AM I TRULY BEING REAL ?

AM I BEING REAL.......

(EPHESIANS CHAPTER ONE)

R elationship wih God. This is the most vital aspect to living a consistent Christian walk. If my relationship with God is not on a real leve, then all my other relationships are not going to be where they should be. Notice in chapter one of Ephesians how personal the Apostle Paul referst to God and Christ. Verse one, (I am an Apostle of Christ)(by the will of God). Verse two, (peace from OUR God). Verse three, (OUR Lord Jesus Christ). Verse seventeen, (God of OUR Lord). A person cannot talk this way without knowing someone very personally. As Paul corresponds with the Ephesians, he is not challenging them to strive for something he does not have. He is reminding them of what they have in Christ. What he has in Christ. Remember, he is writing this letter during a time of personal persecution and trial. Am I being real in all my relationships or am I still wearing a Mask?

verse 7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."

E valuation of self. Am I being honest with myself? Do I live each day as if I would stand before the Lord today? Do I live a REAL Christian life in front of my peers or is it just a facade? Is my Christian life really Christian? Verse four, (just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Am I living obediently in Christ? Do I strive daily to live and think Biblically as I deal with the different tests and temptations that come my way?

A ttitude....Attitude...Attitude. IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT ME....IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!!!! Paul makes it firmly clear in verse one why he is doing what he is doing and why he is saying what he is sharing with the Christians. Ephesians 1:1, "Paul and apostle of Christ Jesus BY THE WILL OF GOD. It requires a submissive attitude to be and live obediently to what God commands. In my effort to be REAL, have I realized that the things that I experience in my life that are not in my control are there to mold me and shape me more into the image of Christ? May I not get lost in focusing in the process, that I lose sight of the fact that God sees the finished product. Therefore, I must trust God that He knows best for my life.

L ove of God and others more than self!!!!! Do I love and long for the eternal things that God has to offer? Verse 18, " I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saings, Verse 19, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

Key things to consider as I seek to be REAL and SHARE my faith:

*My ability to influence others is directly related to what they think about me.

*What does it mean to enter someone's world but not take on his or her way of life?

*How can I become friends with non-christians without letting them influence me negatively?

*Think of some qualities of a helathy relationship: Okay, now are these qualities in my relationships with God, parents, friends, etc.......

A TIME FOR?...........................

A TIME FOR?..........

Ecclesiastes 3:1

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

What shall this day hold? I do not know. What circumstance awaits me later in the day? I do not know. What trial shall I face in my path today that will attempt to stretch my faith and make me question where I stand? I do not know. What response shall transmit from me today when someone or something requires from me an answer? I do not know. Will I respond in the flesh or in the spirit today when encountering unexpected circumstances? I do not know. Am I living today expecting to face something I have never been challenged with? I hope so.

Well, if you are like me, you probably forget from time to time that we are promised that we will face all sorts of things in this lifetime. The writer of Ecclesiastes warns those he is writing to that there is a place for all sorts of things under the heaven. In verses 2-8 of chapter three we are told there is a time for laughter, sadness, love, hate, peace, war, loudness, quietness, killing, healing, etc.... These are only a few of the many things that we will face in our lifetime. What about: losing your home, losing a family memeber, losing a friend, losing your job, conflict with friends, loneliness, bitterness, car accident, losing everything that you hold dearest to your heart. Maybe you have experienced some of these things are you know people who have.

We never know what may come knocking on our door of life any given day. These things are real. These things reveal to us if we are being real. If we are being real in our relationship with God. If all the verses we memorized and hymns we sing really do get beyond the cloud of our brain and get to the core of our heart. There are three things I would like to share from Ecclesiastes chapter three:

The first thing I would like to share is God's Promise.(Ecclesiastes 3:1) We are told that we will face all sorts of things while living in this temporary dwelling place. We are going to experience all sorts of emotions and circumstances that will bless us as well as sometime challenge us to our very core. We cannot control what we may encounter, but we do have a part in how we respond to those unexpected encounters.

The second thing I would like to share is God's Precious Handiwork.(Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. The one question that eats at man each day is the question WHY? God, why did that have to happen to me? God, why did they have to endure that? God, why are you making me wait so long for an answer? God, why can't you just write on the wall your purpose and will for me? God, why am I still single? God, why did you take them so soon to be with you? The question of WHY lurks in my mind and heart each day. I am humbly reminded that God's Ways and Thoughts are much higher and greater than mine. I am humbly reminded that we were not created to know and understand all that God does, but to TRUST! Wow! That is so tough. We must take comfort in the fact that all that God allows, all that we have to endure, all that others around us endure; is part of His plan. Even if that means not having a clue of WHY. Of course, this is the toughest thing to acknowledge when you are the one having to go through whatever circumstance you are facing that crushes you.

The third thing I would like to share is God's Picture.(Ecclesiates 3:14, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him." I am still trying to swallow this thought again. The fact that the whole big picture of life is not about me, but it is ALLLLLLLLL ABOUTTTTTTT HIMMMMMMM!!!!!!!! The things that we experience in life are not there to turn us away from Him, but towards Him! God, how can something so tragic and heartbreaking turn me or them toward you? God, don't you think that they would follow you if you didn't put them through something so hurtful? God, I am trying to walk faithfully and serve you, but you keeping allowing these hard things to come into my life. Job, Job, Job Job!!! Job 2:10b, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." What in the world!!! Remember this is a man speaking who has just lost his ten children, his livestock, etc...except for his wife. Wow!!

