Double Blessing


Hey all.

Ever get doubly blessed?  Ever get a real double dose of God's blessing?  Sadly for some of us, it is tough to remember getting one real blessing in our life, let alone two of them at the same time.  But sometimes the Lord shows up in a big way and pours us a "double" shot of blessing.  HE fills the cup up to the top!  Have you ever been there?  Can you recall when you just had this amazing sense of being blessed?  Like a double blessing! It is pretty awesome to say the least isn't it? 

I was doubly blessed recently with the birth of my first two grandchildren.....twin boys!  A double blessing in an amazing way!!  I am blown away how much love you can feel and how blessed you feel!  It is so humbling and special.

But check this out.....I was thinking about what should we do in the moment when these obvious blessings are poured out in our life?

We should be grateful and thankful when something is such a great blessing, like two healthy little boys and a healthy mommy.  But, I don't ever want to miss the fact that God gives us blessings every single day as well.  Every day of our life, we are blessed.  The Lord's blessings to us our "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).  Let's not forget the daily blessings we receive every morning.  The blessing of HIS love and HIS grace.  I don't want to only feel blessed by the Lord when something really big happens.....I want to acknowledge and feel it everyday. 

But sometimes.......it comes in a big double dose which is pretty cool!!

S&H,

-S

 

Neutral



Hey all,

Been awhile hasn't it?  I know.  Anyway....I'm back.

In today's world, doesn't it seem that there is no neutral.  Not in anything.  Here is what I mean by that. 

In the world we live in today, it feels like a person cannot be neutral on anything.  It feels like the world requires us to take a position on everything............especially in the world of social media.  You are either for it, or you are against it.  In fact, if you take a position of neutral, meaning that you don't want to take a position or don't want to give an opinion, or don't respond........then we can believe that we are in fact viewed as taking a position. You know what I mean?  Why do we feel that there does not seem to be a place of neutral in our world today?  Anywhere.  Neutral used to be the safe place, having no opinion was ok...........but not anymore. Everything MUST be accepted as ok or wrong.  And then you are in a seemingly "no win" situation.  You cannot win either way. 

What happened to just being silent?  No opinion?  Being neutral?

I think we are missing something.

Check this out..............if an issue of significance comes up and you take a position of neutral, then we feel like we lose in the worlds view.  It really it is no win situation....especially for our children who constantly live in this world of social media.  It is a tough world to live in for all of us, but our kids face it every day.

So what do we do?  What do we tell them (and ourselves as adults)?

Check this out..........I think we have the definition of "neutral" wrong. 

We have to remind ourselves that neutral doesn't mean we don't have an opinion.  It only means that we are choosing to not engage in the issue.  We have to realize that we have a choice to engage or not.  We have to remind ourselves of our core values.  We have to believe in what we believe.  This has been lost in our world today.  You see, we have to remind ourselves that we are not automatically pulled into every issue that is thrown out in our world today.  We actually have a choice to engage or not.  It really is a choice.......it really is.  Why do we feel that we have to respond?  In fact, by responding, we are placing ourselves in a no-win situation.  So why do that?  Again, we have a choice.

The truth is that what is pulling us into these things it is nothing more than social peer pressure, which I acknowledge is real, but it is still the core reason we feel the need to engage.  We have to fall back on our values, our morals, and our faith.  We need to stand firm in our beliefs and not allow ourselves to compromise those by being drawn into these issues.  Most often, no response is the best response.  If that appears neutral, then so be it. 

Neutral is not a position of weakness, it actually a position of strength.  It is a demonstration of our core beliefs.  It is demonstration of being stronger than the issues of the world.  It is demonstrating that we will not be drawn into things that don't believe in.

It is demonstrating who we are.........not who we are not. 

Think about that.

S&H,

-S

 

Reverence

Hey all,

The world needs some reverence right now.  It really does.  Unfortunately, most of us don't use this word enough to even understand the meaning, let alone demonstrate it in our lives.

Check this out.

The simple definition for reverence is...... "to have deep respect for someone or something".

As children, we were taught to show respect for our elders.  We were taught to have reverence for the things in our lives that deserved it.  We were shown to show reverence (deep respect) for things like our parents, our family, our school, our country, our flag, and if we were raised as Christians.....our God.  We would stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance" each day as a demonstration of reverence for our country and the flag that represents it.  We were taught to say "yes sir and no sir" as a sign of reverence.  We had "deep respect" for our friends and family.  It was the right way to be and we knew it.   

