RESPECT J.C.

Good evening and God bless each of you. As we continue on through another Christmas season, let us once again remember Who it is this season is about, but not only during this season, but every day and every season of the year.

From our family to yours,

God Bless

Was just reading a news story about how service men and women are re-enlisting and signing up at a new four year high for military service. And when you read why some of the men and women are signing back up and re-enlisting, it is because they know that they are guaranteed a job with a paycheck.  It is a sure way one young man said to provide for his wife and family. He was just about to get out, when he began looking for a job to come home to, and nothing could be found in his expertise. So he signed up again to ensure his family an income coming in. It was the same story from all of those who signed up.

We need to look at this in our Christian walk. Don't worry about what may come in the future, but take care of what is before us today. Matthew 6:34 (NLT)-“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

James 4:13-14 (NLT)

¹³Come now, you who say,"Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— ¹⁴yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

So much we could learn from these men and women and the verses above. They don't care that they may face some new kind of war or tragedy that may come, they are taking care of business today.  We need to not worry about what may lie in our future, but take what God gives us each and every day and make the best of every opportunity we have to share Him with others. Be blessed in what we do for Him and His glory.

Be blessed,

Jeff

On my way home from work tonight, I was listening to American Family Radio, and an artist I didn't know was singing about Living In A Christmas World. I wasn't able to hear much of it, but then the Holy Spirit began to sing it to me. As I was thinking about the title, I began to think about what it would be like to live in a Christmas world.

Think from the beginning. Living in a world, where everyone had God's favor, just as Mary did, and was chosen to carry Jesus. No agendas, no politics, just pure ol' God lovin' and God fearin' children. Just look at Joseph also. Not only the love he had for her, but not turning his back on her, and listening to the others around him, claiming she was pregnant with someone. Once again, sweet Joseph, waited and listened for what the Lord had to say from the Angel. Some churches could learn some good lessons from these two, Living In A Christmas World.

Look at the innkeeper. No room in his inn, but he found a place for this young pregnant girl in bad shape. He could have turned her away totally, but chose not too. He did what he could for our Savior. Once again we could learn a lesson from the innkeeper, Living In A Christmas World.

Look at the shepherds in the fields. Getting to frolick with the angels, as they came and announced the birth of Jesus. They were afraid at first, and turned the fright into praises. But too many people today, keep the fright, and hide the praises, once again Oh, to Live In A Christmas World.

Take a look at the wise guys. All from different ethnic backgrounds, different countries, and yet with one thing in mind, getting to the Star, the precious child of God. Same goal, same purpose, same destination, yet we today as many different churches and so called religions, can't even agree with each other that the destination and Star we are reaching for can be found if they work together. It is either their denomination or religion, or no one is going to see the Star. Youth groups can't even work together for reaching the Star, because they can do it on their own. Boy what we could learn from the wise guys about Living In A Christmas World! Think about the wise guys also, who listened with their hearts, and heard from God in a dream that the Star, the precious child of God was in danger. Once again, what a lesson. We keep ourselves so full of the world, that we can't hear the voice of God telling us when something is not right. Once again, to be Living In a Christmas World.

Living In a Christmas World is not that hard. Just love each other as Christ loved us. Allow peace, love, joy, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, self-control and faithfulness to overtake your life. Allow that precious Star, Jesus, the Son of God to rule in your life. 

1 Corinthian 13: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Living In A Christmas World! Faith-Hope-Love- But the greatest of these is Love. Love one another, and the world we live in, can become a CHRISTmas world!

Be Blessed,

Jeff

Haven't written in a long time, but God has been pouring things in to my heart and soul.  The other week as I was driving to work, I passed the local city middle school football field, and the scoreboard was lit up and breaking through the dark sky. The scoreboard read: Home 0  Visitor 0

Time had run out and was showing 0:00, with no time outs left for either team. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about how that is how each day we start our lives.  The score is zero to zero. We wake up each morning with a fresh start, a new score and a new life to begin each day. Especially when we are saved by the greatest Coach of all, Jesus. When we are saved Children of God, we begin each day with fresh newness in our life. The things of yesterday that the world tried to score upon us, has been blocked away, and the scoreboard now reads 0-0. Satan and the things of the world has passed away from one day to the next, due to the freshness of the Holy Spirit within us. We don't need time outs, we don't need any time left on the clock, because our Coach watches over us each day, and gives us the plans, or plays, that we are to follow each day. I couldn't imagine living without my Coach each day in my life. When the play I tried to run just didn't go right, I can gather back in the huddle with Him, and He begins to let me know that it was alright, and then proceeds to let me know what I did wrong, and how to proceed with the next play, but this time, do it the way that Coach wants me to.

