I'm Hopeless....but there is Hope?

"am I hopeless?...uh Yep!" Hebrews 7:19 "For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God." It's hard to believe there are people who still think we can "earn" our way into heaven...I know people personally, who think to themselves..."if I just keep the law, I'm in"...trust me folks, we're hopeless...but there is hope! "Our hope is in Jesus, not in the Law of Moses!"  

In Christ Alone....its All of Him, "Thank You Jesus!"

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

...On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

"Yeah....The Sun is Shining Today!"

"Things always seem better, when the sun is shining, wouldn't you agree?" ‎2 Samuel 23:3-4 The Rock of Israel said to me: 'The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.' Thank You Lord, for this morning...for the sunshine after the rain. I must admit, it is so good to see the sun shining today, was starting to really miss it! "I really think that sunshine is a healing, its's 'meducinal' ya know? O Thank You Lord!"

Somebody yell "ALL"

Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" "If God is so good, then why is this happening?" Satan can really play games with our minds. Especially,when it comes to the goodness of God, he's always challenging that truth. Satan wants nothing more than to get me doubting God, satan loves it when I focus on my circumstances, when I convince myself, how 'bad' things are...and that God has forgotten little ol' me. There is a very basic foundation of God, from God, about God... that we must, all of us, incorporate into our own understanding. GOD IS GOOD. If you don't know anything else, know that God is good. In HIM is TRUTH...He Alone is to be trusted....It's important that you and I know that, and that is something that you and I need to accept by faith...praying to God to increase our faith...and than Believing the word of God, I accept by faith that God is good, because not always would my circumstances indicate that God was good..."Lord, help me to stop living by my circumstances"...It's also good to know your enemy, if you know how he (satan) likes to attack, if you know his tendencies, you won't be caught un-aware...Satan is constantly assailing the truth of the goodness of God. And so often, as I'm looking at adverse situations, I'm prone to say, "If God is so good, then why is this happening?" Don't you hear that so very often from people, "If God is good, why are there so many people starving in Cambodia? If God is good, why does He allow this to happen in the world? Why does He allow a little nine year old girl to get kidnapped if God is good?" There are always those challenges to the goodness of God that are thrown at us. Satan is always challenging that truth. And thus, I need to have that truth deeply, firmly ingrained within me. God is good, that I know. Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" Brothers, sisters, hear this TRUTH, it's vital to our lives! We must, all of us, 'drill this truth in deeply' into our own understanding. If there's ever more the need to memorize God's Word, it's for these times, when we start to live by sight and thus doubting God's Goodness...."Lord, keep my eyes off myself, and only on YOU! and help me to learn to say...God is good, this I know........‎God is Good!"..............somebody yell "ALL" ........"ALL the Time!""

The Friendly Confines?

"and I thought I had trials?" Hebrews 11:37-38 "They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them." History shows that the 'world' is not usually very friendly to people of faith...and yet at the same time..."the world wasn't worthy of 'em" either...Does my faith in God always bring me tremendous triumph and victory over the enemy? Does my faith, guarantee me...no trials? Nope!, instead God promises trials... John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

 ...I do believe, by God's grace, that my faith will sustain me through any kind of circumstance that I may face in life.
I guess, I'd like to think, I suffer for Jesus.....I'd like to think the world was not worthy of me.....I can dream can't I?
"Lord, help me when I want to feel sorry for myself....help me to keep my eyes on Jesus!"

Heck, gettin' old

“How can you not lose heart?...what's the bigger picture?” 2 Cor 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." My body reminds me every day..."uh, you're old bub" It's true that outwardly, I'm perishing...but there's a bigger picture here...inwardly I'm being renewed! Simply by seeking the Lord in His word daily, He's changing me!
God's Word says it, so it's True...As our outer man is deteriorating, we are still encouraged, because our inner man can be in the process of renewal: "And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:10). As we are humbly seeking the Lord in His word, we are being changed, brought more and more into the newness of Christ: "Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). The message is the same: “On the outside, we are suffering and taking a beating. But on the inside, God is blessing and renewing us!”

"O Lord, as my outer man deteriorates, remind me of the encouraging reality that my inner man can be renewed. Help me to desire inner spiritual progress, rather than outer physical prowess. This I pray through Christ, my Lord, Amen."

