My Dad fought in the Korean War. He was shot in the back by a sniper. Everyday, since my earliest childhood memory, I remember my Dad rising up in pain.

He would grab a pair of crutches and go to work.

I’ve never been in a war, my eye site is bad. I wanted to join during Vietnam but, no go . . .

Our nation has seen war, my uncles were in WW2 and came home; many did not.

I don’t know why wars are fought but, Ive known I have seen brave men and women that have gone and died, for one reason FREEDOM!

From the Civil War to Desert Storm, we have seen and know that good people died for their country.

Let,s remember the cost of our freedom.

Lord, help us this day to not forget those who have gone before us! Amen!!!

RL

I’ve been on a quest, I have asked certain questions to people, to hear and see their response.

We have been talking about certain people, who from child birth have been taught a certain way as we have been.

But the teachings have been in them longer. Yet we are bewildered when they do a certain thing, that’s all they know.

I have a friend from this certain people and he has come to know Jesus as Savior.

What brought him to Jesus was the resolve and life commitment of one man.

It does not matter who you are, the lifestyle you live speaks volumes.

How committed are you, does your lifestyle portray Christ?

How resolved are you? Are you willing to die for Him?

The problem, people profess to be a Christian but in actuality they just belong to church and not Christ!

I know we all have problems and we are not perfect, we’ll never be here. But I’m asking a question, whom do you serve?

Lord, break our hearts, do whatever it takes to get us to the place we need to be in Youe Kingdom. Amen!!!!!!!

RL

I am amazed how we as Christians have taken the word of God and rationalized it to fit our needs.

I have talked to four different people from four different backgrounds about a certain subject.
It’s simple to me, take the word of God at face value.

Instead, we have intellectualized it tell we have watered down the word.

As time goes on, man attempts to socialize the word till it acceptable, while in actuality Jesus said, I have come to bring a sword

We are to follow Him and my friend, being a Christian is not socially susceptible. We want to be nice so everyone will like us but Jesus said, they HATED Me!!!!!!!!!!

Yes our Christianity is one of love, on this I agree but, are we to forget His teachings and be love dove with all.

We are to be separate, what does light have to do with darkness?

God tells the Israelites not to mingle with certain people, that’s because they believed in another god.

I believe in Jehovah, I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I will try and conduct myself in the way He would want me. I will love my enemies but, I will not compromise His word!

Lord, help us to adhere to Your word as it was meant to be. Help us interpreter as You have intended!! Amen!!!!!!!!


RL

Humanity is on a downward spiral. Since the beginning of time and man disobeyed God, man has been sliding down.

We have seen the worst of man in my lifetime of Hitler, he massacred millions; all in the name of ethnic cleansing.

We have seen the degeneration of man and his morals.

I know that in this life all I can leave my children is the believe in God, who hold all in His hands.

I remember when a R rated movie was an abomination to the church and now PG is worse, to entice our youth.

It’s time for the church as a whole to stand together and voice her opinion.

It’s not that I’m against all movies or certain things. I’m just at the point that I’m disgusted at the sleepiness of most Christians in living a life of complacency.

Lord, wake us up and slap us in the face if need be! Give to us a spirit of expectancy, to believe you CAN and WILL do what You said!! Amen!!!


RL

Who is God to you? To some He may be a myth. To another He may be a place of safety.

I’m not here to convince you, I just would like to tell you who He is to me.

He is my Father, I am His. I am nothing He is everything. He picked me up from a place of darkness and filled my life with light.

He is the creator of all things, He brings order where there is disorder.

My life was placed here on this earth for one true purpose, that is to worship Him in all I do and say.

Sometimes, I grow weary but, I know His joy is my strength. I may falter but, He is there with out stretched arms to steady me.

Who is He to you, won't you give yourself to Him and let go of all the stuff you’re holding on to, it’s no going to last anyway.

