As these last several weeks have passed, I have been privileged to learn from wise people God has blessed me to know. Please note some of the wisdom of the last few weeks:
*Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever as the scriptures say in Hebrews 13; the Jesus of today is very much a part of my life even in times when I am uncomfortable with or don't understand the way He is taking care of me and my family.
*Carol is and will be the best person to not only help me experience God's love but also to recognize what changes still need to be made in me.
*Jesus is the only "Way, Truth, and Life" and regardless of the condition of the world around me He still keeps that title.
*I want to finish this life "strong" and useful in advancing God's kingdom on earth.
*Practicing what we preach is what the world has needed and desired from believers all along.
*Satan knew how valuable loving families were and are to the Gospel spreading throughout a culture, so it is no wonder he attacked families first in seeking to destroy the first family...I am not talking about the president's.
*Without a well-equipped army of believers on the local level, events will not have nearly as much impact on the community as they could and should. Follow up is done slowly and powerfully by Christians who are free to love and be loved.
*Jesus did not start a religion but a movement. God is revitalizing the movement even as some religions are drifting and dying.
*The older I get-the more appealing heaven is to me. Sometimes I just get tired of being hurt and hurting others.
*Getting relationship principles to the community takes a variety of introductions but eventually falls to the local body of believers if lasting impact is the desired outcome.
*A healthy, loving family is one of the best advertisements for Christianity ever devised and God devised it!
*Taking an inventory of our marriage, friendships, and parenting success is even wiser than having an annual physical to monitor the health of the body.
*If you want to know how well I am doing at the Christian life, ask my wife Carol or my children. Their view is probably much more accurate and less biased. :)
*Remembering and revisiting God's call into service/ministry/vocation/marriage is a necessary step when I begin to question any of it.
*Life is going to have times of testing of our faith. The life we live should be worth it and the outcome of the tests should lead us to deeper faith in a faithful God even when people disappoint us.
*God's Word, the Bible, is miraculous in its truth, its compilation, and its preservation.
*All of life is simply doing the Word of God well or wishing we had.
*God gets glory in and through each life when we listen and obey seeing the outcome we desired or don't listen and refuse to obey seeing the outcome the Enemy desired. Either way we prove God was right all along.
*God's desire is to reveal His love and power through each life as we live it in faith expressed in love.
*Love is the biggest deal ever .... past, present, future.
*Without God's love we would not stand a chance at life or love.
*In movies, books, stories, music, and in real life, the relationships from our past have direct impact on our present and therefore, our future.
*Heal the past and forgive so you can heed the present and live.
