our sins!

Romans 5:9 The Voice (VOICE)
⁹ As a result, the blood of Jesus has made us right with God now, and certainly we will be rescued by Him from God’s wrath in the future.

Leviticus 17:11 The Voice (VOICE)

¹¹ You see, the life of the body is in the blood, and I have directed that you are to take blood and offer it on the altar to atone for your lives and cover your sins. It is the life flowing in the blood that atones for you and covers you.

 

So by donating blood the other day, I was picturing what Jesus had done for me/us. He laid down His life for us. He shed His blood for us. So that we may live.

 

Mark 12:31 The Voice (VOICE)

³¹ The second great commandment is this: “Love others in the same way you love yourself.”^[a] There are no commandments more important than these.

 

What better way to show love to our brothers and sisters than donate blood. It literally can save someone's life.

 

John 15:13 The Voice (VOICE)

¹³ There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends.

 

I want to imitate Jesus. Be His hands and feet, when ever I can. Amen!

Why Do You??

It is a question I am asked quite a bit. What is it you may ask? "Why do you volunteer so much?"  "What do you mean?" I reply. People want to know why I volunteer so many hours for the Feed My Starving Children mobile pack event. That answer is an easy one. First, God called us to do it. It says so in His word.

Isaiah 58:10(NLT)

¹⁰ Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

 

Then people want to know why I volunteer handing out food to people in our community with Northern Illinois Food Bank. Once again, God tells us in His word.

 

Matthew 25:35-40(NLT)³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Now I'm not calling the people coming to pick up food 'the least of these'. They could be down on their luck, or just having a rough season of life right now. If handing them a bag of food shows them the Love of Jesus and that He cares about them by using me, then use me. Here I am Lord! I am Yours. Do what You want. Have Your way!

Why do you do all these walks? Because I believe in what we are walking for, the cause. I believe that a cure can be found for C/F. Breast cancer. Cancer in general. Raising money for all of these causes, will help doctors and scientist discover a cure that God will provide.

Jeremiah 30:17(NLT)

¹⁷ I will give you back your health    and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.

 

So that's why I 'do' all this volunteering. I not posting this to say or look how good Keven is, cause I'm not. I'm just trying to be the dude that God wants me to be. If He says it in His word, then I want to be a doer, not a watcher.

 

James 1:22 (NLT)²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Thank You Lord!

 

 

 

 

Have You Ever Felt....................(adjective)?

Have you ever felt _________ fill in the blank. Down, disappointed, frustrated. Depressed, upset, anxious. Hurt, lonely, forgotten, unwanted? If we are honest, we've all been here before. Maybe even more than one at a time. I know I've sure been there before. Even as an adult. It still happens to this day. People say unpleasant things to us, or do mean things. Try to take away our joy, our happiness. Sometimes we really give people this kind of power over us. We try to please everyone, and we just can't do it. There will always be somebody who is upset or mad with you, because you didn't do something exactly they way that they wanted. That is when I really dig into God's word. Look to Him for comfort in these situations.

Galatians 1:10(NLT)
¹⁰ Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

When I'm at my job, obviously I want my boss to be happy with my work. I want my co-workers to know that I am giving my best and will be there for them. Although, what  I am really doing is seeking God's approval above all else. He is the one that I am trying to please. I want my work, my attitude, my speech and actions to be a pleasing aroma to my God!

Colossians 3:23-25(MSG)
^22-25 Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

Aren't you glad that you aren't defined by people. People will let us down, time after time. Our identity comes from Jesus Christ. He alone is whom I want to be identified with.

1 Peter 2:9-10(MSG)
^9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

So if the enemy comes calling and starts whispering in your ear that you're not good enough, smart enough, whatever enough. Tell him that you are a child of The Most High God. He alone tells me what I am, in Him.

Take Back.

It's time we as Christians take back. Take back our Christianity. Take back our faith. Our boldness for The Lord. We have become sugar coaters of His Word. Telling people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. When did we become so sissified in our faith. So afraid to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm tired of being told I can't say something about Jesus, you might stir the pot. Well if talking about Jesus and proclaiming His Gospel is stirring the pot, than I am going to stir away!

Romans 1:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Matthew 10:33 (MSG)
³² “Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven."

Jesus is calling us to stand up for Him no matter what the world brings against us. Christianity is being attacked on all fronts. Seems like the whole world is against us.