Lord, we bow our knees to you greatness and undying love, take us into your arms and surround us in your love that lasts forever! Amen!!!!!!


RL

As Christians, we are not supposed to worry about tomorrow. Worrying is a tactic the enemy uses to paralyze our faith but let’s be real, sometimes we worry

The other day, I chatted on face book with a charming young lady. On her profile picture, was a stunning picture of her shooting a semi- automatic gun.

She had grown up in Nicaragua . Her life was one of hardship. A life of survival hardship and true sacrifice

I believe it would do us all good to really understand a little bit of hardship and sacrifice!

Who is our true deliverer anyway? Are our eyes fixed on the temporal or the eternal anyway?

Imagine, a world of survival! Were you never know if today a bullet has your name marked on it!

Lord, make us battle ready and help us to keep our eyes fixed on you, our true Rock! Amen!!!!!!!!!!

RL

I believe in God, I love my pastor but, where is the miracles that shall follow them that believe.

Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, I believe we have made a ritual of it. The 120 in the upper room stayed and sought the promise of the Helper!

To meet in one room for several days was risky, it could have meant their lives; yet they still stayed

When He came, there was evidence; wind and fiery tongues. Peter preached with a boldness he had never know.

There were healings and conversions, signs we should be seeing

I don’t know about you but, I pray for my pastors. I want to see the things of the supernatural, conversions and healings!

Not to be in awe of the healing but, the Healer!

We must be so in love with Him, nothing compares! Our lives must display a trust and believe that runs to our core!

There is power, I have seen it, we all must expect it before it can happen.

Lord, our faith to expect is low, we need it filled up! Please release your miraculous, so unbelievers will confess and true revival will break out in this land. Amen!!!!!!


RL

Today, I want to share my innermost thoughts, thoughts I normally only share with a few

I feel in my heart as though I am not fulfilling My destiny, I feel so helpless and without much drive.

My life right now seems to be on cruise control, it’s easy for me to go to sleep and let the rest of the world go by.

I try to interact with people but, I feel so inferior and it hurts.

One example, I went to a large furniture store with my wife yesterday. I took my walker and not my electric chair. I walked about a football length and gave out!

I told my wife I was going to sit down and she could go on.

I know it’s because of my condition but, it still hurts! I know in some ways we all have limitations, we are not immortal yet. We suffer sickness, pain, death and so much more.

I’ll just be so happy when we no longer are bothered by this ole body, can you imagine the new one; I can.

Lord, come and take this old life with You! So many times we grow weary of this life! Help us to fight fight fight, because at the end is VICTORY! Amen!


RL

Things happened yesterday, sorry I missed writing. That’s how life is, we get so busy, sometimes we let the important thing go. That’s W\why Jesus said things about the cares of this life. We get so caught up in our lives, we unintentionally allow things we cherish to float by I used to work all the time and would get home late or tired and never spend time with my family. Sometimes I would work on Sundays. I would give anything to have those moments back. With my wife or kids. If anybody reads this, they need to know, life’s precious moments cannot be lived again. We must learn to live them as they unfold. With our first three children, there are precious moments of their lives I know I missed. Our fourth child has had to see me in a wheelchair. She has waited on me so kindly but, she can’t remember much before. The relationships in my life that really suffered was the one with the Lord. I pot off reading the Word, praying and being obedient Even in my condition now, I see areas of my life where I need to spend more time with Him. I bet, if you are reading this piece; you too can see were the cares of this life are hindering you! Lord, help us to count each moment of life as a precious jewel and teach us to prioritize our time! RL

A friend of mine and I talked today, we talked about hot rods.

When I was in high school, I had this really nice 1967 Chevelle SS. Talk about speed, it’d do 159 easy.

I loved that car and I liked to speed! They called me “ THE Rev” because I was always revving my engine up.

I look back now and thank God I never got killed,because I sure did some stupid things.

I was young, saved and thought I was indestructible.

