Emmanuel (God With Us)

 As I sit here on the last day of 2023, I think back on what kind of year it has been. It has definitely been a roller coaster of a year. A lot of ups and a lot of downs, but through it all I've had Emmanuel with me. 

At the start of the year I was fortunate enough to start my fourth year of volunteering with The Northern Illinois Food Bank. God has really been with me this year regarding this. I have struggled many times with wanting to quit and not do it anymore. But God! He kept nudging me. Kept encouraging me to keep going. His people were in need and He wanted me to be His hands and feet, no matter the circumstances.

Psalm 73:26 Living Bible

26 My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!

People have died in my circle this year. Some of them were very tough to handle and hit close to home. Again, Emmanuel.

I've had two great nieces born this year. Both are precious! What little blessings they are to our family.

Job 1:21 English Standard Version

21 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

This year my wife and I celebrated fifteen years of marriage. What a blessing she is to me and my family! Again, Emmanuel! God at the center of our marriage!

Proverbs 18:22 New Living Translation

22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

I was blessed to be able to attend a lot of concerts this year. Some as an attender and some as a volunteer. Able to see some of the biggest acts in Christian music, live. Stryper (2X), Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Lauren Daigle, Mercy Me, Crowder, Disciple and many others. A lot of ministry happened at these shows. Talking with people. Praying with people. Worshipping God with thousands of people. Blessed and grateful to be able to do this. Emmanuel!

2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I was honored to be asked to officiate two weddings and a funeral. Emmanuel. God was definitely with me. Especially the funeral. I can research and come up with a service, but it was God who gave me the words to say!

So needless to say, a lot has happened. Both good and bad. But Emmanuel, God with me the whole time. Through everything. Birth, death, wedding, funeral, concerts, volunteering. Everything!

So I encourage you tonight, that no matter what you went through in 2023, God was with you. You may not have felt Him or heard Him, but He was there. He will be with you as you enter 2024 as well. He is good all the time & all the time He is good!

Happy New Year!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

Going The Distance!!

 Do you think that by Jesus coming into the world as a humble little baby, growing up, preaching and teaching, getting crucified & dying for us, isn't going the distance, I don't know what is! God didn't have to send us His Son, but He did. That is how much He loves us. God sent Jesus into our world to rid us of sin and to destroy the works of the Devil! Then to show us how to be an example of how live a Holy life!

The manger shows just how far Jesus will go for us. No distance is to far for Him to reach us. To be sent by His Father, to be born in a lowly stable with smelly farm animals and the byproduct that comes from them. Not to be placed on a nice comfy bed or in a bassinet, but to be placed in a manger. A manger that horses and cattle eat from. Not so glamorous, is it?

So if you think that you are to far from Jesus, look at the lengths that He came into the world to reach us.

He would leave the ninety nine to come and find you. The one who wandered away and got lost. Again, going the distance for us.

Matthew 18:12 New Living Translation

12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

If you went away with your hard head and heart and squandered all of your part of your fathers inheritance, then realized you made a big mistake, and wanted to return, Jesus would welcome you back, with open arms! (Luke 15:11-31)

Look, Jesus knows that we make mistakes and are ashamed by them. He doesn't want to punish us. He just wants us to come back to Him! Repent and turn from our sinful nature!

Psalm 103:12-14 New Living Translation

12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west, 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

So I encourage you tonight. That no matter how far you think that you are from God, you are not that far. He is right there with you, all you have to do is turn around. A step towards Jesus, is a step away from sin!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

This Christmas.

 This Christmas season I have noticed something different than other Christmases. This year it seems (at least to me) that people are kinder, nicer and more considerate than usual. Everywhere I have gone, people are just more joyful! I have been shopping from Cherryvale mall to Woodfield mall. Everywhere, people walking around in and out of the stores were just, kind! Allowing for people to cut through a line to get to another spot in the store. If you bumped into someone, there were no words exchanged except for "I'm sorry". Store employees said "Merry Christmas" to everyone. Almost everyone said it back. In the parking lots, people waiting for a spot or for someone to leave a spot, I did not hear any honking of car horns, or yelling at people to move! To me, this has been much different than years past!

I believe Jesus is up to something. I believe that people are feeling His peace, grace and mercy towards one another!

Colossians 3:15 Living Bible

15 Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.

As I am experiencing this all around me, I think to myself, "why can't we be like this to each other the rest of the year"? "Not just at Christmas?" Imagine how different the world would be?

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, lets remember the real reason. Yes the presents are nice, not going to lie! Christmas is about Jesus coming to the world, to save us from our sins.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Living Bible

15 Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.

I am thankful that God sent His only Son to save me, you and everyone! The gift of His son, I cannot thank Him enough!

John 3:16 Amplified Bible

16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

So as we are only a couple days away from Christmas, enjoy spending time with your family and exchanging gifts. 

God has already given us the perfect gift. His son!

Merry Christmas  & God Bless you all!

Rev. Kev.

VIRUS!!

Have you ever opened an email, or clicked on a link that looked legitimate? As soon as you open that email or click on that link, you realize you made a big mistake! Now your computer is contaminated with a virus that is wreaking havoc! Your computer is not working or functioning the way that it should. The screen is frozen and will not unlock. The green screen of death. You wonder what you need to do to get it fixed. If it's your work computer, you can call your IT department to come and look at it. They can decide what is needed to get it fixed. If it's a major reprogramming or something else.

This got me to thinking about Adam & Eve. How they were deceived and took the bait and bit into something that wasn't legitimate (forbidden fruit)! As soon as Eve bit into fruit from the forbidden tree, virus (sin) entered into the world. Human kind hasn't been the same ever since! Our human hearts have been infected with the virus of sin! The relationship with God had been destroyed. We became immoral and corrupt. Not only us, but all creation was affected.

We don't have an IT department to call. Or a Geek Squad to get a hold of. No, we have one person. His name is Jesus! When we accept Him as our Lord & Savior, He starts to work on us, from the inside out. With Jesus in our lives, the virus of sin no longer has complete control. I would love to say the virus of sin has zero control over us, but let's be honest! 

1 John 1:8 Amplified Bible

8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]

Just like the IT department will work on the computer to get it working properly again, that is how God will work on us. He will someday come and remove the virus of sin forever. Not only mankind but all of creation will be renewed. All will be made right!

