Today brings to a close this year of 2023. I’ve already journaled some of the strengths of the year. My most selfish strength of the year was the bountiful garden it provided. Everything I planted yielded well and that is not common, but it sure is appreciated! I’ve also loved and appreciated what God is teaching me through the counseling program. Even though Kathy’s stroke was said to be mild, there is nothing mild about the reality of it and its impact on our daily living. It has awakened both of us to the frailty of our life in its flesh. I know this life is temporary, but until something like this happens, I sure have taken it for granted. 

What I wrote yesterday is paramount for me this year. If I am going to live for Christ, I don’t want any longer to put boundaries around what it is to look like. Being fully obedient to Christ in all aspects of living is my commitment for the coming year and for the rest of my life. I’m sure this will be challenged as each day comes, but I want to be steadfast in my commitment. As I close out this year, I will do so with thanksgiving in my heart and a firm desire to begin the new year devoted to living out Christ’s calling within me. I know to live this out one day at a time.

As this year is drawing to a close I am being convicted to heighten my attention to three items I have highlighted at the top of my prayer list. They are:

1. Eyes on Christ Alone
2. Listen to His Voice
3. Obey His Commands

As I have been living through this year, I have been repeatedly nudged to grow in my intimate walk with God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. For months I only had #1 on the top of my list. I then realized if I am to grow in this intimacy I needed to listen carefully to Christ’s nudges–His Holy Spirit within me. Lastly and extremely important, if I’m to be truly intimate with Christ, I must obey what His nudges say. It is then that intimacy can grow and complete itself. Following all three of these steps as I live out each day completes my Trust, my Faith, my Confidence in Jesus Christ being Lord of my life. 

I’ve lived so long putting parameters around the obedience to Christ’s voice thinking I could trust “this much”. Little, at the time, did I realize how that limited the intimacy–trust I had in Christ being Lord. Today and every today for the rest of my life, I want to live out these three steps. These are not to be suggestions, but commands. Following them grows a desire for the most precious intimacy one can ever know!

Last night Kathy and I went to Celebrate Recovery (CR). It was Kathy’s maiden voyage returning for the large group time. She didn’t stay for small group, but it was so nice to have this step develop. I did stay for small group and afterwards I asked how it went for her? She said she was glad she went and the amount of time was just right. 

My focus these past several weeks has been centered around what is best for Kathy. Last night, having stayed for the entire time of CR, I realized just how much I missed it. The genuineness of conversation, the truth of one’s struggles and the truth of God’s Mercy and Grace abounds in this ministry. I needed to hear the testimony given and hear again how God is using this man’s past to help others with their present life. The small group time following the testimony gave truth to this. 

I enjoyed greatly the testimony, but what struck me more than anything was just how important it is to have an environment where the truth of one’s struggle can be talked about openly without judgment and criticism. Instead, there is support and guidance with reminders that we live out our lives one day at a time. We don’t need to worry about tomorrow for God is present today. Tomorrow will take care of itself when we arrive for God will arrive there with us. Wow! Simple truth but amazingly difficult to keep in place. With the help of accountability and God’s Spirit within us, we can do this!

The kids are on their way back to Oklahoma. The house is quiet and this time it stays that way. Only our oldest grandson is here and will be until after New Years. He is a quiet soul anyway and will be a great help in putting the house back in order helping grandma with the chores she usually does at this point. 

Little by little life will return to some type of normalcy. What I know more than ever before is that what I have called normal will still be temporary. God has never intended for our earthly life to be permanent. It is a time to find Jesus, decide if we are going to believe in Him and bring Him into our lives. We can then decide if we will serve Him with all of our heart, mind and soul. Following this life will be one that is eternal where all of life’s woes will be behind us and will no longer have any control or temptation to control us. I look forward to this eternal time. Yet, I have grown to enjoy each of the days we presently have living them for one purpose and that is to glorify our Lord and Savior–Jesus Christ.

When I was in college so long ago I remember a professor explaining how degrees from college work. As a novice student I thought that the more degrees one had the smarter he was in everything. However, I was told it is just the opposite. The higher the degree the more intricate knowledge one has in a small area of a topic. Now that I’m at the age I am I find myself knowing less and less. A big difference is that now I know this and I’m ok with it. When I was younger I thought I was stupid if I didn’t know. Now I realize just how true the statement was the professor told.

I wrote yesterday that I’m into Revelation in my Bible reading. There is an immense amount of this book that goes beyond my comprehension. As I was reading my portion this morning I realized again that all of this is going to come about, but what’s important for today is what I have written on the top of my prayer list: 1) Keep my eyes of Jesus; 2) Listen to His voice; 3) Obey His commands.

I don’t care as much about what one has learned from man’s institutions, what is truly important for daily living are these three items. They are my assignments each and every day.

