Back To School

For the teachers in Dothan City Schools, it is back to work today. The summer is over. It is always sad to see that nice, long vacation come to an end. But the arrival of the new school year does bring exciting new opportunities from God. I wanted to share what God has done to me over this past summer. When the school-year ended, the math teacher with the highest amount of seniority in the department retired after 35 incredible years of teaching. That put me at the top in seniority of the math department. I have waited patiently for her good classes, and expected to get those classes once she retired. Well, I didn't. In fact, instead of getting any upper-level classes, I got below-level ones. At first I was angry, but then realized that is was not anger as much as it was hurt feelings. Everyone wants to feel like they are moving up at work. And after 15 years of waiting, my time had come. But I was moved down instead and it crushed my spirit. As I thought back over my performance from the previous year, it was easy to see why I hadn't moved up at all. Most of the year, I carried a bad attitude, fussed at everything I was asked to do, and just generally had a bad year. Would I have given myself the upper-level classes if I had been in the Principal's shoes? Honestly, I don't think I could have.

So after some serious praying and asking all parties to forgive me, I started the summer with the attitude that I got the classes that God allowed me to get, and He doesn't make mistakes. Over the summer, I was asked to tutor some needy students for a 2-week period, and I immediately accepted. Then a week later, I was asked to go to a conference out of town for 5 days. Again, I did not hesitate. Some time after returning from the conference, my principal complimented me and how much of a change he had seen in my attitude in just a short time. I told him that God straightened me out. I want you to know, while I was at school yesterday, "certain unforeseen circumstances" occurred, and as a result, my schedule was changed to include two of the highest-level courses that the school offers. I was so shocked and excited! One may call it a coincidence. However, we who trust in Jesus know there are no coincidences. I totally believe God stepped in and helped me get those classes, but only after I admitted my bad attitude and asked Him to fix it for me. I just love Jesus! What is it that He can't do? I know this "miracle" only pales in comparison to others. But to me, it is a perfectly clear sign that God still helps those who love Him.

Jeremiah 17:10 says, "I, the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve"

Father, thank-you for continuing to be real in my everyday life. Please give me the strength to continue back to writing these daily devotions. In Jesus name, Amen.

Faith Hall of Fame

The Bible is full of people who had an extraordinary amount of faith. If I asked you to list 5 people from the Bible who had tons of faith, whom would you list? Job? Mary? Moses? How about Paul or Daniel? No doubt, these would certainly make the "Faith Hall of Fame" But I want to talk about one whom you may or may not have thought about. What do you think about Noah's amount of faith? Here was a man preaching to the people that a giant flood was coming to destroy everything on earth. More than just preaching it, he also started building a giant boat to prepare for it. In fact, the boat he was building was larger than the biggest body of water in the area. It would have been impossible for the ark to navigate the entire length of the Euphrates River. At the time he started building the ark, Noah was already around 500 years old. The people must have thought he was just an old mental case, especially when one considers that the flood did not happen right away. Noah slaved for 120 years on the ark before the flood actually began. 120 years? Would you have thought he was just an old fool? I know I would have.

God tells us that it is impossible to please Him without faith. How much faith do we really have? I know it is easy to say that we have a lot of faith, but do we actually have as much as Noah or any of those other Bible Hall of Famers? If placed in the terrible position and situations that some of these Bible people were placed, would we still be preaching the Mighty name of Jesus? I guess there is really no way to answer that question. How would we really know how we would react to something unless it happened to us personally? What tough situation are you facing at this hour? Do you have enough faith? If you do, then you know it is only a matter of time before God intervenes and pulls you through it. If you don't have enough faith, then ask God to strengthen it for you. I continue to discover that there is no situation or road that I can go down from which my Lord won't come to get me. Pray for faith! There is an old saying, "I hope my ship comes in before my dock rots". God's time is perfect time. Ask Him for more faith right now.

Revelation 2:10 says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Lord, please help me to stay faithful and to continue believing that You will soon turns things in my favor. In Jesus name, Amen.

