What’s a friendship mean to you?

My heart is heavy tonight. A friend I’ve known for about 13 years has passed away. She was an amazing young lady. A beautiful soul. A beautiful woman. My heart is heaviest tonight for her family, her fiancée, and her close friends.

Marlene and I were very close at one time. We spoke everyday. She was my best friend. When I married my last wife, Marlene even stood up with me as my honored guest, right beside my brother who was my best man. Yet today, I saw her for the last time laying in a casket.

My heart is also heavy because of missed opportunities. As I read back through messages between her and I there are several where she tried to start a conversation and I was “too busy” to talk. Yet was I really too busy or just not making the time. At this point I’m not sure truthfully. But I do know that I missed some opportunities to talk with a special friend. We did have some conversations but not to the extent that a best friend would. Marlene had lots of friends. Everyone loved her. And well they should have. Yet as my life got busy she still reached out. And I seemingly pulled away.

My plea to you all tonight is to hold you family right. Make sure they know you love them. Tell your friends just how special they are to you. And if you can help it, don’t shy away from a conversation you can never get back.

Rest In Peace my dear friend. I’ll never forget you. I’ll always love you. You’ll always have a spot in my heart.

Prayer for tonight-Father God, please allow us the sight to see when a friend needs to talk. Allow us the grace to put our lives on hold for just a few minutes to talk to them. Teach us how to be friends again rather than just passing acquaintances. Amen

The last year

I haven’t written in here on a regular basis over the last year. Life has happened. 15 months ago I went through a separation and the divorce was final about 9 months ago. In those 15 months I’ve hit rock bottom then, well simply put, God happened.

This time last year I was introduced to a new church. I’d left mine in my divorce. I’d been raised in an all white very conservative United Methodist church. I’d been a member of that church for nearly 30 years, as I’d been saved and joined as a teenager. But this new church was completely different. It was a blended church. In fact it’s called The Blended Church. It’s services are contemporary. It’s ministers preach straight from the Word. It’s members are the most loving I’ve ever seen in a church. From the first hug the very first time I walked in to the last hug I got when I left this last Sunday, this church just wants to hug you, love you, and show you that Jesus loves you.

Through TBC, I’ve gotten involved in a prison ministry that is exactly what The Lord ordered up. It’s something I’ve always felt a call to, but never had a true opportunity. At TBC not only was there an opportunity, there was a big need for more people to be involved. I go every Tuesday night and hopefully provide, through God, those gentleman with a little of what The Lord has taught me through my life. So with a new church and a new ministry I thought The Lord was done providing for me. Boy was I wrong.

He’s given me some of the most faithful and loyal friends a man could ask for. And lastly (at this point), He’s provided someone to go through this great life He’s provided me with. He introduced me to a Godly woman. A young lady who loves The Lord like no one I’ve ever known, male or female. A young lady who loves people simply because she wants to love them like Jesus did. She’s not worried about their past. She’s not worried about their present. And the only part of their future she’s worried about is where are they’re going to spend eternity. Her name is Michelle and someday I don’t question she’ll hear the words we all long to hear, “Thank you my daughter. In you I am well pleased.” She has two precious daughters. One, who’s 16, is a young lady on the autism spectrum. As well as having some brain damage since birth she provides Michelle with challenges as well as so many smiles. I have come to love her daughters as much as I do my own kids.

Speaking of my own kids, WOW. Jerrod and Mikala both graduated high School this spring. Jerrod leaves 2 weeks from today for boot camp to begin his next journey of being a United States Marine. Mikala leaves this Sat to start her summer classes at Indiana State. Oh how proud I am of these two kids. Payton and Paige? Well they just keep growing and becoming beautiful young ladies. Payton will start 3rd grade this fall and Paige will begin 1st grade. They continue to amaze me with the things they learn and just somehow know.

Now to my last part in this blog. My oldest child Scott. He has graduated college and is beginning a new life. In the middle of all that his wife, Shelley, has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. (BTW-cancer SUCKS). So with getting my grandson Shawn graduated from HS this spring as well, they are now having to deal with something that the doctors say is terminal. They’ve given her between 18 months and 3 years to live. Shelley with her ever present positive thoughts, insists with Gods help she’ll figure out a way to beat this and live for many more years. I’d like to ask for prayers for Shelley, Scott, Shawn and the rest of the family as we try to push through this and pray that Gods will be done.

Healing in the Home

I wrote this for my message on Tuesday night at the prison with the men in Plainfield, but thought just maybe someone out there could get something out of this message.  I am not one to put my sermons on here very often but as I posted on FB earlier, “A person never really understand what they have learned until they can teach someone else what they know.”  This is a message that a couple years ago, I did not fully understand. If I had, maybe it could have saved my marriage. But, I firmly believe God allows things to happen in our lives to use a teaching tools. I am not sure where He is leading me, but I do know that all I want to do is learn a little more each day to make the next day easier.

