Jesus loves me this I know. Debra Wants me this I know. My kids appreciate me this I know. My church encourages me this I know. My Life Group cares for me this I know. Everything else I know, I will share with you.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Its a good day to be a Papa

Sitting on the Floor this afternoon I am listening to my Granddaughter as she is talking to herself. Its a soft gentle cooing with loud intermittent shouts of joy and I am rejoicing in her peace.
She has no stress nor worries, her papas watching over her.

If she messes up her life ~ Ill clean it up
If she is empty ~ I'll make sure she is full
If she is lonely ~ I'm only a few feet away and I am ready to interact.

In fact, my eyes never leave her.

In fact all Brea knows about life is that there is someone who makes sure that she is cared for.

Sitting in Heaven this afternoon my Father in Heaven is listening to me and He is rejoicing at my peace.
I have been cleaned up, filled up, and engaged by Him.
His eyes never leave me and all I ever know about life is that I am cared for, and He is a Happy Papa.

I love my life, Thank you Jesus

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Just Add What?

I have to say I have enjoyed the Endeavor Bible Study so far this summer. Especially because of how God is speaking to me on the Tuesday outlines. I know that they seem so boring but if you really look, there are some amazing lessons in them.

I'll give you one from Chapter 6 (which you haven't got to yet).

Look at this truth...........
Mark 6:53-56 (ESV)
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him
55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.
56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

and the outline of it

VII. Opportunity for change is always Good Mark 6:53-56 also found in Matthew 14:34-36

   1. It happens when we Recognize Jesus (v. 53-54)

   2. It happens when we are honest about our need believing Jesus can help (v.55)

   3. It happens when we ask without fear for Jesus Help (v.56)

And then apply it.

This outline gives you the HOW to CHANGE now all you need is the WHAT.

I love the word of God!!!!!!

Monday, June 9, 2014

I don't like Green Eggs and Ham....Either

I met a person on Sunday that I have met before. In fact she often shows up when things begin to happen in the church. She can be so frustrating as she is often demanding and very difficult to work with. People struggle to relate to her and will actually allow her to ruin their day. I don't really like her. I'm just being honest but the real problem with her is......I invited her to church.

I know, what was I thinking? She doesn't need to be saved, she really doesn't even need the church but sometimes I just can't help myself. Oh I'm not the only one who invites her, others have invited her to come too but I can't blame them for Sunday. Nope I brought her.

Who is she? She is Miss Understanding and I want to share a few things about her.

1. I invite her when I don't communicate clearly to others. When I am not clear in my expectations or instructions it invites miss understanding into the ministry.

2. I invite her in when I don't ask good questions of those to whom I am doing ministry with. If I don't understand what is going on with something that directly involves me it is my fault and not others. If I don't have the answers I need than I am the one responsible to ask the questions.

3. I invite her in when I am not prepared well. Miss Understanding is a direct product of my lack of preparation for what God is calling me to do. She comes in when I over commit, when I am lazy, and when I don't take my responsibility seriously.

I wish she would never come to church but she will, and when she does there are a couple of things I can do.

I  can apologize for not communicating instead of placing blame on others. Even if I told them and they didn't understand, the responsibility for understanding clearly lies with the speaker not the hearer.

I can ask more questions of  those I am doing life with. Rarely will you find someone getting upset because you asked too many questions but you will find them always getting upset because you miss understood and didn't ask.

and finally, I can realize my responsibility to prepare well for what God is calling me to do. I can say no to doing too much, I can recognize how my laziness affects others and makes more work for them, and I can take what I do seriously. My life impacts others in everything I do even being alone.

and you know what, Miss Understanding can hurt your home just as much as the church. Whether you are a child or an adult you too can refuse to allow her to live in your home.

Communicate clearly to your family
Ask good Questions of your family
and Prepare well for your family and you know what, she will never darken your doorstep.

Sunday was Awesome other than her.
Have a Great week Lifers

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Misty Water Colored Memories

I would like to apologize for my blogging inconsistencies but there are times when I have so much to pour out I can't contain myself, then there are times when all I have is enough to breath.

As a young man I was full of more, but the older I get the more I realize that fullness was more of me and not Him. I could easily preach three messages a week, teach three classes, blog every day and council everyone who came to me. But not so much now.

Now I would rather have something meaningful to say than just something to say. I do not require glory for my wisdom or honor for my council but prefer quiet change in people to clamoring praise over my words that will be forgotten.

Today is an empty day. I'm currently reading about prayer and preparing to go on a walk with Him. We will talk about it and He will lovingly fill me up with Himself. Maybe I'll speak about it, maybe not ,or maybe I'm just getting old and will forget.

Have a Great Day with Him

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

#Scary

If you take the time to read the walls from this Sundays exercise, you would notice one bu# stood out above the rest. Fear. People are afraid to take steps of faith. Fear keeps them from experiencing God by faith.

Fear to Listen to the voice of God because of what He might ask ~ Go? Stay?
Fear to Leave your past behind ~ Let Go
Fear to Live without Earthly Security ~ Loss (Earthly things)
Fear to Look up at the Life God has for you ~ Lots of unknowns

While I could be wrong, I don't think that this fear comes from a lack of faith in God. Not with this group. I believe that it might be more about the fear of MORE loss in our lives.

I can't handle disobeying God one more time
I can't let go of my past, I've held on to it too long
I have so little to give up, to give up more would be to give up everything
I know God has a better life for me bu# I am having a hard enough time with earthly things.

I get the tension. I struggle with the same thoughts. But here is the problem,
This fear keeps us from God. They never allow God to give us hope for a better life and encourage us to experience new places in life. These fears never let us see just how God will miraculously provide and never let us live safely in His Kingdom.

These fears while real, never allow us to be truly safe and worse than that they never get us past the religious nature of Christianity.

Tomorrow we will talk a little more about that, but for today, Pray and ask God to open your eyes up to the root of your fears. This will be an awesome series.


Monday, June 2, 2014

It might be a little Aussie, but it was a Good Day none the less

Good people ~ That's how I would describe yesterday

Good people walking into the door of the church
Good people bringing their children up to kidsLife
Good people talking in the foyer
Good people worshiping God
Good people giving their all
Good people listening to the word of God
Good people identifying their bu#s
Good people saying good by

I know this might be a little simplistic but in a world that is constantly on the move and often filled with negatives, it was Good to be with Good people and Celebrate the Goodness of our Savior,

I am looking so forward to this summer with you.

Have an awesome week