The Hazy Days of Winter

Scripture of the day
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

As I reflect back at all the things I've created in my life, I can't say I created any masterpieces. Sure there were things that I thought looked pretty cool such as a logo, website, photo, Lego battlecruiser or even a snowman shaped like a dinosaur. But none were a masterpiece.

When I read that God thinks of me as His masterpiece, I am humbled and definitely don't think I could ever measure up to that label. I mean, aren't masterpieces supposed to be perfect, flawless and great? I'm none of those. In fact, if I was creating me, I'd probably take one look, toss me aside and start again.

But thankfully God sees things humans cannot. He sees our heart. He knows what we are capable of doing. He loves us and has great plans for us.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7

Knowing that God looks at the heart, reassures me that I have a place in His Kingdom. I know I'm not perfect on the outside, and I do mess up from time to time, but if He examined my heart, He would find a genuine love for Jesus.

But I know my heart is not perfect. I have struggles and have a lot to learn. The journey I am on is far from over. As I grow and become more obedient to do the good things he has planned for me, I hope to live up to the name "Masterpiece" one day.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for creating me. Thank you for having plans for me to do good things long ago. Forgive me of my shortcomings as I try to succeed in doing good for you. I pray for wisdom and guidance through your Holy Spirit to be the man you intended me to be.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Why did the buck cross the road?

Scripture of the day
Ephesians 6:11 - Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

When you look at most Marvel movies, the superhero put's on his armor to protect themselves and eventually defeats their evil enemy. But unfortunately, our evil enemy won't be defeated until the day Jesus casts him into the Lake of Fire. Until that day, we can put on our own armor that will help us stand firm against the devil's strategies.

The strategies of the devil are vast. I've seen them in my own life and I've seen them over the years throughout society. Satan can be rather persuasive. He can make bad things look good. In fact we're at a time now where our world is running rampant doing and saying things that were once evil and now are good. Isaiah foretold this in his prophetic book:

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. - Isaiah 5:20

The devil is also patient. He was right their with Adam and Eve since the beginning of time. He can be as cunning as a snake as he slithers through the grass. He can wait and roam around like a lion waiting for the perfect time when we are weak or slip up. He will pounce and devour us. We need to be constantly aware of the evil around us.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

Satan is smart. Yes he is our enemy. But one that was amidst the glory of God in heaven. And has millennial of years of experience (both in heaven and earth). He knows human nature and it's weakness. He knows what tempts us and builds upon it.

The devil also does not work alone. Many people think we fight against people but in reality it is the devil's army we fight that have corrupted the minds of men. Satan has his own minions working for him. Demons that roam the earth looking to turn our eyes away from Jesus.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12

It often feels like an uphill battle. Even a losing battle. But as Christians, we know how the story ends for the devil and his people and they will suffer miserably. So what can we do until that great and terrible day of the Lord? We must guard and protect ourselves against evil schemes. We must put on the armor of God to help us.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:13-18

Take a look around. See what people are saying. Look at what the world is becoming. You don't have to look far to see how far downhill we've come. Laws are being put into place to uplift what was once taboo. People can scoff at you and say, "C'mon - get with the times!" But we, as Christians, are aware of what times we are in. The End Times!

Heavenly Father, your Word is so wonderful. Full of wisdom. Help us stay strong in the face of evil. May we always put on your armor to protect us. Let us not be foolish thinking we can take on the devil by ourselves. We need you! The protection you give us will keep us safe. May we continually pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ to be safe as well.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Winter Dunes

Scripture of the day
Romans 8:39 - No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As Christians, it is common to feel unworthy of God's love. Especially at times when we mess up and sin. But we can be assured that God still loves us, even in our darkest times.

But when we start to feel insecure in our faith, we need to look for God's promises. Once we have experienced God's love for the first time, we begin to understand just how much He loves us.

Romans 8:39 is one of key verses in the whole Bible that expresses the extent of God's love for us. The love that is manifested in and through Jesus Christ is so strong, that not one thing can seperate it from us.

Everything in the Heavens and Earth that was created by God, cannot seperate His love through Jesus Christ. That profound truth from God should be a reassureance of how much He loves us.

RANT: 
However, God is also a JUST God. In His love, he will also not let the wicked go unpunished.

I've heard many times from many people how God loves us so much that He would never send anyone to Hell. In fact, there are many who simply do not believe in Hell. That is simply not true as there are many references to Hell or Lake of Fire in the Bible.

Anyone seeking truth cannot pick and choose parts of the Bible as their truth. To know truth, is to trust through faith that the ENTIRE Bible is true, no matter how difficult it is to grasp. 

