Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Play!

"Slow down", its what I keep trying to tell myself lately. The world does a pretty good job of winding a person up, and if you feel like you are alone it can be rather overwhelming, so I try to slow down. Anything in life is so much easier when you have help but in a world full of technology that isolates us we can often forget that we are surrounded. When I do pause and realize where I am I feel immensely lucky. The amount of passion, knowledge and talent that I am surrounded by on any given day is immense. Is, there a lot to do, yes. Should we worry, no. Is there evil in the world, yes. Should we worry, no. For me God puts love and peace into my heart. It wasn't always like that. For a long time I didn't even let him in. I didn't to burden with my daily woes. Big things, I would beg for his help, but beyond that I just trotted along through life and did the best I could. God has given you so much. He has given you talents and abilities that you probably haven't even tapped into that much. You are capable of so much and he is waiting on the sidelines of your life waiting for you to put him into the game so he can help you become all that you can be. Guess what, you're not alone. God has surrounded you with many others with unique talents and abilities. You have a play where you need to go long, God has someone to help you succeed with that. They might be right next to you right now. As Christians we have done so much for this world. We have fed the hungry. We have clothed the naked. We have loved those who felt unwanted. We have consoled those who have made mistakes and helped their lives get back on track. We have housed the homeless, and taught the uneducated. As Christians we do this out of love, because that is what Jesus Christ asks us to do. However there are many of us that act as if we are on the couch watching this game of life at home, we don't even realize that we are in the game. Everyone in this world is in the game. We all can get involved. We all can make a difference because God gave us awesome talents and abilities to help this broken world. First step though is to go to God and ask, "What do you want me to do." We need to take time to read the Gospels and learn from Jesus. We need to learn how to love the way he wants. We need to learn to love and hold nothing back. You don't win the game holding half back. You don't have an awesome relationship by holding half back. You don't get great grades by holding half back. You have to be all in. God is waiting with anticipation to love you all in. You just have to let God in. God loves you so much that he has given you freewill. God let's you choose, so as God loves "All In", he wants you to love "All In". Together as Christians following Jesus Christ's way we can radically change this world for the better with love, the way God loves. Now all you have to do is decide. Do I want to get into the game?

If you like the quote shown above in the picture you should check out this book.

Michael
Nerdy God Thoughts
obbo_91@yahoo.com

Duh, I Don't Know George?

Sometimes you wish you had a magic wand or a genie or an ATM on standby that made money out of thin air. The reason why? Its that I get so carried way in our million-things-a-second that I forget to actually, think. Then when I finally do get a moment to breathe I find myself thinking, "Oh I want this and that and I wish I had a million dollars..." For too long I lived in a hectic world and escaped to fantasies that I never really spent anytime on where I was going, what I wanted and how I was going to get there. God changed that for me. He does things like, throwing a foggy morning my way so I have to SLOW DOWN. I know now what I want. I want to goto heaven and I want all my friends and family there. I want to have unending peace on earth so no matter what kind of a tsunami I am surrounded by I can have the serenity to find my way through safely. God does that for me. I want to experience love on this earth, real love and passion. I read the teachings of Jesus Christ and I am on my way. God does that for me. I want to share this peace and love I have through the thoughts I have in my head, music that bounces around in my mind and poems that frame my days. God helps me with that. I've had money, and while I had choices, I did not have happiness. I have had my life focused on music, but with no one to share it with and singing for the wrong reasons I felt empty. With God I am F-U-L-L. Not the kind of overstuffed full that I will feel 5 minutes after eating Thanksgiving dinner full, but a full that is on even keel. A full that is warm, loving and satisfying. What seems like a million years ago I gave God a shot cause nothing I was doing was working. Now I feel so stupid for not just trying his way sooner, but the cool thing is that I am really still in the beginning. I still have eternity to look forward to. It's never to late. You are never too young and you are never too old. God loves you and he is waiting for you right now. He knows how to help you with all that stuff you want and help you achieve things that are better and that you didn't even consider. So what do you want? What are you waiting for?

Michael Smith
obbo_91@yahoo.com

Do I Really Gotta Brush My Teeth?

