Monday, September 18, 2017

But 1st, Coffee

I don't particularly like it, but I drink 2 cups of black coffee every morning. (I do like it with cream and sugar in it, but that is more like dessert than a beverage to jolt my body into an awakened state.)

I drink coffee, read the Bible, drink coffee and pray. This week has been tough, post-Hurricane Harvey fatigue has set in, work is slow for those of us back at work, bodies are tired from the ongoing cleanup, emotions are tired from the suffering around a large portion of Texas and LA and now there is Irma threatening islands and the USA.

We must pray. We must be the watchman on the wall. We can't quit now.

My motto and life should be: But 1st, Pray.

How should we pray? Jesus tells us how:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

He also adds this caveat: 

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I pray we truly seek Him 1st. 

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Texas Strong or Texas Love?

Texans have a reputation for loving our State and perhaps bragging a bit. When I first entered the world of Facebook, I mentioned I cut out gingerbread cookies with my Texas cookie cutter and the smell of gingerbread permeated the house. A friend from another state said you have a cookie cutter shaped like Texas? I thought well of course I do, then it dawned on me, maybe cookie cutters, jewelry, swimming pools in the shape of a state is more prevalent in Texas than other states.

As we enter week 2 of post-Harvey recovery, many people are still not allowed to enter their neighborhoods due to high water. Trash and debris are piled high, neighbors are helping each other, people have truly been color blind. Very little looting across the swath Harvey damaged.

People are wearing shirts saying Houston Strong or Texas Strong. I understand the sentiment. I understand the hashtags. I wish the shirts mentioned love instead of strength. The love demonstrated is eye opening. Some members of the media have commented on the love they have witnessed.

My prayer is we don't come back stronger in Texas pride but we come back stronger in Christ, that His love radiates from us in every direction and Revival comes from this disaster and spreads over the Earth. I pray the love demonstrated the last 2 weeks becomes a habit. I pray we are no longer known for our big pride but our big love for the Lord and His people.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Eclipse on Monday, Category 4 Hurricane on Friday

Luke 21:25-26

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.



Is the Son of Man coming again? Yes! Tomorrow? I don’t know. But in my spirit, I feel a total eclipse visible across America and a devastating storm in the same week means something. As in tick tock, do you know what time it is? Birth pangs seem to be more intense and closer together. If Harvey does not get our attention and point us back to God, what will?

Is there anything out of whack in your life? There is in mine. Is there anything you want to straighten out with God if you have 5 minutes to live? I have a few. Is this the time to pull the covers over our head or binge watch a popular TV series? No!


Let’s keep our focus on Jesus and dive deeper into his Word! Pray for the lost, the deceived, the lukewarm like there is no tomorrow.