A Morning View

I have very little to say today. I am very unsettled. My soul is deeply disturbed. My heart is broken.  What to do? Stop talking about it and live as who we are in Jesus Christ.  “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take...

The day is shorter It is darker longer Colder is becoming the norm Time to take advantage of the warm weather is less Leaf colors are beginning to become the artwork of God Seasons come Seasons go It seems everything changes God is God no matter what "You laid earth’s foundations a long time ago,      and handcrafted the very heavens; You’ll still be around when they’re long gone,      threadbare and discarded like an old suit of clothes. You’ll throw them away like a worn-out coat,      but year after year you’re as good as new. Your servants’ children will have a good place to live      and their children will be at home with you.”                                                                - Psalm 102:25-28 Peace, PB

There is a cemetery across the street in my back yard. This morning view has caused me to ponder all who have passed away from this earth. All the Saints who have gone on before me. Even though I have faith, I still struggle with the mystery of death. Do not get me wrong, I believe, but I wonder! The good news is that there is hope in our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the hope I tightly hold on too! Someday we will all face death until Jesus Christ returns. Are you really right with God? When you arrive in the grave will you have given all you have to Jesus for Jesus so that all have experienced the good news of the Savior? "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Peace, PB

Sunday Sabbath Rest Focus on God Focus on Self Renew your Spirit Take in so you may give out “Create in me a pure heart, O God,     and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence     or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation     and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”                                                - Psalm 51:10-12 Peace, PB

I ponder my thoughts this morning about humanity and the self imposed stresses of difference. My view this morning is a struggle with extremes who are not willing to meet somewhere in the life spectrum and hear the other voice. We experience this in the government, the church and even in our own families. Perhaps this has been this way for ages and I am finally catching up. I believe that this attitude has been there, but it is now the prevalent attitude in society. "My way or no way." I want to say this view is not to be right or wrong over issues, but to recognize a very dangerous attitude. If we do not listen to the other and try to understand their situation how can we find solutions? I will never ask anyone to compromise beliefs, because I have never compromised my beliefs in the world of politics or religion. I am just asking others to listen and not try to force personal beliefs or diminish the other. This attitude is not just one sided. Both extremes create the tensio...

Be Humble, Pray, Seek God, Repent from Wickedness If we desire something to change, perhaps this would be a good idea??? Just a thought...... "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,   if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.   Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.   I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there." Peace, PB

There is a cry for justice. There is a cry for peace. There is a need for justice. There is a need for peace. Where do we begin? Friends, it begins with you and it begins with me.  We must revaluate our lives each day and confess our sin to the Lord.  We must repent and take control of all we have control of, which is us. I must be right with God before I can be right with others.  Justice begins with you. Justice begins with me.  We must be just in our relationship with God.  “Wash and make yourselves clean.     Take your evil deeds out of my sight;     stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.     Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless;     plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us settle the matter,”     says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet,     they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,     they shall be like wool. If you a...

I had the privilege of being able to stop and wish a Happy Birthday 103rd to a member of my church last night! He is a WWII Veteran and a kind gentle man. He loves Jesus as his Lord and I have never heard a harsh comment come from his mouth. He is thankful for each day he has left here on this earth. He has been anticipating this birthday for awhile, always reminding me that it was coming soon!  He cannot do much anymore. He loves to play corn hole and each visit I am asked when we will be back in the sanctuary. He keeps telling me he wants to come to church again. I am sure there are days he struggles, but his attitude is always so positive.  As I was leaving yesterday he told me a few simple things. First he said, "you will come back?" I said "absolutely!" Then he looked at me and said, "my next birthday I will be 104, you will come visit me then too?" Again I said, "ABSOLUTELY!"  He lives in the positive. He seeks relationship with others. He ...

What have you done lately to make disciples for Jesus Christ?  It is easy to become distracted, but no matter where we are and what we have done we can be in the spirit of loving people and making disciples. I often ask myself, "Bill, why do you whine and feel sorry for yourself when the Lord God is surrounding you and your circumstance?"  God can and will be glorified and victorious when we choose to be still and know.  “The Lord Almighty is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done,     the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease     to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;     he burns the shields[d] with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress.”     ...

