Letting go and grabbing on

1 Peter 1:6 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ".   

Grief in all kinds of trials.  Grief is a strange animal we can suffer grief in the loss of many things.   At one time in my life I was a recognized athlete.  I had to embrace my new identity in order to manage the loss.  Life on Earth is ever changing and there is much we would prefer not to deal with, when we fix our eyes on Jesus even our worse case scenario becomes manageable.  We can embrace our identity in Him  verses setting our eyes on our loss.     I hope you like this today too. It's kinda like saying good bye to 2022 and looking forward to 2023😇🙏♥️

Love deeply from the heart.

1Peter 1:22 "now that you have purified yourself by obeying the truth so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply,from the heart."

Love one another deeply from the heart!   A deep sacrificial love for others is a beautiful place for my heart to be.  My problem is selflessness gets in the way of this.   Many things can get in the way of me loving others deeply, with a pure heart.  Forgiveness is essential for me to help me love others deeply.   I can forgive others with sincerity of heart when I remember Jesus forgives me.  He told us to love others as He loves us. ( John 13:34) He loves us so much that while we were yet sinners He died for us, (Romans 5:8) to set us free from our sinful natures.   When I find myself in my selfish sinful nature not loving others deeply I have to ask for Jesus help.  My simple prayer is," Lord help me love and forgive ____ as you love and forgive me."    I hope this helps you today, love others deeply through the powerful gift of Jesus!!!😇🙏♥️

Be careful in the Crash

 Psalm 37 is my focus this morning.  Lots of great verses in this beautiful Psalm.  8 "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it only leads to evil".  Yesterday we had a family tragedy, sometimes horrific things happen, we were in the middle of our Christmas gathering, so I put on my Fire Fighter hat and pretended everything was fine.   When you are an emergency worker or a health care worker you have to learn to deal with the horrible and move to the next thing.  The problem is we need to deal with things and not sweep them under the rug.  Fire Fighters, Police, Military personnel, health care …… we all have to learn to do things like scrape the brain matter off your shoes and then put a smile on your face and be strong in your next emergency.     The crash will happen in your quiet times.  Today, as I read Psalm 37 it’s helping me in my crash.   Helping me not be angry, helping me know God’s got this.  Helping me wait upon the Lord.  The family tragedy was our precious 21 year old family cat was murdered by my sons dog, in my house.  I have read on line that if a dog kills a domestic cat in your home it can’t be trusted around children.  Tragedy happens in a moment, you can replay the scenario in your mind over and over wishing for a different outcome.  But we can’t change 5 minutes ago anymore then we can change 5 or 50 years ago. The person I always get maddest at is myself.   Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it only leads to evil.”

Merry Christmas…Believe🙏♥️

Merry Christmas!!    As I sit here in contemplating the miracle of a virgin birth, a sinless life, a sacrificial death, a resurrection and a life everlasting in pure joy I think, Wow!!!  How beautiful is the account of Jesus!!! How beautiful, what He does for us!!! All because God came to earth too, dwell among us and save us from our sinful nature.   I'm fascinated by this.     I certainly don't deserve saving.    I can't go a day without sinful jealousy, greed, deceit, fear.... my humane condition is quite disgusting.   I do have many moments of sincere love in my heart.  But sins creeps in and I have to intentionally give it to God daily, accept His forgiveness and take on His righteousness.   One day we will be freed of our sinful nature!  Thanks be to God, for sending Jesus to save us!!! Praise the Lord for this Christmas Day!!!😇🙏♥️🎄.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Believe!!♥️🙏

We get to, “Have too!”

 Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me? He asked. Didn't you know I had to be in my Fathers house?"    These are the words of Jesus, when his parents found him in the temple after they had missed Him for three days.    Didn't you know I had to be in my Fathers house?    I had to be in my Fathers house!! I had to!!  I(we) have to too😇.  When I spend time in the Bible I get get Deep peace in my soul that helps me be strong in my day.   I have to be in His word or I loose my peace.   Tonight I look forward to Christmas Eve services.    I love it!!! Yet the church isn't a building it's in our hearts.  Today and always be inspired to remember Christ is in you and He is for you, no matter what!! He fills you with His Holy Spirit so that you can believe the miracle of His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection and life ever lasting.    Praise the Lord that we get to; "Have to" be in our Fathers house!  May His Peace fill you today and always.    Merry Christmas 😇🙏♥️🎄🎁

Buck up and be filled!!

