Are you lazy? Do you sit around wishing for abilities without putting forth any effort? Let me be the first to say that I do. I am constantly wanting to be so much more than I am, and I want it immediately!!
I want a better prayer life without really spending more time on my knees.
I want to know scripture better without spending more time in God's word.
I want to do so much and stay in my comfort zone.
Does this sound familiar or is it just me? I am finding out that it is not only up to God, we have a part as well. And our part is simply.........to do.
Do spend more time on your knees, Do spend more time in the Bible, and do whatever it takes to be constantly changing. My grandmother (Mama Huck) always says that "a rolling stone gathers no moss", don't you just love the wisdom that comes with age.
So back to you: Are you doing your part, or are you waiting and wanting God to do it all? Think about it.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A Great Story
I'm sure a lot of you have seen this email, but just in case you haven't I wanted to share this amazing story with you. Hope you enjoy.
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on September 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
"A few weeks before September 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said amen, we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak.
My father also had more news for me. He was going to help. He said, "This is not something I can't just sit by for. I have to do something." I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, "Take good care of my grandchild." Those were the last words I ever heard my father say. He died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye. Then something happened.
About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, "I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son." He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.
My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, "There is something else you need to know." His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so that mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize two things. First that God is always in control. We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of Heaven, but God is always in control. And second it that though it has been several years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love. You may never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on September 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
"A few weeks before September 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said amen, we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak.
My father also had more news for me. He was going to help. He said, "This is not something I can't just sit by for. I have to do something." I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, "Take good care of my grandchild." Those were the last words I ever heard my father say. He died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye. Then something happened.
About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, "I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son." He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.
My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, "There is something else you need to know." His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so that mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize two things. First that God is always in control. We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of Heaven, but God is always in control. And second it that though it has been several years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love. You may never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Fall Campus
I am loving me some fall campus. Lori and I are in the Crown Financial class and I am really looking forward to what God is showing us and where He will lead. It is a profound eye opener. Did you know that money is mentioned more than 2300 times in the bible? I think God knew exactly where our weakness would be and this is why He gave so much instruction on it.
So the next time you are having financial burdens look to the bible, God covers every question we have about everything in His word.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
So the next time you are having financial burdens look to the bible, God covers every question we have about everything in His word.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Friday, September 21, 2007
TGIF
Good Morning! Hope you had a good night. I am glad it's Friday. I have a lot going on today and it is going to be a great day.
Today I am taking some customers to Waterloo to shoot sporting clays. I know I have it rough, but hey someone has to do it. And then tonight at the BHP ballgame our SS class is tailgating and cooking hot dogs. This should be a great time of fellowship and I am looking forward to it.
What has God done this week in your life? Has he led you or are you still trying to do it all yourself? Commit today to letting Him lead and follow His promptings. I promise that it will be the smoothest day you have seen in a while. I hope you all have a great weekend and in all you do acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Today I am taking some customers to Waterloo to shoot sporting clays. I know I have it rough, but hey someone has to do it. And then tonight at the BHP ballgame our SS class is tailgating and cooking hot dogs. This should be a great time of fellowship and I am looking forward to it.
What has God done this week in your life? Has he led you or are you still trying to do it all yourself? Commit today to letting Him lead and follow His promptings. I promise that it will be the smoothest day you have seen in a while. I hope you all have a great weekend and in all you do acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
191
This post today is the 191st post since I started on Blogger. It is hard to believe that I have actually stuck with something for this long. And let me be the first to say that I normally will start something and then get burnt out on it and just quit. And there are still mornings when I have to make myself write. I read something last night that said God will lead us to a task more times than not, for our benefit instead of those we feel we will be serving. This is definitely the case with this blog. It helps me stay where I need to be and to be more diligent and open to hearing God speak.
Thank you for reading each day and I pray that God will continue to bless. Remember if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Thank you for reading each day and I pray that God will continue to bless. Remember if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Prayer Request
Good Morning! I am coming to you this morning from my easy chair. I love getting up early and just enjoying the morning. The house is quiet and I get to just talk with the Lord and with you. How many of you dad's or mom's are early risers and take the time to go; while asleep, and pray over each person in your family? I love to tip toe in the kids rooms and silently ask God to be with them today and pray for their strength and safety. I have to change it up a bit when I enter the Masters, I mean master bedroom, :-). I really pray hard for Lori as she is here all day with the kids. She has the toughest job of all.
