Reformation Day

Romans 3:21 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it.

Martin Luther reasoned, “God is holy and just. I am a poor miserable sinner, no matter how hard I try. How can a holy God possibly love a sinner like me?” Luther tried to do everything possible to earn the mercy, love, and forgiveness of God. But it was never enough.

Luther was honest with himself. He did not minimize his sin, as if it made no difference to God. Luther saw sin for what it was, separating him from God. He desperately wanted to come near to God.

Freedom came for Luther when he began to understand the words of Romans 3. Prior to this point in the book of Romans, Paul explains that the entire human race is guilty and condemned before God’s judgment. But then Paul says, “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known.”

God came up with a way to make the sinner righteousness while also satisfying the requirement of the law. Sin had to be paid for with death, so Jesus, the Son of God, stepped forward to offer his own perfect, righteous life in our place. And now God credits us with Jesus’ perfect righteousness. “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus … to be received by faith.”

Those words brought Luther face to face with the loving God. Have you met this one true God? Are you justified by faith in Christ?

Dear Lord, thank You for taking our place and paying for our sin so that we can be restored to life in Your presence for ever. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

How big is your God?

Isaiah 40:28  (ESV)

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

    his understanding is unsearchable.

What would have happened had Moses tried to figure out what was needed to accomplish God’s command? One of the biggest arithmetical miracles in the world was required in the desert.

Moses led the people of Israel into the desert....Now what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 3-1/2 million people required a lot of food. According to the U. S. Army’s Quartermaster General, Moses needed 1500 tons of food a day, filling two freight trains, each a mile long. Besides, you must remember, they were cooking the food (not to mention for keeping warm, and if anyone tells you it doesn’t get cold in the desert don’t believe them!). Just for cooking this took 4000 tons of firewood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long and this is only for one day!!! They were for forty YEARS in transit!!!

Let’s not forget about water, shall we? If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes (no bathing?!), it took 11,000,000 gallons EACH DAY—enough to fill a train of tanker cars 1800 miles long.

And another thing! They had to get across the red sea in one night. Now if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and require 35 days and nights to complete the crossing. So to get it over in one night there had to be a space in the Red Sea 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5,000 abreast. Think about this; every time they camped at the end of the day, a camp ground the size of Rhode Island was required, or 750 square miles.

Do you think that Moses sat down and figured out the logistics of what God told him to do before he set out from Egypt? I doubt it. He had faith that God would take care of everything. Let us have courage, we share the very same God!

Dear Lord, we pray that we would have the courage to trust that You are in control of everything and will take care of everything. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Names of Jesus

Today as I lay her struggling with the amount of time my healing is taking I thought I would do something a little different. I thought it would be encouraging to list out the Names of Jesus.

Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8)  

Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5)

Anointed One (Ps. 2:2)   

Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16)

Author of Life (Acts 3:15)

Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)

Branch (Zech. 6:12)

Nazarene (Matt. 2:23)

Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)     

Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)

Christ (Matt. 1:16)  

Rabbi (John 1:38)

Daystar ( 2 Pet. 1:19)     

Root of David (Rev. 5:5)

Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6)   

Root of Jesse (Isa. 11:10)

Gate (John 10:9)    

Son of David (Matt. 15:22)

Good Shepherd (John 10:14) 

Son of God (Mark 1:1)

Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14)      

Son of Man (Matt. 8:20)

I Am (John 8:58)     

True Vine (John 15:1)

Immanuel (Isa. 7:14)      

Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)

King of Kings (Rev. 19:16)     

Word (John 1:1)

Lamb (Rev. 5:6-13)

Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

Lamb of God (John 1:29)

Dear Lord, we thank You for who You are. Help us not forget. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The roaring lion

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

This verse can scare the bejeebish out of you. Depending on where you are spiritually, and what your background might be, your vision of Satan, his minions, and how active a role (if any) they play will differ a lot.