Luke 1:68. " Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,because He has come and redeemed His people."    Praise the Lord we are redeemed!!!   I was overwhelmed  with the passing of my mother and all that goes with that, so I didn't "feel" like putting Christmas up.   But it's also my Grandsons first Christmas and my sons first Christmas home in Five years so I choose to "buck up".   I'm glad I did.   Even if I'm the only one that gets to see all these decorations, it helps me to just put them up, each one comes with a memory.  My memories are gifts and now it's time to create more of them.   The most important gift is the gift of our salvation through Jesus.   He is the reason for the season and when I decorated my house, it helped me stay out of the "Bah humbug mode” and as I look to Jesus, I am filled with the joy He was born to give us all!!! Merry merry Christmas!!😇🙏♥️🎄🎁.  Jesus the greatest present ever!!!

The blessing of wanting what you have

Numbers 6:24-26 "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you His favor and give you His  peace."   What a beautiful blessing this is!!    I love it when the pastor prays this over us after service.    Today be encouraged to simply rest in His blessing and be thankful.    The secret to happiness is not having what you want, but in wanting what you have.  Let's enjoy what what we've been blessed with!!😇🙏♥️🎄

Have HOPE live Faith

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ..."11:6 and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."    Today is Dec 21st.  It’s my second favorite day of the year!  Today is the Winter solstice, which means daylight is now getting longer!!   Knowing days are getting longer produces a hope in me, in anticipation of the longs warm Summer days.   Faith is like this, because of Jesus we have HOPE, that this world is not the end, we have a beautiful eternity to look forward to in Heaven.  In the meantime, we have faith that all things are working out for our good regardless of some of the looming darkness. (Romans 8:28).  Today be inspired to simply.....Keep the Faith!!! By keeping your HOPE alive!!!

Give a lasting gift

 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Shall not perish!!!!   Sometimes I feel like I am perishing into this material world.  Christmas has become too much about presents for me.   Not getting them but giving them.    I love to give presents but as I am on a tighter budget these days it is harder for me financially to give the volume I like to give, so I feel like I am perishing in anxiety over gift giving.   We shall not perish, we will have life eternal!!  Today my focus is going to be about my relationships and being the Love of Jesus.  Material presents are relatively meaningless.   The gift of Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas.   Merry merry Christmas!!😇🙏♥️🎁

His wonder in it all

 Psalm 40:5 "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."    The wonders of His Love!!  This week we have had a beautiful snow.   It's heavy laden on the trees still.   Simply wondrous!! Sometimes is easy to look at the "Busy" and the endless lists with limited time.   We can each only do one thing at a time and to do that thing well we have to be fully present in it.   For me to be fully present in my moments I slow down and see His wonder in it all!!     😇🙏♥️🎄

Worry is fear, don’t be afraid just believe

Mark 5 :36 " Ignoring what they had said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid, just believe."     Don't be afraid, just believe!! I love this!   Worry is fear. Many people feel"justified" in their worrying.  Perfect love casts out fear.  God has perfect love for each of us.   When we TRUST that, there is nothing to fear for only things to believe for.😇🙏♥️🎄

Delight in the Lord?

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your ways to the Lord; trust Him and He will do this: 

What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord? For me it is walking in thanksgiving and trust.   I intentionally look at what is right.  Thank God for it and TRUST He’s got what ever battle I’m facing.   It’s not always easy, sometimes I look at what I want and can’t have and forget to delight myself in the Lord. There is always a reason if God says, No.   I trust He is with me, He's got it.     Sometimes I simply look at my worse case scenario and see Jesus there.  Then I have the strength to keep on keeping on!!  His ways are greater than our ways.  He is God, we can TRUST He knows best.    When I do this, I choose to delight myself in Him!!!

Fitness quest link

https://faithcenteredfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Family-Fitness-Quest-21-Day-Challenge-1.pdf

Little girl get up!!!