John 15:19 (MSG)¹⁹ “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.

We need to stand together, stronger than ever before. Keep speaking the truth. Stop worrying about if we are going to offend anyone. I don't think that Jesus cared if he offended anyone. He told it like it was. He loved all and cared for all, but He let them know that there is only one way to Heaven.
Not many or several, just one. Through Him.

John 14:6 (NLT)
⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

We need to repent of our sinful nature. Jesus will be coming back soon. We need to get right with Him.

Matthew 3:2(NLT)

² “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

 

We need to keep telling others about the reality of hell. The Devil is real and isn't playing around. He wants your soul. This isn't a game with a reset button on it, or a do over. It's a matter of life or death.

 

Ezekiel 3:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.

 

Heaven is real and Jesus is wanting us to spend eternity with Him. We need to start living for Him, obeying Him.

 

2 Peter 3:9 (MSG)

⁹ God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

 

I pray that we as Christians stand up and take back everything that has been taken from us. Continue to be bold for Christ. He died for us, so that we may live for Him. Let us not water down or diminish the work that He has done for us.

They Had Time.

It's amazing what God will reveal to me when having conversations with co-workers. A guy was telling us a story of something that happened the other night. He was talking about how he witnessed a car going down the road when it came upon a family of ducks crossing the  road. The mom, dad, and all the little ducklings were trying to cross. The driver had plenty of time to stop, but instead, the driver floored it and proceeded to mow down several of the ducklings and one of the parents. All my co-workers were abhorred by this. They could not believe that someone would do this intentionally. I thought the same thing, but also started thinking, "how come they're not this upset when a women aborts her baby?" The intentional ending of her pregnancy. They were all upset about these ducks being run down, which is indeed sad, but a woman having an abortion is just another normal day. That makes me sad.

Just like this driver had plenty of time to stop from hitting the ducks, a woman has plenty of time before deciding to end the life of her baby. I don't believe that she just wakes up one morning and decides to end her child's life. When a woman becomes pregnant she has three options.
1. Parent. She could choose to carry the baby to term and be a parent.
2. Adoption. Maybe knowing that she can not give her baby the life that she would like, she could choose adoption.
3. Abortion. She can choose to end the life of her unborn child. This what the enemy wants. The first part of John 10:10 tells us,

John 10:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.

Some of our states are doing very well at proving this verse true. Passing pro-abortion bills that allow late term abortions or even partial birth abortions. The state of Illinois just passed one of the most extreme abortion bills in the country.
Gods word says this to us,

Psalm 82:2-4 (MSG)

^2-4 “Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough,
    you’ve let the wicked get away with murder.
You’re here to defend the defenseless,
    to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
Your job is to stand up for the powerless,
    and prosecute all those who exploit them.”

He wants us to be a voice for the voiceless. To stand up and defend the unborn. He wants us to pray for abortion minded women. Pray that they choose life over death. Pray for those who have aborted and now may have some regrets about it. Pray continually.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ Never stop praying.

This is what I intend to do!

 

God Still Loves You.

This is my encouragement for you today. No matter what has happened this past week, or even today. God still loves you. I know a lot of people are thinking that with what they have done, there is no way that God could still love them. I have had a rough week and half myself. I have yelled at someone and said some not so nice things. It definitely was not pleasing to God, and it did not lift up or encourage whom I was interacting. I apologized to them, and then asked God for forgiveness for my attitude.  At work we use a acronym for certain products that are still being worked on. (WIP) Work in Progress. I see that I am a WIP with The Lord. I am still a work in progress. He isn't finished with me yet. So I turn to His word for direction and instruction. What better place to go for guidance.

Psalm 119:105(NLT)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path

Romans 3:23(ESV)
²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

He knows that we all sin, and fall short of what He wants for us. Everyone of us. There isn't one person better than the other. God loves us all.

Romans 5:8(ESV)⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That's right. God knew that we would still sin, but He still sent His son to die for us. So that we may spend eternity with Him. How awesome is that!! When we stumble and fall, we just need to ask for forgiveness and repent from our sin. Once God has us in His hand, no one can take us out of His grasp.

John 10:28-29(NLT)²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, ²⁹ for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.^[a] No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

Although we still sin and do stupid things, we have a Father who loves us unconditionally. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Nehemiah 9:31(NLT)
³¹ But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

Thank You Lord, for Your Grace and Mercy towards us sinners! Amen!

