It's not about me!

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NKJV)

It's not about me!

I am in several leadership positions in my life. I'm not trying to brag, it's fact. It could be easy to get a "Big Head". 

It's not about me!

I am a leader as a teacher. If I lose sight of the needs and wants of the students, I'm a failure as a teacher. Students shouldn't have to adapt to me and my teaching style, I should have to adapt to them. If a student fails, I have to take responsibility. 

It's not about me!

In ministry, like CMA, I'm a leader. It would be easy to think of ourselves as being righteous. We are going out to share Jesus with people who don't know him. We are great, right? The Bible clearly states we're not. We are ALL sinners. None of us are righteous. If we can get to the point where we come to grips with our sin and humble ourselves before The Lord, then we can truly serve others. 

It's not about me!

I'm a leader in my family. When it comes to making decisions, I can't do it from selfishness. I need to be a team player with my family. I have to be able to share my thoughts and rally hear the thoughts of others. I need to make sure I help the family and sacrifice, when I need to, for the good of the family.

It's not about me!

I am a selfish person at heart and I need to make sure I keep my own selfishness in check! I am not that great and I have weaknesses I would like to say don't exist. These four words can help me keep from exalting myself. "It's not about me!" Lord help me humble myself before you, listen to your direction in my life and always remember these four words!

It's not about me!

Daylight Savings Time

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 NKJV)

Daylight savings time ends this weekend. I'm sorry to see it go. I know it's not popular, but I love it during the summer. Sure, Saturday night it will take a while to reset the clocks and there are some businesses that it hurts. There are also some that it helps. Regardless, getting those extra hours of daylight on the motorcycle is awesome or the extra fun times on the beach more than make up the inconveniences. The dark and gloom of winter is just around the corner and I will long for the sun drenched afternoons of summer. I love the light. 

I do know people who love the night. They don't really come to life until after hours. Night, to me, has one sole purpose.............SLEEP! Yet, these night owls don't see it the same way. They want to party all night. In my 53 years of life there is more harm than good taking place at night. 63% of rapes and 71% of car thefts occur at night. (Wiki.answers.com) Night time is a time for no good.

When Jesus came to this earth, he brought with him a great light. People didn't notice it then and they are still not noticing. Jesus Christ is our light. He destroys darkness and the evil accompanying it. Bring his light into this cold dark world. We need the warmth, the light, and the Love!

True Love!

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4:8 NKJV)

Do you know anyone who doesn't know love? I am saddened by the thought. I see it every day in school students. You can see it In a students attitude, body, and language. I used to be surprised by knowing someone that doesn't have love in their life. It seems to be so much more common than ever before. It just speaks to the urgency of our need to share Christ. God is love. Those people that don't know God, don't know love. Sure they can experience earthly love. The kind of love that is temporary and shallow compared to the love of God. Until they know God they won't know the type of love that is unchanging, permanent, and deep within the heart.

As Christians we have such a powerful responsibility to love those that don't know God. We need to go out into this lost and lonely world, find the downtrodden, the hopeless, and bring them to Christ. Once they find the endless love of Christ, they will know love. The unloved will realize true love that is everlasting. We have to share Christ not by words, but by actions. We need to give with no strings, love with no contract, and care with a heart that is pure. We need to Love for love's sake.

My Rights!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12 NKJV)

Rejoicing in in Heaven is not a right earned in this life. You and I can't do enough good to earn heavens eternal reward. It's really is even easier than that. We just have to receive Jesus as our savior and God gives us the right to join him. HE GIVES us the right. He gives us the rights of joining the family. 

My family is getting together this weekend. All except my youngest daughter, Kelley. I so wish she could be with us. Being together as a family is so much fun. Staying involved with each other, watching them grow and mature, laughing, and playing are what family is all about. God's family is the same thing. Once you have received him, you enjoy the the activities of the family. God's family loves to share with each other, helping each other grow and mature, laughing, and playing together. I love doing that through Church and my CMA family. It's not true to say I've earned the right. I haven't earned it. It was given to me by the Grace of my Heavenly Father. I am blessed to be a part of my Church and CMA. It's a gift. Praise God for his mercy and grace.

