My Prayer for 2010

Thank You God for all the blessings You have given me during the past year. I want to thank You for loving me so much that You would sacrifice Your only Son just so I can come directly to You. Father God I know that I am a sinner, washed by the blood of Your Son Jesus, and You are a Holy and Awesome God.

I thank You for my wife Margaret who has always been there for me in good times and in bad times. I thank You for giving us three sons who I am so proud of, even though one of them, choose to go Home before his time.

I thank you for my church family and all of my sisters and brothers in Christ. I thank you for the Christian fellowship and all of the spiritual and emotional support they provide.

I thank You for all the earthly material things that You have blessed me with. Lord I pray that I never put anything that I possess above You. Lord I know that all things are from You and that everything is Yours and that I am just Your steward.

Lord it is my prayer that I come closer to You this new year and to know You better by studying and meditating on Your Word and applying it to my life. Lord I pray for patience and the wisdom needed to know when You are working in my life so I can join You. Lord I pray for the courage needed to be a better witness for You and that Your light will shine through me.

Father God, I just pray this all in Jesus’ name. Amen

How's your hearing today?

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 8: 5-8)

The parable that Jesus tells about the sower going out into the field to sow seeds for his crop is very profound. God never intended his Word to be difficult or mysterious. God wants all people to come to Him and accept His free gift of Salvation. Not everyone will accept this free gift because we have a "sin nature" and a "freewill" to make decisions. This parable explains why some people will not accept God's free gift of Salvation.

In this parable, Jesus is talking about four different ways that people receive the Word of God. The seed represents the Word of God and the Sower represents the Believer spreading the Word. The four different types of soil mentioned in this parable represents the people that the seeds (Word) fall upon.

Now the first type of soil is the "Wayside" or path alongside a field or through a field. It is usually well traveled and the ground is hard and beaten down. The seeds can not grow because there is no soil to cover it. The seeds get eaten by birds (devil) and trampled on by the world. These people hear the Word of God, but the devil removes the seeds or puts doubt in their mind's concerning God. The devil takes away Gods Word from their hearts so they do not believe and do not receive Salvation. These people usually worship false gods, false religions or believe there is no God at all.

The second type of soil is "Rocky" and usually have just a thin layer of dirt on it. The seeds grow but the plants have a weak root system and can easily be pulled up. These people hear and receive the Word of God with joy, but they have no deep roots, so they believe for a while, but in time of trouble or temptation they turn away from God. These people are easily persuaded by false teachers and accept any type of religion that might be popular at the time.

The third type of soil is "among thorns" and are those who, when they have heard the Word of God, they accept it with joy. The seeds grow and have good roots, but the weeds and thorns choke them out. These people are so wrapped up in the world's cares, riches and pleasures that they put God last on their priority list. These people usually stop going to church or just go on Sundays to fulfil their "religious duties". The worldly (thorns) concerns make it impossible for these people to produce fruit to maturity or give freely of their time and resources to God.

The forth type of soil is "Good Ground" and are those people who, having heard the Word of God, has accepted it into their hearts and have produced fruit many times over by doing God's will. These seeds (God's Word) have fallen on soil that is enriched and deep enough where the seeds can grow into a mature plant with a strong root system. These people are not swayed by what false teachers say about Jesus and all of the false religions of the world. They are secure in their Salvation and know that their name is written in the "Lamb's Book of Life". They know that the more a person studies and meditates on God's Word, the deeper and stronger their "roots" will be.

What kind of soil were you when you first heard the Word of God. Were you "a wayside", were you "rocky" ground, were you "among thorns", or were you "good ground"? Jesus cried out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”. How is your hearing today? Can you hear God speaking too you?

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?