“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.12.1.nlt
I’ve lost 40 lbs over the past 18 months. I’m pretty proud of that. I’m more excited that it’s been 18 months. It started with a resolution to improve my A1C and get off some of diabetic medicine. I no like Myers have to do wow my insulin and dropped a couple other medicines. I’m not the only one to lose a lot of weight. Steph is matching me and several of our friends have lost over 100 lbs. I feel better and that is always a bonus. Sticking to a diet is not always easy, but I have made it part of my daily routine and it’s not been too difficult. I am amazed that I have stuck with it for over a year and I praise God for his help!
Right now I am trying to strip off all the baggage, losing the weight that keeps me from a closer relationship with the Lord. All my efforts are to work on my weaknesses and the sin that "so easily trips us up". Simplifying my life, removing the clutter of busyness, and making sure all I do is for God's glory and not my own, is part of my goal. This Blog helps me do that in a small way. I feel it is so important for me to internalize God's word, to think about it, to meditate upon it, and to apply it to my day. So, I blog and pray about my readings. I try to use what I have read throughout my day. It really makes scripture come to life in my journey with the Lord. What weighs you down? What is keeping you from a deeper relationship with the Lord? What is keeping you from living a life that is pleasing to the Lord?
Dear Lord, My life is yours, all of it. I pray your strength and wisdom to use every moment I have to further your kingdom. Help me strip the weight of this world away from my daily routine. Help me to center my life on you. I know I have weaknesses and sin that keep me from doing your will. Please strip those things from my life. I praise you for all you have done for me and want nothing more than to serve you. Amen!
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Indeed, we all make mistakes!
James 3:2 -- 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
I know this is not news to many of you, but I make mistakes. I am FAR from perfect and I have major flaws. This is one of my worst. I guess you could say I am blunt, to the point, when it comes to speaking my mind. SOOOO, many times that gets me in trouble. You always know what I am thinking. I wear my emotions out for all to see and usually my tongue leaves no doubt. Even with the ones I love, sorry honey!
My mom always said, if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Well, I spend a lot of time being quiet. I guess that is the way I have dealt with a "wagging tongue". That also is not the best method. If I am truly trying to share the love of Jesus, I need manage my words. I need to do this with strangers, coworkers, friends and, most importantly, with my family. I would say even more so with my lovely wife. She has learned to tolerate my moods, my eye rolls, and definitely my words. She has dealt with my sarcasm, my curtness, and my rage at times. I am blessed to have an angel for a wife that really loves me. She loves me so much, she puts up with my major flaws and see right through them.
I need to do better!
Dear Lord, Help me to manage my words, my attitudes, and my emotions. I know with your power and wisdom, I can conquer my tongue and defeat satan that likes to use it for his purposes. I don't want to praise you out of the same mouth that is harsh to others. Forgive me Lord when my mouth does not share your love, grace, and mercy. I truly love you, even when my words don't speak that love. I praise you for your patience with me and am humbled by your love.
Monday, May 28, 2018
What did you do this weekend?
James 2:19-20 -- 19You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
2:19 Some manuscripts read that God is one; see Deut 6:4.
2:19 Some manuscripts read that God is one; see Deut 6:4.
Summer is officially here. The 2017-2018 school year is behind us and I am blessed to be able to spend this Memorial Day weekend camping in the new home. I have been busy. I fixed a leak, hooked up the washer/dryer, installed the motorcycle wheel chock, and a few other small details to make our NEW HOME feel like home. But, I really didn't do much this weekend for the Lord. It was all about me and us. I guess it's ok to do that once in a while. It can easily become an every day occurence.
What did you do this weekend to put your faith into action?
All the bible reading, devotionals, and YES prayers are to no avail if I do no put my faith in Christ into action! The Lord has called us to Go into all the world, make disciples, baptize, and teach them. This GREAT COMMISSION is filled with ACTION words. Go, make, baptize, teach, are all calls to put our faith into good deeds for the Kingdom. We can't just go about our daily activities without building them around Christ. We have to take action, serve others, and love. Life is not about us, it's about serving the Lord in EVERYTHING we do.
Dear Lord, Forgive me for the times I just think about myself and when my focus is not on your kingdom. You have called me to action for serving you and many times I forget. Fill me with your spirit. Help me to see places to put that faith into good deeds and serving others. I love you Lord and praise you today and always. Amen!
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Mr. Hospitality
Hebrews 13:1-2 1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.13:1 Greek Continue in brotherly love. 2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
I am sure no one has every referred to me as MR. HOSPITALITY. Maybe it's just me but I think the art of Hospitality is quickly becoming a lost art. We've never really opened our home to visitors. I am not really sure why. Now that we are downsizing and moving into a "tiny home", I am not sure that will change.
