One Minute Message - Choose to believe that God’s default is love...not hell fire. #OneMomentAway #JesusWay #GodIsGood #PraiseJesus #thankyoulord #lovewins #blessed #God

When people see things like prayer being worded as a weapon it’s off putting sometimes but...that’s because we are thinking of it as a weapon against people...which it is NOT. We are told to use prayer and scripture as “weapons” against the enemy, satan, and we are told to use love for one another. Times may be hard, and they may get harder, while it may look like people are causing that, remember who is really causing it...the same sly devil that tried to overtake heaven. He lost then and he loses again! Love hard my friends and don’t imagine your fight is with people. “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:13-18‬ ‭MSG‬‬ #OneMomentAway #JesusWay #GodIsGood #PraiseJesus #thankyoulord #lovewins #blessed #God

In the past I wondered why this part of scripture ends with “... sharing with the people closest in our faith” instead of just saying “help everyone.” If you read it in context t it’s because they’re referring to helping people who are “falling into sin” and helping them get their life back on track. The world is so turned off by us ‘talking Jesus’ then living the opposite and this scripture is a reminder to Christ followers that we must get our own house in order before all of the “who do we need to get saved” talk that Christians always vomit out. Following Jesus isn’t about you “saving people”. Jesus did the work. It’s about loving people the way He does, and showing them how following Him is the best thing for our lives and theirs. It’s about being a light that attracts them out of the darkness. How can we do that if we look no different than what they see in the darkness? “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Jesus words on many things can be confusing to us at times but one thing he spoke about was very clear...love. Love GOD, love your neighbors, love your enemies, love yourself. Yet day after day, people are being turned away from the real Jesus because they’re seeing people who say they’re “Christians” promote anger, hate and violence. How sad is it that people don’t want to know the God of Love because they’re not seeing His love through those who claim His name? How heartbreaking that Jesus gave His life, even for His enemies yet we can’t step away from political fighting for the sake of our loved ones? People are abandoning friends for political differences instead of loving friends for the sake of humanity. ? If you say you’re a follower of Jesus but you prioritize politics, the constitution or the winning an argument over heeding the commands of Jesus...perhaps you’re a believer...but not a follower. A few months ago as I was driving home I heard the Holy Spirit clearly say: FOLLOW ME. And I pray all the time so I of course asked ‘whattya mean? I BELIEVE Lord. I am your follower. And clearly I heard, “It’s time to stop ‘believing’ and start FOLLOWING.” See, I believed in God and Jesus and His saving grace on the cross but I was not giving him my life in response to His love. Let me encourage you believers to not just believe...believe and respond by following Jesus. And let us get back to the basics by following these words of Jesus. This MLK quote shared by my friend @dana_dowd this morning reminded of Jesus words below. Please read the image, then these scriptures. Then let the scriptures read you. How do they speak into your heart? “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another...” #OneMomentAway #JesusWay #GodIsGood #PraiseJesus

Happiness...

The face you make when you’re getting discharged from the hospital and you get to go home to your amazing wife and you get to go to church to worship God together. Thank you for all of the prayers everyone and thank you God for the great staff here at the hospital and the amazing care they took of me during this emergency surgery and recovery. #OneMomentAway #JesusWay #GodIsGood #PraiseJesus #thankyoulord #lovewins #blessed #God

3x this year I have had to be in the emergency room. Two of those three were direct result of me and not honoring the body that God has given me. In May I had a hypertensive crisis because my blood pressure was through the roof due to being extremely overweight and too much alcohol. In September, I was in the emergency room because I had developed a blood clot that got to my lung and became a pulmonary embolism ‘s. That was a result of still being way overweight and when I combined that with excessive travel…and using a higher than recommended dose of testosterone injections my body responded accordingly. Yesterday I was in the emergency room, this one beyond my control it was an emergency appendectomy LOL but as I’ve reflected on this year it reminds me of the importance of doing what is in my control to keep my body healthy. Our bodies, are a gift from God and we have the gift of free will, and the ability to control our health. France I pray that you do not need emergency room skiers to get your health on track but I’ve been focused on improving mine since September and it will continue for the rest of my life. I hope the challenges I faced will be an encouragement for each and everyone of you to consider your health and think about the things you need to adjust to enjoy a longer healthier life while you’re on this planet. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God loves you! “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-11‬ ‭MSG‬‬

This handsome kid. So proud of you @king_koenig_30

Never been so happy to have my lifestream interrupted :-) my son Liam FaceTime to me from the Marines base ♥️