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Resting with Jesus

Today is the Sabbath and we usually make time for church even when we are on vacation.

Today we are in East Texas, and it is a given that we visit the Peace Fellowship church, our church home away from home.

But Tammy has been battling a tooth ache for two days straight and we are heading home when she is ready.

I finished a devotional this morning called Restless, and it brought me comfort about the Sabbath.

Sabbath is resting with and in the Lord. It is us doing our best to throw away the cares of the world and just rest with HIM, the King of Kings! Amen?

There are times when we miss church for a good reason. Amen?

There is no doubt that Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, should attend church.

It should be the desire of every Christian to worship corporately (Ephesians 5:19–20), to fellowship with and encourage other Christians (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to be taught God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Hearing the Word is what produces faith (Romans 10:17).
And gathering with other believers is a command (Hebrews 10:24–25); we really do need each other.

Church attendance should be one of the priorities in the Christian life.

Being committed to one’s local church is important.

What then are appropriate reasons for missing church?

It’s impossible to give a list that will work for everyone.

But the issue comes down to your attitude and motivation.

If one’s motivation for missing church is to better serve the Lord elsewhere, to meet genuine needs, or to fulfill a God-ordained responsibility, then there is nothing wrong with missing a church service. Amen?

The fact is that most of the time when church members miss church, it is not for the above reasons.

Rest is important and that is why God made the Sabbath for us. So, we could rest. Amen?

Even the disciples needed rest and they got it while alone with Jesus.

Mark 6:30-31 GNB (30) The apostles returned and met with Jesus, and told him all they had done and taught. (31) There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his disciples didn't even have time to eat. So he said to them, "Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest a while."

Spend the Sabbath resting with the Lord.

Prayers appreciated for Tammy and have a blessed day!

God Knows Best

Yesterday we arrived at our hotel in Blytheville Arkansas tired! 

I went to check in for our first room floor adjacent to the indoor pool.

The hotel host stated that there were only 2nd and 3rd floor rooms available!

I was livid as I had requested a first-floor room adjacent to the pool when making my reservation.

Then to add insult to injury, the room we did get was just about the farthest room from the indoor pool and family restaurant than all the other rooms in the hotel.

After walking to the car twice and walking to the restaurant to eat and back to the room, none of us was in the mood to walk back to the pool.

I was still upset while working on our genealogy.

We could hear loud music and lots of loud people outside and near to the outdoor pool. 

We looked outside and noticed nearly fifty people lined up clapping and yelling while a vehicles would pull up and a young lady dressed in formal a dress got out of the car and entered the hotel.

We lost count of the cars but realized as the women were entering the hotel that they were entering into the corridor that we had specifically requested for a room!

That music loud music could barely be heard where we were at but it would have been unbearable had we been the specific room we had wanted!

I was no longer upset about not getting my way.

I realized God was looking over us even in the littlest ways. Amen?

Isaiah 55:9 GNB As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.

May you consider your ways not God’s ways and go with the flow when encountering change.

Have a blessed day!

Hidden Treasures

Yesterday we went to the Whistlestop Restaurant in Monon Indiana. 

There is a railroad museum attached to the place and we had never been in it. So, we decided to check it out for the first time.

When you enter the museum, it appears to be a room maybe fifteen feet by forty feet with glass cases full of railroad dinnerware that was used years ago.

It was a guided tour and the man inundated us with information about each set of dinnerware.

Then he led us through the narrow doorway into the next room which we did not know was part of the museum!

Get it? Narrow way to the treasure. 

When I think about walking through the narrow passage into a wide open warehouse full of treasure I think about the scripture of our passage to Heaven! Amen?

Matthew 7:13 GNB "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.

The irony here is that many to include myself have walked through the wide gate to the restaurant on quite few occasions and then left after eating. We had no clue that we were sitting with feet of a hidden treasure!

We were astonished at all the hidden treasures on display in that warehouse size “room!”

We spent over an hour on the guided tour and took over a hundred pictures of the treasures hidden in that museum, and we didn’t see everything! There is too much to see in just one trip.

When I shared my pictures on social media, I had a cousin that said, “We don’t realize the treasures that are in our own backyards!”

