Beauty in the midst of a blizzard!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

I spent all day yesterday fighting with a blizzard. We got over a foot of snow. It came down at rate of at least an inch an hour. I don't have a snowblower and didn't want to have to dig out of +12 inches of snow at one time. Plus the forecast, which has been verified this morning, is for subzero temps.

So now I'm sitting here after having a great breakfast with my wife and looking at the beautiful NEW snowfall. Sitting here in a warm home with the wind blowing the snow outside is really beautiful. The four foot drifts will be a lot of work to shovel from in front of the garage, but from my comfy chair, they look peaceful. 

Every day I renew my faith with Christ is just like the beauty of the new fallen snow. I DO need to renew that faith continuously. Because of my own sinfulness my "snow" gets dirty, it loses it's beauty. I am thankful I have a wonderful God who loves me and understands my weaknesses. I am thankful he provides time, even in the midst of a blizzard, to see his beauty and know he is here.

I pray today that everyone is safe from the dangerous conditions outside. Lord please protect those that must work in this. Bless the police department, fire department, electric workers, road crews, health care workers, and leaders in our community. Give them wisdom and strength to do their work and safety to return home. amen!

Sample Salvation!

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24 NIV)

There are not too many things in this life that are free. Stephanie and I used o shop at SAMS club quite a bit. When the girls or grandkids were with us they would always seek out the free food samples. It was always great to try something you wouldn't pay for. It actually works. We have decided to by a NEW items after we tried the samples. 

Wouldn't it be great if people could try salvation at no cost. WAIT! They can! The song AMAZING GRACE is one of the most popular songs ever. Popular 'Amazing Grace' still going strong after 200 years | The Augusta Chronicle According to this article the song has been recorded over 6,600 times, more than Handels Messiah and How Great Thou Art. This song describes the FREE grace we receive from the Death and Ressurection of our Savior. There is no contract, no legal document, we just have to accept it. 

I just don't understand why people won't sample the salvation of Christ. If we come to Christ and accept him as Lord of Our lives, we don't need to DO anything else. He will make himself known and the perfect grace will become more and more apparent in your life. If we admit we are sinners and need Christ, he will do the rest. If we can just "muster" the faith of a mustard seed God will take over and change you from the inside. We are all sinners and will always fall short of the mark. God doesn't care about that. Grace means he doesn't care about that. He just wants you to come to him. 

All I can say is try it! Sure it would be great for you to be a biblical scholar, prayer warrior, servant to the lost, but you don't have to do that first. It will happen out of your changed heart. If you sample salvation, you will come back for more. Your heart will long for the love of Christ and it will fill every part of your life! You will be eternally blessed.

Bosses

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)

I am really enjoying my Billy Graham daily devotionals. I had another good one today. I thought I would share his thoughts with my own.

I worked in the business world for 15 years before I became a teacher. I loved it. I worked for some great companies and bosses. I worked hard to do my best for those companies and people. Sometimes I might have worked too hard. I made sure my department always stayed within budget. We were frugal in our spending. I was proud of the quality of my work and I made sure the people that worked for me represented the company in the best possible way. The people I worked with, from top to bottom felt the same way. I think that's why our companies were so successful. Now I do the same thing for my school. The teachers and administrators do the same thing. We really work hard to do what's best for kids. We're not satisfied until we get the best out of every student. We are never satisfied to lose a student. We strive ALWAYS for 100% graduation and graduating responsible, productive citizens.

My devotional asked this question: Do I work just as hard for God as I do for my school or business? I think you would agree his kingdom is worth far more  than any business or school here on Earth. He is the ultimate boss. Do I work harder for my "Earthly Boss" or my "Heavenly Boss". Which one pays me more? I get both earthly and heavenly rewards from God and nothing but earthly rewards from my school.  I say I'm a dedicated Christian, but what does it say when I work harder at my job than bringing others to Christ. Is my job more important than my relationship with the creator of the universe? Is my job more important than bringing others to know him?  I can definitely SAY no. Do my actions back up my words? 

God has given each of us wonderful gifts. I use those gifts every day when I work. God gave me my gifts for his glory and purpose. I am to serve him through everything I do. My earthly and heavenly jobs are one and the same. I need to change my priorities. That doesn't mean neglect work. It means pore myself into serving others and being the best "Jesus" people see.

Lord please help me to use my gifts for you, not just at work but in everything I do. Help me to serve others at school so they will see you through me. You mean everything to me and I beg your forgiveness when I put you second on my list of priorities. You should be number one, always. Thank you for your patience and your unwavering love for me!

Be nice in 2014!

So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love. (Romans 14:19-21 MSG)

I love these verses from the message. It is so true. I just got through reading Facebook and the political battles are heating up again. It's not just the battle between republicans and democrats, it's not just liberals vs conservatives, or msnbc vs Fox News. The battle is like the civil war, family vs family, hatfields vs mccoys. We put so much of our energy into these battles. Instead let's agree to disagree and then spend our time encouraging and not finding fault. These silly battles have been going on forever. Do you remember the Pharisees? They battled over some crazy things. Food, days of the week, rules, politics, taxes , religion, were all frontline battles. It was ridiculous. 

Are you looking for a New Years Resolution? Take all your social media accounts and use them EXCLUSIVELY for uplifting and encouraging your friends and enemies! Yep, even your enemies. Don't fill it full of sarcasm or sick humor. Use your words to build bridges, not tear them down. We can find faults with everyone and everything, including ourselves. Let's not key on those and key on the positive. Don't beat yourself up and don't beat up your enemies! Make the commitment! We can change the tone of our society by starting right now!

It's personal!

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)

I was just reading my daily devotion and stricken with a simple truth. Christianity is not about doctrine, philosophy, or creed, it's about people. Real people are the center of our faith. None are more real than the person of Christ. Christ brings our faith to this world. His presence here is an example for our lives today. Jesus loved people while he walked the Earth and he loves us just as much right now. We need to take his example and love in the same way. We need to love the woman at the well, we need to love the sick, the orphans, the widows, and most importantly, the sinner, just like he did. Our faith, in action, needs to be on a personal level. I don't always do this. I put my doctrine, my beliefs, above people. It's not about what I believe it's about Jesus. If I make it about anything else, That's wrong!

Lord teach me to really love people. Teach me to share the abundant love you have given me. I don't know how to do this on my own, I need you directing me. Keep my thoughts pure and my motives a mirror of your own. Please be patient with me, but firm in your guidance. I love you and praise you with all my heart.