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.

Overflowing!

 What do you think of when you hear the word overflowing? Do you think of a river that has overflowed it's banks? Do you think of your coffee cup overflowing. You poured to much in it and now it's running down the side. Do you think of a sink doing dishes or tub getting ready to take a bath. Water running all over the place. The counter, the cabinets, the floor. Then if your like me, I worry about the floor getting ruined because of water seeping through and then having to replace it. The struggle is real!

There is a different kind of overflowing that I would like to share with you. This is a good kind of overflow, that comes from God.

My wife shared with me a video of a man talking about Psalm 23:5. He was talking about giving and giving to others and when the time came for himself, he had no energy left to give. The person whom he was talking with told him that this verse didn't say a word about pouring, it said overflow. It changed his whole narrative. 

Psalm 23:5 New Living Translation

5 You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

We are to be so full of God, that the blessings he bestows on us will overflow to others. 

How do we get filled with God? Glad that you asked.

Read His word. Everyday. Open up your Bible and see what He has to say to you (us).

Pray. Set aside time everyday, devoted to prayer. Be intentional in prayer. Thank God for what He has done and continues to do. Thank Him for the blessings in your life!

Attend church. Get filled with being around other believers. Iron sharpens iron.

Proverbs 27:17 New Living Translation

17 As iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend.

Be doers of the word, not just readers. If the Bible calls to action, then act. Go do something in Jesus name! Be His hands and feet to someone. Let your blessings overflow. Don't try to put a lid on them and keep them for yourself. Share with others.

Hebrews 13:16 English Standard Version

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

So I encourage you to get filled to the point of overflowing! Let Gods light and love overflow out of you, to bless others!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.