Winter's Coming!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

I cleaned out the garage today. Put the mower in the shed, packed away the camper, replaced the furnace filter, checked out the garage heater, and parked the car in the garage. I'm ready for winter. Sure, we'll probably have an Indian Summer at some point. But, winter is on the way. Hoosiers know what the change of seasons looks like. The cornfield behind our house is now empty.  Things are changing. 

Not Jesus!

I used to love the change of seasons. Being a motorcyclist and having a wife that physically has difficulty handling winter, I could do without the change. I like stability and warmth. My 35 years of marriage, my family, and most of all My God provides me with consistent, never ending love. I can rely on it. There is no greater feeling in life than the love of a God when I rise and when I lie down at night. There is no more comfort than the love offered freely by Jesus! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Ignore the Critics!

God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say.... (1 Timothy 5:21-23 MSG)

I have reached a place in my life where I'm not concerned about my critics. Our society is full of critics. Most people are selfish when it comes to analyzing others. I like to trying new things and I'm not afraid of failure. I am always analyzing what I'm doing and how can I make it better. This is particularly true at school. I want to check my motives all the time. Am I doing something that is better for me or better for my students? I can't get stuck in old ways of teaching just because it's always been done that way. It's easier to keep doing what I've always been doing. That's not always what's best for kids. We need to stretch ourselves. Challenge tradition in favor  of progress. 

We have a lot of spiritual critics out there also. Some think riding a motorcycle for Christ is ridiculous. Taking Christ to a bar or "Sin filled" biker event is tantamount to blasphemy. Critics in the church are everywhere. We don't play the right music, the preacher doesn't preach the right way. We emphasize youth too little or too much. We've watered down the gospel message or are too tough. When it comes down to it, we have one critic that matters. The only analyst we should call upon is The Lord. His opinion is the only one that matters. If God calls us, we have to go! If the spirit leads us to the lions den, we should not hesitate. We need to ignore the noise of earthly opinions and listen only to the voice of our creator. Can a person be wrong following the voice of the Father? NO WAY! Satan wants to place doubt in our minds. He doesn't want us to grow or change. His voice comes through many of the people in our daily lives. We need to learn to be more sensitive to Gods voice than the voice of our detractors! 

IGNORE THE CRITICS, LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST!

Rest

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Psalm 17:15 NIV)

Earlier this week I was exhausted. I had to get some sleep. The last two days I have caught up on my sleep and feel much better. I went to bed early and had a nice long nap each day. I praise God for the rest he provides when I need it. 

I should have one goal in my life ...... To see the face of Jesus with my family, friends, and coworkers. When we leave this Earth we will get to be in the presence of Jesus for eternity. The rest we have will be more glorious than any nap or long night of sleep. After all the pressures and stresses of life we will be satisfied and relaxed. The hope of that future drives me through every day of my life. Praise God for his plan for my future here on this Earth and in Eternity with him.

Bad things happen!

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13 NIV)

I wear a tie most days to school. That used to be the standard. Kids ask me why. I wear a tie out of respect for the teaching profession. I want my students to know I respect and value them so much that I want my clothing to reflect that. I don't want them to value learning like I do. We do have casual days and I participate in those days like everyone else. Even then, I dress in nice jeans and shirt. 

In teaching, my appearance, my body language, my face, tell everyone how much I think of my profession, my school, and my students. They are not getting a second rate teacher. I think when you do that it helps create a tone for your classroom. That positive tone keeps bad things from happening. If I take care of all the little details, it is a big step to having a productive group of students.

In my life, prayer, bible study, and worship, set the tone. This armor shines through in my conversations, my actions, and my attitudes. A Christian dresses the part by putting on the armor. It says to the enemy, "I'm ready for you!" , "You can't harm me!" . It keeps evil away from you because he knows you are serious about your relationship with God. You need to be ready for the evils of life. Put on the armor!

Have faith!

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. (Mark 11:22 NIV)

It's 1:15am. I just finished a major task for school. I'm whipped. Tomorrow will be a very long day. I have faith God is leading me in the right direction at school, at home, and in all my life. But, when I'm tired I am not a great person to be around. That hurts my witness. I need to turn that over to Christ. 

 I have given my life to Christ. He is in control. He will get me through, when I'm tired, sick, or down. Praise God!

