Full House

“So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/luk.14.23.nlt

As we get close to the Holidays we get to spend some extra time with family. It will be a lot of fun and, at times, CHAOTIC ! It doesn’t really matter though because I wouldn’t trade that chaos for anything in this world.

Serving the Lord can also be somewhat chaotic and at the very least challenging. But we want a FULL HOUSE. We want to take our message of love, forgiveness and peace to everyone. We want to share the grace of the Lord and hope he brings. We want people to turn to the creator of the universe so that all will be members of the family when we reach our final home! Praise God for our heavenly family and our earthly family!

Praise God for the American Farmer!

“You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65:9-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.65.9-13.nlt

Praise God for the gift of Farmers!

These are some perfect verses for this time of year. It is harvest time and my mind always wanders to the wonderful farmers I know. I can only imagine their stress and strain this time of year. The battle with the weather and the struggle of a season of potential disaster that has lurked around every corner is nearing an end. The final results of their labors will reflect in the crop yields. I know so many great farm families in our area. I greatly appreciate the efforts of these wonderful people and pray an extra blessing for their families. I have never gone without food and that is not a testament to me as much as it is a testament to our farmers. I don’t know the long hours of harvesting trying to beat the rain. I don’t know the financial impact of a combine or tractor going down at a crucial time. I don’t know the sleepless nights worrying about the rise and fall of the ag markets. Very few of us know of the dedication and hard work of the ENTIRE farm family. All we see is the final product and most of us take that for granted. So, I just want to say thank you! We love you and ask Gods blessing and favor with you during this season!

Praise God for the American Farmer!

God Speaks

'For God speaks again and again, though people do not
recognize it.'Job 33:14 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/JOB.33.14

We have to listen to the Lord. He is always speaking to us. He speaks to us in dreams,
visions, and through other people. Yet, when was the last time you listened for the voice
of God? Our Vice President was harassed because he claimed to hear the voice of God.
That is just so sad.

We need to be in tune to the voice of our creator. We need to be aware he wants to provide
HIS wisdom and guidance in our circumstances. We just need to be listening. We can
become more in tune with his voice through worship, reading his word, meditating, and
praying continuously. LISTEN TO THE LORD, for he is speaking. We need to stop, be
quiet, and listen to the Lord. Do it right now. Hear his voice. Enter his presence.

Why do we fight amongst ourselves?

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18


I have been with the Christian Motorcyclists Association Ministry for 8 or 9 years. But before this ministry, I have been involved with Church ministry a lot longer. I was a Church Youth Director, a Sunday School teacher of adults, youth, and children. I have served on countless committees and worked with church leaders in multiple churches. I have also had a father that was a minister and a mom deeply involved with the leadership in churches. I can say without any hesitation, ALL of the ministries I have been exposed to have had issues. You would think being a Christian Ministry with the focus on bringing others to Jesus, you would NOT have conflict and you would not have "petty" bickering.  Sadly, that is just not true. I love that the Lord sent me these verses this morning. I WISH EVERY MINISTRY would follow these simple guidelines.  Instead we battle amongst ourselves while the enemy attacks the lost, the poor, and the homeless, and the downtrodden, we focus on ourselves. 

It is so difficult to do ministry when there is conflict between each other. The focus instantly changes from EXTERNAL to INTERNAL. So many ministry teams have lost sight of the goal. They have taken the focus off our service to others and focused efforts on power and personalities. We cut down our pastors and leaders when they make even the tiniest of mistakes. When they make a HUGE   error, there is no such thing as grace, mercy, or love. 

It is no wonder it is difficult to get people to volunteer for leadership in ministries. Who would want to take the abuse, and the critical analysis every day? If we can't live peacefully with each other, how can we serve the lost? How can be COMPEL people to join the faith in our Lord Jesus?

If you are involved with a MINISTRY of ANY KIND, you should take these INSTRUCTIONS and live them every day of your life. 

imPOSSIBLE

He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Last night we had a wonderful event at my school. Our FCA Chapter led a "Fields of Faith" event. This event was completely planned and led by students. Students gave testimonies of what the Lord has done for them. We had a teen worship band and a wonderful young lady lead us in great worship with her beautiful voice. An invitation was given to commit and recommit their lives to Christ. One of my students was the organizer. She was so worried no one would attend. She was letting herself panic and stress. Last night 598 people attended this wonderful event. That is the power of the message of the Cross.

