I Will Fail You!

 Last night I was perusing videos on YouTube, watching live concert footage, reaction videos or just plain ole old fashion videos. During my search, I stumbled across this one. Or rather God brought this one into my video viewing. It is a song by the band Demon Hunter. Now Demon Hunter is not normally my kind of band. Yes they are heavy and the lyrics are good, but the vocals just ruin it for me.

The song last night was different. It was a bit softer. I could easily understand the lyrics that were being sung. And those lyrics. Man, were they powerful. God wanted me to hear that song last night. So of course, I listened. It really moved me and made me really think. In fact, I could hardly sleep thinking about this song. That is how powerful the lyrics were.

Two lines of the chorus really stuck with me. 

First one goes like this, "I Fail You, Of That I'm sure".

I started to think about how many times I fail Jesus on a daily basis. I know that I am not perfect by any means. Each day I strive to be better for Christ, but I still fail Him. I do something stupid, let certain words come out. Just not being righteous.

Romans 3:23 Amplified Bible

23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,

The good news is that God forgives. He doesn't keep track of my shortcomings. I am so grateful for that. What a loving Father He is. Towards all of us.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Living Bible

22 his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.

The second line of the chorus goes like this. "I Will Fail You To The Core".

This one really hit hard! I am His, and He is mine! There is no denying this fact. But the way that I continue to sin after He purchased me with His blood. That fails Him to His core! He died for me. To set me free, and here I still am, sinning against Him.

Romans 5:8 Amplified Bible

8 But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I think that this song is two fold. First was saying that I (we) will fail God. Second, I believe that it is saying that we (I) will definitely fail our family, friends and our co-workers. That is not our intention at all. But at some point it will happen. That is why the Bible says not to trust in people.

Psalm 118:8Living Bible

8 It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men.

So live your life knowing that you will fail. Fail God, family, friends and co-workers. We need to strive each day to be more like Christ and less like ourselves! With God's help, we will get there!

God Bless!

Cube.

 

This is one side of a wooden cube that my mother in law gave me for Christmas a few years ago. When I first saw it, I didn't know what to make of it. What would I use it for? I left it home for a little while, then one day I said to myself, "I'll take it to work." So I did. The first day I brought it in, I knew that I had made the right decision. It was a conversation starter. People would come into my office and inquire about it. I told them about how my mother in law gave it to me for Christmas. It has little Christian sayings on all six sides. Every day I come into work, I move it to the next side. So I have a different saying every six days.

The saying that comes up on Friday's, I use all weekend long. This past Friday was the above saying, "What Should We Pray For Today?" Oh man, let me tell you!

Since this is Fathers Day, I pray that God will raise up all the fathers to be what they are called to be and do. Lead their families. Love their children. Instruct their children and discipline their children. If we don't do our jobs at home, somebody else will. We can't play that game with our kids. It is our job to raise them and take care of them.

Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Bible

6 Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I pray for my family, friends and co-workers today. Well everyday. I have a few that are battling pancreatic cancer. Breast cancer. Brain cancer, liver cancer, as well as a host of other illnesses. I pray today that God will heal them totally and completely. Make their bodies whole. Remove what should not be in there. Strengthen them and encourage them as they go through this. Give them comfort and peace, that You are in control.

Matthew 11:28 Living Bible

28 Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”

That statement on that cube "What Should We Pray For Today." I pray not only today, but everyday for those afflicted by illness and disease. Pray for families. That moms and dads would stay together. I pray for those who have suffered a physical loss. Loss of a loved one. Loss of a house because of fire, or natural disaster. A car because of an accident, or it's just to old to carry on. Pray for jobs for those who are unemployed or are under employed. Just PRAY!

Colossians 4:2 Living Bible

2 Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers, and remember to be thankful when they come.

Like that verse says. Don't become weary during prayer. Continue to seek God and His answers for us. Thank Him and give Him praise when prayer is answered.

God Bless!

Tampa Bay Rays & "Pride" Night.

 Not sure if you are aware or not. June is designated pride month for the LGBTQ community. All kinds of businesses are participating in this. Including major league baseball. Most of the MLB teams host a pride night to celebrate LGBTQ. This includes putting rainbow colored pins or patches on the teams hats or uniforms and a host of other things that they do to promote pride night.

Some controversy arose when five players from the Tampa Bay Rays refused to wear the rainbow patches on their uniforms and hats. They peeled them off so that just the regular logo appeared. They stated that as Christians, it went against Christ to wear these emblems on their uniforms. They didn't feel comfortable promoting a lifestyle that goes against their beliefs. So of course instantly, they are labeled as homophobic. Just because they didn't want to have the rainbow emblems on their uniforms.

This reminds me of the story in the book of Daniel. In Daniel chapter 3, there are three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refuse to bow down to the kings gold statue. Anyone who refused was to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The king gave them a second chance to bow to the statue and again they refused. Saying that they will only bow to their God, not a gold statue. So the king had the furnace turned up seven time hotter and threw them in. Spoiler alert, they did not die. You can read the whole account in Daniel 3.

So my point is that these players are not bowing down to wearing something that they don't believe in and now they are being roasted by the press, other players, etc. etc. The court of public opinion can certainly be a fiery furnace.

So my question is this. Suppose MLB teams hosted a Christian themed night and the team had to have crosses on their uniforms or hats, or teams hosted a police night and they had to have some kind of police emblem placed on their gear somewhere, how many would refuse to do so? I wonder if these players would be facing the same kind of scrutiny that the Rays players are?

Matthew 10:32 English Standard Version

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

So I applaud these players for sticking with their faith and convictions and not bowing down to appease the public.

God bless each and everyone of you!

Who Jesus Is To Me!

 Having a conversation the other day with a volunteer about my faith. They told me that they hear me thanking God for doing everything He does for me. Loading a car safely. Helping get the food bin down safely. Not tripping over a pallet. Not slamming my finger in the door or trunk. I thank Him for everything He does for me while volunteering. 

So this volunteer wanted to know what Jesus is to me. He said He knows that He is God and all that stuff, but what else is He to you.

Well, let me tell you my friend who Jesus is to me.

He is my Savior. When I first accepted Him into my life, I was living a life of sin. He pulled me out of the muck and mire which I was stuck in and placed me on the solid rock, Himself. (Romans 10:9-10)

He is my Healer. I have had some pain in my body, pulled muscles, strains, etc. While praying to Him, He has healed me of those issues. There are still some things that I am waiting for Him to do in my body, but in His timing, not mine! (Jeremiah 30:17)

He is my Provider. He has taken care of me and my family, time and time again. I had been laid off from work for almost two years a few years ago. We never missed a payment. Never late with a payment of any kind. We really had to cut back and make some changes to the way we lived, but God provided for us the whole time! (Philippians 4:6-7)

He is my Strength. When I feel like I am at the end of my being and I can not continue, God strengthens me. He lifts me up, dusts me off and renews my strength. (Isaiah 41:10)

He is my Protector. I have been involved in some serious car accidents in the past. God has protected me from being seriously injured or even death. He has His arms wrapped around me and my family. Protecting us at work, while we travel long distances or just across town. Protection at home or even while taking a walk through our neighborhood. (Psalm 5:11)

He gives me Peace. When both my mom and dad passed away, I could feel this undeniable peace around me. I knew that it was Jesus wrapping His arms around me and reassuring me that everything would be alright. I have peace at work, even when I want to go out and scream at a truck driver. Jesus is telling me again. It's alright Keven. Give it over to me. (Philippians 4:7) (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

So it's safe to say what Jesus is to me. He is..............EVERYTHING!! My life. My joy. My all.