Don't Touch the Astro Turf!

I remember when God was beginning to "tug at my heart strings"......getting me closer to the realization that "He" - something greater than I - was there, and maybe worthy of my attention!

It was the late 70's, and Billy Graham was slated to be speaking in (The Lions) Silverdome. My Aunt, from Indiana, who'd sent me all of those Hal Lindsay Books, in Vietnam.....hoping that I'd get saved, still wasn't thru with her "quest" for my soul!

"David", we're driving to Detroit, and we're taking you to see Billy Graham, she said. Well, I didn't have the heart to turn her down; plus, I'd always liked to hear good public speakers - and Billy was a great speaker - so I said, "Sure, come on down!"

We sat in a top row, and although I wasn't moved at all by anything spiritual that he said; when he gave the "invitation" for anyone wanting to receive Christ, to come down to the floor of the Silverdome; being a HUGE football fan, I was SO TEMPTED to just slide on down there, get lost in the milieu, just so I could bend down and "touch the Astro Turf!" But then, I thought that would have been pretty hypocritical; so I didn't.

The next day - it was a Sunday - the writers of the Detroit Free Press really gave Billy a great, respectful "write-up!" They mentioned how well he was received, and how sincere those "responding to the invitation" were. The final words of the news article were, ".....no one seemed to go down there just to feel the astro turf!"

HE was beginning to get my attention!!

God love you all!

DaveK
Psalm 107:2

God Perfectly Arranges Circumstances!

Good evening, Dear Readers!

It's unbelievable how wonderfully God can manage the circumstances of our lives, and sometimes we don't even realize it until after those circumstances have transpired!

I grew up with a mother that loved me very much, and a step father that, if he did, sure didn't show it well! In fact, when I started the sixth grade, he dramatically began demonstrating just "How Well, He DIDN'T!!" To say the very least, my sixth-grade was traumatic!

Fast-forward to me being married and participating in my wife's Catholic Church (I'd accepted Christ by then, shortly after attending a Billy Graham Crusade). Since I'd always loved teaching, I responded to the Church's urgent plea for lay-persons to help teach Catechism.

The lady managing the church's teaching program welcomed me and regretfully advised me that she needed me to "please" teach the most difficult grade......6th. I did, twice before my two sons were born; but found myself exhausted doing so! She was right! For some reason, teaching 6th graders WAS difficult; and I wasn't too keen about doing it again!

When my oldest son was in the 6th grade, they again put out an urgent "Call", and, although I really hesitated, I finally "gave in" and said "yes." I was, once again, given a 6th grade class to teach. The most redeeming thing about that year, was that my son was, unexpectedly, in my class; and I enjoyed that fact, very much!

Two years later, my 2nd son was just starting 6th grade, and I remember thinking, "Hey, why not make this a tradition?" So, I actually volunteered to teach 6th grade this time, and asked if he could please be in my class. The church agreed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

It wasn't until a year or so later that, like a thunderbolt from Heaven; the sudden realization hit me.......the significance of what God, My (GOOD) Father had done. He had made-up for my "6th grade from Hell" by graciously allowing me to "be a father" that would teach "my 6th grade sons" about the loving ways of God! Even now, the realization of what He made happen, brings tears to my eyes!!

God love you all!

DaveK
Psalm 107:2

Nice to See Businesses Closed on Christmas!

Hi, Dear Readers!

It was such a joy, on Christmas night, to be driving around and see nearly ALL businesses "closed!"

For at least one day, reverence for our Lord - or at least respect for our nation's Christian heritage - seemed more important than the ever-present race for the "almighty buck!"

For whatever reason, the stillness and peace seemed to be prevalent that night! It almost seemed that Creation stopped, to honor the Creator!

Please also take a moment, in the stillness of your heart, to do the same!

God love you all!

Dave
Psalm 107:2

I Welcome Prayer Requests From You!

Good evening, Dear Readers!

Forgot to mention, anytime you have a Prayer Request, feel free to leave it as a "Comment" appended to either my latest Blog Entry, or send me an e-mail........ your choice, entirely!

As you see your prayers being answered, in addition of giving thanks to God (of course); please also consider letting me know, via e-mail.

Every week or so, I'll post your prayer requests (so other "believers" can lift your needs to the Lord), as well as your "answered prayers" (both sets will be anonymous, always). It'll be tremendously edifying for others to see how God "moves" in our time and space!

We all - and that's the reason for this Blog - are here to be an encouragement and help to each other. Life is challenging. We need to help each other live it with joy!!

We're six days from our Lord's Birthday! Please give Him Thanks, with every breath you take!

God Love You!!

Dave
Psalm 107:2

Obedience Brings Blessing

Balancing our human nature with God's Holy spirit within us, isn't easy! As St. Paul said, "For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do!" (Romans 7:15)

Even being "born anew," our lives are a constant struggle between the selfish, vain actions that our "old nature" would so readily have us do; and the pure, good actions that God's Word, and his Holy Spirit within us, would have us do!

If we mess up and choose the wrong actions (that's called Sin); we're extremely fortunate to have His forgiveness always within our reach. But, there's also a wonderful principle of God, that rewards us with Blessings, each and every time that we're victorious. Obedience always bring His peace, and yes, also His blessings!

