Simple Things

The congregation was asked, "What are you thankful for"? I thought this would be easy. So I sat and thought, while others stood, one by one, and thanked God. Some thanked Him for "Big" things, while others thanked him for the "Simple" things. Simple things.

Looking back, I remember trying to think of something spectacular God had done for me, so I too could stand and give thanks. I never stood. Simple things.

Don't get me wrong, there have been many, many spectacular things God has done for me that I'm thankful for. Writing this is spectacular to me! But its His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, that I'm most thankful for.

I'm thankful that He never gave up on me. He called, I came, I left. He called, I came, I left. Repeat again. Notice I left. He never left me!

I'm thankful for Him allowing me to leave. WHAT! Yes, I'm thankful. I believe it was during these times of trials that I grew. It was all part of Gods plan, and for his plan, I'm thankful.

But all this I never thought of when asked what I was thankful for. I really didn't need to. Simple things.

These past few days, while Ive been enjoying the holiday, I remembered the simple things.

First of all, I'm thankful for my family. My wife of almost 22 years, and my 3 children. As my boys were hunting, I thought back to Thanksgivings when I was young, when I would spend the week hunting with my dad and other relatives. Heritage. I'm thankful for my heritage.

I'm thankful that God thinks enough of our family that he placed my niece with us to raise as our own for the past four months.

My health. I am 43 years old and have never had a broken bone and only a couple minor surgeries. A little arthritis, but that's my fault, not Gods.

And one more. My friends. I'm thankful for a group of friends, who although I walked out on them time and time again, they, like Jesus, welcomed me home. They allow me to teach their children. They allow me to lead our church service. They allow me to speak and sing. Simple things.

Simple, and yet spectacular. Spectacular, not because I'm unqualified, but because I'm undeserving.

For this, I'm thankful.

Not being a big "web surfer", I know that there is a lot out there that I'm missing out on. So I'm thankful for friends who direct me to wonderful sites like Godtube. I never knew it existed until yesterday, and the first video I watched was a blessing! For my readers, I will regularly view the videos, and the ones that are amazing, which I'm sure will be many, I will give you a quick link on the side bar under the Godtube links tab. Watch the Life house Everything Skit. If it doesn't move you, you better check your pulse!

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't posted lately. Well, the truth is that I have ran out of writings. You see, most of my previous posts came from a collection over the past several months. Now I could make up some stuff, but that would take away from the uniqueness of this site. Don't you agree? Everything you read here is inspired by a study of Gods word, or by events that happen during my day.(which is the main source)
With that said, today's post was given to me today, after a proud(and rightly so) father called me and allowed me to listen to his daughter pray at church.

A special thanks to Kelsey Legg, for her inspiration, her sincerity, and her faith.

May God help me, to humble myself as a child, and lay aside every weight, as I approach the throne of grace!

I listened to a prayer today,

unlike I usually hear,

full of love and tenderness,

it made me shed a tear.

It wasn't from a tired saint,

who's waiting for the day,

when Jesus comes to take him home,

where forever he will stay.

It wasn't from a broken heart,

alone now in this place,

asking God to ease their pain,

and fill the empty space.

Some things in life can touch your soul,

and give your heart a whirl,

just like the prayer I heard today,

from a seven year old girl.

Sometimes I think of the strangest things. Driving home from work today was one of those times. I know we have all heard the football analogy's, when talking about church services, but this one is a little different.

All over our nation tonight, about this time, the crowds are gathering for playoffs. The announcer is getting ready to say, "Welcome to ------------". You can place your school here! And at that announcement, everyone will cheer and clap and get ready for the big game. For each score, a cheer. For each big hit, a cheer. I know. I have been there and done that. Here is my thought.

At your next church service, the leader opens with.....

" Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to-----------(your church), home of the REIGNING, UNDEFEATED, CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS, LORD OF LORDS, and KING OF KINGS! With an outstanding record of (lets say) One Billion Victories and no Defeats! The crowd stands and cheers. For each song, a cheer. For each testimony, a cheer.

Overactive imagination? Maybe. But what a reason to stand, clap, and cheer. After all...

WE KNOW WHO WINS!!!

What are you looking for?

Do you remember the time when you were looking for something, shoes, car keys, or a book, and you couldn't find it? You probably shouted from the other room, "I cant find it" or "its not here"! Then your mother or spouse or someone else came into the room and said, "its right here. You didn't look very hard".

We often times are so hurried that we don't take the time to look good enough. Then there are those times when we are alone and we need to find that fishing lure, pocket knife, or magazine. We spend hours pulling out every drawer in the house, searching through every box in the attic, and opening every cabinet in the garage until we find that one special item and we say "I knew it was here"!

How do we look for Gods love and mercy? Do we spend a few minutes and then give up, hoping someone else knows where it is and will tell us? Or do we diligently search for hours and hours, digging deeper and deeper, until the prized possession is ours? Are we just looking, or are we searching?

Seek and ye shall find!