She is absolutely correct.

That statement reminded me of the scripture about the hidden treasures in a field.

Matthew 13:44 GNB "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field.

Only we don’t have to find a field to purchase. Amen?

The most valuable treasure in all the world is our salvation and it has already been paid for and is in our own “backyard!”

There are also many treasures hidden in the BIble if we will just open it daily and search for them! 

Yes, you can receive a daily gold nugget from God by simply searching for it in your own backyard (your Bible)

We are leaving out this morning after the rain dies down a bit. Prayers for safe travels is appreciated.

Have a blessed day.

Are You in the Right Place?

The other day, we were traveling to Morocco Indiana to see a cousin and I looked in the maps app to see if there might be a UPS store in the vicinity so we could drop off a package I needed to mail.

The maps app showed that there was indeed a UPS store in Rensselaer! So, we headed in that direction.

When the app stated that we had reached our destination, we were at a CVS store.

There was no UPS sign on the store anywhere, so we drove around the block looking for one.

There was not another business on that block that would be a UPS store, so we pulled in and I went into the store.

I took my package with me but was fairly sure we had gone on a wild goose chase, if you will.

I looked on the door to the store before entering, thinking that maybe there was a UPS advertisement place there but found nothing.

When I walked in, I looked for a UPS sign that might indicate a pick up point but there was nothing.

A lady came out and asked if she could help me.

I chuckled with confusion and stated, “Well, I have been looking for a UPS store and my maps app brought me here. Am I in the right place?”

She smiled and picked up her mobile UPS device and said, “I am glad you asked. Yes, you are in the right place.”

Another revelation!

We searched for a store, I entered the place still unsure and then I asked and received the service I had been searching for.

Sound familiar?

Matthew 7:7 KJV Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Whatever you may need, seek the Lord and bring your petition before him with your request.

The Bible says when we do, we will receive. Amen?

Do You Have the Right Tools?

I told on myself yesterday about how I had this false sense of security while hauling around a spare that wouldn’t have worked if I had needed it.

Today, I will finish telling on myself!

I got the replacement tires. 

I decided I would replace them both and keep the best of the two old ones as a spare.

I went to loosen the lug nuts and found out that the largest socket I had was a ¾ inch socket. That is the socket needed to change the tire on the car but guess what!

I needed a bigger socket for the trailer lug nuts!

Talk about being totally unprepared to change a flat on the trailer.

Without the correct tool, there was no way to remove the old tire.

We went to the local Walmart’s and bought the size I needed.

Guess what. 

The job of replacing both tires was quick and easy with the right tools! LOL

I had my toolbox with me, but I didn’t have all the tools that I needed.

Without the right tools we will fail.

It is impossible to be a success without the right tools, amen?

Our spiritual life is the same way. We need a toolbox with the right tools for every task or situation we will encounter.

The Bible is our toolbox with all the essential tools we will ever need.

Joshua 1:8 KJV This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Make sure to open your toolbox daily.

Have a blessed day.

False Sense of Security!

Have you ever found out that you were at peace during some situation or task? 

You had this peace and confidence because you had a backup plan and maybe even a backup to the backup plan.

Then after the situation is over you find out that your sense of peace, that confidence that you had, was unfounded.

Let me give you an example.

Before leaving on a 1,000 mile plus trip, I made room in the trunk of our car for a spare tire for the trailer we were pulling. 

That along with the tools that I had gathered brought me the peace and confidence that I needed for a possible flat on trailer during our trip.

Once we arrived at our destination in Indiana, I noticed that the left side tire was bald! 

So, I decided to replace it with the spare that I had brought with us.

I was shocked to find out that the rim was a four hole, and I needed a five hole for the trailer! 

I could not believe that I had picked up the wrong spare from the garage!

So, you see, I had traveled over a thousand miles with a false sense of security!

I did not examine the axle of the trailer closely and assumed I had the correct spare! I did not test (try) the spare to the axle.

The tire was the correct size, but the rim was not the correct style!

When it came time to change the tire, I found out that the five-lug axle was not going to accept the rim and tire I had been carrying around all this time!

