Author: admin

When He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:4-6

Simon Peter made it seem easy. Jesus told him to do something, so he did it. He and the other (soon to be) disciples didn’t argue, give reasons why they couldn’t, or hesitate until later. Simon simply said, “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Even though They had toiled all night with no results, they still obeyed. Even though they were certainly tired, they still obeyed. Even though they may have doubted, they still obeyed. They didn’t do it partially their way.

They did exactly what Jesus said to do.

I can imagine the nay sayers telling them it was a waste of time or that they might as well quit for now and get some rest. Afterall, why should they bother to go into deeper water and let down the nets after such a long, exhausting, night?

How many times in our own lives have we labored over a thing? How many times have we worked so hard to figure things out and been left completely exhausted after working “all night”? How many times have we tried our way only to lift the net to find it empty?

Jesus is right here, though, giving us simple instructions. “Put out into deeper water and let down the nets.”  His instructions are clear. Sometimes we may have to read and re-read his instructions (The Bible) over and over again and be tuned in to The Holy Spirit until we see it clearly, but it’s right here for us to search, to seek, to find, to meditate.

Then, when breakthrough occurs, as we keep our eyes focused on Him and not the nay sayers, we will find our net full of fish.

When He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:4-6

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Matthew 6:27-34)

In our business, we’re in a season of waiting. At this point it seems like forever. We are waiting & seeking God for answers, wisdom, and provision. The longer we wait, the more I’m tempted to worry. I also tend to try to take matters into my own hands.

Recently, though, as I’ve been seeking God’s word, I re-read my favorite part of Matthew 6. When I got to the scripture “But seek first”, The Lord spoke to me in such a real way. He said “Are you seeking me first or the answer first? Are your eyes on me or the situation? Where do I fit in?”

I felt certain He was saying that it’s great that I’m seeking Him for answers, wisdom, and provision, but am I really placing Him and everything He wants me to do for Him first as I wait?

I guess If He had to ask, the answer would have to be no.

Sometimes we all get caught up in the things of the day. There are so many legitimate and important things in our daily lives we can get focused on that need our attention. There is nothing, though, that is more important than God and forwarding His kingdom. It really put things in perspective and reminded me how small this situation really is. My ultimate focus needs to start and end with “His Kingdom and righteousness.” As I do that, everything else will fall into place just as it should.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:33-34)

God exists.

The devil exists.

The Bible has answers.

Heaven is real.

Hell is real.

Everyone is born in sin. Everyone has a sin nature, or a propensity toward sin.

Sin can start in your thoughts before action is taken

There is no sin bigger or smaller than another.

Sin feels good for a season.

Sin leads to darkness and depression.

Sin can be born from searching for fulfillment and answers.

Sin leads to death.

Hell is real

The devil wants you to live in sin.

The devil wants you to die and go to hell

The devil lies

The devil steals

The devil confuses

The devil devours

The devil is darkness

But

Heaven is real

Jesus loves you.

You can learn about Jesus by reading The Bible

You can accept Jesus into your heart without ever having read the Bible

Jesus is the answer to any question and fills every void.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you.

Jesus wants you to spend eternity in heaven.

You have free will, a choice to make- Righteousness or sin

You will spend eternity in Heaven if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

Jesus loves you

Jesus is hope

Jesus is peace

Jesus is love

Jesus is life

Jesus conquered sin, death, and hell

You can accept Jesus right now

There is a heaven

There is a hell

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

“Lean not on your own understanding.” These words keep running through my mind repeatedly. “Lean not on your own understanding.” I simply can’t get away from that phrase. The next verse says to “submit to Him”.  Submit means to …surrender, relinquish, give it up & lay it down.

The Lord is teaching me that the more I lean on Him and submit, the more room I make for Him to work. He can’t work in my life when I’m holding on too tightly. Sometimes things are simply out of my control and my understanding is limited. God’s understanding is all knowing and all powerful. I guess with that knowledge, why wouldn’t I want to rely on His understanding instead of mine?

