🌳Freerider⛷️

  You are capable of incredible things, even when the path feels difficult. 

Have you ever heard of a young man named Jacob Smith? If you were to google Jacob Smith you would come up with a host of Jacob Smith. Jacob Smith QB at Reagan high school in Pfafftown North Carolina. He finished his  high school career with 4384 passing yards, 39 touchdown passes, and 81 carries for 405 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. 3x team captain.

Although that is impressive, it's not this Jacob Smith that caught my eye. It’s funny I would say eye? You’ll understand in a moment. This Jacob Smith is also athletic and his sport is in the snow, he is a skier. He is a freerider skier. What’s that? It is skiing through the trees. What makes Jacob so different is that he is blind. Blind! How does he ski through trees? His brother gets him to the top where all the skiers are about to start. His dad studies the terrain and does the seeing for him talking to him by 2-way radio. When his dad says turn right Jacob doesn’t hesitate he turns right. Jacob was asked do you trust your dad? To which he said completely. On competition day, there were 41 freeriders skied and Jacob finished 19th out of the 41. Jacob isn’t about the trophy he’s about the freedom and being able to finish.  The Apostle Paul was about finishing too. 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Paul didn’t say he came in first place, he just said that he had “finished my course.” Paul didn’t say he was the best Missionary that ever lived nor did he say he was number one in his walk with God. No but he did say that he had  “have fought a good fight.” Do you know how many times you find the word “trophy” in the bible? If you said 0 times you would be correct. Yet there is coming a day of rewards 1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

What are we looking for as we live as one of God Children? Fame? Recondition? For everyone to know our name? Or are we willing to just trust our Heavenly Father?  Jacob Smith skis around trees without being able to see. He does it very well because he listens to his fathers voice. We as God children step out every day blind to who our Heavenly Father has for us to help, speak a kind word to, give a pat on the back for a job well done, talk to them about His Son.  Therefore we must listen to our Heaven Father. Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Don’t let the noise of this world drown out the voice of the Lord. 

🏃‍♂️‍➡️The Best Route To Take🥇

 The middle of the road means compromise you are neither left nor right,

In 2012 there was a ballpark franks commercial. Three men were grilling ballpark franks in the backyard. When one mentioned a baseball title that was won back in 1935 and his friend questioned him by saying are you sure. His response was “I’m 99.9% sure.” To which the other friend said “so you don’t know.” Then his friend said “I’m 99.999% sure.” To which his friend said “if you don’t know you don't know.” 

In John chapter 7 and verse 40 some believe Christ to be a  prophet. Then in verse 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

So nobody knew. Then in verse 42  

John 7:42 (KJV) Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

Some said one thing and some said something else then others said the scriptures say. We have a bunch that is confused and all thinking they are right. Why do I say that? Because of Verse 43 reads So there was a division among the people because of him. (Jesus) So what did the scriptures say? If we turn to the first book of the New Testament which is Matthew and read verse 1-17 we see that Jesus came from the seed of David. Then if we read the first verse in Matthew chapter 2 that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. That is what the scriptures say. If we get our advice from others then we too will not know. We need to know what the scriptures teach. In the scriptures we will find and know the truth. Ask someone if they know where they will go after this life is done. Most will say heaven. Ask how they know that and most will say I have been a good person and I wouldn’t doubt that. The only problem is you won’t find that in the scriptures. But what you will find is this  

Romans 3:12 (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

None that do good is what the scriptures teach. If we could do good enough to merit Heaven then why was Jesus born in Bethlehem? For what purpose? If we don’t need Jesus to  go to heaven. Oh but we do! John chapter 3 and verse 16 reads  For God so loved the world, (We are in the world and that put us in God's love)

that he gave his only begotten Son,  (To those God loved He gave Jesus Christ His Son) that whosoever believeth in him (That anybody in this world that believed on Jesus Christ God's son)

should not perish, but have  life. (Should not lose life but have a life that is eternal without end)

Or as John 10 and verse 10 teaches I am come (Jesus) that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This is abundant life, eternal life that is why Jesus came. What a gift. Before we believe what others say, find out for yourself what the scriptures say. I think 🤔 that would be the best route.

👂Hear My 🙏

“Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, however harmless it may appear to be.” AW Tozer 

In Psalm 143 the Psalmist David writes “Hear my prayer” Who do you want to hear your prayer David? Who are you addressing? David says “O Lord” What do you want the Lord to hear? “My supplications.” David says hear my request and in your faithfulness, God answer me. I have to stop here and ask myself when I pray do I ask the Lord to  “Hear my prayer?” Or do I just start praying? Do I ask when I pray, “O Lord give ear to my request?” Or do I just start naming my request off? Wow I think I can learn something about how to pray, when I approach God my Heaven Father. When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray. The first thing Jesus said when He began talking to His Father. Matthew 6:9 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Did David think that his Heavenly Father wouldn’t hear? I don’t think so, but David showed respect by realizing who he was speaking with. Why did David say “in thy faithfulness?” Could it be that God had answered many times before? I think so. Now watch and learn from David and how he prayed. In verse 3 David asked for help against his enemies. STOP! And ask yourself do I have any enemies that are hindering my walk with God? The answer would be yes. Sometimes one of our greatest enemies is ourselves. Let me ask, have we ever had any disbelief? Any doubt? Any trust issues? That’s what David was praying wasn’t it? Psalms 143:3 (KJV) For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. My enemy has pursued me and has ground my life into dirt. My enemy has also caused me to live in dark places. That is what the enemy of disbelief will do. That is what the enemy of doubt will do. Jesus said this in John 7:38 (KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Have you ever prayed like David and said Lord help me with my disbelief and my doubt. To overcome these enemies you need to ask for help.  

