Have you experienced God's presence as you pray?
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!… 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.
Philippians 4:4,12
I am fixing to head out to the hospital this morning to take my class with Walt and his PT. We will be learning how to move him and get him from wheel chair to bed and bed to wheel chair. I will also be learning how to do a vehicle exchange. Busy morning..... then headed home for lunch and then to Mt Airy NC to visit with my grandma. She is in the hospital and is in need of prayer. She has had a tough couple of days ... no matter what we face during the day - take it moment by moment and praise God even during the struggling times. God will use us in every situation if we allow Him and look for Him in everything we do.
My mind and heart are in the right place this morning..... may my words and actions follow me all during my day.
Praise God.........His will over our own.
Randy~
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Proverbs 15
10 It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.
Lord help us remain in Your path. Help us remain where we need to be. Remind us Lord that You are there, ready and willing to pull us close to You when we struggle and when we have doubts. Lord there is much in life right now that those close to me are struggling with including myself. Help us through this season and may Your love and mercy flow down on us like the rain. Lord I pray for those who don't know You - dont know the personal and powerful relationship that You so desire from us. Lord some around me and in my family Lord are not building those bridges to You - if only they would get started and learn more about the love You have for us. Growth to know more about You sometimes comes through struggles. Sometimes we even get to know You through our struggles Lord when we have run from You our entire lives.
May this be a season Lord of clear understanding and growth from my brothers and sisters. Help us understand more Lord. More about You and Your will for our lives. Help us shine for You to others so that no matter what we face - we show the world and all those around us that You are with us, You give us our strength and You give us the assurance that we are saved through Your awesome son Jesus. May those around us today who don't know You Lord, see the errors of their ways. May we not give up and to stand strong for You - because they matter Lord. Use us, teach us - Your ways. When we need to see Your face Lord - May we look at Your son Jesus and know He is Lord. Keep us focused on You with hands raised above!
I thank You for your love Lord - for Your son Jesus and for caring enough about us to send Your only son for our sinful and selfish ways.
I pray in Your sons name in Jesus,
Amen~
10 It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.
Lord help us remain in Your path. Help us remain where we need to be. Remind us Lord that You are there, ready and willing to pull us close to You when we struggle and when we have doubts. Lord there is much in life right now that those close to me are struggling with including myself. Help us through this season and may Your love and mercy flow down on us like the rain. Lord I pray for those who don't know You - dont know the personal and powerful relationship that You so desire from us. Lord some around me and in my family Lord are not building those bridges to You - if only they would get started and learn more about the love You have for us. Growth to know more about You sometimes comes through struggles. Sometimes we even get to know You through our struggles Lord when we have run from You our entire lives.
May this be a season Lord of clear understanding and growth from my brothers and sisters. Help us understand more Lord. More about You and Your will for our lives. Help us shine for You to others so that no matter what we face - we show the world and all those around us that You are with us, You give us our strength and You give us the assurance that we are saved through Your awesome son Jesus. May those around us today who don't know You Lord, see the errors of their ways. May we not give up and to stand strong for You - because they matter Lord. Use us, teach us - Your ways. When we need to see Your face Lord - May we look at Your son Jesus and know He is Lord. Keep us focused on You with hands raised above!
I thank You for your love Lord - for Your son Jesus and for caring enough about us to send Your only son for our sinful and selfish ways.
I pray in Your sons name in Jesus,
Amen~
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Decision......
I have had a great day today~ A day I got to go and see my new "kids" at school for lunch. Got to see some smiling old faces from last year. Got some extra hugs and high fives - after 3 weeks the battle over my OLD hat has begun as well as my Lunch Sticker - and breaking all the rules- I got to sit with my new kids at the lunch table with them. I told my sons teacher today after she reminded me where the parents table was and I just smiled and said - I dont like that table much because I come to have lunch with my kids...all of them!!! SO if you dont mind - I know the no talking rule and I can help with opening milks and icecreams and play by most of the rules. I tell you - no matter what is on my heart or how troubled I am with something - KIDS bring me to a new level. My kids are awesome.......and I look forward to getting to know them all in the coming year.
