He Is Risen Indeed!

Of all the people on earth believers in Christ are truly the most blessed because our Savior lives. Death and hell could not hold Him in the grave. His victory over sin was completed as He left the tomb on the third day after His crucifixion. Jesus' words "Because I live, ye shall live also" ring in are hearts and are a beacon of hope to the hopeless! May we celebrate His great love for us as we glory in His resurrection. May your life be filled with the confidence that our blessed Hope, the Lord Jesus, gives us day by day. Had he not risen from the dead, we truly would be the most miserable of all men. But because He lives, we can face tomorrow with hope in our hearts, looking for that wonderful day when He will return again for His children. Praise the Lord! Have a blessed Easter!

PS - If you have not visited my new blog, I invite you to do so at alertingamericans.blogspot.com

Pray For My New Blog

Hi folks - Please pray for me as I start a new blog entitled "Wake-Up America". It will be about our American Christian History and Government and address issues which are pertinent to today in the process. You may visit my new blog at wuam@blogspot.com. Thanks!

My Girls

I know it's past Valentine's Day, but I happen to be a little late in doing this. God has blessed me with some wonderful women in my life. I am blessed to tell you about them. I have one mother, one mother-in-law, 2 granddaughters, 3 daughters, one almost daughter-in-law and one beautiful wife. Let me tell you how they are a blessing to me. Mom is one of the most loving, giving people I know. She has cared for me all of my life. Now it seems to be time for me to help take care of her. She and dad have had some tough times health-wise recently, but she still makes me cherry pie which happens to be my favorite. My mother-in-law, Betty, had a stroke several years ago and has been in a nursing home since that time. I love her because she is such an understanding person. Even though she has a hard time hearing and getting around, she is always interested in what is going on in other's lives. I have two grnad daughters who live in Alaska. Brianna is a picture of joy and enthusiasm. She helps her mommy and loves to learn things about Jesus and loves to sing. She is someone I would love to just pick up and hold and hug on for a long time, but distance keeps that from happening too often. It won't be too long though before grandpa will get to do that. My other grand daughter is Kinley Brooke. She is the newest young lady in my life and I can't wait to see her, hold her and hugh her. Though just one week old on Wednesday she has a special place in my heart. My three daughters are really something special. Becky is the oldest and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband John. My personal biased opinion is that there is no better children's choir worker in America than my Becky. She is so good with kids and loves to teach them to sing about the Lord. I am so proud of her and John and how they are following after the Lord and His will for their lives. That will lead them to Colorado soon and I am glad that they will be a little closer to home where we can see them more often. Beth is my daughter in Alaska. She has given us 3 beautiful grandchildren. Beth is a compassionate one. God has given her the ability and opportunity to work with young families and be an encouragement to them along with her husband Nathan. I know they are a strength to many in Alaska, but I am glad that they will be moving to Georgia soon so I can be with them more. My youngest daughter is Brooke. She is a beautiful young lady whom her father loves very much. She is in college, works at Cheesecake Factory, plays the organ and accompanies the choir at church, and is interested in photography. Her life is busy and it seems like I don't see her very much, at least not as much as I want to. I am praying that she will be the young lady the Lord desires her to be. Lauren Werner will be Lauren Clay soon. She is the fiance of Britt and they will be getting married in May. She is a delight, a young woman who loves the Lord, and my son, and they have a heart for the mission field. And then there is the most important person in m life, Mala. We celebrated the 38th anniversary of our first date last Thursday night (Feb. 12) by having the seniors over to study for their Bible Proficiency Exam. The next night when we went out for our Valentine's dinner, she wanted to go to the CHA game. I don't know of anyone more unselfish and kind as Mala. She is supportive and we are fellow laboreres together in God's field. God has given her unique discernment and the ability to communicate with people on a one-on-one basis that is really tremendous. Her outer beauty is only surpassed by her inner beauty. I love her with all my heart and am so thankful to the Lord that I get to spend a lifetime with her. And because probably about the only ones to read this is my girls, let me tell you that you all are God's special blessing to me and I love each of you with every fiber of my being. You have your son's, son-in-law's, granddpa's, daddy's and husband's heart.

The Joy Project

God's joy is something that has been on my heart for several months now. It is enduring, eternal, not dependent upon my circumstance, unspeakable, unselfish, passionate, and contented. As I thought how the Lord wanted to implement in my life what He was teaching me, something very simple came to mind. I'm sure you know it, I invite you to implement with me.