SUMMARY: So, we are told that we should expect to face all sorts of challenges and blessings in our life. We have no idea when they will arise from day to day. So that requires TRUST. We are told that God has made it that we are not to know His work from beginning to end. Things are going to happen and we are not going to always have an answer for the WHY. We are also told that the things that God doeth, He does them not to turn us from Him but towards Him, so that men would acknowledge Him with a reverant, respectful perspective. So, we know that there is a time that we will face things that are going to challenge us to the deepest part of our being. We cannot control time or what time brings, but we know the God who does.

Today, may you be challenged as I am, to pray(pour yourself out to God), practice,(live out your faith), and pursue(seek God with all your mind, soul, heart). For today could be your day to face something under the heaven that you have never encountered before. GOD IS NEAR! GOD IS ALL POWERFUL! GOD IS OUR STRENGTH! GOD IS CONSTANT! GOD IS IN CONTROL! GOD IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED HIM TO BE AND MORE WHEN FACED WITH WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY....HE IS NEVER CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

WHAT MASK SHALL I WEAR TODAY?.....OR SHALL I BE REAL?

WHAT MASK SHALL I WEAR TODAY? .........

OR SHALL I BE REAL?

What mask shall I wear as I venture out into my day,

The attitude that matches and the role I shall play?

As I stared into the mirror this morning, O what did I see,

Am I ready to be REAL with a perspective based on eternity?

Was I pleased by the reflection revealed to me by God's Word,

Am I ready to go forth to battle like a soldier with his sword?

Do I tear down the facades that keep me from being real,

Are do I seek to maintain an image that is comfortable to others' appeal?

O this daily fight to be real before my friends and foe,

Will they except me as I am, I don't know.

The past masks in my closet mock me as a pretender,

O the prideful facades I must daily surrender.

Today, I go forth as who I am focused and real,

May God quickly correct me and my other masks reveal.

Today, I shall be real and crush the masks which I wish to wear,

For I must be real, I have a name to bare.

That name is Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Friend,

It is He today upon whom I must depend.

So if you are wearing a mask please remove it from your face,

Walk forth today in victory and bow before the throne of Grace.

IF THIS BREATH WERE MY LAST

IF THIS BREATH ...

WERE MY ..........LAST.

(A personal interrogation with self)

Tyararr, are you living in your temporal dwelling with an eternal perspective? Did you know that you maybe only have the next few days, hours, minutes or seconds? How much have you thought about God in the past few hours. Are you so full of yourself and priorities that you cannot acknowledge Him who made you and gives you a reason to exist and function? Do you long for heaven, or do you shy away in thought hoping to fulfill all your desires and wishes here first?

Tyararr, are you living in your temporal dwelling with an eternal perspective? Have you paused to count the blessings God has given you, or have you pondered only on what you do not have? Are you truly trusting in an All-Knowing God for an unknowing future? Are you being real with yourself as you reflect on God's Word, or do you hide behind vague answers? Why won't you let go of that which you keep clinging to? It is only temporal.

Tyararr, are you living in your temporal dwelling with an eternal perspective? Did you think about the fact that your last breath could have been seconds ago? Are you living based off of past victories, or are you growing and living for today? Was your last encounter with a brother in Christ a positive one? As you write this, are you truly pondering it and pursuing to apply this mindset daily?

Tyararr, are you living in your temporal dwelling with an eternal perspective? What testimony will you leave behind? What kind of message is your life representing for Christ? Is Christ your all in all? Are you ready to face the situations or unknown trials that await you? Are you allowing yourself to be daily bridled by the Hand of God, or are you bucking against Him for your wants? Have you pondered clearly the thought that: HOW I VIEW GOD AND WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT GOD WILL DETERMINE HOW I LIVE MY LIFE.

Tyararr, are you living in your temporal dwelling with an eternal perspecitve? If this breath were your.................

WHEN THE MINISTRY CAUSES YOU TO QUESTION YOUR LOVE FOR IT....

WHEN THE MINISTRY CAUSES YOU

TO QUESTION YOUR

LOVE FOR IT...

It all began April 12, 1990. That is the day that I surrendered my life to full time Christian service. I was fifteen years old sitting in a Youth Conference. I had been contemplating for some time what I was going to do with my life when I graduated high school. From the time that I was little, I remember seeing my Dad and Mom totally sold out to ministering at the church and to other people. We always had new converts or new families over to our house. I was given great examples about how to put others first and to give of yourself in showing the love of Christ to others.

Since that April day, I have not cease to pursue to minister in some capacity. Over the years I have become exposed to the many different sides of ministry. At times I have pondered the thought of second guessing my committment of service years ago. I blindly thought that because you are serving with other God loving Christians that everything will go happily and smoothly. Boy was I in for a rude awakening. The words of a mentor of mine from college echoes in my head very often: "MINISTRY IS PEOPLE.....PEOPLE IS MINISTRY" Wow!! I had to let that one sink in a bit. As long as you are serving with and ministering to sinful, selfish, ignorant, prideful, stubborn, saved by God's grace people; Ministry is going to have its ups and downs.

Why does God choose to use us? Why does he choose to use people like us to carry out His will and ministry? Why does God allow His ministry to be affected by the decisions that we make? At times I must say that my love for ministry has been strained due to the lack of professionlism or lack of organization. So many sold out hardworking servants get stepped on due to being reliable or not knowing how to say no. People are expected to do more than they can because it is ministry. Disorganization, lack of help, unexplained decisions, misuse of people and assests are but a few of the things that are often seen in ministry. Things like this cannot be looked at as acceptable just because it is ministry. All things must be done decently and in order.

