Thank You Lord for the harvest!

“Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NLT‬. http://bible.com/116/rom.14.6.nlt

Thanksgiving day!

Praise God for his countless blessings. It is so easy to overlook the littlest things. Our daily bread is one of those blessings we often take for granted. I am so very blessed with the abundance of food. Today is a perfect example. I'm not alone. Pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes,  noodles, pumpkin pie and more pumpkin pie! I always look back to the first Thanksgiving and the diverse people coming together to celebrate the bountiful harvest. They were farmers. Farmers, the backbone of our country have labored hard throughout the year. We have eaten well because of their hard work. Our country has its poor, its homeless, its people that won't celebrate with a full thanksgiving feast. But, our country is blessed to have the best farmers in the world, the most abundance, and the most affordable food anywhere . We supply the worlds food with the grit and hard work of the American Farmer. Praise God for the gift of the harvest.

As we sit down for our feast today. Remember to thank the Lord for your meal. Remember to ask a special blessing to our nations farmers. Praise God he is watching out for us and cares deeply for those that are poor and don't have thanksgiving on their table today. Thank you Lord! I love you! I'm humbled by your grace and mercy. I don't deserve the wonderful meal today, but ono you give it to me as a gift out of your love. Thank You! Amen!

Thankful to serve Jesus!

“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬.  http://bible.com/116/psa.28.7.nlt

Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? If you really take the time to investigate your heart, your life, and your past, you will build a list of endless list of blessings. I am 56 years old. I have been blessed so abundantly that I just have to share with you the countless blessings in my life. In my previous posts I have celebrated my wonderful family, my careers, and now I want to praise God for the ministries he has let me be a part of.

My life of serving the Lord began in my late teens. I had some great mentors in serving the Lord. Obviously, number one was my Dad and my grandpa.  But, Ted Blosser and Harold Oechsle really planted the seed of ministry in my heart. I have served as youth director and various roles in churches. I enjoyed and still enjoy the church and serving there. But, My ministry with CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Association) is a pure blessing from God. The people I have met, the message we share, is so very powerful. Taking the message of Christ directly to the lost. All ministry should be so simple. So many people look to mission fields over seas and I see value in that. But, we can not neglect those lost right in our country. This nation needs our help. CMA does serve the whole world, but my hearts desire is to continue reaching bikers right here in the USA.

Dear Lord, I praise you for guiding my life to CMA. I love the people I serve with. I love our mission. Please continue to use us for your purposes. Use us to bring the lost to you. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as President of CMA Son Rise Riders this year and next. May I never lose sight of our real purpose! Amen!

Thanks for this Great Adventure! Thanksgiving 2016

“They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬. http://bible.com/116/rev.7.12.

This is Friday. Well,  it really is Tuesday, but it's our last day of school this week as we prepare for our Thanksgiving break. I am looking forward to the five days of family, food, and fun. 

Thanksgiving, thanking God for our blessings, is an important part of the Bible and should be at the center of our lives. It's not about us and what we've done, it's about the grace that God has shown us and the gifts he gives. I've already written about the gift of my family. I also need to praise him for my wonderful career. Actually my life has been blessed with multiple careers. I have worked in the cable television industry, traveling the country from Virginia to New York. I've been in education and been blessed with multiple careers as an administrator and teacher. I have served at three wonderful school corporations and with some of the best people in the world. My current assignment in the Interdisciplinary Learning Collaborative at GHS is one of my greatest blessings. God's hand has been with me. I am honored to serve where the Holy Spirit has assigned. I love working with teens and I love working with people dedicated to making the world a better place. 

I am so thankful for the path you have laid before me. Lord, you are amazing and your grace and mercy has brought me through this great adventure we call life. I love the life you have given me. It is a wonderful gift. I love you and praise you for all things . They are not by my doing, but by your power alone. Thank you Lord. Amen!

The greatest week of the year!

“Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the LORD more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭69:30-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬. http://bible.com/116/psa.69.30-32.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Sure, I love Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But, the holiday celebration for Christmas has been twisted so much and the true meaning of the Holiday has been lost. The is not true with the day of Thanksgiving. You have no gifts to worry about. There are no characters to overtake the true meaning, like Santa Claus,  elves, and reindeer. This wonderful Holiday with its meaning on full display by its shear name, is pure! No other holiday do we center on looking back and praising God for his bountiful year. So, today I want to start the celebration by sharing my life of thanksgiving!

Beyond God himself, My family is my greatest joy. I am embarrassed that I have been blessed with such a wonderful family. God's grace is on full display because let me assure you, I do not deserve them. It all started when God brought Stephanie and I together as two innocent teens and 38 years later the family continues to grow and God's hand is still right in the middle of it all. Three wonderful daughters, two amazing son-in-laws, eight grandkids, and a grandson-in-law fill my life with joy and excitement. I can not wait to spend time with all of them this week, except Kelley, darn it, she won't be making it back home!

