The Mosquito.

 I like to drive with my windows down when the weather is nice. Sometimes I get some flying insects in the van. Flies, bees, mosquito's, whatever, no big deal. Well the other day I had a mosquito flitting about across the windshield. From driver side to passenger side and then back again. It kept doing this the whole time while I was driving. I had all the windows down once again and when I came to a stop, I tried to shoo the mosquito out the open window. It had no intention of doing that. Every time that I would try to scoop it or swat it out the window, it would fly the other direction. It was like it was comfortable being inside the car, when there was an open window for it to fly out of and be free.

I thought about us, you know, people. How we are like that with the sin that we are in. We think that we are trapped inside when all along God has opened a window for us to get out of. It's almost like we are too comfortable in our sin to see the open window. God speaks to us, nudges us, shows us the way out, but we are to blind to see it. Out that window is the unknown. A different life that God wants for us. Inside is something that I am used to & comfortable with!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

God wants us to be set free from sin! He doesn't want us to be trapped by it any longer. He always makes a way for us to escape. We just have to obey and follow His leading. Like one song says. He is a way maker, a chain breaker, He is a prison shaking Savior!

1 Corinthians 10:13 Amplified Bible

13 No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

So  my friends let me encourage you. If you are embedded in sin and you see no way out. Seek God and He will show you a way. He will open a window, door, whatever means necessary to get you out of there. Don't be like that mosquito flitting about in comfortableness. God loves you too much to leave you there!

Church & The Gas Station.

 Now you may be wondering what those two places have in common. Well, let me tell you. I visit each one once a week. I fill my car up with gas about once a week to get me to where I am going. I go to church once a week (actually twice) to fill up spiritually to get me through the week.

I was thinking about this as I was filling the tank in my van the other day. I thought that this is sure a lot like church. I mean you fill your vehicle up and run it all week until it gets low on gas and then do it all over again. So that's like church. I go once a week, get filled with the word of God, some really good worship, enjoy the company of other believers, get my iron sharpened and then go out and empty myself throughout the week, then come back and do it all over again.

How does one empty themselves during the week? Well, I tell people about the Gospel of Jesus. I give testimony for what He has done for me. I volunteer to make a difference in my community. I worship as I go about each day of the week. Just like a car uses gas by going places during the week, the same is with us as we move about in our circle of influence. Family, work, shopping, volunteering. What ever it is that you do, empty yourselves of what God has filled you up with.

Colossians 3:12-14 The Message

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

As we go about our days, we strive to live like this. This what God wants from us, and that takes a lot of energy and strength. So from Sunday through Saturday our energy should be completely zapped and we are ready to be refueled. What better place to do that than the church with other like minded people.

Hebrews 10:25 New Living Translation

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Lord I pray that I may be empty so You can fill me with Yourself and what You want from me.

Amen!

Adult Film *Star*

 Just to make myself clear, I have not viewed or watched any of this persons movies. So to say that she is a star, I cannot say. I had no idea who she was until this story came about. All I know is that she is in the 'adult entertainment' business.

So apparently this "actress" had VIP tickets to a Turning Point USA (Student Action Summit) event in Florida. As the story goes, upon arrival at the event she was denied entry because of who she was and what she did for a living. She faced backlash from the Christian organizers for attending the event.

 My question is this. How did they know who she was? How did they know what kind of career she was in? This was a conservative event with Christian organizers. So I ask again. How did they know who she was?

Then my second question is this. Why was she kicked out? From pictures I have seen, she was wearing a conservative outfit. Not showing any skin at all. She wasn't there selling herself or her films. Or even recruiting for the business. She told people that she is a conservative herself. She was happy to be with fellow conservatives. So again I ask. Why was she kicked out? Aren't we as Christians supposed to love everybody, no matter their profession or lifestyle choice. We hate the sin, but love the sinner. Right!

Matthew 7:3 Amplified Bible

3 Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?