At times I think that those in leadership become so focused on the Ministry aspect that they forget to minister and look out for the People invovled. Have you questioned recently why you minister? Have you questioned why you are committed to the ministry? Have you recently sat down and evaluated why you do what you do? Have you considered why you continue serving in an organization(Ministry) that seems to lack as much direction as a horse running wildly without a bridle?

I do not want to come across as someone that is bitter who no longer enjoys or likes the ministry. I am far from that. I love the Ministry with all my heart. I just want to be real and share the fact that at times that does happen. Despite all the inadequacies we have, God still chooses to use us for His honor and glory. Are there ups and downs in ministry? Most definitely! Are there bad decisions made by good God fearing people? Yes! Do people get burned out? Yes! Do people walk away from the ministry? Yes!! Do people at times question why they made the committment they made? Yes!

We must remember this key thought. "MINISTRY IS PEOPLE.....PEOPLE IS MINISTRY." It is not about you, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE GOD IN HEAVEN THAT WE SERVE! Despite all the things that go on and the questions that go unanswered; God's work will carry on. Any ministry that we are a part of or serve in is not ours. It is God's Ministry. Therefore, we should do our best to live and serve in a way that glorifies Him and draws people to Him and not away from Him. Whether we are the ones serving or the ones being served.

I close with this thought from Charles Swindoll:

IF GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OURS........THEN SUBMIT

IF GOD IS IN CONTROL..............THEN OBEY

IF GOD HAS THE ANSWERS I LACK.....................THEN TRUST

THEME OF MY SONG!!

THEME OF MY SONG.....

O God, You are the melody that vibrates from the strings of my heart.

You keep in tune my mind and heart as they coincide in chorus together.

When I lose the joy of my song, You remind me where its note can be found.

When I lose my desire to sing, You refresh me with who you are and I can no longer remain quiet.

You are my song.

You give me reason to sing.

You keep me singing when I find no reason.

You are the song.

You are the music.

You are the words by which the song consist.

May I never quit singing, for in doing so I will conceal that which is music, which is joy.

May what You require of me and who You are, remain as the music that indwells me and drives me to stay in tune with thee.

PEACE IN THE RAIN

PEACE IN THE

RAIN

Walking through this life being showered with pain,

Encouraged by God's Word, there is peace in the rain.

Lost in the flow, burdened by the strain,

Focus on Christ, there is peace in the rain.

Emotions are overwhelming, but then you refrain,

Standing on God's promises, there is peace in the rain.

Actions speak loud and hard to maintain,

Live to please God, there is peace in the rain.

Eyes full of tears, plans have crumbled down the drain,

Prayers lifted up to God, there is peace in the rain.

The race is hard to run, time is like a ball and chain,

Sweet thoughts of heaven, there is peace in the rain.

Knowing God is a precious treasure, having Him is a priceless gain,

When plundered by the storms of life, remember there is peace in the rain.

Can you see me in the sunshine

Can you see me in the rain

I am the God who bares your pain

I am the God who makes the rain

WHAT MUST I DO?

WHAT MUST I

DO?

No sense of direction, am I not moving but standing still,

Holding on to God's promises as I daily seek His will.

What must I do as I linger for his call?

Remembering in my heart that He is my all in all.

O the struggle within my soul to do what is wrong when I know the right,

At times I sadly stumble and give in to the fight.

Softly and tenderly God's voice touches my ears,

Giving me faith for the unknown and putting aside my fears.

What must I do when the answer is not clear,

Shall I turn my back on my God, who is always faithfully near?

Growing closer to my God by His grace I shall stand,

Following after His word, striving to obey His command.

What must I do as I face a brand new day,

Pursuing after peace, leaning on Christ as my stay.

There are many questions that I ponder and answers I do not know,

May I lose not sight of my Jesus who truly loves me so.

THE FIELD OF EXPRESSION

THE FIELD OF

EXPRESSION

The world is like an open field in which emotions can run to and fro,

Each expressed in an unique way producing and uneven flow.

The tentacles of each is attached to a fragile beating heart,

When kept in and unexpressed, it is likely to blow apart.

The world is like a universal stage, a platform for the dispesning of emotions,

Funneled quickly at the same time can cause a blunder of camotion.

Is is wrong to express one's self in a world so vast and free,

Tamed and smoothly delivered is the vehicle they must be.

The world is like a fountain springing abundantly with emotion and life,

When uncontrolled and vented, it leads to confusion and strife.

The venting comes in waves raging ferociously hard and strong,

Sometimes it comes like a calm sea, the peace does not last so long.

The world is like a book, unclear unless read and studied beyond its cover,

Emotions are like a precious treasure waiting to be discovered.

Do not be so safe and conceal all of your expressions,

But enjoy and experience the life which Christ has placed in your possession.

WOUNDS OF REMEMBRANCE....SCARS OF REFLECTION

WOUNDS OF REMEMBRANCE....

TO

SCARS OF REFLECTION?

Painful memories I have of the physical wounds inflicted on my body over the past thirty years of my life. I remember burning my arm while learning to iron for the first time.(I was trying to wactch Monday night football) Those don't mix too well. Of course I learned the hard way. I can remember knocking my front two teeth out after colliding with the coffee table. It was not pleasant. Then there is the time I slammed my thumb in the car door. That happened several times during my childhood. There is also the scar on my left hand I recieved while repelling from the rafters in the pavillion at camp. I was supposed to be Bible Man swinging down to save the day. I never made it to being Bible Man since I was wounded during practice. I ended up recieving eighteen stitches that night. Could not use my left hand for almost three months.

