Balancing Act

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Oh how can it be, that someone can exhibit power, love and self-discipline? Surely, when people look in the mirror and reflect, what do they see? Is it some balance of the three? Is it a healthy balance or is it out of kilter. Are you emphasizing power? Not the fire balls from the hands or the razor sharp titanium claws of Wolverine or executive power of a politician - but something stronger, more mysterious. What about love? love of self, conditional love? or self-discipline - of course I have master that last attribute...I have only 4 credit cards which I use sparringly...I have not acted out road rage in months...I don't get drunk.....so do you allow God's spirit to lead the day? Do you start your day by spending time with Him? I hope these devotionals help you.

Guilty as Charged

I am guilty. Of almost every sin under the sun. Well, not technically, so u try to guess which ones. Well, if you knew would you think of me differently? Would you avoid me and not show me grace and love? If God, in His wisdom, counts me or others in the Kingdom, would you not also embrace people automatically -- even if they have unique or distinctly different personalities, opinions, and interests from you? So, we may not claim Paul's specific claim to be "chief among all sinners" but we are sinners, whether we recognize it or not.

1 Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief ."

I Love You "This Much"

2 Corinthians 11:27 - I have labored and toiled and often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Does this come to your mind when you do something for the church or your fellow brothers and sisters in the church? or when you do ministry? who can say what the apostle Paul says? Yes, we are not establishing a nascent religion. We are maintaining and working through what the original apostles and disciples laid out through the holy spirit. We do labor, we do toil, and we do lose some sleep. Maybe we eat bad food - like pizza, pizza, and pastries and lots of coffee - but I doubt any of us go hungry or parched like Paul. This is in no way diminishing our labor. We need to spend time with God to remind us how much He loves us. He is the reason we do what we do, in any vocation, and the ultimate expression of His love for us, through Jesus's sacrifice and resurrection, is powerful. Have a lovely weekend. See you soon.

Daddy Day

Can you help me out? No, I don't need a dime. I need help. I thought I could do it all on my own. It has been a grueling 6 months, maybe longer. Not just work. It's more than that. How about you? Have you been beaten up a bit lately? No, not just financially, I mean it has been a grind at times. They say that ministry is a lonely job and especially so when you don't have "help". Thankfully, when I feel sorry for myself, I get bowled over by reminders of God's love and grace for me. Last night I was greeted by both my girls with big hugs. The icing on the cake, my eldest, who is as sensitive as she is sweet, said, 'Daddy, I love you.' Now she says that a lot. Well of course, we are the "universe" that both girls have known their entire lives. I sometimes weep when I remember that I justly deserve wrath but received grace. So, with those 4 words, God reminded me to have the same attitude toward him.

Luke 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.