Cupboard Spices.

 Psalm 100:4 New Living Translation

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

As some of you may or may not know, I volunteer every year for an event that my company hosts. It is a mobile packing event for Feed My Starving Children. Have been volunteering for fifteen or sixteen years. Every year we watch a video of the progress being made with the food that gets distributed. 

These kids in the videos recall how they would only be able to eat a clay or mud pie. Literally food made out of dirt! No nutritional value, at all! Just something to fill their hungry stomachs for a moment.

Anyway,

The other day, a task that I have done hundreds of times, suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I opened up the cupboard where we keep spices, peanut butter, a multitude of other things. I grabbed the peanut butter for my toast and looked at the spices. I froze! I'm looking at all of these spices to make our food taste better, and I start thinking about the kids who are eating clay or dirt for a meal. It hit me hard. How many times have I opened that cupboard, grabbed the peanut butter and never gave a second thought about the spices. It kind of reminded me of reading The Bible. You read scripture over and over and then one day, it comes alive to you. You don't know how you've missed it before!

So this event takes place every November. You know the month that has Thanksgiving Holiday in it. While looking at those spices, I had plenty to be thankful for. I always do. I don't wait till November to give God thanks. I thank Him many, many times a day. Everyday! For everything.

I think that we always thank God for the big things that we have, but I also thank Him for small things. God is in the details. Just read Numbers, Leviticus or Deuteronomy. Every morning I thank him for the locks unlocking on my vehicle. I thank Him for it starting, headlights working & it going into gear. I thank Him for the stereo working. I am a music guy. I can not go without the stereo working. A couple of weeks ago, I could not get my cd to eject from the player. Thankfully, it was a cd that I really didn't mind listening to over and over again. Finally, I got it to eject. Thank you God! God's timing is perfect!

So I encourage you. Thank God for everything, no matter what. From the stereo working in your car, to having a home, a job, food on the table. Nothing is to small or to big for God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18Amplified 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.

God Bless & have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Rev. Kev.

Looking Forward.

 This past weekend, I completed my fifteenth year of volunteering for FMSC. It's an event that I really look forward to every year. The build up, the fund raising, the event itself. But then, just like that, it was over. Another year finished! Have to wait till next year.

How many of us are like that? We have something that we put on our calendars and so look forward to and then in a heartbeat, it's over.

Thanksgiving Holiday. I know that I really look forward to the four day weekend. Eating, laughing, watching football, spending time with family. Have turkey on Thursday, maybe do some black Friday shopping, eat leftovers the whole weekend, but before you know it, it's Monday again. Back to work and the daily grind.

Christmas as well. The build up after Thanksgiving. Putting up the tree. Start buying presents. Then wrapping said presents. Start to make travel plans if you are heading out of town. Getting your house ready if you have guests coming over. You plan and plan. Check off your to do list. Next thing you know, Christmas is over. Radio stops playing Christmas music. The tree and all the decorations come down and are put away till next year. You are back to work, again. 

Another weekend I really look forward to is Labor Day. My family has a big party every Labor Day weekend. We have been doing this for many, many, years. It coincides with Maple Parks "Fun Fest" So we start on Saturday with a two mile walk through town, then usually followed by a breakfast of some kind. Later that day we gather for the parade and then the cookout. So much fun, so much food. Love it! Every year! But then again, I look forward to all of the planned activities and then "boom" it's over. 

There are many things that I look forward to doing throughout in a years time. To many to list here. If I were to do that, it would be a novel, instead of a blog.

There is one thing that I am looking forward to in the future. Something that will never end or close.

The day that I go to Heaven. That coming event is going to be glorious! Not that I want to pass away today, but when I do, Heaven is what I am looking forward to! Spending eternity with Jesus. How can it get any better? 

Hebrews 11:16 New Living Translation

16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Isn't it awesome that God is preparing a place for us, to live with Him. Forever! 

John 14:2-3 New Living Translation

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

So I encourage you tonight. All the plans that you make and look forward to will eventually come to an end. All the parties, games, etc. will end and you'll have to look forward to the next thing. So keep your mind on Heaven, which will never run out or end.

Colossians 3:2 Amplified Bible

2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

End Of Yourself!

 Are you tired? Tired of banging your head against the wall, going nowhere? You've tried and tried and still nothing. You have given it your all, and nothing changes. You've tried with all of the strength that you could muster. You've come to the end of yourself. 

You realize that you need to try something different. Choose a different path.

That path is Jesus. His strength never runs out. He never tires.