All the wounds I mentioned above, I did those myself while doing crazy and sometimes fun things. Those experiences have left scars that I can see every time I look in the mirror. I can never go back and change those experiences. I cannot remove the scars that are left. The most personal physical scars I have are located near my waist. They remind me of God's miraculous healing. When I was born, my kidneys and bladder were not functional. I was not supposed to make it pass age three. I had two major surgeries before I turned two. Every time I see those scars I wonder "What If". The first seventeen years of my life were spent in and out of the hospitals for checkups beyond count. Today, I am very healthy. You would never know of the pain and sickness unless you knew the scars like I do on me.

We can ponder all day on the physical scars that we have racked up over time. But the wounds and scars that hurt us the most at times is the emotional ones. Maybe you have lost a loved one. Maybe you have experienced heartache in a relationship. Maybe you were abused, or you have experienced so much lost you are fragile beyond imagination. Maybe you hold on to guilt or anger for the wounds you experienced in your life that you had no control over. Maybe you made some wrong decisions in your life. The guilt from the past is keeping you from living in the present. As a Christian, maybe the wounds have healed, but the scars keep you from moving on.

The pain from wounds we have experienced does pass away, but the memory stays. The scars that remain are left to remind us of: where we have come, what we have experienced, what we should do differently, we are not perfect, choices do have consequences, things to warn others of, things do happen that we cannot sometimes control, etc... We can respond to the wounds and scars that we have with anger, bitterness, guilt, lack of forgiveness, depression, but in doing so we will never move forward.

I confess that I have not always reponded the right way when I have experienced wounds that have cut me to the deepest part of my being. There are scars that you and I carry with us everyday that others cannot see. We carry them in the most secret place of our memories. When I begin to place too much focus on MY wounds and MY scars and MYself.......I am reminded of the wounds and scars my Savior took for me as He was crucified for me. There is no experience, no wound, no scar, that I will ever have to endure alone. God is always near. God knows what I feel. We cannot get so caught up in the past that we forget to live in the present. God is faithful! We have someting far more greater to look forward to. The things here we endure are only temporal compared to what we have to look forward to in eternity.

Revelations 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Today, may you move forward focusing on what God is doing for you, what He has done for you, and what He can do for you today. Press on no matter what you may be experiencing today. With God nothing shall be impossible....Luke 1:37

HOPE IN THE STORM!!

HOPE IN THE STORM

Rising up again facing a brand new day,

Ready to go forth, not sure of my stay.

The rain has begun to pour, the future seems so drear,

I bow my heart and knee to God for He is always near.

At times the rain is heavy, weighing deeply on my heart,

Drowning me within trying to pull me apart.

In the midst of the storm, I seek for God who is my passion,

He then rains down on me His endless joy and compassion.

The storm is for the small and also for the great,

It plunders upon the path of the narrow and the path of the straight.

Storms come and go but one thing I know is true,

No matter how hard the storm may become, O God my hope is You!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Your Blogging Type is Logical and Principled

You like to voice your well thought out opinions on your blog.And if someone doesn't what you write, you really don't care!Serious and blunt, sometimes people take your blog the wrong way.But you're a true and loyal friend to those who truly get you.

What's" Your Blogging Personality?

Friday Morning Ponderings

Well good morning friends and visitors. Today I do not have a thought out post or poem to share. This morning I felt like I would just share what came to mind as I sit here at the computer. I just finished playing basketball this morning. Some of us guys from the church play at 6 a.m. (Mon, Wed, Fri). Yeah, call us crazy.
The winter wonderland we had going on up here in Pennsylvania is disappearing. It is raining this morning and is supposed to most of the weekend. It is still quite peaceful in a way. Speaking of peaceful, that is a thought that comes to mind. It is amazing what we will do for peace. We will plan our whole lives just for a glimpse of peace, sometimes not being able to experience it until we are retired. But sometimes then, our health is not good enough to enjoy it. From the time that man was born, there has been an emptiness that has driven him to fill it with something. What has man tried to fill that void with? Friends....they come and go. Riches.....they can be plenty today and gone tomorrow. A sucessful job....never know when that will disappear. Activities and Adventure.....you never know if your health will be good enough to do all that you want. A dream house....what took so long to build can be burnt down in minutes. A huge family.....kids grow up and start their own living your house empty.
So, all that man seeks to fill that void with is temporal. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have those things and experience those things. But when it comes down to it, they will all pass away. We will never be satisfied or filled unless we fill that void with Jesus. The eternal things of life are the things that fill that void and keep it filled. What are some eternal things you ask? Good question! Try seeking peace in the Promises of God's Word. God promises us abundant life if we give our lives to Him. If we trust and believe in Him for all things, we will never be left empty. Try seeking to depend on God for His Provision. Phillippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Try seeking Peace in God and not just in temporal things of life. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the Peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Try having a Passion for the things of God and not just the things that center around you. When it comes down to it, it is not about you it is all about HIM! God is the one in control whether you want to acknowledge that or not. He has the final answer. In the end, He will have the final word. Philippians 3:13-14 says, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Well, I guess that was a long thought on peace. But at times, I find myself seeking to be satisfied by things of this world that do not satisfy. Maybe for a short time, but then I find my self wanting. How sad is that when I can be completely satisfied in Christ. He promises and gives me so much, but then I find myself seeking what the world has to offer. Today may you be reminded of the: PROMISES OF GOD, THE PROVISION OF GOD, THE PEACE OF GOD, AND HAVE A PASSION FOR GOD. He will never let you down. Trust in Him till the end. May the Lord bless and keep you as you continue to seek and follow Him daily. Have a delightful day in the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow, For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

The answer is ..............God!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! -

MUSIC ONLY I CAN

HEAR

Your sweet voice makes a lovely sound that only I can hear,

It brings a smile to my face and to my heart a joyful cheer.