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”  -  Revelation 21:3-4 I struggle today with the world. Many happenings and actions of others do not make sense to me. There is a lot of struggle going on, many disagreements, division, senseless death, treating others with disrespect. Stress in families all the way to global stress issues in the world. Is there really hope? My answer and hope in today is that I choose to allow God to dwell with me. I understand the scripture points toward eternal rest, but why not begin here on this earth? God dwells with me. I need to look for God in EVERYTHING! Not just the good times, but also in the struggles. Perhaps I need to practice what I preach! Peace, PB

As I sift through the make up of life and who I am and why I do and react the way I do, I often ask the question why am I who I am? What I have found at 59 years of age is that the formation of life in the little boy growing up has impacted me. I know that I may have a keen sense of the obvious in saying this, but in my life reflection I am finding that even in the small events the small impression left can be huge in life development. My reflection today is very simple, when and how we react to, talk to, and deal with our children is bigger than we could imagine. Every moment of every day leaves a life imprint on our children. What we say, do and how we treat them is a lifelong part of who they become! This is not intended only for parents, but for all of us as we encounter little ones daily! I am led to two scriptures to share today! "And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4 but Je...

Sometimes when I play golf I try too hard. I am easily frustrated when there is no sense of consistency and I actually begin to play worse in such frustration. I just want to hit the ball decent and show signs of improvement throughout the day. I realize I do not play enough golf to shoot scores like I have in my past, but I just want to be decent.  My desire is to be a better golfer. My actions do very little to reinforce my desire. I play one time per week at best and I never practice. But I think in my head I should be a better golfer because I used to be and I want to be. Yet I do nothing to reinforce the desires, with the results culminating in lack of improvement.  Have you ever wanted to be a better Christian? Do you take time to do so? Do you practice being the person God created you to become? Do you study the Bible? Do you spend time in prayer? Do you go to the mountain to refresh and connect with God? Are your thoughts clean and pure?  Much like I do not practi...

Have you looked forward to a major event in your life with such great excitement and anticipation knowing it was going to happen only to be told no? There was no way in your heart that no was going to be the answer and yet it happened. What do you do? How do you handle it? Where do you go from here?  There are a lot of questions in the midst of a lot of pain. Perhaps you see yourself as a failure. Maybe you blame the system or people who rejected you. Your feelings may take you to a place of extremes where you blame everyone else without self reflection or you find yourself in the extreme that you are absolutely worthless? It is difficult to hear the words no, not now or someone else was more qualified. Like you were good, but just not good enough.  Rejection is difficult. I remember many instances where I thought I was the best person for the situation in the moment and really I was not. Then there were situations where I was the right person for something better that I did n...

Good Morning World!  There is nothing better than seeing a morning post on Facebook from someone who is excited to see you which reminds you how much you are loved and appreciated. It is easy to live in the one negative comment directed toward you and focus on the hurt, when in reality there are 10 other people out there who love you, lift you up and would go to the end of the earth for you! To top it off, the CREATOR of EVERYTHING, including you, LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT! Yes I realize life stinks at times, death happens, struggles are still there! We push through the desert and enjoy the mountains. But remember people love you and God loves you! "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our L...

Selfless or selfish?  Giving or taking? Arrogant or humble? Power seeking or empowering? Me first or caring for others? Vengeful or forgiving? Evil or pursuing God? How do we live? “Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”   - Romans 12:14-21 Peace, PB

I t is darker earlier at night and longer in the morning The heat of the Summer is fading into the cool of the Fall. Wardrobe choices are slowly transitioning from shorts to long pants.  Soon the harvest will begin, the fields will be bare and the ground will rest. Leaves will change colors and trees will become bare.  We are headed into a time of rest for the ground and cold with even... dare I mention a beautiful blanket of snow draping our area.  We are in constant shifting and change. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8  Change is all around us. Jesus never changes. Love never fails. Peace, PB

Coffee.... I need my coffee. I do not start my day without my coffee. My coffee gives me energy, my coffee clears my heard, my coffee helps me focus on the day ahead of me! Psalm 63:1 - Message "God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts." God..... I need my God. I do not start my day without my God. My God gives me energy, my God clears my heard, my God helps me focus on the day ahead of me! Peace, PB

