Author: Scott

Bruno Sammartino was the most famous WWF wrestler in the world at one time. He was from Italy. Lived in a small town called Pizzoferrato. Before coming to America, his family had to endure the invasion by the Nazis during World War II. His father was already in the United States working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had immigrated there before the war not knowing it was coming. So it was basically Bruno‘s mother and four children when the invasion happened. Truly an amazing tale of survival. You should look it up and watch it.

His mother took the four children and escaped to the mountains above the town. Living without shelter or food. Every now and then, she would sneak back into the town to find food. And then return to the top with the provisions for the family to live on until they ran out. Then she would make the trek again. Over, and over, and over. One time, she was actually captured but was able to escape. Another time, as she was leaving the town she was shot. But was still able to make it back to the top of the mountain with the children. And then there was a moment where they had been located by two Nazis. They were lined up in front of the two soldiers who had a machine gun ready to fire upon them. And literally in the last few seconds before it happened, two of the townsmen were able save Bruno‘s family. All in all, Bruno‘s family lived for 14 months at the top of the mountain.

One thing that stuck out to me about the story was his mother comforting the children in what they believed were the last few moments of their lives. She told them to not be scared. To not be worried. Because it’s only going to last a few moments and they are going to be in paradise with Jesus. No suffering. No pain. Could you imagine? Staring down the barrel of a machine gun pointed out to you and your children. Knowing what’s getting ready to happen. That is the power of our God. That is the power of our Lord and Savior. He can give you a piece and a calm like no other. He provides a hope like no other. And his mother knew that. She had done all that she could do for 14 months. To keep the family alive. And now she knew she had to turn it over to Jesus. She knew that he had them covered. We should all know this. Jesus has us all covered. We just need to put our faith in him.

July 5 is a very important date to me. It’s not simply the day after July 4. And it’s not simply the day before Barbara and I celebrate our marriage anniversary. Today symbolizes the beginning of figuring out what was happening in my body. Figuring out what it was that we were going to face. What I was dealing with. Six years ago I had a CAT scan done to get some results to take to my first meeting with a neurologist on July 12. I never met that neurologist. The CAT scan showed other things.

On July 6 of every year, Barbara and I celebrate our marriage in 2002. She’s been putting up with me for 21 years now. God bless her. In 2017, we put our trip on hold because of the CAT scan. We decided to just do some day trips throughout that week. Thank goodness we stayed home. I might not have made it back from vacation according to what we found out. Without going in the great detail, the CAT scan revealed a mass infection that was killing me. Chances are it would’ve taken over my body on vacation. After being admitted to the hospital that day, we spent five days trying to figure out a plan of attack. But we had to fight the infection off first. And that was at eight week ordeal alone. Which  included IV anabiotic‘s twice a day at home. With the infection being gone, on September 5 we had surgery where my right kidney and my gallbladder were both removed. But the main concern was the aorta and vena cava. Both of them were calcifying. It took robotics under the control of a brilliant surgeon to remove The calcification. Penetrating to deep would have led to me bleeding out within seconds. I learned about this after I woke up in recovery. Talk about shocking.

Although the whole time it was very serious, I never felt anxious. God gave me a calm and a peace throughout the whole timeframe. But I cannot imagine what Barbara must’ve been going through. I would never want to face but she was facing. Her attitude was incredible. She really is amazing. God had us in his hands. And we expected nothing less than to be blessed. Whether that meant me being here with her, or being there with him, we were blessed. We knew we were facing difficulties. We knew we were facing a tough situation and hard circumstances. But negativity never entered our minds. We tried to stay focused on what his plan was for us. We didn’t know where we’re going, but we tried to see him in everything. And that’s the point of this devotion. Let’s keep our attitudes positive. No matter what it is we are facing. Let’s let God use us through the hardships to show others who he is. To show others his glory. Let’s be his tool. Because his plan is much bigger than we could ever imagine. And if you let him take control, his plan will be revealed.

July 4. Independence Day. Such a blessing living in a country that celebrates because of what our forefathers did for us over 200 years ago. Just think about that for a moment. They knew signing that declaration was going to lead to war with the most powerful country in the world at that time. They knew King George was going to send all he had to put down the rebellion. Yet they still signed it. For that we need to be thankful.

One of the reasons the Declaration of Independence even became a document was for religious freedom. For those of you that don’t know, the Church of England was law at one point. And the leader of that church was the king. So not only was the declaration declaring that we were going to be a separate country, we were pulling away from religious law. And that is something that we can now cling to. Religious freedom. I’m not sure the forefathers saw just how far religious freedom has went. But, we have that right. And it is a constitutional right. One that we should not take lightly. Now let’s talk a little bit about our responsibilities. 

