Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Presence to presents

Exodus 33:14

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

This time next week we will all most likely be indulged with the Christmas day experience.  How awesome will yours be this year?  I guess that is kind of how you experience the day!  Will you put your excitement in God's presence around you?  Breathing in all that you are blessed with everyday.  Experiencing the day with all you have to give others throughout the day or year!  Even if you feel that you have nothing, you still have the greatest gift of all as long as you believe.  Share that!!!  Or will you put your day into the gift of presents that you get?  Making your day better by the pile of gifts and paper lying by your side when you are finished with the day.  What will you do? 

I say it is not that we should not enjoy the gifts that we receive.  Yet, it is better for us to do the giving.  We can experience the birth of Christ through both don't get me wrong.  I think though that we truley experience the gift of Christmas through the presence of Christ in our lives, and days.  

Take time to enjoy them all.  We are blessed so much, and never know when life might change.  Have a blessed, safe and great Christmas.

Craig

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What stays, what goes?

So it is just a few short days to Christmas... Already!  Then just few more days from that is a new year to begin.  I always tend to start thinking about how I am going to approach the new year.  In order for me to do that though, I need to recap the last year.   How do I begin to do that?  What promises did I make and not keep?  What time did I waste that I won't get back?  When did I leave God out and when did I let God in?  It is indeed time to clean up again for the year and do some housecleaning.  Not talking about the kitchen and bathroom here, either.  Nope, I am talking about the mind and the heart. 

I know as I head into the new year, I need to give more time to God, more time to family, friends and church ministry.  The devil got the better part of my last year, and looking back I can see the holes that I left for Satan to slip in.  So I need to mend those holes this year, and fight harder to keep them closed.  Holes like, ill will that enters my mind, flows to my heart than spews from my mouth.  I need filters to be changed, and replaced for sure.  It has indeed been a hard year.  This past month preparing for Christmas and Advent have been a great treat for me.  Getting to help those that need help and share with many the true blessings that we have at Christmas.  Heck, just sharing with folks the true meaning of Christ-mass. 

Many folks share their thoughts about how the world is taking Christ out of Christmas.  I for one disagree, Christ has never been a bigger part of Christmas...for me.  Maybe, if we are worried about Christ leaving Christmas it is not society taking him out of it.  Maybe it's the person thinking it!  Here is a new year approaching and a great opportunity to start anew with sharing God and Christ with the world, and therefore keeping Christmas going all year long.  Keeping Christ in your Christmas!



Craig 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Daily Bread!

" Give us Lord, Our daily bread."  More than food on our tables.  God supplies for us all that that we need to make it through each and everyday we have.  We tend to focus on the problems instead of the blessings a lot in life.  Stupid job I need to get up and go to! stupid car that is not worth a dime and cost me money to fix it and gas to put in it!  Stinkin' test to take!  Darn traffic!  Doesn't that just about sum up your mornings?  Well, the daily bread is the fact that you have a job, a car, an education, even the air to breathe, to wake up.  Don't say that God does not care.  God most certainly does, look at all that is given to you on a daily basis to survive.  Strength, courage, wisdom, all things to grow on. 

"God everything I have comes from you.  You are my source for all that I am entrusted to steward.  I would not even get to work, get up, go to school, etc. if you did not give me the breathe to wake up this morning.  you are my source for everything.  So, Lord give me today, and all that I need throughout it."

God Bless,
Craig

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Encouragement!

Hebrews 3:13a
But encourage one another daily,

So here is my plea to you.  Find a group to get involved in.  Not just for the holiday season, for your life.  We all fall down sometimes.  When we do it is great to have encouragement from others to help you get back up right?  Well then, get involved now with a group of friends that will do that for you.  Whether it is a group from church, from school, or work.  Be accountable for not only yourself, but for others too.  The Pastor at our church and myself do a monthly fathers group ( All Pro Dad's), with in it we have all become really accountable for how we are raising our kids, and being better fathers with it.  It is a small group, but that makes no difference we are all genuine and real with each other.  That allows us to grow in Christ and in our relationships with Christ and with our families as well.  isn't that what we are to do according to the text used for this devotional?  Find something to do that keeps you focused on being a better person, and you will become that better person. 

God Bless,
Craig

Monday, November 19, 2012

Do what we do!