Anger Management

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4 NIV)

Is it ok to get angry?

Yes, to a point. I think I've mentioned before the temper of my youth. It still rears it's ugly head once in a while. For the most part, it lies dormant. Is it ok for my anger to rise to the top of Mount Vesuvius?

The first question-- what am I mad about? Am I mad because I didn't get my way? Am I mad because some one has treated me unfairly? Is my anger selfish or selfless? My anger should be directed at the injustices of this world. My anger should be in my inability to save the lost. My anger should boil when we fail to serve instead of being served. God certainly loves a giving heart and is indignant when sin and selfishness appear. To blow up for selfish reasons is NOT acceptable. Unfortunately, my anger is a lot like Jonah's. It does not always have pure motives.

Filter your anger through the power of Jesus Christ. If Christ would be angry, follow him. If not let it go. Let Jesus Christ manage your anger.

I'm not blind!

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25 NIV)

I have a difficult time explaining Christ to my non-Christian friends. I'm not a biblical expert, a gifted preacher, or an experienced evangelist. When I try to share I have to rely on one thing. I know what I have seen God do in my life. There is nothing more valuable than sharing your own personal story. I am 53 years old. I have lived life as a follower of Christ for over 40 years. I have seen the grace of Jesus and the mercy of a loving God. I have seen miraculous answers to my very own prayers. I have come through impossible situations with no other explanation than God. My life is living example of what God can do with a helpless sinner. 

I will never give up sharing my life experiences with the lost. I always hope today is the day the scales fall off and they can see the power of Jesus. Praise God for the opportunities to save a life with my story!

POWER

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know ...... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Ephesians 1:18-20 NIV)

We have such a puny view of power. We view our President as having great power. Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet yield power in the form of money. The power of man is so short sided, limited to trivial acts. None can compare to the power of God. None of these men, have, or ever will, defy the laws of nature. They can't walk on water, change water to wine or bring the dead to life. They will never rise from the dead. My God has done all those things. His power is beyond all I can imagine. I know of a Gods power because the Bible tells me so. I also know of that power because he has used it for me. He has raised his powerful right hand to help me throughout the struggles of my life. He has performed miraculous signs on me just as powerful as he did in the bible. A loving, healthy family, meaningful work, Deep friendships, a great home, financial security, and an all around joyful life, are all examples of his handiwork. If you think those things are not miracles, read the local newspaper or watch a national news program. Try as they might, the power brokers of our country want to take care of me. They don't even need to try. I have a God with infinite power watching over me.

Football

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20, 21 NIV)

Football is a great sport. No other sport requires such precise coordination of so many people at the same time. A play on offense takes complete coordination of all 11 people in order to be successful. Coaches design plays to counter another 11 people trying to prevent them from being a coordinated group. Each of the players on a football team need special skills to complete their individual tasks. I love the complexity and the beauty.

God has equipped us for doing his ministry. He has given tools to each of his people to minister to the lost. We don't all have the same tools. When we get together with our brothers and sisters to minister, using our gifts, it is a beautiful sight. When we are listening to the Holy Spirit and using the gifts he has granted, ministry is a beautifully coordinated event. Praise God for his wonderful gifts and the love he has for us.

Worry Wart!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Worry Wart

That is such a strange term. Have you ever wondered where it came from. according to the "Word Detective" (word-detective.com) -- 

” The earliest use of the phrase in print found so far is from 1956, although an earlier form, “worryguts,” had been popular in Britain since the 1930s. But “worry wart” became a household standard when it was used as the name of a recurrent character in “Out Our Way,” a popular newspaper comic strip drawn by James R. Williams from 1922 to 1957. Oddly enough, Williams’ “Worry Wart” was a young boy who caused worry in others, rather than being plagued by worry himself."

Why does this verse show up so many times in my bible studies? It seems like God is trying to tell me something. 

I don't think I'm unique when it comes to the topic of worry. I hear it from most of the people I deal with on a daily basis. You would think followers of Christ would set the example of worry free living. We are not, unfortunately, different. I think I lose just as much sleep as my non-Christian friends. Me of little faith! 

