Be More Childlike...It's Christmas After All!

Luke 18:17 - "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The above scripture and video encompass what it means to be a Christian and follow Christ. Jesus had a childlike enthusiasm. King David had the same exuberance and honored God in such a way that brought him much criticism from his family and the public. David cared very little about his reputation in terms of his excitement for what God had done in his life. Much like a child, he did not have a sense of self-consciousness about his outward expression of worship. I mean he brought back the  Ark of the Covenant to Israel thanks to God, for crying out loud! If he wanted ti disrobe and rejoice, then he earned it and he wanted to show God his enthusiasm for his gifts.

Today and is Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of a child, Jesus, and a day that kids go nuts and could care less (until their rehearsal dinner or graduation party) what anyone thinks about how excited they are. Slowly society and we, as parents, suppress this into conformity. Even in the Christian sense we want our kids to be like the rest of the kids in church and they learn this and want to be the same as well.

So, let's examine the Christlike child. The kid that runs downstairs with reckless abandon to see what is under the tree. The kid who practically screams the blessing at Christmas dinner out of excitement. Imagine, if we could all be like that in our daily lives! Imagine if we could treat every morning like that and run downstairs to greet the blessings that God has given us with that same childlike exuberance...Wouldn't life be so much better? Couldn't we spread the word of Christ much easier and more widely if we pursued our missions in the field of spiritual battle with such reckless abandon. What if we forgot, just for a few days, our self-consciousness that keeps our spirituality inside and away from those who might criticize us? Well, we would be rewarded and would rest easy despite the naysayers because we pursued Christ as a child and not as a societal goose stepper!

That's my challenge to my readers for the new year to come. Be more childlike in everything you do, especially in your walk with Christ! Act a little foolish. Pretend a little. Just...Live a little! Live with the enthusiasm you remember having as a child! Hey, maybe even splash in a mud puddle or two!

Observe children and the way they live their lives. That's the way Jesus wants you to live. I was challenged today to take a God ordained risk. I felt called to write this post, knowing good and well that it may be laughed at a little or not understood. But, it felt right for today, the day we celebrate the birth of the Christ child!

Thank you, God, for kids! Merry Christmas! God bless!


Sent from Ray's iPhone

I Get Knocked Down and I Get Up Again

Proverbs 24:16 (ASV) : ¹⁶ For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity...

It is true, we are all sinners! That is why God sent his only Son, Jesus, to Earth, to die so that whoever believe in him, will not die but have everlasting life (John 3:16). John 3:16 is a verse that has been written in every baseball hat that I have ever worn onto the field of play. However, that verse is not the point of this post, Proverbs 24:16 is.

Imagine this, you are learning to ride a bike as a kid. All your friends can ride a bike and are going to go to the community pool for the day. However, you are just learning to ride and can now do it on your own. Whoops! You fall down and skin your elbow up a little. So, you take your bike and walk it back home and never get back on it. All summer long your friends go to the pool, the fishing hole, the snow cone place and the baseball field. But, you sit at home and do nothing. You allow falling to take over your life and just assume that you will never succeed, and therefore do not need to worry about riding your bike...EVER!

OK, now let's apply that to life. You come to God and accept Jesus into your heart and as your Lord and Savior. You get baptized and attend church regularly. All of a sudden you find yourself committing a sin that had kept your away from God and his son, Jesus, for so long. What do you do? Do you sit around and wallow in your sin and forget about getting back on the bike that is a life with Christ?  Or, do you take a posture of repentance and know that a righteous man will fall and succumb to sin. Otherwise, there would have been no need for God to send his Son to Earth to pay the ultimate price for our sin. Of course, you could watch your friends, families and others live a life of peace in Christ, while you lived a life of controlling sin. But, wouldn't you rather get back up on that bike and join all of them down at the pool, fishing hole or baseball field? Oh, sorry, I mean join all of those important to you and walk in the light of Christ?

