A Morning View

Coffee beans. Who figured out how to take a raw bean, roast it, grind it, run hot water over it and drink it? Hot fresh black coffee in the morning is so soothing and tastes so good to me.  If we ran hot water over the coffee bean in any other state than ground, it would not be complete. If you skip any part of the process it will not become what it is intended to be at the end of the process.  Struggle with life? It may seem impossible to see the light in the darkness in the end. Life may hurt, it is not fair and often really sucks without answers. Even worse can be answers we do not desire to hear such as the words telling us we have lost someone dear to us. Honestly as I write this today I really cannot give you answers to any specific life struggle you are facing. All I do know, from experience, is that God will keep showing up in people and other ways in your life that you could have never expected.  “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of yo...

As I read posts and hear peoples hearts I see and hear much about not able to make it and how we struggles with issues. People all around us dying. The pain of loneliness and hopelessness abound. Fear is overwhelming. Empty hearts and empty souls seeking to be filled yet still seeking. Actions and responses hurting others.  People screaming and crying out OH GOD WHERE ARE YOU? TAKE THIS ALL AWAY......... God send something to heal the hurt, the pain the fear, the loneliness and hopelessness.  “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.     He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;     he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” - Psalm 34:17-18 NLT We hear you God, we believe, it is a struggle, but we believe. But why is this happening and why do you not do something about it now? You gave miracles to others, where is ours? “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny bab...

Have you ever asked God for something expecting a miracle? Have you ever asked God to send you a sign? Have you ever wondered if you make a difference? Do you ask God authentically for these things looking for the results? Perhaps you just like to ask God for all of this just so you can get some attention not expecting results? Lord forbid, I wonder if we ask expecting not to receive so that we can live in self pity? Even worse, do we look for glory to fill our ego and not bring praise to God? Or, do we avoid the gift of honor in our lives because we do not see ourselves as redeemed but only as broken?  I live in many phases of this in my life. I am learning to embrace and praise out the gifts of seeing the fruits of what God can and has done with this broken clay pot. For many reasons, too many to discuss, I am hardest on myself and never believe God can use me. After all, I am a horrible sinner too....... I have called this thinking, stinking thinking. The mind and the heart...

Do you believe God is watching over you? Sometimes in the world in which we live it can feel like God is not there. When bad things happen to others often we question why? When people, especially children, are hurt we become extremely angry and are filled with angst.  God is watching over us and God has angels in place for the little ones. Yesterday I read this scripture and for the first time I realized God really does have Guardian Angels watching over us. This passage is specifically about children, but as adults, we come to Jesus as little children, I believe there is an Angel for me!  “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”   - Matthew 18:10 NLT Remember, this world is filled with sin. Remember God hates sin. Remember God loves us. Remember Jesus Christ has overcome the world.  "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on ear...

Words of comfort and victory are often difficult to hear and believe in the middle of the war.  Please God, heal the brokenhearted. Bring peace in the storm.  Somehow send a small drop of the joy you share.  God you do love, may your floods be poured out. Amen “God is our refuge and strength,     always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come     and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam.     Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!  A river brings joy to the city of our God,     the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.     From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos,     and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders,     and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;     the God of Israel is our fortress.  Come, see the ...

Sometime there are just those days when it seems impossible.  We recognize all that God has done, can do and will do in our lives.  But there is no end in sight. We strive for the goodness promised us, but.  In these times it feels like all that can be done is cry out. “Do not abandon me, O Lord.     Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me,     O Lord my savior.”   - Psalm 38:21-22 NLT Peace, PB

This old Southern Gospel favorite song was in my ears this morning as I got up out of bed. It is such a reminder that not matter where you are day to day, night to night that God is with us. No matter the moment, on top of the mountain, in the deepest valley life has to offer or somewhere in between, God is with us.  I will never understand why God is willing to love just me. I am so undeserving of such a great gift, but God does love me. God loves me right where I am. That is the greatest comfort I can ever know. I will also assure you that as God loves me right where I am it is not a stopping point because God is going to help me grow to realize that there is so much more than the moment.  God On the Mountain by Tracy Dartt Life is easy, when you're up on the mountain And you've got peace of mind, like you've never known But when things change and you're down in the valley Don't lose faith, for you're never alone And the God on the mountain is still God in the...

If you read the Morning View regularly, you should recognize that I am cautiously vulnerable and willing to share some of my life journey with you. I do this because I am willing to share that I am human just like you and we humans journey through a lot of stuff. Also, please understand that I share not for you to fix me or try to figure me or my struggles out, but so that the pearls of God showing up in my journey can be seen and used for God's glory. Remember, you only get a glimpse!  Often we think we are alone when in reality the random person at the store may be walking a similar journey as you. It is difficult to become honest and vulnerable because others, even others with good intentions, can and do hurt us. In our current culture, division and lack of trust in one another, it becomes even more difficult. If you are struggling as you journey it is alright to seek help no matter if you believe your issues are great or small. I share this because small issues might only be sy...

I like clothes. I like shoes. I like to make the outside look good. It feels good to look good, at least for awhile. I recently realized something as I walk the road I am walking, a false outside appearance does not take away the truth of the hidden struggle on the inside. We deal with the symptoms of the inside pain and turmoil by trying to make the outside look perfect and all together. Friends, in reality you cannot hide what is on the inside, it can be masked and covered up with nice "clothes," but it really isn't hidden.  The scripture I am led to today is pretty straight forward.  Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of ...

