remembering

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

- Lamentations 3:20-23

This is a repeat from last year. 

For some, this day repeats in their memory forever. 

For some people, especially the younger generation, this is just a regular Tuesday.

For many it is a day to remember a tragedy that happened to our great nation 17 years ago.

For me, it has a personal note from 1992, when my 17 year old brother was hit by a truck and killed.

Recovering from any tragic event is a challenge, but to turn your face to God in the aftermath of tragedy is to defy the power of evil, and to place your hope in the one Person who can bring good out of even the most horrifying disaster.

I know my little brother is with our Savior.

My hope for the future lies in Christ Jesus.

If you were affected by the 9/11 attacks, may your sorrow and mourning point you to the glorious hope of Jesus Christ, and the restoration He promises.

Have a blessed day!

I swear!

Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

– Matthew 5:33-37

How many times have you sworn that you would or would not do something?

I think it was the thing to do when I was a kid.

One of the songs played at my wedding was “I swear” by John Michael Montgomery.

I remember hearing the words “I swear to God” so many times and even though I did not have a relationship with God back then, I remember thinking that was not a good thing to say.

According to the Bible, it is NOT a good thing to say.

Words are words, we should be able to take a man at his word.

We should not make them swear an oath of any kind.

A simple yes or no to our inquiry is all we should need.

Have a blessed day.

reject evil

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Reject evil.

That is really hard to do sometimes, when we have society flaunting evil in our face every day, on every platform.

Sometimes I feel like I have a little devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other (you are welcome for that image).

Who do I listen to the most?

We have so many people out there in the world predicting what is going to happen next, but there is only One that knows the future.

Make the right choices so that your future is with Him.

Have a blessed day.

never fail

For no word from God will ever fail.

– Luke 1:37

I challenge you to find someplace in the Bible where God’s word failed.

I don’t think you can.

God doesn’t fail.  

Have a blessed day.

this is me

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.

– Psalm 73:28

In some situations, I talk a lot.

Give me an opening and I will share everything I know about the Lord.

Ask me a question and if I don’t know the answer, I will find it!

This is me.

I love my Lord and I am not afraid to share it.

Go ahead, ask me, I will tell of everything He has done for me!

Have a blessed day.

I don’t belong

Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

– 1 Peter 2:11-12 (MSG)

Ok, yeah, it is another song reference, this time though, I am not giving you the whole song.

Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside

Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing, but am I alive?

I will keep searching for answers that aren't here to find

All I know is I'm not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong.

We don’t belong here.

Our home is with God.

I used the Message version of this verse because I thought it made things a little clearer.

Don’t get comfortable here – you are not staying.

Don’t compromise your soul – you’ll want it intact.

Be a living example for others – you may be the only sign of Jesus they see today.

Your actions can make a difference between someone choosing to follow Christ, or turn away.

Have a blessed day.

lost sheep

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

– Ezekiel 34:11,16

Song reference!

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me

You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me

You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me

You have been so, so good to me

When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me

You have been so, so kind to me

And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me.

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

I am one of the ninety-nine.

He has left the ninety-nine to come find me.

He will leave them for you too, because you are important to Him.

He will strengthen you, He will heal you, He will protect you.

And in return, you praise Him, glorify Him and share His word.

I am happy to be a sheep.

Have a blessed day.