Nasty Cold

A "nasty cold" began invading my body early Friday morning, and has now taken up full residency...by God's Amazing Grace, I hardly ever get sick, but when I do...it's usually pretty bad..."O Lord, I need Your strength...so much to do...please give me grace to accomplish?...Please?

Gone, but never forgotten

My dear friend, and brother in the Lord, Pat Balke...your earthly father Elroy...went home Saturday evening. We've been praying for him for a long time! I pray for you Pat, at this time especially...words truly can never properly be said at these times..."O Lord, God of All Comfort...only You can comfort my brother at this time...Please do so Lord..." I Love you brother Pat....

Excuses

"Excuses? Do I Glorify God?" Romans 1:21 says..."For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." it does not matter what you think, or what you know, unless it leads you to glorify God, and to be thankful.” (Spurgeon)

As I prepared for this mornings "Young Adult" Sunday school class...God's Word directed me here...first in my reading of Deut. 1-2....where Moses is once again giving the "Children of Israel" a little history lesson, reminding them of their "unfaithfulness", their "unbelief" at Kadesh Barnea...."If we go and take the land, our children will be killed"...God than answered their 'unbelieving excuse by saying, "You will be killed and your children will posses the land". Numbers 14:3 This led me to my topic for today...."Excuses", we all have 'em!Don't we? I know I do...and use them frequently, aw shucks, I've even taught my "kiddo's" how to use 'em, and quite well, I should add.
Just to name a few, here are some I found: 
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. Benjamin Franklin
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.' George Washington
"Anything, in fact, will serve as an excuse, when the heart is bent on compromise." Charles Spurgeon....he continues.....It is sobering to consider how easily, how quickly, and how completely, God sees through our excuses. We often feel confident in our excuses, because other people can’t really challenge them - but God sees right through them.
That's it, that's the "key"....God sees right through my excuses...."O Lord...forgive me...I give far too many excuses..."　
　"Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure."There aren't nearly enough crutches in the world for all the lame excuses....Marcus Stroupe

A Prayer for us All

 "The prayer of Jabez" 1 Chron. 4:10 says: "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"   "Jabez"...This name is associated with pain or sorrow. For some reason, probably surrounding the circumstances of his birth, his mother named him this. Because of the strong importance of the idea of a name in ancient Hebrew culture, this idea of pain was heavy with and upon Jabez – perhaps especially in his growing up.   But Jabez knowing his culture decided he would "be different" than his name; he would be "a man after Your heart"....the end of vs. 10 says: "And God granted his request." Jabez was honored, and we know little more of him than that he was a man of prayer and that his prayer was answered.

It's been said; "One way to gain honor in the Kingdom of God is through prayer" not thru ambition, or achievement...but thru prayer! "O Lord, make me a man like Jabez"....And so..."we pray another day"

"Happy Saturday"

The Little engine that could?

the little engine that could?...i think i can, i think i can?..." Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." I haven't always tried this, but this morning God directed me this way....to think on this...He said to me..."remember back to the times you tried "it", all on your own without Me...look how far I've brought you...you used to 'love' living in the 'muck'this 'world' has to offer...but I picked you up out of it, and not just once I might add...numerous times---too many to count David---and I used my Son, Jesus Christ for that, for You! Oh David and by the way, I promise to complete you! Remember? Phil1:6 He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus!"

 "O Thank You Lord, Thank You Jesus!....Happy Friday y'all!"

time to study

First day of school

It was "back to school" yesterday for this nearly 50 year old student...some 32 years after graduating from high school, I've gone back! And boy-o-boy, it is going to be "intense"...A full year of schooloing crammed into 3 months. Ivy Tech CNC Machine Operator program...."Lord Help Me!"

Answered Prayer

Often times....(most times), God answers my prayers, not like I think they should've been! But its also true...I don't always know what's best for me, God does! In yesterday's interview, my prayer was answered....the position with Lawson is not for me! "Thank You Lord" for Your answer!

Do I want another "job", or a career?