The exciting thing about also seeing the clock on 0:00, was that one day it will be that way, and all the players on the other Teams will be gathered together for one big tailgate party with Coach and His officials, who are just waiting on the day that the clock will read 0:00. 

A wonderful piece of advice the Coach gave me the other day, when I went the wrong way on a play, was the best piece of playmaking I have ever had.  The Coach told me to "quit praying for the desires of your heart, but pray for the desires that I have for your heart." W0W, what a revelation.  I shouldn't worry about the desires of my heart, as much as the desires that God has for my heart.  I began to run this play daily, and to my surprise, (not really a surprise, because the Coach knew what was going to happen), things in my life and my family began to change. And now when it feels like the play I am running may be headed in the wrong direction, I begin to think about that score board on that dark morning, and the Light that was shining through the darkness to reveal to me the Coach's real plan for my life.  Let the things of yesterday go past, and start the day a fresh. Home  0 - Visitor 0, the scoreboard my read, but because you are part of the Team of God, you are already a winner!!!

Be blessed,

Jeff

sim·plic·i·ty       /sɪmˈplɪsɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sim-plis-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun, plural -ties.

 I was sitting and enjoy my Pastors sermon this morning on defining who Jesus is, and what He is and who He is to us. Sorry, Pastor, but the Holy Spirit hit me with the word, Simplicity. Many people are making it so hard to know who Jesus is, and who He can be to us.

The people I work with, when I do try to share, make Him such a hard person to figure out. How much more simple can it get, as Pastor Bobby said this morning. He was God, who came to earth as Man, and then died upon the cross for our sins, and went to reign with His Father in Heaven, until that day that we will join Him in the air. Now how hard can that be.

Just look at the definition of simplicity above. 1. the state, quality, or an instance of being simple. When Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, how much in an instant can you be simple. A little baby, that cries, smiles, and even poops like little babies, but yet this is God, came down into Man. People think that there was this miraculous big bang, (haha) and there came Jesus into this world. To me that would be harder to believe and understand, than a child coming into this world. Simplicity at its best. You can continue on this one with the definition from number two also. Freedom from complexity, intracicy, or divided into parts. Now we know that babies do not come with instruction booklets, or maybe some do, but it is something that is planted in the hearts and minds of each of us, "How to take care of a baby". Jesus is not complex. He was human. He cried, He laughed, He sang, and I guarantee you, He even played tricks on the disciple. Nothing complex or intricant about that. Just a man, God, who loves each of us, and only wants us to love Him. How much more simple can it be? But yet, people, and some churches make it harder than that. You must take these steps, you must go back for steps, and look around the corner, and do not pass go, on your way to jail.  My Bible tells me that it is simple to know Jesus. Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved." 

The third definition of simplicity talks of lack of luxury. How much lack of luxury can there be that a baby being born in a stable full of animals. If you call wood chips, hay, animals, and the smell of animal poo all around? From the luxury people I have met at work, they would be disgraced to be in such a place. But yet, the Savior of the world came to us in a non-luxurious way, a simple way. I would like to have thought though as the animals stood around, they thought they had received and seen a luxury that only a few witnessed, the birth of Jesus.

And I really love the fourth definition. Freedom from deceit or guile, sincere, natural. This young baby, Jesus, came into this world without sin, and remained without sin for his life, so that He could take our sin upon Him, and take it and get rid of it. Now how much more simple can it be.

It is all so simple. Accept Him as He truly is, and He will accept You as you truly are. Broken, down-hearted, in pain, both physically and spiritually and mentally, downcast, lost and full of sin. But yet call upon His name, that Precious Name Of Jesus!!!, and He will take all that away from You, and throw it as far as "East is to West", never more for you to take up and carry again. But then, many do, and many struggle, but yet He waits with open arms to pick us up, dust us off, and start again.  

My prayer is that you make it simple, if you are going through a Hard time. Just give it all to Jesus, and cry out His name, and He will save you. Not only spiritually, but physically, away from the things that have you bound.