I am in awe of your beauty that goes deeper than what others can see,

My eyes fastened on you my love and you so pleasantly.

Each passing moment with you, is like a peaceful song,

The tune is in my heart and head throughout the day so long.

Your precious spirit and your gracious actions join together in harmony,

Spreading excitement and encouragement like a joyful melody.

Your smile is like a sunrise that opens the door to a brand new day,

Stirring up expressions in my heart that I do not know how to say.

Moment by moment as I experience the warmth of your giving love,

It is like a smooth gentle breeze sent down from heaven above.

Everything you do and say is music only I can hear,

Drawing me closer and closer to you my love, O so very near.

I pray I never grow deaf to the music that you play,

But do all I can to show you my love today and everyday.

THINKING OF YOU ON VALENTINES DAY!!

IF I NEVER CROSS

YOUR PATH.....

Today as I think of you, I know not who you are. I know not if you are close or if you are far away. I know not if I will ever meet you. Our paths may cross as strangers, our paths may cross as friends. If our paths never cross so that we may walk our paths together; then with that I am satisfied. For in this I will know that it was God's will for us not to meet. At times I wish you were here right now, but how can I wish for something that is not mine to have. For me to have you as a lifetime friend is not a right, but a privilege. I do not use my time longing for our paths to cross; for in longing, I am not being steward of the time God has given me. Wishing the best for you in all you experience is the desire of my heart. Remaining content with loving God in the state that I am in is what I must find sufficient. Whether I cross with you or not, to have walked the path God has for me is to have lived life to its fullest. To have walked with God in this life is a life that was lived complete whether the desires of my heart were fulfilled or not. Whether our paths cross or not, God is preparing my love and my heart with the fingerprints of His Word. In doing so, may my heart be ready for the footprints of joy impressed on it as we walk life's path together.

Getting from Monday to Friday

FOOTPRINTS OF

A KING

Constant are your footprints as I follow on this trail,

Stepping out by faith, hoping I do not fail.

You are my King and the Leader of my way,

Fascinated by your wisdom, seeking to find my stay.

I will follow you my King no matter what sea or shore,

For you are the purpose of my life, today and evermore.

Firmly you have stated the direction for my life,

Protecting me from foolishness and unnecessary strife.

What shall be the outcome of following my King,

I have given Him my heart, I try to give Him everything.

Footprints of my King, the passion of His heart,

May I do my best to stay true to both, and never from Him depart.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

As you know, there is so much that happens during a week. The daily schedule of some is so full, you wonder how they have time to breathe. There is so much that happens in our life that is seen. Everyday as a Christian, there is so much going on underneath the facades that we carry. As peaceably as our faces shines, underneath there is a battle that constantly rages like one has never seen. Satan is constantly trying to get a foothold on some area of our life. He is going forth with reckless abandon trying to stir us from the path our King Jesus as placed us on.

It is comforting to know that God is constantly leaving His footprints on our life. Maybe those footprints come in the form of someone else, something we read in His Word, a sermon that we hear, a song that we hear, or just from the small still voice from our Father above. God works in all sorts of ways trying to keep the path clear and keep us steady. Those are the Footprints of a King. Constantly leading the way! Today, may you find peace in the fact that we follow and serve a wonderful King. He is not only our King, He is our Father and Friend..............

ROADMARKS OF LIFE

ROADMARKS OF LIFE

Who is this worn traveler that stands before me as if I should know him? There is a familiar image that brings back thoughts of memories I should remember. He speaks in a tone somewhat like my own but with a matured sternness. His words are selective, precise, and saturated with a tenderness of patience. The facade of his stature reveals that many inner battles have left there mark. He presses on with a diligence I only strive to have when there seems to be no motivation for the day. His time here on life's journey has been weighed, tested, and measured. Yet, his hope is stedfast in the Lord, whom he dedicated his life to years ago. When he speaks of his relationship with Christ, his voice quivers in order to hold back tears. There is a moment of silence as he stands there staring back at me.............

The quietness is broken as I voice my questions, "Who are you? Why do you seem so familiar?" The response I recieved left me speechless and with a renewed perspective of my life. His response to my heart felt questions went like this.....

"I am you. I am just a glimpse of the product of the big picture of God's plan for you. My life has been marred by the roadmarks of enduring circumstances and trials. It has not been easy. At times I have lost my way, but God was there to correct me. My travels have taken me on the mountaintop and through valleys. My heart has been stretched, broken, and mended back together. The wounds I attained have healed. The scars remain to remind me of what I have endured, but more importantly what God has accomplished. Remember, I am not the finished product, but only a glimpse of what God has done and is continuing in you.

I leave you with this: When the path becomes unclear.....TRUST. When the trials come...ENDURE. When your heart wants to run away....HOLD FAST. When tempatation arises.....FLEE. When your emotions cave in....LOOK UP. When loss visits your door.....RELFECT ON WHAT YOU HAVE IN CHRIST. When the battle of wants vs needs begins....GRASP CONTENTMENT. When you begin to close up....SERVE MORE. When you question why....HOLD TO THE TRUTH. When you feel torn, stretched, prodded, up and down, tired, unsure, tested......REMEMBER GOD IS STILL WORKING.........FOR YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS.

"SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR NEEDFUL TIMES"

"SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR NEEDFUL TIMES"

We all at one time or another have been in need of encouragement or just something or someone to give us a lift. Maybe we have been down for no reason at all. Maybe you felt like you had no reason to smile. Just as these thoughts passed through your mind, God seemed to allow that special person to stop by and share a blessing. Maybe someone passed you and just gave a smile, or that friend you you have not seen in a while stops in and brightens your day. The people that we come in contact with; God has allowed for a reason. We should treasure those moments we spend with them. At those most needful times, God sends those special people to share a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement, or just their presence. So when you are feeling down, keep your head up. Look for that special person or instead, be that special person. It will change your day.

Quick Morning Thought

"It is an unchangeable law of God that those who are content with anything less than what they know to be right in the sight of God will sooner or later come to ruin."

As I ponder that thought this morning, I am intrigued by the persistence of my enemy that meets me the second I open my eyes. He calls me friend and walks with me wherever I go. Day by Day, moment by moment he is there providing counsel in all the decisions I have to make each day. You may know my enemy, his name is "Flesh". I know, it is a strange name, but a name he has had for a very very long time. I must say that none of his counsel has been wise or helpful in any way. Of course I must say that I have chosen his counsel at times as I am sure you have to. He likes to prod in the area of the battle between what I am content in doing what is right and what I know to be wrong.

Today as I carry on about my daily business, I go forth by faith in my Lord Jesus Christ who is also always with me. I pray that as you go forth today that you will remember to grow a deaf ear to our enemy "Flesh". Remember that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with what He has given us, how He has made us, where He has put us, and what He is going to do with us. So though our battle with the "Flesh" may continue day by day. God has already won the war! Go on with faith and strive for those things that have an eternal sustenance. That is where contentment is found....In Christ!

"Philippians 4:6-8"

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoevr things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

FAITH

HEBREWS 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him:

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,

and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek

Him."

F OCUSING

A LWAYS

I N

T HE

H OPE THAT LIVES WITHIN YOU, JESUS CHRIST, WHO WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU.

IN HIS COMPANY

IN HIS COMPANY

(by: Tyararr Jones)

In His company, I bow before Him as King,

Master and Sustainer, the giver of all things.

In His company, I listen to Him in awe as my loving master,

He protects and guides me through all of life's disasters.

In His company, I follow Him as shepherd and guide,

I long for Him to beckon me to be by His side.

In His company, I kneel in silence, for He is God,

My thoughts, my heart, He daily prods.

In His company, there is grace and bountiful peace,

When I am tried, broken and burdened, to Him I release.

In His company, I confide in Him as Saviour and friend,

Upon His loving promises I can always depend.

In His company, I am a recipient of His love that has no measure,

To be loved by Him is truly a priceless treasure.

O to be in His company, I do not deserve,

I focus all that I am and have toward Him to serve.

One day in His company we all shall be,

Singing His praises all throughout eternity.

A LITTLE SOMETHING FROM A MENTOR OF MINE

JOHN 3:16

John 3:16 ---Greatest Verse

For God ---Greatest Lover

So Loved ---To the Greatest Degree

The World ---The Greatest Number

That He Gave ---The Greatest Act

His Only Begotten Son ---The Greatest Gift

That Whosoever ---The Greatest Invitation

Believeth ---The Greatest Simplicity

On Him ---The Greatest Person

Shall Not Perish ---The Greatest Deliverance

But ---The Greatest Difference

Have ---The Greatest Certainty

Eternal Life ---The Greatest Possession

THE DIFFERENCE .......

THE DIFFERENCE

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day,

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, " But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock,

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day,

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Today, may you be driven with a fresh new pursuit to know God, seek God, talk to God, love God, be used of God, tell others about God, include God, think of God, trust God, depend on God, serve God.......to do this, it will take you putting aside what you think is your time and giving God all your time.

ECCLESIASTES 3: 1,11,14

There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven--He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

THE DIFFERENCE .......

THE DIFFERENCE

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day,

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, " But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock,

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day,

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Today, may you be driven with a fresh new pusuit to know God, seek God, talk to God, love God, be used of God, tell others about God, include God, think of God, trust God, depend on God, serve God.......to do this, it will take you putting aside what you think is your time and giving God all your time.

ECCLESIASTES 3: 1,11,14

There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven--He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

HIS NAME IS JESUS

His Name Is Jesus

Do you know Him, this man of whom I humbly speak,

He meets the needs of the strong, the rich, the poor and the weak?

I was a lover of many men when I met Him at the well,

He forgave my wicked sin and saved me from a greedy hell.

His voice I heard, before my eyes could vastly see,

Not knowing at first who it was that stood in front of me.

Lame since birth lying here in everyone's dust,

The day I walked, I gave to Him my trust.

A leper among men, a stranger to my family and land,

He cleansed me of my filth and led me by the hand.

A victor over a giant when I was just a lad,

He made me a king, gave me more than I ever had.

A persecutor and bystander was I when Stephen was laid to rest,

He changed my name to Paul and I think you know the rest.

I needed to see His hands and feet to believe that He fulfilled His promise,

The man who died upon the cross, even for me, doubting Thomas.

At the bottom of the ship He slept as the sea tossed and roared,

He calmly awoke and spoke a word, the waves bowed to Him as Lord.

Possessed I was by demons, my actions I could not control,

He spoke to them with authority to release their binding of my soul.

