The difference Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups can make

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Parenting is a learning experience. There is no book that can teach you how to parent to perfection. There is so much to learn, and this includes whom you learn from. One of the most interesting things about being a parent is how much you can learn from your own kids. I learn a lot from my kids. My kids are awesome and through the good and the bad, we learn.

My own son Ty has taught me so much in regards to sharing. A couple of weeks ago we had a home swim meet that I was officiating at. Once the race starts, I need to be in my position and ready to pay attention to only the kids in the pool swimming. Ty came up to me during this time and tugged at my shirt. I told him to hang on for a second and when I had a free time I turned around. Ty gave me Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups. Ty brought his own money to the swim pool and went out to the concession to get me this snack. Ty has always taught me so much about sharing. Even at a young age. When we would divide breadsticks among the kids, Ty always broke his in thirds and would give part of it to Nevaeh and Connor. Ty is so thoughtful and great when it comes to sharing.

Ty is a perfect example to me of Philippians 2:3-4…

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Life would be different if we all modeled this. This whole section of scripture is so powerful and if you want to read what this is all based off continuing reading verses 6-11. Another way the above scripture is put, “Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

Ty has taught me so much and he is only six. Every moment in life can be a teachable moment and it also can be a time to learn. I need to continue to improve to put others before myself and will work on this today. What can you do to help others today?

Have a great day.

Is money the root of all evil or are we?

What’s nice about having money, having money. I serve at a church where once every while someone will give the minister’s some extra cash here and there. It’s amazing how God works things out. Usually this happens when something is about to break down. Three years ago, someone gave us an anonymous check for $100 dollars. We felt so blessed, the next day our battery died in our van, it cost around $100 to replace it. Thank you God for giving us awesome people! There is nothing evil about money.

You can do good or bad with money. This anonymous person did something awesome with money, not because they gave me money. They could have spent that money doing or buying something they wanted. Yet they chose to give it away. Money is not bad. You can do good with it. What are some ways you can do good with the money you have? Chances are you can think of some pretty great ways. Along with the good comes the bad. What are ways you have spent money unwisely? Chances are you have had moments of both.

Paul has a great line that doesn’t talk about money but about helping people out, 1 Corinthians 10:24…

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

In this section of scripture Paul is dealing with some other issues among the people. Some people were unifying the church and having meals together. Others were having meals that were going for idol worship or meals that were going to demons. In between this all Paul mentions that there is good and bad practices we can follow. We aren’t meant to lead people astray with our meals and what the meals are going for. During that time there was a lot of demon worship and meals were a part of what people gave to the demons. What you do with your money could be good or bad, your choice.

Money isn’t evil, but what do you do with your money? I have been reading a book titled Open by Craig Gross. It starts out with a story about two guys who use X3watch to keep themselves from looking at porn online. Gross talks to these guys on a flight from Vegas and asked what are you doing in Vegas if you are trying to stay pure? They respond how they did a whole bunch of things they shouldn’t do, gambling and strip clubs etc. They were trying to not look at porn online yet deemed it acceptable to go to strip clubs. Sometimes what we do doesn’t make sense.

You can do good with your money. I recently read a story about a scholarship program that Magic Johnson has and how he helps people out with these scholarships. He gives money to change the life of these people that wouldn't be able to go to school. Think about the good you can do with your money. How you can help people out? Now if you owe $1,000’s on a credit card/car payment/student loans, get that paid first, you aren’t supposed to be in debt. After that look at your life, what would you like to do with your money that can be a blessing to others? Today you can be a blessing to others. How can you make that happen?

Have a great day.

Separation is a way of life

Do you think separation could be a good thing? I remember a blanket that Ty loved. He loved this blanket and couldn't be separated from it. It seemed like it was going to be extremely tough to get this blanket away. It had to happen, how tough would it be?

Thankfully Nolan came a long. We were able to transition him from the blanket letting him know it was for babies and the new baby would need it. He loved that blanket but loved the fact he could give something he loved to the baby. Sometimes separation can be a good thing. Other times it cannot.

While detachment worked for Ty, there are other things we don't want to be detached from. Part of the mystery of God is how he is there for us. Romans 8:38-39...

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whatever you have done, you are still loved by God. We are all sinners, ministers, pastors and priests etc are no different. We all sin, make mistakes and yet God gives us all that chance to turn back to God through Jesus.

The love of God is there for you!

Have a great day.