We must avoid a false sense of security in our walk with the Lord also, amen?

We should examine ourselves closely, amen?

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 NIV (5) Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (6) And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

Many Christians are walking in a false sense of security and peace but have failed to examine themselves.

Don’t be one of them! 

Have a self-examining blessed day today!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day at my baby sister’s house. We had six dads there. 

The celebration was also a teaching experience as is most any given day when you are raising children.

Our first stop was at my parent’s house to watch church with them. Going to church while on vacation is a good example to teach our children! Taking a vacation from fellowship with like minded Christians and listening to the word of God can result in missing church after vacation is over.

Then we headed to my sisters. 

Just as we got out of the car and headed to the house, we heard one of the children yell, “Leave me the %$#@ alone!”

I was caught off guard at the language and by the looks on Ethan’s face he was not surprised. 

I said, “Son you know why (I said the child's name) talks like that?” Ethan shrugged his shoulders.

I smiled, “Because his dad talks like that.”

Ethan was a little surprised by my candor and I explained that all children repeat what they hear, especially things that their parents say.

Just a few days ago, at Indiana Beach, I watched a mother scold her young son with more expletives than anything else. I am sure the young child understood that he should have done what he was told but he is remember all those expletives too!

We as parents (moms and dads) should guard our mouths. Amen?

I am not just talking about expletives being used in conversation.

But I mean any type of harmful or demeaning talk. Amen?

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

Who is listening to us more than anyone else? Our children!

They repeat what we say!

It is not just what we say that influences the young. They also repeat what we do.

So, our actions are more important than our words!

Have you ever heard the saying, “Talk is cheap.”

Usually what is being implied is that our actions is the real deal!

1 John 3:18 MSG My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love.

Our children imitate our actions.

Ask yourself this morning, “Am I the living example I should be?”

James 3:13 MSG Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.

I want close with a caveat. 

Don’t’ think this only applies to us with small children. 

No, this applies to everyone reading this.

Do you realize that not only our children, but many others are influenced by our words and actions?

We all have others that watch us and, in many cases, imitate our words and actions.

May God help us all be a better example for all that are listening and watching us.

May we contribute to a Godly legacy to help bring light into this dark and perverse world.’

Have a blessed day

Happy Father’s Day!

Yesterday we surprised my dad with a swing. 

Most of the family assembled the swing and placed it in a good spot at Dad’s house while my family and I distracted my parents by taking them out to eat.

When we arrived back to my parents’ house, the swing was ready!

Just as we arrived the local ice cream truck stopped, no doubt because of all the children in the yard.

Dad was excited for the children and handed out money for all his grandchildren to go get ice cream.

After all the ruckus, dad sat in his swing and was content just sitting there visiting. 

He actually sat and visited for over two and a half hours!

Dad never sits for two and a half hours! LOL

This morning we are going to church with my parents.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Fathers out there. 

If your Father is still alive make today a special one for him too.

Have a blessed day!

It Is the Little Things That Count.

Someone once said that life is a long series of little miracles so, notice them.

Does that sound crazy to you?

I think it is true.

You see, when we sacrifice a small portion of our time to lighten up someone else’s life, they remember it for the rest of their lives.

We are so often too busy to slow down and reflect on what we could do or say that could be one of those “little miracles.”

We often have a chance to show our love in some kind of small act of kindness. This happens daily and many of us miss it.

The power of that act is unbelievable!

I have a small note back home in my top desk drawer from a niece that says, “I Love you Uncle Monty, and I promise to see you at least once a year for the rest of my life.”

Whenever I come across that note, I see this little girl running up to me and giving me the note.

Now she is thirty years old with children of her own.

That small act of kindness made an impact on my life, amen?

Yesterday, my dad and I were going through some items, checking if I had seen them and to update our genealogy if needed.

He pulled out a funeral program and obituary for one of his sisters, My Aunt Dot. 

One of her children had sent it to him and inside the program was a handwritten letter from my dad to his sister from May of 1949! (The picture is the second page of the note)

For some reason, at the age of ten and a half, my dad wrote a note to his seventeen-year-old sister.

At the age of 82, she still had that note!

