Forever.

 Have you ever sat with someone who is terminally ill? You know their life on earth is coming to an end. If you know they are a Christian, you know they'll spend forever in eternity with Jesus! What a comforting thought.

Then you start thinking about yourself. Where will my forever be? Will I spend it in Heaven, with Jesus? Or will I spend it in Hell with Lucifer? Well, that depends on you. What your beliefs are. Do you believe in Jesus? Or do you reject Him as your savior and accept the Devil and his ways?

Matthew 7:13-14 Living Bible

13 “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell[a] is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

In the song Highway to Hell, the singer sings about there being no speed limits or stop signs. Nothing to slow you down from destruction and eternal damnation! Foot on the gas all the way to Hell! 

By entering the narrow gate, God puts guard rails up for us, to protect us from veering off course. To slow us down or even stop us from going astray. He doesn't say this path is easy. In fact it is a difficult one to traverse. Following Jesus and going His way can be hard. He never promised us an easy life.

John 16:33 The Message

33 In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

But so many people want to take the easy route. Wide open, nothing to stop them or slow them down from doing their own thing. Their own selfish desires. A choice that will have "Forever" consequences! 

So if you are questioning on what to do to make sure that you spend forever with Jesus, this is what you  need to do.

Romans 10:9 New Living Translation

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

It's really that simple. Jesus wants to spend forever with you, in eternity. 

So I encourage you today to think about choices that you are making. They have a forever in mind. Who do you choose today? Jesus, the giver of life, or Satan, the taker and destroyer of life.

My prayer is that you choose wisely!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Recalculating!

 So, you've finally made a decision to go on a trip, someplace that you have never been before. You load up the car and put the destination address into either Google or Apple maps on your phone, or your GPS unit. (Do people still use GPS?) You pull out of the drive and head on down the road. Google or Apple maps will start giving you instructions on which ways to turn and go. Left, right. How many miles to the next turn, etc.

So you are sailing along approaching your destination, when something goes wrong. You don't pay attention to the directions and miss your turn. Or turn the wrong way. All of sudden your unit has to recalculate to find out where you are and give you new directions. Most of the time if you are lucky you just have to go around the block to get back on track.

I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me. I start thinking I know more than a computer mapping system. News flash, I don't! Especially in a bigger city. This most recently happened to me when I traveled to St. Louis to see a Stryper concert. Due to construction, one way streets and a pouring rain, I was turned around and so lost. The mapping system could not keep up because I kept turning so rapidly. I finally stopped to let it catch up, and when it finally did, it said that I was at my destination. I had passed it at least twice without even realizing it.

All this had me thinking about God and His direction for our lives. He is the ultimate GPS. He knows what the best path (road) for us to take. 

I was thinking about the Old Testament Israelites. God told them He had a land picked out for them. A land of Milk & Honey. 

Deuteronomy 26:9 New Living Translation

9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey!

All they had to do was trust in The Lord. But they were a stubborn bunch, to say the least. They were poised to enter the land that God had promised to give them. But because their unbelief, they were turned around and had to wander in the wilderness for forty more years.

Numbers 14:34-35 Living Bible

34-35 “‘Since the spies were in the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, bearing the burden of your sins. I will teach you what it means to reject me. I, Jehovah, have spoken. Every one of you who has conspired against me shall die here in this wilderness.’”

A trip that should have lasted only eleven days, lasted forty years. It took forty years because of grumbling, complaining and unbelief in God.

It's sometimes the same with my GPS unit. "It doesn't know the right way!" "I can go a different route." Well that doesn't really work. Need to trust in the system to get me where I am supposed to be.

Just like we are to trust in God to get us where we are going. We'll end up eventually at our destination, just depends on how long we want to take getting there!

I have been feeling this for a while now. I feel like I am getting close to a break through, something from God and then, I am going through the wilderness again. Another trip around whatever object you insert here. Tree, mountain, block, whatever. I don't know what I am doing wrong or what is preventing me from the break through, but I pray and repent and wait! His ways are higher! 

Isaiah 55:8Amplified Bible

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

So I encourage you. Whatever path you are on. Trust in God, the best GPS there is. He knows what direction is best for you!

God bless. 

Rev. Kev.

Just Enough.

 There is a something that I have been noticing lately. I have been noticing people who are doing just enough to get the job done. I'm talking about people who put in just enough effort to get by. They only scrap their windshield to get a big enough spot where they can see and then head off down the road. Shovel just enough to get to their car door, leaving the rest of the driveway untouched! Not going to lie. I have done this once in a while, but not very often. I always think about the other cars on the road that I am going to see. Can I see them enough not to crash? Can I see traffic lights? Stop signs? Other people? I pray that I can. I think about my family who also has to use the driveway. To get out and get to work. I am not the only one that lives there. 

