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Showing posts from 2018

Called to Lift Each Other Up: Raising the Next Generation Part 4...Tell Your Children

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We live in an age of ideas.   The Information Age has brought us to a place to gather information at a click of a button while at the same time making our minds turn lazy to the process of critical thinking.  My family and I love Disneyland! We are annual pass holders, so we go often. Now if your a Disney fan, there are some awesome apps out there to use on your visit to make the experience fun.  The app that tells you detailed “wait time” for rides...A MUST! The very same app can help you reserve a dinner time at your favorite Disney restaurant or help reminded of your "Fastpass" time...AWESOME!  It will tell you showtimes plus give you the opportunity to order food anywhere from the park so you can pick up and go! I will admit….I love my Disney APP! Our family fell in love with Disney when we took a vacation to Florida.  The girls were heading into their tween years. “High School Musical” was out and Zac Efron was the heartthrob of many young gi...

Called to Lift Each Other Up: Raising Up the Next Generation...Part 3 Do Not Hide the Words (Psalm 78:4)

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Think back in time when words from someone you looked up to had an impact in your life.   Negative or positive.   As a five-year-old I was staying the weekend with grandpa and grandma.   As a five-year-old, for some reason I was fascinated with the toilet.   I began placing tissue into the mouth of the porcelain monster and would flush it all down with excitement.   Until I put too much tissue in and it did not flush…it began to overflow!   Afraid that I had broken the toilet I ran and hide under the bed in the next room.   Moments passed by until I heard the scream of my grandma as she entered the bathroom.   Grandpa came in and saw the mess.   Upon their realization, I was nowhere to be found.   The frantic cries of my name filled the house.   I could see from under my bed the feet of my grandparents going back and forth in the hallway.   Then my grandpa stopped in front of my room.   I watched his feet with antici...

Called to Lift Each Other Up: Raising the Next Generation....Part 2 Give ear to the Law (Psalm 78:1)

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Psalm 119 is very unique.   This past summer I was reading through this chapter and the challenge that screams through the pages is loud and clear…. Let the Word of God speak for Itself.   Matthew Henry ( 17th and early 18th Century minister of the Gospel in Chester, England and Bible Commentator)   explains Psalm 119 like this, "The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist's own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God's grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty.” Parents…in order to impact our children we must be in the Word and know the Word!   We must set the example ...

Called to Lift Each Other Up: Raising Up the Next Generation

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“We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”     Psalm 78:4 I wish I can say that my wife and I have all the answers…we don’t.   We have made mistakes as a parents.   Yet our goal from the day we brought them home was to be parents who pointed our girls toward God and let them know daily that we loved them.   We wanted our girls to see Christ in us, setting up a home where they witnessed God’s love and grace.   It does take work yet I truly believe it can be attained.   We are amazed at our daughters love for the Lord.   The other day we were having a very hard day at work.   We were burned out and each of us was asking God the same thing…“Lord, did you hear our prayer.”   The next morning, we received a text from our youngest daughter, “A little encouragement for today…despite our current struggles, our cur...

Called to Lift Each Other Up....COMING APRIL 22

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As a couple, my wife and I work in the marketplace which includes pouring ourselves into others.   Afterwards when the day is done we sometimes can feel alone or simply drained.   As a couple, in those moments, we become each others pillar, lifting each other up.  Yet what happens when we both feel alone, drained and needing God to intervene?   God sends our children to give us the right passage or Word that ministers to out hearts with a conclusion, "Mom and dad...God is faithful."     Little did we know they were paying attention to us all these years when we would trust God in all our circumstances!  Join us these next few weeks as we look at Scripture and build a biblical view in raising the next generation to become followers of Christ.

Saying Good-bye to America's Pastor....Billy Graham

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This past week our nation said good-bye to “America’s Pastor”, Billy Graham.   After 64 years Billy Graham served God well.   Reaching millions throughout the world, Billy Graham never wavered.   As I watch the videos and listen to the reflection of many, it wasn’t his sermons that made such a difference, it was his life.   He lived it out!   No scandals.   No weird theology.   No fluff in his messages or crusades.   Simple.   It was that,  which I believe people were attracted to such a man.   He lived out his faith and in return people trusted his words.   In observing this past week’s events three things stood out to me concerning the death of Billy Graham.   I know this may sound weird to a generation that questions God/religion or a church that has become politically correct.   Yet, I truly believe the words spoken this past week by many and the reflection of Billy Graham’s ministry was a warning to the c...
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"I am not going to heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times.  I'm going to heaven just like the  thief on the cross who said in the last moment: Lord, remember me."   -Billy Graham This past week on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Billy Graham passed away.  One of my hero's and a gentleman that I looked up to.  Humble.  Godly.  Preached the gospel with no fluff!  I loved that about him.  I always wanted to meet the man, yet that will have to wait for another day in eternity!  Just in the last couple of days as people have looked back on this man, the gospel has been his reflection!  Think about.  You live your life and the very thing the people remember you for was the love you had for your family and most of all, the love you had for God!  As people reflect on your life the gospel of Christ is continued to be talked about!  From the grave, Billy's life wil...