Yes, it made an impact on her life, amen?

You don’t have to do something huge to make a positive impact on someone’s life.

It is the little things that count. Amen?

Do something little today.

Have a blessed day!

Are You in the Right Place?

We traveled to Morocco yesterday to visit some other living Patriarchs of the family. I wanted to glean some stories as well as update any information on the family tree.

I relaxed in the car as Tammy drove us over to Larry “Doc” Schanlaub’s home. 

Once we were within a few hundred feet, I still didn’t recognize any of the houses. 

We had been there only once before but I was sure either Tammy or I would recognize the place. The Maps App declared that we had arrived at our destination! 

We were looking at a house on one side of the street and a church on the other! So, Tammy started driving up and down the street while we looked for the house, hoping to recognize it. 

We got tired of wandering up and down the street like fools and I called Doc to verify his address.

When I told him the address that I had plugged into the phone app he laughed and said, “No! That’s my church!”

After plugging in the correct address, we were there in a few minutes.

You see, I called Doc! I called the one that was there and knew the way. He gave me instructions on getting on the right path!

In our spiritual life we must call on God for the answers, amen?

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Once I arrived, I was greeted by heartwarming family members! Jimmy Joe, my oldest cousin present, said he also had gotten lost, and he stopped at the police station and asked them where Doc lived.

I also see a spiritual application with that, amen?

Anyone reading this know someone that would drive up and down street after street refusing to call for help?

Refusing to stop and ask for help? 

Maybe you are guilty of that yourself?

Anyway, we sometimes get caught up thinking we can get things figured out and actually act like a fool when the answer is readily available.

Proverbs 12:15 NIV The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Jimmy Joe stopped and seeked guidance and was on the right path immediatley.

Sometimes we think we are on the correct path. 

I know in my lifetime I have come to the conclusion many times that I needed to seek advice and/or call on God for guidance to get back on the right path to the right place!

May you continuously seek guidance to stay on the correct path to the right place!

Have a blessed day!

Taking it slow at times is good!

Yesterday, Ethan and I took the twins to Indiana Beach.

We were meeting my youngest sister and her children along with a friend for a day of fun activities.

One of those activities was taking turns riding on the twins.

No one had ever been on a jet ski so this would be a new experience for them all.

When we met them in the parking lot, I could sense the anxiety building up in most of them.

My little sister even mentions her anxiety about riding one as we visited for a minute.

Isaiah was the first to ride solo while I led the way.

I smiled as I realized that getting up to twenty miles an hour might take a few minutes. I remember that it took Ethan quite some time to finally hit the maximum of forty miles an hour.

It is the fear of the unknown that makes you go slow at first. Trying to learn how the personal watercraft is going to react to your inputs of the steering and acceleration. And honestly, even though it is just water, there is the fear of falling off.

But this is a good fear. We should respect the machine, or we set ourselves up for failure, amen?

This is the same with our walk with the Lord. The first step is that same kind of good fear.

Proverbs 1:7 KJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Everyone eventually reached that maximum speed on the jet ski. 

But they reached it with respect to the machine. (That good fear)

Once everyone was done riding, Tammy and I took the twins back to the lakeside cottage. The last forty minutes of the ride is in a No Wake zone! That is at 3-5 MPH! Ethan says it is VERY BORING! LOL

Tammy and I enjoyed the slow ride back taking in the scenery and all the lakeside cottage views.

I had already made this long trip twice and had not hit a stump but this trip I hit three stumps! Three very good reasons to be going at idle speed! Amen?

In today’s world everybody is in a hurry to do everything. Many are preoccupied with the cares of the world and miss some of the best things in life. 

Tammy and I will reminisce about that long slow ride the rest of our life. 

The serene scenes that God painted before us and brought to life as we passed by. 

All that would be missed at 40MPH not to mention what would have happened when hitting a stump!

God wants us to slow down with him as well. So many times we are going 100MPH to get some menial task done and he just wants us to slow down and spend time with him, Amen?

Luke 10:38-42 MSG (38) As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. (39) She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. (40) But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." (41) The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. (42) One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course and won't be taken from her."

