There Isn’t Much

A friend just sent me this little poem, that has made me smile and know that I’m not alone.  Just like to pass it on to all those who may feel all alone.  Don’t know where they got it from, but love the ending of each line- “as on OUR way WE go”.

There Isn’t Much

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can share my bread with you and sometimes share a sorrow, too – as on our way we go.

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can sit an hour with you and I can share a joke with you and sometimes share reverses, too – as on our way we go.

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can share my flowers with you and I can share my books with you and sometimes share your burdens, too – as on our way we go.

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can share my songs with you and I can share my mirth with you and sometimes come and laugh with you – as on our way we go.

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can share my hopes with you and I can share my fears with you and sometimes shed some tears with you – as on our way we go.

There isn’t much that I can do, but I can share my friends with you and I can share my life with you and oftentimes share a prayer with you – as on our way we go

Todd

Batman

My favorite super hero is Batman.  Yes, some say He’s not a super hero, but just a rich man with really really cool gadgets.  Super hero or not he’s always ready to help others out.  I guess that’s why I like him so much.  When it comes to helping people out, have you noticed that Batman’s Batphone rings at some of the most busiest of times? Once, it was right before his birthday party and other times His at a gathering. Other times, it’s when he’s exhausted after a long hard day as Bruce Wayne. The call never seems to catch him off guard or unprepared to help others. He finishes the call, slides down his secret pole into the Batcave, hops into the Batmobile and off he goes. Here’s the thing that gets me: he never has to stop and get gas in that car or find His bat suit before he heads off to save the world. Now granted, he’s got Alfred, but if I were Batman, my first stop would most likely have to be the gas station to fill up!  Will we be ready? Be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. –2 Timothy 4:2 For this to happen, are our own spiritual “gas tanks” filled up ready to share our hearts with others about Him?  Be ready, keeping our tanks filled up and ready to do His call… whenever it comes!  Hope everyone is having a great wee.  Todd

Ask

I Love this time of year, Jessica ask for everything she sees on tv or in a store.  I say ask Santa and see if he will bring it for Christmas or say write in down to give to Santa.  She says, Ok and goes on about her day till the next time something comes along.  But when it’s time to ask Santa she gets scared and never ask.  It makes me think about all the things I’m going to talk to God about but, for this or that I don’t. 

James said, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” James 4:3

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Why don’t we ask God for the things we need or have questions about?

We don’t ask because we forget that he wants to take care of us. We sometimes get a false image of God that says that he expects us to make it totally on our own (Matt 7).

We don’t ask because we’re afraid of outcome may not how we want it to be.

We don’t ask because we don’t know how to ask or even what to ask, but God knows our hearts.

A story that I have come across and have look back on and thought about doing once or twice.

A 60-year-old retired man from Arizona had a brilliant plan. He’d simply ask for all of his money back. On every dollar bill he spends, he would write: “Please return this bill to me.” He writes his address on the bill and waits to see if it comes back. It is said he began asking for his money back about ten years ago. Since then, he’s started averaging getting back $2 a day. In some months, he’s received almost $100! All because he asks for it. 

I may not start asking for my money back or will I, but asking God through prayer is something that I going to do more.  If people here on earth will send back the money back to this man, think of what God can send each of us.  Todd

Holidays

It’s that time of year again, HOLIDAYS.  What do the holidays mean to you?  I just seating and planning my family holiday list of what we are doing, and how are we going to get everything done.  But, if the holidays are about family, do I miss the point.  So often I catch myself worried about getting this or that done and not about time with my family. When doing this and doing that I miss the small things that make a family a family.  This year I think I am going to make a list of five things I need to do first each day then see what I have time for after that. 

1. Say “I love you.” Remind my family every day that I love them. The positive reinforcement and verbal reminder of love from me to them.
2. Listen. Really listening to my family, not thinking of what I need to do next.
3. Use eye contact. Watch my body language and eye contact, to let them know I care. You can say a lot when saying nothing by how you listen.
4. Show physical affection. Meaningful touches and hugs, kisses and high fives each day.
5. Pray daily. A daily time of prayer each day for my family of how thankful for what we have.