1 John 2:1 Amplified Bible

2 My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].

I encourage you tonight. I know that the struggle of the flesh is for real. Deep down we know that we are not right, but someday that day will come. When all will be restored. Keep fighting the good fight against the virus of sin. Keep putting your trust in Jesus.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Man On The Middle Cross!

 Once again I have been inspired by songs that I have heard.

As we enter the thanksgiving season, I am thankful for the work that Jesus did on the Cross! That He took my sin upon Himself and went to The Cross in my place. Took the punishment that I deserved. I can not thank Him enough for that. I owe my life to Him!

1 Peter 2:24 Amplified Bible

24 He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.

I've been a sinner on the crosses beside Jesus. On the one side, I was filled with regret and guilt of things that I had done in the past. On the other side, one who wanted to fight and do things my way. Thinking I could never be forgiven. Boy was I wrong!

The Man on The Middle Cross was the answer! He paid the price for me. I am overwhelmed by grace because of what He did for me. He didn't have too. He didn't have to take the beating, the scourging, carrying The Cross along the Via Dolorosa, to Golgotha. He did it because of His love for us!

Romans 5:8 New Living Translation

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

He went to the Cross for us, but He didn't stay there. He rose up out of the grave three days later. With that, He raised me to life with Him! His mercy is poured out on us! Thank You Jesus!

Remember, The Man on the middle Cross wasn't a regular Joe!

He was the flesh of God, a lightning rod, The Bread of Life. He created all things. He is the King of Kings! 

So I encourage you tonight. Give thanks to The Man On The Middle Cross. For everything that He has done for you!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Grain Truck

I got off a  work a little early today, so I asked my wife if she wanted to have lunch together. She said yes, so off I went. On my way, about a mile or so up the road a grain truck pulled out of a field heading the same direction as I. I thought to myself "great, that's going to slow me down." Not that I was in any hurry, just didn't want the inconvenience of having to slow down. Oh, the audacity of this driver to do this to me. LOL!

When I complained under my breath I heard God say to me, "Keven, why are you complaining about that truck?" "Don't you volunteer and support numerous food/feeding programs?"

"Yes Lord, I do."

"This truck pulling out of the field is loaded with grain. Grain that is used to make food for someone, someplace." "So you're going to complain about a truck loaded with grain slowing you down, knowing full well that grain will eventually turn into food. Food you could potentially be donating to someone in need?"

Thank You Lord for the reminder. I started praising Him. Praised Him for the crops in the field. The tractors the cultivate the crops, the trucks that haul the crop and the mud tracks on the road. Praised Him for the farmers that are working tirelessly to bring in the crops. The dust in the air from all of the corn being harvested.

He reminded me of this verse.

Philippians 2:14 Amplified Bible

14 Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God],

That's what I heard from God. Don't complain about something that He is providing for His people. He supplies the crops. From the seed that is planted to the finished product. He provides all the equipment to bring the crops in out of the fields. He provides! 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Amplified Bible

18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

I asked for His forgiveness about my complaining about the truck. Then I started praying for the farmers. Pray for an abundant crop. Safety of bringing in the crops. The drivers of the tractors and trucks. Everyone involved in farming.

So I encourage you today. When God puts something in your path to slow you down, it could be for a very good reason. Put your trust in Him. He knows what He is doing.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Praise Him. Anytime, Anywhere!

 Do you know that you can praise Jesus, anytime, anywhere. You don't have to wait till church on Sunday or Wednesday. Special function or conference. You can do it right where you are at. 

Do you think that Daniel waited when God shut the lions mouths when he was in their den? 

Did David wait when the stone he hurled at Goliath hit him in the exact right place to kill him? 

I hardly doubt it.

I'm sure that they gave thanks and praise immediately. 

Psalm 146:1-2 New Living Translation

1 Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

I praise God from the moment I wake up, until I go to bed. The good and the bad. I praise Him for waking me up another day. A warm house to live in (especially the last couple of days). Food to eat, car to drive and a job to go to. A beautiful wife and daughter. An amazing family to do life with.

I praise Him when things go wrong as well. Had a long difficult day at work. Nothing seemed to go right, but, it could have been worse. If not for Jesus. The car accident I was involved in earlier in the year. I praised Him that it wasn't worse. No one was hurt. Just the vehicles. When I lost my job a few years ago. I praised Him, for I knew that He had a better plan for me.

If you were given a promotion or a raise at work. Praise Him! Your on top of the world, praise Him!

You lost your job. Having money or relationship problems, praise Him! If you are in the valley, praise Him.

He is worthy of every and all praise.

Revelation 4:11 New Living Translation

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

So I encourage you tonight. No matter what season or station of life you find yourself, praise Him. Anywhere, anytime! He is worthy!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Leaves!

It's that time of year again. Where you drive around and marvel at the tree leaves changing color. From green to red to orange to yellow. The colors are magnificent! I've been doing a lot of driving around our area the last couple of weeks. The trees are just beautiful.

Looking at the leaves changing got me to thinking about us (people). How when we accept Jesus, He begins to change us. At first we are like the trees in the winter, dull and dark. Then when we accept Jesus He starts to change us. We start to bud and produce some color. Then as He continues to work on us and through us, we change again. Into the beautiful fall colors. Full of splendor and life. We were one way and now we are another.

Isn't that just like God? He never leaves us where we were. He keeps working on us. Shaping us, molding us to be more like Him.

Colossians 3:10 Living Bible

10 You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.

We were dark and lifeless in the winter. Jesus comes into our lives. We start showing life. New things start to happen. New life. As we grow and blossom during that season, He keeps on working on us. Just like the tree keeps moving through it's seasons, so do we. Until we produce beautiful leaves.

Then when the leaves start to fall to the ground, it reminds me of how God chips away at us and has all the unnecessary baggage that we carry, fall to the ground. He wants to lighten our loads. Not to carry more than we can handle. He wants us to leave everything with Him.

Psalm 55:22 New Living Translation

22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

So give everything to The Lord. Every worry & burden. He will take care of you. He wants you to shine just like the leaves in the fall. He wants our lives to be full and vibrant.

