🏁The Mitu🏎️

Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend that hugs you.

The other morning I was on my way to work. It was just like any other morning. Triffic was moving and it was just another day. Then this mitu came out of nowhere and with only inches to spare changed lanes in front of me. I just knew I was about to be in a bad accident. No he made it, how I don’t know. Down the road they went at high speeds. The light ahead was red, cars were stopped but that didn't stop this person. Over in the turn lane and once again with only inches, not feet, inches to spare they ran the red light and dodged the oncoming cars. So what’s a mitu? It is an acronym that I made up that stands for More Important Than You. As my granddad used to say “if you had left early you wouldn’t have to drive like that.” I learned something very valuable early in my life and that is we are our brothers' keeper. What I do does affect others. That person doing all that so-called fancy driving not only has his life in his hands but also the lives of others he didn't even know.  What you and I do affects others in two ways: good or bad and we get to make the choice ourselves. I have the power of the words coming from my mouth therefore I must think before I release those words. Words spoken can never be taken back for our life has no reverse. Have you ever said “my dad used to say?” Or “I can still hear those words from….” “Those words remind me of my???” In 1901 a young lady passed away and I can’t remember her first name but her last name was Brooks. She left me a message and I wouldn't get that message for almost a 100 years. It was chiseled in her tombstone and it read “where you stand I once stood, where I am you will soon be, prepare to meet God.” Her words are still leaving and impacting the lives of others. Jesus Christ had that same type of impact and His words are still powerful.

Matthew 24:35 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Heaven and earth will pass away, not maybe or might, but “shall pass away.” Then Jesus goes on to say but “my words shall not pass away.” David said I am going to hide God's Word in my heart. 

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

For what purpose? To cleanse our way.

Psalms 119:9 (KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

The little phrase “thy word” is mentioned 36 times in the book of Psalms. It would do us good to read Psalms 119 and pay attention to that phrase “thy word” for out of those 36 times it is mentioned 35 times in that one chapter. Here are a few things that God’s Word will do.

1. Cleanse 
2. Keep us from sin
3. Bring delight to our souls
4. Gives us strength 
5. Brings Salvation
6. Comfort
7. Keep us from evil
8. Give us light
9. Show how to walk in this world
10. Show us truth
11. Give us understanding
12. Bring deliverance 

Just to name a few. Our words are powerful too. Have you told anyone you love them lately? Have you used your words to encourage someone? Have you used words to lift someone up lately? One of my daily prayers is to ask my Heavenly Father to help me to encourage others. I think that giving to others is important and kind words cannot be purchased. A man called me one day and said these words to me that I had never heard. He said “thank you for your service.” It was 38 years after being discharged before I heard those words. Today I still remember how it made me feel. Our words have a great impact on others so use them wisely. 

🎆Without Limits👀

The greatest gift that one can give to another is unconditional love.

What if someone came to you and said “ I want you to make your life better so from here on out spend without limits.” Just think of what you would be able to do? Pay your home off, get rid of that old car that you have been keeping on the road for years. Leave for a vacation and go where you have always wanted to go, stay as long as you like . See the sights you have only seen in pictures. Live life to its fullest, so to speak. Wouldn’t that be great if it involved money no problem. Just thinking of that sounds so wonderful doesn’t it? Don’t get too excited that isn’t going to happen because what I have seen in life is that no one can have enough wealth. As one lady told me how much is enough just one more. As I read my Bible about Jesus Christ the Savior of mankind I find that His love is unlimited, His love was unconditional. It didn’t matter who you were, poor or rich, sick or healthy, overweight or underweight. It mattered not what color you were, what language you spoke, what attitude you had or what disability you have lame, blind, deaf none of that mattered. This man Jesus didn’t just talk. He displayed His love everywhere He went. That day on the cross after being slapped, spit on, talked to with unkind words, beaten almost to death and more than we know.  He only had words of kindness and love. In pain while the crowd of people who had gathered that day at the cross yelled, Jesus looked down and said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. What would you or I have said? Did we pray this day and ask our Heavenly Father to give us a heart of unconditional love? There are parents who won’t forgive their own children and grandchildren for mistakes that they made or words that they spoke in anger. We may try to be the best at our profession and we work hard to get to that place. Oh but are we working hard to love others? It matters not how well we do, make one mistake and you live with it the rest of your life. Why is that? 

