Getting caught up!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV. http://bible.com/111/jer.29.11.niv

I've been swamped lately. I just can't get ahead at school and at home. I have a break coming up on Friday. I'm looking forward to working from home and getting caught up. 

Stress has a way of draining you. I am so thankful the Lord is my refuge where I can turn to when my life gets crazy busy. I can rest that he has a plan. He knows what I need and when I need it. He gives me time to get done the things he wants done. I just need to rest in him. Praise God for his marvelous and wonderful plans for my life! I love you Lord!

Repetition! Repetition! Repetition!

“For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.”

Jeremiah 25:3-4 NIV. http://bible.com/111/jer.25.3-4.niv

I remember my Dad constantly telling me to shut off the lights. I have told my grandkids a hundred times to close the door. As a math teacher, I can't even count the number of times I talked about y=mx+b, the Pythagorean theorem, or pi r squared. I might have to repeat those things a hundred times in a week. It has taken 23 years in education to develop patience with my math students.

God feels the same way about me and you. What special message does he constantly repeat to you? For me it's the idea I don't have to be in control. I say I'm listening but in all honesty I need it repeated over and over again. Out of all the traits of my loving Heavenly Father his patience is most amazing. He has been so patient with me in all my stubbornness.  I praise him for his love and that love shows up when he gently tells me not to worry. He shares this calming message every day, every hour and sometimes minute by minute. Thank You Lord!

What does it really mean?

““Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.”Jeremiah 22:15-16 NIV.  http://bible.com/111/jer.22.15-16.niv

These verses remind me what being a follower of Christ is all about. What does it REALLY mean to know the Lord? Am I a great Christian because I pray, read my bible, and worship? Am I a great follower because I go to church every Sunday? I think the answer is an obvious NO. So what defines me as a follower? 

We are called to serve, to pursue justice, and lift the poor and needy. Sitting in a church pew, quietly reading the word, or praying for yourself do not fullfill the action the Lord requires. Our calling is to serve? It is a constant battle of our sinful nature to focus on others over ourselves. It is difficult to pursue justice and fairness without the influence of selfishness and bias. Our political correct society doesn't always support what is TRULY right. Yes, worship, prayer, and studying the word are critical. But, those things without justice, service, and action means nothing. We can't have one without the other.

Dear Lord, forgive me for focusing my life on myself. Guide me into action. Help me to respond to the needs of others and show your love to all people I meet with every day, even the unloveable. Amen.

Undefeated

“But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11 NLT. http://bible.com/116/jer.20.11.nlt

I am undefeated.

I  am a Miami Dolphin football fan. The Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated during the entire season all the way through the Super Bowl. It's a feat others have come close to but no one has matched. It's so difficult in any sport, at any level to finish the season undefeated.

I am undefeated. I'm 56 years old. I've been a follower of Christ for 44 years. My Lord is in control of my life. I have struggled with life's challenges, I have had to overcome adversity and traversed a multitude of obstacles. I have always come out victorious. I have always seen the guiding hand of God and his warrior angels at the ready to defend me. They have rescued me from real evil. It's the power of Jesus that  keeps my perfect record intact. Jesus perfects my life through his wonderful grace, mercy, and peace. 

Praise the Lord that I am protected from all evil. I praise the Lord that I am forever and always victorious in Christ.

No Apologies

“The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, LORD, but help us for the sake of your own reputation. We have turned away from you and sinned against you again and again.”

Jeremiah 14:7 NLT. http://bible.com/116/jer.14.7.nlt

We are the cause of our own destruction. The human race is caught up in its own wickedness, it's own perversion, and it's own selfish/sinful desires. We have sinned against God again, and again. It is not surprising to see the rampant destruction, persecution of believers, and the anarchy that surrounds us. We can not continue to avoid the consequences of living a life without Jesus. I am so amazed by these verses in that they at tempt to coerce the Oord to rescue us through his own reputation. It's sad that God's standing in this world is tied to our sinfulness.

Christians rise up! Fight for the souls of the lost. Boldness is demanded! Serve the Lord openly with strength and power. No apologies, no meekness, no political correctness. Serve the Lord because the kingdom is an hand! We are representing the Lord. His reputation is tied to our actions. We must be in constant prayer for guidance and protection in our war against the evils of this world. We can not avoid this battle. We need to engage the enemy immediately.

Losing control

“Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O LORD our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.” Jeremiah 14:22 NLT http://bible.com/116/jer.14.22.nlt

I believe my God created the universe. He is in control of all things, yet he has given up much of that control to us. But there are dome things we can just not do. We cant bring rain, we can't control the rising and setting of the son. We can not prevent death, although we constantly try. We can not create. Only my wonderful loving God creates. That power, that strength, in the midst of mercy and grace completely describe my faith. God has the power to control all things yet he has given us free will. He will not interfere unless we ask him to. That power and freedom have drawn me to him. So, I yield back control of my life. 

I have turned control of my life back to the Lord. I need to do this act daily. My sinful nature wants to take control. I'm not good at being in control of my life. The Lord is. I praise him for 44 years in control of my life. I could never have designed such a delightful life. Praise Hod for his faithfulness, his wisdom, his power, and his plan. Amen!

Fear

““I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you,” declares the Lord, “because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.”