Let go and let God!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

This Woman!!

This woman. My amazingly gorgeous, talented, awesome wife! I can not tell you how proud of her I am. She has been involved with our local community theater (Stage Coach Players) for the last seven years or so. She decided to audition for a role in a play and got it. She loved the experience and continued to audition for other roles. When she wasn't chosen for a certain role, or there wasn't a play that she was interested in auditioning for, she still wanted to be involved somehow. This lead her to learn how to do lighting. She would help out whenever she could and then eventually became a lighting designer herself. After her first designed lighted play, she was highly sought after. She loved doing that role, but she also wanted to be on the stage. So she had to make choices of which play she would audition for, or do the lighting for. She was being pulled in both directions. People wanted her in their play and directors wanted her to do their lights.

After a few years of this, she was asked to become a board member. She accepted and has been the recording secretary for the last two years. 

So after all of this comes the big deal. 

She is directing her first play at the  theater. 

She is directing  'The Night Witches'. That's a pic of her with her first promotional poster at the theater. Look at that smile!

She has been in rehearsal now for the last few weeks. They open in two weeks, (Oct. 19). I'm telling you this because she is doing all of this while working a full time job! She has been given more responsibilities at work and her work schedule is not easy, to say the least!

Proverbs 31:25-27 Living Bible

25 She is a woman of strength and dignity and has no fear of old age. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says. 27 She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household and is never lazy.

This is my wife in a nutshell. Trying to make sure our family is taken care. Caring for others, working full time and trying to fit in something that she loves, community theater. I don't know how she does it, or where her energy comes from.

God could not have provided a better life partner for me, than her!

Proverbs 31:10-12 Living Bible

10 If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

May God bless all you gentleman with a wife as awesome as mine!

God Bless!

Rev. Kev.

King David.............Lost??

 Wait, what? King David lost? How in the world did he lose? Am I talking about the same King David? The man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22) Isn't he the one that slayed 10,000? (1 Samuel 18:7) Wasn't he the young shepherd boy who came out of now where and killed the giant Goliath? (1 Samuel 17:48-51)

Yes all of these stories are true. This is the mighty warrior King David. He was a talented musician. A very handsome man. Strong and vigorous. All these accomplishments and he,

Still lost!

He lost his battle with lust of the flesh! He lost to Bathsheba! 

Instead of going to war like all the other kings, he stayed behind and thus began his moral failure. He took a walk up on roof top one evening and he spied a beautiful woman bathing. (2 Samuel 11:2) 

He liked who he saw, so he had someone go and bring her to him. He slept with her and she became pregnant. (2 Samuel 11:4)

To cover his sin, he tried to cover it up by calling Bathsheba's husband home from the battle field to sleep with her. It didn't work. Keep reading in 2 Samuel.

In the downward spiral of this sin, King David had Bathsheba's husband killed in battle. (2 Samuel 11:15)

The losing streak continues. 

After all of this, Bathsheba gave birth to a son. The Lord was very displeased with King David and punished him by causing his son to become ill and die after seven days.

So this mighty warrior, the one who defeated Goliath, killed his tens of thousands, became King of Israel, was a man after God's own heart, lost to a woman. He couldn't control his urges and sinned greatly. He was disciplined greatly as well. 

King David repented and asked for forgiveness. God forgave him and restored him. (Psalm 51:12)

So I encourage you tonight. Whatever sin you may have committed, you are not to far for God to forgive & restore you. Repent and ask for His forgiveness. 

If God can forgive and restore a man like King David, He most certainly can forgive and restore you.

God bless!
RK.

Warfare!!

 What do you think of when you think of war? Planes & bombers? Helicopters? Rifles, machine guns, hand guns, bazooka's? Humvees and armored cars? Generals, Lieutenants, Medics, etc. etc.

Bombed out cities, bloody bodies and body parts scattered all around? Shell casings, cannons, fox holes. The list could go on forever. This what it is like when nation fights nation. Warfare goes all the way back to Biblical times. It's not anything new! It seems like people and countries have always been fighting against one another! And still are to this day!

Do you know that nation doesn't have to fight another nation to have warfare?

You can have warfare in your home! Warfare between husband and wife. Between parents and children, brothers and sisters, between neighbors.

You can even have warfare at your job, between boss and employee, or other employees.

See, it doesn't have to be a world war to have warfare, it can happen in your own little area of the world. Just on a smaller scale.

So how do we begin to settle on a peaceful end? It's easy to just say that we need Jesus, but that is the absolute truth. He is the only long term solution. Only He can get rid of greed, hatred & jealously in our hearts. He wants us to be content. Show compassion and forgiveness to others.

Psalm 51:10 Living Bible

10 Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.

Only God can tame our anger and the violence that stems from that anger, with His peace and love.

Hebrews 12:14 New Living Translation

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

No matter where you are in life, chances are that you will encounter some kind of warfare. I challenge you to seek peace. A peaceful resolution is far better than an angry & violent action. Remember that Christ lives in us! He gives us the peace that we need in every situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified Bible

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.

God bless and Peace be with you!

PK.

Would You??

 What would you do if God asked you to do something that our little finite human minds would consider absurd or whacky? Would you go through with it? Or would you question the validity of the request? Did God really, really ask me to do that? Really?

Would you tie yourself up and lay on your left side for 390 days and then your right for 40 days, like God required of Ezekiel? (Ezekiel 4:5-6)

Would you prepare, cook and eat food cooked over human dung (poop)? Again, like Ezekiel had been instructed to do? (Ezekiel 4:12)

Would you walk around your community naked (very doubtful) and barefoot for 3 years, like Isaiah did? (Isaiah 20:3)

Would you go out and marry a prostitute? Probably not. That is exactly what God told Hosea to do. (Hosea 1:2)

Would you take any of your children into the wilderness to sacrifice them? That is exactly what God told Abraham to do. God stopped him from doing it, but he was about to follow through. (Genesis 22:2, 22:12)

Would you go up to high ranking government official and demand that they let your people go? God required that of Moses. To go to the Pharaoh and demand that he let all of Moses people go. (Exodus 8:1)

So God asked all of these people in the Bible to do all of these to us absurd things. They aren't normal by today's standards. I don't want to live by today's standards, I want to live by Gods standard! I want to do what God wants of me. 

