September 18, 2017
Category: dreams
August 25, 2017
I Hate Waiting
As I was a young man in my 20s, I had a series of visions regarding what I was called to do. I thought everything would be revealed to me within a year or two. HA! Boy was I wrong. When I was a kid, my parents used to make me go to the little Pentecostal church in Waverly, Missouri, where we used to sing, “Teach me, Lord, to wait.” But, as Inigo from “The Princess Bride,” says, “I hate waiting.”
August 17, 2017
Never Doubt Your Worth
For those of us who deal with prolonged issues such as pain, anxiety and depression, it’s easy to begin to question your abilities and worth. Once vibrant, bright-eyed and energetic, we slowly become hollow, dull-eyed and exhausted. But God is calling out of darkness, into His marvelous light. Laughter and love, not tears and anger. Joy and hope, not sadness and despair.
August 16, 2017
So Very Tired, Lord
You are the One who has given me every good thing in my life. You are the One who has given me not only the hope of salvation, but of Heaven, Lord. It was You who led my ancestors through many challenging days, through death and right into Your arms, Lord. I would like to ask one thing, Lord. I'm tired. I'm so very tired today. I don't know what else to say. I don't know what else to do. I just pray You give me strength. Give me the courage and tenacity to continue living for You in these difficult times. Allow me the spiritual brawn to lead my family to Your gates, Jesus.
August 6, 2017
Those Thundering Songs Which Define Me
Being an artistic soul, and having gone through so much pain, sorrow, anger and depression, I have a short list of songs which thunder in my spirit. At times a lost child and at other times a blood-drenched soldier, these anthems make up the DNA of my warrior soul.
August 3, 2017
Where Lambs Become Lions
Nobody else looks at you as critically as YOU do. Others see your assets; all you see are your liabilities. Your faults and shortcomings. Others are younger, thinner, smarter, more talented, wittier and better looking, right? Well, the good news is God doesn’t judge people the way we do. He looks right into your heart, and sees the kind of person you are on the inside. With God, lambs become lions.
July 26, 2017
The Light of Faith in the Darkness of Adversity
The world is getting colder, angrier and deadlier; more violent and desperate, I think. Spirits—that is, hearts, attitudes, emotions—seem to be heavy these days. Like we’re struggling to even breathe, or at least that’s my impression. Bon Jovi said, “Keep the Faith.” Eric Clapton said he was “Running on Faith,” and Kid Rock described his “Lonely Road of Faith.” Real faith, however, comes at a cost of tears and blood. Sometimes it may even cost us our life, but it is the only path to genuine peace of mind.
July 24, 2017
Fight The “Blues” With Me
It’s the first day of the work week, but I'm not experiencing your typical "Monday Blues" today. I have no clue what's wrong; it's as though a dark cloud of sadness, almost an anxiousness, has moved into the duplex next door. Sometimes—for me anyway—stress, depression, anger and even anxiety unwillingly invade, like watching black storm clouds roll into my spirit. As I am helpless to chase away a thunderstorm by sheer will, so this feels in my heart. But my family and I are born fighters. We surrender to God alone; never to darkness, never to defeat.
July 20, 2017
The Fragility of the Artistic Soul
Today the world received the devastating news of the suicide-by-hanging of Chester Bennington, lead singer of the band Linkin Park. As in the case of many other artists who have committed suicide, the sad fact is the artistic soul is a fragile one. Singers, poets, musicians, painters, writers, actors, we all have it; a seemingly brittle, inner core which is easily shattered. I know life seems devastatingly brittle at times, but believe me, it's not worth ending it. The enemy of our souls is at work, doing everything within his grasp to steal your soul. Don't let that happen. As Dylan Thomas said, “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
July 5, 2017
Broken People 