No matter how good of a life you live, you will sin. From time to time it happens! Well, from second to second it often happens. However, it is how you respond that defines you in the eyes of God. Do you sit around and say oh well, there is nothing I can do, so I might as well just SIN AWAY! Or, do you get back up, dust off your shirt and pants and ask God for forgiveness and understand that there are NO PERFECT PEOPLE? Will you rejoice in the Light, or lie in the darkness? Will you worship aloud or beat yourself up quietly in the corner?

Hopefully, the answer is that you will get up the first or the seventh time and rejoice in the fact that Jesus gave it all, so that you (yes, little old you) may be forgiven of your sins and have everlasting life so long as you believe in him! What better news could I bring you on a Monday?!?! 

I fall, A LOT it seems. But, you know what? I am learning to dust myself off, stand up, and rejoice in my saving grace!!! You are flawed, I am flawed...But, we are not beyond worth saving! Be secure in that fact, but do not use it as a crutch or free pass. You must be genuine. Sin hurts, and it hurts badly. If it doesn't, then your asking for forgiveness may not be genuine. There is no better time then now, to invite Jesus into your heart. It's Christmas time and you have been eyeing that new bike, right? So, hop up on it, again and again! Rejoice in the spiritual bike ride! You will fall. It's not an if, but a when! And when you do, understand that the person who is righteous and repents for his or her sin before God, will be forgiven and will grow spiritually! Who knows, maybe one day we can take off those training wheels!

Good evening and God Bless!

I Just Don't Understand!

What's my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? Why has this happened to me? What path am I supposed to take? 

These are just a few of the millions of spiritual questions we have asked ourselves at one point or another in our lives. We always are looking for an answer and seem to rarely, if ever, find it ourselves. The answers are there and they lie within you.  The answers may not be revealed at this point, or today, it tomorrow or in the next five years. However, I promise they will be revealed in due time. The caveat is, you must let these answers to you. The more you seek and the more you ask, the less you will learn and the less you will know. 

In baseball you let the pitch come to you when hitting. You let the play come to you in football. In basketball you let the game come to you. You want to be aggressive and go get what you want, but over aggressiveness often leads to big failures or losses. You make things happen, but you do so in the kiddy of the game. You respect the game and it's boundaries and the game will respect you. 

Life, to me, is the same. You have free will and you make things happen. You have to be aggressive. You have to ask questions. You even will question your faith! Side not, even Jesus questioned God! It's all ok. But, in the end you have to let go of some parts of your life and let them come to you. Just as you would recognize a curveball and let it come to you and take it to the opposite field; you recognize opportunities that God has put in your life and you take them on (yes, sometimes they will be curve balls when you're expecting a fastball down the heart of the plate). 

God has a plan for you. It is His will. And, in time it will be revealed to you and you will find the answers. But, if you're leaning out over the plate with your rear end flailed out, then you'll swing and miss. If you run a post pattern and God's will was for you run a corner route, then you will probably miss that touchdown of life. 

Life happens. For me a favor and let it happen. It's hard! I know! I'm trying to do it now! So, do it with me. We cannot attempt to understand God and his will for our lives until it is revealed to us. I stand a better chance of understanding women and Curling before I do God and his plan for my life. Be patient and things will happen in due time. Be strong, have faith, pray and continue to take chances (when appropriate)! 

This post was based on the passage Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in The Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

Thanks for reading and God bless!

Heaven on Earth

What and where is Heaven? This is a question that has been on my mind all day. As I sat at McDonald's for lunch, I started thinking about all that I had and all that I have been blessed with. Then, I started to think about the man standing at the top of the hill as I was leaving for my lunch break. He was holding a sign that read "Homeless Veteran - Anything Helps, God Bless." I have probably seen him 500 times during my tenure in the shopping center. However, there was something different about this time. I have even given him a dollar or a bottle of water from time to time. I was overcome with this feeling of wealth. Not monetary wealth, but just an overall wealth of life. I thought about the piercing wind that was cutting through me as I walked the 50 feet into the building, and how I wouldn't even have to bother with the cold when I got home because I could pull my truck into the garage and walk inside. NO JACKET REQUIRED! But, not the nameless man at the top of the hill. He only has the woods across the street behind the bus stop and it was only going to get colder as day turned into night. I knew I would have a warm meal to go home to, thanks to the young lady on the left side of the above picture. The man at the top of the hill? Probably not.

