I love this time of year, not too cold not to hot; just right.

It’s just before Thanksgiving, Paula my wife has already started cooking treats and snacks. On Thanksgiving day, all of our kids, grand kids and niece’s and nephews will be here. A houseful of relatives.

We will eat and get to full and then watch the children as they play.

I will set and listen as our girls talk about old times and then argue about some trivial point.

Then we we go back and eat some more and play games until it starts to get dark and parts of our family leaves. Since none of them are avid hunter, they stay until dark.

Then the following Saturday, we put up the Christmas tree. The two girls living at home, help my wife. It’s a joy to watch them put up the lights and ornaments

It’s so festive here, I love it. They say people who have been depressed, find it more depressing this time of year but, not me.

I love the season, the feeling in the air and all the activities.

The best is having our family together, I think it’s precious.

There is one thing I don’t like, since the stroke of 2005; I haven’t been able to eat my favorite food, roasted pecans.

Lord , during this time my heart goes out to those in foreign lands. Those who serve our country. Men and women who can’t be home. Bless each and everyone. Also here at home, those who are without a home, a family or a warm meal. Bless them all in Jesus name.

Amen!!!

RL

My heart goes out to the child that get bullied. So much aggravation and needless fears. These kinds of scares emotionally can change a person’s heart. To become black and cold. Talk about trust issues, a major problem Bullying is not new, it’s been around a long time. We just have more of it, so we pay more attention I know what I’m about to share, does not fit every situation When I was `12, I was only 3’ feet tall. I was picked on by a lot of kids. There was this one, who would pick me up over his head One day, he picked me up and thew me against the wall. I cried, people laughed and I felt humiliated. I swore that day no more. I had enough. I decided to stand up for myself no matter how it turned out. The next day, sure enough he came my way Before he picked me up, I shouted, meet me outside. We went outside and I drew a line in the sand I said, I dare you to step across the line, you might whip me but, you’ll know I was there. He looked at me bewildered, threw his hands at me and walked off. I was elated, I thought I was in for a beating. From that day on, no one picked on me. Some times a person just has to take a stand. Do what it takes, no matter what. So it is in our walk with God, we are always being pushed around. There comes a time we must say, enough’s enough. It hurts to lt someone go, it hurts to stand when all else is falling around you. Sometimes it hurts when the junk in our life keeps us from God, t’s time to let go and let God. Lord, we are full of stuff, we need You to remove all, so we can truly love and be loved! Amen!!! RL

Setting in my room as the sun shines in, my mind takes me to a time of innocence; a time almost forgot

It was when I was 15 and life was full of energy and exorbitance.

We were learning to drive and could taste freedom around the corner. No longer were we dependant on others to take us anywhere, we had our license and the world suddenly became a bit more available.

My brother gave me his old car and bought him another, I was ready to go. Ready to go anywhere. We are so juvenile in our thinking, one does not go off at age 15. First he must become skillful and master the art

So it is in our walk with the Lord, we must learn how to walk before we can run, we must have a proven track record.

When I first started driving, I ran in the ditch, into other cars and out of gas. At first my track record was not so good. But, as I continued to drive, it got better.

As a Christian, at first I was full of the Spirit and did not know what to do. I did some crazy things that gave me the reputation of being flaky.

Then I asked my pastor to teach me and as I matured in the faith, being mentored; I soon had a good track record.

Using wisdom in your walk with God or in any area of your life, will take you far.

Soon in my driving, I was driving everywhere, only because I had built up confidence and was not afraid.

So in my walk with the Lord, I had been mentored and traveled down many a road and no longer was I afraid

Lord, in our lives we need You to take us by the hand, via by someone else or through our own lives experiences. Help us to mature in Your most Holy Faith.

Amen!!!

RL

Sunday, our Youth did a program to honor our veterans, no; it wasn’t Veterans Day

It reminded me of the 6-8 grades, we had chapel once a week. It was like clockwork, we always sang patriotic songs .

I can remember songs and quotes from our forefathers, that we learned in chapel. Not only did we learn about American courage and how much our forefathers loved God, we heard the Bible being read

This was in the day that was not supposed to be. I wasn’t a Christian at the time but, I remember

Our school was one of the first to be integrated but, there was very little fighting. I look back now and I contribute that to the Godly man and women who were not afraid to teach us such things.