But somewhere along the way.......many have lost their way. The world has lost it's reverence.  Things that have forever been held with "deep respect" are now dismissed as quickly as turning the channel on the TV.  It's sad and alarming.  The reverence in our country for those things that are really important may be at an all time low.  It can really be discouraging. 

But let's look to our faith to be reminded of the importance of reverence and it conquers all.  There is hope.  We still have a place for reverence.

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,"   Hebrews 12:28

We can be grateful that our real kingdom cannot be shaken.  It is solid.  It is a rock.  It is not affected by the way's of the world.  When the world seems lacking in any reverence or respect for the things that we know deserve it, then our response should be the same.  We are called to offer God our worship with reverence and awe in thankfulness for HIS kingdom and HIS grace.  Our reverence of God will always hold true and will carry us through.  When we first honor Him, it gives us the confidence and courage to demonstrate reverence in this world that desperately needs to see it.  HE is honored when we show reverence to others and treat them like HE wants us to treat others, which is with love and.......with deep respect.

That's what I am going to do.

S&H,

-S  
 

Stand

Hey all,

There comes a time in our live when it is time to "Stand" up.  The world we live in today is full of people that are sitting on the sidelines and watching the game......sitting on their "butt's" and passing the time watching what is going on in the world.  They give their opinions on everything that is going on but are completely unwilling to "stand" up and get in the game.  They just sit there watching life take place and are the victims of everything that happens.  Helpless and hopeless.

I don't want to be one of those people. 

There is a verse in the Bible (Jeremiah 6:16) that speaks to this and calls us to do something about it.

"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it."

It say's "Stand" at the crossroads. Stand. Meaning......we have to get up. Get off our butt and stand up.  We are not supposed to just sit and be a spectator.

Once we are up, then it says to ask where the good way is.  Ask where the ancients paths are which means the right ways.  We should seek counsel from those that know the way.  We should ask what way we should go.  The roads of life have been traveled before and we can ask where the good way's are.  We need to get advice from those that know the good way.

And then we are called to walk.  We have to take a step and move forward.  We are to walk.  Life is about moving.... not sitting still.  We have to be willing to take a step in faith.

But in the verse it says........."you will not walk in it".  That is the problem.  Too many of us are not walking in it.  We won't stand up and we won't take the stap.  We just sit there.....watching and waiting......and completely missing the life we are given to live.  Victims. 

Like I said....I don't want to be one of those people.

I want to walk. I want to experience life.  I want to be a part of something, not an observer.  I want to play my role.  Life is to be lived...not watched.  I choose to walk.  I choose to live.

And find rest for my soul.

S&H,

-S
 

Intentional Living

Hey all,

Have you ever thought about how fast life goes?    Think about it.....life really does move pretty fast doesn't it?  How many times have you said to  yourself..."where did the time go?".  Or...."I cannot believe how much time has passed since....(fill in the blank)".   The truth is that life moves on whether we participate or not.  Most of us believe that time is not our friend when it comes to this life we live.  But time can be our friend.  Time can be an opportunity.  Time can be taken advantage of instead of constantly being a source of frustration because we don't seem to ever have enough of it.

But check this out.

To really "live" and experience life as we know it.....I believe that we must be more intentional.  If we are not intentional about how we are going to live our lives, then it will just happen and we will be nothing more than a spectator.  Life goes way too fast for us to expect that it will just play out the way that we want.  It goes way too fast for us to just "ride along.  It goes way too fast for us to think that by being a spectator....we will experience the abundant life that Jesus speaks of.  We cannot be spectators. We have to actually participate.  We have to stop and look around once in awhile.  But more importantly, we have to have a plan and a purpose that is driving our life.......not time.  We have to know where we want to go so that we are actually "doing" things that are in alignment with that destination.  Time should not dictate where we are going.  Is what you are doing everyday really getting you towards what the Lord has placed on your heart?  Really......is it?  If not, then don't we owe it to ourselves to take a hard look inward to ask why not?  Is time pushing us or are we using it?  I don't care who you are, that happens to all of us at one point in our lives. 

So what then?

I believe it starts with understanding that we are in control more than we think we are.  I truly believe it comes down to one thing. 

Being intentional. 