I'm Proud Of You

I think it is fairly apparent from my previous two devotions that I am a firm believer in Salvation by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it very clear that our good works have nothing to do with our Salvation. So are good works even important? Oh yes, definitely. I grew up without my dad due to divorce, but I was very fortunate to get to know him in my adult life. He was a good man! I can remember how anxious he was to see me when I would make plans to visit him. He always made me feel welcomed in his home, which also included his wife and my three half-sisters. It brought me great joy to learn that my visits brought him great joy. My daddy was proud of me and the things that I had accomplished. I guess everyone wants their dad to be proud of them, even in their adult life. I loved doing things that made him proud of me even though I knew he would have loved me the same if I didn't do those things. I realized that even more when I became a daddy. I love my daughter Bailey more than anything in this world. There is nothing she could ever do, good or bad, that would make me love her any more or any less.

I think that is the way it is with God and His children. We could never do anything that would diminish the degree of love that He has for each one of us. But just as I tried to please my earthly father, I find myself striving even harder to please my Heavenly Father. I want to do great works that reflect my true dedication and love for Jesus. I'm not really sure if God looks at it in that same way, but I still find myself trying to please Him. There is no doubt that He can be pleased, for He announced at least twice how pleased He was with Jesus. I know I can never even come close to the Goodness of Jesus, but that doesn't make me want to try any less. When Jesus Saved me, He also empowered me with the Holy Spirit. It is this Holy Spirit who motivates me to do good works, and who convicts me when I don't. I don't want to simply be an "arm-chair" Christian. I always want my external evidence to reflect my internal conviction, even when it doesn't really matter.

James 2:14 says, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works?"

Father, teach me to do the things that please You. I know I can do nothing that is good without Your help. In Jesus name, Amen.

No Place For Guilt

If you worry about your Salvation or know somebody who does, please read today's devotion with an open mind and heart. I am not a preacher nor am I a Bible scholar. I have not been to theology school, nor do I attend church as often as I should. I don't read or speak a lick of Hebrew nor Greek, and even though my Bible is written in perfect English, I still find much of it over my head. But I am absolutely, positively convinced about one thing: If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on a cross and was resurrected, and you have asked Him to wash away all your sins, then you are Saved and have Eternal Life...Period! Please don't even give it a second thought. John 3:16 and at least 17 other Bible verses teach this simple but most critical Truth.

The reason I chose to write this devotion today is because I keep running into people who are afraid they have messed up too much for God to accept them or that they are afraid they don't do enough good deeds to keep their Salvation. First of all, the Bible tells us that God will never, ever abandon His children. If you accepted Him, you are "stuck" with Him...praise God! There is absolutely nothing you can do, now or later, that will ever sever the love that Jesus has for you. So shake off any worries that you are too "bad" for Him. There is nothing so bad that His blood and Goodness can't cover. Thank God for that, or I would be heading to hell on a sliding board. And also don't worry that you don't do enough good things to keep your salvation. Whether you do 1 million good deeds or no good deeds, you are still saved and on your way to heaven. Those who think good works are necessary for Salvation, I ask you two questions: 1. Which good works? and 2. How many good works? No, Salvation is based totally on our faith in Jesus Christ, and that is a gift which can never be earned. Please don't get me wrong. Good works are a regular part of our Christian life. But we do Good works BECAUSE we are saved and not IN ORDER to be saved. Have you accepted God's free and powerful gift?

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Father, thank-you for your Son Jesus. I have accepted your gift of Salvation, and I pray for all those who have not. In Jesus name, Amen.

Salvation By Faith Alone

The more I learn about Peter, the more I like him. We all know of how he denied Christ on the night Jesus was arrested. We also know of how Jesus forgave Peter. Peter was the sort of man that I would like to be, that is when he was wrong, he was quick to admit it and to start doing the right thing. In the Book of Galatians, again we see Peter doing the wrong thing. He had shifted from preaching Salvation by grace to Salvation by works, namely, the works of the Jewish faith in the Old Testament. Paul called him on it. In fact, Paul confronted Peter in front of "them all". Again, Peter saw the errors of his ways and repented. Lord, teach me to be more like that when I am wrong.

This debate of salvation by works and salvation by faith is one of the biggest dividers among Christians today. Because of what I have read from God's Word, I am a firm believer that we are saved by our faith in Jesus, and not by any good works we can perform. We do good works because we are saved and not in order to be saved. Paul states in Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified." In other words, we can not be saved by going to church, being baptized, giving to the poor, keeping the 10 commandments, or any other good work. Sure, we should strive very hard to do these things, but these things don't "earn" us everlasting life. In fact, Eternal life can not be "earned" at all. It is simply a gift from God. And the only way we can accept that gift is by accepting Christ as our Personal Savior. Have you accepted God's free gift? I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, "Jesus Christ: Our get out of HELL free card."

