REAL MEN FOR HIM

Temptation

2010-05-02T09:15:00.002-05:00

I want to talk about a touchy subject for a lot of women. I want to step out there and say something that might be sensitive to a lot of women and men, but if I am going to do this I have to be real about it. First to the men... Have you ever noticed the way both women and young women dress? We can't even go the mall or out to eat with out being faced with the temptation of looking. We might be totally happy in our marriage, but when it is put in front of us, we have to look away. As soon as we do, there will be another women walking by the other direction and you just can't get away from it. I wonder what would happen if we as men dressed our daughters and asked our wives to cover themselves more. Do you think it might help the men stay more focused on what they are doing?

Women, I have talked to my wife about this and she says I have no idea how hard it is for a women to live in today's world where you feel like you are competing with brand names and fashion, whats in and what is not. I do know that I am proud of my wife and the way she dresses. I hope that everyone that reads this will take a look at themselves and see how they are dressed and ask yourself - am I causing a man to stumble today? Is my wife going to cause a man to stumble? Is my daughter dressed in a way that will cause young men to be tempted? I guess the main question would be - Is God pleased with the way you are dressed and what women and young girls are wearing? James 1: 14 "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 then when desires has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is birth gives way to death". I know this may sound like I am putting pressure on women and the way they dress and in a way I am, but women need to think about what they are wearing...especially to church. Women, I am not saying in anyway that it is all up to you or that men are not strong enough to resist, but it is hard enough with out any distractions.

For the Men. Where are you with Christ today? Are you tempted by women? Are you tempted by any other temptations this world has to offer? I know I am!!! I am being real when I say there are things in this world I fight off everyday, but I sit here today and say God is my strength and I seek Him for the rest we all need daily. Men we are called to be the head of our house and will be held accountable someday for what we do and what we do not do, meaning letting the women and daughters in our house go out dressed in a inappropriate manner. You might say what would that be? Well think about what catches your eye when a woman walks in front of you.

Man or mouse?

2010-04-03T10:47:00.006-05:00

Man or mouse? Where do you see yourself today?

The Word of God (the bible) is full of men that were truly men. Let's back up and ask what is a man? THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION!!!I have people say things like.... a man takes care of business, a man works and then comes home and sits in his chair and watches the tv. Wow if that is all a man is where do I sign up? The truth is, men are much more than that. We need to know that God has a special purpose for our lives. He has designed us to be warriors for him, but with love kindness and to use the strength that only comes from Him.

The thing is, there are so many different thoughts on what a man's role is. I believe there is a lot more to a man than putting out fires. We are the backbone of our family. We hold things together when it seems things are falling apart around us. I heard a saying one time that made me stop and think..... a man will get up in the middle of the night and go to the door, open it without any fear of what might be on the other side. When you get to the point of saying there is nothing in this world that can keep me from going to the door and facing the unknown, this will take you to a deeper emotional walk in your life.

As far as I know there is only one way to be able to do this. It is the strength that only comes from God. His strength is sufficient in all circumstances. He is there when you open the door to face whatever the world has thrown at you

You just have to remember to take Him with you. If you feel He is not with you then ask yourself who moved first?

He Comforts Us

2009-11-20T10:43:00.005-06:00

2 Corintians 1:3 Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of comfort. Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any troubles with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed , it is for your (our) comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort which produces in you patient endurance of the same suffering we suffer.

I read this the other day and shared it with a friend. He asked me to share what I got out of it. As I started to tell him, I felt something down deep say yeah, what did you get out of it? So I went back this morning, read it again and asked... ok - what did you really get out of it? What I came up with is really simple. The same way that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit comforts us and has compassion for us, it should be the same way for our children and family. When we are teaching our kids to ride a bike we know that things are going to happen. We know they will crash and get hurt but we need to teach them and help them through it so that they can accomplish it. While they are hurting, do we not say to them it will be ok, I'm here, I wouldn't do this if I did not think you could? It says in the word He will not give us more then we can handle and I believe He is saying it again in these verses by saying He is there for us to comfort us when we fall and has compassion for us when we are hurting from our troubles.

Where are you today? Are you hurting? Do you know that God is there? All you need to do is believe and call on Him.

Kicking Rocks

2009-09-23T10:00:00.004-05:00

Have you ever been in a parking lot or out in the desert kicking rocks? The chances are you really had something serious on you mind or the extreme opposite. You were not thinking anything and you were just hoping something would come along that would give you some meaning.

I have kicked my share of rocks. I have found that if you are out there too long kicking rocks, thinking, or just aimlessly wondering around you can wonder off into a place you do not need to be. I'm not saying being in the wilderness or desert is bad, you just do not need to stay there any longer then you need to. What has happened to me in the past when I was out there I would forget the reason I was there to begin with. It usually followed a time of obedience to God where I was reading my bible, praying, writing in my journal, or just being still and talking with God.

I hear a lot of people say I do not understand why I'm out here in the desert or wilderness I have been trying to do the best I can. I also have said the same things, forgetting that I am in a spiritual war with the flesh and all the things of this world

Paul told the Galatians "For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please" Galatians : 5-17 nasb.

I think its time we stop kicking rocks and do something more with our time when we are in the desert! We need to seek God in a whole new way, ask him for guidance ask him for a new anointing and keep seeking him in every moment so we do not drift off to a place where we are by ourselves wondering what happened.

Chapters of a Book

2009-07-05T09:17:00.007-05:00

Chapters in our lives...we all have them. When does a chapter close and a new one begin? I have had so many chapters in my life that I feel my life could be one of the biggest boooks ever. Some people call these seasons or trials, but I like to call them chapters.

We all go through things in our lives that are happy, sad, hard and trying. For me it is easier to look at them as chapters because its something we all must go through to get to the end of the book. So many times at the end of a book things turn out good and or better than we could have imagined.

To me this is the way a lot of Christians' lives are. We go through a lot of the same struggles, temptations, and heartaches but we seem to handle them different. Some of us look to the things of the world some of us look to God.

As we go through the book of our lives and turn the pages in our lives and go from one chapter to another we somtimes we get tired of living in the time of the chapter we are in and try to skip to a chapter that looks more exciting or interesting. The problem with this is that when we skip too many pages we get lost on what is going on. We have missed a crucial part in the book that would have lead us into the next chapter if we would have held on.

Remember, we all go through chapters in our lives that may seem pointless but if you will stay in it until its done and see that chapter through you will have a better understanding when you go to the next chapter.

Fine Line

2009-06-15T21:54:00.007-05:00

I have heard the expresion used a lot lately. I know its only a figure of speech but people sure ues it a lot. Fine line, what does that really mean? The way I have heard it used when people are talking about sin or scriptures. Sometimes when someone does something that is not acceptible to the world but is of God they say well "there is a fine line there". This may offend some of you but I would like to use drinking as an example. So many people say its okay to drink as long as they do not get drunk with it.

Lets look at this scenerio, let's say you are in out to eat with your family or friends and you are finished eating and someone you have been trying to get to church walks in and sees you with a beer on the table. What is the first thing that person is going to think? I could not find where it says you cannot drink but it did say do not get drunk on wine. Even though you only had one beer or glass of wine you just became a stumbling block to that person.

So many Christians believe it is ok to drink as long as they do not get drunk! We as Christians are supposed to try and be like Christ. I'm not in anyway saying I am perfect, but I do believe we can all do better. I think the first step is to stop saying there is such a fine line, and start reading the whole truth of the Word, not just the parts that makes it seem ok to do some of them. There are 2 lines - RIGHT and WRONG. NO FINE LINES!

