THINGS

I was listening to an NPR broadcast where the host and a columnist were talking with people about things they would sell or not sell as a last resort to bring in money during this US recession. Or another way to describe the convo was things people would have a real difficult time parting with. Understandable one woman said her engagement ring. This one I can understand would be darn difficult to sell. She must be one American with a darn strong marriage! I only heard a little bit of it, one lady said some dresser brought over on a ship by relatives from Holland. I guess the thing that I focus on is the fact that this life here on this earth is not all there is. I heard an interesting phrase recently from a Bible teacher named Beth Moore. Beth said, "were just hanging out" here. I love how that firey Texas lady said that and it has stuck with me! When things are tough, when dreams die for me HERE, well I'm just hangin out here anyway. And it's biblical, the bible says "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil 3.19-21). I don't judge these folks on NPR, they probably just know no better than to focus on the here and now, and treasure the things they have. Lord let me share with others that this life is NOT all there is. And that the ONLY way to live as this earth is not your home is to have one's heart welded to the heart of the Savior. When one knows the King, and knows His riches, then one can hold onto things here very lightly.

The small Things

I love watching the NCAA tournament, but doggone it if I can pick the winners correctly! Good thing my latest vice is not gambling! But I was thinkin' say two years from now will it REALLY matter a whole heck of a lot who I picked or didnt pick to win? I have a pretty competive nature within me-can be a good thing I guess. But Im like-C'mon-these silly picks don't amount to a "hill a beans!"
So what matters in life?
Answer-Jesus
Yes He is still at the right hand of the Father, the cross is still stained with blood, and He is still longing for folks watching March Madness to come to know Him.
Stop the Madness!
Sanity comes with giving ones life to the Savior of the World!
I think I will not worry about the fact that most of the teams I picked to win stunk up the joint. Im going to choose the Higher things. Im going to choose to set my mind on those things which are above (Col 3.2)
Cmon with me basketball lovers, or art lovers, political junkies, Guitar Hero fanatics-whosover may come!
Basketball games come and go-there will be more next season. Jesus lives forever
Now if somebody besides Louisville will win it all I will be stoked!
Blessings!

Pleasing God

Was reading in Romans 8.1ff-focused on the phrase-"those in the flesh cannot please God". I was thinking how often is my life simply pleasing to God? I want it to be, I truly do. How do we please God? Is He hard to please?- I dont think so. I believe that the main thing God wants is my heart. I hurt when I let my heart stray from what is on His heart. Romans 8 is all about the Spirit vs the flesh. These are at war with each other. Is it difficult to NOT live in the flesh? Yes it is, it takes a daily taking up of the bloody cross. But I would say life is HARDER when we live in the flesh. Flesh living seems real appealing but don't ever fall for it. Walk in the Spirit and then we can live for Kingdom purposes.
I saw an article the other day on a lady who is a reformed drug addict. At the end of the article, she said a profound statement. She said "when you play in garbage you will stink"
STAY OUT OF GARBAGE, YOU WILL SMELL SO MUCH BETTER!

Looking for Light

Sometimes I have to drive thru the darkness of night
to get to where I need to be
I begin to really long for the Light of day
Light lets us see
Darkness-not so much-
vision hindered
How often do we long for the Light?
really seek after it?
Jesus is the Light of the World-those who live in Him don't have to live in darkness
PRAYER-Lord Jesus help me to see, to see how much I need you today. Let your Light shine thru me so that others may be able to see. Let not sin reign in our mortal bodies. As we begin to see how much you O Lord want to change the world thru us, let us not hinder your work.
In Him
Amen

Jesus Stimulus?

I am a truck driver and will often see not only billboards which can move my thought but I like to look at church marquees. Saw one the other day in Pulaski Co., Ky which said something to the effect of-Receive Jesus and get a real stimulus package. I thought about this. As you may know this comes from the US news and how our country's government passed an economic stimulus package.
I looked up stimulus in the dictionary, here is what I got. Stimulus- An agent, action or condition that elicits or accelerates a phsiological or psychological activity or response.
When you think about that the marquee message kinda rings true. Jesus is an agent who elicits a response. When we receive Jesus into our hearts as savior and thereafter when we remain in Him (John 15.4) then we have all the stimulation we ever need. We dont need drink nor drug nor anything else. Jesus really is all we need.
There have been times when I have run from his love. I ran down a dead-end road. Yes 100 percent of the time that has not been the best thing for me. I was essentially running toward the wrong kind of stimulation. Perhaps it can be looked at this way- Jesus is the one who is able to stimulate the "inner ways" of us. Or the "ultimate stimulation" is another way of viewing.
How about "lasting stimulation". When UK wins in basketball-which they are not at the moment! I may get "pumped up" and stimulated when they win a nail biting game. But this kind of elation lasts what maybe a couple of hours?
Well, receive Jesus today, ask Him to come and meet you. He is a stimulus more precious than gold and silver. If I were given 3 billion dollars in gold today that would be a heck of a stimulus. I could go out and buy a Lexus. I would not worry about money, but the money can't affect my inner state of being. Our "joy is complete" (John 15.11) only as we walk in the riches that Jesus offers which go beyond the temporal.