So, I made a decision. A simple $5 decision. A $5 gift card to McDonald's and as I drove back to work, I made sure to give it to the man. Now, I am by no means asking for a big WOO HOO, or a Congressional Medal of Honor. I am just telling a story that touched me and gave me a clearer vision of what I have.

I think that as I have ventured into this phase of my life, I have focused a lot on the "afterlife" heaven and not so much on the heaven that I live in now. Jesus says in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." He didn't say, "Hey, c'mon guys! Let's go to heaven." He meant for his disciples to stay here on Earth, be missionaries for him and that he would come get them when their room was ready (Research Jewish Wedding traditions about preparing a room for more information). We are here on Earth for a reason. We are here to do God's will. So, why do we spend such an inordinate amount of time worrying about the heaven we're headed to, when we have a heaven right here? 

I know that one day my number will be called. My room in heaven will be ready and when that day comes, I will welcome it. But, for now, I know I have a calling here on this third rock from the sun. I am still trying to figure that calling out. One day it's dog-walking and the next it's Shoo-zies (The Koozie you wear as a shoe and then take off when you need it to keep your drink cold). Just kidding, but I think I am here to share my story whether it be within the four walls of my house or the infinitely walled internet. If I can impart any wisdom on anyone, then it would be a miracle in itself!

I just know that I am more thankful for blessings that I have today than I was yesterday or the day before. Everyday I learn a little bit more. I think that we get so mixed up in what is going to get us into Heaven that we forget about the heaven we have around us. We take our lives for granted and forget that the good Lord put us here for a reason. He gave us all countless blessings to enjoy and share while we wait for our room to be prepared. Thus, I turn my attention to the here and now and treat each day like another day on this earthly heaven. 

So, in summation, it's like the prophet Joe Diffie said in Honky Tonk Attitude 1:3, "Lord, I wanna go to Heaven, but I don't wanna go tonight!" Goodnight and a God bless!

Worry

Worry. It's a verb in several forms. However, I should have it tattooed on my arm, because it represents a lot of what my day to day is all about. I seem to always be able to find something to worry about. And, it almost always seems to be "tomorrow." It's a sense of denial, almost, that I feel like I do not deserve to have a good tomorrow; therefore, I worry that I won't. Believe me, it ruins a lot of days off. So, how do I handle it? Well, up until today I just put my shoulder down and would take on the day. It seems like over my lifetime I have wasted hot relaxing showers, days off, times of fun, good workouts, holidays and much more by just worrying about the next day. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME! There's a song by Brad Paisley titled "Time Well Wasted." Well, I am here to tell you that none of those times were well wasted. In fact, they were poorly wasted.

It's amazing that is has taken me almost 29 years to figure out that I have very little control over what happens tomorrow, and worrying about tomorrow only takes away from the times I am in the midst of. How much have I missed? How much have I lost out on? Who knows?!? Also, who cares? I know I don't. I definitely can't learn to stop worrying about tomorrow, if I start looking in the rear view trying to find regrets. Then, I am just eating up the present by worrying about the past (although, I have done quite a bit of that anyway). I just can't trade one for the other. 

Here's my story for the day...

I have been reading this book, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart, by Ed Dobson who wrote the book after being diagnosed with ALS. The chapter I was reading was titled "Worry," and it started with the following verse: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).” It hit me right in the chest and I knew this was God speaking to me. Then I reflected on a text that received a few minutes earlier from my best friend, "No need to stress with the big G O D on your side." That was when I decided that I was going to change some things that I am going to do. I can't Eliminate stress, but I can do things to help me cope with it. Here's an excerpt from the book that I plan on doing:

“I [Ed Dobson] came across some verses that continually help me focus on today.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6)

I wrote out these verses on several index cards. I put one next to the bed. I put another on the bathroom mirror. I put one in my office. I put another in my car. Whenever I would begin thinking about the future and start sinking into the fog, I would take a five-minute time-out. I would look at the card and repeat the verses for five minutes. The first time I quoted them, I barely believed a single word. But as I repeated them, they began to sink into my mind and soul. By the time I had finished, I was refocused on the present and not distracted by the future”
Excerpt From: Dobson, Ed. “Seeing Through the Fog.” David C Cook, 2012-08-07. iBooks. 
This material may be protected by copyright.

