Ok, if you somewhat follow this blog then you are familiar with the term “Carshipping” (which is full blown worship while in your car).   Well yesterday I “stumbled” into another form of worship that I was not aware of.  As many of you know here in Missouri we are getting a healthy amount of snow and sleet and as I was taking out the trash I walked into the backyard to look at the snow falling and also to look into the cow pasture that is adjacent to our property.  I stopped under one of the cedar trees in our backyard and just stood taking in the beauty of falling snow and watching the scenery almost slipping into my “nothing” box.  As I was standing there I ws thinking about the individuality of snow flakes and how many there are for none of them to be the same.  And I was reminded how big our God really is.  This lead me into a comfort of His peace for all of the trials that are in the 2mhds life right now.   He then blessed me with this scripture that I had read several weeks ago in a devotion time.

2 Corinthians 1:4-7 (New International Version)

One of the things that is absolutely damaging to a Christian is letting the devil put guilt or lies into your head that you can not do something.  As soon as he has you believing that you are useless, guess what…Your Useless.  To avoid this we must know our Bible and what our Heavenly Father says that we are.  To truly understand who we are though we must understand who Christ is.  Paul gives us a beautiful description of Christ and His character in his letter to the Church at Colossae which he wrote during his first imprisonment in Rome .  In chapter 1 verses 15-20, Paul outlines Christ’s Character and gives us an image of who He is:

1) Image of God
2) Forstborn of Creation
3) Creator of the Universe
4) Head of the Church
5) Firstborn from the dead
6) Fullness of God
7) Reconciler of all things

Now, with this defined and somewhat trying to understand what the fullness of God actually is (as I dont think we as humans can fully comprehend it) and all of the other Characteristics we need to remember a couple of things.  This is who Christ is…but when God sees us He sees us through Christ.  So when He sees us He sees someone who is already:

1) Completed in Christ (Colossians 2:10) 
2) Holy (Colossians 3:12)
3) Perfect (Hebrews 10:14)
4) Righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

So, then back to my original question,  What is the Unreachable Goal?  And to that I thankfully answer with Christ…THERE IS NOT ONE!  We should as Christians never feel defeated or discouraged, we should always remember the One that John defines for us in John 1:4.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

In Him we have life, He overcame death so that we may live.  He again is our life!  Do not allow the evil one to decieve.  Know who Christ is so that you know who you are in Christ!!
Walk with Him, talk with Him, spend time daily with Him.  But most importantly rest in Him and have faith in Him.

God Bless ~ Tyler

When I was younger I sometimes heard my parents yell up the stairs “Turn that noise down”.  As a young person I always wanted the radio cranked (and still do sometimes) but I now understand the problem with all the noise.  It is impossible to hear the small quiet sounds when the noise is to great.  The past 2 days and I have been sitting at home and trying to find a job it is very easy to let the Devil attack and let my soul become so noisy that it begins to take over.  But as we know our spirit is one with God and if a time can be found to be still and listen it will always provide that peace and rest that is His.  As I was doing my devotion this morning my soul was very loud and trying to begin to panic as things never happen as fast as we want them to.  However God lead me to a scripture out of Isiah this morning that was perfect and yet another example of how He is ALWAYS faithful.

 Isaiah 49:8 (New American Standard Bible)       
8 Thus says the LORD,
   ”In a favorable time I have answered You,
    And in a day of salvation I have helped You;
    And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people,
    To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;

This was God speaking to me and reminding me that He has already answered my prayer for a new position.  He is just waiting for His timing to reveal that to me.  There is no longer a need for concern for our well being or provision.  As always GOD IS FAITHFUL.  I pray that you too will allow God to speak to you and allow you to quiet the noise.

God Bless ~ Tyler

As many of you have heard or read from my wife’s blog that my company downsized and so I am out looking for a job. Well during the same time my oldest two children have started public school. So we as a family have been spending the week trying to become adjusted to the new schedule and new demands of the public school life and needs. Well one evening as the kids were preparing for the following day we decided that since we had arrived home so late from church that we would allow them to buy their lunch the next school day so that they could just hurry up and get into bed. Well my oldest daughter was dead set against this because of my current job situation. She begged me to let her use her own money, that she could cover the two dollars and that way I could save mine. I was so touched inside by her awareness, generosity, and willingness to give of herself for others and for the family.

But what also struck me is that this is what Christ was referring to in so many ways when He instructed us to have a childlike faith.  My daughter is not worried about how the light bill is going to be paid or how the mortgage is going to be paid because she has unyielding faith that Dad is going to provide these things.  And to be honest she does not understand all of the things that go on around all of that, but she understand her little world and she was willing to sacrifice her money to help in the only way she knew how.  She has the faith to let her earthly father worry about the things that she cant control and the love to be obedient in the things that she can control. 

Isn’t that us as adults, there are things that we cant control, things we don’t understand, and a few small things that we will sacrifice (as long as it does not hurt to much.)  It is a hard thing to learn, that is to humble ourselves to the point of giving up control (or the facade of control that we think we have.)  We must be as the children and trust our Heavenly Father to provide and to protect.  I bet if you examine your life you will see more of His guidance and more of His protection than you realized at the time of each incident in your life.  

Are you willing to let go fully and let God take full control?  Wherever, Whatever, Whenever?

God Bless ~ Tyler