Today’s Bible reading had me start in Revelation. Almost two thousand years ago it was written. It uses the phrase “coming soon” in several spots. We on earth cannot fathom this term of coming soon when it pertains to us and also to the people 2,000 years ago. Yet, in eternity, there is no measurement of time so it would be soon. 

What is amazing to me is that the sins of the day back in the time of the scripture’s writing were very similar to ones of our days. That in itself is horribly sad, but what is even more sad to me is that our society is protecting the sins as being OK. They are not only OK, but they are even encouraged. My heart aches with this truth. NO sin is OK.

Christ came to save the people of this world and the time of Christ’s return is being delayed so that no one needs to be lost. Lets make everyday count in our living for Christ. Lets not let a nudge slip by us that God’s Holy Spirit is using to have us reach out to someone. Our lives matter to Jesus and so does the life of the one He nudges us to reach. I want to live for HIM–JESUS CHRIST!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! One of my brother’s called an hour ago and I couldn’t answer it. There is someone sleeping in every room of the house except the den where I have my devotions. I couldn’t talk for fear of waking someone/s. I text him back instead. Somehow Christmas this year seems most happy that this much could be the same as others in the past. Not everyone is here yet, but the rest will be coming later this morning. A couple are sick and I pray they will be well today and able to join us all. 

The Lord God Almighty is glorified today for coming into this sinful world of ours and giving us a pathway to freedom we would never know otherwise. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ–Son of the Most High God! To think He made it possible for you and me to be adopted into this Heavenly Kingdom is simply incredible! Don’t let this opportunity slip by if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Trust Him as your Savior and Lord. Ask Him to come into your life (heart) and He will. Yes, you’ll want to confess your sinful ways to Him and Yes, He will forgive them for that is just what He does. His Grace is sufficient for each and every one of us! Thank You Jesus!

I worship YOU Almighty God–there is none like YOU!

It is Christmas Eve. Outside it is very dark but inside is brilliantly bright for Jesus Christ is about to be born. He was only born once, but every since that day we have the opportunity to be born again into eternal life. All we have to do is believe in Him and then ask Him into our heart. Once this is done you will likely want to serve Him for He not only gives us a new life, but also a new motivation for living out our life. When this takes place He has become our Lord as well as our Savior.

I lived a lifetime fearful of serving God. In the back of my mind/heart, I knew there must be people hurting and hiding the hurt done to them in the flesh (just as I had been doing). There was also equally a number of people hurting for what they had done to others which we call abuse. Whether we were abused, whether we were the abuser or whether we had both in our lives, the same Savior came so that we would be able to live beyond this hurt which leads to hang-ups and habits (none of which lead us to Christ). 

I have found that the fearfulness I had in my younger years was all a lie/deception from Satan. Fully serving our Savior and Lord is so very fulfilling! This very babe who was sent from God above will bring about a freedom where abundance of life abounds without fear. The fear is replaced with a desire to help others find their own freedom. Christ came to serve and I want to join Him in this service. How grateful I am for His abundant FREEDOM!

I need to piggy back onto yesterday’s post. As I finished writing the blog I went into the kitchen where both older daughters wanted to talk about everyone spending the night. Was this troubling to mom? Was it too much to have so many in the house all day instead of just in the late afternoon and evening? I told them we’d simply find out today. Well, it was a wonderful day. Everyone was very respectful of noise and giving time for rest. Everyone loves mom and grandma.

Learning to give God our fears and to not act on them has been a difficult step for me. I still have fears which surface, but I’m now seeing how important it is to wait before taking action. If God wants action taken on fears the motivation to do this is quite different. I can sense the Spirit’s nudge in that case. When it is my fear alone I am anxious as well as fearful. The urgency to act on this fear is generated very differently and that’s when I need to wait. As in yesterday, I find that everyone involved was as concerned as me. Wow, God is GOOD!

This morning I sit in front of this computer and ponder just what I’m to write? I like to think I’m a flexible man, father, husband, grandpa, friend. But, this year is different. I’ve always, in years past, loved having all of the kids staying overnight. I step over sleeping bodies to get to the den so I can quietly have my devotions and get settled in for the day. I simply wasn’t expecting to have this happening this year because of my wife’s stroke. I need to protect her rest, etc. However, she is sleeping soundly and I did too. 

As I was journaling this morning and asked Jesus what He wanted me to know for today, I was reminded to let Him take the lead. Everyone in the family is wanting to do what’s best for mom and grandma just as I am. I can let this go and enjoy this time just as I have in the past. I don’t need to make this time look like my fears. Let it all go and let Christ be the Lead in what takes place. Trust Him and trust my family. 

It is funny how writing this has emptied the concern I had within. We all want to do what is best for mom and grandma. Kathy enjoys having the family with us. I will too!