RESPECT J.C.

Had a good day at work today, because my co-worker opened up the door for me to be able to share some things, or should I say the Holy Spirit. He began to question some things that he ran across on the internet about Christ and the crucifixion and other non-meaningful things. He was coming up with some off the wall stuff that he had read about Jesus being married, and other things, and about the end times. Well, don't open the door, unless you want me to go through. I prayed before I spoke, and the Holy Spirit allowed me to share some things with him, and the first was that if he did not have a relationship with God, then those things he was reading would seem true to him, but if his relationship with God was true, and he knew the Truth, he would know the things that he was reading was untruths. I shared with him off and on for over two hours, and even a customer overheard us talking and she joined in also, and the Holy Spirit through her, confirmed the many things that He was saying through me.

I finally ended the conversation by pointing to my Bible laying on the counter, and told him that the Word of God is true, and if the things that he was reading could not be backed up by the Word of God, the Truth, then what he was reading was wasting his time. He needed to pick up God's Word, and let IT speak to him, not the lies that are posted upon the internet. Praise God for the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but The Truth, SO IS OUR GOD!!!!

Thank you Lord for this day,

In His Grip and Loving It,

JEFF

Woke up this morning with 6 inches of snow on the ground. It was beautiful as we began to look around the neighborhood. I love snow!  I think everytime it snows about what Jesus does for us. He washes our sins away "white as snow". Yesterday was a thought processing, thinking big time day for me and my wife with things that are taking place with my job and those around me. I got to thinking about things I know that I shouldn't, and things and people in ways I know that I shouldn't concerning my job, but then God, and my wife, reminded me that God is still in control of the situation, and that if He did not want me to be there, I would not be there, and things would be progressing in a different way. And today I was reminded when I woke up and looked at the snow, that God definitely was still in control, and that tomorrow I can go into work with a fresh new look and fresh new attitude about things. I can't change the way people are, and I can't change the things that they do, but God can. Thank you Lord, for reminding me of this today. Thank you Lord, for all the blessings You have given our family. Health! Life! Love! Salvation! Family! Healings! and the list could go on and on, and Lord, You know in my heart what I pray most. Not for the desires of my heart, but what You desire for my heart

In Your Name Jesus,

Amen

Be Blessed and always keep Him In Your Grip,

Jeff

Been a while since I have posted, but a lot of different things have been taken place in my life. God blessed me with moving to a new location with the company I work for closer to home, so I praise God for that. But, one thing I am seeing more and more in these day and times, are leaders in the business world become more and more like Haman, in the story of Esther.

Business leaders are beginning to get this Haman complex that those under them should bow to them, and understand and do what they ask you to do, whether it is wrong or write, with no questions asked. But here is the deal, I believe just as in the story of Esther, that these people are setting themselves up to be hung on their own gallows. Businessmen who claim to be Christian, but yet allow things that they know are not right, continue to go on, and use lame excuses for their continuation.

For example, I know this man, that has come upon several incidences in this company where money has been stolen, and in large quantities, and frequently, and continuing to go on, but yet nothing has ever been done about it, and the man who found the happenings, gets a cut in pay and gets demoted, and ends up in a financial bind. But praise God, this man had his faith and finances in God, and God continues to pull this family through. If only, not just in business, but in our nation as a whole, we would get back to the basics that founded our nation, then I don't think we would be in as bad shape as we are, and are heading.

I was watching "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" last night, and I can't remember it word for word, but the prayer that was prayed in front of the Senate, before it opened for session when it was first introducing Jefferson Smith to the Senate, was awesome. It was asking for God to control the body, for God to control the nation, and for God to control the business that was about to take place. If you get a chance to rent it, watch and listen to what to not only that prayer, but everything that Jefferson Smith says in his filibuster talks. It will not only inspire you, but it will bring you back to what this nation was founded upon. But now, we pray that everyone from business leaders, to elected officials from the smallest form of government to our nations elected, and even some pastors in churches and church leaders would not and will not get what I call the Haman Syndrome. Don't forget about the people below you, and don't forget about the people who got you there, but most of all, don't forget about the God who Reigns in our lives daily, because if He is forgotten, we will be seeing a lot of people hanging from the gallows, just like Haman.

Be Blessed,

Jeff 

I wanted to share something with you that happened to a friend of mine and former co-worker and a new found babe in Christ. 

This past December 20th, John hit a deer on his way to work, and when the police came to fill out the report, something happened that was very unexpected. John was arrested! It seemed that there was an outstanding warrant for him for AWOL from the Military!

Now I will back up and fill in the blank. John and I began to work together last April 1, 2008, after I was transferred to the location that he was working out. We began to hit it off okay, and became friends. We had a chance to share a lot of things, and I learned that John had been in the military for 8 years, and I think he had actually served two tours of duty in Iraq. He could tell you some things about what was going on over there that the normal news media does not. The truth and nothing but the truth. But that is for another time.  John was given a discharge after serving his time, and having a bomb blow up near the bunker they were stationed in.