Have a slow and blessed day today!

Focus on Me, Nothing Else!

Ethan loves Indiana Beach!

We bought season tickets and yesterday was our second consecutive day spending time there.

I was surprised when Ethan got on the “Lost Coaster of Superstitious Mountain” because he doesn’t like any of the roller coasters. 

I told my wife that I thought that he was going to change his mind. I had noticed a bit of anxiety was building as he watched the coaster from the waiting line.

Tammy was whispering, “Come on Ethan, you can do it” as he stood in the front of the line. He was in the next group!

It was time to board, and he joined the small group on the ride!

I heard his squeal during the ride and chuckled to myself.

When he got off the ride I asked if he would ride it again and he said Maybe. The little girls that was riding in the car behind him were laughing. I smiled as I let Ethan know it didn't matter, just go have fun!

Ethan took turns getting on so many other rides that do not go fast or high.

Tammy and I talked him into joining us on the Ferris Wheel. He did not enjoy it the least bit and hugged the center pole, refusing to look out over the park.

When we finished and was on the ground, I thanked him for joining us and he told me I was welcome but to not ask him to go on it again! LOL

Ethan has always enjoyed the tamer rides and is scared of heights. My hat is off to him for facing his fears. He said, "I'm a scaredy cat!" 

I knew he had heard that from someone on the ride, no doubt! I told him that a scaredy cat never faces their fears! I praised him for riding the "Sky Ride", by himself! I reminded him of the zipline at Great Wolf Lodge that he forced himself to endure. He perked up.

Finally I told him that I know that if he had to ride the scariest ride in the world to save me or mom that he would do it! A scaredy cat would just let us die.

Ethan perked up and joyfully enjoyed another two hours at the park riding on all the rides that he likes plus swimming, lazy river and water slides!

On our way out of the park, we were passing by the "Sea Warrior." 

You should have seen the look on my face when Ethan said, “I’m going to go on the Sea Warrior.”

That green monster twirls, tilts and goes up then falls fast! I told Tammy I better go with him!

Once a ride starts you are in it for the whole ride! Right?

The twirls started and Ethan gripped the safety rail with white knuckles! When we went up spinning and fell back down, I had my hands in the air encouraging him to do the same thing!

But he had something else that was trying to come up!

The gag reflex was in motion!

I yelled at Ethan to get him to look at me.

When he did I could see his face was pale, eyes were huge and he spasmed again! I thought I was about to be presented an unwanted substance in my lap!

I yelled, “No! Look at me son!”

Ethan started to look away as the next fall induced another spasm!

I yelled very loudly, “Focus on me!” Ethan looked at me and I yelled, “Keep staring at my eyes! Focus on Me and Nothing Else!”

Ethan stared into my eyes as the Sea Warrior plunged towards earth again!

Our eyes were locked as his spasm was not as pronounced.

I then had him take deep breaths and continue to stare at me until the ride was over.

I am as sure as I can be that if I had not been on the Sea Warrior with my son that he would have upchucked!

His focusing on me got him through the storm, amen?

This is the same in all our lives.

Maybe you are going through a storm right now.

Focus on God and you will get through it!

Peter was walking on water as long as he focused on the Lord! It wasn’t until he recognized the storm that he began to sink!

Matthew 14:29-30 KJV (29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

May you focus on the Lord today while yet in a storm.

Be blessed

Reaping What You Sow

Have you ever heard that saying?

I am sure most if not all of you have heard it and even probably said it.

Most of the time we are encouraged to say it when someone has made a mistake.

Sometimes, though not as often, we might say it when someone is receiving a blessing.

That is what came to me yesterday for myself and Tammy.

Our niece, Britny Sears, drove to our cottage to visit with us straight from work yesterday!

It was about a one-hour drive. Actually, it took her a little longer than that which of course got me to worrying. 

There is another whole message there! If you pray why worry, right?

Anyway, our niece spent hours just sitting and visiting with us!

The wind started to get a bit chilly and when she went back to the truck to get a sweater for warmth it hit me just how blessed I was.

I told Tammy that and, shared it with Britny as well, when she came back to visit.