Have you ever seen a lion on the prowl? He paces back and forth, he stoops and watches, and he is ready to pounce and kill his prey at a second's notice. This is the image that Paul is giving Peter here. Satan is actively waiting for you to allow him to come in and pounce on you, to destroy your faith, and to kill your relationship with the Father. That is why Paul tells Peter to be diligent, and to be aware of what's going on. This means through prayer, through study, and most of all, through Faith.

Satan is real, and he hates you, he hates that you love the Lord, and he even hates those of you who don't know the Lord yet, and are thinking about making a decision for Him. He wants you to worship him, and to give your life over to the worldly things he controls. Don't give in, be self-controlled and alert, and keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Remember, also, that we have the power to put Satan down through the name of Jesus, and you can practice that in prayer.

Dear Lord, bind Satan in our live, let him have no power to destroy or harm us. Give us the power to be self-controlled and alert, and diligent in our walks with you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Are you building a fence or a bridge?

John 14:6  (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by- side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8- foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge ... a bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched..

He said to the older brother: "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

Are you building a fence or a bridge? Let’s us be like Jesus and be a bridge.

Dear Lord, help our focus be on building a bridge to those around us to reach out to them rather than a fence to keep them away. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

God is love

1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

If you were asked to describe God in just one word, what word would you use?  The word would need to be big enough to capture God’s greatness, goodness, kindness, and power.  The word that many people would choose is this word:  LOVE.  What does LOVE mean?  Is it a feeling?  An action?  Maybe the best way to describe love is to look at what love is and is not.

Love is NOT:  envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, rejoicing in evil.

Love IS:  patient, kind, forgets wrongs, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.

Paul wanted to use the word love to describe God in a letter to the Corinthians, so he used all these words to describe love—to make sure that the Corinthians really understood all the things that God is—and is not.

Jesus’ friend John also used the word love to describe God.  He wrote, “This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4: 9)  Then John said, “God is love.” (1 John 4: 16)  But John didn’t stop there; he said that we respond to God’s love with……love.  How?

“Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3: 18)  God is love.  He loves us.  We can pass his love to others.  Let us make it our goal to try it today!

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your love. Help us to share that great gift today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

God's Love

John 3:16 (ESV)

For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

One of my favorite Bible verses begins, "For God so loved the world." I was thinking about that verse and wondering -- just how great is God's love and how could we measure it?

Sometimes we use a measuring cup to measure things. If I were making some cookies, I would use a measuring cup to make sure that I put in exactly the right amount of flour, sugar, and milk. I wonder if we might use a measuring cup to measure God's love? The Bible says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....my cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:1,5) Well, if our cup runs over with God's love, I don't guess we could use a measuring cup to measure it.

If we were building something in my shop, I might use a tape measure to measure the length, width, and height of different things. I wonder if we might use a tape measure to measure God's love? The Bible tells us that God's love is higher than the heavens. (Psalm 108:4) If God's love is higher than the heavens, I don't think we could use a tape measure to measure it, could we?

I use a watch to measure time. I wonder if we could use a watch to measure how long God's love will last. The Bible tells us that God's love is from everlasting to everlasting. (Psalm 103:17) Wow! If God's love is from everlasting to everlasting, I don't guess we could measure it with a watch.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." How do you measure a love like that? We can't measure it -- we don't need to -- but we do need to experience it.

My prayer for you today is, "That you may understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience it, though it is so great you will never fully understand it." (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Dear Lord, we thank you for Your love -- a love so great that You gave Your one and only Son so that we could have eternal life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Family

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

God created us for relationship and there is no relationship quite like that of a family that is seeking God together.

Would it surprise you to hear that there are more dysfunctional families in the Bible than there are good ones?

As we look through the Bible we some really messed up families  – brothers who sell their brother and then pretend that he is dead (Joseph), a brother who tricks his blind dad to think that he is his other brother (Jacob), a son who chooses his Dad’s enemy over his dad (Jonathan). Lots to read about.

But here is something to think about – why do you think that God created families?  What do you think God had in mind with moms and dads and children and grandparents?