So, instead of asking God why & becoming tired of waiting for the answer and then attempting to fix it on my own, I am deciding to… “Lean not on my own understanding and submit to Him.”  It’s time once again for me to let it go and let God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Today, talking to an employee, I told her that while trying to solve a problem, we keep running into a brick wall. Every time we think we have the problem solved, we find it’s not a viable solution and it leads us right back to square one.

Sometimes I feel like I’m running in place while trying to wait for provision and solve this problem. No matter how fast I run, I can’t gain ground. I’m becoming exhausted because I feel like I’m sprinting, but not making any progress.

The light bulb moment…I can’t be waiting on Him and sprinting at the same time. That’s why I keep running into brick walls.

So again, I find myself in a season of waiting. Waiting is one of the most difficult things for me to do. I’m seeking His word, asking for wisdom, doing all I know to do, but there I am still with no answer and no provision for the need that keeps staring me down.

The truth is, in this situation the only thing we can do is wait for God’ provision and God’s perfect timing. It’s going to require real trust that as we wait, He is handling the situation and will provide every step of the way all we need.

Dear Heavenly Father, help to wait patiently and not mess up your plan by getting in the way. Waiting is hard, but I know your solution and provision is perfect.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:25

For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107: 9

There’s a longing- a longing for acceptance, love, happiness, and contentment. People are searching. Their search is the cause of many addictions, lifestyle alternatives, heartbreak, and depression. There’s a void, an emptiness. Trying to fill it becomes a way of life.

But there is hope. There is good news. God sent His son, Jesus, to give life everlasting (John 3:16) and fill the longing, the searching, and the void.

Jesus is my everything. My all in all.  I want everyone to know about Him. The bible, God’s word, has every answer anyone will ever need. He is the key to happiness, contentment, and peace. He loves you and me just as we are. We don’t need to change or become better before we accept Jesus into our hearts. We don’t need to be perfect before attending church. He will take us as is.

No matter how long the search, true peace, contentment and happiness can’t be found without Jesus. He longs to know us and have a relationship with us. Today is the perfect day to ask Jesus to be Lord of your life. Today is the perfect day to open His word, The Bible, and begin reading. Search for Him and He will be found.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. Jeremiah 29:11

We just returned home from a vacation in The Grand Cayman Islands. The water is extremely buoyant because of the very high level of salt in the water.  This means you can basically float without any flotation device at all. It’s amazing. We were all treading water, which really doesn’t take much effort at all. It’s entirely possible to relax without getting exhausted for hours just treading water because you are basically floating.

I noticed my daughter hadn’t realized yet she didn’t need to work so hard to stay afloat. She was toiling. She was working and laboring so hard and looked really exhausted in a very short time. I tried to explain she just needed to completely relax and trust the buoyancy of the saltwater to keep her afloat.

She simply needed to trust and relax.

I noticed after the first day, she finally began to trust the buoyant water enough to relax and allow herself to float without any hard work at all. Her toiling days were over and for the rest of the trip she was totally relaxed. The buoyancy of the water never let her down…not once.

We arrived home after a relaxing week, and I found the list in my head growing bigger and bigger with things that needed to be done. There were a few things I’d been praying for in the way of provision and nothing was happening yet as far as the need. I found myself beginning to toil. I was working hard to try and find a solution in my own strength.

I was already exhausted in a short amount of time just like Maria trying to tread water. The Lord reminded me of my words to Maria… “You simply need to trust and relax.”

I realized I needed to trust God, who has always provided, to meet every need. I needed to stop toiling. I simply needed to trust and relax. My Heavenly Father has never let me down, not once.

Dear Heavenly Father- Thank you for meeting every need according to your riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Help me to relax and trust You knowing you will meet every need the way you desire to meet it and in your timing. Help me to simply trust and relax.

“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is life not more than food and the body more than your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? ‘For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:14-17

It’s easy to take a few steps back. A step back from serving The Lord, a step back from the close relationship experienced with God, and a step back from the fire of The Holy Spirit at work in our lives. I know this because I’ve been guilty.

“Life” comes from every direction. Time is needed to raise kids and care for aging parents. Mourning a loved one’s death is also exhausting as well as all the stresses work can bring. Allowing offense to occupy your mind can also cause a “step back” as well.  

