A Morning View

Do you have problems with the flesh? Do you have issues with the world?  Do you struggle with your humanness? Do you struggle with sin? Remember this....... “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20 NLT Live in Christ, let go and live in Christ. Peace, PB

1.What do you see when you look at someone?  2. What do you experience when you encounter someone?  3. What do you really know?  1.We see the surface. We see the painted picture of the moment. We see what the person wants you to see. 2. We experience whatever the person desire for us to encounter. We might hear words and see actions which do not match the painted picture in question 1. We often can experience something not quite right with the persons soul, but we experience mostly what someone is willing to allow us to experience. Something I confidently can say which someone cannot hide is that when they are a believer in Jesus Christ, even in their worst, we will experience Jesus in he presence of the Holy Spirit. 3. Really, we absolutely know nothing about them unless they are willing to share.  I see a lot of people putting puzzles together during the pandemic. It can be a productive way to spend time with one another and not just sit around. There is a complete...

“I will praise the Lord at all times.     I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord;     let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;     let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.     He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;     no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;     he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard;     he surrounds and defends all who fear him.”                                               - Psalm 34:1-7 NLT Yesterday was a very difficult day. Many of you read my other post about the anniversary death of my sister. Honestly, there were many other things inside my head a...

“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”   - James 5:13-18 Do you carry your sins? Do you hold onto them even after seeking forgiveness from God? Psalm 103:12 tells us that when God forgives us they are as far as the East is from the West. But we hold them in an...

I am sharing  Proverbs 29:18 in four different translations. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” -KJV “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.     But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” - NLT   “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;     but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” - NIV “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” - The Message Be honest with yourself, are you so deeply in love with God that you can see that you have life? Are you empty? Do you fear? How about doubts? Been hurt? Feel worthless or not good enough? Are you choosing to allow guilt and shame separate you from your vision of what God can and will do?  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart;     do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,   ...

T'was the day after Christmas and I sit in my chair Thinking about others who couldn't be there Many have gone on to heaven  Some don't want to be to be here Not sure I'll ever handle  The questions of life  But Jesus my Savior  Does handle the strife God brings hope, love, joy and peace To strengthen my soul  I seek Him and find Him  To try to be whole Not sure why I wrote this  Perhaps just to say  I need the Baby Jesus  To grow in me each day Christmas is more  Than a big holiday It's the birth of a Savior  Who shows us the way Let's live life like Jesus Who loves to the cross Make a difference for others  To help fill up their loss Peace, PB

Merry Christmas 2020! I am always drawn to Luke 2 verse 19 during the hustle and bustle of Christmas. "But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often." NLT Mary had experienced all the unbelievable events from conception to birth. She had to deal with the rumors and gossip of the community because she was pregnant before marriage. She was told in verses 31-33  " You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.   He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.   And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” She was faithful and believe even in her not understanding. This did not make human sense, but Mary moved forward because she listened to the messenger of the Lord. Mary pondered in her heart. Friends, today I ask you in the middle of the miracle of the family events of celebrating Christmas to stop somewhere and ponder...

Christmas Eve we celebrate everything which was happening as the baby Jesus was born. We magnify the events and focus on the shepherds in the fields with the Angel of the Lord. In my mind this was a huge event with all of creations partying and celebrating the birth of the Messiah. Yet the reality of the scripture was that it was a quiet personal moment with Mary, Joseph and Jesus. It was a routine birth where at the end Mary just took care of her baby boy. Yes the shepherds had their experience, but Jesus was born in a very simple place without the glamour of a king.  “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” - Luke 2:6-7 Perhaps we should learn from this to quietly sit and ponder the simplicity of the birth moment. Mary had delivered the Savior of the world and she wrapped him up in cloth, laid him in a...

Twas the day before the night before Christmas and Joseph and Mary were traveling.  She was pregnant with Jesus on their way to  Bethlehem. There was no promise that because it was Jesus that this would not be an uncomfortable experience. She was promised that Jesus was the Son of the Most High. She had found favor with God and she was the human who would deliver the Savior. Now I have never been pregnant, but my observation and understanding is that it is not the most comfortable situation to be in. It was clear that the map quest directions they had to follow were not the easiest journey to navigate. They probably had to take around 10 days to safely travel 90 miles for this event. Then upon arrival their reservations were cancelled and they stayed in the barn of the innkeepers home. And THEN the birthing process took place. When the child was born the reward was worth all the struggle of the journey.  JESUS!  The GLORY of Jesus's birth is our focus, but the proces...