Sunday morning. Get dressed up, go to church, worship, sing songs to the Lord, listen to the message, examine myself and repent from sin. Go home and live life then go back to church on Sunday morning.  Study is good. Daily devotions are important. Inward focus and repentance are vital. Self growth and striving for perfection in love are our lifeblood connection to God. Doing and saying the right things are good to do to remind us that God is God and we are not. We need to strive to live in a holy humble manner recognizing the importance of personal holiness between us and God.  Salvation is such an important starting point in our relationship with God, but it is only a beginning place. I have often said that truly my salvation in Jesus Christ is not for me. My salvation in Jesus Christ is for the world. I am to love God and then love the world as I love myself. I am not to hold others to my standards or even force God's standards upon them. I am to love them right where they ...

I have a new friend Meelah. It was love at first sight. She has big brown eyes and light brown hair with dark highlights in it. Every time she sees me it is like the first time. She adores me and loves me like I am her first and last best friend. Today she came running to me, hugged me and just adored my presence. She sat with me and stared lovingly into my eyes with a passion like no other. She seeks to be consumed by my love for her like no other. While I am busy she waits patiently for me to beckon her to me so that she gets all of my attention.  She is easily distracted but runs back to me whenever I call her. She is my new "girlfriend!"  Meelah is a beautiful dog who is strong and passionate. She loves unconditionally and comes when called. Her energy is unending and she just desires attention and approval from all who love her.  I would love to think that I approach God with such fervor and love. I sit and think how much better life would be if my unending focus was...

We are away for a wedding and where we are staying is a small swimming pool. There is a sign posted "No life-Guard (Swim at your own risk)  Sometimes I struggle feeling distant from God. I can easily choose to wonder and wander on my own. When I do this it is like swimming at my own risk without a life-guard. I know God is there but it can be easy to simply ignore the Holy Spirit and swim aimlessly through life.  Swimming down another lane on this journey, I really do not understand how humanity can survive without relationship with the Life-Guard who created them. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ for a long time and can struggle when the wake of the pool water is difficult. There are times the Life-Guard pulls me up to keep me from drowning. It is difficult enough with a relationship with my Savior the Life-Guard. I cannot imagine what life would be swimming at my own risk.  "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ...

I am thinking this morning about how we prepare for an important event or time away in our lives. Vacation, special dinner celebration or a day at the big game. We put special efforts into planning a schedule, having all the right items needed for the specific event and making sure the outfits we have are just right for the event in which we are participating. "Don't forget the tickets and make sure you have enough snacks!" Do I have the proper directions and plan B for construction? We hope we stay healthy and nothing major happens to keep us from having to postpone or even cancel the event. After all, we just need to get away, rest and relax! My question for me is, and you are welcome to ask yourself the same one, do I prepare for my daily relationship event with my God? Have I planned a proper route for the day? Am I wearing the outfit God has for me to be safe and secure? Have I spiritually eaten the nourishment of scripture and devotion for my energy? Am I prepared f...

It is darker sooner and stays darker longer. The Patio is barely able to be seen in the darkness. The weather is changing. Fall storms, cool air, back to hot humid temperatures, violent thunderstorms. Soon leaves will fall, daylight continues to shorten and cold will blow in. Hurricanes and typhoons bring havoc. Tornados spin off of all the violent storms. Tsunami and flooding attack the borders. The new unknown will be right around the corner.  Where do we go and what do we do? How do we handle all of this? What is written above is a small glimpse into our deeply complicated lives. Our lives have so much stuff, pain and distress. Where do we go and what do we do? "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!   Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   And the peace of God, which transce...

"And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” - Matthew 8:23-27 Last night we had rain, lightening and thunder. It was windy and the temperature dropped. My alert on the cell phone went off warning about flash flooding. It was a powerful storm making me realize that I was fortunate to be in the shelter of my home. But with all of the weather excitement around me, I still easily fall asleep and had a peaceful rest.  This reminds me of the Matthew scripture today. A great analogy for us as followers of Christ today. When I am in the storms of life which wins? Fa...