Praise and Thanksgiving

"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 106:1) What things have God blessed you with lately..a warm home, clothes, having a job, a loving family, non tangilbes such as forgiveness, joy, strength, compassion, sensitivity, faith,
endurance, or His unshakable love? Whatever God has given you it is good, and important, to give thanks to God for these things. Life happens so fast, and we should not take any gift of any kind for granted...no matter how big OR small! We need to take time every day, not just once a year, to thank God, and praise Him, for His many blessings, His gifts, and for His eternal love and forgiveness. Love, Beau

Forks in the Road

"For we all stumble in many things." (James 3:2a) One of mom's present, favorite, Christian songs is Slow Fade by Casting Crowns. It speaks of stumbling and going down the wrong path. It states that a "slow fade" doesn't happen in a day, and that it happens with second glances (or thoughts), when one allows things to go into gray areas, choices are made, and the person gives onesself away. One can give onesself away in many ways...in any value, virtue, or belief one has where one allows it to be compromised you give yourself away. By not standing up for what you believe in, and or not speaking up when you see a wrong done, you give yourself away. It speaks of not letting flattery sway you in the wrong direction and also be careful with your own words that you don't speak empty, misleading, hurtful words to others. It also mentions there is a short distance between your mind/heart and head, to your hands. In other words, thoughts can quickly turn into actions, so you must be careful to continually guard your heart, mind and actions. The song also says people, daddies (or mommies), and families never crumble in a day. It's not one stumble or mistake that causes an avalance, it's the little day by day, ongoing minor stumbles that eventually build up into bigger things. And yes, it does state there are consequences for the choices we make. One of the last lines in the lyrics states be careful for our loving Heavenly Father is looking down. That's where the good news also comes in. Our Father loves and cares for us. He wants to help us get back on the right path. He's there to pick us up and hold onto us when we stumble...if we choose to let Him...and choose to get back on His path. Even though we are responsible for the choices we make and those consequences, stumbling doesn't have to lead to a "fade out" or dead end. God loves us and forgives us, and we can choose to let Him lift us and take hold of us...forever." Amen!! Love, Beau

Salt of the Earth

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew 5:13 NKJV) God says you are the salt of the earth, but what does that mean? Well, salt is a preservative, it shines things, it's a cleaner, flavor enhancer, weed killer, and prevents wilting...just to name a few things salt does. What God is telling us is that not only are we to be do-ers of the word, but also we are to have good character. It is not enough to go out there and show our faith by works. If we do not have the Christian character to back it up, others will see right through us and it will be bland like worthless salt. Or, another way of putting it is our "salt" will be "thrown out and trampled" on. When we go out on behalf of God, He wants us to present the whole package and not just the pretty wrappings and or the peanut stuffings. So, go out into the world as and be the spice of life! Love, Beau

Do-ers of the Word

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (John 3:18 NKJV) God wants us to be doers of The Word, just not readers of it. As this verse states, we are to do more than just say we love someone, and or speak of our passions in life, we are to act on them. A favorite Christian hymn states, "And they will know we are Christians by our love." Love isn't just a warm fuzzy feeling, it's an action word. I don't know about you, but it doesn't mean as much to me if someone says something, but then doesn't put the actions behind it. God wants us to do more than testify to others about Him. He wants us to be living, DOing examples of what God can do, and of His love and compassion. God gave us the greatest example of all of this..He didn't just talk about how much He loves us, He backed it up by dying in our place. Let us all be mindful this week, and always, of how we present ourselves to others, and if we're truly living every second showing by our deeds of God's prescence in our lives. Love, Beau

Manna In the Desert

"He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." (Deuteronomy 32:10 NKJV) The Hebrews, after suffering many years of painful slavery were released just to wander in the desert for 40 years. And, when they were freed, I'm sure they left with only the clothes they could carry, and a minimum amount of food, water, and money. According to The Holy Bible it appears that at some point, while wandering in the desert, they ran out of food and water, and it was probably scorching hot. But, as always, God provided for their needs. He gave them water, meat, and manna. The current world conditions were are living in with a poor economic status, high prices, natural diseasters, and people losing thier jobs, homes, and all they have, could be looked at as living through a desert land. But, we all need to realize that God IS in control and that He will provide for our needs, even if we can't see how. Somehow it will all work out in the end. That is where faith and trust in God come in, and strength for the journey. God provided for His chlidren then, He will provide for us now, and in the future. That has not, and will never change. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) Love, Beau

What's In It For Me??

Some, who consider turning their lives over to God, wonder what's in it for me?? What do I get out of it? When one gives onesself to God, it is no longer about you, but about serving God and allowing Him to work through you. You are blessed by blessing others. In turn, if you have total faith and belief, you receive eternal life. That is what's in it for you. God wants to give you a piece of His kingdom. You become His heirs. And, this is what you inherit: "Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new....It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.'" (Revelations 21: 5-7) The New Jerusalem: "The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass...The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life." (Revelations 21: 18-21. 23-27) What an awesomely, breathtaking gift! God seems to ask so little for us to receive so much. So, the next time time you're asked, or being asked, "What's in it for me" if I turn my life over to God think about this! Love, Beau

Living Peaceably

"Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9 NKJV) Here in the USA we are presently getting ready to vote for our new president. Mom hates voting times. The votees bicker and argue with each other and say not so nice things to and about each other. In every social blogging community we have been in, even the Christian ones, there have been disagreements and hurts at times. Mom just wishes, just for once, everyone would just get along and "PLAY NICE!" God wishes that too. It doesn't like it when His children fight, argue, and don't get along. We think it probably hurts Him and makes Him sad. God says lots of things about being peaceful and getting along, including the peace MAKERS are His children. He also says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you." and "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 14:27, 15:12 NKJV) What God is telling us is that HE gives us a deeper peace that we can't find for ourselves on this earth; and, that we are to love and care for one another as HE loves us...
unconditionally and equally. God loves us all the same. To love like God, and to find His peace, we need to see and be above the worldy things. We need to love, care, and find peace at a divine level. I believe I said this last week, but it's worth repeating: Seeing others as God sees us will allow us to see others in a more positive way. So, the next time you are tempted to bicker with someone, and or get sucked into a situation, see the divine and be a peacemaker instead. As a famous singer once said, "All we are saying is give peace a chance..." (John Lennon) and let's all just play nice. Love, Beau