But I have to be honest - I am troubled by something today. Even with all the good taking place all around me - God moving within my church and taking us to new places and folks are experiencing LifeChange right before my eyes..Carol and Kyle are both doing well and life itself is just awesome ... there are those in my life who are close to me but choosing to stay where they are. Stuck in a time frame that they wont move from. Selfishness and self centeredness is at an all time high level. I am struggling with what to do with that. I am ticked one second and ready to wash my hands of it all and then I am reminded that God saved "This Sinner" - ME. Maybe they dont understand where I am coming from, what I am about, why I am investing my time in church and folks around me and not them. I have lived on the side of the fence they currently are on - I have chosen, loved ones, to live on this side - the side that God has me on and I am not going back. Sometimes the wedge that is built between folks is there for a reason and a good one. NO OPINION of anyone on this earth will keep me from Gods love and knowing Gods purpose for my life. When my time comes to stand in front of Jesus and account for my life - (which you will also!) I won't be thinking about ticking someone off because I didnt do this or do that.... I dont care who is right or who is wrong - its just I am not happy with WHERE WE ARE right now. How and why is not a factor to me but I am interested in what to do from here.... and I don't want to do a disservice to Gods TRUTH. There are far too many religious folks out there screaming from their soap boxes - we all need to come down and do what Jesus would do. Love each other regardless of who is right, who is wrong and who wants to have the last word in a stupid argument over something stupid and silly. Does it affect our destination in eternity? It might...... for the one that DOES NOT KNOW JESUS.
James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." And James also said (James 2:12) "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
SO with my promises and obligations to not only Jesus when I accepted Him as my Lord but also to my momma - I will pick up my mat and walk. By Gods grace and love, I will get through this season. Our Father in Heaven looks at us when we royaly mess things up, wants nothing more than to pull us close to Him - love on us and comfort us. He does not want to push us away and ground us or punish us. Some lessons in life are hard to learn. My priority in life belongs to Jesus first.... family comes second because that is the order in which keeps everything right. Everything else falls into place behind those 2 things. Work, exercise, homes, cars, money - all of it can take a back seat.
Does God demand people to feel the way I do about Him? I hope I am not sending that message out...! But God wants them to, but He's not going to demand anything - a true relationship is built on love, which is a voluntary action. But how are people going to want a relationship with God if His children (ME) are constantly on the attack? Judging and screaming from our soap boxes.....
Someone has to be the bigger person. Peacemakers are hard to come by and I think God has a special place probably in His heart for them.
Our expectations of people who are not believers should not be the same as our expectations for those who are. As a matter of fact, 1 Corinthians 1:18, the message of the cross (Jesus) is foolishness to those who are heading for destruction. In other words, those who are not believers in Jesus Christ think that those who do believe are, - nuts!
SO I am a nut.......and I am going to look internally and pray for those changes in me before I try and make changes in you. People have to change themselves, see a need for change and ask God to change them. I cannot do anything except to live as an example. Sometimes we can't even do that very good....we are human as well even though we are saved by the blood of Jesus.
God would handle this with love and not a bad word or whip...... so my decision has been made.
Gods plans over my own.....works every time :)
May grace, love and mercy be with you today.
Randy~
But I have to be honest - I am troubled by something today. Even with all the good taking place all around me - God moving within my church and taking us to new places and folks are experiencing LifeChange right before my eyes..Carol and Kyle are both doing well and life itself is just awesome ... there are those in my life who are close to me but choosing to stay where they are. Stuck in a time frame that they wont move from. Selfishness and self centeredness is at an all time high level. I am struggling with what to do with that. I am ticked one second and ready to wash my hands of it all and then I am reminded that God saved "This Sinner" - ME. Maybe they dont understand where I am coming from, what I am about, why I am investing my time in church and folks around me and not them. I have lived on the side of the fence they currently are on - I have chosen, loved ones, to live on this side - the side that God has me on and I am not going back. Sometimes the wedge that is built between folks is there for a reason and a good one. NO OPINION of anyone on this earth will keep me from Gods love and knowing Gods purpose for my life. When my time comes to stand in front of Jesus and account for my life - (which you will also!) I won't be thinking about ticking someone off because I didnt do this or do that.... I dont care who is right or who is wrong - its just I am not happy with WHERE WE ARE right now. How and why is not a factor to me but I am interested in what to do from here.... and I don't want to do a disservice to Gods TRUTH. There are far too many religious folks out there screaming from their soap boxes - we all need to come down and do what Jesus would do. Love each other regardless of who is right, who is wrong and who wants to have the last word in a stupid argument over something stupid and silly. Does it affect our destination in eternity? It might...... for the one that DOES NOT KNOW JESUS.