"No excuses, no explanations"- Tony Dungy " Quiet Strength"

1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

John 5:17
17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

So for men's group I just finished Tony Dungy's book Quiet Strength (awesome read for those looking for Dad's for Christmas!!)  Tony used the quoted phrase that begins this devotion  " Do what we do, no excuses, no explanations."  Indicating to me that we are intended to do something in life.  Whatever that may be, we should never give excuses for doing what we feel called to be doing.  From teaching to preaching, from house cleaning to house building!  All things are being served as a purpose by God.  When we come to that simple conclusion then God blesses whatever it is we are doing.  We as a society have a tendency to down play others for there jobs they perform as if God created them for a status symbol for the rest to look down upon.  It might be these very things that God is using to change someones world.  Are we to question that?  Absolutely not!!  God will lift you up in His due time to recognize you for all that you do in this earthly vessel you are blessed with. 

Pay attention to the words Jesus is saying to the folks in the synagogue in the second text.  My father is forever working, so therefore so should I.  Up to the moment of His last breathe Jesus was convincing the world that He truly was the Son of God.  how many times did people approach him while he tried to slumber or pray.  It all become part of  what Jesus did in his life, and he too was lifted up in due time for obeying what it was the God called him to earth for.  So, if God is mighty enough to save one of His creations is He not able to save others???  Of course so, That is why we are to keep working, keep truckin' along, keep plodding through.  In the very end it will be sooo worth it!

May you all have a great and blessed Thanksgiving!  Stay away form too much turkey, and the shopping centers.  Enjoy time with family instead.  God Bless!

Craig

Thursday, November 15, 2012

THOU SHALT LAUGH!!

So I needed a laugh today. I turned to my trusty Tim Hawkins for that laugh! Thanks all! Enjoy it and have a great , blessed and good rest of the week! Craig

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

This is the day!

Psalm 118:24

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
 
So well indeed today is the big day.  The day many of us have been longing for, for quite some time too!  What is it that makes this day soooo special?  Well, it is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!  Huh, you thought it was about something else?  I certainly can not think what that might be!!  Ooh, you mean all the phone calls that annoyed you last evening, or the ads on TV and radio, billboards, yard signs, flyers in the mailbox.  And not to forget the many, many, many discussions at work or over Facebook, tweets on twitter, emails sent.  What is this all about?  One day to elect who wins the great position in power.  Hasn't that power already been decided?  Jesus Wins folks!  We have not gotten this caught up in reviving the day for the Lord since the 70's.  Where is all your ambitions to react to today as a gift from God, as if He were running for position in DC?  Why are mailboxes, inboxes, Facebook posts, ads on billboards, radio not full of witnessing for this very day?  He has given you this very day, this very hour, this very minute this very second you are reading this.  Hooray for us for being blessed.  Today is indeed the day that the Lord has made, Let us be glad and truly rejoice in it!! 
 
Craig

Thursday, November 1, 2012

All Saint's Day

Wishing all a great Nov. 1, All Saint's Day.  A day to remember those that have gone before us.  Those that have left legacies for us to live by and for.  Whomever that may be for you, live today for them.  Not questioning the why, but learning from the what, that they taught you how to live by.

No more tears, God grants us that when we spend eternity with him in Heaven!  Here is to that celebration!!

God Bless

Craig

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Yikes!!

Seriously, It can not be the end of October already!!  What in the world is going on with time these days?  It seems that there is less and less of it to go around.  Well, it is indeed time to realize the busy time of year is upon us.  Have no fear though, Luke 12:29 tells us to not be anxious for things.  This is a brand new concept for me this year.  Normally by now I have 75% of my Santa shopping done.  Not this year I am at about 25%.  Not because I don't want to, because I can't.  What do I mean?  Well I want to for sure, but something has gotten my attention more this year then ever before.  Serving.  All the Sunday School lesson, and youth group meetings seem to all come back to this concept for me and the groups this year.  It has me "rethinking Christmas".  Now I know it is always better to give then to receive.  Yet, this year it seems to really be sinking in!  So, I guess I am trying to indicate with this writing is to not get caught up in the anxiety of the things you want .  Instead share with someone the things they need. 

Have a blessed day!

