God cannot be eliminated from any blog. He is everywhere. He is ruler of all things.

Ephesians 1:19-20 ( NLT )
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.



God is greater than even we can imagine. When I come home at night and look up at the stars, realizing that our incredible God made them, it’s mind boggling. When I look back at my life and see how He took things that I thought were tragedies and turned them into miracles, it is almost beyond comprehension.



Take the time to remember Who He is and what He has done in your life. Look around at this incredible creation He has placed us in and linger in the awe of that moment. Contemplate the power it took to create a world, the love that it took to give His only Son, and the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead! He is a Mighty God! Nothing we bring to Him in prayer is too hard for Him to deal with. Thank Him, love Him, follow Him, the Almighty God who is above all things.

WORD

Empathy…understanding and entering into another's feelings (Princeton dictionary online)

This is something that we all need to keep in mind as we meet people every day that do not know the Lord or may be very young Christians. We need to remember that we were once just like them…without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in our lives. Grace fits into that concept, doesn’t it? It was by grace we were saved. Remembering where we came from helps us have patience to lead others to where we are.

Colossians 1:21-22 ( NASB )
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Pray for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Seek God to find out how you can be instrumental in introducing someone to Jesus.

A friend shared with me yesterday that the theme for the Rex Allen Days parade is “Cowboy Thru it all.” As I thought about that, my mind went to the phrase “Cowboy up.” Maybe you’ve heard it before. The most common meaning that I have heard applied to this phrase is also found at urbandictionary.com:

“When things are getting tough you have to get back up, dust yourself off and keep trying.“

In Biblical terms that’s persevere. Hebrews 10:23 says,

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. “

Then down in verses 35 and 36 he says,

“³⁵So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

There is so much information today: news, people vying for our time and attention, things which would distract us and sometimes discourage us from sharing Jesus with others.

Someone might say,

“Well I talked to that person already about Jesus and they just don’t want anything to do with Him.” …..Cowboy up. Try again.

“I’ve asked God about what I should do for Him and He hasn’t really made it very clear to me.” …. Cowboy up. Ask again.

“I know God wants me to quit smoking (plug in your habit He wants to gain control of) and I just can’t do it” ….Cowboy up! Trust Him for the strength.

Do you want people to know who Jesus is? Maybe it’s time for you to “Cowboy up!” Let them see Jesus in you…

Philippians 3:14 ( NASB )
…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

God is working in our community. He is at work in The SPRING Student Center, in the lives of the teens and the staff that work with them. The "seeds" that are planted will grow and will produce fruit, which in turn will produce more "seeds".

Ignore the things that Satan would put in your path to deter you from doing God’s will.

Ignore the fact that there are thirty churches in our town.
There is only One Body of Christ and we each are members of that Body.

• I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)
• But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16b (ESV)
• So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19 (ESV)