In His Grip and Loving It,

Jeff

Praise God!! My mom and dad came home from having to stay with my brother after my mom had her stroke in February.  They came home this past weekend, and are doing wonderful.  They transferred all of her stuff to a local physical therapist for her oxygen and a hospital bed. She is walking now with help, for about 40 foot, and we give God the glory for what He is doing and for what He has done. Thank You Lord for what You have done not only for my mother, but for my father also.

If you are facing uncertainty in life, let me tell you that there is a certain One you can take the doubt and uncertainty to. God took my mother, and through this tragedy, made a new woman out of her!!!  And to all of this we give God the glory and the honor and praise.

Be blessed in the name of Jesus!!!

In His Grip and Loving It,

Jeff

Today is a special day in my families life. Today is the fourth anniversary of my fourth kidney transplant.  I want to lift up in prayer the family who will also remember the loss of that special loved one that passed to be able to donate me a kidney. But, I as I sit here and think about it, I wanted to put it in a "Book of Remembrance" form.

Chapter One--March , 1979--Diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 16 years old, after faking sick during football practice one day. The coach told me I had to see the doctor for a complete physical before he would let me play.  The complete physical turned into a three week stay in the hospital, diagnosing me with kidney failure. At age 16, it was like a death sentence.  I praise God for coaches, because without Coach Walls, I would have never found out until maybe too late. I praise You Lord.

Chapter Two--May 31, 1981--Graduated my senior year, after missing my Junior year of high school with a home bound teacher.  The doctor put me on tons of steroids trying to slow down the process of losing my kidneys. Didn't work, just gained from 180 pounds to 340 in six months. Couldn't find clothes to wear. I praise God for the teacher who was on maternity leave with her precious child, that I could go to each week, and continue my classes.

Chapter Three-June, 1981--Started on dialysis. The first day was rough. When I stood up after I was done, my pants hit the floor. So much fluid they pulled off of me. I praise God for dialysis nurses who have to have that special kind of love and care for the ones that they take care of.

Chapter Four-November 4, 1981--First kidney transplant!!! This kidney came from my mom. It only took for six months, before it was bad. Found out, that my mother was the carrier of the gene that killed my kidneys to begin with.  Was in the hospital from October 31, 1981, until January 28, 1982.  Not much being couped up, but roommate Mark was cool, and for an 18 year old boy, the nurses were good friends. I praise God, for a momma who loves so much that she would give a part of her, to help her son. Even though it didn't take, I praised God for the opportunity.

Chapter Five--August 1982--Second Transplant!! This time it was from my brother, and it lasted four years. Wasn't in the hospital as long this time. My brother was in worse shape than I was. He was in more pain than I was. I praise God for a brother, just like God's Word says that was willing to lay down his own life for a brother. Thank you Bro, and Happy Birthday today also.

Chapter Six--March 24, 1984--Married the girl of my dreams. The soul-mate that God had created from the beginning of time for me. I praise God for my wife, who has stuck through with me through the years. Through the sickness, through the good times, and through mostly bad times. But God gave her strength to endure what was planned for me. Thank you Christine. Also, an added note to this chapter, our precious Erica was born on April 12, 1985. God made me whole, so we could have a blessed child. The doctors said I would never father a child, due to the medicines I was on. But God proved once again, that man's wisdom is not Godly wisdom.

Chapter Seven-- Don't actually remember the date, but my uncle was trying to give me a kidney, but after they had prepped and gave him his enema, they found out that he could not be used. I praise God for an Uncle who loved so much too, that he would give to a nephew. He has gone on from this world, and I love his family so much and pray for them daily.

Chapter Eight--Thanksgiving Day 1989--Received the call after being back on dialysis for three years, that a kidney was waiting for me in Birmingham again. What a wonderful Thanksgiving gift that our God gives to those who love Him and worship Him, but also believe that He can heal. I praise You my Jesus.  Kept this kidney this time 8 years. And another added note to this chapter, was the blessed coming of our second daughter, Amber. Who once again, God made me whole to bring forth life into this world.

