“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:2

I noticed I needed some clean socks, underwear, blue jeans and long sleeved shirts. I also noticed the hamper on my side of the room was overflowing… logically putting 2+2 together, I grabbed the hamper and threw it all into the washing machine. Since it wasn’t quite a full load I threw in a couple towels as well. No sense wasting good space right? Finding a packet of something that promised a ‘fresh smell for up to 12 weeks,’ I threw some of that in too. What could it hurt!?

My wife freaks at the way I do laundry. Many a time she has chastened and warned me to NOT throw HER stuff in with MINE. She fears discoloration and wrinkles. Me? Not so much. If my socks or underwear come out a little blue and wrinkly… who’s gonna notice? Being the mature one, I do not discriminate against HER way of doing laundry! I let her do MY dress shirts and pants!

As I was pulling out the laundry to throw it all into the dryer, a yucky smell hit my nose. Not being stupid, I instinctively knew that this should not be. After all, I used the scent beads! Investigating, I carefully looked at the rubber seal around the inside of the door. Pulling at it, I noticed that deep inside a rubber fold, black smelly crude had grown and collected. My cleaning machine actually needed cleaning! Who’da thunk?

My wife and I have different jobs in the house. You might say we discriminate. I CAN be a male chauvinist pig as I believe there are some things that are the man’s job… and there are some that are the woman’s. Cutting grass, working on the car, clearing drains and killing wildlife in the house are MY jobs. Cleaning the floor, washing the sheets, washing windows and dusting are hers. Cleaning smelly crud out of the washer CLEARLY fell under my jurisdiction! So I did!

When it comes to my Christian walk, Jesus and I are a team. And just like with my wife and I, there are things that only HE does.. and things that ‘I’ am responsible for doing. Happily… the disgusting, stinky, dirty area of sin falls under HIS expertise. But it appears I am not completely off the hook. Today’s verse reminded me that my body, soul and spirit can be washed clean by Him.  But it is MY job to BRING it to Him in the first place. ‘Draw near… SINCERELY!’

I admit that cleaning the of crud of my life is a nasty business. But I have learned that there are some areas where God does NOT want my help. In fact, my interference… interferes! I am called to sincerely show up with the dirty laundry… He then lovingly cleans. No role reversal is permitted. The meaning is obvious… If I smell, see or sense ANY crud in my life… and I DO have the senses to notice… I am required to deliver it to HIM. And THAT is how God does laundry EVERY time!

“you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10

Calling to confirm plans to visit my son and his family for dinner, I told him I was free and could come earlier if he had any projects needing my help. He snickered in the phone and said… “Oh, I got a project!” Anticipating, I smiled. Until he said, “I’m changing the brakes on my truck!” Immediately I was transported to a ‘not so happy’ experience years ago! I reluctantly agreed to help because I have learned that family trumps bad memories every time.

It was many years ago on a cold and snowy winter day when the old car we drove needed brakes. We were so poor that even the cheapest brakes put a dent into my wallet. But the job had to be done. After reading up on the ‘how-to,’ all went well until it was time to bleed the brake line. As I applied pressure to the bleeder valve, it snapped off from rust, resulting in one of the few times this grown man ever cried! Flashing back to the present, my son had just asked for my help… so I sucked it up and headed out.

On the way I reminded myself that it couldn’t be THAT bad. I fought to convince myself to look at the positives. I live in Florida now, so snow was out. It wasn’t going to cost ME anything but time, which I had. Monetary cost to me was out… because it was HIS truck! When I got there I was elated! He hadn’t just purchased the brakes.. but had gone ahead and bought ALL new rotors AND Calipers as well! That might not mean much to some… but the point is.. EVERYTHING was BRAND NEW! There was NO chance that old rust was going to be a factor!