Craig

Friday, October 19, 2012

They are people too!

So, Politics are running rampid right now.  No doubt about it.  They are all busy trying to make and prove  their points.  Yet, we forget about the fact that they too are humans.  I am sure we all have done it at some point too.  Placed someone on a pedestal higher above others.  Then they mess up, and we are crushed.  Look at Tiger Woods, look at Lance Armstrong, one day we will probably say look at Tim Tebow.  We put these folks high up then when they do something of human error, we toss them away with the trash.  Is this not what Jesus talks with us about in the Gospel of Luke between the Pharisee that was praying about his goodness and then the tax collector prayed for his sins.  Which one was repenting?  Which one showed grace?  We have to stop placing things and people above the importance of what God is in our lives.  Folks will do and say things that we do not agree with.  It does not matter what we think and feel, we are not the ones going through the situation like they are.  Stop making things out more than necessary in your life.  One day we will fall too.  How do you want the world to respond to that?  So then lets do the same to others when they fall too.  it is up to them and God.   Not you, them , and God!

Have a great and blessed weekend!

Craig
  

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

old is as old does

Well 1 day into my 36th year on earth and I feel.   Well, like 1 day into my 36th year.  I have been told I need to start writing again.  Life was better for some others when I did.  I admit for myself too!  So I will attempt to keep writing again, once or twice per week. 
Plans never go as you would hope they are to, for sure!  Like when you spend days planning a lesson, or an activity and it all goes south in a hurry.  What do you do?   Life around you keeps moving.  It does not stop for broken hearts, or pieces.  Where am I going with this?  Life is precious... no doubt about it.  So much going on in our personal lives that we get so caught up in our own plans to forget that someone else has plans for us.  This past year my OCD has complicated my life and I realize I cannot let it win.  I have gotten so out of touch with the ultimate goal that I am not even sure I am on the right track any more.  It has taken me to stop and see what is going on in someone else's life to make me realize I need to get back to what God has placed in front of me.  What is keeping you form doing the same?  Let's walk together over the next couple of months then and lean on each other, be accountable for our actions.  Then see what life turns out like once we give it all up to God.  Just as He asks us to do anyway.

Craig

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

TUNED IN TUESDAY

I love "organic" stuff!!! This is truley organic music from Ireland Rend Collective experience Enjoy Have a great and blessed day!

Monday, September 24, 2012

SYATP

Wednesday September 26, 2012.
See You At The Pole, gather around your high school flag pole and pray!  pray for faculty, friends, family, schools, even yourselves to bare witness of Christ in your life.

I am planning to attend this event at Southwestern High School, Hanover PA around 7:30AM.

Maybe I will see you there, if not please just pray for all of us that are.

Craig

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

September 11, 2012

Do you remember? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on this date 11 years ago? I will never forget! I will never forget getting home from work and hugging my wife and holding my child and never wanting to let go. How has life changed since then? Why has life changed since then? May God Bless each of us as we continue to walk in our journey from our own experiences of this day one-sweet-day on
Craig

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Inspirational story

Came across this on TED.com (awesome sight by the way) Listen to the words and think of how you can apply them to each new day you are blessed by God with!!

Friday, August 3, 2012

fly one time

Thank you Mr. Ben Harper.  I have always loved his music, and now he gives me more motivation to keeping moving on.  Enjoy this video and words of wisdom.  If you find yourself in doubt, and it is God behind it, give it up and "Fly One Time"  you just might make history.

Have a great weekend and God Bless.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

We can change

When one gets hurt by the church or another Christian,
A world spin out of control...
For this was to be solid ground!!
"Surley we can change...The whole worlds about to change"

Thank God, His love is bigger than that!


How do you cope with this hurt?  Many often are.  But why?


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Clear the stage...

In the midst of all of life's chaos these words written by Ross King and sang by Jimmy Needham "Clear the stage" has woken me up from the missing of writting on this blog.

"Anything I put before my God.......is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart...is an idol
Anything I can't stop thinking of.....is an idol
Anything that I give all my love......is an idol"

What have I put before God? A lot of stuff, that I know. 

Lord, may I be strong enough to work diligently for you, and give you all the glory in all that you accomplish through me. When life gets me buy, may I have wisdom to clear the stage and let you take the center. May I be granted the courage to then take it to the world...Amen.

