What does it mean?

There is a God-given reason and a purpose for everything, both good and bad, in life. The best, and perhaps the only, way to get through the "down" times is to find the purpose of the struggle and to learn the lessons (yes lessons - plural) from the "down" times. Struggles may be a result of un-addressed sin in our lives, but that is not always the case. In fact, I think for most believers that is not the case. Many times, when believers struggle, God is trying to get their attention, reveal to them, and teach them something AWESOME which will also bless others in their sphere of influence when applied correctly. We MUST see these struggles as opportunities to grow and not just obstacles to overcome. Mountains may look big and menacing while they're in front of us but they are often soon forgotten after they're conquered. When we face struggles God wants to show and teach us something that we will not forget after we've passed through to the other side. The perceived difficulty of the trial will fade once it has passed but the lessons learned must remain. Find the purpose in whatever you are facing today. Ask God to show you what you need to be learning through it. Look for ways to bless others with what you are learning.

Discipline

• The hardest part about staying focused on the the finish is not others who distract you... It is when your inner desires lead you away.

Focus

Sometimes all the encouragement in the world will not make up for a lack of discipline.

Casino Closings

I'm sorry to hear that 5,000+ people in Atlantic City are now/will soon be jobless, but I am so happy that casinos are closing down. Bars and casinos do much more harm to families and populations than they ever do good. Evil is everywhere, not just in bars and casinos. I understand that. But the fact remains that places like these play on the weaknesses and addictions of their clientele. The damage doesn't stop there either. People caught in their addictions are often preyed upon and sold into slavery to "scratch their itch". Children are involuntarily subjected and exposed to all kinds of raunchy advertising and solicitation which, more often than not, is a stumbling-block to the proper development of the only people who are innocent of the decision to be there in the first place. Casinos, bars, nightclubs, and the like are often epicenters for evil and crime in the communities they are located. I'm glad that a few of them are now gone with more to come... and hopes that even more casinos close soon!

It's Sunday

It's Church day!!! Woo Hoo! Today we get the privilege of going to church! If you have a church you go to already, Awesome! If you're between churches, you're welcome to attend ours, Turning Point Church, here in Janesville. If you don't go to church yet, you need to! You are missing out my friends! BTW... If going to church to learn more about God and His great love for you doesn't excite you - you're not getting it. I don't mean to offend. But there is something wrong if worshiping Jesus Christ is not exhilarating to you. It could with be the church you attend or used to attend - but too often we are quick to blame someone or something else. Or the problem my be in our own spirit. Many times we simply drift away from the church. We lose the passion and zeal for Jesus that we once had because we lose our focus. We may feel as we have been let down by God. Sometimes we don't feel as though God answered our prayers as we thought He should have. I encourage you now to get back into church. If you have been saved, you are already STILL in a right standing before God. You may not feel like it, but God sees you through the blood of Jesus Christ that was applied to your life when you accepted Him as your Savior. Many times we let our sin separate us from God and the church, thinking that we're unworthy of love and acceptance but Jesus paid it all! In and of ourselves we are not worthy, but if Jesus Christ is your Savior then He paid for you to be made worthy. He qualified you! That's AWESOME!!! So don't go around kicking yourself about some mistakes you've made. Jesus forgave you already. Seek peace with those you've wronged. Forgive those who've wronged you. Forgive yourself. And move forward in Jesus' Name! \o/

What's your goal for your life?

     There are many goals that people consider to be noble.  And having goals is a good thing.  Setting goals that keep us moving in the right direction on the right track is important.  For us to meet those goals means that we have to compare our progress toward those goals from time to time.  But how often do we evaluate our goals, not for the effort needed to attain them, but whether or not they are the correct goals to have?
     Our lives should be pleasing to God, especially if we call ourselves Christians.  And good goal setting always starts with God in mind.  Are you setting you're goals for yourself or for the glory of God?
     Goals should never be set for self.  Many goals have to do with self to some extent, but they should not have self as the focus.  Many good goals have to do with physical fitness.  While these should be good goals to keep, if they take the highest priority in our life then we have made a god out of our self.