Proverbs 3:5 The Message

5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track, Don’t assume that you know it all.

Isn't that the problem with us. We think that we know everything. We don't need any help doing or thinking about anything. We think that we have it all under control. Our pride gets in the way. We think that we are weak if we ask for help. 

God says differently.

Isaiah 55:9 New Living Translation

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

I thank God that He has higher thoughts and plans for me. My plans are limited at best. God is limitless. When I have reached the end of myself, I turn to the One I should have started with. Jesus! All the plans I come up with, I run them by God first. Not for Him to bless me, but for me to be a blessing to Him. He needs to come first, not the other way around.

Revelation 21:6 New Living Translation

6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. 

I pray that everything I say and do, glorifies God.  

Numbers 6:24-26 Living Bible

24-26 ‘May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.’

I encourage you tonight. When you think that you know it all and don't need any help. You do. Turn to the only One that can help you. He is more than enough. Everything that we need, He has!

God bless.
Rev. Kev.

Seasons Change.

As I'm sitting at our kitchen table, I'm looking outside at the trees changing. Some are completely bare and some still have vibrant color. Refusing to give up it's leaves. We have one that is bright red. Some that are yellow or orange. Some are just plain old green.

As I'm looking at these trees, I start to think about seasons of life that we are in or are going through. Just like the trees, our seasons change as well.

Maybe you're in the bare season of life. Nothing seems to be going your way. Maybe you have lost your job. Maybe your having some health issues. Maybe someone you love has passed away. Your leaves are falling off. Leaving you bare and exposed!

Psalm 30:5 New Living Translation

5 Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Maybe your at the beginning of a new season. Some buds are starting to happen in your life. You start getting some interviews. Getting better news from your doctor appointments. New life is being born into your family. Things are looking up.

Revelation 21:5 New Living Translation

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” 

Maybe you are in a season of full bloom. Your life is amazing right now. You have that full time job. Maybe you've gotten engaged or married. You bought your first house. Have a nice car. Things couldn't be going any better for you during this season.

Psalm 37:4 New Living Translation

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Maybe your in the fall season. Things start changing color. Your hair starts to gray or fall out all together. You're moving just a little slower. Losing some of your strength. Things just aren't the same. You are noticing some differences in your life! Aches and pains are your daily life.

2 Corinthians 4:16 New Living Translation

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

So I encourage you tonight. No matter what season you are in or going through, the one constant is Jesus. He is with us in every season of our lives. From the full bloom in the summer, to the leafless barren season of winter. He is there!!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

Unified!

 If you listen to any kind of news at all, they all seem to say that our country is more divided than ever. Black/White. Republican/Democrat. Rich/Poor. Open border/closed boarder. Vaccine/no vaccine. On and on it goes.

I'm here to tell you that we Christians are unified. Unified in our hope of Jesus and His return. So many people put their hope in the government & it's programs. That is a false hope. They will not help. Those programs only last a short time. 

You know who never runs out? Jesus!

He is the same yesterday, today and the days yet to come! (Hebrews 13:8)

Malachi 3:6 New Living Translation

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.

I have been to a lot of concerts this year. More so than usual. All of them have been Christian concerts. I don't know what is going on, but these shows seem much different than in other years. God is at work at these shows!

From hard rocking acts like Stryper or Sacred Warrior, to worship acts like Kim Walker Smith, Brandon Lake, We The Kingdom & Casting Crowns. These artists seem to have renewed energy. Not holding back in proclaiming The Gospel! I think that they think that the time of Jesus' return is drawing closer! We need to get ready!

 All the crowds have been fantastic. Enthusiastic in their worship of Jesus. They are going after it, hard!  Hands and arms raised. Singing along for all their worth. It has been awesome to have been part of this. Doesn't matter if it's a 500 person club or a 10,000 person arena. 

While the rest of the world wrestles against itself for one party or another to gain control, we Christians are uniting behind Jesus and His message!

1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation

10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Starting with Stryper in September, all the way till last night with Sacred Warrior, I have never seen crowds more united. Looking out for each other. Taking care of each other. It was incredible to see. People being nice to each other! The common denominator for all of these shows was Jesus! He was present at each and everyone. Spirit filled every venue that I attended for a show.

If the world could only learn this. To live for others, instead of themselves. To live in harmony instead of chaos! What a different world we would live in, wouldn't we!

That's why I like going to see these artists live. I know that I am going to be able to shut out the world and be unified in worship with brothers and sister of faith. To proclaim the only message that matters. The message of Jesus Christ.

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.