If God Loves Me Why Can’t I Find My Car Key’s?

Many years ago I had a pastor that got in the pulpit and boasted that he prayed about everything.  He said, he even prayed about what socks to where each morning.  Ironically a few weeks later he went before the congregation with two different color socks, I wondered how well he listened that morning.  I pray, I like communicating with God, but I don’t asking what color socks to put on. 

To what extent does God involve Himself  in my everyday life?  Does He, influence me to choose raisinbran instead of cornflake?  Does God suggest what color socks I wear?   Everyday the Holy Spirit guides me, sometimes stearing me from harm, leading me towards kindness towards others, to witness of Christs love, and sometimes, He will reveal some truth in His word I had not seen before. 

I would like to establish the fact that God does love me, but the fact that I can’t keep up with my car keys, is a matter of my being able to keep my life organized.  “It’s not about me”,  is a saying someone else came up with, that I try to remind myself often.  I’ll lets God work on the state of our nation, and I’ll make sure, when I get finished with my car keys I put them were I can find them.

Posted by Steve Waltrip

Storms

I want to thank all of you that are reading the blog.  Your comments are encouraging to read.  I have been very busy, but I’m back writing about the one I care most about.  God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit.

The picture represents the lesson God is teaching right now.  Storms, disrupt our tranquil lives, usually moments in time where we go inside, close the windows and wait for it to pass.  One thing I have learned,  they always pass.  Sometimes the worst ones cause us concern, sometimes, just a spring sprinkle.

I’ve had a few storms in my life.  Through each one, I have learned the faithfulness of God.  I usually learn a valuable lesson, but most of all I’ve learned God peace, and faithfulness.  This morning I revisited Daniel 3.  Three Hebrew children went through the flame and come out without a scratch, not even smelling like smoke.  Have you ever stood by a camp fire and not smell like smoke?

So remember, the next time you see a storm on the horizon.  Phil. 4:6,7, Be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be known to God and the peace of God, that passes all comprehension, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Fruit Inspector

I once had a pastor tell me that he didn’t think we were fruit inspectors.  After careful consideration I think he is wrong.  Mat. 7: 16 ,17;  16 You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?  17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 

To explain myself a little, each day we interact with people, christians and none christians.  How do you treat them?  Do you treat them as a brother or do you treat them as a person lost, in need of a savior?  Do you treat them as a friend or do you stay away from them?  First and for-most you treat everyone with respect.  Otherwise they will not consider your witness.

Gal. 5: 22 says, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such the is no law.  Everyone makes mistakes, but generally a person should display the traits in Gal. 5:22,23.  

We are Christ representatives on this earth.  Who do you, represent?  When people see you, do they see Christ?  Posted by Steve Waltrip   

Mirrors

Norman Rockwell, prints always makes me smile, they also make you think.  James 1:23, 24     23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like the man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (NASB)  Have you ever done that?  I have to admit I have.  Looked at the mirror, walked away and couldn’t a-bit-more remembered what I saw than the man in the moon.  Sometimes I’ve stood looking at the mirror and thought what in the world was God think when He made that person. My wife Terrie, has one of though magnifying mirrors.  You can see every pore, ever crack, every hair.  She will set for a long time and “put on her face”, she calls it.

This scripture, to me, is saying.  When you read the word, what are you going to do with it?  Apply it, or disregard it?  After I was saved, my parents gave me the Bible I use today.  It has been one of the most precious gift anyone has ever given me.  My Bible, is the very words of God.   I have tried other versions, even other good study Bibles, but I always come back to this one to read.  The best way I know how to explain it is, when I got it, it was as though I was receiving a letter directly from God.  I have traced the steps of Jesus, I have followed Moses when he walked out of Egypt.  I have gone on a boat ride with Paul, I have seen the dead raised, and it was like I was there when it happened.  I have read and learned, and I have been distracted and forgot.  But most of all I have grown.  It has made me the man I am today.   Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Posted by Steve Waltrip         P.S. I’m not a finished product yet.

Until Your Blue in the Face

When I was little, I would bug my mom.  Asking, over and over, can I have something?  She would say, ” you can ask until your face turns blue, but the answer is still no!”   As a father, I can remember going on trips and the kids asking,” are we there yet? ”  Over and over again.  It’s ironic, but that’s what I’m told the Greek or Hebrew translation of:  Matthew 7:7, Ask and it shall be given to you;  seek and you shall find;  knock and it shall be opened to you.  Literally, the translation of that is, ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking.

Prayer, the most complex, simple thing I know of.  I say that because, God longs to hear from you, but He can’t listen to you if your heart is not right.  If,  He does aanswer its because of Grace.  When He does answer it is either, yes, no, or wait  a while.  Before I go any further, I want you to know I am not a great authority on prayer, its just that, from reading Gods Word, the Bible, I’ve learned a few things.  And before I check out of this world, I’ll learn a few more things.  For instance,  I was reading in James the other day, and I read;  James 4:3 You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

So my question to you is, what is the right motive?  Riches?  Fame?  Glory?  And, who do you think you’re fouling by promising God you’ll give your lottery winnings to the church?  I really think those are the wrong motives.  Wisdom,  Spiritual insight, unmerited kindness,  pacients, I think these are the right motives.  I’ve also learned the closer you get to heaven the farther you get from earth.  Posted by Steve Waltrip