*Singing* Computer Loooove!!

The Loch Ness Love Monster

Everyday it seems as if another dating website or program is created to help people find love. Each one is unique in its own way. There are sites for Christians, country-folk, city-folk, the outdoors type, the introverted, and I even saw a site for married couples looking for side action.WOAH!!!!

It is as if everyone is on the dog track of life chasing the proverbial bunny called love or out hunting Bessie the Loch Ness love monster.Any close sightings or attempted catches end up being short lived or false representations of the real thing.

Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of people who have found their soul mates through websites or dating programs. Nevertheless I, after having a conversation with a friend, believe that the best way to find love is to start with number one.

Michael Jackson sang a popular song in the eighties titled,“Man in the Mirror”. The premise behind the song was that although there are so many people hurting in the world a change cannot be made until we first change ourselves.

Mark 12:30-31

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

We must be completely head over heals in love with God. That should be easy but can take some work! The next part pushes us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

If we truly love God the way we are supposed to, and His spirit lives in us, then through our efforts to LOVE God we will learn how to love ourselves. We are created in His image and I do not believe He created anything He wouldn’t be proud of!

When we grasp the understanding that Loving God helps us Love ourselves – it is only then that we will be able to unconditionally love or allow someone else to love us.

God loves you and every thing that makes you who you are. Don’tallow negative thoughts about your self-image rob you of the reality that you are loved without conditions! Despite your boo-boos, blemishes, and occasional bad attitude you are loved. Love God –learn to accept His ever lasting Love – and you will love yourself and others.

Let’s stop chasing the falsely ballooned intangible idea of love and start chasing the originator of real Love! God loves you so much – He gave his son – Jesus loves you so much – He gave His life. What will you do in return?!

Monuments of Mass Destruction!

Monuments of Mass Destruction!

Joshua 4:5-7

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, ⁶ that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stonesmean to you?’ ⁷ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

Recently my son was reprimanded for attempting to bite someone. Afterward, his mother read a book to him about biting and why we have teeth. Well, I guess her efforts were very effective. As she read the book about biting, every time she read the word bite or pointed to teeth, he broke out crying...

In Houston, there were several significant monuments that sat right off a major highway created by Artist David Adickes. They were giant busts to honor several of our United States Presidents. The monuments were awe-inspiring. They symbolized leadership, greatness, accomplishment, and power! I especially liked the giant bust of current President Barack Obama.  

I believe it is a commendable to create massive edifices to cheer our great deeds. We are excellent at celebrating good deeds. Nonetheless, sometimes we build, collect, or gather monuments to commemorate our downfalls as well. Although they may not be the 60 feet stone or marble type, they are items that remind us of mass destruction. 

What about the gift that reminds you of a bad breakup? What about the dusty garment that reminds you of your glory days? What about those items that detail a tough point in your life? As much as you want to erase the past you are holding on to the evidence.

I understand what it means to remember where you have come from - but let's stop building or maintaining these "objects" of mass destruction. GET RID OF THEM!!!

Joshua told the tribes to grab a stone and build a monument to not only signify what God had done for them but also to serve as a reminder and testament to their children for generations to come. Not only do our monuments remind us of our circumstances/accomplishments, they also teach our children how to record and remember circumstances/accomplishments in their lives!

Put your efforts into praising God for who you have become and where He is taking you. Create reminders of His faithfulness. We don't worship objects - We worship a living God who is CONSTANTLY & CONSISTENTLY at work in our lives!

Puddle Jumpin'

Run In The Rain!

Matthew 5:45

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Recently there was a major marathon in Houston. Novice to professional runners trained for weeks and months to prepare for this race. The day of the race, the weather was uncomfortably cold and the clouds unleashed a torrential rain.

Any good athlete understands that in preparation for competition, you have to prepare for the unexpected. Anything can happen in battle!

Just the same, our lives are a constant battle. As we race toward the finish line, which is eternal life in Heaven, we must act and not react.

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."

Anything can happen everyday. The winners are those who know how to adjust and keep moving.

My challenge to you this week is to learn how to RUN IN THE RAIN! Despite what comes your way – keep Running! Prepare for the rain.

Rain may seem negative to some and beneficial to others. It can slow you you down or remind you that GOD is providing the nourishment you need to grow taller and go farther. 

EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH HELL, KEEP RUNNING – EVENTUALLY YOU WILL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE!

Little Cup - LOT OF POWER!!!!!

Thirsty????????

The first Sunday of every month, the church that I attend has a communion service. It is the day we take a small wafer and a shot of grape juice as a symbol of the Lord's Supper as well as His Body and Blood.

This Sunday, I distributed the pre-packaged communion cups with pride. The juice filled cups were petite with a pliable purple metallic top that holds a wafer wrapped in plastic. I was excited when I received my own cup. The new year had begun and I knew that by taking my communion wafer and juice, I was officially launching into a new year with Christ.

As my pastor went through the statements leading up to the congregation eating the wafer and drinking the juice, I desperately struggled to open my cup. Everyone else seemed to easily pry their cups open. Mine felt like they added super glue, monkey tar, and melted iron to fasten it.

I fought and I fought with that cup. Eventually I put it down and realized I was standing behind a table with a plethora of unopened cups.

