Inspirations

                    We all know the story; Jesus has just fed more than five thousand people.   He sends the disciples ahead of him across the lake while he talked to his father.    While the disciples are in a boat in the middle of the lake, a wind violent comes up and the boat is taking a beating.   The disciples are fighting the wind and waves and suddenly, there is Jesus walking to them on the water.   Jesus speaks to the terrified disciples.    Impulsive Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water to Jesus.    While on the water, Peter suddenly has a reality check and remembers that people can’t walk on water.   Looking around at the wind and waves, he starts to sink.   Jesus reaches out and lifts him out of the water.   Then Jesus, says, “ You of little faith,” , “why did you doubt?”      ...

                                   As I was driving home today, I passed a person walking on the side of the    road.  Since it was cold, and snowy, I thought I should stop and offer the person a ride.  As I drove on by, I was irritated with myself for not stopping.  I could have and should have but I didn't. Why?  I was scared! Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I'm willing to bet there are things that make you afraid.  It may be snakes or spiders that send the ticker into  overdrive.  Or maybe it's your job and finances that keep you up at night when you should be resting.  Then again perhaps it's relationships that consume your thoughts and energy.  As followers of God, we know that we are told not to be afraid.  Yet we often are afraid despite everything we know.   As I was driving away from a misse...

“ Ask  and it will be given to you;  seek  and you will find;  knock  and the door will be opened to you.   Matthew 7:7      The second command after asking is to seek, what we hope to find.  It sounds funny, but we usually only search for what we hope to locate.   In my life, I have looked for many things.  I have looked for combs, socks, or shoes.  For most of these kinds of things, I half-heartedly look for them.  I look but not well because, honestly, they aren't that important.  Other things keys, a phone, or a debit card, I will diligently hunt for it until I am sure they either cannot be found or I have them in my possession again.   If I lose a sock I may look for a short time, but I will not spend hours trying to find it.   It's just not that important.  If, on the other hand, I can't locate my wallet, I assure you, I will leave no stone unturned in my search.  I w...

  In the same way, let your  light  shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16 When I was growing up, we lived some distance from town.    At that time, most people did not have outside lights,  so at night, the drive to town was almost total darkness.   Since the area where I grew up had lots of hills,  there was nothing more enjoyable than cresting a hill  and seeing little spots of light spread out in the inky blackness before us.   It was comforting to look out the car window and see all those lights.   Today, I still enjoy coming over the top of a hill at night  and seeing the lights of a city in the distance. God says that we are lights in a dark world.   We are to shine so that the world can see.   We are to bring comfort and joy as people pass through this life.

For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 Love is perhaps one of the most commonly misunderstood words in the English language. We think we know what love means, but, to be honest, we seldom understand it completely. Ask people to define love, and you're likely to get different answers from each one. To many, love is a warm fuzzy feeling that comes and goes. So we love as long as we feel like it, or as long there is something in it for us. People say I "fell" in love as though it was a hole to fall in; something that we have no control over. Truth is this definition makes lovely romantic stories and movies, but if we use that definition of love, we find a very changeable, unstable love. However, when God defined love, He left the divine, heaven, to become human. He was God with human limitations. He chose to live among people who...

I love Christmas!!!  Let me say it again, “I love Christmas.”  Sometimes, even now as an adult, it’s hard for me to wait until Christmas.   There is so much excitement in the air.  It’s almost impossible to wait to give those we love that one-of-a-kind gift. We can’t wait to see the joy in their eyes and on their face when they open the gift and see what you picked up for them.  In fact, for some waiting is so difficult that they give the gift early because the anticipation is so great that they do not have the self-discipline to wait.  It’s also challenging to wait for those gifts that you know others chose for you with love.  Little Children awaken at the crack of dawn in anticipation of those treasures that they know are waiting for them under the tree.  Way back in Genesis, God promised to send a savior who would bridge the gap between Him and man that sin had created.  God, however, d...

Babies are full of hope and there are few things more peaceful than a tiny innocent baby.   It all seems so natural to them.  They also bring so much joy to those around them.  In fact, the joy they bring often cancels out the stress and weariness that comes with a newborn.  The joy of this world is temporary.  When we think of the joy that Jesus brought at Christmas, it is eternal.   When God gave us joy, it came in the form of a baby in a manger.  Jesus did not give joy like this world gives. It does not depend on the circumstances of this world.     It is joy in the anticipation of what is to come when we believe God.   At Christmas time and throughout the year, our joy does not depend on whether we get what we want at any given moment, or whether we do all the things we want.  So this year if Christmas is different, people are missing, you can not afford all the gifts you would like, you can not do all the th...

