The Big Christmas Let Down

December 25th 2012 has come and gone. Christmas parties are over with a few exceptions and families are going their separate ways after Christmas. Radio stations have already stopped playing Christmas carols and songs. Some folks have already begun the tear down of their decorations and have their trees down and on the curb ready for pick up by the trash men. (My apologies to any trash women!) It is like they can't get the thing out fast enough. They are eager to forget that Christmas was ever here. I do not like to see thee 26th come because I know I will have to wait for 11 months to go by before we start to prepare for Christmas again.

As I have always been a big fan of Christmas and the joy and fun it brings, I do not like when it is over. I drag my feet when it comes to taking down the tree and the decorations. I was thinking about this today as I was getting ready for work and I see a parallel to what is happening to this nation as it concerns our spiritual health. For many years this nation was very much concerned over where we were spiritually. But as time goes by, less and less people have any regards to where we are as a nation when it deals with their souls. As things continue to get further away from what God desires for us, things will only get worse. The more we accept actions and lifestyles that are in direct opposition to God's laws the more we will experience problems and God's judgment. People are getting less concerned about the things of God and more focused on themselves. There are those who still remember the way God moved on this nation by His Holy Spirit and was changing lives all the time. Sadly today a lot of folks don't even regard Christmas as all that important. In many places they don't even call it Christmas break but winter or holiday break. As we get away from our heritage, we get farther away from those things that brought us blessings. A nation that forgets God is doomed to fall. People once were eager to hear the Good News of the Gospel but now more people are  turning a deaf ear to it.They see it as an unimportant aspect of life. Some see church and religion like they do Christmas. It is no longer of any value to them and they discard it much like the Christmas trees after the season or even day is over. They are the ones that miss the joy of the season because the miss out on the one that can give them what they really need.

I will keep the lights on the house on for the next week as well as the tree then reluctantly turn them off then take them down. But unlike most people, I will look forward to the time I get to take them out for the next Christmas season. But between now and then I will continue to remember the reason for the season is still alive and worthy of my praise and my love!One day we will celebrate Christmas for eternity!

NO Room In the Inn

No Room In the Inn

 

 

 

Many years ago in a small village called Bethlehem a young wife and her husband had traveled to be counted in a Roman census. They came from Nazereth just like others came from other cities throughout Israel. They went back to the city of their fathers to be counted. The only issue is they didn't have alot of hotels and motels like Holiday Inn Bethlehem or Days Inn to get a room. Like many people they were looking for a place to stay. Even though they were expecting their child, they heard the same response from every inn they stopped at. "We have no rooms" was the only thing they heard.

 

Today as people rush around stores and malls and other such places getting their last gifts or great deals, they are so busy but seem to forget the true reason for this wonderful season. This season isn't really about parties, decorating homes and city streets. It is not even really about the presents we are in search of for our loved ones and friends. This season is truly about the greatest gift this world has ever received from its Creator. Jesus came to this Earth over 2000 years ago to make a restoration of the fellowship between God and man. This relationship was broken because of man's sin and man was totally helpless to do anything to restore it. Mankind needed God to do what was necessary to restore that relationship. He did just that when He sent His only Son to this Earth to become one of us and to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus did die for our sin and was raised again to life to demonstrate His power over death. His precious gift has been offered to all so that noone would have to die because of their sin but have a way of escape from it. The problem is that today many have told God the same thing Joseph and Mary heard. No Room! Their lives are so self centered and full of pride that they refuse to make room for Jesus. They ultimately refuse to give up control of their lives and allow God to lead them. Jesus wants so  much to come in and live and occupy each man;s life and give him all the blessings that come from a right relationship with Him. It breaks God's heart when people tell Him they have no room for Him.

