Spiritual Handicaps

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3 NKJV) Most others when they think of handicaps they think of physical and or mental limitations. However, ANYTHING that holds one back is a handicap. This also incudes psychological and spiritual. Doubt, non-belief, lack of discipline and waywardness are all handicaps that keep us from getting closer to God. And, getting closer to God is our ultimate goal. We need to remove all the barriers in our lives that hold us back so that we can soar. So, my question for you to ponder this week is, "What is holding you back and handicapping you; And what are you going to do about it?" Love, Beau

Praise be to God!!

Psalm 48

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.
For behold, the kings assembled,
They passed by together.
They saw it, and so they marveled;
They were troubled, they hastened away.
Fear took hold of them there,
And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
As when You break the ships of Tarshish
With an east wind.
As we have heard,
So we have seen
In the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God:
God will establish it forever. Selah
We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
In the midst of Your temple.
According to Your name, O God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Let Mount Zion rejoice,
Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
Because of Your judgments.
Walk about Zion,
And go all around her.
Count her towers;
Mark well her bulwarks;
Consider her palaces;
That you may tell it to the generation following.
For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide
Even to death.

Light of the World

""You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14,16 NKJV) We are not to hide our good works, but to use them as a way of glorifying God. Our relationship with God is a personal one, but how we present ourselves in public should be glorifying to God. We are to be positive examples of what God has done for us and is doing in us. This in turn will hopefully lead others to Christ. Let our example of the amazing love and grace of God be one that others want to follow. Love, Beau

Everlasting God

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me." (Jeremiah 32:40 NKJV) God makes a covenant with all who love Him, that He will never leave nor forsake them. He also promises that He will not depart from doing good for them. God shows us time and time again that we can put our faith and trust in this, and that we have no reason to doubt Him. On Him we can be sure! And, in biblical tex, fear does NOT mean being afraid of God, but having such a high reverance for Him that we respect, obey and submit to Him....not out of being afraid but of great love for Him. This is what God puts in our hearts for Him. After all, God wants us to be able to feel the same kind of love that He feels for us. On that we can be sure! Love, Beau

Praising in the Darkness

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed." (Psalm 22:1-5 NKJV) These verses start out with the same words Jesus Christ used on the cross. Feeling all alone, and suffering incredible pain, God didn't answer when Jesus called. But, God raised Him from the dead as He did Lazurus. Even in the darkest of times God hears our cries and answers us. It may not be when we think it should be, but He does answer our prayers. And, as the author of this psalm does, even in the darkest of times praise God. Because God is still, and always, good and steadfast, strengthens us, and delivers us. Trusting Him in the darkest times also bring us closer to Him. Praise be to God for both the good and the bad times! Love, Beau

Prayer and Thanksgiving

"...but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...." (Phillipians 4:6; Ephesians 5:20 NKJV) Mom and some people she knows were having a deep discussion about prayer the other day. It was so deep mom shared it with me and I wanted to share it with you. We pray for things we want and need, we pray for others needs and wants, and we pray when there are struggles. Also, we are hopefully quick to thank God for the things He gives. But, do we pray and thank for, not only the things we have not yet received, but also the things we have and or did NOT receive??? The former Bible verses states that EVERYTHING by prayer (and thanksgiving), and giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things. I believe that it's a good idea, when praying, to not only remember needs, wants, and gifts, but also to thank God for those things yet to come and for those things God said no to. After all, it lets God know how much we appreciate his gifts; AND, God is wise. Not getting things only makes us stronger and builds character. It also helps us appreciate what we do have! That's a good thing! So, remember to fully pray and be thankful! Love, Beau

God Given Freedom

"Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners." (Psalm 146:7 NKJV) No one is perfect. We are all sinners. And, sin is what keeps us from getting close to God. But God is a loving, generous, forgiving, compassionate god. He delivers, or frees, us from our sins. God breaks the chains of those who are prisoners to their sins. In addition, He feeds our souls giving us the bread of life; He gives us understanding and wisdom, and He is a friend to the needy, the poor in spirit, and the homeless. God is with those who need Him the most. God is merciful, compassionate, and forgiving...and He is forever. Let us go quickly to Him, and rejoice in the wonderful freedoms God gives us....Now and forever. Amen! Love, Beau

Have you not heard??