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

People love to remember the evil deeds we have done. Get a record with the court systems and it will be there forever. Here is what Jesus taught John 13:34 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Jesus didn’t just say "love one another He said do like I do” “as I have loved you” how did Jesus love you? Unconditionally! Just this week I heard a man tell about his dad as he spoke at his funeral. He first said my dad loved me even when I made bad choices he never quit loving me. Then he used these words: my dad loved me unconditionally. As this man spoke his voice got weak as the tear flowed from his eyes and dripped off his cheeks. His dad was 83 and his son was in his late 50’s or early 60’s. His last words before he stepped down were “I love you dad and I’m going to miss you.” Then he said “but I know I’ll see you again.” Do you and I strive at having unconditional love for others? We might be the only person that has shown them any love in a long time. Luke 15 tells of a son who left home and went out and made bad choices. When he decided to come back home his father ran out to meet him with loving arms and an unconditional love. Now his brother did not have that unconditional love. I have often asked myself which one am I? The father or the brother? 

😇No Exception🙁

There are no exceptions to the rule but we all like to think we are an exception to the rule. 

Have you ever thought or felt like there should have been an exception for you? I’m sure we all have felt like that at one time or another. I know I have. Years ago my son bought himself a motorcycle. I thought if I were to get one too then we could  spend more time together riding. As a dad I was always looking for ways to spend more time with my children; not sure I did the best job at it for sure. I’m not sure any parent feels like they spend enough time with their children. Anyways I bought myself a motorcycle. Now you have to have another license to ride a motorcycle. No problem, I'll go get one. All I had to do was take a written test and then a driving test on my motorcycle. No problem, I passed the written test without even studying for it. Now the driving test, here is where things changed. There were only certain places you could go to do that test. The first place me and my son went was a good way off, I guess about 60 miles away. Best I can remember it was open on Saturday. We went to take the test, I drove my motorcycle and he drove his car. The test track was outside the patrol station. The one giving me the test told me when I come to the fork pay attention to the light and it would tell me which way to go. Off I went when I got to the light it was neither flashing right or left but it was flashing yellow. I had to go one way or the other; I had no idea what to do and still don’t to this day. Whatever I did was wrong, although I don’t know what was the right thing to do. That one thing caused me to fail the test. When I finished and found out the results, I didn’t pass. I went back and was standing with my son when those officers waved for my son to come take the test. I thought they were waving for me to come back. Somehow in my little tin cup mind I thought they were going to make an exception for me. Wrong! They were waving for my son which he passed. No flashing yellow lights for him. Life is short. You hear of someone living well into their 80’s and that sounds like a long time but I assure you it’s not it will be here before you know it. James warned us of that. James 4:14 (KJV) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James gives us a word picture of how long our life is, a vapor. When I read that my mind takes me back to my childhood days. I would come into the kitchen where my mother was cooking and vapors would be coming off the pots on the stove and would soon vanish into the air. Life moves at a fast speed. Don’t be caught off guard. 

Hebrews 3:7 (KJV) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Hebrews 3:8 (KJV) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Provocation which simply means “Any thing that excites anger; the cause of resentment.”

Then the example is given “in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” In the wilderness God’s people provoked Him by their unbelief, murmurings, ingratitude, and idolatry; and they tempted God by distrusting his power and goodness. The warning to all of us is Don’t let our Heart become Hard. The easiest thing to do is do nothing. Don’t guard our heart and evil slips in. Don’t guard our talk and evil talk slips out. If we allow unbelief it will soon bring complaining and grumbling. Then ingratitude will show up and then distrust in God and His Power to do good. Then we will start to question God. We will ask questions like “why me God?” “If you love me the way you say, then why, I don’t understand.” God never changes. He is always the same. 