Sunday was just awesome. The choir sang Midnight Cry and it was a great time of worship. Fall Campus started Sunday night and we had a very good turnout. Then on Sunday afternoon I attended a meeting at Berea 1st Baptist concerning an upcoming opportunity. In March of '08 they will be going to Tanzania, Africa on a mission trip. I have felt God calling me since I watched the highlight video from this past March's trip. But now the rubber hits the road. They need a $200.00, non-refundable deposit by the 30th of this month. This is coming very soon and I still am searching for God's will on this matter. The fact of the matter is that I have to discern if this is something God really wants me to do or am I just wanting to go to Africa. The trip cost around $3000.00 all together and to be honest I have never been concerned about the money, I just feel that God will provide this like He does everything else. I am just having some selfish reasons popping up on why I shouldn't go. So I need your prayers on this matter. Pray that God will reveal His perfect plan for me concerning this opportunity next March.
Thank you in advance for you prayers and I continue to lift each of you in prayer daily. Some of you I don't know, but I pray for you by location. I can see where the majority of you read from and I am stunned that I have almost daily readers from Mundelein, Illinois; Fort Riley, Kansas; Seattle, Washington; Alpharetta, Georgia; and from all over the state of South Carolina. Thank you for reading each day and it is my daily prayer that God will bless all of you. We all matter to God and we should all matter to each other. Thanks again.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Sunday was just awesome. The choir sang Midnight Cry and it was a great time of worship. Fall Campus started Sunday night and we had a very good turnout. Then on Sunday afternoon I attended a meeting at Berea 1st Baptist concerning an upcoming opportunity. In March of '08 they will be going to Tanzania, Africa on a mission trip. I have felt God calling me since I watched the highlight video from this past March's trip. But now the rubber hits the road. They need a $200.00, non-refundable deposit by the 30th of this month. This is coming very soon and I still am searching for God's will on this matter. The fact of the matter is that I have to discern if this is something God really wants me to do or am I just wanting to go to Africa. The trip cost around $3000.00 all together and to be honest I have never been concerned about the money, I just feel that God will provide this like He does everything else. I am just having some selfish reasons popping up on why I shouldn't go. So I need your prayers on this matter. Pray that God will reveal His perfect plan for me concerning this opportunity next March.
Thank you in advance for you prayers and I continue to lift each of you in prayer daily. Some of you I don't know, but I pray for you by location. I can see where the majority of you read from and I am stunned that I have almost daily readers from Mundelein, Illinois; Fort Riley, Kansas; Seattle, Washington; Alpharetta, Georgia; and from all over the state of South Carolina. Thank you for reading each day and it is my daily prayer that God will bless all of you. We all matter to God and we should all matter to each other. Thanks again.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Not Such a Good Plan
I was gonna come into to work and then post, but I am slap covered up already. So another good plan shot down. So much happened over the weekend that I wanted to share, but I guess it will have to wait. I will see you here tomorrow.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday
Well, another work week is almost behind us and it is time for the weekend. I hope you all have a great worship service this Sunday and like always invite someone new. Sorry for the shorty this morning, but I've get to get after it..........you know how it is. Just keep God first today, this is what I have to keep telling myself.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Marbles
Good morning. I want to share and email with y'allthis morning. If you have seen it then enjoy it again. There is a lot of wisdom in this. Enjoy.
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it: I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's "dance recital" he continued; "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays."
"I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."
"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There's nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time." "It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.
We can all probably do a little more than we are doing to let our families know how much they are loved, I know I can. Just wanted to pass this along because it hit home with me.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it: I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's "dance recital" he continued; "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays."
"I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."
"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There's nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time." "It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.
We can all probably do a little more than we are doing to let our families know how much they are loved, I know I can. Just wanted to pass this along because it hit home with me.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Six Years Later
It is hard to believe that it has been six years since the horrible events took place in New York. I remember exactly where I was and it was the most surreal day I have experienced to date. I was working as a rep in Lowe's and I remember everyone was just walking around in a slumber. And then as the days passed it was evident that we were joined as a nation.
