“As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, (then) I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.” 1 Kings 6:12

I love my wife. If you know Katie, your immediate response would probably be, “well you SHOULD… LOOK at her!” You MIGHT even follow up with, “how did a guy like YOU get a lady like HER?” My response would be, “You’re right!” But I’m not as dumb as I play! LOVING her, 2nd only to loving God, is the greatest and most important role in my life. It’s tough because… she’s FANCY!

Somewhere, some time and some place, Katie got a cup of coffee that has froth on top of it. Her response was INSTANT gratification… like WOW! When she told me about it, and we tried it, her WOW experience was re-lived. Having nailed it… she had me taste it and asked… “doesn’t it even TASTE BETTER? A girl question that leaves this guy baffled. How can adding air change taste?

Men and women are different. God created humans that way for His purpose. Then he added rules to follow so I wouldn’t go about reinventing things that would eventually go wrong! Upon seeing and hearing that my wife loves frothy coffee, frothy coffee is what she is going to get! Last night I was questioned about the tool I use, and where someone might buy one for themselves.

My crazy brain started thinking, and possibly with the help of the Holy Spirit, I wondered… “Is GOD FANCY like that?” Heading back to the building of the finest Temple in the history of man, I found this initial statement God made to Solomon before he built it, and found today’s verse. It appears to me that God really didn’t give much of a hoot for the temple at all. HE wanted… man’s HEART!

Gold, jewels, precious materials and design are PRODUCT that God made though His Son Jesus. They were made by His SPEAKING and POOF!!! They appeared! Like air added to coffee with cream, man’s arrangement of God’s created materials do absolutely NOTHING to improve or make God say, “WOW… would ya LOOK AT THAT!” So God struck a mutual agreement deal with Solomon.

My life, circumstances, pains, experiences, temptations, trials and EVERYTHING, funnel into and land on what was once nothing more than a dead, black heart. God’s love provided me a path to live an extraordinarily FANCY life with HIM at the head of it. But a fancy life like that only comes from giving and allowing HIM to whip all the ingredients together for HIS purposes.

I’m going to work on giving Him every moment along my path today. How about you? Do YOU fancy fancy?  Are you sharing the information to help others whip up their own fancy lives with Him?

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 NLT

During our drought spell, I noted that my neighbors grass had a large patch of green growing where everything else was brown. I mentioned it to him, saying he MAY want to call the county to check for a leak in his water main. He did! Unfortunately they found that the leak was coming from MY side! $350 to the plumber put a stop to THAT nonsense. 2 weeks later… !!!

When grandchildren came to sleep over, bath and bedtime had them all orbiting the bathroom. The emptying of the tub and the flush of the toilet produced ANOTHER kind of overflow! This time, water was overflowing 2 bathroom floors AND the shower! And it WASN’T fresh water! A call to my plumber, 2 days and many hundreds of dollars later AGAIN, put a stop the that nonsense!

It was rather comical to me to read this part of the Bible when I had just experienced expensive plumbing problems in both the intake and outflow of water under the house. Meditating on what Jesus said, and what He was doing, I realized that when it comes to life in The Spirit, He is NOT concerned with control, waste management or supply and demand. Jesus is a dumper!

Jesus clearly teaches that He came to give Joy! And NOT just enough for the single moment. He came to give so much joy to people, that OVERFLOW is actually expected! It seems to me that the more I overflow with His joy in me, the MORE useful to Him I become. And overflow brings even MORE opportunity for overflow! Leak fixing is the furthest thing from Jesus’ mind!

It stands to reason then that… if I am walking around grumpy and irritable, it ISN’T the fault of Jesus or even life itself! The fault lies within ME. Jesus can supply me with MORE joy and abundant life than I could ever possibly use! TO NOT use or take advantage of that is just plain silly and stingy! Today I am planning to do some splashing in His overflow! How about YOU? I want the lawn of my life to be GREEN!   And so does HE!

“Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

“Are you in?” was the phrase of the night… and it was said often! ‘The Sleepover’ was specifically for our ‘older’ grandkids because, as we all know, shared interests are often determined by age. Wanting to play a game together, ‘Tripoly’ was suggested and everyone agreed, or swe THOUGHT they did. The game was underway when several had to repeatedly ask one player ‘the phrase!’

Tripoly is a card game that is most fun when played at a faster rate. The goal is to be the first one out of cards, and cards laid are determined, in order, by what other players have already thrown. For example, “3 of hearts” follows “2 of hearts.” as they holler and lay their cards in order. Players need to sort, fan-out and watch their cards, as failure to play a card affects the game’s outcome.

It was soon clear by silence, and then by observation, that one player wasn’t playing. They had not fanned-out, nor were they playing their cards. Irritation soon rose because players couldn’t get rid of THEIR cards if 1 player wasn’t ’in’ the game. So an ultimatum was given by the group… ‘either play or quit!’ Because inattentive sitting at the table is not an option when playing Tripoly!

