Look At Me

Have you ever been out walking by yourself and heard footsteps coming up behind you? That can be a little freaky. Your mind starts messing with you, telling you that you're about to be robbed, or worse. You finally decide to stop and turn around and . . .

No one is there.

Do you believe in guardian angels? The Bible does refer to angel visitations here on earth, therefore they DO exist and they DO make visits into our lives.

Several years ago I was driving to work when a deer ran out in front of my car. I was doing 70 miles per hour. The deer was killed, my car was totaled and I escaped injury free. The deer should have come right through my windshield, yet it went up and over the car. Angelic intervention?

"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." - Psalm 34:7

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 18:10

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" - Psalm 91:11"

There ARE angels and God DOES command them to protect us according to His will. So why should we be surprised? Has God been watching over YOUR life?

I heard this song the other day - an oldie but a goodie. It's secular in nature but, if you sing the opening words from Jesus' perspective, it makes perfect sense.

There is someone walking behind you
Turn around, look at me
There is someone watching your footsteps
Turn around, look at me

When we place our faith in Jesus we receive that "extended warranty" those telemarketers are always calling about. Only God's warranty lasts forever. God cares about ALL of His children. If you are not one of them, please consider His free offer today!

It can be quite comforting knowing that God is walking behind us in our lives. Turn around and acknowledge Him and He will make all your paths straight.

Turn Around, Look At Me - The Vogues

Giving Thanks

One of the things I enjoy about volunteering is the people I get to meet. Every one of them is different, yet we all have this similar desire - to love and to be loved. Why is that?

It doesn't matter what political party you favor, whether you're a Packers fan or a Bears fan. There is a common thread that runs through the fabric of the human heart that is undeniable. And it is placed there by God. Knit into our hearts from long ago.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." - Isaiah 139:13

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. We give thanks to our creator for all the many blessings He has given us. And we truly are blessed in this country. But with those blessings comes responsibility. A responsibility to bless others in God's name.

You see, Thanksgiving isn't really about US. It's not about turkey, football or parades either. It's about God. I think we've forgotten that as a nation. And that's part of our problem today.

The Thanksgiving story I remember from my childhood was the Pilgrims celebrating their safe passage from England, celebrating the harvest. But I also remember the Indians (Native Americans if you prefer) sharing some of their food as well.

That may or may not be true. I'm not going to look it up. But that's almost how it should be, isn't it? Sharing our blessings with others?

I hope that when you gather around the dinner table tomorrow you will take time to give thanks. Not just with a traditional prayer. Make it a special one. For we have a special God deserving of our thanks and praise.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Isaiah 139:14

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." - 1 Chronicles 16:34

Forever God Is Faithful - Michael W. Smith
The Real Story of Thanksgiving

Bring The Rain

Are you having sex outside of marriage? Are you more concerned about football than you are about worship? Do you care more about money or work than about God, family or others? Then this is your lucky day!

There is a rather ugly word in the Bible - fornication. Here is its definition.

fornication - consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.

Here is the word used in a sentence.

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Does that scare you? You're not alone. Verses nine and ten include a lot of people in our society today. Here's an encouraging verse to go along with these two convicting ones. Verse 11.

"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:11

What? You mean there's hope? A way out? YES!! Here's all you have to do:

1. Go to God in prayer 
2. Seek His forgiveness.
3. Read His Word.
4. KEEP His Word.

The good news is God loves us. He wants the best for us. And by "the best" I mean He wants a marriage relationship with you! No adultery. No fornication. Purity! He wants us to have no sex outside of marriage - no relationships with idols outside of our marriage with Him. God wants to be first in our lives, not something we do on Sundays. Everyday! Every minute of every hour. God loves us! How much do we love Him?

"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it." - Isaiah 45:8

Bring the rain.

Bring The Rain - MercyMe

Nonconformity

I read something today that made me stop and think about the way I am living my life right now. I'd like you to read it too and see what you think.

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16

What that basically says to me is, "All that stuff you were doing before you were saved? Yeah, don't do that anymore."

We humans are prone to temptation. We are also creatures of habit. When something we used to do in our past dangles itself in front of us in our present, what is our future going to look like? That depends on what we do right here and now.

