Think…

T H I N K

Alan Redpath once formed a “mutual encouragement” fellowship at a time of stress in one of his pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial.

T – Is it true?

H – Is it helpful?

I – Is it inspiring?

N – Is it necessary?

K – Is it kind?

Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Burl Godwin…

5Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  2 Timothy

Burl Godwin owns a business where he operates heavy earth moving equipment.  He is a very gifted man.  Many of the renovation and building projects at our church have involved him in the process.  In one of his projects the little boy in me would sit in wonder as I would watch this man sit in the seat of some big piece of equipment and dig up a massive stump, plow through tough ground and watch a plain piece of property take on a whole new look.

I would give anything to sit in that seat and have a chance to operate it for myself.  I don’t think it would the better part of wisdom to do that on a job site.  You would probably have to put me in the middle of a desolate place and turn me loose.  It wouldn’t be a pretty sight no matter what happened.  I don’t know a think about running that piece of equipment.

I asked him one day how he knew when a person who wanted a job with him knew how to operate the equipment.  He told me that all they had to do is sit in the seat and he could tell whether or not they were competent to the task.  There is something that you can see.   The excellence or lack thereof is very visible to those who are looking.

I am reminded again this morning that those around me should be able to see the One who lives in me.  I should not have to say a word.  Folk around me should see that I am a workman approved of God…who does not need to be ashamed…rightly dividing the Word of God.  You should be able to see it as I walk around.

Burl can tell the skill of the employee just by looking.  I wonder what Burl sees when he sees me?

I am not Ashamed…

7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Today is Vacation Bible School.  Today I have the privilege to share God’s invitation for these students to believe on Christ and be saved.  The teachers in our Vacation Bible School have been so faithful these past two days setting up what they will hear today.  God is Real.  Jesus is the one that shows us God and He is the only way.

Paul gave his life both in and out of prison sharing this gospel.  I will stand in a free country in an air conditioned building with all kinds of technology that supports the hearing of the gospel and share God’s Good News Invitation with the children who attend.  I do not have to be the Holy Spirit.  I do not have to convince them.  I am simply given the chance to invite them to come to Christ.  What a joy!  The teachers do the teaching and laying the foundation.  The Holy Spirit is at work.  I get to invite them to come to Christ.

God I thank you for cleansing my own heart today.  I am thankful for the mercy and grace available because of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I stand today in that place and trust you for what I will see happen in our church.  May your Holy Spirit guide me as you have already been preparing these young men and women to hear.  Open their hearts today tot he invitation to believe in Christ.

“Man of God”

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith.

Every now and then I need to focus again on what God has called me to do.  I know that I am a Christian.  Second, I am a husband to my wife, Nancy.  Thirdly, I hold responsibility to be the father to my three children – Jason (Jenn, his wife), Jeremy, and Kimberly.  Fourth of all God has called me to be a “Man of God”.  His call on my life is reviewed in this passage.

A life of no compromise.  I am to “flee” and “pursue”.  I am to flee any kind of motivation in my life other than the fact that God has placed His hand on me.  My relationship with him – this special calling that He gave me – is to the be what causes me to serve and sacrifice.  God’s expectation on my life is to the Man of God.  He describes my relationship with Him

Uprightness – God’s values
Godliness – whole of the Christian experience
Faith – Vertical relationship with God
Love – Horizontal expression of my love for God with man

My relationship with others
Lead with endurance – that “don’t quit” kind of attitude
Lead with gentleness – patience with a gentle composure

Today I remind myself that I am a Man of God and I hold a responsibility to live that life out in front of God, my family and my church and the world.

I am one of God’s Special People…

16 Jehoiada now made a covenant between himself and the king and the people: they were to be God’s special people.  2 Chronicles 23

Jehoiada was a priest of God.  He had seen more than his share of idolatry on the part of God’s people.  They were God’s special people and not acting so special.  The people were very religious and far away in their relationship with God.  The cleansing of God blows me away.

Jehoiada reminds me tonight that no matter what other people do, I have a responsibility of living up to my commitment to Christ.  God is serious about being holy.  His patience is unbelievable.  He is jealous and also is more than able to keep his promises.  When I say God is awesome there is a fearful side to him.

I found it interesting that before they went to work cleansing the world around them, Jehoiada went to work cleansing the temple.  It is time to cleanse my own temple before I go to work dealing with other people.  Getting that speck out of my brother’s eye presumes I have been honest enough to deal with the beam in my own eye.

Let’s make a commitment to God to be one of God’s special people.  Now that I made the declaration God is teaching me that if I am going to talk the talk then I must be willing to walk the walk.