Now, I know things are not as you may think. We do have an end, we do bleed. My best friend who had just joined the army almost died in a wreck. I won’t tell you the times I should have died, had it not been for the grace of God!

As we grow older, we hopefully see the futility of our youth. We need to understand that our lives are here and then gone.

If we truly took that to heart, we would live differently! Instead, we live for the moment.

I was that way up till the stroke, that left me in a wheelchair. I now look at life differently.

Lord help us to see the eternal, instead of the temporal. Help my friend Joe who is leaving for Thailand tomorrow. Protect him as he lays his life on the line for Your service and thank You for showing him the eternal! Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


RL

I was borne and raised in Mississippi, when I went to Colorado the fist time; I was awe stricken

The mountains seemed to stretch to the skies, they were majestic!

I remember the first time I hiked with a friend, we must have been near the timberline. I woke up during the middle of the night, the moon was so bright; I thought it had snowed!

That morning we had a friend or two sneaking up to our tent, a couple gofers. I would venture to say that we were the first human they’d ever seen.

On the way down, my friend hand caught a fish from the stream. I tried but, the water was so cold, I gave up

It’s amazing to see God’s creation! I love the woods, no humans; just you and God!

Not everyone enjoys nature like my friend, his pictures are breath taking. He has found more of God in nature than you and I ever will.

If you’re a Christian, get alone with God in the woods and be still and hear His voice.

Get away from all the hassle and bustle of the city and give it a try, I dare you!

Lord, bring us back to the basics and change us oh God! Amen!!!!!


RL

Desiring God Radio reported Christianity is Growing in all nations but in Great Britain and America I have been in other countries and I can say that it’s true, the question is why? Religion has been here for decades, we see it on TV and hear it on the radio everyday I submit we have been desensitized by daily exposure! In out treatment of Christianity, we have organized and formulated it until God is so far from our lives There is a song by 3rd Day that says, if Jesus came to our churches; he’d be turned away. I believe this to so true! As a whole, we have taken the gospel and put our humanity into it and in doing so, we have tarnished the true existence of what our Savior died for. Lord, please forgive us for our mucking up your plans, we need Your forgiveness in our lives and Your power to open our eyes to Your trurh. Amen!!!!!!! RL

Our national government is so far away from its original foundation, it’s frightening. We were founded and judged on a constitution that derived its system from the Bible.

Now we are judged on precedence, not the constitution. We are so headed towards being a socialistic government

It is time for the church to stand up and do prayer in the heavenlies and also pray future men and women of God to go into government.

I do not advocate violence but, we need to take back the government which has been infiltrated with greedy men who do not care about you and I, only themselves.

According to Desiring God, last election, half of a half of a half of registered Christians voted.

How can we ever take back the government, if we don’t vote! I call to all Christian, republican or democratic, vote!

The spiritual revolution that needs to take place in our government starts with you.

Lord, set a fire beneath us and make us aware of our lack of responsibilities! Amen!!!!!


RL

I heard a story one time of a small boy and a fox. The boy was a Spartan

A Spartan was a slave who was raised to be a warrior, before they were devils, they were known as a warring people.

They were taught that men were strong and never cry, no matter what

Well, one day this boy caught this fox being hunted by the men. No wanting the little fox to be seen, he hid it under his shirt

The boy walked home and while he did, the fox slowly gnawed at thee boy’s stomach

When the boy made it to his home, he collapsed and dies.

I have thought often of this story over the years. It reminds me of the commitment we as Christians we are to have and asks, are we willing?

Lord help us to stick to our commitment to you in the face of all circumstances! Amen!!!!

RL

I’ve been on this earth 54 years. I have seen men go to the moon, Communism fall, Kennedy shot and so much more.

I was around when Woodstock had it’s menagerie! That was the era of the hippie.

I have seen so much! The secular world calls it progress, I call it paganism!

We have made a lot of technological breakthroughs but, at what cost. Since the Woodstock era, we have seen the moral decay of the Human Race!