He's still on His Throne

"we serve the Big God" Nehemiah 6:15,16 "So the wall was completed in fifty-two days...they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God." "Extra, Extra read all about it...God uses a man named Nehemiah to set right a 100-year-old problem in less than two months!" Why wasn’t the job done in the more than 100 years before? It wasn’t that no one saw the problem; it wasn’t that walls were not wanted. Many people saw broken walls, knew how they ruined the lives of the people of Jerusalem, but no one got past the place of just wishing there were walls. Finally, there came a man who did more than wish Jerusalem had walls; he grieved, he ached, he prayed, he planned, he asked boldly, he went, he fought, he encouraged, he stood strong, he saw the job through to completion. But he also had people around him with the same kind of heart.
Sad to say, too often I have such small ideas of how Big God is...and if He wants too, He can even use the likes of you and me! "It's my hopes and my prayers Lord, that You show me the right time to be a man who "does" for YOU when it is the right time....too often I fear my plots and schemes are not from YOU, You have shown me over these years, of my need to pray....perhaps thru prayer YOU might teach me the right times?...please Lord?"

Walk Like Jesus Did

"WLJD...."Walk Like Jesus Did" 1 John 2:6 "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." What's up with that? Ya mean I'll be perfect "sin-free?" Not hardly...just means my life
will be marked, whereas before Jesus entered into my heart, I went places....wrong places....now I'll be moving in a direction marked out by God...sin will no longer rule! I'm not called to imitate the way Jesus walked on water, but His every-day walk with God the Father. Jesus loved to please His Father, He loved to obey His Father, our heavenly Father, God Almighty....and if Jesus loved to, shouldn't I? YES, a resounding "YES"....sooooooooo "I wanna be like Jesus"
"Help me this day Lord, to walk as your son Jesus Did!"

A day in the life....if you will

As I finished my last day of class at Ivy Tech, with the CNC Machinists Course...as I labored thru 2 1/2 hours more of measuring, and missing 9 out of 70 some measurements...frutstrated, can you relate?...I am blessed in that a friend from a past church, from a past employment/employer scenerio paid for the course... a course, that if truth be known, I'd rather not have done, but what do you do? What are you supposed to do, when someone offers to pay for such a thing....say, "uh no, but thank you very much!" Perhaps I should have said just such a thing...what is wrong with me? I've just finished a 3 month course I'd rather not have done...but jobs are hard to find, and this area we live in is rich in CNC machining needs...Lord help me, I need a job, and the whole reason I agreed to taking this course, cause I'm 50 years old, and have been spinning my wheels now for over 30+ years....perhaps this course could give me a decent job/career for my remaining years of employment??? I don't know Lord, but YOU do....help me LORD?....Please?"

What are the Important Things?

Sunday morning, 5-22-11, this question kept running, racing, if you will, thru my mind...am I "free"? Free to ramble on, free to be introspective....free to think only of myself?...Self-Absorbed, ah now that's the way it should be, no? I fear this list, if I were allowed, would be entirely too long...but truthfully, it comes down to just one thing..."to be loved".
As my bride and I spent Sunday morning, sipping coffee and talking....many topics were touched upon, but mostly of people....friends, family, acquaintances, church(es)....relationships! How people, both now, and over the years, have and continue to fail us...to hurt us...and we're quite sure, we have in turn, done our share as well. Life is hard, we're reminded of this every day, but for some reason, Sunday mornings seem to bring this out more intensely....why is that? Why are Sundays this way, at least to me? Is it the whole church scene? Is it that Monday's just 'round the corner? Do Sundays make me think of relationships even more? It's got to be because of having to go to church again, don't you think? It's got to be because you are once again forced to go and have 'relationship' with others...to greet some, be hugged by some, be smiled at by some, be smugged by some, be hurt by some, be made to feel by some---you simply don't measure up! Why is that?....Relationships, like life, are hard...people are hard...we look for positive re-inforcement, encouragement, yes love, from people....and too often, it simply does not come, or falls way short of what we'd hoped for. We all seem to know, that truly, our only love and encouragement comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....but we hope don't we? We long for it, don't we?
Ah to be loved, I do believe it is truly the most important thing! I have it, in Jesus Christ....but I truly long for it more, from this world....."why is that Lord?"