I am just a sinner saved by His marvellous grace,

What a day that will be when I see His blessed face

....His name is Jesus.

WHEN WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU WANT COLLIDE

Philippians 4:11-13NASB

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

What do you really want out of life? What is it that tears at you daily that you just have to have? How often have you asked God to give you what you need and not what you want? How often have we asked God to help us pursue what we need? How many of our wants are based off of temporary pleasures? How often do our wants get the best of us and control our emotions for that day?

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with desiring different things. But we must be careful not to let those things consume us. As Solomon reminds us in the book of Ecclesiastes: "the things of this world are all vanity and vexation of spirit." This means that everything here is only temporary. As Christians, we must remember that living right and doing right is what we need to do and what we ought to want with all of our heart. Far to often we let the wants of the flesh control and consume us. Since the Fall of Man there has been an ever continuing struggle of the heart not to be consumed with its wants.

I pray that today you will along with me, take a look at your life. Ask yourself if you are letting your wants have reign in your life. Secondly, sincerely ask the Lord to help you desire the things that you truly need. I leave you with this final thought by

Dr. Dennis Frey of Master's Divinity School.............

"IT IS AN UNCHANGEABLE LAW OF GOD THAT THOSE WHO ARE CONTENT WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD WILL SOONER OR LATER COME TO RUIN."

NEVER FORSAKEN

NEVER FORSAKEN

Bewildered for direction on a path I cannot see,

Trusting in your guidance waiting patiently for thee.

Standing in silence listening to the calming of your voice,

Tired of waiting, shall I press on and make a choice?

My prayers are becoming constant for an answer I wish to know,

Burdened with anxiousness that my knees and heart are brought low.

Seeking for satisfaction in how live and in what I do,

Holding on to your promises that are everlasting and true.

All my life many chances I have cautiously taken,

Faithfully knowing that with you, I shall never be forsaken.

Psalms 37:23-25

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

For for Thought: Today, if you have been praying and seeking the Lord, and you have not recieved an answer: Do not lose faith! God is near and never leaves His children forsaken. Stay faithful and trust Him even when there is barely a drop of faith left in your soul. Press on! God is Faithful.

THE NEW YEAR IS HERE -2006

My mind and heart is caught in a trance as I reflect on the many blessings and challenges that crossed my path in 2005. As I reevaluate myself, I see the scars from the mistakes I made and from the challenges that sought to refine me beyond my comprehension. The canvas of my life was speckled with numerous expreriences and situations that taught me lessons which at times I did not want to learn. I still find myself in the classroom of patience waiting for direction. I am encouraged that this class of learning is not graded by a scale but is a process of daily living.
I do not know what this year holds for me. I do know who holds the future. My God is still in control. I dedicate this post to my God and King. I only hope and pray that I can be more faithful to Him this year than last. My walk with Him has been quite adventurous. I have not always followed Him closely. The stones of doubt, pride, stubborness, loneliness, etc. were the familiar hurdles that sought to trip me along my journey. I press on into this New Year with a refreshed spirit and a divine motivation. May my mind and heart be constantly clouded with Job's question as he suffered through the trial of his life: "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"(Job 2:10)
The reigning thought that I cannot keep to myself that lifts me to the rock that is higher than I is this: Though my family change, my friends change, my circumstances change,
and though I change....God and God's love for me never changes!!! I pray that that thought and promise will encourage you to walk faithfully with our God, no matter what you may endure in this New Year. I would like to leave you with my favorite verses that I cherish deeply through the blessings and challenges of my life.

Jeremiah 32:27 - Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?

I Thessalonians 5:24 - Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is CHRIST and to die is gain.

I Samuel 12:24 - Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.

ON COMMON GROUND

I wrote this poem as I reflected on my interaction with the dear Chilean Christians we were able to serve with.

ON COMMON GROUND

Greetings to you my brother whom I have never seen,

and whose tongue at times I do not understand.

You approach me as if we have met before on some foreign land from here.

It cannot be that we have shared in conversation before. I embrace you as Family

even though we are of no relation. Confounded in shackles of

thought for why you recieve me so. As the days go by, clarity

finds itself browsing upon us. A stranger you are to my skeptical

eyes, but a friend so quickly to my heart. Intrigued I am by the way

you think and communicate. Chained is my tongue at times to respond

adequately so you understand me. As our fellowship prolongs, I begin

to realize that the ground which we stand has been shared before.

Something that cannot be clearly defined gives us a bond that cannot be broken.

The bond we share is in the God we share and pray to. Though the language

we speak be different, our God hears up both the same. To have shared

in the encounter of service with you has been refreshing and a blessing.

Though the soil we have served on may be foreign to me, the altar upon

which we both bow is only foreign to those who do not know the God we serve. Thank You!

Probably my favorite pic taken at Camp Pique

 

This road leads to the front gate of the camp. Not really a gate since you can actually walk around either side and get in.

 

Some other members of the workteam to Chile. The guy in the red shirt is not part of our group.

 

View of the landscape of Camp Pirque

 

 

Sometime around 9:00 in the evening at Camp Pirque

 

CAMP PIRQUE

Surrounded by a mountainous canvas both scenic and divine,

Hidden with dirty roads, protected by a thorny vine.

Unlimited with potential though masked by so much needed care,

Who will pick up my torch and upon your shoulders my burdens bare.

Foreign are my visitors who come to service my many needs,

Loud is my cry, and unshaken are my pleads.

Firm is my name and the foundation on which I stand,

Your time, effort, and care, I innocently demand.