 

Mary and Joseph did find a place to go and deliver their first born child. They found a stable and saw the Son of God born and laid in a manger. Some have said that he should have been born in a home or even a palace. But if you think about it, where else should a lamb be born but in a stable? After all Jesus was the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. So this Christmas I have this question for you. Is there room in your heart for Jesus?  I hope so.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                



Passing on the Legacy

Today I attended the funeral of a man who I have always admired having served with him as the children's pastor at the church where he pastored for many years. His wife passed away last year and now he has left this earth and joined her in Heaven. The service was well attended and he was honored in so many ways but no more than the fact that he left a legacy of faith for his family and friends to follow. I know personally of that legacy which makes him a great man of faith who will be missed.He passed the baton to those who are left behind to carry on.

As I sat listening to his family members and fellow ministers share about Pastor Morris'life, I was impressed by the fact he never sought titles or greatness. He wasn't concerned about accumulating wealth or material possessions. He had one desire for his life. He wanted to please God and be faithful to Him in everything he did. He was a servant to God and other people. If you were to look at his life and judge it according to the world's standards, some would say he wasn't successful. After all, he didn't gain fame and power and all the things the world thinks are signs of success. Pastor Morris never cared if he would meet those standards. He wanted to be seen as successful in God's eyes. I think of many who were so much more concerned about temporal things of this earth than they were about their own eternity. They gave up eternity for something fleeting. Pastor Morris is now receiving his reward for his faithfulness. These rewards will never be taken from him.

God ! Ya Done Good!

I was talking with a guy when I was at Planet Fitness doing my workout this morning. He shared a story about his grandson. He told me that his son was doing something with his grandson and the grandson was all excited doing it. He said his grandson looked at his son and said "Daddy, ya done good"! His son just looked at his son and laughed trying to figure out where he learned that phrase as his son is only 7. The grandson was just happy to be doing something with his daddy. I wonder how many times we tell God that He has done a great job!

Take a minute and think about all the things that God has done. He has not only created everything that exists but He sustains all that He has created. Imagine all the people on this earth that depend on Him for life. Imagine each of these folks praying to Him to help them find their way in life and provide for their needs. Billions of people that God sustains boggles my brain if I try to figure out how He can listen to all our prayers and answer them in the way of His choosing. Think how often people pray for something that may be the exact opposite of the answer another person seeks.

Down the Slippery Slide

Today I went out at lunch to take care of some business and while I was out I happened to catch a kid on a slide trying to stop himself from going all the way down. He started down the slide but changed his mind. The problem is that once he started going down the slide he couldn't prevent himself from ending up at the bottom. He was determined to try to do so but no matter what he did he was unsuccessful. As I watched him I instantly had thoughts about this nation and where we are heading not just politically but morally.

This nation was founded by our ancestors as a nation that was based on the godly principles that governed them. They never gave any thought to entertaining anything that would go against their beliefs yet alone give their blessings to them. We,as a nation, have gotten away from the foundations that once established this nation. We have started down the slippery slope that will lead this nation to moral and every other type of failure. It just didn't happen overnight either. Moral decay is like tooth decay. A tooth can look good from the outside yet be rotting away on the inside. Root canals are necessary when the decay inside the tooth reaches the nerve. Our moral decay is undermining this nation's future. We are facing judgment now for what we have allowed to go on our nation. The slippery slope we are on will continue to take us down because it seems like the more garbage we allow to become the "norm" for this nation the further we slide down. It is time we as believers start standing up for what we know is right no matter what the cost. Too many have compromised their principles for things that in the end will perish. God has called us to take a stand against evil and those things that go against what God detest. We are to hate the sin but love the sinner. Ronald Reagan often referred to the city on a hill passage found in Matthew. It is time we take up that position and make not just our voices heard but also live our lives out as Christ has called us to do. I am reminded of Jim Elliott's saying "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for what he cannot lose".

Just as the boy on the slide ended up at the bottom, we too will end up at the end of this slippery slope. Once we are there it will be too late for us as a nation. Thank God for His grace and mercy which He gives to us even though we don't deserve them. Let's help this nation to get off this slide and start asking God to help do the task He has called us to!

