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Give Thanks!

Cathedral Peak, Yosemite CA
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18

Thank You

Two Simple words that reveal so much about our heart

Thank you is an attitude. A disposition of knowing what we have been given, and understanding where it came from

Each day strive to cultivate a thankful spirit, remember what you have been given. Seek to give thanks, for it will be as healing to your heart and a remedy for all that troubles your mind

Give thanks with your words and with your deeds. Create in your heart a continual thanksgiving, because you have been given much

Give thanks for all that you have and for the friends that stand by you. Be thankful for your family and for those who have helped you along the way

Above all, give thanks to God, your maker, who has given you it all; even your life. Give thanks for His blessings and for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ

Remember!

Open up the shades that cover the eyes of your memory, for you have been given much

Don’t become lost in your sufferings, or in the things that trouble you this day. Remember, and give thanks. Overcome selfish pity and look past the things that drag upon you. Focus instead on those things that have helped you

There is a God, and He is good beyond all comprehension. He blesses us each day. Yet, we have little ability to see just how great His gifts are. We can do better. We can learn to have a thankful spirit towards Him

Consider what you have been given. Meditate on the incredible bounty of gifts you have received. Be thankful, don’t squander away the opportunity because you have been too busy to see all the little miracles interacting with your life

Give thanks. Each day remember and be thankful. Treasure what is good, and honorable, and healthy

For all of it comes from our God; He acts through those who love us, our friends, and sometimes even through strangers

Give thanks, don’t forget, because it is your part of the equation of blessing.   11/25/2009

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Encouragement For the Trials Ahead

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” John 14:1

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart

Fear not the trials and troubles in life; Always rely on His steadfast love, and you will have peace

There are seasons for rest and healing, and there are times when we must grow; Times when we must become more in our life than what we are today

Do not despair, God will always be with you; He will not leave your side, unless, you first leave His

There will come times when it seems like He is absent; when trials and storms seem to gather darkly around, but they might just be for our own good

Bonds of ease and comfort sometimes need to be broken. Hard choices must be made in order for God’s work to continue on

So take heart and move forward towards the direction of His will. Pray and listed for His counsel; continue to study His word so that will gain understanding

Don’t neglect to stay connected with your church, even though it may be hard during these times. Be safe and creative, for in times of testing, this will help us remain strong

Stay close to God and to the flowing power of His Spirit, which keeps us ready for all things, and able to do things which require strength that is greater than ours alone

Times of trial and testing, are times of spiritual growth. If we don’t fall back and retreat, we will certainly gain valuable experience and abilities that make us stronger and more able to carry His message

After all, what is our life for? Who gave us our breath, and has stirred the hope that lives inside us?

Did not Jesus tell us that we would have troubles in this world? That trials and troubles would mark a life lived in obedience to Him?

So, strengthen yourself, knowing that these times surely must come into our life; and that they will continue to come as the years pass by. But also, be assured that He is keeping our souls and will uphold us aways with His own strength

God will give us the power to endure when you need it, as we faithfully remain in His presence

Take heart my friend, when the clouds begin to gather and you know you’re heading into a rough time. Be brave and and faithful to your God, in all ways; and though you may stumble along your path, He will be there to help you to your feet.

His love will see us through, even to the very doors of death and beyond

For our God is stronger that any power on earth. He can break through any obstacle that lies upon our path, and make a way for us long and straight

For we are His children, the sons and daughters of the King; and our lives are very precious to Him, who rules both the heavens and the earth.   1/16/2001

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Give Praise to the God of All Creation

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:13

Shout praises to the Lord of all creation. Give glory to Him who reigns. Sing songs of gratitude for His love and mercy. Give thanks for all those He has saved

Sing forth all you mountains, bend low every hillside; tremble at the power of His footsteps

Raise your branches every tree. Reach high towards the heavens and dance as the winds rustles through your leaves that catch His glowing light

