Day 8 - Not the normal day!!

Last night my buddy Fred - that would also be my son - decided he wanted to wake up at 1 and cry for an hour. I sadly slept in until 5:40 and went to the gym. I came home this afternoon and read through part of Leviticus. I am not a good afternoon reader. I will fix that in the morning.

It was pretty cool to read about the different types of offerings that were needed. But, I am so glad that we have a Savior so that these offerings are not needed in today's time. It is awesome that our God sent His Son to earth to be that offering for us. I rest assured of that and am thankful that God knew I was going to need that and took the steps to help me.

The day at school was great!!! So often we just focus in on the negative that we hear bout our schools but I want you to know that there are some great things happening at Lauderdale Middle School. We have some great teachers and students. Tonight we had a basketball game and both teams played well. Our girls team came up a little short but they are improving each time they play. Our boys team played an excellent game. When they play as a team and not just for themselves, they can be unstoppable!!

Well it is time for bed, I am trying to watch the game but I believe sleep will get me since I don't care which team wins. I like both of them!! God Bless and I hope you have a great Tuesday!!!

Day 7 - What a good day!!!

I had a great day at church. We had a wonderful service this morning and then our children's ministry had Team Kids tonight and it was awesome. They talked about friendship and looked at the friendships of Samson. We have some devoted people who work with our children and puppet ministry.

I finished reading Exodus today. I have to be honest, I enjoy learning about the tabernacle and all fo the items that made it up, but I would catch myself drifting and would have to go back and reread. I then decided to try and draw out in my mind what it would look like. That helped!! The thing that stood out to me was how God had everything down to the detail and it worked out. The people trusted and followed the Lord!!!

As I finish my first week of B90X, I can see that I am going to enjoy this. It is a challenge but so is a physical workout at the gym. While the one I go to every morning at 6 is a benefit to my body, the workout at 5 in the morning, while sitting in my recliner, has greater benefits for myself and my family.

I pray that you have a great and blessed week. 

Day 6

Hello again - A very unique read today. I did not get up at 5 to read today. Fred Baby let me sleep in until 7:15. Today I was reading in Exodus 15-28. I look in 16 and see where the people grumbled against God and how he came through time and time again. He made sure they got what was needed. They had food and water. As I read over this section, I think about how our society is never satisfied. We all want more than we need. I am the same way. I am trying my best to change that this year. My goal is to be a better steward of not only money but time, family, house.... anything that God has blessed me with.

I got a chance today to go and visit a few people for a couple of hours. One is a lady from our church who was admitted into the hospital because she was low on blood. She and I both laughed because back in June it was the same thing. It seems she has to get a "fill-up" every 6-7 months. I told her I wished oil in cars worked that way. But, as I left she was finishing her 4th unit and was feeling a lot better. She said she felt "FULL" - her words not mine!!! She will be allowed to come home tomorrow. I pray she gets a great nights rest.

I also went to visit one of our new families at church. They have just moved into a new house and I wanted to stop and say hi. I actually got an idea for the deck I would like to build here. A great family and I am blessed to get to know them.

My last visit was a sit down with my brother in Christ at the Kissell Cafe!! I love getting a chance to talk to him. I am proud of what he is doing and pray that God will bless his business and his family!!!

I hope you have had a great Saturday!!! I have enjoyed hanging with my family. As I get older, almost 39... I don't want to say 40 yet, I realize how much fun I have wrestling and playing in the floor with Lyndi, Tayler and Cayden. Or sitting in the PHAT chair watching Phineas and Ferb. It just doesn't get old. God Bless and I hope you make it to the church of your choice. If you don't have one, I would love for you to come and check out Mary's Chapel. If you don't know the way... look for one of the many signs in the county!!! LOL

God Bless!!!!

Day 5 - Moses

I have to be honest... I did NOT want to get up this morning. Fred Baby woke up at 4:20 and I tied to go back to sleep. It took me a bit and right as I feel asleep the alarm went off. I had to make myself get out of bed. I got to the fat chair and opened up to the wonderful book of Exodus. As I started I began to get excited. I started reading about a guy that reminds me of me. A guy who did not want to trust God. A guy who came up with some many excuses of why he couldn't do something. His name was Moses. Here you have a guy who should have been killed at birth, was raised by his mother for others, killed a man and then lead his people out of slavery. Now I didn't cover everything Moses did... you need to dive into the word and see for yourself... but he is an interesting guy.