When it comes to being a follower of Jesus Christ, today’s verse is a ‘seriously kind’ way of saying ‘either play or quit!’ Simply asking someone if they ‘believe’ in Jesus Christ can get a ‘look like’ someone is ‘in.’ But looks can be deceiving! Pretending to be a part of the Body of Christ affects the success of every member of a Family or Church. The 2^nd part of the verse implies a warning!

‘Study’ or ‘be diligent’ is a command from God. It is NOT a suggestion. Not ‘liking’ to read’ is not a legitimate excuse for a pretender. Getting rid of personal ‘bad cards’ is a sign of growing. And growing produces even MORE studying because, if I love Jesus, having MORE of Him makes life even MORE interesting and fun. Being a ’work-person’ for Jesus proves that I am His winner!

Are YOU participating in God’s game of Life? Are you IN? Are you actively reading and studying God’s Word to get more of Him? Do you have God’s approval or are you mostly ashamed? Now is the time to pick up His Word and get in the game because.. It’s your turn!

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

“Well… we survived!” That was the summation of Katie’s 5 day report in regards to the ‘Cousin Sleepover’ event at our house. The first 2.5 days were started with spending time with my oldest son’s family and 2 elementary school boys. That day ended with 5 of our older grandchildren coming to our house. Overlapping, came our youngest daughter’s family with 3 younger children.

“Cousin Sleep-over” has been a thing since my mother started it decades ago with MY children and their cousins. After being married and alone together, Katie thought children would be a wonderful benefit. Raising 4 children into adulthood and watching them go out into the world to become successful in marriage and parenting is the joy of my life. But we’ve lived alone for over 19 years.

“Time changes things,” is an understatement. When people ask how we managed to raise 4 children, all 2 years apart from each other, I have no wise answer other than to say, we just did it! Having grandkids come into our house to live for a few days was quite an event! OUR kids trust US to watch THEIR kids, and to keep them safe, fed and entertained. We trusted THEIR kids to know the basics of life.

Space and time, when crammed with a small group of small ones, have a way of overwhelming the senses. Individual desires, tastes, likes and dislikes must yield to the mutual benefits of everyone. That includes ours as well. We cannot expect cleanliness, calm and order, things that we mostly live with now, to remain the norm. I forgot how much energy and disorder accompany small children.

We had a GREAT time. That my wife is ‘The Queen’ when it comes to small children is a gift I GREATLY appreciate. Now that things are back to normal, we reflect on how it all went, even talking over some of the challenges. Which made me wonder… how great must GOD be to plan for the mass invasion of his children… into HIS Heaven… for ETERNITY! I mean… how crazy is THAT?

God’s instruction book (The Bible) and His Church, are His methods of prepping us for what is to come. I expected my kids ,who were taught by us, to pass on standards for living and getting along with others, since fighting, selfishness and fits of rage are unacceptable in a group setting. God gives us a lifetime here, working WITH us, to MAKE us what is His minimum standard in Heaven… PERFECT!

Are YOU working with God to become more like what He wants from you? Do you try to please Him? Are you sharing and caring for those in His immediate family… and are you working with Him to grow His family even bigger… and better? How are you doing at becoming… PERFECT?

“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19

Behold the Hard Head! If you come to our Church, you know this guy! John is a man in… let’s say… ‘transition!’ He’s a big boy! And while ‘big’ has a lot to do with genetics, in HIS case, as is so many of our physical, mental and spiritual lives, that BIGness came with a price! A LOT of what John is going through right now stems from His willingness to pay a HIGH cost for LOW quality of goods.

John is a Florida boy born and raised. He loves His barbecue and vittles. The majority of us can move through life and only hear the, “ya gotta stop doing _____,” AFTER we’ve gotten away with it for a long time. Sugar and cholesterol are things my doctor has told ME that I need to watch! It never bothered me before… until now! Now those items are possible bullets that could kill me! Ugh-Oh!

John had to have radical surgery to remove a rather large tumor in his brain. It’s the 2^nd one in his lifetime. He had to go back in for further surgery because he started leaking. Not being happy about that, he grumbled. Setting John beside Galen, it is obvious that we have a pair of twins in our church! Galen had the same problem with HIS leg surgery. After insisting on going out, he leaked!

O.K., O.K… I may be picking at small matters here. But then again, maybe not! Both of these Florida boys have a difficulty in following orders. MOST of us do! I CAN write about them because they both already KNOW that is their weakness. Growling dogs growl! I did again last night, and had to apologize for my own attitude as my wife sat and heard me complain about the traffic. Hard heads!