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40: 28-29 NKJV) The word of God, and His grace, should be enough to silence all fears and anxieties. God finishes what He starts, and the work God has begun in each of us He will finish and perfect. God will perfect His grace and He will help those who genuinely lean on Him. God is always available for us and His wisdom is far greater than we could ever understand. But, we must guard our hearts and minds. If we lean too much on our own understanding we will fail. But, if we put everything into God we will be raised above all our trials and tribulations, and be given the gift of eternal life in Heaven. "Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God...He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom!" Love, Beau

God, Our Father

"He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’" (Psalm 89:26 NKJV) God plays many roles in our lives. In addition to being our God and our salvation, He also is our father both spiritually and by inheritance. God loves us deeply. He gently and lovingly disciplines and guides us, helping us to mature spiritually. God disciplines us as needed, but He also rewards us as well! As David, the writer of this Psalm, shows, God is our everything and we can always count on Him. We can always turn to Him for everything. We can rejoice in these blessings, and take comfort in God's love for us! Love, Beau

Trusting Faithfully

"Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5 NKJV) We all need help sometimes. That is how God made us...to lean on one another and be there for each other. Sometimes w have financial woes, sometimes life makes us sad or frustrated, and sometimes we just need a friend. Whatever it is that need, God is there for us. The Holy Bible tells us that if we trust in Him and commit our troubles to Him, we shall pass through it. The hard part is that once we commit it to God we are to completely let go of it, and not worry, stress, or think about it anymore. But human nature gets in the way. That is where faith and trust come in. Once we let go, we have to totally trust in God and have faith that He will do what He says. The blessing is that once we do, life not only gets much better, but God delivers. And, God ALWAYS has a plan, a backup plan, and a backup plan to the backup plan! Praise be to God! Love, Beau

Our Hope and Salvation

"O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption." (Psalm 130:7 NKJV) Only God can heal us from our sin. We often try to heal ourselves through ways the world suggests, and or we distract ourselves from our pain by working, getting involved in social activies, physical activities, or even worse drinking or drugs. But, at the end of the day we can't run from our sins and or the pain it has caused us (and maybe others). The good news is that we can turn to God for healing. And, as this Bible verse says, with the Lord is mercy and abundant redemption. With God (and only with God) we can be whole again! This is a wonderful gift and a blessing! Thanks be to God for His mercy and grace! Love, Beau

Seeking God

"But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause—" (Job 5:8 NKJV) Job's friends suggest that he turn to God for help because their single belief was that Job had sinned, Job is being punished by God for his sins, and therefore must repent and turn to God for forgiveness, repentance, and compassion. Only God alone can remove Job's suffering. Here's the thing. Yes, God does discipline us because we are His children, He loves us, and He wants us to be the best we can be. But God also gave us free will, and under free will we are responsible for the consequences of our actions, not God. Therefore there is not one single cause for our sufferings. Life is complicated. The good thing is no matter the cause of our sufferings, we can ALWAYS seek God, turn to Him, and "commit our cause." God does have the power to ease our sufferings, and often does...but not always. Sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, sometimes not yet, and sometimes not completely. But, whatever God's answer it's always in our best interest, because He loves us, and it's always good to seek Him out and "commit our cause." Love, Beau

In Him No Darkness

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:15 NKJV) The world can be a dark and scary place. There is evil and bad people all around. Satan (aka The Devil) and his followers also roam the earth trying to influence us. God is our pure and holy light, a beacon in the darkness. He is always there with us leading us through it, protecting us from harm; and, He gives us power to all see through and in the darkness. All we have to do is take His hand. With Him there is no darkness and evil! Thanks be to God! Love, Beau

Praise! Praise! Praise!!

Normally I talk about how God wants us to live and or how to change the world and make it a better place. Today I am moved to go into another direction, and just praise God! So, as today's sermon I offer you Psalm 33 (NKJV). I would like suggest bookmarking so during the week, especially during the difficult times, you can come right back here and read this. It will make you feel better! Love, Beau

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

Rejoice! Praise Him!

