Power outages

We had a huge wind storm yesterday. The gusts reached over 70 miles an hour in some spots.We usually lose power wheni t gets windy, but thankfully we didn't this time. Others were not as fortunate. A lot lost power. Driving home from work last night(12:30am) I saw some crews out,and at breakfast this am., I saw some come in to eat. They were either working all night, or getting an early start. These are the real heroes. Doing really thankless, dangerous work,tying to get people up and running again.I'm so thankful for them. It takes a lot for the powere to go out sometimes. In my walk with The Lord I have to be careful not to let "the power" go out. It can happen pretty easily if I neglect Him,get lazy in my Bible reading/devotions, get"too busy" to give Him proper place and attention.Proverbs says it best:"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your need come in like a robber, and your want like an armed man".(I apply that spiritually)Lord, help me to be consistant in my walk with you.

Game Piece

I bought a box of cat food the other day. They are giving away some prizes and cash,and on the box it said that there was a game piece inside.I opened the box, no game piece. I dumped all the cat food out, and sorted through it, no game piece. False advertising. Very dissapointing.How much worse though, when I claim to be a Jesus follower, and my actions and/or words don't back it up. False advertising. A much worse form than no game piece in a box of cat food. Lord, forgive me for those times that I was a false advertiser of who You are to me. Help me to be true in EVERY way.

The Birds

The place where I get my birdseed ran out this week. I got some today. The lady who waits on me all the time said"I can't believe all the people who came in yesterday ,looking for birdseed"(We knew it was coming in then). She added"I can't believe how many people feed the birds".Jesus said that the birds don't worry about food, our Heavenly Father feeds them. Could it be that He uses all of us,including me, who has absolutely nothing to offer Him,to feed His birds? I believe it.That's so cool of Him! Can He also use me for some of His other purposes? FOR SURE! Lord, help me to be ready,AND WILLING when you call.

Report Cards

I remember getting our report cards in grammar school. Sometimes they would get one of the parish priests to come and hand them out.He would call your name, and open up your report card in front of whole class and look at it. It better have been good, or else he would embarass you in front of the whole class,especially if the conduct (misbehaving) mark was bad. Pretty cruel, looking back on it. I hope that's not how they do it today. When I come to the judgement day,the books will be opened, and my"report card" will be looked at by the Righteous Judge. He won't embarass me,He'll welcome me home, and dispense any rewards I may have coming. Lord, help my life to honor You,so I can take those rewards and lay them at Your feet.

The Fab 4

1964. I remember it well. I was 6 years old. The Beatles.Man, they were great,took the country by storm.What a sound,so different,unique for that time. Their music made you feel good, happy.Without a doubt,the greatest band of all tme, EVER. The Fab 4 they were called. I know of another Fab 4. Matthew,Mark, Luke, John,the gospel writers. They recorded the words, and chronicled the life of the greatest man ever to set His feet on the earth.The Gospels,chock full of Jesus,showing us what God is like, instructing us how to live,showing us what love is,and how to flesh it out. I'm happy the Fab 4 came here from England and left us their music. I'm thankful the other "Fab 4" followed Him,and recorded it, so I can follow Him, too.

How can they prove THAT?

No two snowflakes are alike. Who said that? How can they prove it? Billions and ga-zillions of snowflakes have fallen since the beginning of time(one is too many for me),and no two are alike? C'mon, how can that ever be proven? I have to take it on faith that it is true.There are many things in my walk with The Lord that I have to take on faith. Forgiveness for one. To think that His death on the cross was payment for all of my sins,and when I screw up now, and ask for His forgiveness, and HE DOES FORGIVE ME,takes faith.I can't prove that my sins are forgiven, I can't prove that Jesus forgives me now when I ask,but by FAITH, I BELIEVE IT,I ACCEPT IT,in fact, I STAKE ETERNITY ON IT.

Show and Tell

I really don't remember it at school,show and tell.We were supposed to bring something in,and then tell about it.I'm sure we did it,I'm pretty sure they still do it today,I just don't remember ever taking anything to school for it,or even having it at all.I heard a minister say that Christianity is a "Show and Tell" religion.You have to show people what Jesus is like, THEN you can tell others about Him. I don't know who said this but it is so true: "It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk".AMEN.Lord, please help my life back up my words.

