Tag Archives: Religion

THE JOURNEY HOME

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The Journey Home is my personal exercise in strengthening and reawakening my faith after a near-death experience. So many things challenge and make us question our faith. Yet, it is these times of doubt that paradoxically we exhibit our strongest faith as it is in these times; our faith brings us through the troubled waters we are dealing with. This book was written to help both you and I reflect on our spirituality and get closer to the Lord. I hope it gives you as much enjoyment reading and hearing its message as I enjoyed writing it.

THE JOURNEY HOME

Available at Amazon.com in paperback or as an e-book.

He has not forsaken us

We live in a time where so many have hated in their heart, including our so-called leaders. Men and women who are supposed to lead us, protect us, and guide us through turbulent times. Leaders without empathy. Leaders who are selfish and wicked. Yet despite the evil that is thrust on us, we must remain true to our faith. To know that our true leader is not a man or woman who walks among us but is the Lord and he has not forsaken us. He continued to walk with us, guide us, strengthen us, protect us and it is He who will pass the final judgement on all those who seek to harm us.670B4F88-5DC3-43A7-8BEC-65795FC097F7

He’s everywhere you just have to look

I’m in the shower this morning, and I look to my left out the frosted window. Now you can’t see anything unless it’s right up against the window, and even then, it’s hard to make out. But this morning there, it was clear as day what I could only assume was a twig had lodged itself between the bottom and top pane.
So what?
Well, this twig was shaped like a cross.
Just a twig that happened to look like a cross?
You could believe that, but I choose to believe that a twig in the shape of a cross whose image in a frosted window came through as clear as day was the Lord saying Carl, as you start the week know that I got you everything going to be OK.
May you all have a blessed week!

They Don’t Really Care About Us

They don’t really care about us.

This statement could be attributed to the attitudes of many so-called American “Christians.” Many of whom have decided, led by Pat Robertson, that God sent our current President to save America. The same President who rose to power by preying on the baseless fears of many and campaigning on a platform of hate, fear, and division.

A President who turns his back on the concept of global unity for a doctrine of America first, a President who appointed an Attorney General in Jeff Sessions who once said: “We are a Christian nation. We should only be accepting Christian refugees.” This is when some twenty-two million people are displaced, and the world is amid the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. Almost a quarter are refugees from Syrians. Yet each iteration of Trump’s travel ban has sought to block travelers trying to enter the U.S. from Syria and to restrict refugee admissions from the country. In a country whose people are so devastated, Secretary of Defense James Mattis said in May of 2018, “I’ve seen refugees from Asia to Europe, Kosovo to Africa. I’ve never seen refugees as traumatized as coming out of Syria.”

A President who has submitted proposed budgets that hits the poorest Americans the hardest, slashing billions of dollars in food stamps, health insurance, and federal housing subsidies. A budget that would gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, by $17.2 billion in 2019 — equivalent to 22 percent of the program’s total cost last year, calls for cuts of more than $213.5 billion over the next decade, a reduction of nearly 30 percent, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

A President whose policies are applauded by many of his “Christian” supporters as Making America Great Again.

But Matthew 25:41-46 is clear in saying:

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

This is a resounding answer to the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). The person who helps those in need will inherit the kingdom. The person who fails to do so will be relegated to fiery punishment.

It has always been easy to say to the world I am a Christian. It is not so easy to live your life as a follower of Christ and his teachings.

Are you ready to show through your actions that you can love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39)?

Are you ready to show through your actions that you can feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit the sick? (Matthew 25)?

Are you ready to show through your actions that you are ready to love your enemies (Luke 6:27)?

Sadly, for many of those who love to brag, America is a Christian country founded on Christianity’s principles; it seems want their religion to be is easy and simple. A religion that affords them a comfortable living with no room for outsiders unless they immediately become like them.

The time has come to choose. Are you a person who simply gives lip service to the teachings of Jesus?

A man who gave his life willingly as he said:

 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” John 10:17-18 NLT

A man who died willing for our sins, to save us and purchase us from death.

Or are you a person who chooses to follow a President that many have turned into a false god?

A President who preaches hate and division.

If you indeed are a follower of the Lord, it shouldn’t be a hard question at all to answer.

Because as a follower of Christ, the world should be saying:

They really do care about us.

Nothing Compares to U Lord

It’s been 12 months and three days

Since I found my way back to U

I used to sin every night and party all day

Without you I could travel the less righteous road

I could care only about myself

I could worship the dollar while in a fancy suit

But nothing

I said

Nothing can save my spirit

Nothing can save my soul,

Nothing can save my heart

Nothing could give me the happiness you could

Cause nothing compares

Nothing compares to U

I was so lost without you in my life

Like a bird without a song

Nothing could stop the tears from falling

Tell me Lord where did I go wrong

I could grab for every dollar I see

I could have every comfort money could buy

But they’d never give me the happiness of knowing U

I went to the doctor guess what he told me

Guess what he told me

He said boy even with all the money in the world there’s nothing we can do for you

but he’s a fool

Cause there’s nothing U can’t do

Cause nothing compares to U

You saved me

You breathed life back into me

I know that following you won’t always easy

I must be willing to sacrifice

I must be willing to forgive

I must be willing to embrace my enemies

I must be willing to serve the poor

I know it will be hard because I know I’m flawed

I know I am not perfect

Yet you still love me

So I’m going to give it my best

‘Cause nothing compares to the love you rain down on me

Cause nothing compares to the blessings you bestow upon me

Cause nothing compares

Nothing compare to U Lord

Happy Saturday. Let us sing his praise.

Good Morning & Happy Saturday We have made it through another work week and we wake to another day because of His glory.

Take a moment to sing his praise and to pray for those who don’t believe or are simply lost. Pray that they too will find their way home. Because once they come home they they will always be welcomed with open arms as we are all because we are now and will forever be His Children and He is all forgiving.

The First, The Last, My Everything

With a nod to Barry White’s classic You’re The First, The Last, My Everything

You put it together, didn’t You?

You definitely put it together, didn’t you Lord?

Isn’t that nice?

I mean, when you really sit and think about it, isn’t it really, really nice?

Nobody but you and me

You’ve put it together, Lord

 

The first, my last, my everything

And the answer to everything

You’re my sun, my moon, my guiding star

All kinds of wonderful, that’s what you are

 

I know there’s only, only one like you

I know you can do all things

No purpose of yours can be thwarted

Lord, you’re all I’m living for

Your plans stand firm

Your love for your children endures forever

I’ll never abandon the works of your hand

You’re the first, you’re the last, my everything

 

You allowed me to return home

You let me find you

You forgave all my sins

And in you I’ve found so many things

You’re my strongest defender; the one who saved me

My faith is so great I could only give you

I proclaim to all how great you are

You’re bring us all to a new day

 

I see so many way that I

Will love you till the day I pass out of death into eternal life

You’re all of our realities, yet some of us remain lost

But you still forgive them through Christ

You’re the first, the last, my everything

 

You and me, Lord

Just you and me

You are the first, the last, my everything