God has a special place in His being for hard-headed people. Stiff-necked people too! I believe the reason is that, once He’s saved a hard headed person, that person will be a hard head FOR God the rest of His life. If you don’t believe it, look at most of God’s most famous prophets, priests, kings… and even His disciples! Look at Peter ‘the rock!’ But hard headedness alone gets no points!

It is absolutely true and wonderful that we are saved by our Grace through Faith alone. But today’s verse shows us that THAT doesn’t eliminate ‘The Rules!’ God STILL expects us to change and obey. Not raise His banner… then rebel! The Spiritual Gifts are rooted in love and kindness. Not war and fighting. It is still possible for us to get to heaven and be called… ‘The Least!’

John and Galen are doing well. John even led his roommate in the hospital to the Lord! And Galen seems to follow Paula’s orders a little more than usual. Both GOOD signs that God expects us to change and get with HIS program. SO how hard is YOUR head and how much surgery is He going to have to do on YOU before you get with His program?

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 1 John 1:4

Well there he is! And what a picture he makes… standing there with mom and dad, fresh out of Coast Guard Boot Camp. It wasn’t that long ago we watched the boy come to our Bible Study (FLAP) and ask questions. We watched as before our very eyes He received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He didn’t know what he was going to do, but he was determined.

Watching Zach wrestle with decisions of when and when, what and how reminds me of my own experiences. With my journey being long and hard, it just kind of happened, as 1 thing failed and another try was forced. When it came to raising my kids I was determined that, as much as I could help it, I’d try to help make their transition to adulthood a little easier. I’m not sure I succeeded!

Moments like Zach’s become wall pictures for a reason. Our hallway is lined with pictures like this one, Graduations, weddings, babies… all events that mark the milestones of life and give us a smile. When we are facing difficulties, we can look and remember, and carry on with hope. Remembrances remind us of victories won, encouraging us to keep going in the face of difficulty.

One picture that hangs before God’s eyes at ALL times, is the one that, if you look closely, hangs around Jon’s neck. It is a picture of The Cross! A symbol of horrific circumstances that overcame incredibly evil odds but, by which purchased eternal joy for those who embrace it, and then make it their compass. Seeing this picture gives me a HUGE reason to keep hanging in there with Jesus.

We prayed for Zach as his parents worried for him. But we all KNEW he would be ok. Now the boy has become a man, with purpose and direction… and a Savior who will give Him every ounce of Spirit needed to make it to the next wall picture. And even beyond. We continue to pray for Keri as she battles cancer, and for the whole Allen Family. We pray too for others in our Church Family.

Are YOU keeping your eyes on Jesus and trusting God to grow you, use you and then get you home?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

“I’m so tired of this,” Katie said to me yesterday. It’s been almost 3 weeks since the eye doctor said to stop wearing her hard contact lenses and use glasses… “until you see a specialist.” She’s got a cyst in the corner of her eye that requires her to wear only glasses for now. For most of her life, her day started with popping in her contact lenses. Now… seeing means looking for her glasses!

The other day I picked up her prescription sunglasses. I was in a hurry and saw the black frames. Thinking they were mine, I put them on and WHOAH!!!!! EVERYTHING was a blurrrr! I’d say she’s blind as a bat without glasses, but even bats can see better! To make matters more difficult, she has 1 lens for seeing things far away… and 1 lens for things close! She’s a visionary nightmare!

Years ago she told me of her first experience with glasses at 10 years old. Whether it was from running into things, or not seeing the nose in front of her face, her mom took her to the eye doctor. When she got the ‘cat eye’ shaped glasses, it was like her whole world changed… “I saw LEAVES,” she said. Adolescence brought braces too. Even now, we all laugh at her pictures from 8^th grade!

Katie is beautiful and, as I said to a lady the other day, “she’s even MORE beautiful on the INSIDE.” There’s a reason for that. Every morning she puts on her glasses and focuses on God’s Word, making studying more of a ‘Beauty Treatment’ than a regimen. ‘Through the eyes, to the heart and out the Life,’ is God’s way. And she has mastered it. Her diligence proves today’s verse works!

I learned 2 Timothy 2:15 as a kid when my dad made it a point… “God’s Word is LIFE! “ Memorizing it in the King James, I have a problem hearing it from any other version. The Greek word means ‘to hasten’ or ‘be diligent.’ Some even interpret it, ‘do your best!’ But personally, I don’t prefer those versions. To me, attitude verbs don’t make it as clear as ‘STUDY!’ MANY folks need to hear that!

“What book in the Bible are you reading? What devotional(s) do you subscribe to? Read any good Christian Books lately? How often do you spend time with Jesus and His Word?” And for how long?” These are questions I ask because of my VOCATION. My Biblical job description says that if I DON’T ask them, I get DOUBLE judgment! So I ask… even to the point of being gruff!! Too bad!