How can we prepare for temptation? Take proactive steps. Does taking a drink tempt you? Get rid of the bottles in your house, don't go to bars, don't go to parties where alcohol is likely to be served. Don't go down the beer aisle at the grocery store.

Here's another helpful tip. Don't watch television, especially the commercials. Television ads are like IED's -  roadside bombs. You think you're safe then, BOOM! There it is.

Am I being too drastic? Too picky? Too idealistic? Legalistic?

I used the example of alcohol here but it really could be anything. Sexual temptation, gluttony, greed, the list is endless.

What does it mean to be holy? Set apart? From what? We are to be set apart from the world, sin and everything "the world" represents. We were made holy by the precious blood of Jesus and our faith in God. Should we be acting like it?

Every time we are tempted we should pray and get out of the situation we are in. We also should take steps to avoid temptation. We belong to Jesus, not the world.

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

Ball of Confusion - The Temptations

Deep Cuts

Have you ever gotten a really deep paper cut? Those babies sure hurt! But, for as painful as those cuts are, there is still another kind of cut that hurts even worse. A wound from someone you love.

Divorces cause a lot of pain. Both the husband and the wife get hurt. And if there are any kids in the family? Ouch! The hurt can really run deep.

Pain can also be caused by close friends. At least you thought you were close until that one day they turned on you. And for no apparent reason. Pain also comes from a loss - the death of a loved one. It can feel like WE are the ones who died.

Did you ever work some place where you felt like you were part of a family? Then one day some new guys come to run the ship. They decide to make some changes and YOU were one of them. The pain runs deep.

So, what do you do when you get hurt like that? Well, you could get angry and fight back. You could do nothing and let the pain fester inside of you until it gets infected and kills you. What can we do when the pain hurts so much you just want it to stop?

Turn to Jesus. It's a simple answer. So why is it so difficult?

Jesus is not called "the great physician" for nothing. He heals broken hearts. He restores our brokenness and makes us whole again. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

As someone who has given his life to Christ I can tell you that you will never feel alone again. Not when you are part of God's family. There is peace and hope for a future in store.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

A future assured, peace, hope, never lonely, always loved, never forsaken. If you don't know Jesus, if He is not the Lord of your life yet, consider His offer. He WILL restore your soul.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." - Psalm 23:1-6

I Am Not Alone - Kari Jobe

Rage

What causes us to snap - to go beyond the breaking point where we do and say things we later regret?

You've probably seen the video of the Cleveland Browns player who ripped the helmet off the opposing quarterback and then beat him over the head with it. Not smart. But why did he do it? Why so violent?

I've watched the disgusting video several times on TV and I can't come up with a reason. Granted, football is a violent sport. But it should never get THIS violent.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight." - James 4:1-2

There is something wrong inside the helmet-wielding man from Cleveland. But that raw emotion is inside all of us. Go back to Cain and Abel. Cain got angry with Abel, picked up a rock and killed his brother. Why? The Apostle John gives us an answer.

“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” - 1st John 3:12

We humans get angry, we get violent. There is a constant battle inside each one of us between good and evil. And when we lash out at others, any weapon will do. Guns, knives, bombs, helmets, even our words can kill.

Look, each one of us sins. "None of us is righteous. No, not one" (according to Paul in Romans 3:10). So how can any of us be saved?

We make life-changing choices every day. As followers of Christ though we should CHOOSE to turn the other cheek. We CHOOSE not to murder someone today. Why do we make those choices? We are followers of Christ! He has told us that if we truly love Him we will obey His commandments (John14:15).

Do we love Jesus? That's the ultimate question. If your answer is 'yes' then put down the gun, put down the helmet, LOVE your enemies. We are not of this world. We shouldn't be acting like it.

The football player who attacked the quarterback with his own helmet later appologised. The quarterback refused to press charges. We as a people must get to the point where attacks like this no longer happen. Only God can change that. Only God can change a sinner's heart. Pray.

The Hugging Prayer

Do you have a really good friend you just love being around? Maybe you've been blessed with many such friends. I have a few. Each time we part company we always give each other a hug. But until today I never recognized those hugs for what they really are - prayer.

There are several kinds of hugs I guess. The appreciative hug of a child, a hug of sympathy for someone going through a struggle or loss, the hopeful hug of a teen on his first date.