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." (Psalm 5:11 NKJV) God listens to all our prayers. He listens to the just and unjust alike. God hears our prayers and answers them. However, God does it in His own time and in His own way. We just have to be open to the answer, whatever it is. God defends and protects His children. God gives us so many blessings that is is good to praise Him, and sing His praises! 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen." (The Doxology) Love, Beau

One Body

"so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another...that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:25 NKJV) A year ago this week, Tennessee experienced a devastating "200 year" flood. Gary Burr, a songwriter and former Tennessean, wrote a song called Flood Song. It says, in part, "when one of us falls we all fall, when one of us needs we all need, when one of us stands we all stand." This is how God intended for us to be toward, and with, one another. We lift each other up in the hard times, rejoice together in the good times, and when necessary we stand together. We are meant to be one and not fragment. This is a part of loving, as Christ loved us. There seems to be so many natural catastrophes and other turbulence in the world, that now more than ever we need to reach out to one another helping, loving and caring for one another. This is the will of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God! Love, Beau

The Greatest Gift of Love

HE IS RISEN! ALLEULIA!! "Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.' Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead." (John 20:1-9 NKJV) God loved us so much that He gave His only son that we might be freed from sin and death. If we believe in God, and give our lives to Him, we don't have to be tied to our sins anymore. And, we can have eternal life! This is the greatest gift of love that we could ever receive! "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away...For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (Romans 6:10; Revelation 21:4; John 3:16 NKJV) Thanks be to God for His greatest gift! Amen! Love, Beau

Waving Palm Leaves

"...took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: " Hosanna! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!" (John 12:13 NKJV) As Jesus makes His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, people took branches of olive tress and waived them as Jesus rode by. It was not a matter of convenience, or coincidence, that people grabbed Palm tree branches. In biblical times, Palm trees were a symbol of joy and victory. And Jesus, through His death, would become victorious over sin and Satan, death, and the world. To all that believe in Him and follow Him, this would become the foundation for all that is good, bringing joy, peace, and eternal life. So, as we go into this Easter week, let us waive our palm branches, in whatever form they take, celebrating with joy the victories of Jesus given to us. Love, Beau

Praise be to God!

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." (2 Samuel 22:3 NKJV) Because God made us, knows everything about each of us, and can see things we cannot yet see, His will for us is perfect. God knows what is best for us and how best to protect us from harm. If we trust Him, he will protect us and guide us, and lead us from harm. God will only lead us into righteousness, goodness, and joy. God's word has proven true through thousands of years. All we have to do is read through The Holy Bible to find many examples where God followed through on our promises to us. We know we can count on His word to be steadfast and true. We can count on God, and His way is perfect! We ought to always passionately praise God and give Him the glory for all that He does for us, taking care to mention specific times God has delivered, protected, and redeemed us. Praise be to God for His many blessings and mercies! Love, Beau

Moment of Grace

"And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'" (Luke 23:43 NKJV) This is an important moment for multiple reasons. Two thieves have already been hung on the outside crosses, and Jesus is hung on the middle one. At this point Jesus prays for those who are to crucify Him. This stirs something within one criminal. He realizes Jesus is indeed who He says He is, and is there unfairly. The thief confesses his unworthiness to Jesus and asks to be remembered. Christ, in return despite his own agony and struggle, showed pity and grace to this man. This is what Christ's whole life and purpose was, and is, about. The forgiveness of sin. Make no mistake that, since we have no idea how long our stay on earth is, time is important in asking forgiveness and being freed from our sins. However, as in this case, we should never lose hope in others AND ourselves. Christ gave Himself so that ALL may come to Him, and at any time. In this we can have assurance and be freed. Love, Beau

Peace in Troubled Times

In the last years we have seen multiple tsunamis, tornados, hurricanes, and all sorts of other natural disaster and troubled society. Every time the news is on, it can sound depressing. But,
The Holy Bible tells us, "The Lord sat enthroned at the flood, And the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace." (Psalm
29:10-11 NKJV) Even though it may not seem like it, God was there through all that. He was there comforting His people, guiding the rescuers, doctors, and all those in the recovery. The strength of those storms, God gives His people that much, and more strength. And, God will also give us that same amount of peace. When we feel weak and troubled we need to remember that God is our strength and our peace. What joy and blessing that is in times of trouble! Love, Beau