Just like this student leader, we doubt the power of Jesus. We tout this wonderful faith we have. Yet, when pushed, our faith is so weak. We think everything relies on us. We just don't get it. We know the powerful message in Luke 18:27. Yet, we think that is for other people and not us. The power of the Cross is for all of us. IF we can just get to the point where we step back and let Jesus take over, we can see the impossible become possible. The God of the Universe can and does do the impossible for US.  All we have to do is rely on him. All we have to do is commit our lives to him. Focus on him and his plan and then just get out of the way. 

Dear Lord, I praise you for your power and might in this world. I see your powerful hand in so many areas of my life. I thank you for last night. I thank you for showing up for a bunch of teenagers in Garrett, Indiana. IT means so much in their faith walk. It means so much that we have young people that believe in you and will openly and powerfully share the gospel message to their community. I praise YOU Lord for doing the impossible every day of my life. Amen!

Now and Forever!

21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer1:21 Or has testified against me. and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” 
Ruth 1:21

There have been times in my life I have been angry at God. I have disagreed with the hand he dealt me. I have dedicated my life to him. No, I am not perfect. I am a sinner. But, just like Naomi, I have felt the Lord has abandoned me at times in my life. 

God can handle our disappointment and our anger at him. The most important thing is how we move on. Do we let our disappointment and anger toward the Lord separate us from him. Do we let it affect our trust and our faith?  The question is, "Do we trust in the Lord or not?"  Do we just trust him when he follows our plan or do we trust him always?

I have been angry with the Lord. I have plead with him and been upset with a NO answer. But, I want to state as clearly as I can, I TRUST THE LORD NOW AND FOREVER!  There is no tragedy, there is no disappointment, there is no amount of turmoil that can separate me from the Lord. It is so easy to rest in his plan because I have seen that plan for 58 years of life. It is perfect and even though I shake my head, beat my chest, and throw a fit, the Lord know what he is doing and I do NOT doubt his love for me and the perfectness of that plan. I love you LORD. I am deeply humbled by your love. Please Lord continue to mold me into the person you would have me be.

I am the least.

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” Judges 6:15

Have you ever felt you were up against an impossible task? Have you ever felt inadequate for the job ahead of you. Do you yourself as the WORST choice in your family, at work, or in ministry? God doesn't give us easy, comfortable tasks to complete. God wants us to grow. He wants to stretch us and he wants to take us into a life where HIS POWER and HIS GLORY will be on full display. In my 58 years of life I have seen, first hand, the power of the Lord AND I have been rescued from chaos and my own weaknesses. 

Throughout my life, GOD has never abandoned me. God has brought me through trial, pain, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, loss of confidence, pain, stress, and anxiety. It is during these times that the REAL POWER of the LORD is on display. Sitting quietly in the background of life, is just not how the Lord works. He takes the weakest, he takes the least qualified, he takes those that have lost all hope, and works through them for HIS GLORY. There is no one that is too far gone that the Lord can NOT use. Draw close to the Lord. Turn your life to him. In all your weakness, devote what you have to the Lord of the Universe. Sit back and watch him work. You will be amazed. Praise God he loves EVEN me. 

Gimme a Break!

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 
Matthew 11:28

We are less than a week away from our FALL BREAK. I am looking forward to the trip to Arkansas and the CMA Fall Colors Rally. While we won't be sleeping in late every day, we will get some rest and relief from life's burdens. I might be selfish but I really need this time away. The speed and fullness of the every day activities both at school, ministry, and at home, are stressful and wearisome. We ALL need to take time away. We need to find daily relief as well as long term relief.  

One of the reasons I love the CMA Colors Rally is that the pace of life slows down while there. We also can just rest with friends who share our passion for the Savior. We laugh, we pray, we relax, we fellowship and we truly get a break from the world.

