“When we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” 1 Corinthians 4:13

Yesterday was garbage day. Garbage day is a little different than it used to be. The county recently delivered garbage cans on wheels that we can wheel out to the curb. The truck comes by, and a lifter picks it up and dumps it into the top of the truck. It is fully automated so the driver needs no help and needs not get out of the truck. But I have a problem.

Yesterday I walked out to the street to lift the lid to see if the garbage truck had come by so I could wheel my monstrous trash can back from the road. Each time I lifted the lid, I could see my 1 bag of trash WAY down in the bottom. I guess I should have ordered the smaller can! Add that can to my recycle can, and I have room for a LOT of garbage and waste!

In listening to a young man talk last week he was emptying his trash to someone he trusted. I heard him say that he is not really liked very much, and that his former friends now get together, without him, to talk about him. Feeling bad for the guy, I decided to give him some hope. I asked if his old friends were Christians, he emphatically said, ‘no!’

There is no good news about learning the bad news about receiving and passing on the Good News. Today’s verse makes it clear, and my experience is verification. To the ‘lost’ of the world, Christians smell like trash! It’s true. Being a sheep, gives off a smell the world can catch from very far away.

When I came to Christ I was told that Heaven was a free gift that I only had to RECEIVE! AFTER I received it, I came to find out that LIFE was the most expensive prize on earth… costing me EVERYTHING! I am continually learning that EVERYTHING is a very cheap price to pay for Jesus. Even if I look like trash to the world. What garbage are YOU holding onto?

“Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

With just a short amount of time between Katie getting home from work and a church meeting, I had to call a play. Dinner was not going to be a leisurely fancy affair. It needed to be quick. Quick to me also means cheap. There’s no sense spending a lot of money on something we wouldn’t enjoy for long. Finding some coupons, we headed for fast food!

The pictures on the coupons, coupled with previous experience, showed 2 healthy looking chicken sandwiches with 2 fries for $7.99. That fit my specifications, so we ordered. It turned out that what I desired… I received. A fast, cheap meal. But it really gave me no delight. I was disappointed. But not overly so. Delight had been sacrificed to both time and money.

I don’t ask myself this question out loud every day, but my attitude continues to keep score on what I subconsciously desire and what I get! If I am happy, it is because the majority of my desires are being met. If I am grumpy, it’s usually because of some unmet expectation. The question that is constantly being asked of myself is… what do I REALLY want?

I am a fickle man. Most of us are. I often THINK I know what I want. But upon delivery, my heart can easily score that desire as a waste or disappointment. The order of today’s verse is absolutely the correct approach. If I take delight in the LORD first, my heartfelt desires are promised to be met. That means if I put my heart and eyes on HIM, attitude will score a 10!

What do YOU REALLLLLLY want or desire? Is it Godly? If your disappointment meter goes off after receiving it, you can be sure… it isn’t! Go ahead… give it a test! 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.“ Psalm 33:12

Last year I was escorted off a public school campus by security, then my speaker credentials were revoked because I had mentioned to a student body that our motto in America is “In God We Trust!” I was discouraged. Last night, President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress to deliver a speech that brought back the joy and hope of being an American.

Being a Believer and Disciple of Jesus Christ, I don’t THINK I know God and what He wants… I ABSOLUTELY know! With The Holy Spirit living inside me and His Word before my eyes, I read what He has to say, and take it seriously. I am smart enough to know that there is my way… and there is His Way. Having tried both, I’ve never been surprised at either outcome.

While last night marked a clear directional shift in America’s direction toward becoming a more Godly nation, that status does not come by accident. It takes work and effort on MY part. Today is the first day of Lent where, for the next 40 days, all believers in Christ are to give up, or fast, from our normal routines and place emphasis on God’s Word and direction.

It is my prayer that today, and everyday, that you will join me in opening God’s Word and devour what He has to say about where we are, and where He wants us to be. Evil does not turn and run. It only slinks off to make better plans. It is time I stand up to it and join hands with other fellow Believers to do God’s will. What an honor it is to join with YOU in His work.

What is God calling YOU to give up… or take on… for HIM and our Country?

“…now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires… make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge…” 1 Peter 1:4-5

Looking at our Lemon Tree… it appears to be working! About 2 weeks ago I saw that the leaves had turned a dull light green. Knowing that spring is the time for blossoms, I thought I’d do a little ‘adding’ to it to see if that might make lemon production a more sure thing. Scattering some citrus fertilizer to its base, all I could do was wait. Now look at it!

