A New Year - But What If?

Our lives are lived day-to-day...some days seem better than others. But what if?

Just think about what we have seen in our lives up to now. God never changes.

Romans 8:37-39 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/20-inspirational-bible-verses-about-gods-love/#ixzz2plIqnlnF

Do you carry yesterday?

I found these two quotes in my files and just think the New Year is a great time to review our perspectives. A little help from the way others see things can be a great benefit to us.


"Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him."

 ~ Oswald Chambers

How you remember last year is more important than what actually happened. Take everything that fuels your growth and leave the rest behind. 

Erwin McManus

Welcome to a New Year...

It has been too long since I last wrote here.  I have been quite busy with a major change in my life. More on that later.

Regarding why we are here on this planet.  We have shared those thoughts before but I want to share this group, Building 429 and their song, Not Where I Belong.  It was released a month after the last post I made here.

I hope you enjoy it!  We can talk more tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening of the 4th day of the year.

A Breath of Fresh Air

I cannot take credit for this post; but I really like what this writer has to say.

My wife read this and sent it to me today.  I think she was reminding me of a truth I sometimes forget as I drive.

A very good reminder of the value of Fresh Air.

Happy New Year! Emery

The Law of the Garbage Truck... 

(I had to repost this for the start of a New Year!!) 

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he or she can get back her focus on what's important. 

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. 

Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" 

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.. How often do we let garbage trucks run right over us and how often do we take their garbage and spread it to other people!! 

Starting today in our New year let us say I'm not going to do it anymore! The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day! Starting today we will let more garbage trucks pass us by! 

Remember "Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets" so love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don't! 

Author Unknown

Compelled to write today

Happy New Year!  It is 2012. WOW. The number seems so 'science fiction' - could be that we grew up in a generation that looked in fascination to a year way in the distance and a book entitled 1984 by George Orwell. But then it came. And went. And many more were added. Each year with its own trials and triumphs.

The title describes my feelings today. Just gotta write today. I am so glad this year began on a Sunday. It seemed just so fitting to go to church this morning and to share communion with our families in intimate little circles. I was overwhelmed at the depth of spiritual desire in the many shared prayers of just common believers and friends. I felt like we are all becoming finely shaped containers to pour out our portion of GOD's awesome grace and mercy to a dry and oh, so thirsty world. We can do this - give a cup of cold water in His name. Yes, we can do this. With His help.


I felt so aware that this coming year will have considerable challenges and even disappointment; but more striking was the realization that we are royalty and that the King has serious plans and desires for each of our journeys this year.


We go through circumstance, we are not under it. Circumstance does not define us, GOD's description of who we are IN HIM is the very essence of what we are here for.


Years ago, in a bible study going through Romans, I asked our pastor, younger than me, why GOD didn't just zap us to Heaven the day we made the choice to live in the way He had selected for us, repenting of going our own stupid direction with all the wrongness and yes, sin of that way of life. I cannot remember the pastor's reply. 


Today, I am so glad that while I do not know the number of days I will have, where my journey will take me or even how I will see things in my life, THIS ONE THING I KNOW. It can be found in a question Jesus asked His disciples about where they put their trust. Look at:

John 6:68-69 (NLT)Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. ⁶⁹We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.

You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know.

These are powerful words, words that would bring a life-change and a life-cost that only some were willing to pay. I don't claim to understand the life journeys of others, some seem over-the-top too difficult and others seem like they are walking along a beach. This one thing I know. GOD asked me if I would stay faithful. I replied "Yes, I must finish the race. I must finish well." I cannot do that in my own strength, not even close. but in the same passage mentioned above Jesus tells that it is the Father who gave the gift of the Son and He is the One that draws us. Our part is to choose, to continue to choose, to never, never quit, to keep getting back up when life knocks us down. But mostly to remember there is a hand outstretched to us to keep us going.

 It will all be worth it. The tests become our testimonies. 

We know, we believe, we trust, we know GOD loves us!

2012, we can do all GOD has planned for us and don't tempt me with doubt. I know.

My life is established in Jesus and that is what I know. 

 Be BLESSED - You already are; I am just inviting you to taste and see !

GO! What does that mean to you?

Late in 2009, Steve Chase and I founded a non-profit called Bearing Their Burdens.  

It is an experiment in obedience.  We are not sure what it will look like, but we are asking GOD to show us daily the truth established in this verse:

Galatians 6:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We believe the Bible and we take seriously the commands of Jesus when he said in Matthew 28:

¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To be given authority means their is a source of power to do something asked and a responsibility to carry it out fully. 

To then be told exactly what to do means there should be no confusion about the task at hand. 

To be told Jesus is with us means that we are not doing this alone but in an ongoing cooperative relationship with the Master of the Universe.

So we are doing this every day.  We are assuming our responsibility to be available wherever He would lead us and to do and say whatever He would tell us.

 It is not easy...but it is simple.

Freedom?

Freedom?, originally uploaded by Kazze.

What makes a great nation is the interdependence of many --- loving what all may equally share.

HAPPY 4th of July America, 2011!!!

Enjoy your freedoms. Celebrate!!!!

Summer beauty --- God's canvas

While I did not take this picture, thus I cannot display it here, the beauty is truly a spectacular view of one of GOD's greatest wonders here in California! So click on the link and go visit it in Picasa.

Living within 160 miles, there really is no excuse for not visiting this natural wonder more often. Thanks GOD for making our world so amazing and thank you Britt Peterson for taking this photo. We are blessed with enjoying your creative eye.