James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." And James also said (James 2:12) "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
SO with my promises and obligations to not only Jesus when I accepted Him as my Lord but also to my momma - I will pick up my mat and walk. By Gods grace and love, I will get through this season. Our Father in Heaven looks at us when we royaly mess things up, wants nothing more than to pull us close to Him - love on us and comfort us. He does not want to push us away and ground us or punish us. Some lessons in life are hard to learn. My priority in life belongs to Jesus first.... family comes second because that is the order in which keeps everything right. Everything else falls into place behind those 2 things. Work, exercise, homes, cars, money - all of it can take a back seat.
Does God demand people to feel the way I do about Him? I hope I am not sending that message out...! But God wants them to, but He's not going to demand anything - a true relationship is built on love, which is a voluntary action. But how are people going to want a relationship with God if His children (ME) are constantly on the attack? Judging and screaming from our soap boxes.....
Someone has to be the bigger person. Peacemakers are hard to come by and I think God has a special place probably in His heart for them.
Our expectations of people who are not believers should not be the same as our expectations for those who are. As a matter of fact, 1 Corinthians 1:18, the message of the cross (Jesus) is foolishness to those who are heading for destruction. In other words, those who are not believers in Jesus Christ think that those who do believe are, - nuts!
SO I am a nut.......and I am going to look internally and pray for those changes in me before I try and make changes in you. People have to change themselves, see a need for change and ask God to change them. I cannot do anything except to live as an example. Sometimes we can't even do that very good....we are human as well even though we are saved by the blood of Jesus.
God would handle this with love and not a bad word or whip...... so my decision has been made.
Gods plans over my own.....works every time :)
May grace, love and mercy be with you today.
Randy~
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Matthew 16
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
How awesome is that? We all have to be reminded from time to time that this world will only get you so far. Life is full of pits, sorrows and struggles but when doing this life with Jesus - everyday takes on a new meaning and purpose.
I admit that my life is busy now. Working, raising a family, caring for my Father N Law, leading a ministry team at church - time is short these days and many times there is too much to do to even take a step back and relax. But - there is always a but - I know I am doing what the Lord has me doing right now and I am thankful, grateful and excited about doing the Lords work - also doing with a smile and cheer in my heart. Yes sometimes its hard, I struggle with decisions, struggle with my own shortcomings but I know God is with me and He will be with me during this time.
My life belongs to Jesus - I pray that when my time comes there will be no regrets, life would have been happy and fulfilling when I look back and that I lived each day to the fullest. I pray that people know me and know what I am about and that I love them and when I say that, it is not just words. I pray they know that I took the steps to engage life and seek opportunities to serve people and to serve Jesus. My own needs are second to the needs of those around me and that their hurts and pain are mine as well. My family, my church family and my rock group families - I am all theirs and I will serve them to the best that I can in whatever way they may need me. Give me an opportunity to show up unannounced at a football game with a pizza for supper! Give me an opportunity to hug one of my rock group kids and let them know - I love them and I am there if they ever need to talk. Give me an opportunity to come along side a struggling family and just let them know my ears are there for listening and my heart is theirs for caring.
Friends we are not made to dig an island around ourselves and not let anyone in. This world will only give you what you dont need. Live your life for Jesus and live a life with purpose and meaning.
Over the last few years I have met some happy and loving folks who dont have much and I have met a whole lot more folks who have lots but are unhappy and selfish. Give - loved ones - Even God understood what that meant when He GAVE us His son Jesus.
You need Jesus......
Randy~
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
How awesome is that? We all have to be reminded from time to time that this world will only get you so far. Life is full of pits, sorrows and struggles but when doing this life with Jesus - everyday takes on a new meaning and purpose.