Chapter Nine--September 15, 2004--After being on dialysis again for seven years, God granted me a miracle. And a miracle this one was. The doctors said again that there was a 1% chance of receiving a fourth transplant. I rebuked it, and told them to watch what my God can do, because He is a 100% God.  The week before we received the phone call, we began to see God work. Through the fasting and praying of my wife, and the moving of the Holy Spirit, the night of September 13, we went to bed, and I told my wife that the phone was going to ring tonight. And sure enough, at 2:00 a.m. on the morning of the 14th, we received a call from the organ bank, that they had a kidney for me. As I was writing down information in my office, our youngest daughter, Amber, came out of her room crying hysterically. We asked her what was wrong, and she said she had just dreamed that Daddy had received a kidney. And we were able to tell her what God had done, and that it was not a dream.  We went on down to Birmingham twelve hours later, and on the morning of the 15th. I was being dialyzed before surgery, when the doctor came in, and said he needed me, that he was ready. And I said does that mean it is a go? And the doctor came over and placed his hand on my feet, and proceeded to tell me the following,"You once told me that God would hand pick you a kidney. Well, He has! The kidney matches perfect, like it was your identical twin brother" Praise God for miracles that never cease!!!

Conclusion--There is really no conclusion to this story, and I am sure that I could write about thirty more chapters in between those that I have written, of what God has done for me and my family.  People ask me if I could change the books, or the chapters of my life, would I?  I tell them NO--because God laid these chapters out for me, even before time began, and He knew that story that I would write about and tell about. What My God Has Done For Me! And what He can do for You. No matter what you are facing or going through, remember that God knew it was all going to happen, and he wrote those events long before you were ever born.  He has written the beginning and He has written the ending, but it is up to us how we fill in between. 

May God bless each of you, and always keep you thoroughly in His Grip,

Peace and Blessings-Jeff

You just never know what God, or who God, or what situation God is going to use, to get someone's heart back to him, and to get through to the one, who needs getting through too.

This past February, as I have posted before, my mom had a stroke that afftected the whole right side of her body, and her speech as well. But Praise God!!!, the healing process through God to her started some time ago, and she is doing wonderful.  My wife and family had a chance to go down the weekend of the 16th and 17th of August to spend with my mom and dad when they went back to their home in Alabama. We had not been able to see them in a while, due to them staying in near the Birmingham area with my brother and his family, while going through rehab. So this was a wonderful weekend for us. We got to visit and actually see, other than being told by my dad on the phone how my mom is doing. I praise God for what He is doing for my mother, and really also for my father. My dad has taken great care of my mom, and them actually being able to spend weekends at home in north Alabama has been a praise also. My mom lets my dad know when she has to use the bathroom, and he takes her in the bathroom and sats her on the throne, and gets things taken care of. Some may think this is not something to be thankful for, but in my dads situation, it is.

We got to see a lot of family that weekend also, and God to see God work also in the life of my aunt.  My aunt stopped by on that Sunday morning, the 17th, on her way back to Birmingham where she lives, to see if my mom remembered what that day was. And of course, we all did, it was my aunt's birthday.  But there is more to it than that, so let me explain.  My aunt is my aunt by marriage. She married my Uncle years ago, and the 17th is actually his birthday too. They were in the same hospital, in the same town, at the same time, in the nursery. But what makes it even more neat, is that they were also neighbors growing up. Best friends in school, and already pretty much acknowledging at a young age that they were too be married. I even took to my aunt growing up in the same neighborhood also. I used to spend the night with her and her sisters just down the street. It was great. When my uncle used to go out on dates, there i would be.

The real heart of this story started in what will be two years ago this October. You see, my uncle committed suicide, tending to give up to enemy, rather than fight what he was facing. This was a shock to our whole family, and tore my aunt and their sons all up.  It was a trying time for our family, but we sought out God to bring us through this, and He did. But yet, my aunt still hurt.

This weekend of the 17th though, I learned something about how through what happened to my mom, my aunt's sadness, and questions as to why it happened, and also the search to find happiness in her own life, was taken care of by God.  My aunt shared with us that a few weeks ago, when she was staying with my mom and dad at their home in North Alabama, as a healing took place for my mom, God healed her at the same time.  My aunt began putting on lotion for my mom on her face, and my mom began to jabber and grab my aunt's hand and began to constantly in a fast motion, uses my aunts hand to slap her own face in a fast pace, and just smiling like everything. And come to find out, my mom felt my aunt's hand on the side of her face. The feeling had come back in the right side of my mom's face!!!!! We all celebrated and cried to this news, but it wasn't all the news. My aunt share the morning of the 17th, that she was healed also. It was then that she realized, she could let go of the sadness, let go of the hurt, and let go of the pain, and go forth with her own life, and go forth and be happy and start a fresh for herself. She said that has she was slapping the side of my mom's face, she felt the presence of God come on her like never before, and just envelope her whole body with His presence of peace, comfort, and security, and freshness of anew. We were all praising God that Sunday morning and crying and giving God all the glory and hugging my aunt, and just so excited for her.

