It has been sometime since I did an update. Truth be told I created a private blog where I journal many things. I realized much of what I wanted to write really wasn't meant for anyone to read but myself.

That said, I read something this morning that shouldn't be kept private.

Reading Romans Chapter 14:

1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

2-4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.

6-9What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.

10-12So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

"As I live and breathe," God says,
"every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

13-14Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I'm convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

15-16If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!

17-18God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

19-21So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

22-23Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

so often we as christians focus more on the evil around us instead of focusing on improving our own life.

God doesn't come and go. He lasts. Our faith in him does wax and wane. God knows each and every star in the solar system by name -- can I really doubt that he doesn't also know each and every one of us? including me?

When God finished creating everything (heaven, sky, day, night, us, animals, etc.) he looked back and saw that it was a good thing.

But, the one thing he did when he created us was give us free will. Our free will destroyed that good thing. Our free will and free will alone can only make it good again.

Only God and our mother's truly knew us when we were in the womb. I've got kids; but, when they were in their mother's belly I didn't really know them. Only their mom knew them at that time. Their mom and God.

Bruce McLaren relates a story about a bug. He saw a ladybug land on his shirt one day and proceed to walk to the left...then walked up...then walked down...and then the bug stopped and began to wash itself with his left antennae. Then his right antennae. And then in another moment the bug was gone. Of all the places the bug could have landed he landed on Bruce's shirt. And the bug had a purpose. To rest and clean itself. Basically an Entomological Argument for the Existence of God.

If there are living, purposeful bugs, there must be a God!

I can't paraphrase this any more eloquently than it is already written:

Isaiah 40:28-31 (The Message)

27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.

God is known by so many names. So are we. Selfish and ungrateful. Fallen and sinful. Weak and helpless. Proud and arrogant.

Yet, God still comes to redeem us. What could be more incredible?

It's been a journey -- and there are days I absolutely don't feel God in my spirit or in my home. But, he is there -- and I'm embarrassed and humiliated by what he sees. But, he still loves each and every one of us.

yes, God can handle the truth even though most times we can't.

Either we can't handle hearing the truth -- or we can't handle being truthful for fear the other person can't handle the truth.

Fortunately God doesn't hold grudges nor does he judge. He listens and guides us. No matter how angry we may get at him - he doesn't leave us. Since he created us he knows our every emotion. He definitely knows me better than I know myself.

I have found God to be very responsive in the past to my complaints and frustrations and I never do believe I'll drive him away. But, I do know sometimes I take his grace for granted.

I wish I could be more like God when I've wronged. I think we all crave that unconditional love. It's so easy to want it; but, so hard to give it.

When the world seems dark -- light enters in. This is when God does his best work. In my life -- like many others - sometimes the storm hits hard.

I am grateful that last night my family and I did get to spend a few minutes before bedtime praying together. I want this to be a routine that our boys grow to love and expect.

I know many of us remember things our parents did for us when we grew up. This I want to be one of those things. If our children don't see us praying to God for guidance how are they going to learn to do so?

We are going to continue to have storms; but, if we seek shelter by sharing with God he'll get us through the storm.

Right now it's stormy out -- and I look forward to balmy weather.

Verse of the day...Psalm 97:1-12