I will..........

Psalm 101 (New International Version)

 ¹ I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise. ² I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me?I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. ³ I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. ⁴ The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.⁵ Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; 
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.⁶ My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.⁷ No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.⁸ Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.

This is one tough chapter in Psalms. Does David (or whoever wrote it) really know what he is saying? How can anyone live up to these verses? It is thought that these verses were quoted by the King. The King was making this as an oath to be as fair and just as God. It was a commitment to do what is right.

Do we have the same commitment? Can we even say we TRY to put these verses into practice? Do we doom ourselves to failure because we accept our sinfulness. God wants us to be committed to doing what is right. He wants us to focus our energies to fighting our sinfulness. We can't accept sin. We can't accept our failure. We must commit to a life God would be proud of. To accept anything less is not worthy of our Savior and what he did for us on the cross.

White Picket Fences

Psalm 100 (New International Version)

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. ² Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ³ Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his^[a]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.


What ever happened to white picket fences?  I always wanted a house with a white picket fence. When you entered the yard through a white picket fence it was like stepping into the kingdom. The beauty and the quaintness of a picket fence made the trip through it a great honor. When you read this verse about entering his gates with thanksgiving. It doesn't have the same feel as in the past. Most of our GATES are in the backyard. It is more for privacy than for beauty. Our gates are too keep things out more than an invitation to enter our Kingdom. We don't have Gates as the primary entrance to the yard anymore. Entering Gods presence is amazing. To get to come into his personal dwelling place and into his courts is a privilege we don't deserve. But when we do, we better be ready to give an abundance of thanks and praise.

God invites us into his presence daily. How many of us take advantage? Why would we NOT want to enter his presence every moment of every day? There is an inviting gate that draws us to his presence. Yet, we so often ignore the invitation. I can only tell you from experience that I can come up with some pretty amazing excuses for not spending time with God. I'm too busy, too tired, too grumpy, too depressed, too............ You get the picture. But I miss the joy, I miss the love and the healing power he freely gives. All of the reasons I don't spend time with God are just the reasons I should. He can wipe away the pain of the day. He can rejuvinate. He can bring joy. He can rescue us from all things. All we have to do is open the gate and enter.

The Lord is Good, his love endures forever. I believe it, then why don't I put more of an effort to experience it.

Lord, Forgive me for my excuses. I love you and want to be with you. You are a great and amazing God. I will enter your gates with Thanksgiving and your courts with PRAISE!

Know God!

Psalm 99 (New International Version)

⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.⁸ LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.^[a] 9 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.


My family is everything to me. We love each other and understand each other like no one else can. I spent the day with my youngest daughter and middle daughter. They know their Dad pretty well. I think I know them pretty well too. When you spend nearly 30 years of your life with a group of people (family), you get to know each other in every way possible. That's the same way with God and Israel. That family of faith have been together for centuries, they know each other. Since Israel knew God so well, they accept all that is given them. Israel knows God as a forgiving God but they also know him as fair and just. They had to face consequences of their wrong doing. Regardless what punishment they get, they still worshipped God and knew him as Holy.

I may not know God as well as the nation of Israel, but I am growing in that understanding more and more each year. I know my misdeeds have to be punished. I accept that more now than ever. As I know God better, I understand myself better also. I see the Grace he shows me more than the punishment. I guess it's because I know what punishment I deserve and God has shown his grace over that punishment.

Thank You Lord for your grace and forgiveness. I love you and worship you now and forever!

I need my joy back!

Psalm 98:7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

I'm 3weeks away from my 2011 vacation, not that I am counting down the days! This verse gives me the feel of vacation and traveling through the mountains by a winding stream with beautiful scenery all around. As I approach the end of most school years, I am worn out. I don't feel much like clapping my hands for joy or singing praises for joy. This year has been exceptionally busy and as stressful as I have had in my 18 or so years of education. I have had years like this before, but not to this magnitude. In the month of May alone i have hosted 2 softball torunaments, 2 baseball tournaments, and 2 track invitatiothings if you ad to that the record rainfall and record game rescheduling, I'm worn out.

When things aren't going well for me, I find it important to focus on the future. I need to focus on something I can look forward to and use that to drive me forward. This time of year and particularly this year I am looking forward to getting away on vacation. I want to be able to feel the songs of joy come back into my heart. I want to be able to clap my hands in celebration. Right now I can't do that, but I look forward to the time I can. Thank You Lord for providing a future for me to look forward to

Stormy Nights!

