Taking a break...

I will be taking a break from blogging for a while. Thanks for reading this blog; I pray that God will bless you and help you through the storms of life... (he will if you ask and believe)

Jack Donovan

Declaration of FREEDOM...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

These memorable words were written by Thomas Jefferson, age 33 at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. This document, co-authored by Jefferson declared the United States independence from England. Many fought and died to secure and maintain that independence (or freedom). Not everyone accepted this freedom spoke of in the declaration.

Jesus of Nazareth, age 33 died for independence or freedom. Because of his death we are now free; free from sin. Because of his death our name can be written on a document called the Book of Life. This document is a declaration stating that we have accepted the reason for Jesus Christ death. We will live eternally with the Lord if our name is found in it. Not everyone will accept this freedom given because of the Lord's death.

Both documents are very important but only one will matter in the end. We should honor those who fought and those who died for our great country. We should also honor our Lord who left his place in heaven to come to a world to die for all mankind.

Happy Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day to my dad, my son, my son-in-law and every dad that reads these words. Being a father is a great responsibility. Do your very best to be a good dad and leave the rest to the greatest Father ever... our Lord!

Have wonderful day!

Lord, please show me your will for my life...

In the past I have prayed and prayed for the Lord to show me his will. Let me simply say He (the Lord) has already done this through His Word (the bible). Our main mission on this earth is to tell others about Christ. In the book of Matthew it says: "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 16-20

In our life the only thing that really matters is what we accomplish for Christ. I'm not saying that education and your career are not important. But, if you are a Christian, then what are you doing with those things in which the Lord has blessed you. In your circle of friends, your family and your co-workers are you responding to the doors of opportunity the Lord opens for you (to share the good news of the Lord)? Believe me it is not by chance that people become a part of your life. Share the Word with those you are in contact with.

Now do you just start every conversation with "Jesus loves you"? Although this may be the right thing to do for some, not every personal encounter is the open door I was speaking of. If you only spoke of Jesus at work and you did not do what you were hired to do then more than likely you would be fired. Often you can speak to the hearts of man by your actions, not your words. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. He will show you when the timing is right.

Remember you can not save anyone. Only the Lord can do this. It is a great feeling when you help lead someone to the Lord but sometimes you only plant a seed. The seed will be watered by another person and the Holy Spirit will speak to their heart. The decision is then up to the individual whether or not they ask the Lord to forgive them of their sin. You have done what you have been commanded to do. May God bless you as you serve Him.

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:5-8

Lord, teach us to pray...

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye (you) pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil..." Luke 11:1-4

This scripture is commonly referred to as the "Lord's Prayer." To read the entire prayer look up Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord is teaching his disciples how to pray. The prayer covers honoring God; our physical needs; debts and debtors; temptation and sin. If you sincerely pray this prayer from your heart, reaching out to the almighty God, our Father will hear and answer you. This is how God wants us to pray each day. This is what God wants you to ask of him.

Do you have to always ask these specific words? Of course not but God does want you to talk to him and tell him what's concerns you. If you feel close to God and don't really need anything from Him then praise him. Thank Him and tell Him you Love him. He desires us to express our love just as we desire this from our family and close friends.

Also, pray for others. If you feel overwhelmed with your problems, give them to God and start praying for other people. This act will relieve your stress and God will bless your unselfishness.

We need to pray more. The Lord has taught us how... now we need to pray. Pray or simply talk to God as if he is right beside you because... He is!

I need a vacation...

In a little over 1 week I'll be heading back to my one time home; Sarasota, Florida. This has been a rough year and it's just mid-May. I'm really looking forward to getting away. I will get to see some old friends and enjoy this beautiful city with it's sunshine, beaches and the best fire department I've seen (I worked there; can you tell? Anyway it's true!).

So, I'll return to blogging when I return to Kentucky.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to the millions of readers of this blog! (OK maybe that is a slight exaggeration) I do miss my mother who died when I was 5 years old. Growing up without a mom is tough; I am a different person because of it. I struggle with depression, migraines and an obsessive compulsive personality. Now I can not say that I would not have these health issues if my mother had lived, but I'm sure that the lack of her influence on my life has had a negative impact.

If your mother is still alive, please take some time to tell her "I love you!" If your mother is still alive you are blessed. So to all the mothers out there that love their children and follow the leading of the Lord I say; "have a wonderful Mother's Day--- You deserve it!!"

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels... Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle. Her sons rise up and call her blessed. He husband also praises her: Many women are capable, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. ~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

A friend in need... PLEASE PRAY NOW

I can not go into detail here but I will say I have a friend who is in urgent need of prayer. Please take a moment and pray now. Again this is an urgent request. Thank you for praying...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:28-31

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10:10

Swine Flu...

Swine flu is spreading and the worst is yet to come! Is this a doomsday post? No... Let's talk a moment about this virus. "This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Other important actions that you can take are—

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures." (CDC)

If you want more information about the H1N1 virus go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

I am concerned about this virus but I believe panic is not an option! For some this virus is causing tremendous anxiety. Lets put this into perspective; there are 36,000 flu deaths every year in the USA. If you compare the H1N1 virus deaths to the flu that occurs every year we should be less concerned about H1N1. Don't let this new virus be a "Storm in your life"! Take care of yourself, wash your hands and cover your nose when you sneeze. STAY HOME if you are sick.

Now let's change gears... I believe people should show more concern about other things in their life such as... are you right with the Lord, are you a good husband or wife, are you a good parent? Take each day as it happens. Don't worry about things out of your control. Trust the Lord in all things... including the swine flu!