Ending Up on The Floor.

I was drying dishes the other night like I have many, many, many times before. When I was finished drying, I did something that I have done a million times ever since I was old enough to do chores: I threw the drying towel towards the counter. Like 1/2 million or even 3/4 million times before, it hit the edge of the counter and ended up on the floor. I grumbled under my breath a little saying, "so I see how this is going to go tonight." Sure enough, a few minutes later, I tossed a piece of paper towards the garbage can. You guessed it. It ended up on the floor. Except these two times were a bit different than all the other times. I could sense God trying to tell me something. He was saying to me that He wants all my life, not just my feeble attempts to get near Him. He wants me, just like when I pick up the towel or garbage, to take the extra step to make sure I get to where I need to be. He wants me to place my life in His ever loving arms, not to just throw some of myself His way and hope that I connect but end up on the floor instead. He wants me to intentionally seek Him in everything I do.

Romans 3:23(NLT)
²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

That's what I felt when the towel & the garbage fell to the floor. That I know that I still sin and fall short of God's glory. No matter how much we work and try, we can still end up on the floor.

 But there is good news.  

Ephesians 2:8-9(NLT)
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

That's right. No matter how hard we work or try to attain our salvation, it's only by God's grace that we achieve it. We can not take credit for it or boast about it. It is a gift from God.

 Romans 8:38-39(NLT)
³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Once I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I am His forever! Nothing can separate me from Him & His love for me. One of these days, I will no longer have stuff ending up on the floor.
 

One Nation, Under God!

This is my prayer for the U.S. of A. That we will come back to being one nation, under God! I am not a political person, not by any stretch of the imagination. Lately I have been watching a lot of videos about our government, and the division amongst the parties. I never really knew what each party stood for. I really didn't care. But God cares. So He started opening my eyes to what has been going on since Trump was elected president. This country seems more divided than ever before, and that is a shame. It seems like one side wants to put the blame for everything that happens in the world on the president. I am not a supporter of his, but this can not be. He is not to blame for every single thing that happens in the world. No matter what one side of the political aisle thinks. The other night during prayer time for our country, The Lord put these scripture verses on my heart, and gave me this vision.

Luke 19:41-44 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴¹ But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

 

I saw Jesus coming towards the East Coast in a boat. When He saw what is going on, across the land, He started weeping for The United States. Weeping for our lack of morality. The wickedness & evil that is taking place within our boarders. Calling evil good, and good evil. The killing of the unborn, the racial divide, hatred towards other people that are not like us. Not loving each other the way that Jesus loves us.

 

Isaiah 5:20 (NLT)

²⁰ What sorrow for those who say
    that evil is good and good is evil

 

There are people who are already in public office that are trying to take down our country from the inside. Trying to institute their own agendas that fly directly in the face of the US constitution & freedoms. We need to be united once again. Band together and fight against these attempted changes against our government, and American way of life.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

 

We need to put God back, Everywhere! He is in control of what happens to our country. 

Oh to be, One Nation Under God. Once again!

 

Philippians 2:10-11 (NLT)

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Up To Par.

I had a co-worker ask me the simplest question today, that sent my mind into deep thought. He asked me if I thought that a pallet that  he was going to use was up to par? The board on one end of it was coming loose from the board below. I told him that if he didn't think that it was up to par, to get rid of it. That's when my mind started brewing! My goodness the places it went. I started to think about Hitler and the Jews, and how he thought that the Jewish people were not up to par. Just like that pallet, that was thought to be undesirable and tossed away, the Jewish people were also thought of as undesirable to the German dictator, and were to be tossed away like garbage. He tossed (exterminated) away 6 million Jews, just because they were not up to par for him. Then I started thinking about Jesus. How He accepts me as I am. A sinner in need of a Savior.
Romans 3:23(NLT)²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
I don't have to clean myself up to go to Him.
Ezekiel 36:25(NLT)²⁵ “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away.
Thank You Lord for thinking that I am up to par for You, and that You will not toss me away, or get rid of me.
Deuteronomy 31:6(NKJV)⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 8:35(NLT)³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

John 10:28 (NLT)²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
Thank You Lord. Your word tells me again and again that I am loved by You!

My Two Cents!

