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