Friday, May 4, 2012

By the way...
Happy National Star Wars day!!!

...May the fourth, be with you!!!!!

He he!!!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May Day

Just checking in today to say 'Hi" to all, and as promised to let you know that this site is not closed for good, just temporarily.  Over the last month I have to say I miss writing and keeping each of you caught up on life lessons.  Live it out was started over eight years ago, and the goal behind it was to share with the readers my thoughts of myself learning how to live out the words of the bible and follow Christ.  Within those words that I shared my hopes were to get others to learn to do the same.  Many have responded to many shared thoughts letting me know that I was not the only person going through whatever trial or tribulation I was writing about.  Today's will still be the same.  I am a staunch believer in "nothing just happens", God puts you where he needs you to be for whatever time period that may be and for whatever reason that might be.  The sooner you realize that you are there for God, then the sooner you will see God in your life.  I often wondered why God allowed me to have the childhood that I had.  It was not a hard childhood, in fact it was a great childhood.  Filled with many, many great times and memories.  Yet, things happen and stuff gets said and it hurts.  As a child we never comprehend how the things we say and do will affect anyone that we come in contact with.  So when we hear our parents make comments or behave a certain way, we as a child assume that is OK.  Then we act, as a child, and repeat those words said or actions done as if it is OK.  Now looking back I see the bullying that took place in my life, and how it affected me.  Made me make life decisions based on how I was treated at school or in the community.  This I say, because 15 and 20 years later, I have a connection with those kids in school today going through the same things that I went through.  One big point that came to my life was in the realization that even today my 2 boys watch everything I do and hear everything I say, and even pay attention to what I watch, and listen to.  To them that is permission to get away with it , "it is OK, because dad does, says, watches, or listens to it"  Our kids are the mirrors of us parents.  How will they turn out, well how are you letting them turn out as parents?  Be careful how you react!  What you do today might be what your child does tomorrow, therefore what you say today, your child might say tomorrow.  What comments do you say, under your breath, about an ethnic group that you have a racists mind set on.  Or about someone that loves someone of the same sex?  I go through all the conversations I remember with my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncle, cousins, etc.  I know how they feel about many of those things, but I need to make a stand and be the guard to letting my kids grow up and think that same way.  Will you do it to?  bullying has got to stop.  And letting my kids know that I will not stand for it will only begin to make a difference on someones life.  But the key is to the parents...STOP IT!  stop it at home so it never comes to school.  At school it is bad enough, but to be bullied is too far.  make today your day to make it stop.  We have to put an end to this, it is out of control and causing too much hurt in this world.  So to all of you that had a life full of this in your past, here is your chance to make that difference in your kids lives.  "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make that change" (Michael Jackson " man in the mirror")  Use who you were to make a better you today!! 
May God continue to richly bless each of you, and until next time. 
Be the hands and feet of Christ!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

not for good, just for now!


John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)
 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Thought:
So after nearly 8 years of writing, printing and posting blogs, I have come to a close.  Thoughts, many thoughts have been shared and discussed through those years.  My hope is to return, but now I need sometime to re coop some thoughts and re organize myself.  I have been debating this for quite some time now, and I just feel that on episode 200 of this blog is the time to do it.  Not for good, just for now though.  Plans to get back to it are still there, but i just need to reconvene with myself and God  before I do.  Many thoughts to share though on this last show!  So I begin with an exert from Fil Anderson's book "Breaking the Rues" I share this thought about church in today's society. "Authenticity is a key component to living AS the church today.  I have been asking for courage for years in my prayers, so it is time to share the courage that God has provided me in the words of this book...
Somehow I find the courage to risk being more authentic.  In the process I discovered that the rewards for being my true self are often greater than the consequences of pretension.  I believe the same is true for all followers of Jesus.  The major battles confronting followers of Jesus is not issues like abortion, homosexuality, and politics.  The real front-burner issue is authenticity.  When outsiders look at Jesus' followers, they long to see people living in intimate union with God who are unafraid of their blemishes, because their blemishes point to an unblemished character of Jesus, who loves us as we are, not as we should be."

