Author: ray

Do you ever have a time when you really don’t know what to say?  Well Jason is living it up in D.C. and I am here in Chattanooga, and well I don’t know what to say.  I don’t feel inspirational, feel like I have some great thought, you know I think we have just hit the dog days of summer.  I don’t really know where that came from but I think these are the days that only dogs could like.

Do you ever feel that way with God?  Just don’t know what to say, nothing great to come out of your mouth, feel as only a dog could like you?  Well, we don’t have to worry about that, check this verse:

Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

 ²⁶In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. It’s ok if we don’t know what to say, we have an intercessor!  Wwhether you feel inspriational, don’t know what to say, or just feel ashamed of yourself, God already knows and hears you.  Have a great day!

So this week I have learned how to play Chess, I know it is a bit late in life to learn how to play but I have finally gotten around to it. (Thanks to my lovely wife Marti) I never realized what a strategic thinking game it is, I get so wrapped up in one sequence of moves that I do not see a completely different sequence that leads to my ultimate demise. Do you think this is the way Satan was defeated? Satan was so focused on the death of Christ that he failed to see it was leading to his ultimate defeat. PRAISE GOD!

Matthew 28
The Resurrection
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Have a great Friday and live with joy, Christ won the ultimate victory!

Yesterday I went to Jason’s house to check on his garden while he is away at the beach. After scaring Peter Cottontail away, I was overwhelmed with the amount of Red in the plants. The harvest was plentiful but I was all alone! I spent the next half hour harvesting one by one….big tomatoes, medium tomatoes, and small tomatoes from the plants. It reminded me of these verses:

Matthew 9:35-38 (New International Version)

The Workers Are Few
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Opportunites abound today, the harvest is ripe for the picking. Get out there and empty the tomato plants, don’t be intimidated by the volume, just harvest them one at a time!

Jason if off this week on the beach hopefully avoiding the tarballs.  Hope he enjoys his week away from work and with the family.   This weekend I had to do something I had not done for 2 weeks, that’s right, mow the yard.  It is always the thrill of my Saturday to get out and mow (insert sarcasm here).  Saturday as I dragged myself out of bed, I knew there was no putting it off, I must go mow.  So, as thrilled as I was I got out and starting mowing, I went for it and about 15 minutes in I stepped on a nail.  Yes all the way through my shoe and punctured my foot (tetanus booster here I come).  After checking the damage back to mowing I went, 15 more minutes in I ran into one of the “nicest” creatures alive, the yellowjacket.  After several stings and a funny looking dance by me, I got the gasonline and lighter and took care of the yellowjacket hole  (only crispy yellowjackets left in my yard).  This got me thinking, shouldn’t a Christian’s life be better, shouldn’t the nail bend under my step instead of going into my foot?  Shouldn’t the yellowjacket fly the opposite direction because I am one of God’s elect?  No, that is not the way God intended.  Check this verse:

John 16:33 (New International Version)

 ³³” In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Yes that is right, we will have problems but Jesus has overcome.  He also tells us this:

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

More Than Conquerors

 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,^[a] who^[b] have been called according to his purpose. So today whether the birds and squirrels smile and wave or peck your head and bite your ankle know that Jesus has overcome and you have a better reward awaiting you after this life!

I know everyone was looking forward to some encouraging words from Jason this morning but I am afraid you have to settle for me this morning. Jason is in beautiful Pigeon Forge today with the BBS middle school band and I know he is having a blast! I shall do my best to provide some daily thoughts for you today.

On Monday I had the pleasure of working 7-4 so my wife could make visit to the dentist. I met her at the office and brought all the kiddos home. As I made the turn to come down the street something out of the ordinary caught my eyes. It couldn’t be, oh but it was, my mailbox…in the middle of my front yard. That isn’t where it should be, it should be by the street, I thought to myself. Well I parked the car and went and got my mail and mailbox in. Someone had hit the mailbox and driven away, I was angry! I went in, posted a facebook status (yes I am that nerdy), and then looked up the sherriff’s office number. Yes I wanted justice, I wanted revenge!

Well about the time I was getting ready to call to report this injustice a knock on the front door came. A father with his son came to take responsiblity and took my broken mailbox to fix it. A father came to help his son who had made a mistake fix his problem.

Wednesday night we talked about grace at church. Grace the thing that I have but do not deserve. God freely gives it to me (and you) and neither of us deserves it. God has every right to get justice, revenge, to give us what we deserve but that isn’t the way he works. He gives grace and love, He wants to help us fix our problem.

I am thankful that my Father is there to help me and provide grace and not like me wanting justice and revenge. Today let’s be thankful for the grace and love our Father has given us!

Romans 5
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.