Goodbye for now Misty...

If you follow my blog you will remember a while back I asked you to pray for Misty LeBlanc. Prayers from all over the world went forth on behalf of Misty. Misty peacefully passed away last night. My heart aches for the family especially Darren, her loving and devoted husband. I do not know why with all of the prayers offered that God did not heal Misty. It's not that there was a lack of faith because many truly believed she was going to be healed. I do know that God loves us and wants us to trust him in all things including things we do not understand. Please pray for Darren, his daughter Olivia and the rest of the family during this very difficult time.

ummm, God is great, God is Good....

"God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food... amen". A simple prayer often taught to children. Now don't get me wrong, children know how to pray with faith, but we are all grown up and are we still praying the same way? God help sister Jones, she is dying, help my children, forgive me for being bad today... amen. Are we really serious with God? Do we wonder why our prayers are not being answered? Maybe, just maybe, our prayers are not coming with a fervency showing we mean business with God almighty. Almost all of the prayers I have prayed, that were answered, were when I was totally focused on my request to a point of desperation. God knows I'm serious and he sees my total dependence on him. It is then that I see God move in my life. God has never failed me. He still answers prayer today but we must seek him in a way that shows what we are praying for, is really important to us.

Storms inside...

Do you walk around with a smile on your face when you feel anything but joy? That's not necessarily bad, forcing a change in your attitude can change your current despair. Do you lack peace in your mind and spirit? Many people do but you must realize that only God can give you true peace. Do your friends think you've got it all together but you know your life is in turmoil? It doesn't matter what they think, it won't change anything. God knows how you feel regardless of how you appear on the outside. Are you tired of playing games? You should be; life is too short to play games with your emotions. Are you a people pleaser regardless of how that effort affects you personally? Pleasing people should not be your goal in life. You must do what you know in your heart is the right and only way to go. You can never please everyone, so don't even try. Do you feel that people you know are not honest with you and talk behind your back? Over ninety percent of times when you see people talking and you think their talking about you, they're not! Why do we worry about things we have no control of? Have you ever fretted over something and the next day you asked yourself, what was the big deal? I have been known to worry and then when I was done worry some more. If you can change the situation for the better then do it. If not turn it over to the Lord.

Sound simple? It is...

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

A simpler time and a season of innocence...

Today I went to Dayton, Ohio to see "Sesame Street Live" with my granddaughter. I watched my granddaughter as she soaked up the excitement of the show watching Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and others. She was in awe of everything going on. She started saying "happy, happy" as she was very happy to be there. As I watched her I realized how I have gotten wrapped up in the worries of the world. If I could only return to a mindset of being able to really enjoy life's pleasures.

I remember also a time when my daughter prayed that her injured arm would be healed. She had no doubt that God could and would heal her. I again in my maturity was caught up with doubt and worry about her having to suffer. The next day her arm was completely healed. Her faith in God allowed her to be healed, regardless of her father's doubt.

The Bible says "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Luke 18:17) This is true for all things we ask of God. Just as my daughter had complete faith that God would heal her, we must do the same. We let "stuff" get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. The more we fill our minds with doubt and trash the less we will receive from him (God).

I guess as we age we because more self-sufficient and less dependent on God. Lord help us to return to the place where we rely and trust you as a child. Help us to enjoy your world and the blessings we have.

Eating Crow...

Last night (midnight) I responded to a very serious accident on I-75 where a pick-up was traveling Southbound in the Northbound lanes. The pick-up was clipped by one semi and hit head on with another semi. I left the scene around 5am, went home for a while and returned to work at noon. When I got to my office several workers who were working on the stations air conditioning system had moved around the furniture and had totally disrupted our work space. I, after having little sleep went off on these workers saying "I wish somebody would tell me before they just start moving our stuff around". They apologized but I could hear murmurings of discontent coming from them. This is not the first time this group has gotten on my nerves. I guess today I just lost it. I left and went to lunch. I had to get away before I said something I would regret. At lunch I had time to cool off and I felt the Lord was telling me to apologize. "I did not do anything wrong Lord, they did!!!" Tough Jack, apologize. When I got back to the office I went up to the supervisor and told him that I was wrong and I was sorry. I ate some crow because feeling I was right in my actions was a reflection of something in me that was not pleasing to the Lord. I felt better after I apologized and feel the Lord spoke to me telling me to do the right thing.

Sometimes in life people do things that are very inconsiderate and mean centered. How we respond to the actions of others shows Christian maturity. Today I failed the test, but God gave me a chance to correct the situation. Lord help us be more like you.

Rain...

"Don't rain on my parade." "Rain, Rain go away come again another day." I sure you've heard these little quotes before when it comes to rain being equated with having a bad day. Let's look at this rain mindset. We all know that in order for plants, animals and people alike to survive we must have rain. In order for life to grow and flourish rain must fall. Now back to rain and it's negative implication. Just like rain can make things grow, bad days (or rain, if you will) also will make us grow as Christians. If nothing bad ever happened we would become complacent and feel we did not need to improve. As long as we live in this world bad things will happen. Take those bad events in your life as an opportunity to improve and grow. We need the rain, be it good or bad. Trust the Lord in all things; he will help you deal with anything that comes your way.

The Tree Lives On...

I had to cut down a large tree that was endangering my house. The tree was one that I had planted about 17 years ago. The tree has been down for several months. Now I have small trees trying to grow off the roots of the cut tree. They are coming up everywhere as far as 30-40 feet away from the stump. They are growing under my wood deck coming up between the boards. It's amazing that this is occurring as it never sprouted new trees prior to its literal fall. This tree is similar to the "family tree". It starts with one then two, then four... Then after you're dead the multiplying continues.

So where am I going with this? Your influence affects generations. If you raise your children in a loving home then they will be more prone to have loving homes. If you raise your children in a Christian home then they are more apt to do the same with their children. The same is true for those raised in broken homes as they are prone to have the same failures. This is not always the case as God can move in your life and change a bad cycle.

Another analogy is the tree had to die before it could give new life. What does this remind you of? If you said Christ, you are correct. God help us to be righteous leaders in the home and thank you Jesus for dying so we could live.

Old friends...

I have had the good fortune of having many very good friends over the years. Recently I have located some that I had lost touch with for years. It was interesting to hear about what they were doing now and how it caused me to reflect on days gone by. I have lost some friends over the years due to them moving away, myself moving away or by their passing in this life. I know I will see all of my Christian friends one day but my heart aches for those who do not know the Lord. I hope and pray that I will be a good influence on my friends but I know I am human and eventually I will probably let them down. One friend will never let them down. He is waiting to love them unconditionally and has already given his all for them. I know that friend; he is my Lord and savior. He is my best friend. Even though I fail him daily he loves me none the less. His name is Jesus. Jesus loves you. He died for you; won't you live for him?

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Politics...

I hate politics! I thought a few years back that I might want to get into the political scene but have since given up on any desire to do so. I have known some great politicians and some who are very selfishly motivated. I work in government and just want to do the best job I can. The last couple of years I have been attacked, lied about and the department has suffered. The citizens have suffered. I have been in public service for 28+ years and have for the most part enjoyed going to work every day. Now my joy for the job is damaged. I know I shouldn't let people get me down but sometimes I do. People run for public office for different reasons, some do it to make a difference while others who may start out that way get consumed with the attention they get and end up doing a dis-service to those they were elected to serve.

I am going through a difficult time right now and I ask for your prayers. Also, pray for our community, state and federal leaders. Pray that they will serve in a way that is pleasing to God.

We do not need politicians; we desperately need good leaders!