In This Place

This place where I have found myself,
content with who I am,
not searching for a better life with you.
I know that you want more for me,
and you'll give at my request,
so I'm asking Lord please tell me what to do.

(chorus)
Help me to see you,
Help me to seek your face.
Help me to know you,
Help me to feel you, in this place.

I walk this road of bitterness,
of things I cant control,
blaming every one I can for where I've been.
But I know you walk beside of me,
to lift me when I fall,
so I'm asking Lord please pick me up again.

(chorus)

If I can only find my way back,
to your loving arms,
I know they're holding open wide for me.

(chorus)

A few months ago, I participated in a protest, (peaceful), against abortion. As I stood there, along with many others, the thought came to mind, I must admit, is this really going to solve anything? I mean, here I am, standing beside a road, holding a sign, hoping that maybe one person, just one, will drive by and see our signs and make a life changing decision based on what they read. Sure it's a great cause, and I will do it again, but is it worth it? Come on, it's almost 100 degrees, my legs hurt, isn't it time to stop now?

Is it worth it I asked.

As I said, that was a few months ago and I had forgotten all about it. Until today.

Yesterday morning during church, we had a dedication. It was a baby boy, brought by his grandparents. I had never seen them before, so I don't know if their church doesn't dedicate, or they were asked to come, or something else. Doesn't matter. They were there.

It was the normal routine. The pastor anoints the baby with oil, and he and the elders pray over the baby. Something different this time. Looks like a normal baby. Smells like a normal baby. Must be a normal baby. With all this commotion going on, the baby's expression never changes. This baby boy is blind. This baby boy is deaf. I heard the pastor in conversation use the term "crack baby".

As usual, the pastor carries the baby down the aisle, and those of us who are the lucky ones on the end of each pew, get to touch the baby as it passes by. With each touch, there is a difference. The smiles get bigger and bigger. Not ours, the baby's! Can't see. Can't hear. But feels. Feels love and responds to it with the most beautiful smile you can imagine.

So today I remembered my question. Is it worth it? What about rape? What about drugs? What if...what if... what if...

All I know is that that baby was born for God's purpose, and although I don't know what it is, he has already answered a question for me.

Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Got Water?

On this particular day, and the day after, all I had on my mind was water.

The water was parted, and came from a rock,

like a tree planted by the water,

he leads me beside the still waters.

Cast your bread upon the waters,

give your enemy water to drink,

like streams of water in the desert,

many waters cannot quench love.

When you pass through the waters,

he will be with you,

you will draw water from the wells of salvation,

so come to the waters.

He will sprinkle clean water on you,

like a well watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail,

put out into deep water, and let down your net.

Streams of living water flows from within him,

having our bodies washed with pure water,

the one who came by water and blood,

he will give you living water.

Each line taken from the Bible.

The love the Father has for us,
he gave so we can share,
not only those who fit our "type",
but people everywhere.

You know the one who's clothes are torn,
and skin is stained with dirt,
can you love, or will you laugh,
and cause them needless hurt.

Or the one who stands beside,
the road and holds a sign,
"Homeless, Hungry, Will You Help",
at your house can he dine?

Do you check their worthiness,
before you lend a hand,
how and why they got this way,
is that what Jesus planned?

Or did he say "Feed them all",
regardless why they came,
he broke and blessed the bread and fish,
and fed each one the same.

Repulsed by how they look and smell,
remember this today,
picture Christ at Calvary,
exactly the same way.

His clothes were torn, his hair a mess,
filth from head to toe,
dirt, spit, sweat, and blood,
the Greatest Love you'll know.

The Gift

There once was a great man, a Father to many, for he had adopted a multitude of children. One day the youngest came to the Father and said, "My brothers have told me that you have a gift for all your children, and when the time is come, you freely give to each one, that which he deserves". And the Father said to him, "It is true that I freely give to all my children, to each one that is ready and has received my teachings with all their hearts". Then the youngest, thinking in his mind said, "Father, I am ready".

The next day the Father went unto him and said, "If you wish to receive your gift, follow me". So the man followed his Father for many days, through many valley's, and over many mountains, and upon seeing a gift in the distance, began to walk ahead of his Father, and not looking back, without realizing, had lost sight of his Father. Nevertheless, he took the gift and began to use and enjoy it.
Now only after a few days, the man became unhappy with his gift and went to his Father and said, "My brothers who have received their gifts, and have received them many years ago, still today use them with much gladness, but I, although thankful, do not find much joy in my gift".

The Father said to him, "Because you had no patience, and chose to run ahead instead of following me, you have surely erred. For what you thought was yours, was not yours, but your brothers. Now I will take that which you thought was yours, and give it unto him when he is ready. And as for you, when you are truly ready to receive and believe my teachings, Follow Me".

for the children

Do you fit in with the world,
the way you dress and talk,
enjoying time with sinful crowds,
not caring where you walk.

Is that show you'll watch tonight,
worth all your time and more,
does music that you listen to,
tell who you're living for?

Will you practice hours long,
and hope your team will win,
while missing out on Bible class,
that's where you should have been.