Psalm 97 (New International Version)

Psalm 97

 ¹ The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
   let the distant shores rejoice.
² Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
   righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
   and consumes his foes on every side.
⁴ His lightning lights up the world;
   the earth sees and trembles. 

I used to love thunderstorms and spring rains. Now that my job relies on good weather, the thrill of spring storms is gone. I have also seen so much spring destruction over the last few weeks, I am sure those people don't enjoy spring storms anymore. 

I learned a song last year at the CMA No Borders Rally. "Sometimes you've got to ride in the Rain." The truth is, if you only ride motorcycles when the weather is good, you might as well sell the bike. Storms, turmoil, stress, pain and sadness are all a part of life. The people of Alabama or the people of Joplin, Missouri are all in a lot of pain right now. The tornados and the destruction are more than they can take. I know it may seem shallow, but I truly believe if they turn it all to Jesus, he will help them recover. I'm not always the best at taking that advice. But, I am a witness to tell you that the power of our risen savior is more than Earthquake, Tsunami, Tornado, or Hurricane.He will give us the strength. He will help us survive. 

Thank You Lord for the storms of this life. I don't want to face them, but I grow everytime I face them. I could not survive them without you. You are the sunshine before, during, and after the storms of this life. Praise God you care enough to be there when we are in pain. Amen!

Are you New?

Psalm 96 (New International Version)

 ¹ Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

² Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

I have written, since August, 468 Posts to my 2 blog sites. It is not always easy to write something new and original. I am sure I have covered several topics more than once and I'm sure I will do it again. Sometimes it's hard for me to focus on the verses of the day because it sounds so much like the one I read yesterday. Like songs on the radio, sometimes the songs all sound alike. Every once in a while someone will come up with a new sound, but for the most part, they are the same old thing. 

But, don't you think the Lord of all creation, the creator of the universe and Lord of our lives, deserves something new. We, meaning I, need to keep from getting in a rut. We need to worship God with a new song or some new adventure. God does not want the same old boring stuff, he wants to see our lives changed and in the mean time, be made NEW. That new means we are forever transformed into a NEW us! God wants that!  

Don't get into a rut of the same old worship. Try a new approach. Attend a different church for a Sunday. Worship God in a different way and maybe with different people. Don't get stuck in a rut. Be new! Pray in a new way. Sing a new song! Praise God! we are made new!

Marianas Trench

"The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans, and the lowest elevation of the surface of the Earth's crust. It is currently estimated to be up to 10,971 m (35,994 ft) deep. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, to the east of the Mariana Islands. The trench is about 2,550 kilometres (1,580 mi) long but has a mean width of only 69 kilometres (43 mi). It reaches a maximum-known depth of about 10.91 kilometres (6.78 mi) at the Challenger Deep, a small slot-shaped valley in its floor, at its southern end,^[1] although some unrepeated measurements place the deepest portion at 11.03 kilometres (6.85 mi).^[2] If Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft), were set in the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, there would be 2,076 metres (6,811 ft) of water left above it.^[3]The Mariana Trench is located in the Pacific Ocean, just east of the 14 Mariana Islands (11"21' North latitude and 142" 12' East longitude ) near Japan.   As you probably already know, it is the deepest part of the earth's oceans, and the deepest location of the earth itself.  It was created by ocean-to-ocean subduction, a phenomena in which a plate topped by oceanic crust is subducted beneath another plate topped by oceanic crust.

The deepest part of the Mariana Trench is the Challenger Deep, so named after the exploratory vessel HMS Challenger II; a fishing boat converted into a sea lab by  Swiss scientist Jacques Piccard. "

The explanation of how this trench was formed is amazing. This trench is nearly 36,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. We have not gone to visit this location for many years. The pressure exerted on a submarine would literally crush it into nothingness if not completely designed properly. It is also amazing that this trench is considerably deeper than Mount Everest is tall. 