Mark 5:41 "He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (Which means, "little girl get up!)".  Little girl get up!!!   These word are ringing loudly for me today and are helping me through my acute grief.  Even though I could see the passing of my mother coming, I was still not prepared for it.   I somehow felt there was more time.  I wasn't realizing what the reality of her passing meant.   I'm very sad to not get a little more time.  I am very comforted knowing we have eternity in Heaven together where time is not a commodity.   I just need to hold on and TRUST in the promises of Jesus.    It's easy to see the loss, I need to look at my moms gain. She is free!!  I don't want her to be bound to the suffering we have here when she is alive and free there!   Each of us have a daily choice on how we see things, we can let the difficulties in our lives hinder us or we can "Get UP!" With Jesus and live!!    One thing I'm using to help me , "get up" is my family fitness quest.   I'll send a link to it next.  It's a chart that has things to do daily to be healthy in Jesus and in our bodies.    It's helping me to remember to keep getting up...Forward in Christ!!!

Peace in Christmas

Proverbs 23:4-5 "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have wisdom and show restraint.  5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."   What are you seeking after today?    Christmas has become very commercialized, PEACE is not riches.  Be motivated bro stay in budget and focus on the PEACE we have in Jesus this Christmas time😇🙏♥️🎄🎁.  He is the ultimate present we receive and give.

A Time for Everything

 A Time for Everything; Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under Heaven:  2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3.  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to to tear down and a time to build up.  4 a time to weep and a time to dance.....  11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end." There is a time for everything.   A time to mourn and a time to dance 💃.   My beautiful little moma  passed last night on what would have been her 40th wedding anniversary with her favorite dance partner.   My mom had many seasons in her life and she was pretty extraordinary.  At 80 she felt she was too young to die and I agree, although her theme song, was “My Way” at the end she acknowledged it His way!   She trusted Gods timing and His will.  She trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.   She said, “I just need Josh to know the peace I have I need Josh to know this peace.” Josh is my brother.   My mom said, “She had a wonderful life and “it’s all good”.   It was actually quite beautiful to see my mom pass in such peace.   A time for everything.   It’s hard to loose my mom here on earth.  I’ll miss her here.   But when I remember she is in Heaven a place with no more tears or sorrow my mourning is turned into dancing.  Dancing is referred to in the Bible a number of times so … I’m pretty sure my mom is dancing😇💃🕺 praising Jesus since now she is FREE!!

Peace in the Valley for me someday

John 12:23 "Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."   This verse is helping me see how God is using my moms life as a witness for Him.   Yesterday, I called her life insurance company to get information on a small policy I took out to help with her burial expenses.   On the other end of the phone the young man was a mess knowing I was calling about my dying mother.   He said, “Oh no that makes me shake, I will hope that you call me on her next birthday.” I said,"no she has no fear in death, she is going to Heaven she doesn't want to stay here anymore she wants to be with Jesus and her loved ones that have passed in Him.  Staying in this world is not her desire."   He was surprised at my answer and then, I shared the simple gospel to explain, why my mom has no fear in death.  She said, "I have peace such great peace."   This man explained that he is a Muslin.   He said, " all religions are basically the same."   I said, No, Christianity is the only one where you can Know you're going to Heaven every other is a hope so.   With my moms complete peace in her passing and the deep change in her heart she is planting seeds for Jesus with each person who visits her.   It's such a miracle.  I saw the same thing happen when my Grandma Muzzy passed.  Much of our family turned From; Sunday faith, to a real and ever lasting faith in Jesus as their personal Savior.  I  told mom, “This is crazy!God is using you like He used Grandma Muzzy, and you’re no Grandma Muzzy.  I'm so glad!!   She smiled and shook her head yes.    See my mom, just like each of us had much she could feel guilt and shame about.  But She has been freed of her sin and has received the righteousness of Jesus Christ and is on her way to Heaven.   Praise the Lord!!!!!

Completely satisfied

Revelation 7:16-17 “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the  Lamb, at the center of the throne will be their Shepard; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”    Thinking of Heaven, is peaceful for me.     Every need met and joy in my heart continuously.    No more longing for what I don’t have, but being fully complete in Jesus.    I try to do that here.  I try to be fully complete in Him without longing for what is “missing”.  I’m humane, so I will continually fall short of being completely in thanksgiving for what I do have.    It’s funny, God, has given me such abundance it’s amazing to me I keep looking to what I don’t have.   When we get to Heaven we won’t be tormented by desiring things we don’t have.    I am looking forward to that.     The things I don’t have are no longer materialistic like they were when I was young.   But I still hope for things to be Kimberly dreams.   Not necessarily Gods dreams for Kimberly.  I hope this helps you look to Gods dreams for you, and be complete in Jesus and thanksgiving.