Our Penal systems are full of people who grew up without a Father! Children treat adults like equals.

Once I substituted in elementary. This one boy would not set down, Neither would he be quiet. I asked him to set down, I now several times.

Finally I went over and got in his face, he said, do you know who I am? I said, I don’t care now set down

It is a time for all Godly men and women to stand up for who and what they believe!

I’ve heard this saying more than once, what it takes for evil to prevail, is for good men to do nothing!

Lord. Stir us up, let us not be silent! Amen !!!!!!


RL

In this life, one can live a long life or be gone at an early age.

My sister died at age 39, such a young age! My 2nd cousin died at the young age of 39

I have known people that died at age 92 or more. The whole object to my bringing this up, is to say; life is short!

Each person has a number of days, we must live them to their fullest but, we are just like the children of Israel! God does something in our life and in a day or two we go prancing off to other Gods!


I am sad when a close relative or friend dies.
When I pass, I don’t want people sad. I want them to celebrate that I can now walk.

If a person has lived his life doing what they think is right in God’s eyes, there should be no mourning; only celebrating

Lord, teach us and let us not forget Your blessings. Break our stubborn will and let us worship only you. Amen!!!!!!

RL

I have an eye condition caused by a wreck, like someone with glaucoma.

Each day, I have to put two drops in it to keep my eye pressure down. Sometimes I wish we had a sin pressure gauge! But, that would be to easy. We must learn to lay aside those things.

I used to love a certain sport, I was good at it. After I got married, I had to make a choice, it or my God and my wife. You see it had started interfering with my walk with Him. I decided my life with Him was more important.

Then I noticed my marriage, it was third place. To me, it’s God then your wife, I knew then it had to go.

I quit for ten years, by that time I had gotten my priorities in line.

When I went back, it was to put God first, people knew me because of my walk not my ability!

Lord, help us choose You and not the things of the world. Amen!!!!!!!!


RL

One of my favorite shows is NCIS. My favorite character is Jethro Gibbs. In one of the episodes, it showed Gibbs killing the man that shot and killed Gibbs family. For twenty years, the murder has gone unsolved. Now the terrible lie has been unearthed. I had never killed anyone but, I had covered up a lie and when I had the stroke, it was unearthed I found out first hand, your sins will find you out! I know right now as some of you are reading this, someone have hidden sin. You can fool some of the people but, God sees all. You have not hidden it from Him. He does not stand ready to beat you over the head, on the contrary His arms are open wide with forgiveness Go to your wife ,friend and Pastor and confess the thing you have hid. Be ready to pay the consequences, for there will be some but, God’s love will always be there for you Lord, thank you for your undying love. Amen!!!! RL

Did you know the first prophesy of Christ is found in Genesis 3:14-15, I love it.

It talks about the serpent crawling on the ground and putting enmity between him and the woman, notice He did not say man.

My question is what does that mean, enmity? Webster’s say hostility. So it can read, I will put hostility between you and the woman.

I have always wondered why a mother would get fighting mad, if you even looked at her offspring oddly.

A mother has a certain instinct, that man does not have. She has the right to get upset when Satan comes against one of hers. What does the Old Testament say, , , , I Am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I believe a mother has the right to fet fighting mad over her chidren, grandchildren and great grandchildren

So Devil watch out, Momma’s praying!

Lord, thank you for our Mother’s!!!
Help us to understand more and more of their calling

Thank you for Pastor Janet!!!!!!!!!!!


RL

This morning when I got up, there was loud thunder and bright lightning! By 9;30 a.m. it was a beautiful day, birds chirping and deep blue skies.

The earth was bursting with life and vitality.

I think about life all the time, how I wished things had become instead of what they really are. We can’t change the past, we can only learn from our mistakes.

I know in my life I have made a ton of mistakes and learned from most of them.