God the creator is so wonderfully amazing. If I were to create and construct the Earth, it would have been boring. God is so much more creative in designing this planet we live on. He didn't just create a perfect circle with perfect symmetry. God has created this planet for us with his loving an powerful hands. He is the ultimate creator. Everything fits together just perfectly. He created us the same way, but our sinfulness has scarred that creation and we need to get back to him in order to overcome those imperfections. God did not mess up, we did! Thank You Lord for creation. Thank You for creating this planet with all the meticulous details. You are amazing, Father!

My God is not like me!

Psalm 94 (New International Version)

⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
   Does he who formed the eye not see? ¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
   Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? ¹¹ The LORD knows all human plans;
   he knows that they are futile.


Our minds are so limited. We think of God on such basic terms. God is so beyond our comprehension. Yet, we still think of him in terms of our humanness. God doesn't have ears. He doesn't need them. God does not need eyes, he sees all at all times, nothing is secret from him. He is the ultimate judge. He knows all. His thoughts are not like our thoughts. His dreams and plans are not my plans. God sent his son Jesus to this Earth so WE could relate better to him, not that he needed to relate better to us. He know us so much better than we know ourselves. He laughs at our limited view of life and our grand plans. He is not like me. He is God, I am not.

I am so glad I worship a God who is so much MORE than I am. I could not worship a small "Human" god. I worship the Creator of the universe. I worship a God that created the Grand Canyon, the depths of the oceans, and the heights of the Himalayas. I worship a God that has involved himself in my life by blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. I worship a God who doesn't have to listen to my prayers but does anyway. I worship a God who is with me every step of every day. He has sent his angels to help us. He wants to be with me for eternity. There is none other like him.  

Solid Ground?

Psalm 93 (New International Version)

 ¹ The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
   the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
   indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
² Your throne was established long ago;
   you are from all eternity. ³ The seas have lifted up, LORD,
   the seas have lifted up their voice;
   the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea—
   the LORD on high is mighty.
 ⁵ Your statutes, LORD, stand firm;
   holiness adorns your house
   for endless days.

If you look at todays headlines, it is hard to believe "the world is established, firm, and secure". You hear about terrorism, wars, governments overthrown, floods, tornados, earthquakes, tsunami's, drought, and whole list of disasters. But, the world is established, firm and secure. God's throne was established long ago and God will be here for eternity. It would be so easy to panic and to stress out over all the worlds turmoil. I can't imagine not having the Lord as my strength. What hope do those have that are not the Lord's. He has conquered. He is the hope of the saved. We can relax. We can be at ease through all disasters because of who we know. We know the Lord and have faith in his perfect power and perfect strength.  The Lord is more powerful than all these things. Those of us who love the Lord know the victory is won. We know that regardless what happens right now here on Earth, God is in control. God will reign!

Praise God for his victory over all things! God's power will last forever. AMEN!

Gods Green Thumb!

Psalm 92 (New International Version)

 ¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
   they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; ¹³ planted in the house of the LORD,
   they will flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
   they will stay fresh and green, ¹⁵ proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
   he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”


It's spring time and that means I need to work on sprucing up the outside of the house. It is a lot of work but Stephanie and I love to plant flowers. Every year we add something to the outside to improve the landscaping. But, I can't say either one of us has a "Green Thumb". As a matter of fact we have killed our share of plants. We have two plants that stand on either side of our Garage. We don't have any luck here at all. We have sent many a plant to it's premature death in these two spots. I'm about ready to give up. I can say we planted a Rose bush last year that grew at an amazing rate and survived the winter to continue growing. But, the rest of the flower beds have more weeds than flowers right now. Hopefully, we can get things looking nice over the Memorial Day weekend. If we get our mulch, purchase our flowers, the outside will look great. Now it just looks terrible.

God is the best at landscaping. I have traveled throughout this country and nothing I can do would ever come close to the great Beauty God has given us. He is an artist like none other. He is the same way with us. He is an artist when it comes to sculpting and molding us into the people he wants us to be. He knows when to prune. He knows when to fertilize and when to step back and just leave it alone. He knows when we need fed and when we need nourishment. He keeps us from being ravaged by beasts and pests. God is the master gardner.

We are the work of his hands. I praise you Lord for tending to my growth. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your tender care throughout my life. I hope to bloom for you. I hope to bear fruit for your kingdom. Thank You Lord. Amen!

Failure!

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you. ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.


