The Sun is Always Shining

The Son is Always Shining
When I caught a hold of this teaching, my life was changed. I don't have to work within my own power to be a Christian.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that live but Christ in me.
The clouds block the sun light. Some clouds are darker than others. When the clouds are removed the sun shines brightly.
There are clouds in my life. I just need to get rid of the clouds and allow Jesus to shine through me.

I Want

"I shall not want." What happens if the word want becomes the word WANT? And the word WANT becomes, "I HAVE TO HAVE IT!" And "I HAVE TO HAVE IT" becomes, "I'll do anything to get what I want."
Is want ever satisfied? Can it ever be quenched? Does want want more and more? Can the beast of want ever be tamed? When it turns into a monster can it be destroyed or will it continue to grow out of control? How much destruction will it leave in its path?
Happy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire.

+Personal

Fiction Found in the Bible

One fiction story is told in the Bible. The protagonist is Nathan. The antagonist is David.

The story starts off with Nathan speaking. "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.” (Can’t you feel the love and see the kids playing with the lamb?) 

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."
(Your feeling probably have switched to hatred for the rich man.)

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!  He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." 

Here is where the plot changes. Nathan says to David, “YOU ARE THE MAN!”

What a revelation. Can you see the face of David dropping from anger to confusion to fear? David is busted. His secret affair and murder is revealed through a fiction story. 

The Real One

An acid smell of putrid coal lingers in the air and inflames her throat and nostrils, stinging her eyes. Handkerchief over her mouth and nose, she walks through the thick blanketing haze, discarding her 3rd cigarette for the morning on the cement, leaving the smolder unseen by those uncaring individuals. The great smog of London in 1952 seeped into the lungs and extinguished the lives of over 12,000 people.
Grateful for her last step, Sharon finally reaches her one bedroom apartment, but even as she opens the door the smog seems to invade her room in an haze, dark and sinister cloud. A report like gun fire sounds as a train passes near by and spills the alcohol she is pouring into a glass.She feels like a bird in a oil spill unable to save herself from her destructive life style.
She sees the small Bible  on her desk given to her by a friend. She slowly opens it expecting words of correction to leap off the page and slam her against the wall. Instead Jesus stands in front of her and with precious moments eyes, looking deep within her soul. He bypasses the smell of alcohol breath and speaks to her inner being. No Judgment.
She covers her emotional and physical abuse scares. He gently takes her hands and moves it away from the pain. She allows His light to shine in the agony of her distress. She hugs the Bible attempting to become one with it.

Peak a Boo

When my 1 year old daughter, Aliah or 2 year old granddaughter, Raina wants to become invisible they put their hands over their faces. We can usually get them out of their moods by saying, "Where did Aliah go? or Where did Raina go?" It becomes a game.

When Jonah ran from God and tried to become invisible it was no game. God went after him. I suspect Jonah had good intentions.

The people God wanted Jonah to speak to was not good people. In today's world he could have been told to go to ISIS. Nineveh caused Israel a lot of problems.

I think that if Jonah had an all out attack of rebellion God wouldn't have worked in his life. In the end the Heavenly Will was accomplished through a strange situation.

Turned Back

They were sent in to check out the land. Ten came back with bad reports; two came back with good reports. Majority won out. That land was their goal for many years, now their curse. What did the people expect about the promise? Whatever went through their heads was a falsehood and created a erronious visual effect. "Turn back," commanded God. Millions would travel back in time and come forward in disgrace. They would never see the promised destination.
They would travel back to the place where it all began, in their disappointment. Their first victory was when the Egyptian army was destroyed. At the Red Sea Moses's sister, Miriam sang a song of praise. She was the Israelite's first Worship Leader.We don't see another worship service at the Sea.
Why the Red Sea? God didn't say why, he just said go. They would all die in the wilderness without seeing the promise land. Their children would experience what was promised to them.They would all die in the Wilderness.
They were encamped for several weeks, looking at the expected land. What went through their minds as they waited for, "The Report?" Excitement of actually entering the Promise land must of kept the spirits high. Then the day came. The report came. Disappointment exploded in every corner of the camp.
"Go back!" What? The grumbling must of been horrible. Their gait at a crawl as they turned their backs on the land they drooled over. Unlike when they were traveling towards the promise.
Two men, Caleb and Joshua, brought back positive reports. They would suffer along with the people and return to the start of the journey. They would be forced to go back forty years. They would have time to dream: to enter the land one day. "Give me that mountain," went through Caleb's heart until he made it a reality forty years down the road.
 As I think of this story I'm reminded to look forward in faith. I've suffered backwards walking with the Lord in my past. He took me around a mountain until, by faith, I saw what was real - His promise. Complaining and grumbling took me backwards; faith took me forward. I'm making a declaration to reject the negative reports of the promise and to proclaim the good of the Lord.

