Month: October 2023

Something that’s so very awesome for us to think about is the fact that our Lord and Savior left paradise to come and be with us on earth. Read that again. Jesus came to earth to be with us. To live life as a human. To experience life as a human. And while Jesus was on earth, he was 100% God and 100% man at the same time. Being 100% man, he understood that we needed to eat and drink to survive. His body required that just like ours does. That was part of his time on earth.

But more importantly, he understood, and still does understand, that our souls needed to be fed in order for us to survive. They still do. We need to live daily as if we are still learning and being fed. That will help us serve him. That will help us reach others that don’t know him. We need to feed our spirits in order for us to show others the way. 

And what’s really awesome about this whole thing is eternity. We have no concept on what that means. Everything in our lives has a beginning and an end. Think about each day, there’s a beginning and an end. Think about each week, each month, each year, there’s a beginning and an end. Books have opening pages and ending pages. Movies, songs, everything we encounter, have beginnings and ends. Our life on earth has a beginning and an end. Our lives are full of beginning and ends. But eternity has no end. That is our reward for having Jesus as our Lord and Savior. And since that is waiting for us, I believe that we should feed we feed our spirits and our souls, and serve others just as Jesus served us. So let’s never forget this: Eternity is offered and rewarded because Jesus loves us. Always has. Always will.

Ever catch yourself just need to stop for a moment and take a breath? Just to stop and rest for a second? For a minute? We live in a busy world. We have busy lives. Our days are so busy, sometimes we judge how successful they were by how busy we are. With all this busyness, it’s easy to get distracted from life with God. It’s easy for us to lose sight of what he has planned for us. Each day we should get up and be thankful for the blessings that he has for us. And keep our focus on him. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that serving him should be the focus. Not trying to be successful by being busy.

God knows what’s best for us. Think about your personal life, and how many times God has blessed you. How many times has he seen you through difficult moments. If we let the Holy Spirit take control, we will change from the inside out. Everything around us will change. How we view what is success. How we handle difficult times. And how we handle joyful times. Our relationships will change. Basically, our lives will change.

A partnership with God is always available for us. Isn’t it awesome that all you have to do is ask and you will receive. He is waiting. The Holy Spirit is ready to guide you. Try to strive each day to serve God and not serve your flesh. Be open with God. Ask him to guide all that you do. He is willing and ready. He listens. Nothing wrong with being busy. But let’s try to be busy by letting God guide us in what we do. His wisdom will help you with your choices. I promise you, if you let him in and truly serve him, your life will change. I can promise you that, because he promises you that. And he promises you that because he loves you. Always has. Always will.

A few years ago, Barbara and I took Anna to Chicago for a short vacation. While we were there, we went to the Navy Pier. There is a Ferris wheel there. One that is accessible for wheelchairs. So we decided to go on it. Barbara posted a video of it. Some of you may have seen the video. Because of the way I reacted. I had my back to the glass door. And it was unnerving thinking that glass was keeping me in. Very unsettling. Quite humorous now when I think back to it. Also, while we were there, we went to the top of the Sears Tower. They have a spot where you can walk out on glass over the city. The glass is actually on the outside of the building. Once again, it was unnerving, thinking that glass was holding me up. 

I’m not afraid of heights. Never have been. But I was afraid of not being able to catch myself if I fell. That is a very uncomfortable feeling. Not feeling safe. Not feeling in control. For some of us, those feelings can cause anxiety. So ask yourself, what is it that causes you fear? Not being able to catch yourself? What is it that causes you anxiety? Bills that are coming? Family dynamics? Work? Now go one step further. Do you let Satan use these against you? Remember, that’s how he works. Sneaking around the darkness. Slithering around. Because he’s a snake. 

Now as you think about these things, remember this…Jesus has you! The Bible tells us this very thing. He will not forsake us. He has not given us a spirit of fear. Or a spirit of timidity. He has given us power. He has given us love. And so much more. And even more awesome is the fact that he knows our fears. He knows our anxieties. He knows what causes these things. And he’s ready to battle Satan back for us. All we have to do is ask him to. Acknowledge what we are going through, and ask him to help us. It’s that simple. I know it’s easier to read this than to do. It’s easier to say this than to do. But it really is that simple. Because Jesus is waiting in the wings for us to turn to him no matter what we are facing. And that my friends is totally awesome!