While working, the occasion became even MORE joyous when my other son showed up to help.. then my daughter arrived. In-laws and a pack of grandkids congregated around as the guys worked. The GOOD news is, the job went off without a hitch. I suffered a brain burp when it came time to bleed the brakes!!! But it was not a problem at all! All that remained was the test drive! I was never so happy as to ‘almost be put through the windshield,’ in my life! It was a good day as I chocked up NEW and GOOD experiences in auto repair!

The verse today says that I no longer operate under the conditions of my old life, since it has passed away. Life is no longer cold and bleak, since Jesus Christ gave me a NEW life with NEW operating conditions. I am promised that the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with me…so I am never alone. Because I have access to HIS mind and strength, I do not have to rely on my own. I also have a great loving Church family who encourages, supports and helps when difficulties arise. All in all, operating in this NEW life is MUCH better than operating in the old. I can STOP things even better than I used to.

Sometimes driving down memory lane can be a GOOD thing. Especially when it reminds me… I don’t HAVE to ‘go there’ anymore! But I have decided I will continue to avoid auto repair!

“For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cries of the afflicted” Psalm 9:12

I didn’t wake up angry… but it didn’t take long for me to get there! It wasn’t my plan to experience sorrow so early in the day, but I knew what it was when it interrupted my devotions. Like a shot in the dark or a crash in the night, my day and mood immediately switched from the domination of His Spirit to that of obeying my emotions. Like oil and water, they didn’t seem to mix. Until I heard His still small voice and then… they did!

David wrote about politics… a LOT. The emotional mood of the nation is found throughout the Psalms. Right was right and wrong was wrong! One was either on God’s side and deserving of His mercy and grace, or on the other side, full of evil and deserving of judgment. Like David, I have a hard time keeping my cool. The subjects before me, blasted from my email and the internet, were festering a sore in me. And I didn’t’ know what to DO!

As government gets sophisticated in its manipulation, it can control response. I set my recycling out yesterday, and was reminded that it is a forced way for the county to make money from MY work and trash. But that’s OK, since I AM a part of the county! Likewise, congressmen and elected officials have a sneaky way to keep non-constituents from weighing in on major issues. If you don’t live in their area, they don’t accept your emails! My emotions, needing a vent, seemed stifled. Until I saw the envelope setting on my desk!

David took the time and materials to journal his feelings. Did he write about hiding in a cave while in there? Or later? In either case, God made sure He published the thoughts! I could feel God trying to tell me something. The envelope was the evidence! God wanted me to express His righteousness the old fashioned way! I looked up the address of the official on the internet, then wrote and letter and dropped it in the mail!!! “AHHHHHHH! Oil and water DO mix,” I thought!

What made me SO uncomfortable was ALSO what made me take action. As we are ALL ministers of His Gospel, we ALL are required to take action. Whether by voice or letter… in prayer or by physical action… WE ARE HIS CHURCH! And even in today’s technological age, there are SOME things that God still does the old fashioned way. What are YOUR emotions telling you to do? Because… It could just be God calling!

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2

There has been a war going on in my house. A battle of wills! This morning, in the darkness, as the alarm clock went off, my wife asked…”will there be coffee?” Arising from the warm bed, my response was… “I believe!”

There has been trouble lately with the coffee pot and its cooperation. It is getting old and sometimes it hasn’t brewed the coffee in advance of our rising. There are SEVERAL things that can cause the problem. Age, loss of power, timer reset, failure to hit the ‘Auto’ button! Any one, or combination of thereof, can prohibit coffee from being there when we awake. Last night I went through ALL the possible scenarios and was confident it would work. If there was NO coffee… it would be time for a new machine! Going to the kitchen… I hit the JACKPOT!

The news in our country is getting more grotesque and horrific by the day. I deliberately do not watch live news as it just angers me. But closing a blind eye is not only foolish… it makes me, in effect, complicit with evil if I KNOW and don’t DO anything in my power to stand up to it. As a member of God’s creation, created to bring His light into the darkness, I am either DOING it or NOT DOING it.