Temptation

2009-06-12T13:43:00.004-05:00

Temptation
I want to talk about a touchy subject for a lot of women. I want to step out there and say something that might be sensitive to a lot of women and men, but if I am going to do this I have to be real about it. First to the men... Have you ever noticed the way both women and young women dress? We can't even go the mall or out to eat with out being faced with the temptation of looking. We might be totally happy in our marriage, but when it is put in front of us, we have to look away. As soon as we do, there will be another women walking by the other direction and you just can't get away from it. I wonder what would happen if we as men dressed our daughters and asked our wives to cover themselves more. Do you think it might help the men stay more focused on what they are doing?

Women, I have talked to my wife about this and she says I have no idea how hard it is for a women to live in today's world where you feel like you are competing with brand names and fashion, whats in and what is not. I do know that I am proud of my wife and the way she dresses. I hope that everyone that reads this will take a look at themselves and see how they are dressed and ask yourself - am I causing a man to stumble today? Is my wife going to cause a man to stumble? Is my daughter dressed in a way that will cause young men to be tempted? I guess the main question would be - Is God pleased with the way you are dressed and what women and young girls are wearing? James 1: 14 "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 then when desires has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is birth gives way to death". I know this may sound like I am putting pressure on women and the way they dress and in a way I am, but women need to think about what they are wearing...especially to church. Women, I am not saying in anyway that it is all up to you or that men are not strong enough to resist, but it is hard enough with out any distractions.

For the Men. Where are you with Christ today? Are you tempted by women? Are you tempted by any other temptations this world has to offer? I know I am!!! I am being real when I say there are things in this world I fight off everyday, but I sit here today and say God is my strength and I seek Him for the rest we all need daily. Men we are called to be the head of our house and will be held accountable someday for what we do and what we do not do, meaning letting the women and daughters in our house go out dressed in a inappropriate manner. You might say what would that be? Well think about what catches your eye when a woman walks in front of you.

Face or Hand of God

2009-06-10T14:10:00.006-05:00

What is it you have been looking for in your life? Sometimes in life we are faced with challenges. Sometime these challenges are out of our control and we do not know what to do about them. When we are faced with a callange we turn to friends, family, elders at our church, and if we get desperate enough we turn to God. Why is God the last place we turn?

I had it put in a way I have never heard the other night. We need to stop looking for the hand of God and start looking for the face of God. Meaning...if we are looking for the hand of God for help it means we are not looking at the heart of God and what He wants. This goes back to the question I asked earlier. What is it you are looking for? I guess the real question is how are you looking for it? Are you looking to man, or are you looking for Gods face (Gods heart)?

What would you do?

2009-06-05T11:15:00.005-05:00

How far would you go to get something you wanted? Would you be happy for someone if they got it first or if they received something you didn't think they deserve, would you congratulate them ? Those are some hard questions if you answer them honestly.

I am reminded of the story about the prodigal son in Luke 15:11- 32 where it talks about the son that wanted all of his inheritance before his father passed. His father granted him his wish and gave it all to him and the son went and blew all of it on worldly possessions. Pretty soon he had nothing left and found himself working for hardly anything and thought if he is going to work he would rather work for his father because he knew he treated his men well. When he was almost back to his Fathers house his father saw him from a distance and came running to the son told the help to get his robe and cover him and prepare the fattest calf for a feast. His brother did not understand why his father was rejoicing and was upset that he had been there the whole time and never received anything like what his brother was receiving. His father told him we must rejoice for your brother was dead but now he is alive, he was lost but now he is found.

Picture this: you have money, toys, friends, family, and everything else of the world. You take it all and blow it and are left with nothing and you find yourself at the bottom with nothing. How many times do you go running to God our father when you have messed up? He is always there with is arms wide open and ready to take us and treat us like we never did anything wrong.

Inspiration

2009-05-31T10:00:00.006-05:00

Where does inspiration come from for you? I can think of a lot of things that inspire me. My kids, my relationship with my wife, family, church, sunrises, and sunsets. These are all good things but if we look a little deeper, all of these things come from God. Too many times we will see our kids playing something and get so proud of them for who they are, we do not take the time out to see how God is working in them. Sometimes we will see a beautiful sunrise or sunset and never look at it more than what it is. Sometimes when we get together with families we have such a good time being with them that we do not see past that time.

I have been blessed to have been touched by God's grace in my life and see that all things are made by God. The sunsets, the good times with the family, that moment when my kids tell me they love me, even the the time spent with my wife going down the road in the car not saying anything just looking at each other and knowing everything is good. I believe all of these moments are from God. We should always look at each of these times and be thankful for them, but also know that God is behind each of these moments.

We should take the time to thank him for these moments. We should look beyond what we see , so that we might see the hand of God and how he gives us these times.

Have You Ever Felt Lonely?

2009-05-16T16:17:00.007-05:00

Psalm 23 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. I was in the valley this last week. I felt I was all alone in everything I did. It did not matter if I was at work, driving to or from work, or spending time in my hotel room.

One thing you really never hear about, that came to mind for me this week was you hear people teach or you will hear pastors preach about being on top of the mountain or down in the valley, but never here about the in between. I think a lot of times we are in between. I saw myself trying to climb out of the valley this week. I know that we are not alone, God is always with us. A good friend told me once, even when you are in the valley you are not alone, you have the river of God flowing under your feet. That really stood out to me, because you know the water of life flows from high on the mountain down into the valley and can cover all, and can even go into a crevice in the ground. Either way you are not alone, the water is still all around .

I find that sometimes when we are climbing out of the valley, I think we find ourselves halfway out looking down and then looking up and thinking I do not know if I can make it! That is the beauty of it. You do not need to do it all by yourself. All you need to do is lean over and take a drink of the water that is flowing down the mountain and it will help you get a little closer. The water is the strength of Jesus.

Journey

2009-05-04T09:44:00.010-05:00

Webster's Dictionary defines a journey as a travel or passage from one place to another. I have been on journeys in my life. I am not talking about getting in a car and going somewhere. I am talking about the journey in life. We are all on our own journey going from place to place but when do we ever arrive at our destination?

For me it seems that a lot of people, including myself, head out on a journey but do not know where they are going. I think sometimes we get tired of the day to day lives we try to live. We get so busy and run so fast that we do not realize what we are doing and then on the spur of a moment we try to make a change. For me, I know in the past if I did not like the way things were going I would start something new; hobby, work, lifestyle or some other extreme change. I was always looking to go on another journey, wanting to go somewhere different, wanting to see something different, hoping that there would be something new and exciting.

One of the biggest problems with that was that I never finished the journey I was already on. Sometimes it seems we are always looking for the next journey the one that might be more exciting the one that might bring meaning.

If we would take the time to look at our lives and see where we have been and trust in God and truly seek Him out to help us on the journey we are on right now, we might be able finish the journey in the way God wants us too. He will open the door to the next one. You will not need to jump from one to the other he will make it known to you.

Prayer

2009-04-09T15:20:00.006-05:00

Have you ever said to someone "I will pray for you"? How about someone saying they will pray for you? I have been guilty of saying I would pray for someone and then didn't and then sometime down the road that person would come to me and say thanks for all your prayers...ouch!!!! What do you say when that happens? Do you tell them you really didn't? Do you try and say you tried but forgot?

I thought about this when someone asked me to pray for them back when I was walking with God the way I am now. I told the person sure, no problem I am here for you, anything you need.