Give honor to Him all you vineyards, and blessing you fertile fields. For He has given richness in great abundance, so that you might bless all those He loves

Call forth you songbirds, cry out every eagle on high; give honor to him, you brightly colored hummingbirds, for He has given each of you the wind beneath your wings

In thanksgiving, bow before Him; with gratitude, give Him praise; for He has fed you from His abundance and place each feather upon your frame

Call out, you azure heavens; raise up, mighty thunder clouds; give glory to Him who stands above you, and stirs you like the dust beneath His feet

Shine forth, every golden sunbeam; illuminate God’s good earth, which He alone has made. Give light to all His children, so that they might glory at the beauty of His creation

Whisper soft hymns, you quiet waters; reflect forth images of His goodness and mercy. Give drink to all those who thirst and life to all who live and breathe

Give honor to the God of the heavens; sing praises to Him who made this earth

Offer, each day, a sacrifice of grateful thanksgiving for all the good things that He has done

Our God is higher than all of His creation; He is greater than anything known. His glory fills up each space within the universe, and His power steers the stars

Sing!, for He is awesome. Raise your voices, because of the magnitude of His glory

Lift up His name, for He is more than worthy of all our praise.  11/5/2006

 

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A Prayer For Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the author of my salvation. Mold me unto Your will, so that I might be made more complete in You each day

Break the bonds of my rigidity, where I am unwilling to bend, so that I would be more willing to give in every area of my life

Convince me, Lord, to hand over my life as an offering to You each day, so that Your life would be in mine

Make me more flexible my Savior, so that the hardness of my pride and the sharp edge of my disposition, would be softened; so that the essential nature of Your love, and charity, grace, and goodness, would flow freely from me

Mold me Lord. Change the way I am. Destroy everything in me that does not agree with You

Free me from the old nature that governed me and fill me with your life. Bend me, so that I might be humble. Take from me, so that I might know real value

Give me all good things, so that I might know the blessings of thanksgiving

Do freely unto me, My Lord and God, in the perfect expression of Your will, so that I might learn a deeper faith, and so that I may depend upon You still more

Give to me Your strength and wisdom, so that I might stand and not falter

Make me able to defend against the temptations that so easily entangle my life, and threaten to ruin my relationship with You

Develop me each day, help me learn Your ways and be able to discern the path You have laid out before me, so that my life would be filled with Your presence

Enthrall me, with Your infinite goodness, oh Lord, so that I may rejoice each day and lift praises unto You. That I might lift You up from the dawning of each day through the darkest of nights

For in You alone, I am made whole and complete.  2/11/2007

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The Megaton Power in Every Seed

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:8

The other day I awoke early and drove to an open space park twenty minutes from my home. It was a still hot early October morning, and the hills were parched after months of dry winds and no rain. A coating of dust with flakes of ash from a nearby wildfire spread a powdery film on the leaves of shrubs and oaks along the trail. As I walked up a hillside perched above a wooded river valley, I scanned the dry plants along the trail for varieties of wildflowers that were bearing seed. In the spring, this park had a particularly beautiful and widespread display of flowers, and I was on a mission to collect a small portion of the bounty of their seed.

Though it was barely noticeable on this hot dusty morning, these dry hillsides were literally covered with promise in the form of tiny seeds. Each carried the possibility of forming a new wildflower, which, if everything worked out, could be the parent of countless generations of that species. One little seed the size of a pinhead has that much potential. In a few hours that morning, I collected thousands of seeds from a variety of beautiful and beneficial plants that graced these hillsides. These would later be placed to grow in similar environments at other open spaces, and some will sprout up in the yards of people who like to grow native plants.

