Sorry for the break that I took blogging but between basketball, illness, and a long weekend with Kim, I had to put the blog on the back burner.
Dealing with people in general can be hard. With the advent of texting, facebook, twitter, etc., people tend to say whats on their mind more than they would if they were standing face to face with someone. It's all too easy to get sucked into an on-line argument.
I've always said that you can't argue with a liar and you can't be logical with someone that is crazy. Ron White may have said it best when he said "you can't fix stupid". Now, that is putting it a bit harsh, but the fact is that when you are dealing with someone that is operating in the flesh, we need to know how God want's us to handle it.
The bible speaks specifically about three types of people that operate in the flesh. They are referred to as; simple, scorner, or fool. We have all been one of these types of people before we were saved and when the old man creeps up in us, we can be one of those again. As Christians, God does not intend for us to be any of these. He intends for us to be wise.
In my next three blogs, I will be telling you more about these three types of people AND telling you how to deal with them. God gives us specific instructions on what to do with these types of people. When you can see who you are dealing with in a confontational or difficult situation, it is much easier to handle that situation the way that God wants you to.
God loves you and I do too.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
God still answers prayers
Two Sundays ago was a beautiful day. We had an awesome time at church on Sunday morning and then just had a nice family day together. As the evening wound down, I stayed outside as I often do while Kim and the girls went in to cook dinner. I love sitting outside watching the sun set and just thanking God for his wonderous mercy and grace. For me, I can almost see the face of God in a sunset. I believe it is his most beautiful thing that He created (aside from Kim of course).
I sat on the back of my tailgate and just talked to God. I wasn't asking for anything, we were just talking. I talk to God much like I talk to Kim. I don't spend a lot of time asking for things, I mostly just tell Him how much I love Him and what He means to me. I also spend a lot of time thanking him. Like Kim, I don't think I my relationship with God would grow much if all I did was make requests. Kim wouldn't appreciate it and neither does God. That's not to say that I don't ask for things, because I do...and we should. I'm just saying that making requests isn't the center-piece of my time with God.
After about 20 minutes of just talking, I felt compelled to ask God for some help with a situation in my life. I have talked to Him about it before and asked for help many times, this wasn't the first. But this time, He said YES! After about 45 minutes God took care of the situation that I needed help with. The funny thing was that He handled it in a way I would have never thought of.
God is sooooo good and He always knows what we need. I just needed to be patient and wait on Him. (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:7, 9, & 34, Isaiah 40:31)
God still works miracles, especially when we wait on Him and don't try to solve our problems without Him. What do you need help with? Do you need a miracle? Wait on God, but while you wait, praise Him.
I sat on the back of my tailgate and just talked to God. I wasn't asking for anything, we were just talking. I talk to God much like I talk to Kim. I don't spend a lot of time asking for things, I mostly just tell Him how much I love Him and what He means to me. I also spend a lot of time thanking him. Like Kim, I don't think I my relationship with God would grow much if all I did was make requests. Kim wouldn't appreciate it and neither does God. That's not to say that I don't ask for things, because I do...and we should. I'm just saying that making requests isn't the center-piece of my time with God.
After about 20 minutes of just talking, I felt compelled to ask God for some help with a situation in my life. I have talked to Him about it before and asked for help many times, this wasn't the first. But this time, He said YES! After about 45 minutes God took care of the situation that I needed help with. The funny thing was that He handled it in a way I would have never thought of.
God is sooooo good and He always knows what we need. I just needed to be patient and wait on Him. (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:7, 9, & 34, Isaiah 40:31)
God still works miracles, especially when we wait on Him and don't try to solve our problems without Him. What do you need help with? Do you need a miracle? Wait on God, but while you wait, praise Him.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sheep or Goat?
This past weekend, Kim went with some folks from our Church (RIO-180) to feed and give clothes to homeless people. It was a great experience for her because she has such a big heart. She is really good at this kind of work because she doesn't judge anyone based on their circumstances. She really does love unconditionally.