I will never forget it when that person came to me almost a year later and said thanks for praying for me. All I could do was look away and say sure...no problem and ask how did it turn out? The worse thing that could have come out of their mouth came out. After the person told me how all the things that he had asked me to help him pray for didn't happen, I was ashamed, felt guilty and just down right disgusted with myself.

I never told this person that I never prayed for them. I should have told this person I was not living in a time were I felt like I had the right to be praying for anyone, but instead I just said ok, I'll do it.

With all that being said I am so glad that I have come to a place with my walk with Christ that when I say I am going to pray that I can honestly say I do it. Sometimes if I feel I might not or the need is so great I will say lets pray right here and right now.

Have you ever read the verse in Luke when Jesus is talking to Simon? In Luke 22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked you to sift you as wheat. 32 but I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU Simon that your faith may not fail". WOW!!! Jesus said he is praying for him that Satan will not get to him. I have really spent some time on this and I realized that he is also praying for us just as he did for Simon Peter. Jesus does not want us to fall to the lies and deceivement of Satan's evil ways.

I don't know about you but if I have people praying for me and I say I am going to pray for you and you know that Jesus is praying for you and me, how much more do we need?

If anyone comes to me and asks me to pray for them, know that my heart is right and that your need will be prayed for. If anyone that reads this needs prayer and wants me and anyone else that reads this to pray for them just post your need and it will be done. You can even stay anonymous if you would like.

Hitting the Ceiling

2009-03-16T09:42:00.010-05:00

I know that this sounds like a strange title, but if you read through it you will understand why I chose it. When we are inside our homes we never really think about our ceiling. We sometimes run through the house and jump and see if we can touch it (don't think you haven't tried it our thought about it).

I have 10' ceilings through most of the house and no matter how hard I try I can't touch it. In the bedrooms I can jump a little bit off the floor (not like I can jump that high anyway) and touch the ceiling. I have often wondered what would happen if I could jump high enough to go through. I know on the other side there are wide open spaces that seem to go on forever.

I think a lot of us hit a ceiling in our lives. We are only able to go up so far. It seems to me its because we do not practice jumping. We do not believe we can so we just keep at the same height we have always been and not ever try busting through to see what is out there for us.

I know it might sound strange but that is one way I see our walk with Christ. We have gotten used to jumping up and touching the ceiling that we can touch because its easier. It doesn't take as much effort and it makes us feel like we have accomplished something.

That is not what we are supposed to do. We need to get out of our comfort zone, take a chance and see if we can bust through the ceiling to the other side and see what God has for us. Too many times we get caught up in going to church, bible studies, study groups and not looking for more. All of these things are great and we need them but if we do not do these things we are hitting the ceiling. Not doing more on our own for him like prayer, listening for him to speak to us and just spending time with him. That would be hitting the ceiling but not going through. Maybe we feel we can't, were is the faith? Maybe we are scared. We are not supposed to feel scared. Sometimes we feel that with all the sin in our lives we do not feel worthy. Take a look at these guys and tell me why they were asked to follow Jesus.

What about the disciples? Where they all scholars? Did they all come from well known families? Did they hold some kind of paper that said they would be better at serving God? No, they came from all kinds of backgrounds. Simon Peter-fisherman, follower of John the baptist, James- fisher man from Galilee, John-the brother of James, Andrew also followed John the baptist, Philip, Bartholomew who was thought to be a friend of Philip according to John 1:45. Matthew the tax collector, Thomas who was a twin and sometimes referred to be the one that had a hard time understanding what Jesus was teaching. James from Galilee, Thaddeus son of James (not Iscariot), Simon-occupation guerrilla warfare fighter/assassin, Judas the only one that was not from Galilee.

I think I got most of them right. The point is they were not anything special to you and me if we passed them on the street today but Jesus saw something in them just as he sees something in you and me. He wants us to bust through the ceiling and see what is out there. Stop living in a box and thinking there is a limit to our learning about him, thinking that there is only a certain amount of mercy and grace.

Get out of the comfort zone take risks on Jesus behalf, he did it for you.

Broken

2009-02-24T13:32:00.004-06:00

What does it mean to be broken? I like to look at it when a horse has been broke it has been tamed. Have you ever been broken? Broken from drinking, drugs, pornography, lust, or even the occasional curse word.

Stick with me, this may sound weird to some of you but I think you will understand when I am finished.

When a horse has been broken properly it will not buck no matter how hard you pull on the reigns, no matter how bad the bridle hurts, it will not buck.

I had the opportunity to help break a few horses when I was younger. The first horse we rode until he was too tired to buck anymore. It took several of us to do it but we finally did it. The next horse an older man showed me a different way. We didn't pin him up and get on him and try to ride him. We simply got in the ring with him and just sat there with him day after day until he would come over by us and stand there. After a week or so we put a bridle in is mouth and let him get used to it. After he got used to having it in is mouth we put a bag of seed on his back and led him around by the rains. Several weeks later, after truly earning his trust, we pinned him up and sat down on him and talked while we sat there in the pin. Finally after about a month, we opened the gate up and rode him out into the arena. He was a little unsure what to do but he never bucked.

The first horse we broke later was turned into a rodeo horse because he would not stop bucking when someone got on him. He never settled down, he never changed just simply stayed wild. The other horse never learned how to buck even though it was scared.

We are a lot like a broken horse if we take the time and read our bible, pray, seek God, and wait for the instructions. When we are learning maybe we wouldn't buck and maybe we can learn to be led by the Holy Spirit and not always rebelling and not trusting Him.

Game day

2009-02-17T17:25:00.006-06:00

Have you ever been apart of a losing team? How about a winning team? Which one did you like the best? I would bet most of you would say the winning team. With that being said, did your team ever lose? How did you feel? Did you cry, get mad, maybe scream out loud? I have been on a losing team most of my life.

The team I was playing on was the worlds. It was a good team of wealth, pride, freedom to do what I wanted anytime I wanted. The only problem with the team was that most of the time I was doing it by myself. I had no one that shared in my victories. I found that as long as I was on that team I would be alone no matter who was around me. This group of people so called a team of people that say they care is a LIE!!!

I found a new team. The coach is Jesus and the captain is me picked by the coach. The team players are brothers and sisters. The key players are my wife who is there to help me call the plays and helps me come up with plays to attack the other team so they do not attack anyone on my team. Next would be my kids who are there to encourage me to carry out the plays called by God.

Having God as your coach and looking at your play book (the bible) will help you win this game called life.

I do really think life is a game but think a lot of people look at it this way and I hope that more people would look at how serious it is to play the game of who has the most money, biggest house, nicest car, or best job. If they do not look at it differently and put all of those things aside then they will surely lose in the end.

I think it would be neat for us all to know how many team players we have. If you want to let me and someone else know you are on there team let us know by commenting with your name.

We face the other team everyday and some day the coach will blow is whistle and THE GAME WILL BE OVER. The team that you are on when that whisle blows will determine if you win or lose.

Understanding

2009-02-11T21:20:00.005-06:00

The lack of understanding, wow where do I go from here? There is such a lack of understanding for each of us whether we are talking about politics, religion, or why people act and say the things they say and do.

For me I have always been the type to sit and wait on someone to show me something new or tell me something new before I jump in. (YEAH RIGHT!!!) Unfortunately, its always been the opposite for me. It didn't matter if I understood or not, I was all in. As I get older I am starting to understand somethings...like why get drunk, putting yourself in certain situations, why people do not do what they say, and why do we not really put God FIRST. Is it fear, is it pride, is it anger,is it hurt, or is simply a choice? I think it is all of it put together. I think the lack of understanding of all these things is what holds each of us from fully seeking God.