You see, you never know what will happen, when you follow God, and trust Him through all things. God took the situation that had taken place with my mother, the stroke, to bring spiritual healing to my aunt, while delivering physically healing to my mom. God you are just so such an awesome God, in who You are, and how You work, and how You take care of Your children. This this and all things, I give You praise, glory and honor. Thank YOU Jesus, for saving my soul, and being the Daddy Father in my life.

Jeff

Good evening,

Was on my from work to church tonight, and the thirty minute drive was a cool one.  I was listening to the radio, as I was praying and thanking God for today, and the wonderful day I had, when the song came across the radio that Sawyer Brown sings about the wife who was on the bus with all her children acting wild, and other people didn't understand what she had been through, and the older man on the interstate driving real slow, who had lost his wife, and his children didn't know him any more, and I just began to weep. I am sorry, I am a softy. And then the song "Emmaus Love" by Newsong came on my cd, and I began to thank God for that Emmaus Love that he has for us. Just like on the road to Emmaus, walking with the disciples and explaining to them what had just happened. You see everyday He does walk with us, and carries us through the things that we face. That surrounding, never leaving type of love. Yes, we leave Him, and go through things, but despite of what we are going through, He never leaves us.  That Emmaus kind of love that teaches us, and shows us what and who we are supposed to be in Him, and what He wants for us. I began to praise God for what He has done for me and my family. Times are rough, and times are hard, but Praise God, His Emmaus Love has provided a home for us, provided money to get by for us, but most of all, it has provided our salvation, our healing, both spiritually and physically. Praise God! Thank You Jesus for what You have done in our lives, and the excitement still builds for what You are going to do, and the things that You are taking us through right now, and what You are taking us over and above. Thank You Lord, for Your grace and mercy, that continues to lift me up, when I do wrong. Lord, be with those who do not know that Emmaus Love that You and only You can give. I pray for the salvation of many, so many, that are lost without You. I pray for my coworkers and the salvation of their families. Lord, we know that through the prayers of the saints that many lives can be changed, and will be changed, and this will ultimately lead to the changing of the world. Sounds hard? But I don't think so. We can do all things through You Lord, who gives us strength.

Be Blessed!!! In His Grip and Loving It!!

Jeff

Got to youth tonight, and had a good size crowd again, but they all were down hearted and tired because of school starting back. So they were playing football, and guitaro and drum hero, for which I tried tonight, and found out I am no good.  The Word tonight God gave me was a little different than what He had first wanted me to talk about, so I obeyed and done what He had asked me to do, based upon who was there and what activities they were doing.

I had them all raise their right hand, and then take it and wipe it across their brow and forehead and back into their sweaty head, and then just look at their hands. Then I told them to lick their hands from the base to the top of their fingers. Of course, the only two girls there went bezerk, one which is my daughter, and a friend, and of course they didn't, but then again, all of the guys couldn't wait to do it. I asked them what it taste like, and of course they said, "salt".  This was the opening to what God had me tell these kids about being the salt and light of the world, from Matthew.  About how now that school is starting, that they need to keep themselves under the salt shaker that God is pouring out on their lives, so that they can add flavor, good flavor, to their school. To be that light that is needed in such a dark place. School didn't used to be that way, but it has become that way now. But they seemed to understand about not allowing things of this world to stand between them and the pouring out of what the Holy Spirit has for them. 

It is the same way for us as adults in the work place. We have to be that light in a dark world, especially to those who are not saved. I pray often for the salvation of my coworkers and their families, but yet, I have to be sure that I am constantly being poured out upon from the Holy Spirit, so that they too can see my light, the Light of Christ through me. Even though we as a family are going through so much right now, I refuse to let them see me without Jesus shining bright in me and through me. Why would they want what I have, if they think that I am suffering and not enjoying my walk with Christ. Jesus Christ is my love, my life, and my strength, and no matter what we may face as believers, we still must let others know that through Him, we can do all things. 

Have a blessed day in the Lord, and until next time, God lift up my brothers and sisters in Christ, and give them strength, power, peace and comfort, to stand up to the things that the enemy throws at them every day. Lord, I give You praise for all things,

In His Grip and Loving,

Jeff

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