One thing I know for sure, His grace is sufficient. No matter what we go through in life, He is there

His life is our life. His Word in Proverbs 4:4 talks about life, first you must keep His commandments. That is the clinger, we are promised life IF we keep His commandments.

I don’t know about you but, I’ve blown it in that department more than once.

The death of Jesus on the cross gave me life abundantly, I can live free of condemnation. He has broken the chains and IF I keep His commandments, I will have life.

Lord, help us to keep you Words! Life is ours because of your Work on the cross! You are the life giver and on you we lean. Amen!!!!!


RL

I know God will not put on you more than you can bare but, I got to tell you this week has been a dosie!

Not only am I a stroke victim, I also have diabetes and ulcerated colitis.

I know there are those more worse off than I and to you I say keep you chin up.

This week has been a week from HELL! I have really sought the prayers of others, because I’ll be honest; I just do well to stand.

I don’t like to complain, so forgive me. I need to release my thoughts. I can handle it most of the time but, today is not one of those days!

We all need to be able to release our frustrations and that’s what I’m doing. As a victim of this body and this earth, I must endure. I just pray I do justice to Him.

You see, He’s all that matters. All else will fade away. That’s the attitude we must have, if we are to endure!

He is all, my subsistence , in Him I find myself. Do you really love Him, that is my question to you? Lord, help us find peace and rest in you, because all else is chaos. Amen!!!!!!!!!!!


RL

In Psalm 37 it talks about delighting yourself in the Lord . . . In Websters, it defines delight as taking pleasure in. This is not a request, it’s a command. I find delight in my life by just being in the same house, I love her! To find my delight in Him, I must train myself to spend time with Him. Also, I must learn His likes and dislikes. The only way to do that is know His Word! Before we were married, I knew what her favorite food was, her favorite color and what she did not like. Reading His Word or praying is not hard but, it does take discipline! Start out small and build up, don’t try and read 10 chapters and pray for 3 hours! Read 2 chapter and pray for ten minutes. Set realistic goals for yourself and marginal time limits. You don’t HAVE to do this but, it helps a WHOLE LOT Lord, increase our wanting to know You more! Help us to spend time with You. Amen!!!!!!! RL

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve boundaries. I think we also must make boundaries for ourselves and our children!

As an adult, I have certain things, I do not do. I want my children to know that these things are wrong.

For instance, when I was growing up,my parents both smoked. When I got saved , I quit. I’m not saying it will send you there but you will smell like it!

All joking aside, my Mom died of lung cancer, my grandmother of bone cancer. At an early age, I wanted my children to know the dangers associated with smoking; so they could make up their own mind. They were not allowed to smoke in my house

Thank God, none of the girls we have smokes. This was only one boundary, there are many.

I have other boundaries for myself,like drinking, cussing, one man woman and may others.

I guess they are moral guidelines, that I have learned over the years. They are not a list of do’s and dont's but, they are things that are detrimental to my walk with God.

Lord, help us to know those things which easily besets us. I know some of my weaknesses,help us to stand! Amen!!!!!


RL

Depression, at one time or another; one goes through it. It might only be a day or a week but people get depressed.

I have been depressed and got over it in a day, a week and even a month. But in 2004 I got in trouble

You see, I went for over a month thinking I could handle it. I did not want to think otherwise, it’s just depression.

A month turned into two and so on. I even went to the doctor who put me on Zoloft but that didn’t help

I had gotten to the point, I had become cold to everyone including my family. Preaching was no fun, no sense of leading at all

I slept all the time and did not care if I lived or died. I felt my family would be better off, if I was dead. This went one for about a year. I made my families lives miserable.

Finally my wife made me go to a psychological clinic and I’m almost my old self

If you have depression, don’t feel embarrassed. Do something about it! Here are some noticeable symptoms

• 1. Lack of sleep or to much
• 2. Loss of appetite or eat to much
• 3. Loss of interest in usual thing you like.
• 4. Thoughts of suicide.
• 5. Low self esteem
• 5. Lack of personal hygiene.
• 6 Wanting to be alone

These are but a few, if you have had one or more of the above foe over two week; seek help.

