THE Rock!

Who is God to you? 

Do you have a special name for Him as He has been with you? We give everyone nicknames . . . why not God? Is He not special? Does He not deserve a special place . . . a special name within our hearts?

The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the God who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He’s the power that saves me.He’s my place of safety. I go to him for help. He’s my Savior. He saves me from those who want to hurt me. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

David knew what it was like to be on top of the world but also how to hide from the world. He had his ups and downs . . . times of sweet fellowship with God and times of fearing for His life because of his decisions. In other words, he had a personal relationship with God Almighty!

God has been called the God of Peace, my Provider, my Leader in battle, the God my Healer, the God Who sees, etc. Do we know God well enough to have a personal name for Him? Maybe it's time we do!

He is The ROCK of ages after all . . . lean upon Him today!

He is still God!

He is still God!

So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The God who promised is faithful. Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. (Hebrews 10: 22-25)

In these days, God is STILL God!

In days when people choose not to attend church ion person, this is a great reminder and INSTRUCTION! When facing difficult times, we need to be around one another . . . in person.

What are we in the habit of doing these days? SONday is coming!

Who's in charge anyway?

Who's in charge anyway?

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

Yes, we all make plans. We make daily to-do lists. We plan out our weeks and weekends. Qe plan summer vacations. We have five -year plans and ten-year plans. How often do we consult God before making plans?

How many times have our plans gone sour? Ever wonder why? Lack of planning or lack of seeking God first? 

Maybe . . . if we stop asking God to bless our plans and seek His plans first, we can actually bless Him!

Who's in charge anyway?

El Roi

God sees it all! 

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)

Hagar thought she was abandoned with her son Ishmael. Abram (Abraham) did not obey God and wait for Sarai (Sarah) to become pregnant. Sarai offered her servant girl Hagar to him and she became pregnant. Then Sarah became angry and bitter! However, our merciful God took care of Hagar and promised to bless her. (Genesis 16:9-12) He saw and experienced her pain. (El Roi)

God then reminds Abraham of His covenant blessing with him and his wife Sarah yet would bless Ishmael (Hagar) also. (Genesis 17:19-22) 

God sees all we are going through. He knows our struggles. He wants our obedience however . . . especially when it seems so hard. That is when the biggest blessings flow! In our darkest places, God's Light and Love shine the brightest!

His process

Losing hair . . . losing sleep . . . losing health . . . stop worrying so much and trust God with His process!

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Luke 2:22-25)

Let's face it: one can worry himself to death these days. We stress over finances, politics, sports, family, our future, and finally our health. It is a fact . . . less stress brings better health. The evidence base linking faith to better health has been decades in the making and now encompasses thousands of studies.


Having faith, in our case in the living and true God, can actually lead to a healthier life! Maybe not longer life, since only God knows our length of days, but a healthier and more content life. Faith in God and His process is good for one's soul and body!


So stress less and trust His process more . . .

One day . . . .

One day it will all be better . . . no perfect!

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:22-24)

One day the world will be better. However, today is not the day! In the meantime, we have to be sure to shed as much of God's Light upon the situation as we are able. We, who carry the Light within us through the Holy Spirit, must be aware of the evil of darkness and counteract it within our families, churches, schools, and nation. 

We can no longer hide our Light under a basket, but let it shine from the mountain tops! We are running out of time! One day may be too late. Shine for Jesus today!

This little light of mine . . . I'm 'gonna let it shine! What about you?

Who do we say we are?

If we say we follow Christ, then who do we say we are?

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Paul instructs us that we are the "temple of God (the Holy Spirit)". If truly a follower of Christ, saved by His Blood, then His Spirit lives within us . . . right? Then who are we?

In Exodus 3:14, God tells Moses that "I Am" sends him to Pharaoh. God says "I Am when describing Himself. Jesus told the Jewish leaders, "before Abraham was, I Am!"(John 8:58) Jesus knew Who He is. 

So I ask, if we are saved followers of Jesus Christ, who do we say we are? Better yet, who do others say we are?

Who do I think I am fooling?

 Where can I hide? Who do I think I am fooling?

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Psalm 139:1-7)

Ever think God cannot see you? Ever feel like God will never find out? Who are we fooling? 

Read the psalmist David's words again. God is everywhere and knows everything about everyone! Guess what? He still loves us!

Let's come clean and be honest with God. It will lead to a more peaceful and enjoyable life!

Father knows best

Father knows best.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Trusting God as a parent is tough. We want to do all we can to assure our kids' futures, yet we can't really do much on our own. God has the final say. Many times we simply get in God's way. The more we try to provide, protect and prepare our kids, the more we can frustrate what God has in mind. 

Remember how Jacob favored Joseph? (Genesis 37:3-4) How did that work out? God really had to work in that situation!

I am learning to let God be God. The one who I think needs me more, really needs more of God. That is not to say we do not still parent. We just have to give God room to work. Father knows best. 

Spiritual workouts

Could it be such a thing as a spiritual workout? 

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (JAMES 4:7-8)

James reminds us to resist the devil and he will get out of our way. This seems to require some effort on or part . . . and practice! Resist is defined as withstanding or refraining from something. Again . . . effort!

As with any exercise or effort, the more we perform the exercise the stronger and more comfortable we will become when doing it. So . . . may I suggest that we begin or continue our spiritual workouts (efforts) or resistance on a daily basis?


The more we do it, the better we will become at resisting the devil and drawing closer to the Lord. Just do it!!!!

Reputation is important, but integrity last forever

Reputation is important, but integrity lasts forever.

But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others. (Galatians 5:22-26 NIrV)

Let me explain . .  .

What people think about us . . . our reputation . . . is indeed important. We can be know to be punctual. We can be known as trustworthy. We can be known as kind, giving, and friendly. Yet it only takes one harsh word or a misunderstood text, email, or an on-line post, and our reputation is tarnished . . . perhaps for good.

Yet God knows who we really are. He knows who we are when we are home alone and when we are in public. He knows how we act in church and how we act at work. What God knows about us in our integrity! People may not like us because we do not curse. hey may give us the side eye when we talk about God and His work within our lives and others'. They may even shun us and speak ill of us when we are not present. Our reputation may not be so good with people, yet with God we are in good standing . . . for eternity!

How is your reputation compared to your integrity today? While we do all we can to be friendly and help others, there are some things we just cannot do as CHRISTians and some things we cannot do without! We cannot love God and the world!

What God knows matters!