1 Samuel 3:10 New Living Translation

10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

I want to listen to God speaking to me. I want to hear His voice. Leading me, guiding me and directing me!

So my question to you is this. If God asked you to any of the above, would you? Or would you say that is to far fetched to be from God.

My hope is that if God asked, your answer would be yes & amen!

God bless.

Rev Kev.

Cross Necklace.

 

I bought this Cross necklace a little after I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior. I thought that it looked cool and still kind of represented my "Heavy Metal" side with it's design. I bought it because it's what I thought that I needed to show that I was now a Christian. Not that wearing it makes me or anyone a Christian, but's that what I thought at the time. I wore it everywhere, until................. I was told I could not.

I had started working at a food manufacturing plant and employees were not allowed to wear jewelry on the production floor as management was afraid it could fall off into the food. Made sense to me. So I stopped wearing it.

I recently rediscovered it and started wearing it again. I was in a different role at work now and was allowed to wear it.

I've been getting compliments & questions about it, "wow, cool necklace." "Does it mean anything to you? Or is it just a decoration?" I would always say thank you for the compliment, and then answer the question about if it means anything to me. Mean something to me? Boy, does it ever!

I recently was asked by a coworker why I wear a Cross necklace. I told them, let me tell you the reasons. Which there are many.

First, when I put the necklace around my neck, it reminds me of Jesus being all around me. Surrounding me with His love, grace and mercy.

Second, looking at the Cross, it reminds me of what Jesus did on the Cross for me. He died there for my sins! It is a constant reminder of His sacrifice. 

Third, upon looking at the Cross, it's just the Cross. Jesus isn't on it. Reminds me of how He died, was buried and rose from the dead! Any empty Cross means that Jesus is alive!

Fourth, when the necklace is resting upon my chest close to my heart, it reminds me that Jesus is living in my heart. My heart is His home in my body!

Finally, whenever I turn my head or lean either to the left or right, the necklace slides that direction with me. It reminds me that no matter which way I am going, Jesus is going with me. He has me covered in all directions.

So, those are the many reasons that I wear my Cross necklace! It really does mean something to me. Jesus really means something to me. He is kind of a big deal in my life!

Zephaniah 3:17 New Living Translation

17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

God Bless.

RK.

Freedom!!

 As I sit here and reflect on this 4th of July, I can't help but to think about the people who migrated here too gain their freedom! I think about the Statue of Liberty, standing and welcoming immigrants who came to the United States by sea. I think about those immigrants who left behind everything except for the clothes on their backs to seek new found freedoms offered! They risked their lives to make the trek across the water. All for freedom!

Isn't this what's it like when we come to Jesus? He calls us to come out of the world and leave everything behind and become citizens of a new Kingdom. The Kingdom of God! When we come to Christ, we are a new person. Just like the immigrants are looking for a new, fresh start in their new country, we get a new, fresh start when we come to Christ. The Cross for the Christian is our Statue of Liberty.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

The people who migrated here didn't come here to lead the same life they left behind in their homeland. They came for something new.

That's how we are when we come to Christ. We don't continue to live the same old life as before. We are free. Free to live for Him!

1 Peter 2:16 Living Bible

16 You are free from the law, but that doesn’t mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God’s will at all times.

Just like the trip across the pond was treacherous and dangerous, our walk with Jesus will not be easy either.

John 16:33New Living Translation

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.”

So I encourage you to remember the freedoms that we enjoy. Both within our country and in Jesus Christ!

God Bless.

RK.

Mistake??

 My wife and I were at a wedding recently and had a conversation with another fellow attendee. He was telling us how he built his own home. I told him that I could not do such a thing as I would make to many mistakes, and cause bigger problems. I would rather call the professionals who have the right tools and knowledge for the job. 

Then he started off listing all things that you can make mistakes at. Rehabbing your house. Fixing or rebuilding a classic car. Installing this thing or that thing. He had a whole list going. Then he said something that was absolutely unbelievable.  

He said that even getting married is a mistake! Excuse me. What??

That statement really started a conversation, let me tell you. How could he say that, especially at wedding?

I told him that my wife and I have been married almost 15 years and it keeps getting better. No mistake at all marrying her. In fact, just the opposite.

Genesis 2:24 New Living Translation

24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

God designed marriage. For a man and a woman to be joined together in Holy Matrimony. If God designed it, it is not a mistake. God does not make mistakes!

Psalm 18:30 The Voice

30 Everything God does is perfect; the promise of the Eternal rings true;

Even though my first marriage ended in divorce still didn't make it a mistake to do. We didn't have God involved in anyway the first time around. We leaned on ourselves for everything. Well, we all know how that worked out for us. Our flesh and pride got in the way.

So I learned from that experience the second time around. I learned that it not two people giving fifty percent each. It's two people giving one hundred percent all the time. It takes both of us to make this work, with God's help. Not one sided in either direction, but to be a team both pulling in the same direction.

Proverbs 18:22 Living Bible

22 The man who finds a wife finds a good thing; she is a blessing to him from the Lord.

My wife blesses me everyday in different ways. Not saying that we haven't had our differences, but we work them out together. Don't go running off to someone else, or something else. We stay and fight for our marriage. 

Matthew 19:6 New Living Translation

6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

So I encourage you tonight. Whether you are about to be married or been married for a while, your marriage is not a mistake! The only mistake is putting yourselves in the center. 

God Bless.

RK!

    

Disappointing Day!

 Have you ever done anything that you were so excited about, only to end up disappointed? I know that I sure have. Spent my hard earned money to go to a ball game only to have the team that I cheer for fall flat on their faces. Lackluster performance. So disappointing. Can't believe I spent money on this debacle!

Go to a restaurant that is highly recommended by a friend, only to get disappointed that it doesn't live up to their hype! Done that a few times. Or a movie, T.V. show or series. "Keven, you really need to watch this!" Hmm, yeah okay! 

Disappointment abounds all around us. From sports, movies, T.V. jobs, even life itself. How many times have your relied on someone only to be let down by them? You're not mad, just disappointed with them!

Jesus never lets us down or disappoints us. 