I have and am still trying to understand a lot of things that are going on in my life but as I do I am learning that God doesn't want me to understand, He simply wants me to trust, trust Him now and the understanding will come later.

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 2: 3 Yes if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding.

Tired

2009-02-02T09:20:00.006-06:00

Tired, are you tired of working? Are you tired of the routine? Everyday we are faced with something in our lives that we feel we are tired of. Maybe so. Maybe we are tired, maybe we need a change in our lives or maybe we need to slow down and get some rest.

A lot of you know that I have been out of work for about 6 months. I know a lot of you know how much damage was done in NW Arkansas. Well I thought, ok, now I can go make some money. Wrong. I came down with what I think is strep throat. I feel everytime I think I am going to do something good something happens and I am not able to. I am tired of the day to day, wondering if I am ever going to get another job. There have been times when I wanted to give up, give up on what God has called me to do, but He always reminds me that I am not the only one that He has called. He has called each of us to do His work. The problem with this is that there are so many people out there that are tired. They are tired of fighting, tired of trying, and are ready to give up.

We live in a day were we are going to get tired. We can get tired of seeing the ads that run across our tv's. We get tired of going to work(I might if I had a job). The point is that we all get tired. We have all said or thought why do I need to do everything, why do I need to be the one? Because God said you are the one to do this for Him, and you are the one.

This is a verse that I think might help, it helps me. Galations 6:9 and let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Have you lost heart in what God wants you to do or have you lost heart in what you want to do?

Let me put it another way are-you tired of trying to do what you want to do instead of what doing what God wants you to do?

Isaiah 14: 3 It shall come to pass in the day that the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you serve.

Confused

2009-01-21T09:20:00.006-06:00

I am often confused about what to do. Maybe it has something to do with all of the choices we have in this time and day. I am still hoping and waiting for God to show me what it is He wants me to do. People are faced with so much stuff in today's world; marriage, to stay married, work place and how they should act there, and how they act at home. I could go on and on about what confuses people but I believe it comes from the Great deceiver Satan. He wants us to have options. Options to make the wrong choice.

I know several men that are faced with a choice in there marriage, whether they should stay in a marriage that they think is dead or move on to the next one. I have some questions. When did marriage become a question? When did staying with the one woman you fell in love with , the one that you asked for her hand in marriage, become a question to ask is she the one that you want to stay with? Unfortunately, this is a question I have asked myself and I believe some of you have too.

Some of you know my story about the last couple of years. I made the mistake of asking that question, do I want to be married? Do I want this stress of always wanting to do the right thing? It wasn't that my marriage was bad but there was confusion. I forgot that there shouldn't be a question to this. I have made a covenant with her. A promise that I would never leave. I also made this same covenant with God. That is what marriage is.

This should not have ever been a question in my life or anyone else's life. There are few things that we know in life but I believe this is one that so many get confused on. Have you ever heard people say "Well if it doesn't work we can always get a divorce"? I would have to say they are confused about the whole thing before they even get started.

I am not saying everyone knows what to do or say. Under all circumstances the Lord knows I am confused about what I think I should do for a job, but I guess that is why He talks about trusting Him, coming to Him, giving Him all things, and to be still and know that He is God. In other words put all your confusion to rest and let Him have all your fears.

We all need to get what is and has always been the same... Gods word. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Matthew 9:36 from the message Bible - When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no Sheperd.

We need to find our sheperd and pray that He will lead us out of confusion.

Praise

2009-01-14T08:52:00.004-06:00

I have recently been faced with what I thought was a defeat but actually it was in some way a blessing. I applied for a job that I was certain I was going to get but after not hearing from the company I called. What a surprise I got when they told me I was not the fit they were looking for. For a day I was confused. I was angry, hurt, ashamed, embaressed and lacking self worth.

During this time I did what I think so many of us do when we have been faced with this kind of disappointment. I screamed out. I yelled for understanding. I needed some sort of closure to why I didn't get the job that I thought would have been a perfect for me.

I got it. On my Birthday I talked to many of my friends and the sent me e-mails like that job was not for you, God as something else for you, or be still, He will show you what He is doing.

White I was sitting with my family at a table for my birthday dinner I was shown through my family what is important and what matters. There was no sickness, there was no hurting, and there were only happy faces. Faces of joy watching my kids do and say the silly things they do.

I neglected my studies for a day. Being surrounded by friends and knowing that God has already given to me what I need at this time, I realized again He is worthty of praises. All the time, even when we don't get what we think we want. Truth be told, some of us have no idea what is right for us only He has our destiny planned. We can choose to give Him praises or go through life always wondering why, why me, why now, and when do I get mine. Maybe we should ask how and what can I do for you.

2 Samuel 22 :50 "Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises to you".

Psalms 59:17 "To you O my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my defense, my God of Mercy".

Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait on the lord".

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak, to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.

These are some great words of encouragement to me and hope that if you are faced with something in your life you will look at these verses and praise Him then wait for Him.

Stuff

2009-01-14T07:33:00.001-06:00

We have all faced STUFF in our lives. Some have gotten so dirty, that it covered our faces. It's hard to to see the real person behind the stuff. I understand just as much as anyone about being covered in so much stuff that it hides your identity and your heart. No one can get to know you because of the stuff. It seems to me for so long I held on to the things in my life that after a while, I convinced myself that I didn't deserve a beautiful wife, two awesome kids and a life that a lot of people would be love to have.

But God is good. God loves us when we turn to Him and ask Him to cleanse us from the sins or stuff in our lives. Have you ever thought about the song that you are probably listen to right now? Washed by the water. There are so many songs that talk about being washed. Washed as white as snow, wash my sins away and being washed by the blood. Why is this? I think it's because so many will ask God to help them to forgive, to help us, to be with us, but do not ever let go of the stuff in our lives.

We all need to remember that we are washed by the water even though it might be painful. Even when the storms come you are washed by the water. Even when the rain pores. If we truly believe and ask God to come live inside of us, we all have been washed by His water and made clean and new. So let the dirty stuff you have done in your life go. God has.

Presence of Something Greater

2009-01-08T11:13:00.009-06:00

I have been trying to think of something to post. This is truly what I love to do but I have been struggling with coming up with something to say. I would start to write something and then I would read it and either it didn't make sense or it just didn't feel right. Today I have been worshiping God with music and every now and then I will stop and pray. It didn't take long for me to find myself in His presence.

As I sit here and look at blogs and e-mails I am starting to feel God tell me something. I went to my wife's blog and started to feel the tears coming up inside of me. I felt the presence of my comforter. Then I had a friend call and I started to tell him how I am feeling that the Presence is all over me, he received an important phone call and had to go.

I am reminded that Satan does not want us to feel God's presence in our lives and will do anything he can to distract us from that chance to feel the Spirit. I know that it is hard for so many of us to stay in His presence but I feel that it is always on us. It's as if we choose to let it come upon us and accept it. He says he will never leave us, and that all we need to do is call on him and he will make himself known to us.

I believe there are so many people that are missing out. I do not think I am better but I do think God has given me something special, something He wants to give everyone. The problem I think is that they're afraid of change, afraid to give up their ways of living, or people try and put Him in a box. There is not a box big enough to put Him in.

