Anticipation!

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. (Psalm 130:6-7 NIV)

Today is the last day of 2014. Tonight millions of people will hold off on their rest to ring in the new year. The anticipation will grow and grow until the last minutes will seem like hours. In the mean time celebrations will fill the void and make the waiting fly by. I often wonder if we are celebrating last year or the year to come. I'm not really sure it matters to most people. I am sure it is some of both. 

The anticipation of the new year is a wonderful time. I am always excited to see what God has set before me. When I turned my life to Christ, I vowed to let his plan guide me. I know I don't always follow that plan, but even when I mess it up, he has a way of bringing me back to his will. That is why my anticipation for the new year grows just like waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. Who will he bring in to my life? Where will he take me? What adventurers will I be apart of? I just can't wait.

My anticipation of 2015 is fueled by the great year I had in 2014. This is the year we got a new grandson as my daughter adopted a wonderful young boy. This is the year, I was blessed with some great CMA adventures including Iron Butt rides, Rolling Thunder, my first Changing of the Colors Rally and so much more. Although my wife broke her elbow to cut short our vacation, I had many great times with my wife and family traveling all over the Midwest. It is my wonderful 2014 that builds my excitement for 2015.

Praise God or this wonderful life I live and I look forward to serving you Lord through all situations. Please Lord, direct me to serve those you want me to serve. Grant me the words to spread your message of grace, mercy and love. Fill me with your spirit. Help me love all people including those that don't love you. Help me to be the best husband, father, grandfather, teacher, CMA president, and servant of Christ I can be in 2015. 

Praise God for 2014 and the 2015 to come!

Anticipation!

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:9 NIV)

I am in vacation mode. We are leaving on Tuesday and I can't wait for the next phase of our vacation adventures. Stephanie and I have taken summer motorcycle trips for the last 10 years. We have, literally, traveled the entire country. Well, most of it. We are heading northeast this trip to ad that region to the list. Next year, it may be Alaska and the great northwest. But, for now I can't wait! Maine, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Hampshire, Vermont, the Adirondacks of New York, and Niagara Falls are all on the list along with a couple of quirky stops along the way.

Am I anticipating the return of Jesus with as much excitement? Should I be excited about his return? The first arival of Jesus was greatly anticipated and longed for by the Jewish people. When he got here they were dissappointed, but the world got just what it needed. We need Jesus! I want him now! Some people will be dissappointed with his return. We don't really know what all will happen with his return, but I trust my savior and his arrival will be more than I can ever imagine. I am worried about family, friends, and coworkers that don't know him and have not committed their life to him. For that reason and that reason only, I worry about his return. There is so much to do before he gets here. Let's get busy spreading the gospel so he can return in all his glory!

The anticipation is rising! The world needs him now! come Lord Jesus!

ANTICIPATION! Keepin' me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiting'!

Revelation 10 (The Message)

 ^1-4I saw another powerful Angel coming down out of Heaven wrapped in a cloud. There was a rainbow over his head, his face was sun-radiant, his legs pillars of fire. He had a small book open in his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on land, then called out thunderously, a lion roar. When he called out, the Seven Thunders called back. When the Seven Thunders spoke, I started to write it all down, but a voice out of Heaven stopped me, saying, "Seal with silence the Seven Thunders; don't write a word." ^5-7Then the Angel I saw astride sea and land lifted his right hand to Heaven and swore by the One Living Forever and Ever, who created Heaven and everything in it, earth and everything in it, sea and everything in it, that time was up—that when the seventh Angel blew his trumpet, which he was about to do, the Mystery of God, all the plans he had revealed to his servants, the prophets, would be completed.


I'm Old. I know I don't have to tell you this. I'm sure you know it. When I read this verse I automatically thought of Carly Simon singing Anticipation! For those of you born POST 70's, Carly Simon was an amazing singer songwriter. Ok, maybe she wasn't that great, but she sang some great songs at the time! One of her hits was "Anticipation" Click on the link Below and you can hear it!

Carly Simon -- Anticipation!



Can you imagine being at the point in history where God is going to reveal his plans and all that he has been working toward is complete?  The time is up! I am anxiously anticipating that day. I have spent most of my life hearing about the second coming of Christ. I have heard so many different versions about how and when it's going to happen. In Church on Sunday, we heard about it again. God is the only one who knows the time and the place. He is the only one who really knows how it's going to happen. The "Left Behind" book series and Tim Lahaye made his pitch for how it's going to happen. Frankly, I don't care. I just want to be there to witness the final battle and the final revealing of God's Glory.  But, like Pastor Stu said yesterday. We need to live life like Jesus will return today! While we are waiting and waiting, anticipating and anticipating, we need to keep working. We need to share the Gospel one more time. We need to bring one more person to know Christ. We need to live as God would have us live.
I can't wait, but I have to. The anticipation is mounting, I'm on the edge of my seat! Come Lord Jesus! Come!