What am I doing?

I have been pondering this question at great lengths, and yet have not come up with a definitive answer.  Now that may sound weird, but stick with me, there is a lot that I would like to do, that I would love to do, but again the question rears its ugly head as if I am arguing with myself; "What am I doing?!"  Any of you reading this feel the same?  If you do, this is what I am doing while I wait, and although the answer may sound too easy, to simple I know that it is right, and it is this...PRAY.  Diligently seek His face, His presence and await your answer.  Let us PRAY, consider what we are doing, what we want to do, what we are called to do, and until we are moved to do it, called to do it, or given other orders, let us PRAY. 

Just Because

I told my sons tonight that I loved them, "Just because"  I usually say it in passing, and now even in text messages, but tonight I also told them that I loved them "Just because".  They hadn't done anything special, in fact I would go so far as to say that they did nothing special today.  I am not saying that that is a bad thing, it could be, and yet I made it a point to say I loved them simply because I can.  As their father I am able and willing to speak into their life my love towards them...Maybe you didn't have a mother or father that said " I love you...just because" but know this God our Father DOES say this, He does tell you, and he went above and beyond by showing you and I as well, just because He could.  He did, He does, and He will continue to do so.  The question is are listening, moreover do you believe me? do you believe Him? believe His word?  I pray that you do.  He loves you, and He is telling you now, " Just because".

Worship and its Blessings

Along with reading my Bible I have also just finished a book about the Wesley Brothers called Anatomy of Conversion, them being the "founders of Methodism, Methodists" One thing that I particularly liked and I feel is worth noting is their dedication to worship(writing, singing with others, leading others to and through worship, etc.) With that being said, I too feel as though there are countless... songs, even just verses that truly speak Gods Word and blessing. For those that have known me any amount of time I listen to any and all Christian music, tonight I wanted to share a verse from a "Christian rapper". Which per my opinion, I find redundant, because the majority of all songs rhyme, it's just that "rappers", at least Christian ones use a different heavy beat, but I digress. If you have read this far, below is the quote, I pray you agree and enjoy. Blessings

"Worship is my weapon, hands up when I'm stressin', 'cuz I prayed hard and I stay down and it's 'bout time for my blessin'"- Kaleb Starr

You are amazing

"You are amazing God", but what about Him is amazing? I encourage you and I both to marvel at the awesome creator, and loving Father that is far greater than "amazing", yet we can start there and keep trying to praise His glorious name, and we should.

Through His word...

I pray you all have a great night and in doing so I wanted to leave you this quote which has added to my joy of reading and sharing Gods word with others, and it is this;

"Through His Word The Lord leads us over and over, first to this word, and then to that, showing us His wonderful glory in every one of them." from John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to The Chief of Sinners"

Have a blessed restful night.

Delight in His word

"but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalms 1:2

I have the opportunity to humbly preach/teach on this at our bible study tonight, and even though it is for the most part self explanatory, Gods word always accomplishes what it is intended to do if we receive it with open hearts. It may be correction, encouragement, instruction, etc. We need to only humbly accept His love in whatever way He displays it to us, and asks us to share it with others.

Truth=right

The truth is always right. Think about that for a moment...if the truth is that God has given you His peace, then it is right for us to accept it, believe that His word is truth, and then act accordingly. I'm not saying that what's right is easy, but that the truth, once you accept it as truth, makes the "right" things easier. I hope and pray that that makes sense. I hope that you know His truth, the truth about Him, from Him, for you is right...His peace He has given you.

How to pray?

I have a dear friend ask me how she should pray, what, when, something powerful, real, comforting, something that she knew would work...I was immediately humbled that she would even ask me something that was that important to her, dare I say vital to her. My help, my answer to her was simple, yet true. The answer I gave may not have been what she wanted or expected, but non-the-less I gave her what I believe is biblical truth. And what was my answer? Pray from your heart, be bold, be blunt, lay it all out before Him knowing He hears His child's cries... Charles Spurgeon put it this way; 

"A true prayer is an inventory of needs, a catalog of necessities, an exposure of secret wounds, a revelation of hidden poverty." 

