Who's plan matters?

We often make plans for our lives.  It's easy to say I want to be here or doing this in so many months or years.  Often we put our faith in our plans forgetting that if we have any faith in God we should be seeking Him and trusting that He has the best plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 states "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

It is so easy to get caught up in chasing our own dreams.  Television programs, radio shows, music and books that are very popular tell us the world is ours and we can achieve anything if we just believe it.  We live in a world where slogans like "Have it your way." are ways of life for most of it.  People get so caught up in getting the newest phone, having the best house, taking our kids to the best schools that often we forget about God.  Selfishness runs rampant in our world.  A world that tells everyone to look out for yourself.  Don't worry about your neighbor.

When we stop and look at what God is telling us in Jeremiah ..He has plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. That sounds like a wonderful promise.  Do we really trust Him that He will do what He says He will?  Most of the time we don't!  We put God in the corner and tell Him we have this under control.  When struggles come we might run to Him but it's not our fault it's His for making the world this way...or is it?

Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. (Job 36:11)

God tells us in Psalms and in Job that we will be blessed if we keep his statues and seek him, if we obey and serve Him we will spend our days in prosperity and our years in pleasures.  He is telling us that if we do what He wants us to do and seek Him we will have prosperity and pleasure.  Isn't that what we want?  Is that what we are looking for?  

So let's get this straight we have worked ourselves to death and have next to nothing to show for it.  The money always runs out at the end of the month.  We have sacrificed our time with our children, spouses, and stressed ourselves out but we don't need to live that way.

God has given us the promises we need to be relaxed, prosperous, and have pleasure in our lives.  All we have to do is obey and seek Him.  It sounds too easy to be true doesn't it.  I challenge you to try it.  God is just waiting for you trust Him.  Hand over to Him your relationships, finances, give Him everything and just see if He doesn't do what He said He would.

Hold Onto Him

When we go through the storms of life there is no where better to be than to clinging to our rock Jesus.

It often takes some pretty rough storms for us to cling to Jesus as we should. It's in these times of need and great suffering that we go running to Him. We should always be in this position because it's by Him that we find grace and mercy, forgiveness and understanding.

Jesus has seen it all. Nothing surprises Him. He was tempted in every way..He had friends die, He wept.

Next time you feel like you are going through the storms of life..being attacked on every side hold tight to Him. Pray, praise, listen and trust.

Busy Bee

I've been crazy busy so much so that I've not been updating as much as I wish I could.

I've been finishing up interviews for my Underground Railroad Documentary "Candlelight By Night" with the National Underground Freedom Center.

I have had the pleasure of helping out Williamsburg High School get their video production equipment and program up in quality. They have fantastic students, faculty, and superintendent.

I plan on getting my third book edited very soon and released this summer.

God is moving. I need to spend much more time with Him. I am just a man but He is the creator of the universe. He's in control. Not me. Please keep me in your prayers.

Life is moving along

March 4th I turn 30. Hard to believe that much time has passed. Looking at my son I know that it has. I've been busy switching computers, changing Internet connections and finally getting back to writing.
I'm winding down to the end of small town coroner but maybe it will never end. There are always adventures ahead though.
I lost all my work on the novel I've been working on and it's been a struggle to get it moving again. I've one paragraph done. I know the story but getting it written is proving to be a real challenge.
My two poetry ebooks are taking more time than I expected. I'm pretty awful at formatting them correctly and I've found a friend to undertake that. I am very anxious about getting them out. Mentally I'm very geared up for the promotion of them both. I also look forward to working with amazon.com. I know I can trust them and it's not always that way I'm learning the hard way.

Life is going very well and I'm excited about the direction God is taking me. Please keep me in your prayers. It can often be hard staying focus on Him with so many things going on.

Grateful

Do you ever get to the point where you have all the bills paid and actually have something left over? Because if you do then you have more than most people in the world. We live in a place where everyone is overspending and many many others are barely surviving. People in countries all around the world are left in situations where there are no jobs and food can be even more scarce. Their homes aren't much more than a bundle of sticks put together. Many are left out in the rain. So before you go and complain about having too many bills..never having enough. Think about those you have nothing. Pray to God and thank Him for everything He's ever done for you to have what you do have. Thank Him that you do have food to eat, a place to live, a vehicle, clothing and so much more. In your abundance don't forget those who have nothing.

Praise Him

Today I was thinking about a favorite movie of mine...Facing the Giants. There is a quote from the coach that is ringing true in my life this week..."We praise Him when we win, we praise Him when we lose." Don't we all need that advice. Because as we succeed we often forget who has given us the opportunity to succeed. We think it's us but it's not. It's God. Without Him nothing is possible but with Him all things are possible. My book hit the market this week and today just became available on amazon.com. Now this is a time when I could let that go to my head and just think I'm so great. But instead I've been nervous. I've been praying. Let this book reach further than I will ever travel. Let this book glorify God, encourage others and reach people who are not Christians yet. Let it be an encouragement to someone going through some tough times. Most importantly God, let me be useful to You. God bless you and have a wonderful day everyone!

Weak

When you are weak, He is strong. Have you ever felt like giving up? You are tired, frustrated and just don't know if it's worth doing anymore. That's is actually a very good place to be. It's in that moment that we relize we can't do it. No matter how hard we try it's not up to us. We relize that God is the one who is doing the heavy lifting in our lives. We can't carry the burden or complete the tasks He asks us to complete without Him. It's easy for us to think we can do everything on our own. It may be through the help of money or just our faith in ourselves that puts us in that mindset. But when we are weak and we call out to Him and spend time reading His word and putting it into practice that we find sucess. So take time out and find a quiet place and pray, relax and trust Him.

Not Alone

Sometimes we really feel alone. We hit a place in life where maybe we don't have alot of friends and we start to spend some time alone. You feel like everyone has ....a friend,...a husband..., a wife,...children. You just want what they have. But you aren't in a place that hasn't been lived through before. In truth you are never really alone God is there. You may be thinking yeah but it's not the same. You're right it's not. God never lets us down, He always listens, He always cares, and most importantly always forgives. Don't let this time be a burden to you. Enjoy this time because you might not have it later. This might be the chance you need to really listen to what God has for you to do with your life. Sit with Him in the quiet time. Life isn't always puppies and rainbows but I guarantee you are never alone.