We MUST be intentional. Intentional about our time.  Intentional about what we do.  Intentional about who we do it with.  Intentional about why we are doing it.  Intentional about our values.  Intentional about identifying what brings us a feeling of more life.  Intentional about writing those things out so that they can become real.  Intentional about giving yourself permission to pursue those values and desires.  Then......being courageous enough to pursue it. 

We MUST be intentional.......or life just happens and we get what we get.  

Life really does move pretty fast doesn't it?  The question is......are we experiencing it intentionally or is it just happening?

Strength and Honor,

-S

Be Open

Hey all,

The  next "Be" in our countdown is to to "Be Open".

It's pretty simple........the question is.........are you "open" to something new?  Are you open to being transformed?  Are you open to letting the Holy Spirit transform and renew you?  Are you open to more life?

Romans 12:2 says...

" ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^"

Are you open to be being transformed?  Are you open to being renewed? 

If the answer is "yes", then you must be open to hear HIS voice.  You must be open to hear God's word and to act on it.  You must be willing to hear HIS voice and discern what is HIS will.  You must be willing to step out of your comfort zone and into what HE say's will be acceptable and perfect. You must be open to moving forward. 

If not, then you will not be transformed.  You won't be renewed.  It will not be acceptable and perfect as HE wants it to be........

........as you want it to be.

It's that simple.

S&H,

-S

 

Be Available

Hey all,

The next "Be" in our countdown is to "Be Available".

Do you make yourself available to God? 

No, really,......do you make yourself available for Him? 

If we are truthful with ourselves, then the answer is probably........no.  At least not very often anyway.  Let's face it, most days. we get busy in our lives and we ending up giving God our leftover time if we have any.  We just don't seem to have time to show up and make ourselves available to Him on a regular basis.  Instead, we try and fit Him in.  It's not because we don't want to include Him, but we just can't seem to find the the time. 

And so goes life.

But check this out.

How can we be available for virtually everything else in our life but not for God?  We are available for work everyday.  We are available for our kids everyday.  We are available for our social commitments everyday.  We are available for our friends and family everyday.  We are available for our online friends on Facebook and Instagram.  Our status is always "available".  But yet, we cannot seem to make ourselves available to the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings at least somewhere in our day or week?

Man....that seems off doesn't it?

We cannot experience the life we want here on earth if we don't make ourselves available to the things mentioned above.  Those parts of our life are important and they are not the problem.  We have to be available for them.  What would life be if we didn't make ourself available to experience and engage in those things in our life?  It would be a lonely and lifeless journey to say the least wouldn't it? 

But here is the thing.....we are missing the most important aspect of our life when we don't make the effort to make ourself available to Him as well.  HE created the life we are experiencing and is there for us to make it the life HE designed and wrote for us.  When we don't show up for Him, we are leaving out the most important part.  We have to remember that HE literally died to be part of our life.

But we have to make ourself available to Him. HE will not chase us down.  We must go to Him.  We must make give Him some of our time.  We must go online in our spirit and mark ourself "available".

And HE will always be there.  HE is never offline.  HIS status is always "available"........

Waiting on us to show up.

S&H,

-S

Are you Willing to follow the Wild Goose?

Hey All,

Counting down our 12 "Be's" is to "Be Willing".

We all have a picture of our life that we have developed in our own mind.  It has been been created by our story and we have grown to believe it.  It is the "way" that things are to be.  It is the "hand" that we were dealt.  It is our "lot" in life that was created............and ultimately we believe it is our destiny to play it out. 

But is it the life that we truly desire?  Don't we all really want something more?  In our prayers, don't we really want more?  Don't we really want more life?  Don't we long for an adventure that is more than the life we know?  Don't we want to go on a wild chase?  An adventure?

Deep down......we all do.  But our we willing to step out?  Are we willing to follow our heart?  Are we willing to follow HIM in a way that breaks us free from our story and enter into HIS story?  

Check this out.

The Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit the "Wild Goose". This is where the term "wild goose chase" comes from.  They believed that the Holy Spirit was like a Wild Goose and following it was like trying to catch a wild goose.  You didn't know where it was going....but is was going to be a wild ride.

