Wisdom

Sirach 11:7-9
Deliberation and Caution
7 Do not find fault before you investigate; examine first, and then criticize. 8 Do not answer before you listen, and do not interrupt when another is speaking. 9 Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you, and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.

Thoughts:
One word!  OUCH!! That hurts.  I know I have been on the giving and the getting end of this passage.  Sirach is found in the apocrypha of the bible, ( extra books that some denominations do not find canonized)  it is a great book, just like proverbs.  Warning though it will strike a nerve at some point like this passage does to me.  How can I change myself in this field?  As a human I want to justify everything anymore, instead of letting things be that are out of my hands.  Anyone else find themselves dealing with this??

Prayer:
Dear gracious God, thank you so much for this week!  Thanks you for the time I get to spend with you , with my family, and friends.  Lord, remind me daily that if I do not start the day with you, the rest might take me away from you.  Open my ears and shut my mouth!  In the precious name of Jesus I pray.  Amen





Craig

Tuned in Tuesday- Why I am the way I am ! !

So in your life many songs come and go that you remember and forget. Since 1997 this is one song that I could never forget. It is not much on music, but more on words. This song has stayed with me and sculpted me into the Father, husband, friend, person I am today. I do not know why, I did not graduate in 1997, and I usually never wear sunscreen either. Most probably wont even remember this or most may not have even been born yet!!! I can not describe why this song affects me the way it does but I searched for years to find it, and I finally did this morning and needed to make it my tune to share today. "Everbody's free (to wear sunscreen)" -Baz Luhrmann I hope somewhere in it you find a nugget to save and remember. May you have a great and blessed rest of the week!! Craig

Tuned in Tuesday

Well it is Tuesday again...already! I have completely fallen in love with this band "Rend Collective". Homemade music by handmade people, their sound is classic. I am sharing " praise like fireworks" today. I hope it motivates you to tap your foot then go move your foot and do something for God today. Have a great and blessed week. Craig

Tuned in Tuesday

Well it's back! I have gotten away form doing my tuesday video clips. I missed it too! I saw this video and it has prompted me to return to sharing music and videos on this blog. This album is actually released today to public. Jason Castro " Only a mountain". So tell me what things stand in your way from you getting to God's goals in your life? Tell it to move, it'll move!! I would like to dedicate this song to my Father-in law. He has many mountains that are moving right now for him, simply becasue he it telling it to do so. This has become my inspiration to keep moving forward with things that I am scared won't work or I might not make it with. Mountains...I believe God made them so we can learn how to fly!... Right? Craig

whom will you feed?

I finished my Christmas devotional (A different kind of Christmas- Mike Slaughter) on Wednesday the 2nd.  This is how it provoked me into the new year! "it is not enough to receive the gift.  We are to be the gift.  Jesus comes into this world through our lives.  We are created,in other words, to be God's feed trough(manger).  It's only then that we will experience a different kind of Christmas, and the joy of living and giving like Jesus.  I hope this motivates you like it has me to change your view of all things for this coming new year.  The world is hungry will you feed them???

Dear Lord, my feet are getting tired, my hands are calloused, but they are yours to do with what you will.  Not my will, but yours Lord.  Amen

Craig

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

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 

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving Song - IgniterMedia.com from ignitermedia on GodTube.

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

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

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

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

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

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
  

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

TUNED IN TUESDAY

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

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

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