As I am reading, I thought about my life and how I would come up with a reason of why I couldn't do this and this when I knew God was sending me there. I still do it now. I do believe that I will be a lead pastor one day but I hope it is way in the future. I don't think God is through using me at LMS, in Ripley and at Mary's Chapel. I just have to be patient and pay attention and not make excuses when the time comes.

As I close today I have to say I am really enjoying reading the bible again. I feel like I am getting closer to God and getting to know Him in a deeper way. I want to encourage you to spend just a few moments with Him. HE is an awesome God. I would also like to invite you to church on Sunday. We have a great time worshiping our God through wonderful songs that focus on Him (not going to say contemporary or traditional, we sing to and about God through our song, a fantastic sermon from Bro. Jim Richards and great fellowship!!! Starts at 9:30 for Sunday School and Worship service begins at 10:30.

Have a great weekend!!! God Bless

Day 4 - Joseph

Howdy!!! I hope you have had a great day. God has really blessed me in a great way today. Fantastic day at school and then to top it off I got to come home to my wonderful family and play. After dinner, The kids and I watched Toy Story 2 and they are now in bed. Lyndi is at the gym so I get a few minutes to just chill and watch some SPORTS!!!


Today I found myself finishing up Genesis. I started in chapter 40. I have read this a few times and it always keeps my attention and I find new things each time. I was sharing with a friend about the broadway play call "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." I remember watching it on video and loved the music. Check it out sometime!!!

But in today's reading I just loved the example of Joseph and his ability to forgive. When his brothers came to town to buy grain and Joseph stuck the silver back in their bags. He was still taking care of his family.  He still asked about his father. What a great example of forgiveness!!! That just rings over and over to me.

One last thing that I loved was Joseph was faithful!!! He stayed the course even when times were difficult. He loved God and trusted Him. I know my blog may repeat but these are huge examples for all of us. Joseph was a man of faith and is an example for me. He knew God had a purpose, while not always easy, for him and he followed God.

I have really enjoyed reading Genesis and look forward to Exodus. I hope you are spending some time in the word and praying to our Father in heaven. Seek Him in all the things you do!!!

Striving to be the man God wants me to be!!! God Bless

Day 3 - They did what?

I really enjoyed this mornings reading. This morning I dove into Gen. 28 and finished up in Chapter 40. It was so neat to look at how things were unfolding. My favorite part in this reading was the story of Joseph and his brothers. It reminds me of our world. I tell students in our ministry that they can find an example of anything that they are going through in the bible and look at ways that they were overcome. It just seemed that Joseph had a string of bad luck but he stayed faithful to God and was blessed by that. He stayed the course!!!

Another section I enjoyed reading was when Jacob went to meet Esau. What an example of forgiveness!!! Tonight in youth group we discussed forgiveness and this is a great example for us to look at. Esau didn't blow up, didn't retaliate - he just forgave.

I think that is what we need to remember - God calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us!!! My prayer is as we continue in our voyage through the scriptures that we strive to learn from the examples and lessons from the Word of God.

BTW - Also had a great first day back to school!!! I truly believe God is going to do great things through the youth of out community!!! God Bless!!!

Day 2

This morning I had to get back into going to school. I have decided to try getting up at 5, making a cup of coffee, reading the days scripture and then go to the gym before reporting to school by 6:50. So as I started this morning, I realized that my reading was not going to allow me to make it to the gym by 6. So I finished my reading and then went for a great 30 minute cardio workout.


This morning i read through Gen. 17- 28. Some wonderful text and information. I look at the deceit and sin in Sodom and Gomorrah and begin to wonder what our Lord thinks about our town/country. It breaks my heart to read and then think about how it is here as well. I then go on to look at the birth of Issac and how Abraham showed such faith in the Lord that he would take his own son to sacrifice. I have to be honest, I would struggle with that. I look at my son and think there is no way but Abraham showed such obedience to God. I am striving to be that way!!! The verse that stood out the most to me during this reading was from Chapter 22:5 - "He said to his servants, " Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." What struck me the most was that Abraham knew that he and his son would return. Look back at the verse and highlight the word WE... he says it twice. How Awesome!!! He knew he served a Great God!!!!

I am back to work this week and I look forward to seeing the students of LMS tomorrow morning. One of my greatest pleasures is greeting each on as they get off the bus. Even those cold and rainy days are great knowing that God is using me here!!

I want to leave you with my favorite verse--- Col. 3:23 - "Whatever you do do it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for man." God Bless and have a wonderful day!!!