I think now more than ever it’s important to stay in the word as not to drift. It may not seem like much of a drift at first, but it’s kind of like when you are on a raft in the ocean. It may be calm for a while, but even the slightest wind can cause you to drift really far in a short amount of time. When you finally realize how far you’ve gone, you have to work really hard to get back to where you started.

In 2 Timothy it tells us to “continue in what you’ve learned.”… so that we can be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When I looked up the word “equipped” It says…supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose & prepare for a particular situation or task.  

We must be equipped to be to be prepared “for every good work.” 

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to continue in what I’ve learned. Help me to drift toward you through your word, not away. It’s a daily choice & a conscience effort. Help me to make the choice daily.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:14-17

“…fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6

Recently as we were walking around our pond, I noticed it was very stagnant. It hasn’t rained in several days and the lack of wind has caused a cloudy haze along with lingering debris of old leaves and grass clippings in the water. The longer the water remains stagnant, the more susceptible to algae and other bacteria the pond becomes. If algae takes root, before long the whole pond will be covered and the only way to get rid of it is chemical treatment.

I was thinking about allowing stagnation in my own life as a Christian. Other words for stagnant are dull, sluggish, inactive, lethargic, lifeless, and dead. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to become spiritually stagnant. I’m finding in my own life it’s more important than ever to stay in the word, pray, and be present in God’s house. It’s a conscience effort and a daily decision. Some days are easier than others.

I also want to be acutely aware of His presence and guidance. I heard recently that the days ahead are going to be difficult for Christians. So, stagnation is not an option. Stagnation leads to sin, and when sin takes root, it can lead to spiritual death.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for a continued stirring and the mighty wind of The Holy Spirit in my life as a Christian as I strive to remain active and fruitful for your kingdom with an ever-present desire for continued growth. Help me to be fully equipped to serve you and for your flame to burn bright.

Today I’m reminded about Bob. When I met Bob he was unable to speak. He had an aggressive form of dementia. He was only about 58. Every Sunday Bob’s wife would bring him to our Wedgewood Worship. He and his wife loved The Lord. They met in Sunday School. This particular Sunday was an extra special worship time.

I could feel the presence of The Holy Spirit in a very powerful way.

Bob came every Sunday to worship, but I never knew how much understanding or connection he felt because of his disease. This particular Sunday, I saw Bob just smiling ear to ear in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was an experience I will never forget. I knew Bob was seeing angels. They were preparing him for Heaven. How did I know? I didn’t see the angels myself, but I was certain beyond a shadow of a doubt He was smiling in the presence of God’s Angels.

I knew that was the last Sunday I would see Bob. Through the witness of the Holy Spirit in that Holy moment, I experienced something powerful and amazing…A man getting ready to go to Heaven.

After the service I told Randy we would no longer see Bob because he was going to heaven before next Sunday. Sure enough, That Friday night Bob went to be with Jesus. I’m thankful for Bob. I’m thankful for The Holy Spirit of God. I’m thankful no words or human understanding is needed to experience God.

(Originally written February, 2020)

When you’ve been hurt by someone you loved and trusted, hurt can easily turn to anger. If left untreated, anger turns to bitterness. Holding on tight to bitterness is like holding on tightly to a heavy weight. The longer you hold the weight, the heavier it feels. You find yourself with white knuckles, holding on to offense for dear life.

What would it be like to let go of the past? After all, if you let go and give it to God, aren’t you just letting the person get away with hurting you? Shouldn’t the person have to pay for the hurt they caused? Why should they be allowed to get away with offending?

In Ephesians, we are told to let it go. Let go of the hurt. Let go of the anger. Let go of the offense. Let go of the weight. 

Not only do we need to let it go, we also need to be kind and compassionate. Wow! That seems tough! How can we show kindness and compassion to someone who has caused hurt? In Luke we are told to do good, bless, and pray.

The Bible, God’s instruction book, doesn’t give instruction without The Holy Spirit giving the ability to follow through. The first step is to say it out loud. “I forgive.” When we say the words out loud, the rest will follow. Isn’t it time to let go? Don’t let bitterness become a noose around your neck!

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28