Successful Connections

As I was logging on to the internet yesterday, I suddenly thought about my connectivity. There are times when it takes forever to get online, even with DSL. For some reason the signal isn't going through or perhaps there's some interference or I'm in an area that my router can't reach. Or maybe I can only get a local connection, which doesn't allow me to access the internet at all. But then there are other times when it only takes seconds to have the immediate access I need. I like those times because then I can get my work done in a more timely fashion.

What a perfect way to look at our relationship with the Lord. We want that immediate high speed connection to get instant access to Jesus. He has the best tech support, the strongest signals, and lightning fast speeds. So then why do we sometimes have problems hearing him? Since it's obviously not on His end, then it must be on ours. What's causing the signal to falter? Is it unconfessed sin? Is it a habit that will lead to sin in our lives? Is it because we need to learn something from our circumstance? Whatever the cause, we need to seek and work out the problem so we can get that crystal clear connection going once more.

In order to have a productive life, we need to have a successful connection with Jesus. What are you doing to make sure your signals are getting through?

Fast and Furious

My cold came out of nowhere. One minute I was fine, the next I had a very bad sore throat which led to a cold in my chest. It came fast and furious.

Our trials are like that sometimes. Things seem to be going well, then all of a sudden, WHAM! We get blindsided with a problem.

Thankfully, we aren't alone in our difficulties. God is waiting in the wings to give us strength and comfort. Sometimes we don't "feel" Him; but He is there nonetheless, working often behind the scenes in areas we can't even imagine.

So stay focused on the Lord. Rest in Him, and He will see you through.

Taking a Breather

I got hit hard with a bad cold the other day, so I won't be making a regular post today. Check back on Friday.

In Honor of the Fallen

Today is Memorial Day, a day to commemorate and honor those who have sacrificed their lives to protect and uphold the freedoms we share in this great country.

Thank you, brave soldiers, for keeping us free!

The Dark Hour Will Pass

From the days of doctor visits and home health care, we read about people who were stricken with life threatening illnesses. The doctor worked fervently and the people prayed through the night, hoping for a turn of events. It was only until the crisis has passed, where the patient's body was finally resisting the illness, that the doctor could relax and the family and friends could rejoice.

Isn't it like that sometimes in our trials? While we are in the midst of it, everything seems so dark and dismal. We don't know which way the situation will turn. We can only pray and trust God to see us through. But like the illustration above, the dark hour will pass. What looked like death, now shows a glimmer of hope. That hope becomes brighter as we put ourselves completely in the Lord's hands and trust Him to make us stronger and more resilient each and every day.

Are you in a dark hour of your life? Turn the sitation over to God. Trust Him for the outcome. And soon you will see hope shining through the darkness.

Line of Defense

A surprise was waiting for us the other day after returning from an outing. An out-of-control car had careened into the block wall we had been building, knocking down and damaging about 7 blocks and destroying several pieces of rebar. The good thing was that we had a wall to begin with. Otherwise that car could have ended up in my sons' bedroom.

Are you aware that Jesus has a line of defense around you if you are a believer in Him? Nothing can get past that line unless God allows it. Because we live in both a spiritual and physical world, there are many dangers we aren't even aware of that hit that "wall" of protection. Without that buffer, we would be bombarded with far worse trials and tribulations. Anything allowed to pass through is meant for God's intended purposes that can build character, create compassion, or bring people to His saving knowledge.

Do you have a spiritual line of defense? If not, ask Jesus into your heart so you can have his buffer zone around you.

That's Entertainment

Did you get your ears tickled at church this past Sunday? I'm referring to the notion that people want to be entertained when they go to church. They want worship to be a certain way, as if they're attending a concert. They want the sermon to be short and funny with no "fire and brimstone" messages. But is that what we should truly be looking for?

We aren't supposed to go to church to please ourselves. We go out of obedience to God to join with fellow believers (the true definition of the church) to learn what God has to say to us through the study of His word. When we look for a church, we should be looking for 1) truth in how the message is preached; 2) a walk-through-the-Bible approach where you study line by line, chapter by chapter in order to receive the full counsel of God; and 3) an opportunity to worship the Lord with songs of praise, even if it's with only our voices. Everything beyond that is icing on the cake.

So if you're not "entertained" every Sunday, that's okay. The main thing is to learn about the true character of God, and to see what promises and encouragements and instructions He has for our lives.