My bride rose early this morning, while I got dressed to go to prayer...and reminded me of some counsel I received a few weeks ago from a friend (who is paying for my Ivy Tech course on CNC Machine & Operator)..."Do I want just another job....or a career?....for the next 15-20 years? You see, I have an interview this morning, kind of...with this fellow from Lawson Products...Curt Ebersole, Gary richard, my boss with G & R Siding & Windows set this up...I've often "reacted" to my circumstances in the past and taken the "quickest" route, taking the first "good" opportunity that presents itself, so I know my tendencies...and so does my bride! "Thank You Lord, for my bride! And for my friend, Jeff Ondrla!"

Help me this day!

What is my chief end?

"what is my chief end?" Psalm 96:8 says: "Give to the LORD the glory due His name" With the "stuff-of-life" always comin' at us, it's often difficult to remember...God is due all the glory, regardless of my circumstance? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "No matter what happens, always be thankful" The thought isn’t “this is God’s will, so you must do it.” The thought is rather “this is God’s will, so you can do it.”

That's tough...at times of "reflection", say early in the mornings, during prayer, or my Bible reading...it seems easy to remember..."Give God the Glory"...all the Glory! But step outside, to go to work, or just to begin my day and "Wham"...now you've got to put your good intentions to work for you...actually put your money where your mouth is!  Go on now, you can do it!

"O Lord...Help me!...Help me this day to bring You the Glory due Your Name!"

"When I am weak, He is Strong"

“even physical challenges?” 2 Cor 12:10 "Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses...For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul was desperate in his desire to be relieved of this burden. We idolize the “self-made man” and want to rely on ourselves. It's said we can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness.

For too many years...I abused my body! I loved sports, you can say...I was obsessed, a "fan-a-tic...and my family-life paid early on for it as well...(we won't go into that part, right now)... From graduation of high school, 1979, til age 40...I wasn't just a "weekend warrior", I would've, and did play something, every night of the week...I thought I was invincible...I played as if I thought I were a "pro"...no stopping, no "holds-barred"...pushing my body as if it would never stop! as if I would never "grow-old", never have any restraints or regrets! 

Then at 40, I had knee surgery, a couple of months later, neck surgery..."Mr invincible" no more! Now in a few weeks, by God's Grace, I turn 50...quite a "mile-stone" I believe. You see, my mother past away at 39..."I miss you Mom!" Physically, my body reminds me, far too often..."Uh, you can't do that anymore!" Now I'm not talkin' about any weekend warrior stuff, I'm talkin' about the every day stuff, that so many take for granted....like getting up from a chair, or simply walking, or kneeling down to nail something...just simple stuff ya know?  

To say the least, it's very frustrating! I was trying to find some encouragement this morning in my readings of God's Word...the apostle Paul knew of pain...3 different ocassions he to "cried out" to God asking Him to relieve him of his "thorn-in-his-side"...2 Corinthians 12:8-9 "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul was desperate in his desire to be relieved of this burden. But there are two ways of taking away a burden. It can be done by removing the load, or it can be done by strengthening the shoulder bearing the load. Instead of taking away the thorn, God would strengthen Paul under it, and God would show His strength through Paul’s apparent weakness. To do this, Paul had to believe that God’s grace is sufficient. Is that it Lord??? I simply must believe? We really don’t believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we ourselves are insufficient. For many of us, especially in American culture, this is a huge obstacle. We are the people who idolize the “self-made man” and want to rely on ourselves. But we can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness. We can’t receive the sufficiency of God’s grace until we know our own insufficiency. Spurgeon once said: “Great tribulation brings out the great strength of God."

"Ok Lord, Please hear my "cry" this day... I know my weaknesses, Please Help Me?"

Thanks Lord

We were able testerday, Sunday...to go down and spend sometime with Abby & Scott...and wish our youngest grandson, Britton a Happy Birthday! It was good! They all grow so fast...Krinker and Julian and Britton....also got to see Audrey as well...."Thanks Lord!"

A Promise from Our Lord

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

Keep me this day Lord...Keep me in Your ways, and in so doing, might I be a blessing? Might I bring You the glory only You deserve...

God loves my obedience?