Mark 9:23 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:24 (KJV) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

It’s never wrong to ask our Heavenly Father to help us with our unbelief, our doubt. What about our Salvation? Believing is not feelings. Feeling good is wonderful but being right doesn’t always carry feelings. In the book of Exodus God’s people had prayed for God to deliver them out of Egypt’s bondage. It looked like God wasn’t going to deliver them. Then God said kill a lamb but the blood of that lamb on the doorpost of your homes. Why?

Exodus 12:12 (KJV) For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

That might not mean a whole lot if you weren’t the first born. I can envision that night. My two brothers over there playing, not a worry in the world. Now me on the other hand not so. I would be making sure everything was in order. Why? Because I’m the first born and if it wasn’t done right; well it would be me who would be dead. My brothers, well they may have said, “we sure hate it dad that you got it wrong. We sure will miss Wayne!” You see when it involves you, you are a little more interested. Lord, I believe help me with my enemy of unbelief. Be right, take the time to ask for help. 

🙆🏻‍♂️Where Is He🤷🏻‍♂️

Lift up now thine eyes, look from the place where thou art and tell me what you see.

Not where is he going, not, where is he from, not where is he now, not where is he hiding, not where is been but WHERE IS HE? Great question the police might ask that question when looking for a suspect. Your dad or mom may have asked you that question when looking for your brother. I’m sure we could think of many ways we have or could use that phrase. Well as I was reading my Bible this little phrase jumped out at me in John Chapter 7 and verse 11 “Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?” Now these Jews were wanting to know where Jesus was so they asked the question “Where is he?” Why did these Jews want to know where Jesus was? Back in verse one we are told why. John 7:1 (KJV) After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I said to myself “oh my that’s awful.” Then I asked myself how many times is that phrase mentioned in the New Testament? Only 3 times and out of those 3 times there is only one time they are looking for Jesus to worship Him. Matthew 2:2 (KJV) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

The next time was in John 7:11 where the Jew wanted to know where Jesus was so they could kill Him. The last time is in  John 9:12 (KJV) Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

They asked a blind man. Very few are wanting to Worship and other go about their day and rarely think of Jesus. Then there are those who are blind to all that Jesus has already done. On Easter this year there were over 1200 in attendants at the First Baptist Church this year in the town I live in. How do I know that? I asked? Then I asked another question “how many attend on a regular Sunday?” I was told about 400 to 450. I wonder where the other 750 to 800 people are? When Jesus was feeding people there were1000’s. When Jesus was taken to jail where were all those people? 🤷🏻‍♂️The next Sunday at the First Baptist after Easter you will have no problem finding a place to sit. The reason being 750 to 800 people will not be looking for a place to sit. Are we looking for a place to Worship? Or we don’t care, we aren’t looking for Jesus anywhere let alone a place to Worship. Could be, we don’t know because we spend a lot of time with the blind who have never seen so why look. If you have ever asked or thought about this man Jesus then you have wanted to know “Where is he?” I wonder if any of those 750 to 800 people really saw Jesus on Easter?

🌡️Measuring Stick🤒

 What you can learn tomorrow is Built on what you learned today!

A measuring stick is a standard or benchmark which something may be  judged or decided. In my younger days when my dad would go to the service station; that’s what they called it back in the day. For those who don’t know what a service station is, it's a place where you would go mainly to get gasoline. There was no getting out of your car, oh no. Someone would come to the driver's side of the car and you would tell them how much gas you wanted. I can still hear my dad say “fill it up.” Oh that person just didn’t stand there putting gas into your gas tank he would wash your front glass or windshield. Then they would say check your oil and tire pressure? You would say yes please or no thank you. When they would check your oil they would open the hood and check your dip stick. Now that was a measuring stick that went into your oil pan that told you if you need oil or not. You might hear that person say “looks like it’s a quart low, shall I put a quart in for you?” The more you paid attention to the measuring stick the better service you got out of your car. The more you pay attention to your tire air pressure the longer your tires will last. 

Measuring sticks, tape measures, gauges, meters and many other ways to know the benchmark of operation. When it comes to our personal life we also have ways of telling. Want to know what your  blood pressure is? We have a gauge. Want to know your temperature? We have a gauge for that too. Want to know if you are overweight? The easiest way is to look into your bathroom mirror; just kidding. Want to know how your relationship is with you mate? Just ask them. Want to know how your relationship is with the Lord? Ask yourself do I know anything about the Bible I have? Could you lay your hands on it without looking for it? Are you talking to the Lord daily by prayer?  Read what Psalms chapter one and verse one has to say. 

