A Morning View

Did you stop to think that no matter what we walk through in this life that in out pain and struggle we can, with the help of God, help others? If our pain is helpful to bring others closer and deeper into a loving relationship with God is our suffering not worth walking through?  I had a friend remind me that we WALK through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not stop and sit in the valley. When we walk through we can and will help others walk through. Seek the comfort of God in all the suffering we do for Christ and God will bring us comfort. Then share the comfort on your journey with others. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weigh...

Although I am not able to speak for others, but I do believe I am not alone often feeling lost in the situations all around me. This life is a journey filled with ups and downs and sometimes it feels like more downs than ups. I often am weary and when weary it is easy to live in the downs. I know in my head that God holds me close, but sometimes my heart does not believe it. It is a horrible place to be. I found this written by the Psalmist. “Then I realized that my heart was bitter,     and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—     I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you;     you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel,     leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you?     I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,     but God remains the strength of my heart;     he is mine forever.” ...

Do you struggle seeing yourself as God sees you? I know I do.  I question why God would ever love and forgive a wretch like me?  We struggle because we are stuck in what we know verses what God knows in redemption of we wretches.  I realize it is so difficult to separate what we know about us and accept the white as snow forgiveness from God. But you and I are a masterpiece hung in the gallery of grace, created by God so that we may do good.  Please, let us walk with each other believing in what God has declared.  “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”   - Ephesians 2:10 NLT Peace, PB

When God tells you do do something, do it. Pray, ask and discern to make sure that it is from God.  But be obedient. People need people and people need loved. Share the love of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit when you are told to do so.  You will make a difference. “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”   - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT Peace, PB

Life is a journey from birth to death. The pursuit of relationship with God begins at birth and if secured will continue beyond death.  The strongest, or perhaps the seemingly strongest Christian with great faith will face some of the most difficult struggles this world has to offer. Because you are in a salvation relationship with God does not guarantee a smooth life. In fact life in relationship with God may be more difficult than one without because of the constant battle with the enemy. BUT remember that eternity is a very long time versus the struggles of this world.  Living and walking in faith produces risk yet reward. Living, seeking and growing in hope in the Lord God fills us with light and love. Trust me, it is easy to want to give up. Remember the journey results in forever!  It is alright to be where you are seeking God and moving forward. It is not alright to give up.  “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love f...

Ever get a song stuck in your head? Yup, me too!  Aley Church is so blessed with musicians who love music and strive to express their praise and love for God in their music. One such group is the Bell Choir. They absolutely thrive on sharing the love of Jesus Christ in each song they play. As any group, they strive for perfection in their music and are their biggest critics, but I am blessed each time they play because it is to bring GLORY to GOD!  The song that got stuck in my head this week is "To God Be the Glory." It has reminded me that all things are to bring glory to God. In all things we say and do we should bring glory to God. In everything we watch on TV and listen to with our ears should bring glory to God. In all of our relationships with one another, we should bring glory to God! With every heartbeat and breath we should bring glory to God. "To God be the glory, great things he hath done: so loved he the world that he gave us his son, who yielded his life an...

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 road 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! The question I ask myself, 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 prepar...

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.”   - Matthew 19:13-15 NLT So as I sit in my chair this morning and my itty bitty 85 plus pound Gabby crawls onto my lap, I thought of this scripture. Little children crawling onto Jesus's lap hugging, laughing and knowing they are safe in the arms of the One who loves them most. My Gabby just desires the attention, all the attention, from me! She paws at me, groans at me, gives me kisses and loves the belly rub and attention she believes she deserves! My dog adores her humans! As followers of Christ we need to run to Jesus as little children giving him all the praise, glory and love we can muster up for him. We need ...

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.”    -Philippians 4:12-14  NLT This is one of the passages of scripture I have always focused on one verse, Philippians 4:13. But in the passage Paul is telling the readers that he understands being in need and that God will always meet the needs. AND letting the Philippians know that they were the only church to share in his giving and receiving. He encourages them to continue to do what is right, thanking them for sharing in his distress. My pondering today is that the followers of Jesus need to be Jesus to help others along the way. When I claim I can do all things through Christ, I need you to encourage me and be Jesus Christ in skin for me.  Thank you fo...

