Thoughts and Reflections

Prov. 16:9 A mans heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. We can often plan out our day, week, month, year, or life. We set long term goals and dreams and either head in those directions or continue to plan to achieve the outcome. There is nothing wrong with the setting of goals. However, we must not "write them in stone". How often have the ideas and plans you have set have gone awry? The life events that has been handed you, end up derailing your dreams and ambitions? It can become something that emotionally brings you down to the point of depression. You can end up loosing your temper and becoming angry at people or situations that have interrupted or brought to an end your desires. How foolish we are to think that we are in control. God allows us breath. God keeps our hearts beating. God gives us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Oh we can plan. We can have hopes and dreams. But please remember that they are at the mercies of God...

Teen Camp 2019 @ Twin Bears Alaska. This is a place of "holy ground" for me. A place of many memories now both bitter and sweet. A place that has been used often in my life to bring about a time of God communicating with me through many of the messages. As tradition would have it, we once again hiked the Angel Rocks trail. As the years have passed, I must admit that the hike has become more of a challenge. Some would look at it and decide to stay behind and wait for the teens and "younger adults" to come back. Whether a glutton for punishment or a hard head that will not accept the passing of time, I once again headed out. Many young adults and teens sprinted off in order to be the first to reach the top. As I walked along the trail, most of the time alone, God started to pour some spiritual applications about the trail into my mind. In our spiritual walk with God, we are all heading in a direction to become more Christ-like. Just like the trail, it becomes mor...

For reference of my thoughts about the situations we find ourselves in, you can look here: Acts 27:9-44  and  Matthew 28:23-27   It has been a long time since I posted anything and for those who were following this, I apologize. Our lives all take twists and turns. Sometimes things happen that we do not see coming or expect. This may be due to our "blindness" to what we are doing or because of others falling prey to a world that is working hard to destroy. Other times, God is working in our lives to make us more like Him and to do nothing more than trust Him (like we could do anything else?). In Acts, Paul is sailing to a destination that God had planned for him. During the travels, he is warned of a sever, life threatening situation. His words of warning are ignored and they sail on. Due to this they fall into a storm that is greater than they can handle. They are in a life threatening situation that they are battling against to the best of their ability. The...

It is another cool and crisp winter day As I go out to warm our “modern sleigh” In preparation for what we have planned This day is surely going to be grand For my love and I are going to sneak away In order to gather the finishing touches for the holiday. As we head down the lane, it begins to snow Softening the light and bringing a romantic glow The light glistens and gleams off of the hoar frost laden trees Reminiscent of a horse drawn sleigh painted winter scene   Stealing a glance at the love by my side My joy for this day is greatly magnified. We spend the day going from store to store Without you as my companion, it would be such a chore We pause for a moment and stop for a warming treat Conversation is light and as our eyes do meet Once again, trapped by thy gaze so tender and sweet. A pile of parcels accompany us on the way home The day is ending; there is no more time to roam I turn...

At some point in life, you have to learn to forgive those who have hurt you ( Eph. 4:32 ). Whether they are family, friends, co-workers, class mates or church family... it does not matter. We all make mistakes and cause hurt and pain to those that we love. How often do we end up holding onto a bitterness toward another and not even realize we are doing so? What does bitterness come from? Hurt feelings? Yeah, sure your feelings have been hurt, but a root could be built upon pride in some regards. We get hurt by the actions or words of others and say nothing. Why? Because we falsely believe that they should already know what they have done. Really? Is that how we are meant to go through life? Are we really to expect everyone to read our thoughts and just know that they wronged us or hurt us?   I am not speaking of anyone else or placing accusations on anyone. I am speaking of myself in a lot of ways. Being part of the human race and knowing that scripture states that no tempta...

I really do not know what to title this post. Honestly, this may be a continued work in progress. But then I am a work in progress... we all are. This is just a start of something. What will it become? Where will it go? What will the final outcome be? I do not have the answers right now. Maybe this will be all that comes from this... We shall see. There is a rage that is building inside me At a time when I should be keeping my mind on thee Why does my flesh battle me so? Away this rage I am wanting to throw Anger at the state of life I find myself in Mind is returning to the pain I have within A focus on self always causes me such trouble Allow God to work, force myself to be humble Lord, I cry out to you for salvation from my flesh Mind, will and emotion does the wicked one want to possess The battle seems contained to this mortal realm But the spiritual matters are what are at the helm The wicked one wants to see me brought low “Another deterred from ...