Our verse today gives an amazing idea of what God might have intended with families to look like:

Some of us might  be the only Christian in our family, but this passage of scripture could be a reminder to you that your family, whether a parent or a child, could be a picture to others of God’s love.

Ask yourself, if my family were asked to make a choice right now, would we serve God even if everyone around us was not choosing God?

What if your family didn’t choose God, would you be able to say to them like Joshua did – “I am choosing God”?

God can do amazing things in even the worst families.

Maybe some of us have seen families changed by the love of God…and it is these stories that remind us to pray for our family, ESPECIALLY if your family is a hot mess!

Because God is in the business of redeeming lost lives.

Just like the Bible is full of stories of dysfunctional families and messed up people in them, the Bible also is full of stories in which truly messed up people are transformed into beautiful testaments of God’s power. Stories of lives changed and people who were hateful, selfish, and mean became true people of God.

It might not happen tomorrow or the next day or even in a year, but begin praying today for God to do amazing things in the lives of your family members.

Dear Lord, we lift our families up to You today. We thank You that You are in the business of doing amazing things in people and families.  We ask You today that we would choose this day to serve You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it.

2 John 6 (ESV)

 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

It has been about a month since we had to say goodbye to Diamond. As I lay here recovering from back surgery a lot of thoughts have been marching through my head, one of which is about Diamond. I was remembering how faithful she was.  She took as her main job in life to take care of me.  Many times I would be trying to cover up the pain I was experiencing which went pretty well Except for Diamond.  My wife always could tell the degree of my pain by the way Diamond would stay by my side, the greater the pain the closer she would stick to me like glue.

Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that's exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he didn't move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master's word. With tearful eyes, the dog's owner said, "I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it."

WOW! There is a great lesson there for us. As we read God’s Word and listen to His words to us would God say that about us, “I knew he or she would do that.”

Dear Lord, help us to be so obedient to the things that You tell us to do that there will be no doubt of what we will do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

There are but 2

John 3:16  (ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Salvation is a free gift from our Lord. There are so many out there that struggle who or what to believe. I found this simple article that explains it pretty well.

"While witnessing for Christ on the streets of a city in California, evangelist H.A. Ironside and his associates were often interrupted by questions from the crowd. "There are hundreds of religions in this country, and the followers of each sect think they're right. How can poor plain people like us find out what really is the truth?" Ironside and his friends would answer something like this: "Did I hear you say there are hundreds of religions? That's strange; I've heard of only two. True, I find many shades of difference in the opinions of those comprising the two great schools. But after all, there are but two. The one covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done."

Jesus did the work, all we have to do is believe and accept the free gift that He has given to us.

Dear Lord, we thank You for dying on the cross for each of us so that we may have forgiveness of the sins we do each day. Help us spread Your great love to the world around us today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Once-comfortable abode

Psalm 91:4 (ESV)

He will cover you with his pinions,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Though many of us have seen pictures of a huge eagle's nest high in the branches of a tree or in the crag of a cliff, few of us have gotten a glimpse inside. When a mother eagle builds her nest she starts with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks, and a number of other items that seem entirely unsuitable for the project. But then she lines the nest with a thick padding of wool, feathers, and fur from animals she has killed, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs. By the time the growing birds reach flying age, the comfort of the nest and the luxury of free meals make them quite reluctant to leave. That's when the mother eagle begins "stirring up the nest." With her strong talons she begins pulling up the thick carpet of fur and feathers, bringing the sharp rocks and branches to the surface. As more of the bedding gets plucked up, the nest becomes more uncomfortable for the young eagles. Eventually, this and other urgings prompt the growing eagles to leave their once-comfortable abode and move on to more mature behavior.

Dear Lord, Thank You for the way You work in our life. Help us take Your prodding to do what You have planned for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

If a hymn die, can it live again?

Psalm 104:33 (ESV)

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

 If a hymn die, can it live again?

   The life-story of “To God Be the Glory” proves that the answer is “yes!”