Rapture

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:20-21).
We woke up this morning to another red moon. A blood red moon, the second in a series of four that will occur over a two year period (2014 & 2015), will be visible in the United States.
I'm reminded that Jesus is coming soon. It could be today. I enjoyed the movie, "Left Behind." It raptured in me Bible Prophecy.

Fire on the USS Joseph Hewes

The ship was taking rolls and I had to watch my balance. I held onto the counter. The "battle station" alarm was a routine in our ship board life. When we heard, "Battle stations, battle stations, all hands man your battle stations," each sailor headed to his assigned area. It was a drill in speed. It didn't matter what you were doing, you dropped everything, even Z's, and headed to your battle station. 

I heard the alarm and as usual I ran to my area, securing doors behind me. My place was the galley, which was good because if I got hungry I could eat. Well not today. 

After several minutes men dressed in breathing masks rushed into our area. A person lifted his mask to tell us to follow them. His tone was urgent. My heart began to pound. We followed the group of men to a more secure position. Sailors were scrambling in every direction. One of the strongest rules we were taught was just violated. We had to stay in our own battle station. Something was horribly wrong. 

A sailor stopped long enough to say one dreadful word: "FIRE"

My entire life flashed in front of me. Would I see my family again? Would I be burned alive? I remembered my training in fire fighting. One of the worst things that can happen to a ship at sea was fire and we had a shipboard fire. We were told we were moved because the fire originated below the galley.

It seemed like time stood still. I can remember it right now as it just occurred. My life all of a sudden took on a new significance.

I think of Galations 2:20 when I look back on that day and those moments. When I was faced with death I had a different outlook upon life. It was like taking a picture and putting a black background behind it. The picture stood out. My life stood out that day. "I have been put to death with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." That verse was made real for me in the possibility of death. What if I lived as though I were dead? My life would be highlighted. I would live differently.

Smell, Taste, Hearing, Touch & Sight

3.
Smell - The sweet smell made her mouth water, and her stomach growled in anticipation.
Taste - Children like fruit juice because of the sweet taste.
Hearing - The voice he dreaded hearing finally spoke.
Touch - I tried to touch a hand rail next to me but I couldn't get up.
Sight - "I thought bees were attracted by sight and smell," I said.

4. When I apply this lesson my readers can experience my writing. It can help them identify with what I'm trying to convey. And most important they will long remember what I'm writing.

Christmas Vacation

The smell of chlorine greets us as we open the door to the pool. Kids scatter, the older to the 210 foot raft water slide, the younger to the swallow area. Water rushes into a 160 gallon dumping bucket. Kids scream and scramble when it releases its cargo. Kids laughing and splashing can be heard as the bucket uprights itself and refills. I step into the hot tub and sit next to the whirlpool jet. I relax and pick up my bottle of water. I allow the cool water to linger in my mouth.

Old Meridian Bridge

The sun appeared to be crashing into the Missouri River as I began my walk across the Old Meridian Bridge. Zoom! I looked and saw an approaching speed boat. The smell of fresh rain lingered in the air. I was refreshed by taking a drink of my lemon water. The railing was still moist from the shower as I took a hold of it while ascending the bridge.

Flower Garden

Song of Solomon 4:16

Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden that its fragrance may spread abroad.

