Saturday, October 15, 2016
Five years
It has been over five years since I last posted. Hard to believe. Five years will do a lot to someone. Time can get away in a hurry if you let it. For me though it has been good. I am excited about sharing what all has been happening in my life since 2011 as well as sharing the things I have been shown in hopes others can get some easy lessons. What I have seen is the more I surrender and make the choice to follow God, the easier everything has gotten.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Final Blog
Today is the end this chapter... I embark on a new journey. A journey to the deepest parts of my soul. To journal my thoughts daily to better understand and get to know who I am...
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Your perspective
There are those of us at times along the way get a glimpse at just how close the margin can be in life. At times only a few hundred yards is all the difference there is in a life being completely changed. Looking to the west from my house, the bright evening sky is now exposed and reminds me of one personality Mother Nature has. The splintered pines reveal a horizon in disarray; a few moments where a power unleashed created a lasting impression on the evening skyline. But even as the broken trees layer the forefront of my perspective, into the next layer I can see in contrast the bright orange sunset which reveals a certain beauty and hope as it sits calmly and peacefully behind. Almost a picture that sums up how total devastation and total beauty can exist in total perfection and total harmony in this life; The new lie just within reach, just beyond the old. We must dare to reach past the point we think we can grasp.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Let God
“They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things straight” (1 Peter 2:23 MSG).
Focus on two words every moment of your life. In every circumstance, in every event, in every trial, in every celebration, in every failure, in every mistake. In every hurt, in every pain, in every let down, in everything always those two words. The list is endless, in what you will face, but the answer fits in every situation. All you have to do is let HIM. In every breath you take in all that you do, let God. As hard as that may be it is ultimately the only way. Until you let go you have not let HIM. I had the blessing to listen to someone speak to us this week at work and he talked about our purpose and commitment being to not think about ourselves but of those in our lives who depend on us. He told the story of being burned on 99% of his body at age 9 when he tried to pour a small amount of gas on a piece of lit cardboard he had ignited. The fumes were ignited when he lifted the can up and it exploded. His parents were out of town and his 17 year old brother put the flames out with a rug. His 11 year old sister held him and comforted him and his 7 year old sister went into the burning house 3 times for a glass of water to douse on his face trying to cool him off. He said they never thought of themselves only of him and challenged us to think of our neighbors as God says in the same way. to be our brothers and sisters keepers. How this man who as a boy faced so much adversity went on he summed up in 4 words. When he asked his mom would he die...she said do you want too? he said no. she said well you have to walk with God and you have to fight like you never have before. He said, "I chose to fight". He is now married with 3 boys and spoke of the love his wife has for him who sees past all of what is on the outside. And never focuses on the flaws only on what makes him the person he is. There is no reason for me to elaborate because I know what this story did to me and I know what it'll do to you. Make you thank. He said stop and thank God and he is right. God owes us absolutely nothing. But what has HE given us! Life poses many questions and along your walk you will reflect on much as you take your circumstances and deepen your relationship with God. This gentlemen summed up his entire life in this quote. "When you know your why, the how will never be a question." What is your why? I ask myself this very question in light of the recent tornado. I have always expected to live. I still prayed before leaving my house on April 27 at 5:30 p.m.. I prayed selfishly for God to protect my house. I prayed that lives would be spared and property would be spared, but I never prayed for Gods will if it meant that lives would be lost or property lost. I did pray for Gods will, but who expects that to be it. The devastation missed our house by less than 500 yards. My neighbors said they were praying for their lives and said God saved them. I have let go of the why because I know only God knows why not me. And their prayers were no different than mine. But their houses are gone. And one I knew personally is dead. I find it a blessing to be able to let go of this and let God. God is my why. His will, my life, those HE put in my lives. My son, my family, my friends, my co-workers, the many people who have crossed my path and taught me much, those in Christ that have prayed for and loved me. It may be hard but it will never fail when I remind myself of my why and all that I have been brought from, that there is no how. I can never say through any how that I did anything to change the situation. I can only say I was carried and delivered by the same Savior that carries us all and has delivered us all! There are many areas in my life that will never be conquered until I surrender. What does it really mean to let God. The following is taken from surrender by Nancy Leigh Demoss.
