New Year's Resolution !

Hard to believe that this year is almost over. This is the time of year that I usually set down and figure out all of the things I want to accomplish for the new year to come. Thinking back on this year, I can see that there are a few things I did not get accomplished. For instance, there's my "honey do" list that has been getting longer since I retired. I do feel a little bit of pride for finishing a few items listed, but there is always something I didn't get finished that seems to come back and haunt me.

I think that my New Year's Resolution is going to be to get rid of my "honey do" list and start out fresh. I would start out the year by not allowing myself to procrastinate on things that need to be done around the house. I'm going to set up a priority list on the things I want to accomplish in 2010, by putting the most important thing first and the least important thing last. I'm not gong to let myself feel guilty about the things that don't get done on the bottom of my list.

I believe that this is the problem that many people have today. Sometimes we allow our minds to dwell on all of the little unimportant things in life, instead of concentrating on the things that makes life worth living.

Let us all set our priorities next year on the things that really matter. Let us work on our relationship with God, our love for our families, and reach out to help those who are less fortunate and in need.

I wish everyone a Happy New Years and may God continue to bless each of you.

Merry Christmas

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace,good will toward men!” (Luke 2: 8-14)

The Free Gift of Salvation

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

We have such a great and loving God, full of Mercy and Grace. It is hard for me to comprehend the extent of our God's love for us. God loved us so much that He came to earth, incarnated as Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. When I think of the pain and suffering that my Lord endured just too save a sinner like me it makes me want to reach out to Him and say "Thank you Lord!". My Lord's suffering makes anything that I might go through seem so minor and insignificant.

Just the thought of everlasting life and knowing that God has a place for me in Heaven brings peace and joy to me even in trying times. Do you have the peace and joy that I am talking about? God's gift of Salvation is free. All you have to do is accept His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Is this the day that you will accept your free gift from God?

Are You Thirsty?

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4: 13-14)

God's Creation!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen ... (Romans 1:20)

While my wife and I were camping along the Oregon coast this last Summer, I took this picture looking out towards the ocean at Sunset Beach. God's love and beauty is reflected in His creation. Thank you Lord!

Follow Me!

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)

Yesterday, while visiting with one of my Hospice patients, I began to think about how much our Lord loves us and that He promises us that He will never allow anyone or anything to take us away from Him. This biblical truth is also confirmed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:38-39.

Even tho this dear soul was dying from heart failure, he explained to me his love for the Lord and that when the time was right, the Lord would take him home. We discussed the joy and happiness that all Believers have in knowing the blessed assurance that, in God's timing, we will all be in the loving arms of our Savior.

How sad it is that some people will never hear the Shepherds voice when He knocks on the door of their hearts and says "Follow Me". Even tho it is God's desire to have everyone accept His son Jesus as their Lord and Savior, few will follow. What will your answer be when the Lord knocks on your heart's door?

Jesus Lightens Our Burdens in Life

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 25: 28-30)

With the Christmas season comes a lot of joy and happiness when we are with our families and share with each other the love that comes from giving oneself. But not all will be joyful and happy as Christmas draws near. Those who are out of work, homeless, lonely and without families, may feel themselves slip into a depression.

Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will share our "Yoke" and make our burdens light. What does our Lord mean by this? Well, first of all, a yoke was used in Jesus' day on oxen so the heavy burdens (loads) could be shared equally with each animal. So Jesus wants to share your "Heavy Burdens".

The dictionary defines "Heavy Laden or Burden" as being very tired, troubled or carrying a heavy load. Now when we trust in Jesus and allow Him to share our "Yoke" all of our burdens in life become "lighter" and we find rest for our souls. Thank you Jesus for making my burdens in life easier to handle as we draw near to celebrate Your birthday.

Believe in Him!

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)

I remember, as a kid growing up, I attended a little Quaker church along with my brothers and sisters. I recall all of the friendly people there and the fun I had listening to Bible stories in Sunday School. I also cherished the memories of all the fun activities that this small Quaker church had to offer. I really enjoyed those years going to church, but when I think back on it, I now realize that I was only attending church for the fun and activities offered. I did not attend church to worship God.

