Muppets!

For all you muppets fans out there. Check out this funny video remake of "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Thankful III

35. Pay Days
36. Old Friends
37. Clean Garages
38. Time with my kids
39. Days off
40. Tom and Jerry
41. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting
42. Scholarship Money!
43. My mother-in-law's Sweet Potatoe Casserole
44. My health
45. more to come.....

I'd love to hear what's on your list, so drop me a line.

Thankful Part II

I just have to give a great big praise and thanks for what just happened! I just received an email confirming that I have been blessed with scholarship money to be used for next semester!!!! YEAH! Prais the Lord! Thank you Father for these generous benefactors and your provision for me and my family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Just another thing to be thankful for!

Thankful!

When counselors face a bitter or angry individual, sometimes they suggest that the person do a little exercise. It goes something like this: whenever you think of something your thankful for, write it down. Later, go back and review it to keep your thankful attitude fresh and negativity down. So in honor of this week of thanks, I am going to do my version here:

1. My wife
2. My kids
3. My mom and dad
4. My Bible
5. Banana Pudding
6. Basketball
7. MSU
8. Gummie Bears
9. My laptop
10. Alaska
11. My bed
12. Hot Showers
13. Cool Weather
14. The Mountains
15. Hearing my children laugh
16. Cokes
17. Caramel Cake
18. Brushing my teeth
19. Forgiveness
20. Christ's Sacrifice
21. Flying
22. August 9
23. July 1995
24. December 2000
25. April 2005
26. Freedom from Sin
27. My Truck
28. Pizza
29. Sweet Tea
30. Porch Swings
31. USA
32. Music
33. Star Wars 1-6
34. Sleep
35. TO BE CONTINUED.....

What is friendship with the World?

I would love to hear what your definition of friendship with the world is?

James 4 is our topic scripture. Let me know what you think?

At Your Feet

We finally got our new Casting Crowns last night. We pre-ordered it at Lifeway. It is a really great CD. My favorite is #5 At Your Feet. It speaks of being in His presence at His Feet. I have days where being in His presence is not even close to my thoughts or desires, but then there are those days where seeing Him is all I want.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I want to experience that feeling of being consumed with Him daily. Not during those difficult times only, but every day. When things are good or bad, I want to have my eyes fixed on Him. I wish I understood why I struggle with this area of my walk. I love Him, I really do, however, my desires and actions rarely align. How can I get to the point where this world holds nothing for me? How can I walk in the purpose He has for me?

I have a Bible program on my computer called E-Sword, and on it I have a daily devotion from C.H. Spurgeon. It fits our current discussion, and it says:

“O that I knew where I might find him!”
- Job 23:3
In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!” God’s children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, “O that I knew where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.

This is so very true. Why do we wait for those trials to really turn to Him for help and strength? I am grateful that He has been there when I needed to turn back to Him, but how much more grateful for all He has provided I would be if I just took a few more moments each day at His feet!? That last line really gets me:

Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.

Friends, lets spend more time in His Word, praying, meditating, fasting, and seeking His Face. Let us come before His throne of grace and bow at His Feet, because I just have a feeling that He will be there waiting to impart great strength, wisdom, and power. Only let us come and bow at His Feet.

Do you really want to know?

Last night in class, we discussed whether or not we really want to know God and be in His presence. And of course, we aall said that we do. But just as our professor asked us last night: do you really?

I was definately challenged last night. I was faced with a tough question. Now don't think I'm being anti-Christ or anti-God, but I'm not sure I want to "know" God?
I have to be honest the thought of knowing God is great, but I struggle with the strength and determination to do what it takes to know Him and stay in His presence. None of the things required to seek and know Him are difficult, but when it comes down to putting my faith into actions, well that gets hard.

Far too often I want God plus ____________. (fill in the blank). I am a fearful person when faced with humbly coming to Him for help. I am proud in that regard. And as it says, God opposes the proud. Maybe that is why so many of us (me included) are weak and feeble in our walk?! He is opposing us. He just wants us to rely on Him and allow Him to do what we cannot. We simply need God. Not God and _________. We just need to tell Him we are afraid and ask for help. He says all through scripture that He is willing and able to help us. We simply have to rest in Him. That's when true "knowing" God occurs.

It is in these "knowing" times that we experience His grace, mercy, and power to overcome. We understand what it means to live by the Spirit. We are filled with the power from His Word, and we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. But still I fear. But still I hold back. But...and on and on I go.

I'm certainly hope that I am not the only one to feel this way. And maybe by writing it down here, others will be encouraged to press on. If you struggle, you are not alone. Just let me know, maybe we can figure out how to walk better together.