God does not have to prove himself to me. I wish I lived that way. I can look back at even the most difficult times of my life and see everything turned out well. God has shown me throughout my life he has my best interest in mind. Most of the time I am so blinded by my shortsightedness, I don't know what's best for me. I'm glad God is not offended by my worried heart. He loves me and it may sorrow him, but he doesn't hold a grudge about my lack of faith. Praise God he loves me and calms my worried mind. He  comforts me and helps me rest. Thank you Lord!

Fairy tales come to life!

I love you, God — you make me strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. (Psalm 18:1, 2 MSG)

Life is not a fairy tale for most people. We don't see knights in shining armor in our neighborhoods. Although it is said a mans home is his castle, I don't know of too many Castles in Garrett, Indiana. Stories of knights rescuing maidens, defeating dragons, and defeating tyrants are great entertainment. Everyone likes it when good champions evil. So why don't people love the truth of the story of Jesus? He is our deliverer, our knight to the rescue. He provides shelter from evil, rescuing the lost and defeating an enemy that wishes to devour us. He is real, not some fictional character. He lived, he died, he rose again. The story is miraculous but true!

I love you Lord! You are my everything, my stronghold, my knight! Praise God you have delivered me from evil and your kingdom will reign forever. We will live happily ever after in eternity, Amen!

Still Kids!

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1 NIV)

My daughter has her hands full. She has a kindergartner, a toddler, and a new born. She is an amazing lady handling those wonderful grandkids of mine. My oldest daughter has been through that. She now has her own challenges with.......... teenagers! I remember all of the challenges of parenting kids. I am so thankful to have wonderful Adult children. I can't say it was always easy, but my kids have are mature Christians. They are raising their families the same way.

Kids take a lot of guidance. They rely on us to support them. The basics of life along with training to get them to grow into adults is not easy. A parent needs to use all methods possible to raise a child in the way they should go. We need to bring them from infant to adulthood. Until that happens they are children. We hope they will make good choices. We are cautious about adding too much responsibility and we make sure our kids are aware of the consequences of their actions. We live as examples for them and pray for them constantly.

It is not coincidence that WE are referred to as "Children" of God. We need to rely on our Heavenly Father to guide us through life. He longs for us to come to him for help. He has provided his written word to give us the road map for life. He has given us our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us with accountability and fellowship. We are a family. We struggle, we fail, we win together in that family. Hopefully we will grow up and mature in our faith. Help us Lord!

Don't be over matched!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)

Submit: accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.

When you ride a motorcycle, you are overmatched by every vehicle on the road. It's the law of physics, F= Mass x Acceleration. When I ride I need to be ready to "yield to a superior force". That is the reason I am so alert to my surroundings. I need to have an exit plan at every point on my route. When I come to an intersection with other vehicles, I have to assume one of them is going to pull out in front of me. I cover the brake and am always ready!

My life is just like riding my motorcycle. It is inevitable that I will yield to the superior force of the creator of the universe. Everyone will bow down to Jesus. We need to stop fighting it and come to our powerful, yet loving, Heavenly Father. Once we do this, we now take the upper hand when encountering evil. But we can't take those confrontations lightly. We need to be aware of the presence of sin, evil, and the devil. We need to have an exit strategy for every situation we encounter. We need to be ready to resist evil. Satan is a Whimp. All it takes is a little resistance and he will flee. We just need to call on the power of Jesus and the strength to resist will be overwhelming. We will win! 

An Honorary Award!

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:9 NIV)

I've done some pretty good things in my life. It sounds weird to say that. I gave my life to Christ as an early teenager. My dedication to Christ has been up and down over the years. During the up times, I have done some good things. I have served people, worshipped, brought people to know Christ and done other Good Works. Yet, through all that I have done, I am not righteous in any way, shape, or form. I am still the same sinner. I have come to know I can't attain righteousness. It's not something within my grasp. It is only through my faith in Jesus that I can wear a label of righteousness. It is not my earned label. It was earned by Jesus on the cross. It would be like me receiving an honorary doctorate. I wouldn't deserve it, I would only have it through a gift. 

I accept the gift and because I am so unworthy, I will serve the giver of this marvelous gift. I can't do enough, but want to try.

Why do we do what we do?