Those who do not do this will experience a warped perception of the truth. Many cults and fallen churches are based on twisting scriptures to suit their own selfish desires.

Alright, I'm finished ranting but felt this needed to be said. Today's scripture is indeed uplifting and a promise to hold on to.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your eternal love for us that nothing can seperate. Even when I stumble, your love never ceases. Please give me the strength to share your love with others with the mercy and grace that you've shown me.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Time for Snow Removal

Scripture of the day
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Bullies are everywhere. You'll find them in all places, from daycares to seniors homes. And the filth and lies that come out of their mouths often make others suffer.

When I was young, there were bullies around calling names, shouting insults, etc. at me. I remember thinking of the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!"

I have to say, whoever came up with that saying either never was bullied or is in denial. Words can hurt and hurt a lot. I've seen my daughter bullied with lies to the point she's in tears when she comes home from school. It's painful for her to go through and painful for a parent to watch. 

We need to be aware how we talk and how it affects others. Apart from the book of James, here are just a few scriptures that instruct us on speech:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. - Matthew 15:11

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:6

But the are other words even much more powerful than our own, the Word of God. The Bible is alive and active. It's sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword and can cut through soul and spirit.

The word of God pierces our heart, it convicts us of our wrongdoing and transforms our minds. It changes our lives and the lives of others.

Regular reading of God's word keeps you aligned with God and His will for your life. I can easily see when I'm close to God or further away simply by how much time I spend reading the Bible.

His words are so powerful that it shakes up my whole being and changes my life in ways I never thought possible. 

It has the power to help me forgive others (including the bullies in my life). It has the power to help me love the unlovable. It has the power for me to give when I have little to give. And it brings me to a deeper understanding and closer relationship with God Almighty.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your Holy Word. It is powerful, it is alive and it is active. Your word has surpassed the test of time and will never be snuffed out. How great is your wisdom and love spread out generously on the pages for everyone to embrace. How can anyone reject such truth? I pray for an abundance of opportunities to share your word to as many who will receive it.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Beautiful Sillouette

Scripture of the day
Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

Traversing through life can be difficult. Many times we second guess our moves wondering if we made the right decision. 

I've taken many twists and turns in my life that put me in the wrong place - only because I was selfish and chose my own path. But when we reflect on our own life, it is important to differentiate the difficult times into our choices vs God's will.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives is a sure way to step in the right direction. But sometimes God will need to bring us through difficult times so that he can refine our character and we then walk closer with Him.

Some may ask, "Why would I want to follow God only for Him to put me through tough times?" When God puts us through tough times, He is always with us. And it's always for the better.

God will only give us what we can handle. But through each tough time, He builds our faith and character. The key is to allow God to work in our lives and mold us. The more we resist, the more painful and longer the process will take.

Obedience is vitally important when following God. The natural tendency is when things get tough, to take the reins from God and figure things out on our own. That most definitely is a recipe for disaster. 

Because God sees all and wants the very best for us, why not let him lead the way. His ways are for good. He will not abandoned us in our times of need. We need to trust Him and we will see the goodness He has for our lives.

Heavenly Father, I pray for your Holy Spirit to guide my life. May I be obedient in your direction. May I trust in your ways even if they don't make sense to me. Give me the strength to carry on when times are tough. Thank you for refining my life so that my light may shine.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

There is Beauty in the Coldest of Days

Scripture of the day
Matthew 19:26 - Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Over the past few years God has really been working in my life. It seems it was an endless struggle after struggle. And it was early on that I realized I could not do this life on my own. In fact, without God, it was downright impossible.

It's only when I started relying on God that I began to see miracles in my life. There were miracles of safety, miracles of provision (money and food) and miracles of peace and contentment, even in the most stressful situations that would cause a normal person to panic.

This is in whole to my relationship with Jesus Christ. Through that relationship God has allowed me to do the impossible. Many mountains have been before me but I was able to climb over each one or the mountain simply moved allowing a clear path.

These mountains, as I've mentioned in a previous post, were family issues, sickness, financial struggles, work issues and now unemployment. However, I no longer fret as I know God has a plan for me and he's been working in my life constantly blessing me through each trial.

Through faith, I trust now instead of panic. I've learned to be still and know that He is God. I have a testimony to show that in all impossible circumstances, God had led me through victoriously when I leaned on Him.

Through God all things are possible. What really helped me through these circumstances was thanking God for what I do have. I always tried to stay positive.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It was not easy to get to this point in my life. Many struggles I've had in my walk with Christ early on were painful. I often rejected his help and was disobedient thinking I'll solve my problems my way. Unfortunately, doing things my way always ended up in a bigger mess than if I had relied on God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for walking with me during those tough times in my life. Thank you for teaching me to rely on you. Your goodness is far richer than anything I can do on my own. You make the impossible - possible!