Simple: “Wash and be Clean!”

13 But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13

Pride gets in the way of a lot of things.  God is so creative in how he deals with pride.  For Naaman God used a simple but deadly plague to get his attention.  He was eaten up with leprosy.  Amazing how a change in our circumstance can change my mind.  Budget gets tight, someone gets sick, the car dies somehow, the lawnmower breaks, oh and a thousand other things.  However, this change in circumstances got Naaman’s attention and right now.

This leprosy would separate him from everyone.  If you had leprosy you were a castaway and no one could afford to be around you until you were cured.  This guy was a general.  He was a legend in his own mind.  He loved his position and the prestige that comes with being the general under King Aram.  But I am learning that God really is interested in the condition of our heart and attitude.  God was at work on the inside of Naaman.  God’s simple command to Naaman changed his life.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  Repent.  Nothing difficult about understanding that simple command.  But the simple command can make a clean and beautiful person out of you.

Oh, Holy Spirit, I am glad for the convicting and cleansing work that you are doing in me.  Christ has washed me and made me clean.  I am glad.  I am blessed.  I am thankful.

There ARE Some Things Worth Fighting For

I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. 1 Timothy 1 The Message

I am thinking tonight of Vacation Bible School.  This coming Sunday we will be privileged to travel with Fred Kosin in the Book of Nehemiah in the Word of God.  While rebuilding the wall the builders found it necessary to hold a sword to fight with in one hand and a tool to repair the wall in the other.  There are five things that we build into our lives as well as fight for them as we face the future.  In our Vacation Bible School each day will focus on one of the five points that Rev. Kosin will share with us.  This year’s topics are a “God thing”.  There has never been a day when our children, youth and adults need to hear this word from our God.

Paul is telling his son in the ministry, Timothy, that he is passing the work he has been doing over to him.  He is a man that God has prepared for that time and because of his obedience our lives will be encouraged as well.  God is instructing me today that this is a fight that we are in.  We are waging war.  The life of our legacy depends on our desire to be “fearless in our struggle”, keeping a “firm grip on our faith”, and keeping a firm grip on self and the flesh…after all this is a fight we are in.

At Least I can post it here…

There are times in ministry where you have to be very careful how you present your personal opinions in public arenas. I am very concerned that all of our Christian Community votes. It is our responsibility as a Christian and as an thankful American citizen. God has blessed us to live in America. He also holds us responsible for what happens in America under our watch as citizens.

For those who know me I am unapologetically a conservative Republican. I have wonderful liberal democratic friends whom I deeply respect and love. We will obviously disagree on certain issues. This week I was privileged to receive a “point of view” paper from a dear friend Elbert Smith. His persuasive views reflect my own. I am grateful for his ability to voice in an organized and clear fashion the issues that burden my own heart as we face Election Day 2008.

Thank you Mr. Smith…

Reasons Why I Must Vote For John McCain

Many political conservatives are displeased with John McCain being the republican nominee for president. Moreover, some of this group have said they will not vote for McCain due to some liberal views he holds. This means that Barack Obama, who is the most liberal of all the senators, will
gain an advantage in his bid for president. McCain is not my choice for president, but I shall not help Obama defeat McCain by denying McCain my vote. An Obama presidency is almost certain to do irreparable damage to our country. To refuse to vote for McCain is a way to express our ire for him, however I think it unwise for me to do damage to the liberties of my children, grandchildren, and other young Americans, even though it may feel good to vent my spleen in 2008. I believe I should vote for McCain, and against Obama if I am to be responsible. Listed below are some reasons why I cannot do otherwise.

I call on fellow conservatives to Join me even if we do hold our noses in this election. Holding our noses will be less regrettable in the long run, than living with the chaos that will result if Obama does what he vows to do.

1. During the next president’s term it is expected that two maybe threeSupreme Court Judges will be appointed. This is crucial. There are two philosophies held by Supreme Court Judges. Strict constructionists
believe their judgments should be limited to the exact wording and intent of the words in our constitution. There are now 4 judges whose judgments reflect this view. Activists judges believe they have the liberty
to go beyond the exact words and intent of the constitution, even drawing on foreign laws to render judgments. There are now 5 such judges on the court. So, there is a 5 to 4 disadvantage on the court now
on cases having to do with abortion, homosexual rights, affirmative action, criminal rights, religious expression, etc. Obama has let it be known that his appointments will be of the activist mind set. McCain
has committed to appoint strict constructionists. This would result in an advantage for traditional conservative values. President Bush has appointed two very fine judges to the court. Getting democrats to
confirm them was gut wrenching. Our lower federal courts have a gross shortage of judges. Bush has appointed numerous judges to fill these slots. If they were given an up or down vote they would be confirmed by the senate. Democrats have blocked their getting an up or down vote by procedural moves. This is being done so they can stall until a democrat president can be elected, who can appoint liberal judges. This way they can force changes in our society that would never be passed by the legislature. To deny McCain our vote will play into this evil plot.

