Moments

 I've been called a good listener, but I am not so sure when it comes to listening to God.  In prayer, I seem to have the notion that I need to do  steady, non-stop talking about what I want God to do and then it is Amen time.   Sometimes I think I treat God like He is my personal genie in a bottle.  In looking at that more closely, I can see that I do not honor Him enough in prayer. I do not give thanks and praise nearly enough.  I don't be still and let the Spirit work on me without words nearly enough   During my exercise program, there is the spot right after push-ups where I am face down on the floor and I use that interval for a short prayer time.  The beauty of it is that sometimes it evolves into something much more than a short prayer time.  In my perfunctory mindset, I list all my concerns about the people and things I want to pray for.  But in the best of times, I can't say Amen.  Sometimes, after exhausting all my personal concerns, I just can't pull the tri

  Now, to Become   Now, To become more determined; more focused, disciplined to say no to enterprises wherein I am not an asset and the battle is not worthy of my weapons.   Now, To become more disciplined in thought and spirit discerning God’s true intent of His love acting upon this earth.   Now,   To become disciplined in food and drink.   Giving glory to God for this temple called the body by guarded vigilance to what enters it.   Now, To become more disciplined so as not to be duped by the “leaners” of this world.   Giving glory to God for discernment between the “pearls and the swine.”   Now.   to become more disciplined and determined and focused on areas of growth-through reading, classes, meditation, praising God for that opportunity   Now, To become more disciplined to write more.  Plan to leave more rather than consume more. To be a light in the world's darkness.   Now the hard part:  “Running the race set before me.”

    Self-sufficiency comes with a price.   Several people we have had to come work on the place say that we have what everyone wants; a quiet place in the country.  However, nothing stops anyone from having it except a deep down "want it."  Out here in the country, you have to put out a lot of work and be able to figure things out. There is a lot to be done on your own and there are a lot of downsides to it. Most want the benefits of country living without paying the full price.  It is like the story of the husband listening to his wife playing the piano.  He remarks how beautifully she plays and he says he wished he could play like that.  She replies. "well obviously, not enough to practice at it." Most people don't truly pursue what they say they wish for. Most don't even try. I say all that to say this:  I count myself among those "I wishers." I say I am a triathlete but I haven't done one in years.  I say I want to do an ironman but at my a

  The world seems in such a mess. People are so lost.  They are often sterile and uncaring, barely noticing those around them or anyone else's pain. What happened to humanity that caused her to sink so low? How can I love these people like God says I am supposed to?  These folks are not easy to love. How do I look aside at who they are and what they do and love them?   Then John 3:16 hits me;  "For God so loved----."   The world that Jesus came into was no Sunday School picnic either.  People were just people then too and that's why He came.  He came for those who crucified Him.  He came for the empty hearts of today.  We have all sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.  We have all disappointed God.  In some way, we have all betrayed Him.  And the Bible is full of people who did those things during those times when Jesus walked on the earth.  These times are not much different than the world Jesus came into and died for their sins and our sins and the sins of all

  I am too old and impatient to live my remaining days in Laodician moments (Ref 3:14-16)  I will be 81 soon and I am either going to live for Jesus or be dead cold in the grave …I don’t have time or energy for a lukewarm faith.  If this an older life is HO-Hum station, then I am not getting off here.  Speed on down the tracks; wreck, crash, or burn, but live out life living for Jesus.  I wrote the below while waiting for the cardiologist to come in the room and tell me how my tests came out.  Safe in His Arms   Hold me, Jesus. Well, I’m safe in his arms. I’m safe in His arms. Though the winds  howl and   blow, I’ll   trust, and I’ll know That I’m safe in His arms When   storm winds are blowing, I'll rest in the knowing When there seems no relief, I'll  rest in belief There peace to the last breath,  because  He conquered death Yes, I’m safe in His arm s . Hold me Jesus

  We often use a location app that helps us follow family follows when they travel. Often when the app is first accessed, the view is close up.  It is hard to determine where the family member is, where they are going, or where they have been.  Consequently, we have to zoom out to take in the full map.  Then we can see how our family member fits into the full map, the big picture, not the small little circle we first saw them in. I find  this true in the Christian experience as well.  We can lose the sense of our true place and time and feel our little circle is the world and sometimes we think we are the center of it.  Our problems, our responsibilities, and our little issues and our importance become all there is.   There doesn't seem to be any big picture. We get so lost in ourselves and our little worlds that, like the blown-up locator view, we don't really know where we are, where we are going, or where we have been.  And to make it worse sometimes at the end of the day we