So the question is.......are you willing to follow the Wild Goose?  Are you willing to break free from your own story and enter into the story of chasing the Wild Goose?  You see, when we truly dedicate our heart to HIM, then HE will lead us on another journey.  HIS journey.  HIS story.  HIS wild story.  HE is the Wild Goose.........and when we follow HIM completely.....then while we may not know where it is going to end up, we know that we are on the the right path.  We are on the path to more life.  It really is a Wild Goose chase.  And while we may not know where it goes or ends up......we DO know that if we are chasing HIM.....then we have peace that it is HIS story for us.  And that story always leads to more life.

But we have to be willing to go.......we have to be willing to take the step.......we have to be willing to chase that Wild Goose.

Are you Willing?  

S&H,

-S

Hey all,

The next entry in the 12 "Be's" is Be Fruitful.

From a previous post a couple of years ago....here you go.

Check this out. When we think about what "More Life" looks like........this might help you see it more clearly. It did for me while doing a study this week so I thought I would share.


Follow this.....

- John 10:10 says that Jesus "came so we could have Life, and have it to the full". There is more life to be lived.

- Proverbs 4:23 says that "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life". Life comes from what is in our hearts.

- Galatians 5:16 says "Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the sinful nature". We are to have the Spirit in our heart to fend off sin.

- Galatians 5:22 says that "the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control"". The Spirit (More life) looks like the outward expression of the fruits of the Spirit.


So if we add all this up then it starts to make sense.

Using the statement below to prompt our thoughts and using the fruits of the Spirit as our guide.....it is pretty easy to see. My answers are below.

I feel "More Life" when.........

- I feel loved and am loving others outwardly
- I have joy in my heart that cannot be contained. I am infectious. I am happy.
- I have a peace in my soul that helps me to not worry.
- I feel I am patient with others and worldly things, even when i don't think they don't deserve it:)
- I am kind to others without trying.
- I see the good in my circumstances and I am fighting for good.
- My faith is more important than the events of my day.
- I feel a compassion and gentle spirit towards others or circumstances.
- I can demonstrate self control on things I usually cannot.
- I am in step with the Spirit.

The Fruits of the Spirit are more life! Try filling in the statements for yourself.

Strength and Honor,

-S

Riding Dragons

Hey all.

The third "Be" in the 12 Be's is to "Be Brave". 

Simply put......this quote sums up what I believe it means to "be Brave" in our faith.

All of us think that to be Brave we must slay the "Dragon" in our life.  We must grab hold of it and kill it. 

We try and we try and we try to kill it...............but we can't.  It won't die.

But check this out..........I don't think that is what it means to be brave in our faith.  Bravery is not taking on a battle every day that we never can win. 

Instead......we are called to ride it.  Ride the dragon in your life.  Don't try to kill it....but instead.....turn towards it and jump on it and ride it.  We can't live our lives afraid of our Dragons.  We cannot let them have control over us.  When we are Brave.......we can move towards our Dragons instead of running away from them.  

You see......our faith does not call us to try and kill it......but rather to stand in our faith and get on it and take authority over it through the power and grace of Jesus.  Ride that thing...........take it the 8 seconds.  Show it that it doesn't control us.  Don't be afraid.   If we lean on HIM, we can do it.  

Matthew 19:26 says......  "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

That is what Bravery looks like to me.  The Bravery and faith to turn into our "Dragons" and take them on head to head.  To be Brave enough to get on that Dragon and ride it out knowing that HE is with us...

And know that all things are possible through HIM.................when we are Brave enough to take them on.

S&H,

-S
 

Courage - Seen and Heard

Hey all,

What does it mean to you to be Courageous in your faith?  What comes to mind?  Most of us think that we have to "lose our life" to
show true courage in our faith.

But check this out.  We don't have to lose our life.  We are called to be courageous and share our story with others.  That is a definition of courage that most of us don't think about.  It is about sharing what we have seen and heard. 

Let's check out the scripture for a reference.

In the book of Acts, there is the story of Peter healing a crippled man at the temple gate (Acts Chapter 3).  After he performs the miracle, the priests and the temple guards came and took Peter (and John) and put them in jail.  The Priests were worried because so many people were talking about the miracle and hearing about how it was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

The High Priests and Elders called for Peter and John to be brought forward and began to question them......"By what power or name did you do this?" they asked.

Peter responded that it was in the name of Jesus Christ that the crippled man was now standing before them.  The same Jesus that they crucified and then raised from the dead three days later.

"When the High Priests saw the the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled and ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13-15. So they let them go but told them to never speak of this again.