Father, thank-you for drawing me to accepting Christ. I pray for those who have not accepted Your free gift. Please draw them too, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

From Faith To Fish

It was sometime around dawn on the sea of Galilee. Some of the disciples had been fishing all night but had caught nothing. As they were about to row back to shore, they saw Jesus standing on the bank. He asked them if they had caught anything, but they told him no. So Jesus suggested that they cast their nets on the right-side of the boat and they would catch some. They did what He said, and the nets were barely able to hold the multitude of fish! How do you think they felt? These guys were professional fisherman, and they must have thought this man on the shore was crazy. You see, according to the Book of John, the disciples did not know that the man on the shore was Jesus...not until they had caught all the fish. They could not recognize him from their boat. What does this suggest?

If they had known it was Jesus from the start and followed His advice, then it would show that faith in Jesus is a very powerful thing. But how could it be considered faith in Jesus if they did not even know it was Jesus? This is the way I like to interpret it: Many times, Jesus leads us through someone else. When we ask Jesus for help, we shouldn't expect that help to come to us with ringing bells and flashing lights. Sometimes Jesus helps us in more simple, quiet ways...like a stranger on a shore. I think the key is that we need to remain full of faith and hope and stay open to the various ways Jesus may chose to reach us. God has used some pretty unique ways in the past to help His people. Maybe He is trying to help you today in an equally unusual way. Look around and see if you can spot Him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Father, please help us to remember that You answer all our prayers. Sometimes it is not in a loud way. Help us to remember that sometimes You simply whisper. In Jesus name, Amen.

Why?

Perhaps it is one of the hardest questions to answer in the universe. Why does God allow death and destruction to come to innocent people? Take this weekend's deadly tornadoes, for example. Children died! What in the world did those kids do to deserve death in such a violent manner, and worse, how are their parents supposed to cope with such incredible loss? It is not fair. We see "bad" people thriving in society, while other very "good" people have to suffer. How could a God, who is supposed to be so loving, allow such unfair sadness to happen? I am not a Bible scholar, so I don't have a satisfactory answer to that question. Perhaps, nobody does. I know it says in Genesis that because of sin, man will be plagued with hardships and heartaches. But that still doesn't seem right.

This is where the most critical aspect of our Christian life must kick in: faith. No, these things don't seem fair, and it can feel like either there is no God, or He is just not interested in helping us. But we are promised in so many places in God's Word that he is with us and that He does love us more than we could ever imagine. I know it does not always feel like that, but we must continue to believe it and have faith that God has a purpose for everything that happens, even things that are unthinkable. The Bible promises us that God will come to us in our darkest moments. Like you, I have suffered a few tragedies in my life. And I will be the first to admit that trying to stay focused on God during those times can be very difficult. But don't allow Satan to steal from your heart what you truly believe and know deep down in your heart. God cares, and He is with us, maybe even carrying us at this very minute. Pray for God to increase your faith. After all, the Bible reminds us that we can not please Him without it.

Ephesians 6:16 says, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked."

Father, please forgive us when we question you in times of tragedy. You did not make us robots. You gave us feelings. And sometimes those feelings overcome our brains. Help us to keep faith in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Can Jesus?

Can Jesus mend your broken heart? Can Jesus turn your financial situation around? Can Jesus take away your aches and pains? Can Jesus change your negative attitude? Can Jesus help you or your children in school? Can Jesus give you wisdom? Can Jesus help you find a better job? Can Jesus take away your addictions? Can Jesus transform you into a better person? Can Jesus _______________________________ ( you fill-in the blank)

In the 9th chapter of Mark, a man brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus for healing. The demon spirit in the boy forced him to writhe uncontrollably on the ground. The father explained that sometimes the spirit would throw the boy into the water in an attempt to drown him. The father cried out to Jesus, "Have mercy on us, and help us if you can." Jesus replied with one of the most-quoted verses in all of Scripture. Jesus said, "What do you mean if I can? Anything is possible if a person believes." Jesus has healed the blind, the sick, the lame, the possessed, and has even resurrected the dead. There is absolutely nothing facing you or me today that Jesus can't swing in our favor. The key is that we must believe. Do you believe this?

Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

Father, I believe in You. I know there is nothing that You are unable to accomplish. Help me to be the best that I can be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Un-Popped Kernels

There's nothing like a big bowl of popcorn while watching a good movie! The best kind of popcorn is that stuff at the movie theaters...yum! Because it is not always convenient to go out to the movies, we sometimes have to just settle for the store-bought kind. It is pretty cool how heat can make those small, hard kernels transform into big, soft popcorn. But why do some of those kernels just refuse to pop? It seems that in every bag of popcorn I have ever bought, there's always a few stubborn little kernels.

When we accept Jesus and turn our lives over to Him, He transforms our hard hearts into soft ones. He can do things with our hearts that simply defy logic. I have found that through Jesus, I have more compassion and understanding for others. He took my hard heart and transformed it into soft popcorn. He wants to change all of our hearts. But He can not do it all by Himself. We must want to be changed, and we must ask Him to come into our hearts and take up residence. Don't be one of those stubborn kernels that just refuse to be popped. Open the door to Him, and feel Him transform your life like he transformed mine. I can tell you that opening my heart's door to Jesus was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life! Have you made that decision? God can do more with our hearts than even Orville Redenbacher can do to a pile of kernels.

Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

Father, thank you for transforming my heart and life. I pray for those who may not have accepted You, yet. I ask You to give them strength to step out in faith, and into Your loving arms. In Jesus name, Amen.

Calling Myself

Today's devotion is taken from the Feb 7th entry of Our Daily Bread.

As I was moving my cell phone, laptop, and assorted books and papers from one room to another, the "regular" phone rang. I hurriedly set down my stuff and rushed to answer the call before the answering machine kicked in. "Hello", I said. No reply. I said hello again when I heard rustling, but still no response. So I hung up and went back to my stuff on the floor. When I picked up my cell phone, I realized that I had accidentally speed-dialed my home phone number. I laughed at myself, but then wondered: How often are my prayers more like calling myself than calling God?

Are your prayers a checklist of things that you want? Do you get frustrated when God does not answer those prayers the way you want? Or maybe He answers those prayers but not as quickly as you had hoped. When we call on God, He will help us. But He will only help us in His perfect way and time. He knows so much better what we need than we do. So why get frustrated? Just let go, and let God.

Lamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him."

Lord, forgive me for calling on myself instead of calling on You. Teach me to depend on You 100%. In Jesus name, Amen.

Better Or Bitter

It is true that we must first suffer before we can truly experience joy. Think about this for a minute: How can we know how bright the light can be until we experience how black the dark can be? How can we know what warmth feels like unless we feel the bitterness of cold? How can we know the amazing feeling of victory without experiencing the agony of defeat?

The four Gospels give vivid details of how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered before He was called to Glory. He wears a Crown that represents Heavenly joy, but He also carries deep scars that represent His sufferings. If you are going through a suffering season, trust in Him, and joy is sure to follow. You can get bitter or you can get better. By trusting in Jesus, you will get MUCH better!

2 Timothy 2:3 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

Father, suffering is so hard. You know that fact better than all of us. Help us to rely on Your perfect strength to make it through our worst times. In Jesus name, Amen.

Haunting Season

I used to absolutely love Halloween! Even though I am a Christian, I have never seen the harm in having fun during this fall festival. Those Christians who believe that it is a "sin" to celebrate Halloween have their opinions. But if you look up the origins of Halloween, it was started by Christians. Anyway, this devotion is not a debate for or against Halloween. Like I said, I used to love this time of year. But sadly, Halloween stirs up extremely hurtful memories from last year. It's been almost a year now since then, but admittedly, I am no closer to healing than I was last year. Now, I truly feel haunted by all the Halloween decor that is all over town. Just the sound of the word 'Halloween' brings chills down my spine. Across the street from my house, my neighbors have built a "haunted forest". They do it every year, and there will literally be 100 people to go through it every night. Because the air so nice outside, I like to leave the door in my bedroom open. But all I hear are screams, chainsaws, and the Halloween theme playing over my neighbor's loud speakers. I feel like I am losing it; I feel like I am truly being haunted!

