Barbaro: A Great Example to ALL

What I learned from Barbaro: dream big; go for your dream,; strive to be the best you can be (like the Colts and Bears) ; stay on course; run the race to the finish line; have staff, when you fall down get back up and keep on trying; never give up; have hope and faith; have strength, courage and guts; be likeable; fall in love with the girl (or boy) next door (stable); make new friends; and stand tall. So, what does all this have to do with God? LOTS! God wants us to dream big. There is NOTHING He can't do. All you have to do is ask, and if it's His will for you He can make it happen. Once you ask then go for it! God wants us to be all that He made us to be. He gave each one of us talents and gifts to use for His purpose, and He wants us to develop those to the best of our ability. Don't lose focus of your goals and dreams. If you get sidetracked it will take you longer to reach them. The ultimate goal is to be with God someday, and life is the race. All that we go through is the course. In order to get to the finish line you have to keep getting up when you fall down and keep on going. This sometimes takes all of hope, faith, strength, courage, and guts. It also comes with making new friends, risking to love (no matter what kind of love), and allowing others to help you when needed or helping them. But, no matter what road of life God takes you on, and how much you stumble, He is always proud of you so stand tall. Love, Beau

Let Go and Let God

Jesus knows what it's like to be tired. He got so tired travelling and preaching that He took his disciples and went across to the other side of a lake just to get some rest. And His disciples were so tired, EVERY ONE went to sleep when Jesus went off to pray. I also suspect Jesus was tired when He flared His temper and overturned the moneychangers tables in the temple. Because Jesus knows what it's like to be totally spent and tired, He wants to help us feel better. Jesus said, "Come to me who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." He wants you to rest in Him, turn things over to God, and let HIM do all the work. That's all He ask. We always try to make things harder on ourselves by trying to do everything all on our own. Remember the last time you tried moving a big piece of furniture by yourself and how hard it was? Wasn't it easier when you asked/got help? Life is the same way. And Jesus is the ultimate helper. So, next time life seems just to hard, stop and ask yourself, "Am I letting God help me, or am I trying to it all by myself?" Again I say, "Let go and let God." Love, Beau

"Don't Worry - Be Happy!"

Do you ever worry? I know mom does. She worries all the time. Mom worries about friends, family, finances, our health, EVERYTHING. But God tells us NOT to worry. He says, "Trust in Him with all your heart, soul, and mind." Jesus also says, "Let not your heart be worried. Believe in me. Believe also in God." Although it seems really hard, especially at times, is to put our total faith and trust in God and let Him handle everything. "Let go and let God." What do you think it would feel like if you were to turn EVERYTHING over to God and let Him handle things?" I think it would feel pretty amazing to let go of all the burdens and worry, and just feel free! I think what is needed is to take a "leap of faith," jump totally in, and give it a try. All you have to lose is stress, anxiety, worry, ulcers, depression, and other stress related health problems. So, "Don't worry...be happy!!" Love, Beau

Cheetahs in the Church

According to a television documentary, the Cheetah survives by outrunning its prey. It can sprint up to 70 mph, but only in short bursts. While it has a very lithe body that is built for speed, it has a tiny heart which gives it no staying power. Unless it catches its prey in the first burst of energy, it has to give up the chase. When it comes to serving God and doing His work, there are many "Cheetahs." They start well with great enthusiasm and great vigor but finish poorly. As soon as the way gets rough and life tough, they tire and abandon the cause and drop out of the race. What is needed is not more speed, but more staying power. We all need bigger hearts for the greater abilities of stick-ability and dependability. (The Daily Encounter online publication http://www.actsweb.org ) (Sermon suggested by Kat) Love, Beau

Thoughts for the Week

Mom's program from church this past Sunday has some good thoughts that I thought would make a good sermon so I thought I would share them with you today. (Thanks to whoever did them at mom's church, and I give that person the credit.) So, here they are:
"Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor all; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in His power. Love, Beau

Beau's New Year's Sermon

You're gifted!! I'm not talking about what you got for Christmas, but your talents and skills. You may not think you're gifted but you are. The Holy Bible says so! It says EVERYONE has gifts. God gave them to you and everything from God is good, so your talents are good! Not only that, you are supposed to share them and use them. They don't have to be perfect. That's God's department. You're just supposed to use them, and let God work through them, and at perfecting them. (Let God do the rest.) So, today, starting now, make it a resolution to share your gift(s) with the world. God would appreciate it. He wants you to bless others, bless yourself, and bless Him. Love, Beau

Beau's Christmas Sermon

"Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.' Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.' Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her. ... And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ' Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them."
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Love came down at Christmas!!

**The Holy Bible, Luke 1:30-38, 2:1-15, 1 Cor. 13:13