It is amazing what is packed into the tiny propagating package of a seed. They come in many shapes and sizes, each built with the ability to quite efficiently disperse their DNA into the world around them. Some are good at attaching themselves onto passing animals, others, with durable shells are found in edible fruits that are eaten and transported elsewhere to be dispersed. Some have pods that explode when sufficiently dry and launch their seeds for some distance away from the parent plant. I am especially intrigued by the plants that have seeds which have learned to fly. They have engineered for themselves wings, propellors, parachutes, and wispy threads, that launch them onto the wind and carry them for astonishing distances. There is no place on earth where these types of seeds have not found a place to land.

Jesus once told a story about a farmer who was sowing seeds in his field. His parable illustrated the incredible potential within each seed when it falls upon the right soil conditions. The Son of God recognized the genius of His own creation and used it as a way to illustrate the power packed potential of each seed and within each person who puts their faith in God. You see in life many seeds are produced by each plant, but only a few manage to avoid the pitfalls and dangers that exist here on earth. Only a small percentage find the right conditions to grow and produce more seed for the next generations.

Our faith and our lives exist in similarly difficult conditions. Many of us never truly get to hear the Gospel message in any meaningful way and its power remains unrecognized to us. Others hear the Word and believe for a time, but old habits and attractions lead them astray from God’s message and they never find the time or need to truly understand the magnitude of the saving power of the Gospel of Christ. Then there are those who because of circumstance and acquaintances, are too busy and distracted from being able to listen and understand God’s saving message to them, and they fail to grow and miss the most important thing in life.

But then there are those few whom the message of the Gospel falls upon who open their minds and their hearts. Those made of the right makeup, who possess the right conditions where the Word of God is heard, seen, felt, and tasted. There, God’s Spirit and His Word bring understanding and faith and they are changed. In these precious human seeds, faith yields a production of a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. This is the megaton of power found in each seed. That exponential potential that can transform a landscape or with faith, change the world around them. It can make the blind see, and the lame walk true. It can bring the power of God’s love to flower in dry and windswept lands for generations to come and has restored untold millions to life everlasting in Him.

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Seek Out Our God

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Oh Lord, my God, I seek You. I long to know You more and more, for You are the light of all mankind; the source of life, and the truth and substance that makes life real

Our days are energized by Your presence, you bring meaning to our hours, and joy, that makes each day worth living

Lord, I want to strive to lay hold of You and live my life so that I could draw close to You; to make my life a home for Your life-giving Spirit

I know You are near at hand; Your presence fills the heavens and all the earth. Certainly, You are near to me now

At this moment, You’re in contact with my being. I sense You, but long to know You more each day

For, I too often stray and become distracted. I become lost in life’s struggles, worries, and pains, and I begin to sink beneath the waves; Or, lose sight of the horizon

Faith takes effort. Belief needs care and watering. To see God, we must continue looking

Lord, I am a student in your school called life, I read Your textbooks each day and recite Your Words until I know their meaning

I am amazed by what they speak unto me,  and how they correct me when I am wrong. They comfort me when the hard days come calling

Lord God, You are there; You reach out to me with an outstretched arm to lift me up; Or, place a gentle hand on my shoulder to let me know I shall never go alone

Even when there seems no way out of the pit of despair, or when dangers lurk around me and they threaten and cast their menacing looks, Lord You are with me

My God I strive to lay hold of you this night. I seek You each morning when  I rise and look for you as I make my way through each day

For you are the God who acts on our behalf. You come to those who wait patiently and bring help to those who gladly do right; Who remember Your ways all the days of their life    1/24/2020

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From Least To Greatest

                                                                                       Looking up from the base of a 1400 year old Coast Redwood                                                                                                                                                           “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in His garden; which is indeed the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

The area where I live is sometimes called the Redwood Empire, because of all the logging that was once done in our hills. One particular tree, the Coast Redwood, caused an almost gold rush like response here during the late 1800’s. There are still many of these trees growing, but only a few old growth trees like the one pictured above. They are, in fact, the worlds tallest tree. In a grove a couple hours north of me, is a tree named Hyperion that has reached 380ft. tall. It is the tallest known living thing. Redwoods are amazing in many different ways, for instance, their seed is surprisingly small. One Coast Redwood seed can fit on the head of a pin. They are barely visible to our eyes and blow around on the wind like dust. What an inauspicious beginning for such a forest giant!

