O WOW

One of the best things in life is when you know someone that loves the simple things of life. A person that seems to have child like enjoyment of those things and at time just busts out in those (O Wow) statements. Well Josh is one of those people. He just has a way of making life simple and fun. He loves to just sit back and smile, laugh, and just not take life to serious. The smallest things seem to amaze him, and when that amazement comes, you hear him say O Wow. It is at these moments that I just laugh and I think that Jesus must smile at Josh and say I love it when he does that. You see I feel Josh has something that many people have lost, the simple enjoy of everyday life, a childlikeness that often times end up in verbal outburst of his pleasure at the goodness of the things of His God. I have come to realize that Josh has an uncanny ability to keep life simple, to keep God first, and not to get caught up in the craziness of life. I find myself just wanting at times to be more like Josh in these areas of my life. To just enjoy my God and have more O Wow moments, to laugh more, to slow down and not allow the craziness of life to drive me crazy. I believe that when we keep our eyes on Jesus we often have those O Wow times. We see that life is not to difficult for Him, that tomorrow will come, and that Jesus really is in control. We come to understand that Jesus brings calmness to our otherwise crazy lives and we can only say O Wow to how awesome our Jesus is. So thanks Josh for helping me see what at times life can make me forget. That it is Jesus that makes the O Wow moments possible.

The Practice of the Presence of God

" At any moment and in any circumstance, the soul that seeks God may find Him, and practice the presence of God" from the Book of the same name. So what does it mean to practice the presence of God? How do I get to do that and why would I want to do it. I often wonder what God is like and if he is anything like the God of the Bible then why would I not want to get to know Him better. Take for example the Bible says that God is a loving God, a just God, a God of peace, and of understanding. It goes on to say that He punishes the wicked, and will one day deal with all those who stand against himself God. So I get it people don't like it when anyone tells them that they are wrong or that they fall short of the Glory of God. And I get it that no one wants to be told that they are sinners, and I'm right there with you. I don't like that stuff either, but if that is the truth and there is a God that can save me from myself, well I want to get to know him. Because in the end I dont just want to be right, I worried about being right with God, if he is who he says he is. I would very much like to be in His presence, now and forever. So if that takes me admitting that I don't have all the answers, and I can do it without Him, well that's a small price to pay, when compared to spending the rest of my life with Him. Today is a good day to start practicing the Presence of God. John 3;16 is a really good place if you would like to start a relationship with the God of the universe.

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Have you ever read the Gospel of John Chapter 13 verse 38 and chapter 14 verse 1

John 13:38-14:2

Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter-before the rooster crows tomorrow morning you will deny three times that you even know me. "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

Would you ever think that the verse telling of Peter's failure would be followed by one of the deepest comfort? But that's one thing that makes Jesus so awesome. He knew Peter's heart and that Peter's deepest desire was not to deny Him but that Peter wanted to be Jesus' boy, he wanted to be a hero of the faith. He knew that Peter one day would die for him. Yes Jesus knew things about Peter that Peter did not yet know about himself. He believed in Peter even when Peter did not believe in himself and even though Peter would deny Him Jesus knew that one day Peter would glorify him. So even though Peter would deny him, Jesus words of comfort would give Peter the strength he later needed to become all that God wanted him to be. You see we are sometimes much like Peter, we want to do great things for Jesus, but sometimes we mess up. when those times come remember that Jesus never gives up on you, he will bring you through the tough times, so let not your heart be troubled.