Are YOU studying, learning and applying God’s Word daily? How clearly do YOU see God’s hand in your life because you do? What is He trying to teach you? Are you co-operating with Him? Do you share His Word and lessons with those in your world? These are Important questions because ‘God’s Word is LIFE and DILIGENTLY STUDYING is His COMMAND! You’ve just been told! Wink wink!

“His intent was that now, through ‘the church,’ the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10-11

“I hate people!” Yup… that’s what the man said! Then, to sharpen his point, he added, “that’s why I don’t even care if people like me… or not!” My natural response was to lower my head in wonder and give a little chuckle. NOT because his words were so shocking, but because MOST people have his same attitude and, #1 either wont admit it, or #2 will feign shock and horror when they do!

I’ve known the guy for years and KNOW that he doesn’t really HATE people like he says. In fact, He’s a Believer in Jesus Christ… though by most accounts and at best, a back row follower. But I KNOW I could count on him to have my back and help in a crisis. Of course he’d complain the whole time… but he’d be there! Which is more than I can say of some who follow Jesus closer!

Gruff and Grumbly is an attitude lots of people carry. In fact, I hold an office in the club myself. Knowing his life situation, I can see and feel that a lot of what he says comes from having to carry around a broken heart. He’s been burned, hurt, disappointed, used and sacrificed. That kind of experience can lead to building walls and hiding. Why go and get hurt when one can easily hide?

Traveling from mad to sad is a short journey. It starts by being willing to pull my own head out of my own rear end! To see that this life, world and universe are NOT about me… is a major step in the process of becoming ‘like Christ.’ I was CREATED by God Almighty to both make, and prove, a point to God’s enemies! How sad is it that ‘the created’ often chooses to side with the enemy!

Of the 8 billion people on the planet, the number of Believers is statistically low! This makes ‘The Point’ of God even MORE fantastic. To be 1 in a million in God’s hand is like waking to up wearing a cape and with a big ‘J’ on a brightly colored spandex suit! God is limiting His proof to RIDICULOUSLY small numbers in the face of the enemy. It’s how He works! That ‘I’ am His just overwhelms my soul.

I don’t have to look far to find a perfect example of how to do what God is asking of me. Having been abused, hurt, let-down, abandoned and sacrificed myself, I SHOULD clearly see my Hero and mentor… because NO ONE has been victimized more than Jesus Christ, God’s Son! But in HIS victim-hood, He chose to FORGIVE and LOVE. That ‘I’ SHOULD likewise, stand out among the masses… is His call!

“Dear Lord, may I have your wisdom and strength to see my whiny, selfish attitude like you do? Will you please give me the training, experience and ability to react to those around me with your same heart? I know I’m asking for something BIG here Lord… but this being 1 in a million thing is pretty tough. Honestly… I need your help in not hating those who don’t see things MY way! TY”

“And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

I was very careful. Failing to mail a check, and having it received and posted, came with consequences. Going to my desk I retrieved an inexpensive envelope, I carefully wrote both addresses on the face. Once accomplished, and I was satisfied that they were clearly legible, I inserted the check, sealed the envelope and, only then, applied the stamp and placed it in the box.

Handwriting has never been my forte. Learning to write in cursive brings uncomfortable remembrances to this day. By the time I could choose to write without someone correcting me, I chose to print in upper case, block letters only. In the age of computers, I rarely even do THAT! Thus, without much practice, my handwriting isn’t the best. So being frugal, I save the stamp until last!

Learning from mistakes is common and universally accepted as the best way to remember. Years ago I recalled having stamped an envelope, then after doing so, proceeded to illegibly scribble the addresses. My mistake cost me the cost of a stamp! So I learned to carefully address, seal and THEN stamp my outgoing mail. ‘Clear and precise’ is the only way to ensure critical correspondence!

There is a part of the mailing process that is just as critical, but one I don’t see. It is the stamp by the Postal Service that verifies my letter has been received, canceling the stamp for any further use. Today’s verse confirms that this process is also God’s way of handling the transaction of my sin and salvation! Intentional deliberate confession receives a like response from Him. Thus… SALVATION!

The seriousness of The Lake of Fire requires the seriousness of my correspondence with God. NOBODY gets ‘saved’ by accident. The seriousness of Christ’s crucifixion from my sin deserves my serious, deliberate response… AND God’s deliberate canceling of my debt. The verified transaction requires my continued commitment to validate our agreement, since salvation is serious business!

God received and stamped His verification on my soul over 55 years ago. I carry that ‘Stamp of Approval’ with me wherever I go. Being His possession carries the responsibility of carefulness in everything I do… since elsewhere in the Bible, I am called His ‘letter to the world!’ Do YOU carry God’s seal of approval and are YOU daily living, working and acting according to your contract?