Not A Stop Sign But A Stepping Stone

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.Psalm 40:2

I can not remember who I heard this illustration from but tragedies, set backs, losses of any kind are not meant to be stop signs in your life but stepping stones.

Not hitting the home run to win the World Series could seem like a tragic thing for a Major League Baseball player but indeed God can use that to go to the next level. Getting furloughed from a job or passed over for promotion indeed seems awful but I knew of a man once who ended up meeting the girl who would later become his wife as a result. Being born without limbs was eventually the doorway for ministry to Nick Vujivic. 

God takes scars and turns them into stars if you don’t end up getting mad and running away from him.Ask God what he wants to teach you in these seasons of life. Ask him to redeem the time the enemy has stolen. Pray for those who have been unable to bounce back from tragedies that seem unfair to them. During your time of pain try reaching out to those whose heart is also broken. 

PRAYER: I am ever so grateful Lord for things in my life that you used to get me to a higher level and ultimately help others. I ask you to bring comfort to those whose tragedy like the death of a child or sibling seems more than they can handle. Guide these people into a ministry to help others and lift them from their anguish. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

You Have Entered The Twilight Zone



For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8-9

Back in the 60’s a very popular mystery show aired entitled ‘The Twilight Zone’ and I understand there is a spin off show today by same name. In the original, very strange and bizarre things happened that no one could figure out. Very puzzling to say the least and viewers like me tried. 

This is sort of how it is today the past few months with lockdowns, educational institutions closed, churches meeting online, shelter in place, business and entertainment venues closing, cancellation of elective surgeries, and even coffee shops shuttered. It has been like living in the Twilight Zone wondering what was happening and how you could ever escape. Eerie is an understatement. “Wait you can’t tell me to wear a mask I am an American!”

So here you are in month 5 and the saga continues. The ‘curve’ gets better then ‘they say’ that it has spiked so let’s round up the humans and lock them down again. Truly it has felt a bit like living in the Twilight Zone. What do you do while you wait to escape this black hole? First you relax and talk to God. Keep off the news that seems bent on sharing a one sided view of this medical terror. Be kind to people as many have reached a breaking point. Give thanks for freedom and pray it is soon restored without needing to hide the beauty God gave you under a hot mask. Pray for eradication of this monstrous scourge on humanity. And love one another. That’s it.

PRAYER:Lord I am grateful our times are in your hands. Your plans are greater than ours as are your purposes. Help me trust in your miracle healing power to bring a total end to this time we are in fighting a mystery disease. Help me saturate myself in your word and not stories that feed doubt and fear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Can You Be A Blessing Today?

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

There are people you probably encounter each day that need some kindness in their life. You have no idea what someone is going through so don’t be so quick to judge. 

Smile. Be positive. Resist the urge to lash out at someone. Watch those social media posts. Be respectful when you drive your car. Take the high road. Share. Be polite. 

Sometimes human nature wants you to strike back, be ugly, try to win the fight. Is it really that crucial? Go the distance and always try to emulate the Lord Jesus in what you say and do. 

PRAYER:Lord forgive me when I have not been a good witness and struck back with words or even when my mind was thinking thoughts of revenge. That is not the way you desire. I choose to purpose to stay on course and run with you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Today after 16 years in Ardmore,TN this empty nest couple is on a four day journey to our new home in Kuna, Idaho

Do You Need A New Heart?





I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.Ezekiel 36:26-27

Our heart controls our life. It is not just an organ in your body that pumps blood but indeed is the epicenter of everything 

about our life. Do a word study in the Bible about the word heart and you will come away with a valuable treasure trove

of valuable information that will hopefully help steer the course of your life.

The heart is not just about romantic love but it is what guided relationships with all people. Jesus wants to come into your 

heart for when He is officially invited in you can be a brand new person. Do you desire to have Jesus come live in your heart

and guide you into all truth? 

What enters a man’s heart comes out of your mouth. That means what do you feed it on a regular basis? Think about that then 

put the Bible where you can find it and read it daily to purify your heart. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus come into my heart and guide my thoughts and actions. I want to be like you in what I say and do.

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Stand Firm And Hold On!

"But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36)

God is in control my friend. When someone said back in early January we were in the “new

 roaring 20’s” it was quite an understatement! No one really knew at that seemingly calm time what was going to hit hard in mid March. Roaring Twenties indeed! 

So here you are in the midst of what some say is the new normal. I choose to say it is a bump in the road to wake the spiritually lethargic up from the stupor many are in regularly. When the comfort and convenience rug got yanked from beneath ‘we the people’ all control vanished. 

Are you in a daily panic or do you trust God has this and will handle it? Do you live in fear or do you have peace? No one really knows how this all happened but it is here and  God is way bigger than any virus on the face of the Earth. Do you choose to believe that this is NOT the new normal or do you constantly feed negativity with words that are far from hopeful? Maybe in 2020 we are being put in our ‘time out’ chair by God. Hopefully people can be drawn to Christ and not run away. Also never take freedom for granted.

PRAYER: Father this outbreak in our nation and around the world has caused confusion, fear, fighting, and really that is not the answer. Do we trust CDC and scientists or do we put our faith in the great healer and deliverer? In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Laughter IS The BEST Medicine

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.Proverbs 17:22

A hearty ho ho ho is often needed to bring healing and relief to an otherwise dire situation. Belly laughs are good for you. 

My generation grew up with nightly laughing on a host of comical television shows.No autopsies,murders, bedroom scenes, non stop cursing but good wholesome albeit silly humor. Green Acres, I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith and also many shows with mild drama that taught values such as Lassie, Bonanza, My Three Sons. Laughter is proven to be good for the heart, soul, and spirit. 

Our world could certainly use a good dose of clean humor right now to lighten up the mood of all that is upon us. Even at a funeral it is good to lighten the mood with funny stories to make family members remember the good times. There are even jokes in the Bible, here is one, did you know there was baseball in the Bible? John 1:1 says “In the big-inning”. Also cars, Acts 1:14 talks about being in “one Accord”. Ha ha. Ok now so that is a bit of a stretch but go laugh on purpose. Google the words ‘clean comedy’ and see what you find. Spending your time trying to find happiness and joy is sure to make your day brighter.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I love the gift of being able to smile, laugh, and sing songs that lift me out of doldrums of life. I want to be intentional in shining your light and helping bring a smile to someone who is down. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Carrier?





Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV #Biblegateway #Biblegatewayblogger

Most people’s vocabulary in America and the world for that matter has increased since early 2020. Social distance is a new one. Covid itself is new. All this because of a new virus that can cause death. 

Of course many in the nation are in utter panic. Families and friends instead of hugging and meeting together are quarantined alone.It is a lonely time most active Americans are not used to. Are you are carrier? Asymptomatic? Testing for antibodies and the actual Covid has been the order of the day. Sanitizing everything, staying home if sick, avoiding crowds. 

If you want to be a ‘carrier’ of anything how about the love, joy, peace, and grace of Jesus to a confused and hurting world. Instead of being overly focused on the virus concentrate on how you as a child of God and follower of Jesus can be a light in scared world. Now go be a ‘carrier’!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus the times we are living in now are certainly not normal by any means and pray that they never do become normal but instead a bump in the road and also pray for a spiritual awakening of major proportion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.