Find some place, some event, some activity where you can rest and dump the burdens of life. Take time to rest. Take time to refocus on the Lord. I love that the Lord orchestrates my life and GIVES me times to do that. I praise him that he cares for me so much that he gives me peace and rest throughout my day, my week, my year, and ultimately my life.  Thank you Lord!

Life filled with the Kingdom of God!

6:33 Some manuscripts do not include of God.33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33

I have everything I need. The Lord has provided WAY more than I need. I am blessed and am so happy with where my life has come from and where it is going. I am not sure how "Righteously" I have lived but I can tell you I have and continue to SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I'm not perfect. I have failures in life. But, my greatest accomplishment is that I love the Lord and am pursuing a life filled with the Lord.

Today I lift up my family. I have such a wonderful family filled with 1 great granddaughter, 12 grandkids (including one by marriage), 2 son-in-laws, three daughters, and 1 amazing wife. It is so great to see THEM pursue the Lord and seeking his kingdom. They are in the midst of life, fighting battles, and trying to live righteously. It is not easy to stay the course with all the EVIL in this world.  I pray the Lord is with them today. Today COULD be a defining moment in their lives. They need the Lord to intervene in everything they do. I pray the Lord will give them everything they need and fill them with love, joy, and grace. 

Pray for Miracles!

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
John 15:13

It is really the most amazing fact of my faith, Jesus, the SON of the most High God gave his life for ME! I can't help but ask WHY would he do this. I have done nothing to earn that kind of Love. I couldn't do anything the rest of my lifetime to pay back that kind of dedication. It makes me love the Lord more every day.

In our fast paced, CRAZY, society we don't take time to slow down and reflect on the gifts and blessings from the Lord. Obviously, the greatest of these is his love and sacrifice on the cross. But, there are so many other little things we also ignore. The Creator of the Universe is STILL performing miracles in this world. God has performed miracles in the life of my family right now.  So, we pray for miracles. We pray for things that happen in a way that can not be explained except through his love. Why don't you try it?  Devote your life to the Lord, pray for his miraculous power to show up in your life. It will happen. 

Praise God!

Dear Lord, I am amazed by your love. I LOVE you beyond anything I can possibly say on paper. That Love is deep in my heart. I pray today for miracles in my family. I pray for miracles in my community. Show your powerful hand in our lives. Fill us with your spirit. Give us your wisdom, give us your mercy, give us your grace. Help us to be your hands and feet in this crazy mixed up world.AMEN!

I needed this

1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

2You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

5You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

7I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

8If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,

139:8 Hebrew to Sheol.you are there.

9If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

11I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—

12but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalms 139:1-12

I love the presence of the Lord in my life. I constantly see his hand in all that I do. We all have to deal with problems and trials. I have a place to go to ask for help. Just last night I received a call that I really had no idea how to react to. I was at a loss to respond. It was an attack from Satan and I was distressed. UNTIL, I  turned to prayer. God has begun to work through the situation. Even when darkness surrounds me, even when the world seems to be void of Love, God is right there and he is not silent. Praise God for his grace, mercy and strength. I can not imagine life without my Savior. I just wish everyone knew the peace I get from him.  I feel such anger and hate in the world. I feel the world is full of stress and turmoil. I see people that are starved for attention because they are lonely. If people knew MY Savior their lives would be filled with peace, love, and they would ABSOLUTELY never be alone.

THE WORLD NEEDS THE LORD. I will serve him with all my heart and do everything I can to make sure others see HIS love through me. Psalms 139 is a great comfort in my every day living for the Lord. Praise God for his word!

Give me a break, PLEASE!

38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,8:38 Greek nor rulers. neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

I am so glad that God loves me and THAT will never changed.  He looks past my flaws and looks past my sins. 

I wish people could get past the differences, the flaws we have, and still love each other.  We can be so critical of each other and NOW we have social media to air all our flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes. I am greatly saddened by how we treat each other. It is a game we play to point out errors in someone else's lives. Yes, it may be something as simple as pointing out a misspelled word. Yesterday I had an "autocorrect" mistake in a text I sent. I was just waiting for the barrage of corrections. Later last evening, I reposted a pos on Facebook from one of my friends in support of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The post had labeled Judge Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court Justice. A good friend had to post the error. The point of my post was lost. Yep, I should have been more critical what I reposted, it wasn't accurate. Forgive me.