I don’t know if this will help you or not, but it has made me think of what the holidays are about, and if its family then I plan to make them first.  Hope everyone has a great week.  Todd

November

We are going on the second week in November. Can you believe that we only have two months left in the year? How many times in the past ten months have you taken a break from your busy life to say “thank you” to God? When I think of that I know it humbles me. Many times, we pray to God, we are asking God for something. We ask Him to bless our food, to cure the sick, comfort the grieving, help us find jobs, help get us through tests and doctors’ appointments, and the list could go on and on. We ask God for a lot both big and small! Although there is nothing wrong with asking God for things, sometimes it’s nice to switch things up a bit. What if your kids only demanded food, toys, and money? As Jessica is getting older, we are trying to have her say thank you as she receives something, but I ask myself do I say thank you to God for all has given me.  I can learn from what I am trying to teach my child and use it daily in my life.  “Thank You!” God for all that you have given me.  This month I want us all to focus on “the giver of all good things” (James 1:17) and say thank you for what He gives us daily.  Todd

Factory

In a story that I came across the other day it talks about doing our best.  Many years ago in a factory there was a sign on the wall which read: "If your threads get tangled, send for the foreman." One day there was a woman who was new but was a hard worker, her threads got tangled up. She tried to get them straightedge out, but only made matters worse. After a while she gave up and called the foreman for his help. He came and looked then asked: "You have been trying to untangle them yourself, haven't you?" "Yes," she said. "Why didn't you send for me, as I have asked?" She said: "I did my best.”  He said: "Remember that doing your best is asking me for me."

How often in life have we tried to straighten out our own messes, only to make things worse, and certainly not to solve things? We think that a little more effort, wisdom, and hard it will be fixed.  Then God reminds us: "Doing your best is asking for me."  Is there something in your life that needs to be handed over to God.  If, so I stop using human effort and let God take control.  Hope everyone has a blessed and safe week.  Todd

Waves

This week I have been thinking about the beach. I guess because its been cold and rainy and the beach is hot and sunny.  I like the beach and love listening to the waves come crashing in. 

Life is really like the waves on the beach with all its ups and down, highs and lows, they go through in just one day. In the book of James we are taught to count everything as joy. The highs and the lows of life are all tests of our faith and we need to embrace them all with an attitude of joy in our hearts. A Joy for us to glorify God in both the ups and the downs of life.

Joy is powerful and it is not just a thing we need to overcome trials with, it is also something that we can receive from God. There is the Joy from worshiping God. There is the Joy from gathering with fellow believers of the church. There is even Joy found in the studying the scriptures and unlocking the love of God has for us. Joy goes hand in hand with God in knowing we have total peace in him.

The Joy from God is also gained in many ways. Joy is gained simply with the good things he allows to happen in our lives. It can be found in the little things such as the loving smile of a little child.  Even giving Joy is something that comes in many forms. One extremely important way is the Joy you give when you show love for one another. Let’s show joy today by showing God’s love to others as He first showed it to us.  Todd

Where To Look

Baseball player Satchel Paige once said in jest, "Don't look back, something may be gaining on you" In contrast, George Santayana, a Spanish-born American author said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

Do we move on, never looking back, or do we learn from our past mistakes to avoid making them again?  The Bible seems to tell us that we should do a little of both. We do need to think back on our lives and learn from our mistakes. That’s part of the process when we confess our sins and asking God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Leading us to think about it long enough and then choose to “go and sin no more”  (John 8:11).  Forgiveness is God’s way of clearing the slate, but it’s up to us to avoid repeating the errors of our past. Look at  the apostle Paul, he looked at his mistakes from  his past  and then focused on becoming more like Christ each day (Philippians 3:13-14).

So, is it best for us to look back or to look ahead? We would be wise to do a little of both: We need to look back when comes to forgiveness, then look ahead, focusing on Christ and for future spiritual growth in his kingdom.  Todd

Starts with a Thread

Over the three-day weekend for my kids from school, I have let myself eat unhealthily.  It stated out slow a small piece of cake here till it got to a very large piece of cake.  Which lead to a coke which I haven’t had in for about six months.  It just started out with giving in a little bit, having the small taste of what I knew I didn’t need.  It like the story I ran across today, it starts small and can grow fast.  Here is the story: An athletic young man stood before his peers. An ordinary piece of sewing thread was cut from a spool and wrapped once around his torso and arms and tied. He was asked to break free from the thread. Like a young Samson in training, he easily broke the thread that bound him. The young man’s peers teased him, “Oooooohhhhhhh,” they chided, in chorus.

A longer piece of thread was wrapped around the young man. This time the thread was wrapped around his body three times. The young man, again, was asked to break free from his bonds. This time, it took real effort on the young man’s behalf, but he broke free of the threads. Again, his friends mockingly cheered, “Woohoo!” The young man struck a body-builders’ pose in response.

Finally, one last, long piece of thread was cut from the spool and wrapped around the young man. This time, the thread was wrapped a dozen times around his body. But this time, as he tried to break free, he struggled and struggled. His friends cheered him on. Soon, the cheers turned to laughter. This young man could not break the thread and finally gave up.