Once again in my reading this morning, I come face-to-face, with my lack of trusting God...of grumbling to Him, as the children of Israel did so many times...but this morning...there's an added twist, one in which when I first read it, really threw me for a loop...Numbers 20:7-8 and the LORD said to Moses, "You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, command the rock over there to pour out its water. You will get enough water from the rock to satisfy all the people and their livestock." Specifically, God told Moses to take the rod, but not to use it. Water would be provided if Moses would speak to the rock before their eyes. Back at Mount Sinai, God told Moses to strike the rock and water came forth (Exodus 17:6). But now he was merely to speak to the rock, yet with the rod in his hand. This rod was a symbol of his authority from God. Let's read on...Numbers 20:9-10 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?" Moses began by doing exactly what the Lord had told him to do: Take the rod, and gather the people of Israel. God did not command him to speak to the nation, and to speak so severely to the nation, yet Moses did. Moses, after doing what God had told him to do, then did something God had not told him to do: He lectured the nation. Worse, he lectured the nation with an attitude of heart he had not shown before - one of anger and contempt for the people of God, with a bitter heart. Worse yet, Moses not only took the rebellion of the people against the Lord too personally, he also over-magnified his own partnership with God: Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Moses spoke as if he and God would do the job, as if they divided the work fifty-fifty; as if God couldn’t bring water unless he was around to speak to the rock. His lapse into contempt for the people led him into a lapse of subtle pride. Moses disobeyed God directly, striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Not only did he strike it, but he struck it twice. When he struck the rock at the beginning of the Exodus journey, he only had to strike it once, but now, out of anger and frustration, he did it twice. Yet, despite Moses’ lapse into sinful attitude and action, God still provided abundantly for the people... "and water gushed out. So all the people and their livestock drank their fill." vs.11 
Vs. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" Aw come on now...not Moses! I mean Moses?..."mighty man of God? after all, Moses was Moses! But Moses, great as leader as he was, was still a man subject to God and God’s law? This may seem an excessively harsh punishment for Moses. It seems that with only one slip-up, he now had to die short of the Promised Land...I've struggled with this...
"Obedience, Holiness?" Numbers 20:13 "the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and He demonstrated His Holiness among them." At the waters of Meribah, Moses made God look no different than an angry man or one of the pagan gods...I've often struggled with God’s correction of Moses; he would not lead Israel into the Promised Land. God will get His glory, but will it come through my obedience? This is really serious stuff...God loves my obedience...God should get all the glory, and if I'm obedient To Him, He gets Glory? At the end of it all, God was seen as holy among the children of Israel. Moses did not hallow God in this incident, but God hallowed Himself through the correction of Moses. God will get His glory, God will be hallowed - but will it come through our obedience or our correction?

The Ultimate Refiner

Malachi 3:3 says..."He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" ...."Ah, the trials of life...a refining process" It is said that the refiner puts the material into the hottest part of the fire...He is carefully working with the silver, burning off and scraping away the dross that that the flames bring to the top. He knows its complete when He can see His image in it.
"If you are just now in the fire, dear soul, be of good cheer - it shows at least that you are silver, and are capable of performing more acceptable service in God’s holy Temple." (Meyer)
I feel those "hot" fires all around me, have felt them for quite some time now...I'm encouraged from the standpoint that God is most definitely "working" on me...yet wonder, will the fires ever "let-up"?...just a tad-bit, please?
The latest fires...? Job opportunities, schooling, finances....just to name a few...keep working with Gary...learn the business and trade of hanging vinyl siding...pursue the latest opportunity of a sales rep/maintainer of current customers with Lawson Products...go ahead with the CNC Machinest Operator Course with Ivy Tech???? All three have attractions all their own "right now"...I've prayed, it seems for so long...for so long for opportunities, and now??...well, what-to-do, what-to-do?
Made it back to prayer group this morning, thank You Lord...a dear brother prayed for me..."to wait"..."wait on the Lord!" That's good counsel! And not one that I seem to be too good at I must confess..."will you make it clear Lord?...You often give such opportunities, such dilemas...I seem to have to "wrestle", never really "feeling" a clear and definitive---one more right--than other paths! often heard of others who get a "word" from You Lord...who receive such "clear" directions from You! Do they really? Does such counsel exist? Or do You present such opportunities to them as You do with me??....and than they too have to "wrestle"?........Dare I be like Gideon...and lay my "fleece" out before You?    Can I at least this day Lord, lay a "fleece" out before You? Could the Ivy Tech course be cancelled? If so, than I would be able to focus on Gary vs. Lawson?...at least for today, Lord? Please?
Even so...You have taught me to say...."Thank You Lord!...Thank You for these "wrestling" opportunities!