That may explain why I didn't have much to do with religion when I became an adult. In fact, I went out of my way sometimes, to mock Christianity. I remember when I was in my early twenties living in a small town in Eastern Oregon. Two local church people came up to my door to welcome my wife and I to the community and witness to us. I remember how rude I was to them as I explained that I didn't need God and that "Only the weak" relied on Him. If I could only go back into time and tell those nice folks how sorry I was for acting that way towards them.

Sometimes God needs to get our attention by allowing things to happen in our lives that we don't like. How are things going for you? Is today going to be the day you reach out to the Lord?

Nature of God’s Love

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 6-8)

Well, Thanksgiving is over now and most of the left-over turkey is gone. While I set here thinking about the love I have for my family and fun we had just spending time together, it's hard not to think about God's unconditional love.

It is hard for me to imagine that even before I became a "believer" and was living my life in a self-centered and selfish way, God still loved me. In fact, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for all of our sins (John 3:16). Now that is past, present and even future sins.... Isn't that amazing.

And God made it so easy to draw near to Him. All we need to do is to turn away from our sins and to turn to Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)." The question is: Are you going to accept God's free gift of Salvation today?

Adam Lambert a Disgrace to American Idol!

I have to admit that my family and I all watch American Idol and we all find ourselves wrapped up in "Who" is going to be the next American Idol Star. But Adam Lambert really lowered all standards of decency.

All of the headlines about Adam Lambert just makes me want to vomit. And after his American Music Awards performance last Sunday night, before millions of fans, he showed the world that he had no moral values regarding decency or regard to who might be watching his sexual fantasies preformed on stage.

To top it off, Adam smugly and arrogantly admits that he may have gotten a bit carried away "It's choreography, we were dancing. The sexuality of it kind of got a little more extreme when I got up on stage. I think the adrenaline kind of took me over, and I admit it, and I'm proud of the fact that I did get a little carried away."

At any length, what Adam Lambert did on stage, in front of the whole world, was crossing the line of public decency and that I for one, would not walk across the street, to see him preform. And, if I had teenage children, there would be no way I would allow them to even think about watching him preform.

Thanksgiving Day Praise

What comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving. Is it the gathering of your family and friends at the table to enjoy the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and all the trimmings. And don't forget the pumpkin, cherry and apple pies. Or, maybe it's the warmth and love you feel when you are able to set back and watch your grand kids play and run through the house. All of these things come to mind when I think of Thanksgiving Day.

But then I begin to think about all of the families that will not be able to have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones. The families that have no income because of job loss or illnesses. The families that are separated because of the wars that are going on around the world. I think of the homeless and the desperate people that feel that no one loves them anymore.

I know that I can not solve all of the world problems and that sometimes I worry to much about things I have no control over. But one thing I do know for certain is that our God is in complete control and that He loves you. So on this Thanksgiving Day, let us all give thanks to the Lord for what He has done for us. Thank you Lord for my wife and children and all my loving sisters and brothers. Thank you Lord for my church family and the christian fellowship they provide. Thank you Lord for all the blessings you have given me. And finally Lord, Thank you for my Salvation that I can never earn or even deserve.

God's Healing Grace and Mercy

Well, this is my first post on my blog. I really feel that the Lord has been leading me to communicate His love to all that will listen. I know that somewhere in this world there are people just like me who are having a hard time understanding why certain things happen in our lives.

I truly believe that the Bible is from God. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28. When my son died in 2004, I mediated on this verse daily trying to make sense of it. How could any good come from the death of my youngest son! I know that the Spirit of God was working because a calm came over me when it finally sunk in what God was trying to tell me.

For you see, our Mighty and Awesome God knows everything from the beginning to the end. My younger son, before he died, was on fire for the Lord and was able to witness to several of his friends. I realized in God's timing all things work out to the good for those who love Him. So you might say that this tragedy in my life actually drew me closer to the God of Creation.

I know there are hurting parents out there that have lost their beloved children just like me and my wife. I am telling you today, that a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ can and will see you through the rough times. Let me hear from some of you who have been through the ordeal of loosing a child. May God bless each and every one of you.