I saw a Facebook post from a friend the other day that said a hug is actually a prayer. After considering that for a moment I decided it was true.

If you have family members or friends that you hug, isn't it really a silent, unspoken prayer? And doesn't the Holy Spirit interpret our prayers to make the pleasing and acceptable to God?

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." - Romans 8:26

Try this. Speak a short prayer the next time you hug someone.

"I thank God for you!"

"I love you, my brother."

"Thank you God for the gift of my friend."

Trust me. Your friend won't mind.

We should always thank God for our blessings. Why shouldn't we give thanks while hugging one of those blessings?

One of the most precious prayers we can pray is praying for someone we love while holding them in our arms or while holding their hands. Thoughtful, compassionate, prayerful touch is an extremely powerful and emotional prayer.

Is that how we pray? Do we pray with that kind of closeness and emotion? We should.

Draw Me Close To You - Michael W. Smith

Best Intentions

We start off each day with the best of intentions. We're going to nail that job interview, pass that test, lose that weight. etc. Then we actually get out of bed and everything changes.

Best intentions are like New Year's resolutions and they usually come with the same results. Failure. So what does it take for us to actually, and finally, make a change in our lives?

Sadly, much needed change often comes with a catastrophic event of some sort. "I am going to change my eating habits for sure this time, " said the overweight man lying in his hospital bed after cardiac surgery.

What about our Christian walk? We say the same things. "I'm going to pray more often than I do." or "I should really go to church today." It's the same thing as the secular world we live in. That shouldn't be us. Something needs to change.

Enter Jesus.

Jesus literally changes our lives. He can change us on the Damascus road or He can change us on the way to the hospital. But He does change us! If you haven't been changed after meeting Jesus, you haven't met Him.

Let's get off our butts today and change something in the "normal" way we operate. BE the change. Make a difference in someone's life today. Don't simply escape the day with best intentions. Do it! Do something! And pray!

Text a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Better yet, pick up the phone and call them. Go to Walmart, buy some blankets and drop them off at a homeless shelter. Buy some extra food and drop it off at your local food pantry. But don't forget to tell them the most important thing.

"These are from Jesus. He prompted me to do this today. Have YOU made Jesus Lord of your life?"

Unless Jesus is part of what we do, we are acting in vain.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Remembering that "God is love," be more than best intentions.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." - Acts 20:24

Best of Intentions - Travis Tritt

Foxholes

It has been said that "there are no atheists in foxholes." I can believe that. That moment what we are SO desperate that we do anything just to get out of the situation we're in. Even call out to God for help!

Most of us have no idea what war is actually like. We see it on television or in the movies and that's as real as it gets. We have no clue.

In our desperate moments, when we DO reach out to God for help, what happens after we cry out? What happens when God actually answers?

For the soldier it is the moment when things suddenly become clear and an obvious plan of action is realized. Fear escapes and is instead replaced by acts of bravery and action. Purpose replaces uncertainty. The soldier moves without thought of self, but with a desire for the greater good.

There is another saying - "For God and Country." We need more soldiers in God's army of today. Ranks are dwindling. The purpose remains the same but our enemy has infiltrated the perimeter and is taking his share of casualties.

In the Book of #Ephesians Paul tell us to dress for war. He is NOT kidding around with some poetic slimily. He's deadly serious. Perhaps this Veterans Day would be a good day for us to heed this advice and suit up for the coming war.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:10-17

We are soldiers of the Price of Peace but WE WILL FIGHT for our King.

Hacksaw Ridge Movie Trailer

Don't Look Back

We all have something in our lives that we would be better off without. Alcohol, gambling, overeating, idolatry, lust, an abusive relationship, you name it. Why do we keep going back to the very things that are destroying us?

What is it in your life that you would be better off without? That one thing that, if you lost it, your life would be so much better.

Do you remember the Old Testament story of Sodom and Gomorrah? Things go so bad in those towns that God decided to destroy them. There was one man though - Lot was his name. When Lot was hesitating to leave the city one of the angels said to him . . .

“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” - Genesis 19:17

That is the place we have to get to with our addictions and desires. We have to arrive at the point where we give them up and do not look back. Lot's wife looked back and thought about what she was leaving behind. It cost her everything - her life. She is our example of what NOT to do.