My wife and I attended a private showing of the 'controversial' anti-abortion movie "Unplanned" last weekend. This is going to be my attempt at a review of the film. Just to give you a little back ground, it's a movie about a woman named Abby Johnson, who at the start of the movie had became Planned Parenthood's youngest director. Then one day she was asked to assist on a procedure, and what she saw being performed on the ultra sound screen, changed everything for her. What she saw was horrific and disturbing. It finally opened her eyes to what was being done at Planned Parenthood. The movie received an "R" rating from the MPAA. They gave this rating for violent and bloody images. What I saw on the screen, I couldn't believe the rating. I have seen more blood and violence in a PG-13 movie. To me it was just a ploy to try and cut down on the people that would be able to see it. Then after that a whole bunch of cable t.v. channels didn't promote the film either. Wouldn't air the trailer or say anything about it. To them the movie just did not exist. Sad! Then Twitter blacked out their account for a little while before re-instating it. To me, the worst of it all was that K-Love, a Christian radio station wouldn't not promote the film either. Can you imagine, a Christian radio station not supporting a pro-life movie. Wow! They said that they don't advertise for "R" rated films, even though they supported "The Passion of The Christ", which by the way was rated "R". This whole scenario with the rating and lack of media support reminded me of the first part of John 10:10 ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. The Devil was sure trying his hardest to get this movie suppressed. But you know what? My God is bigger than all of this. He has no equal or rival. The second part of John 10:10 My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. God has made this movie rich. It really surprised Hollywood with it's opening weekend. I believe that it finished in 4th place over all with a total of a little more than 6 million dollars. How great is our God! I pray that this movie has far reaching effect. That hearts will soften, eyes will see, ears will hear and feet will respond to the plight of the unborn. I pray that abortion will become unthinkable!
Psalm 139:14(NKJV)¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)¹⁴ Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land

Another Year Older.

I celebrated another birthday last week (3/13). Every year on my birthday, I always thank God for being able to take another trip around the sun. On my birthday I reflect back on what has happened over the course of the last year. Let me tell you, from March of '18 to March of '19 was kind of a roller coaster year for me. During the course of the year, I went through a really dark season. I don't know why it happened, but it did. I was angry. Angry all the time. Angry at everyone and everything. For no apparent reason. Here I was, a Christian, and a pastor, letting anger get the best of me. Let me tell you, it didn't do well for my Christian witness. People walked on egg shells around me. Afraid to say the wrong thing to me. Or to even speak to me at all. I didn't like it. I didn't like who I was, or what I was doing or whom I had become. I prayed and prayed that God would let me see situations like He sees them. Let me see people through Your eyes Lord. He didn't answer, at first. This went on week after week for almost two months. I was letting the anger consume me. I kept reading this passage from the Bible almost everyday.
James 1:19-20 (NLT)¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
I was not being Christ like, at all. I was not doing what He desired me to do. To love everyone.
Then one day it all changed. It was almost like Thanos snapping his fingers in the Avengers movie. Except in my case, all of my anger was gone. God had this to  say.
Colossians 3:8 (NLT)⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Thank You Lord! I went to work, and everything was different. No more anger towards my co-workers. No more anger towards my job. God had given me a peace and a comfort that I could not explain. He was telling me that my season of anger was over.
John 16:33 (NLT)³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
I give all the glory and praise to The Lord! He answered my prayers, in His time.

This Stage of Life.

Stages of life. Everyone has them and goes through them. You have your baby stage. Then comes your childhood followed by the teenage years. Then your onto young adulthood followed by just being an adult. Hitting the prime stage and finally your last stage. The stage I'm in right now, I don't particularly care for, for this one reason. People are starting to pass away. Parents, friends parents, friends, co-workers, neighbors, classmates. The list goes on and on. Not a day or a week goes by where I don't hear of someone I know passing away. It saddens me. Especially people that I know well, or better than just a "hi, how ya doin'" How I wish I could have talked with them one more time, or paid them another visit, just to say "hi".
James 4:14 (NLT)¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
That's right folks. Life is short. You think that you'll have plenty of time with someone and then the next thing you know, they are gone, forever! We all think that we are guaranteed a tomorrow, but we are not guaranteed anything. When you die, people will come from miles around to see your body and give last respects. But where are they when you are alive? To busy to come and visit when you are above ground, but can carve out time to come to your visitation. Doesn't make sense. Life is short! We need to love people while they are here. We need to hug more, kiss more, have more fun together. We need to learn how to forgive others.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
The older we get and people start to pass away, and things aren't like they used to be. I realize that the petty little stuff from life just doesn't matter anymore. It just doesn't! Carrying around a grudge against someone who offended you just isn't worth it. Maybe you had plans of forgiving them, but then something happens and they are gone, forever. Now you have to carry that guilt with you. Of not making things right.
So, in this stage of my life I am going to go out of my way to be kind to people. To be caring, compassionate and forgiving. Life is to short to do otherwise!
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
I am going to try my best to model what Jesus showed us to do.