But just like all good things....they never last. Now we are a country that doesn't even look the same. I am not saying that war was the right decision, but I am a firm believer that once you decide to do something........you do it. And I believe that we look like a bunch of idiots to the rest of the world. The way we bicker and fight among ourselves and thanks to the media the whole world can watch. This includes the people we are fighting. Just think of the message we would send if we were as united as we were on September 12, 13, etc. of 2001. This little blogger from Belton, SC isn't making a new revelation, but just think for a minute about what I just mentioned.
The same could be said of the church. We are no where near where they were in Acts 2. We argue and split and have secret meetings. Think what a message we could send the lost if we would come together as the Body of Christ. If we take our self out of the picture and put the lost in our place, think how we could change the world. The message that we have is one of love and peace and we are called to share it.
Just some thoughts this morning on our current situation as a country and a body of believers.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
But just like all good things....they never last. Now we are a country that doesn't even look the same. I am not saying that war was the right decision, but I am a firm believer that once you decide to do something........you do it. And I believe that we look like a bunch of idiots to the rest of the world. The way we bicker and fight among ourselves and thanks to the media the whole world can watch. This includes the people we are fighting. Just think of the message we would send if we were as united as we were on September 12, 13, etc. of 2001. This little blogger from Belton, SC isn't making a new revelation, but just think for a minute about what I just mentioned.
The same could be said of the church. We are no where near where they were in Acts 2. We argue and split and have secret meetings. Think what a message we could send the lost if we would come together as the Body of Christ. If we take our self out of the picture and put the lost in our place, think how we could change the world. The message that we have is one of love and peace and we are called to share it.
Just some thoughts this morning on our current situation as a country and a body of believers.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Expectations
Good Morning. I had a great weekend and am looking forward to getting back in the grind. I have a lot going on at work and it is going to be a great week. I know this because it is out of my hands. Me and the creator of the Universe talked just a few minutes ago and I went ahead and gave Him the entire week! So I already know that it will be a great one, just pray for me that I will keep my end of the bargain and not mess it up.
Last night the youth were in charge of the Sunday night service and they told how much the fact that the church voted "yes" to build them a new facility meant to them. A lot of our older members got introduced to the Praise band for the first time and it was just a great night. We really do have a great group of kids.
Tonight we start U-8 soccer and I am the coach of Sid's team. I am still; after 2 years of coaching soccer, not very sure of the rules. I have coached U-6 up till now and the only difference I can see is that we now have a goalie. I love the kids and Upward has really opened my eyes to the fact that Every Child Is A Winner. All of them thrive on knowing they did a good job and that they matter. I am pretty good at letting them know.
I hope you have a great Monday and I'll do my best to see you here in the morning.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Last night the youth were in charge of the Sunday night service and they told how much the fact that the church voted "yes" to build them a new facility meant to them. A lot of our older members got introduced to the Praise band for the first time and it was just a great night. We really do have a great group of kids.
Tonight we start U-8 soccer and I am the coach of Sid's team. I am still; after 2 years of coaching soccer, not very sure of the rules. I have coached U-6 up till now and the only difference I can see is that we now have a goalie. I love the kids and Upward has really opened my eyes to the fact that Every Child Is A Winner. All of them thrive on knowing they did a good job and that they matter. I am pretty good at letting them know.
I hope you have a great Monday and I'll do my best to see you here in the morning.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Too Busy????
I have been experiencing some computer problems and time issues this week. And my schedule has been a little crazy with starting the my job and all. I have a lot to learn and I am devoting a lot of my time to this task. I have been dealing mostly with the residential side of the plumbing world for the past 9 years and now I am strictly commercial. A lot of the stuff we carry at Hajoca is brand new to me, and just like everything it will just take time getting familiar with it.
Quick question for you this morning. What has God been doing in your life lately? I will admit to you that I have not spent as much time with Him this past week as I normally do and I don't believe that God accepts the fact that I have been busy. He wants to be involved in every part of our lives. Give me some feedback on this one......are you in the same boat, or are you where you need to be?
Enjoy the weekend and invite somebody to church this Sunday, you never know how God can use you.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
Quick question for you this morning. What has God been doing in your life lately? I will admit to you that I have not spent as much time with Him this past week as I normally do and I don't believe that God accepts the fact that I have been busy. He wants to be involved in every part of our lives. Give me some feedback on this one......are you in the same boat, or are you where you need to be?
Enjoy the weekend and invite somebody to church this Sunday, you never know how God can use you.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
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