I have a lot of life ahead of me. I have spent a lot of time worrying. My commitment to myself and my family from this moment on is that I will do everything in my power to focus on today and let tomorrow worry about itself.

Have a great week and God Bless!

Some Days Are Tougher Than Others!

Today is 12/13/13. And it has truly been a Friday the 13th. Well, everything after I left my beautiful family to come to work. With only 11 days left to shop for Christmas, people are out in full force and as a retail store manager I have my hands full. 

Anyway, when I work nights, I have tough mornings. It's hard to spend that time with my family and then leave them, knowing that when I return they will all be asleep! It makes my heart just hurt. However, I know it is what I have to do in order to make their lives the best they can possibly be. 

It's hard being away and working so much this time of year. A time of year when time with your friends and family are nearly as central to the season as the Birth of Jesus. It's especially tough when things don't go my way at work either. 

There's only two ways to cope and handle these times in my eyes. Turn to The Lord in prayer and think about what great blessings I have waiting for me at home. As I sat in my truck I searched and came across this verse. Hopefully, it can help you as much as it has helped me this evening...

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Thank you for reading! Have a great evening and God Bless!

Today, Is Not the First Day That I have Had a Thought!

As I sit here this afternoon with my daughter, Raleigh, listening to Christmas music on iTunes and watching her play with her toys, I cannot help but think how late I am in sharing what I am thankful for! I have a beautiful family that is cared for by the most wonderful woman and wife in the world, Kimberly. The craziness of having 2 children under the age of two is greatly overshadowed by the blessings that they are. I can't thank the Good Lord enough for my little family. I have all a man could ask for, and much more!

With that being said, I think we all have times where we take things for granted and we don't always take the time to soak it all in. Life flashes before our eyes and before we know it we are a year and a half removed from driving our first born home from the hospital. What a moment! Five years ago I could barely take care of myself...Now, I have a house, two beautiful children, a lovely and caring wife and an extremely old cat! I'm not perfect, but they all make me feel like it.

I come home tired, mad, frustrated, distant and sometimes I stay that way. I'm learning though, that they're the reason I work hard and that just thinking about them gets me through some tough days. Now, it's getting easier to see that all of the drama and stress of work and the daily grind can simply disappear when I here my daughter yelling "WAY[RAY]" from inside the house when I pull into the garage. Or, it's the dimples on my little man's, Wilson, face that make me forget about the fact that the next day will be no less stressful or long. Then it's the fact that my wife, the woman I love with all my heart, can still give me a great big hug and a kiss despite all she has dealt with all day. I thought one baby was a lot for her to handle, now she has TWO! However, she always looks as if they have been perfect little clean angels all day. It makes me think sometimes that she is paying a nanny under the table during the day when I am gone.

I am so thankful for all that I have. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. I am learning to let life come to me and just stop and smell the roses every once in a while. It's not that I haven't been thankful in the past. It's just that I had gotten so wrapped up in the corporate climb and making the most out of myself professionally and materialistically, that I would let the most important symbols and things in my life slide to the back burner. Not anymore. Thanks to a transformation that took place this summer with my Baptism and acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I have always considered myself a Christian, but I never outwardly expressed it before. Those of you who know me will know that I have always been just a little introverted and shy in groups! Just a little though ;) Now, I want to share my journey with everyone. The wins, the losses, the bounce backs, the triumphs and the falls.

Getting inside my head is scary for me, so I know it's gotta be scary for you! Good luck and God Bless!