Boots,Hattie,and the BIG BIG snow

It was a Thursday,a few years ago, 7 I think. It started snowing, it didn't stop for a long time.3 feet!Our outdoor cats,Boots and Hattie weren't in the garage where they spend most of the winter. They were out in all that snow. I shoveled a path for them over to the house next door which they go underneath sometimes. No sign of them. Overnight 4 more feet of snow! 7 feet,I measured it myself. No sign of Boots and Hattie. I was afraid they were holed up somewhere and unable to get out. I shoveled till I thought my arms would fall off,and walked and shoveled in hip deep snow all the way across the street to another garage,calling the boys to come home. Nothing.I called my mother and asked her to pray. I could hear the concern in her voice as she said she would for sure.Friday came and went,we had to walk to the store because we couldn't get off the street.They actually had the National Guard come in and remove some of the snow.On the way to the store a neighbor said that if Boots and Hattie don't come home soon,they may never. I knew he was right.My mother called to check on the boys, but I had no news for her. In going across the street,I had managed to trudge a little path(along with shoveling) back to the house. It was around 8pm Friday night,I was out shoveling the cars out.I looked up and I saw them,Boots and Hattie! They were in the street,coming from across it.I called to them,they came to me,and I hugged them all over and kissed them and cried tears of thankfulness to God for bringing them home.I went in and annouced the news,and immediately called my mother. She was SO HAPPY.I truly believe that her prayers were INSRUMENTAL in bringing Boots and Hattie home. How fitting that her last words to me were"PRAY".I do,mom,and I will,as long as The Lord gives me breath. THANKS.

ABBA The Music

My bride and the Woppinger sisters went to see ABBA The Music a couple years ago. They were a band that performed the music of ABBA.They dressed liked them,talked like them, and most importantly,sounded JUST LIKE them.I remember closing my eyes and thinking that it was just like being at a real ABBA concert.It was amazing, almost a perfect imitation.Can I be that close to imitating Jesus to those that I come in contact with? I try.If I can come nearly as close as this band did in imitating my favorite group,then He will be pleased.Even a glimpse of HIM in me...Lord, let it be!

No time

"I just don't have any time".I don't know how many times I've said it ,or heard other people say it.It really is a bunch of hooey. If something is important enough,I'll make the time for it.It's a matter of prioritizing.I hear it a lot about praying, getting alone with God. "I'm too busy,I just can't fit that alone time with Him in".It is hard, I know. One way that helps me is leaving the radio off as I drive, and pray instead,talk to my heavenly Father. Of course, since I am unable to drive and pray(as well as walk and chew gum) at the same time, I have to wait for lights to turn red.But it can be done.The alone time with Him is VITAL in my walk,be it in the car,kitchen,shower,wherever. I'm not busy 24 hours a day,(boring yes,busy, no)certainly I can find some time for Jesus. In fact, I MUST.

"We were trying"

I remember a ball game we played many years ago. We were ahead going into the bottom of the last inning, but we kicked the game away,we lost. There were a few errors in that inning, I know I made one, I think it was my ninth or tenth of the game.Afterwards, our coach hollared at us for screwing up and blowing the game.We alrady felt badly,and that didn't help.I remember someone saying"Hey,we were trying".I'm thankful that The Lord isn't like our coach.He knows that I'm trying, and doesn't yell or condemn when I screw up,which is thousands upon thousands of times.On the contrary,He says: "Come to me,I'll forgive you,just ask Me".Thank you Lord, that you know me so well, and love me anyway.Ps. The kindergarten kids have an "I Can Tie My Shoe Club" in their classroom. I have been practicing really hard, and hope to take the test for membership in this club very soon.

Customer Service

I had to take our car in for a brake job. I went to a place where I have gone before,but when I went in I recieved very poor customer service. They seemed almost bothered that I was there, and didn't even try to accomodate me with a request I asked of them. I left. Took my business elsewhere. It got me thinking about my "customer service".I come in contact with many "customers" during my day.My job is to reflect Jesus out to them. Do I scare them off, and/or do they go elsewhere because of my indifference,or lack of concern?Lord,may that not be said of me,that I gave poor customer service to my fellow man. Help me to go "the extra mile" for them,and for YOU.