You Are More

I started singing this song yesterday at work, by Tenth avenue North..."You Are More", and this morning I still have it in my head..."You are more...than the choices that you've made...You are more than the problems you create...You've been Remade!" Great song, catchy lyrics...believing it so often is the challenge..."I've been remade"? But God's Word confirms it..."in Christ" is the key! Romans 6:11 "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:39 "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 15: 17 "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." 1 Corinthians 4: 10 "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!" We must always go back to the Word...God's Word never falters, He can't lie....Thankfully He loves me, not because of anything I can do or have done...it's all because of Jesus...
"You are more!" Mark 10: 29 "Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows."
"Don't you know who you are...what has been done for you?"

Short Arms?

Numbers 11:23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”
Unlike us, God is not weak or limited...Moses couldn't figure it out, God has resources that Moses knew nothing about. Still, even today, God's arm hasn't been shortened. God likes to meet our needs in completely unexpected ways.
Again I see myself too often being just like the children of Israel...grumbling before my God, complaining that all I get to eat is peanut-butter-and-jelly...forgetting how blessed I truly am, focusing only on my current circumstance...I allow my circumstances to drive me...how He remains patient with me astounds me! I read that ultimately, faith or unbelief does not spring from circumstances or environment, but from our hearts, which God must change. And that's what God is doing in my life, He's trying to get me to trust Him, not me, not my circumstances..."O Lord, keep helping me see that Your arms are not too short, nothing is impossible with You"

Hard Lessons

As I laid in bed last evening, tossing and turning...."don't you hate that?" I was dead asleep just minutes before in my favorite recliner...but now...thoughts of frustration fill my head...You see, I get the privelege of teaching a Young Adults class most every Sunday morning at church...and whereas I feel as though what God lays on my heart is vital, and very important...I often come away each Sunday with feelings of frustration. There's always this 'few' who seem to be at the root of my frustration...oh they know all the right 'jargon', the 'right' verses and stories, but where are their hearts? They giggle and whisper, even roll their eyes at me, or on account of me, showing no respect at all...then at worship time, they get asked to lead our worship time of praise singing...therein lies my struggle...now I'm supposed to lay all this aside and properly come before my Lord and worship Him! My bride reminds me...often I might say..."you can't be mad the kids, it's their parents fault"...she's right!...and yet, well I'm sure you catch the gist of my dilema..."Hard Lessons!" "Hard lessons" I think it was Ruth Bell Graham who said: "it's not my job to change Billy...it's my job to just love him!" How often do I long for others to see things as I do, to 'feel' as I feel, to do as I want them to do...? Silly man, "it's not my job"...I'm just to love 'em, and pray for 'em! "This is my command: Love each other." John 15:17                                                           Or stay in John and check this one out...

For greater love has no man than this, than a man will lay down his life for his friends (Jhn 15:13). Jesus said: "That's the kind of love I have for you. I'm going to lay down My life for you to prove My love. And this is the way I want you to love one another, with a self-sacrificing, giving love, where you will lay down your life for each other." ...."Aw jeeeez Lord, there you go again, turning around on me....regardless of how others treat me, regardless if I'm right, my job is not to change those few young adults, my job is to just love 'em, like You've loved me!" ....."Hard Lessons" indeed....Help me Lord"

Tryin' to keep up

"tryin' to keep up?" John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Let's see which is more appealling, trying to keep a whole bunch of 'rigid laws' or an inexhaustible supply of grace (grace upon grace) and truth. It's not a trick question...and yet, how often do I find myself...trying to be good enough? I think at every person's core...is a burning desire to do right, to do good, to measure up...at least, in the Christian's life, for sure! And so too often (if not always) our feeble attempts come-up short... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 That's the "bad" news...but rejoice, for there is really "Good News"! God offers us an inexhaustible supply of grace...The one announced by John the Baptist - Jesus Christ - is the Word made flesh...and Romans 3:22 says... This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe...and vs. 24 says ...and we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Good news? Indeed....It is open to everyone who will believe. Morris, quoting Moule: “The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it; but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they.” Everyone falls short, but everyone can be justified freely by His grace. It's too simple isn't it? It's simple and free...and yet I always want to earn it, but can't...Freely is the Greek word dorean. The way this word is used in other New Testament passages helps us understand the word. Matthew 10:8 (Freely you have received, freely give) and Revelation 22:17 (And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely) show that the word means truly free, not just “cheap” or “discounted.” Perhaps the most striking use of the ancient Greek word dorean is in John 15:25: They hated me without a cause (dorean). Even as there was nothing in Jesus deserving of man’s hatred, so there is nothing in us deserving of justification - all the reasons are in God...God’s mercy alone is the whole glory of our righteousness.  "Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!"