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:26

God wants us to leave our past behind us and follow Him. Never look back, never think about what might have been. Only look ahead and dream about what is yet to come.

Burn The Ships - For King and Country (the meaning)

I Choose You

Have you ever heard something over and over, like somebody was trying to tell you something? Or send you a message? It happened to me yesterday.

I was reading through the Book of Acts and came across this verse. It made me stop and think for a moment, as it has in the past.

"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed." - Acts 13:48

The way I understand that verse is that SOME people are NOT appointed to eternal life. Some are and some are not. That's scary right there. Keep that in mind as you read this from the Book of Ephesians.

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." - Ephesians 1:4

God, who has no beginning and no end, who has seen everything future and everything past, chose you. If you have placed your faith in Christ, God chose you!

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." - John 6:44

That means that if you are a Christian, God chose you, you didn't choose Him. We might think we made a conscious choice but it's really more like we finally woke up.

If all that is true (and it is) then why should we evangelize? Why should we share the Gospel with others? Well, what if God already chose you to share the Gospel with someone next week Tuesday?

I tell you all this because I read the opening verse of this story on Monday during my daily reading. On Tuesday, while I was talking with a friend, the verse also came up in our conversation and I said, "I just read that!" Then, when I got into the car to drive home, I heard the same verse again on a talk show. Is someone trying to tell me something?

And that is why I am writing about it today, just in case God wants to use that verse to impact someone's life. A life He already chose . . . before they were even born.

Is God amazing or what?

Watch & Learn, I Choose You, Night Fit - Thomas Newman

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season last week. It's always interesting driving after the first snow. It can be pretty dangerous. Like Tuesday morning.

A portion of the main highway through town was closed because of an accident. A truck driver was killed. It was not a good day to be on the roads.

The first snow looks so pretty. We've forgotten how beautiful the snow can look. With the snow however comes hidden dangers. Potholes are covered up, snow can cover the ice too.

Life is filled with hidden dangers. It's our job to navigate them safely. So how do we do that? We have laws like speed limits to help keep us safe. Yet we ignore them. We see snow falling and we forget how slippery it gets. We don't slow down for that either. And then bad things happen.

We lose control of our cars. We can also lose control of our lives. We read God's laws and we still ignore them. When we see someone we love living dangerously, do we stop them and warn them? Or do we just shake our heads?

God tells us in the Bible that we should warn others of impending danger and not just let them parish. Their blood will be on OUR heads.

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.' - Ezekiel 33:6

Is there someone in your life who is hurting right now or living in sin? How do you think God wants us to love them today?

Watchman - Robin Mark

Where's Your Mountain?

Reading through the Gospels these past few weeks has reminded me of something about Jesus. There are two things that we all can do to make our loves so much more fulfilling.

Jesus was a popular guy. People flocked to Him as word spread about His miracles of healing and restoration. There were times that the crowd was so thick around Him that some climbed trees just to get a glimpse of Him.

Jesus did some important things we all should be doing in our own lives. If we did just these few things we would be so much simpler and fulfilling.

The first is His compassion. Love.

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36

There are so many who need love and compassion in this world. Is there someone in your life who could use a friend right now? Someone with a listening ear? Or maybe just someone to be with?

The other thing Jesus did was He got away from the crowd numerous times during His ministry, just to be by Himself and to pray. Where do you go when you want to recharge? To pray? What do you do?

"After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone." - Matthew 14:23

For me, I turn off the news shows, close the laptop and pick up my Bible. Reading God's Word takes me out of this world and places me somewhere, by myself, with Jesus. I find that to be very calming. I will also sit in the dark and just pray and love people from the comfort of my living room chair.

The important thing is to DO something. We need to remind ourselves that this world can be a cold, dark place in need of some light. BE that light in someone's life today. And if you need recharging, get away by yourself someplace. Take the time you need to be re-filled. Read God's promises, read through Psalms and pray, visit with a friend.

There aren't many mountains here in Wisconsin but there are Quiet Places we can go to get away from it all and get closer to God. Where's YOUR mountain?

The Old Rugged Cross - Alan Jackson