So remember this, love does not just happen, it does not just sit there waiting.  It is something that we are given.  God did not send His Son to condemn us and to make us feel bad about who we are.  He sent Him to show us love...ALL OF US!!!  I hope, truly hope that you have found something over the past 8 years to read and enjoy, and shared with others.  Learned how to love or look at it in a different way.  Opened your eyes and your mind to it!   My simple rules that I follow:
1. Love/ respect God
2. Love/ respect others
3. Glorify God in all you do and say, if it is not don't close your day out until it does.
4.  BE REAL!!!-no one likes a fake.

Be good, loving, and kind to EVERYONE!!, not just your friends.  Christ died on the cross for friends and enemies.  

Peace & Blessings to you all...
until next time.
Love you and God Bless,
Craig Sager

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Quick Gospel

Acts 1:8a
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 


Thoughts:
To witness to someone means to speak to them of Jesus and his love, and what they can gain by that understanding.  To be a witness though to say an accident, or a spectacle.  So then to witness to someone means that they should get to see something as evidence of Jesus' love.  Look around you, there is proof of that everywhere you look.  You might disagree with me on that though, you might say but what about all the harshness of the world, the wars, the violence, the corruption, the materialism.  I say to you, they are of this world, not of Jesus.  we are called to not be or fall for things of this world...I direct you to look at the love of a mother and father to their newborn, or the love of a couple celebrating 25, 50 or 75 years of wedded bliss.  Look at the moon shining at night or the sun rising in the morn.  Those are the places we are called to find Love.  these are the things we are to be using in our daily witness to others and ourselves for a solid foundation in who we are with God.  Open your eyes...what will you see today and what will you show others?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,  give me your eyes to see the world the way you do.  In it there is love.  Give me your hands to show others that love.  Give me your feet, to carry me all over to bring glory to you in all I do. Amen.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Quick Gospel


Galatians 6:2

New International Version (NIV)
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Thought:
We can not do life alone, we just can't...
When we try to is when we walk on paths that lead us to more temptation, troubles, and trials.  When someone is by our side they guide us in directions that will help us, keep us on the path that God has chosen for us.  I know I can, and I bet you can think of someone that could use a hand today.  What are you waiting for this scripture is an open invitation to care and be there for others.  The hard thing to get over is we feel and think that they might not be worth the time or effort.  Which I say back to you, what if Jesus ever thought that you weren't worth the time and effort?  Look at the cross, it's proof that you are worth it and so is the person that God is tugging on you to help out.

Prayer:
Awesome God, give me the strength to do what you ask us to do in this scripture, the wisdom and courage to carry it out as well.  Amen.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tuned in Tuesday

Thanks Trevor, and Andrew for the inspiration to keep trying life and stand in the fire. "Life is not tried if your standing outside the fire" In all that we do as youth or adults we view things in different perspectives. Jesus tells us that we can only enter the Kingdom with a childlike heart... It might be hard but, we need to finish the race that we start.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Nevan's Homecoming

God grant safe travels for Nevan's homecoming today.  Bring him home safely from the battlegrounds of Afghanastan to his homeland.  Thank you for keeping your hedge of peace around him during his time of duty.
We have missed him and will be glad to have him back home.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Quick Gospel

Genesis 17:5
 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c] for I have made you a father of many nations.


Thought:
Sometimes despite our understanding.  God puts us in places that we don't understand and he promises us stuff that we don't get.  Yet, he blesses us for abiding in His understanding and not ours.  God changes us, for his will, not ours.  This concept is hard for most to understand-despite our faith in God.  


Prayer:
Creator of galaxies ,and the universe!  make us and mold us for your works.  Change us to do thy bidding, not ours.  Amen.



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Tuned in Tuesday

Lord I want to be your hands and feet... Casting Crowns this week with "Until the whole world hears" Hope all have a great and blessed week!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Pain!!


Isaiah 53:4

New International Version (NIV)
 4 Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,

Thought:
Who among us has never had to deal with pain....?  It is never fun, and definitely something we do not want to deal with either.  Yet in our moments of dealing with that pain tends to be the moments we grow the most.  So much going on in life around us that we tend to get caught up in how painful life is all the time.  Picture this if you will to help you deal with the pain.  One body, one tree, and three spikes...driven into the wrist of an innocent man.  And this is done disregarding the pain that is inflicted on this man...FOR YOU!!!  never say that something is too painful to bare.  He did it for you, all we need to do is believe it.  That's it, just believe!  The next time you are suffering, just vision that point in Jesus life.  What you are going through will be diminished in that very thought.  He will take care of you, never doubt that!