I admit that my life is busy now. Working, raising a family, caring for my Father N Law, leading a ministry team at church - time is short these days and many times there is too much to do to even take a step back and relax. But - there is always a but - I know I am doing what the Lord has me doing right now and I am thankful, grateful and excited about doing the Lords work - also doing with a smile and cheer in my heart. Yes sometimes its hard, I struggle with decisions, struggle with my own shortcomings but I know God is with me and He will be with me during this time.
My life belongs to Jesus - I pray that when my time comes there will be no regrets, life would have been happy and fulfilling when I look back and that I lived each day to the fullest. I pray that people know me and know what I am about and that I love them and when I say that, it is not just words. I pray they know that I took the steps to engage life and seek opportunities to serve people and to serve Jesus. My own needs are second to the needs of those around me and that their hurts and pain are mine as well. My family, my church family and my rock group families - I am all theirs and I will serve them to the best that I can in whatever way they may need me. Give me an opportunity to show up unannounced at a football game with a pizza for supper! Give me an opportunity to hug one of my rock group kids and let them know - I love them and I am there if they ever need to talk. Give me an opportunity to come along side a struggling family and just let them know my ears are there for listening and my heart is theirs for caring.
Friends we are not made to dig an island around ourselves and not let anyone in. This world will only give you what you dont need. Live your life for Jesus and live a life with purpose and meaning.
Over the last few years I have met some happy and loving folks who dont have much and I have met a whole lot more folks who have lots but are unhappy and selfish. Give - loved ones - Even God understood what that meant when He GAVE us His son Jesus.
You need Jesus......
Randy~
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
They are home!
Well Carol and Kyle are home from camp now. YEA!!!!!! Its been a week since I have seen them!I am getting ready to leave work and pick them up on my way to visit with Walt at the hospital. I had such a great evening with my visit last night with Walt - I cut his hair - he has hair like when he was in the Navy long ago - Also got to hang out with our friends from church at Kyles buddy Grant - his football practice. Its great sharing time together just like that.....even if unexpected and surprised! - Pizza helps too~
Never assume folks are too busy to fit you in. Pick up the phone, send that email - ask what is going on in life...... there is always room for loved ones to do life with. God did not make us to be islands....so get up and get moving. Life is going by..... engage it.
Just my advise today for those who need it. Life is for the living.....
Love you all,
Randy~
Never assume folks are too busy to fit you in. Pick up the phone, send that email - ask what is going on in life...... there is always room for loved ones to do life with. God did not make us to be islands....so get up and get moving. Life is going by..... engage it.
Just my advise today for those who need it. Life is for the living.....
Love you all,
Randy~
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
An amazing woman.....
I would like for everyone to meet Aunt Violet. I got a chance to spend a little time with her this past weekend and everytime I am with her, regardless of where we are, it is an amazing time. Time well invested. She is a woman who is very strong - she has to be to live in Tupper Lake NY in the winters up there where temps can get down to 20 below zero for days on end. She carries her own firewood and goes to town for shopping and for a woman in her late 70's - she is an amazing, loving, and full of life woman. Violet has always lived a spiritual life in some shape or form. During the summers she attends a church that meets in Saranac Lake NY and the church is on an island that you have to take a boat to get to - has no electric or plumbing - how awesome is that? She is the most loving of people, animals, the earth and all plants - that I have ever met. She knows she is blessed and God has given her so much in life. She has traveled the world - grew up with nothing and went to bed hungry everyday as a child. Her parents - which are Walters parents as well since they are brother and sister - came from Sweden and Norway. So coming to America was a dream come true. Walt and Violet got to travel a few years back - went back to Sweden and met many of their cousins and relatives they never knew they had. What a blessing to be able to find family that we never knew about!
Well - this past weekend, Violet and Denise made Bob and I supper Saturday night. Before we ate, I was asked to bless the food. Violet thanked me for such wonderful prayers and words... some of which were for her during my prayers. But the thing that got me during the conversation that followed is - Violet has no regrets. She is happy and blessed for each day in life. Blessed to have the things in life - blessed to find happiness in everything she does - blessed to have it in her heart to help others and reach out to anyone and everyone around her and those she meets - blessed to love everyone regardless of who they are and where they have come from .... I am so proud and honored to have someone like Aunt Violet in my life. Her birthday is the same is mine - May 24th - so that makes us both Gemini's for whatever that is worth - but its more about a day to share. We have been doing that since before Carol and I were married ~some 18 years ago!
