No words can describe Jesus. He is above and beyond human language. God and Jesus are to be experienced. Theology is fine and head knowledge is fine, but Jesus is like the wind. You can hear and feel him, but you can’t see Him. You can see the result of His life saving grace. You can see His beauty in creation and you can feel His presence in your life. But no book ever written has captured His majesty although many have tried.

John 3:8 – The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit.

Life was never promised to be always like a trip to Disneyland. Most of the time life is work. A lot of times hard work. Things happen that can get us down, way down. When this happens to you and it will, you should focus on Jesus, put your head down and keep moving forward. And keep praying. Jesus has his own time table so don’t expect immediate answers. Focus on the word perseverance. Pray, trust and believe. The Bible has answers to our problems and when you combine all of the above into your life, things will change. God’s not finished with you yet. He has plans to prosper you. And one last word of advice. Don’t shy away from hard work. The result is very satisfying. Hard work leads to accomplishment which leads to high self-esteem. Son don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

God Bless you and I pray your life is filled with a joy that can come only from Jesus.

2Chronicles 15:7 – But You, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak for your work shall be rewarded.

I am told that if you take all of the information that human beings had up until 1900 and call that a unit, that unit has now doubled every ten years to present. That’s doubling over 120 years or 12 times. Wow! Way too much information. That’s why we are dealing with such high levels of anxiety and confusion today. Throw in social media and the internet and one can see the huge negative effect it has on children and ungrounded people…..total confusion. So what is one to do. Well I think to combat this crazy world of information, one must learn about his/her self. So where do you go or who do you talk to? There are hundreds and hundreds of books written on the self. From psychology to self-help books, the list is endless. So who is right? Dr. Phil? My choice is Jesus and His Truth as written in the Bible. For me the Bible is the one and only truth about human existence. Jesus is the greatest teacher who has ever lived and He is my go to person on all things that cause me confusion. He is the final Word. I put my total trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and to not lean on your own understanding

Do I love people from the inside out? I think too often I love them from the outside in. All forms of media (especially social media) insist that the most unfortunate in the world are those that are not physically attractive. The world worships those that are physically attractive. God says otherwise. For as He bestows natural beauty on a simple flower, so He bestows the same beauty on every person on the planet from the inside out. Natural beauty is a gift from God, but we need to stop being obsessed with it. We need to look inside people. When we do, we often find something beautiful and believe that everything is beautiful.

Matthew 6: 29-30 – Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Ever made a bad casserole? Sometimes its just perfect. Tastes out of this world. But sometimes its very average and once in a while you just want to throw it out and start over. The ingredients are not the problem. The cook (ME) is the problem. Sometimes my faith is like that. It is not very good. And sometimes I feel like I need to throw it out and start over. The ingredients (Jesus) is not the problem. The recipe (The Bible) is the same as it has always been. The problem is me. I just sometimes have a bad day, week or even month. I wander away from Jesus and my life sucks. It just happens. I’m broken. My Lord Jesus is not. His word is righteous and His love is unconditional and His Grace is epic. I’m just a bad casserole sometimes and I need to get back at it and know that I can make things right again just by keeping my eyes on Jesus in all circumstances. He is the way. And I can make that perfect casserole again. Along with some stumbles along the way.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith……..

In the Holy Bible there are many passages that refer to our doubting of Jesus. We doubt who Jesus is and we doubt what He is capable of doing. From the beginning of the Bible and creation to his death on the cross and resurrection it seems like an impossible story that leaves us with questions and doubts. Jesus knows this and continues to love us unconditionally and meet us where we are at. Faith is big word in the Bible and if we don’t lean on it big time we will have a difficult time understanding Jesus and who He is and how He relates to our lives. I just feel that it is impossible to understand the greatness of the great “I Am”. We need to be alright not knowing everything because Jesus is alright with us not knowing everything. We don’t need all the answers. We just need a lot of trust and boldness to enter “into the mystery” of a great and wonderful and loving God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Strive for excellence in thought, word and deed. Acknowledge the Almighty in all that you do. Love your friends, speak the truth, practice fidelity and honor your Father and Mother. These Godly Principles are the foundation of self-mastery. They make you strong of character , give you hope, and put you on the path to greatness.

John E. Peterson

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is….his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. Reinhold Niebuhr

Proverbs 3: 5-6 TRUST IN THE LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will direct your paths.