A few years ago, our preacher made a comment in his message that has always stuck with me. Basically, he told us that as Christians, we have become comfortable over the last 30, 40, 50 years. Almost taking our belief for granted. Not really standing up to anything because it didn’t affect us personally. And oh how right he was. How right he is now. We have become comfortable. And that can lead to laziness. And in certain situations, laziness can lead to our fall. Because laziness is dangerous. So today, I challenge you to not only celebrate July 4. I challenge you to seek for ways to show others your belief. Show others who Jesus Christ is. Today I challenge you to honor what was signed for us 200+ years ago. Remember those who have served. Who have died. And who are still serving to  protect that document. Let’s be strong as Christians. Let others see the Love and Hope that only comes from Jesus Christ. Let others see the peace that he gives you. I can think of no greater way to honor our Lord and Savior then by being bold. 

Here’s a question for you to think about. I hope it challenges you to really analyze your heart. I know it challenges me. So here’s the question: “Do you really trust God?” I mean “really” trust God. There are so many ways to look at this. And it’s hard for us to fully put our trust in something that is unseen. But that’s where our faith comes into play. Think about it for a moment. We are called to fully trust God. 100%. And that means we need to relinquish some control over what we are doing. When we are doing things. And why we are doing things. I know it’s hard. But that’s where the trust comes into play.

Let’s go to the Bible for a moment here. Let’s recall Noah. I know you know the story. God told Noah that it was going to rain and cover the earth with water. And he told Noah to be prepared. Noah trusted God. He fully believed that God was going to do what he said he was going to do. Noah expected it to happen. And that is because of his faith. He knew that God was going to keep his promise about what was to come. Wow! Let that sink in. He fully expected it to rain and for the earth to be covered. Would you have?

When we have faith in our Lord and Savior, we expect God to act. It may not be the way we want to be, but we expect him to act. Now for the fun part. If we are expecting God to act, we must prepare for it. We must prepare for the promise to take place. So today, look at yourself and your expectations of God. Actually, let’s all do that. Let’s expect our Lord and Savior to do what he says he’s going to do. But we better be ready. We better be prepared. Let’s trust him like no other. Let’s be prepared to receive the word and to know that the promise is going to happen.

If any of you follow me on social media, you see that I make regular jokes about my bride and myself. It’s all in fun. She knows it. I know it. We know it. And I think most of you know. Although it doesn’t happen very often, sometimes someone out there takes offense. And then just attacks me. Like I’m some type of male chauvinist pig. Recently, I had a woman call me Tarzan. And that she tamed me. Even when I tried to explain it, she couldn’t get over it. Then there are times that I watch others argue back-and-forth over different things. Sometimes it turns pretty ugly. We live in a day and age where people get very comfortable behind a keyboard. And say things that they wouldn’t say face-to-face. When looking at a screen, attitudes can turn pretty sour pretty quickly. 

You’re probably wondering what does arguing on social media have to do with my devotion. In this life, I believe there is one thing that we can 100% control 100% of the time. I could be wrong. But that’s what I believe. We can control our attitudes. No matter the situation. We can choose. For example, I can choose to retaliate with a bad attitude to those who don’t see humor my jokes. And I admit, there’s times in the past that I have done that. But I like to think that’s my distant past. And I know this as well, we always have an attitude. Sometimes we have a positive attitude. Sometimes we have a negative attitude. The choice is ours. One thing we always tell our kiddos, feeling bad doesn’t give you the greenlight to have a bad attitude. You can still be nice.

This is all important stuff because our attitudes can really dictate our days. I think bad attitudes are selfish attitudes because you are focused on only you. And I think it’s just opposite can be said about a good attitudes. Think about it. I bet often times when you have a good attitude you are concerned more about others more than your self. Attitudes definitely can shift our focus. And they play an important role in how we view our lives. And that can lead us in different directions. I think that our ability to have an attitude is a great gift that God has given us. Here’s something that I read earlier: “Speaking life over death will change your perspective, which changes your attitude.” If we do that, the optimism that we will live life with can be amazing. Now…I know sometimes it can be really difficult in tough situations. Sometimes it can be difficult if we are miserably sick. If this is something that you struggle with, you might consider turning towards God. Ask him to help you control your attitude. Pray for the ability to control it. If you do these things, then you become more aware of your attitude. And being more aware of it, can help you have more control over it. We get one shot at life on earth. One! Try to choose to have a attitude of optimism. That will help bring more joy into your life. And then you can better serve others.