I cherish my childhood memories of flower gardens. Mom’s friends displayed back yard works of love. Fresh spring bursted in the air as gently breeze influenced the plants. Time seemed to stand still as color filled our senses like a crayon on a page. We drank in life. The bird chirped. The squirrels played. And I write this today with the aroma filling my senses once more.

God looks upon His garden. Who is the garden? -those who belong to Him in Christ Jesus. Song of Solomon gives us a glimpse into the heart of God. He created the plant, the aroma and the wind. I was only an observer.

2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

The Dream

           The sun greeted them as they sat on the lush green grass. The hill side was full of happy, content people. They talked to each other, smiled at one another and enjoyed the scenery. They were in their own world. Peace and quiet filled the hillside. It was a perfect day, or so it seemed.
            As I watched them I relaxed deeper into my own world. I saw contentment and comradery. I soaked it in. I wanted to become part of the community.
            My attention was moved to a commotion not far from the peaceful hillside. It happened in the valley. It grew into a small disturbance. A fence came into focus, one that I hadn't seen when I sat down on the hillside. It captured my attention; my eyes were locked onto it. I wondered what was on the other side of the fence. I wouldn't have long to wait.
            As I was mesmerized by the scene, a bus came rolling down the valley, crashing through the fence. I was paralyzed. I couldn't or didn't want to change my view. I didn't think of the people on the hillside, who were temporarily unaffected with the busted down fence. I watched and realized I was seeing a prison.
            All of a sudden men in orange jump suits poured out of the bus and overtook the guards. My fixation was strengthened as I watched a massive amount of convicts flooding the hillside through the knocked down fence. I was being entertained and I liked it. A movie was playing in front of me. I was on the front seat and had all the benefits of surround sound. I felt someone yelled, "Action!" and at the right time he would yell, "Cut!"
            When observation turned to participation, reality hit me. No one was going to yell, "Cut!" This was real! I heard screams. I saw the faces of the people. They were my family. They were my friends. They were my community. The sounds combined with the carnage, assaulted my senses. Adrenaline was shooting darts through my bloodstream. I couldn't take it anymore. I was in danger. I ran.
            I entered the next scene - a dark city. I found myself walking down vacant streets. I was lonely and cold. My mind overrode my heart, convincing me of the correctness of my decision to run. With my mind in control I stayed in the darkness. I roamed the dim alleys. I smelled the stench. I was alone.
            My heart won out and I returned to the hillside. The bus was gone. The convicts were gone. I became sick. Anger took front seat on the ride I was on. I saw people lying in pools of blood. Some were barely sitting up, others were lying down. There were open wounds on faces, arms and legs. White bandages covered the people. Groans of the hurting filled the air. The peaceful green hillside was now a river of blood. Upon that slope were those I knew. They looked at me, my undamaged condition. I sat there guilty. I sunk into despair. Darkness covered us, refusing the sun to shine on the once lush hillside.
            I woke up. I instantly knew the message of the dream. Over the years this dream has directed my mind towards my heart. I gained a deep respect for life and the Giver of the dream. In a world that has instant news, I had to enforce compassion into my thought process. God did not want me to sit in my chair with a coke and popcorn in my hand, watching the nightly news like some kind of entertainment.
            That night God elevated life onto my large screen. When I elevate the dream's message to its proper position:  I evoke compassion instead of emotionless observation, and I pray for people instead of just watching news. 
In the last sentence and replace "I" with "you" and you will become involved.

Escalator on a Carrier

     USS Kitty Hawk anchored off the shores of Perth Australia. I was assigned tour guide to Australians wanting to see the air craft carrier. I thought a six story escalator would be fun for these eager Aussies. I had forgotten that while in port the escalator is shut off. The group still wanted to climb the stairs.  The group ascended and descended faster from a powerless staircase. (In port the escalator is shut off.) The faster backwards it went the faster forward we ran. Like a hamster on a spinning wheel we made quite a spectacle. I made it to the top and viewed the scene: A huge pile up.