I think about people at work who do just enough to get their job "done". Putting material away. Place it just inside the door so that it closes. Doesn't matter if it's in the way of the next person entering the warehouse. As long as it's out of their way, they are good.

I don't want to be thought of in this kind of way. I want people to know that I went out of my way to take care of business, they way that it should've. I don't want to be perceived as lazy or selfish! If I claim the name of Jesus, how can I represent Him by doing just enough? I want to have integrity. I want to show Him to others by my actions.

Titus 2:7 New Living Translation

7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

It may take some extra effort to do the right thing, but the results will be worth it. Your car will be cleaned off so others can see you and you see them. Your driveway will be clear so the rest of the family can get out without any issues. Material will be put away in organized fashion. Make it easier for the next person to get to and use.

Colossians 3:23-25 The Message

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

I'm not saying this to say look how much better I am than everyone else. Far from it. I am still guilty of doing these things. Sometimes I let the bad thoughts take over what I know is good. Just this once, what will it hurt? You'll never know how your actions affect others. I want to affect them in a good way, not a negative one!

I try to live my life Biblically. What The Bible says to do, I try to do it with the best of my ability. But, sometimes, other thoughts take over. When that happens, I have to remind myself of Gods word!

Romans 8:1 Amplified Bible

8 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].

I encourage you. When faced with taking a short cut or doing it the right way. always choose the right way. It will work out much better for you in the end! Do more than just enough!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Transcends

 I keep seeing this on Facebook, almost everyday. It is a saying that says "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." I love this saying. It doesn't cost a thing to be kind to someone, or take much effort.

Romans 15:2 The Message

15:2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

Did you know that kindness or words of encouragement transcends language barriers & culture differences. Even religious differences

I work on a receiving dock. I deal with drivers who are from around the world. There is a truck line that delivers to me that was started by people from the Ukraine. I see drivers from Canada, Russia, India, Ethiopia & Somalia. They can be male or female. Older, younger. Single or couples. In a moment of irony, with what is going on with Russia and Ukraine, I had a female Russian driver, driving for the Ukrainian trucking company.

Some of these drivers speak perfect English, the others not so much. But the one thing that they all have in common is this. Whenever I am finished unloading their trailer and take the paperwork out to them, I always tell them "great job." "Keep up the good work." "Appreciate the job you are doing!" English, some English, or little to no English, they all understand the kindness that I am extending to them. The words of encouragement that I speak to them. They always and I mean always get a big smile on their face when I say these words to them. (Especially The Female Drivers) They understand kindness, no matter the language difference.

I even have Muslim drivers come in to deliver. I am wearing my Christian witness wear and when I give them their paperwork, I do not treat them any differently than I do anyone else. I've had drivers look at the shirt that I am wearing and do the whole eye roll thing, probably expecting me to treat them harshly or not friendly because I am a Christian and they are not. Jesus tells us to love everyone. So that is what I do.

1 John 4:8 Living Bible

8 But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love.

I can not go around claiming to be a Christ follower and not be kind & loving. It just doesn't work. If I want people to see Jesus in me, I need to be kind and friendly to them. Even those who have a different faith than me.

I want to be the reason that somebody smiles today. That maybe sometime later in the day or even a few days later, that driver will remember that receiving guy treated me kindly and encouraged me. And they will smile with that memory.

I had an encounter today while eating lunch with a family who had a special needs son. He came right up to where I was sitting and said hi. I greeted him back and he started telling me all what he had going on at that moment. I talked with him until he had to order his food. His mom turned around and thanked me for being kind to him. She said that most people shy away or ignore him altogether. I told her we should be kind to everyone. I'm not saying this to say "Look how good Keven is." No, just saying that it took a couple of minutes of my time to interact with this young man to be kind to him.

So I encourage you. This world is so full of negativity, lets be the positive. Let's spread kindness and love to everyone that we come across. We will never know what that person is facing.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Days Can Be Rough.

 Have you ever had a day that beat you down so badly, that you just couldn't anymore? People are just not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Situations are out of control? People just seem to not care about what is happening. That's what my day was like today. No matter which way I turned, there was always something coming against the job I was trying to do. People just doing whatever they like, no matter the outcome for the next person.

That is why I put my trust in Jesus and not people. Jesus never lets me down. He is always looking out for me.

Psalm 118:8 Living Bible

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

I just don't understand why this happens almost the minute that get through the door. I pray, read my Bible, listen to worship music on my way in. I am fully loaded to go to work (at least I think so).

I clock in and almost instantly there are problems. This person put something in the wrong spot, where they knew that it did not go. Now it is on me to shuffle product around to make room for the new. It was like this all day today. Every where I turned, there was always something in the way. I became very frustrated at the whole situation. 

Titus 2:7 New Living Translation

7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching

I think that is what bothers me about this whole thing. I always try to look out for the end user. Make it easier for the next person to locate and pull the product they need without to much of a hassle. I just wish that it went both ways. 

