Stepping Out Today

Do we know where we are going today? And more importantly, do we know the best way to get there?

The mind of man plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Dear Heavenly Father, as we plan our day, may we choose to make room for You.  May we recognize the way that You have chosen, and may we follow it with joy, trust, and gratefulness.

Focus Carefully and Selectively

In this world of social media, 24 hour news, and constant bombardment of information it is easy to become distracted.  People are convicted or acquitted via public opinion, presidents are elected based on rumor and innuendo, economies rise and fall because of fears!

Yesterday I wished a friend a happy birthday.  Why?  Because Facebook told me it was his birthday.  And, like so many others, I believed what Facebook said to be truth.  Turns out his birthday is in the summer.

Am I alone in believing what is not true?  I say not.  Look at how many people are still waiting for Mark Zukerberg to hand out millions, or how Trump is making people question the citizenship of Cruz, or how Steve Harvey is being ridiculed for making a simple mistake, or how people are demanding that a convicted felon be released because of a TV show.  We hear it, we believe it, we act on it.  We just forget to verify it.

Take the time to focus on the truth.

These two pictures were made seconds apart.  Neither the camera nor the subject moved.  What changed? The focus!  By adjusting the focus, much of the clutter in the picture was minimized.  The weed became much more visible.

Do we need to adjust our focus?

Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up  and choked them out.

Matthew 13:7

What's In a Day?

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.

And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, 

"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, 

"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

Matthew 20: 29-31

During this first week of 2016 I have seen multiple posts on Facebook about the new year being a book filled with 365 blank pages.  The idea is that the future is ours to shape, mold, and fill.  How we choose to do that is entirely up to us.

I respectfully disagree with that idea.  The future is His!  True, each day is a new beginning. But, it is not blank.

God fills each day of our lives with so much.  We just have to choose what we see in that day.

I pray as we walk through each day of the rest of our lives, that we will become more and more like the two blind men in the story above.  I think, while the crowd did not, the two blind men "saw" what Jesus passing by really meant.  

God is present in the day ahead.  Watch for Him, recognize His presence, and follow!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Psalms 145: 7

For this last blog post of 2015 I went down memory lane.  I looked back at 2015 and selected my favorite images.  I narrowed it down to 18. That was not an easy task.

Each image below, while not neccessarily the best photograph, is one which emotes memories for me.  I was so blessed to travel across this great land and see some amazing things.  As I looked at each of these photos I remembered the place and the wonderful people with whom I was allowed to share them.

I shout joyfully of the goodness of God!

Sparks Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Sunrise from the Foothills Parkway, Townsend, TN

Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Gettysburg Battlefield, PA

Amish farm, Lancaster, PA

Bennington, VT

Bar Harbor, ME

Sunrise, Bar Harbor, ME

Nubble Light, York, ME

Window sill, Ogunquit, ME

Ogunquit, ME

Perkins Cove, ME

Cadet Chapel, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

Roaring Fork, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Baptist Church, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains NP

Acadia NP, ME

Acadia NP

Sunrise, Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains NP

 May 2016 be filled with blessings, joy, and His peace for you all.

What's It All About?

Ohh! It's almost Christmas. The decorations are all in place. The cards are all sent. The gifts are all purchased, wrapped and under the tree.  The kitchen smells like the most wonderful restaurant ever!

Soon families will gather, eat too much, laugh a lot, exchange gifts, and pretend that that awful tie from Aunt Zelda is just the perfect fashion accessory.

Ohh! It's Christmas.

But wait! Haven't we forgotten something?

For a child has been born -- for us!

the gift of a son -- for us!

Isaiah 9:6 (Message)

Ahhh! Now I get it! I hope others do too.

Reflecting

When I saw, I reflected upon it;

I looked, and received instruction.

Proverbs 24:32

Here we are at the end of another year.  This is always a good time for us to look back and think about all that has occurred in our lives.  This is a time to reflect.

But, just looking back and remembering is really not very helpful. The questions I  must ask: "How can I learn from what has passed?"

How can I make sure that I eliminate those things from the past year that were not pleasing to the Lord? I need to strive to not repeat behaviors which are not according to His will for me.

How can I continue those thoughts and actions which caused me to grow in a positive way? How can I become more of a man of God?

Good questions upon which to reflect!

Playing Games

It is almost a year until the next election for President of the United States. I am already weary of hearing the politicians make their promises.

They are playing games with us!  They often say what they think we want to hear, or they say what they think will  do them no political harm.

One in particular reminds me of Sandra Bullock's character in "Miss Congeniality".  The message is constant - "I'm going to do this and it will be great!"  However, there is never any substance to back up how the great thing will be accomplished.  I keep waiting for him to say, as Bullock did, "world peace".

We must not let those empty promises deceive us.

As I have been thinking about the politicians' games, I began to think about playing games on a more individual, spiritual level.  And, of course, eventually God led me to ask myself, "Am I playing games with my Christian walk?"

Tough question.  I have work to do!

For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites;

and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Romans 16:18