I wanna be a Blessing

Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." To have the glorious, happy face of God shining on you is the greatest gift one could have. Know this, as God looks upon you, He is well pleased - not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ! I too often lose sight of just how much I am blessed...especially when you consider, all blessings come from God! And not only that, but because of this, how critical is it...that I be a blessing to others? I think its huge, I mean, how better a way to get the "news" out?...or the living testimony of just how good God is....than to actually live it out loud, and be a blessing to those around you? I'm quite certain, I am my own worst enemy, you've heard me say this before....I too often look for blessings from God in the form of comfort, or even "things"...we often expect God’s blessing in our life to mean a world of comfort and ease - but that certainly isn’t for our greatest and highest good. "God Knows"...my bride says this often, and I even say it sometimes...its unfortunate but true, we often settle for happiness or comfort or wealth when God wants us to be blessed. True blessing from God is higher than happiness or wealth or comfort.  I can't help but wonder, when I am thinking correctly, and recognize just how blessed I am....then it frees me up to actually be a blessing to others....and in doing so bring God the glory He so deserves!

Work, work, work

"work, work, work..." Job 25:4 "How then can a man be righteous before God?" Tired of seemingly always coming up short, worn out from trying so hard? Just cry out to God..."what must I do, to be saved?" Acts 16:30-31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" You see apart from the work of Jesus Christ...it's just not possible! God has made it so simple. "Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!"
For a man to work is a good thing, right? Well, yes and no! God wants us to be the best of workers, this is true...but for our ultimate salvation?? well that's not possible! That's been done for us---perfectly, in Christ! A very hard concept I know, cause deep within us its just our nature, its all about us...I want so desparately to win His favor...to think there 's just something so attractive about me...He loved me, He sent His son for me...because, it's me! Nope! Its all of Christ....God has just made it so simple. "Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!"
So you see why its so important to just "cry out" to God..."what must I do, to be saved?" Acts 16:30-31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved"

The waiting game

I believe the struggle we have in waiting...is really the old "flesh vs. the spirit" thingy...Galatians 5:17 says: "The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict."  I've often said..."Life is a Battle!" Inside all of us, but especially as Christians...for when we didn't really know any better, we did as we pleased...
Ephesians 2:2-5  "You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)  Ah-ha, But God...two of my favorite words...But God!  Even tho I was an enemy of His, He had mercy on me, He loved me so much and wouldn't leave me to die as His enemy...He woke me up, and made my ugliness come alive, become aware....and now....the battle rages on, especially the waiting game. Waiting ain't natural! Waiting goes against my human-ness...we live in this automated (microwave) society...get satisfaction now! You hungry? Let's go thru a drive-up and get a sandwich...boom instant gratification! My flesh and God's Holy spirit 'in me' don't get along at all! Iinside every Christian, there's this battle and the battle is between the flesh and the Spirit. As Paul writes, these are contrary to one another – they don’t get along at all! When the flesh is winning the inside battle, you do not do the things that you wish. You don’t live the way you want to; you live under the flesh instead of under the Spirit. The fact of this battle should wake us up. If you don’t know you are in a battle, you will always lose. Also, the fact of the battle teaches us that effort is required to walk in the Spirit. God doesn’t just knock us over the head with it; we have to seek it, and block out the things that hinder walking in the Spirit.  Ahhhh, seeking Him...that takes time...that takes effort, and so often my timing is not God's timing. "O Lord, Thank You for wanting to teach me to wait on You, Thank You for loving me enough to not leave me where I once was...Keep me this day close to You, to Your will...help my family as well...as they seek Your Face."