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. (1 John 2:15 NIV)

This was a beautiful day and I was blessed by riding VIC around in support of a young boy with a brain tumor. It is easy to fall in love with riding a motorcycle. It looks like tomorrow will be another of those days. 

What does it mean not to fall in love with the world? The WORLD is not the people of this world, it is the actions of this world which go against God. We often run a fine line between loving the world vs. loving God. If I love riding my motorcycle at the cost of my relationship with God, it is of this world. If I love my motorcycle so much that it takes the place of God it is of this world. It's not just motorcycles that could interfere with our spiritual life. Anything that takes the place of God, our work, our homes, our recreation, sports, cars, heroes, politics, and many more. These things can all keep us away from God.if I use these things to further the kingdom of God, they cease to be of this world. Everything we have and do need to be used for God. Things like motorcycles are not inherently of this world. The use of it is the determining factor. Are you serving God with everything you have and everything you do?

Why do we do what we do? What do we do with the things we have? 

I pray The Lord will strike me down if I lose sight of ministry for him. I pray I will never stop thinking of teaching as a ministry. I pray I will always consider the bike as a tool for his mission. I pray my tongue, my feet, my hands and my eyes, never get in the way of service for him.

Measure it!

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV)

Life is so complicated and full of peril. This world, our country, and our lives are in peril. We teeter on destruction every moment of every day. We have wars, terrorism, death, disease, famine, disaster, tragedy, and a mood of evil everywhere. Our streets are not safe, innocent women and children are not safe. It isn't even safe in our own families. Fathers and mothers are abusing their children. In churches, pastors and priests assault the weak and vulnerable. Through all the pain and suffering in this moment, you can have a light heart because of Christ. You can be strengthened with power and blessed in the midst of evil. The knowledge of a God that created all things loves you in a way that can not be described with mere words, is truly amazing. 

We are not alone, all Christians stand together to know his love and take part in this wonderful life we have been granted. He loves us beyond in and through the evil of this world. You can't take a ruler to measure how much he loves us. You can't measure it in one, two, three, or four dimensions. The blessings are immeasureable even by Gods standards. Praise God that he loves us. He is our way through this world. He has prepared a place for us and I can't wit to arrive!

What does it say?

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: (Romans 10:8 NIV)

You have to read it to know what it says. "Obamacare" is the law of the land. It was voted on and enacted. But, very few even know what it says. Even our leaders didn't read it. We can't rely on media, elected officials, or word of mouth to tell us about it. We need to read it for ourselves. We are lazy and choose to just let someone else tell us about it. "Just tell me what I have to do!" 

You can go through your life people telling you what to believe about the Bible and Christ. But, it's not going to be near your heart or mouth. You can't rely on your pastor, your parents, or others. You have to read it, dig into it's verses and chapters. The Bible is a treasure for us given by the creator of the universe. Every word should be cherished, reflected on, buried in your heart, and demonstrated with your life. Start now! Get a plan to read it 15 minutes every day. Study it, journal about it, meditate on it! "The word is near you,......"

It's simple!

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV)

You probably know by now, I'm a Math teacher. So many people hate Math. They claim it is so complicated. I see nothing but it's simplicity. People think I'm weird when I say I love math because of its SIMPLE beauty. Numbers, math and computation are all so predictable. Logic is so basic and natural. Nature is the same as Math. It is beautifully simple and complex at the same time. 

Being saved is easier than any Math problem and as beautiful as nature. If you can speak it and know the truth in your heart, you are saved. It's pretty simple. 

I will obey!

So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. (1 Kings 17:5 NIV)

I try to do what I'm told. To the best of my ability, I am a soldier. At school, in ministry, in life I want and strive to be obedient. That doesn't mean I don't question orders. I want to discern between the call of The Lord and my own personal desires. I am no different than anyone else. I have a difficult time separating the two. I have to admit, I do question God. I think we all have moments where we question what we are doing. Why has God sent me here? Why is this happening? At the end of the day, I will obey and do as he has asked, just like Elijah in 1 Kings.