Psalm 118:8 Living Bible

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

Can you imagine for a minute what a disappointing day the Jewish people were having when Jesus was falsely arrested & sentenced to be crucified? To see Him beaten and scourged and hung on a cross between two criminals. A sign attached at the top proclaiming Him as the King of the Jews. A spear thrust into His side to make sure that He was indeed dead.

Isaiah 53:5 New Living Translation

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

When He cried out "It Is Finished" and breathed His last, they thought that all hope was gone. Jesus had died and was buried.

 But, Friday's disappointment was Sunday's empty tomb!! That's right. God The Father raised Jesus from the dead. Defeating death & the grave, forever! Hallelujah!

So what ever kind of disappointment or disappointing things you are going through, remember this. 

Jesus can lift you out of them all. He never disappoints! He is our Hope!

Lamentations 3:24 New Living Translation

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

God bless!

Rev. Kev.

Cry Out.

 How do you react when you get bad news, or something bad happens to you? Do you cry out, "why?" Or "why me?" Do you turn to substances? Alcohol or other stimulants? Or do you just try and fight your way through it or out of it. "I can do this." "I don't need any ones help." Well my friends, that is the wrong way to go about it. 

Jesus wants us to cry out to Him! He is all the help that we need.

Psalm 18:6 The Message

6 A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!

What an audience that is! The Creator of the universe hearing our cries to Him. He hears us when we cry out in distress over a serious health diagnosis. Cry over the loss of a loved one. A relationship on the verge of ending. Job loss. No money for bills or food. Car troubles. The list is endless. 

You know who is not endless? Jesus! 

He is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. 

Hebrews 13:8 New Living Translation

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Nothing can take away God's love from us. He loves unconditionally. All the time!

Romans 8:35 Living Bible

35 Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?

So what do you need to 'Cry Out To Jesus' about today?

Like the song by the band Third Day says:

*There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary. Love for a broken heart. Help to break addictions. He provides mercy and healing.*

 Jesus will help with every kind of problem or issue that we will ever face. We cannot do it with our own strength.

We just need to cry out to Him!

God bless!

PK

*Song lyrics from Cry Out To Jesus - Third Day.

Walk!

 If you spend enough time in conversation with a Christian, this question almost always comes up. What question you may ask? "How's Your Walk With Jesus?" "My walk with Jesus?" "What do you mean?" It means how are you doing on your walk or journey with Jesus. Some people are confused by this question. "Good I suppose" is the likely answer. Is it really? Are you following His commands? His instructions? Are you living for Him? Serving Him? Or just going through the motions?

What does walk mean. Walk is a verb. It means to place one foot in front of the other. Keep moving forward, one step at a time. If we are not walking, we are standing still. That's not what Jesus wants from us. He wants us to walk with Him. To keep moving forward. Progressing. The more we walk with Jesus, the more we become like Him. We are not to stay where or as we were.

Ephesians 4:14 New Living Translation

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

We can walk with God as Noah did. He was saved while being made fun of by his neighbors. We can walk with God as Moses did. While he was lonely in the desert and the time of judgment came to Egypt, he was prepared to lead his people out. Walk with God as David did. He was a shepherd boy when he was prepared for being the King. How about Daniel and his three friends? God was with them in the furnace and delivered them.

All of these are good examples of people who walked with God! We can have the same kind of experiences. God may not deliver us from trouble, but He has promised that He would be with us through trouble. We need not worry.

John 16:33 New International Version

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I encourage you tonight to keep on walking with Jesus. Step by step, walk with Him. You will not regret it. Sometimes it may seem difficult to do, but keep going. We may stumble and fall along the way, but He never lets us go.

Remember, this isn't a race. It's a walk (journey). Let God lead the way, knowing that His way is best. Let Him take us by the hand like a father would and walk with the Heavenly Father!

God Bless

PK

Calling You Out.

 I went to see the band CAIN in concert over the weekend. They have a song "Rise Up (Lazarus)". It's a song about Jesus calling us out of the grave. Just like Lazarus.

John 11:43-44 New Living Translation

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

I have heard this song many times, but when it was played live, it just hit different. Powerful! Hands raised in the air, I could feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me. He asked me what Jesus has been calling me/us out of? How comfortable have we gotten on our own. We are too scared to make a move, when God tells us to move. He wants to wake us up. Call us out of our tombs, just like He called Lazarus!

So what grave is Jesus calling you out of today? 

Your past? Are you to comfortable living in the past? Once we accept Jesus, our past is gone. A new life begins. A new life in Him!

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Is He calling you out of your sin. Are you comfortable in your sin. It is something that you are familiar with.

1 John 1:9 Living Bible

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

Is He calling you out of addiction? Pornography? Drugs? Idols?

1 John 2:16-17 The Message

15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

All the above mentioned things are graves to us. Meant to keep us captive and not to live. We feel like a stone has been rolled in front of our lives. Jesus came and rolled those stones away. 

Jesus is calling us out of all of these worldly things, but He is also calling us into a life with Him.

Galatians 2:20 Amplified Bible

20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

So I encourage you today. Jesus is calling us. We need to rise up and become more like Him. To live the life that He went to the Cross for. He is the chain breaker, life giver. He is everything we could ever need!

God bless.

PK.

The World!

 There is a song being played on the radio with lyrics that go like this. "I Don't Want To Love What The World Loves, I Don't Want To Chase What The World Does. The title of the song is "First Things First" by the band Consumed By Fire.

This song has really gotten me to think about what I chase and desire. Am I really chasing after what God wants for me? Or am I chasing what the world wants me to chase? The world wants you to be the king of your own world. Put yourself first. That's why there are so many self help books to help "us" out. The world wants you to love yourself first. The love of money, big houses and fancy cars. It seems lately that the world is more about me, me, me. How dare you get in my way. I am offended by everything that goes against what I believe. 

I don't want to love or chase any of that. I want to chase after Jesus and what He has for me. I don't want to love worldly things. I want Him first. He is enough for me. I'm not saying nice houses and cars are wrong. I just don't want them to be my primary focus. I don't want to sell my soul to attain those things. That's right. Cars and houses are things. Cars will rust and fall apart. Houses become dilapidated.