  Peace  I leave with you; my  peace  I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.                 Christmas is a time of love and joy and peace and hope.   Yet often this is when these things are most elusive.  Peace is hard to find the bills are mounting and we are expected to buy presents. Peace hides when the holidays came and people are missing they've gone on to their final home leaving an empty spot. Peace is slippery when it is Christmas and relationships are strained and there is baggage. We can look at everyone's expectations  and our own and as we try to please people and create the perfect Christmas or capture the illusions of Christmas past and somewhere along the way, we lose our peace and buy into everything that the world says about Christmas. We forget that Jesus came to give us peace. Jesus is our peace, all y...

We wait in  hope  for the  Lord ;  Psalm 33:20 Christmas is always an exciting, joyous time.  I love Christmas! Yet at the same time, I know that, at times,  it can also be stressful and sometimes depressing.  Sometimes, in the craziness, we need to regain our hope. Hope is certainty mixed with anticipation.  The Jewish people at the time of Jesus' birth were anxiously awaiting the messiah.  They were hoping he would come, yet when the angels heralded his arrival, only the shepherds came to worship.  The rest?  They saw the star and maybe even saw the angels.  However, I suppose they were too busy to bother with a star shining brightly in the sky, the angels in all their glory, and a tiny baby in a manger.  They were busy with work and the cares of this life pressed in around them.  The could not concern themselves with an insignificant baby.  For them, that day was like any other.  They were looki...

  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for  and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1 Most people define hope as a desire, a wish.   I hope for a new car,  a better job,  peace,  a better relationship.   Sometimes, we can make it happen  if we try hard enough  or if we're "lucky" enough.    For us, my friends, hope is something completely different.   For us, hope is a certainty.   At Christmas time we celebrate the hope that was born.   We were lost and separated from God and without hope.    There was no way for us to get to God.   We could never be "good enough" for a holy God.   Yet, two thousand years ago hope was born.   It came in the form of the innocence of a baby.   It came with the certainty that we would have a relationship with the almighty.   Jesus was the hope they had been waiting for and he is our ...

  Even though it's cold and snowy,  I am sitting here in my comfy chair sipping a soda but sometimes it's coffee. On tv, the weather channel is yammering something about another hurricane in Florida. My daughter just ran into the room, tripped over the cat, and fell in a heap on the floor. I must get to bed soon because five O'clock will come early. I'll be sleeping soundly in my warm fuzzy bed  when the alarm blares bringing my slumber to an end. In the past few years, I have turned some corners and life has thrown me some curveballs. I have faced things I never expected to face, and I have seen the faithfulness of God in my life. There have been times that I was sure I would not survive, but every day God shows his love for me. My life is far from perfect and some days are diamonds while others present a challenge but I am blessed and thankful for the life I have and  to God who gives us all things abundantly.

Thank you God for how you lead us. Like a shepherd leading his sheep. Sometimes through the words you spoke in the Bible, your written word. at other times, it was the wise words from friends,  coworkers,or neighbors spoken at just the right time. Still other times it was a gentle tug,   a whisper to our heart to move  in one direction or another;  intuition or a sixth sense that one   way or another was right or wrong    Yet, when I listened and obeyed   I found the way was clear, distinct and easy to follow. You never leave us to guess which way to go.                                                                                                      ...

We live in a world of discord.   There are disputes between governments, groups of people; conservative, and liberals,  and church denominations. There are skirmishes between neighbors over a foot of property  or animals in their yard. There are arguments at work; often over time off, or job assignments. Moms and dads square off over many things in a day. Parents and children are often at odds with each other. Sometimes, disagreements are necessary while at other times the disagreements are over trivial things, things that will not matter in the long run. Often the discord is so great, we forget the  harmony  and all we hear is clashing, crashing notes. We have to work to restore the harmony, the peace. Today I am thankful for the people  who provide harmony, the peacemakers.  They have different views and ways of handling things and yet they can work together ...

