That Is Why

 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 9:12

It is inevitable, but we will always face hardships while we are here on this earth.  Regardless, we must come to a place in our relationship with Christ where we can truly open our hearts and minds to receive all that He has in store for us.

Our children are growing up way too fast but on rare occasions, our youngest will let us comfort him with a reassuring hug. (Both of our sons are in high school, so the displays of affection are few and far between.)  Just like a child finding comfort in his/her parent's arms, we too must seek our Father with that same child-like faith and determination.

We must also let our guards down and simply allow Jesus into our hearts to do the work only He can do.  Little by little, Jesus can turn our weaknesses into strengths through His transforming power and grace.

Have peace knowing that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from His presence!

Born of Frustration

 

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

Working in sales, I have experienced some high-highs and some low-lows over the past 26 years of my career path.  Just last year our team exceeded our sales goals before the Q3.  From August until December, things were just busy, stressful, and the last few months of 2025 just flew by, and while difficult and often times tiresome, we finished the year on a high note as a team.

Much the same, I truly believe that the reason God allows us to experience trials and sorrow in our lives is so that we might learn that He has the power to sustain and provide for us all things that produce earthly blessings.  All of God’s children go through storms in their journeys through life.

We must remember that it is while we are in the “ going through” stages of any crisis or trial that God’s peace becomes clear to all.  Praise be to God!

Better Days

 

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Just a few days into this new year, I felt the need to offer some words of encouragement to a few family members, friends, and neighbors who are most certainly looking forward to better days ahead.  I have been able to find some solace in the above passage from Jeremiah since my mother's passing so many years ago.  In addition to giving me peace and comfort, this verse has also helped me to better understand just how much God loves each and every one of us, even when the world seems to be falling apart.

When things aren't going the way that we would chose to have them, many people grow angry with God and view him as this angry and rigid deity that is just watching and waiting to zap us with misfortune.  This misconception couldn't be any further away from the truth about our Father.  You see, God loves is and only wants good things for each of us.  He not only wants us to have a bright future with him eternally in heaven, but also in this life as well.

When we recognize His goodness in our everyday lives, we begin to understand and believe that He really does love us and wants the very best for us, which ultimately provides us with a hope that sustains us.  God is good all the time, all of the time God is good!

New Year's Day

 

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23

Life is constantly full of new and fresh beginnings and how we approach them makes all of the difference in the world.  We can sometimes face new beginnings with anxiety and sometimes even complacency.  Looking back at 2025, it was a great year but I can honestly say that I am eager and hopeful to welcome a new year and one that I hope and pray is even better than the last. 

We must remember that each new day/new year presents a whole new series of opportunities, including opportunities to fall in love with God more deeply and to know him better.  When we remain positive and ‘begin again’  with the right attitude, it will impact our relationship with others and effect the people in our lives.

God’s mercy towards us is new every day, despite what we have done or not done the day before and regardless of how we have treated him or others.  This frees us from the burdens of yesterday’s failures and regrets to live the lives that God intended for us to live.

Happy New Year and may you and your loved ones be blessed in 2026!!

I Will Follow

 

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.  Ephesians 2:10

The past few days, our family has worked on getting rid of stuff we no longer use nor want (or have the room for in our home)-stuff the boys no longer play with and several clothing items that we no longer wear any more.  Many of our items are still in good shape and will be donated to a local ministry.  As we quickly approach the end of 2025 and approach the beginning of a new year,  it’s time to let go of the past, remove the ‘junk’ out of our lives, and walk closer with God in the year to come.

You see, the closer we grow to God, the more we fully become our  “true selves.”  Just like old clothing or dated fashion, our old selves are in the past and we are deemed a new creation by our loving Father.  We are each created as individuals-one of a kind, and the path that we are needs to remain a straight line towards God.

Let us rejoice in our journey towards God in the days to come and enjoy the intimate communion with our Father that loves us more than we can possibly comprehend.

Even in the Quietest Moments

 

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.  Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  Matthew 6:6

I sometimes have a hard time finding quiet moments to spend alone with God.  It’s hard with two young men (ages 18 and 15) around and especially during the hustle and bustle of each work day.  To make matters worse, I really dig music and very rarely have the discipline enough to turn the stereo off when I am driving in the car, so I always feel somewhat distracted. 

One of the characteristics of Jesus is that He would often go off to be alone to pray, especially after performing miracles or teaching a group of disciples.  He was onto something and we all should make the time to spend quiet moments alone with God.

God's voice is often hard to hear and discern through all of the noise and distractions of this world.  We must give Him our time, focus, and undivided attention, just as Jesus did.

The Rising

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

Today marks the sad anniversary of the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001, and life as we knew it here in the United States was forever changed.  It’s hard for me to fathom what the grieving families and friends of the victims of the terrorist attacks are still feeling on this sad anniversary.  Their day probably began like any other, but unfolded into a nightmare by mid-morning.  By the time news of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center had gained national media attention, a second plane crashed into the second tower and frightening reality that our nation was under attack began to sink in.

I was in New York City for a concert two weeks prior to September 11th.  The highlight of my trip was taking a tour to the top of the World Trade Center and the seeing the utterly amazing view of the city.  Less than a week later, I watched the horrific events of that day unfolding and people jumping to their death, I felt broken, helpless, shaken, and scared; were the people I saw when I was in the World Trade Center still in the building when the planes crashed?  For weeks, I mourned the loss of innocent lives and remained glued to the television every night as the rescue efforts continued.  I was depressed, angry, and confused during those dark and dreaded days.  The only bit of hope and security that I had at that time, was in reading my Bible, specifically the above passage from Romans.

Our world is an uncertain and always changing place.  Many people seek security in material possessions, wealth, affluence, relationships, and power.  Regardless, none of these things are guaranteed from one day to the next.  The events that took place on September 11, 2001 provide proof that any of those things can be taken from us in a matter of seconds.

For believers, even during chaotic times, we can rest assured that nothing can tear us away from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Today, as we remember the brave men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the United States, let us also remember where we can find true security.  Place your hope and confidence in the solid rock of Jesus.