In Jesus'name,

Amen.

Another Bitter Cold Day

Scripture of the day
Isaiah 43:19 - For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

This scripture by itself can mean a multitude of things. But what does it really mean when God says he will do something new?

In the previous verses, it is describes the time God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. He crushed their enemies with the Red Sea and eventually led them to their final destination, Canaan (which is now called Israel but also encompassed parts of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon).

This 'new thing' that God will be doing is delivering His people again through Jesus Christ. It will be the time when we are brought back to Earth with Jesus for His 1,000 year reign.

We will have, at that time, transformed into our new bodies. Ones without sickness plagued by sin. We will be provided for by Jesus and will worship Him always.

It's a time we can all look forward to as Christians. The suffering we experience now will be no more. How wonderful it will be to be transformed and live with Jesus. I can't wait for that day when He snatches us up and gathers His flock.

Heavenly Father, I wait with eager anticipation to be in your presence. I long for the days to be transformed into the new body you intended me to have. Until that time, I pray that I will remain faithful and fruitful. Give me strength, Lord and opportunities to share your love.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Brrrrrr!

Scripture of the day
Philippians 1:6 - And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Years ago, I was walking along a trail and I happen to look up along this slope and I saw a rather large, beautiful house that overlooked a valley. I could just imagine the views the home owner would have during the various seasons.

There was only one problem with the house - it wasn't finished. This trail I took became a regular walking path for its beauty. But as I walked by, I saw no one working on the house.

Days became weeks, weeks became months and months became years. Still no one was finishing up the house. As I walked by the house, questions started popping into my head.

Why was the house not being worked on? Did the owner run out of money? Was there something wrong with the house? Would it ever be finished?

Well the house was eventually finished. But only after years of neglect. I still wonder how strong the foundation is every time I walk by.

Today's verse reminded me of how we are like that house except the builder is constantly working. Yes it may take a lifetime to build, but if we allow God to work in our lives, something beautiful is made.

God will never leave us or forsake us. And at times we may feel like that abandoned house. Totally neglected and left to wither away. But God is there working on us.

At times he prepares opportunities for us to grow in Him. At other times he gathers resources and distributes to those in need. Nothing is neglected in His love for us. We just need to be open to accepting His goodness for our lives.

It takes trust, obedience and faith to get through the times in our life when we struggle. It also takes a heart of praise and thanksgiving for all we have and continue to receive.

God has a plan for each of us. Uniquely created to suit our gifts and talents. Sometimes we know where that path leads, other times we are told to wait until further notice and there are times when the path looks completely unpassable. It's in those moments God reaches down and extends His hand to ours and helps guide the way.

We are never alone in this journey. God is with us and will continue his work in us until Christ returns. His work in us is for good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. - Romans 8:28

Heavenly Father, Thank you for not giving up on me. Even when I've been really difficult to work on. I see your love and faithfulness every day. You provide all that I need and more. For this I am grateful. I pray that you will continue to work in my life preparing me for the day of the Lord.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Deep Freeze

Scripture of the day
Psalms 2:11 - Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Over the years, I've had many jobs. But before each job, I had to go through the dreaded interview process. I put on my best clothes, review my past experience and then go in with the hope that I will be found as an acceptable candidate for the job.

In the beginning, I went in to these interviews with fear and trembling. I didn't know what to expect, who these people are and what they would think of me. Even though I think I'm getting a bit more comfortable of the process, I still get nervous just before I meet with the person hiring.

The fear and trembling I had during my interviews should be shown through reverence when we worship the Lord. Sometimes I feel like the reverence in churches today are being replaced with a warm, soothing, comfortable atmosphere.

The focus has shifted from how we worship God to how it will make churchgoers feel. I'm not saying all churches are this way, but I've definitely seen a trend. 

And I've jumped on the bandwagon while attending church services. I used to get dressed in my finest clothes, bring my Bible and with anticipation look forward to worshipping God with reverence. Now some churches don't care if you bring the Bible, serve coffee during service and people casually show up late EVERY service.

We serve the God who created the heavens and the universe. Every breath we take and beat of our hearts come from God. And yet we treat God like a genie in a bottle only to summon Him when there's something we want.

As the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we need to serve with reverent fear and rejoice with trembling. Not just at church but every single day. We must really understand who God is and who we are.

Society today tells us we are important, we are number one and we become narcissistic. We are more concerned about how many followers we have than following Jesus.

We need to take a step back, pause and reflect who we are and who are we following. Is it God or this world? If our priorities are in the wrong place, we need to change the way we think.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

It's easy to unknowingly drift into a way of thinking that the world wants us to be. It's only through continually reading of God's word and prayer that we can protect our minds against the desires of the world.