The True Pain Christ Suffered on the Cross

I have been in the process of remodeling our kitchen which meant I had to take all sorts of things off the wall and down from the archway between the kitchen and the living room. One of the things I took down was the crown of thorns we got when we were in Israel. I had it laying down where I stuck a lot of the things and when I picked it up I stuck my finger on one of the thorns. It hurt quite a bit from simply pricking my finger. I thought about the pain Christ had to have experienced when the crown of thorns was pressed down hard on his head by the soldiers. As I thought about it, I felt God reminding me that this pain was nothing compared to the true pain Christ endured.

Did Christ suffer some agonizing pain when He went to the cross? Yes indeed He did. Imagine being beaten with fists then taken and whipped with a whip with bone and metal stuck in the ends so it grabs and tears flesh off you every time it hits you. After He was scourged, He was led out to Calvary to be crucified. Christ was laid on the ground and his hands were nailed to the cross piece then lifted into place. His feet were then nailed to the cross which caused even more pain when He pushed up to breathe. His physical pain was intense but I believe that His physical pain was minute compared to His emotional and mental stress. If you remember as He prayed in the garden His sweat became as blood according to Luke which indicated the extreme distress He was in at the time. Now He was fulfilling the task of becoming the sacrifice for our sins that God the Father called Him to be. Now hanging on the cross, beaten, bloodied and hungry, Jesus was being separated from His Heavenly Father. As He took the sins of the world upon Himself, His Father could not look on Him. No wonder He asked God why did He forsake Him! Jesus not only felt the pain of the crucifixion and the crowds hatred of Him , but He felt the separation from His Father even more. Not one of us could ever imagine the pain He felt at that moment. But thankfully Jesus was obedient to His Father's will and laid down His life so that we might have forgiveness of sin and be able to be reconciled to God. To Him the pain was worth enduring so that people would not have to face eternity apart from God. He suffered for us and was raised again to life demonstrating God's power over not just life but even death!

The thorn that pricked my finger was so miniscule yet it hurt. Yet what Christ suffered was so far greater than a simple prick of a finger. I was glad to remember the sacrifice God made on my behalf when I encountered the thorn. What about you? Has God ever reminded you of the sacrifice Christ made for you? I certainly hope you have accepted that sacrifice and never take for granted!

A Willingness to Speak Up

Yesterday I was at church for a gathering of our small groups where we all got together and brought all types of food for a meal. After we ate, some folks shared testimonies how the small groups had impacted their lives. Once the meeting was done and we were cleaned up, we started to pack up and leave. Before I left, I had one of our ladies pull me aside and told me her concerns about a discussion we had in our last small group meeting. We talked it over and I told her I appreciated her willingness to express her thoughts. Most people would have kept tight lipped and just let their thoughts go unexpressed.

In this case, she had a good point that she made. I acknowledged that she was right and that I should not have shared my thoughts the way I did. After I left, I began to think about what she shared and how it could impact others. As I thought it over, I realized that sometimes when someone does feel as though they need to share something that is meant to exhort us we feel offended or get upset. I knew that she was sharing with me because she cared so I willingly accepted her words in the nature they were shared. I hope that I will be willing to listen in the future when someone shares a similar concern. Let's face it. We as humans don't like being corrected or told when we did something wrong. It goes against the old nature. As a supervisor both in the military and in the civilian world I have had to address those under my supervision when they failed to meet standards. If I didn't address their shortcomings then not only did they fail but I did as well. It is a supervisor's task to help those under him or her to know how they are doing and where do they need to improve. God is no different. The difference is that God is always right when He confronts us about our sin and failures. But He does it in love and with the purpose of restoring us and not condemning us because of it. He is still in the business of redeeming and restoring those who are lost. We need to learn to encourage, exhort and rebuke, when necessary, but remember to always do it in love.

I am glad that she spoke to me about what she felt. I know that she is sensitive to the Spirit so I was willing to listen to her. I trust that I too can be sensitive to God's leading if I am led to confront a fellow believer at His direction. It may not always be a fun thing for us to do but if we care about others we will step out in love and in faith to do His will. Just remember the blessings you can bring into that person's life not to mention your own!

Lifetime Warranty?