Have a wonderful summer! Be BLESSED!

Last Stop

Saw this today and wanted to share it with you...there is hope in love, There can be peace in love.  There can be answers in love.

Jesus is LOVE.

Whatever you are facing today, He is your answer.  When I taught Sunday School, it seemed as though Jesus was the answer almost every kid would shout out...what makes our lives any different.  He has not changed - - - He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  He will bind up the broken hearted. 

Yes, HE will!  His word is sure and HE does not lie. Wait for Him.

Visit: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi761698841/

Discovery - into Space for the last time

We live in exciting times. NASA has accomplished so much with its work in the space program. In fact, most of us either do not consider the incredible authority we hold to manage data, physics and the unknown each time a shuttle was launched from Cape Canaveral or we awaited the failure like so many NASCAR fans, waiting for another Big One.

I for one grew up with NASA doing the impossible.

I remember seeing Echo 1 as it circled the earth and we could actually watch it arc across the horizon, a moving star to my 9 year old eyes.

Incredible.

Amazing.

Wonderful.

and yet, still only permitted by the watchful eye of the Creator. He has allowed us to delve into His libraary of secrets in so many of the Dewey-classified disciplines. We have written books about our knowledge and we have modified the way we live exponentially over the generations of the Scientific Revolution.

I am grateful that GOD allowed us to change the way we live. But I still want nothing more than to live under the watchful eye and protective umbrella of His love. The Psalmist told us long ago that we owe Him our every breath. I do not want to change that. I want to live under the authority of a loving Father who allows us to run and jump and play but doesn't let us go beyond His care. I hope you too feel that GOD is ONE who is trustworthy of your love and trust and submission.

The truth revealed in a prophetic statement long ago, "Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" is still the hope I long for and Joshua's proclamation "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" is relevant to every morning I awake.

As I gaze up into the skies, I know so little of the grandeur of the laws that make up what I enjoy in the morning, noon and evenings of my life but I am so incredibly grateful for the One that holds it all together with His word.

Have a Blessed Day!

V Blue Moon RippingOutGate

V Blue Moon RippingOutGate, originally uploaded by OCEANSLOGIC.

Adam Correa left San Francisco Bay with the wind and the tides yesterday aboard his 25' Folkboat 'Blue Moon' in the 2010 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race.

Doesn't it just amaze you that a single man can accomplish such goals on such a small vessel?

Keep in touch with their progress at:
http://sfbaysss.org/TransPac/transpac2010/race_tracker/position.html

http://360blog.nautica.com/2010/06/18/singlehanded-transpacific-yacht-race-2975

http://twitter.com/Oceanslogic

blown fields - sonoma county

blown fields - sonoma county, originally uploaded by Oakjack.

A little breeze blowin' on the spring grasses and what do you have?

An organic symphony. HALLELUJAH ! ! !

Fence Post And Clover

Fence Post And Clover, originally uploaded by Natural Light Seeker.

Split rail fence looks so cool...there is something so organic about it...especially as it weathers and nature takes over.

Thanks GOD for a beautiful day!

Coffee Beans

Coffee Beans, originally uploaded by SonyaJohnson.

Can you smell the aroma? Dark roast.

Ahhh.....thank you GOD for this little bean that gives us such a kick!

STARBUCKS

STARBUCKS, originally uploaded by Vish's.

Tomorrow is Saturday...I think it should be Startbuck's Saturday. I think I am going to bless my family by visiting Starbuck's - Hollister for a treat.

Enjoy your summer!

The Bay vs. The Bag

glowlights---creativity in the dark

glowlights, originally uploaded by GLOW lights.

Jesus said "I am the light of the world."

To truly appreciate the significance of light, we need to see the absence of it in darkness. This was where we lived. But then one day, Jesus came into our world and became the only One who could bring us out:

"the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." Matt 4:16

Thank you Jesus for Your Light!

Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajökull, originally uploaded by hallgrg.

It is truly amazing how much variety this world has!

Even in the recent disasters of Haiti, Chile, China, the ash plume of Eyjafjallajökull...GOD has created so much in this world of ours.

Sometimes we enjoy this variety and sometimes it brings difficulty to our lives.

With Job we choose to say: "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

I love barns - - - Near Fairfield, WA

Near Fairfield, originally uploaded by Walkee.

Something about barns, fields, clouds and bigness intrigues me so much.

I just want to walk toward the barn and then on to the horizon.

What a beautiful day!

Horsetail Firefall - Proof of A MOMENT IN TIME

Horsetail Firefall, originally uploaded by Wiggum03.

I don't know the photographer but he has captured something I believe is one of the abundant daily miracles that occur somewhere around this globe every single day. GOD is so good to share His beauty with us. Photography has allowed a type of sharing that goes beyond just those who are at the right place at the right time.

The metaphor is significant.

As believers in the Christ, we have seen something GOD shares openly with all but all do not see. We either have to by chance show up at one of these supernatural spectacles, or be told where and when to view them first hand or live through the vicariously wonderful ability to see through another's eyes.

If you know Jesus, tell of His excellent love.

If you do not know Jesus, listen as one who does tells you how you too can experience this wonder of L I F E yourself.

If you are one who never seems to be at the right place at the right time, live through the vicarious thrill of what another has experienced.

But keep an eye open...there will be a day when you too see what no one has seen quite like you. Be BLESSED!