I think we all need to think about who is really in the box. Some people like the comfort of thinking they have everything under control and that they are comfortable with where they are. If that was true, if people really believe that they have it under control then why is the name of God yelled out when someone close to them dies, or when you lose the job you say you have created, or when the perfect family you say you have is falling apart, or how about the sickness that comes upon you or someone close to you, do you have control? Is that when you want to find yourself in His presence? Is that the time when you find yourself longing for something more? I can say for me it is a lot easier to already have the relationship with the Father when things are good than when the storms come. You know that His presence is already there for you. You won't need to call out to Him, He is already there and you are covered in His presence.

2 Corintians 3:4 "Such is the confidence which we have through Christ in the PRESENCES of GOD".

Where is the Love of God

2009-01-08T09:56:00.007-06:00

Have you seen the love of God? Have you ever experienced something in your life that can only be described as the love of God? Have you ever received an act of kindness and wonder why the person did that?

I believe that God's love is not only seen in what He does for us but can also be displayed through people. I have seen these acts in my life and I am sure if you think about it you have too.

When was the last time you showed someone an act of kindness? I'm not talking about acts of kindness where you say... well I guess that person needs some help and I guess I can help them. I am talking about a deliberate act, one that took you by surprise, one that you never saw coming. One that as soon as you heard that someone needs something, you said this is what I can do without any hesitation.

Recently I heard a story about a man at my church that was at Walmart shopping when he was walking through the store and saw a family standing in the toy section trying to figure out how much money they had to buy Christmas presents. He could tell they didn't have much. Without any hesitation he walked over to them and gave them money without any reservation. I love to here those stories about how God puts us in a particular place at the right time to demonstrate His love to one another.

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another". 15 "By this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another".

Look at the opportunities you have to love someone. Love and then you will be showing them God's love.

Silence

2009-01-03T20:50:00.012-06:00

I recently thought that being silent was something I did when I just didn't have anything to say. That may be true but there is another silence. Then there is a silence like when you are laying in your bed at night with no lights, no TV, nothing but darkness. I have recently felt this myself laying in my bed, no noise dead silence. It scared me. As I laid there it made feel like I needed to jump up and do something, but what? Maybe turn the TV on, read a book, or something!

The longer I laid there I tried to fight it by going back in time. The next thing I know I was thinking of things that would make a Sailor blush. What happened? Why did I find myself there thinking like I never turned from that life? As I laid there I found myself fighting and wrestling with good and evil, knowing what I was thinking was from the past, things that I never want to be apart of again. The longer I tried to fight it the further I went back.

Numbers 14:9 from the NIV says "Do not rebal against the Lord and do not be afraid of the people of the land because He will swallow them up. Their protection is gone but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

In Psalm 4:4 NIV "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds search your hearts and be silent."

Why do we ignore these feelings? Why do we try to fight what we know we can't win on our own? It donned on me after I woke up that I had actually been asleep the whole time and that God was telling me that I have not been coming to Him like I should and that I need to turn to Him and seek Him through His word and let Him take care of things that keep me turning and tossing at night.

Gifts

2008-12-30T13:17:00.006-06:00

I want to talk about gifts. Not the gifts we all just opened around the Christmas tree but the gifts that we all get from God, our Father. We each have gifts of some kind and it is sad that so many do not look at what they have inside and see the gifts that God has blessed them with.

I have had people say they do not have anything to offer people. If that was true why are they here? Why did God allow them to be here? We all have something to offer someone even if it is a one time deal with one person. Maybe it is the one person you are closest to, maybe it is someone you have not met yet. Maybe your gift is not just one person or thing but it is to reach millions. How do you know what it is? I have been blessed to see so many people use their gifts and they didn't even know they were using the gift. I have been through a hard time in the last 2 years, but I have gotten to see people use there money, words of encouragement, prayer, and all the resources with people to help me.

1 Corinthians 12 in the Message Bible names some of the spiritual gifts that we as Christ followers can receive. Wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, Miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of tongues. These are just some of them. Can you find yourself in there any where?

Do I know what my gift is yet? No, but i think some of us may never know unless we ask God to show us. I know that God will use me if He hasn't already, to make a difference. All I know is that if we seek God and open our hearts and minds, we will receive a blessing and insight to what God has given us.

I would like to encourage you to take a look at some of the people around you and see if there is someone you can help in someway, then seek God for what it is you can do for that person and then go do it.

Choices

2008-12-16T22:56:00.013-06:00

Have you ever had to make a choice that you knew if you made it, it would have generational effects? I knew the day that I chose to turn my back on all that God has tried to show me in my life that I was going to be going down a road that would have an impact on the generations to come behind me. Anytime you choose to follow the world and turn your back on God there is going to be a consequence that you are going to face.

For me it was almost losing my family, friends, and my career. I found myself lost and searching for answers, hoping that all things would be forgotten, hopes to never face those things in my life, hoping that life would pass me by, and that I would never be seen. I wanted to hide my face because of all the shame that I felt. Shame for leaving my family, for not being able to be strong and fight off Satan for them-that was a CHOICE. I have let my family, myself, and God down because of that one choice that I made. You might be saying you would never do something like that to your family. What people do not understand is that if you put anything in front of God such as money, your job, yourself or family, you have affected those coming behind you in a negative way. For me, making the choice to put my needs in front of my family's needs automatically told them I loved myself more and I deserved to be happy. What a mistake that was!

We all face choices everyday. For some of us we go to bed thinking okay Lord, in the morning I am going to wake up and spend a quiet time with you. The alarm goes off and we say I need a little more sleep. That's a choice. How about the little choices we make such as when people need help and some of us look away like we never saw them instead of helping them or just seeing what they need. Here's my favorite-church, how many people wake up on Sunday morning and say I stayed up too late or its too early or its too cold, to hot, or I just sneezed-I better stay home. What a choice. Isn't it great that we live in the greatest country in the world and we have the choice to do what we want, hmm.

Wonder what would have happened if God chose not to manifest himself into a human to walk on this earth, to feel the things we all feel. I wounder what would have happened if he didn't heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind and cast out demons. What if he chooses not to ask all the disciples to follow him, and one day say I think I am going to choose to let you figure out all the things to come on your own. I know you see where this is going. What if He chose not to go to the cross and take on all the sickness, sin, and pain that ever happened, and that ever will happen. What if...

I don't know for sure what makes people choose the things that they do but I know I have chosen God. I choose to seek Him and what His word(the bible) says, and what He has for me and my family. I choose to stand up for Him, for anything about him. I am not perfect and He does not expect us to be, but I think as a whole we could all make better choices.

The next time you think you don't want to come to church, or take the extra time to pray and seek him, or maybe you see someone that could use some prayer down at the altar, we should think about what all God has chosen to do for us.

Change

2008-12-10T09:27:00.006-06:00

Change: A) to make difference B) to make a radical difference. C) to give a different position, course, or direction, or D) to replace with another. Now I have a question, have you changed, do any of these definitions apply to you, or are you the same person you were when you where in your youth? Some people have said to me, I have changed but in reality they have not changed, they have grown up. They still have some of the same feelings they have always dealt with or felt. The only difference is that now they are in a place where if they do those things they will pay a heaver consequence for their actions.

For me, growing up in small town America, it was easy to get in trouble but hard to keep people from finding out about it. To be honest, as a young kid I really didn't care who knew but there was something in me that would try to hide every time my mother or father yelled "Richard"! Before I knew it I felt like there were people all over town saying that boy is...whatever. It wasn't until I moved from that small town did I realize I can't be acting this way and doing all the stuff in a small town that I was doing in my new town. Why is that? Because sooner or later we must grow up but that does not mean we have changed. We need to act different to get to where we need to be.