Lord, we come against the spirit of depression in Jesus name and command it to leave! If we need to endure for your glory, lead us to the right doctor to help us. Allow us to tell others if possible of your mercy and grace. Amen!!!!!


RL

Today was one of the worst days of my life! Have you ever had a bad day?

It started before I got out of bed.It took me 5 minutes to get on the side of the bed, most people jump right up.

My dog had chewed up my wife’s sandal and it went down hill from there.

Kind of like the day Paul and Silas had when thrown into jail. They could have complained and probably would have been right to do so.

But, they knew, complaining would have only made things worse. Instead, they sang! Sang praises to the Lord. Come on be for real, sang!

I thought about that, as I tried to make the day. When we are at a real hard place, do we allow the joy that He has given us to be stolen or do we allow His joy to penetrate.

I’m not going to get into detail but, the problem I had involved me being incapacitated for 4 ½ hours.

I could have complained but,I took Paul’s example; I sang and praised God As I did, my soul was lifted and I wasn’t bothered by what should have really irritated me

His grace is given as we need it and not before

Lord, help us to see the tactics of the enemy, as he tries to steal from us Your joy! Amen!!!!!!!!


RL

I heard one of the best sermons on planting seed, I think I’ve ever heard.

My interim pastor did a thorough job, he should be congratulated! I promise, the next time I see him ; I will.

How often we forget before we leave the church, what the preacher preached It’s not his fault, it’s ours!

Our mind is filled sometimes with thoughts of lunch or other events we have planned.

All we have to do is LISTEN! It’s one of the most disguised ways of the enemy, to steal our joy. You see, the Pastor brings the Word to set us free but , let’s be real; sometimes we blow it!\

What do we do? Well, what we should do before any sermon, pray that our minds and heart are in the right frame of mind; to receive God;s spoken word.

I suggest taking notes, if you can. Train yourself to take notes and listen at the same time.

It’s a proven fact, the mind retains more of what it sees. So listening and writing is a sure fire way to retain more!

Lord, forgive us for not giving Your Word it’s rightful place in our hearts and minds, open and come in. Amen!

RL

Desire, what is desire? Webster says it is to long for, a sexual appetite. How much is your desire for God, do you long for Him? Our understanding of a complete relationship has been clouded by the fall of man. We are to seek God as if our lives depend on it. Have your ever been lust in a desert, thirsty and no water? Your mouth feels like it’s filled with cotton, it ‘s so dry. Your lips are dry and cracked, probably swollen. You would almost do anything for a drop of water. That’s the kind of desire I’m talking about and it does not come easily! It takes work and effort on your part to get to that place. Like the man in the desert, to get thirsty he first must put forth an effort or he will die from thirst. Where is your desire, are you putting forth an effort in your relationship with Him? He longs for us to be at a place of total surrender to Him, you can get there but first you must cultivate desire. RL

Everyone is different, we all have a different body and personality.

Some are fat like me or skinny like my wife and some are in between. One person might be loud and one silent.

I like being around people, you might like the solitude.

What I am saying, we all have a place. Nobody was born without a place. My place is mine and yours is yours.

No one can take that away, we are all meant to be here . God does not and never will make a mistake, we are here to show creation His love.

Never think you have no place, we all have one. The key is finding ours. How do we do that?

That’s a good question and one tha deserves an answer,

The road of life we travel is earmarked by our choices, we must inspect who we are by the choices that we make.

The more Godly choices we make, the closer we come to finding out who we are. The less Godly choices, the further off we are

To find our niche in life, we need first to find ourselves and to find ourselves; we must first find Him

Lord, we are but a vapor in your presence, we need more of you and less of us. Help our misguided souls to find the true essence of life; You. Amen!!!!


RL