Our souls can become empty and our hearts filled with wonderment and pain. Sometimes all we desire is joy and laughter. We want to be recognized, acknowledged and invited. We are able to temporarily put a bandaid by finding ways to fill our time even with laughter and celebration. We can be busy doing good things and have success, but an empty soul is still an empty soul. Until we are willing to open our soul to God and another we will continue with similar patterns in our spirit. Until we safely confess our root foundation of pain to God and another to be held accountable, we will deal with fixing symptoms and still have an empty soul.  Please understand that having a life is important. Being with others playing cards and enjoying laughter is good medicine. Deep gut level laughter moves the endorphins and feels so good. Receiving positive affirmation is so important for encouragement and self worth and accepting it is the icing on the cake. Having others to deeply, safely share yo...

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah?  Why do you believe? Do you believe because of someone else's story?  Do you believe because you have been told to believe while growing up? Do you believe because you have encountered the Christ in your life? Have you personally experienced the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ in another person?  We believe for many reasons. We are changed when we encounter Jesus.  Seek Jesus during this season of your life. Do not just believe, but receive. “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”   - John 4:39-4...

What inside your heart is different from what everyone else sees? If we surrender our lives to God why is it different? Confession is different from repentance. We can tell the world everything, we may tell a few everything and we may confess all of our sins, which is good, but repentance is the painful act of surrendering and reconciling everything to God. Everything. Repentance means a complete 180 degree change of direction in our lives within our God relationship.  Symbolically on Ash Wednesday we repent. It is a time of inward focus and self sacrifice leading into Lent. Lent is the time we remember Jesus and the forty days Christ fasted in the wilderness. It is an opportunity in the life of the church to formally commit to change. But is it a time of confession naming our sin? Or, is it a time of repentance not only naming but with the help of the Holy Spirit fleeing and changing our sin behavior?  I believe confession helps us feel better. I believe repentance helps us b...

A lot of snow = a lot of shoveling. When I went out this morning during the normal time for me to write the Morning View I saw an insurmountable amount of snow impeding any opportunity for me to leave my house if necessary. So, I dressed warmly, picked up my shovel, and began. I figured it would take most of the morning to accomplish on my own.  While I was shoveling, the neighbor across the street was trying to get his mother out of the driveway so she could get to work. I stopped my shoveling and walked across the street to help him shovel and push her out of the drive. We cleared their drive and he asked me if I would like help. I said YES! Together we cleared my driveway so that if I need to get out I am able to do so! Two shovels are better than one! On our life journey we need another "shovel person" to help us make it. In our relationships with others it is vital for the Holy Spirit to be present as we shovel together. We need God in our marriages, we need God in our f...

I honestly sit and wonder what to believe, who to believe and where there is truth.  I often watch Little House on the Prairie and ponder the more simple time of life. I also would absolutely miss the modern comforts of technology and inventions. I am sure there was still corruptness and confusion with people striving for power and greed, but life was less complicated with less layers.  So PB, what is truth and who do you believe?  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”   - John 14:6 NLT They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”   - Acts 16:31 NLT “Trust in the Lord with all your heart;     do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,     and he will show you which path to take.”   - Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT I do not believe I need to bury my head in the sand, but I do believe I need to bury ...

Today there is a lot of conversation around love. Valentine's Day is huge in the lives of many in our country. There will be many scrambling to get flowers or chocolate, perhaps even someone who reads this and realizes it is Valentine's Day.  Love is a word with many levels of meaning. Love is also a word often used lightly when it is a word of depth. Love is more than a word or action, it is a way to live. Jesus lived a life of love and as followers of Jesus, we are called to live like Jesus did. Jesus is our ultimate Valentine.  “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”     - Romans 12:9-13 N...