Malachi 3:6 (KJV) For I am the LORD, I change not;  

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The yellow lights are flashing, proceed with caution, for there are no exceptions. 

🙇🏻‍♂️Different 🤩

It is a quiet magical transformation that is deeply inspiring.

Have you ever been around someone that changed? I mean they changed completely to the point that they were not the same person. There was a young man I once knew he ran with a wild bunch. They used drugs they loved to fight with others. They would all get together and go buy beer and in just a short time they were not thinking clearly. Under the influence of alcohol they were not  thinking for themselves. They said they were having a good time. Maybe they were at first but let’s fast forward a few years. Now life is much different and these young men have all gone in different directions. Most of them were married and some had children and some were in jail. Ask them, "Are you having fun now?” They might say no. Those young men were what we call conforming which means make to resemble and they were all doing a good job of resembling. There was one that did not like where he was but he didn’t know how to change. He tried to but know matter how hard he tried he kept failing. One day he decided to go to Church in hopes that might help. His mom and dad took him before he decided to leave home and it did no good. So he decided to give it another try. On that day something happened he never saw coming. The preacher said to the congregation “ARE YOU A SINNER?” 🙋‍♂️yes the young man thought and on that day that young man asked Jesus Christ to forgive him his sins and from that day forward that young man's life changed. He told me later himself that I was doing all the right things but I just couldn’t change. Oh that day I asked Jesus to save me my life changed. Here is what the Bible said happened Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

He said I began to do those things I never was doing or could do before. I started reading my Bible and it was a real joy although I didn’t understand everything I read. I didn’t want to use those four letter words anymore. Drugs and alcohol got out of my life and my family was getting put back together. What was happening? My life was being transformed, not conformed. Where is that man today? He is dead. Oh not like you think, he is dead to his old way of life because of Jesus Christ. What are his plans for the future? Heaven! Just like that thief in the book of Luke chapter 23; He died with the words of Jesus ringing in his ears and heart “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

😱Change😎

Build a wall or build a windmill for the wind is coming. Be hidden or be prepared.

It’s for sure things will change. I have lived long enough to see many changes. When I was a boy no home or car had AC. My dad put a big fan in the window in his and moms bedroom. Windows in the house were open and he reversed the fan blade and it would cause air to be pulled in all the open windows. Sometimes at night, believe it or not the fan had to be turned off because it got too cool. Our car, well it didn’t have AC either. My dad bought a car from my great aunt. She lived in Florida and they had an AC put in that car. The best I can remember it was in the car alright but it did not work. Nowadays it’s unheard of not to have AC in our homes and cars. Those are some good changes over time. Now there are some changes that are not so good. On the street I was raised on we knew everybody up both sides of the street. Neighbors had time for each other. I can remember my mom and dad sitting outside talking with the neighbors, having cookouts from time to time. Now most people don’t know who their neighbors are. One moves in another moves out and when we talk about them we say “you know the man who used to live next door that always had on those wild looking shirts.” Change is everywhere and we can’t stop it. Now in all the change there is one who changes not 

Malachi 3:6 (KJV) For I am the LORD, I change not;  

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

We have changed, the things around us have changed, but the God of the universe has not. Jesus who forgave that dying thief that was being crucified next to Him. Is still forgiving those who think there is no hope. No where in the Bible will you find Jesus turning away anyone who needed help. It didn’t matter what they had done nor who they were, the love of Jesus was greater than all their sin. The good news is Jesus has not changed. We have, but He has not. We have it in writing, read your Bible. We believe in the weather man and prepare for the rain or storm that is headed our way. It never comes, no rain, no storm yet we were prepared because we trusted in the weather man. Why not trust in the one who never changes nor lies, are we prepared?

