However, I believe that in your lifetime there comes along only a few people that you are able to call best friends, or even give them the status “like family”.  I have been very fortunate to have several people that I can give this status too.

This is one aspect of my life that I believe God orchestrated, because they have been exactly what I needed in my walk with the Lord.  We must remember God knows exactly what kind of friends we need in our life to help encourage us, to rebuke us, and to be just down right honest with us.

There have been many times in my life where I have needed to talk to someone about situations in my life.  There have been times in my life where I have needed wisdom.  Whatever the need I know that I can call on any of these best friends or “family members” and they will be there for me.

When you stop and think about your life I am sure you will find there are people in our life that fit this category of friends.  In that moment when those names and faces come to mind I request you do some thing.  First, you need to stop and thank God for them, because believe you me they are a blessing from the Lord.  Secondly, you need to let them know how thankful you are for them and how much their friendship means too you.  Use your creativity to let them know just how important they are to you.  Third, and certaintly not last, keep in touch with them on a regular basis.  Whether it be through the great tool of facebook, email, chats, or just an old fashion phone call make sure to keep in touch.  When the opportunity arises make time to schedule a personal visit.

Again I must say THANK YOU LORD, for the great friends/family you brought into my life.  They are truly a blessing from you.

In my devotion time today I was reminded that it is possible to praise the Lord in the valley.  I read Job chapter 1 this morning.  In this chapter we are told that Job was a man of God, and Job was a man who lived a life that pleased the Lord, and a life that was totally sold out to the Lord.  However, within one day, less than 24 hours,  Job gets word that all he every knew was gone.  His children were dead, his servants were all gone, his livestock and all possessions were gone.

Now if this had been me I would not be have been so quick to react like Job did.  In verses 20-21 we read where Job tore his clothes, shaved his head, and began to worship the Lord.  Yes I said it right.  He began to worship the Lord.  In his prayer he told the Lord that even though he came into this world with nothing, and he would leave this world with nothing he was going to praise the Lord.  All I can say is way to go Job.

I then get to verse 22.  It is this verse that that Holy Spirit grabbed my heart and said, can you be in the valley and not blame me.  Can you be in the valley and praise me instead of blaming me.  I have been blaming God for the state I have been in as of late.  I know it is not God’s fault that I don’t praise Him in the valley.  I know that God allows us to be in the valley so He can make us more like Him.  I will be the first to tell you, that I am not there yet where I will automatically give God praise while in the valley.  On the flip side of this, I am asking the Lord to help me get to that point.  I know I can get there.

When you read this you may find yourself in the valley, and you may not be praising the Lord.  Instead you may be asking why?  Let me encourage stop what you are doing, and do as Job did.  Get before the Lord and seek His face.  While in the presence of the Lord tell Him what your heart is feeling and then begin to ask God to help you worship and praise Him in the valley.  I wonder if we are not missing out on some very special and intimate worship when we don’t worship while in the valley.

Thank you Lord for the Valley.

When we arrived at the hospital I knew my mom was not going to be long for this world.  My wife and I stepped out into the hall and determined we need to call everyone that we can and ask them to begin to pray that God would be with mom and God would be with my family.  This is a prayer I have prayed for others who have gone through the lost of loved one, but it is not one I have had to pray for myself, since 1996, that is my dad passed away.

We began to call church family first, then we began to call friends and family.  It was with each call that we began to feel the presence of God with us.  Each call gave us more and more assurance God’s people were going to fall on their knees and take my mom and family to the throne of Grace.  What a tremendous peace came over me and my family.

While we with mom during her last hours, I can honestly tell you God was with us in the Hospice Room.  His presence sustained us and comforted us during this tough time.  When the nurse came and woke up us to tell us mom had left this world.  I knew God was holding my hand during the time.

Folks it is an amazing experience to know God’s presence is truly with you when you are going through a tough time.  I believe with all my heart God is with us through the good times and through the bad times.  It is truly a great blessing to have as a believer to know God is with us all the time.

Maybe you don’t know Jesus and the peace/comfort I speak of.  You can all you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart and that is exactly what He will do.  Don’t wait.  His peace is waiting for you.

It is has recently that  I have been reminded just how awesome God’s Word truly is.  Being a pastor one would think I know this already, but yet I am here to tell you it is very easy to get caught up in the preparation of sermons, bible study, Sunday school lessons and others that one can forget just how great and awesome God’s Word really is.

Recently I was preparing for a Sunday morning sermon, and at the same time preparing for a Bible Study, when God, through the Holy Spirit, spoke to my heart and reminded me of how great and wonderful His Word really is.  I was not prepared to be spoken too, but God knew what I needed to hear and spoken to my heart, so that I could then go and share His Word with others.

The next time you are wondering what book should I read, just stop and pick up the Bible, and then go and tell someone else they “must read” the Bible is truly an Awesome Book.

Then beginning in March and running throughout April and into May the sun comes out and immediately begins to wake everything up.  As a pastor I get the privilege of seeing teh same thing taking place when a person (male or female, young or old) comes to the point in their life where they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  It is truly a great time of watching the soul and their life begin to wake-up and see just what they have been missing by allowing sin to keep their soul and life in a empty/hybernating state for so long.

I know that eventually spring will pass away, then summer, and then we come to fall.  It is in the fall time of the year all of nature begins to go back to sleep.  Praise the Lord, with our life in Christ that is totally different.  We can keep growing and changing.  Our lives can continue to grow in Christ.  We can continue to bear fruit and regardless the time of the year.

Yes, Spring is in the air.  I hope their is also a new breath of air in your life as well.

What I mean is this, when it comes to causes of divorce it seems that communication has held the number one position.  If there were to be a number two rank “falling out of love with each other” would hold this position.  How does someone fall out of love with the one whom they chose, and committed, to spend the rest of the life together.  I have to question just how much love was truly there.  I have to also wonder what kind of love was there.

Christ reminds us in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave us nor fail us.  Folks, the last time I looked that requires a great amount of unconditional love.  I don’t know about you but I have done a great amount of things for Jesus to be justified in leaving me.  Praise the Lord!  His love for me is not based on what I did, or who I am.

So I guess, the title for this blog, is a rethorical statement.  We are to love Christ with our whole heart and all that is within us.  I choose to love Him simply because He loved me first and continue to love me.  What an awesome and loving Savior we can know and love.

So as you read this blog, my prayer is that you will stop and ask yourself this question how much do I love the Lord.  Do I love Him, or Love Him Not?  I pray that you love Him, because without a doubt He loves you.

Nonetheless, I am called to pray for him, and to show respect for him and his position.  It is my hope that all believer (christians) across the nation will begin to pray for our President and all those whom he has chosen to help lead our nation.

There is no question in my mind that when God’s people pray, God will move and make things happen that will bring glory to Him.  So please help me and we make this commitment to pray for our President and our Government.