I can bet you know someone who has fallen away from the Lord. You might know a Pastor who has failed publicly. You might know a friend who has sinned and left the Lord. It happens. I have wondered at times why God put's these people on Public display. It seems they are so damaging to witnessing and spreading the message of Jesus Christ.

Sin grieves God. Sin is not unique to those who do not know the Lord. We all fight the Battle of Sin. Unfortunately, some fail. I am not one to judge why, or to comment on how. God knows these things. But, as a sinner saved by the grace of God, I need to be on constant alert. One of the ways we can stay vigilant is to "Observe". We need to observe those around us that have failed. We need to observe the punishment of the wicked. We need to witness the Grace of God and compare it to the consequences of rejecting him.

These observations should help us stay focused on him. If we do, we will not fear the terror of darkness. We will not feel the pain of the arrows around us. We do not have to fear pestilence or plague, or cancer, or loss. We do not need to fear failure. We are promised his protection. We need to stay alert. Keep the Faith. God is with you. Do not Fear. You do not need to worry of Failure as long as you leave God in control.

Gods Work -- My Work!

Psalm 90 (New International Version)

 ¹⁷ May the favor^[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
   establish the work of our hands for us—
   yes, establish the work of our hands.


I have had several jobs in my life. I am guessing more than most. When I graduated from High School, I got married and went to college right away. I was bored so I quit and went to work. I got a job in the Cable Television Industry. I had several jobs there and moved up the ladder all along the way. When Steph and I moved back to Indiana, my priorities began to change and decided to go into education to work with young people. I have taught at 2 different schools, then got into administration and have been in administration in 2 schools.

It is truly amazing to me how God has directed my path through the years. I can track myself from one job to another and one career to another. I quickly realize that God has been in control. If I map my career and it's twists and turns there is no way I could engineer it. It is almost unbelievable that one position led to another and another and another until now. If we try to calculate the odds I would end up Athletic Director at Garrett High School, you have no other choice but to give credit to God.

I praise God that he has established the work of my hands. He has designed the career path I am on. He designed it specifically for me. When I gave my life to Christ, I gave not only my "Faith Life" but all my earthly life, including my career. He has taken my committment and designed this adventure for his glory and his purposes. I know I am an Athletic Director right now. But, I can expect that my life is not over yet and there will be other twists and turns. I look forward to the unexpected. I can accept all things God sends me because I know he has a perfect plan for me and my life. Praise God!

Paul vs Osama!

Psalm 89 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ³⁰ “If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, ³¹ if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, ³² I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; ³³ but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. ³⁴ I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. ³⁵ Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David— ³⁶ that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; ³⁷ it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

What a beautiful, wonderful verse. This is a great statement of my God. It reminds me so much of being a parent. As a parent, have you ever said, "This is going to hurt you worse than me."  Only a parent can understand it. Only a parent can understand discipline is necessary. God knows he must discipline us for our sins. But, he will never forsake his love for us. He will never lose faith in us.

It may sound strange. Do you think God loved Osama Bin Laden? Did he ever give up that he would turn his life to him? Here is a man that the world despised. He was so anti-christ that he wanted to do everything possible to destroy us and our faith. But, I can guarantee you God loved him and was in pain at his death without accepting Christ. How do I know? Just go to the Bible. Have we forgotten Paul? Before his encounter with Christ, he was bent on destroying the early Christians. He was doing everything possible, just like Bin Laden, to eliminate us from Earth. God never gave up on Paul. He loved him and continued to work to convince him to change. Fortunately for Paul, he changed.

It is so easy for us to give up on those radicals who discount God. Part of our sinfulness is to give up on them and enjoy their suffering. God doesn't do that. We shouldn't do that. I am so thankful that God will never give up on me. I am so thankful that even through my sinfulness, God will keep trying to perfect his love in me. I know I will be punished for my sins. Osama was punished for his sins. He was held accountable for his actions. The consequences of our actions will never go away. But, God will love me no different. Praise God for that!

What a friend!

Psalm 88 (New International Version, ©2011)^] 

⁸ You have taken from me my closest friends
   and have made me repulsive to them. 
I am confined and cannot escape;
 .........
 ¹⁵ From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
   I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
¹⁶ Your wrath has swept over me;
   your terrors have destroyed me.
¹⁷ All day long they surround me like a flood;
   they have completely engulfed me.
¹⁸ You have taken from me friend and neighbor—
   darkness is my closest friend.