1 Class left...than what?

Today is my last class at Ivy Tech in their CNC Machine Course....finish up my measurements test, hopefully my paper work was received and sent onto NIMS....hopefully get my 'finals' scheduled, hopefully pass my finals? "Than what Lord? What do You have in store for me next, Lord?....Lord, Help me!"

God Revealed

"God revealed Himself" John 14:9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" Do you want to know what God is like? Simple look at Jesus Christ. You and I are to be God's representative in the world...unfortunately, we fall short, terribly short...but Jesus was consistent all the way through His entire life. "Thank You Jesus"...Yes indeed, thankfully Jesus completed the work that was needed to appease our Most Holy God, and now, all because of Jesus, we are "heirs" with Him..."Indeed, Thank You Jesus!"

End of Days?

Everybody wants God to move in their time and fashion...sad to say, I'm no different! I often approach Him and say..."why You takin' so long Lord?....I've been waiting...and waiting....Sad to say, I often tell God, it's just been too "long in the comin" Romans 8:22 "all of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" So often, I think..."boy Lord, you sure are takin' a long time in answerin my request..." God's Word says, that all of creation has waited and has been groaning for Him to make it all right again...when I think of it that way, I've not waited hardly at all...."Thank You Jesus for the hope You give"
"Keep me trusting You O Lord, You Alone are faithful to Your word and Your Promised glory will be a reality"

Isn't there something about me, Lord?

"why can't I please God?" Romans 7:18 says, "I know that nothing good lives in me" If you're anything like me, you simply desire for their to be something about you, that attracts God to you....I just want it to be about me, sooooo bad...I think we all battle with this, why else is there so many different religions out there?  It's a battle you know? But I Praise God, cause He almost always brings me back to the realization, that it's "ALL OF HIM"...Talk about Grace, Amazing Grace!...cause each time, I'm driven to the same conclusion...vs. 24 "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?" vs. 25 "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" "Thank You Jesus!"

How important is talking to God, with You?

"tough pill to swallow?" 1 Peter 3:7 "Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." I think by now we all realize, there are consequences in life. Every day, my behavior has ripple effects...trying to be a godly husband there are 'spiritual' consequences! Peter's reminder here sets me back in my tracks, "how I treat my bride, can effect my prayer life"...Whoa! "Help me Lord!"
As I once again, ponder this topic....this particular verse...its sobering you know? Peter, you always throw the responsibility back on me! God's Word is good at that...regardless of how people, or even life treats me...the responsibility is put back on me.....because of what Jesus did for me, I must live my life accordingly. I have no excuse, no justification, I cannot rationalize some behavior, or even convince myself of any vindication...Jesus took it all for me, now, I must take it all for Him...Especially when I sit and ask myself, "how important is praying to God to me?" "How important is it, that God hear my prayers?" I must tell you, it's H-U-G-E...I've tried this thing called "life" on my own, in my own ways, I'm no good at it alone...in fact, I mess it up pretty good....I've got nowhere else to go! God has hemmed me in....and please don't 'mis-hear' me, I'm thankful for this realization, I'm thankful to be His child.....I want to be obedient to Him, to His Word....so "Thank you Peter, once again for this reminder!"....and "Help me Lord, to live with my bride in an understanding way!"

Do you ever wonder, why?

Are you anything like me? Do you ever wonder why? Like why I'm the way I am? I know my Dad struggled with so many things, I've often wrote about his "checking-out" in my life...I've grown over my years to understand a little to the "why" he could do such a thing, life is hard....and if you're not grounded in the Lord...well, I can't see how anyone could not check out! But yesterday, I was reminded again, in my behavior, by my bride, of another "why"....which in turn led me back to my father, and my wanting to ask him "why?" You see, I lack self confidence...terribly, oh I used to have it, perhaps tooooo much so, bordering on the cocky even, but over the last 4-5 years, I've literally had the self-confidence "sucked-outta-me" as my bride pointed out last evening....it was very difficult, to say the least, to sit there and listen to what my bride had to say.....started out in very much anger, and as I sat there, praying, praying that I not retaliate in my anger, and simply tried to talk thru what she so boldly brought to my attention....slowly we were able to talk thru this......yet talk is good, but now, what do I do with it? To be continued........................