J is for Jesus. If I am to have His joy in my life, then I must put Him first in every area of my life. I will desire to be in His Word, to pray, to share His love and the gospel with others, will be faithful in meeting with His people, and be faithful in giving my money, time, and myself to His cause upon this earth. I will seek to do these things because they please Him.

O is for others. Considering others more important than myself is the pathway to God's joy. Doing something for someone else without expecting from them any reward or recognition brings real joy. Laughing with others, crying with others, loving others - that brings real joy. I am conciously trying to do something for others in an unexpected manner to bless them.

Y is for you. As I take care of myself there is great joy. There is much joy in being able to work hard and be tired at the end of a long day because you have done so. There is joy in eating right, taking care of myself and yes, even exercising. Sometimes I find the spirit is truly willing, but the flesh is weak.

Would you join me in this endeavor? My prayer for you is that God might fill you with His joy as you love and serve Him!

Happy New Year

Well, it has been a long time since I blogged, but I thought on the last day of the year I would want to wish everyone who reads theis the most blessed of a new year. The world and life in general present us with many challenges, but our Lord is ever faithful to give us the grace needed to stand in the day. I am thankful for my family and friends, for my church, for the grace that the Lord gives us day by day. May you days be filled with a continual awareness of the presence of the Lord in your life.

Thy Will Be Done

"Lord, I pray Thee, not my will, but Thy will be done." These words of Jesus have been echoing in my heart this past week. How many times I think I know better than the Lord. How many struggles I face to bring me to the point of surrender to His will. God's ways are always best! His ways are not my ways, His thoughts not my thoughts. My wisdom is foolishness with Him. so why do I question Him? Truth be told, I would rather be in control (I think), than to rest in the awareness that He is in control, that He knows all things, and does all things first for His glory and second for my good because I am His child. May I and all who read this learn to rest in the assurance that our Heavenly Father truly knows best!

Filled with God's Spirit

John the Baptist was quite an interesting individual in the scripture. He lived in the desert, ate locust and honey, didn't wear designer clothing or ride a fancy donkey. When he preached he didn't mince words, preaching repentance and the coming of our Messiah, the Lord Jesus. He was used by God to baptize our blessed Savior, declaring, "Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." When Christ came on the scene, he did not feel challenged, but plainly said, "He must increase, I must decrease." Such a humble man, yet with the boldness of a lion as he decried the adultery of Herod and his immoral lifestyle. Imprisoned, undoubtedly, beaten and abused, and finally beheaded, because of the lustful passions of a man who was being seduced by the seductive dances of his neice at a banquet, such was the lot in life for the one labeled the forerunner of the Lord. But what was John's secret? What made him live such a life of courage and adventure with the Lord. No doubt, he knew Jesus when he was growing up. No doubt he realized his call from God to be the one to prepare the way of the Lord. It is said of John that when his mother Elisabeth went to see the mother of Jesus, that John lept in her bosom and he was filled with the Spirit. I wander what a godly influence his parents were upon Him? I am sure it was great. I am sure they told him of the promises of God concerning the Messiah and trained him in such a way, that he was ready to fulfill God's plan for his life. So what's the point? Our daughter, Elisabeth, reminds me greatly of the Elisabeth of scripture. I have always prayed for her ( and her mother has also) that she would a woman of godly influence, filled with the Spirit of God, making a difference in the life of family and friends. Our Beth is such a young lady. God has tempered her throughout the years to be a young lady who loves the Lord, who serves Him faithfully every day, who helps her husband in training their children in the things of God. I have seen her be faithful to the Lord as she struggled through difficult times in her life, seeking the will of the Lord, not always knowing the thing to do, but always having as her desire to please her Lord. I have seen her wait patiently for the Lord for the man that God would have her spend her life with, and how God has blessed her and us with Nathan. I have seen her demonstrate that loyalty and love for her husband as they left Oklahoma to move to Alaska as Nathan pursues his military career. I have seen her as she gave birth to two wonderful, fantastic, amazing, awesome, dynamic, enthusiastic, lovable children (I have more adjectives to say about these great kids, but can you tell I love my grandkids yet?) , Breanna and Nate and can't wait until our newest grandchild is born in February. How she loves those kids and pours her life into them and her husband. I have seen her develop a love and a ministry with her husband among military couples, and young couples in their church in Alaska as they were taught through the ministry of the Pete and Debbie Livingston and the Radically Married program. And why? Because I believe she is a young lady who is learning to walk in the fullness of God's Spirit. She is a challenge and encouragement to me in my walk with the Lord and I love her dearly as I do Becky, Briit, Brooke and Bryce. Happy birthday sweetheart - Always remember Dad loves you!