No greater love...

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Through the years I have had the honor and privilege of taking care of combat veterans from various conflicts: WWII to present. They all had one thing in common, they fought for the man to the left and to the right of themselves, they wanted all their brothers-in-arms to come home.

On today, this Memorial Day, we honor those who sacrificed, so that their brothers could make it home. So take a moment to remember those who gave their lives: for their brothers, your freedoms and this great country.

God Bless American! Be Blessed!

Nothing is too big...

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Do you ever put limits on God? "That's to big for God, he can't do that." Yeah, in the past I have too.

Well guess what, NOTHING is too big for our God! Keep praying, dream big, let God show you his power and Be Blessed!

Knocked down again...

"For the lovers of God may suffer adversity and stumble seven times, but they will continue to rise over and over again. But the unrighteous are brought down by just one calamity and will never be able to rise again."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:16‬ ‭TPT‬‬

How many times in our lives, as Christians, have we been knocked down? Only for God to pick us back up again. I know in my life, it has been way to many. But my Lord has always been there to help me rise again.

I don't know how the non-Christian does it. Life is hard and when you have no one there to help, getting back up is even harder. I can see why so many people turn to addictions to help deal with life, only to make things worse.

By my reliance on God helps me stand back up and rise again, so I can Be Blessed!

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I keep coming across this verse, in different translations and in different studies. What is it telling me?

1. Have a vision
2. Keep your faith
3. Be strong and persistent
4. Be courageous
5. Do everything in love

What part do you falter in? Mine changes from day to day? Let's try to keep this on our hearts this week so we can Be Blessed!

Be more like Mary...

"Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won't take this privilege from her.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:42‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I woke up today and my dog was laying at my feet. Not because he was tired or sleeping but because he wanted his full attention on me. He wanted to serve and learn from his master. He wanted a relationship with me. Where I go, he goes.

Mary illustrated that same concept to us. She wanted to serve and have a relationship with the Master, Jesus. She hung on His every word.

Are you like Mary? Do you want a relationship with the Master? Do you sit at His feet, learning from Him? We need to slow down in our hectic lives and sit at the feet of the Master.

Be more like Mary and Be Blessed!

The unbridled tongue...

"Can you bridle your tongue when your heart is under pressure? That's how you show that you are wise. An understanding heart keeps you cool, calm, and collected, no matter what you're facing."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:27‬ ‭TPT‬‬

How many times has your tongue gotten you into trouble? For me, several. Emotions rain high and we tend to spout off at the mouth and say things that are hurtful and not called for.

Once those words come out, there is no taking them back. As hard as it is, take a deep breath, say a quick prayer and speak wise, calm words.

Don't let your tongue get you in trouble so you can Be Blessed!

Your hearts desires...

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Money can't do it, security can't do it, "stuff" can't do it, nothing in this world can give you your hearts desire.

Only God, and your relationship with Him, can make you truly content. His love and peace He send, through the good times and bad, calms the soul.

Take delight in the Lord, so you can Be Blessed!

Draw near...

"So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy's kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness."
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭TPT‬‬

When your beat down and tired of life's journey that is when we tend to be the farthest from God. Not because He has left us, but because we haven't called out to Him.

We tend to feel like God has abandoned us when we are at our lowest. But in truth, all we have to do is seek Him, ask Him, worship Him. Now that's is easier said then done. But your Heavenly Father wants to be there for you, He wants to help you, but He will not push Himself upon you, you must seek him.

Draw near to where the grace is enthroned and Be Blessed!

Tripped up...

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The race is long and tiring. Some days you get tripped up and fall. Others you slow down and lose pace.

Yesterday, I fell, I got tripped up. Satan reared his ugly head. But I must, we must, keep faith. Keeping running, one foot in front of the other. Keep our eyes on Jesus and finish this race we call life.

At the finish line, you will Be Blessed!

True freedom...

"It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?"
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The KJV puts it simply: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

WOW, has this world forgotten this!! The MSG tells us the consequences: biting and ravaging, annihilating each other. Look on the news and that is what we have become.

We want freedom, but God tells us we are truly free when we love and serve one another. We don't get free by hate and disdain for each other. We fall into the devil's cage when we act like that and we will never be free if we continue.

Love and serve and Be Blessed!!

He can’t do that...

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Have you ever doubted God? God can't do that, He can't heal this, He can't give me that? I know I have. But I have discovered that YES, God can do anything. And sometimes He will do way more than you ask, if you will only trust Him.

God has great plans for you, more than you can imagine. Trust in Him, let Him work and you will Be Blessed!

Stuff...

"Don't be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God's presence. For hasn't he promised you, "I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!""
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I have personally, always struggled with this. I am a "gadget" guy, I love to shop! I am always looking fir the newest, coolest toy, tool, radio etc. Even though God has blessed me with many earthly pleasures, I always tend to want more.