  The world we live in is crazy!  There are shootings every day. We love new experiences and learning about our world,  but we don't know our neighbor. We preach tolerance but refuse to tolerate those who  think differently than we do.   Disease is rampant in our world. People bit and devour each other in their efforts to get a better place. We marry expecting our spouse to be there, but the first storm hits they run often using kids as pawns to hurt each other.  Yes, this world is a crazy place,  but amidst all the twists and turns and craziness of this world,  I have found a solid rock. One that does not shift or move no matter what happens. God. I lie down at night and sleep in peace. and I can rise in the morning with hope because God is in control. I am thankful that the God I serve is in control,  and he is strong enough to face the fiercest battle and win. Crazy does not bother God. He already knows h...

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, Genesis 3:8               On days when I am faced with things beyond my control.  When my troubles seem to overwhelm me,  one of the most calming things that I can do is head outside and go for a long walk.   As I walk,  I find my muddled mind cleared  and I can clearly see the mind of God.   My worries disappear as I set my focus on God and my peace is restored.   As I commune with God,  my spirit and soul are renewed so that I can face my problems with new energy.   Thank you, God, for those long walks when the air is warm,  and I can enjoy nature.   These times are a blessing.   Other times, my walks are more fun than anything else.   My mind and heart is already calm, so I revel in the creation of God. ...

 I woke up this morning and went to work.   I wanted to stay in bed and sleep a little longer, but I chose to do the adult thing  and crawl out of my comfortable, warm bed. I often choose what I want to eat, and wear. In fact, sometimes we have so many choices it's hard for people like me to make decisions. I thank God that everyone makes choices, no one is exempt. I thank Him for the good choices I have made, like living for him and following him. I also thank him for the bad choices I have made. They were learning and growing experiences. I thank God that he loves us regardless of our choices. I am grateful that most choices are not fatal or irreversible.

But his mother  treasured  all these things in her heart.  Luke 2:19 As I grow older, my memories have grown sweeter each year. Thank you for my precious memories.  Memories of long walks in the woods. and a winter when there was snow overtops of the trees.                                yes, it did happen.   I wish I had taken pictures. I'm thankful for the many memories we   created in this house                                              I'm thankful for the memories of playing softball. with the pastor of our church. As he stepped to the plate, he said,  "You need to move back further" to the outfield. They laughed until he hit the ball a mile over their heads and into the woods.  He did not run the bases; he walked each...

 Panic alarms.   I love them! When you are in a large parking lot and you can not find your car or remember where you parked, you can push this tiny little button on your key fob  and your car will sound the alarm letting you know where you parked. Today I asked a guy walking into Walmart what he was fixing  and I thought he said he was fixing the panic button.  I saw the humor in the answer he gave and laughed way too hard. As I reflected on the humorous situation, I was reminded that I do have a panic button. So do you. When we get scared, or can't find our way out of situations, we can respond in fear, anger, or temper-tantrums or in some other manner that the world would respond or we can respond by going to God with our problems. I am thankful that God is my panic alarm. When I am afraid, I can trust the one who has gone on ahead to make the way for me.

From the beginning of time, when we were created, God intended us to grow and mature.  Plants start as a seed.   Imagine if potatoes or apples stayed the same size as they were when you put them in the ground,  or watermelon never got any bigger than what it was as a seed.     We would all starve!  Imagine your cat staying the same size as she was the day she was born.   I know kittens and puppies are fun,  but I am sure that it would only take a few days or weeks for us to grow tired of them. As parents, we would panic if our children did not grow.   We love them as babies, but they are not supposed to stay babies.   We want them to grow and become toddlers and teens and adults.   I think God wants us to grow spiritually too.    I imagine he takes as much joy in our growth spiritually as we take in our growth into adults.   I am blessed to see that my children have grown into responsible adults but more tha...

  Today I want to thank God for rest.   In the busy hurry-up lifestyle in which most of us live, we forget to rest.  Sometimes, we look at busyness as something to be envied. We are taught that this is the way to achieve success.  Make no mistake, I believe in hard work. However, God rested. He rested on the seventh day. In fact, he set rest into The Ten Commandments that's how important that rest is to God. Jesus napped in the bottom of the boat. Peter slept chained between two guards. Jonah slept in a storm. Some days I am up early, and I need a God-ordained nap.  For some even when they are in bed and should be resting errrr..... sleeping, they can't turn their brains off long enough to really sleep. God planned rest into our schedule. Even animals understand the need for sleep.   Babies do not need to be told to sleep, they just do anytime, anywhere. Sometimes when we are irritable, the most God-like thing we can do is put the cares of this wo...