I desire to be used for a purpose pure in its goals,

A place to enjoy, a source of hope to lost souls.

May those that visit me, leave with more than when they came,

The true reason I exist is to bare Jesus' name.

More Mountains!

 

Snowcapped mountain surrounding Camp Pirque

 

 

Behind me is the city of Santiago

 

BACK FROM CHILE !!!- PREVIEW

Well, I am back in the states. I want to thank all those that were praying for me while away in Chile for two weeks. I had a tremendous time. The Lord really blessed and allowed us to get quite a bit of work done. There is still so much to do. I am writing this post as a preview to the other excerpts I will be posting about my trip to Chile. I will be posting several pics of my trip to Chile as well as three poems that I wrote while over there based on my trip. To those who are wondering what my trip was for and what we did, I will share that now.
There are about four Christian camps that are in Chile right now that are overseen by a Mission board. They are all in quite bad shape. What I mean by that is, there is land and beautiful scenery, but no concept of what real a camp program is. The buildings are a worst for wear and I mean you would not want to live in them for any length of time. The purpose of our trip was to focus on one camp specifically named "Camp Pirque". It has been around for at least 15 years or so. Looking at it you would wonder how a camp could be there. As I heard a lot on this trip, "It has a lot of POTENTIAL!" There are several other work teams scheduled right now to head over to Chile in the next few months. Our work team began the wonderful task of building the 300 concrete posts needed to help fence in the 15-20 acres of land the camp sits on. In the pics I will be posting, you will see the many beautiful mountains that surround the camp. Breathtaking!! We worked some pretty long days since it does not get dark in Chile right now till around 9:30 to 10:00 at night. It is there summer right now.
The Chilean Christians were very kind and hospitable. I got to work closely with two men named Pedro (70yrs old-retired pastor) and Hermon(30 yrs old-spoke a little english). My time spent with them was great. We spent everyday mixing, pouring, and wheel burrowing concrete. During those days they quizzed me and taught me many spanish words and phrases. After a while I think they actually thought I was Chilean....well, maybe not. It was truly hard to say goodbye to them at the end of our two weeks.
Two of the highlights of my trip I would like to share before closing are: 1. Being able to sit in a worship service that was completely in Spanish, and 2. To hear fellow Christians pray in a different language and know that the same God I pray to in English hears them. These two highlights are the basis of one of the poems I will be posting entitled "Common Ground".
I would like to thank you all who visit my blog page. I hope and pray that the things you see and read in some way encourage you or provoke you to think. We serve an amazing God! May the Lord bless and keep you as you continue to follow and seek Him daily. If you have never been on a Mission trip, I would encourage you to go. It is a great opportunity to see things in a different perspective and to see how other brothers and sisters in Christ serve and worship the Lord. Take care and have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year in the Lord!

I AM IN CHILE......WILL GIVE UPDATE SOON

Greetings friends,
This is just a little note to let you know that I am out of the country. I am currently in Chile on a mission trip. I will be back in the states on the 15th of December. If you have been wondering why I have not posted anything lately, then this is why. Thank you for your patience and for your prayers. I will post pictures and give a full update of my trip when I return. May the Lord bless and keep you all until our paths cross again. Take care and God bless!

Tyararr

A PURITAN PRAYER:

Something to think about as we reflect on Thanksgiving and the many things God has done for us and is doing right now.

A PURITAN PRAYER

When thou wouldst guide me I control myself,

When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself,

When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself.

When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself,

When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,

When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;

I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself;

Instead of thee I look to man's approbation, and am by nature an idolater.

Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.

Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,

Nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.

Help me see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou doest cast me lower, when riches are my idol thou dost wing them away, when pleasure is my all thou doest turn it into bitterness.

Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart;

Show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience, or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.

Then take me to the cross and leave me there.

BLAMLESS!!!

BLAMELESS

Unspotted, pure, and blessed from beginning to end,

He belongs to a realm which I cannot comprehend.

His eyes have partook in wonders I do not know,

Feared by those on high and those referred to as low.

Earth is His footstool and the place which we live and rest,

Men bow down to him and commit to Him their best.

Creation was the response of His spoken word,

Man was the result of His living breath.

Broken for me that I might be mended from sin's grasp,

Lifted up in my place that I might be brought low.

HOLDING PLACE

HOLDING PLACE

Lord, has my patience not reached the end of its stretching?

A spirit ready to move but restrained for loss of direction,

Focused not on myself, but on vessels seeking truth.

Make this time of holding peaceful, for my heart yells for more.

May my heart find the satisfaction of resting in You.

This holding place is my refinery, molding me for the next step.

Fervent for a new cause, faithful to the risen Christ.

RECKONED

RECKONED

The roof has been lifted and the doors open wide

Life's waters have flowed through, deep and side to side.

Winds of storm leaving no dark crevace to hide

The weak searching for relief and someone with to abide.

Can peace be found in the camotion of blind direction

Souls running from the truth which brings them correction....

I stand reckoned as a man torn from the inside out

My hope is in God, my foundation in whom I have no doubt.

My constructor is God, He is also my King

He lifted me after the storm when I could not sing.

My foundation is God and O so much more

He mended my broken heart and gently replaced its door.

The giver of my storm is God, I also call Him my Friend

My Comforter, my Sustainer from beginning till end.

My legs are getting tired standing here. 

I hope that cake does not fall! 

The bride and groom 

Me and the bridesmaid I walked with. 

Some more Groomsmen from the wedding. 

Here is me in my 13th wedding. Yes, officially I have now been a Groomsman thirteen times. The guy next to me is the Groom.