I know this kind of work isn't for everyone and I'm sure when you read the first paragraph you thought "I'd like to do this" or "I could never do that". Have you read Matt 25:31-46 lately? You should. We know that works DO NOT get us to heaven but this passage is a reminder that a) faith without works is dead and b) Love is an action. In this passage Jesus is telling us that if we truly have Him in our heart we will do something for Him while doing something for others.
The question I would like you to ask yourself is am I a sheep or a goat? Do you take action to look after others or do you live your life to yourself? I will follow this post up with another later to back this up but just know that being a Christian and finding your place in the body of Christ means doing work for God. I encourage you to take opportunities to love others by doing something for someone.
God loves you and I do too!
I know this kind of work isn't for everyone and I'm sure when you read the first paragraph you thought "I'd like to do this" or "I could never do that". Have you read Matt 25:31-46 lately? You should. We know that works DO NOT get us to heaven but this passage is a reminder that a) faith without works is dead and b) Love is an action. In this passage Jesus is telling us that if we truly have Him in our heart we will do something for Him while doing something for others.
The question I would like you to ask yourself is am I a sheep or a goat? Do you take action to look after others or do you live your life to yourself? I will follow this post up with another later to back this up but just know that being a Christian and finding your place in the body of Christ means doing work for God. I encourage you to take opportunities to love others by doing something for someone.
God loves you and I do too!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
I met a Real American Hero
In this life, there are little moments that just happen to us and we don't know why, but when they are over you sure are thankful for them. I had one on Monday, the day before Valentines day. I was eating lunch at Ryan's (great for the low-carb & cheap eater) in the back like I always do. I like eating in the back because there is usually no one back there, I guess because its not as close to the buffet as other spots. When I went to my usual table, there was one old man back there by himself. I said "hello" and sat down to lunch.
About five minutes went by when this man, Mr. Miller, came and asked me if I was with the POW meeting. You see, he thought Monday was the day for the area POW's to get together. Apparently he got the wrong date because he drove all the way from Kodak for this meeting and he was a bit disturbed that no one else was there. I told him no but I sure was thankful for his service in WWII and I was happy to be in the presence of a real American hero. I asked him if he would join me for lunch and he did.
I didn't have to worry about making conversation, Mr. Miller was happy to tell me all about his life. He told me that he had been taken captive in Italy and he weighed 188 lbs. When he was liberated 14 months later he only weighed 71 lbs. He told me that after just a few days in the camp he decided that he didn't want to come home at all. He said that if he didn't want to come home, he wouldn't look forward to being rescued and his time would be a little less miserable. He told me that when his ship landed in Boston, he kissed the ground because he was so thankful to be back on American soil.
I loved this story but for me, it just got better. He then proceeded to tell me that he just buried his wife of 65 years in November. This was my chance to talk to him about Jesus. I asked him if he was saved and he told me "ohhhhhh yessss". He said he wasn't perfect but he did the best that he could. I said, "I bet you sure loved your wife a lot, didn't you"? His eyes got very misty and he said with a whimper "ohhhh yesss". He then told me how they started.
He met his wife in N.C. right after he got out of the Army. He said that he was "hitting the bottle pretty hard" when he met his wife. After they had been dating for a week, he picked her up to take her home and she told him that they needed to talk. He said that she was so beautiful that he just knew that she was dumping him for someone better. Instead, she told him that her father was a baptist minister. He told her that if she was going to keep dating that boy he had to quit drinking. Mr. Miller said he had just bought a 6-pack of beer and he had already drank one. When she told him that, he said "I can still take you to the very spot on the side of the road where I pulled over. I grabbed the five beers that I still had left out of my '36 Ford and I flung as far into the woods as I could and I haven't drank a drop since".