Opening up your home is just one way to show hospitality to others. The key is in verse one. "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters." We need to constantly be on the look out for way of treating others with great love and kindness. That is true hospitality. You don't have to open your home to strangers, although this is the ultimate example of hospitality. You should always look for ways to help strangers. You need to LOOK or opportunities to show the love of Jesus to those that don't even know you. As we travel over these next several years, traveling from campground to campground, we need to be on the lookout to use our blessings for the Lord, even more than we have done in the past.
Dear Lord, You have not put me on this earth for my own purposes or for my own glory. You have put me here to serve others. You have put me here to bring glory to your kingdom. Forgive me for not showing YOUR LOVE to others. In order to bring others to you, they need to see YOUR LOVE in me. I need to follow your example in treating others with mercy, grace, and compassion. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Use me today for YOUR PURPOSES, not my own. Amen!
I am sure no one has every referred to me as MR. HOSPITALITY. Maybe it's just me but I think the art of Hospitality is quickly becoming a lost art. We've never really opened our home to visitors. I am not really sure why. Now that we are downsizing and moving into a "tiny home", I am not sure that will change.
Opening up your home is just one way to show hospitality to others. The key is in verse one. "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters." We need to constantly be on the look out for way of treating others with great love and kindness. That is true hospitality. You don't have to open your home to strangers, although this is the ultimate example of hospitality. You should always look for ways to help strangers. You need to LOOK or opportunities to show the love of Jesus to those that don't even know you. As we travel over these next several years, traveling from campground to campground, we need to be on the lookout to use our blessings for the Lord, even more than we have done in the past.
Dear Lord, You have not put me on this earth for my own purposes or for my own glory. You have put me here to serve others. You have put me here to bring glory to your kingdom. Forgive me for not showing YOUR LOVE to others. In order to bring others to you, they need to see YOUR LOVE in me. I need to follow your example in treating others with mercy, grace, and compassion. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Use me today for YOUR PURPOSES, not my own. Amen!
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Be still!
“Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!”
Hebrews 12:25 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.12.25.nlt
Do you know people that just won’t stop talking? I know several people that never stop talking and it’s impossible to interject two words in the conversation. I have to admit, I can get that way myself. I always want the last word and I always have to make the last point. It’s not a quality I’m proud of. But, that character flaw is nothing compared to doing the same thing with God, the creator of all things. What kind of “faithful follower” am I if I don’t take the time to sit quietly and listen to the voice of God?
I think we all need to take more time listening, waiting, for the voice of the Lord. Yes, I hear his voice. Sometimes it’s as clear as the person sitting next to me. But, most often I hear his voice in other ways. Most often it is through my wife. The Lord uses this wonderful lady to speak to me. ( I wish I could say I always listen!) God uses other family and friends to speak to me. His spirit can take so many different forms. I often hear his voice through reading good Christian books and certainly I hear his voice through his own words in my Bible. But, you can’t just expect God to speak if you aren’t listening. You need to prayer yourself to listen. It take practice to “still” yourself, quiet your thoughts, empty your mind, and really get ready to listen. We all need to master the challenging art of listening to the Lord.
Dear Lord, help me to hear your kind, loving voice. Give me a spirit willing to stop and listen. Help me be in tune with your thoughts and make them my own. There are so many distractions. Please, Lord, filter them out so I can listen to you, the creator of all things. I want nothing more than to serve you and follow your path for my life. Be still my soul! Amen!
Hebrews 12:25 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.12.25.nlt
Do you know people that just won’t stop talking? I know several people that never stop talking and it’s impossible to interject two words in the conversation. I have to admit, I can get that way myself. I always want the last word and I always have to make the last point. It’s not a quality I’m proud of. But, that character flaw is nothing compared to doing the same thing with God, the creator of all things. What kind of “faithful follower” am I if I don’t take the time to sit quietly and listen to the voice of God?
I think we all need to take more time listening, waiting, for the voice of the Lord. Yes, I hear his voice. Sometimes it’s as clear as the person sitting next to me. But, most often I hear his voice in other ways. Most often it is through my wife. The Lord uses this wonderful lady to speak to me. ( I wish I could say I always listen!) God uses other family and friends to speak to me. His spirit can take so many different forms. I often hear his voice through reading good Christian books and certainly I hear his voice through his own words in my Bible. But, you can’t just expect God to speak if you aren’t listening. You need to prayer yourself to listen. It take practice to “still” yourself, quiet your thoughts, empty your mind, and really get ready to listen. We all need to master the challenging art of listening to the Lord.
Dear Lord, help me to hear your kind, loving voice. Give me a spirit willing to stop and listen. Help me be in tune with your thoughts and make them my own. There are so many distractions. Please, Lord, filter them out so I can listen to you, the creator of all things. I want nothing more than to serve you and follow your path for my life. Be still my soul! Amen!
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