My greatest joy is that my family knows and follows the Lord. We are not perfect but I am confident the hand of God is using us ALL. Praise God and Thank You Lord for thinking of me! Watch over us, guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Protect us from evil and bring us all to your glory that we may praise you for an eternity! Amen!

Feeling Old!

“Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬.  http://bible.com/116/psa.90.10.

I have to admit the past few days I've been a little stressed. I've been sick for almost two weeks and I just can't seem to heal. I'm feeling old. I think all I have is the flu but I can't help but think I am getting near to entering the health risk category known as "the elderly".  No, I'm not 70 and really far from 80, but I've got to admit it is taking me longer to heal. I also have much less tolerance for confrontation and the stress that comes from that. My 56 years of life, 38 years of marriage, and 25 years as an educator have left me with same battle scars. Most of them have made me a better person. I'm not sure that makes them more enjoyable.

Regardless of the pain that is associated with life at work, stressful family situations, financial woes, or just bad luck, I can rest in the arms of Jesus. I heal quicker when I turn things over to my powerful God. I know who holds the answers. I think we/I stress out so much more than I need to. My God, creator of all things, has this. There is no reason to stress. There is no reason to lose sleep. I have come a long way, not by my strength or will, but by the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

I love you Lord. Thank you for taking charge of my life and the stresses I face every day. I am humbled that you care for me even through all my imperfections. Fill me with your spirit. Fill me with your love and the desire to serve only you. Amen!

Not a political post! Or is it!

““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/ezk.34.2.niv

Although the election is FINALLY over, the discord in our country is not. I'm saddened that we are so divided. So, I'll try to refocus on Gods word.

When Jesus told us to go, preach the gospel to all nations, he was telling us to take on the role of shepherd. We were to put off the things of this earth and to center our lives on service to the flock. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, we have only one goal, take care of others and show them the love Christ has shown us. We are to serve sacrificially, with no care for our own needs. If necessary we need to lay down our lives for our flock. Yet, how many times are our own needs placed first. Our decisions to serve are based on selfishness and greed.

I pray Christians will rise up and throw off the things of this world to focus on the things of God. Service to others is the best way we can reach the lost and really make America Great Again.

This Bleeding Heart Conservative has a message for TRUMP!

“O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day.”

Psalms 88:13 NLT http://bible.com/116/psa.88.13.nlt

I know this will seem hollow. I know how my Democratic friends feel about their loss in this election. I have felt this way in each presidential election for the last 8 years. I know you think this is different with all the rhetoric from this election spewed by both sides. When your party keeps telling you the end is near if Trump wins, you believe them. Well the end may be near. Jesus may come yet tonight or even before Trump takes office. But, I am pleading with you to DIAL it back. Do we really want our legacy to be death and destruction in the streets? You MAY get exactly what you are asking for if you just wait 4 more years. The Republican Party, the conservative movement is at a turning point in history. We have it all! We have the Presidency, the legislative branch, and will take control of the judiciary. We have 4 years (more likely two years) to DO SOMETHING!

IT is time for US to put our money where our mouth is. The reason for electing DJT was to drain the swamp. The reason is 50% of us believed we had to see a different direction to our country. We have a chance to put up or shut up. Will our system work? Let's see!

 I consider myself an old fashion, bleeding heart conservative. We have to fix things and fix them now. We conservatives, can not believe we have a monopoly on what is right. We have to bridge the divide of this country by listening, REALLY listening to the 50% that lost this election. WE HAVE ONE CHANCE. We have only one chance to REALLY make a difference and solve some of humanities toughest problems. We may never get this perfect opportunity again. DON'T MESS THIS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are some   of MY BLEEDING HEART CONSERVATIVE, IDEALS:

1. Our number one problem is to take care of our inner cities and minority communities. NO, I am not saying to just give more handouts. BUT, we need REAL investment in these communities. REAL JOBS and hope. We need better schools. We have to pay for better teachers in these systems. Give incentives to try new things. Pay for the brightest teachers to work there and rebuild there infrastructure to make those schools train minorities for high paying jobs. I'm not saying turn control to the Ed. Unions. They are worse than the democrats. They talk and do nothing. I'm saying to fire those that just collect a pay check and hire those that want to build relationships with kids, teach beyond the test, and give 24/7 to serving students where they are.
FIX OUR INNER CITIES AND VIOLENCE GOES AWAY.

2. Humanitarian Aid WITH Military Action - We need to destroy ISIS. We all talk about keeping Muslims out, Well let's fix the reason they want to come in the first place. We need to use our military might to destroy the brutal muslim regimes causing this crisis. While we do that, let's also use the military might of the U.S. to build protective cities for refugees over in the middle east. Keep them in their homeland, provide schools, jobs, and humanitarian aid to serve them while we oust the dictators and radicals in charge. ISIS must be destroyed.