Jesus once compared the Kingdom of God with a similar type of plant that was familiar to the common people of Israel; the Mustard. This Kingdom, had a beginning that was nearly unnoticeable, but over time it has grown and is known now throughout the entire world. Only a few people were present to welcome the newborn Christ into this world, and even fewer had any idea what He was to become. Oh the wisdom and love of God, who planted Him squarely in Bethlehem of Judea, just like He said He would through the mouth of His Prophet Micah (Micah 5:2). It is interesting that God does not need to do things through those who are great or powerful. Throughout history, He usually chose the weak and unnoticed to accomplish some of His greatest acts. In His greatest act of all, He chose to give us His Son, Jesus Christ, a baby born to a young couple too poor to stay anywhere else, but a stable. In Christ, God’s purpose was fulfilled and the Kingdom of God was established. Jesus became Lord and King above all the earth for all of time.

The tallest tree on earth starts out as a tiny flake of dust like seed that is blown wherever the wind may blow. Yet, when it has found moist and fertile ground, it can grow for thousands of years and can become as massive and stately a tree of any found on earth. The Son of God was born less fortunate than most, even King Herod sent his troops out to snuff out His life, but God had planted Him and He watched over His life so that it would come to all the fullness of His promise to us.

Jesus Christ stands alone among all those of human history; there is nobody greater. He stepped into time and changed the entire course of mankind. He altered our destiny forever, switching us off the track where the effects of sin brought judgement and the finality of death, to a new course, where all of mankind could choose to have eternal life through faith in Him.

Jesus is alive this very day and forever more. He reigns over all who dwell upon  the Earth. Everyone who believes in Him, are like the birds of the air who came to rest in the branches of the giant Mustard in this parable. They have found rest in His life. For He offered His life upon the cross as a payment for our sin. He gave His life willingly, so that we might live. Because of this, God has elevated Jesus Christ above all creation and crowned Him Lord of all Lords, and King of all Kings. I hope Christ has already done this work in you this day, but if not, He is willing to make something great and amazing out of your life this very moment. Go before Him, Submit your life unto Him, confessing your sin; Then He will be just to save you and to make you whole, by the very same power that God gave to Christ when He raised Him from death to eternal life.

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A Look at the Big Picture

How many are your works, Oh Lord! In wisdom You made then all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalms 104:24

As I walked along a trail recently enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, I could not help but think, how great and awesome is He who set these all these things in motion. The one who made both you and me

I came across a rocky ledge that caught my eye. It was filled with layers upon layers of shells. How incredible and thought provoking this was

Clams, scallops and other shells set in stone. Yet, I was more than thirty miles from the ocean

They spoke to me about a vastness of time and place. It set me within a new context of who I am and my place in this world along the ribbon of time

I believe in God, and I also believe in science. To me they coexist and bring amazing revelations.

Science cannot threaten God by revealing truths about His creation. Nor does God condemn science because it cannot imperil His existence or His Word

I am open to what science can teach me, because in the learning I become more impressed of what God has done. This deepens my faith in Him

I learned that these shells had lived six million years ago in a shallow marine environment, two hundred and fifty miles south of where I stood

They thrived in a time when oceans were seventy feet higher than they are today, and when temperatures were cooling, yet, only a few degrees warmer than now

The length of time between when these shellfish lived and when Christ was born, was three thousand times longer than the time between Christ’s birth until today

Our planet is old. Yet, these shells are quite young in relation to when the earth was formed; or when life first began

Life astounds me

That I am alive and can know these things is also, both beautiful and amazing

God created something so grand and deep, and wonderfully interconnected in its present workings. But it is also, connected throughout the entire history of time. Every past event has had an effect and contribution to the future