Our youngest granddaughter, Millie, turned five years old on Thursday. She’s going to be a kindergartener. Hard to believe. So last night, we were able to celebrate her with a dinner which included her chocolate chip cookie cake. It was awesome being able to have family over for a few hours. A night of faith, family, and food. During our conversation with our son and daughter-in-law, we talked about her taking a new job this fall. She’s going to be an instructor at Crowder College for the nursing program. Such a blessing.

This new position is going to utilize her knowledge and talents like never before. And it’s also going to free up much of her time. Which will allow for her to focus on her family and continuing education. So awesome. It’s also going to afford her some time to sit back. Listen to God. Be still. And couldn’t be a better time for this to happen. Trey and Jessica moved to Neosho in January. Bought a new house. Trey took the head pastor job at their new church. And all three kids enrolled into new schools. That’s a lot for a family to take on in a short period of time. Yet here they are. 

God’s timing is always perfect. Sometimes you don’t know why things happen, until they happen. And even then, sometimes we don’t know why. But God is definitely preparing our kids for what is happening in their lives. He knew this was coming. And he cleared the path. Now Jess can be still. Which is something that we should all do some point. We should be still and listen for God. Let him work on our hearts. Let him give us wisdom. Let him give us a discernment. Let him build humility in us. All part of his plan for us if we let him take hold. So today, let’s work on listening to God. Let’s work on focusing attention on him. What he wants for us may not be obvious at times. But his plan will be revealed at one point. And oh boy, it will be glorious and good.

Today is the last day of the sixth month of the year. Basically, we are halfway through the year. How did that happen? We’ve all heard how time flies as you get older. Hard to argue with that. Every year seems to come quicker and go by faster. One day or youngest child is just an infant. The next, you look around and she’s turning 20. We’ve also heard how time flies when you’re having fun. I think that partially means that the things that we enjoy doing never seem to last long enough. I could be wrong. But that’s how I view it.

Looking back at where the last six months have taken us, we’ve talked about several things. Dealing with obstacles. Overcoming challenges. Celebrating victories. Enjoying successes. And more. But the reoccurring theme that always pops up with what we’re reading and writing about is God‘s grace. How God‘s grace is involved in everything. Because it’s through his grace that we are able to rejoice no matter what it is that we’re facing. Because it’s through his grace that we have the strength to overcome whatever comes our way. And also, because it’s through his grace that we feel the love and hope the only comes from Jesus. When we look at our lives like this, it’s easy to see that his grace is truly involved in everything. And everything means quite literally everything.

How do we know this? We know this because we read this. It’s in God‘s word. The Bible tells us that God‘s grace is sufficient. And I know sometimes it’s very hard to believe this. Especially, whenever things seem insurmountable. But even in times like that, times that seem insurmountable, we still turn towards God for his grace. I believe that is because often we do not know what else to do. Where else to turn. Sometimes even those that do not believe will ask for prayer. Seeking God‘s grace. That’s how powerful it is. I often pray for God to put a hedge of protection around my family. To cover us with his cloak. That’s my way of asking for his grace. Have you ever asked for his protection? So today would be a great day to ask for God to cover you. To ask him into all aspects of your life. Let his grace go to work on you. And then others will see his hope and his love through you. Just think about where that could go. So glorious.

If you have ever received some not so great news, raise your hand. If I were to take inventory at this point with all of you reading this, I would expect to see every one of you with your hand up. I can’t imagine going through this life and not ever hearing something that wasn’t necessarily good. I guess there’s a slim chance someone out there has always received good news. And if there is, I’m happy for you. But chances are, at some point or another in our life time, we are going to receive news that really isn’t what we want to hear at all. And sometimes it comes at the most inopportune time.

Some of us find out about illnesses that are not curable. Some of us find out about accidents that are horrific. Some of us may be called into the office to find out that we have been let go from our jobs. Some of us may learn about the death of a loved one. I think you get my point. Not so good news can sometimes become a regular occurrence. I know our family has had our share of it. And I also know this about our family, through it all we have been able to get through it because of the grace of God. God has provided us hope and comfort through difficult times. God has provided us peace. He has even provided us wisdom on how to get through tough times. And I’m certain that he will continue to do so.

Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for us all. He did so because his love for us is that deep. He has paved the path for us to join him. And that is what gets us through the difficulties that we’re going to face. Knowing that he is there for us. He is waiting for us. When I say us, I’m talking about you as well. I’m talking about everyone. Unfortunately, some of us are going to give it a shot on our own. We’re going to go through this lifetime trying to figure it all out without God in our lives. I couldn’t imagine trying that. Knowing where that takes us in the end. I couldn’t imagine it. But some of us do. So today, if you don’t know Jesus, make today the day that you come to know him. Make today the day that you welcome Him into your heart. Receive the peace and hope that ONLY comes from him. And if you know Jesus, maybe today is the day that you reignite your fire to serve him. Either way, if we have Jesus in our lives, he will get us through those times that are not so good. Know that. Believe that. Trust that. Because it’s true.

This morning I woke up to several text messages. Some were sent last night after I was in bed. Others came early this morning. The majority of them were from veterans that I have been blessed to work with the last few years. I’m always humbled by what they send me. The ones that I received recently varied from thanking us for supporting them, to showing me photos of items for the banquet, and to a link of a video about a former Navy SEAL finding faith. Pretty awesome stuff. I’m so thankful that they feel close enough to me to share these with me.

In the video of the Navy SEAL, he talks about searching for answers to his questions in various places. Astrology. History of the world. Science. And more. He was in a bad place trying to figure out how to best handle his thoughts. Let’s just say, he wasn’t finding what he was looking for. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I’m sure it does. I can relate to this. The good news is that he kept looking. And ultimately he found Jesus. And with Jesus, he found the answer to every question that he has ever had. And I say that he has found the answer to every question that he is ever going to have as well. That’s pretty powerful. Especially in the world we live in today. The mess that we live in. Does anything make any sense anymore? Sometimes it’s hard to say yes to that question.

The Bible tells us how to handle what it is we’re facing. It tells us how to handle the mess that we are in. It tells us to trust the Lord with all of our heart. And that might be the best advice we would ever get. Because it’s hard to know who to trust now. Different media stations offering different opinions. Different politicians offering different solutions. Different this. Different that. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? That is so hard to determine. Today let’s cry to God for wisdom. Let’s cry to God for strength. Let’s cry to God for the Holy Spirit to move in us. We may not be able to change the climate of the world. But we can change the climate around us if we do this. Let’s lean on God. Let him take control of our hearts. Just as the Navy SEAL did. And let’s watch the peace and the hope that we receive change our lives. Because Jesus is the answer.

Couple days ago I posted a picture online of Barbara and me with Coach Armstrong’s daughters. They are all married now. They are women doing very well. Seeing them always reminds me of Coach. And when I think of him, I think of all the times that we sat and just talked. There are moments at the gym before and after people would arrive that we would just have conversations about life. No topic other than life. There were times that we talked about certain world events. Certain people in our lives. Critical conversations. Conversations that he was teaching me morals and values in. And I know I’ve said this before. Coach was so much more than a basketball coach. I miss those conversations. I miss those phone calls. I miss him.

Nobody will ever replace Coach Armstrong. That void will always be a void. No doubt about it. But I have been blessed the other men have stepped in to different roles in my life. Some men I have known for several years. Others for only a couple of years. Veterans and civilians alike. And I know that God was preparing me and them for my life without Coach Armstrong. Each of them bringing different aspects to the table. Mentors. Advisors. Accountability partners. Brothers in Christ. And I am very thankful for each of them. That is so very important. Having this type of relationship with others, is so very important to all of us. People who can actually help you keep your life on track. Even help you change your life. The Bible tells us how important this is. The Bible warns us just what bad company can do to us.

So today, ask yourself who your mentors are. Ask yourself who your influencers are. Ask yourself who holds you accountable because they love you. Ask yourself who celebrates your victories. Your successes. Take a look who you have surrounded yourself with. Your inner circle. I’m not telling you to abandon anybody that you love. I’m just telling you that we need people of Christian character in our lives for very important reasons. We must remember just how important Christian associations are. Relationships with people who believe in Jesus. Who strive to serve Jesus. Because they can influence you in so many different ways. Work. Hobbies. Homes. And more. And I think a good piece of advice is…Pray over this! Pray over your circle. Pray over who influences you. Pray over who you should let influence you. God will show you. If your relationships are built on material items or social ideals, they will end as soon as those items and ideals go away. That I promise you. Place God first in your heart. Place God first in your relationships. And watch how God changes your life and those around you. He will do so because he loves you.