   Originally composed in America sometime before 1875, it was almost immediately forgotten in its native land.  In 1954, however, “To God Be The Glory” was rediscovered and acclaimed as a new favorite

   We introduced the hymn during the early days of those meetings in Harringay Area, England.  As a result, Billy Graham asked that we repeat it often because he was impressed with the enthusiastic participation of the audience.  In the closing weeks of the crusade it became our theme hymn, repeated almost every night.

   The words well expressed our praise to God, who was doing wondrous things in Britain. Of all the songs that have been popularized through crusade activity, we are most happy about this one. —Cliff Barrows

Dear Lord, thank You for the great songs that You have given to us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Getting started

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

When Ralph Houk was manager of the New York Yankees, baseball schedules were even more exacting than they are now, with double-headers almost every week. Occasionally a player would get sick of the grind and approach Houk, asking for permission to sit out a game. "I know how you feel," the manager would say genially. "Sure, take the day off, But do me a favor. You're in the starting lineup. Just play one inning. Then skip the rest of the game." The player would honor Houk's request--and almost invariably get caught up in the spirit of the game and play it out to the end.

So often in our life the hardest part of getting something done is getting started. Once we get past that initial step we finish        what is before us without any trouble. As our verse says God renews everything. He has it ready for us to start afresh ever day. Today push a little to get started and finish What God has for you to accomplish.

Dear Lord, help us to be motivated to get our self-going. Give us the strength for what is before us today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Post-op thoughts

Ephesians 5:4 (ESV)

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Oct 11, 2017  I had L2-L5 fused in my back to help correct my genetically narrow spinal canal. As I lay here I thought it would be fun to share some  post-op thoughts I've had while recovering since surgery one week ago today.

1. Who knew a person could sleep this much?

2. Does my body really need THIS much sleep to recover?

3. Oh no, I think I pulled my staples.

4. I'm pretty sure I definitely pulled my staples.

5. I'm probably going to bleed to death and die and nobody will know.

6. I DIDN'T PULL my Staples! PRAISE GOD

7. When is the medicine going to kick in?

8. I think it's time for another nap.

9. That makes this my third nap today.

10. Is four naps in one day too excessive?

11. My body needs to recover so that justifies it, right?

13. Wow, I am glad I have such a high pain tolerance.

14. Now would be a good time to write another blog, if only I could concentrate

15. HOW HAS IT ONLY BEEN AN HOUR SINCE MY LAST PAIN PILL.

16. I can catch up on some woodworking books and make plans for my shop

17. I can binge watch some YOUTube vidoes for Christmas ideas.

18. Or I could take another nap...

19. Dear Lord, I have never felt this tired.

20. I'm truly thankful for modern medicine.

21. Wow, I want ice cream.

22. ...and French fries.

23. I wonder when I will break the 1000 steps in a day mark again?

24. How much longer until I can start walking around the neighborhood?

25. When can I drive? I really want to drive to get ice cream.

26. WOW, I'm tired

27. Where is my calendar for our mission trip?

28. Time for another nap.

29. No pain no gain, right?

30. I could crawl to the kitchen and make a snack, right?

31. No I shouldn’t

32. I could do some online shopping while laying on couch.

33. I'll just take another nap.

All silliness aside I am Thankful for how God is working through me. My prayer is that God will use each of us in a mighty way TODAY.

Dear Lord, we pray that no matter our circumstance that we will allow You to use them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Amen

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Koine Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best-known word in human speech. The word is directly related--in fact, almost identical--to the Hebrew word for "believe" (aman), or "faithful." Thus, it came to mean "sure" or truly," an expression of absolute trust and confidence. When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an "amen." When God makes a promise, the believer's response is "amen"--"so it will be!" In the New Testament, it is often translated "verily" or "truly." When we pray according to His Word and His will, we know God will answer, so we close with an "amen," and so also do we conclude a great hymn or anthem of praise and faith.

The word is even a title of Christ Himself. The last of His letters to the seven churches begins with a remarkable salutation by the glorified Lord: "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14). We can be preeminently certain that His Word is always faithful and true, because He is none other than the Creator of all things, and thus He is our eternal "Amen." As our text reminds us, every promise of God in Christ is "yea and amen," as strong an affirmation of truth as can be expressed in the Greek language.