In our fast paced mobile society, we don't have close friends like we used to. When I was growing up, I had two of the best friends anyone could have. Jeff Cisney and Tim DeWolfe, were my best friends. We did everything together. We were in each others weddings. Or families were close, our wives were good friends. What happened? Well, we all moved separate ways and just drifted apart. When I was AD at South Adams High School, I got to know Jeff's kids. They were in Berne. But, we weren't close like we had been in the past.

I have had so many good friends over the years where ever I've lived or worked. But, the friend I've known the longest is my wife. I'm not sure everyone can say that. We have gone through so much. She enjoys doing the things I do and I enjoy doing the things she wants. We really spend so much time together. I wouldn't want it any other way. We have been married for almost 33 years and have been close ever since High School. We Love each other. but we also love being with each other. The great thing about having your wife as your best friend, you don't have to worry about moving away from each other. We will be with each other now and forever.

I don't think Jesus minds me being best friend with my wife. Stephanie may be my best friend here on Earth, but Jesus is truly my best friend. We have been together forever, not just 33 years. He is with me all day. He enjoys the things I do and I enjoy his blessings immensely. He has shown me love when I don't deserve it and when all my other friends have moved on, he is permanent. It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns:

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
 all our sins and griefs to bear! 
 What a privilege to carry 
 everything to God in prayer! 
 O what peace we often forfeit,
 O what needless pain we bear, 
 all because we do not carry 
 everything to God in prayer. 

2. Have we trials and temptations? 
 Is there trouble anywhere? 
 We should never be discouraged; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 
 Can we find a friend so faithful 
 who will all our sorrows share? 
 Jesus knows our every weakness; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 

3. Are we weak and heavy laden, 
 cumbered with a load of care? 
 Precious Savior, still our refuge; 
 take it to the Lord in prayer. 
 Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 
 Take it to the Lord in prayer! 
 In his arms he'll take and shield thee; 
 thou wilt find a solace there.

What a great Hymn! We never have to worry about our friendship with the Lord. He loves us beyond any Earthly friend. Praise God! Praise God the creator of the universe wants to be my friend. Praise God, he has sent me such great Earthly friends. Praise God he has sent my Best Friend, Stephanie! Thank You Lord!

Where were you born?

Psalm 87 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
² The LORD loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
 ³ Glorious things are said of you,
   city of God:^[a]
4 “I will record Rahab^[b] and Babylon
   among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush^[c]—
   and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”^[d]
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
   “This one and that one were born in her,
   and the Most High himself will establish her.”
⁶ The LORD will write in the register of the peoples:
   “This one was born in Zion.”
 ⁷ As they make music they will sing,
   “All my fountains are in you.”

Where were you born? I have a special fondness in my heart for Muncie, Indiana and Ball Memorial Hospital. That's my birthplace. It's kind of funny that we hold our birthplace in such high regard. What do you remember of your birth? I can tell you I was there,...........but I don't remember a thing! But, it is okay to be sentimental about your birthplace. God is proud of Zion! or Jerusalem! Jerusalem is the birthplace of our Christian birth.

God is sentimental about this Holy City because it is here where his plans have all come together. It it the place where our "Spiritual Birth" began. We are so sentimental about being Born Again. I can tell you that I remember more about my second birth than my first. I was at Junior High Church Camp at Camp Adventure in Epworth. What a wonderful camp. It still holds a special place in my heart. It is here that I truly began my life. I began a life with my Savior and a life that has been a great adventure full of the blessings of God. Praise God he has chosen me. Through his grace and not anything I have done. Praise God!

Thank God for Mom!

Psalm 86 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁵ But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
   slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. ¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me;
   show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
   just as my mother did. 


Mothers Day is a couple days away. Some of us are blessed with Mothers who are great Christian women. I am one of those lucky people. My Dad went into the ministry late in his life. He spent the last third of his life in full time christian service. But my mother has been in Christian Service her whole life. I remember her taking her first organ lessons when I was in or around First grade. She became a Church Organist over 40 + years ago. Ever since I can remember we had a piano in our living room. She would play constantly. She raised all 6 of us kids on the melodies of Love. Being a church organist is a labor of love for the Lord. What it always meant was practice, practice, practice. It also meant church choir and church choir practices. Sometimes Mom was the choir director. She played for weddings. She played for soloists. She played and played and played. But, even to this day, I have never heard anyone play the organ or piano with as much feeling as my mom. That wasn't by chance and it wasn't by skill. It was because of her passion for Jesus and worship!