Are You Standing On A Solid Foundation

2 Timothy 2:19

“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'”

A solid foundation? My first thought goes back to the 3 pigs fairy tale. Here’s the short version;

“Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One pig built a house of straw while the second pig built his house with sticks. They built their houses very quickly and then sang and danced all day because they were lazy. The third little pig worked hard all day and built his house with bricks.
A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they danced and played and thought, “What juicy tender meals they will make!” He chased the two pigs and they ran and hid in their houses. The big bad wolf went to the first house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. The frightened little pig ran to the second pig’s house that was made of sticks. The big bad wolf now came to this house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in hardly any time. Now, the two little pigs were terrified and ran to the third pig’s house that was made of bricks.
The big bad wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but he could not. He kept trying for hours but the house was very strong and the little pigs were safe inside. He tried to enter through the chimney but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney. The wolf fell into it and died.
The two little pigs now felt sorry for having been so lazy. They too built their houses with bricks and lived happily ever after.”

I liken this to many of the things in our lives. Our marriages, our friendships, our dealings with our families (particularly our children), our working lives and our church or spiritual lives.

We jump into things way too quickly so much of the time. We fall in love and marry the first person who comes along, we hang out with friends who do not really have OUR best interest in their hearts, we put things in front of our kids and our families, and we put everything in front of God.

But The Lord knows who is His. The Lord knows what is in our hearts. He knows if our Faith in him is strong and real. He knows if we just show up on Sunday morning. He knows if we never open our Bibles once we leave the service. He knows if we never bow our head to Him in prayers.

A strong foundation with Christ involves attending church service. Using that time to learn about Him, to worship Him, to praise Him.

A strong foundation with Christ involves an active daily prayer life. You do not have to spend hours in prayer. Just a minute or so here or there. You don’t have to have extravagant prayers. Just one that’s asks Him to guide your steps, to forgive you of your sins, and thanks Him for His grace.

A strong foundation with Christ involves a daily reading of the Bible. It’s hard to understand at times, but by using a guide it can be understood. I also believe that before you open the Bible, you need to say a quick prayer and ask God to help you understand. Then take the time needed to really read it. Don’t rush through it just so you can say you read it. That doesn’t do you any good. You have to understand it.

Those are the basics to a solid foundation in Christ, church attendance, prayer and Bible study. Once you’ve established this foundation, the other foundations in your life will be easier to accomplish.

Prayer for the day-Father God, thank you for a guide to You and your Son. We ask that with that Bible, with prayer and by attending your house every week, that you help us build a foundation with you. Amen

First of a 3 part-Forgiveness from God

I’m going to do a 3 part devotional. The first part, and tonight’s, will be on God’s forgiveness of us, His children. The second and third parts will be our forgiveness of others and then our forgiveness of ourselves.

Micah 7:18

“Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity?”

Somehow the church has missed the mark of not doing a good job of letting the world know that churches are for sinners more than they are for saints. Have you ever wondered how God could forgive your sins and your unrighteousness towards Him? Only through Gods grace can we begin to realize the awesomeness of forgiveness. And while we cannot understand this grace, we can sit back and rejoice to God for cleaning us before Him.

I have for many years, and sometimes I still do, wonder how do I deserve Gods forgiveness? I’ve been divorced twice, went for years where I denied there might even be a God, was an alcoholic and spent many a night stoned. I’ve struggled with so many things. I’ve been in so many bar fights when I was younger, I still NEVER sit with my back to a door. I never knew who might be coming through that door and if they are going to be looking for me or not. But then I look into the Bible and I see where God only has two little requirements for Him to forgive me. That I believe in Him and that I ask him to forgive me of my transgressions. It’s so simple that many think there has to be a catch.

So go ask Jesus to enter enter your heart, and ask God to grant you immunity from your sins.

Prayer for the night,

“Father God, thank you for your grace. Thank you for your forgiveness.. Amen

Fathers and Daughters

Obviously this is one that is very close to my heart. With three daughters, ages 16, 6, and 4, they occupy much of my time, much of my life and most importantly, much of my heart.

Mark 5:23

“My little daughter is at a point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, that she may get well and live.”

Children, and little girls in particular, are the nicest things that can happen to people. Girls are born with a little bit of angel shine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes, there is always enough left to line your heart. Even when they’re sitting in the mud, crying temperamental tears or parading up and down the street in your wife’s best clothes.

As fathers we have a tremendous responsibility to keep our little girls on the right track. Just like our Father God set the Bible up as guidelines to keep us all on the right track. No other part of society has as much influence on our girls as us fathers do. Our daughters want, and expect, us to be the leaders of our homes. She is finding in you the qualities she will someday look for in a husband. She’ll use you to discover how a man thinks about life and how he administers and delegates job responsibilities to the family team. You ARE the most important man in your daughters life. She will build her future life based on what she sees in you. Will you let her down? At times. Will you make her proud? Hopefully many times. But you are what is her guiding light to her future. How about if you just start by giving you daughter or daughters a hug and a kiss tonight, then make sure they know you love them.

Prayer: Father God, please guide my words and my actions as I become the shining light and ever important example in my daughters lives. Help me to teach them how a man should treat them as they move to the next stage in their lives. Amen.