Today I had to call a company about an issue I was having with one of their products. I called and explained what the issue was and trying to get an answer from them about what we needed to do to correct my problem. I was told the company that produced my equipment was now out of business and parts were difficult to get if they were still available. I was also told that I would have to pay a service call for the warranty. I never had to before but now I do. The lifetime warranty is no longer what it was and it cannot be depended on for anything it once did.

After I got off the phone I realized that I was just slightly upset by what I was told. I thought about the fact that one reason I purchased the product was because the warranty would go with the house should we ever sell it. We figured that no matter what problems we had they would be taken care. I pondered the issue then realized that any warranty is as good as the company behind it and if that company goes out of business then so goes the warranty. Life is full of promises that we have been given that aren't worth anything because of who makes them. We ourselves often make promises that we cannot keep or fulfill. We get burned so to speak and sometimes quite often. But I am grateful that we serve a God that is faithful and knows how to not only make promises but is able to keep them as well. God is not a man that He can lie and go against His nature because He is holy. He loves us and wants the best for each of us. His promises are always kept and right on time as we need them. We don't need to call Him up and argue with Him to keep His promises. He will do what He says He will do. I am thankful that we serve a God like Him. He doesn't change but is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow! We do not need to worry whether or not He will be in business in the future! He will always be there not matter what any man may say. Man will pass but God will remain forever!

I am going to have to fight with the company and I have no idea how it will turn out. I will give it my best shot and see what will happen. But it is always a wonderful thought to know when it comes to our heavenly Father that we know He will take care of every problem we have if we cast it on Him. His Word is His guarantee! What an awesome thought!

The Finishing Touches

The kitchen remodel is progressing slowly but surely. We have gotten close to having the taping and sanding done on the new drywall. I am trying to make sure that everything is smooth and that we have no dips in the wall. I am taking my time to sand the walls each time I add some joint compound to the areas where it is needed to get the wall ready for painting. The problem with doing something like this is if you are not careful and don't sand properly you can leave a spot that is not done right. And anyone that has done this knows what happens. It will show up quickly when you paint. Then all the work you were doing to make it look good was futile.

Our lives are much like my kitchen remodel. They are not transformed over night or without a lot of work and effort. The nice thing is that we are not the ones who are doing the work on our lives. Only God who made us can change us to be the person He desires us to be. Just as the architect who designs a building knows what he wants it to come out looking like, God knows the plans and the purposes He has for us. He understands what it will take for us to get where He has designed us to be. Along the way He needs to take His time to add somethings while taking away something else. He is very purposeful in what He allows to come into our lives. He uses these things to shape us and transform us to become like His Son Jesus. Nothing that happens to us ever catches God off guard. He knows each step of the transformation and what it takes to complete it. Is the transformation process enjoyable and fun to experience? Most of the time the answer is no! But is it necessary? Absolutely! Much like a plastic surgeon that is correcting an injury requires some pain for the patient, we need to go through some if we want to end up like Christ. Life is just how God brings about the change He has in mind.

I really hope that by this weekend we will be ready to start painting the walls and then get our cabinets back up. Then it is time to start cleaning up the kitchen. The last part of the remodel will be to remove what wallpaper is left behind the oven and refrigerator. I can hardly wait to see how it looks after it is done. But even more importantly I can hardly wait to see how God will finish me. How is your life transformation going?

Physically Healthy - Spiritually Ailing

I have been going to the gym and working out since the middle of December and I have lost about 30 pounds. I run for about 30 minutes then work out on weights afterwards. I have toned up and strengthened my muscles since I have been going. I feel much better and I hope to find out if this is helping my blood pressure and maybe even my triglycerides level. As I was working out today I began to think about my spiritual health. The problem today is that so many are concerned about their physical condition and are trying to get healthy. They are changing their diets and what they doing. But many forget about their spiritual condition.