The verse today lays out a promise from David to God. Four times he says, “I will!” He states that ‘I will give, tell, be, rejoice and sing.’ But SAYING isn’t DOING! It is all well and good to INTEND to carry out our God ordained activities. It is another thing to shutdown after the claim! It has been said that, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ How true!

The state of Virginia elected a Governor who is proposing a bill that would allow a baby to be killed AFTER it is born. The mother and to doctor would have the right, and power, to make the decision and carry out murder… all by their lonesome! Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse! On another note, the Speaker of the House is proposing that “So help me God,” be taken out of the oath of office for members of Congress! Being a God guy I can say, “Yes.. there is a connection!”

My coffee pot either makes coffee as it was intended to do.. or it doesn’t. I either programmed it correctly… or I didn’t. Either I have coffee waiting when I awake…or I don’t. If I DON’T… there is only ONE explanation.. It is MY fault! When I stand before God and face Him, I will either hear, “Good Job,” or “You wicked, lazy servant.” Either way… His judgment depends COMPLETELY upon me! There will be NO surprises!

I have some choices to make today and like David… I’m shooting for ‘JACKPOT!’

“without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

It is getting close to that time of year where I need to be thinking about what I don’t want to think about. In my thinking, I have determined that the opposite of Faith… is Taxes! I have a super hatred of this time of year, not because I don’t’ like paying taxes. But because I HATE MATH! I realize that without taxes, I would not be able to enjoy a LOT of benefits I take for granted. But making me do math seems a little excessive.

I live in a house, drive a vehicle, walk among other people and even make a living because of taxes. Security, serenity and safety are conditions supplied by all of us mutually paying for services that our taxes support. Unfortunately I must keep receipts and records, and then report an accounting of my year to the government. Based upon that report, I will be accessed MY share of taxes. The more careful I am in recording and mathematics, the less I will have to pay… AND the more I can keep.

I do not have ALL of my receipts. Not being an organized person… and not caring to become one, I don’t bother saving them all. Which means, in essence, that I must pay for my refusal to keep track of my own expenditures! In reflecting about my Faith in God… it has hit me that God NEVER requires that I keep any record of my works of faith… since the Bible is clear… HE already DOES!

I don’t know which is worse, knowing that I am going to have to support my claims to the government, or not knowing what claims my God will require me to support! I DO know that the majority of earthlings do not give ‘The Judgment’ of God much thought! I ALSO think I’d rather face the IRS for my actions, or inactions… than an unhappy God!

God measures my life by what I DON’T see. He tells me that if I want a favorable ruling when I meet Him, that I MUST believe He exists RIGHT HERE and NOW! And that I am to invest time, money, gifts and service into HIS work… WITHOUT seeing the exact, immediate reward. But I am required to BELIEVE that it will be there! In essence.. I am to deliberately trust that He is trustworthy in my every action on earth. And not to worry about receipts… HE is keeping score!!!!! ‘I’ am NOT required to ‘do the math!’

How Faithful am I? I THINK I’m OK. I mean, maybe I’ll get a ‘C’. But I realize that even saying that is arrogant because of possible pride or humility. Scoring is not my job. DOING is. And the DOING is walking by Faith TODAY… RIGHT NOW! So…what am I doing, right this minute, that is pleasing to God? What will I do the REST of my day? My LIFE? I DO know this… Judgment Day.. like April 15… is coming! And doing NOTHING is a VERY bad option! It’s time to leap!

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

I received a call yesterday from an old friend from up north. Before I had time to think, I answered his question. He had asked “So how are you doing down there?” “COLD!” I responded. Immediately I knew I had made a mistake and knew what was coming. Tongue in cheek, he told me, “Yea, wind chill is -15 here today!” I didn’t have the heart to tell him that outside MY door… it was 50!

I spend a lot of time yesterday changing clothes. I remember living up north when I’d put my long johns underneath and that was what I wore all day. Here in Florida, I go from winter jacket, to sweatshirt, to short sleeves and back again all within an hour! I stood in the street and changed from short sleeves into a heavy riding jacket as I prepared to head home on my motorcycle. Put off – put on. It reminded me of what Paul had said in Ephesians… only on a more serious note!