It is, therefore, profoundly meaningful that the entire Bible closes with an "amen." "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Revelation 22:21), assuring everyone who reads these words that the whole Book is absolutely true and trustworthy. Amen!

Dear Lord, we thank You that You are eternal. But even more then that that You are absolutely true and trustworthy. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are you doing your very best?

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) 

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

As I lay here and do a lot of recovering from the back surgery I had late last week. As another baseball season wraps up I found an interesting story about doing your very best.

Keith Hernandez is one of baseball's top players. He is a lifetime .300 hitter who has won numerous Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding. He's won a batting championship for having the highest average, the Most Valuable Player award in his league, and even the World Series. Yet with all his accomplishments, he has missed out on something crucially important to him -- his father's acceptance and recognition that what he has accomplished is valuable. Listen to what he had to say in a very candid interview about his relationship with his father: "One day Keith asked his father, 'Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average. What more do you want?' His father replied, 'But someday you're going to look back and say, "I could have done more."'"

Are you giving your very best?

Dear Lord, we pray today that we would each give our very best.  Help us to not sit back and rest on our accomplishments of the past but to keep pushing forward, bringing honor to Your name in all things. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Lived among us

John 1:14 (ESV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

February 15, 1921. New York City. The operating room of the Kane Summit Hospital. A doctor is performing an appendectomy. In many ways the events leading to the surgery are uneventful. The patient has complained of severe abdominal pain. The diagnosis is clear: an inflamed appendix. Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane is performing the surgery. In his distinguished thirty-seven-year medical career, he has performed nearly four thousand appendectomies, so this surgery will be uneventful in all ways except two.

The first novelty of this operation? The use of local anesthesia in major surgery. Dr. Kane is a crusader against the hazards of general anesthesia. He contends that a local application is far safer. Many of his colleagues agree with him in principle, but in order for them to agree in practice, they will have to see the theory applied.

Dr. Kane searches for a volunteer, a patient who is willing to undergo surgery wile under local anesthesia. A volunteer is not easily found. Many are squeamish at the thought of being awake during their own surgery. Others are fearful that the anesthesia might wear off too soon. Eventually, however, Dr. Kane finds a candidate. On Tuesday morning, February 15, the historic operation occurs.

The patient is prepped and wheeled into the operating room. A local anesthetic is applied. As he has done thousands of times, Dr. Kane dissects the superficial tissues and locates the appendix. He skillfully excises it and concludes the surgery. During the procedure, the patient complains of only minor discomfort. The volunteer is taken into post-op, then placed in a hospital ward. He recovers quickly and is dismissed two days later. Dr. Kane had proven his theory. Thanks to the willingness of a brave volunteer, Kane demonstrated that local anesthesia was a viable, and even preferable, alternative.

But I said there were two facts that made the surgery unique. I've told you the first: the use of local anesthesia. The second is the patient. The courageous candidate for surgery by Dr. Kane was Dr. Kane.

To prove his point, Dr. Kane operated on himself! A wise move. The doctor became a patient in order to convince the patients to trust the doctor.

Likewise our Lord came to Earth and became a man and lived amongst us so that we would trust Him. He dealt with the same things we deal with every day and understands what we face. He wants us to trust Him in everything.

Dear Lord , we thank  You that we can trust You in all things. We thank You for coming to Earth and taking our place for the sins we do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Not even one nail

Romans 12:1 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

One Sunday a Haitian pastor illustrate to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ. His parable: A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.

After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.

The Haitian pastor's conclusion: "If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation." 

Dear Lord, we pray that we wouldn’t give the Devil even on small nail in our life. Help us make sure our life is completely Yours. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Are you going to fish?

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

There's an old story about a fisherman who was very successful. Every morning he went out on the lake in a small boat and when he returned a couple of hours later, his boat was loaded down with fish. He never failed.

People wondered how he did it, even when others were not catching anything at all. He always came in with his boat just overflowing with fish.