I remember my mother telling me that she would let me live with her but her requirement was that I had to go to church. Why? I did not understand at the time but God was ready for me to change my direction, change from the kid inside and grow up. It took some time but eventually I said okay I will change. Bam! I got changed, I got saved, got a job, met my beautiful wife, bought a house, had kids. Wow, did I change... so I thought. It seemed on the outside I changed but the truth was no one knew who I was-not my wife, my parents, not even myself.

It seemed to me that I was holding on to the past. Women, drinking, and being in charge of myself. I had no idea that I was not in control. I was out of control heading down a lonely road all because I refused to change. You will need to look at some of the other posts to see where loneliness and not wanting change in your life will take you.

It took going through hell before I was ready to change, ready to see a difference in my life, and ready to make a difference in my life, for me to be REAL (I have seen that word before). Is being real a change? It was for me. I had to put away all of my selfish needs and thoughts and turn them over to God. I had to do something that I have never done, let God in, let my wife in, and all the people that wanted to come in and help me change in.

There will come a day when you will say I sure would like to change or someone might say behind you I sure wish he or she would change. Either way, if you thought it, or if someone else did, you must have something in your life that needs change and only God can do that.

First you will need to confess out loud. Father(God), I need to change and I can't do it by myself I need you to come in and change me. I need to make you first in my life. I need you to save me. I believe in you. I believe you died on the cross for me and my sins. If you mean that prayer, watch out because change will come.

If you will accept the change and are looking forward to a new you, the change will be on going for the rest of your life.

Where is everyone?

2008-12-05T14:02:00.009-06:00

I have been thinking lately about that old rhyme we said when we were kids. Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and here are the people. Are the people really in there or are they just there physically? Everyone has heard the phrase "the light is on but no one is home". I once was one of those people. I also wonder why it is that when we go to our favorite football game or sporting event that when something good happens everyone rises to their feet yelling, raising their hands, giving high fives to each other. When something bad happens like a foul of some kind we take offense to it like it was personal.

Where are the people at to celebrate the birth of our King? Where are all the people to stand up and cheer knowing that our Father is there for us when we are having a bad day, week, or year? I don't know about you but when I hear someone preaching about Him or when my favorite praise song is being sang, I want someone to say that is awesome or raise their hands with me and root for our team. When someone mocks our Lord our says anything negative, I want to stand up with disbelief and take it personal (I think God wants us to also).

I have had the opportunity to see people come to Christ and get baptised. Did we cheer as if our team mate scored the winning touch down? No. Most of us sat there, maybe we clapped, maybe got an amen, but that was about it. Even though they did score the winning touch down they won the game, they scored the goal for themselves. We are the fans to root for them and give them high fives!

I think its time to stand up for the team. What team are you on? The winning team pumps each other up and celebrates with each other when they do something good. Getting saved and being baptized is something that I want to encourage. We need to be there for them, have their backs when they do not understand why things are happening to them. We need to be there when things are bad, when things are hard. That is how we get to be there when things are good.

Very seldom do we get the opportunity to do something in life that really counts. I 'm not talking about getting that job, or house, or that statis. I am talking about making a difference in lives. Lives that can be changed for ever. If we stand up for those who just scored the big one and congratulate them and let them know how proud we are to have them on our team, then maybe we can also be in the game called salvation. Do not get me wrong, I do not think its a game at all but so many people do. They only want to play if they are in the spotlight. Those are the ones that do not understand being washed in the Holy Spirit. They think that since they came down front and asked the coach (God) if they could come and get in the game, that they are playing. The truth is they are on the side lines watching, until its time to score then they rush in and try to score but get pushed back because of lack of experience. I know because I have been there.

People, it's time to get real and take the responsibility that we receive when Christ comes into our lives. You might be asking who gave me the right to call you out? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said "All the authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Jesus). Therefore go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

Surely after you read this you can see what I am talking about. We need to go out there and put ourselves on the line and seek God's will and what He has COMMANDED each one of us to do.

It's time to go to battle for those who are new in their spiritual walk and for the ones that have grown tired and are hurting. We need to stand up for them.

More to come on this subject...

Faithfulness

2008-12-03T14:53:00.009-06:00

I have often wondered about faith, faithfulness, and being faithful. To me these are some very serious things to be concerned with. Faith, what do you have faith in? Is it men or a job, or is it in yourself? I have had faith in all of those things and I am here to tell you that man will let you down. Your job can go away and you can not do it on your own.

I would like to ask that you look at what you do in a situation that you have no control over anything. Do you go and ask for advice from a friend, do you go and try to work more, or do you say to yourself I can get through this? If any of you are like I used to be I would say or do any of these things and then wonder why things are not getting better. I would try one thing and then go to the next. But I always fell short of my goal.

Hmm...my goal when did it become about me? When did it make sense to try and do what I wanted to do? That is putting your faith in your own hands and not putting your faith in God. There has been times when I have put my faith in man only to be let down. When you put men up on a pedestal you are looking for them to have all the answers and to not have any flaws but they do.

There has only been one man that was able to hold up to what men wanted him to. That man is Jesus Christ. He was so faithful to you and me that he took it all the way to his death. Not only to death but he took on everything wrong in our lives. That sounds to me like someone I would put all my faith in. How about you?

Over the last year I went from having enough money in my pocket to blow, to having nothing but my pockets blowing, but God provided for me only after I put my faith in Him. I still do not have a job but I believe His word, that if you give him what you have he will bless you in ways you would not expect. People are saying that praying is the only way but if you do not put faith in what you are praying for and believe that he has already begun to work out things for you, then you have little faith. Just like the disciple he asked to come to him out on the water, as he walked he started to doubt him and began to sink and he called him out - "Ye of little faith", that's what he will say to you in one way or the other.

I have found that it makes sense to believe and have faith, total faith in God, than to think I can do it with out him.

Habakkuk 2: 4 See that he is puffed up; his desires are not upright but the righteous will live by his faith.

I love the last part of Romans 1:17 The righteous will live by faith.

I found over 50 places in the Bible on faith. I think its time to put your faith in him, all in him, and only in him.

Be Bold

2008-11-24T14:11:00.008-06:00

Bold- What does it mean to be bold? For me, to be bold is not to be afraid, afraid of what people say, what they think, and to be able to stand up at anytime under any circumstances. I have had some people say that my user name is cocky, arrogant or just being full of myself. I would like to ask those people how REAL are you? Do you need me to pray for you, do you need any help with anything, or just ask them how can I help them?

I have recently asked several men to come down to the altar to pray for our church, families, pastor, and the nation for revival. That, to me, is real. That, to me, is being real about what God has called each and everyone of us to do. Its time we stand up and be bold.

Too often we get lost in the world and I understand that just as much as anyone. I was bold and I was cocky, and arrogant. I would do anything I had to do to get head of anyone. I sometimes think that is what people might be thinking when I say "Be Real".

I recently went to the meeting called Men's Encounter where I heard the words be bold in all that you do. It was spoken by a man named Stan, you want to talk about a man that is bold, he is so bold that when he speaks you can feel the presence of God. He speaks as God has given him every word to say. You know how bold Jesus was? For example when he walked into the temple and turned over the tables and ordered everyone to stop using the temple as a market place, that was bold. How about all the times he would say I am the Son of God and when he would tell someone that is blind to open their eyes or tell someone to get up and walk away and then to raise someone from the dead, that's bold. But there was this one time that stands alone and brings a new meaning to being bold. It is when he died on the cross for our sins and took on everything that we have ever done and ever will do because he loved us so much that he wanted to step up and be bold in what his Father has asked him to do.