You know who never breaks down or gets rusty? Jesus. Jesus is eternal. I want that! I want to chase after Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Like the song says, *First Things First*. He is the first thing in my life! Everything that I do, I do it for Jesus. Work, play, everything.

You might notice along the way as you begin to serve and worship Jesus, you will lose some friends or family. In fact some people may even hate you for your new life. That's okay.

John 15:18-19 Amplified Bible

18 “If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you.

Remember, Jesus has called us to new life. A new life in Him. He still lets us operate in the world. Be a disciple for Him! To point people to Him.

1 John 2:15 New Living Translation

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

So I urge you today to chase after and love things that really matter. Jesus. He is EVERYTHING that you will ever need.

PK

Body Shop.

 Today, two months after the accident, I got my van back from the body shop. Let me tell you. It looks sharp. Probably almost better than brand new. Can't tell where the impact was. Where the paint was left behind by the other vehicle. Scratches, dent, everything, gone! Really fine job by the body shop.

I started thinking about Jesus and how He makes us new after we get dented, scratched, broken, as we go through life. We go to Him in such sad shape, and just like the body shop repaired my van, He will repair us! Make us new. He just wants us to come.

John 15:3 Amplified Bible

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].

You see, we don't need to get a new set of clothes, a fresh haircut, or get squeaky clean to come to Jesus. He accepts us as we are. Broken, hurting, in need of a Savior!

Just like I didn't have to go and have my van washed before taking it in to get worked on, it's the same with Jesus. We go to Him and present ourselves to Him. Flaws and all.

Like the body shop took off the door and replaced it, took off the broken parts of the body and fixed them, Jesus does the same for us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

What a new life it is. You will not be sorry to accept Jesus! He loves us and wants the best for us!

Like the body shop wanted only the best outcome for my van, how much more does Jesus want for us?

John 10:10 Amplified Bible

10 I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

My encouragement tonight is this. Don't wait (think) that you have to have your life together before you can come to Jesus. You can do it right now. Right where you are.

John 3:16 New Living Translation

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Do it tonight. Tomorrow may be to late!

PK.

Worship Experience!

 I had the pleasure this past week to go see worship artist Brooke Ligertwood in concert. She is the worship leader for Hillsong Worship and has released some solo music as well. She was on one of her solo concert tours for her recording *Seven*. 

From the moment I bought the tickets, I knew this concert would be different. I wasn't exactly sure how or why it would be different, but I just knew that it would. She was performing at a church in Naperville. So not to far away. I get to the church and head into the auditorium. It is a general admission show, so I am looking around at possible seats. A gentlemen approached me and asked if I was a single. I told him that I am married, but for the sake of the concert seating I was a single. He told me that he had a seat for me if I wanted it. I said "sure, I'll check it out." He started walking toward the stage and walking closer and closer. Ended up five rows from the stage. I never thought in my life I would ever get that close, but there I was filling it.

Like I said earlier, I knew that this night would be different. The crowd was electric and ready to worship God! Before one note was played or one word sung, I was weeping. You could just feel the sweet presence of Jesus in that room. Holy Spirit was very evident!

Brooke came out and started playing and the tears really started. Wow! The power of her music and the message the words contained (The Gospel). 

I had made up my mind going into the church, that I was going all in. Worship like never before. So I sang (ok let's be honest here. Made a joyful noise) as loud as I could. Instead of raising one arm, I had both in the air. So much so that my shoulders were hurting on the way home! She asked us to pray in our own prayer language, and boy did I! My body was hurting. I had helped move my step-dad the Saturday before and did something to my lower back/upper leg. I could hardly walk a step without almost going down. I prayed for healing from that. (Side note. Ever since that night, I have been able to walk pretty freely without pain and almost going to the ground). I prayed for healing for people I know that are battling all kinds of things. I prayed for the night and for God to move. Boy, did He ever move. 

I really didn't know what to expect that night, but I came expecting. To feel God differently. To experience Him differently. To feel His presence. Wow, is all I can say. For almost two hours we sang, prayed, gave praise and worshipped our Lord & Savior!

John 4:23 New Living Translation

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Hebrews 13:15 Amplified Bible

15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

God is ready to do something new, if only we are willing to do something new. I have been to worship events before. Both at the local church and national touring artists. Like I said earlier. This show just had a different feel to it. From the purchasing of the tickets, to the final word and chord played, God was in this whole thing, to me!

I give thanks and praise to You Jesus. For using Brooke Ligertwood in such a powerful way! To magnify & lift up Your name.

Thought Provoking!

 My family and I went to see the movie *Jesus Revolution* over the weekend. It is a really good movie. If you don't know the story, it is about how the Jesus movement got started in the '70's with the hippies in Southern California. How one California church opened it's doors to the hippies much to the chagrin of it's existing members. They had long hair. Were a little smelly, wore clothes with holes in them. The "proper" church members told the pastor that these people didn't belong in their congregation. The pastor disagreed and opened the doors and welcomed them in. Thus beginning a Jesus movement that spread throughout the whole world.

Well if you know me, you know what happened. The movie got me to thinking.

Do I treat and welcome people who are different than me? That look, dress & smell different? How they are dressed? I mean do I really? I would like to think that I do, but after the movie, I'm not so sure.

I wear shirts or hats that have a Christian message on it. Or Scripture passages. Something about Jesus. I call it witness wear. The meaning behind it is to start a conversation about my faith and of course Jesus. Trust me, I have had plenty of conversations because of this type of clothing. When I wear something like that, people approach me. Some are not like me, at all. If I am honest with you, when I see them coming towards me and I know that they are coming for me, sometimes in my head I'm like "please keep moving." "Don't stop, don't stop." Then when I think that, I say to myself, "that's not like Jesus at all." How am I showing Jesus to them if I wish that they would keep moving. Nine out of ten times they stop.

1 Peter 2:17 The Message

17 Treat everyone you meet with dignity. 

Even if people I meet do not look, dress or act like me, I still try and treat them with dignity. They are still human after all. I engage in conversation. Listen to what they have to say. Most of the time they just want someone to listen to them. I guess I look like that guy to them. After talking with them, I always kick myself for wanting them not to stop. Jesus loved everyone, so why can't I even talk to everyone that comes my way? 