I am glad the Lord loves me just the way I am. He does not spend his time criticizing what I do. He doesn't dwell on my weaknesses, my sins, and all the little flaws. I have plenty of them.  We need to do the same with others. It doesn't matter if they are big, small, or in-between. Let's give people a break. Let's concentrate on building people up, just like the Lord loves and supports his children.

I have seen it!

19 Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear.
Deuteronomy 7:19

God is amazing! He has brought me through the muck and the mire of 58 years of life with Joy and Love. I can look back and see his powerful hand and rejoice in what he has done in my life. I have seen him heal physically impossible situations. I have seen him deliver my family out of financial ruin. I have seen him heal relationships with friends and family. Forget all the great examples in the Bible. (I don't really mean forget them). I have examples in my life, today, right here, and right now, that match the wonderful miracles written in the word of God. He has used his power in my life. Yes, I rely on those miracles. I anxiously await those miracles and his power to be revealed. I HAVE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES and I am confident I will see it again. 

Dear Lord, I love you so much and can not say enough how awed I am about your love for me. I am so amazed at your work in my life. I am so amazed the path my life has taken and I know YOU have been the reason I have skirted calamity. You are the reason for the joy in my life. You are the reason I have an amazing family and YOU are the reason I can look forward to eternity in Heaven. I praise you for all things. I praise you for my life and I dedicate my life to sharing your message and all you have done for this hopeless sinner! Amen!

It's ALL God!

1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. John 17:1

God is amazing. He created the universe, life on this planet and everywhere. He put the sun in the sky, he placed the breath in my lungs. How can we NOT glorify him!  But, here we are, in the middle of the vastness of  the Universe, taking credit for everything and not giving GLORY to GOD.

Jesus knew to give his Father all the glory. He did it often. He didn't wait for the exceptional great times and he didn't wait until he was in the bottomless pit. He gave GOD all the glory ALL the time. It is amazing to me that even Christians do NOT give God ALL the glory. our society is a "ME" centered society. We have a hard time giving credit to others and that is certainly true about giving GOD ALL THE GLORY. We want to be in control and we want all the credit for the GOOD things and blame the Lord for all the bad. 

I turned my life to Christ when I was 13 years old. So, for the past 45 years, the LORD, has been in charge of my life. Despite all my efforts to thwart his plans, I have had an amazingly wonderful life. GOD GETS ALL THE CREDIT. He has brought me great love through my family and friends, he has blessed me with safety and security in each of those years. He has blessed me beyond any plans I could have created. Life is amazing, not because of me, but because of my Heavenly Father.

WE all need to get down on our knees and give God the GLORY he is due. 

Dear Lord, I love you and am humbled that you LOVE me so much. You sacrificed all for me and I am proud to be your servant. I am nothing without you. I am everything BECAUSE of you. I love you Lord and want to serve only you. Use my life for YOUR Glory.   Use my life TODAY for your purposes and NOT my own. Amen!

Life the way it was meant to be!

21It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Have you ever thought about being COMMISSIONED?  The Lord has identified us to serve. He has called us and filled us with his spirit to serve. He has given us the power to stand up to those that oppose us. This power, this commission is just a part of what he has planned for our lives.  He has great plans for us here on earth and when we arrive in heaven. I can't imagine ignoring that commission. Many do. They are missing out on Life in all it's abundance. 

I love it that the Lord enables us and call us to serve others. That might be the reason I get such a thrill when I serve the Lord. When my schedule is filled with serving others, loving others, and sharing the gospel, I FEEL so blessed. I get just as much out of it as those that serve. I LOVE that the Creator of the Universe has promised a wealth of blessings for ME both here on Earth and when we arrive in our heavenly home. 

What are you doing to serve?  Are you fulfilling your commission?  The Lord is calling you to serve. 