Complete surrenders biggest challenge is I do not know what lies ahead. would surrender be hard if God said here is your life, all the details, filled in nice and neat and said sign here on the dotted line and I promise to do all that I have written. would we sign. we may ask what will it cost me? what will you ask me to do in order to give me this? Show me the fine print and let me decide. then maybe i'll negotiate and sign the dotted line. Is that Gods way? Gods way is a blank piece of paper and at the bottom there is only "your name here" X_________________________
you hand it back and the details will be filled in over the course of your life. Why? Because He is God. He bought us. We live for HIM and not our independent self promoting pleasure. why? because He loves us? because He is faithful and trustworthy? is signing that paper risky? what if God is not who He says He is.. what if He falls off His throne? There is no greater reality than the reality we have nothing to lose by signing that contract and living. We will lose some things the world considers valuable. we may lose some things we want. but we cannot ever lose if we look in the eternal scheme of all that is valuable and essential because God can be completely trusted. If we will "let Him" If we will let Him, God will fill in the details of our lives with His incomparable wisdom and sovereign plan, written in the indelible ink of His covenant faithfulness and love.
To yield the right to God and give up whatever it cost may be the hardest thing I will ever do, but if I will let Him I believe it would be the best thing I will ever do. Today do I have the courage to sign my name to that blank piece of paper
Focus on two words every moment of your life. In every circumstance, in every event, in every trial, in every celebration, in every failure, in every mistake. In every hurt, in every pain, in every let down, in everything always those two words. The list is endless, in what you will face, but the answer fits in every situation. All you have to do is let HIM. In every breath you take in all that you do, let God. As hard as that may be it is ultimately the only way. Until you let go you have not let HIM. I had the blessing to listen to someone speak to us this week at work and he talked about our purpose and commitment being to not think about ourselves but of those in our lives who depend on us. He told the story of being burned on 99% of his body at age 9 when he tried to pour a small amount of gas on a piece of lit cardboard he had ignited. The fumes were ignited when he lifted the can up and it exploded. His parents were out of town and his 17 year old brother put the flames out with a rug. His 11 year old sister held him and comforted him and his 7 year old sister went into the burning house 3 times for a glass of water to douse on his face trying to cool him off. He said they never thought of themselves only of him and challenged us to think of our neighbors as God says in the same way. to be our brothers and sisters keepers. How this man who as a boy faced so much adversity went on he summed up in 4 words. When he asked his mom would he die...she said do you want too? he said no. she said well you have to walk with God and you have to fight like you never have before. He said, "I chose to fight". He is now married with 3 boys and spoke of the love his wife has for him who sees past all of what is on the outside. And never focuses on the flaws only on what makes him the person he is. There is no reason for me to elaborate because I know what this story did to me and I know what it'll do to you. Make you thank. He said stop and thank God and he is right. God owes us absolutely nothing. But what has HE given us! Life poses many questions and along your walk you will reflect on much as you take your circumstances and deepen your relationship with God. This gentlemen summed up his entire life in this quote. "When you know your why, the how will never be a question." What is your why? I ask myself this very question in light of the recent tornado. I have always expected to live. I still prayed before leaving my house on April 27 at 5:30 p.m.. I prayed selfishly for God to protect my house. I prayed that lives would be spared and property would be spared, but I never prayed for Gods will if it meant that lives would be lost or property lost. I did pray for Gods will, but who expects that to be it. The devastation missed our house by less than 500 yards. My neighbors said they were praying for their lives and said God saved them. I have let go of the why because I know only God knows why not me. And their prayers were no different than mine. But their houses are gone. And one I knew personally is dead. I find it a blessing to be able to let go of this and let God. God is my why. His will, my life, those HE put in my lives. My son, my family, my friends, my co-workers, the many people who have crossed my path and taught me much, those in Christ that have prayed for and loved me. It may be hard but it will never fail when I remind myself of my why and all that I have been brought from, that there is no how. I can never say through any how that I did anything to change the situation. I can only say I was carried and delivered by the same Savior that carries us all and has delivered us all! There are many areas in my life that will never be conquered until I surrender. What does it really mean to let God. The following is taken from surrender by Nancy Leigh Demoss.
