Keep going

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

For as long as I can remember we have always went to church. Catch what I’m saying, WENT TO CHURCH. Some how some way we found ourself going to church for so many different reasons. I can honestly say that while I went to church and even though I was saved I didn’t go to church and leave any different. I was still doing the same things. I was still thinking the same. Talking the same. I went to church but I didn’t leave any different. Sometimes we want to really hide in God because of who he is and not have it affect who we are.

HERE IT IS…

At some point you keep going somewhere you will eventually take on some of its attributes. Good or bad. If your are asking the Lord to live in his presence eventually you will change. Stay in his presence long enough and you will start to shift things in your life. He has the ability to make your imperfections work for your good. Don’t stop going in his presence because of what you think you are and are not. Keep going because of what you are and what you are not!

Solid

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. (‭‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

I am seeing so many houses and apartments being built in the area and it is mind boggling about a few things. 1. They are building a lot of places but nothing is being torn down.

2. How quickly they are able to finish these projects.
   I understand the area and the way people move in and out. I understand also how many people are looking for homes but nothing is being torn down so it should be enough places to live. While also it should take longer than 6 months to completely build a house.

HERE IT IS…

If you listen to Gods word you will have to do two things.

1. Tear Down some stuff in your life.
2. Build it up with wisdom and time
   You cannot just continue to build around the old stuff you have to tear stuff down in order to make sure you’re not misunderstanding his word by trying to do both. While also building from the ground up. Taking your time and setting your foundations and building up from there. If you try to build too fast you might miss something. Use wisdom when building, it’s not a race!

What a difference

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (‭‭‭John‬ ‭1‬‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

At 17 I was a young energetic and athletic young man. My grades were alright and that was because I was ready to graduate. I had a plan. I had it all figured out. I knew I wanted to go to school for electrical engineering or education. I knew what school I wanted to go to and wanted to play football. It was my time to shine and I was not thinking of anyone else but me. It wasn’t until someone entered into the world that changed MY whole world for the better. I knew he was coming but it wasn’t until he was here that did something to me that made me a better human and man.

HERE IT IS…

We can talk about all the stuff we want to do. We can make plans to do it all and even accomplish some of them. But until you are able to allow God the father and his Holy son into your life you’re really just living for yourself. Knowing who God is to you and what he has done for you is better than anything that could have ever been imagined. He is full of everything that you need and will ever need. His mission is to help those who need him to show others just how important it is to have him. Show someone else today just how great God has been to you.

Shielding

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭3‬‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, something else happens. Just when you thought the situation was getting better you realized it wasn’t. Just when you let your guard down here comes something else. We all have had to face this reality at one time or another. Where it seems that we are just wide open and have a big red target on our backs, front and even heads. We get hit with everything. Where is your shield? Where is your cover?

HERE IT IS…

I will be the first to tell you that God will allow somethings to happen in order to get our attention and correct us and even to teach us something. I do also believe that sometimes we are left open because we have moved from under or behind the covering. God has not left us. He did not just move out the way. We are the ones who moved the wrong way. We are the ones who got away from under the protection. His shield is still there, we just have to get back in line so we can be protected.

Acknowledge it

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. (‭‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

I love this scripture because it embodies so many different things that we have to face if you just look at it the right way. If we talk about planting of course we think of the seeds. We start to think of the amount of sun and rain it gets. We talk about the crops at the end of the season. What you get to keep and use and sell to gain a profit and to do it all over again.
What about the droughts?
What about the floods?
What about the birds and the snakes and the insects?
What about thieves?
What about being hurt or too tired to tend to the crops?
What about almost giving up because of how it looks?

HERE IT IS…

Nobody acknowledges the existence of the struggle. Or the inability to perform or perfect a gift. The constant sowing with no immediate return. The slow and constant growth that seems to occur every once in a while. It’s hard to just look at the harvest of the crop when your hands are to the plow. Because we know what comes with growing and gaining a harvest. Nobody said it was going to be easy. Nobody said it was going to be a breeze. So let’s at least acknowledge that sowing takes time. Growing takes time. So does a harvest.