There are many a day I feel tested. My gut is telling me that I should do something, but I don’t want to. I try and rationalize that, “Hey if I don’t do this the world will not end.” I continue through my day and my heart nags at me, and then I lower my head and smile and I think of my 6yr old. Right now he is loosing his teeth, and from his 6yr old rational point of view, brushing his teeth seems pointless. As his father I know that no matter how well he takes care of his teeth they will all fall out and he will get new ones. My point of view know though, that if I teach him to take care of his teeth well his 2nd set won’t fall out either. God is much the same. Sometimes the things he asks seem silly, but for the health of our soul its important that we do them. This life is temporary, but afterwards we have eternity to look forward to and God wants to share that with us. 

Wisdom 3:1-9

1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. 2In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, 3and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 4For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. 5Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 6like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. 7In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. 8They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. 9Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

Sometimes I am in awe of God over the simplest of things, like, I don’t really have to be here. The world would not end without me. However I am a unique puzzle piece in God’s grand tapestry. I fit, I belong, I do indeed have a place. the cool thing is I get to choose. Sure I could “reform” my shape and change my life and go against God’s plan for me. I could trim off some edges or let my head get big and fat of myself but then I wouldn’t fit. God would be sad and he would have to throw me aside cause I chose not to be apart of his beautiful piece of art. I wouldn’t fit in heaven. Satan is always waiting to pick up these “distorted” pieces and take them to hell with him. However if I do follow God’s bidding and let him help me shape my life I become perfect and fit into his heaven. I may get tossed around in this life. At times it may seem like I don’t belong at all, especially when I get mocked for having faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This life is temporary and momentary. I have eternity to look forward to. When I put my faith in God and follow his ways I find peace and happiness no matter what temporary turmoil maybe going on around me. God loves me and when I follow him he gives me the grace to make it through anything and so that I can go to heaven after this is all over.

Psalms 23:1-6

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

So, how do I make it through this crazy world? Well God did this amazing thing. He sent his son, his only son Jesus to teach me and you and everyone that will ever have been or be. Jesus came and taught love. Jesus taught who and how to love. Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, had mercy and consoled those in pain, he fed the hungry and he even raised the dead! Jesus is the son of God. He brought a special message that God love you. No matter what mistakes have made or will make in the future God loves you. God is waiting for you. God wants to to share so much with you and is waiting for your call and arrival into heaven. All you have to do is choose. Choose God, follow Jesus and he will lead you to him. 

John 6:37-40

37All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Those tough days where world and Satan tries to tempt you, call God. Ask for God’s help. He will send the Holy Spirit to give you the strength you need. God can see what is in your heart. He knows how hard you are trying, and like an awesome parent he waits patiently for you to learn and grown and become stronger, smarter and more loving. 

You can sit there are think, “This is stupid. I am fine. My life is okay. I don’t need to do all this stupid Jesus stuff”, but just like our baby teeth one day this body will fall from us. Will your soul rise and join God in heaven in eternity or fall aside where Satan is waiting for you?

The Smell of Cleaning Products

It’s funny what a sight or smell can do to you. Often it can act like some sort of time machine propelling you back to a time that you can remember. One of my favorite smells was the closet where all the cleaning supplies were kept in my Mom and Dad’s home. It’s funny I know, but that smell is special for some reason. Home is always home no matter how long you have been away. Home is a place where you can find safety and love. For me it’s not just a place but also a set of people. You should always feel safe to go home and that is why I work so hard to make my children feel safe and loved under my roof. 

God is much the same. He has created a Heaven for you to spend your eternity in. He doesn’t make you come. God gives you free will. He lets you choose if you want to spend time with him. God being God has spared no expense. He doesn’t need a heaven, he made that for you. Why, because he loves you and he knows how special you are. He wants to take care of you for all your eternity if you will have him. God loves you that much.

God doesn’t want you to be alone. He wants you to have company. He wants you to feel love and compassion. In the garden of Eden God showed man every animal he made, and when none were a fitting partner God made Eve for Adam. He made sure that the two were good for each other because God wanted Adam and Eve to feel love and compassion.  God loves you that much.

The world is a crazy place ,because men and women make it that way, and God does his best to bring us together. God first picked a Family, then built a tribe, then a nation trying to bring humanity together so that we could find love and compassion. God sent many prophets to help lead his people so that they could find love in him. We would come to him and then fall away and God would send another. Finally God sent his only son to teach us in person how to love and show compassion, and we killed him. Jesus took the blame for all our sins and died a most horrible death for us, yes you too. God loves you that much.