I've seen many churches succumb to worldly views. It's tragic and an abomination of God. They lead Christians down to a path of destruction. Let us always be aware of our surroundings and focused on Jesus, giving Him the reverence He deserves.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for being consumed by worldly desires. May my focus be on you and the things of heaven. May I serve you with reverent fear and rejoice in trembling. You are my King, my Lord and I will worship you.

In Jesus'name,

Amen.

Snow Day!

Scripture of the day
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Before I was a Christian, I had the mentality of, "Live and Let Live". Meaning, I'll do whatever I want and you do what you want, just don't hurt me or my family. 

I was raised knowing right from wrong but never really felt convicted if I lurked near doing something bad. And I knew there was bad people around but I was more concerned about myself than worrying about the state of the world.

Fast forward to today, and things are totally different. Having the Holy Spirit in my life uncovered my eyes to sin. Not just my sins but the sins of everyone. Now when I sin, I feel the guilt of nailing Jesus to the cross to forgive my sins again and again and again. It weighs heavy on my heart.

Not only that, when I see the evils of this world and they appear be running rampant these days, my head wants to explode with frustration. I want it all to end.

I pray for God's Kingdom to come, for it to be all over, to get a new body, to live in a place without sin. But nothing happens. The world keeps getting darker, the temptations keep getting harder and the distractions keep on getting stronger.

It may, at times, feel that God is being slow about his promise but the fact is, He does not want anyone to perish. He loves everyone and wants to give people time to repent of their sins and come to Him. He wants no one destroyed.

So why should we wait as the world is getting worse? Why does God not come now when sin is ablaze on earth? Because even in this darkest hour, there are people coming to Jesus. 

There are those who have hit rock bottom to realize that there is more to life than themselves. They now see their sin in their lives and are turning away from it so they can be right with God.

As Christians, we must perservere to the end. We must also remember the time when we were sinners and we did not know God. Now that we know Him our senses have been heightened to sin. We can see it clearer than ever before.

We need to have the patience God has to work with people who are struggling in sin. We need to have the love of Jesus to reach out and forgive others. Let us not forget our own sins and struggles and how Jesus rescued us.

It's easy to give up in frustration or defeat. But we must fight the good fight until the end. We must win hearts over to Jesus through love.

God's promise is a promise. Jesus will return and we must be living a life pleasing to Him when He does. Do we care more about our lives than the salvation of others? Our problems as Christians pale in comparison to those who do not know Christ. Let us remember what our mission is and go out and do it.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are faithful in your promises. I wait with a fearful but eager heart for your return. Until that great and glorious day, may I be a faithful servant and be ready to share the Good News through love and kindness at every opportunity. Give me the strength and protection to endure these wicked days. Let me be a beacon of light in the darkness.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Tressel Bridge at Sunset

Scripture of the day
Colossians 3:1 - Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

The next verse in Colossians (v2) puts the scripture of the day into perfect context by saying, "Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."

This has been a battle within me most of my Christian life. And part of it may stem from the various jobs I've had in the past. The majority of my career has been in marketing.

Marketing has taught me to focus on the things of earth. When selling a product, my job was to create excitement about why a customer needs to have it now (here on earth). 

The struggle I had was that I knew deep down inside of me that anything I'm promoting really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I mean, my job matters in that I needed money to pay bills and eat but marketing, as much as I enjoy that field, often tugged at my soul.

The struggle also starts when one becomes a Christian. You can't help but feel like you're waivering back and forth. Before I was a Christian, I never had that struggle within me. The world was at my fingertips and simply a place to conquer.

Now as a Christian, I see the other side of the coin. I am fully human while here on earth, yet I now have this strong feeling that this place is no longer my home. But now at times I feel trapped in my old worldly body, longing for Christ to take me home.

Yes, I have moments of weakness when I see a beautiful house or a cool looking vehicle. I start to want these things that I know will never satisfy me until I'm home in heaven. 

I kind of feel like my dog does when we leave the house. I know she's sad and doesn't feel at peace until we return to pick her up in our arms. When we're all together, she feels like everything is now perfect.

I won't feel that way until I return home with Jesus and the Father up in Heaven. Until that time, what am I to do?

I need to continually put my focus on the things of heaven, not the things of earth. I have a new life in Christ and I need to focus on living that way. I need to focus on the realities of Heaven.

Heavenly Father, I long to be with you in Heaven. May I not be distracted by the things of this earth but focused on what lies ahead. As I continue to walk this earth, I pray for opportunities to tell others about you and the wonderful place you have prepared for us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.