Not Home Yet !!

Tired and strained but not wilted beyond measure,

Sight of home is still in view of my eyes as well as my heart.

Conflicted by powers that I cannot vastly see,

Trying to withhold me from the journey of which I long to finish.

Lost in the pain of constant temptations and trials,

They tease me and show me how uninvincible I am.

The fierce challenges I face see me not as a nemesis but a prey,

By God's strength may I stand undaunted through the raging storms of time.

A patriot for a cause I truly do not comprehend,

Longing for an end to this journey of which I cannot control.

My resting place is a destination I do not deserve,

Its treasures are beyond my comprehension.

HEAVEN!!!

Food For Thought:

To the faint at heart, find your strength today in our Sovereign God. Whether you are serving our Saviour on foreign ground or here at home; do not lose heart. If you are tired of fighting the constant battle between the flesh and the spirit, stand your ground. We have already won the war. For now, we must face these daily battles against a foe whose end is nothing compared to the beginning we have to look forward to in eternity. When you find yourself beaten, confused, famished, weakened, discouraged, and at your wits end; remember that our time here is nothing compared to what we have to look forward to in eternity. We are not just strangers in this foreign land of sin. We are heaven bound sinners saved by grace, serving an EXTRAORDINARY GOD!

Words Of Wisdom From The Sandbox #2

Topic: Keeping Christ On The Mind

Questions to ponder:
1.When I entered a situation today, did I do anything to make it better than it was before I left?
2.What have I done today to help influence my friends or roommates spiritually?
3.Have the things that I have done in private today been consistent with the things I have done in public?

Another day passes and we realize we have not thought about God today. We realize that we have not once brought Him up in our conversations with our friends. Maybe we muttered a mumble or so of a prayer before beginning our day. How much aware are we of the presence of God? Do we really live as if He is standing right there by our side? Are we so focused with what is going on in our sandbox that we have no time for anyone outside our box?
I would encourage you to take a step back and consider that your life; no matter how silent it may be, influences someone. It is not about you, IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!!! As Christians, we should encourage each other positively toward spiritual things. If not, then it is time for a new self evaluation. Ask yourself today, Lord, what can I do today to allow you to have more influence in all the areas of my life?

Keep It Simple: God's Daily Will - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
1.Focus on what matters (12:13)
2.View God with a reverant respect (12:13)
3.Remember that God sees even the secret things of life (12:14)

By the Grace of God, may we live our lives in a way that reflects a pure and proper message of who Christ is and what He has done in our lives.

I am a scary snow man!! 

I am chillin out on the mountain top. 

This is me at Rocky Mt. National Park. I am standing on a lake! 

"Dare To Be Good" - "Dedicate To Be Godly"

Who will dare to be good? O man, where will you stand?

The evil in this world seeks to remove you like a speck of sand.

There are many in this world who are considered good,

Because they give money to needy neighborhoods.

Man is considered good by what he does in the eyes of man,

Even though it may displease God and go against His command.

When you strive to be good according to the world's level,

You stand on shaky ground easily torn down by the devil.

Who will dedicate to be Godly is the question that I ask;

To follow faithfully is a long and rugged task.

Many have gone before me carrying the torch of the cross,

May my life not be a cloud which quenches the light to the lost.

Who will dare to be Godly? This desire is very rare;

People living for self, fulfilling their flesh everywhere.

The steps of the Godly are patterned after the Lord;

Their lives covered with fingerprints of God's Holy Word.

Your choice to be Godly is a firm stand to take;

Friends, desires, and sins you may have to boldly forsake.

What is your passion? Is it for God or for sin?

God sees and knows all the wicked things within.

When we stand before God and bow before His throne,

He will reveal those who loved Him and stood for Him alone.

Food For Thought:

I Timothy 4:8 says, "For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." There are all sorts of standards that can be maintained to make someone appear as good. The only path for godliness is Obedience. Obedience to God and His Holy Word. This requires a daily denying of self of the things which we want, desire, and live for that are not consistent with what God commands. May it be our daily pursuit to know God more and to follow Him with all of our heart. Seeking not man's approval of being a good person, but striving to be the obedient child of God that we are commanded to be.

What Is A Sandbox?

Response to earlier post: Words of Wisdom from the Sandbox
Question: What is a Sandbox?

As I reflect back to my earlier childhood, I can still remember the fun days of playing in my sandbox. At that age I was not really concerned with what was going on outside my box. All that I dwelled on was the abundance of sand and the many toys that were in my box. Maybe your box was made out of wood or plastic. I have seen all sorts of sandboxes, some portable and some stationery. As I got older, my attention began to become more focused on things outside of the box. I can still remember my mother telling me to stay inside the box and not wander about. Unknown to me were the many dangers that awaited me outside the box. Several times I could have easily walked or ran outside of my box, but there was always something inside me that kept me within my boundaries.
As I child my sandbox consisted of a wooden contraption filled with sand. Now that I am older, sandbox has taken on a new meaning to me. My sandbox now pertains to the area of life in which I dwell as well as the inner workings of my heart. Now, in reading that statement you probably are thinking that I just described the same sandbox I sat in as a child. Well, I suppose figuratively speaking it does sound somewhat the same. All our life, our sandbox has encountered many changes. Maybe the location of your box changed, or the things which were in your box changed. Most importantly, you changed. As a child you really had no control on what could come inside your box or when you suddenly would be removed from it.
Whether we are a child or an adult, we still do not have control over what could happen in our sandbox. Sometimes we may have to battle with staying within our boundaries, or stepping out by faith to do something new. Sometimes we may have to be selfless enough to allow someone else to join us in our box. As a people that like to be in control, we struggle with change. Change is not always bad, but it does require flexibility and trust. Sometimes life may require us to step outside our familiar sandbox and never return.
What is the point that I am trying to make? The truth is very simple. All throughout our life we are going to experience all sorts of changes and experiences. We do not have complete control over when, what, how, or who. One thing I know that has been a true comfort to me as I dwell in my sandbox and venture out of it: People may change, your environment may change, your trials and circumstances may change, You may change, the things within and without your sandbox may change; but GOD NEVER CHANGES.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Words of Wisdom from the Sandbox

Topic: Standing In The Face Of Trying Circumstances

Questions to Consider:
What is my response when I am faced with trials I am not ready to face?
What is my response when I realize that the trials I am facing are bigger than I am?
What is my response to life in general when different things appear on my path of life that i have never imagined?
Am I being faithful in responding Biblically to trials and circumstances that I experience?

What are some negative responses to trying circumstances?
I do not deserve this, I am a good person
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Life just seems to always deal me a bad hand
I am going to be angry and bitter at life and the world in general
There is no reason to live anymore
I cannot handle this
If I had this or that, things would be so much better

What does the Bible say? (I Peter 1:1-7,4:12-14,19)
Keep our hope in the Lord - 1:3
We are kept by the power of God - 1:5
Rejoice - 1:6,8 4:13
Remember trials are temporary in light of eternity -1:6
The trying of your faith is more profitable than riches - 1:7
Christ suffered and endured trying circumstances -4:1,13
Keep your faith -4:19

Food for Thought:
We never know when it will be our time to experience a trial or circumstance that pushes us to the edge. Life is not all about having a good time and fulling your desires to their utter end. Life is not all about pleasure. There is another side of the coin.