Jesus anointed apostles and he taught them personally with tender, warmth and care. He loved them with all his heart and told them to go out and share with all what he taught them so all of humanity could feel that love. God didn’t create some exclusive club. All are welcome if they want to come. Jesus established the Church where all could come and worship and love God in community with fellow believers. Where we as Christians could love and support one another. Where maybe, just maybe if we listened and did what God asked we could experience a tidbit of Heaven here on earth. God loves you that much.

You cannot pass through your day without being surrounded by God’s love. For God made everything out of love for you. We may misuse or distort his creations but that is our fault not God’s. He patiently waits and is willing to teach still to this day. Everyday you wake he loving waits for you to come home. God loves you that much.

I don’t know what Heaven looks or smells like, but from the love and compassion that I feel when I accept him in my life I feel as at home as when I open that closet in my parents house. Question is, are you ready to come home?

Ephesians 2:19-22

19So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalms 19:2-5

1The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

Luke 6:12-16

12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; 14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Addicted to the Pokemon?

Trying to teach my children about money can be a wonderful thing, or it can be a wonderful exercise in patience. Most of the time the idea of saving is lost on them. It is not until it is too late that they understand. 

One of my children had a strong love of Pokemon cards. He just loved to collect them, and I didn't mind. However, I noticed that just about the time my son had 5$ saved from chores he almost immediately had a new pack of cards. For a short time I tried to explain that if he were to save his money and wait that 5$ could easily be 20$ or 50$ and he could get something much nicer.  He had none of my advice. He liked the cards. He wanted them and so he bought them quickly as he could. Sad was the day though that we went to the store and he saw something wonderful, however it cost a bit over 10$. My son was crushed because he didn't have enough for it and did not understand why I would not just buy it for him. 

As an adult life is much the same. I could fill my coffers with "stuff". I can follow the path of the world and run from shiny treat to shiny treat. I can spend my days being a slave of consumption. I can even go so far as to treat people like things and use them to my will and throw them away when I am done with them. God calls me to do different though. Would God be happy if I rid myself of all possessions and gave any excess to the poor, yes. Does he demand it, no. What is important to God is that I love him with all my mind body and soul. He wants me to love everyone on this planet as I love myself. God simply wants love and compassion because God knows that love is true happiness.  It is true happiness that lasts longer than the pleasure from a cheeseburger, fleeting sex or a deck of Pokemon cards. 

God wants us to grow and learn how to love so that we can coexist with him in heaven. For eternal peace and happiness doesn't work if those involved cannot love. That is the prime reason we have so much discontent here on earth. Am I perfect? No, I am a sinner trying each day to love better and stronger. I try and ignore Satan's temptation to merely serve my own selfish desires. I try and ignore the pull of hate towards those that hurt me and mine. Only with God’s grace can I become what he desires, so I ask for God's help.  I work to feed the hungry, donate to those that heal the sick and love those that feel unwanted for I know one day my frail body will die and my soul will need a new home. Most importantly I work to make God my best friend and confidant. I pray, attend mass, study and partake in the sacraments which God has gifted to me.  Eternity will begin one day and I won't be able to take anything with me.  So I ask myself do I want to rise with love to my God to heaven where inconceivable treasures lie or do I wish to fall to hell and all that Satan has waiting for me? I guess the real question is, how badly do I want that pack of Pokemon cards?  

Romans 8:18-25

18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Psalms 126:1-6

1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Luke 13:18-21

18He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." 20And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

Training Wheels

My son Walter recently learned how to ride a bike. It was hard cause we have a gravel driveway, but after struggling a bit the training wheels came off. He fell over and a few times was frustrated. He almost wanted to give up and never triy riding again. I talked to him in a calm voice and reassured him. I stood by his side and did my best to help him excel. Now he rides without fear. 

Our bodies are sort of like training wheels. They keep us grounded in this life, but we must be careful. Our bodies a wonderful gift from God, can try and become our master. Eating can be a double edged sword. It is one thing to eat to have the energy we need, but another to use food as a pacifier to help us feel good and get through tough times. It is one thing to drink to sooth a parched mouth or relax at the end of a day, but it is another to drink until we are drunk because we don't want to face our difficulties. Sex, is a beautiful act that brings life into the world, but when we become a slave to our sexual desires, use contraception so that we can use sex like a drug to receive pleasure it is wrong. 

