Miracles Happen even to the least of us.

I have been in church most of my life I spent time running from God in different ways and different times. About 6 years ago God drew me back, during these past few years God has done some amazing things in my life. I felt lead to return to school, in witch I was able to get my Bachelors. God lead me to a woman who has changed my life and encouraged me though the years of school and the ups and downs of employment.

For several years I have had some discomfort and shortness of breath, that I thought was just getting older and the fact that I am an ex-smoker. After seeing something odd on a chest x-ray for pneumonia I was ordered a CT. About 6 months ago I had a consultation with my Doctor about my CT scan from last week to discover I had a Bochdalek hernia. This type of hernia is a Birth Defect and has a relatively high infant Mortality rate and is almost never found in adults except in post mortem examinations. After consulting with a few other doctors there was no clear consensus on if it was the Bochdalek or a more common type but no matter the kind of hernia I had been living with it for many years even since childhood being I have had issues breathing when running even when I was a child now that I really look back. When I met with the surgeon they told me that I would need to loose 25LB so that it would reduce some of the risk factors in the surgery.

Recently when attending a Men’s Retreat my church puts on every year, on Saturday during the evening session there was a call for people needing healing. There was a large group of men who came to the alter for healing. During the worship and prayer time after the healings happened, I could feel something moving or changing in my gut. I was skeptically optimistic, being that I was raised in a church where miracles and healings are not talked about much if at all. Over the next few days I started paying attention to things as I went about doing the cleanup at the retreat and coming home. On the Monday following the retreat I was sitting on the floor putting shoes on one of my children and I didn’t have the breathing issue I normally did, at that point I told my wife “I think I was healed.” After work that day having dinner at my parents house we were playing in the back and I picked up my son and ran around the yard, something I had never been able to do, if I was carrying anything I wad get winded to the point I would have to stop and sometime would put me into a coughing fit that would make it even harder to breath.

Miracles happen every day, little ones like the sun rising for another day. On that day God though the hands of men some I know well and others only in passing gathered around me and many other men praying for healing. I know in my heart and in how I feel that this hernia has been sealed and everything is now working into it’s proper place. I am working on still loosing the 25LB so that when I go to the doctor they can take another scan and see there is no issue and have irrefutable proof that God is a healing God and a miracle working God, and ALL His Promises Are YES and AMEN.

April 30, 2018 Cursed be

Reading: Galatians 2 and Deuteronomy 25-27

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:15-26, "'Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.' "'Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"'Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Thoughts: The evil one has not changed his bait since the garden, I continually hear about how things are getting worse, and maybe they are getting worse all that time and we are on the verge of the return of Christ. If that be the case I say, “Come Lord Jesus this is not my home.” Here in Deuteronomy this list of curses that Moses laid out for the children if Israel look a lot like things going on today. I could be wrong but I think that if these things needed to be called out at this time saying they are cursed acts then I think they were prevalent enough to need to be addressed. Yes God has forgiven us and covered our sins with the Blood Of Jesus but that dose not mean that there will not be consequences. In those times where we turn our backs on God and seek after things of the world like many or the things on that list of curses or anything that takes our focus off of our father in heaven, we need to turn back to him and seek him again.

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful and amazing. I thank you for the great gifts you pour out on us each day. I thank you for the provisions that you give us and the blessings that you pour out on us each day. I thank for the Holy Spirit who works in us to help us to know you more. I ask that you pour out your Spirit on us more each day.

April 2, 2018 Straw and stone

Reading: 1 Corinthians 3 and Numbers 8-10

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Thoughts: I have remembered this passage before in conversation and had used it as a illustration not remembering that it was a passage from the Word. How we were talking about it was once we become followers of Christ we have this firm foundation and the things we do in our walk are what each of our bricks are made. I know that there are some straw bricks built into my structure but I also know that there are some precious ones in there. I struggle with the thoughts of if I have put more straw or more stones. I know that threw God’s grace and love some of those things I thought were straw are stones and hold fast and some of the things I just thought of as stones or pillars in my life could be as precious as the finest gem. We will all one day face the fire that will reveal what is behind the beautiful facade that we used to hide all the straw bricks in our lives.

Prayer: Father I am in awe of how you work in our lives and the fact that you can use even me. I thank you for your daily provisions and the blessings that you pour out on us each day. I pray that I hear your voice and the direction for my day that you have for me and that I follow through adding another stone that you can make precious.