Wild Goose Chase

I have been reading a book by Mark Batterson, called (Wild Goose Chase) the book is about chasing after the Spirit of God. The main point is that when we follow after God, we are never sure where He will lead us, but it will be the best adventure of our lives. And I think that so many people out there are looking for a life of adventure. but adventure that changes the world for the better. Adventure that impacts the lives of people and improves their lives. Now i believe that only God can give you the adventure of this kind. The life that we all deeply desire, that has purpose and has meaning can only be found when we chase after the God who made us, for any other chase will leave us short or our full potential. So today chase after God and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.

Encouragement

As I sit here reading my Bible I realized that people love to be encouraged. As Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 2 and 3 (We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers We continually remember before our God and or Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.) Yes I am convinced that if people would just look for way to encouraged one another, life would be a little bit better for all. I know that words have the power to destroy, but they also have the power to build and to heal. So today is a good day to bring healing and hope to anyone that might need it. You never know what you can do for someone just by speaking a word of encouragement. Take the time to love someone enough to bring them hope today.

Road Trip

Today is one of those days that I just want to take off and drive. Just hop in a car and go on a long road trip, not even knowing where but just heading somewhere. To go on an adventure, to see the the wonders of God by getting away slowing down and taking it all in. The Grand Canyon, the Rockies Mountains, the Great Lakes, and so on. I would call it a road trip to nowhere. Just to love life and meet people, and to reconnect to my God. I starting to think that we see God the best when we slow down and really look for Him, even though he is always right there we often can't see him, until we slow down. So I think I will take a road trip to nowhere, and see my God though the beauty of His Nature and Hie people.

A Life Lived Well

Today I find myself thinking much about life. I ask myself what does it mean to live well and to love well. What is the meaning of life, and why do I find myself always asking if I am living and loving well. For so many it is the questions of life that we find so hard to answers. Some turn to God, or that which they believe to be god for the answers. Others turn to, people, or nature, or philosophy, while others turn to science, and I could go on and on and on. But it is the questions of life that calls them. Deep down inside we want to know why we are here, what is our purpose and what happens next. And today these same questions invade my mind. I want to know if God is pleased with me? I want to know if I have loved others well and if I am living my life well. I find myself praying to God and asking Him to help me make a difference in the lives of others. To bring a smile to someones face. To make someones life better today. To give me the ability to give of all I have to enhance the lives of another. Today I choose to live my life in a way that pleases God and helps others, so today I feel I have lived well.

Family

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at my brother-in-laws church and many of my family and extended family were there. It’s funny even though I speak often very rarely do I get a chance to go back home and see my family. Now this was a special occasion it was their third year pastoring in his church but this story is more about my sister Ella his wife. What you may not know is that I'm from a large family of 11 kids and Ella has been my strongest support in my Christian journey since the death of my mom many years ago. Three years ago Ella found out her liver was failing and was placed on a donor waiting list. After numerous treatments and many hospital stays Ella's liver was finally giving up, but during this period of time her love for God, her faith in God and her love for her family is what kept her strength. I remember one late night phone call when she was sharing with me her thoughts and feelings about dying and how she kept saying remember when mom would say "The darkest just before the storm and the hardest fight is just to keep holding on". Or remember when mom used to say "God may not come when you want Him but He's right on time". It was at that moment I realized how dear my family was to me. It was at that moment that the legacy that my mom has left in her children. After speaking my other sister Brenda got up to give closing remarks and during her remarks she turned to me and said “little brother I just want you to know mom would be proud”. Then my nephews comment to the congregation about the impact the family has had on his life and that is why he is in love with Jesus today and I guess what I’m really trying to say is that family matters. You see, it is family that knows you, where you have come from and where you have been. And its family that sticks behind you through the hard times and all life brings. And as I sat there and saw my family and heard the words they were saying to the rest of the congregation, even though there have been many ups and down and difficult times my family has always been and will always be there for me.

From My Heart

As I sit here today, my heart is heavy. Over the past few weeks I have been somewhat sad. It is the kind of sadness that the bible calls sadness of the heart. Even this morning I was reading an article that stated (World hunger reaches the 1 billion people mark.) Then I was reading in the Bible from the book of Revelation chapter 2 and I was taken aback by how God spoke of the people. How God stated that he had things against them. How they had lost their first love. How we as people often turn from good to our own selfishness. I’m sad when I realize that more often than not I worry about myself but care little for what others are going through. I find myself asking why do we have so much. But give so little? Over the past few weeks I have had an overwhelming feeling that we as people are not becoming better but more self-centered. But it is now more than ever people need to have hope, and we that are the most privileged should do all we can to help those who are not. My heart also tells me that people not only need their physically needs met, but also their spiritual needs as well. I can only pray that this sadness in my heart will cause me to do what I can with what I have, for the good of those that God has given me a heart for.

WHY

I often find myself asking the question, Why! Why did that happen , Why did that person die, Why did I not see it coming? Why do good things happen to bad people? Why did God not interven? Why is life so unfair? Yes I ask why all the time and most of the time I don't care about the answers, I want my pain to go away or I want to be justifed in my thinking. You see I think deep down inside, I know what's best in most situations, and I want to make sure God understands that. I want Him to say, your right Don that is what I was thinking. I want things to work out how I plan, and I have little time to deal with a God who does not see things as I do. Well if you really think about it, you would no doubt tell me to wake up. You might say how arrogant of me to think I have all the answers. That I know what's right all the time. And there is the problem, I think I can question the God who made it all. I should tell Him what is best, or how life should be run. But if there is a God who is truly God why would he need anyone to tell how to do things. If your like me the word God carries a certian meaning or connotation to it. It means that He (GOD) is great not me and that Gives Him the right to be in charge. He welcomes my questions, but not my challenges to who He is.