BEE STUNG!

Just the other day I was picking up some apples from under the apple tree, so that I could feed the deer. I had picked all that was on the ground and decided to "shake" the tree to drop a few that were hanging. After a good shaking the ground was covered again and I began to pick the apples back up, when I noticed an army of bees pouring out of a hole in front of me! Before I could get away I was stung on the wrist. I am allergic to bees, (but not in a way that my throat swells or anything) before and hour had gone by my entire arm was throbbing and swelling fast. After a couple of hours my fingers were swollen and the pain was horrible. That night I didn't sleep to good, and the next day I was only worse. After some much needed advise and some ice and medicine the pain and swelling started to leave. This got me to thinking about how little things like bees can create such a pain. Sometimes in our walk with Christ we get "stung" by little things that create pain and swelling in our souls. These stings can come from other Christians or co-workers or for a lot of people FAMILY, and most of the time it causes us great pain. But we need to turn to our Great Physician Jesus Christ and let Him ease the pain and reduce the swelling. Sometime it takes time but with Christ all things are possible. And you may be reading this and come to realize that you are the one that is stinging people, if so ask the Lord Jesus to help you stop bringing pain on others.

Be Prepared!

With the eastern NC bowhunting season just weeks away, I have begun to get prepared. Me and some hunting buddies have placed a few tree stands around a farm in places that we hope that big buck might step out at. But that is not it. I have been shooting my bow for several weeks, making sure that it is shooting properly. I have also put out a wildlife camera to take pictures of the deer as they come in and out of the crops. But that's not all. I have washed my hunting clothes in non sent washing powder and placed them in a sealed bag so that no other smell can get on them. And still there is more. The morning of the big hunt I will shower in scent free soap, and spray down with scent free spray. All this preparation for a chance at a big buck. We spend a lot of time preparing for the hunting season, but how much time do we prepare for the battle that is raging around us? The Apostle Paul says " be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of the evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." (Ephesians 6:10-13) Paul is telling us to be prepared not for a fight against each other but against the devil and his traps and temptations. So as you sit in your tree stand this season or by your computer at work ask yourself....Am I Prepared?

Pick & Choose

My passion for the outdoors also include the creatures that live in the outdoors, I enjoy feeding a couple of deer that stop by at night for some corn and maybe a few apples, I also like to feed and watch the birds. The other day I was watching a bird eat from the feeder, and I noticed that the bird was picking and choosing what seeds it wanted to eat. As I watched this bird it reminded me of the way some Christians act. We only want to do what we want, and everything else gets spit out or tossed to the side. We get caught up so much in what we want to do that we forget about everyone else. Not only do we act this way concerning our activities, but we do the same when it comes to God's Word. We pick out the verses that we like and the ones we want to apply to our lives, but the others we just pretend they are not even there. Deuteronomy 8:3 says " man does not live on bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." We need to be aware of our picking and choosing and realize that "pushing aside" important food will leave us malnourished.

What's That Smell?

As a young man I stayed in the river fishing and catching the things that live in the waters. I remember one time I had been fishing all day in the river and I had caught a mess of trout, that I had decided to bring home and clean for mom to cook. I cleaned the trout and discarded the guts and heads in the trash can in the kitchen. It did not take long to start smelling up the house, and when mom got home it was really "ripe". I took the trash to the outside cans but the next day it still was rotten, so I took the guts and heads and buried them in the field beside the house. The smell was finally gone. This childhood story reminds me of an adult problem. So many times we tend to hold a grudge against someone. That grudge becomes like that fish in the kitchen trash smelly and stinking up your life. You may even try and get rid of it by pretending to forget about it, but sooner or later the smell will catch up to you, and sometimes (most of the time) it will affect not only you but those that are close to you. You will become bitter and negative and really smell. You must do something to get rid of the smell. As Jesus Christ was being murdered he cried out and said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24) It is time to move on, let it go, and forgive them.

Flying High

There are many times in life when we feel weighed down by stress from jobs, guilt from sin, pressure from financial problems. What do we do in these times? How do we react? Well, I think many of us tend to hide our problems. We sweep them under the rug only to trip over them later. Why do we have such little faith? We have such faith in God with our souls, yet we struggle to give Him our everyday problems. With the weight of our daily burdens we can barely lift off the ground, yet alone fly. Peter reminds us to "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1Peter 5:7) When we "give" it to Christ and rely on Him for our strength and guidance He will deliver you. Do you trust Him? The prophet Isaiah put it this way, " Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31) Are you ready to fly? Give all your problems over to God, and trust the Creator of this world to save you.

Don't Lay With The Dogs! (You might get fleas)

Growing up I was always drawn to "hang out" with the wrong crowd. It was exciting to me to sneak out the bedroom window and stay out late. Many times my mother would warn me running with the wrong crowd, but I threw caution to the wind and went my own way! Years went by and slowly I became the wrong crowd. No longer was it sneaking into the movies, but now it had became drinking and using drugs. And no longer was it exciting, but now it was everyday life. The drinking and druging cost me countless relationships, jobs, and money. I finally hit rock bottom one day, and the only move I could make was up. That is were I met my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I gave my life to Him, and He restored my soul. Never again did I desire a drink or a drug. I gave it all over to King Jesus, and I urge any of you that may be struggling in your daily life to do the same. He can save you, I speak from experience. God's Word says this "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." (John 3:16-17) The price has been paid for your sins!

Papa please preach!

As we all celebrate fathers day be in prayer for each other. The Christian men of today are in desperate need of a "restructure". As many of us may be fathers, and some becoming fathers we need to be reminded that we need to be a positive role model for our children. Often I see my three boys doing things that I do, or imitating me. As I sit back and watch I am reminded that they learn from me what a man is supposed to be like, how a husband is supposed to respond to his wife, or a father to his children. I pray daily for God to give me strength to overcome worldly temptations and to be a godly role model for them. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says "You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." So we are commanded to love God and talk about our love for Him, teaching this to our children all the time. Please fathers, be the man God desires you to be, and pass it on to your children. I am praying for you all, and feel free to e-mail me any personal prayer request.