Fooling people is not all that hard to do. Fooling yourself is a little tougher.. but possible. Fooling God? Impossible! Not even with the best planning! He KNOWS us INTIMATELY. And He has warned us that the dis-ease which we carry within us is TERMINAL! Our old flesh is not only going to die… WE are the ones who are supposed to help kill it off! Everything about out flesh… our heart and our deceitful desires, is to be put OFF! We are then called to PUT ON CHRIST with the NEW spiritual self.

I find that I spend WAY too much time changing clothes. But I can point to people who, it doesn’t even bother! But my tattle telling doesn’t impress God. He is dealing with ME and expects MY undivided attention. This is serious business, if I want life! And TRUE Life in Him does not look ANYTHING like DEAD life here on Earth. Living new and walking with Him WILL bring unfavorable attention from the rest of the world!

Living my teen years in the late 60’s and early 70’s was fun. I loved the clothes… HUGE bell bottoms, wide white belts, cool boots and shirts with puffy sleeves were just plain cool! But not anymore. I’ve found some similar clothing and worn it out in public… only to receive laughs and criticism. It is the same thing when I ‘put-on’ Jesus clothes. The world wants no part of it. But if I want God’s heart, I need to wear His outfit! REGARDLESS of the weather outside! It’s time for a change!

“Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.” Psalm 7:6

Looking back on it, I realize I SHOULD have seen it coming. All the conditions were ripe for a BAD DAY! Having lived over 23,000 of them, I SHOULD have learned that BAD DAYS have a LOT to do with my own body, soul and spirit. But all three have been experiencing ‘less than ideal’ conditions. So in retrospect, It was mostly my own fault. I thank God it wasn’t fatal.

Through the course of the day I lost my best pair of sunglasses and have no idea how or where. But they are gone! Later, I deliberately laid my keys down in a place I wouldn’t forget.. then forgot! Then that night, after going out for dinner, I got almost all the way home, when stopping for gas, realized I had left my credit card on the restaurant table. Thank goodness they were holding it for me. You might say I was hit in my seeing, going and getting. Yup! It was a bad day!

As I got to thinking about it, I realize I have had this condition now for about a month. So has my wife. Both of us are worn and weary in body, soul and spirit. The problem with that is… when your teammate is down, who will pick who up? Even my morning time with God has been affected. I have been trying to put up a good defense! But it hasn’t been working. This morning, in reading this verse, I think God it telling me it is time for OFFENSE!

This last week New York State just passed a law that allows abortion up until the baby’s due date! Having just held my brand new grandson, I became physically, mentally and spiritually ill. It is just ONE of the many ABSOLUTELY EVIL fights going on in this country. And I am tired of evil and those who propose it. God is ANGRY! And I feel that ‘The Church’ needs to be as well! Being offended.. its time for offense!

Maybe some of the evil things I experience in my own world is because of my own NOT-doing. Maybe the filth and sludge of life has over run me into a defeated state, and like David, I cry out for deliverance… INSTEAD of God’s wrath and rage against literal evil. If “I” am willing to live with it, could God’s hands be tied? What am “I” doing to right the wrongs and fight the good fight? MAYBE the enemy is winning because I have LET him!

If I believe that ‘Prayer Works…’ Why haven’t I taken the offense in prayer? Shouldn’t THAT be the best place to start? Maybe the idea of being a meek, patient and forgiving believer is absolutely WRONG. It appears David didn’t believe that. He cried out for God’s anger and wrath and vengeance FROM God, TOWARDS God’s enemies. And maybe that should be a wake up call to me. Anyone who thinks killing a baby 1 hour before it is due is a piece of garbage. And maybe God wants me to get off my wimpy hiney and call evil what it is! THAT could be the start of a GOOD and GODLY day!

