Time has a way of passing quickly. It goes by so fast, sometimes you don’t even notice it. It’s funny how as you grow older, it seems to pick up speed. It isn’t really true. It is just a perception, as we run out of time. Our lives are finite. We have just so much time and that is it. But using our life, or the time we have been given, correctly has always been the problem. Searching our lifetime for the right path for us has always occupied us. But the real trick is to understand why we are here and what our purpose is. We can fill our lives with whatever and miss altogether the purpose and plan for our lives. When I was younger, I was in a band. I wrote music and sang. My roommate and I wrote the music. One summer, he wanted to hear from God. He was seeking God with prayer constantly. He told me that he just didn’t hear God at all. But that summer, he wrote 25 songs. I told him that he missed the point. God was talking to him all along. It just wasn’t how he thought God was going to speak to him. Many times, people miss what God is doing in their lives, because it isn’t the same way they are use too. But it doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work on their behalf. So, if you feel that God isn’t there or working on your behalf, don’t give up. God said and I believe, that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always a prayer away. So, if you don’t know what is next in your life, just ask and you will receive an answer.

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Last August, we were flooded out of our home. As dramatic as that was, I had two animals with me at the time, my dog Marly, a golden retriever and Calli, a calico cat. Marly went to live with my son and his dog, Zuki. But Calli was handed down to anyone who could take care of her. I felt bad for her because it wasn’t with me at home. Calli has been a good cat and source of inspiration for me. The last place Calli lived was my other son’s house along with three other cats and two dogs. My son had a big black cat named Turbo, that would fight with Calli. She has a few battle scars to prove it. We moved into a new home about a month ago. About week ago, my son bought back Calli home. I was never so glad to see her. She began to investigate the house. She looked into every corner of the house. Finally, she settled on my bed and took a nap. She was at peace and home again. It was almost like nothing had ever happened. Her resiliency amazes me. It is very settling to me that she is home. But more than that, she is at peace. Like I said, she has been an inspiration to me. I love watching her go about her daily routine. She is persistent in everything she does. And she does everything with passion. It is as the bible says, let the peace of God lead you and guide you into everything. I am glad we are both home again.

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We rescued a calico kitten. But before she could live in our house, she had to be accepted by Olivia. Olivia is a small black Yorkie mix, who is the mistress of the house. Olivia looked at Calli and began cleaning her like her mother would. The kitten fell in line right behind Olivia. Where Olivia went the kitten would follow. Olivia adapted Calli like one of her puppies. Calli would sleep with Olivia. Calli also eats dog food. Olivia is afraid of lightning. She shakes violently. Calli would sit next to Olivia until she stopped shaking. Calli has grown into a passionate cat of God. She will do what God has called her to do with passion. She will always be in sight of me. If I move she will find me. She will sit beside me quietly. One day I watched Olivia and Calli play. It is the job of a mother to teach her children. Olivia was teaching Calli how to hunt like a cat. It was one of the most amazing things I ever saw. I know that God sent that kitten to our home. Calli has grown and she is a beautiful calico cat. The stuffed cat I am sending to Rebecca looks very similar to Calli. I hope she enjoys the gift as much as I have enjoyed Calli. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

May God bless and keep you in all your triumphs and trials.

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The chemical element called NaCl, Salt. Man has used it since the beginning of time. The Oceans are full of salt. It also is naturally occurring on land deposit. At one time it was used as money. People have gone to war over salt. A basic item in most people’s lives. We as a human need salt to maintain a chemical balance in our body. If you loss too much salt in your body system you will dehydrate. It is safe to say that it is an important part of our life. It is also a descriptive term that applies to man. You have met a person who was called salty. He is course and abrasive. It is a life giving and necessary item for us. The bible talks about it also, where it applies to man. In Jesus’ first teaching He talked about salt. He said, you are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his effectiveness, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Are you effective in the kingdom of God? If not, why?

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He is an American Icon. There are very few people who know what he was about. It is true that he walked about with a pot on his head. It was the easiest way to carry his supper pot. He was a vegetarian. He was single handedly responsible for creating the apple industry in America. He did it one tree at a time. He would plant orchards or nurseries in the wilderness of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He had a supplier of apple seeds in Pennsylvania. He would go there and load up on apple seeds. Then walk to Ohio or Illinois. The American Indians believed that he had the Great Spirit with him. They left him only. He never wore shoes or had money on him. He did own the nurseries that he planted. It was the wilderness and was given the land. He was a Christian man that spread to gospel to the Native Americans as well as the pioneers. He would sing hymns or read from the bible and people would feed him or give him a place to sleep. Most times he slept outdoors. This simple man, who never married, had an adventure with God. He traveled most of the Ohio River valley. He didn’t see the big picture, but was willing to follow God wherever. Just think if you followed God on an adventure what would happen. You will never know what God has planned for you until you are willing to surrender. Once you do surrender, God will transform you into a person who will conquer your world for God. This humble man died before the Civil War. God spared him the horror brought on by man. John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