2. Obama has promised to double taxes on capital gains. This means if you have a home and sell it you will pay more taxes. If you have any money invested and it earns anything you will pay more taxes. Obama and
democrats have vowed to do away with the Bush tax cuts you are currently enjoying. Obama claims after he does away with the Bush tax cuts he will give some tax cuts to middle income folks. He claims he will increase taxes enough on upper income earners enough to cover some other tax cuts, and yet pay for all his wild eyed socialistic agenda. Do the math its not possible. The upper 5% of income earners are already paying over 50% of all taxes. The bottom 50% of all wage earners pay only about 5% of our tax burden. Obama says Bush’s tax cuts favor only the rich so they have to go. That is a flat out lie. I have benefited from them and I am not rich. Multiple millions of lower wage earners were removed from paying any taxes in the Bush tax cuts. Every tax payer gained benefit from those cuts. Obama and democrats want to increase the estate taxes on property you own when you die.  Republicans were responsible for lowering them, and want to eliminate them, but democrats have stood in the way. Expect Obama to look here for funds for his socialist plans.

McCain has pledged to fight for maintaining the Bush cuts in effect now, and further pledged no new taxes.

3. We are engaged in a war with radical Islam. This war didn’t begin on Bush’s watch. He did declare war on Islamic terrorist in 2001 after they had declared war on us as far back as 1979. For all those years we
would not face the threat militarily. We are weary of the war now, but weary or no it will not go away if we decide to do nothing again in retaliation, as Obama and democrats seem determined to do. A review
Islamic terrorism since 1979 should convince any thinking person that this is not a war Bush started.

O Iran took our embassy and held our hostages 1979
O Bombing of our embassy Beirut Lebanon 1983
O Bombing of marine barracks ” ” 1983
O Bombing of Pan Am flight Lockerbie Scotland 1988
O Ist Trade Center attack on our soil New York 1993
O Attack on Khobar Towers military complex Saudi Arabia 1996
O Attack on our embassy Nairobi Kenya 1998
O Attack on our embassy Dares Salaam Tanzania 1998
O Attack on our embassy Aden Yemen 2000
O Attack on World Trade Center New York 2001
O Attack on Pentagon 2001

Obama says it’s Bush’s fault. Bring the troops home. He will sit down with our enemies and make peace, and the world will love us again. Consider this from a person who has no experience in war or foreign policy. He is a first term senator, and began running for president after only 143 days in the senate. Who isn’t tired of this war? Could it have been waged more effectively? Sure. However war is never easy. Fighting world wide Islamic terrorism while trying to limit the death of innocents, and while doing battle with democrats obstructionists every day in our own country, certainly has made it very difficult. No matter what the cost
this is a war we cannot afford to run away from. I don’t trust the glib tongued, inexperienced, neophyte, Barack Hussein Obama to deal with Islamic terrorism. I do trust McCain with this burden.

Now, as previously stated McCain was not my choice for president. Yet, the issues named favor him vastly over Obama. There are other issues that make McCain more acceptable but space and time caused me to omit them. I believe wisdom dictates that I must vote for McCain. I hope you agree. Let’s elect him and keep up the fight on our differences, while we support him completely in the areas where we are in harmony. Let us also pray that he grows in his understanding of the essential issues and in his ability.

Elbert Smith
Bruno27044@aol.com

Jehoshaphat said,

But before you do anything, ask God for guidance.”  2 Chron 18:4

How quick we are to make decisions.  There are times when I go with my gut feeling when making a decision and I am right every now and then.  I will admit that I am a male and given to going with my gut without asking some one wiser than I their opinion.  Today, God reminded me that before I do anything, ask GOD for guidance.  He knows all.  He is my Father.  He longs to guide his children.

I am reminded of the counselor who was listening to a lady tell all her problems.  He simply suggested to her, “Have you prayed about it?”  She replied, “Oh, has it come to that?”  Jehoshaphat simply reminded Ahab that there is wisdom in asking GOD what he things about the issues of our life.  That little word “anything” lets me know that there is no topic, no circumstance, no decision, that should not find its way into the presence of God for guidance.

I need Him.  There are times when I act like I do not need him…practical atheist maybe?  I know he is there and I am aware of his presence but why not ask.