However Peter and John replied...."Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard".

You see, having courage in our faith is not just about standing up for Jesus.  It is about our willingness to share with others about what we have seen and heard.  It is about sharing our story.  It is telling others about the before and after "you".  It is what Peter and John were doing that day.  Two unschooled and ordinary men.......showing courage because they knew what they had seen and heard was true.  They had been transformed by Jesus.  They were changed. 

Each of us has a story to share of what we have personally seen and heard in our life.....and how the Lord was there during the suffering, redemption, and celebrations.  We have all seen and heard HIM in our lives.  

We just have to have the courage to share it.

S&H,

-S

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.
1 Cor 16:3

Be Strong

Hey all,

First on the list of the 12 "Be's".........is to Be Strong.

The Lord tells us we can be "strong" in Him.  However, our strength does not come from our own physical abilities, but from the protection and strength that we receive from the Father.  It comes from our relationship with Him. 

Check this out.  Our strength actually comes from the heart.  It is not the worldly strength we most often think of when we think of what it means to be strong.  Our strength comes from giving up all of our heart.  It is about our belief and trust in Him. 

Psalm 28:7 says...."The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped". 

When we are protected, then we are safe. And when we feel safe, we feel a sense of security.  It is when we are feeling secure, then we can live in our glory.  We feel a sense of strength.  You see, the Lord is our strength AND our shield.  He protects us and gives His love, grace, and joy. 

Nehemiah 8:10 says ....."for the joy of the Lord is my strength".

Through His endless love, grace, and joy........we are protected.  He is our strength and our shield.

All he wants from us for this strength and protection is our heart.  And when we give it completely to Him, then we are strong.

In Him.

S&H,

-S

Freedom after 56 years!

Hey all,

I was part of something tonight that I have to share. 

I spent the night tonight at the Kershaw State Penitentiary in South Carolina.  I have been blessed to be part of something really special happening there.  Transformation Church, www.transformationchurch.tc,  has a group of men that meets every Friday night and worships our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ as a part of Transformation Church.  It is amazing what the Lord is doing there.

After an incredible time or worship and a great message from our Pastor, Derwin Gray,....there were 31 men who were baptized tonight!  It was awesome.  I have not felt the presence of the Lord many times in my life as I did at Kershaw this evening.

One man who was baptized stood out.  He is 75 years old and has been incarcerated for 56 years.  41 of those years at Kershaw!  About three weeks ago, he gave his life to the Lord.  He was asked by a fellow inmate "why he was so angry?  Where is the joy in your life?"  The other inmate asked.

Tonight, he was baptized as his testimony to the world of his new faith.  Upon coming out of the water, he shared with the over 200 men and volunteers that were in attendance that "after 56 years in prison.....he was finally Free!" He said..."I could not shake what my friend asked me.....I realized that I did not have any joy or happiness.  At that moment, I got on my knees and asked Jesus to save me from the prison in my mind and my heart".

After 56 years behind the gates and walls of prison......tonight he is truly free.

And he went back to his cell.  Changed.  New.

And with the same bars in place.......but Free. 

S&H,

-S

 

The 12 "Be's"

Hey all,

I have been thinking lately about what we are called "to be" as Believers.  God calls us to "be" certain things to fulfill our role in HIS story.

While it is certainly not everything we are called to "be".....I have come up with what I feel are 12 things that HE calls us to "be" in our life. 

I am calling them the "12 Be's".   Here you go.

HE calls us to.....

Be Strong
Be Courageous
Be Brave
Be Faithful
Be Willing
Be Available
Be Open
Be Honest
Be Loving
Be Selfless
Be Serving
Be Generous

I hope to write in more detail about each one in the coming weeks and how each is grounded in the scripture.  Hope you get something out of each.

Strength and Honor,

-S

Denial

Hey all.

Jesus told Peter on the night before he was crucified......."Will you really lay down your life for me?  I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times".

Peter was shocked!  There was no way that he would disown Jesus.  Absolutely.........no possible way.  Peter felt like he had already laid down his life for Jesus.  He had given up everything and had been following him for months already.  How could Jesus say that he would disown him?  I would guess that Peter could not even get his mind around it.  There is no way that he would deny him.  No way! 

But he did.  It happened.  Before the rooster crowed, Peter disowned him not once, not twice, but three times......just as Jesus had predicted.   