The climate was changing during the time when those shells lived. Changes like these were common during the course of Earth’s history

When changes were large or abrupt, they were extremely destructive to life. The worst, were disasters that wiped out over half of all living creatures

A new period of climate change has just begun upon earth. It is unique, in that it was caused by a single species of life

Us

The rate of change will be very abrupt and destructive to life compared with other events of the past.  It will be a struggle that could threaten our existence

How warm it gets depends upon what we do now

We live in such an incredible world that God has made. A place that has no equal anywhere else that we know

It is profoundly wrong what we are doing to our planet, and infinitely worse, if we do nothing now that we know what we must do       11/21/19

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Blessed Are The Trees

Blessed are those who appreciate the value of trees; Who look upon them with love. They understand the importance of their being and see the many aspects of their beauty

Being among them, brings joy to their hearts, and a lasting peace, that transcends common experience

For trees are an incredible creation that blanket this fragile Earth. They anchor the very threads of life that holds our world together. What would we do without them?

Blessed are those who care and nurture our trees, who have a deep understanding of their value and a knowledge of how much they give to us; Even our health, comfort, and peace

Without trees life would become unbearably harsh and sketchy. The fabric of life would become dangerously thin. Perhaps it would vanish forever and our bountiful existence could degrade and vanish into dust

Without trees, life would become a struggle. How then, would the Earth be able to support so many?

Trees are a wonder. They give, but need only the sun, rain, and soil to grow in. Their gifts to us are far beyond measure

It lies within their nature to grow and fill the earth, and give this earth their blessings, so that all life would be fully alive and thrive beneath the stars of heaven

If a tree could talk to us this day, they might tell us to be careful and consider what we are doing in these times

To find a reverence for nature, so that we might realize the importance of all life that lives upon this incredible planet

To be careful to not allow our acts of exploitation from becoming so great that they bring harm and disaster. So that we never get to the point where the fabric of life is damaged

How sad and terrible it would be to lose our paradise and never again be able to enjoy the abundance we once had

Oh, how gifted are those who love the trees. They sense their incredible power to bless all of nature

Beautiful, is the life of a tree. They grace the landscapes across all the Earth

Listen to their voice call out from depths of the forest, they sing a song of love and healing

Blessed are the trees, and those who love them    12/16/2019

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Let God Be Your Direction

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Lord, what is to become of us?

Have we become too many for this world we live on?

Are we entering that time that was spoken of so long ago? When wars and disaster grew worse and worse, Or are these times when we must come together?

When we must learn to live as one people. A global nation working together under God

The differences between us seem so great. The climate is becoming more erratic. Our language displays less love for one another, and our actions are more selfish and mean spirited

Darker times have befallen us. Hope has become more distant.

But never forget, that we have our God reigning above all. Our creator, protector, the one who loves us beyond measure. He knows our future. He sees what lies ahead

He promises to watch over us through all things that may happen, guarding our souls, and encouraging us to carry on

How then shall we live in these times?

We shall remain faithful in Him and seek to accomplish His will in our life

We shall seek to show love, when love is found scarce, and not give up hope, when hope seems distant

God’s people shall honor their God, the one who gave us life and breath, and made us each His children, a chosen people

We shall carry on in faith. With our goal to be as blessings upon the face of the earth. To help those in need and to accomplish God’s will for us

As these days have darkened, we must be a light for all to see

Each of God’s people are different, what has God placed upon your heart to do?

We have all been blessed with a unique set of gifts. How might they be used in these days and in these times?

Don’t get caught up in the narratives of these days, follow the unchanging ways of God

Stay clear of the hatred and ways that seek to divide us, but instead, seek to live His truth in love. This brings God’s people together and heals wounds that have been inflicted

Living out God’s love, nullifies the acts that have caused division, and brings us together so that we can enjoy richer lives

For our God has great love for us

11/4/19