She visited with us for another hour and had five missed calls from her concerned family.

After I watched her pulling out and heading home, I realized she had another one-hour drive just to get home.

Her sacrifice of time humbled me. 

This is not the first time on this trip that a youngster has taken time out for a visit.

My oldest grandson’s mother, Gina Nation, spent six hours total on the road so we could have quality family time.

This morning I realized I was reaping what I sow.

For years I have gone out of my way to visit elders in the family. I have driven hours to just visit for an hour or two.

Now, I am the old man reaping what I sowed.

Galatians 6:7b KJV for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

I pray that this encourages you to spend some time visiting with loved ones!

I know many people (family) that have lived just blocks away and NOT visited. 

Then at a funeral they say, "I wish I had visited more."

Have a truly blessed day!

I’ll Wait For You

Yesterday evening, Ethan asked if I wanted some ice cream. I said maybe in a little bit but that he could go ahead and get some.

He said Okay.

After about a half an hour I went to the fridge to get a drink and Ethan asked again, “Do you and Mom want some ice cream?”

I told him in a bit but that he could get some if he wanted some.

He replied, “I’ll wait for ya’ll.”

I went to the front room and told Tammy that Ethan was waiting for us to get ice cream before he would get any. 

This is a very common occurrence with him. Especially when it comes to the deserts or special treats.

She didn’t want to get any yet so I went back to Ethan’s room and told him that it would be a while if at all that we would get any ice cream and that he should go ahead if he wants some.

I shook his head, “NO, I’ll wait for ya’ll or not get any either.”

Finally, an hour later, we decided to get some ice cream. (Our supper had settled)

Ethan came out and joined us while we all had a couple scoops of the tasty treat.

Ethan thanked us for buying the ice cream while we were eating and then thanked us again for letting him have some as he finished his.

I told him again that he could have had it sooner, but he shrugged his shoulders, “I only wanted it if ya’ll did too.”

There is something to be said about "breaking bread" together.

Even if we are not talking about anything, it is still a bonding moment in our lives.

I talked about this briefly in my book, “Lil’ Light’s Lessons.”

Maybe me sharing his ice cream at Brownwood State Park instilled in him for us to share ice cream. That story is in both “A Biker-Soldier’s Journey II” and “Lil’ Light’s Lessons.”

I am not sure what has instilled in him for us to share in our times during those special treats but I am glad he feels the way he does.

We can all learn from that attitude.

Sharing time with one another while breaking bread is a time to reflect on the past and present as well as share with each other in fellowship.

It is a great time to bond.

I pray you hear someone saying, “I’ll wait for you.” 

I pray someone hears you saying, "I'll wait for you."

Have a blessed day.

Being in One Accord!

Tammy, Ethan and I go canoeing at times and believe me, if you are not in one accord while paddling it can be futile!

Especially in a strong head wind!

Just like our spiritual battles with satan and his minions! We have to fight together, in one accord, Amen?

Back in March of this year I bought three season tickets for Indiana Beach. I printed out the tickets and had them in hand for our trip we are on now.

In late April I received an email telling my we could “Skip The Line” if we wanted to get our season passes made BEFORE we arrived. Getting them at the Indiana Beach would require standing in line to have a picture taken and processed.

The "Skip the Line" process required me to get pictures of the three of us and to email them to the proper department for approval. I did that and on the 11th of May received an email that I had my season passes waiting for me. No need to wait in line!

Okay, I am NOT going to go into detail because I would get mad all over again so suffice it to say that as I type this blog out this morning, we DO NOT have our tickets and we waited in four different lines for a total of two and a half hours yesterday to find out that they do not have our season passes ready!

The staff at Indiana Beach are not in one accord! 

Each person we encountered yesterday sent us to another line because they didn’t know how things were supposed to work themselves!

When a group of people are NOT in one accord there will be Chaos.

Have you ever thought about how the Israelites were able to break camp and move not only their personal “homes” but the Tabernacle too?

That is a huge job! Right?

If everyone is in one accord then the mission can be accomplished but if people are not in sync, the outcome is going to be a disaster! 

Total chaos.

