"He Has My Handle bars"

As is my duty and privilege, I took my sister out to help her become acquainted with her new bike. It took her a while to figure out how to ride it. Before I got her going that day, she was relying more on her old way of protecting herself, than she was trusting the bike in front of her. With looks of horror, she would let go of the handlebars and reach back for me whenever she would hit a bump or start to lose her balance.  As you can imagine this is not the best way to ride a bike.  This is very similar to what many of us do.  Instead of holding on to the one thing in their life that is stable and sturdy, they let go and reach back for the things in their past that help them deal with their lives.  Rather than hold onto Jesus through a difficult time, some people reach back to other relationships, substances, habits, or distractions. Because of that, it is not surprising that their growth is stunted.  When the challenges and temptations in life come, don’t let go of God and go back to something in your past.  Grit your teeth and make a determined effort to hold onto Jesus.  I promise you that He will hold onto you. 

"Game Clock"

When I was in high school I watched as my classmates made it all the way to the state finals.  With the clock running down and them down by one touchdown, they methodically drove until they were within striking distance.  However, the clock ran out before they could get into the endzone.  The criticism that they received after the game stemmed from their lack of time management.  Feeling as if they had plenty of time, they wasted some.  But, when all was said and done, they missed the opportunity of a lifetime.  The way that the team approached the clock is the same way than many live their lives.  Many live self-absorbed pursuing instant gratification thinking that after they have had their fun, they will make better choices driven by an eternal perspective.  However, that doesn’t work. Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone of us gets closer to eternity each day.  And, the decisions that we make, the way that we live our lives, and how we approach Christ determines what happens to us when our time runs out.  We can either invest our lives in knowing and purposefully living for him. or we can waste time living selfishly.  I encourage you to take advantage of the time that you have.  God is waiting to reveal himself to you and to help you discover your destiny.  Don’t make him wait too long!

"God The Me First Responder"

Me first doesn’t seem so bad when you are four and you want all of the goodies before everyone else.  But how does it fit at 14 or 24 or 34? Me first looses it’s cuteness the older we get.  Let’s face it, we may not say it right out but we live it.  On a freeway we Me First our way all the way to work.  We Me First our way through the check out line with a full cart, even though we could let someone else go first with only one item.  We even ruin our most intimate relationships with Me First.  Are we really getting ahead and going up, or is there a better way to live?  Jesus said that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.   He was trying to tell us that contrary to Me First, putting others first is a secret to happier and more fulfilling life.  If you’re thinking, “Ya Right.” Think Again.  How different would your life be if those around you started living in a “You First” lifestyle/ Everyone in your life would be pouring into your life instead of taking out of it?  How different will your relationships be if you start responding “You First?”  I think you just might appreciate the outcome if you became to experiment with the “You First” mentality today

"Run Through"

We live in a drive through society.  We grab our meals at drive throughs, our coffee, even our laundry.  The philosophy of get it quick and go has even filtered into our churches.  Many people want their quick fix of God.  They feel as if they are doing their religious duty by stopping by weekly, but isn’t there more?  I don’t believe that Jesus died on a cross in order that I could attend a church…I am convinced that he allowed himself to experience that gruesome death because he wanted me to walk in relationship with Him. I am not saying that God is mad at you if you attend church, I do and think that every persons life will benefit if they attend a Bible-teaching church, but I am saying there is more.  If you want your relationship with God to become the core of your life, you can’t just drive through a couple times a month, you have to sit and stay a while.  Spend time reading the Bible.  Learn to enjoy His presence.  Let Him guide and direct your path. 

"Finally Done"

This year has been more than the greatest experience I've had in a long time. It was like being given the opportunity to start my life all over again. I've made leaps and bounds in this 2010 year. I've found myself and I've started moving in a new and better direction and I love where I'm headed. Sure I'm still the same old Devin and like every other person on this earth I make my share of mistakes. However, I refuse to let the obvious ones that I can control right now get away from me! I'm ready to start the next year even better than I did before. I have some changes to make and I know they will all be for the better. I'm ready to get back to the way I once was. Happy and thriving, loving life and enjoying the amazing time I've been given here on earth. Thank you God for being my friend and never giving up on me! It's time I started running back towards you!

"Pick Up"

As I was sitting in my house with some of my family, our conversation kept getting interrupted by the phone.  But, every time that I answered it, no one would talk.  I could hear someone breathing on the other end, but they wouldn’t talk to me or answer my questions.  After the fourth time, I was getting upset.  The most difficult thing for me to deal with was the fact that I couldn’t hear the person on the other end of the phone.  I knew someone was there, I just couldn’t communicate with them.  I was incredibly frustrated. Because many people never learn to talk to God, they feel the same way that I did that night.  They know someone is there, but they don’t know how to communicate.  In vain, they ask questions trying to get input, but because they have not taken the time to get to know God, they can’t discern His voice.  God is waiting to build a relationship with you that is defined by open and honest conversation.

"Just Love"

Love does not manipulate.  It does not willfully harm.  It does not ignore your needs for its own.  Yet, that is the love that is sung about  and highlighted through entertainment.  In the media, love is destructive, continually tearing down and building walls.  But, that is not real love.  True love was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.  

Giving up the comfort of Heaven and the absolute authority of divinity, he came to earth to put love into action.  He did not manipulate, he brought freedom.  He did not harm, he healed.  And, he willingly went to the Cross in order to provide salvation and hope for you and me.  

"Traverse"

Because this man thought he knew the city, he was confused at the route that the taxi driver had chosen.  He began to suggest that the driver use alternative routes, but each idea was answered with solid reasoning.  The passenger, who was in a hurry to catch a plane kept making suggestions, until the driver finally said, “I will get you to the airport and I will get you there in time.  You know the city some because you have visited here often, but I have lived here my whole life and make a living traversing the streets.  You can trust me.”  

Not because He believed him, but because he knew that his input would not be heeded, the man in the back seat sat back and remained silent.  Glancing down at his watch as they pulled up to the airport, he realized that he had arrived earlier than he had anticipated when he had left his hotel.  “Thank you, I guess you did know best.”  The driver responded by saying, “I told you that I could be trusted.  We made it, and we made it on time.”

"My Hero"

Anyone that lays down his life for another is a hero in my book.  A man or woman that lives selflessly so that others can experience a life of freedom or the opportunity for hope should be applauded.  Service men and women, police, fire crews, teachers and many others fit into this category, but there is one that is at the top of my list of heroes.  And that is Jesus Christ. The one and only son of God boldly loved and served.  And, he willingly laid down his life so that you and I could experience hope and a great future.  When Jesus was being persecuted on his way to the cross, some were mocking him telling him to exert his power and free himself.  Make no mistake…he could have.  He could have escaped torture…but he chose not to. He knew that only by laying down his life could he purchase freedom for all of us.  Jesus did die on the cross in the ultimate act of heroism, but God raised from the dead.  His selfless act, continues to offer hope even today.  Anyone who chooses to trust Him for the forgiveness of sins experiences freedom and the promise of heaven.

"Inspect me"

Are you brave enough to let someone come in and check the quality of your cleaning? I am not sure I am. I don’t want anyone checking for dust behind my picture frames.   Rules for my living space and my heart are different, however. There is one who I willingly give permission to examine my heart.  

Because I want to be pleasing to God, I have decided to pray a prayer found in Psalm 139 as often as I can. By giving God permission to search my heart and reveal anything that isn’t right, my desire is I would understand the areas that aren’t clean so that with His help, I can work to overcome them. Have you ever prayed that prayer? It is a dangerous prayer to pray.