Give me this kind of Confidence

"I long for this confidence" 2 Chron. 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." As a child of God, we need never be fearful or terrified of the enemy. Never! "O Lord, keep me ever aware of Your presence with me!"
Oh how I need to realize that, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
There is always more for us and with us than is with the enemy. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4). "Thank You Lord for Your Words, Your Promises...Only Your Words and Your Promises are True...You Alone are the only True-Truth...Even when my enemy is myself, as is often the case...Help me to Trust in only You!"

Lack of Design by: Elyza A.

          To begin with I didn't know where to begin. I forced myself to write with a pen, so that mistakes could not be fixed, There is a person inside me that hates everyone and everything. I hate that person and shove her back to the darkest gloomiest places of my mind, to teach her a lesson. Why should I hate anyone when I am a powerless individual? In my head only people with villains or enemies in their life can properly hate. I guess I've found my beginning. Can you think of books or movies that don't have villains? If there is such a fish would you spend the whole time reading or watching, looking for the "bad guy"? Just a question. I ask lots of them. When I was little and learning my letters I'd carry around a pad of paper and mix around the few letters I knew on the pad. then I'd run to my Dad and ask if my creation was a word. Mostly he said no. Does that make him a villain? I don't think so. Honest fathers are treasures more than pretend words. Words, its funny how mysterious they are, especially when you're young. Curse and slang words were always windows into the grown up world. Finding out the meanings was not as easy as finding the words themselves. And usually explanations were just as confusing. another memory for my father and words was during middle school. A certain phrase passed around like a shiny toy, everyone pretending what it was. Maybe some knew, I didn't and couldn't ask. Ignorance wasn't bliss in middle school. On a trip home alone with Dad, I asked him what this mystery word meant. I knew it would be interesting by how quiet and red he got. Demanding to know where I heard my word, I simply replied,...school. No doubt he was cursing the public school system in his head. But my honest father told me. I regretted asking almost immediately after he told me, maybe sooner. It was a stupid word anyway and still confusing. At least I wouldn't feel dumb at school now. Maybe being a little dumb would've been better. It wasn't "hip" but ignorance didn't embarrass my father. Maybe it’s the words themselves that are the villains. We could go through life with grunts and hand gestures. Wouldn't that be more simple? Did we become greedy along the way? Demanding to voice our opinions and make words that shouldn't have been invented. It was words that created hate and enemies in the first place. But they also created love and family. Was this a trick to get us to value one more that the other? Told you I liked questions. Have you ever wished to take back words you had said? I imagine the process would be painful and disgusting to watch. Words are treacherous little creatures not prone to loyalty. They love to smack themselves against people you're talking to. And then like a spoiled child you have to apologize for them. because of course they won't do it themselves. I tried reading a large print book once. Someone told me that the extra thickness and more pages helped you feel more accomplished. I couldn't do it. All those large angry words each clammering for my attention gave me a headache. Which proves to me that words are selfish. They don't care about my pain they're just little "divas", each and everyone. Its amazing I've been able to read at all. My Dad's not a big reader , but he reads what’s important and I think of him as one of the smartest men I know. Has my father tamed the words then? By just ignoring their power does that lesson the villainous behavior? Or maybe acknowledging their power and sort of paying your dues. a person could go mad giving words life and personalities. In kindergarten we had a wedding for the letters Q and U, that in itself is a degree of power, giving letters genders. In this day and age how could we go to an alphabet wedding expecting their marriage to last? What made their chances any better than ours? Why should their love last when all around us marriages were falling apart? these were cases where words powers weren't acknowledged and they took revenge. To have and to hold until death do you part? Attack! Maybe we should burn stacks of notebook paper and number 2 pencils on the alter to words before weddings, to ensure that our words won't lie. Maybe someone should just care to say what they mean and mean what they say. Like some cheesy song. Billy Joel had it right when he sang a completely un-cheesy song with lyrics like..."Honesty is such a lonely word". If a word could be lonely...I think it would be honesty. Wouldn't you be if no one wanted to hear you? My father is an honest man and I always want to listen to him. So I think maybe he defeated the words. And maybe someday I will too...

Only 2 to Go

"Thanks Lord....only 2 more classes to Go!....and a few finals....give me strength to finish well!"

My God is Soooo Big

"who's in charge here?" Daniel 2:21 "He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings." I overheard a discussion yesterday at class...many complaints, anxieties...regarding the state of our union..."it" can be overwhelming ya know? Daniel thinks of how God is in command of all things, and how God is mightier than ______? Go ahead now, you fill in the ______!