• A good way to set goals for any reason (physical fitness, career, personal, etc) is to first pray about your goals.  Ask God what He thinks about the goals and standards you set for yourself.  And ask Him to guide you in setting new goals.
• Next, set goals that, when accomplished, bring glory to God.  When goals are set with God in mind God will help you meet them.
• Finally, Don't stop!  When you have set a goal with God's guidance and for His glory don't stop striving for it.  Keep going!  Keep pressing forward!  God has been, is, and will stay faithful to you - so stay faithful to Him.

Be a blessing to someone today and you will be blessed in deed!

Talk to you later my friends!

Israel and America

     Lately I have been studying the book of Judges.  As I have been reading I cannot help but see so many parallels between the nation of Israel and the United States of America.  Throughout the whole Bible, including today, Israel becomes blessed and out of that blessing they become powerful and prosperous.  The enemies of Israel cannot stand before them and wars between Israel and any rival nation do not last very long.  Then the hearts of the people of Israel turn from God.  They start worshiping idols and other idle things, eg.-money, power, self, etc.  Even after being warned time and time again by God, their allegiance to their Creator turns.  After the warning comes the chastening.  God removes His blessing and protection from the people, according to His forewarning.  The people are afflicted by their oppressors and do not have peace.  Eventually Israel, in times past, would turn back to God.  They repented of their turning away; asking for forgiveness, help and deliverance.  God would, and still does by the way, hear the cry of His people.  He then would raise up a deliverer, in this part of the Bible I've been studying - a judge, to deliver the people from their oppressors.  After they were restored to prosperity and blessing, they would inevitably turn their hearts and affections to the gods of their neighbors.  Thus starting the whole cycle over.
     The people of the United States of America, and even people from abroad, can learn lessons from these historical events that are recorded in the Bible, and elsewhere.
      Only a few hundred years ago, the United States of America was born as a nation.  As it became more established, God blessed this nation because of the values, morals, and practices of the people who founded it and those living in it.  Most of the people - especially in government at the time according to too many historical documents and references to site - were God fearing people who sought to freely worship and live for God.  Bibles were printed by Congress and even taught in schools.  Government meetings and sessions would begin with prayer.  And there are many other examples to be found by those willing to look for them.
     Today, many people in this country, and across the globe, have turned their back towards God.  They have not only ceased to worship Him but have even denied His existence!  In many schools bringing a Bible to school is not even tolerated let alone taught.  Theories, that have been churned up in the minds of atheists who have had a bad encounter with someone who claimed to be a Christian, to try to explain away the existence of God are being taught in schools as though they are proven fact although they are only theories until proven.  And just as ancient Israel started worshiping the gods of their neighbors, the people of this nation are looking to the gods and practices of other countries for direction.  I can't count how many times I've heard the argument, both in person and on the news, "that's what they do" or "that's how they do it in ..."  The last I checked, the United States of America was a blessed nation because we have done things quite a bit differently here.  And now that a majority of this nation has turned away from God things are getting bad - real bad.  And the worse things get, the more guidance the U.S. of A is looking for from other countries.  WHAT?!?  We need to look back to what has worked all along.  If we want God's to blessing on America again we need to turn back to God.
     I know a lot of people; some as friends, some as acquaintances, others just in passing.  Most, if not all, of them take a certain amount of pride in their work and accomplishments.  When they make something that is unique, impressive, and valuable they would like to be acknowledged for their creation.  If a coworker devised a grand idea of a new way to do something at work and told someone else about it, that coworker would be rather upset if someone presented his or her idea as their own.  And rightfully so.  Why would God want anything less than acknowledgment for His Creation?  To try to take credit for His creation away from Him and pass it off as happening by chance is not only ignorant, but a slap in the face of God.  That is just one area in which we need to return to God.  There are many others.  But it will start with you and me... in our heart.