What I am saying is that there is a distinctive power that is produced by a band or tribe of people who are united in the same purpose and action. 

In fact, this awesome show of power can be used for good or bad. Take the Tower of Babel for example. That was satan using the people in one accord to build a tower to the gods so they could be like a god. Right?

How about Nehemiah?

God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Amen? You can read about that in the first three chapters of Nehemiah.

The job of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem could not have been accomplished by Nehemiah himself. 

He went to Jerusalem, and he called on the people to rally together in one accord to cooperate in building the walls. When they came together to do God’s will, the power and energy were amazing.

This is a good example of what can happen when a unified group of believers are in one accord.

Being in one accord physically, brings harmony to any organized function. Being in one accord spiritually, brings miraculous results! 

Read Acts chapter 2! That cannot happen without everyone being in one accord, amen?

We all need to pray in one accord and to act in one accord. We need to pray that all believers will realize this principle and live by it.

Life is too short to live in division and weakness.

We need to live in unity and power. Amen?

Have a blessed day. (Round two for acquiring the passes is Monday. LOL)

Counting Our Blessings

I rode around with my 82-year-old father yesterday as he pointed out where some houses used to be. 

He came to a stop at the location of where the old farm house was. We were looking to see if the concrete steps may still be there. His oldest sister had her footprints in those steps.

He slowed down a couple times and said, “The Taylor house is right over here”, and as he pointed into the dense woods. 

I could barely see the dilapidated structure with trees growing up through it!

After some time and a few more miles, he slowed down once again and pointed to another house that was enveloped with trees. It had belonged to a family member that has long since passed.

Then we talked about all the family that has gone on to be with the Lord.

Then we talked about my children and my children’s children and at some point, dad paused and made a deep sigh.

He was thinking hard.

Finally, he said, “You know how many grandchildren and great grandchildren I would have never got to see if I wasn’t a cancer survivor?”

I nodded, “I don’t know how many, but it is a bunch!”

He would have never met any of Carla’s children or any of my grandchildren and the list goes on.

I said, “You are blessed.”

He nodded, “truly blessed.”

I thought hard as I watched him thinking about just how blessed he was. He was happy that he could still be in the presence of his children. He knew that they were a gift.

Psalms 127:3 NLT Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Every time we walked into his house; he would play with Brianna his youngest greatgrandchild at ten months. 

Just a few minutes before that we were talking about the next visit that he would get to see my oldest grandson at the age of fifteen.

Eight greatgrandchildren from sixteen grandchildren from four children. (My last count, maybe more)

What a blessing indeed.

Proverbs 17:6 KJV Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

During supper, dad suddenly looked shocked and was looking at me while talking to my youngest sister.

Then she looked shocked as she turned and looked at me! I started wiping at my face but there was no food on it. I asked why they looked so surprised.

Carla said, “You are going to be sixty!?!”

I smiled as I thought about my children and my children’s children, “Yep, I am blessed!”

Have a blessed day.

When There Seems to be No Way!

The excitement in all of us grew as we got closer and closer to our final destination yesterday. 

I was looking on the map and made the announcement, “We will be crossing the lake in a minute.”

Ethan sat up and was looking out the window. I couldn’t wait to the portion of the lake that we would be docking our Seadoos for the next couple weeks.

As Tammy crossed over the water, I was shocked! There were lily pads floating in the water and no bridge as we went over the water!

We arrived at the cottage and unloaded the car. We made a list of grocery items we wanted to stock up on. We headed out after unhooking the Seadoo trailer.

Tammy drove back the same way and we looked again. The water was less than ten feet below the road surface and there was no bridge!

While admiring the sunset from the private dock our neighbor came out. I asked how we were supposed to gain access to Lake Shafer. 

We found out that we had access through a “Round Tunnel” (as they called it) under the road.

So, there is a way to Lake Shafer!

As the sun finished disappearing, I thought, “Isn’t that just like our God?”

When there is no obvious way, God makes a way!  Amen?

Isaiah 43:16 ESV Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,

We drove over the water three times and were convinced that there was no way for a boat to get access to Lake Shafer! It seemed like there was no way, but a way had been made.

Our life is like a lake that comes to many different roads, amen? 