Whether I’m talking to Barbara on the phone or in person, before going different ways, the last thing I say to her each time is, “I love you.“ It’s a habit. It’s a good habit. For one, it’s the right thing to do. And I mean it. But more importantly, if it’s the last time we talk, I want it to be the last thing she hears from me. Because it’s true. I love her with all I have. Every ounce of me. And I fully believe that she feels the same about me. What a blessing it is. Truly! 

What about God? What about our love for him? His love for us? There’s no doubt that he loves us. I would say that the only proof we need is Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. Not that we need proof. But there it is just in case you do. Sometimes, for some reason, we need to convince ourselves. Not sure why. But we do. We need to convince ourselves that God’s love for us is never ending. As human, that could be hard to believe. But it’s true. God’s love for us covers everything. More than we can comprehend. More than we could ever know. And that might be why it’s hard to believe.

So today, let’s work on truly believing this. Let’s work on feeling it to our core. The Bible tells us that if we live under God‘s love, there is no reason to fear. Maybe today you need to have a serious conversation with God. An open conversation. Make today the day that you really open your heart to God. Try to feel his love. Take it all in. Maybe you need to go to your knees and truly open yourself to him. Letting him take control. Asking for him to open your heart to him. And I promise you this…If you truly do this, he will respond. His answer may not come in the form you’re looking for. But he will respond. Because he loves us. He always has. And he always will.

We’ve been talking recently about dealing with different emotions or other issues. Let’s continue that trend today. This is important stuff. Have you ever experienced pain? What about experiencing suffering? Or betrayal? Or any emotions that come with anxiety? Well of course you have. We all have. And chances are that we all will again experience some of them again. They come with being human. They are part of living in this world. 

In Psalm 118:6, the Bible says, “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Truth is, we have experienced fear and pain. All of us. We have experienced betrayal. We have experienced suffering. We have experienced death. Once again, all parts of living in this world.

But with the Lord in our hearts, we can get through these things. And even better is the fact that the glory that we receive when we leave this earth is so tremendous, that anything we experience while on earth, is nothing! It pales in comparison. We have no idea what we’re in for. It’s going to be beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations. That’s what I think the verse is talking about. The glory awaits us because God loves us. Always has. Always will.

How often do you tell others the truth about how you feel or how you are doing? I mean the total truth. I’m not saying you’re lying sometimes. What I am saying is, there are times we don’t tell people exactly how we feel. When someone asks us how we are doing, often our response is, “Fine.” Or, “Good.” Or, “Well.” Even when we might not be any of those, that’s how we respond. Maybe it’s because embarrassment, insecurity, or some other feeling that we have, that keeps us from letting others in on what we are truly thinking or feeling. 

But when it comes to God our father, he wants us to call on him in truth. He wants our prayers to be honest. Even if they are painful prayers. He wants honesty. Not because he wants to hear us suffering, but because he loves us so much he wants to help us through whatever we’re facing. Or just the opposite, he wants to celebrate with us if we come to him with a truthful prayer or praise of something that’s bringing us joy. And if we are really honest with ourselves, we know that God already knows what we are thinking anyways. We might as well pray the truth.

Remember that Jesus came to earth in flesh. He experienced everything and anything that we might go through. Pain and suffering included. He understands. He knows how we feel. He knows how we are going to feel. He knows which emotions we’re getting ready to face. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He is willing and ready to hear what we have to pray. Whether asking for help, or telling him the good news. He’s ready. He is ready to help us grow and work to become more like him. He is ready for us to repent and change. He is ready for us to be vulnerable. Honest. Truthful. He is ready to hear about our fears and about our triumphs. Let’s go to our knees, and be honest with our Lord and Savior. Because he is ready and he loves us deeply. Always has. Always will.

October is the month for Halloween. The scary month. The month of fear. There are even TV stations that air horror movies throughout the entire month. Thinking about this, reminds me about the feeling of fear. It reminds me of anxiety. We all experience these at one point or another. Sometimes to the point that we have panic attacks. I don’t know that feeling. But there are people that I love that do know that feeling. And it’s very fearful for them. 