2 Corinthians 4:17 New Living Translation

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. 

I know that this will not last forever. Usually a day at most. The next day is a whole new day. Things seem to click and all is well in receiving land!

I often look at these issues that I have at work and I think that they are nothing to what Jesus had to go through and endure! My momentary frustration is nothing compared to Jesus'.

So what do I do during all of this? I lean on Jesus! He is the only way!

Philippians 4:7 Living Bible

7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus

I encourage you tonight. When something comes against you and frustrates you to no end. Lean on Jesus.  He will get you through. Might not seem like it at the time, but before you know it, you are on the other side of what was going on.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

His Great Name!

 I was listening to an album by the band We The Kingdom while driving the other day. This particular album was recorded live at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

On this particular album they have a song, I don't recall the title right now, but during the song, the band dies down and the backup singers take over. They keep singing the name of Jesus. They would sing Jesus, pause for a moment and then sing His name again. They would do this over and over again for a few minutes. The pause in between singing Jesus' name seemed almost like a time to reflect on His name.

So this one day I was stopped at a red traffic light. To me it seemed longer than usual. I was listening to that album and that song at that exact moment while waiting for the light to turn green. 

I've listened to this song many times, but at that moment, it just hit different. I knew the part was coming where the band dies down and the backup singers take over. So, I'm there waiting for the light to change and listening to this song.

The name Jesus came across my van speakers, then the pause. I started thinking about His name. You know, The name above every other name. (Philippians 2:9) What does His name mean to me.

Here it came again.

Jesus!

I thought that I have a Father in Heaven loves me. (1 John 4:9)

Jesus!

He is my Savior. (1 John 4:14)

Jesus!

He is my Provider, Protector, my everything. (Philippians 4:19) (Isiah 54:17)(Psalm 73:25-26)

Jesus!

He is my friend. (Proverbs 18:14)

I could go on and on, but I think that you get the idea. I do think that God made the red light extra long for a reason. Just like He made the sun & moon stand still for a little bit extra time. (Joshua 10:12-13)

He wanted me to reflect on His name and what He means to me. All that He has done and continues to do. I never want to forget any of that. 

So I encourage you to do the same. Take time, slow down. Maybe God has your sitting at a red light for a reason. Reflect back on Jesus' name and what it means to you. What He means to you.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

So, You Have Faith! What Does That Mean?

 God gave me a word for my team at work well before Christmas. Because of scheduling and vacation time, I wasn't able to give it till last week. After giving the word, a co-worker came up to me and started a conversation.

He started with, "I know that you are a man of faith." "What exactly does that mean?" I thought, "wow, what an opportunity to explain it to him."

I gave him Keven's version of what the Bible says. 

Hebrews 11:1The Message

11:1The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 

He was like "tell me more." I said "Okay, let's go!"

I told him that God has many promises in the Bible that I believe will come true in my life. Even in situations that I haven't even encountered yet, I believe or have faith that they are true!

I told him about Noah and how God had him build a boat in the middle of dry ground. Can you imagine the faith that it took for Noah to believe God in that situation. But he was obedient and started building a boat. Then the rains came and flooded the earth. (Hebrews 11:7)

I told him about Abraham and his son Isaac. God told Abraham to take Isaac to an isolated place to be a sacrifice. Abraham didn't totally understand Gods plan but he obeyed and took Isaac. As he was about to sacrifice him, God stopped him from doing this act. Abraham had faith that God would either stop him, or provide for him in some other way. Now that's faith. (Genesis 22:2)

I told him about Daniel and the lions den. The King of the land became angry with Daniel and had him thrown into a den filled with lions. Oh, the faith that Daniel had that God would rescue him from that den. And that is exactly what happened. God shut the mouths of the lions and rescued Daniel. (Daniel 6:16 & 6:22)

I told him one more story because we needed to get back to work. I could talk about my faith in God and His word all day long, but work was calling.

I told him about the three friends thrown in the furnace. The King was so angry with them that he had the furnace turned up seven time hotter. They had faith that their God would rescue them from that. Boy, did He ever. He even joined them in the fire and brought them out, unscathed! Didn't even smell like smoke! (Daniel 3:16-27)

I told him that all these examples help with my faith in God! I have a lot of personal stories that I could share, but I'll share just this one.

My brother called me and asked me to come up to his house and try to help him get his truck started. It was a manual and we had to push it to get it started. After trying about five or six times (seemed more like twenty), he said that he was done. It was super cold outside that night. I said "have some faith. Lets try one more time." So we did. We pushed it back up the drive and prepared to give it one last go. Guess what happened? It started. He was amazed. I told him that God was saying "one more time." Having the faith of a mustard seed!

Matthew 17:20 New Living Translation

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

I encourage you tonight to strengthen your faith. Dig into Gods word. Believe what it says and what He'll do for us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Living Bible

20 He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name.

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.