Getting Squeezed!

 A few weeks ago, part of our pastor's sermon mentioned getting squeezed. He used examples like, you can't get apple juice from an orange. Don't get orange juice from a lemon. My moms favorite saying, "you can't get blood from a turnip." This list could go on forever. I think that you get the idea. No matter what you squeeze, you expect the correct contents to come out.

Then he asked a question. What happens to you when you get squeezed? When life squeezes you. Work, family, home? What comes out of you when things don't go the way you expect them to go? Does Jesus come out? Or does the old you find it's way out?

If I'm honest, more times than not, the old Keven comes out. I don't know why. When I say a word or certain words, I immediately apologize to God for using them. Then I ask why that seems to always be my default. I'm a child of God. I am a Christian. A pastor. These words should not be coming out of my mouth. But when squeezed at work, which happens a lot by the way. Here they come! The whole situation irritates me. As I'm sure it does God! I can almost hear Him saying "come on Keven, you can do better."

When I use my printer at work for the first time in the morning, I have to go in and select default printer setting for the one that I use. If I don't do that, who knows where my paperwork will print. That's how I want myself to be with Jesus. I want Him to be my default when I get squeezed. I want Him to come pouring out. Not useless words or actions. I want Him to be glorified. I want people to see Him, through me. Like I said, more often than not, that doesn't happen.

1 Corinthians 15:33 New Living Translation

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

I go in everyday wearing the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The attacks always come from the rear. Where the armor doesn't cover. I do battle everyday for control of my mouth. It's not fun.

Psalm 141:3 Amplified Bible

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].

This is my prayer, everyday. That God will give me a mouth to speak blessings, encouragement and uplifting. I'm a work in progress.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Buried!

 Have you thought about your burial plans? I mean the plans that you make for what happens to you after you pass? Am I getting buried. If I am where at? What kind of casket? Am I getting cremated and then buried? Or am I going to get cremated and then sit on someone's shelf or mantle? So many choices to make. We usually make our wishes known to our loved ones so they know what to do after we pass. Of course, they want to honor your last wishes. My mom requested that she be late to her own funeral. So guess what, she was!

So why am I bringing this all up you may be asking yourself. Good question.

My thought is, who cares! After your gone, do you really care where you are buried or laid to rest at? I mean it's good for the family. To have have a place of remembrance to go to. But you're not there. Your body isn't there. Your soul isn't there. Just a tombstone and a casket filled with ashes. Maybe some flowers surround the gravesite. Maybe not. 

Trust me. I'm not going to care. My race will be over. No more cares or worries. No more aches and pains. No more tears. I'll be home with my Lord & Savior, Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 New Living Translation

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

So many people make elaborate plans for their burials. Expensive caskets. Tombstones made out of expensive stone or marble. Can be quite the burden for the family if not properly planned for. Again I ask, why? Why all the expense? Use that money for something more productive. Throw a huge party and invite everyone. Have a grand time with each other. Because after time, people will stop going to the cemetery to visit you. Or go less often than they used too. But the memories you would make throwing a party would last forever! Remember that time? Nobody ever says "remember that time that we went to the cemetery?" 

Psalm 146:4 New Living Translation

4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. 

So all the plans we make before we pass about our service, our burial, everything dies with us.

So I say that it doesn't matter where I get buried. Yes, I want to get buried in the same cemetery as my family. But like I said before, none of us will be there.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 The Message

6-7 Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

My only plan after I pass away is to be sitting at the feet of Jesus. Worshipping my Lord!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

What Matters Most!

 How many of us have seen something happen or seen someone in need and not stop to help. We are either on our way to work, school or even church. It seems like there is always something on a timed schedule that we can not be late too. At least in our minds.

A car accident. Car with a flat tire. Someone needing a ride because their car broke down. We think, "not today." "Don't have time for this inconvenience!" So we just keep right on going. Heaven forbid we should be late somewhere, helping someone else out. Can't stop and help, might get my hands or clothes dirty. Be late for a date with your significant other. Doctors appointment. Your child's sporting or school event. Then there is the safety factor that we worry about. Is this person safe to give a ride to. Is it safe to stop and help out. There are many, many excuses we can come up with not to stop and help others. We carry on without giving it a second thought. Not our reality. When in reality God wanted to use you right there in that situation that you came across.

Hebrews 13:16 The Message

16 Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.

Every morning I pray that God will use me in a mighty way. To bring someone across my path whom I can show the light of Jesus too. To be His hands and feet. How can I pray that, and then see someone in need and ignore it. That would be hypocritical of me, wouldn't it. God would answer that prayer and then for me to say "not today or right now." " I have somewhere I need to be." When in fact God has you right where you need to be at just the right moment. It is not a coincidence or by chance.

I pray that God will give me the eyes to see people and situations they way that He sees them. To put my life on hold for a moment to help someone out in need. I don't want to miss the things that matter most.

Proverbs 3:27 The Message

27 Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.

Jesus Himself knows what it is like to be interrupted or inconvenienced. The Bible speaks of many times Jesus was on His way some place only to be interrupted by someone in need. He didn't balk and say come back tomorrow. He stopped, listened and healed. If that is what was needed.

I pray that we handled life's interruptions and inconveniences like Jesus does. With compassion and grace.

God Bless.
Rev. Kev.

So Sad!

 I'm sure most of you have heard of the passing of Gospel singer Mandisa. She passed away a couple of months ago, shocking everyone. She was a contestant on American Idol. She had the most beautiful voice! My family and I were fortunate to see her perform live a couple of times. My favorite performance was when she sang with the great Toby Mac!

What makes her passing sad, was the cause of death revealed this past week. The autopsy concluded that she died from complications of having type lll obesity. I had never heard of that type of obesity, so I  did what anyone would do, I Googled it. Type lll obesity was formally called morbid obesity. Because people considered morbid a negative word, they changed the wording.

I used to be her. At one point in my life I was well over 300#. I didn't eat right, didn't really exercise much. I mean I was very active. Playing in three different softball leagues, going to concerts, working a ton of overtime. But..........One day I started having a medical issue. Went to the doctor and was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. The doc started prescribing all kinds of meds because as she put it "you'll never, never lose enough weight to come off the meds!" Challenge accepted. I went on a workout tear. 30 minute exercise machine workouts followed by a five mile walk on a bike path. I lost a total of 127#. Sure showed her didn't I? Despite all of that, the medical professionals still wanted me to lose another 20#. What? Are you kidding me?

Anyway!

I have put about 50-60 back on. It is a daily struggle. To eat, not to eat whatever I want. To exercise everyday. Every day I pray that God will give me the strength to workout after working for eight hours or more. To give me the discernment to stop eating when I should. Like I said it is a daily struggle.

I know many people that are in the same condition that Mandisa was. And if I'm honest, it scares me. These are people that I love and care for. I want them to live a long and prosperous life! I never knew you could die from complications from being obese. 

The Bible talks a lot about gluttony and it being a sin in ones life. People who are obese are not necessarily gluttons. The medical websites that I have looked up to find out what type lll obesity is, says that it is a disease that can be caused by a lot of different factors.

So I pray that God will help with these situations. Help family and friends. I know that He can and will! He is God! He knows what is best for us!

Romans 8:28 Living Bible

28 And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.