He is not asking us to be whipped, beaten, torchered, have a crown smashed on our heads, then get up and walk through a crowd of people that hate you for trying to love them and all they can do is mock you and spit on you, and then lay you down and drive these big nails into your hands and feet and hang you on this cross where your skin slowly rips with every breath you take, and then if that was not enough they rip your clothes off and spear you to see if your dead yet. That is boldness. All he has asked of us is to come to him, pray, seek, and believe in him.

Where is our boldness? Why can't we stand up for him and not worry about what people think? I try to. That is why I said "BE REAL FOR HIM" and do what he has asked us to do.

Marriage

2008-11-21T22:36:00.004-06:00

This is going to be a hard one. I want to start by saying that I do not claim to know everything about this subject. Only my wife and the Lord knows what has gone on in my heart the last couple of years. Like a lot of you, I came from a divorced family. I had no idea how a man was supposed to treat his wife. I thought if I would get up and go to work and then come straight home after work, say hello to the wife, rub the kids heads, then retire into the faithful recliner for the evening, everything would just fly on by.

We do not live in the "Leave it to Beaver" era. Life is so fast we are caught up in the world and needing approval from everyone and everything except from the one that is really doing the judging, the Lord our savior.

In my marriage I have done or tried to do about everything a person shouldn't do in a marriage. I have lied, stole, mentally abused, misplaced trust on where I was and what I was doing, and had a relationship with another woman, and totally manipulated everything.

Wow, that is even worse when you put all of that in front of you. I have talked to enough guys that would say that in their marriages they have felt or done some of those things.The question is why? Why are there so many men in today's world that are feeling these things?

I think it has everything to do with their relationship with their Father. I didn't say dads. Why? Because your Dad will let you down. He is not perfect...but your Father in heaven is always there and His love is never failing. He calls the church His bride. If the people would take care of the church the way we are supposed to then it would be easier to see the love that He has for her.

In my marriage I have been given a second chance to do it right through God's grace and mercy. I know there are some things that I left out that I have done in our marriage but those are the things that I could think of. Besides, it only takes one of those things to start a downward spiral in your marriage.

I have learned it does not matter who, why, or what the argument is about, it is up to us men to love and show our wives the love that our Lord displays for the church and to us.

I am convinced that if we (men) act in the way God has designed us to then we will have the marriage that we wanted the day we said I DO.

Which brings me to my next question when you said I do did you mean "I do" or "I kinda do" or did you think you where still in the repeat after me mode?

It is important to take a look at what happened that day you said this is the happiest day in my life and ask yourself where things went wrong. Why do I not still have that feeling I did on that day? Then I would challenge you to take a look at where you are in your walk with Christ and are you walking together or are you going solo or are you even walking with him at all?

I would also ask that you ask your wife "what can I pray for you, what need are you needing met in your life and will you pray with me on my knees". Then you will see the blessing come up on your lives in a totally new way.

My heart hurts for today's marriages. There are so many men and women that are in trouble spiritually and emotionally. These things can only be healed through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Final thought - always tell her you love her even if its only been 5 minutes since you last said it and when you feel you have got something to say to your wife, make sure you can back it up biblically and that you bring your discussion with a clear and loving heart.

Holidays

2008-11-21T12:17:00.008-06:00

The holidays are here again. This year brings on a new meaning. Starting with Thanksgiving - I have so much to be thankful for. This year starting off with thanking Jesus, for giving me another Chance at life, for dying on the cross for my sins. Without God 's Mercy and giving me grace on my life I would have never been able to receive the Holy Spirit in my life.

Next I would like to thank my wife for her devoting heart, love, and her prayers that she has done so unselfishly. Without her I have know idea were I would be right now. I have talked of being Faithful, Forgiving, Hopeful, and Trustworthy on my blog. All of these were inspired by her and her walk with God and having God working on my heart at the same time.

Then I would have to be thankful of my children. They have endured so much in their short lives with what I have put them through. They too have shown me a lot of the same things that my wife has, especially my 11 year old son. For him I think it is still hard for him to trust me and to believe me but when you are a kid and the person that you should be able to trust the most breaks his trust, it is hard to trust again. With my daughter being so young through all of this, I wonder if it affected her at all. I think it did but it was probably in a way that she will ask me about when she is older.

Finally, I am thankful for my friends and my church for not giving up on me and being there for my family. Even though some people gave up on me and wrote me off, I think a lot of you see that I was not myself and have accepted me back with open arms.

So you see, I have so much to be thankful for. I bet if you would take a look at your family, church, and if you know your Lord and Savior as your Father, friend, Counselor and etc... you would know what I am talking about.

Friendship

2008-11-16T21:11:00.004-06:00

I have been truly blessed in my life. I am not rich, I don't drive a fancy new car, and my home is not much more than shelter from the elements. I say that I am truly blessed first because God in His mercy has seen fit to save my wretched soul. To offer me salvation while I was stills His enemy. In the words of Isaiah 53:5, He saw it fit to crush His son for my transgressions. If I had nothing else in this world, that would be enough. But God has seen fit to bless me with a beautiful, loving, compassionate, patient, Godly wife. And she has bore me two wonderful children. I have a dependable job that allows us to give freely to His Kingdom.
You might be thinking to yourself, "O.K., I to am a Christian, I have a wonderful family, and in today’s economy you might even be so lucky as to say that you have a dependable job. What is your point?"
My point is that God has blessed me with something else, something that few men in today’s world find. He has blessed me with not one, but two soul mates. My wife was the first, and about a month ago He gave me another. He is Rick, the author of Real Men For Him. We met down on the gulf coast while doing Hurricane Ike relief, and from the moment we met I felt a kinship like no other. I didn’t know how to explain it until I was in Sunday school. We were studying 1 Samuel 18:1-4, it said that from the moment that David met Jonathan their souls were knit to one another. Vs 3 says that Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
In a very short amount of time, Rick has become that kind of friend to me. I say that I am truly blessed because not many men allow themselves to be so vulnerable as to give themselves to a relationship that transparent and honest. We as men have believed satan's lie that to really love another man is somehow homosexual. Well I am here to call the true men of God to denounce that lie and to seek out the friendship and accountability of other men of God. Proverbs 27:17 says,"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Lay aside your inhibitions and give yourself to someone else. Open the door to a friendship and see how God can truly bless you.

Seasons

2008-10-27T07:09:00.010-05:00

As some of you know, I recently went on a mission trip to the Gulf Cost to help with the hurricane relief. While on this trip, I feel that God showed me that there is still a great need for revival in the churches.

As I went through the small communities and saw the massive destruction, I was surprised to see the only people that were there were a couple of men from the organization Thirst no more.

It seemed to me that there was not much 5 guys could do to help this church. The task seemed to be big.

While working on the church I became good friends with a man I was working with. I found out the second day that one of the guys I new from First Baptist Church in Springdale, some 13 or 14 years ago, now lives in Dallas.

I have learned in life that people will come in to your life for a season not knowing at that time that God may have put this person in my life for a reason. I do not think that it was just a coincidence two guys that have not seen each other in years were put together.

The hard part was trying to figure out if I was there for him or if he was there for me. Maybe neither, I do not know. Maybe if I would not look into things and try to figure out things and seek God for what he wants then he might make it more clear.