I have prayed and prayed and prayed about this. I have asked God to get me over the hurt. I have asked God to get me over the loneliness and despair. Some days are better than others, but overall, I am still bogged down in my own grief. But I will NEVER give-up on God. There is a reason why I am still suffering. I don't know why, and I sometimes get upset with God, but I do trust Him. Something has got to give, one way or the other! This is probably not a good devotion, but as you know, I always write what's on my heart. If there is anything one can get from this devotion is that God does not always helps us on our time. We have to be patient and wait for His perfect time. I can tell you I have shed over a million tears over this tragedy. I'm sure there will be a million more. But God promises to wipe every one of them from my face. Oh, how I need my Jesus right now!

Jesus boldly told us to "ask anything in my name, and I will do it."

Father, you know very well my heart's desires. I continue to ask for those things because I continue to have faith in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Snake-Bit

What an awful night! I was at the radio station doing my Jukebox Saturday Night when I read about a local man who was found dead today from 2 snake bites. He was bitten in his leg and in his neck. My heart goes out to his family at this hour. Well with all that snake-bite stuff fresh on my mind, I was heading out to my truck close to the end of my show, when guess what? You got it! I was bitten by a HUGE snake. I didn't even see it until he popped me. Let me tell you, it is a wonder I didn't pull every muscle in my body after the acrobats I performed getting away from it. I was taken to the ER to make sure it was not poisonous. Thank God is wasn't. But the doctor said that from the measurements between the fang marks, it was one big snake. I had to wait in the ER for 1 hour to see if it showed any signs of poison. It burns like crazy and is swollen, but otherwise pretty good. She gave me a prescript for an antibiotic and told me to watch where I step. Oh thanks Doc...lol

I guess we will never know why God chooses to save some but not save others. As thrilled as I am that the snake that got me was not poisonous, I am equally saddened to hear about the man who died today from his snake bite. We just never know when something tragic will happen. It does not matter how careful we are, sometimes you just can't predict what will happen. I thank God I am ok! Anybody who knows me, knows how terrified I am of snakes. I bet I don't sleep for a week. I keep seeing snakes everywhere I step now. I guess I can just add a snake haunting to my other personal haunting...especially as the time draws nearer to Halloween. My, what a weird and sad year this has been. After all that has happened, I should be in a mental ward somewhere. But through the power and strength of Jesus Christ, I am still here trying so hard to fulfil His will for my life. As hard as it can be to do that sometime, I will NEVER give up. Praise God!

Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Father, thank you for watching over me tonight. Help me to be more careful next time, and please be with the family who lost their loved one today. In Jesus name, Amen.

We Specialize In That

I once had a job at a shop that sold power-transmission and electric motor parts. The bulk of our customers came in for routine items such as bearings, chains, sprockets, etc. Occasionally, however, we would get a call for an out-of-the-ordinary item. Every time I would ask my boss if we carried that particular part, he would reply, "We specialize in those". He was so funny! It didn't matter what it was, from left-footed soccer balls to cordless extension cords, if he could make money off of it, and even if we had to order it from Pluto, we "specialized in it."

God specializes in a lot of things too. One thing in particular is His ability to take a seemingly bad situation and turn it into something spectacular. In the 8th chapter of Acts, we learn a little about Stephen. Through the Holy Spirit, Stephen was casting out demons and healing people in the name of Jesus Christ. Out of jealousy though, the Pharisees made up a lie saying that Stephen had blasphemed against God. This angered the council, and they immediately stoned him to death. In a panic, all the other Christians in the area fled in all directions to escape the same false judgement. Now how could God turn this into something good? Well, Instead of allowing the Pharisees to squelch the Good News about Jesus, God used them to spread that Good News far and wide. God is so good at turning situations around. Regardless of what personal situation you may be facing at this hour, never doubt that God could also turn it around for you. As a matter of fact, He "specializes" in that.

Romans 11:36 says, "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory forever."

Father, thank you for turning tragedies into triumphs. Help us to keep the faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

What A Shocker

I was incredibly shocked this past Friday night! Not that my Dothan Tigers defeated the Opelika Bulldogs for the first time since 1972, not that those same Bulldogs were ranked in the top-10 in the state of Alabama, not that we were trailing by 11 with less than 4 minutes to play in the game, and not even that we had blown an early 1st-quarter 17-to-nothing lead, but because what I was asked to do, and not do, in the Press box. As you know, I am the PA announcer for all home games of the Dothan Tigers and Northview Cougars. Just before kick-off, one of my assistant principals came to the press box with an announcement for me to read during the game. The announcement was promoting a get-together at a local church for the fans after the game. Minutes before I was set to announce it, the principal came back up and told me not to announce it. The announcement did not mention God, praying, or anything religious other than the name of the church. Haven't we taken this "separation of church and state" thing a little too far?