But our God can make a tunnel through any and all of them. So, hang in there.

Have a blessed day!

Family Patriarch

We had the honor and blessing to visit with my Uncle Joe last night. We spent the night here at his place and wish we could stay longer.

During our visit I learned many things about him and the family. During the reminisces all of our emotions were touched. Happiness about good times, we had laughter, sadness and grief among many others. It just depended on what we were talking about at the time.

We really enjoyed the family stories and the updated family information!

Today it seems like families are disconnected from one another.

It is common to see them all sitting in the same room but in their own digital worlds looking at their phones.

We should spend time with our family patriarchs!

They are the only ones that can pass down the real-life stories from their past. Uncle Joe shared with me about the flood in July of 1951 at Fort Riley Kansas while he was stationed there. That’s history that my own family lived. I think it great to hear those stories.

Even the word of God tells us to pass down the things that happens. Amen?

Joel 1:2-4 GNB (2) Pay attention, you older people; everyone in Judah, listen. Has anything like this ever happened in your time or the time of your ancestors? (3) Tell your children about it; they will tell their children, who in turn will tell the next generation. (4) Swarm after swarm of locusts settled on the crops; what one swarm left, the next swarm devoured.

So let us tell our young ones about our lives. Break them out of that digital bondage they are in and tell them a story. Amen?

But not only are we to share our stories from the past but also the commandments of God. Amen?

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 GNB (18) "Remember these commands and cherish them. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. (19) Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.

I am going to visit some more this morning with my Uncle and am looking forward to it.

Ya’ll share stories with the younger generation and go listen to a patriarch today.

Be blessed.

Road Trip!

We are heading out this morning on the longest portion of our road trip to Indiana this morning.

Do you enjoy traveling?

Do you enjoy the actual road trip itself or just the destination?

Most people enjoy their vacations, but the actual travel time is the least enjoyable.

I have always enjoyed the actual road trip as well. Especially when we were riding our motorcycle. Back then, the road trip itself was as much fun if not more than the destination itself. LOL

But many ride a bus, train or even a plane to get to their vacation destination. 

Many have shared with me their unhappy experiences of such travel.

I always enjoyed driving and Tammy has never enjoyed driving. So, today is not part of the vacation that she is looking forward to.

But she focuses on the destination and not on the trip itself.

The Israelites could learn from her. Seems like all they ever did was complain.

They were on a road trip to the promise land but always complaining about something!

That is because they were focused on the trip not the destination!

You may not be on a vacation trip today, but you are still on a spiritual road trip amen?

Do not focus on the road trip or you might start complaining about something.

Focus on your destination!

That is right.

Focus on your eternal home with the Lord Jesus Christ!

With your focus on the destination, you will not find time to complain about the detours and storms during the road trip.

Philippians 3:15-16 MSG (15) So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! (16) Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Have a great road trip today.

I know I plan to.

God bless!

Lightning Strikes!

Our drive to East Texas yesterday was a continuous stressor for Tammy. 

She does not care to drive to begin with and in adverse weather conditions she is a nervous wreck!

As we got closer to the storm, I watched the outside temperature display. Each time it went down a degree I would announce it to everyone. The more degrees that it dropped the more excited my voice would be.

I do not think anyone else was as excited as I was about the storm. 

Tammy was NOT excited about my announcements.

The car was shaking as the high cross winds hit us and the sky was being lit up from lightning strikes.

I tried to catch the lightning on video.

Have you ever tried to catch lightning by taking a picture? The camera is ready, your finger on the button to take the shot. FLASH! You depress the button and CLICK. The flash has come and gone! Right?

You see, the trick is to video the lightning and then grab a still frame from the video.

Even then it takes forever. I was videoing and videoing and videoing and finally got tired of holding the camera up. 

I shut the video off and then FLASH!

Tammy laughed, “You missed it!” I shook my head, “God must be camera shy.”

Tammy chuckled, “You should have been ready.”

You know, that reminds me that we all need to be ready, amen?

Matthew 24:27 GNB For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west.

Are you ready?

Pray for those that you know are not ready.

Have a blessed and storm free day today!