There is so much we don’t know…  we don’t understand. So much mystery surrounds our Savior… our God.  His word is not black and white, but so many shades of grey.  Why does that scare us?  Why does it make us uncomfortable? Why do we seek to have the answers to feel secure?  Do you feel driven to try and understand the people around you?  The people you work with, or the people different than you.  I watch the goldfish in my pond and I don’t think they worry that each one is a different color.  Each one is a different size. They simply exist with one another.    

Why?  Such an overused word, and maybe a word that shows lack of trust. As I sit in traffic I am being impatient and wondering why?  Then it hit me! Can’t change it so why stress… why get impatient. I simply need to trust, that God will get me to where I am going!  Why do some people get cancer and others don’t.  Why do some people have so many blessing while others don’t.  Why do some die of COVID and others don’t? Why do we live in a world of so much hate… so much evil?  We aren’t suppose to have all the answers, but God does!! We don’t have to fully understand any of it.  We simply have to trust!!  It’s called faith!!  Hebrews 11:1

I Love You!

Perry

He never held back.  He never questioned why!  He never asked are you worthy?  What religion are you? Where do you come from?  He never wondered why they needed help…  why do they think they deserve it?  He never once refused to help someone in need.  Our Savior… our Jesus… healed those who asked.  Gave advice to those who pondered.  Gave help to those in need… and not one time do I see where he judged before or after.  He simply did his fathers work, to the best of his ability, and without hesitation.  Many times I am asked, “why do you help all those on the street”?  “You have no idea what they do with the money”.  Doesn’t matter!  Christ would.  Why do you give second chances to those with a criminal record? Doesn’t matter!  Christ would.  Why do you love without limit and without forethought?  Because Christ would.  There is a difference between the way of our being and the truth of our being.  The world teaches the way they think we should be.  Christ teaches the truth of the way we should be.  I think we all should be following the truth of our being.  The truth of our being is simply love.  Anything else is falling short of the spirit within us… that is Jesus.

Romans 12:9  /  Luke 6:35

I Love you!

Perry

It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart.  Father… without saying a word you can light up the dark.  Each day as I find myself surrounded by so many negative people, and so much evil, your love gives me peace. A love that can only be found in your presence.  Your arms wrap me in a positive warmth, that only you can provide.  The light that shines new each day comes from the hope that is found in your grace… your love…  Your heart, speaks to my heart, in ways that I can only understand when I take the time to be still, and truly know who you are.  When I put aside the worlds negative view… and fully concentrate on the love you provide.  A love that is humble… accepting…understanding… and never ending. A love that gives me assurance of a future with you, and your father.  A love I will never fully comprehend. A love I can firmly place my faith in, and give my heart to.  Father, give me the wisdom to hear when you speak.  Give me the understanding to know what you are saying.  To hear with an open heart, and a creative mind, that I may come to truly know your ways… your truth.  Ephesians 3:17-19 

I Love You!

Perry

As we talked…  I expressed to him the heart of our Savior.  The longer we visited, the more he become uncomfortable.  Every human, deserves our love and respect, as they are children of God. Each one made in his image… given a purpose… given a part of his spirit.   Because each person holds Christ DNA in them, we are to love them all.  He commented,  “what about the guy that steals from me”?  Jesus says give him your coat also.  “What about the guy who harms me”?  Jesus says turn the other cheek so he can hit it too.  He was struggling.  He was having trouble understanding, because the world he was raised in, taught just the opposite.   Then he commented.  “if he has done something to me, then he loses my love… my respect”.  So now we are ranking sin based on what is important to you?  Should we operate off of Christ standards… or our own?  Christ and God do not rank sin.  One is bad… the next is the same.  However, we operate from our own scale.  We see sins’ in a hierarchy.  The lie I told yesterday, could not be as bad, as the murder he committed.  It is but for the GRACE of our Savior that any of us can rest.  I for one, am so THANKFUL, that my Savior does not lose love and respect for me, because of my actions.  Matthew Chap. 5 – 7

I Love You!

Perry

Monday! Most of us don’t like Monday! To me, it offers new hope and a chance to be back with the people, I love to work with.  However, this particular Monday, was a day full of disappointment and frustration.  There were times, I felt as though it couldn’t get any worse.  People who say they love you… but leave.  People who say they want what is best… but do not do their best. Religious leaders who reflect only the world.  Then I saw it! Our Saviors letters and the stories he left for us.  It only takes a moment to remember… it’s all about Jesus.  Doesn’t matter what others say or do.  It’s all about Jesus.  Doesn’t matter what the outcome is.  It’s all about Jesus.  Doesn’t matter that others are rude and angry.  It’s all about Jesus.  Doesn’t matter if the world likes you, or not.  It’s all about Jesus.  When the world knocks us down.  When others disappoint.  When people could care less about you.  When the world shows hatred… malice… envy…  violence and indifference.  All that matters is Jesus.  When he is front and center in your life, you will return hatred, with love.  Malice, with compassion. Envy, with sharing. Violence, with peace.  Indifference, with caring.  It’s simply all about Jesus.  What a comfort that is… in this crazy world.