Prayer:
Dear Gracious Father in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Amen.


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Tribute

From 2009, Whitney Houston sings " I look to you".

Rest In Peace Ms. Houston

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

Love... Will hold us together, make us a shelter to weather the storm!!

Enjoy Matt Maher's live performance of "Hold us together"


The ultimate love affair to have is the one with our Lord and Savior!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Thought for Thursday

God I am extremely mad at you today!!
...yet My hope is in you.
you will show me the way!!

For the Hessie family, the Becker-Hull family, the Fisher family, Ms. Groft,and for the Sager families.



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Gospel

Matthew 1:3

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,    Perez the father of Hezron,
   Hezron the father of Ram,

Thought:
It always amazes me at the people that God uses to get his work done.  The lowly, impoverished, helpless, folks of ancient times throughout the bible.  Nothing has changed in today's time as to whom He continues to use.  You will get used for something, and feel that you are not worthy of accomplishing whatever it is.  Wherever you are at in your life right now at a high point or a low point God will use you to accomplish is goals...GUARANTEE!!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, here am I, send me...Amen.


Monday, February 6, 2012

Prayers

Rest in Peace Malcolm Workman Sr. Your family, and friends will truley miss you, thanks for all the blessings you gave to so many by being a great husband and father.

Love and God Bless,

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Thought for Thursday

Like Michael Jackson or not, he spoke volumes in his words when he never attacked back. He just kept moving forward to make the change that he saw needed to be accomplished in the world.

"If you want to make the world a better place, you've got to take a look at yourself and make that change"



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Gospel

James 1:22

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Thought:
At times we have ourselves in such a routine that when we say it, it doesn't affect us.  Yet when someone else says it and we actually open our ears to hear it. Then it makes sense to us.  Recently I was questioning what I was doing wrong in my youth ministry at church that it all seems to be falling apart.  Then a friend of mine gave me the God's eye view of what was going on.   Youth were attending the meeting and I thought they were taking nothing away from each meeting.  Then it was pointed out to me that for some of them I was the only bible they were getting AT ALL in their lives. And that was making a difference because, those kids were still coming back.  I kept looking for the group to go out and reach to others about Jesus, but I forgot that they were coming to me to get the Word, to be hearers not doers.  Then once this group hears it they will learn to do it.  The mere essence of "LIVE IT OUT".

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, in the rush of life we tend to miss the obvious.  Thanks for your angels that you put into our lives to speak to us through your very own Words.  Amen.
 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Live it out



Thank you Seal for expressing my thought for today!
"A change is gonna come"

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Quick Gospel

Ezekiel 33:32

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Thought:
O' brother Ezekiel I feel your pain.  You tell them till your "blue in the face" and they just dont get it.  Ever have one of those days or experiences?

Prayer:
Dear God, open up our eyes and ears to do thy bidding.  Open up our hands, and put our feet into motion to do thy bidding.  Amen.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Quick Gospel

Philippians 4:6

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Thought:
Lately I have been really struggling with my prayers.  I have felt disconnected with God.  I read an article this morning with this text in it and explaining how in all that we breathe should be with thanksgiving and praise.  Not so easy though, When we pray continuously and it all seems to fall on deaf ears.  But, then the voice of the Spirit moves in your thoughts and you begin to see that all that you have been praying for and about sounds a lot like gripes and complaints to God's ears.  So to Him it is not sounding so thankful for all that He is doing for you.  then you begin to understand that your prayers and petitions are being answered because God can't hear you when you approach him like that.  It's kind of just like when you tell your children to clean up their rooms and they do , but you tell them its not good enough...for you.  Never once do we consider that the child just might not understand what you need because we approach them with the complaining heart and words.  God, just might be reacting to you the same way your kids do when you approach them with that same attitude.

Here's hoping for all to have a calm, quite, restful, peaceful, and blessed weekend !

Prayer:
God, sometimes just shut my mouth, and let my heart speak.  Amen.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tuned in Tuesday-Courageous

Casting Crowns with "Courageous" from the same titled movie that is released to the nation today on DVD.