It is the middle of the day as I post this and I have already forgotten what Jehoshaphat said.  Thanks for the reminder, Father.

My New Life in Christ…

1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.  3-4Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Colossians 3  The Message

Maybe it is just me.  However, I don’t think so.  There are days when I have to PURSUE this life that I have in Christ.  I am serious about this new life that I have living in me in the presence of the Holy Spirit.  He longs to be let loose in me.  Some days start out like a race horse out of the gate when the gun goes off and I run that race with great resolve and vigor.  Yet there are days when my old flesh screams.  I am reminded again that my old life – my old selfish self-centered life is dead.  Christ – The Resurrected One – chooses to live His life out in my life today.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His Knowledge in every place 2 Cor. 2:14 I am identified in Christ’s death and I am blessed to be identified in His resurrection.  I am fully identified with Christ.  I am alive in Him and it should be evident today as I live my life in front of other people.  I want to be a pleasant aroma – a fragrance that others can smell – a life in whom Christ is living.

In a few moments I will be cooking breakfast.  There are sleepy eyes upstairs whose lives will be interrupted by the fragrance of bacon cooking in the pan.  It won’t be long before I hear footsteps moving around and traveling down the steps heading for the table.  The fragrance preceded the meal.  I wonder is the aroma of my life allows others to sense an awareness of God’s presence in my life?  He is there.

My new life in Christ – Oh, that I might so live that Christ would be glorified.  Oh, that his presence would fill the room.

He Calls me “Worth it”. I call Him “Worthy”.

You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.  Colossians 2:6b-7 The Message

He calls me “Worth It”  I call him “Worthy”.  This morning I praise God that I am His choice.  I became a believer when I was 11 years old.  God had well prepared my young heart by a mother who would sing to me about Jesus.  My father would take us to church and we would be surrounded by some of the best Sunday School Teachers in the world.  I remember sitting in the pastor’s study listening to him tell me that I could become a believer.  I claimed what God had promised and Christ had provided and I received Him.

I have been deeply rooted in Christ.  I have been involved in this ministry thing since I was seventeen.  Now the choice is to “live him”.  He has taken up residence in me.  He occupies us.  He is comfortable living there.  That blows me away.  His only expectation of me this morning is to let Him live His life out of me.  He will take care of me today.  The Holy Spirit is at work in me working Christ’s life and love out of me today.  It is spilling over.  The river of His life bubbles up out of me and spills over into every event of this day.

Today, Father, I celebrate that you call me “worth it”.  You choose to live in me and through me.  I want to allow you to take the uniqueness of my personality and the limitless possibilities of what I will have the chance to do today and live your live out in me.  Spill over into the lives of those around me.  I call you Worthy.  In Christ’s Name.  Amen!

What God WILL Do!

But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God’s help. 2 Chron. 16:8b-9a

I was amazed at the testimony of William P. Young. The lady who was interviewing him made a comment that startled me. She asked him about the phrase in the book that talked about Jesus not coming to give us an example to follow. His answer set me back in my seat.

He began by using the illustration of the WWJD bracelets that are so very popular. He said if you ask the average Christian what that meant they would tell you it stands for What Would Jesus Do. Paul continued that if you were to ask his children they would declare that it stood for What WILL Jesus Do. Jesus did not come to give us an example to follow. Pharisees can do that. They major in that activity. Give me something that I am to do. They had the example down pat. What they missed was the energizing presence of Christ in them that wanted to live HIS life out in theirs life today.

Hanani simply told Asa that he was seeking human help from alliances around him instead of asking God for the victory to start with. He had seen time and time again of how God, who is alert and constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him, delivers his people.

He wants to live his live in me today. He wants me to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and wants me to be submissive so I will be able to see What WILL Jesus Do in me today.  Jesus wants to be given the privilege to be Himself in the uniqueness of who I am.  Everyday becomes an exciting journey.

William P. Young Interview – The Shack

Forget Yourself for a Change!

1-4If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:1-4 The Message

Maybe I am the only one in the world like this.  On a good day I really do want what I want and I want to do it the way I want to do it.  But God is in the changing business.  He is transforming me from the inside out.  I am trying to learn to listen to the still quiet voice of God about being humble and seeking the best for other individuals.  His other option is to try and get my attention in other ways.  The older I get the more I like the idea of being open to what he says the first time and then dealing with it.  Today is one of those days.

I open my heart to him today and seek His face.  I decide on the front end that I will take the time to spend time with other people and lend a helping hand.  When my friend Mark called and told me his tire was flat on I-20 I stopped and prepared to go help him.  God has a wonderful way of interrupting my life from time to time and helping me realize that other people are important and valuable to God.