     We discovered that a powerless escalator had only one way up –one-by-one. The Australians were smiling as they climbed the escalator. Jesus told us there was only one way to heaven and He was the way. We can smile on our way to heaven with Jesus as our Captain. 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)

War Within Self

Some days feel like all out war - even having nightmares of being over taken by cats.  I'm reading a devotional book that was written for our men in uniform during World War Two.  One particular devotion said in order to stop war we must stop fighting for what "I" want.  It took me to the 23rd Psalm - I SHALL NOT WANT.  Why? Because He is my Shepherd.  OK then, I'll allow myself to be broken while warfare goes around me and seek what He wants.  Will this stop the flying debris?  No, but I'll enter the eye of the storm and be at total peace. 

Raising a Modern-Day Knight

From the book: Raising a Modern-Day Knight

by Robert Lewis

Manhood:
Don’t Let Your Son Leave Home without it

Sam Rayburn was arguably the most powerful politician in America. Sam remained Speaker of the House for many years.

Later in life he was asked about his most memorable moment. He said it occurred at a railroad station in East Texas.

On this particular day in 1900, Sam’s Dad had hitched the buggy and driven his 18-year old son to town. The boy was going off to college and would be leaving the family farm. Father and son quietly waited for the train. Sam’s suitcase, some clothes bundled with a rope, lay at his feet.

Then when the train arrived and Sam was prepared to board, his father reached out and placed a fistful of dollars into his hand. Twenty-five dollars. Sam never forgot that, he talked about that twenty-five dollars the rest of his life.

“Only God knows how he saved it. We earned only enough to live. I often wondered what he and my mother gave up and sacrificed.”

With tears in his eyes, Sam turned to board the train. Again his father reached out and grasped his hands. The four words he spoke would echo forever in the boy’s memory. He said, simply, “Sam, be a man!”

Life You've Always Wanted

by John Ortberg

My comments: Dallas Willard notes that spiritual disciplines can be placed in two categories - disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence.

Engagement - involve my intentionally doing certain things: worship, study, fellowship and giving.

Abstinence - involve my intentionally refraining from doing things: fasting, solitude, and silence.

If my problem is something I'm doing then strengthen my abstinence muscles and vice versa.

Life You've Always Wanted

From the book by John Ortberg

When people look at a Christian do they say, "Wow! I didn't know that a life could look like that."

This is the "pearl of great value" of which Jesus spoke, for which any sensible person would sell everything.

If my problem is that I am doing something I ought not to do, I need to practice a discipline that strengthens my not-doing muscles.

Weekly Bulletin

Emotional Development of Children by Focus on the family

1. Be purposeful in guiding your child's emotional life. Focus intentionally on his emotional needs. These needs are just as important as his cognitive, physical and spiritual needs.

2. Build a strong bond by spending quality time with your child. Experts agree that parents who interact regularly with their children beginning in infancy develop stronger bonds.

3. Stay emotionally in tune. Connect with your child on an emotional level. Attempt to understand what she is feeling. When she is happy, be happy for her; when she is sad, cry with her.

4. Model healthy emotional relating. Your children will mimic the way you handle emotions and the way you relate to others. By managing your own emotions in a positive way, your children will learn to do so as well.

5. Teach children how to handle negative emotions. Doing this well does not come naturally. Children need to be taught how to handle defeat, deal with conflict or be angry in a healthy way. Children who are taught these skills early are better able to handle negative feelings as adults.

Frog & Toad Story

In the Children’s Book Frog & Toad Together, two central characters discover the limits of mere trying when Frog bakes a batch of cookies. “We ought to stop eating,” they say, as they keep eating. “We must stop,” they resolve, as they eat some more. “We need willpower,” Frog finally says, grabbing another cookie.

“What is willpower?” asks Toad, swallowing another mouthful. “Willpower is trying very hard not to do something you want to do very much,” Frog says.

Frog discusses a variety of ways to help with willpower—putting the cookies in a box, tying the box shut, putting it high up in a tree—but each time Toad points out (in between bites) that they could climb the tree and untie the box. In desperation, Frog finally dumps the remaining cookies outside on the ground: “Hey, birds!” he calls, “Here’s cookies!”

“Now we have no more cookies,” says Toad sadly.

“Yes,” says Frog, “but we have lots and lots of willpower.”

“You may keep it all,” Toad replies. “I’m going home to bake a cake.”