One morning a stranger showed up with his fishing tackle and said, "Mind if I go fishing with you this morning?" "No," said the fisherman. "Just hop in and we'll go over to a little cove where I always have good luck."

The man hopped in the boat and off they headed across the lake until they came to a small cove. The old fisherman stopped the boat and cut off the motor. He reached over in his tackle box and took out a red stick of dynamite. He lit the fuse and held it for a moment as the fuse burned down.

Then at the last moment he tossed it in the water and there was a tremendous explosion. Fish were everywhere on the water. He picked up his net and began scooping up the fish.

After watching this for a moment the stranger reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Opening it up, he showed a badge and said, "I'm a game warden and you are under arrest." The old fisherman simply reached over into his box and pulled out another stick of dynamite. He lit it and held it as the fuse burned down. Then, he tossed it to the game warden and said,"Now, are you going to just sit there or are you going to fish?"

There comes a time when we all have to decide - who we're going to be and what we're going to do!

Dear Lord, help us to always be ready to make wise decisions based on Your Word. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Remember who you are.

Ezekiel 38:7 (ESV)

Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.

There was once an absent-minded professor who became so absorbed in his work that he forgot the simplest details. One morning his wife said, "Now Henry, remember, we are moving today. Here, I'm putting this note in your pocket. Don't forget."

The day passed by and the man came home to his house. He entered the front door, and found the place empty. Distraught, he walked out to the curb and sat down. A young boy walked up to him, and he asked him, "Little boy, do you know the people who used to live here?"

The boy replied, "Sure, Dad, mother told me you'd forget."

How often do we become so absorbed in "the little things of this world" that we forget who we are and whose we are and where we are going...

Dear Lord, help us never get to busy to remember that we are Yours. Help us work to show the World who You are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Back surgery take 3

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)

The integrity of the upright guides them,

    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

6 years after my last back surgery I find myself having back surgery again. This will be my third Back surgery and I pray my last to repair my lower back. Because I have an abnormally narrow spinal cord my surgeon has to shore up the Lumbar area to take away the pinching of the nerves.

As I prepare for surgery I have done a lot of reading and came across the story that took place in an operating room that deals with integrity and doing the right thing.

In the operating room of a large hospital, a young nurse was completing her first full day of responsibilities. "You've only removed 11 sponges, doctor," she said to the surgeon. "We used 12." "I removed them all," the doctor declared. "We'll close the incision now." "No," the nurse objected. "We used 12 sponges." "I'll take full responsibility," the surgeon said grimly.   "Suture!" "You can't do that!" blazed the nurse. "Think of the patient." The surgeon smiled, lifted his foot, and showed the nurse the 12th sponge. "You'll do," he said.

Do you have the integrity do what’s right when pressured?

Dear Lord, we pray that we would have the integrity to make the right decision. Help us to stand against what we know is wrong. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Prayers of children

1 John 5:14 (ESV)

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

I want to thank everyone for your prayers as I prepare for surgery in the morning. We know the power of prayer and that where two or more are gathered He is there with them. For some pre surgery fun I wanted to share some fun prayers made by children.

Dear God, Did you mean for the giraffe too look like that or was it an accident? - Norma

Dear God, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don¹t you just keep the ones you have now? - Jane

Dear God, Who draws the lines around the countries? - Nan

Dear God, I went to a wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? - Neil

Dear God, Thank you for my baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. - Joyce

Dear God, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. -Bruce

Dear God, I want to be just like my dad when I get big, but just not with so much hair all over. -Sam

Dear God, I bet it is very hard for You to love all the people in the world. There are only four people in my family and I can never do it. - Nan

Dear God, Of all the people who worked for you, I like Noah and David the best. -Rob

Dear God, If You watch me in church Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes. - Mickey

Dear God, We read that Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday School, we learned that You did it. So I bet he stole Your idea. - Donna

Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw that sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool! - Eugene

Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel wouldn't have killed each other if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother and me. – Larry

Dear Lord, we thank You for hearing our prayers. Help us to be faithful in talking to You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.