Are we feeding our faith or starving it?

 Thirty-eighth in the series Get close to God In my younger years I went canoeing quite often, usually on the Fox River in Northern Illinois where I grew up.  These pictures are from one of those trips from the early seventies, the one on the right highlighting my sister, Karen, and my dad.  The Fox usually [...]

Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?

 Thirty-seventh in the series Get close to God We have something at our disposal that can help people more than money or even all the wisdom or power in the world.  All it takes is a little compassion for others and a little of our time.  We don’t even have to leave our homes to [...]

REALLY, Jesus?

 Thirty-sixth in the series Get close to God What if you were one of Jesus’ disciples who were with him in Judea when he almost got stoned and now he tells you this, “Let’s go back to Judea.”  I’d probably say what they did, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone [...]

He did it his way-was Frank wise?

   Thirty-fifth in the series Get close to God   I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5)   Trying to live apart from God is like a branch trying to survive apart [...]

Safe in His arms

  Thirty-fourth in the series Get close to God The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way; though he stumble, he will not fall, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.  (Psalm 37:24)   Ever notice how trusting small children are? You can swing and [...]

I am with you always…

 Thirty-third in the series Get close to God   I am with you always, even to the end of the age-Jesus, Matthew 28:20   Since those are the last words Jesus spoke while he was still on this earth, I think they are worth a second, perhaps even a third look.  Is Jesus really with you [...]

Where do you go to meet God?

   Thirty-second in the series Get close to God    In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.  (Mark 1:35)  After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  (Matthew [...]

Why do our fears so easily erase past deliverances?

Thirty-first in the series Get close to God Come and go back in time with me and visit an amazing scene: thousands of people flocking to see a man who is healing diseases, casting out demons, and raising the dead. After a while, it’s getting late, and since Jesus is not holding this event in a stadium [...]

Are the words of Jesus abiding in us?

Thirtieth in the series Get close to God   If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you – Jesus, John 15:7   Have you ever wondered how King David came to be “a man after God’s own heart?”  Or how he [...]

Believe BIG!

Twenty-ninth in the series Get close to God “It shall be done to you according to your faith.”  Matthew 9:29  As Sharon and I were flying home recently from our vacation, she pointed out to me a hole in the dark clouds through which we could see the blue sky.  We were in the midst of the clouds [...]

People can tell when you’ve been with Jesus

Twenty-eighth in the series Get close to God  When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.  (Acts 4:13) Has there ever been someone in your life that you admired and respected so much you just [...]

What to do with your thoughts and feelings…

   Twenty-seventh in the series Get close to God   What’s been on your mind lately?  What have you been thinking, crying, or laughing about the most? What do you really want out of life?  Do you feel you are doing what you were made to do or is life just routine and boring? Are you longing [...]

Are you feeding your soul?

  Twenty-sixth in the series Get close to God     “The Bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  (John 6:33)   When there was nothing to eat in the dessert, God rained down manna from heaven every morning to sustain his people.  What was gathered only [...]

Is your shield of faith ready for battle?

  Twenty-fifth in the series Get close to God   Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  (Ephesians 6:16)   A series of tragedies and heartaches have attacked my family and some of my friends the last couple of months.  This [...]

Are we part-time Christians?

Twenty-fourth in the series Get close to God    Seek His face continually.  (Psalm 105:4b) To become really good at something you must be determined and dedicated.  Then you must persist and persevere until you get it right.  Whether it’s mastering a sport, playing a musical instrument, or honing any type of skill, time and energy must be sacrificed, [...]

Into your hands I commit my spirit

  Twenty-third in the series Get close to God   We always want to know the last words spoken by someone as he or she leaves this world.  How much more, then, should we pay attention to the phrase that came out of our Lord Jesus just before he gave his life for us on the [...]

Are religions preferences of choice on a buffet line?

  Twenty-second in the series Get close to God   Everyone will get fed no matter what religious entrée you choose.  And heaven is the dessert at the end of the line, right? Welcome to America, where we practice tolerance and freedom of religion.  Here you can sample and choose whatever brand or style of God that appeals [...]

What were you THINKING?

   Twenty-first in the series Get close to God     As he thinks in his heart, so is he.  Proverbs 23:7     The most important battles in life are waged in our minds. The war is won or lost in our hearts   All behavior has its origin in our hearts and minds.  We speak and [...]

Who do you smell like?

 Twentieth in the series Get close to God   “We are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To one we are the smell of death; to the other an aroma of life.”  II Corinthians 2:14   Our sense of smell is very powerful.  It can lead [...]

Let come on me what may – Part 2

Update on the file recovery nightmare Well, after ten days of blood, sweat, and tears (or at least the mental and emotional equivalent of those) spent on trying to resurrect the digital archiving system that died on me, I am happy, no, wait a minute, that’s an understatement; I am ecstatic to proclaim that all is [...]

Let come on me what may… yet I will trust in Him

  Nineteenth in the series Get close to God           I made a mistake yesterday                                              that could cost me my job.    I went to one of my accounts to fix a scanner connection issue and in the process of testing to see if the documents made it into the archiving system’s database I noticed that [...]

Blessed are you when you’ve come to the end of your rope!

 Eighteenth in the series Get close to God   Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who are persecuted… Blessed are you when people insult you…  OK, now.  Doesn’t that make you want to be blessed?  No?  Those conditions don’t appeal to you?  Then why [...]

Have you found the secret place?

Seventeenth in the series Get close to God   He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.   (Psalm 91:1)   Is God hiding in a secret place?  Why does he appear to be so illusive?  So many people die without finding him.  Even his [...]

Do you have your blinders on?

  Sixteenth in the series Get close to God I’m learning that the most important thing in life is not what I always thought was the most important.  It’s not climbing the corporate ladder, loving my family, or even serving God.  It’s knowing Christ.  Paul said he considered his status, his accomplishments, and “everything a [...]

What are you worried about?

Fifteenth in the series Get close to God    Worry, anxiety, nervousness, and uneasiness are all related and all come from one source-fear.    While fear can be a healthy safeguard that keeps us alive, most of our fears do not emerge from life threatening situations.  The fear of failure, not being in control, running out of money, or having to [...]

This is too wonderful!

Fourteenth in the series Get close to God   The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  (Psalm 19:1)     Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)   O God, I can’t [...]

Have you found your treasure? (Part 3)

Here are the ways I’ve heard from the Lord and seen him work in my life so far.  I would also like to hear some of yours as well.   Through prayer: Even when our requests don’t get answered immediately, our spirits are comforted and lifted when we pour out our hearts before the Savior.  I often take [...]

Have you found your treasure? (Part 2)

Along our quest to get to know our Heavenly Father, we catch glimpses of his glory as if looking at dim reflections in a mirror as the apostle Paul described.  They are like coins that spilled out of a treasure chest on its way to be buried.  The copper coins are the trials, the silver ones are the triumphs, [...]

Have you found your treasure?

Thirteenth in the series Get close to God ________________________  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Matthew 6:21)  ________________________ What is your treasure?  What do you value the most?  Your family, job, house, car, hobby, money?  If you’re like me, it’s all of those.  But according to Jesus, those are just the [...]

Beautiful Promises-Photos with Scripture Narration

After years of hearing my wife encourage me to use my voice again (I used to be a disk jockey), I finally produced a video with nature scenes and some of my favorite verses containing praises and promises.  I hope you like it.     To leave a reply, click on “Comments” at the top of [...]