Do you think Jesus is flabby?

"Exercise daily in God-no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is so far more so, making you fit both today and forever." 1 Timothy 4: 7-8, The Message.
One of the things that I had to do after my heart attack was a stress test. I did everything that the folks told me to do.....faster, slower, higher, etc. I swaggered into where Golden had been waiting and replied " I nailed that test." The cardiologist begged to differ with me..."You failed it bigtime." That's her exact words.
Is it possible that concerning our spiritual health(as well as our physical health) we can deceive ourselves?
Certainly!! Spiritual growth is essential for each of us......times of steady growth, times of very slow growth, times of very, very slow growth, but growth none the less. Simon Peter says: "You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...."
So beloved, let's get growing........Blessings

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.....My how I loved to preach on Father's Day. Why? Because I had been such a great father? .I think if you were to ask our girls if I had been a good father they would very likely say yes. However,
when one of our daughters said "I want to marry a man like Daddy." Golden chuckled and replied " Sweetie Dad hasn't always been like he is now". My point: I made plenty of rookie mistakes early on with our three wonderful daughters. Trial and error....with way too many errors. As I grew I began to do things like our Father wanted me to...good decisions became more prominent than bad ones. What's the old saying "Live and learn."
Father's day sermons became a time of practical review of my pilgrimage. Just last week I met a young father and I quickly exhorted him that "you have the most important job you will ever have in loving and raising your children."
Happy Fathers Day, men

Wow, what a wonderful message we heard at church yesterday. Chris Bennett, pastor of  Antioch Church in Norman, OK gave a powerful sermon on Honor. Some of the powerful points where:
"We as believers must place a high value on honor."
" The foundation of honor is love,"
"God calls us UP, before He calls us OUT." Chrs was talking about Gideon.
"We can celebrate who someone is without stumbling over who they are not."
A whole lot more....Chris challenged us to "...create an atmosphere of honor in our families, our churches and our businesses. Last quote: "In you dealing with people, do you see ths sin or do you see the saint."
Blessings,
Blaine

Hang in there...

"Men's best successes come after their disappointments."  So said Henry Ward Beecher.  Way to go Mr. Beecher. God says "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." What's on your plate today? Regardless of what it is, take heart.....do the right thing(do good) and our Fatherr will see you through.

Open New Doors

"I need a volunteer," the boss said. Like everyone else at the table, Peter inwardly groaned: high effort...short deadline....pressure. Who volunteers for that?

Answer: Peter did...half-heartedly. Then his pride kicked in, and he gave the work his best effort. It never grew easy or pleasant. But there's something about throwing yourself into a task. When Peter finished, his boss said two things: "Nice job." And "I won't forget this."

Jesus said---and managers know---that the person faithful in little will be faithful in much. Peter might add, now, that even dead-end projects, well done, can open new doors....in the high calling of our daily work.  

                                                                  Open New Doors
                                       Howard Butt, Jr Laity Lodge
Want to be trusted with more.....read Luke 16:10
Blessings, Blaine

Good Morning

Good Morning....."this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." What opportunities are avalable for us today. One that I know for Golden and me is our first Waco Chamber of Commerce luncheon. We are excited about His call on our lives and are looking forward to this day which He has made.
How about you? Blessings dear ones.