This story can serve as a good warning to us about the power of bad habits. All it took was me to say it will be ok today to get off my diet, which lead to two days, which lead to three.  Do we catch ourselves doing this from time to time?  Today I am stopping and getting back on my diet.  As important as my physical diet is, I need to make sure I never let my spiritual diet slip.  If your spiritual diet is slipping I ask us to stop letting it slip and get back on it today.  So today I have made sure I am on both of my diets and focused on not cheating and losing site of my goals.  This week hope each of look at our spiritual diets and if needed get back on them.  Todd

GYM

Over the last year I joined a gym. I have never really attempted to work out at a gym by myself for any extended period of time, but I felt like it was time to get in better shape so that I can walk my girls down the aisle instead of being carried by them. 

I decided on the gym that is close to my house and fairly inexpensive.  The gym is pretty neat. They have a bank of televisions (probably at least ten wide-screen TV’s) for you to watch as you walk/run on the treadmills. They have the biggest ceiling fans I’ve ever seen in my life. They have massage chairs, tanning beds, aqua massage, and showers. It’s a pretty great place, with a lot of really cool amenities that make it more fun to go work out.

And then I saw the Tootsie Rolls.  They actually have a JAR of Tootsie Rolls on the desk at the welcome desk.

What is going on here? I also noticed that they have free PIZZA night the first Monday night of every month, and free BAGELS on the second Tuesday!! What in the world is happening at this place?? Don’t they realize that Tootsie Rolls, pizza, and bagels are the REASON why I need to go to the gym?

They are also very big on being a “Judgment-Free Zone,” which evidently means that you aren’t allowed to make fun of other people who are working out around you, no matter how funny they look.

As everyone who comes in and starts back at the gym it takes small steps of getting where you want to be.  For some maybe it’s their first time or maybe have started and stopped many times over the years of going to the gym.  As they start back up they feel welcomed on their journey of recovering back to health.  So far, I have not taken a Tootsie Roll out of the jar. I haven’t had a bagel or a piece of pizza either. So, I thank the gym for providing everything I need for a great workout; and I also thank them for unwittingly helping me with my self-control.  This week I challenge each of us to look at our spiritual health and ask do I need to get back to the spiritual gym myself.  Have a great and blessed week.  Todd

Friend sent me a small article that I would love to send on to all of you.
To My Child:
Proverbs 23:19- Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path
I can share your life, but I cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot always lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to worship, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right and wrong, but I cannot decide for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to be a friend, but I cannot make you one.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I cannot build your reputation.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you.
I can teach you to obey, but I cannot answer for your actions.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot establish your morals.
I can love you as my child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior.
I can teach about prayer, but I cannot make you pray.
I will not give up on this things till I die.
Let’s never give up and never stop teaching.  Todd

“Never”

I was reading the other day a comment in which someone said,

“never expect anything from anyone because they will only let you down."

It made me think that is a very sad comment and it is probably true more often than we wish. It made me think of how many times did it take for that person to say “NEVER”!  How have they been disappointed?  Do we believe that God is 100% faithful or have we been disappointed enough times that we would want to say, “Never expect anything from God?” – Or at least, “Don’t expect too much.” The Bible tells us over and again that God is faithful, Psalm 100:5 says, “…For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” In thinking about God’s faithfulness is that He is faithful to His name, His character and His Word. His name reveals who God is and that’s love to us. Knowing that God is true to His name, His character and when His Word is applied, we find comfort in knowing that we can trust His purposes, His promises and His care for each of Us!  Todd

Kingdom

Cleaning up your office you find things sometimes that you didn’t remember you have.  One thing I came across was a paper that was given to me a long time ago, maybe 10 years now.  It tells of a Kingdom that Jesus came to build on love.  So, here it is:

Jesus came to inaugurate a kingdom — one not built through oppression and domination, but one propelled by love and compassion. And His way was the way of the cross.

A kingdom of hope over a kingdom of despair.
A kingdom of freedom over a kingdom of bondage.
A kingdom of liberation over a kingdom of oppression.
A kingdom of generosity over a kingdom of greed.
A kingdom of love over a kingdom of power.
A kingdom of light over a kingdom of darkness.

A kingdom of Love for you and me.

Love

Friend sent me this little reminder of God’s love for each of us.  Thought I would be great pass it on, because its just a reminder of the love God has for us.  Love. It transcends time and makes time stand still. It causes people to do funny things and can break the heart of ones close to us. It fights for freedom and dies for a cause. It gives life to the next generation and gives its life for a generation it will never see. Love is deep, secure, strong, loyal, honest, and true. It is displayed through a touch, a word, a look, or a smile. Love sustains, guides, protects, and is closer than you think. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. –Psalm 139: 8-10. The Psalmist also experienced this type of love. God and His love surrounded him at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. Today, take the time to notice that you are surrounded by the love of God.  Hope this makes your day and week better knowing God’s love is with us.  Todd

Lord I Pray

Just some to the things that I pray for the upcoming school year for our Deer Park Church of Christ kids.