Keepers of the Flame

To think that certain people's only job, in Bible days, was to make sure certain lamps never went out...amazes me! In my reading today Leviticus 24:3 "Aaron is to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening till morning, continually." The lamps in the tabernacle were the only source of light for the tabernacle, and they had to be tended to continually...so they would continually give light. Jesus never stopped being the light of the world (John 8:12); He never took a break from it. As well, we are never to take a break from being the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), but we can only do this as we are continually supplied with oil (the Holy Spirit) and have our wicks trimmed (undergo training through trials)...Ahhh, undergoing many trials, that's the kicker isn't it? We are promised as Christians, we are going to experience many trials...and even so, somehow in the midst of these trials, we are expected to "be a light". How?   Supplied with oil? Oil is what makes it burn, makes it bright, makes the light....the Holy spirit is our oil...God's Word is part of the promise of His Holy Spirit, He's in there, He's in His word....it is alive! Keep Reading it! Keep trying to live it! Thank You Lord for Your word, for Your Holy Spirit...Keep making me a "light" for You, for Your Glory!"

Try to Remember

"try and remember" 1 Chron 16:8 "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done." Too often, I dwell on how tough things are...I quickly forget All the Good God has done in my life...it's easy to Praise God when things seem good...Spurgeon once said: “All the good that we enjoy comes from God. Recollect that! Alas, most men forget it."
As I continue reading of the children of Israel, I can't help but thinking once again...I'm just like 'em!" Rowland Hill used to say that worldlings were like the hogs under the oak, which eat the acorns, but never think of the oak from which they fell, nor lift up their heads to grunt out a thanksgiving. Yes, so it is. They munch the gift and murmur at the giver...that's me, a hog who does little more than eats and murmurs...too often forgetting the importance of having a heart of thanksgiving.     O how I long to be a thankful man, what that would look like? How different it would be for those around me if I were? Would they enjoy me more? Would my life be more of a positive influence on others? Would God be given the glory due Him by my life? But too often I squelch that...I 'wallor' in how tough things are, and perhaps I bring people down instead...
"O Lord, i am thankful You are my God...I am thankful You 'longsuffer' with me...thankful you never leave me nor forsake me...I confess too often I grumble and murmur saying help me, look at my circumstance and bail me out...! Chron 16:29 says..ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Help me Lord to do just that!

What a difference a day makes

Ah, I once again missed doing my blog yesterday...and because I did, I didn't get the opportunity to tell you what a good day I'd had on Friday! A good friend of mine, and one-time co-worker, Jeff Ondrla...had called me several weeks ago about an article he'd read in the Ft. Wayne newspaper...in the article another Jeff, Jeff Thornburgh was quoted as saying "how difficult it is these days to get quality individuals into their shop, to train them, and then benefit from their training and employing them.....So Jeff O called Jeff T....by the way we all knew each other from my DVO days....one might say this is all because of orthopedics, but truly its all because of God. Well Jeff T remembered both Jeff O and me....and a meeting was arranged, which was this past Friday @ 11:00 a.m.  Jeff T gave us the "red carpet" treatment...he took us on a tour of their entire plant, he'd stop often at different machines, explaining what each one did, suggesting to me this area would be a good area for you, or this area would require the least amount of training...after the tour we met Rita, PMT's H.R. person, who just so happen went to my high school, her brother was in my class, and she rememberd me...she talked to me all about the Ivy Tech CNC operators training program...gave me costs, scheduling, time frames, contact name and number....also told me that once a person receives this training from Ivy tech, it gets businesses attention! All in all, I just came away from this meeting so encouraged...for too long I've felt like I had nothing to offer anyone, any more...but these people took a sincere interest in me...Jeff T even said, "David we would definitely benefit from your maturity and your experience 'round here"...and I must say, its an awesome feeling! We left, and both Jeff T and Rita said please call us next week, and don't be a stranger!
Then once outside Jeff O was also very encouraged as well....and he even made me promise I would get going on this Ivy Tech program ASAP....not to mention he gave us about $170 in cash....kept saying "I'm for you! I'm your man!" All's I can say is "Praise God! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!....Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!"
So, I leave and I call Brenda to tell her all about the interview, which she is so encouraged by as well, and she shares with me how Bob and Mary K want to pay for our license plates as well!
"WOW Lord....what a difference a day makes!"  "Praise God! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!....Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus!"