Can a product be new and improved?

Advertisements can crack me up.

I love seeing those commercials where they talk about a product changing.

Often they say it’s new and improved.

It cracks me up because how can it be both new and improved?

The product is either new or it’s improved but it can’t be both.

That is just one of the little things that make me laugh that I cherish everyday.

The company that does this, wants to make sure you know there is a change in the product.

Can people be the same way?

Saul was a ruthless man when it came to him and Christians.

He was known for throwing them in jail and killing them.

Now because of the grace of Jesus he was a changed man.

People were still hesitant about this major change.

Acts 9:19-22….

“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.”

Saul was the guy who was 100 percent against Christians and now he was claiming to be one of them.

Christians didn’t buy it and thought otherwise.

They didn’t think this man would change and the Jews at the time thought the same thing, how could this man change?

Yet that is how God works.

He can take those that are completely far from him and make them close to him.

Nobody is too far from God and Jesus.

People thought there was no way Saul could improve or become new again, but that is the beautiful thing about faith, God’s grace is for everyone.

You can be new.

You can be improved.

There is nothing you can’t do to be forgiven by Jesus.

Saul was a murderer and killed Christians, now he was one of them.

Jesus’s grace extends to everyone who accepts him as Lord and Savior.

You can be new and improved.

Your sleight oops I mean slate can be wiped clean and blank and blameless when you believe.

Forgiveness is always there for you no matter how far you feel from Jesus.

Are you ready for a clean slate and a chance to be improved?

You don’t have to carry those burdens anymore.

Saul was a murderer, but that is not who he is known for anymore.

Who do you want to be known for and would you like to be known for something greater.

Today can be a great new start for you.

No matter what Jesus love you and wants to know you more.

Make a decision that can have an eternal difference.

Or maybe you can share this amazing story with another person, Jesus love isn’t just for you, it’s for everyone.

Share this amazing story of Jesus, it can make another new and improved.

Have a great day.

Meeting needs

Utterly grateful.

There are times in my life I am just so thankful for what I have in my life.

A loving wife, amazing kids, great family, a great church and amazing friends.

There are times I just have to let known the great things I have in life.

One of the great happened over a bad situation.

I left my desk that I got for Hailee at the store.

It was my fault and it was going to be one of Hailee’s main Christmas gifts.

I was crushed.

Mostly because it was my fault and I couldn’t really blame anyone else.

Overtime I got over it.

My family and I went to Michigan for Christmas and when we came back we had a brand new desk box sitting in the middle of my living room floor.

I knew it could be only one person….Bella.

One of my best friends spent a good chunk of money and got some friends together to put money for a desk for me.

This was amazing and I am very blessed to have friends like this in my life.

When I think about having friends like this it makes me think about how the original church gave to those in need.

It says this in Acts 2:44…
“All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

Another way this was put…

“And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.”

I have some amazing friends and family that no matter what would happen to me, they would take care of me.

I am very blessed like that.

The church is supposed to be the same way.

This is one of the hardest concepts to grasp in the church.

They had everything in common among believers.

I have heard this multiple times in many churches, “We are trying to be an Acts 2 church.”

My first question is what do you drive, where do you live and what do you have?

Are you living above your needs where you are living so well and people are living in the exact opposite?

Am I off base to think this way?

I looked at a commentary to check on this.

According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary…

“The selling of property and the common possession of the proceeds may imply that the early church expected the Lord to return soon and establish His kingdom. This may explain why the practice was not continued. Holding everything in common was not socialism or communism because it was voluntary (cf. 4:32, 34-35; 5:4). Also their goods were not evenly distributed but were given to meet needs as they arose.”

Today we aren’t held in the same standards as the Acts 2 church.

They gave to each other as the needs came up.

I have seen this happen many times among the Church I am at.

There is a church in Haiti that didn’t have a roof, our church took up a special offering and within that, people gave their offering to the church and gave well above what they have to enough money to roof the church.

I have heard many times the church only cares about money.

I serve at a church where 16-20 percent of all money coming in goes back out.

The church I serve has been a blessing to my family and to many families in our church, community and even all over the world.

I like being apart of an Acts 2 church and there are ways I am trying to help others out and grow in this way.

We are called to help others out and show other people love.

How can you do this?

Maybe it might cost you money or maybe it will just take time.

Everyone has the ability to help other people out.

How can you help other people out?

Have a great day.