"My God is so Big!....so Strong and so Mighty!....There's nothing My God cannot Do!"

"Help me Lord...to remember that when I pray...!"

Remember to Whom You Are Praying

"the Honor due His Name" Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." God gives us these stories & prayers as reminders...It's good when you start to pray, in your addressing of God, to sort of remind yourself of Who you're talking to. "Lord, there's nothing too hard for You." Remember that when you pray. I'm kind of ashamed to say, but I need this reminder...too often I just simply start in with my prayers, kind of like just rattlin' off my list if you will, never really truly giving it any deep thought or especially the respect God deserves. Take this prayer of Jeremiah, talk about a valuable one to study. Notice how he begins his prayer. "Oh Lord God, You've created everything, and there is nothing too hard for You." Oh, what a glorious way to begin a prayer. O Lord, help me to remember, to Who I am Praying...and help me to give to You, as 1 Chronicles 16:29 says... "ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name"

God's Timing is Perfect

"His timing" 1 Tim 6:17 "to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" God knows my tendency to trust in me instead of in Him...too often, I trust in my job, ability, even money...when I feel panic, and start plotting...yesterday, at church we read of Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 Pastor Rob reminded me, God has resources that I know nothing about, so I can trust Him and be at peace even when we can’t figure out how He will provide.
"Help me Lord...I want to trust in You, forgive me, too often, I try trusting/plotting...in me"

Hiding His Word in My Heart

"there is power in the Word" Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" God knew what He was doing when He gave us His Word, the Bible! The Word of God is Power, God's Power in our lives against sin. God has purposed that we hide His Word in our hearts. When Satan tempted Jesus, each time Jesus answered "it is written"...good 'nuff for Jesus, good 'nuff for me!

What's it mean..."in Christ"

"what's it mean, in Christ?" Eph 2:6 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" We don’t actually sit in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus, at least not yet. Instead, we sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So our life and identity is in Christ, as He sits in heavenly places, so do we. It's an anticipation if you wiil, and it's all because of Jesus! This can be our present position as a follower of Jesus Christ...as a Christian. We have a new place for living, even a new reason for living... our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...So as I struggle thru this life, this every-day-fight-to-survive, I can try to remember an adopt this new attitude of "just-passin'-thru"...."Thank You Jesus!"

4 Classes & Counting

As of this coming Monday, I have only 4 more CNC Machining classes..."Thank You Lord!" 2 Online Modules...a couple of in class tests, including a very long-drawn-out 3 1/2 hour measuring test...2 NIMS Finals Tests....other than that, almost done!
I must say, it's been taxing, to say the least...A year and a half, crammed into 3 months, "what fun"!
"help me Lord, to finish well?....and than perhaps...a job?"

"Me....A Complainer"

"Really, all things Lord?" Phil 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining" I have to confess I don't always succeed (ok, hardly ever) at this...I catch myself murmuring, but "Praise God", He is working in my heart, because when I do things and I am murmuring, He usually speaks to me and says, "Why are you doing it?" "Uh...I'm doing it for You, Lord." He says, "Quit your murmuring, or quit doing it."   "Lord, give me the strength, to trust in You, and in Your plan"

Soil, fruit...

"what kind of soil am I?" Matthew 13:23 "But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it." Note the 4 types of soil...wayside, stony places, among thorns, and good ground...The same seed was cast by the same sower. You cannot blame the differences in results on the sower or the seed, but only the soil. "What kind of soil, you gonna be?"    "Please Lord let me be the fertile ground. Amen."

Judge Yourself?

"judging...or judgemental?" Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." This is a popular Bible verse in our present day. Many think Jesus commanded a universal acceptance of any lifestyle or teaching. It's a 'thin-line' you know? As Christian's we are called to unconditionally love...but not called to unconditional approval. In Matthew 7:16 Jesus said "You can identify them by their fruit"...Jesus is speaking against being judgmental, that is, judging motives and the inner man, which only God can know. We can judge the fruit of a man, but we can rarely judge their motives with accuracy. That's me...I struggle with this one so bad..."Lord, help me not to judge the motives and the "inner" man of my brothers and sisters in Your Body"........Amen

God Knows Our Hearts

"things that make you say hmmm?" Luke 16:15 "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." Humbling thoughts...I can 'fool' men, but not God. God sees past all my 'show', God sees who I really am, and somehow in the midst of all that, He still loves me! That's definitely a Jesus thing!
I've heard it said...."Jesus loves you right where you are....He died for you, cause He doesn't want you to stay where you are!" "Thank You Jesus!"

