God' Has a Sense of Humor...

 Have you ever had something so crazy or outlandish happen to you that there is no explanation?  A life event, or experience that just left you amused but asking how does something like this happen?  Well sit back and enjoy the tale of The Opossum of Death.  So on Wednesday evening I am pulling into the driveway and I see Amy bolting out of the house.  This raises my concern level but Eli wasn't with her so surely it can't be that bad, Right???  Well in Amy's mind this was a moment of desperation and fear.  My perception was a little different. Amy gets home about an hour before I do on most days, and she had decided that since all of our clothes smelled of disco fanny that it was that time of the year to do some laundry.  The story I got was, as she proceeded back to the laundry room she sensed a malevolence that chilled her to the core, but she is undeterred in achieving her goal of doing laundry.  She proceeded to open the closet doors that enclose the washing machine, then it hit her, the stench of a thousand rotting corpses, and probably sulfur.  She then channels her inner Sam and Dean Winchester (they are from the tv show Supernatural if you didn't know) and continues on, even through there has to be a completely demonic entity lurking in the shadows.  She then is preparing the scent beads for the washing machine, and right before she starts to pour them in, she sees it.  Now face to face with this black eyed demon stuck inside our washing machine.  I can only imagine the scream she lets out and the speed that would have to rival Barry Allen a.k.a The Flash as she fled out of this house of Doom.  I sit back and think about how much this had to make God and Jesus laugh, sides hurting from the Guttural Godly Giggle.  I love my wife and in no way am I making fun of her, but this situation was just too good not to share, with perhaps an embellishment or two.  To make a long story short I could not get it out of the washer either, he was quite nippy.  Luckily there was a very nice lady here in town that takes them and rehabs them for release or makes a really good opossum stew.  HMMMMMM.  The moral of this tale of fear and evil is that everything happens for a reason.  God has purpose in everything He does.  We still don't know how this little tree devil made his way into our washing machine, but for an evening we had a good laugh and didn't think about our stresses of the day.  Amy when you read this remember I love you and our amazing journey together.  Silly, Strange, or Divine Intervention, God definitely has a sense of humor.  

Just Believe...

 Here lately things in our lives have been a little hectic.  Even through our struggles or questions we are thankful to God.  We have kept our Faith strong in Him, and Praying for guidance or direction.  Have you ever found yourself asking "Why is this so hard?"  Things in this life that you will encounter can seem so hard for the simple fact that if it was easy, you wouldn't learn anything from it.  Through every struggle or stressful situation you are never alone because Jesus is right there by your side.  Maybe what you learn is simply that.  God will never abandon you, or give up on you, all He wants you to do is ask Him for Help.  Last Friday I was at work and was out around campus dropping off some stuff to a coach.  I was talking with God and Jesus about the things going on and how it was starting to break me down, and I was asking for Help.  Then I looked down at the ground in front of me and there it was, a small package that was just sitting there for me to find at exactly that moment.  It was small but shone back up at me, honestly this is what truly got my attention.  I reached down, picked it up and it was a silver necklace with a pendant hanging from it that had one word on it.  BELIEVE.  I had to compose myself quickly to stop the tears.  Still brings tears to my eyes now as I write this blog.  This was a simple answer to all of my questions.  We do our best everyday to try to complicate things, this is human nature.  One word, One sign, One small Blessing from God and it changed everything for me at that point.  Just Believe in God, Let Jesus Take The Wheel, and see where He leads you.    

Mustard Seed...

So I was told a couple things this week from my oldest daughter Logan.  Just in case you were wondering, yes she is named after Wolverine.  One thing that she told me this week is that she and her husband Palmer have started reading this blog.  I actually teared up when she told me this, I don't know if she noticed.  We were speaking on Facetime because Apple Rules and Android Drools.  Both of them actually taking the time to read this is amazing and is what I consider That Mustard Seed being Planted in their Hearts.  Basically what I mean by this is God says that even if your Faith is as small as a Mustard Seed Grain it can still do Miraculous things.  The biggest miracle of all is it can grow inside you and change your life for the better.  Now on to the harder topic at hand.  She also told me something about my other Daughter Madison that broke my heart.  This also made me tear up but not in the same way.  I won't get into specifics because it is personal and I don't want either of the girls mad at me for spilling out our family issues for all to read.  I will say however that she is struggling with some things and needs all the help she can get right now.  Prayers are always appreciated and I would be grateful if you would keep them both in your Prayers.  I don't know if Madison reads this blog, but I would like to hope she does, even if she won't admit to it.  She is quite stubborn.  Hopefully with God's help these issues will disappear.  Even in these times of struggle I still Thank God for everything.  The Enemy wants nothing more than to see you run from God, angry with Him because of the things going on in your life.  When you Run to God and Thank Him even for the things being removed from your life, Doors Closing, Loss, this not only confuses Satan but it shows Him that no matter what He tries it won't work.  God's Plan is Perfect,.  Perfection doesn't guarantee no pain or suffering.  Even in those situations there is something that can be learned.  God is a Loving Father, but also a Teacher.  God will take those burdens, stress, anxiety, hate from you in His Time according to His Plan.  Change your Perspective so that even if things aren't going according to your Plan that it is still a Blessing.  Thank God for it, even if it's hard.  Even if your own Faith feels as small as that Mustard Seed it's still Faith in God.  He will use it, and you according to His Perfect Plan.  

Something Weighing On My Mind...

 So yesterday while I'm on my phone scrolling like we all do, I came across a post that stated  "If your pastor knows your are living in sin and he still allows you deliver a sermon on the pulpit or participate in the worship band, he cares more about your gifts than your soul."  Then there are many responses agreeing with this nonsense.  When I say many I'm talking over a thousand.  This statement couldn't be more false.  This is almost as bad and false as saying that android is better than Apple.  Completely untrue, deceiving the less than hundred people who actually believe this.  One comment I remember was a person who said that Christians use excuses like God forgives all sins, and we are all sinners, to justify continued sinning.  I wanted to respond so badly but something inside me said not to, not on here, not right now.  I would say this was The Holy Spirit, at least I hope so, because I am a sinner, and no it isn't an excuse to continue to sin.  I am just a man, not perfect and prone to sin by nature.  There was only one Perfect Man that Never Sinned, but paid for our Sins with His Blood and that was Jesus Christ.  I Pray daily for Forgiveness of my Sins because it is required of me.  For me to be closer to Jesus and The Father I have to ask for Guidance, Direction, and Removal of Obstacles, just to name a few topics.  The only thing that was even a little true in that statement is that Delivering a Sermon, or Playing in the Worship Band are Gifts from God.  Use your Gifts to help others.  That Sermon you deliver may reach the unreachable.  That song you sang could change a persons life.  Btw our Worship Band at Valley Church is Amazing.  They bring it every week, regardless of how they feel or what's going on in their lives.  No where in The Bible does it state that only those without Sin may use their Gifts to help others.  I write this blog to try to help just one person.  I have prayed on this as well, am I really helping or deceiving?  I do my best to try to help someone, anyone.  This, I believe is Gods will and He is working through me to reach you.  I am no expert, not even close.  What I am, is a Sinner who is trying to be more like Jesus and less like the Sinner I am.  Please don't be mislead or deceived by the enemy.  Pray to God and Jesus and Thank them for The Grace given freely, Loving us  unconditionally, and Mercy for all of us Sinners.  Without any of this we would all be condemned to eternity of unimaginable suffering.