How could someone as dedicated to Jesus as Peter ever disown him?  How could he not be fully dedicated?  How could he not pass that "test"?  And if Peter could not pass the test.........then how can we?  I mean really.....how can we?

Check this out. 

Peter was set up.  Jesus knew that he would deny knowing him.  But he also knew that Peter really had given his life to him.  He had given up everything to follow him.  He knew that Peter loved him deeply, but he also knew that Peter was just a man and that meant he was not perfect.  He would mess up.  He knew that he would feel pressure and he would respond to it.  Jesus knew that Peter would deny that he knew the one he loved.  But that did not mean that Peter didn't love him.  He did.  Deeply.  But Peter was a man...and he was broken.  He could not help it. 

Peter was just like us.

We have to remember that although we love Him and would say that we would lay down our life for him..............we are still not perfect.  We will end up denying him too.  But probably not in the way Peter did. Our way is more subtle.  Our way is less noticeable.  We may not deny him with a mob that is surrounding us........but it is still the same.  It is denying Him.  We deny Him with our actions.

We might fail to act on a voice we hear telling us to do something.  We might refuse to give away our talents.  We may not follow our heart when we know it is clearly telling us to act on a certain something.  We may withhold forgiveness.  In doing so......we deny what the Lord is telling us to do.  And in those times.....................we are  "denying him".   It is the same thing as Peter.

We just don't hear the rooster.

Strength and Honor,

-S  

Even if you were told......

Hey all,

Have you ever seen something happen that you could not believe.......even after you saw it with your own eyes?  It was unbelievable.  But it was real. You could not deny it.

Have you ever had someone tell you something about a future event and at the time you didn't believe it.  Then it happened.  It was real.  You could not deny it.

Sometimes.......we can unknowingly fall into a spirit of disbelief.   Simply put......we start to lose our belief in certain things becoming real in our lives.  In good things.  We start to lose belief in those desires and opportunities that we or others see.  We believe that doing "that thing" is just impossible...........that there are just too many immovable obstacles.  We cannot believe "it" can be done.  We all have our own "it" in our life.  It can keep us from moving forward on those things in our life.  Important things...........things that we dream about.  The deep convictions of our heart.  But we cannot see the way to it ever becoming real.............we cannot seem to get our mind around it.  So we don't move forward.  It remains a dream.

But check this out.  God is in the miracle business and what HE can do through us is immeasurably more than we can ever do on our own.  I was reminded of this today by Pastor Derwin Gray of  Transformation Church.

Check out Ephesians 3:20.     

"Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"

Notice that it says that HE can do more than all we ask or imagine.  As big as we can make something in our mind......HE is able to do so much more than that.  We cannot even get our minds around what HE can do.  We cannot get our minds to be able to ask or even imagine what HE can do! 

But here is the good news.   If we have the courage to believe that HE is real and that HE can make it real through us.........then we should never fall into a that spirit of disbelief.  Our belief is founded in HIS ability, not our own. 

So the next time you find yourself falling into a spirit of disbelief.......be sure to remind yourself that GOD can do things through us that we cannot even understand.  HE can do things that you probably would not be able to believe.......

......even if you were told.

Strength and Honor,

-S




 

Your time here

Hey all,

I went to the funeral of a work associate and friend this week.  His name was Victor.  He died of brain cancer after a long battle over the last 2-1/2 years.  I was blessed to have known him during our short time that our paths crossed.  I will always remember him and especially his testimony he gave last year at our Christmas party while in the middle of his battle with cancer.

Victor was a man who made the most of his life.  He was a very quiet man but he was on a mission.  Once he came to know the Lord....he set about on a mission to make sure that everyone would know that the Lord he knew was available to them as well.  He had a passion to let others know about his "Jesus".  He was a quiet soldier.  When he was asked by a friend....."Do you ever wonder....why did this happen to me?".  Victor answered......."I have never asked that......instead I asked....Why not me?".  Victor never questioned the plan the Lord had for his life......regardless of the outcome. 

Not many of us will have the opportunity to "plan" our funeral....but Victor did.  He knew exactly what he wanted.  He laid out exactly what he wanted and what he wanted everyone to hear.   It was simple. 

Do you know Jesus?

Do you know that HE loves you?

Do you know that HE is waiting for you?

Do you know that HE is the ONLY way to truly be "free"?