Family...that Octopus

The Family...that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish too.    

--Dodie Smith

Confidence in faith

"that takes faith" Ephesians 5:20 "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything" That's tough stuff...you know? Cause things happen to me, & on the surface they look 'wrong' and so horrible that I'm prone to really cry out to God against these things. But God knows Best, and He's far-far, wiser than me! I don't always understand, but He's gotta plan...and He will be glorified!!
All things that happen, happen for His purpose because He loves me...and He knows me better, than I know myself...I can give thanks even for those things that I do not understand yet what the purpose is. That takes faith.
"Lord, I know you are trying to 'increase my faith', forgive me when I grumble...help me in those times, give me the confidence I need in Your plan..!"

Come Meet Our Clan

Saturday April 31st, 2011 my Aunt Barbara Lou Rider (Mom) went home...yesterday Thursday May 5th, 2011, we buried her...during these last two days, emotions have 'ran hard'...as I was once again forced to remember, re-visit, re-create, yes even re-live our family's history! Barb & Jack Rider did something very amazing in 1977, as my brother Dennis reminded me in Mom's Memorial yesterday...they took us in! Their house was for most practical purposes, an empty-nest, except for Tammy...and they took all 4 of us in! Amazing! And what a history, what a family...we do indeed have..."Thank You Lord!" Amongst other things, I found out my mother Carolotta has a sister....Aunt Annabelle Fulk...and she came yesterday to Mom's funeral...and I got to hold her and hug her, and cry with her...after 50 years, I find this out...there's word she lives in Kendallville Indiana...."Lord, make a way for us to get up there and visit with her, please?"  Riders, Adangs, Walters, Anweilers...what a clan! "Thank You Lord!"

Another reminder of decay

I tried, after all these years...to play slow-pitch softball last night...another reminder, of how my frame has, and is decaying!   "Lord, I hurt all over, but especially in my knees...is there any hope? I ask You Lord for strength..."

On my own...or drawing near to God

"me...unswervingly?" Romans 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." In a tough time? Discouragement can make us 'swerve' from the 'truth'. When times get tough, don't pull away, Romans 10:22 says, "Let us draw near to God"...the reason we can stand strong is because He who promised is faithful. It is far better to trust in His faithfulness instead of ours!
It would seem to me, I am constantly in need of encouragement...I mean, I try to go on facebook every morning, and be an encouragement to others, hopefully while bringing glory to God...but all the while, I am yearning for encouragement myself. The truth of the matter is.........God's Word is 'stock-piled' with encouragement! God's Word is 'stock-piled' with Truth....God's Word is 'stock-piled' with Promises! So, why don't I rest in it? "Aw, help me Lord!"

Belonging...has it's privileges

"Who am I?" Trying to describe one's self, trying to make myself sound impressive, is tiring, to say the least. I think especially when it comes to trying to 'secure' employment..."be confident", "be cocky"..."rattle off all these things you can do"..."be convincing, don't hesitate, or they'll see right thru ya"..."Thankfully" Galatians 3:29 says "If you belong to Christ...you are heirs according to the promise." The issue is not "can you keep the law?"...the issue is not "what denomination are you?"...or "are you man or woman?"...the issue is not even if you are impressive or not... the only issue is "if you are Christ’s." This place of high privilege comes according to the promise, God's Promise, not according to law or works. It is belonging to Jesus that sets us free! "Thank You Jesus!"

No Good in Me

"look at me, don't you wish God could love you as much as He loves me" Romans 7:18 "and I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature." Ever since I can remember...I am constantly looking for some good in my flesh, some redeeming characteristic, trying in the flesh to give God some cause to love me so that I can boast a little bit in myself and say..."Ah, that's why God loves me!" The absolute truth of the matter is..."It's All Of God's Amazing Grace...it's All of Him!" We all so want it to be about us, something we've done or do....but it's All of God...."Thank You Jesus!"