Psalms 1:1 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Are you following the lives and advice of wicked people?

Who are your hero’s? Who are you pattering your life after?

Don’t sit or join yourself up with the wrong company. 

We can and should always be making ourselves better and the only way to know how is to have a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We can learn by experience 

Genesis 30:27 (KJV) And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Or as the Apostle Paul said he had learned to be content by whatever situation he found himself in. 

Philippians 4:11 (KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Sometimes we want too much! One has to learn to be content living in a you can have it today world. We must learn to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and just like any other relationship it takes time. If we were to get paid for time spent with the Lord; say $100 per hour how well would we know Him? How would it change our lives? As my father n law said “we do what we want to do.” What does the  measuring stick look like? Ignore that in your car and it will cost you dearly. Ignore Jesus Christ in your life and it too will cost you dearly. 

🫡Greater Love🫡

 “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges forget in time that men have died to win them.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

John 15:13 (KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

THANKS IS THE ONLY WORD I KNOW AND THAT SEEMS SO SMALL FOR ALL YOU GAVE

DUST

We were young, strong and fool hearty.
We were men of steel who rode iron horses.

But steel and iron rust away.

Soon we shall all fade, as did the life we led.

And we shall return to the dust from whence we came,
leaving only a fleeting memory and a name upon a wall.

One Charlie Niner Hotel (1C9H)

Memorial Day is not a Christian holiday, it’s a time we set aside to honor those who gave all. It’s important to acknowledge and remember those who have died so that we might live in a free country. And as Christians, we can also use this day to celebrate and remember the Biblical values of sacrifice, courage, and love.

The holiday originated as Decoration Day after the Civil War. The first observance of Decoration Day was held on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

‍

Over time, Decoration Day evolved into Memorial Day, and the holiday began to honor all Americans who died while serving in the military. In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday, and its observance was moved to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for Americans.

I would like to give thanks to Wayne J Stokes from Stockbridge GA for his great sacrifice. 

U. S. Army PFC Wayne J Stokes KIA

 2 December 1967

PFC - E3 - Army - Selective Service

9th Infantry Division

Length of service 0 years

His tour began on Nov 22, 1967

Casualty was on Dec 2, 1967

In LONG AN, SOUTH VIETNAM

HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY

GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE

Body was recovered

 Panel 31E - Line 26

🚪No Hope😱

  Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Helen Keller

Those were the words my friend James heard in a doctor's office one afternoon. The doctor asked James and his wife to come to his office. When they arrived he had them sit down. The doctor told James that he had a brain tumor that was inoperable. There were treatments available but the truth was he had a short time to live. Then the doctor said “do you or your wife have any questions?” James' wife sat there in unbelief of what she was hearing. James on the other hand unstood completely what he heard. James stood up and learned over on the doctors desk and said “yes I have one question.” What was James about to ask? James looked the doctor in his eyes and said “yes I have one question and that is do you know for sure that you are going to heaven?” “For at a time like this that is all that really matters isn’t it Doc.” A few months later James left for heaven. No Hope, are awful words to hear if all you have is here on this earth. The Bible is a book full of Hope. Somehow this word hope has become a word we use as maybe. We use it and hear others use it that way. John, are you going to………then you hear John reply by saying “I hope we get to go.” The word HOPE can have that meaning. Not long after I asked the Lord to save me, forgive me of my sin, we moved to the country. A small town outside of Atlanta. That's when I heard people using this word hope. Someone would get sick and couldn’t get the crops harvested. Then friends would say “Miss Hall we are going to hope you. At first I thought they were saying help you in a country way. No that is not what they were saying because I kept hearing it over and over again. Then I learned what they meant by using that word hope. The word hope has another meaning: “Confidence in a future event.” When these old timers said hope, what they were saying is you can have confidence that I will be there. Fields where cattle once grazed and crops once filled the fields and words of confidence filled the air are no more. Now there are houses standing and subdivisions with roads crisscrossing and people rushing back and forth. The word Hope has become maybe and not confidence. Our Bible on the other hand has not lost that meaning of confidence. For when we read that word Hope it carries the meaning to expect with confidence.  

When the Apostle Paul writes about Redemption he uses the word Hope 4 times in one verse.

Romans 8:24 (KJV) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

We are saved by confidence in what the Lord Jesus has already done. We are looking ahead with confidence. Hope is a word of confidence but take that word hope and put a no in front of it and you get not any confidence.

Ephesians 2:12 (KJV) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

No confidence and without God in this world. Wow that is an awful place to be. Then we read in 

1 Thessalonians,  of having confidence that there is confidence of a better place. Don’t be sorrowful for we have confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is a side note: the word HOPE is mentioned 130 times in our Bibles while  NO HOPE is only mentioned 5 times. In conclusion, God wants you and I to have confidence in what He has done for us. That is why James didn’t get all unset when the doctor told him there was no hope. James knew better for he knew and had confidence in his future home, heaven. The bad news is coming but if we know Jesus Christ as our Savior then it’s not bad news at all it’s our way out of here.