I'm reminded of going on my Son's sixth grade field trip, to Dollywood Theme Park, in Tennessee. My son and I were crammed in an outdoor amphitheatre, at night, with over a thousand 6th graders from around the country. It was pitch black, sitting in the audience, and I was vaguely aware that he and I were sitting relatively close to the other 30 kids from Michigan, that we'd come with. When the show was over, my son and I got up, in the darkness, with all of the other kids, ready to head to the exits. As we began to file out from the rows, towards the main aisles; I happened to look down under the seat directly in front of me; and saw what looked like "green paper" folded up, in a pile. I reached down and picked up 3 $20 dollar bills, folded together. Whatever kids had been sitting there - it was too dark, during the show, for me to know - had gone, and it was a sure thing I'd never be able to find who the original owners were!

My very first thoughts, I'm ashamed to say, were, "Wow, my son and I can have a lot of fun together, tomorrow, with $60 extra bucks!" Heck, even if if tried, there's no way I could figure out whose money this is, anyway! Someone should enjoy it......why not us?"

But, Thank God, the next thoughts I had overrode the first ones. I thought, God's supplied us with money, and the wonderful opportunity to travel here. I don't need the guilt that keeping and using this money would bring me! Then, before I could think more about it (and maybe change my mind!), I walked quickly up to the front of the stage and called over the man that had been hosting the show. I held up the wad of 20's and told him that someone lost these and would he please keep them handy in case they came to him later, looking for them? He said "Sure!"

Ten minutes later, we met the other Michigan kids, at the bus, ready to head back to the hotel. But two of the sixth grade girls were sitting at the curb crying! I asked someone "What was the matter," and was told, "Oh, one of the girls lost $60.00, that her mother had given her to spend here." My first thought was "what a coincidence", followed quickly by, "Thank God, I didn't keep the money!"

I quickly went to the School Trip Director and told him what had happened. The next morning, bright and early, he and I entered the amphitheatre and began walking towards the front, as the manager's office was behind the main stage. Just before I jumped onto the left side of the stage; I remember seeing a band rehearsing for the evening's show, and thought to myself, "That girl practicing in blue jeans, has a pretty good voice." I made a bee line for the manager's office, got the money, handed it to the Trip Director, and had just turned to walk back to the front of the stage, to jump back down; when the girl singer walked right by me, on her way back to her dressing room, looked me in the eyes and said a very warm "Hi!" It was Amy Grant!!!

I had followed God's prompting, in overcoming a strong temptation to do wrong; and I had not only felt His peace, in doing so; but had also been Blessed by meeting my favorite Christian singer!

There's no life as wonderful as that of "being His!"

God love you!

Dave
Psalm 107:2

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Hi, Dear Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ (and other interested readers!)

Thought I'd take a moment to explain the significance of the picture at the top of my Blog, as well as the one at the bottom.

The top picture, as you see, is God's glorious sunset, with a single tree, highlighted against His glorious light. That solitary tree represents you and me, Dear reader; bathed in His light and in His love. It's meant to represent that if only you or I were on earth, God would still go to the effort of showering His blessings upon just a single person...........we're that important in His eyes! More importantly, He would still have sent His only Son, Jesus, to die, paying the penalty for our sins. His love towards His creation is boundless!

My Blog's bottom photo shows three birds flying, to form a Happy Face in the sky. To me, that represents God smiling down on His creation ! The "night time image" means that He watches over us; and that we can have His Blessed Peace as we sleep!

When you're His, Dear One; you can rest assured that His Love will guide you on a path that's guaranteed to lead you to your highest personal fulfillment. Your "path" will be uniquely laid out for just you! He takes that much care for every single person that comes to Him!

The Bible says that He knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground; and that He knows the exact number of hairs on your head. He is vitally and intensely interested in "just you!" I don't know about you, but that's sure the way that I want to be loved!! Let Him love you as only a perfect father can! Run to His arms now and He'll instantly flood your life with His love!!

God love you all!

Dave
Psalm 107:2

What It Means to Be Born-again

Hello, Dear Readers.

A quick one, tonight, about what it means to be Born-again.

Another way of phrasing what occurs when you:


a. Let God know that you believe in Him

and

b. Ask Him to come into your life (now)

is that something, right then, is "newly born" - or newly comes into being - within you. Some thing that wasn't within you before - God - now is within you. You're no longer the same as you were moments before asking Him in! You've changed forever! Your internal composition is now different!

Just as each time you rotate a magnet around a piece of wire, electric current results; so too, each and every time a person does "A and B" above, God instantly takes up residence within them! It's almost like loading a new piece of software into a computer. That computer is now "different" than it was before the software was loaded into it. That computer now has "new capabilities."

When you come to that moment of believing "A" and doing "B", please let me know the wonderful changes that occur!

God love you!

Dave
Psalm 107:2

Behold, All Things Are New

Before I became a Christian ,I used to get a few goose bumps every time I heard Bobby Hatfield, of the Righteous Brothers, sing "Unchained Melody." I appreciated and enjoyed what I felt was good music (I also liked Johnny Mathis!)

I'll never forget standing in my In-law's backyard, listening to a Christian radio station's music, a week after asking God into my life. Every single piece of music gave me goose bumps from head to toe! I thrilled to it all, but I didn't know why. Now I do. A very important part of us, a part necessary to know and communicate with God, begins developing. In a real sense, we become "new!"

When we purposely ask God to "come into our lives"; His Holy Spirit actually takes up residence within us, giving us the ability to receive from God and to pray to Him! We keep our personality, but we are given a new gift, the ability to know Him and to respond to Him. We have Him, and when we invite Him in; He has us! As II Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."

I wish you that "newness!" This is the season for it!!

God love you all!

Dave