I am not very good at growing things. It’s cheaper for me to simply buy tomatoes or lemons than to try to grow them myself. The costs for the plants, both in time and money, as well as for supplies, far exceeds any savings. But there is just something about having a lemon tree in the front yard that activates my motivation. This is our 3rd try at it in 35 years!

Looking at the lemon tree yesterday produced hope! The leaves at the top of the tree are still an ugly pale yellow/green, but the leaves at the bottom are greening up nicely. It appears that adding the fertilizer may have been the proper thing to do to make this tree look and become more healthy. Only time will tell. Advice from others will also!

Tomorrow is the first day of Lent… the 40 days before we celebrate Easter. Today is considered ‘Fat Tuesday’ in many places. A last time time for people to enjoy things such as fatty foods, sugar, alcohol and other items considered “decadent.” After today, folks can voluntarily give up their decadence to take on a more holy attitude toward growing in Christ.

The verse today explains that Christ has subtracted from us the corruption of our eternal lives by worldly passions. When I exchange lives with Christ, HE becomes my life and HIS righteousness becomes mine! The verse goes on to tell me what Christ expects after that exchange. I am to ADD to my life many other significant virtues offered through His Spirit.

God-likeness is not an accident! His Word tells me that when I cooperate with the guidance of His Word and Spirit, I can become more like Him in every way. The question is, what do ‘I’ want? What am ‘I’’ willing to add or subtract to get there? I have added a 40 day devotional to this email, a short daily help to grow you in the special Lenten time. I pray you enjoy it.

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19

“WOW!” was all I could say… through squinting eyes. I’d gotten up last night to get a drink of water, and tripped over my own shoes lying in the middle of the floor. It was dark then… black like coal. I grumbled some kind of promise to myself to make sure to not leave my shoes there again… then laughed at the idea that I’d actually keep it! Now… it was sunrise!

When I walked through the living room, the sun was at a perfect angle to allow it’s rays to burst forth into the room without any interference from tree limbs or curtains. Squinting was just a natural occurrence. God made eyes to see, but NOT with the ability to look directly into as bright a light as the sun. It reminded me of the Son verse of today.

So much of my life is spent in darkness… and I don’t mean just the absence of real light. News, moods, current events, feelings and interactions with the world and people have the ability to darken the walls of my heart, turning it black instead of bright. The most important thing I need to do is to realize and admit my need. Doing so can lead me to The Bright One.

I found myself staring directly at The Son this morning as I found myself listening to an online sermon on Wisdom. The preacher said that Wisdom is not for those who want it, but for those who can’t live without it. The sentence made sense, making me question what it is in this I cannot live without. The Su(o)n was just a reminder! What is it that YOU can’t live without?

 “‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.'” John 4:34

Having barely started the morning, I received a call from my son to invite me fishing. When not driving ships, Clint likes to fish. So with the invitation to join him, I quickly agreed. It had been about a month since we went. The last time, all we caught was sea trout. I noted everyone in the boat threw them back! It’s been YEARS since I’d eaten ANYTHING caught!

When we started fishing, it was in hopes of catching Redfish. The fist tug of the line was hopeful, but yielded nothing more than a big fat trout, which I promptly threw back! But something kept nagging me in the back of my mind. When the second trout hit, I decided I was going to keep it and fry it up. It was then I started having a ball… and caught several.

Fresh fish is good. And since I caught them yesterday, last night was the time to fry them up. The back of my mind told me they were really good, but recent experience said, ‘probably not.’ Frying them up gave me some pretty good anticipation, because they looked pretty in the pan. Pan to plate, plate to mouth and all I could say was… “MMMMMM!”

The FIRST person I notified with that word was Clint. He had the same experience I had. None of HIS fishing pals had kept them, so he didn’t either. My experience gave testimony to him, and now the next time we go, he’ll be keeping some too! Just like Jesus’ experience! Jesus food was to do the will and work of His Father… because that’s what sustained Him.

I find the ‘Will’ and the ‘Work’ of the Father listed in John chapter 6. I’ll let you go fish for it yourself. But it’s good! The way I KNOW that it is, is the same way I rediscovered the flavor of sea trout. I tried it! Have YOU tried a tasty sample of God’s ‘Will’ and ‘Work?’ What are you waiting for? You will be surprised at how tasty His food really is!