Complete surrenders biggest challenge is I do not know what lies ahead. would surrender be hard if God said here is your life, all the details, filled in nice and neat and said sign here on the dotted line and I promise to do all that I have written. would we sign. we may ask what will it cost me? what will you ask me to do in order to give me this? Show me the fine print and let me decide. then maybe i'll negotiate and sign the dotted line. Is that Gods way? Gods way is a blank piece of paper and at the bottom there is only "your name here" X_________________________
you hand it back and the details will be filled in over the course of your life. Why? Because He is God. He bought us. We live for HIM and not our independent self promoting pleasure. why? because He loves us? because He is faithful and trustworthy? is signing that paper risky? what if God is not who He says He is.. what if He falls off His throne? There is no greater reality than the reality we have nothing to lose by signing that contract and living. We will lose some things the world considers valuable. we may lose some things we want. but we cannot ever lose if we look in the eternal scheme of all that is valuable and essential because God can be completely trusted. If we will "let Him" If we will let Him, God will fill in the details of our lives with His incomparable wisdom and sovereign plan, written in the indelible ink of His covenant faithfulness and love.
To yield the right to God and give up whatever it cost may be the hardest thing I will ever do, but if I will let Him I believe it would be the best thing I will ever do. Today do I have the courage to sign my name to that blank piece of paper
Friday, April 22, 2011
All He ask you to do is trust
It is amazing how different life is when you are turning towards and drawing closer to God. He truly never is far, only us who stray. This last week was such a testament to what God can do. Seemingly so far a week ago at this time, this week has been one of learning. It started Sunday. Sitting 5 days away from speaking to the students at Hueytown Middle for Career Day the preacher said all God ask is us to give ourselves. He will use our talents and gifts. All week long I really wanted to prepare and practice, but between work and school finishing up I just took care of the task at hand and found myself sitting here last night realizing I didnt print my notes off and my printer was out of ink. Funny thing. I went over to my neighbors to use his printer and he had dial up....and no microsoft word to open my document which I had emailed to myself to open and print at his house. I then ran back home and copied the document into an email and again went through the tedious process of waiting on the dial up. Patience truly is something else as you watch life pass you by... I decided to just stop and talk and listen and fellowship with my neighbor; knowing I wanted to get home I remembered the Martha and Mary story where Jesus told Martha she was too busy. A couple of hours later and a piece of homemade apple crumb cake, I parted with my neighbor saying do not worry, everything will be fine. I knew that as I laid my head down on the pillow.....and eventually I fell asleep. I sit here, it is hard to reflect on today, cause it passed so quickly, but I am just in awe at how God can take someone and work through them. I am confident that He planted seeds today and each of us that spoke impacted the kids that needed to be impacted as God knew their needs and what they needed to hear. It truly was a joy even as I sat there speaking to one class and noticed several students sleeping to realize what a great time it is to be 13 and what a great joy it is to be on this earth. Truly I learned a lot this week. As I relied on God my friendship with Him grew and I saw what He can do when I just trust and give Him the glass. I also learned that when you let down the walls and reach out to those in your lives they truly meet you with love and compassion. I felt the prayers of those in my life this week. Praise God for what He does everyday a little at a time through each of us and for each of us. And all we have to do is just trust!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Unseen Companionship - April 9, 2011
Courage, My child!! No hand shall sustain you but Mine own. Hoped you for another? Disappointment awaits every soul not sustained by My love. Never draw from other sources, for when you do, you rob the life force from another, leaving them weaker and yourself deceived; for you confuse comfort with strength.
Fellowship is not life. It is to be given rather than sought. It is shared in the overflow. The soul that is rich by communion with God will not be dismayed by isolation but will seek out solitude. He will seek not the crowd, but the closet and emerging will never walk alone, for he always has the unseen companionship, and whoever joins him on the way will be doubly blessed.
Fellowship is not life. It is to be given rather than sought. It is shared in the overflow. The soul that is rich by communion with God will not be dismayed by isolation but will seek out solitude. He will seek not the crowd, but the closet and emerging will never walk alone, for he always has the unseen companionship, and whoever joins him on the way will be doubly blessed.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Be not anxious
Over & over I have spoken to you about being anxious. Nothing slows your growth more than your apprehension. Fear in any form will bind the soul of a man and imprison his spirit in darkness. The free man fears nothing. The bound sit in prison houses, not knowing how they came, nor how to escape.
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