An open invitation to all:
A showing of this movie will happen Friday Jan. 27th 2012 @ 7:30pm
at St. David's UCC- 142 Hobart Rd. Hanover Pa

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Thoughts from Reality

God bless my youngest son for his reactions to things.  I have grown so much by him in understanding the Father and Son relationship of God and Christ.  Today, all my son had to do was put on his shoes and jacket and get to the bus stop,  the bus was patiently waiting for him.  He just had a complete melt down as the  bus was waiting so I had to push and force him to get on the bus and get to school.  I could not not figure out what the big deal was.  Besides the rain and today being Thursday ( did you know that statically speaking Thursday's are the least likely day of the week to be a good day!!)  I could not figure out what the deal was.  Then driving to work today it hit me.  It was not about my son and his break down, it was about me and my break downs with God.  How many times in my life and yours does God just have to say enough is enough, it's time to get on the bus and go where I need you to go.  What do we do?  Kick and scream the whole way there...yet once we are on the bus and where God wants us to be it's all good, it's just getting past the break down point.  Don't you feel that God gets frustrated with us when we act like this?  Joshua 1:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Get on the bus!!!!!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Prayer

God...
It's me again, it ain't been getting any easier since last we spoke.  Life on Earth is pretty trying most days.  Most days I walk around mad at the world or even YOU God, cause I don't get it.  The apathy that has become the sickness in our culture.  Heck, it even rears it's ugly head at church, your worship center God.  Satan has us on the mountain top showing us what can be ours simply by following him.  God, I need you to take back control of me, my life, my house, my family, my friends, my church, my community, my country my world. 
What's that you say?
You can't do that until I relinquish the grip I have on this world.
God, give me the strength to open my hands up and let go of what has me bound to this world.  Give me the wisdom to know that by doing so you will take care of me.  Give me the courage to then take it into my life, my house, my family, my friends, my church, my community, my country, and my world.  This will be new territory for me this modern day Moses that you have called to set your people free.  Never leave me nor forsake me, that's what you promise me you'll do.  God you have given me no room to doubt that, so blessed I will be.
Amen.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thoughts for Thursday

So along with a new year underway, in my time with God that I have been forcing myself to allow each day.  I have discovered a thought that I really feel has come form God for me to do and challenge others to do as well.  "Engage yourself", what is this about.  Well it kind of goes back to this past weekends sermons by my Pastor at church.  If you are going to have a resolution for the new year it should be something that changes you for the good in affecting other people!!  In today's electronic world it make sit sooo easy to converse with others.  So why not challenge yourself to do just that.  Engage in conversation with someone that you would not normally do.  The challenge I have laid on myself s to do this with one person each week.  A relationship may not be born in this, but getting out of my comfort box will be accomplished for sure.  In making myself accountable for this, I will meet others that who knows, might become someone I can mentor, or even, heck someone that might end up mentoring me.  The conversation do not even have to be specifically about God or your religion, just open up to someone and share with them your thoughts or commonalities in that is where the guard will be let down by you and them.  Getting the comfort zone to move a bit, and next thing you know its old habit for you to do this with more people.  One never knows exactly what will become of a simple conversation, but nothing will happen if you do not engage in that conversation.  May the love of God be with you in this challenge, because this just might be a big challenge for some, but He will see you through it if he brings you to it. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Welcome Back!

New Year, new you....yada, yada, yada right!  Why do we do that?  This year I'm gonna_____(fill in the blank).  Yet for the most part we never do.  Our sermons at church this past weekend kind of went along with that line of thinking as well.  We seem to talk alot, yet never commit to walking the talk.  So as a new year does begin for us, challenge yourself to commit to one thing this new year that will bring a change to SOMEONE ELSE.  One small commitment at a time will bring great change to a community.  In fact bringing change is what I want to tell you about with my blog.  My spring classes this semester are Wednesday mornings, so it will be hard for me to write for the blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.  So I am changing the days to Tuesday's and Thursday's, and occassionally some extra thoughts thrown in here and there.  I wish all of my readers a great and blessed new year ahead.  Find God in your life, fight to keep Him there, and let Him take charge of your life. 
Peace and blessings.