Nowhere in the Constitution does it say "separation of church and state." The ambiguous phrase that is in the Constitution has been interpreted in so many ways, that nobody really knows what to do. My personal two-cents worth is that the phrase in the Constitution assures churches that the State will not make any laws prohibiting their basic religious beliefs. But Friday night, I was faced with somewhat of a delima. I did not see any reason why I couldn't read the announcement, and in my opinion, my rights were being violated. But at the same time, my principal (boss) told me not to read it. I was at an official school event and was under the rules of the school system. I believe God called me to be a teacher, and through Him, I can lead some students to Christ. But I can't do that if I am fired, not that I believe I would have actually been fired. But the Bible does remind us that we must submit to government authorities and obey the laws of the land. In hind-sight, I think I did do the right thing, although I feel like I kind of let God down. I do not blame my assistant principal at all. I think he was not really sure what to do either and just erred on the side of caution. It is amazing that our society has eroded to the point of not being allowed to announce a promo at a high school football game, but our TVs radios, and big screens are full of cussing, sexual immorality, and just down-right nastiness. God help us!

I Thessalonians 5: 21-22 says, "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Father, please help us to navigate through this sinful world. We need You now more than ever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Memories

Every time I hear the song Precious Memories, I think about a funeral. It seems to be the only place I ever hear that song. Everybody has memories of people, places, and things. Some of those memories are precious, but there are also some memories that are heart-breaking. They seem to well-up from deep inside our hearts more and more the closer we get to the anniversary of the tragic event. At this very minute, my family is beginning their yearly trek to our reunion in Central Florida. But I am not going. Sadly, I will be the only one not attending. My reasons are very selfish, I admit. But my memories of last year's reunion continue to haunt me...even a full-year later. It is nothing my family has done; They are incredible! But for some unknown reason, this past year's memories continue to bring huge tears to my eyes. My heart breaks all over again just about every other day.

Again, I know I am being selfish, but sometimes we can all be that way, right? But no matter how sad my memories from the past may be, and no matter how much they may still effect me today, I will never give up hope that God has it all under control. Isn't that what genuine faith is all about? In the midst of heartache and tears, I still totally believe in His ultimate plan for my life. Now I know I am no different than anyone else; We all have some bad memories that haunt us. The key is that we can't let those bad memories block us from trying to make new, better ones. I admit it has not happened for me yet, and I can honestly say it will be a long, long time before it does. But thanks to the strength that God has given me, I will keep plugging away.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Lord, please forgive me for being so selfish at this time. I admit I am still having a year-long pity party, but You know I am trying my very best. Please be with all those who may be dealing with some sad memories. In Jesus name, Amen.

Waiting Around For Jesus

In the movie Twister, the scientists invented some electronic sensors that could record valuable information about tornadoes. The only problem was that those sensors had to be injected directly into the storm. The scientists would rush into the path of an on-coming twister, set out their instruments, and then hope the storm passed directly over so it could swoop up the gadgets. It was almost a one-in-a-million shot, and the danger to their lives was great. Most of the time they failed, but their belief was that all the failure would be worth just one success. The information that would be gathered could potentially save hundreds or even thousands of lives in the future.

We read in the Gospels that when the people heard Jesus might be coming their way, they would gather up all the sick and lame and wait for Him to come along, in hopes of His healing. Some had so much faith that they believed just touching Jesus' garment as he strolled by would heal them. One soldier even believed that Jesus could save someone from a distance; Jesus did not actually have to be there to heal. Today we have learned a lot more about the healing power of Christ. No, He does not have to physically touch us to change us. We don't even have to wait around and see if He will be coming our way. We can go to Him, and we can do it right this very minute. Do you need healing in your life? Is there a certain situation that you are facing that is driving you crazy? Is your heart broken because of a broken relationship? There is no reason to wait for Jesus to come by; He is already right here with you and me. All we have to do is ask for His help, and He will hear us immediately.

