It's nice to be clean

Just got back from our camping trip (see pics below) and I was a little dirty to say the least. It sure is nice to get a shower and get all the dirt and grime off and get rid of that smell (Jenny wouldn't come within 3 feet of me). Just like camping, sin makes us dirty & smelley. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." No matter how dirty we get, God can clean us. If you give your life to Jesus Christ, you will be cleansed and unlike the shower that I just took, God's cleansing is for eternity.

Thanks to all that were able to go camping this weekend. I had a great time and look forward to doing it again.

The Bible already told us!

I read an article yesterday that was titled the following,"Computers Explain How Moses Parted the Red Sea". Here is the first paragraph in the Fox News article: "Moses might not have parted the Red Sea, but a strong east wind that blew through the night could have pushed the waters back in the way described in biblical writings and the Koran, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday." The article goes into detail about how wind could have parted the waters as long as it was it the right speed and the water was shallow enough. Here is what the Bible says,
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all the night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on the left." Exodus 14:21-22
Obviously it was God that parted the sea and not Moses. The above passage tells us that. It says that Moses stretched his hands out and God parted the sea by using a strong east wind. It amazes me that the world will look everywhere to try and explain something when the answer is plain and clear in the Bible. I don't have a problem with trying to determine how scientifically it could have happened but don't be surprised when we can't fully figure out how it happened. We can't limit God to our scientific understandings.

Change

A couple of definitions of the word change found in the American Heritage Dictionary are as follows:
- To undergo transformation or transition
- To go from one phase to another

We all go though change sometime in our lives. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is not so good. Sometimes we want the change and sometimes we don't. The one thing about going through change that we need to remember is that we aren't alone when we are going through it. We have friends, family, and most of all Jesus to walk with us. And as we stay in the will of Jesus, as we walk with Him, as we talk with Him, as we follow and serve Him, He will get us where He wants us.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Living to Please God

As Christians, we know our lives should please God. We should strive to please him every day with every action. God tells us how to please Him. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 to see what God says.

Refill

As most of you know I need to get my propane tank for my grill refilled. It is kind of hard to cook with a gas grill with no gas. Well, Jake and I went today and got it refilled and we grilled out hamburgers for dinner. They were pretty good if I do say so myself. Our spiritual lives are a lot like a propane tank. Sometimes we need to be refilled. Acts 4:31 says After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.This was not the first time that these believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were first filled with the Holy Spirit back in Acts 2 at Pentacost. As the early belivers needed to be refilled, we too need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit from time to time. Once we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be able to speak the word of God boldly. So what do we do to get refilled? That is easy, ask God then be obedient to His Word.

Tim Hawkins - Medication Side Effects

T-Ball Lesson

Jake is playing T-Ball this year and I am finding myself yelling a lot of instructions to him during the game. Get Ready, Pay Attention, Get your glove out of your mouth, look at the ball, Get Ready, Get Ready. I was thinking about our last game last night and the one phrase I seem to yell the most, Get Ready! That not ony applies to T-Ball, it also applies to our spiritual lives as well.

2nd Timothy 4:2 tells us to be prepared in season and out of season.

In a nutshell, Paul is telling us to be ready. To get our kids ready in T-Ball, we teach them what to do in different situations of the game. It is the same way in our spiritual lives, we must read the Word of God to know how to handle any situation and answer any question. In T-Ball we practice hitting, running and catching. We need to practice, we need to share the Good News as much as possible just like we are getting ready for the big game. God has a mission for us, he gives us the tools and the words; all we have to do is Be Ready.

HE HAS RISEN!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

What is your Passion?

Passion is defined as a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept. We all have passions. Some are passionate about football, baseball, basketball, soccer; others are passionate about hunting, fishing, cooking, eating, or whatever. What would your life look like if you (that includes ME) were passionate about sharing Christ? How would that affect those around you; your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, strangers? What would be different in your daily life? How would your focus change? We are only 2 weeks away from Easter. More than any other time of the year, our focus should be on Christ and sharing His Good News with everyone. This Saturday we have the opportunity to go out into our neighborhoods and pass out scripture and invitations to our Easter service. Those that accept our invitation will hear the Gospel and that is something we should be passionate about.

No, this is not Jenny when she was 3

Blessed Be Your Name

3 words

I was trying to think of something to put on this post today. I thought about writing about my failures, the times that I have let God down already this week; I thought about writing about how God has blessed me, forgiven me, saved me but I just couldn't find the right words. Then it came to me, three words :

GOD IS GOOD
GOD IS GOOD
GOD IS GOOD

He forgives and forgets. He makes us holy, He saves us. He lifts us up, He comes to us and He wants us to come to Him. He loves us unconditionally. GOD IS GOOD.

Mark 10:18
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.

Christ-like

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”—Mohandas Gandhi

That is a sad statement. We are called to be like Christ yet there are a lot of times in our lives that we are not. Instead of being like Christ, we become stumbling blocks.1 Corinthians 10:32 says 'Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—'. So the question is, how can we not become a stumbling block to others? First we need to have a relationship with Christ, then we need to know His Word and we must put that knowledge into action. Jeremiah 6:16 says 'This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'... We are to walk in the ways of God and if we do that then we will be like Christ. The rest of that verse from Jeremiah goes on to say "But you said, "We will not walk in it". Don't be that person.
Matthew 4:19-20 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Jesus is calling you, follow Him.

Tim Hawkins Comedy