My mom not only served the lord through music, she has served on every possible committee possible for a church member. She has served the local church, she has served on state committees, she has served nationally. She ministers in so many ways, I couldn't do them justice. She IS a servant of the Lord. Besides all her service, she was always there to support my Dad before he passed away. She was the perfect Pastors Wife. When my Dad had his stroke 14 years ago, she became more of a servant. When he passed away, she turned her ministry focus to grief counseling. Now she is a part time Chaplain at a hospital besides all her other servant positions.

Through my moms service to the Lord, I learned service to the Lord. Through her passion of worship, I learned my passion for worship. Through her love of music, I learned my love of music. I am so thankful to have a mom who loves the lord. I see so many people that are truly lost in this world. These people don't have anywhere to turn. I know I can turn to Jesus. My  Mom is a huge part of the reason I know where to turn. Thanks Mom for all your love, not just your love of me, but your love of the Lord! Praise God for a Righteous Mother!

Peace!

Psalm 85 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
   righteousness and peace kiss each other. 
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
   and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The LORD will indeed give what is good,
   and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
   and prepares the way for his steps.

Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness, and Peace belong together. If you try to separate these things, life is not complete. Without God, without the faith of things to come, with out following God's will, we can have no peace. When these four things come together, your life will be good. You will receive a harvest beyond all things.  

Our world does everything to try to create Peace. It tries everything to generate Love without God, without Faith, without Righteousness. It can't be done. We wonder why our lives are so incomplete. We wonder why our lives are so complicated and good things don't happen. WE wonder why we don't feel real Peace. I can tell you why! We are trying to do it without the creator of the universe. We ignore him and his son. We ignore his guidance. We ignore his love and his path to peace. Stop ignoring him. Stop right now and Pray for Love through Christ Jesus to enter your life.  Trust in his faithfulness and his righteousness. When you can do all this. His grace will grant you Peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank You Lord!

Heavenly "Walmart" Greeters!

Psalm 84 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
   than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
   than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 
¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
   the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
   from those whose walk is blameless.

Here is an excerpt from http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/03/18/walmart-greeter/

Confessions of a Walmart Greeter: All in a Day's 

Work

By Karen LoBello, Posted Mar 18th 2010 @ 11:30AM

Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., initiated an open-door policy seldom seen in business today. He was actually receptive to employee suggestions. One Walmart staffer proposed, due to increased shoplifting problems, that it might be beneficial to post greeters at each Walmart entrance. Sam's vision included a welcoming experience for customers, so he took the employee's advice. The rest is history. Walmart greeters serve as shoplifting deterrents and as the face of Walmart.

A Walmart greeter is the first person a customer encounters when he enters the store. Since it's the consumer's initial point of contact, the intention is for it to be a pleasant one. Although the pay is meager for Walmart greeters, the impressions they make are not. I once witnessed a Walmart greeter run quite a distance to alert a woman that her laundry detergent was leaving a trail behind her. It's all in a day's work.

Meet Ken

Ken, a Walmart greeter in the small town of Mesquite, NV, has been brightening my days for over a year now. He quips that he applied for the job because he was "getting in his wife's way" at home. He is retired from another profession, as are many Walmart greeters.

Typical day

Ken tells me his workday starts very early in the morning. He follows a basic routine each day. After clocking in, Ken scours the area where he'll be posted to make sure it's in tip-top shape. He dusts the window sills, picks up the cigarette butts left from the night before, and clears out any debris. He makes sure that the carts are all lined up and ready to go.

Meet and greet

A Walmart greeter's main job reflects its title: Greet the customers enthusiastically. Ken says that he is also responsible for putting pricing tickets on return items. One of his most challenging responsibilities is making sure that all goods are accounted for as buyers exit the store. He has run across a few indignant patrons when he's asked to see their receipts. Ken has no complaints. He says that the good outweighs the bad in his job as a greeter at Walmart.