the rest of the day

I found this interesting verse in John. The context is the calling of Jesus's first disciples. A couple of the first disciples went to the place Jesus was staying and "remained with him the rest of the day" (John 2.29). How often do I just "remain" with Jesus? How often do I just enjoy hangin out with the King? I must often say not enough! Man what a longing however, I ,ask for that desire to just spend the rest of the day with Jesus, heck more than that what about spending the ENTIRE day with my King? What joy, what blessing! Lately more often than not I will do lots of other things. Nothing wrong with watching a basketball game but it is all the needless stuff I occupy myself with. O free me Jesus from those desires that do not bring you joy! Free my heart from those other things that crowd in and take me from you. You are what I need today. Water and Jesus, Jesus and Water! My needs! REMAIN REMAIN--In the above verse I focus on that part of they wanted to remain with him the rest of the day. It seems to me their desire above all other desires that particular day was to be with Jesus. To talk with him, learn from him, O how it must have seemed so great to them to spend time with this man. Moreover they probably just enjoyed the time. So smile with me today as we spend time with Jesus, talk with him, learn from him. Alot of the other things we do can wait. We can't wait long to run to Jesus.
run to him!

people "doin about"

People
We see them around us all the time, goin here a goin there, just "doin about". Where they all a headed'? What are their pains, frustrations of the day? Did they go to their senior prom? How did the night go? How long after did the young love fall by the wayside? How many "loves" did they have during their 20s?
How much money do they make? How are they hurting during our US recession?
they like dogs?
Like sports?
Married? single? single and want to be married? married and want to be single?
go to church on Sunday? only go on Easter?
enjoy life do they? hatin' life are they?
I could think of many more questions about them, I just see them around the truck stops when I stop or drive by them and sometimes say to myself these things.
One aspect of it is that Im not unique. My struggles are not unique, I dont stand out in the crowd just because Im a bit overweight. I used to think I was so different, that noone else had the types of struggles I had, but that is really not so. We are all walking along this planet, the same planet together. We are all made up of bones, muscles, etc. We all have noses and foreheads.
We are people.

UK basketball and it's woes

Well my UK basketball Cats are having a real downer of a year. They are headed to the NIT. There is a better chance that I will see whales flying over Lexington today than for Kentucky to make the NCAA Tourney. OH shucks! OH well, such as it goes some years. It will be interesting to see if "Bad Loss Billy" will be back as the coach. I would like to see that not be the case.
I sometimes think that I get too "wrapped up" in following my favorite sports teams. But ya know hey its ok, its really ok! Now there is a place for moderation, wisdom in the matter. If one eats too much chocolate they are likely to feel bad. I probably don't need too much Cats, just take it all in stride. It is a beautiful day outside, UK basketball has nothing to do with God and His beauty.
But Im also not going to feel guilty for loving to follow the Cats. I used to spend time around several Godly men, maybe a few women who loved to follow sports. It really is Ok.
This is the year UK had 6 home losses in Rupp Arena. A change is needed and it starts with the head coach. Harrellson-potential but not living up to it. Liggins-potential but again not being able to tap into it. Why? Would they have prospered under anothers tutulege?
One more game to go. I predict loss to Ole Miss this Thurs. End season, will play one game in NIT. Final record will be 19-14.
Later
Hal

One More Day

Hey folks
Isnt it wonderful to be given yet one more day from the Creator? I enjoyed today. It was light until late--a new thing. Gotta love the time change. I didnt want it to get dark but then said well God created the darkness. He created the day and the night, so I was ok with it getting dark.
I had a scary incident in my truck on Sat. Seems a person on I 68 in Maryland tried to do a funny trick in front of me, I had to basically do serious evasion. It was almost not too good! God basically took over. It was like in that Carrie Underwood song--Jesus took the wheel.
So I got one more day-and I would ask for another. I want a long life in salvation, Oh yes I will enjoy heaven but there are some things I want to do down here-find my mate, work for God more, do this blog which Im new at-visit the Grand Canyon, run in a 10k race oh lots more!
I heard a preacher once say-"God is GOOD-all the time!" Yep you are right preacher pretty much right on!
Live in Grace
Hal