Even as believers, we can feel both fear and anxiety. Do you know what causes it in your life? Do you know the source? How often do you experience these? These are all important questions. But I think the more important question is this…”Do you turn them over to Jesus?“ Whatever they are. Whatever the causes are. Whatever the sources are. No matter how often you experience them. If we can turn these concerns over to Jesus, then we can battle them. We can have victory over them. No longer slaves to them.

So today, let’s remember this very important point about anxiety and fear. This very important point about how we can face them. The point is this, the sacrifice that Christ made for us has set us free. His sacrifice gives us what we need to defeat fear and anxiety. His sacrifice gives us what we need to defeat all of our emotional enemies. I know that sounds easier than it really may be. But it is the truth. Through his love we are set free. You might be wondering why it is we experience these things if we are free. And that is a great question. Let me try to answer this. I think that God allows us to go through hard times like anxiety and fear, so that we will turn to him for strength. Especially after we fail at battling them on our own, we will turn to him. And doing so demonstrates his glory. Shows everyone the way to face tough times. Shows everyone that he will help us through them because he loves us. He always has. And he always will.

Yesterday, we wrapped up our latest event. Operation Roaring River. Veterans and volunteers all returned home after spending four days in the state park. After talking with several of the guests, no doubt it was life-changing. That’s because the Holy Spirit was present. And when he is present, there’s a peace that you cannot explain. There is a comfort that you cannot explain. That’s because the Holy Spirit is beyond our understanding. When I think about the location, Roaring River State Park, I can’t help but think about the peace and tranquility that a person can find in this amazing part of the creation. Being in the valley next to the river truly is amazing.

When it comes to peace, isn’t that what we are all seeking. Aren’t we all trying to find that place in our lives where there is peace and calm. A place where we can put aside the disruptions that come with our daily lives. Or maybe some are looking for just a moment of peace. Where nothing else interrupts that feeling at that moment. And that’s what finding peace can do for us.

No matter where we are, there is only one true place to find peace. There’s only one place where we will find the calm that we are searching for. There’s only one place that we will recognize, at that moment, nothing else really matters. That “place” is in God’s grace. The love that we find from Jesus is the only place that we’re going to find true peace. No matter where we are. The river. The state park. The hunting blind. The golf course. Work, home, family events, wherever or whatever it is, the only place we will find true peace is with Jesus. And that’s because he loves you. Always has. Always will.

I grew up playing sports. Football, baseball, basketball, track, etc. I even played soccer when we lived in Germany. After I graduated college, I coached basketball through the school system and privately for 20+ years. So pretty much my entire life, I have been part of different sports teams. But it wasn’t until my young adulthood that I truly learned about the only team that really matters. God‘s team. Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot about life playing sports. I thought life lessons through sports. And I still love watching sports. So I am not disparaging those at all. But when we get down to it, God‘s team is really what’s important.

When we think of it that way, we realize there are two teams competing against each other. God’s. And Satan’s. They’re not just competing. They are in a full-fledged war. And I have played on both of them. Not proud of it. But I was on Satan’s team for quite a while. I’m not really sure I knew that I was, until I became part of God‘s team. That’s pretty crazy. But it’s the truth. 

And there’s another truth that I am 100% certain about. The truth that we find in the Bible. The truth that we feel through the Holy Spirit. The truth that comes from God‘s grace. The truth that I’m talking about is that Jesus loves you. He loves me. He even loves our enemies. His love is never ending. It’s all encompassing. He loved us before we were created. He loves us now. And he will always love us. It is through his love that we will receive eternity of peace in heaven. And that’s not crazy. That’s just the truth. He loves you. Always has. Always will.

Recently, a close friend of mine and I were talking about the climate of our country right now. It’s not good. There’s so much fighting back-and-forth between political parties. Backbiting happening inside friendships. Betrayal in relationships. Lying, stealing, even killings. The list goes on, and on, and on.

But through all of this, there’s one constant. Always has been. Always will be. Jesus! He is the constant in our lives. No matter the turmoil or the storms were facing. No matter the trials that lie ahead of us. No matter where we are going, Jesus is the constant. Isn’t that awesome!

Everything that we have been through and are going through, he understands. He understands it more than we do. And he will see us through all of these things. All we have to do is ask him to. That’s it. His love for you and me is so tremendous, that all we have to do is ask. Don’t ever forget, God loves you. Always has. Always will.