We all know that OK needs help, we can see gaping open wounds, yet have no idea of the secret hidden pains, and true poverty is literally at what's left of their doorsteps. Let us as brothers and sisters join in prayer, in word and deed...

"Wwjd"

I remember many years ago that "wwjd" bracelets were all the rage, yet now although I still believe that is a great question, I would add "hwjdi" How would Jesus do it? So not only "what would he do?", but also "how would Jesus do it?" A subtle difference, together I would hope they inspire not only knowing, but doing...

Hope, the anchor

"Hope is called the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19), because it gives stability to the Christian life. But hope is not simply a 'wish' (I wish that such-and-such would take place); rather, it is that which latches on to the certainty of the promises of the future that God has made."

Faith and works

Faith and works are bound together in the same bundle. Faith works, and we should work with our faith.

I am not afraid!

"God has not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind." I've said it before, but this was the first verse I ever memorized, yet even to this day it is the comfort that God provides by this word that allows me to hold on, stay strong and know that God is good during life's adversities. I encourage you, as many of you have encouraged me, to study the word and not just read it. That we remember what we have heard, and not just listen for awhile. Finally that we remember it is our relationship with Him, not the religion that we profess. Have a great night and rest freely in His loving arms...

Real rest is found in Him

In 1 Corinthians 2:5 Paul writes "so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." Normally I would first preface this scripture with the "so" being better defined and explained as a continuation of what was said prior, yet tonight what I need to read, be reminded of, and hopefully you too, is that my faith is in the power of God, and with that I can "rest" It is not that I do not seek wise council, which biblically we are told to do, but please notice that Paul says that our faith can an should rest and is directly linked to the power of God. I pray that as we grow in relationship with God that we place our faith more and more in His power, the promise of His word.

Do you tell Him?

Do you tell Him you love Him randomly? Often? Consistently? Do you tell Him "just because"? It's not that He needs to be affirmed, or reminded, but telling Him reminds us of His goodness and faithfulness. How often do we take the little things He does for us for granted to remind us, like breath in our lunges, another beautiful day to enjoy? All of creation screams of His love.

The enemy doesn't fight fair!

Why would we ever think think that an enemy against us will fight fair? some that read that question may think I am speaking in physical terms, and that is included, yet I am also speaking of those things of which we cannot see, spiritually. In physical warfare we discover everything that may be used against us, that has been used against and even the tendencies of the enemy, why then are we so slack when it comes to spiritual matters? Why am I? I pray we grow in the knowledge and truth, standing together against our enemy. Let us fight the good fight of faith.

Happiness hinges on...

C.S. Lewis said "Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose... only (upon) the Beloved who will never pass away." Although not a strict biblical quote, the truth found therein is amazing simple and profound. First, the things which can lead to comfort and happiness are and will fade either with time, or relevance, yet God and His promises, blessings, the truths of His word will never cease to amaze and increase. I pray you continue to grow in godliness and holiness, as I strive to do the same. I'm praying for you, anyone that wants to, or feels lead to pray for my family and I, it is of course greatly appreciated. Have a great night, rest easy in His loving arms tonight.

Fear

"False Evidence Appearing Real" or "fear" as it's more commonly known, is a symptom of not relying wholehearted on the faith, grace, and love of God. "Be ye not afraid", "only trust and believe"

What to say, what to say?

I did not post this morning for the simple reason that I did not feel as though I knew what to say, if I should say anything. But no, there's a desire, a passion that burns deep within, I hope that in my silence those of you that read these posts continued on, searched out Gods presence...prayed, repented, and gave thanks. 

I do not do this hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in that my God himself will lay hold of someone reading and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." That you would come to know of Whom I speak of daily, and why, that the awe and wonder of The almighty God our Father would be more and more real in your life.

Real blessings

I love my wife and kids, family and friends...why then do I at times take them all for granted?! The real blessings in life are the ones that you didn't earn, can't buy, and that only God can provide. To all those afore mentioned people in my life I love you and thank you God for you.

Just be quiet

"Never miss a good opportunity to just be quiet." Put another way, if you don't have something nice, good, edifying, helpful and pleasant to say, then don't say anything. How many of us know that person gag bloke just be quiet, how many times are WE that person. Ask God for help controlling that, because we all know we can't do it by ourselves.