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.

On this Memorial Day I would like to share the lyrics of a song by Twila Paris. This song, “What Did He Die For”, says it all about God and Country. Following are the lyrics…..

He was 21 in 1944./ He was hope, and he was courage on a lonely shore./ Simply remind his mother, with love beyond her tears./ Just a young American who chose to rise above his fears./ And as I watch him struggle up that hill without a thought of turning back./ I can not help but wonder./ What did he die for, when he died for you and me./ Made the sacrifice so that we could all be free./ I believe we will answer each to heaven./ For the way we spend a priceless liberty./ Look inside and ask the question what did he die for?/ When he died for me./ To the darkest day in A.D. 33./ Came the mercy and compassion of eternity./ Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears./ Blameless One, the only Son ./ to bear the guilt of all these years./ And as I watch Him struggle up that hill./ Without a thought of turning back./ I cannot help but wonder what did He die for?/ When He died for you and me./ Made the sacrifice./ So that we could all be free./ I believe we will answer each to heaven./ For the way we spend a priceless liberty./ Look inside and ask the question./ What did he die for?/ He died for freedom./ He died for love./ And all the things we do not pay Him back./ Could never be enough./ What did He die for?/ When He died for you and me./ Made the sacrifice./ So that we could all be free./ I believe we will answer each to heaven./ For the way we spend a priceless liberty./ Look inside and ask the question./ What did he die for?/ When He died for me.

God Bless America! Take care and stay safe this week.

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

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. 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.

There are a lot of folks who believe that living a good life, believing in the Ten Commandments, not sinning, treating people well, giving (maybe even tithing) to charities, etc. are the keys to God’s Kingdom. While these are all good things they in themselves are not the keys to God’s Kingdom. The key is Jesus. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. Jesus is the way. The only way into God’s Kingdom. I know that people don’t want to hear this but it is the Truth. We don’t make the rules……Jesus is everything. He is the King. He loves us unconditionally. He extends endless grace. He is the absolute truth. If one wants to live a life full of purpose and meaning then Jesus and his teachings are the answer. Jesus is everything and nothing at the same time. He will give us what we need and not what we want. So if you are asking Jesus for money and fame then you will probably get nothing. If you are asking for his will to be done in your life then you will get it. Welcome into the mystery!

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The following are words from author James Bryan Smith concerning Christ’s commitment to us. “For most of my Christian life I related to Jesus on the basis of what I did for Him. If I prayed well, studied hard, served much and sinned little, then I felt reasonably sure Jesus was pleased with me. I was paralyzing my ability to love Jesus, love myself, and ultimately love others. I was afraid that Jesus would look at my faults and withdraw his love. I was afraid my weaknesses and sinfulness would separate me from the love of Jesus. I see now how foolish it was to think that my feeble attempts at righteousness had anything to do with how Jesus feels about me. For too long I was impressed with my commitment to Jesus, now I am impressed only with Jesus ‘s commitment to me.”

Romans 8: 38-39 – I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In sports we talk a lot about events that are “game changers”. In history we also look at events that have changed history. The greatest of these in all of time was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we celebrate as Easter. Many, many, people still don’t get the significance of this event. From a faith and spiritual standpoint the death and resurrection of Jesus was the biggest “game changer” in his and our stories. It ushered in forgiveness, grace and unconditional love for all that call upon the name of the Lord. The song Amazing Grace says it all with these words…” Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found t’was blind but now I see”.

John 11: 25-26……I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

HE HAS RISEN!

Jesus is the God of Grace and Truth. He is The Way and The Truth and The Life. His word has been telling us for centuries not to conform to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Just stand back and take a look at the world today. The news everyday is so negative. The media or “fake news” lies to us everyday. Their is very little truth anymore. Our leaders and politicians just lie, lie, etc. We have a pandemic that we get false information about daily. We have riots and protests that are destroying property right before our eyes, yet leaders say they are peaceful. It is such obvious lying that it is almost comical. We the people are in trouble and the only person we can turn to…..Jesus…is not accepted by most of our population. Unbelievable!! We need to look up and turn our hearts to God. Our country, our lives, are going down the drain and our leaders are allowing it to happen. What’s worse is that Jesus has told us if we put our trust in the world that this was exactly what would happen. Shame on us. We need to re-direct our attention to Jesus. We need to re-think our lives. We need Jesus. Amen!

1Corinthians 15:10 – But by the Grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect……

Early I wrote about what is success. But now I wonder if I got it right back then. Maybe I took a swing and missed. I think I did. I now believe that success in this life and world is knowing Jesus. Reaching out with an open hand for his grace and accepting his unconditional love. Recognizing that I am broken and a sinner and that Jesus died for me. That my salvation comes from him and him only. That He is the Way and the Truth. I know that the world measures success in a much different way and that’s OK. But for me, I choose Jesus as my greatest choice and success.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him…….