East from West

"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12 NKJV) If you take this verse literally the farthest two point on earth is 12,451 miles or 20,038 km. However, God was dealing with His universe, and God's universe has no boundaries. There is no "farthest point". Trying to find a farthest point implies that there is some absolute coordinate system in the universe, which there is not. That means, when we truly repent, God's compassion and forgiveness for us has no end! Nothing can seperate us from the love of God. What a true blessing He gives us! This is our gift now and forever! Love, Beau

Into the World

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15 NKJV) Because of limitations, it has always disturbed mom that she has never been able to go on a mission trip to poor countries. But, mom recently shared with me a realization she had. My sermons are read by humans and animals in many places. This is how we "go out into the world" proclaiming the good works of God. In the literal sense, God does want those able, to go out and feed the hungry, tend the needy, and preach the word of God. Some are even called to do this. For various reasons, there are those not able to go "into the world" feeding the hungry, tending the needy, and preaching the word of God. Other are called to missions in different ways. In today's world, there are many other ways to achieve "going into the world." One doesn't have to feel guilty. God gave us the gift of creativity and, with God's guidance, we can use that creativity to find our own unique path to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The important thing is that you do. Love, Beau

Redemption

"He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name." (Psalm 111:9 NKJV) When God sent Moses to free the Hebrews from the Egyptians He sent them redemption. And, when God sent His only son, Jesus Christ to in our place, He sent redemption for all. God even strongly and specifically directed that we be in covenant with Him and redeemed forever. Forever means that it is never to late to be redeemed and start a relationship with God. And, if we lose our way, we can always find our way back. Forever also means that once we are redeemed, we are always redeemed. God's word is steadfast and permament. You can count on God, and His word. As the writer of this Bible verse does, it is good to praise God for all He does and has given us! Love, Beau

The Meaning of Passover

"that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ So the people bowed their heads and worshiped." (Exodus 12:27 NKJV) After trying multiple ways to soften Pharoah's, and the Egyptians' hard hearts, God declared that their first born sons were to be destroyed. Pharoah and the Egyptian had mercilessly slain many Hebrews, now God was going to slay their first born sons. He told the Israelites to mark the head of their doors with the blood of a lamb. Then they were to stay inside while death passed by. The blood of the lamb represents the blood of the sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ. His blood was shed for us so that we might live. Here again, blood of the lamb is symbolically, and literally, shed so that we might live. It is only those that have genuine, undying faith that are passed over and given life. If the Israelites strayed from the protection of the blood, then there life was in danger. It was on them to do as God instructed and wait patiently for the salvation of the Lord. The celebration of Passover is a time to remember all that God has done for us, teach and tell our children about these things, and to remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us, going forward and living our best lives to be worthy of this sacrifice. Love, Beau

Lost Connection

"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another..." (Hebrews 10:25 NKJV) God has designed us to want connection and communion with others. We want friends, family, a life partner, and a realtionship with God. When that connection is broken it hurts...we feel pain, lonliness and disconnect. Just like when we disconnect our computers, there's a black empty space. God teaches us that we should not forget to take time for one another, and when there is a broken relationship to try and heal it...and if it can't be healed, you are going to feel pain, hurt, lonliness, and sadness. It's only natural! God feels the same way. He wants to have connection with us. When we separate ourselves from God it pains Him. God feels deep sadness, lonliness, and disconnect. He yearns for us to to find that bond again and be reunited. We need to work at our relationships, especially with God, taking time for them so that we don't lose our connections. We will be more fulfilled and happier if we do! Love, Beau