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I just bought a new home. My wife and I are adding new additions to the house. We added a deck off the back of the house. Now we are having a fence build for our golden retriever. Our contractor, a young man, has already gone through one worker, because the work is hard manual labor. You see, the work isn’t easy, but it is simple. Life is much like that. It is never easy to live the way you want to. There is always work associated with it. Sometimes it is very hard work to live like you want. But if you want your life to turn out right, there is going to be hard work. You have to be dedicated to the life you want. God talked about this very subject. He said when kings decide to go to war, they must first count the cost. When they have figured what, they can do, then it is time for action. He also said, if the king figured that he couldn’t to go war, then he needed to sue for peace. Looking at your life is no different. You must decide what you are going to do. Then when you have decided on a path, the decision is can you finish the race. It is unfortunate that so many people are looking for the easy way out and find nothing. Facing your future, requires determination and fortitude throughout your life. Face your future and work to accomplish your goals for yourself and your family. It isn’t easy, but it is always simple.

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I guess there is nothing in our lives that is more debilitating than the fear of the unknown. It has changed our lives and has changed the course of history. It is funny how people flirt with the fear of the unknown to prove that they aren’t afraid. The extreme sports are a real example of this. It is taking risk that go beyond reasonable. You they are flirting with death itself. They to prove that they are invincible. The whole effort again is to prove that there is no God. And that we are really God. It is as foolish as trying to stop a fast train with your bare hands. The only proof that you will receive is your death and that God is real. Being afraid is part of who we are. God gave this to us for a very specific reason. He did it to keep us alive. It is called the fight or flight response. It is important in our development as a human being. We aren’t to let fear control our lives. We are to use it as a tool in our arsenal of life. God has provided many tools for us to use. Many we just take for granted and abuse them. But these tools are for us to use in our path home to God. As it says in the bible that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And I need all the wisdom I can get to live in this world. So, use His tools correctly and live the life planned by God. I guarantee, I should say that God will guarantee, that if you do, you will find your way home to God.

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Don’t have a blog today. I’m moving into new home and everything has caught up to me. I pray that you have a blessed day. For this is the day theLord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.

It isn’t an unusual question. Actually, it is the correct question to ask any person. We aren’t just some random DNA that came together. The theory of evolution, and I do mean theory, an unproven scientific conjecture, says that we were caused or came into existence by chance. It is the stupidest theory that man has come up with yet. It is all because man wants to prove that there is no God. And that, he, man is actually God. You talk about the blind leading the blind. We were specifically and wonderfully made by God. Who loves us enough to make a life for us and a way to come home. God has a plan for each of us. What we have to do is to find God and what that plan is. You know God didn’t make finding Him to hard. God knew He was dealing with man and his limited understanding and knowledge. As smart as man claims to be, that is how much he doesn’t know. Usually, you can double or triple the unknown for man. But God, in His mercy, provided a way for us to come home. But what is really sad is that the majority of people will not choose God. They will go their own way and fail to find their rightful place in the universe. It all starts with seeking God and His kingdom. Then God will reveal Himself to you and show you. God has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

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It is true, we are always looking at things. We love to look at sunsets, landscapes, wild animals, clouds or anything that capture our imagination. Things of beauty are especially satisfying to us. And of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Consider the lilies of the fields, how they are clothed with beauty beyond what any man can do. My favorite flower is the amaryllis. It only blooms once a year, but they are spectacular when they do. I look forward each year to see this bloom. Then there is a beauty that you can see without your eyes. And we are always looking for this beauty. It is called the eyes of your heart. You didn’t know that your heart had eyes. They do. And most of the time, your heart sees clearer than your physical eyes. Because your heart sees the truth through everything. It is funny how that it works so well. Now, your heart can be blocked with pain, grief or despair. But usually, if your heart is clouded with pain, it is looking even harder than normal. Your physical eyes can be deceived and sometimes aren’t to be trusted. Our eyes see reflections, not the real object. But our heart always sees the truth, even when we don’t want to see it. Our children see what is real and can cut through to the truth. They aren’t weighted down by the troubles of this world. Or should I say, the pain of reality. But God gave us this sight for a real reason. We can see clear the truth about Him. You see, our eyes aren’t full yet of seeing the truth, God Himself.

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