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

There was an invisible boundary between us. I knew it… she didn’t. For her to recognize it, I would have to point it out! Doing so could cause discomfort in the conversion and force the smiling lady in front of me to make a decision to unsmile. Because I regularly see her at a mutual location, pointing it out could bring permanent discomfort. What to do?

I fished around for as delicate an intro to the subject that I could, and immediately disregarded, “So, will you burning in Hell forever?” Since EVERY person born on Earth is actually born headed in Hell’s direction, it was a legitimate question! But I saw no sense in destroying any possibility of witnessing for Christ by taking that approach. So I went in nice.

“Do you go to church anywhere?” became my opening line to try to access where she was on the Salvation Train. It still left a little room for judgment, but was safe enough to breach the subject and get it started. “Well, I have an unorthodox approach to religion,” was her statement back to me. “My dad is Catholic and my mom is a Muslim!”

It would be nice, had the conversation led to a conversion for Jesus. But it didn’t. There was no time. But I knew that our paths would cross again. So I gave her ‘The Verse!’ The one that Jesus uses of Himself with the article ‘The!’ Because ‘a’ leaves choices that Jesus never intended. ‘THE’ is definitive. ‘THE’ leaves no choices. Then I asked her what SHE thought.

The invisible boundary had been crossed, leaving room for further discussion. But now she knew where I stood. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would lob that “THE” statement around in her mind until we crossed paths again, and I could carry on a Jesus conversation.

Do YOU look for ways to bring Jesus up in conversation? Who has He put in front of YOU that He would like you to share His Good News?

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19

I was comparing notes, thinking out loud, commiserating. The two of us, over the phone, talked life, difficulty and stress. Both of us have been anxious for a while and it seemed we were looking for common ground. One thing for sure, we weren’t looking to STAY in the situations we found ourselves. So commiserating was like therapy. Something had to give!

Nobody likes to be in a hole. To be down, depressed or anxious takes on a life of its own. Having been in situations like this before, I know there to be no stopwatch. That is part of the journey. I go until it’s over… HOPING ‘over’ is soon. But never really sure. All the while, I talk to Jesus. At times it seems like He isn’t listening. But I know He is. He saw my foot slip!

A lot of things have been happening to a lot of people in our church family. Tough things. Sickness, pain, sorrow, loss. Each carries it’s own weight that needs to be carried. How far and for how long varies. But I have found it to be a mistake to think that I am alone. Today’s verse says so. There are LOTS of verses in the Bible saying ‘God is ALWAYS there.’ He is!

I have found that difficulties can come from poor focus. Sometimes I THINK I am walking and talking with Jesus. But then I find my head and hands full of stuff that he never put there! Before I can have any relief, I must drop the luggage and let Him have them. I guess since I can’t take it with me, I need to let it fall behind. And put my focus and trust on HIM.

Today I am going to let anxiety fly away and let HIS consolation bring me joy. How about YOU?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

A call was sent out to help with the Church house. Working on painting to sell it, folks had come and dove in. Yesterday, Mike showed up to help, offering to work on electric. That threw me for a loop for a little bit, since my head was in painting mode. But he does electric stuff! And it was a good thing he showed! Checking all the outlets, he had questions.

One outlet in particular had him baffled. “Is there a switch that powers this outlet?” he asked. I guess he thought I should know… but I didn’t. Finally after hitting breakers and switches, it was determined that that particular wall outlet LOOKED like it should have power. It even had a power wire connected to it. But alas… there was no connection!

Electricity isn’t really magic. Wires run to a central circuit breaker box that has a connection to the Power Company’s lines. From there, individual wires run to each outlet or switch. It’s a simple matter. No connection? No power! It is not a difficult concept to understand. The same concept applies to GOD’S power as it does to electrical… is there a connection?

Unlike plumbing, electrical lines don’t have the ability to be clogged. They can be cut or shorted. But they are either connected… or they are not. I have found it is the same with my spiritual life. I am either connected with God through the Holy Spirit, or I am not. I have found that there are lots of things I can do to cut the connection and stop God’s power flow.

Today’s verse is not a request. It is a command. If I belong to God, It is my duty to connect to Him… and STAY connected. Then, to use His power to do the things that He has instructed me to personally do. Even when that something is to rest and meditate upon HIM. So… how is YOUR connection to God? Are you powered up with HIS might?