A Promise

Promise Yourself

"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your
optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the
greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give
every living person you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too
strong for fear, and to happy to permit the
presence of trouble."

I was reading the book of Nehemiah tonight and it referenced Psalm 119. I read the sub-headings and I felt such a calling to post this. My fiance and I just done talking about this subject, and while doing my reading for the day i came across this reading that hit our subject head on with what we were talking about. And its something that i really needed to hear. In my life application bible if explains the writings in the sub headings, and it reads (psalm 119 Life Application)" Most of us chafe under rules, for we think they restrict us from doing what we want. At first glance, then, it may seem strange to hear the writer talk of rejoicing in following God's statutes as much as in great riches. But God's laws were given to free us to be all he wants us to be. They restrict us from doing what might cripple us and keep us from being our best. God's guidelines help us follow his path and avoid paths that lead to destruction. The writer says that he is a "stranger on earth" and so he needed guidance. Almost any long trip requires a map or guide. As we travel through life, the bible should be our road map, pointing out safe routes, obstacles to avoid, and our final destination. We must recognize ourselves as pilgrims, travelers here on earth that needs to study God's map to learn the way. If we ignore the map, we will wonder aimlessly through life and risk missing our real destination. Our lives are cluttered with rule books, but the authors never come with us to help us follow the rules. But God does. That is the uniqueness of our Bible. God not only provides the rules and guidelines, but comes with us personally each day to strengthen us so that we can live according to those rules. The writer talks about keeping the laws and yet being free. Contrary to what we often expect, obeying god's laws does not inhibit or restrain us. Instead it frees us to be what God designed us to be. By seeking Gods salvation and forgiveness we have freedom from sin and the resulting oppressive guilt. By living God's way, we have freedom to fulfill Gods plan for our lives. To walk safely in the woods at night we need a light so we dont trip over tree roots or fall into holes. In this life we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we don't stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling root of false values and philosophies. Study the bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path." There is no truth like the truth that the bible brings, and no freedom like the true freedom found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks God for his agape love.

Confessions

Its early in the morning, and I just got done listening to "While Im Waiting" by John Waller. This song is so awesome, and reminds me of so many times in my life, when I have taken a step back, and realized the worlds ways and how its so easy to get caught up in all that is ugly in this world. The change can be painful in times. It takes time, dedication to the Lord, and a strong will to change a nasty habit. And this song reminds me of so many times I have waited on the Lord. I grew up, you can say, very wild and free, having to learn God’s ways the hard way. Going through high school, many people probably viewed me as somewhat of a free spirited person, not having many cares as to what the consequences of doing things were. When I was younger, my friends and I would celebrate our freedoms of being 18 by buying pornography, and watching it. This is probably a norm to any 18 year old male in the world today, sadly enough. And as I moved away from home, pornography became an addiction to me. But as I have gotten older I have realized how degrading it is to women, and how it causes men to view women as objects. I changed my habits, it was painful at times, but I waited on the Lord to change me while I pursued him. I once walked through an airport in Cancun, and I came across a poster at the entrance of the baggage claim. It was the poster of a Native American woman, staring into the camera as the wind blew through her hair, and the poster read, “The woman mans most untapped resource." And that picture really hit me. It was so true, and it becomes more and more true the longer I live in this world. The love that comes from a godly woman’s heart, is like nothing the world has ever seen. It’s so beautiful and pure, and if the male race would only tap into and teach from that, the men, as elected leaders of this world, would cause this world to be a much better place. I believe that the man has destroyed the world we live in today, by his hardened heart, and pride. Do I believe that the world would be better off if women running the world, at this point, yes. But that is not what God calls us to do. Men are to be the leaders, and more men need the learn from the woman, on what it means to love and care for things more, all while being a leader who serves God. The women today have to take the roles of a male, because mankind has totally turned around the fact of what it means to be a man. Today to be a man, you need to sleep with a lot of girls, or drink more beers than the other. And if you don’t, your considered a “pussy.” Does anyone else see the problem here? Am I the only one? Doesn’t it take “a man” to love only one woman for his entire life, and serve only her? Doesn’t it take a stronger “man” to drink a water instead of twelve beers? I challenge every man in this world, who believes that the more girls you sleep with the more the man you are, or any man who would rather get wasted than open up the bible, to consider it. What’s the matter? Not “man” enough now? Dedicate your life to serving the Lord with me. Maybe together we will find the man in both of us, while we wait for our Lord. My bible verse today comes from one of my favorite passages, 1 Corinthians 13

Love

¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

John Waller "While Im Waiting"

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

The World We LIve In Today

Today was the first day of February.... and I have made it through the first month of reading through the bible in a year. It’s amazing the wisdom that is surpassed in the reading just from the first month. I could only imagine the wisdom that comes from reading the bible for one’s lifetime. I have currently started the book of Leviticus, and am in Chapter 5. Today in my devotionals I was convicted of wrong doings. I have realized that the sincerity of my words has been very watered down over the past year or so. When I was younger, it was a frequent accordance when, I would be hurt by someone who didn’t commit to the things they said that they would do. I would tell myself that I would not be one of these people… and yet here I am. Today, being a person who has frequently not held to my words and promises in the little areas of my life. Whether it’s telling someone,” yeah, I will be able to make it to your basketball game to watch you,” or “yeah, I will be able to do that,” I have allowed other things get in the way of me keeping my word. In Mathew 5:37 Jesus warns us against swearing (in the sense of making vows or oaths) when he says simply to let your “Yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.” Our words shall be enough. If we feel we have to strengthen our words with an oath, something is wrong with our sincerity. A wise and self- controlled person avoids making rash promises.

In the world today, we look all around us and can see the sin that devours our lives. And so much of it goes unnoticed. We are all going a hundred miles an hour, not being able to get from one place to the next fast enough…. Will this world ever slow down and just stop, take one look at itself, and realize the mess we have all caused? When Israel turned from God, his glory and presence departed from the temple and it was destroyed by invading armies (2 Kings 25). Just like Jerusalem, we in America, have turned our back on god, wanting to take… “In God we Trust,” out of everything, then we sit and mock this fact and people say, “Is there a god?” We need to wake up, and restore our nation that was based on the foundation of God. We have gone so far astray that no one knows what the truth is anymore. In the past two years, how many husbands have come out and said that they had an affair on their wife…. It is disgusting. If we don’t start, opening up our bibles, studying our god, restoring our relationship with him, doing what is right, and putting other people's cares before ourselves….If we do not start doing these things.... It’s only going to get worse. Its this kind of change that America needs, not "Obama change."

My Website

This is my very first post! I need to thank King McCarthy for building my web page. He does an amazing job, and if anyone is interested in constructing a website, I would refer everyone to him. His knowledge and insight is amazing. He has done a number of web-sites for a number of celebrities including Carlos Santana, and web-sites for golf courses, including Genoa Lakes Golf Course. He can do anything! I am very thankful for having him make my site. Stay updated on upcoming tournaments and my journey of mastering this crazy game we call golf. I will also be posting blogs on my spiritual journey as well, where we can get together and share what the Lord is doing in your life.