Psalm 55:17 says, "Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

Father, I thank you that we can come to You instantly, asking for Your perfect help. You are well-aware of the battle I have been facing. Lord, I ask you to heal me. I will never give up on You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rock-Solid

I watched a group of my students today near the end of class trying to build a house from a deck of cards. Most couldn't even get past the second level before the house of cards came tumbling down. One student did manage to build a 4-story house, but it also came crashing down when the table was slightly nudged. To build a sturdy house, one needs to use materials that are much stronger than flimsy cards. And though the materials used must be strong, the foundation on which those materials are built must be even stronger.

In Matthew chapter 7, we are told that two kinds of life-building foundations are available. One foundation is as solid as a rock-the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. The other foundation is like shifting sand-the foundation of human pride. Our life might be outwardly impressive, but if it is built on the wrong foundation, difficult circumstances will soon level what we have built. Like a fragile house of cards, our life will come crashing down. How much better to build our life on the solid foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Then when the inevitable storms of life come, we will not be destroyed.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock."

Father, thank you for the Solid Foundation that is Jesus Christ. Help us to always depend on Him. In Jesus name, Amen.

Dodge ball

I saw a group of kids doing something today that I have not seen in years: They were playing dodge ball. It sure brought back some memories of my elementary days in New Jersey. I still remember playing dodge ball almost everyday at P.E. Because of my small frame, I was not a very easy target back in those days. Oh Lord, I just got a funny thought: What if I played dodge ball today? Let's just say I won't be playing dodge ball today. My opponent would be able to peg me from 30 yards like a heat-seeking missile ripping through a slow-moving target. I played all kinds of sports growing up, but today I get winded just watching sports on TV. I can remember my days playing 3rd base. I can still see myself diving all over the place for the ball. But today, if the ball rolls 5 feet on either side of me...it's a home run!

You know, that dodge ball is kind of like trials and tribulations that all of us have to face sometimes. When we were younger, we seemed capable of dodging troubles a lot easier than we do as adults. Maybe the troubles are just bigger today, or we are just not as agile as we once were. If the trials I have suffered through this past year are dodge balls, I have certainly felt like the super-fat kid in the middle trying to avoid getting beamed. It has not been easy, and further, it is still very far from being over. But you know what? If God has brought me to it, He will certainly bring me through it. The Bible says we are to praise God during trials. Honestly, I can't say I have thanked Him for allowing me to be hit by those dodge balls, but I have certainly thanked Him that none of them have knocked me unconscious either. One good thing has come from all of it. With all this "exercise" I have been getting from trying to avoid being slammed by the ball, I have lost tons of weight and have gotten into much better shape spiritually. God is a lot of amazing things to me, including being an incredible trainer!

Isaiah 40:29 says, "The Lord gives strength to the weary and increases power of the weak."

Father, thank you for helping me with all my personal trials. I know I am not alone, and that there are many others out there who are also dealing with trials. We thank you that you will never abandon us, and that you will supply us with the strength we need to endure all things. In Jesus name, Amen.

Drifting Off-Course

Tragedy struck on this day in 1983 when Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down by a Russian MiG Fighter over the Sea of Japan. The airliner was en route to Seoul from New York City via Anchorage, Alaska. All 269 innocent lives were lost. The pilot would later be charged with the disaster for straying off-course, and into prohibited Russian airspace. Investigations revealed that the pilot was most likely completely unaware that he had veered off-course less than 2 degrees. Although not much initially, a two-degree error really adds up over a long distance. The really sad part was that the Russian fighter jet chased the airliner for some time. When it finally fired on the "target", the airliner had already crossed back into friendly airspace. Questions still surround the incident to this day.

How many times do we drift off-course while following Jesus? We can find ourselves wandering from His "friendly airspace", and crossing into the "Evil airspace" of Satan. Just a little mistake here and there can really add up over the long-term. Before we get shot down by Satan, we need to contact the control tower of Christ and get back on His course. Jesus is the never-changing God who completely and unconditionally loves us. He is willing to keep us on-course like a train on rails. Many times we drift away when we are not completely paying attention to Him. Today, let's make sure we are following Him exactly. Pray and ask God to keep you on-course for the duration of your "flight".

Psalm 91:11 says, "For He shall give angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all ways."

Father, please forgive us for drifting off-course. Help us to get right with You before disaster strikes. In Jesus name, Amen.