Let's Go Deeper

     As I was reading my Bible tonight and talking with God, I hear Him say to me "Come out deeper."  I know what He is calling me to do... a fast.  It has been too long since I've been on a fast.  It's going to be difficult.  But I do believe that that is just what I need.  I have been wading out into God's living waters perhaps even waist deep when I should be fully immersed.  I must admit that when you're in water only up to your waist you're, although a strong current could sweep you off your feet, you still feel like you're in control.  But when you're fully immersed in a rushing river you have no control.  The waters around you are in control of where you go and how fast you get there.  God wants that from me.  He wants me to let go of my sense of control and let His living waters sweep me off my feet and carry me off to where He wants me to be.  To be fully immersed is what He asked of me.
     I know this is a personal conversation between God and myself, but I felt led to share it because I believe that He is asking others to do the same.  Let go of your sense of control and let God take you where you need to be.

FREEDOM!!!

     On this Independence Day weekend we celebrate this country’s independence from Great Britain.  The cost of that freedom was high.  Lives were lost and blood was shed to earn that freedom.  And the cost of maintaining that freedom is still high.  Service men and women put their lives on the line, some of them giving the ultimate sacrifice, for this country so that all who come to this country may be free within its borders.  One would agree that it would not make much sense to, once we’re free, to turn back to those who kept us enslaved only to become enslaved again.

     Likewise, Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave His life so that we could be free in Him.    Free from the power of sin.  In Christ, we no longer have to submit to sin’s plea.  Sin will no longer be our master.  Outside of Christ, people are slaves to sin.  Like it or not.  It is true.  Sin appeals to your flesh – your mortal body.  That is where the “if it feels good, do it” mentality comes from.  Sin is nothing more than Satan’s power.  And those who are slaves to sin make themselves nothing more than Satan’s tools.

     If you are in Christ, then sin should not have dominion over your life.  It will still “talk big” and try to intimidate you to yield, but you have power over it.  Jesus Christ has given you this power when you accepted Him as your Savior and made Him Lord of your life.  If you have not accepted Jesus’ invitation to forgiveness and eternal life and given control of your life to Christ-Don’t be a tool for Satan to use and abuse.  Turn to Jesus now – while you still can.

     And to the Christian, what about financial debt?  How many of us have paid off a credit card, car loan, mortgage, or whatever to just willingly go back into debt to the same people?  Proverbs 22:7 tells us, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”  Why do we work?  One might say “to pay our bills”.  And they would be correct.  But why do we have bills to pay?  God says in Deuteronomy 15:6 that we are to lend to many but borrow from none.  We have to buy goods and services to live.  No one is debating that.  But when we have to borrow money (and credit cards are borrowing money) to buy goods and services we are living beyond our means.  I know there are always extenuating circumstances and emergencies.  Most circumstances we can save up for while others we may need some help.  But for the most part we, as a people, are living beyond our means.  If we were not in financial debt to anyone the economy can do whatever it wants but our personal economy would be secure.  Most people can identify with me all too well when I say that debt collectors do not care much about your mental stability and emotional well-being if you’re late paying their bill.  They will write you weekly, email you daily, and call you and any friends or relatives you have listed as references innumerable times to collect payment.  Even the banks we use will charge you more of what they know you don’t have as a penalty for not having it if you overdraft your account.  When it comes down to it, there is no peace of mind for those who live beyond their means.  Slaves work for their masters.  And when we work to pay master card, we are making the card our master.  We should be working for Jesus and calling Him master, not our cards.

     It is time we declared freedom from our oppressors!  Become debt free and stay that way.  Cut up those credit cards.  Cancel those lines of credit so that no one else uses your account to live beyond their means.  And cut our spending so we can be at peace.  Maybe the government will follow our example one day.  Ha ha!  We could always hope.

