Never Alone

Psalm 16:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ I will bless the Lord who guides me;  even at night, my heart instructs me.
⁸ I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

1 Chronicles 17:8 (HCSB)
⁸ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.

On December 2nd of this year, we had my dad’s homegoing celebration.
Usually, whenever we travel back home, we all ride together in the same vehicle.  This time, however, it was different.  My daughter had decided that it would be better for her to drive her car to the funeral so that she could leave immediately afterward to return home. She had finals starting on the next Monday morning, which was only two days away. She wanted to have the rest of the weekend to get somewhere quiet so she could study.

Celebrating of Marriage

Genesis 2:21-25 (NLT)
²¹ So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs^[a] and closed up the opening. ²² Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.

²³ “At last!” the man exclaimed.
“This one is bone from my bone,
and flesh of my flesh!
She will be called ‘woman,’
because she was taken from ‘man.’”
²⁴ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
²⁵ Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Ephesians 5:21 (NLT)
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:31-33 (NLT)
³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”^[a] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Aug. 7, 2015

Genesis 27:8-11 (NIV)
8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin.
Genesis 27:15-19 (NIV)
15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.18 He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”

Ephesians 6:12-18 (NLT)
¹² For we^[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm.¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^[d]

John 10:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.^[a] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Mark 4:15 (NLT)
¹⁵ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

 Don’t Let Satan Steal Your Joy

On a Sunday evening approximately thirty years ago, I made the decision to be baptized. I remember that Sunday night as though it were yesterday. The joy in my heart was undeniable that night.  As church members gave me their warm hugs and congrats, I knew that I had become a part of a huge family that was full of love and support. I truly felt at peace with my decision. To know that I would spend all of the eternity with my awesome God,  and to be blessed with these wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ was almost joyfully overwhelming!

In celebration of Fall, I thought I would share something that I originally posted on October 30, 2017. I hope that you enjoy reading it!

Psalm 92:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ they still bear fruit in old age;   they are ever full of sap and green,
Job 12:12 (ESV)
¹² Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
Psalm 71:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation,  your power to all those to come.

                              THE BEST SEASON OF ALL

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the nice crisp mornings and the cool evenings of the season. By the time fall rolls around, the children have been back in school for a few weeks and life is back on track. Fall is also the beginning of the Hot Chocolate Season, fuzzy sweaters, light jackets, caps, and football. I don’t know about your house, but at my house football is a Big Deal! Fall festivals are also quite popular this time of year,  as well as County and State Fairs, candied apples, corn dogs, cotton candy and don’t forget those delicious funnel cakes that also add to the excitement.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)
¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Exodus 9:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ But I have raised you up^[a] for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Exodus 31:3-5 (NLT)
³ I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. ⁴ He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. ⁵ He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)
¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
God has a plan and a purpose for your life and the talents and gifts that you have been given are uniquely designed just for you in order that you may have all that you need to fulfill God’s will for your life and that you may bring Him glory and honor in doing so.

LOVE
John 15:12-13 (NLT)
¹² This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.¹³ There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Mark 12:31(NLT)
³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[a] No other commandment is greater than these.”
Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

 GIVING
Hebrews 6:10-12 (NLT)
¹⁰ For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,^[a] as you still do. ¹¹ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. ¹² Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)
² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

In the past few days as Hurricane Harvey hit land, my family as well as millions of other families, have watched in horror and disbelief. The devastation and sheer destruction that this storm has brought to everything in its path have been literally heart-wrenching!  

Tragedy does not care whose door it knocks on.  Tragedy is not impressed with how much you make, or where you work, or what neighborhood you live in.  It does not care what color your skin is or what your religious affiliation is.  Tragedy just affects whoever happens to be in its path.

 Psalm 145:15-20 (NLT)
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.
¹⁶ When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
²⁰ The Lord protects all those who love him,……

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Psalm 84:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold  From those who walk uprightly.
¹² O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

On yesterday afternoon I was out running some errands. I had been working all day and here it was 3p.m. and I had not had lunch.  I knew that I still had to go to the bank and to pick up a few items from the grocery store, so I decided to run through a fast food restaurant here in town and just get a chicken sandwich. It would be something quick that I could eat in the car, as I drove to my next stop.  

I was having a rough day and I think mostly because I had experienced two nights back to back with my sleep being interrupted around 4 am on both nights.