Hey all, I just wanted to do a quick plug for another blog I started titled "Lets Discuss It." I plan to pose questions that we can talk about in comments to see how others percieve things. As some of you already know, I am very curious about people and what they think about things, what they believe, etc..

 If you get time, please check it out and let me know what you think.
Here is the link: Lets Discuss It

I will still be posting on this site as well, I think I'm just going to take more time in preparing my posts for this site. I sometimes have so much I want to get out, I'm afraid it gets jumbled. I want to write it out before I post to make sure I get it right!!
 
Thank you all for keeping up with my posts, you've been wonderful!!!

Rev

After my post the other day titled "Storms", I began to wonder why God allows storms to come our way. I don't think there is any one particular answer for that question. God is God, He knows best. I think for some it is chastisement for disobeying, others He needs them to learn something they otherwise wouldn't without the storm in their life.



There are countless reasons I can think of, why God might allow tough times in our life. But He is always there, to give us a hand, to help us through them. As I thought about this today, I realized, there is a beauty to having storms in our life. When the storm is making it's exit, I think a lot of us tend to focus on the destruction, a kind of, "woe is me" type of thinking. I think we miss opportunities to see the beauty of what is around us when it is over. I googled "pictures of beautiful scenery after storms" today and here are some pictures that I found.



You see, most often when a storm passes, things are quiet, the winds are still, the grass is greener, so to speak. There is a peacefulness in the air. I believe this is God's way of letting us know He is there.



We may be beaten, broken and battered from our storm. But God will always be there to help us heal. I wish I had stopped and taken in this beauty when I came out of my storms, instead of focusing everything I had on the destruction.


We all will go through some type of storm in our life, some more severe than others. But this is life, there is nothing we can do to stop them. But as broken and battered as we may be, in the end, if we listen to God, I think we can look back and see the beauty of coming through that storm. All storms pass, some take longer than others, but it will soon fade away. The key is to focus on what God has for us, why we are there. God will show us the way, and if we will follow Him. There is so much beauty to behold on the other side of the storm, not just destruction, but the peacefulness.



I can't answer the question of why God allows certain storms in certain peoples lives. Why it seems the best of people have to go through the worst of times. Only God has those answers. Something popped in my head as I was thinking about this post. Though it might be hard to see now, if you are going through a storm, there is beauty waiting for you. Just cling to God and He will show you the way to it.

Why must there be storms in our lives??
Because without storms, there would be no rainbows.......

Signing off for now,
Rev

To those that have been keeping up with my posts, you know how much I love my wife and family. I do not think there are words for what my wife means to me that would explain it with enough of the emotion that I feel. My wife and I have been together for a total of 10 years this year, and that amazes me!! How in the world she has put up with me for so long is a mystery to me.



But you see, I often forget to let her know that. I know I have done other posts stating this, but I think it's one of the most important issues in changing what we see wrong in this world. I think it's one of those guy/girl things. I think a man feels love differently than a woman. We have different needs in the love dept. My wife does absolutely wonderful in fulfilling mine. I know she loves me beyond measure, she makes sure I know this everyday in everything she does.



I think guys tend to forget what their wife needs. That she needs affection, tenderness, a loving hand to caress her hair, a warm hug or kiss from the man she loves. This song reminds me of this everytime I hear it, and challenges me to do better. So listen to the words, and you guys out there, remember those early years of your life together. The first time you realized you loved your woman, the frist time you realized you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her. Let those feelings come back to you, and then do what you must to let her see it. She deserves it, I promise you she does. You see I think of a man and woman in these terms: Think of a rose, how beautiful the flower is, how sweet. That is the woman. Now think of the thorns, tough, ugly, nothing to look at, would probably be killed off if it wasn't for the flower. Thats the man!!

As you hear this song, remember what your loved one means to you, and let them know it!!!



Till next time,
Rev

I love looking at pictures of storms. They are so beautiful to me, to see lightning streaking through the sky, the deepest and darkest of clouds moving against a bright and "sunshiney" day. But as I look at these I sometimes think, "I bet it wasn't fun for those who were in that storm."



We all go through storms, so to speak, in our lives. Some are small, not barely registered on radar. Some are so huge they may feel like a hurricane or tornado right on top of us. If you aren't going through one right now, just wait, there is one coming just around the horizon. Are you prepared for it? I thought I was when my troubles came to me.



Have you ever felt all alone, like you were the only one around? I think we all have felt that way, especially when the "storms" of life are breathing down our neck. We may have all our friends together in a small room, but we are still "alone". If you've been there, you know what I am talking about. If you haven't, consider yourself blessed, and hang on, more than likely your time is coming.



You see, I went through the hardest times of my life when I was around 16 years of age. Those that know me, you know what all happened. It was storm after storm. Each one breaking me down a little worse each time. I was so alone. Please don't get me wrong, I had people around me who loved me, but they had no answers for me, no "fix all solution" that I felt I needed at that time. They all seemed so happy and content with their lives. I was so alone. Does this sound familiar? Have you been there? Are you there now? I was so hurt, confused, and scared. My life was so dark, and for a time, I was angry at God for letting me go to this point. Why couldn't He help me out?