Mr. Miller knew what love was and knew that it was sacrificing his vices for. We continued to talk about his wife and her burial and all that he had to go through. He told me about the three trips he made to N.C. the week she was buried. I was truly blessed to have gotten to spend an hour of my life with this 88 year old American hero. He reminded me that love can be forever if you are willing to compromise. He also showed me that after 65 years of marriage, you can still be in love.
Thank you Mr. Miller for sharing a meal with me. I hope that all of my friends that read this are lucky enough to meet a Mr. Miller.....before they are all gone.
God bless Mr. Miller and God bless the U.S.A.
God loves you and I do too!
About five minutes went by when this man, Mr. Miller, came and asked me if I was with the POW meeting. You see, he thought Monday was the day for the area POW's to get together. Apparently he got the wrong date because he drove all the way from Kodak for this meeting and he was a bit disturbed that no one else was there. I told him no but I sure was thankful for his service in WWII and I was happy to be in the presence of a real American hero. I asked him if he would join me for lunch and he did.
I didn't have to worry about making conversation, Mr. Miller was happy to tell me all about his life. He told me that he had been taken captive in Italy and he weighed 188 lbs. When he was liberated 14 months later he only weighed 71 lbs. He told me that after just a few days in the camp he decided that he didn't want to come home at all. He said that if he didn't want to come home, he wouldn't look forward to being rescued and his time would be a little less miserable. He told me that when his ship landed in Boston, he kissed the ground because he was so thankful to be back on American soil.
I loved this story but for me, it just got better. He then proceeded to tell me that he just buried his wife of 65 years in November. This was my chance to talk to him about Jesus. I asked him if he was saved and he told me "ohhhhhh yessss". He said he wasn't perfect but he did the best that he could. I said, "I bet you sure loved your wife a lot, didn't you"? His eyes got very misty and he said with a whimper "ohhhh yesss". He then told me how they started.
He met his wife in N.C. right after he got out of the Army. He said that he was "hitting the bottle pretty hard" when he met his wife. After they had been dating for a week, he picked her up to take her home and she told him that they needed to talk. He said that she was so beautiful that he just knew that she was dumping him for someone better. Instead, she told him that her father was a baptist minister. He told her that if she was going to keep dating that boy he had to quit drinking. Mr. Miller said he had just bought a 6-pack of beer and he had already drank one. When she told him that, he said "I can still take you to the very spot on the side of the road where I pulled over. I grabbed the five beers that I still had left out of my '36 Ford and I flung as far into the woods as I could and I haven't drank a drop since".
Mr. Miller knew what love was and knew that it was sacrificing his vices for. We continued to talk about his wife and her burial and all that he had to go through. He told me about the three trips he made to N.C. the week she was buried. I was truly blessed to have gotten to spend an hour of my life with this 88 year old American hero. He reminded me that love can be forever if you are willing to compromise. He also showed me that after 65 years of marriage, you can still be in love.
Thank you Mr. Miller for sharing a meal with me. I hope that all of my friends that read this are lucky enough to meet a Mr. Miller.....before they are all gone.
God bless Mr. Miller and God bless the U.S.A.
God loves you and I do too!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Valentine for Kim
Words can never describe how I love my wife. Well, there probably are words but I'm not a poet or a song writer that can put my thoughts into words that describe my emotions for and my commitment to Kim. Words always fail my true feelings for her. I think today if I had to pick one word to sum up my entire feelings it would be GRATEFUL. Grateful to God for giving her to me and grateful to her for loving me. I live in the country so if I went outside and screamed "I LOVE KIM KNIGHT" no one would hear. So, if you decided to read this blog, I'm gonna scream it to you and here goes:
Kim,
It seems like yesterday when you saved me. That's right, you saved me. You saved me from the man I was and the man I was becoming. I had just came out of a failed relationship that I had hung my hopes on. When I was let down, I decided that I could never give my love, my trust, to any woman ever again. I was content to play softball then go play basketball with Jon Sweet until all hours of the night until I had to go back to an empty house where I was alone. Alone. Alone. Alone. That's all I felt and I was content with it. If I was alone, I could not be let down. And then, when I least expected it God sent me you.