But there have been times in my life when I have had much less. But God was always with me, right beside me. He has led me through they valley's and been with me on the mountain top.

No amount of "stuff" can change God's love for you. Learn to be content and Be Blessed!

Old friend...

""You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you. I have never called you 'servants,' because a master doesn't confide in his servants, and servants don't always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate and cherished friends, for I reveal to you everything that I've heard from my Father."
‭‭John‬ ‭15:14-15‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Did you hear what Jesus called you? His most "intimate and cherished friend"! That is the kind of relationship He wants with you.

Now think of your most cherished friend in earth. Is it the one you do everything with and talk to daily or the one you haven't seen since college?

God wants to spend time with you daily. He wants to talk to you, spend time with you, He wants to be with you every step of the way.

Give your "old friend" Jesus a call and get reacquainted, so you can Be Blessed!

Help from the Holy Spirit...

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Have you ever been to the point that you just didn't know how to pray anymore? I remember telling my wife one time that I didn't feel like my prayers went past the ceiling.

But through those times, my God was with me. His Holy Spirit was right there guiding and interceding for me. And you know what, I don't even remember why I was so down at that time. But I do know that my God overcame for me.

Let the Holy Spirit intercede for you and Be Blessed!

Is your God enough...

'Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.' Habakkuk 3:17-19

When everything is going wrong in your life, when your marriage is falling apart, when you were fired from your job. When your addiction has taken over your life, is God enough?

The short answer, YES, your God is enough! Rejoice in the fact that your God is enough, He will provide you the strength needed through the rough times. He will be there for your to lean upon. Put your faith in Him, He will bring you through the other side.

The Sovereign Lord is your strength! Be Blessed and know that your God is enough!!

Your value...

'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. ' Romans 8:38

For years, I thought that my value as a person was tied up in my work. Striving to be the best in my career. I would try to impress people with my skills and knowledge. I thought that gave me true meaning. My work was my life, it was my self worth.

But I have discovered that it doesn't matter what others think of my. My self value is not made up of how many people I could impress or, at that time, how many patient flights I had.

"Your value does not increase or decrease based on what others might say or think about you. Your value comes from the ingredients God used to make and save you." - Wild Life-Start Really Living

So take a step back, know that your value is based upon God and your relationship with him. Nothing can separate you from that and then you will Be Blessed!

God chose you...

4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. - Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT

Think about a couple during the pregnancy of a child, they fall in love with that child before they are born. Mom picks out clothes and supplies needed to nurture that child. Dad paints a bedroom, builds a crib for that child to sleep in. They are 100% in love with that child before it even takes its first breath. 

God is so much more in love with you! As a matter of fact, He chose you before time began. He loved you before you existed! He even loved you before the world existed. That blows my mind. His love is not conditional, His love is not dependent on what you do. 

He loves you because you are His child, take a deep breath and soak that in, and Be Blessed!

Trouble below...

""So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As I drove over Wheeler Dam today, I noticed the calm water on the top of the dam, and the churning, rushing rapids down below.

Those fishing at the top, in the calm water, weren't worried about the rapids below. The dam separated them from the trouble. Christ is like that dam, he separates us from what trouble may come. Put your faith in him, just like the fisherman keeps his faith in the dam.

We have enough to worry about today, don't worry about tomorrow. For that matter, don't worry about today either, your faith in Christ will see you through, so you can Be Blessed!

Salt...

""Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭MSG‬‬

You are here for a purpose. Your purpose may be different than mine or anyone else's, but ultimately, as a Christian, we are here to serve God and spread His love.

When people look at us, they should see God. They should see His love and goodness. They should see His faithfulness and discipline. They should see a reflection of their Heavenly Father.

Be salt and let those you interact with taste God and you will Be Blessed!

Your neighbor...

"Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who is your neighbor? It's not just the guy across the street who helps you change the brakes on your car, it's so much more.

Your neighbor is your coworker, the family at the grocery store, the cashier in the fast food line. Your neighbors anyone you come in contact with.

Jesus second commandment was to "Love your neighbor as yourself". Show everyone you interact with the love of Jesus and you will Be Blessed!

Working for the Lord...

"Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work."
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:22-25‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Being a Christian at work is sometimes very hard. Especially if you have a job you dislike, your boss isn't the best and your coworkers are just downright ugly. But remember, ultimately your working g for God.

I once worked with a housekeeper, his job stunk (literally), his pay was minimum and his boss was a jerk! But this had to be the kindest, happiest guy I ever met. His work area was spotless and he went above and beyond in everything he did. He was working for a higher power.

Let God shine through your work and Be Blessed!