Everyone needs an Aunt Violet in their lives..... I am thankful and blessed to have her in mine.
Love you Violet!!!! God has His hands on you and thank you for enriching my life - for Carols life and Kyles.... for being a great example of how a Christian should live their lives.
Well - this past weekend, Violet and Denise made Bob and I supper Saturday night. Before we ate, I was asked to bless the food. Violet thanked me for such wonderful prayers and words... some of which were for her during my prayers. But the thing that got me during the conversation that followed is - Violet has no regrets. She is happy and blessed for each day in life. Blessed to have the things in life - blessed to find happiness in everything she does - blessed to have it in her heart to help others and reach out to anyone and everyone around her and those she meets - blessed to love everyone regardless of who they are and where they have come from .... I am so proud and honored to have someone like Aunt Violet in my life. Her birthday is the same is mine - May 24th - so that makes us both Gemini's for whatever that is worth - but its more about a day to share. We have been doing that since before Carol and I were married ~some 18 years ago!
Everyone needs an Aunt Violet in their lives..... I am thankful and blessed to have her in mine.
Love you Violet!!!! God has His hands on you and thank you for enriching my life - for Carols life and Kyles.... for being a great example of how a Christian should live their lives.
~this picture was taken on our deck a few years ago when Violet came for a few months of Winter escape from upstate NY. She still looks this great!
Kenny Chesney New Album.....
Life is short...... what are you doing today to reach out to others? I am preparing for our first get back into the swing Rock Group meeting this Sunday - I can't help but to look around at the folks who are doing this life digging a mote around their lives - filling it with poison and alligators - letting nobody in - nobody gets out.....what a way to live your life. People are busy and we all struggle even if we all look like things are grande - things are fine - we all have hidden struggles that we have to give to God each and everyday.
Kenny Chesney wrote a powerful song that was released today...... life for more than yourself loved ones...... there is more in life than grabbing all you can. Plans to work 5 more years and retire while putting in 90 hour weeks and your children are raising themselves .... those are plans for failure. Life is short...... engage in those around you.
Way to go Kenny..... - Enjoy the lyrics
Dont Blink - Kenny Chesney
I turned on the evenin' news Saw an old man being interviewed
Turnin' a hundred and two today
They asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his ol' pipe Laughed and said, 'All I can say is'
Chorus Don't blink
Just like that You're six years old and you take a nap And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growin' like mine did Turnin' into moms and dads
Next thing you know Your better half of fifty years is there in bed
And you're prayin' God takes you instead
Trust me friend
A hundred years goes faster than you think
(So) (But) don't blink
2nd Verse
I was glued to my TV
When it looked like he looked at me And said, 'Let's start puttin' first things first' 'Cause when your hourglass runs outta sand You can't flip it over, start again
Took every breath God gives you, for what it's worth (Repeat Chorus)
So I been tryin' to slow it down
I been tryin' to take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in Naw, don't blink
Don't blink
Life goes faster than you think
Don't blink Life goes faster than you think
Kenny Chesney wrote a powerful song that was released today...... life for more than yourself loved ones...... there is more in life than grabbing all you can. Plans to work 5 more years and retire while putting in 90 hour weeks and your children are raising themselves .... those are plans for failure. Life is short...... engage in those around you.
Way to go Kenny..... - Enjoy the lyrics
Dont Blink - Kenny Chesney
I turned on the evenin' news Saw an old man being interviewed
Turnin' a hundred and two today
They asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his ol' pipe Laughed and said, 'All I can say is'
Chorus Don't blink
Just like that You're six years old and you take a nap And you wake up and you're twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growin' like mine did Turnin' into moms and dads
Next thing you know Your better half of fifty years is there in bed
And you're prayin' God takes you instead
Trust me friend
A hundred years goes faster than you think
(So) (But) don't blink
2nd Verse
I was glued to my TV
When it looked like he looked at me And said, 'Let's start puttin' first things first' 'Cause when your hourglass runs outta sand You can't flip it over, start again
Took every breath God gives you, for what it's worth (Repeat Chorus)
So I been tryin' to slow it down
I been tryin' to take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in Naw, don't blink
Don't blink
Life goes faster than you think
Don't blink Life goes faster than you think
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