John accepted Christ while him and I was working together. He said he remembers being at church on that Sunday morning, not feeling anything, then WHAM!, next thing he was at the front of the church, accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. That night he returned to the church, and followed his acception by being baptized. After this Sunday, the devil hated what John had done, and he and his family was immediately coming under attack. Things and situations began to crop up that no one could explain. But through all of it John stayed true, trusting God to pull him and his family through the things they faced.

After the day he was arrested, he come to find out that the military had not either filed his discharge papers or filed them wrong, thus putting an outstanding warrant for his arrest for absence without leave.  They took him to the county jail, where he was told he would be let out in no more thatn 72 hours, but it ended up being almost a month before he was released. 

And before he was released, is where John's testimony begins. You know sometimes God puts us in situations or removes us from situations for His purpose. John at the time couldn't understand what had happened and why it had happened, but he accepted it.  John was put in a cell with a young Mexican man, whom I will call Amigo. Amigo was in for illegal immigration purposes.  During this time, John dug deep into his Bible, and he will tell you that, he read all of tne New Testament, and some while he was in there. Yes, he said, that he questioned God as to why he was still in there so long, with nothing happening as to his release, but just couldn't feel like he had an answer given to him.

John and Amigo became friends, and John was able to help him intrepret to the guards at this county jail, none of whom could speak Amigo's language. John could enough, to understand and be the liason from Amigo to the guards. John taught Amigo some American card games, while Amigo taught John Mexican card games.  

During the times of John studying his Bible, he did realize and began to understand maybe why God had him in there. He could see that he was a big help to Amigo, but John also started a Bible study with the other inmates too.  

John had been reading in God's Word about when God speaks to you, and understanding when God speaks, and how to know that it is the voice of God, and he had come to that understanding one night as he lay sleeping. John was already asleep, when without seeing anything or anybody, he heard this voice plainly tell him, "When Amigo goes home, you will go home."  John woke up and it hit him then why God had placed him there, and why the 72 hour stay had turned into a lot longer stay. God revealed to him that if he had not been in there, Amigo's stay would have been a terrible one, because no one there understanding him, and no family around to be with him. But God placed John there to be with him, to give him strength, friendship, and to make his stay just a little bit better than it would have been. John had heard the voice of God, and not only understood it, he acted upon it for the next few days, really helping Amigo and introducing him also to Christ. John had found a new strength in Christ, and a stronger relationship through all of this.  One morning as John was in the shower, and he will tell you that he took long showers, he came out twenty minutes later to find that Amigo had gone! Amigo had left his leftover toiletries for John to use, since they were hard to come by. But before John could get those items picked up, the guards called his name, and when John answered them, the guards told him to gather his stuff, he was going home. "When Amigo goes home, you will go home." What God had told John, happened.

John will tell you that this is not the only instance that God showed up through his stay in the jail. You see, John's new job that he had just taken held his job for him. Without pay, but they held it for him. And a couple of months earlier before being arrested, John had filed bankruptcy, and therefore, had no major bills to pay, just regular living expenses, for which he and his wife had received money from a family member to allow them to pay a months bills that they did have. When John came home, people came and welcomed him home, and money was brought from church members and family friends to help them out. Even his work was able to give him 5 personal days on his next check to be able to give him a full check this upcoming week. But once again also, God allowed John to see something else. The young man that John had taken his place when he was hired with this coming, was brought back in to take his place while he was in jail. And when John came back to work, this young man asked to borrow John's car to go get breakfast for the employees. When he returned with John's Ford Explorer, it had a full tank of gas in it. You see, John was having to travel a long way every day for his job, and it was rough just coming out of jail with no money, but once again, God provided.

I could go on and on about what took place, and I just hit the highlights of what John went through. John called me last night to let me know that he would be sharing this testimony with his church this morning, and I praise God for what He did in John's life, and for what He has done in my life, and the lives of many. God will speak to us, when we are listening, and sometimes He places us in our out of situations, where He can use  us, and allow us to be used, and allow us to listen to Him. Don't be afraid when God speaks to you. Just remember, Be Still and Know That I Am God!!

Be blessed,

Jeff

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

• Main
• Archives
• Albums
• Links
• Send us a story or an E-Mail
• Summary-Blog Directory
• Admin

• Don't Let Your Powder Get Wet!!
• Prison Ministry
• Columbus Day!
• Miracle Still Goes On After 5 Years Today!!
• I Will Rise
• Overcomers----Revelations 12:11
• REVIVAL? What is True Revival?
• The Fence

• General [35]

• RSS 0.90
• RSS 1.0
• RSS 2.0
• Atom