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Is a true statement. No matter WHO said it. Are YOU angry yet?

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!” James 3:5

I had noticed a little rumble in my truck about 2 weeks ago and made a mental note to get it checked out. It seemed to get worse today so I called my favorite car guy… my son-in-law! He had checked on the red light that sometimes indicated a possible catalytic converter problem. Resetting the computer.. the light went out, which saved me using some electrical tape. I thought…”I’m good!” But the rumble came back.

I took the truck to him and he took it for a spin. When he got back his first question was, “when was the last time you changed the spark plugs?” “Spark plugs?” I asked. He smiled because he knows me well. Loves me too! He told me to go to the Nissan Dealer and pick up a set, change them and see what happens. I asked, “how much are spark plugs these days?” “Oh about $8.00,” he replied. “WHAAAAAAAT?” He then added, “well ya get what ya pay for! Iridium is expensive?” Huh?

At the Nissan dealer I bragged about my 15 year old truck and how much I love it. “It takes a beaten” I said! “How much for the spark plugs?” “$15.00 apiece” was his reply. “WHAAAAAAAT?” “Hey… they’re good ones, and everyone knows… ya get what ya…” “O.K. O.K. I get it!” But is it TRUE? When I told my wife this story she said, how long ago had you changed them? I stared at her and she said… “so about $6.00 a year right? THAT’S not so bad!” She had a point.

It is amazing how 1 little spark can fire in a cylinder, then when combined with 5 others, can move me and a load down the highway. What a concept! The Bible tells me that THAT kind of power rests in ME as well…right in my mouth. My tongue can do a LOT of good, or a LOT of evil. Apparently the implication is that to do either requires a decision on MY part. Left to itself… watch our forest!

In today’s world of social media, we have a SERIOUS problem. The grapevine of gossip and opinion is practically instantaneous. And the damage can be devastating. Today I am going to commit to watching my tongue… again! Because it only takes a spark…. and I WILL get what I pay for with my words!

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.”Psalm 19:12 NLT

After living in this house for 30 years, I thought I’d experienced every known problem. From electrical to plumbing. Air conditioning to swimming pool repair… I thought I had seen it all. But a while back I noticed a dirt trail in my grass. Right away I knew what it was… but gave it no thought. I figured the problem would go away on its own. Now there are more trails than ever before. Conclusion? I have moles! And instead of moving on, they appear to have settled in!

Having grown up in parsonages, I have battled bats, rats and bugs of all kinds. But I have never had to declare war on a single mole. Now, it appears, I have a war! Going to the store I looked and researched mole removal methods. There are traps that slice and baits that entice. They even have mole stinky stuff that is supposed to stink them on to another location. I’m not sure which one will work best, but I now know NOT dealing with the problem… is a problem!

In reading the verse today, it struck me. If I had to CONFESS every sin to gain God’s forgiveness, would I ever be totally forgiven? Would you? The Bible is clear that the answer is ‘NO!’ Being human, I am like a teabag in hot water… steeped in sin! Any conscious effort on my part to separate the tea from the water would be utterly futile. I need a sin expert.

Sins are like moles. I don’t always see them, but eventually, I see their affects. Being uncomfortable, anxious, irritable and on edge are just a few hints that something is going on down inside my heart. I need an expert to RID the problem without completely tearing up the yard of my life with a bulldozer. Thank God I have one In Jesus.

Some sins take care of themselves. Like touching a hot stove, I immediately KNOW… “DON’T DO THAT AGAIN!” God and I settle that score quickly. But some of those nasty, ugly, little sins that I don’t easily see can become VERY detrimental to my life. They may APPEAR little to me… but they are not so to God!

I haven’t execute my plan to execute the moles just yet. For some reason I seem to have a lot of other things going on that are more important. But maybe they aren’t!? Do you see how sneaky and subversive the moles of sin are? “I’ll worry about that tomorrow,” is NOT a successful battle cry! I need to call for help! “Jesus…!!!!! “