Category: Daily Post

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Stuck

Yesterday a good friend on mine was traveling back to his home is Nashville and was temporarily unable to find any passage through to his home.  He posted on Facebook that he was stuck, cut off from his home.

My mind is that way this morning, stuck and unable to work out some of the thoughts that are floating around in there.  I am really still debating this whole concept in Luke 14, about what it means to be willing to give up anything for the cause of Christ.  More and more I am realizing those are not just empty words – expect to see a more crystallized thought on this topic in the future ( no promises as to when!)

Anyway, my friend was eventually able to find a back road that was “safe” to travel and made it to his house.  However, I would ask you to remember that city.  The flooding there is really nasty and it’s not anywhere near complete.

So today feels like a day for a little Lamentations – but a hopeful section – maybe a break from any lamenting that you are experiencing today.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;   Lamentations 3:21-25

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Heading Home

I  witnessed the second longest soccer game of my life on Friday night! ( for those who don’t know, the game was delayed 2.5 hours because of lightning before it even started this time and then went all the way down to PKs again before the Buccaneers pulled off the great victory), Anyway, after that game we loaded up the family truckster and meander our  way through Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky and eventually spent 2 days explore the coal fields of  West Virginia on our way back to “grandma’s house”.  We witnessed historic sights, interesting architecture, backwoods that make banjos play in your mind, beautiful aspects of nature that show God’s handiwork, excellent tourists traps, and strange oddities.  We even took a mental trip trough family history as we traveled to Butchersville, WV, just outside of Weston and toured the grave of heroes where so many of my historical grandparents lie, and then spent a great day with family.  But even after all of that goodness, there is still something about going home.  So today, we will embark of quite a straight shot(as straight as you can in West Virginia) south to our home.

That sort of reminds me of the Christians life. Its not a perfect comparison, but I need to provide you some encouragement today to get your going after an awesome holiday weekend.  As much as we love the things that we put our hands to here, we are always looking to someplace else.  Our focus in life is not the roadside attractions, nor other great things of this world, but our focus in is our Savior who helps shape and direct our lives.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version)

Enjoy the day, and keep your focus

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Mailbox and Grace

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.

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Salt and Light

Yesterday I was blessed to be able to spend 5 hours driving back home from Columbia, SC alone – just me and my truck!  It would stand to reason then that I would have conjured up some great revelation or antidote after all that great thinking time.  Well, that’s just it. I am really stuck this week on the whole idea of being salt – of being all in.  My thoughts actually moved a little bit to Luke 14:33 – the cost of being all in, but I am not really sure that I am ready to write anything about that!

So, today, I continue to think about being salt and being light.  I wish I could write today and say – here is what this means, here is the practical application of this lesson, of this encouragement.  However, the best I can come up with is to impact for good those who are directly in your path.   Don’t hide it, don’t put it under a basket, but shine and do good to each person you come in contact with.  Remember earlier in the week, I mentioned my sister-in-law and the job she does with the chorus.  Here is a practical application of someone doing all they can to make those around her better.  I am sure that on some days her students may not agree with this, but she gives everything she can to bring out the best is those students.  That’s one way to be salty.

So I apologize if today seems a little redundant, however, I think it’s worth repeating – remember “Are you really listening, really listening”.  So, study your life today and look for ideas and ways you can be salt and light!  If you don’t mind share it in the comment section on the blog.

Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.New International Version (NIV)

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.The Message (MSG)

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Salt Life

I Love the beach.  I am so looking forward to my time there again this summer ( hopefully, not covering in tar and oil from that sunken rig). Anyway, as a lot of you do, I really enjoy my time at the ocean on the beach  – the sand, the smell, the warmth, the sun, the salt. The Salt. As much as it’s a little trendy, I like these Salt Life stickers people have on their vehicles.

I like them because they are a reminder to me – a reminder of the ocean and a reminder of a message for life.  This week I have continually been thinking about Luke 14 and the message there about living the Salt Life.

 34“Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it’s useless, good for nothing.   “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”  The Message

Flat salt is good for nothing.  Some other translations say its not even good for the manure pile!  

 34“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
      “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  New International Version (NIV)

I don’t think I want to have a life that is not even good enough for the manure pile!  

 I am trying to be salty.  I am trying to live the salt life and to impact people – by expressing love and concern for them.  By being the spice that makes things better.  This is so important that the Christ even asks “Hey – do you hear this? – BE SALTY” . 

So today slap that Salt Life tag on your vehicle, on your surfboard, on your keyboard, on your whiteboard, or in the board room.  Dream of the ocean and lazy days in the surf, but also, impact others by being the salt of life.