Finally, after enough storms had come my way, I found myself on my knees, figuratively speaking, broken and battered, crying for God to help me. All of a sudden, I heard a small voice inside me saying, "Turn around Rev." As I spun on my knees, I saw this beautiful nail-scarred hand reaching out to me. I reached out and grabbed His hand and as He was helping me up He said, "I was always right here Rev. It was you who let go of me. You didn't have to run through that storm alone, all you had to do was stop, turn around, and take my hand. I would have led you through the storm."

You see, when you are all "alone" in this world, when it seems no one understands how you feel, or what you are going through, God does.
He wants to be there for us, wants to hug us and lead us through our tough times, our "storms." I have struggled with this lesson a lot in my life. I look back at my life and wonder what could it have been like if I had let Him guide me through the storms. If you know Jesus, you are never alone. Please don't ever forget that. And who better to help us through the storms than the one person who can calm the storm by simply raising a hand? I'm so glad God loves me so much!!

To all those who are going through storms in their life right now. God loves you, He wants you to lean on Him. Give Him your hand and let Him guide you through it. You'll never regret it, this I can promise you.

I'm here if you ever need to talk,
Till next time,
Rev

This Post is one very dear to my heart. I have never shared this story before with anyone, just kind of held it close to my heart. I veiwed it as something special between God, me, and the others involved. I feel God is allowing me to tell it now in hopes that it will help someone out there.

I love this song, the words just seem so powerful to me. I apoligize for the video, but I wasn't able to find just the music for this post. I think most often as Christians, we have no problem asking God to take over with our big decisions. That tends to be easy, but what about the smaller ones?? The ones we seem to think are unimportant? When I first heard this song, a boy named Mark came to mind. This is my story of Mark and I when Jesus had the wheel. Please press play and continue reading.




I was probably around the age of 15, I hadn't known the Lord for very long at all. Probably only a year or so before I had asked Him into my life. Anyway, I had heard a message Sunday night at church about letting God have total control over our lives. The preacher talked about how God wants us to include him in EVERYTHING. As I went to school that Monday morning, I felt something pushing me to try it. I started praying about everywhere I went that day. I asked God to show me the direction He wanted me to take to get to my next class, how slow or fast he wanted me to walk, I mean EVERYTHING!!! A little much you might think, maybe so, but I was having the best time doing what I thought I was supposed to.

At lunch, I stopped at the doors, and said my quick prayer for God to give me direction on where I was supposed to sit. I usually sat with the "cool" kids right in the middle of the room. I fit in good there, always having a joke, or something funny to talk about. But after I prayed today, I opened my eyes and saw an empty table across the room, kind of by itself, and I knew God was telling me to sit there. I reluctantly sat thinking, "Ok Lord, but it's gonna be a long lunch period."

About that time, this boy came over and sat across from me, eyes never looking up at mine. I had seen this kid around, everyone knew who he was. His name was Mark, and you could look at him and tell he had quite a few medical problems going on, both physically and mentally. Most of the kids just made fun of him, tripping him in the halls, calling him names, that kind of thing. We all remember what school was like. Anyway, I decided to speak to him, telling him my name, and asking how he was doing, he never looked up, but he answered all my questions, seeming cautious, but nice none the less. When the bell rang, we stood up, a guy walked by and knocked the tray out of Mark's hands, I jumped on the boy, giving him an ear-full of what I thought and then stayed and helped Mark clean it up.

Over the next few months, I got to know Mark fairly well. I explained to those I used to sit with that he was cool, and we returned where I used to sit, Mark always sitting right beside me. I learned he had something going on in his brain that kept him from playing any kind of physical sports, and also had struggled with mental illnesses as well. When I tried to talk to him about Jesus, he became angry and told me not to mention it, he didn't believe God loved him. If He did, why did God allow him to have the problems he had?? The only reply I gave him was, "God told me to sit at your table." because he often told me I was his only friend.

Six months later, Mark just disappeared. I had not seen him at school for over 2 weeks. I decided to go to his house to make sure he was ok. His mom answered the door and informed me that Mark had passed away due to his medical problems. When I told her I was sorry, she looked at me and asked, "Your Rev aren't you??" When I said yes, she grabbed me and hugged me tight, thanking me. She began to tell me how Mark came home that first time we'd met and told her all about me. How he used to hate to go to school, but since we had met, he had no complaints. He had showed her my picture in the yearbook, thats how she knew who I was. She told me that Mark had asked her into his room the day before he died, and asked her to show him how to be saved!! After they prayed, he looked at his mom and asked, "Would you please tell Rev thank you? And tell him I'll see him again soon one day."

You see, at the time I thought it was stupid to ask God what He wanted with EVERY little thing. But because I was willing to try it, God turned my "little decision" into something awesome!! I have dropped the ball, so to speak, many times on this issue. I could do so much better on asking God what he wanted me to do with the little things. But I know God can do some wonderful things if we just sit in the passenger seat and let Him do the driving!!

Signing off for now,
Rev