You weren't looking for anyone either when God sent you to me. But when you found me, you had compassion on me. You had patience with me until I could learn to trust you. Even though I was just a shell of a human with nothing left to give, you gave me everything you had in hopes that I could return it. I'll never forget the 7th inning of the Atlanta Braves game, sitting in right field when you leaned over with a simple whisper "I love you". I remember melting inside at that moment. I had such an inner turmoil because I had told myself that I would never love again, yet all I wanted to do was grab you and tell you that I love you too but I didn't. Even though I waited a few hours, you understood. You have always been so patient with me.
Your patience and love taught me how to love. What I thought was once love wasn't love at all. It was merely respect and endurance but there was no love. You are the only woman that I've ever loved and I couldn't have loved if it weren't for you. I am so grateful that you saved me many years ago. I am so grateful that you have taught me how to love unconditionally and without reservation.
After all these years that moment in Atlanta seems like yesterday and yet even today, I still have that melting feeling inside, that "I'm in love with this woman feeling". Yes, we've had our ups and downs but that is what helps us to grow even closer. We hang on too each other through the downs because of love and we are rewarded with tremendous ups. There is one thing that is and always will be constant in my life (besides Jesus of course) and that's Kim Knight. I know that you will always love me and I want you to know that I will always love you. That's right, ALWAYS. We have learned to accept our differences and forgive each other no matter what. I know that your strengths compliment my weaknesses and vice versa.
You are truly the woman of my dreams and I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you. Every day with you is a new experience, even if we are doing the same-old-things. Thank you so much for loving me and saving me from myself.
Your loving husband,
John
God loves you and I do too!
Kim,
It seems like yesterday when you saved me. That's right, you saved me. You saved me from the man I was and the man I was becoming. I had just came out of a failed relationship that I had hung my hopes on. When I was let down, I decided that I could never give my love, my trust, to any woman ever again. I was content to play softball then go play basketball with Jon Sweet until all hours of the night until I had to go back to an empty house where I was alone. Alone. Alone. Alone. That's all I felt and I was content with it. If I was alone, I could not be let down. And then, when I least expected it God sent me you.
You weren't looking for anyone either when God sent you to me. But when you found me, you had compassion on me. You had patience with me until I could learn to trust you. Even though I was just a shell of a human with nothing left to give, you gave me everything you had in hopes that I could return it. I'll never forget the 7th inning of the Atlanta Braves game, sitting in right field when you leaned over with a simple whisper "I love you". I remember melting inside at that moment. I had such an inner turmoil because I had told myself that I would never love again, yet all I wanted to do was grab you and tell you that I love you too but I didn't. Even though I waited a few hours, you understood. You have always been so patient with me.
Your patience and love taught me how to love. What I thought was once love wasn't love at all. It was merely respect and endurance but there was no love. You are the only woman that I've ever loved and I couldn't have loved if it weren't for you. I am so grateful that you saved me many years ago. I am so grateful that you have taught me how to love unconditionally and without reservation.
After all these years that moment in Atlanta seems like yesterday and yet even today, I still have that melting feeling inside, that "I'm in love with this woman feeling". Yes, we've had our ups and downs but that is what helps us to grow even closer. We hang on too each other through the downs because of love and we are rewarded with tremendous ups. There is one thing that is and always will be constant in my life (besides Jesus of course) and that's Kim Knight. I know that you will always love me and I want you to know that I will always love you. That's right, ALWAYS. We have learned to accept our differences and forgive each other no matter what. I know that your strengths compliment my weaknesses and vice versa.
You are truly the woman of my dreams and I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you. Every day with you is a new experience, even if we are doing the same-old-things. Thank you so much for loving me and saving me from myself.
Your loving husband,
John
God loves you and I do too!
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