My Ladies!

1 Timothy 2

 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

My life is filled with women. I have 3 fantastic daughters, 4 granddaughters, and a beautiful wife. So if any man can speak about women from experience, I can. I'm not saying I'm an expert. God certainly knows I'm not (I'm not sure anyone can be!) 

I don't know too many women that don't care about what they wear. All women want to look nice. Some put a lot more value on fashion than others. One of the things I love about my "Ladies" they are ALL smart and have great common sense. This is true in everything they do, including their fashion. Like all young girls, they've had their fashion "moments". I remember one Christmas McKenzie had to have a pair of Lucky Jeans. I think they cost $90. That's crazy. Lindsae has been addicted to shoes! Kelley has also had her Fashion moments. But, as they have matured as women and mothers, they have become much more practical. I am so proud of them because they put more emphasis on what goes in their hearts than on their bodies. They have a great love for the Lord and that's what they pass on to their kids. 

There is nothing more important in a family than a Godly woman. There is nothing more important in a family than a Mom that sacrifices everything at her won expense. She doesn't have time to spend Adorning herself, or extravagance. She's too busy worrying about everyone else first! It's Mom that really sets the spiritual tone of the family. Sorry, Dads! It's the Praying wife or mother that has more of an impact on the path a family takes. The Dad might be the spiritual leader, the CEO, but it's the Mom who's the General Manager and gets things done. 

When people read these verses they always concentrate on the negatives, what women can't do. But, the women in my life have their priorities exactly the same as these verses instruct. I think if you'll look around, All Godly women do!

Learn from your Grandkids!

2 Corinthians 6
 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Every grandparent loves there grand kids.i can't get enough of them. I am looking forward to retirement just so I can spend more time with them. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids also very much. But, a bond with your grand children is a special bond. They show such unconditional love for me and their grandmother. They love to spend time with us. They withhold nothing when it comes to affection. They still give kisses and hugs and I literally melt when I receive them. It feels so good to be with them. I am truly blessed with the greatest grandkids in the world.(if your a grandparent, I'm sure you would understand how I can say that)

We need to share Love with people like our grandkids do. They open their hearts to us. We should open our hearts to others in that same way. We can learn a lot from our kids and grandkids. One of our barriers to sharing Gods Love, is our own "guarded hearts". Building relationships is what it's all about. You can't do that without exposing your heart.

Dear Lord, help us to open our hearts like little children, to those who don't know your love. Amen!

1 Timothy 1

 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

It's so common for parents to claim coaches show favoritism. Coaches play little Johnny because his last name is ___________! (you fill in the blank) they might say coaches or teachers show favorites. You know what? Coaches do show favorites. Their favorites are the players who give 100%. They show favorites to those kids who work hard, listen to what the coach says and does it. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? God shows favorites too! God loves those who humble themselves, submitting to his teaching.

With the Lord it's not who you know or what family you were born into that matters. It's not who you know, but what you know that's important. That's why you have to continually study God's word and pray without ceasing. If you don't, you'll end up just like the people of this passage. Your wisdom is developed through faith, a pure heart, and a good conscience. How can you speak of Gods work if you do not really know him? Why would people accept your witness without love. Do you want to be a teacher of Gods law or a teacher of false doctrine. If you have departed from God's ways and turned to meaningless talk, you need to change. Open your heart to the creator and he will grant you the wisdom of the ages. Then sharing will be a complete joy. Stop ACTING like you know it all and come to the one who holds all the wisdom.

Tent Camping!

2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3

I have mentioned before how much Stephanie and I enjoy tent camping. But, we have had several situations where our tent was not the best place to stay the night. This summer we made a late stop in LaJunta, Colorado. When we started to set up the tent it was extremely windy. We got the tent put up in 40 moh winds with stronger gusts. Stephanie went to take a shower and I stayed with the tent. It was all I could do to keep it from shredding and complete destruction. When Steph returned, we had no choice but to pack up and head to the nearest Holiday Inn. The tent just wasn't designed for that weather.

Sometimes our Earthly body is not adequate for life hear either. I am sure we all have been touched in some way by cancer. We all know people who have died from heart disease, or other physical ailments. This life is not always easy. The great news? We have an eternal home God has prepared for us. All the moaning and groaning of this life will pass away. Praise God he loves us so much he is willing to share his kingdom with us. My body and my life here on Earth is no more adequate than a tent camper. I left that inadequate home for the safety of a Holidsy Inn. Say yes to the Father. Say yes to a permanent, safe dwelling prepared for you. God is ready for you, are you ready for him?

Don't be lazy!

2 Thessalonians 3

 ¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. ¹³ And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.


I have seen this in action first hand. Kids that are lazy are not good students. Kids who are lazy are disruptive. One of my passions in life is to get kids motivated. I am an athletic director because I have seen first hand what participation in extracurricular activities has done for kids. National statistics back-up what I've seen first hand. Kids need to be doing something beyond the normal school day. Kids need to feel like they have value. Kids need to feel wanted.  Adults need to feel they have value, also.

This is going to sound pretty political, but here goes! I don't think we do any favors for people giving them handouts. All over the world are examples of people who have gotten lazy and expect to receive handouts, mostly from government. It's always dangerous to make a general statement like that. I'm not lumping anyone who receives a government handout as lazy. I'm not saying people who don't have jobs are lazy. I am saying that we need to be careful not to create a class of lazy people who feel no hope and no value. I love working with kids. I love seeing them succeed and even though my part is minor. I feel at least some pride that I played a part building their character. I never tire helping kids grow up. When a kid grows up and views himself/herself as valuable, they will certainly succeed. Kids who see no value in their lives are doomed before they even get started. Everyone must feel hope and value. Hope and value are achieved through action. We have to get people contributing to society in a positive way. They can't view themselves as a drag on society. People need to be active. They need to do something with purpose.

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you automatically develop a purpose in life. You automatically have a JOB. Spreading the message of Christ is our purpose. It doesn't matter what job you have. It doesn't even matter that you're unemployed. You could be working a no brainer job that barely makes minimum wage. Your vocation means nothing. If you want to feel valuable in life, lead someone to Jesus. See what Jesus does for them. Just going to work every day, just helping kids succeed is NOTHING compared to the satisfaction of knowing you helped someone receive the gift of eternal life. Talk about Value! Thats the ultimate value!