Can You imagine what it would be like to be a "Walmart" style greeter in Heaven. That would be the job to have. You would get to witness everyones first look at Heaven. After, a long and painful life here on Earth, the pleasure of Heaven and the face of Jesus will be an amazing sight to see. Seeing God in his glory for the first time will be a spectacle we will all want to witness. I can't imagine any more excitement as that when we will see our families enter the gates of Heaven. I want to be the first one to greet them. Walmart greeters may not make a lot of money. You wouldn't have to pay me a dime to be a greeter at the door to Heaven. Praise God, He loves us and cares for us so much that, he not only sent his son to die for us, but he built a home for us to live for eternity. Not just any home, but a mansion with streets of Gold. A home where there is no more pain and suffering. He built a home designed specifically for us. Praise God! I can't wait!

One Mind! One Spirit!

Psalm 83 (New International Version, ©2011)

³ With cunning they conspire against your people;
   they plot against those you cherish. ⁴ “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
   so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
 ⁵ With one mind they plot together;
   they form an alliance against you— 


Sometimes it feels like the "enemy" are more organized than we are. They seem to be pulling in the same direction and the Christian "Camp" seem to be pulling against each other. We fight over social issues. We fight over political issues. We get bogged down with how we worship and forget who we worship. We act like we are defeated and their is no hope. 


Satan is cunning. He has a way of making the best out of the worst. Yet, we need to know that he is already defeated. God can not be destroyed by the plotting and the cunning. As a matter of fact, God will destroy and not be destroyed. He has already won the battle. His nation will never be forgotten. As long as we trust in him we will be among the victors. We are one with the Savior and one with the Creator of the Universe. Nothing He can do can separate us from the Love of God. They may appear to be one. They may appear to have the upper hand. But, that is the illusion. That is the lie. We can not be defeated when God is for us. As the song says, "VICTORY IN JESUS. My savior forever." SO, we don't panic. We can relax and know that our God is God and he will reign now and forever more! Amen!

We are not GOD!

Psalm 82 (New International Version, ©2011)

A psalm of Asaph. ¹ God presides in the great assembly;
   he renders judgment among the “gods”:
 ² “How long will you^[a] defend the unjust
   and show partiality to the wicked?^[b]
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
   uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
 ⁵ “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
   They walk about in darkness; 
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
 ⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods”; 
   you are all sons of the Most High.’
⁷ But you will die like mere mortals;
   you will fall like every other ruler.”
 ⁸ Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
   for all the nations are your inheritance.

SO many people misinterpret these verses. We are not GOD! If you learn anything about the Bible, you need to learn some of the rules of the printing. #1 UPPER CASE "G" is God. lower case "g" used in gods is not GOD. "gods" are nothing. They have no power. They are made by us. There is only ONE GOD! Nothing else can be said. God was not created. He was, and is, and is to come. Without God we will perish. All that we create will perish. God will never perish and he gives us the opportunity to live forever ONLY through him.

The gods or the idols we create are weak and needy. We/ They can do nothing in-and-of-themselves. Their illusion of Power is fleeting.

My God is the creator of the universe. God is the Light. He is the way. He is the truth. My God loves me when I don't deserve it. My God is GOD!

Two Ears -- One Mouth!

Psalm 81 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁷ In your distress you called and I rescued you,
   I answered you out of a thundercloud;
   I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[c]
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
   if you would only listen to me, Israel!
⁹ You shall have no foreign god among you;
   you shall not worship any god other than me.
¹⁰ I am the LORD your God,
   who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
 ¹¹ “But my people would not listen to me;
   Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
   to follow their own devices.

God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason! Use them proportionately!

Why is it so hard to listen? Out of any of our possible choices, listening takes the least amount of energy. Yet, in our society we honor people who talk more than people who listen.  Even as Christians our conversations with God are full of a lot more talking that listening. We are not much different than Israel. We are so busy talking and pleading for help, we forget to listen.

This message is not just for you. This message is for me. I am such an impatient person. i do not take the time to listen. I have to attack problems, solve them and get on to the next one. I don't have time for idol listening.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?

Tonight when you say your prayers, in the morning when you say your prayers, At dinner time, when you say your prayers, don't forget to listen! God has a lot to say, he loves us and wants the best for us. How can we know what that is if we don't listen.