🫳Help🫴🏽

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Have you ever needed help? Have you ever told anyone if they needed help to give you a call and you would be more than willing to help. Now did you really mean that? It was one Monday morning and our hot water heater went out. Lucky for me I knew how to install a hot water heater. I told my wife and she said “I think we need an electric one, let’s get rid of that gas one. Oh boy, now it was more than just changing the water heater. I’m not sure that my wife knew that I would have to run an electric circuit in order to do that. Once again I knew how to do that too. The hot water heater, I could get for nothing because my son had told me if I ever needed one that his good friend could get me one at no cost. Well I got the hot water heater and was about to run a circuit for it. The phone rang and it was a good friend who asked me what I was doing and I told him. Before the conversation was over he said if you need any help please call me. It wasn't long before I realized that if I had some help this job would be easier. I gave my friend a call and he said sure let me see I can come this Thursday; that isn’t helping. I am glad our Heavenly Father is not that way and He has put it in writing for us.

Psalms 46:1 (KJV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Not the God that will be there in a few days. Sad to say that the only time some pray is when they need help. Our Heavenly Father loves us and is there for His children. What is it that you need help for today? Did we ask our Heavenly Father to help us? Or do we have the idea that I’ve got this! Read Luke 15 and you read about a young man who said “I got this.” Oh but it wasn’t long before he realized he didn’t. 

Luke 15:15 (KJV) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Doesn’t read like he’s got this to me. Next we read that this young man who thought he had it all under control got so hungry that the pig food looks good enough for him to eat.

Luke 15:16 (KJV) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

What happened to his money? Verse 13 tells us “wasted his substance with riotous living.” Don’t do that, you might not end up at a pig pen but it will be something similar. As we read on we see the love of his biological father who was a present help in time of trouble. Once this young man decided he needed help. He remembered his love his father had for him and jumped the rail, he hit the trail and went home to his father. Don’t forget we all need help. That young man didn’t waste his substance on purpose, he just thought things would never change oh but they do. What happened when that son got un seeing distance? Luke 15:20 (KJV) And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

👺The Third Sin😮‍💨

No one can just tell one lie for one lie always requires another and another and a…….

Read your Bible and you will find it starts off in the book of Genesis telling of a wonderful place. In this wonderful place called the garden of Eden God places a male named Adam and a female named Eve. All they would ever need was there and there was only one rule: don't eat the fruit of one tree; the tree of good and evil. Who can’t keep one rule? We can’t! You and I can only imagine what it must have been like, but just like you and I they had an enemy. That enemy wants to make their life miserable just as the same enemy wants to do for each of us. He did by convincing Eve that breaking the rule would make her wise; which it did not. That was number one sin number two is the one you and I still have trouble with. It is running and hiding.

Genesis 3:8 (KJV) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Hiding only makes things worse. Why? Because when you get caught hiding brings on questions you don’t feel comfortable answering. (God)

Genesis 3:11 (KJV) And he (God) said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Questions cause us to blame others; sin number three. Genesis 3:12 (KJV) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

What Adam said was true and what Eve said was also true. Genesis 3:13 (KJV) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Blaming others never changes who’s fault it is. Over the years I have learned not to blame others, for no one has ever twisted my arm and made me do anything. I have to take ownership for my wrong doings. I remember when my dad asked me this question, why did you drink that beer? The answer should have been, the truth. Oh no, I blamed those I was with. It wasn't my fault, it was their fault. Blaming others I thought was a good escape route for my wrong doings. One day I picked up a book written by Andy Andrews. It was titled “The Traveler's Gift.” In that book Andy wrote about Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success. The first one he wrote about was the Buck Stops Here! Quit blaming others. Oh my blaming others never changes what I have done! It didn’t change Adam nor Eve’s wrong doing. They may have been encouraged to disobey God but they were the ones who did it. Oh it wasn’t the ones in the car that night that made me do anything I did it because I wanted too. My dad was much smarter than I was giving him credit for; birds of a feather flock together and he knew that. I just didn't happen into that car that night nor did I just stumble across that beer. Oh no I was in the decision making and the getting operation. Oh I still remember it on a back street in East Atlanta GA.  I remember going up to a house giving a man I didn’t know my daddy money to buy beer for minors. That man walked down the street and bought it for us. That’s the truth I didn’t tell my dad. Well you might have said oh my 😱how could you have done such? That is what sin will do: it makes us liars to those we love. Haven’t you blamed others thinking it would save you from the wrath to come? Come on now! Yeah that memory you just had.