As the day approaches when Christ will return, it is important that people are ready for His coming. The sad fact is that most people aren't ready and even sadder is that they have no clue that they are in a serious spiritual condition. People are perishing spiritually all around us because they don't know. Then there are those who may be aware but don't care or think they have plenty of time to make things right with God before they die. They are not given any guarantee that they will have an opportunity to do so. No one knows what the future holds for them. God tells us that today is the day of Salvation. As believers,it is our responsibility to tell others about Christ and show them God's love for them. We need to show them the way to meet Christ. Much like the trainer's job in a gym is to show someone how to use the equipment available to them and how to exercise properly, we need to instruct those who are lost how to get right with God. Physically we are concerned about getting rid of fat and excess weight while spiritually the issue is sin. We carry it around from the time we are born till the day we die unless we deal with it through the blood of Christ. God is concerned about our physical bodies that is true but He is more concerned with our souls. We can leave this earth with bodies that are out of shape and maybe even broken and deformed. We know that God will bring the restoration to them. What we can't do is die in our sin and expect to enter into His presence for eternity. We have to be right with Him to enjoy that glory.

I hope that I will continue to lose some weight and even get more fit. Having a body that is in good shape is great but more importantly I want to keep myself spiritually fit but keeping my heart right with Him and to be obedient to His will for my life. How about you? How fit are you? Which id more important to you? Why not try being healthy both spiritually and Physically?

Don't Be the Frog!

Today I was listening to the news on the radio as well as on the TV and I heard some things that makes me realize just what shape our nation is in at this time. My mind went right away to a story about a frog that was put in a pot of water on the stove then was slowly boiled to death without even realizing it. He was placed in the water when it was cold and then the heat was applied slowly to the pot. He was dying slowly but never jumped out because he was not aware of the danger since the water was cold when he went in the pot. Today we are the ones in the pot not the frog!

This nation was founded on godly principles by our founding forefathers because they knew that was the only way this nation would have God's blessings on it. In the 200 plus years we have existed as a nation, those foundations have been slowly eroded away and other things are taking their place. The sad truth is that the erosion of these truths has been slow and unseen by most people. When someone does cry out to warn people they are called fanatics or religious nuts. Men like Francis Schaeffer and Dr D James Kennedy are two that come to my mind right off the bat. Many people just say that they were religious nuts that are out to shove Christianity down people's throats. Actually they were warning us that our religious freedoms were being taken away under our very eyes and that most of us were blind to that fact. All one has to do is look at where we were lets say 30 years ago. Things that would have never been tolerated before are being accepted as normal and even considered mainstream. Yet when a believer speaks out to share the truth they are considered abnormal and are not tolerated by those who oppose them. Our "water" has slowly been getting hotter and most have no clue. I believe that we had better stand up for our faith and our freedoms before it is too late. When there is no one left to speak up for us it is too late.

I think it is time for us to stand up and make our voices heard. We can guarantee that we will have no religious freedoms simply by sitting back and doing nothing. It is time for this "frog" to get out of the water and stop being cooked. Frog legs maybe tasty but not to the frog!

What's the Big Deal About the Groundhog

Today the big news was about a rodent named Phil or any other number of names people give them all over. Everyone wants to know only one thing. Did he or didn't he? You know? See his shadow. It is amazing to see how many people watch just to find out. This day holds for me other more important memories than if a ground hog sees his shadow or not. Today is also my father's birthday.Had he not died in 1975 he would be celebrating another birthday. But that isn't even important for me because something far surpassed that event. On Feburary 2 1969 my mother went to a faith healing service in a wheelchair and walked home on her two restored legs.

I have shared that miracle with many over the years about how God met my mother at the church and gave to her what she needed. You see she had been stricken with MS when I was really young and she spent a lot of time in the hospital and some rehabs. As a family we were divided up when she got sick. My oldest brother and sister were adopted to another family because they were older. My other sister was placed in one foster home while my other brother and I went to several others before we ended up in Gettysburg. While we were there in Gettysburg something happened that was to change our lives. She went to Enola Assembly of God on February 2 1969 and was healed of her MS and was able to walk. She actually started to walk but ended up running around the church and even jumped over the altar onto the platform. She received a healing from God in a mighty way. That was a great miracle as far as I am concerned. But guess what? God is still in the healing business. After all He is the same God today that He was back then. He hasn't changed. He hasn't forgotten how to heal or how to meet our needs. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He still desires to heal today. All you need to do ask Him and then believe he can and will do it. I know that some will say that He doesn't al;ways heal and that people die from sicknesses. True enough! But those who love Him receive the ultimate healing when they go to be with Him for eternity.