God loves you and wants to be your best friend. He wants to help you overcome your advisories. He wants to teach you to love so when your body is put in the ground your soul can rise to heaven. God loves you and he wants you to love in the same way.  He wants you to love everyone you come across including the sick, the poor and hungry. Loving others creates happiness, which lasts longer than any pleasure you derive from a temporary act. God wants you happy because he loves you. Question is, are you ready for your training wheels to come off?

Romans 8:12-17

12So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- 13for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Psalms 68:2, 4, 6-7, 20-21

1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him! 3But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy! 5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6God gives the desolate a home to dwell in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. [Selah] 20Our God is a God of salvation; and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

Luke 13:10-17

10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." 13And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." 15Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the

Are You Ready For Your Final Exam?

For a long time I had a hard time with trust. It was hard for me to see what I could not see. For whatever reason I had a hard time trusting people. I wanted proof. I wanted to see. I wanted to know for sure. God is the same he wants to look into our heart and see that we have faith, believe in and love him. I would imagine great disappointment if after the end times all in heaven rebelled and once again God had to cast out those he made and loved into hell. Does God test us? Yes and I can blame him. In the world we live in today people worship fame and money. Material possessions seem to be the top priority if you spend even 30 minutes watching network TV. Rather than follow the will of God we focus on ourselves at times that we appear to worship what we see in the mirror. We constant look for easy money, are envious of others that have more, take our wrath out on those that disagree with us. We treat our fellow men and women like objects to be used for mere sexual pleasure and spend our days trying to get as much as we can while doing as little as possible. Instead our lives should be for God and everything we have and do should be pointed towards him. God comes to all loving and wanting our communion. He is willing to share all he has, take away our pain and forgive our sins, but we have to choose him. For God anything is possible and in his ways so much is easy, but we have to choose. We have to want. We have to desire. God wants to see us turn away from the world and turn towards him, his son and his spirit. For our life in this world is a mere training ground. Where do we want to go and who do we want to be. It's all about how we answer the questions in this test of life. 

Genesis 22:1-19

1After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. 9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." 15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

Psalms 115:1-6, 8-9

1Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to thy name give glory, for the sake of thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness! 2Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" 3Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 8Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them. 9O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

Matthew 9:1-8

1And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk'? 6But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." 7And he rose and went home. 8When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

You Say You Want Protection?

I have a very stubborn son. He insists that his world will come to an end if he is to sleep in the dark. Each night I pray with him talk to him. I tell him that I love him and will keep him free of harm. Each day he arises from his slumber unharmed. Night lights, the door open and various light-up stuffed animals are all at his disposal but he needs to hear me pray with him each night. Just like with my other children this will soon pass. As they learn of the horrible things in the world they begin to worry what can come creeping into their room in the night. I assure them that they are safe in my home under my guard. God is the same, if we stay with him we will be safe. If we trust in God and follow his ways he will watch over us and help us. Is there evil in the world? Yes, I can't help to see it in action every day that I look around. It's camouflage is very concealing and can be hard to see. In my past, in my youth and in my reckless abandon of God wishes I fell to the temptation of the evil in this world. I got off the path and found myself in the dark woods of despair but I got out. Not by my way but it was with my choice. I called to God and he sent the light of his son Jesus into my world and I followed my way out. I paid attention to his lessons and I try my best to heed them. I see the evil in this world and I can see when I begin to walk into the shadows again and so I turn back. I am no perfect man. I am no great man but I am a man that loves God and I know that if I follow the light I will never become lost again. I can find eternal peace and happiness in heaven if I use free will given to me by God to choose God. 

Genesis 21:5, 8-20
5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 8And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. 10So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." 11And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the lad and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named. 13And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring." 14So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16Then she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, "Let me not look upon the death of the child." And as she sat over against him, the child lifted up his voice and wept. 17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation." 19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.

Psalms 34:7-13
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! 9O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! 10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12What man is there who desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?

Matthew 8:28-34
28And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31And the demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." 32And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. 34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.

Who's Got Your Back?