Servants!  God is transforming a boy that wants to be served into an instrument in His hand that serves those whom God loves.  Maybe it is time for me to forget myself for a change.

The Boy God Dressed all by Himself…

Life a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus would be proud of:  Bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise to God.  Phil 1  The Message.

The phrase “making Jesus Christ attractive to all” owned me this morning.  I am a living example of Christ.  People will make up their mind about the One who lives within me based on how I live.  I will want to watch how I represent the Master today.  I guess if you don’t care what you look like then you can dress any old way you like.  I guess I can dress in dirty clothes or wrinkled ones. I could mismatch my outfits and look like I got up and dressed myself this morning.

We put on Christ.  We dress to represent Christ.  I live my life reminding myself that I am the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit and I should dress appropriately, speak with great grace and care, love like Jesus would love.  I am reminded this morning that I am to live a life that is exemplary – one Christ would be proud of.

We are the only Bible many people will read.  May my testimony allow people to see Christ…

Having a Name Like Crooks

Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children… Ephesians

Sometimes I get frustrated that I didn’t get to weigh in on the decision to have a last name like Crooks.  It is not a bad name and I am not certain what it reflects about my family lineage.  I didn’t get to weigh in on the issue.  I am a Crooks period.  I could change my name but the Crooks line is in the DNA.  So I celebrate God’s choosing that for me.

Since the day I was saved as an 11 year old boy I have been called one of God’s “dear children”.  When I go out he reminds me to be careful to remember that I am just that – one of his dear children.  I am to follow God’s example.  There will be competing ones and I am committed to taking this verse serious and to seek to be one that follows Christ’s example.

Dead Flies

Dead flies in the perfume make it stink and a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom.  Eccl. 10:1

I remember going in a specialty store one day and finding a plastic ice cube with a fly in the middle of it.  You could take the plastic ice cube and add it to a glass with real ice cubes and you could not tell the difference.  Watching someone take the glass full of good old Southern Sweet Tea and drink it only to discover the cube with the fly was the funny part.  Amazingly the one drinking would stop and pour out the whole glass of tea and ice.  The little fly in the Sweet Tea caused it to stink.

I sit at my computer this morning and hear God saying to me that I should take an inventory of the “flies in my perfume”.  I am glad that my Father in Heaven loves me and wants me to be open to Him today.  He is not trying to hurt me for he placed in me the perfume of heaven in the presence of the Holy Spirit.  He wants to live out in me a life that is pleasing and reflects His glory.  He loves me enough to identify the flies in the perfume of my life.

It is amazing how you meet someone that has spaghetti sauce on their shirt.  You try to talk to them but all you can see is the stain on the shirt or the fly in the perfume.  I don’t want a thing to distract others from seeing Jesus in my life.

Mommy, What’s in your heart?

A little child got up in her mother’s lap one evening.

She said, “Mother, what’s in your heart”? Mother with

a twinkle in her eye said, “Darling, look into my eyes

and you’ll see what’s in my heart.” The little girl

looked into her mother’s eyes and when she did, she

saw the reflection of herself from the pupils of her

mother’s eyes. She said, “Oh, mother, I see what’s in

your heart. Mother, there’s a little girl in your

heart and that little girl is me.”

You and I say, “Oh, God, what’s in your heart”? God

says, “Look.” We look and we say, “Oh, God, there’s a

sinner in your heart and that sinner is me.” Christ

has taken those of us who were infinite distance from

God and he has made us nigh by His blood.

The Most Intimate Part of my life…

Don’t grieve God.  Don’t Break his heart.  His Holy Spirit moving and breathing in you is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for Himself.  Don’t take such a gift for granted.  Ephesians 4  The Message

Grieving someone you don’t know doesn’t matter a great deal.  However, grieving the closest to you is a big deal.  I don’t want to break His heart.  To know I can gives me a great deal of choices in this wonderful relationship I am in with the Holy Spirit.  I am reminded today that the Spirit that lives within me is the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Holiness.  This precious blood bought Gift from Jesus Christ has come to bless me and to cause me to grow.

I am painfully aware of the fact that I don’t like to grow if it cost me some trouble or discipline.  I want the easy way.  I want it to fall from the heart of God into my heart.  If it were easy I guess everyone would be doing it.  I have discovered that if I commit myself to the long haul that God will daily add virtue and character to my life.  I need that to happen.  I want that.

God is interested in what I am going to become and what He is making me.  He lives in me.  I long to get to know Him and enjoy this intimate part of my life.

God, help me not to take you for granted!

Calvin Nowell – Open My Heart

It opened mine…WOW! Click the link and open your heart to God.

Open My heart!