“How you think determines how you feel.” I don’t know where I first heard this, but excluding injuries and illnesses, I believe it.

Controlling how you think takes work and practice, but if you control how you think about things, you can control how you feel. For example, what if on one of those days when the bills were stacked up and you had no idea how you would cover them all, the Fedex person delivered you a package notifying you that you just inherited a fortune from an unknown relative. Do you think you would feel better? Nothing physically changed in this instance, you just looked at things differently and changed your thoughts and your feelings.

Another way I have heard this concept described is, “Events don’t have a meaning until we give them a meaning.” What we allow ourselves to think when something occurs gives the event a meaning to us.

In a similar way, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:15, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” NLT

Dear Lord, Thank you for the incredible opportunities you have given us to appreciate your creation and those around us. Help us put our trust and confidence in you so that we may have a “happy heart” and enjoy all that we have. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Bible is very clear that if we believe and trust in God, he will protect and guide us.

Among the passages about this is, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

It is also clear that if we turn our backs on God and his direction, he will leave us to the consequences of our actions.

Psalm 81:11-12 says, “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”

And Romans 1:24 says, “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired….” And verse 27, “…they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.”

Dear Lord, you outlined a plan for us, and if we follow it, you have promised to protect and guide us. Help us acknowledge You and Your direction, and live in the peace and joy that you provide. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Thirty two years ago today my beautiful wife and I were married. It was a wonderful day, and a great party with friends and family. Every day since, we have faced the many joys and adventures of life, and sorrows and struggles together. Our love for each other holds us together, and as 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love because Christ first loved us.”

I believe that God brought us together, and that our faith has strengthen our love for each other. I also believe our love for each other strengthens our faith. We have been incredibly blessed with wonderful children, loving extended families, many friends and a wonderful Church family. I pray that everyone could have the same.

Solomon wrote in in Proverbs 4:18, “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.” I am incredibly blessed to have a beautiful, confident, caring, faithful Christian wife!

Happy Anniversary Liz!

Dear Lord, Help us remember that we can love because you first loved us, and this love is what truly holds us together. How thankful and grateful Liz and I are that you have given us each other. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Romans 12:9 Paul tells us, “Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.” Most of the time, we can look at a situation, and differentiate the good from the evil (bad), though we may have trouble overcoming the temptation toward what we know is wrong.

Some of you may have heard this from a Pastor we know, he has a concise practical way to follow Paul’s direction saying, “Touch holy things, and don’t touch evil things.” The “touch” is meant to include what we see, or hear, as well.

James tells us in James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

If we want to make an improvement in our lives and our walk in Faith, a big step is deciding to turn toward the good and turn away from the evil.

Dear Lord, Help us make the decision to turn from evil and resist the devil. Then give us the strength to hold fast to what is good. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Throughout generations, there have been thousands of powerful, brilliant, inspiring, and successful people. Many of these people have made incredible contributions to mankind. However their power is limited to the bounds of earth. Their influence may continue through institutions, and information they leave after death, but they have no power after death.

Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

God is the eternal power, when we put our confidence in him, and faith in Jesus Christ, we know we are protected beyond death, and into eternal life.

Dear Lord, What peace and joy it gives us when we truly put our hope in you for our protection and guidance. Help us see this truth and put it in practice in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.