Dear Lord, I thank you for choosing me. I thank you for how you have blessed me even when I don't fulfill 100% of my commission. Please Lord, continue to fill me with your Love that I might share that with all that I see each day. I love you Lord. I praise you for THIS day and look forward to what is in store for me. Amen!

Feel the Peace! Feel the Freedom!

'For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is freedom. ' 2 Corinthians 3:17 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/2CO.3.17


The days of riding motorcycles is nearing the end of the season. I haven't ridden as much this year as I would have
like to. Stephanie and I were really busy getting ready for retirement. But, we have had some great rides. If you
haven't ridden a motorcycle, you wouldn't understand. I feel so free while riding. I love being on the open road, feeling
the wind and not having the constraints of a car. I praise God for this wonderful gift. Yes, I truly believe it is a gift and a
gift from God.

There aren't many things in my life that give me the same FEEL of FREEDOM. The greatest feel of freedom, PEACE,
in my life, comes straight from the Lord. Even better than riding my motorcycle, is being with the Lord in prayer. I know
it sounds weird. But, I really love the times I am in prayer with the Lord, praying for my family, life situations, and
opening my heart. Those times bring a real peace to my life and FREEDOM.

Both of these special times in my life bring me closer to God. I know the reason. I feel so much closer to the Lord when
I get rid of the outside influences, the distractions, and can focus my heart on him. Riding does that and prayer does that.
For others that may come from a particular place, or with certain people, at a particular event, or a multitude of other
scenarios. Find that place. Find that time, Find SOMETHING that draws you closer to the Lord. DO IT. Do it as often
you can. Feel the peace. Feel the Freedom!

I disagree with you. I don't hate you!

'“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my love. ' John 15:9 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/JHN.15.9


It sad to see the amount of hate in this world and particularly in our country. We have
to get past the differences we have in our opinions, our politics, our beliefs, and our
life styles. If I disagree with your stance on Climate Change, doesn't mean I hate you
or this planet. If I believe in a marriage between a man and a woman, does not mean I
hate gays. If I support Donald Trump, I do not hate immigrants. If I yell and support my
child at an athletic event, doesn't mean I want YOUR child to fail.

"JUST BECAUSE WE DISAGREE, DOES NOT MEAN I HATE YOU!"

God does not have a list of conditions before he will love us. He loves us unconditionally.
THAT is how we are to love each other. Jesus loved even the most despised of the
Jewish Society. I don't have to "hangout" with you to love you. I don't have to endorse
your lifestyle to love you. I have friends that are extremely liberal politically and sadly
I have lost friends who are extremely liberal because of our differences. It saddens me
that we put such restrictions on our love.

Dear Lord, Help me to love ALL my fellow man. Help me to show YOUR love to everyone
I meet. Help me to serve those I disagree with and who live life differently than I do. The
only real hope for this world is through YOU AND YOUR LOVE. If I can not love the
imperfect people of this world, how can I expect YOU to love this sinner. Forgive me for
how I treat others. Help me to forgive those that hurt and offend me. I need you Lord. I
need your perfect grace to fill my life. Amen!

The Middle of Anxious Moments

Psalms 40:1 -- I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalms 40:17 -- As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.

I found these two verses in my study this morning. The focus of the study was the MIDDLE of your trial. It is easy to praise God when everything is over and you can look back to see the results of God's powerful intervention. But, David was in the midst of trial. Notice he asked God not to delay. He was waiting on the Lord. But he still knew that God was listening, God heard his cry.

God is with you. Do not despair.  God is at work even when you do not see him. He hears the cries of his children, he knows your anxiety. He will not forget you. Keep heart, be at peace in the MIDDLE of your trials. God will show up in powerful ways.

Dear Lord, PLEASE hear our cries. Show your presence. Give you clear guidance in the midst of our trials, stresses, and anxieties. I have seen your power, your mercy, and your grace. I praise you because I know you will never leave me. I praise you because YOU ARE AT WORK right now in my trials. I wait for your power and glory to be revealed. I Love you Lord and am honored to be your child. Amen!

Great day!