Come Home

     I remember a family vacation to Florida when I was about 10 years old.  I've always been intrigued by other life forms, especially those I don't often encounter (like ocean life).  And I was never a strong swimmer, but that would not keep me out of the water.  I'd don my snorkel and mask and wade out into the water.  I'd only go out as far as I could before I couldn't stand on the bottom with my head above water.  With my snorkel and mask on, I could float face-down and still breathe while I watched all the creatures playing around.  Jelly fish floating by, those little sun fish swimming around, and even blue crabs scurrying around.  I would try to keep watch of how far ocean floor was getting from me so I wouldn't drift too far out.  I remember just floating around having a blast watching everything.  And this particular time, I forgot to pay attention to how far I was drifting.  I was just going with the tide, having the time of my life.  That is, until a cloud of sea weeds started drifting toward me.  I wasn't afraid of the sea weeds.  A huge school of small fish darted right out of the cloud and parted in front of me as the went around.  That was awesome!  Then I discovered why they were swimming for their lives.  A barracuda followed them out of the cloud.  It stopped inches away from my face, opened its jaws exposing its razor sharp teeth, turned and swam away.  I'd watched many a under-water exploratory documentary as a child.  I knew what I had just encountered.  And I knew that they were found primarily in waters deeper than I was accustomed.  I shifted my focus to the ocean floor.  I couldn't see it any longer.  I popped my head up above the water to look for the shore.  It was, I'm guessing, fifty or more yards away.  I dunked my head back down and started my underwater paddle, not stopping until I could stand-up and walk.  And then began the panic of trying to find my family on a crowded beach.  I not only drifted out from shore, but also down the beach.  After a few panicked minutes of running around I found them.  :-)  Whew.  That was close.
     I learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of wandering and drifting that day.
     The Bible often compares the human tendency to wander to that of a sheep.  And it makes this comparison quite accurately!  Sheep do not mean to wander from safety.  It just happens sometimes.  They are busy munching on grass.  Moving from one spot to another.  And before they know it, they're away from their fold.  Sheep are not very concerned with others.  They are primarily concerned with self.  They get hungry, thirsty, tired, etc.  And they will do whatever they can to satisfy those desires.  This leads to wandering, which could get them in trouble.  A wandering sheep is, for the most part, completely defenseless against everything.  When left alone, they are easy meals for any passing predator.  And can even easily fall victim to their circumstances.  Even something as mundane as running water can make them lose their balance, like someone with vertigo.  If they near the running water to get a drink and lose their balance, they will likely drown.  The worst part is is that when a sheep realizes that they are lost, they panic.  And when they panic, they run.  And they don't often run in the right direction, but find themselves more lost or facing even more severe danger.
     We need to realize where we are spiritually.  If we have drifted or wandered away, we need to call out to a shepherd - The Good Shepherd.  Or maybe you have never been "in the fold" before.  You are lost.  But you have no idea what it  would be like to be found.  Let me tell you.  To be found is to be home.  When you're at home, a good home, you feel safe.  And that is because you ARE safe.  You can rest when you are at home.  When a sheep is found, and the shepherd bring them home to the flock, that sheep does not have another care in the world because it knows it's safe.  The sheep doesn't have to care for itself anymore, the shepherd will take care of that.  When you come to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, you no longer have to care for yourself.  He will take care of that.  He will keep you from wandering too far again.  You can rest.
     If you're tired of going through the motions,wondering if you're good enough, doing enough, or just simply ARE enough.  Stop the insanity!  Rest in Jesus because He IS enough.  Come home.  You are always welcomed here.  There will always be a spot at the table for YOU here, which only YOU can fill.  You will always find rest here.  Come home.