So if you ask me if I believe in healing you willhear my answer be "Absolutely"! I may not understand why God does what He does but I know that He is faithful to His Word and to His character! We can place our trust in Him no matter what circumstances we may be facing. What a great God we serve! In case you missed it, the groundhog did indeed see his shadow so its another 6 weeks of winter! Check the calendar and you will see the first day of spring comes in 6 weeks! What a wise groundhog!

Oh What a Mess!

This past week I started to do a remodel of our kitchen. Heidie wanted to remove the wallpaper and paint the walls along with replacing the doors to the stairs and pantry. I tried to get the wallpaper off but it was difficult at best and was really screwing up the drywall. I had to skim coat the whole wall then sand and that just made one big mess. The decision was made to remove all the drywall and replace it. Well I removed a major part of the drywall and this past Saturday her father and I replaced the insulation and hung new drywall. The problem was that even doing it that way we still had a mess to deal with. It cannot be helped. I know my dear wife was struggling because of it. She loves to keep the house clean. But let's face it when you do a remodel there will be a mess!

I thought about how much trash a remodel like this can produce. No matter how much you try to keep it to a minimum, you will have trash to get rid of and have a mess to clean up. I have done several remodels over the years and each time it is the same. You make a mess to do the job then clean up afterwards. Well our lives are nothing more than a remodel that God is doing in each of us. Just like my home remodel, there is always garbage that needs taken out as result. God starts with a plan and knows what He needs to remove from our lives. Then He starts the process of replacing that which He has taken from us. The removal process is what we don't like because it can hurt. Much like removing the drywall is time consuming and can make a mess, it often can mess us up pretty good. We have to remember that it isn't the process of being transformed that we should focus on but rather the end result of that transformation. The process is the journey we call life and we need to press forward as we look to the goal of becoming like Christ. The things that we go through here are only temporary afflictions in light of the eternal glory that awaits us. We see this transformation as messy and seemingly disruptive in our lives yet when it is all done we will rejoice in everything that our heavenly Father did in and through us.

I hope to get to the remainder of the kitchen redone before long. We are both looking forward to what it will look like once we are done. The process may have taken time but in the end it will be well worth the work. There will be a day when we clean up the last of the mess and enjoy the remodeled kitchen. That will be nothing compared to what we will experience in our heavenly home! Thank the Lord that there will be no more need to remodel our heavenly mansions!

A Legacy in Happy Valley

Today they held a memorial service for Joe Paterno at Penn State. The service was touching as different speakers shared their memories about JoePa. The thing that stuck out through all of them was the theme of his legacy. They talked about his values and his desire to see his players succeed not just on the field but in every part of their lives. That concern was shown to students who didn't even play football. His biggest accomplishment was not the 409 wins he had in football but how he lived his life and was a man of integrity. That is his legacy!

As people shared how he would not only have concern for how his players did both on and off the field, they pointed out how many lives he touched with his life. Their lives will touch their families and others that they interact with on a daily basis. JoePa was a man that believed in teaching others how to handle life no matter what the circumstances were. They talked about his values and how he kept them no matter what. I was glad to see how he is respected by so many. Even after he was treated like he was, he refused to be bitter. I recall how people were calling for his ouster when they struggled for wins. He kept his thoughts and feelings to himself and kept on doing what he thought was good for the program and the school. If he would not have been the man he was, he could have lashed out time and time again. But because he was JoePa, he did what he always did. He got dressed and took the field to play football. Was he disappointed when they lost? Sure but he never let that stop him from going on. God knows that we do not live lives that are free from pain and trials. But He also knows that we do not have to let them dictate to us how we live our lives. We have a heavenly Father that is always there for us no matter what comes along. God wants us to be like JoePa and keep going. He didn't create us to fail but to succeed in whatever He has for us to do!