Who or what has deeply hurt you? Do you ignore it? Do you just live with it?  Have you ever owned it? Have you hurt others because of it? Do you hide it from others? Begin by trusting God with your stuff. “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” - 1 John 4:13-17 God Loves You! Peace, PB

Sometimes at night I just hurt. No matter what I do there is a nagging pain. I go to a chiropractor for some relief and occasionally I am able to get a massage which helps best. I take natural remedies, I take over the counter pain medicine and sometimes it helps and sometimes it does not. I have one constant spot in my right shoulder which is the main source of pain. Nagging pain wears on me. Sometimes my head and heart just hurt. No matter what I do the nagging sins and failures of the past show up and remind me of my past. I fill time with other thoughts and strive to avoid the temptations of the sin. I read the scripture and ask God to take it away, but the reminders are there. I do not need to live in the pain of the past, but often I choose pain.  Yes, it is easy to choose pain. Why? Why do we choose pain? When our lives are surrendered to Jesus Christ, we do not need to live in the pain and sin of our past. Yet often, we do. Our pain and sin have been defeated, yet often we ...

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Going to church today? Did you have church last night? Just a reminder, you do not need to be "okay" to go to church. In fact I go because I am not okay! Well,  my church  expects the pastor to be there! Find a place that feeds your soul, challenges your actions and helps you remember that you are a gift from God, NO MATTER WHAT! Peace, PB

I remember my dog Princess. She was a great dog who loved me and was with me every moment of every day that I was outside with her. Where I was there she was. We had many, many adventures playing in the woods. She was a great companion and she was mine.  I remember one of the best times was when I was resting on the hill side. The sun was beating down on my face as I laid on my back. I was just basking in the sun resting. The next thing I realized my dog Princess pushed up against me, laid down next to me and pressed in to make sure I knew she was there. I fell asleep in the sun with my best friend at my side. I slept well during that nap! When I awoke, Princess was right there with a big wet kiss for my face. She was with me, kept me safe and was ready to go after the nap. I loved that dog!  So do you realize as a child of God, claimed by God, surrendered and reconciled by God that God is with you, right beside you always there when you are asleep or awake? God is ready to go...

"Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5 I always believed I should be the Rich Uncle. I guess every family is supposed to have one and I figured why not me? I think about all the good I could do and how money would take away all the financial struggles and how wifey and I could just do so much to help others. Then I read scriptures like the Hebrews 13:5. Be content. Be free of money. Be assured that God will never leave me. I guess I am the Rich Uncle..... I just didn't realize it. Peace, PB

Change the rhetoric in your head. When it keeps repeating negative thoughts and feelings, remind it of all the Lord has done for you. Fill the brain space with the joy of the Lord. Find something to do to help someone else and the voices will change from selfishly focused rhetoric to thanksgiving and value.  God values us beyond the negative thoughts and experiences we carry. Cleanse your mind and heart from the lies of the enemy because you are created to become made perfect in the grace of the Lord. God did not create us for suffering and pain. God has created us to be filled with the Spirit and exude praise.  “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we w...

Chaos Unrest Distrust Violence Hurt Anger  Hate Instability JESUS “Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!” Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass. The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. “What’s going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!”   - Matthew 8:23-27 Peace, PB

" O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel." This morning this first verse keeps playing over and over in my head.  Lord Jesus Come. "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." - John 14:2 Peace, PB

Looking for contentment? Searching for peace? Want to walk through your struggle and trials? Rejoice, be gentle and pray! Today I choose to rejoice, pray and be kind!!! "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7 Peace, PB  

"When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." - John 8:9-11 This is the end of the story of the woman caught in adultery where she was going to be stoned by the letter of the law. Jesus wrote in the sand and all the accusers left the area one by one. When it was just Jesus and the woman left he shared love, grace and forgiveness by forgiving her. Truly an awesome act of Agape. In this world of theological debate, stances and differences this passage is often used to share the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ for ALL who have sinned. But in my experience an important part of this scripture is left out. In the very last sentence of verse 11 Jesus tells the woman you "go away a...

I enjoyed the crisp air and sunshine yesterday! December 11 and I was on the golf course in Ohio. The sun was out, the air was reasonably warm and it felt good. God gave us a day to enjoy before the cold of the next season in Ohio. I give thanks for God who created all things and loves what was created. God loves creation so much that a way to live in the light was provided by the Word, Jesus Christ. “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." - John 1:1-5 So where do you choose to live? Light or Darkness? We have the gift of choice! Do you choose to live in light or hide in darkness? It is up to you! Peace, PB

Do you ever wish you could go back and have a do-over? I often ponder what life and the outcomes of actions would have been if I had lived and acted differently. I know I cannot live in regrets, but I wonder how my life trail would have been different for the Lord and who would have been impacted differently because of me. Our past cannot be changed. Perhaps we might have opportunities in which we can reconcile our past, but we can never go back. We can confess the sins of the past and be forgiven, but we can never change what happened. How are you living now? Our past is what it is, but our time now and our future are available to us to make an immediate difference.   “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what ...

Is Christmas a season for you or is Christmas the foundation of your life?  Do you live in the moment of the feelings and emotions of the season or the deep intimate intended relationship with the Christ child who became the Savior of the world?  Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ is not seasonal. It is a lifestyle. Do you live deep everyday? “You, God, are my God,     earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you,     my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land     where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary     and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life,     my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,     and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;     with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you;     I think of you through the watches of...

In whom do you believe?  In whom do you trust? Who is telling the truth? Jesus said to him,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 Do you live like it? Peace, PB