I know that when I fell to Satan's evil attack last year, Kim had so many people that was there for her. The way I see it God put someone spacial in her life for a season that would help her pray for me and help her turn to God for strength.

I look back over my life and there as been so many people that came and went through my life. I can only hope that If I was placed in their life for a season, I pray I was able to be there for what God put us together for.

Are you in a season with someone? Be sensitive to what their need is and take a good look at yourself to see that they might be there for you. Ask God to use the relationship.

Hope

2008-10-25T14:24:00.004-05:00

Hope: To cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment.

Hope, what is it you are hopeful for? Are you even hopeful for anything?

I think too many times people get caught up in being hopeful on things. I have said too many times "I hope this happens" or "that happens", not just asking God to take care of it. Whether it be something big or small. I am not saying that you shouldn't hope. I just think we should rely on God instead of hope.

When I am looking for an answer I sometimes say out loud "I hope", but my heart is saying "Lord - help me with this".

Have you ever said I hope my kids or my parents are ok? I think what we really mean is "God, be with them".

I have learned over the last year I am hopeful in one thing...that God knows my heart and that I am doing what he has asked me to do.

1 Timothy 6:17 "Command those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant nor to put their HOPE in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their HOPE in God".

Faith

2008-10-17T10:56:00.012-05:00

Faith do you have it? I know that it is not something that came over night for me. I thought it was hard when trials came before I started my walk with Christ. Man how I was wrong. I know for me, trying to stand for what I believe was not enough. Without faith you can only see what is in front of you or the near future. I have learned through several trials where my faith was. I didn't have any. I tried to fly by the seat of my pants (Oklahoma slang for I didn't have a clue).

For me it took some drastic measures to change my life. I thought God was letting me go on my own for a while, not leaving me out there too long. I can see now that he was always there for me I just couldn't see him through all the sin that I was living in.

He knew that if he let me see that I didn't have the faith it took to make it with out him that I would come to a place of total brokenness. When I was trying to live out what I wanted to I found myself with another woman, drinking, fighting, and just acting like a complete loser. This is what happens when you put faith in yourself, not in the one who is always faithful.

In the middle of all this sin I decided I was leaving home. I took a trip by myself where I told people I needed to take a sabbatical. WHAT??? I didn't even know what that was. I heard someone say they went on one and that sounded like another way I could get away and keep living the life I wanted to.

On this trip God tried to tell me several times - Rick this is enough, you need to have faith and come back to me and let me make everything new again. But I just turned up the radio and kept going. It took me hitting a deer and doing $6,000 damage to my truck, losing the keys to the cabin that I was going to be staying in, and not having anywhere else to turn before I turned to Him for help. It is amazing how when we are in trouble we ask God for help.

He did help and then told me to go home. But that was just the voice of God trying to get me to have faith in him. Over the next several months I would go from earning a great income, getting separated from the person that loved me the most, to losing our home and just feeling like checking out of this world early.

All of this because I let Satan in to run my life and didn't have faith and believe that God was going to help me.

After all this, I still do not have a job and not much money. In spite of this, I now know that the faith that I have and the little chills that he gives me lets me know he is here through this hard time. He has given me a peace that is worth all that stuff. I have my family back together and I am seeing him work in me and the ones around me. I had faith that he could restore it all and trusted in him to do it.

1 Corinthians 10:12 "So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall! (13) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bare, but when you are tempted he will also give you a way out so that you can stand up under him".

Reconciled

2008-10-14T07:05:00.006-05:00

Reconciled: To restore to friendship or harmony. This word came to me last night when talking to a friend. He said that he needs to be reconciled with someone. It made me think when God brought me back from place where I was not with him. I have been blessed to have been reconciled to my wife, kids, and my family and most important to God. I think of the old hymn. "Amazing Grace - I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW I'M FOUND". Its only because God has reconciled me back to him where he gave me friendship with him. He also gave me harmony in my life which is what we Christians should have everyday.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christs' ambassadors, as through God we're making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christs' behalf. Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Trustworthy

2008-10-12T07:59:00.013-05:00

Do you look at yourself as someone that can be trusted? I have always wanted to be trusted but never knew how to get someone to trust me. Maybe that was the problem. I wanted it so bad that I would go around trying and telling people that they could trust me, that you have my word, you can trust me. The problem was I didn't want to take the time to earn the trust. As I found out later I couldn't trust myself. I was so caught up in trying to juggle two lives. I didn't know that people could see that I could not be trusted and that the longer I led the two lives the less people trusted me.

In Psalms 37:3 His word says Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Once I understood that I could trust God with my innermost thoughts, worries, shame, and dishonest actions - I could really enjoy safe pastures and start trusting in myself and trying to earn the trust of others by actions instead of trying to make people believe me.

Isaiah 30:15 This is what the sovereign Lord, the One of Israel says: In repentance and rest is your strength in quietness and TRUST is your strength.

In trust.

Forgiven

2008-10-09T09:20:00.006-05:00

What does it take to be forgiven? Some people believe that if they just ask a person for forgiveness then they will just say okay. I found that it is a lot harder to really accept an apology than it is to to give one. When you do something to someone, even if you are in the right, it takes swallowing your pride, humbling yourself and being sincere. To accept an apology I think you need to really look at the persons actions and see if they are being sincere. Look at how God forgives us of our sins. His word tells us that our sin is casted as far as the east is to the west. Is that what you do when someone sins against you? We are supposed to try and walk as righteous as we can so to forgive is also to forget.

Purpose

2008-10-07T10:45:00.010-05:00

What is purpose? Is it the best job? Not trying to keep up with the Jones but being the Jones'? Or is it doing what ever you want and whatever makes you happy?

Even though my last name is not Jones I used to want everyone to try to keep up with me and I was always looking for the person that had something that I wanted. I would not stop for anything or anyone to get what I wanted. I felt that my purpose was whatever I made it and it was always changing.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called to his purpose.

We have all been called to His purpose - to love him, others, ourselves , and to serve him in all that we do.

We cannot go on thinking we know what is best for us and not give God the chance to work in our lives. We need to stand up for our family, friends, co-workers and most important our creator.

Why

2008-10-05T22:30:00.008-05:00

Why is it that men have such a hard time sharing their true feelings? Is it because our fathers didn't teach us or because some men are fatherless? Whatever the case might be, not being open to your brothers can cause you to put on a front and make you fall into a trap made by Satan. He wants you to think that acting tough and in control is the way a man shoule be. What I have found is that we sometimes put on these fronts out of fear. Fear of being hurt and fear of being exposed even to the ones that love us the most.

I know that for too long I didn't want to let anyone in because of the pain that occured with my parents getting divorced when I was 14. That was so long ago but yet I felt I had to hold on and cover it up so that no one would see that I was hurting. I can tell you that holding on to that kind of hurt will turn you into someone that you never intended on being.

Because I held on to the anger and hurt I was never going to see how much God loved me and I would never see how much my wife, kids and family really love me. I turned away from God, only then could I see how much he has done for me. He gave me a wife that no matter what I have done, will never stop loving me and kids that will always look up to me. But without God showing me these things I was never going to be open to what God wanted to give me which is mercy, grace and unconditional love from the Father.

Being real is trusting in God and yourself and being open to hurt, pain, embarrassment, shame guilt, sadness and bitterness. Being real will also bring happiness, joy, fulfillment, peace, kindness, goodness and understanding. When you put God first in your life you can then begin to open up and receive all of the things He has for you.