Awake At 30

The Mind My dad told me this as a small child in regard to sports and letting the circumstances of the competition and the actions of the other team get to me, "Son, don't let them get in your head; if you let them get in your head, they've won." Wise words. Later this statement was transferred into when I had trouble at school and was bullied (it happened a good bit). Naturally I took this wise lesson into many other circumstances in my life and it has served me well. Sometimes parents, we wander if the things we say to our kids get through -- I can attest to the fact that the important things stay with us (Prov.22:6). I thank my Dad for his wisdom, it has helped me through some difficult times and it still does even today; I plan to pass these wise sayings, rooted in God's truth, on to my own children. We must stand a vigilant guard over what we allow in to our minds in this life. To let evil things in is to be consumed and beaten. Consider, "Finally,

Time and Choice There are two things that each breath, each moment, affords us in this life: time and a choice. Our question is what are we doing with the time we're being given, that blessing of one more breath, that blessing of God's mercy in allowing us one more chance before the Judgment Day to get our lives where they need to be - each moment is proof of God's longsuffering and love (2Pet.3: 9-11 ). What choices are we making with our time here? It sure would be convenient for us if we could blame the devil for our missteps, for our sins, for our failings in life. For most of us as adults when we see someone shifting blame for their faults it often makes us angry, or at the least we're disappointed that someone chooses that way of life. Why is that? When someone never owns up, never takes responsibility,  but always points the finger at everyone but themselves then it shows an immaturity and an unwillingness to grow up. Kids do this, we actually expect that and

Who Am I? "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?..." (2 Sam.7:18) When we consider God sent His only Begotten Son to die for our sins, don't we ask the same humble and sobering question "Who am I, Lord?" God has sustained my life and yours to this point in time. Dwell on that rich thought for a while... "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2Pet.3:9) Do we recognize the blessing of each moment of each day the Lord gives us? "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ di

The Lord Will Make A Way "So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lor

Giving Of Thanks "Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!" (Ps.105:1-4) Need a new holiday tradition? Sing praises of thanks to God today, Christians! Consider how we're blessed! "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." (Jms.5:13) What a blessing to be able to praise God with our loved ones surrounding us! I have to brag on my wife -- though our plans changed for this holiday rather quick, she has handled the changes beautifully. We went from going out of town to visit family to staying in town and family coming to us. There has been a great deal of preparation involved and she has made it look easy -- all while wrestling  our little man and our other child (of the cani

Something Within There's something deep within me that burns like wildfire, that yearns to do more, know more, grow more, to be more -- each of these desires in their own way pressing me for more, both as a man and spiritually. As I look to God's word for understanding, I realize that voice inside me is absolutely correct. To be wise. To be true. To be real. Are these not the things which make us as men admirable? Are not these the things of life which give us pause, which give us reason to lift our eyes and our hearts unto Heaven and thank the Lord for the beauty of them. When these facets of life are molded into a perfect unison in our own lives, when they are who we are, then we possess the greatest blessing of all -- we live like Christ. Christ was real - what you saw was what you got. What He believed was what He lived, and He lived it out fully and without reservation. Christ was true - there was no hint of deception nor dishonesty about Him. His words, His actions