There was a brand of coffee that I really did not care for. Each time I drank it it was bitter and never set well in my stomach. My reaction when someone talked about such coffee became, "Oh, I do not like that brand of coffee, it does not sit well with me."  One day a friend brought me coffee. It was smooth, bold and had a fresh taste. It had stout and great flavor and better yet, it did not bother my stomach. I asked the friend what brand it was and the answer was the brand of coffee I never drank because I did not "like" it. I recently purchased a new brand of coffee and it is good.  Have you had a bad experience with church or religion? Have you turned away from God because you did not like the bitter taste of judgement you received and it did not sit well in your stomach? Have you been hurt by the church intentionally or unintentionally? Have you used the words, "I have no space for God because of the way I have been treated by so called followers of God?...

Ever feel lonely? I mean completely all alone?  Sometimes loneliness in a crowd of people is overwhelming.  I can be lonely even in the midst of those who faithfully love me.  I am deeply frightened to grow old, be unfulfilled and all alone.  The problem is I know people passionately love me. I know I have dear friends who passionately love me.  I know that my wife passionately loves me.  Most importantly, I know that God passionately loves me.  But although I try, I struggle to passionately love me.  I vulnerably write this today because I also recognize 2 things. I am not alone! Ironic isn't it...... you may feel exactly the way I do.  When I see people in a store, happy and looking alright, I wonder are they alone inside?  Secondly, I encourage you to not live your life buried in the pain of holding on to whatever it is that pains you. To begin to not be alone you must identify your struggle/sin/pain and admit that you need help beyon...

Lonely? Empty? Angry?  Lost? Guilty? Foolish? Hopeless? Alone?   “From the depths of despair, O Lord,     I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord.     Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,     who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness,     that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord;     yes, I am counting on him.     I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord     more than sentries long for the dawn,     yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the Lord;     for with the Lord there is unfailing love.     His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel     from every kind of sin.” - Psalm 130 NLT Peace? PB

You are created in the image and likeness of God. This is for both males and females! Because of the Christ dwelling within you, you the most beautiful creation of God. As you take on more and more of the character of Jesus Christ the beauty and glory of God SHINES out of you! Because of Jesus in you people cannot help but be knocked over by your overwhelming beauty. We put way too much emphasis on the world view of beauty. We wallow in thoughts of what we are not so much that we do not become who we are in Christ Jesus.  Are you and I perfectly formed in the "beauty" standards of the world? Nope! Are we beautiful in the site of God? YUP! God's arms are open wide and God's site of you as a redeemed child of God is nothing but beauty. Do not squelch the natural beauty of Jesus Christ in you by 1. not believing it and 2. by trying to fit the standards of the world in the falseness of the world view. Let the beauty of the Christ within you shine brightly to the world.  “...

Not much original from my heart today, but this story keeps coming to my heart to share. Where I currently am on my journey there is no greater truth for me than to feed my soul with God.  There is a Cherokee Legend about Two Wolves. An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me.” He said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be m...

Advent is Hope, Peace, Love, Joy. We celebrate the coming of the Savior. Lent is remember who we are, reflection, preparation, repent, sacrifice. We celebrate the death and resurrection of the Savior.  Two independent distinctly different focuses, yet completely interdependent upon each other for the plan of God redeeming creation as God's own.  Just thinking..... perhaps Advent really belongs after Lent. I do not see Hope, Peace, Love and Joy possible without the death and resurrection happening in our lives first. I cannot celebrate Advent until I die to myself and my sin in repentance, seeking forgiveness, accepting forgiveness and waiting on God to resurrect me from my self imposed grave.  Lately there is nothing more that I desire for my soul than Advent. If my soul was perfectly aligned with the redemption of the cross and resurrection from my grave then Hope, Peace, Love and Joy would naturally and abundantly flow from within and although I humanly cannot be perfec...

I know fear is not from God. I do need to live with a healthy fear and respect for God but not live a life of fear, there is a difference.  I understand. But....... I have lived my whole life waiting and watching for failure to happen because in my thinking it eventually always does. I have nurtured the fear of failure as well as other fears and I have allowed them to become ingrained into my life. It is manifested in thoughts of not being good enough. Memories of not finishing what was started or achieving goals run in my head. Thoughts of avoiding things because "I will mess it up anyway." It was/is always my fault and I must be prepared to pick up after I am shattered once again. Honestly, this thinking becomes believing as well as a self fulfilling prophesy.  I understand. But....... Let's be honest, in our world fear can take over our hearts, minds and souls. Many well intentioned people correctly share ways to overcome fear. There are many cliches used to encourage ...

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 With my whole heart I believe in what Jesus said and did. I believe what the Matthew scripture I have shared above says. I do believe in miracles. I believe God is bigger than anything I face on this earth. But the burden does not and probably should not immediately go away. I wish it would...... What Jesus is saying is to be yoked with him. Fall as deeply in love with Jesus as humanly possible. Take on the Character of Christ. Journey intimately, deeply intwined with the Savior. Focus our whole lives connecting together to become one with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Be yoked and we will deal with the burden together. When I try alone, I spiral and fall. Je...

As a child I was taught to never let anyone win when you were in a competition or playing any sort of game. I was also taught to not be a sore loser if you did not win, but why play the game if you were not trying to win?  I remember one of the most impactful times I won as a youth that meant everything to me. It was when I beat my Grandpa in a game of pool. My Grandpa rarely, if ever, was beaten shooting pool. I accomplished this feat and he paraded me around the establishment bragging on how I was his only grandchild to ever defeat him and there would never be another. He was happier than he had ever been and the prize I got that day has been in my heart forever. God has been strongly working in my heart to boldly share the urgency of all of us to run the Christian race for the prize before us. We have so many distractions to fill our lives and most of them are really not eternally important. It is time for a revival in our lives with the overwhelming moving of the Holy Spirit to...