2:1 The Festival of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover (when Jesus was crucified).Acts 2:1-4 -- On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,2:4 Or in other tongues. as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

The day of Pentecost is an amazing event in the lives of ALL of us. The presence of the Holy Spirit descending on the world has changed all of us. I remember my own life changing event, when the Lord came down to fill ME. It changed me forever. No, I am not perfect. I am still working on being the person GOD would have me to be, but I have been changed. There are so many life changing moments I have seen in my life. These events are all tied to that moment where I gave my life to the God of the Universe. God continues to show up in my life in ver powerful ways. 

Yesterday, was a great day. It was an answer to prayer. We got to see two young lives changed forever. My daughter OFFICIALLY adopted two of the foster kids they have had for well over a year. These two awesome kids became PERMANENT members of our family. God answered our prayers and showed up in a great way. We will all be changed forever. I am so proud of my daughter and her family and how they open their home. God has filled them with the spirit of love and desire to make a difference in the lives of these kids. PRAISE GOD for his presence and the lives that were permanently changed yesterday!

Irrational!

Isaiah 41:10 -- Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

What are you afraid of?  I know you are afraid of something. I would also venture to say you probably have some IRRATIONAL fears. I know I do and I can tell you that I can really work my self into a "tizzy" with those irrational fears. Being a follower of Christ I can not forget the message from Isaiah 41:10.  I am not left to battle my fears on my own. I am not left to battle discouragement, tiredness, or depression on my own. I only have to look to the Lord and HE will provide the strength. His powerful right hand will life me up in victory.

Stephanie and I are traveling into the unknown at the end of this school year. We are retiring and there are many things that we could fear. We do not. The Lord is with us and we will not be afraid. Praise God for his love for us!

Thank you Lord for Family

Psalms 111:9 He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

We had such a wonderful weekend with our CMA INDIANA FAMILY.  We had our state rally this past weekend and spent 4 days praising God, having great fun, fellowship, and relaxing. We really are a family. We lift each other up. We serve each other and as our National Evangelist said, "We REALLY Like each other."  I Love this ministry and how God is using us to reach others for Christ. We certainly aren't perfect but God doesn't need perfect people to use them for his kingdom.  We left the Rally yesterday and headed right to our OTHER family to celebrate a birthday party for one of amazing grandchildren. IT was a crazy busy weekend but I just love spending time with FAMILY. 

I really hope people have a FAMILY they can count on. Sadly even many biological families don't .REALLY serve as family. A family should always be there when you need them. You SHOULD actually like each other, you should serve each other, you should lift each other when you are down, and you should inspire each other to be the best you can be. CMA does that for me, but so does my own family. My wife, my wonderful daughters, their husbands, and my awesome grandkids including our youngest GREAT granddaughter all make my life complete. My family is the type of family God intended us to live our lives with. I praise God for each of my family members, both the biological family and my CMA family. I can not imagine life without either of them. Thank you Lord for Family. Thank you for giving me wonderful people to serve with, people that want nothing more than to bring the WORLD to know you. I thank you for the commitment to serve even at great sacrifice. I thank you LORD for the families you have given me. I am humbled and blessed by all my family members.

Prayers

“And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people......”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/rev.5.8-9.nlt

I’ve never been one to study, in depth, the book of Revelation. I have read it and enjoy the thoughts of the end times when I get to spend eternity worshipping Jesus. All the details in between haven’t been on my mind. But these verses were in my devotional today and struck me as wonderful.

My prayers are sweet smelling incense to God and they are the absolute focus of heaven. It is so comforting to know that today. Steph and I had a great day with our family yesterday. At the end of the day we had special prayer for a very special little girl. The chaos of 11 grandkids  was silenced, briefly, while we prayed for God’s power and wisdom in this little girls life. We prayed for McKenzie and Jeff and all those in authority over this situation.  We prayed specifically for God to intervene . Now, after reading these verses I am at peace because I know God has heard these prayers as they were presented in Gold Bowls to him in elaborate honor. I can’t wait to see his powerful right hand in action!

God loves our prayers. He loves to hear from us and Heaven treats all our requests with the honor of the King. Thank you Lord for hearing our cries. Thank you Lord for blessing us beyond measure. All praise and honor and glory to him who sits on the throne! Amen and Amen!