The choices come each day my child,
they're hard to make it's true,
give all you've got to Jesus Christ,
He gave it all for You!

Broken Chains

(sang with country "twang")

Sleeping in on Sunday morning,

all my family heading out to church,

hanging out with my friends all night,

telling jokes and laughing till it hurts

somehow I thought my life was perfect,

nobody to answer to but me,

I never listened to Grandma's stories,

of a man called Jesus - of Galilee.

(chorus)

See the walls start falling down,

the chains of bondage breaking loose from me,

with every breath I have inside,

I'll praise your holy name now that I'm free.

...

I didn't need to hear that preacher,

telling me my soul was bound for hell,

or to close my eyes and bow my head,

and meet a God whose love wont fail,

what a wasted life I spent,

all the years of wandering on my own,

then you came into my life,

Jesus your the best friend - I've ever known.

(chorus)

...

Waking up on Sunday morning,

with my family heading out to church.

As a child I often dreamed,
of treasures I would find,
while digging in my mothers yard,
rewards of every kind.

That child has grown, and now the man,
no longer dreams of gold,
I found a greater gift one day,
the best has yet been told.

The treasure I was looking for,
while digging in the sod,
was always there in front of me,
the only Son of God.

The jewels of earth do not compare,
to what I have in store,
so now I dream of what I'll see,
when I reach that golden shore.

I feel led today to divert from the normal postings, and share my immediate thoughts, rather than writing them down and posting them later.
God has just blessed me beyond explanation and I'm finding it hard to come up with the right words to let you know, that you too, can experience his amazing blessings.
First let me say, that I am nobody. There is nothing special about me. I have no "special" talents. I do however, have the ability to make choices. We are not robots. You and I have choices to make everyday. The reason I am being overwhelmed by God's blessings is I choose to ask for them! Yes, it's that easy.
Some of you know, most probably don't, but I have for the past several weeks been praying the prayer of Jabez. Simple prayer, but powerful. That is what I meant above when I said I asked for God's blessings. Is asking enough? I don't think so. I believe the key, the secret, is believing! If we just merely say the words, will God think we are serious?
The first part of my prayer, of course is for God to bless me. The next is for God to enlarge my territory, which means to me, give me more to do.
My day began with my entire family in church,(can't remember the last time that happened). Then I taught Sunday school class, and then was asked to lead the congregational singing. Neither of these I do!
Ask and ye shall receive! It's that simple. If you ask for it, and BELIEVE you will get it, you will end up like me, completely amazed at what God can do.

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that your hand would be with me,

and that you would keep me from evil".

The Builder

Here is the first "parable" I received, back in April, sitting in my truck at 6:45 am. My interpretation- I am the builder. The "house" is my relationship with God. The "covering" is the Holy Spirit.

There was a man who decided to build a house for God. He began his work with great joy, and labored much. He had a strong foundation and straight walls, but he became weary from the work and said to himself, "I will not work today, but do this and that, (for there were many distractions around him), and do twice as much tomorrow". But the next day he continued not his work and said again, "I will work tomorrow", and he said this for many days until the desire to build the house left him.
One day, after many seasons had past, the man said, "I will rise up and go again to build a house for the Lord". The old liar, knowing that the man desired to build again, said to him,"What are you thinking? Don't you know that what you started many years ago has long since been destroyed because you had no covering to protect it from the winds and rains? And because you said daily, I will work tomorrow, and did not, the people will laugh and will not believe that you will finish your work".
Nevertheless the man went to the house, and was exceedingly glad to find that it stood strong (for he had built it on a solid foundation), and he said, "I will first repair that which I have let decay, for I had no roof. I will remove the dirt and rocks and mop up the water, and daily I will place a covering round about, so I do not lose that which I gain".
Now for several days the man labored to clean up the house which he started to build, and some that passed by said,"why do you work on that house again? You will only tire of it, and leave it to rot as in past days", but others said, "see how he places the covering over and around it, surely he will finish his work".
And the man worked many years, night and day, to finish the house that he built for God, always having it covered, that it would never decay again.

Go ye out into the world,
and tell each one you see,
of one who's coming back to earth,
please share the news of me.

Tell them how I cause the blind,
to open up their eyes,
and notice Fathers handiwork,
in mountains and the skies.

And tell them all to open up,
their hearts and let me in,
I'll give them peace and happiness,
forgive them of their sin.

It's really not to much to ask,
for one to plant a seed,
don't worry about the aquarium,
its fishers of men I need.

Revival

On the eve of my own revival, God gave me this today.

When revival comes to our home church,
we often hear and say,
"I hope someone gets saved this week",
thats usually what we pray.

But think for just one moment,
imagine if you will,
the person standing next to you,
not knowing how they feel.

So instead of asking God to save,
our loved ones and our friends,
let's pray, "Dear Lord Revive Us All",
thats where it all begins.

THEN if we humbly bow our heads,
and pray, and seek his face,
those souls that we've been longing for,
I know, will fill this place.