1 John 3:11 Amplified Bible

11 For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another;

So I will and try to do better at welcoming in people who are from a different situation than I am. If I meet them in church I have a different reaction than if I meet them out in public. And that is a shame.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Borrowed Time!

 One month ago to the day, I was involved in a car accident. Nothing major. More of an inconvenience than anything. Going around one of those stupid roundabouts that are supposed to make traffic flow better. Yeah, made it flow right into my vehicle. Little damage to both cars. Both myself and the other driver were okay. No injuries. As we were exchanging insurance info, we were lamenting about how much we hate roundabouts! After exchanging info and checking again to make sure everyone was okay, we went our separate ways. As I drove off, a thought came to me. I (we) are living on borrowed time.

If this would have been a different time of day or a different intersection, the outcome could have been much different. Damage could have been worse. One or both drivers could have been hurt or even killed. I was thanking and praising God for His protection over the situation. I know that I was still involved in an accident, but like I said, it could have been much worse.

We need to be prepared to meet Jesus at any given moment. You never know when it will be your time. Like I said, if that accident had happened some place else, I could have gone to meet Jesus! People think that they have time to accept Him. "Oh, tomorrow is soon enough." You know what? Tomorrow never comes! Accept Him today, tomorrow may be to late.

Proverbs 27:1 New Living Translation

27 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

We all make plans for the next day, but truth be told, we don't know what tomorrow holds. Jesus does. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 New Living Translation

2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

So I implore you tonight. Get right with Jesus before it's to late. Do you think that I planned on being involved in a car accident that fateful day? I was just on my way to have lunch with my beautiful wife. God had an interruption for me. For some reason that only He knows, He wanted the other driver to meet me. In time, maybe I'll know why. God's timing!

God bless.
Rev. Kev.

Excited, Emotional, Exhausted & Frustrated??

 My wife and I were finally able to take our trip to Israel. I say finally because it has been in the works since 2018. We made our first deposit for the trip that was scheduled for 2020. Well, we all know what happened that year. So it was postponed. And then postponed again. I believe that it was postponed four times all together. Then it was totally cancelled, but then rescheduled for 2023. We kept holding our breath for another set back, but it never came. Needless to say, we were excited to finally be going. 

EXCITED:

Excited is an understatement. Who wouldn't be excited to take a trip to the Holy Land? Wasn't really excited about the long flight, but once we arrived, OH WOW!  To be able to see in person places that you only read about in The Bible. The Sea of Galilee. The place where Jesus walked on water. Where He called Peter to get out of the boat and come to Him. Where the battle of Armageddon will take place. Visited the city where Jesus' first miracle took place. Turning water into wine. The Jordan River. To baptize and be baptized in the same river that Jesus was baptized. See all the ancient architecture & ruins. It was a lot to take in. Sensory overload is what some of the people on the trip were saying.

EMOTIONAL:

How can you not get emotional about seeing where Jesus walked and talked and taught? The Mt. Of Beatitudes. The Mt. Of Olives, where Jesus will set foot when He returns. The Upper Room. The garden of Gethsemane. Seeing where He was whipped and beaten. Walking the Via Dolorosa. The same street that Jesus walked while carrying the Cross. Seeing where he stumbled and put His hand on the wall. Where He fell and Simon helped carry the cross. Golgotha. Where He was nailed to the Cross. Then the tomb where they buried Him! We checked. It's still EMPTY!! To see and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The Western Wall or better known as the Wailing Wall. One day, so many emotions. Very powerful and impactful. That's not even the half of it. If I were to list everything, it would be a novel!

EXHAUSTED:

To say that we were beyond exhausted is another understatement. Every day we were on the bus @ 8:00 and done by 5-5:30ish. We walked & walked and then walked some more. At the end of the trip we added up the mileage that we walked. Thirty one miles during the five days that we were actually in Israel. That is a lot of walking for those who are not used to it. On some days we were emotionally exhausted as well. Some places we carried heavy emotions while we walked. Lets just say that we all pretty much slept good every night after a long day of walking and sight seeing.

FRUSTRATED:

Not going to lie. I as well as some others were frustrated with our tour guide. He was good at what he was doing, but there were some things that we wish we could have spent a little more time at. We took a tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall and came to the spot where the Holy of Holies was at. He just kind of brushed past it like it was no big deal. We were like "wait, hold on a minute." Wanted to spend a little more time there. Maybe do some praying. You know, what we Christians do. He was very knowledgeable in history, buildings, flowers and such. I wanted more of what Jesus did and where He did it.

WRAP UP:

The trip was amazing. We had beautiful weather everyday. Went with a great group of people. Made many new friends. I know that I am forgetting a lot of what I saw & experienced,  but I think that I hit some of the most important parts. At least to me. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime. Like I said, to be able to see and experience what you read in The Bible. Priceless!

Psalm 135:4 Living Bible

4 For the Lord has chosen Israel as his personal possession.

God Bless you all.

Rev. Kev.

Fresh Start, New Beginning!

 How many of us are tired of the same old, same old? We wish for or want something different. That's why we look forward to the start of a new year. We think that the last year didn't go so well for us. The new year will offer a fresh start, a new beginning. It will be different this year. 

Will it? 

For it to be different, we need to be different. Can not keep doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome! The same can be said for days of the week. "Man, yesterday wasn't very good." "Tomorrow will be better." Has to be! Or you get to the end of the month, and think, "How did I ever survive that?" A new month will bring better things. 

Will it??

I personally know of a fresh start and a new beginning that will definitely will bring change. When we accept Jesus into our lives. We WILL be different from that point on.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Living Bible

17 When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

Jesus gives us that fresh start. A chance to start over, with Him. A whole new life awaits those who believe in Him! I know that I was one way before Jesus and now I am a different person.

Isaiah 60:1 Amplified Bible

60 “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.

People keep hanging onto things that they know. That are comfortable to them. Things that don't satisfy or bring joy or happiness.

Jesus is the change. He wants us too leave all of our baggage behind (past hurts, addictions, life style) and begin our new life. In Him!

Philippians 3:13-14 New Living Translation

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I encourage you. It's not to late to start a new life in Christ. You will not be sorry that you did!