Trials vs. wisdom

 Someone once said  "knowledge is the ability to take things apart, but wisdom is the ability to put things together..." James 1:6 "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
Trials are a necessary time to seek wisdom from God.
"O Lord, I don't want to be a wave on the sea, I need wisdom a lot more than I need knowledge...especially 'my' so called knowledge!  My knowledge seems to go hand-in-hand with the waves on the sea...I long for Your wisdom Father...and I recognize You are trying to teach me...forgive me once again for not be willing to learn...for not being willing to simply wait upon You!"     Friends came last evening to bring us a meal, and fellowship with us...they brought far more than that! Huge blessings! Not only a meal, which was wonderful...but they (The Lord) re-stocked our pantry, and a load of wood pellets, "Thank you Lord, thank you Jesus"!!!             
The man who came to Jesus and said Lord, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24) was not double-minded. He wanted to believe, and declared his belief. His faith was weak, but it wasn’t tinged with a double-minded doubt.  Forgive me Father, once again, I fear I am a double-minded man...

The 11th Hour

I know O Lord, You are God, and often times, when 'things' seem bleakest...when the 11th hour is near...You deliver! O Lord, please deliver me? The psalmist says in Psalms 88:1-3 "O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave." My grave is once again, my financial situation...it has been difficult to say the least...quitting my job (which was driving me both physically and mentally in sane), taking the only job I could get (which I make 200 dollars less weekly), and then add to that missing 2 weeks of work, and not being paid for the last two weeks as well, let's just say....it is definitely the 11th hour Lord!    11th hour and we are anxious, we are feeling forsaken, help us O Lord, we are needy people, once again I am asking You to deliver us....O how You must grow weary of me! I know there are many who are worse off than us, yet I grumble, i moan....Help me! Thoughts rush in my mind...."why should He help me? Why should He once again deliver me?"  I appeal to You o Lord, i've got nowhere else to go!

Its a Blizzard out there

For the last couple of days...the main topic 'round here (which it seems to always be this time of year), is the weather. "We could get anywhere's from 12 inches to 24 inches of snow!" Living in Indiana all my life, that's just a fact of life...but this morning I did a word search, "white as snow", on my favorite Blue Letter Bible site, and one verse especially caught my attention....Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.  My sins, my sins aagainst God are stains...red stains, like blood red...they caused my savior, Jesus, to come to this earth and bleed for the "likes of me"...Thankfully though, The Lord offers any repentant heart, who humbles themselves before Him...true and complete cleansing from sin. My, our, condition of sin can be transformed from deeply stained to completely white.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord: The Lord God invites His people to come reason with Him. What He offers us isn’t just offered because He is “bigger” than us and has the right to dictate whatever terms please Him. God’s direction for us is reasonable. It is smart. It is the best way to live. It is just plain reasonable to follow God. Have you ever once heard of an old Christian, on their deathbed, gathering their children and friends around, and saying: “Now friends, watch out for that Christianity! I’ve followed Jesus my whole life and I’m so sorry I did! What waste that was!” What nonsense! Quite the contrary, we find that Christians on their deathbed are trusting and loving God more than ever. It’s just plain reasonable!  In this passage, Isaiah says nothing about how this cleansing comes. But we know that it comes because Jesus took upon Himself our stain of sin, and God judged sin perfectly and completely in Jesus, so we can be accounted white as snow and as white as wool. And that is really "Good News"..."thank You Lord, Thank you Jesus!"

God Knows

He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. Luke 16:15   "God knows", my bride has reminded me so many times in our lives..."God knows"...when I allow my worries to overwhelm me (too often), but this morning I couldn't help wondering, God knows when I 'do things' for man to see, to receive some sort of acclamation from them...is that only why I do it, or am I really wanting God to get the glory? Are my motives right?...or, if not, perhaps this could be why God has chosen to leave me alone?  It seems to me, for the last 2 years, I've worked harder (labor, job, etc) than ever before, for less money than ever before..."have You turned Your face from me Lord?" I try to remain 'open', open to Your ways, to Your teachings Lord, to remain a student....am I just not getting it? "God knows your hearts", He knows my heart...Is this it? Is my heart bad?  Lord, even though, I battle with this...I will not move aside from You...i will not choose a different path, you have 'hemmed me in"...my Hope is in You!

Jesus, use me
please Lord, don't refuse me
Surely there's a work that I can do
and even though its humble,
Help my will to crumble
though the cost be great
I'll work for You