How many people are standing in the midst of miracles and are struggling to see something great happen in their own lives? Slow down and look at the fact that you are surrounded by God's power and your ability to witness your blessing is in your persistence to pursue HIM!

The woman with the issue of blood fought to get to Christ. When she reached Jesus, He noticed a change. He said her faith healed her! It was her faith through relentless tenacity.

His blood heals, mends, fixes, and more. We have to pursue Christ passionately! As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1 NIV)

The bible says in John 4:13-14 ^"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I thirst for God and I will go through anything to get Him. Keep pushing, Recognize His abundant blessings, and Know that your effort to breakthrough will be rewarded!

Mary Did You Know?!?!?!?

Luke 1:30-33

“30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, foryou have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womband bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, andwill be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him thethrone of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacobforever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

There are many songs that signify time and season. Will Smith’s “Summertime” is an anthem for the end of the school year and the startof Summer. Frankie Beverly’s “Golden Time of Day” makes me think of Spring andback yard grilling. This year I heard a song that will forever bring winter andthe Christmas season to life. Cee-Lo Green’s remake of “Mary Did You Know”evoked the Christmas spirit and a deeper thought.

Everything has a season or time. In that time or season manythings can take place.

This song tells the story of the Virgin Mary carrying the life of a baby who would make sure that Christians had everlasting life! It questions the thoughts of Mary as she carried Jesus for months and delivered him in a simple barn.

I had several thoughts about my son as he grew in the womb of his mother. I created expectations and built all sorts of scenarios for what I would do as he grew into a man.

But my thoughts, despite their size or awesomeness, pale in comparison to what God pre-planned before He placed my son into his mother’swomb.

We won’t fully know the plans for our children but we do know who holds their plan in His hands. “To train up a child” doesn’t mean toforce them in your direction – it means to encourage their talents and lead them in the direction that God has prepared.

Believe the best for your Children and know that God’spowerful purpose is coursing through their veins!

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he isold he will not depart from it.” 

I'm HOOKED & I Have to tell!!!

Most popular gift?!

Matthew 10:32-33

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Psalm 34:1-3

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I read that the most popular item on people’s 2012 Christmas wish list was some sort of Apple product, (Ipad, Iphone, Ipod, Mac). I can’t refute those requests. After all I own many Apple products and as a matter of fact I’m typing this blog on my MacBook Pro.

The product’s popularity could be attributed to it being user friendly and colorful but a big chunk of credit has to go to how the Apple brand is marketed. Every time you turn on the tv, open a website or walk anywhere – the Apple brand can be seen. The company does a great job promoting the product but people’s word of mouth testimonials are twice as powerful.

I believe that if we talked about God as much as we talk about Apple – maybe He would be number one on more lists.

We are to be living examples of Jesus Christ – a walking billboard always exclaiming the goodness of our relationship with the King of Kings. We receive little to no reward from the creators of many products for promoting them. However when we publicly promote our love for Jesus Christ He brings our name up to God. The creator of the universe and author and finisher of our faith!

Equally as intriguing is the fact that “A Dad” was the tenth most popular item on the wish lists. (http://now.msn.com/britains-10th-most-popular-christmas-gift-request-is-a-dad)

People are seeking a physical father to encourage, empower, love and invest in them. Our spiritual Father can do all of those things and more if we would just accept Him and trust Him.

My new year’s resolution is to be a better example of Jesus and tell others about how great of a father He is. I challenge you to look back over your Christmas list, evaluate what you promote, and consider how good your Father in heaven has been to you! 

I Drink the FINEST French Water! Faw-cet!

Bath Water is Delicious!

John 2:1-11

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

I have read and heard about this story many times. Recently, my eyes gravitated to two unique aspects – the servants and the water pots.

This was Jesus’ first miracle. Beyond what we can deduce in the book of John, Jesus’ full identity was still a mystery to most people.

The waterpots were large containers that held water for washing. The people acquired all sorts of street debris as they walked around in those days. The roads weren’t paved and most wore sandals. In order to enter the wedding festivities they had to clean and purify themselves.

Jesus tells the servants, who most likely barely knew who He was, to refill the waterpots and take them to the master of the feast. That means they were mixing dirty debris water with fresh water. Nowhere does he mention to empty or clean the water pots.

The master of the feast loves the bath water that is now a vintage wine!

Here are my two quick points.

1. The servants were asked to do something awkward that ended up awesome! Review the things God has been asking you to do. Do they seem awkward or unbelievable? He is about to do something amazing for you and through you! Don’t believe me? Ask Moses! He was an awkward, stuttering, orphan that led one of the greatest exits ever!
2. Some people feel as if they start out their day, week, month, or year having everything they need. Over time they give and are used. That fullness has now diminished. They are essentially the half used water pot. Jesus is sending people in your life to refill you with joy and strength to endure. He will take what you have or what you have been through - add to it - and still make miracles! If you do the math - there was enough from the gallons of water to make over 900 bottles of wine!!! Just when you feel insignificant – God will remind you that you have everything you need to be more than enough. You ARE MORE than a CONQUEROR! (Romans 8:37)

You are not half-empty – you are half-full and God is providing the nourishment you need to be full again. Take His challenge and do something AWESOME!!