Attitude of Gratitude

Psalm 144:12 May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,

suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;

may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

How can we not be thankful this year? How much has God given to me!

Lord,

Thank you for my sweet wife of 21 years... my best friend
Thank you for three beautiful daughters.... how they reflect Your love and grace
Thank you for a job that allows me to serve Your kingdom
Thank you for Your Holy Word that guides me in the truth and sets my paths straight.
Thank you for a way of forgiveness- who can understand that sacrifice?
Thank you for a nation of freedom and laws- may we not lose our way.
Thank you for a life full of sweet memories and good times!
Thank you for health and health care.
Thank you for music and beautiful places.
Thank you for laughs and peaceful faces.
Thank you for rest for the weary and salve for the pain.
Thank you for Jesus!

I could go on and on and on.... the bottom line is:
I AM A MAN OF GREAT BLESSINGS! THANK YOU LORD!

Raging Against the Night

We won in the second round of the state playoffs last night. It was a very physical and difficult game. There was rain and mud, hard hits and turnovers, we had to come from behind and hold on at the end.

I talked to our team before the game about fighting against the night. Colossians 1 says, "13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

The dominion of darkness is our enemy's kingdom. As these seniors see the sun setting on their career- they can feel the darkness. I want them to fight it all the way.

Darkness contains depression, doubt, despair and even death itself. Symbolically, the end of a football season contains all of those feelings. The days are shorter, darker, wet and cold.... but we don't lie down and just close our eyes and die.... we fight like hell, we swing our fists, we live as proud warriors in service of our King.

This is how light dispels darkness- brotherhood and confidence- cheer and celebration.

We did our victory chant... it was a sweet locker room!

And we will stand up against the sunset again next Friday.

And we will fight...

One day it will be the sunset of life. Will I be old? Will I have to walk into that sunset in a wheelchair or a walker? Or maybe, I will have to face it in my younger days.

I want to finish with a fight of faith. Giving all the glory to my Savior.

In that way.... there is nothing but victory! AMEN.

Clouds and Darker Days

Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

What do you think of when you read this verse? If you study Revelation, you know that this is a vision that John receives from Jesus. The word "revelation" means "unveiling"- meaning that the purpose of the book is to make it clear. Look at the Prologue again:

Rev. 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

When I see this figurative vision of this angel I see the clouds and the rainbow, both of which point back to the OT (as much of Revelation does). The rainbow a sign of God's promise and the cloud as a witness to God's presence and glory.

When you look at creation, do you think of God?

We should.

Romans 1:20 For (God's) invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

During the fall, I see the colors, and the clouds as clear evidence of God and His creation. But the clouds also hide... and they hide for our good and His glory. In our mortal and sinful state, without the clouds- we would be struck down.

So I see God is the clouds, even though it is "murky".

And I experience Him in His word.

As you read Revelation- see the clear message.

There will come a day... when the Lord will say.... no more delay.

The time to repent is NOW.