All Victor wanted was to make sure that you know that the same Jesus that saved him wants to save you too.  His love for others to come to the Lord was inspiring.
Victor did all he could in his generation to bring others to know his Saviour. 

I was reminded that this is really all of our shared purpose in this life as believers.

It made me want to do more for HIM in my generation as well.

Thank you Victor. 

Strength and Honor,

-S
 

Building Bridges

Hey all,

Ever think of yourself as a Bridge Builder?  Some of you are probably thinking....."I can't hammer a nail......let alone build a bridge!"  Don't worry, that is not what I am talking about.

Check this out.

The Latin definition for the Royal Priest that existed in biblical times is...." Bridge builder".  It means that the role of the priest was to "bridge" the gap between man and God.  They were the conduit for how man could connect with God.  We now know that when Jesus arrived on the scene, he gave us  direct access to the Father through his death on the cross and his resurrection.  We now don't need a priest to have access to God......that bridge is forever built by Jesus and is available for us if we accept him as our savior.

With that concept in mind, I believe that there are areas in our life and our world where there are "bridges" that still need built. Think about it.......there so many "gaps" that exist in the world today that keep people's needs from being served.  They are all around us.  Wherever there is a need......there is most likely a gap that remains for that need to be served.  Sadly, in most cases....the need is not being met. The gap is not being filled.   It will remain a need in our world until........someone steps in and "builds the bridge".  It takes someone to build the bridge between the solution(s) and the need.  It takes someone to connect influence and opportunity to the need.  It takes someone to say...."I can influence that and I am going to do something about it."  It might be a need in the community, or the church, or the school.  It might be a broken relationship at home or at work.  Whatever it is........there is one thing for sure.  It will never be served or solved until someone steps in........................................and "builds a bridge".

Is it going to be you?

S&H,

-S

Ordinary

Hey all,

Did you ever meet someone who was/is famous or someone who is well known for something?  Maybe it was someone who had accomplished something significant?  Maybe it was someone who invented something that changed the way the world did something?  Maybe it was an author or speaker?  The world is full of people who have accomplished some very significant things. 

I have been blessed to meet some of these people and I have realized something common among them all.  All of them were ordinary people.  They were just like me.  Ordinary.  Oh sure, they had a different background or education, but at the end of the day...they were just as ordinary as me.  They were ordinary people.  The same as you and me. 

But here is the thing.....even though they were ordinary, God used them for something extraordinary.  And they were willing to go and do it.  They were willing to be extraordinary in their ordinary life.

You see, God uses ordinary people like us to do his extraordinary works.  Some of those works are very public and have dramatic impacts on many.....while other works are smaller in notoriety but are no less significant.  We all have opportunities to be extraordinary in our ordinary lives.  We just have to be willing.

Remember....................the disciples that Jesus picked to start his mission and works was just a bunch of ordinary men.  They were called out of their ordinary lives and into something very extraordinary. They were willing to escape out of the ordinary and into something........

Extraordinary.

Strength and Honor,

-S

 

Resurrection

Hey all,

 

I hope you are having a great Easter weekend so far (even with the rainy and cold weather).  While we celebrate Easter tonight and tomorrow, I thought I would share some scriptures that I have pulled together as I have studied the Resurrection and the deeper meaning behind it’s significance.  I think we often can miss the real meaning of what Jesus “rising from the dead” means to us personally as believers.  It was not only to prove that HE is God and to defeat death……but it was also part of HIS great rescue mission for us personally as well.

 

2 Timothy 2:8-13  (Timothy states a “trustworthy saying” is that if we “died with HIM then we can live with HIM”. I love what he says at the end……”if we are faithless, HE remains faithful”.  I don’t know about you, but I feel very blessed knowing that Jesus remains faithful to me even when I don’t show my faithfulness in HIM”).

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

12if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

13if we are faithless,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

 

1 Peter 1:3-4  ( Through the resurrection, we have been born into a new birth and an inheritance that can never go away!!  Ever.  All through his resurrection from the dead. )

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

 

Romans 6:5   (We are united with Jesus through his death (release from sin) and his resurrection (new life).

5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57  (Death has no victory over God and HE gives us the victory also through the resurrection of Jesus!)

54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (See

Isaiah 25:8)

55“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

15:55Hosea 13:14

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

HE IS RISEN…..

 

Strength and Honor,

 

-S