So Much ANGER!!

I watch a lot of videos via You Tube or Facebook. Mostly music or concert videos. Lately though, I've been sucked in by fighting videos. You know the ones, where someone films a fight taking place with their phone. It seems like they are taking place everywhere. Wal-Mart. McDonalds. Football games, both professional and college. Road rage. People fighting in the streets. Even at little league games. I've seen parents fight with each other, or the umpire because of a bad call. Oh man!

My question is, why? Why is everyone so angry? It doesn't seem like it takes a lot anymore to get people to start throwing hands and beating on each other. One car cuts another one off and bam, they are brawling in the road. Swinging fists, tire irons, whatever they can get their hands on. Playing a game and another player bumps into you and it's on! Even the fans in attendance at these games are fighting. They fight the other teams fans, and just this last weekend, I saw fans of one team fighting one another. Wow! So much anger!

It seems like it has only gotten worse the last couple of years. Ever since the pandemic put everyone into solitary confinement, people don't know how to act when they go out in public. It seems like everyone is out for themselves. How dare you interrupt me. Try to get in front of me. Don't you know it's all about me?

Jesus tell us to put others first. He urges us to be kind to each other. Forgive each other.

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified Bible

32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

If we forgave each other for things that have been done against us, what a different world we would live in.

Colossians 3:13 New Living Translation

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

We need to remember that none of us are perfect. We are all going to mistakes once in a while. It's how we handle those mistakes that will make a difference. Forgive. Move on. If someone cuts you off on the highway, I'm sure that you have done it to someone yourself. That strike or out that a little league umpire missed, will that really set you off? If you think you are so good at it, then why aren't you doing it? 

My point is this. Be kind and forgiving to each other. Everyone has a bad day every now and then.

Hebrews 12:14 New International Version

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone

One of Jesus' names is The Prince Of Peace. May we all have His peace in us, so we can be an example to others.

Demons Chase.

How many of you remember how it feels to be chased? Chased around the school yard. Being chased while playing tag. Being chased by a chicken, dog, or any other kind of animal. It was exhilarating, fun and sometimes kind of fearful. The thought of being caught. Oh, wow!

How many of us after accepting Jesus into our lives have had past demons come chasing us? Things that we thought that we had long buried when we became believers. 

Then comes some kind of tragedy, loss of life (loved one, friend, etc. etc.), loss of a marriage or relationship, loss of a job, loss of a house. Anything bad happens to us, and all of sudden demons start chasing us again.

Demon alcohol. Don't worry son, just a little drink won't hurt you. I will make all of your pain go away. False statement. Drinking will not take away your pain. It might make you forget what happened momentarily, but in the end, it will still be there.

Demon addiction. Pornography, drugs, gambling. Anything that used to make us feel good in the past will come calling again, if we let it. We revert back to our old selves when things like this happen. It's like a default mechanism. 

When this happens, we feel terrible. Like we let Jesus down. I can't believe I went back to those lifestyle choices, even for a minute. How will Jesus ever forgive me? Good news is, He will! Do you think that He thought that you would never sin or fall down again. He knows that we are still human. 

Look, if we slip once in a while or fall once in a while, we ask for God's forgiveness. We confess what we did, He will forgive us.

1 John 1:9 The Voice

9 But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done.

As long as we are still on this side of Heaven, we will sin. Our old demons will come back to haunt us. They will try to trick you and deceive you, but it's all a lie. They'll try to make us think that what we have done is so bad that God could never forgive us or love us anymore. Lies I tell you. Lies!

John 10:29 New Living Translation

29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

We are God's. No matter how hard our demons try too chase us, we can not be snatched out of His hand.

What a comforting thought. We are victorious in Jesus! 

1 John 5:4 Amplified Bible

4 For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].

So fear not. We have God on our side. No matter the demons that chase us again and again, God has us in the palm of His hand!

God Bless!

But God..............

 Our daughter bought tickets to see the a cappella group Straight No Chaser as a Christmas gift. The concert was the Friday night before Christmas in Chicago at the Chicago Theater. We made all these plans to head into the city. What time the train would leave. What station we would leave from. Where we were going to have dinner, and then head over to see the Christmas tree at Macy's.

Well, we all know what happened on that weekend. Blizzard 2022. Snow, high winds and bitter cold took hold over our area that weekend. The concert ended up being rescheduled for Jan 5, 2023. It was actually for the better as our daughter caught quite the nasty cold that week leading up to the concert. She probably wouldn't have been able to go, if it hadn't been postponed.

So we had to scrap all the plans that we had made and go back to the drawing board. Although we didn't really like to have to start over.

But God...........

Proverbs 3:5 New Living Translation

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

So the new date was Thursday Jan 5th. I started researching travel times from home to the city. None of us like to drive in and try to find parking. So we were going to take Metra. We settled on a time that we needed to be at the station for when the train left.

My schedule at work that day looked kind of sketchy. Some of the trucks had the possibility of arriving late and throwing the whole plan off schedule.

But God.......... He arranged my calendar like He always does, so that it all worked out to leave work on time.

Next in line was to go home and pick up my wife whom had to drive 30 minutes home herself to be ready.

But God.........She was there waiting for me to arrive and hopped in the van to go pick up my daughter from her job.

We thought that we might run a little late to arrive to pickup our daughter, but we were actually 5 minutes early. She came out, hopped in the van and off we went. We had a narrow window to get to the train station.

But God..........We arrived 30 minutes early. Enough time to figure out where to purchase our parking ticket, and get on the train.

Now if you know me,  I am not a tech kind of guy. The tickets for the concert were on my phone. I bought the train tickets on the Metra app. In the city we used Uber to get around.

But God........All the apps, everything went perfectly. Uber rides were there waiting for us. Able to get into the theater without any issues, and also ride the train. I was amazed at how well it all worked. I am very skeptical about these kinds of things.

So everything was great. The concert was amazing. Not my kind of music, but they could really sing. Dinner, Uber, Metra. Everything went off without a hitch. Well except for one thing. I lost one of my gloves during all the moving around.

So my encouragement to you is this. If something may seem impossible, or slightly impossible, put your trust in God.

Matthew 19:26 New Living Translation

26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

God bless you all.

PK