Jeremiah 13:24-25 NIV

http://bible.com/111/jer.13.24-25.niv

It's not easy to talk about your fears. I don't have many. I'm not afraid of snakes. I'm not afraid of spiders, I'm not afraid of storms. I don't have many fears because the Lord is in charge of my life. I trust him completely. As I read the bible how the people of the Lord forgot about him and abandon him and then were punished, I fear doing that myself. It might be irrational, I know my Lord will not leave me. But, will I abandon the Lord? I've been with the Lord for over 44 years of my life as a servant and a follower. I have also fallen away at times in those same years. I have not always been faithful and yet I have not been punished. I have not been abandon. There have been many times I should have been. I don't fear the Lord because he is more than just. I fear myself and the sinful nature that lives inside. So, what do I do? How do I deal with this irrational fear? My strategy is simple. I deal with the fear of my own thoughts and deeds by co tinting to draw closer to the Lord. I study his word. I pray to him and surround myself with people that love the Lord.

My sinful nature is still inside me. With the help of the power of the creator of the universe I will overcome and defeat the sinful nature that lives inside. I can not do I without the Lord. My fears are gone when I am with the Lord. So I spend all the time I can with him.

Join the battle

““The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.””

Jeremiah 8:20 NIV

http://bible.com/111/jer.8.20.niv

The motorcycle ride season is nearing the end. I ride motorcycles for enjoyment. I love the "wind therapy" more than you can imagine. I am blessed with a wife that loves to ride and a great group of Christian friends to share my pastime. But riding is more than enjoyment. Riding is a ministry opportunity. God gives passions to all of us. He doesn't give them exclusively for our enjoyment. We are to use our passions, our work, and our play to save others from eternal death.

 I am saddened the ride season nears a close, but I will continue to look for ministry opportunities. The world needs saving. Satan won't stop working just because the ride season is over. We can't let him win the hearts of the lost. Join the battle! Serve the Lord! Our world needs the savior now more than ever.

Too many stories

“Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”

John 21:25 NLT

http://bible.com/116/jhn.21.25.nlt

What has Jesus done in your life? I can not begin to share all the stories how Jesus has revealed himself to me and my family. For 56 years, 44 as a Christian I have seen his mighty hand. Praise God for the miracles of healing, the answered prayer for jobs, and the resolution of financial struggles. 

Praise God for his protection from evil, his guiding hand in family relationships, and an abundance of loving through friends, family, and even strangers that have crossed my path. I praise him for laughter and joy that has come at the end of numerous storms and trials. I praise him for unexplainable wisdom and unnatural bravery. Yes, God has been actively walking beside me for 56 years. I am several chapters of the books John was talking about. To many stories to be told. 

I don't take enough time to praise the Lord for the work he has done in me. I certainly am not where I want to be, but I am constantly amazed at how far I have come. It is through the grace of God that I am who I am and I celebrate the life God has given me.

We are friends

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:14-17 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/jhn.15.14-17.nlt

Do you have friends? I'm not talking just social media friends. I'm talking about friends who believe in you, know you, and love spending time with you. Jesus is that friend. I know it smacks of religiosity. It sounds trite. But, it is more true today than anytime in my life. The great news? The friendship is completely mutual. This is not just a one way friendship. I confide in Jesus and he confides in me. He shares his wisdom as I need it. He gives advice and listens to me. He chooses to be with me and I can't get enough of his presence. 

That is real friendship. 

I love my friends. I love spending time with them. But, there is nothing better than the friendship of Jesus Christ. I love getting to know him. I praise God, the creator of all things and get to walk, side by side with him through every moment of my life. Praise God! One thousand times a thousand........Praise God!

He will provide!

““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

John 14:1-2 NLT

http://bible.com/116/jhn.14.1-2.nlt

Our home is a little cramped right now. My daughter and her husband still hasn't sold her home in St. Louis. I feel for them. It has been tough on their growing family. Their four kids need space. We have all been praying for the house to sell. God has not seen fit for that to happen. So our house is full. But I believe God is preparing right now for that new home and he has a plan for selling theirs. I trust him. I love him. He knows what he is doing. He is providing an opportunity to spend time with my grandkids after so many years away from them. He has provided us with a home and a roof over our heads when so many people struggle with even the basics of life. The Lord provides. He knows our needs and is always there to love us through the mountains and valleys of life.

 I praise him for the many blessings he has given. I praise him for the house he is preparing for my daughters family and the house he has built for us in eternity,

Help me understand

“He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.”

John 11:51-52 NLT

http://bible.com/116/jhn.11.51-52.nlt

I don't want to sound too political. We are a divided country. I have heard over and over again that blacks in our country are being oppressed. I hear they are not treated equally under the law. I am white. I have been given wonderful opportunities throughout my life. I have a grandson who is black. I have a serious question.

What is the solution? I'm hearing nothing of substance. I certainly don't see the oppression. I don't see the double standard. I'm not sure I would ever see it. If it exists, what do I do? What does our country do? I see protests on the news. I see towns and communities destroyed by the anger. The only solutions I see being put out there is burning down buildings, looting, and victimizing police officers. If you don't have solutions , do you have the right to complain? Is it ok for us to destroy communities without promoting solutions? I just don't get it. 

I want to understand. I want to help.No one has helped me see the solution. Is it just sitting during the national anthem? Is it joining a hate group like BLM? 

Lord help us!