Lord, I pray that my children would understand their need for Jesus and rejoice in the good news of the Gospel.

Lord, I pray that my children will love learning; that their hearts would seek to understand the world you have created.

Lord, I pray that you would surround them with friends who make wise choices and encourage their faith.

I pray that their teachers would be wise and gentle.

I pray that they would be thoughtful with their words and respectful in their replies.

I pray that you would free them from the pressure of trying to be like everyone else by instilling in them the confidence to know that they are uniquely made by you.

Lord, I pray that they would work with diligence and put forth their best efforts.

I pray that they would receive correction well.

I pray that when they do what is wrong, they would bear consequences that lead them to repentance.  I pray that when they do what is right, you would bless their obedience that they may learn to love your ways.

I pray that your Word would be on their hearts and in their minds as they learn.

I pray that they would share their faith with others.

I pray that they would be kind to others.

I pray that you would give them the grace of self-control

I pray that you would protect them from all evil.

More than anything else, may their lives glorify you.

O Lord, hear our prayers!  Amen

Todd

Civil War

So often we get mercy and grace mixed up, this week I came across this article which truly explains the difference.  It was reported in Isaac Asimov’s Book of Facts that following the Civil War, Jefferson Davis was captured and indicted for treason. Though many Northerners called for Davis’ execution, one group petitioned for his release. The group? The former slaves from Davis’ cotton plantation. Following a two-year imprisonment, Davis was freed, having avoided a trial.  In the story from the Civil War, we see both grace and mercy at work on Davis’ behalf, being extended by his former slaves. A basic explanation of the concepts of mercy and grace is as follows: Grace is receiving something beneficial that we don’t deserve and mercy is not receiving some negative consequence for what we do deserve. Whether these former slaves were followers of Christ or not we don’t know, but they demonstrated the same kind of mercy and grace that God has displayed toward us through Christ Jesus — and the same kind of grace that we need to extend to others. Through our own sin, we deserve the wrath of God. Through the mercy and grace demonstrated on our behalf through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been forgiven and freed from the penalty of sin — and beyond that — we have received the great blessings of being adopted into the family of God. In return, God asks us to extend mercy and grace to others (see Matthew 6:14-15).  This week I ask that we look to extend mercy and grace to those we come in contact with.  Hope everyone has a blessed week. Todd

One Day

Its Wednesday hump day to some letting us know the week is almost half way over.  With so much to do and so little time.  It makes me think.  Here’s how I should start today, you were handed from God 24 hours to live life to the fullest. That’s 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. Sometimes we get so busy and distracted we miss the fact that each rising sun brings new opportunities and adventures on this planet we call Earth. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Make the most of today. Enjoy God’s gift to you. You can accomplish a great deal with the 1,440 minutes in a day. Today, stop and take advantage of all that God has provided for you. Here are a few suggestions:

Tell someone you love him/her.

Write a kind note to a friend.

Stop and enjoy the sunset.

Take 20 minutes of the 1,440 you have today and talk to God.

Memorize this verse: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24.

Hope you have a great day!

Todd

Opportunity  

Coming back from camp has made me think about opportunities that we have each day of our lives.  America has long been known as the “land of opportunity.” Opportunity has great potential as a motivational force in our lives. In the business realm, when “opportunity knocks”, the successful entrepreneur makes the most of it. However, it is commonly admitted that, in the spiritual realm, many opportunities come and go without notice.  Are we wasting the opportunities that God puts before us?  Here are some suggestions to help us make greater use of our spiritual opportunities:

1. Pray for opportunities. God answers prayer. As we use the opportunities God provides, He will grant us even greater opportunities (Mt. 25:29).
2. Look for opportunities. While God gives the opportunity, we must recognize it. He is not going to speak directly from heaven, saying, “This is it! This the one you’ve been waiting for!” When searching for employment, one cannot expect to get a job without looking for one. Similarly, we must prayerfully search for opportunities. As a general rule, they will not simply drop into our laps.
3. Use the opportunity. Once the opportunity presents itself, be ready to use it. Be prepared for the Master’s service. In all things, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” (Col. 4:5).

Camp has made me think at what opportunities due I have to spread the message just like Christ did to the women at the well and to Legion.  This week I ask us to look for those opportunities and let’s act on them.  Todd