Today our schools are of a different time, our teachers are in a fight, just to make it through the day. There is no chapel to teach them the Word or about our forefathers. The kids of today know nothing of their Godly heritage, they are taught instead that our forefathers were heathen and agnostics.

As a church and parents, it’s up to us! To teach them all we know and some we don’t. Mostly we need to teach them the Word and proper conduct.

The buck stops at home, we can blame the school, the church but, it starts at home

Lord, help us to teach our kids and yes grandkids who You are and how they are to act properly.

Amen!!!


RL

As I write this, it’s raining outside, dreary and depressing. This could be your world, one filled with nothing to look forward to or just plain hopeless.

Satan loves a mind bent on feeling this way, He thrives on peoples fears and feelings of worthlessness

We must learn to RESIST him and in doing so, he MUST flee!! But, a prerequisite is we must first obey God.

I cannot count the many times I disobeyed God and yet I still am surprised when Satan is crouching by. So many times we inadvertently blame God but, it’s our fault.

If I had done what He had taught me in His Word, I would not be in this or that mess.

I know from being a pastor, I am not alone, we all have shall I say MISSED IT!
We are nothing but children, we must constantly be reminded or at least I do.

So if it’s raining and you feel hopeless,, Flee from those thoughts; OBEY GOD and then TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAY
S And then he will flee!


Lord, forgive us for we are but children! Amen!!!


RL

KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP

In college I was in a club that studied what other religions believed. We even went to their places of worship to discuss what we felt was contrary to the Bible.

I loved it, the thrill of debate!! The leader thrived to share with us his knowledge.

I remember one time, we went to a certain place. As soon as we took a seat, two large men came up and asked us to leave/ They escorted us out from their congregation and politely said, don’t come back!

Years later, I was married. My wife and I both worked third shift. One morning around ten a.m. before we went to bed, we saw two guys coming door to door

I knew by their dress, who they were, so did my wife. She blurted out, leave them alone, if they come here! I replied, I’m not going to promise a thing. She went off to bed and I entertained the door to door guests

Before the discussion was over, one of them was crying, I loved the vigorous communication.

I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE ONE THAT CRIED LEFT THE DENOMINATION

As I grew a little bit older, I came to understand that spiritual ping pong as I call it is wrong most of the time, at least with me.

The reason was I enjoyed showing off my knowledge.

I believe to much knowledge puffs up ones ego, at least it did mine.

The only true way for someone to know our Lord is by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Know His Word and pray fervently, then talk as friends. Let God be the One who convicts, not you!

Lord, help us to realize and see, You are the One who brings people to reality of Your truth, through the Holy Spirit! Amen!!!!


RL

This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice, be glad and rightly divide the Word.



TIMING IS EVERYTHING



They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, "The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." 22 Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all." – Exodus 5:20-23



The people might have replied, “Aaron and Moses, we’re not telling you what to say but you have just made everything worse by what you say is obedience to God. You have made all of us stink in Pharaoh’s opinion. You have just made things worse.” Sometimes God has to make his people discouraged or discontent before He does His greatest deliverance for them. Then we know it was God and not our own doing.



Pharaoh’s opinion, God could care less. Pharaoh had to dry and get hard like those bricks the Hebrew’s were making so that God could break Him. God was not interested in a compromise with this false god ruler of the Egyptians. God was going to take him down and making the lines of division clearer and the labor more intensive. It was the right course. The people of Israel still had too much contentment in Egypt . They needed to get as much Egypt as possible out of their blood. The people were crying out to God because of their taskmasters and the burdens placed upon them and this was before Moses arrived. Now they would cry out the louder. This would ready their stubborn hearts for a walk in the desert with God.



God had already warned Moses, “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go (Exodus 3:19-20).” God had a plan and in God’s plan He said, “He will let you go.” Pharaoh was just a man.



Les we forget, Moses is in the middle and God is working on two fronts. He will harden and humble Pharaoh. He will further humble and set free the Hebrews because of the covenant He made with Abraham (Exodus 2:24). Yet God does this kind of thing in his own sweet time. We must remember that when God is ready to move we better be ready to strike out with Him. Wait on the Lord He will ready everything. His timing is perfect.



Grace and Peace and Joy to you all be multiplied,


Bill