Love One Another

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV) Mom and I get so sad when we see humans treating each other harmfully, animals fighting, and negative interaction between humans and animals. We are put on this earth to care and tend to one another, not tear each other down. Unkind words and actions come from a bad place within, purposively or not, and in turn can seriously wound the receiver. It also can stir up a lot of bad things. All this pains God because He doesn't want this for us and by us. God teaches us that we are to be kind and tenderhearted towards others. He also teaches us to "love one another even as I have loved you." God even tells us concretely what love is. In Corintians 13:4-7 (NIV) it says, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Loving can be hard, but no one ever said it was easy. Monday is Valentine's Day...a day to celebrate love. From this day on, let us all strive to love one another even as God loved us...unconditionally, kind, and tenderhearted. Love, Beau

Meeting God

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17 NKJV) Who is God? What does He look like? No one really knows what God looks like, or what His total personality is. It is only after we enter into Heaven that we can see God face to face, and truly know what He looks like. However, when we read The Holy Bible, we get glimpses of what God is like. We find out, for instance, that He is eternal, everlasting, holy, almighty, and unlimited. He is both our father and our friend. God was our beginning and will be there at the end. The more time we spend reading The Holy Bible, the more we get to know Him. The more we get to know God, the closer our relationship to Him is. This brings joy and peace both to God and ourselves. It is worth our time and effort to spend time reading The Holy Bible and getting to know God. Love, Beau

Getting Up Again

"For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again," (Proverbs 24:16a NKJV) You're going to fall down...whether literally, financially, or in your career. Life is made to have ups and downs. It's a given. Colonel Sanders secret recipe was rejected 1,009 times and who doesn't like original Kentucky Fried Chicken! It's only those who chose to permamently quit trying that fail. As long as you pick yourself up and keep trying you're a winner. And, the good news is also that God is there to pick you up too. No matter who you are or what you've done, if you allow Him, God will pick you up. So, the next time you feel like a failure, pick yourself up - God will help you - and remind yourself that you are a WINNER, and you have the ultimate boss! Love, Beau

A True Friend

"A friend loves at all times...Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (Proverbs 17:17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NKJV) Jesus is our friend, and He is all these things to us. His love for us is unwavering and unconditional. Jesus believes the best in us and wants the best for us. He rejoices with us when good things happen and consoles us in our troubles. Jesus endured EVERYTHING for us, including being tortured and dying on a cross, because He loves us so much and wanted us to always be with Him. True love never fails and that is how God wants us to treat one another. Let us strive each day to live up to the standards of God! Love, Beau

Talented Disciples

"And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand....’ Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops." (Matthew 10:7, 27 NKJV) It doesn't matter how much you have, what you wear, or even what you do for a living. In the end when your body dies and you go before God, what He wants to know is who did you help, how did you change your world, and what efforts you made to bring people to God. The Holy Bible teaches us that we are to go out and preach. That doesn't necessarily mean we have to stand at a pulpit and give a sermon. What it means is that we are to share the word of God with others, tell them what He has done for us, what He can do for them, and that God loves them. God wants us to tell them that if they truly repent He will forgive them, wiping their slate clean, and give them a fresh start. God wants us to teach others how to come to Him. And, He wants us to use our unique talents and gifts to do this. Some by writing, others by music or art. Some even have special gifts with certain age groups. Whatever our gifts and talents, God wants us to utilize them to "go out into the world... ." Love, Beau

A Bright Future!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV) Mom loves this Bible verse. She finds it comforting and reassuring. In some versions the word thoughts is replaced by plans. Either way, it tells us that God is not only thinking about us in the present, but also about us in the future, and that He is and will always be connected to us! It also tells us that He only wants peace and good things for us! When times get tough, we have a tendency to doubt and or question God, but God never doubts. hesitates, or acts with uncertainty. God knows what He wants for us and acts with unwavering grace and faith. God promises us that when our end comes, it will be positive and for our best. God comes to us forever in mercy and grace, and the things we endure will not be in vain! What blessed joy! Love, Beau

New Beginnings

It's a new day, new month, new year. And it's a chance to start over and have a new beginning! God tells us, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, ' Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow;" and "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Isaiah1:18a; Psalm 103:12 NKJV) Thanks to Jesus dying for our sins, our past is forgiven so that we may start over. We can let go of all the pain, guilt, and regret and focus on a positive future! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV) We are a new creation...and we can be the animal we want to be! We can even change our world! So, let us begin anew, happy and carefree...and remember to thank God for all our blessings! Love, Beau