3. Secure the Border - We can secure the border while still treating illegals with dignity. We must stop the mass migration first AND then provide pathways to citizenship. BUT, we must deal harshly with those that come in and violate ANY of our laws. Compassion with strength.

4. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS - We need to put people to work with REAL jobs, not government funded jobs. We need to spend money like it is going out of style to build infrastructure in  our country. But, the red tape and dumb rules need to GO! People need to be given hope through work. NOT GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS. Small Businesses are the REAL job creators, give them the tools to get it done! BUSINESS IS NOT THE ENEMY.

5. Protect the RIGHTS of ALL people, Christians, the family, the unborn, and yes, gays, lesbians, etc. I know this is not popular. Discrimination of any kind is NOT BIBLICAL. I can protect their rights and not endorse their lifestyle.  But, I should not let protecting the minority become more important than protecting the majority. ALL LIVES MATTER! HATRED HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY. I strongly believe in the BIBLE and believe living a gay lifestyle is against the design of God. BUT, I believe that ALL people are to be created equal. ALL people have the right to pursue happiness, NOT JUST MY HAPPINESS. Do I want them to repent and come to JESUS!? ABSOLUTELY, do their lives matter, YES, YES, YES!

6. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF MY LIFE!!!!!!! The government does NOT do anything well AT ANY LEVEL. But it is exponentially worse the further away from the people decisions are made. The federal government is TOO BIG! Taxes are TOO High! WE NEED TO STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE! THIS INCLUDES HEALTH CARE. The present system is a ticking time bomb. It is a disaster. BUT, the idea of making sure EVERYONE has health care is solid. So, We need to fix this. We need repeal Obamacare and then REALLY get together so everyone has equal opportunity AT AN AFFORDABLE  cost to live in the shadow of cancer, and other medical issues.

I have more ideas. But Mr. Trump, and the Republican Party better be listening. YOU CAN DO THIS. Just leave the PARTY RHETORIC at home and work TOGETHER to make this a great palce to live! AMEN! AMEN! and AMEN!

Election Day Prayer

“O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭88:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.88.1-3.nlt

I had a student yesterday say they hated our country. I don't think she knows how much she saddened me. I love this country. God, family, and country are the nearest and dearest to my heart. I have been in prayer and I will remain this way through the entire day. No, I'm not staying home from school, but I will pray continually throughout the day and night. I would hope many of you would also be devoted to continuous prayer.

Our nation needs prayer right now, more than election ads, more than campaign rhetoric, more than political parties, and more than the division that exists in our nation. Yes, I pray my mighty God directs the hands of the voters. I pray we will elect the right leaders. I pray we will rise above the divisiveness in our country to solve the real problems ahead of us. I have hope, only through prayer.

Dear Lord, you are Holy. You are mighty. You are my ONLY King and there is no one above you. Please Lord take your power and guide the hands of your servants and your enemies into one vote. Place our next President in YOUR service and the service of the people of this country. I pray the deep divides in this great country will heal. I pray the love we have for you will grow and we will listen to your commands. Keep us safe! Grow our country in a way that is pleasing to your sight. Amen!

Worried?

“Now set the empty pot on the coals. Heat it red hot! Burn away the filth and corruption. But it’s hopeless; the corruption can’t be cleaned out. So throw it into the fire. Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now you will remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.”

Ezekiel 24:11-13 NLT

http://bible.com/116/ezk.24.11-13.nlt

I'm not sure why God has sent me to these scriptures lately. They all seem so dark and ominous. The corruption in our government is so deep, it can't be cleared out. God has tried to cleanse us but we refuse. Hopelessness is just 36 hours away. But, today in church my heart was lightened. Remember the verse:

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ........... Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew‬ ‭6:26-27, 33-34‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.6.26-27,33-34.nlt

Yes, our nation is in trouble. We are so much like the Israelites of the Bible. They begged for a king. They wanted a King to serve. They ignored God. They were corrupt and God sent them several Kings who were corrupt. He allowed this to happen, for the people to reach rock bottom, so they would seek him. God is sending us into this crazy mixed up election, blinded by the rhetoric of our candidates. We are receiving punishment for our sins , the greatest of which is rejecting him. He wants us, the Christians in this great nation, to wake up. He wants us to put all things aside and serve only him, not our money and not our jobs. He wants us to serve ONLY him! 

We should. It fear or worry about what happens tomorrow. We can not be defeated regardless of who is in the Whitehouse.

God is still in control. He protects the righteous, he protects those that love him. We know who holds the key. It's not a politician , pastor, teacher, or any other leader. God himself  holds the key to our ultimate victory. Praise God!