I wonder how many other people there were liars, cheaters, smokers, gamblers, adulterers, watch pornography, etc. etc. I wonder how many LGBTQ people were in attendance. If we look at it that way, they should have all been kicked out.

Romans 3:23 New Living Translation

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Don't get me wrong. I am not advocating for this woman or her career choice. What I am advocating for is her right to be there along with everyone else. 

John 8:7 English Standard Version

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

I have read other stories about this event happening and the author says that you cannot be a conservative and be in the adult entertainment business. That may be true but, to me you can't be a conservative and deny people just because of what they do for a living. The organizers were worried about her being there because there were kids there as young as 15. I get that, I really do. But how many families have gone out to dinner and the parents have a drink or two and then drive home. What is that showing their children? It's okay to drink and drive. Or the other things that families do while together. To me this whole situation is very hypocritical!

If we are to follow Jesus' standard of accepting people, He accepted everyone. Tax collectors, adulterers, criminals, everyone. We are not to judge. Jesus is the judge, over everyone.

Matthew 7:1 Amplified Bible

7 “Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].

I know that this might not be the popular opinion amongst my friends, but it is my thought on this whole thing.

God bless!

Bowling. The Game of Life??

My family and I went bowling last weekend. It was the first time in a very long time that we had done that together. We had a ton of fun. While the game went on and the frames went by, I kept watching the ball being thrown down the lane, the pins being knocked over, the machine that would pick up the pins and set them back in order and the ball being returned to throw again. It started me thinking about life. The ball represented life. The pins were people, the pinsetter was God and the frames were the days of our life.

You see, the bowler would throw the ball (life) down the lane towards the pins (people). Sometimes the ball would knock over a pin, several pins or even all of them. Then the pinsetter (God) would come down and set all the pins back in place again. Then we would move onto the next frame (day of life). Then the whole cycle would start over again.

Isn't this just like real life? Some days we get knocked down a little, then God picks us back up and puts us back in place. Sometimes life hits us all at once, and just like a strike in bowling we are knocked down completely. God is still there to pick us up and set us back in place. Day after day, just like a frame in bowling.

Lamentations 3:23 New Living Translation 

23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

So just like moving into the next frame, God moves us into the next day. Just like the next frame we try to bowl a little better, so it is with the next day. We try to live a little better, be a better person.

Remember while bowling how excited you were if you threw a strike or picked up a spare? Or even got excited if you didn't throw a gutter ball. That's how it should be with the day that God has given us.

Psalm 118:24 New Living Translation

24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

So let's live our days (frames) the best that we can. Strive to do better no matter what life (ball) throws at you. We have a God (pinsetter) in heaven who loves us and will pick us up and set us in place again.

Obnoxious.

It was a beautiful day out, so I had all my windows down as I left work one day last week to head over to do my volunteer shift. I stopped at our local Steak & Shake to get a snack. I placed my order and pulled forward so the next car could pull up and order. The car behind me had a couple of guys in it who were just being obnoxious. They were rude to the person taking their order, just being rude in general. Then they set their eyes on me. You see, on the back of my van I have several things that identify that I am a Christian. Stickers, license plate holder, even my license plate itself. All of a sudden I hear from the car behind me "praise Satan!" "Praise the Devil!" Being yelled in my direction. I'm like, "oh great." Then I started to judge them. Telling myself what a complete bunch of jerk, losers they were. Then The Lord reminded me,

Matthew 7:1 Amplified Bible

7 Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].

Then I felt The Holy Spirit nudge me, telling me not to judge them, but to pray for them. So I started praying for them. I prayed for softened hearts, that Jesus would reveal Himself right there in their car. I asked Jesus to forgive them for they knew not what they were saying (even though I'm sure that they did). (There I go judging again). I'm still a work in progress!