The Biggest Problem With A Living Sacrifice

     Have you ever had a pet?  Most of us have, at one time, had a pet, or at least caught some helpless critter and played with it for a while.  And as we played with our pets and other critters, most of us remember a time when we either wanted them to stay put somewhere or do a specific task, like race another pet or critter.  I remember one such instance when my siblings and I caught some young frogs we found near a pond.  We brought a few of them home with us and tried to make them race.  Ha ha!  The frogs were not very interested in racing one another.  They were interested in - I don't know - anything else.
     As a Christian, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. - Romans 12:1  But as living sacrifices, we often stay on the altar for a while (depending on how short or long our attention span is), and then, just like the critters we place somewhere to do a specific task like stay, we inevitably wander off.  If we want our critters to stay, race, or whatever, we have to keep placing them in the correct position to do so.  And when we want to present ourselves to God, we first must stop wandering, and then we must allow Him to put us back into the correct position to do what He has planned for us.
     Now, if we have truly been born again, we can relax a little bit.  God will only let us wander off so far and for so long before He will pick us up and put us back where we need to be.  I know that may sound a bit crazy for God to pick you up and place you somewhere else, but it happens all the time - and many people don't even realize it until it has happened.
     That is why we must make the commitment to follow Jesus a daily commitment. - Luke 9:23  Even a continual commitment, because no matter how we start the day, we tend to wander throughout the day.
     If you are wandering now, turn back to Jesus now.  He loves you and He is waiting for you with open arms.

It's a NEW DAY!!!

     Good morning!  It is July 1st and this IS the first day of the rest of your life!  Yesterday may have been great for you.  But we can't live long on the successes of yesterday.  And if yesterday was not all that you hoped it would be, then get ready, because today is a NEW DAY!  "God's mercies are new every morning" - Lamentations 3:23.  Yesterday is old news and today is a clean slate.  Don't let the fears and failures of yesterday drag you down.  Today is completely NEW!  Think about that for a minute.  Today has never happened before... Mind = Blown!
      But before you let that excitement of a new day turn into fear and anxiety of the unknown, remember, although today is completely new - Jesus has still been here before us.  Jesus still knows what trials, struggles, fears, failures, successes, and victories each of us will face today.  Jesus has promised, and still does by the way, that He will be with us and guide us safely through whatever we face - good or bad - if we place our trust in Him and Him alone.
      Many of us, myself included at times, like that previous statement until "... and Him alone."  We tend to place more trust and faith in what we can see rather than a God we cannot.  But God, often wants to take us to better destinations, and even down a better path, than the objects we can see.  And God created those objects.  He knows they were never meant to be followed.  He knows there limitations.  And He knows that we ultimately guide the object we trust too.  God is not guided by our intentions.  We are either guided by God, or we are not.
      Let me get back on track... Trust God.  He DOES know what He is doing.  Many times I struggle to figure out just what He's up to, and that just gets me into trouble.  Ha-ha.  It is not my job to know what God's up to.  It is my job to trust God to get me to where He wants me.  And to be doing the work He has called me to do as we go!  Don't forget to work!  Don't wait to get to where your going to start.  The work and opportunities God is giving you to do now is preparing you to maximize your potential when He has brought you to where you need to be.
     Trust God.  He knows what He's doing.  Trust Him to clean up yesterday's mess.  Trust Him with today.  And don't worry about tomorrow. - Matthew 6:34

In Jesus Christ you will make it all the way!

Be a blessing to someone at random today and you will be blessed in deed.

Running the race

     Today, remember that we are in the race of our life for our life! Remember we are running this race according to God's rules, and they go against the grain of human nature. In a human race seldom, if ever, will someone slow down or go back to help a struggling or fallen contestant. But in God's race it is expected. We are to run this race, not as individuals, but as one body. We are one force moving in the same direction under the same head which is Christ. Even as the ear cannot say to the foot, "since you are not an ear. I don't need you", we cannot let our friends and neighbors struggle and fall as we run by. If we do just pass them by, if we CAN allow that to happen... maybe it is because they actually are not part of our same body. And if that is the case, WE probably have joined ourselves to the wrong body under the wrong head. Because God's body, the true church, would not let that happen to even the smallest part of His body.

Be a blessing to someone other than yourself today and you will be blessed in deed. Have a great day!