Ephesians 1:20-23

I Love You!

Perry

So many! As I stand on 16th street in Denver, so many people. Sitting. Standing. Walking. I try to see each one. I don’t want to see a forest… I want to see a tree! So many, that it would be easy to look at them as a crowd, but I desire to see a person. To notice each. To try to see Christ in this one and that. As he stopped to ask if I had a cigarette, I noticed his face was severely disfigured. He was missing his nose along with other scars. Now homeless… I asked if he could use some money. My heart aches as I think, but for the grace of God… go I. If I had a handicap such as his… would I be on the street, as well? Did he turn to drugs to run from the pain? Did he turn to the street to escape the ridicule. I tried to visit with him, but he was gone as fast as he came. I would have told him that one day there will be no more scars. One day his nose would be whole again. For now, all I can do is pray, that he finds peace in our Savior. Our Savior always saw the person… and not the crowd. I pray that he blinds me, to the mass of people, and leads me to the one that needs a kind word. We can make a difference… we just have to take the time. Luke 15:4

I Love You!
Perry

Do you struggle to understand as I do? Daily I see people, many who call themselves Christ followers, doing everything, but reflecting the heart of the Savior. Daily I think: Everything I do… everything I say… the way I act… the way I conduct business… the way I treat others… is a direct reflection on the one I love. When I wear the name Christian. When I profess to follow Christ. Others look to me… to see what HE is like. Do I truly understand his heart? Do others see him in me, or the world? I go to a Christian concert, and I watch as people shove to be first in line. As they throw down their trash. I observe, as they yell at each other over a parking place. Is that Christ? I experience church leaders who are deceitful… hurtful… and self-serving… Is that Christ? When I was a kid, I behaved, not because I was afraid of getting in trouble. I was good, because I wanted to reflect well on my earthly father, whom I adored. Should we not do even more, for our heavenly father? Tomorrow, as you go through your day, look to his heart in everything you do. Reflect his love to everyone you meet. Above all else be the mirror of his spirit. That, and only that, will bring others to him, and put a smile on his face. Ephesians 5:1-10

I Love You!
Perry

Five thousand had come. Matthew says men, which meant many women as well. All they heard was grumbling, and throws of insults, as everyone was hungry. As the twelve checked their bank book, they soon realized, they had not enough money to feed the crowd. They were frightened… worried… afraid of what the people might do. How easily they had forgotten who was with them. Who was standing near. They forgot who was about to speak, to this mob of people. Yet while they worried, Jesus took five loaves, and a few small fish, and fed the thousands. In the blink of an eye… problem solved. He not only fed them, but had twelve baskets, of left overs. What seems like an insurmountable problem to us… is but a whisper to God. What seems like a never ending nightmare… is but a day dream to our Savior. Are you standing near to him, yet have forgotten who he is? Are you listening to him speak, but don’t trust him to solve the problem? No matter what… when… or how big… he will turn a few loaves, into a feast. You simply have to trust… hand it to him… and watch him work. Then when he is done, sit back, and listen to him speak.
Colossians 1:17

I Love You!
Perry

Do you give God what he asks for… or what he needs?  When this question entered my thoughts I found it to be strange. God doesn’t need anything from us.  The more I have contemplated, the more I have come to understand, the depth behind this question, the Holy Spirit put on my heart.  There are those that follow rules.  There are those that are happy to stand behind years of tradition, and years of never ending patterns, in a hope to find God.  They come to believe, that God wants us to follow this rule or that.  If we don’t give him what he asked for, he will be unhappy with us.  Some believe he wants us to perform a certain way.  After forty seven years of walking side by side with him, I have come to realize what he needs from us… is simply love.  What he needs… is simply a relationship.  True love means you don’t need rules that are written down.  True love means you will do what is needed… when it is needed… simply because you love.  I don’t wash the dishes because I’m afraid my wife will be unhappy if I don’t.  I do it because I love her.  True love means you don’t find favor with another, simply because they perform to a certain level. You find favor… because they are the one you truly love.

1 Corinthians 3:21 (msg)

I Love You!

Perry

He had no idea the affect he was having on me.  He made an impact on my life, after twenty short minutes of knowing him.  He was simply doing his job with fervor, with zeal.  After many times of being in Juvenile  Detention he joined a program that changed his life.  A year long plan that takes young people, in trouble and teaches them how to work.  How to do life.  How to love and honor others.  He was now back at the restaurant, that houses this program, as a supervisor and lighting up the room with his spirit.  Through tear filled eyes, I hugged this young man and told him how proud I was of who he had become.  Once a stranger… now a young man that had my heart!  You never know, each day, who’s life you are touching and how it can affect them.  Do you touch lives for good… or bad?  Are people better for having crossed your path… or worse?  It doesn’t matter where you are… who you encounter… as followers of Christ it is our job to show love.  To show hope.  To show a fervor for life. To create happiness and caring with everyone, each day. JD learned that lesson, at the young age of twenty.  I think we need more JD’s in this world.

Matthew 5:14-16

I Love You!

Perry