Then I heard one of their car doors open and close. I'm like "here we go." You know that Christianity is under attack more than ever these days. So I thought that things were going to get physical. I kept looking in my mirrors and could not see anyone. I left enough space between me and the car in front of me to make a quick escape if I had to. I kept looking and looking. Nothing. No one was out of the car that I could tell. Phew!

Then I noticed that it had gotten really quiet. No more verbal jabs, no more mocking. Nothing. When I was finally able to pull forward enough to be able to actually see their car from a better angle, I noticed that not only had God shut their mouths, He also had them roll up the windows. Thank You Lord!

I immediately thought about the story of Daniel and how God had shut the mouth of the lion while Daniel was in the lions den.

Daniel 6:22 Amplified Bible

22 My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.”

So I urge you not to judge other people. I know that it is really hard as I still do it myself from time to time. We need to pray for our enemies. Pray that our lives reflect Jesus and His love for all.

Birds Of The Air.

 This afternoon on my way home from work, I had to stop at a stop sign and wait for my turn to go. It so happened that I was sitting next to a little grass field. I noticed a whole bunch of birds flitting around and making a whole bunch of noise. There was so much commotion that I took a harder look at was going on. I noticed there was a Cardinal, Blue Jay, Robin, and a couple of other kinds of birds that I couldn't recognize. They were all chirping and singing, flying to and fro. Walking on the grass, dodging each other as they flew past one another. To me it looked like they were having a grand ole time!

It got me thinking about us. You know, humans. How come we can't be like that? Talk and laugh and joke around and just have good time with each other, no matter what we look like. Lift each other up, instead of tearing each other down, just because of their race or nationality! 

The birds didn't care that each of them were a different kind of bird. They were just enjoying themselves and each other.

Matthew 6:26 The Message

26 “ Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

If birds are free to be themselves in the care of God, how much more can we as the children of God. He cares about the birds, but He cares so much more about us.

Jesus is love, not hate. He wants us to love one another, no matter what nation or tribe we come from.

Romans 12:10 Amplified Bible

10 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;

We are all part of one big family. The family of God! He created one race, the human race! When I look at some of my coworkers who are different than me, I don't look at them as being African American, Hispanic, or any other race. I see them as Mr. Mrs. or Ms. My brothers and sisters in Christ!

Galatians 3:28 New Living Translation

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[a] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

So I encourage you tonight to be like the birds of the air. Be free with each other. Sing and dance. Goof around and be free to love each other. Have fun and enjoy each other. Life is too short to go around hating people just because of skin tone.

Remember, Jesus died for us all.

Pedal To The Metal.

 How many of us feel like our lives are like having the "pedal to the metal" lately? With things seeming to start to open up with the pandemic, it seems like we are busier than we have been in a long time. Work, meetings, games, practices. The list goes on and on. It seems like we cannot have one more thing added to our calendar or we just might go crazy. We run so fast and so far that we grow weary. We don't know when we'll be able to get some much deserved rest.

This is where Jesus comes in.

Matthew 11:28 English Standard Version

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

That's just it. Jesus doesn't want us to be weary or heavy burdened. He wants us to come to Him and rest in Him. He is the Prince Of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

It seems like the busier that we are, the less time we have for Jesus. To me the word busy is an acronym meaning, "Being Under Satan's Yoke". I think that is what the enemy wants, to distract us from time with our Savior. The less time we spend with Him, the more the enemy can tempt us into doing something not worthy of God.

Psalm 46:10 New Living Translation

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!

You see, He wants us to be still and spend time with Him. Not running to and from. Always on the go. We need to take time to refresh, rest and renew our strength. How do we do that. We read our Bibles. Spend time in prayer. Communicate with The Father! He longs to hear from us.

Isaiah 40:31 English Standard Version

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

So I encourage you to push the pause button every so often. Seek after and spend time with God and He will give you a new strength to keep going. Don't put Him on the back burner thinking that He is just another thing to do. He is the only thing that matters. We need to start acting like it.