Thank you anyway I can

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (‭‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

As a child and when bringing up my children we were taught to say thank you when someone gave you something. So if you don’t speak English it’s easy to still say thank you to the Lord. French = merci Spanish = gracias German = danke Italian = grazie Portuguese = obrigado Farsi/Persian = mam’noon Hindi/Indian = dhanyavaad Chinese = xièxiè Arabic = shukraan Japanese = arigato Thai = khàawp-khun Zulu = ngiyabonga Navajo = ahéhee’ Tongan = mālō Esperanto = dankon

HERE IT IS…

Even if I can’t say a word. Even if my voice is taken from me. Even if I don’t have the words to say it. I will stay say thank you. How? To sign thank you, extend your fingers and thumb. Touch you fingers to your chin and bring your fingers forward. If that doesn’t work I’ll just wave my hands. If that doesn’t work I’ll move my feet. If that doesn’t work I’ll bless his name silently. But I know I have to say thank you!

Baby I’m a star ⭐️

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— 4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

When a ball of heat, dust and debris, and pressure it forms this thing that we see at night. According to scientist platforms like NASA, all of this is collected into a “storm” and the core starts to heat up and create its own gravitational pull and eventually collapses under its own pressure. Which then causers the cloud to heat up even more pulls in more dust and debris. This goes on for a while until it starts to throw stars and planets and asteroids from it. However, there are some that don’t form to anything and just remain dust. Well, this is what science teaches us.

HERE IT IS…

If one thing that science teaches us is that as small as dust is, it is important. Dust is said to be used to make a star, a planet, and asteroids. What are you saying Rev.? What I’m saying is that you don’t need to worry about what people say or have the audacity to come out their mouth about you. Because I realize why it hurts them to see me shine. Because I’m a star. I know why it hurts them to see me go higher. Because I’m a star. How do I know because he made me from the dust. Don’t get mad at me because you’re still swirling around in the dust. At some point you have to get to the core and heat up and be released into the atmosphere. Because I’m a STAR.

Touchdown

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (‭‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Say this to your self slowly. One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand three. They say a good quarterback should be able to make a play in 3 secs. As child when we played football we had a person to count like that before we were able to go get the QB. In the NFL the have that amount of time because of the linemen in front of him to guard him from being hit. 3 secs that’s all you are given to make a decision on what to do. Throw it. Or run it. Sometimes the line is faced with a defense that is stronger. Faster. More experienced and more aggressive.

HERE IT IS…

Good thing in life we don’t have to play QB or the line position. Sometimes we can’t make a good decision if we wanted to. But if God is your linemen he will guard you from the defense. I don’t want to play QB either, because I know I would throw interceptions all the time to the defense. Thank God for Jesus that all I have to do is wait for him to give me the play and tell me if I need to run when he gives it to me. Or if I need to go out for a pass and sometimes it’s a deep throw and feels like I’m running forever but when I see it coming all I have to do is stretch out my hands and let Him do the rest.
TOUCHDOWN GOD

Change

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, (‭‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

“Merry Christmas one and all.” One of the most iconic scenes in a movie and a book. The scene depicts Tiny Tim at the end of the Movie after being sick and suffering with his illness. His mother doing the best she can to make him better and comfortable. His siblings trying to be there for him. His father working tirelessly for a man who doesn’t pay him enough to take care of his family. Yet at the end of the movie Tiny Tim is shown happy and joyful because of the grace shown after Mr. Scrooges encounter with the three ghost.

HERE IT IS…

We live in a world that doesn’t owe us anything. We live in a world that will give life and take it in the same moment. A world where things can be right and wrong at the same time. What we do know is that Gods grace has been shown to this world. Salvation is there for everyone to have and some don’t want it or choose not to accept it yet. What do we do? We love them and live according to Gods will with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God. When we do that we can make a change in the world.

Moving

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Years ago I was driving and I had to stop and look at something I thought was interesting. An old truck I had seen stuck in a yard had been moved and now was in the drive way. What’s so intriguing you say? Well also in the yard was the tracks from where the truck was and how it slowly moved its way to the the driveway. I’m pretty sure the truck was not purchased and put in the yard, but somewhere along the way broke down and had to be put there… but the tracks you can see where the weeds grew around it and attached itself to the truck, and as it started to move broke those vines. Broke the grass that had grew around it.

HERE IT IS…

Just because you are not completely fixed or still have some stuff that need to be cleaned out and marks from where people attached themselves to you doesn’t mean you can’t get where your going. Truth of the matter some people will try to use what God gave you against you. Yes, the earth is the Lord’s. Yes he owns it all. People will try to use what he made work against you. But see we are the old truck stuck in places because we tried to do things our way. God is the one who is able to move is from the yard to the driveway.