It's always good to have good friends behind you. Good friends are the ones that are honest with you even when they know that they are about to say something that you will not like. God is the best friend that I have. He has steered me out of so much trouble and kept me away from so much more by following his commandments. I have met many a person that has mocked God. So many have said why can't I eat as much as I want? What's wrong with drinking as much as I want? What's wrong with having sex or doing drugs whenever I want? The problem with all that is that it takes our eyes off the prize, getting to heaven. When we indulge ourselves on a daily basis we make ourselves the center of our universe treating ourselves like a God that should have every desire given to us. Even God doesn't do that. Gods commandments are put into place for our protection. That by discipline we may gain peace and serenity. Through moderation and discipline we can live long healthy full lives. By loving God and following his ways we can even avoid death and the fall into hell but also find eternal life and peace in heaven. By loving others as we love ourselves we spread love on earth, which is in great demand rich now. By loving only ourselves we end up treating everyone we meet as a means to an end. We use people instead of love them. Make no mistake there is plenty of temptation on this earth. Satan hates you and wants to damn your soul to hell so he can torture you for an eternity. Why? Because he wishes to be God and out of his wrath he wishes to destroy and defile everything that God has created. It is up to follow God for he has given us free will and we get to choose. It is wise to keep our eyes fixed on God and his ways for if we even fall to the temptation to look back in sin's direction we risk falling hard and not going back. Satan will tempt you with both pleasure and pain, but know this, even in the most dreadful storm God is there for you. No matter what pleasure Satan tempts you with nothing is more pleasurable than the peace God can provide, but the choice is yours and he is waiting. God is willing to share all, his wisdom, his love taught by his son Jesus and the power to overcome anything with the help,of the Holy Spirit. It is all yours for the asking, but God will not just share this with anyone. He shares it only with his friends, his disciples, those that love him and yes he loves us all. 

Genesis 19:15-29
15When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." 16But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. 17And when they had brought them forth, they said, "Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley; flee to the hills, lest you be consumed." 18And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords; 19behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me, and I die. 20Behold, yonder city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there -- is it not a little one? -- and my life will be saved!" 21He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Make haste, escape there; for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zo'ar. 23The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zo'ar. 24Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomor'rah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25and he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26But Lot's wife behind him looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD; 28and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomor'rah and toward all the land of the valley, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. 29So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Psalms 26:2-3, 9-12
2Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. 3For thy steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to thee. 9Sweep me not away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10men in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.

Matthew 8:23-27
23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing." 26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

Who is Your Lifeguard?

The other day we went swimming and I was interested how my two toddlers would act. My son the older was okay but had fear. He had respect for the water and realized he could drown so he was careful in the wading pool. The younger my daughter was fearless. She refused my help and even though she doesn't know how to swim she tried doing everything I was doing. Fearless and pushing her limit occasionally she would stumble and fall under the water. Quickly I would grab her and raise her up and as soon as she had her feet under her she made me let go. God is the same. In the waters of life he wants to be there for us always,but unfortunately some refuse his help. I remember when I was drowning in the waters of life. I sink and could barely breathe. The moment I called and asked Jesus to save me he was there. I didn't deserve his help for I had been living neck deep in a life of sin for so long but he came no reduced me. He saved my soul. I pray for thanks and protection and I receive it. When I has stressful times I pray and I put it all on him. Through moments of chaos I find peace and serenity because of my reflation ship with God. Men and women can persecute me. They can bring physical harm to me but I have peace for they can not kill me. As long as I have faith in Jesus and follow gods commandments and receive grace from the Holy Spirit I will not die. My body may perish but I am on the road to heaven where I will live forever. This life, my body is a mere blink. The life everlasting in heaven is my home which God has prepared for me, and it is there I I am on a journey to.

Acts 12:1-11
1About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He killed James the brother of John with the sword; 3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; 7and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." 9And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. 11And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Psalms 34:2-9
1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
6For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 16:13-19
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Is Anything Possible?

Often in my years I have heard the phrase, "if you would have told me back then what I would be doing now I would not believe it." To be honest I could easily say the same thing. A long time ago I decided to walk off the path and I hiked deep into the dark woods of the world and its temptations. It wasn't a conscience choice. It was a gradual slow drifting for me as I followed temptation after temptation my world became more dark and cold. When I finally realized how far off my path I had gotten I figured I was all in, lost and could never find my way back and I was right. It wasn't until I was humble enough to beg for help from a God I thought barely existed and wanted nothing to do with me that I started to see the light of day again. I was so lucky, see for years I racked up quite a bit of sin. I treated people like dirt so that I could get what I wanted. The ends justified the means. Good and truth were relative and I thought I was still an okay guy. The fact is that I was a piece of trash that deserved nothing, but it's amazing what God can do with anything. It wasn't easy, for me. See God loves us all and he saw into my heart. God loves us all and has a place for each of us in his heart and in his home but we have to be willing to accept him. Through Jesus Christ I began to learn. Jesus washed away my sins and made me anew. With the Holy Spirit I became empowered to become a better man. It was not my doing it was God's. Am I perfect? No, I am no example, hero or someone to be looked up to. Jesus is a hero who saves and teaches a love that fulfills like no other. Each day I move forward and do the best I can. I find the more I follow Gods way the more peace and love I find. Gods way is simple Its my ego that makes it hard. God can do anything with anyone but you have to be ready to love with all your heart and never hold anything back. If he can heal me Jesus can heal anyone. You just have to give him a shot for the greatest gift God gave us was free will.

Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 9And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 15And God said to Abraham, "As for Sar'ai your wife, you shall not call her name Sar'ai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." 17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" 18And Abraham said to God, "O that Ish'mael might live in thy sight!" 19God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20As for Ish'mael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year." 22When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.

Psalms 128:1-5

1Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! 2You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. 5The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

Matthew 8:1-4

1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 3And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to the people."

How Strong is Your Paitience

How Strong is Your Patience?

Trust  and patience can be a hard thing in this day and age. Often I take my family on walks and my children get in such a hurry that they run and if I said nothing they would run into the road where they could be hit by traffic. They moan and groan when I yell at them to stop. They pout as they wait for me to reach them so that I can Shepard them across the road safely. Many in life react to God in the same manner. They moan and groan because they think God is just keeping them from having fun rather than trying to keep them safe. In America we now live in a culture that invites us to pursue what we want, whenever we want and we can often get it instantly. On the internet you can find nearly anything you want in less than 5 minutes, and that can be a dangerous thing. It allows us to act on impulses immediately without any time to decide if that is what we should be pursuing. God has a plan for us all but in our age of instant gratification it can be hard to wait on God. If God so loves us why does he make us wait? He makes us wait for often we receive more from him during our journey or our waiting than we do when we get where we want to go. In all my readings I find it so very few where God works quickly. He can, but often he takes his time and there is purpose in that. We need to have faith that he loves us and will take care of us. God sent his son to teach us his way. We come to know God through Jesus. Jesus not only came to be our savior if we accept him, but also he came to establish his Church. In his Church we can find sanctuary and partake in the sacraments to receive grace that helps us and protects us on our journey with God, but we must be patient.

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
1Now Sar'ai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar; 2and Sar'ai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my maid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sar'ai. 3So, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, Sar'ai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5And Sar'ai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my maid to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!" 6But Abram said to Sar'ai, "Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sar'ai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. 7The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8And he said, "Hagar, maid of Sar'ai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sar'ai." 9The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her." 10The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will so greatly multiply your descendants that they cannot be numbered for multitude." 11And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son; you shall call his name Ish'mael; because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12He shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against every man and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen." 15And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ish'mael. 16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ish'mael to Abram.

Psalms 106:1-5
1Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever! 2Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or show forth all his praise? 3Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! 4Remember me, O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people; help me when thou deliverest them; 5that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thy heritage.

Matthew 7:21-29
21"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." 28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Do You Hear That Call a Ringing?

This world as large as it is with all its people's and cultures is so small and we each have a unique place in it. It is possible that we can allow our lives to become mundane and because life seems so boring we can feel unimportant to the world as if we were a mere speck of sand on the beach, but it is not so. God loves us all and to him we are each a unique puzzle piece. We may seem innocuous but with out our participation holding our place the picture is incomplete. God calls us all. Some of us are to marry and perhaps have children or adopt. Some of us are called to remain single or even work directly for God in the role of clergy, but make no mistake God has a plan for each and every one of us. He doesn't need us all to be great leaders or persons of stature. Through the talents God has given us we each have a place to perfectly fit in. To find our place though we must start with his son, Jesus. Accepting him as our savior and being baptized in the Holy Spirit we can build a wonderful and loving relationship with God and find our calling, and a great relationship with God depends on prayer, study and obedience. For like our parents if we do not listen to God we will surely fall to the temptations of the world and immerse in a life of sin that keeps us out of heaven, but have no doubt God wants you, God loves you and has a place prepared for you in heaven. Question is are you ready to accept his call?