Draw Near.

I recently have had conversations with people who are going to an event at a church. A  wedding, a meeting, whatever. It almost always comes up, every time. "I sure hope the building doesn't collapse because I am there." Or better yet, "I sure hope lightning doesn't strike me." Then if they know that I am  going to the same event, they'll always say "I'll just hang around you." Just because I am a Christian and a Pastor doesn't mean you'll be saved. You can't ride my coat tails to Heaven. That's not how it works. I am a servant of the Most High. All I can do is point to and tell people about Jesus. He is the One who saves. It says in the Bible to draw near to God, not draw near to  Keven.
James 4:8 New King James Version (NKJV)⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
It's a personal relationship with Jesus. We all have a different paths we are taking.
Proverbs 3:6  (NLT)⁶ Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.
If you still think that you need to be by me, this is what the Bible says.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)11 ¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Once again. Just because you hang around me or are near me, I can't save you. Only Christ can do that.
Romans 10:9-10(NKJV) ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Amen!!

Heart Issue

So, it happened once more this past week. Another senseless act of gun violence at a place of employment. Five people were killed and several were injured including five police officers. This time it really hit close to home for me. It happened at a company in Aurora. I used to live a few blocks away from where it happened, plus I have family members and friends who are like family on the Aurora police department. Thank God they are all alright, but still scary at first, not knowing. These shootings are becoming more and more frequent, between places of work, schools, night clubs, baseball practice, wherever. People are quick to put the blame on the gun. But it's not the gun that killed these innocent people, it's the person behind the gun pulling the trigger who is to blame. We'll start hearing again about how we need to ban guns. How we need stricter gun laws (that no one will follow). The dude that killed those five people in Aurora was supposed to surrender his gun months ago. How come this didn't happen? Now innocent people are dead.We don't need more gun laws or policy's. We need more of Jesus! It is a heart problem in America.
Galatians 6:7  (NIV)⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
We keep kicking Jesus out of every thing and everywhere, then we wonder where He was at during the violence. Jesus is a gentleman. He will not go where He is not invited. He gives us free will. To choose what we want. Obviously He wants us to choose Him. If we don't, He is not going to force Himself on us. Like I said, He is a gentleman!
2 Chronicles 7:14  (ESV)¹⁴ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I pray that we as a country repent and turn from our evil ways and turn back to The Lord!

The Punisher

I am going to make a confession. My guilty pleasure is watching the t.v. show 'The Punisher' on Netflix. It's bloody, raw, violent and intense. I love it. I couldn't get enough of it. When the first season ended, I hoped that they were going to make a second one. Guess what? They did. Yes!! Anyway, I liked the show so much, that is all I talked about at work. A co-worker convicted me of this. He had started watching it himself and was enjoying it, like I knew he would. I asked him earlier this week what got him started watching the show. He told me that I did. He said that I talked about it so much, that he had to check it out. I was thinking cool, but then... I started thinking about what I was talking about at work. If I was hyping up a violent t.v. show to my co-workers, what was I doing in hyping up my faith in Jesus Christ? What God has been doing and has done in my life. Do they know about that? Do they know my salvation story? How God pulled me out of what I used to be and what He has transformed into now.
2 Corinthians 5:17(NLT) ¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! I want to witness to them. Speak of all the good things that God has done for me and my family. 
1 Peter 3:2 (ESV)² when they see your respectful and pure conduct. How I conduct myself around other people. I want Jesus' love light to reflect off of me to others around me. When people see me, they see Jesus. He must increase, I must decrease.
 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Lord, I want to spread Your fragrance all around my place of employment. I want everyone to know that you are the Lord of my life, and I will not be ashamed to say so. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Lord, I pray that all my speech is pleasing to you. That my actions model Yours. I was made in Your image, I need to start acting like it.