"Patience is a virtue." I was gently reminded of this yesterday.  “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” - Romans 8:25 NLT I am currently in a season of life where I have the need to recognize this to be true. I am not as patient as I think I am. I am filling in the blank in narratives which are open ended in my life. I am trying to take on the role of God in completing what I believe needs to be done. I am, I am, I am..... Seems like something is becoming a pattern. Honestly, in the fragility of my journey I sort of demand answers where there may only be questions. Also, when I fill in the blanks, I might be filling it in with something less than God desires to fill into the blank. "Patience is a virtue." “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT If I say I love, I must be patient. Friends, I know as well as anyone how difficult being patient is in...

Anxiety Stress Worry  Fear These are life sucking words. “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” - Luke 12:27-31 These are life giving words.  Peace, PB

Everything we say and everything we do impacts another's life..... everything. A simple question and challenge today. How are you impacting others and for whose glory are you impacting others? “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:15-17 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 often left out. In the very last sentence of verse 11 Jesus tells the woman you "go ...

Temptation is like my beard.  I shave and have a smooth face. Sometimes though there are spots with really small stubble, which take away total smoothness. By evening there is a significant amount of stubble but still looks nice. I can even go two days without shaving, but it begins to show. Sometimes I get tired of shaving and I let it completely go and fill in to become a full beard. I am able to make a full beard look nice if it is well manicured and reasonable in length. In fact it can look really good.  Temptation keeps coming back in the same way. If I resist and keep it shaved down I have a more smooth life. There may be some small temptations but more easily overcome. If I do not battle temptation well by evening it can look become easier to think about. Let it go for a day and it can become easy to justify why just a little would be alright. When I allow temptation to steep in my soul for a long time it starts to look pretty good and it becomes easy to rationalize may...

"Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins."   -American Indian Proverb The longer I hear the stories of those whom I sit with and talk to in ministry, the more I realize this proverb to be true. This is true for all of humanity. We see the outside surface issues of peoples lives for 2-3 hours during church services and events. Sometimes they may share more deeply their passion in corporate worship or small groups. But we really do not know. We think we know people, their situations and their hearts. We give them great answers on how to FIX everything. Have you ever had someone tell you, "If you would just do this, this and this it will be fine?" Better yet, how about the great advice, "Just give it to the Lord and it will be fine." Now do not get me wrong, I believe we need to surrender to God. We need to allow the Spirit of God to guide us. We need to truly give it to the Lord. But how? Advice without Jesus in skin with it may...

I really struggle with what I see and experience in our world today. I say this and am really not sure it is the world as much as it is our country.  I guess it is not so much our country, but with those who proclaim and profess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I realize in my setting I am making blanket statements, so this is not intended as an attack on anyone, but as a thought provoking moment for everyone.  My heart has been impressed with proclaiming what it means to be a Christian. I grew up with a checklist and if I did not check the proper blanks, I was not a good Christian. I have found out that living that way is full of a bunch of lies and a dangerous understanding of perceived salvation. I believed that there was no way God could ever forgive me for what I have done and who I have been. Again a dangerous lie. I see and read comments people make about issues, government, religion and their faith in Jesus Christ and I cross reference what is said with how Jesus l...

In a storm? I remember fishing on a boat near the Canadian border on Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and when a storm comes it is treacherous. That day we were so far out that I could not see the shore. A storm came and for a long while I was believing I was going to see Jesus. We eventually made it back to safety, but it was a difficult journey. Again, I ask you, "In a storm?"  I hate to tell you that you will face many storms, but Jesus will bring you peace, sometimes you just need to ask. “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” W...

“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.”   - James 5:16 NLT   So what does it mean to be righteous? Merriam-Webster Dictionary says; "  :  acting in accord with   divine   or   moral   law   :  free from guilt or sin"  So I wonder when I pray and seemingly nothing happens, am I free from guilt or sin? I often wonder why God has not heard my prayer. Perhaps because I am not properly prepared to pray?  Then I go down the path will I ever be heard? The beginning of James 5:16 tells us to do what? Confess our sins to one another be healed and then the self imposed barrier will be gone. This takes courage and it takes vulnerability, but I wonder if we practice this in our lives how much more God shows up. Peace, PB