I feel strongly I have been called to teach and lead. I don't always do a great job at each,but they are my life goals. Sometimes I would rather just follow. A follower has much less stress. But, I'm obedient to my God who calls me. Teaching can be the same way. It can be a struggle to deal with students, parents, staff, and the issues that come up every day. The fact remains, I am where God has placed me, for his reasons. I will be obedient to that calling. I am thankful that God has a plan, loves me, and promises to care for me forever.

I'm slow!

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8, 9 NIV)

I love running. My family has developed into a running family. My daughters run. Both my wife and I have Coached Track andCross Country. I now have two granddaughters that run. I have started running again for fun. I am teaching a "Couch to 5k" for some of my kids at school. So I decided torun with them. I'm a lot slower than I used to be. I don't care. I am running to encourage the slow ones. For anyone who has started running and train for a 5k race, you know it is not easy. You need constant encouragement. That's my job.

God's sense of timing is like mine. He has slowed everything down to encourage us. If he didn't care for us, he would just race to the finish. He is waiting until we all have the chance to come to him. He is controlling time in a way that is best for us. He wants all of us to finish the race right beside him. He will run alongside us. When we start dropping off, he will give us the strength to continue. If we stumble or fall, he will pick us up. As we struggle up a hill, against the wind, or in a storm, he is there for us.

Life is just like running a race. It doesn't matter how fast we go. We just need to finish and run the good race. We need to keep moving forward. We need to rely on God to help us and urge us on the course of life. Praise God! He is the best coach I could ever have.

Can you be certain?

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:2 NIV)

I am certain my Heavenly Father created the universe. I am as certain as I am that 2 + 2 = 4. I can point to countless events in my life. People might blow those off as coincident, seeing a God that I want to see, willing him into existence. God is real. I even think you can prove it with the stars in Heaven. I read tonight in my devotion that scientist believe the stars and planets are held in place by a power. They believe the power exists and yet believe that power can not come from nothingness. Yet, the heavens are held in place. So this power must come from something. I know where, they don't. 

The complexity and organization of our universe should be enough to point to the existence of a God. People still deny it. It doesn't change the proof. My life, the bible, the power of the universe, can lead to only one conclusion and we praise God it does. 

So, what would I say to a nonbeliever? Just ask God to reveal himself to you. I'm not saying test God. I'm saying ask God to reveal his power, grace, and mercy to you. If you are sincere, God will. He reveals himself every day to those who call on him. He is present in our lives just waiting on an opening that we may believe in him. Try it! You can be certain in the existing of our Heavenly Father. 

Spending your life savings!

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13 NIV)

What's the most expensive purchase you have ever made? I am sure, for most of you, your house is the most expensive purchase. Some of you it might be your college education. If you add it up, college can really be expensive. Others might include a business purchase, property, or a multitude of items. I remember the first house my wife and I purchased. We had to sacrifice so much to do it. The stress of making a purchase like that is incredible. Some people purchase homes way beyond their reasonable means. I have even heard home owners that can't afford furniture to decorate that new home because of the expense. They gave up everything and live on the edge just for the image. That's crazy.

Now think about the crazy sacrifice God made. He sacrificed his only son so we could live. The comparison of these sacrifices is immeasurable. Who would give their life intentionally for someone else. It wasn't money, fame, or fortune that God decided to come to Earth. It was love that drove Jesus to the cross for us. He did it so we could spend time in eternity with him, true sacrifice. God gave up more than his life savings and he spent it on a sinful, unforgiving people that ignore him, ridicule him, and mock him on a daily basis. He knows that's how we are and he did it anyway.

I do not bow to Intimidation!

“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, (Isaiah 51:12 NIV)

Are you afraid of someone? Are you intimidated by your boss, coworker, in law, spouse,or someone else? I really can't say I am. Now I know I'm on the right track. What can they, mere mortals do to you? Can they snatch away eternity for your life? Are they in control of your salvation? NO! They are a spit of rain, an endless cycle of loss. Don't let them control your life. You empower them with your submissiveness and your meekness. Constantly remind yourself that God will not compromise with you. Stand up with the power of Christ and realize God is not intimidated.

There are those that thrive on power and control of our daily lives. They don't know they can't do that with me. My God is in control. I will not yield that control to them. My life isn't my own. Praise God the creator of the universe cares so much about me, he sent his son to die for me. That's the kind of love that everyone needs to know.