I can't help but feel that watching a Penn State football game will ever be the same again. When I see the team take the field, I will think that JoePA is leading them out in spirit. But his memory will live on in the legacy that he has left for us. I look forward to seeing Beaver Stadium called Paterno Stadium! Thanks Joe for all the great memories over the years! As a sign at Penn State stated "We are because you were!" Go Penn State!

Nothing As Lovely As A Tree!

I saw something on the internet that caught my attention today while checking my email. The article was talking about global warming and several things were mentioned that contradicts the global warming theory. The thing that stuck out to me was about the trees and the tree rings that are contained in them. These rings show not only the age of the tree but also the conditions in which these trees grew during those years. The rings are wider when the conditions are good and thinner when they are difficult. The thing they notice is that they see cycles when the trees do well and when they don't. The bad conditions show up every so often then years of good conditions. This blog isn't about the issue of global warming but rather about the trees.

If you think about it, we are much like the trees. The trees do not always have good growing conditions. They go through dry periods as well as times of ample rain and water allowing for excellent growth. The key is that even in the dry times they still grow! We are much like the trees in that we face both good times and bad. But it doesn't matter whether we are enjoying good times or struggling through the tough times. I do not know where it started but some folks think that when you become a Christian you no longer have any problems or difficulties. That is not the case. God never said that we would sail through life with a peaceful breeze in our sails and calm seas. What He did promise is that He would be with us through the storms of life as well as the serene times. We still grow under any conditions. The problem I see that faces us is that we need to accept the good times and the difficult times from God. He allows them to come to test our faith and to conform us into His Son's image. Faith without testing will never grow. It grows in adversity because we are dependent on Him to see us through. The only time a tree stops growing is when the roots die and no longer take in the water and the needed nutrients. We will die spiritually if we do not remain in a life changing relationship with Christ. Remember that He is the Vine (and His roots will never die) and we are the branches!

So when you look at a tree think about the times it must have seen and all the dry periods in its life and realize it is still here and growing. God has saved you and will help you grow in Him no matter what you face if you place your trust in Him! Don't forget that a mighty oak starts from a little old acorn! Imagine what God can do with you!

2011- A Year of What?

2011 is past and 2012 has begun. So I wonder what type of year did you have in 2011. Was it a great year or maybe just a good year? Or did you have one of those years that you would prefer to forget ever happened? On Saturday night at our New Year's Eve service I got to listen to a great preacher share her 2011 story. She shared her ordeal with with breast cancer and all the things she faced because of it. But do you know what type year she had? According to her, she had a good year!

Now wait a m inute! She was diagnosed and battled breast cancer. How could she have had a good year when she faced surgery, Chemotherapy and radiation? It doesn't make sense. Then on top of that she also had to be concerned with her finances which were affected by her not being able to preach. So what type of struggles did you have this past year? Did you face a death issue or major health problem like Gayle? In light of her difficulties, how do you view the problems you encountered over the past year? You see we think we face life changing issues but when you look at others around you, you often realize that your problems are minor compared to other folks. The amazing thing with Gayle was that she had the same perspective. She saw others worse off than her. Battling breast cancer and she thought she had it easier than some others. If you know Gayle, you would understand why she can feel the way she does. YOu see it is because of what but who her strength is in life's battles. She knows that God is there for every step of the way. Not just in this battle but every one she experiences in life. She serves a God that will never leave her nor forsake here no matter what circumstances come our way. If you could sit down and talk with her I am sure of this one thing. She would desire that you have the same faith and confidence in Christ as she does. He loves you and wants to be your strength as well.

She said she didn't ask for the cancer but she looks back on it as a time of growing closer to her Lord because of it. She knows that it is just something else God is using in her life to grow her faith. SHe shared that it was alight affliction working in her fo a far superior glory. How about you? Do you know that God is there for you and that He has a desire to bless you? You do not have to go through anything alone! Have a Happy New Year and put your trust in Him in 2012!