Isaiah 49:1-6

1Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 4But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God." 5And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength -- 6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Psalms 139:1-3, 13-15

1O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me! 2Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar. 3Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 13For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. 14I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; 15my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

Acts 13:22-26

22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' 26"Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

Luke 1:57-66, 80

57Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father, 60but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 61And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. 64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Love vs. Anger

It is so easy to become angry. It almost seems as if the world sets it up so that it desires it. I used to run with the world. It is hypnotic and unrelenting. In our age of technology and advertisements I don't know that you could go anywhere without being encouraged to satisfy your desires. My desire now is peace and I find that through my faith in God. He teaches me to love everyone I meet and to sacrifice my own desires to get along with my fellow man for what is here on earth is temporary but life in heaven is eternity. From situations at a four way stop to friends that are in a bind and need help I try to always rise to the occasion and love. For when I start down the path of giving into sin it is hard to look back. It is easy to take the easy way out but it makes the road to peace hard, and so to heaven. It's important to always be on guard with yourself. Like a man that is well fit who begins to neglect healthy eating it becomes easy to be gluttonous and become out of shape and so he will not be able to run quickly to safety when danger arises. So that is why I listen and do my best to follow the Gods way for there I find my peace and happiness even in times of strife in this life and hopefully beyond. 

Genesis 13:2, 5-18

2Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 5And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. At that time the Canaanites and the Per'izzites dwelt in the land. 8Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are kinsmen. 9Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left." 10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zo'ar; this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomor'rah. 11So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley, and Lot journeyed east; thus they separated from each other. 12Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. 14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants for ever. 16I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted. 17Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." 18So Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Psalms 15:2-5

2He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; 3who does not slander with his tongue, and does no evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5who does not put out his money at interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Matthew 7:6, 12-14

6"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. 12So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. 13"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

What are You Shooting For?

I have come to revel in the fact that I am no great man, and honestly, I don't know that I would want to be. So many I have seen fall from greatness. I have taken to heart their fall and it seems the root of so much is pride. I suppose I could boast about this or that but my true currency is peace and love. After a life of trying to scratch out notoriety, money and position for myself I am happy to just have peace and love. To be happy and carefree means more to me than anything in the world and my source of desire is God. He loves and cares for me. He has given me so much that I have not earned or deserve. When life becomes confusing and stressful I hand it all to him. I pray to God for wisdom. I pray to Jesus for the knowledge to get through everything lovingly. I pray to the Holy Spirit to strengthen me to over come all. God is always there for me unless I block him out of my life. I thank God daily for all he has given, I share my sorrows, concerns and rejoice with him for the wonderful and funny things that happen. I try now and focus all on God and pivot with everything toward him. Is my life flawless with out pain or persecution? No, but with God in my life I find I can handle anything. He is waiting for you too. He is just a prayer away waiting to build a relationship of a lifetime.

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30

18since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.) 21To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever any one dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Psalms 34:2-7

1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Matthew 6:19-23

19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

What is That Prayer Thing About?

Everyday I find myself in a competition with myself. This can be good by pushing myself in everything that I do I can strive to become better, however if I am competing against myself then  I run the risk of becoming weak and then falling. With God it is no different. I am a weak man and I find that prayer and meditation helps strengthen me. Dedicating time to prayer can be difficult if you are not used to it. It can seem like trying to learn to drive a car with a stick shift. You have to plan ahead think about what you are going to say and do and how, however with practice prayer can come easily to the point that you just naturally start conversing without any fore thought. The wonderful thing is that she. You reach that point your relationship with God really starts to blossom. God no longer becomes a stranger. What do you say? Start with something so simple as the Lord's Prayer that Jesus taught us, so much is said in such a few words. Take the time to say them slowly and thin about the meaning in each word spoken. Prayer doesn't have to be complicated just because you are talking to God. Just be honest and true, and be sure to not just ask for things. Yes God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit love and want to help you but also be sure to shower thanks. Share your triumphs and your sorrows. Ask questions about the meaning of life, surprisingly if you listen the answers will be availed. Most importantly though share your growing relationship with God with others. God wants us all to share in his bounty, and like you listen to your friends where a good place to dine is God would love your help sharing his good news with everyone you meet.

2 Corinthians 11:1-11
1I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. 3But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. 5I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. 6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. 7Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel without cost to you? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedo'nia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Acha'ia. 11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Psalms 111:1-4, 7-8
1Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.2Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them. 3Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever. 4He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. 7The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy, 8they are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

Matthew 6:7-15
7"And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread; 12And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. 14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.F