Giving Ourselves to Whom We Belong

As we get ready for church and put on our best clothes, best Christian manners, and our Jesus mask, may we be reminded that we are called to so much more than a Sunday morning extravagamza of fine suits, Sunday dresses, and parading around like we are the holiest of the holy; we are called to present ourselves daily to God as a living sacrifice. That is so much more than our standard religious activity.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Good Morals are Not an Accident

Good morals, and a vibrant relationship with Christ does not happen by accident, it is something that believers must put some effort into. We are not saved by our own efforts, but by the grace of God, but it takes effort on our part to live up to the life we have been called to live.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Textbroker

For aspiring freelance writers or for those who just want to make a few dollars on the side, textbroker is a good entry level writing site. They are reliable, they pay, and provide a steady stream of writing jobs.

in reference to: Unique content - Textbroker.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Reality of Redemption

The reality of redemption in Christ, a reality not based on emoitions or human experiences, but on the death and resurrection of The Son of God. When believers life their live according to this reality they truly experience God.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Rabbit Eyes and Sunsets

Rabbit eyes and sunsets
Blue eyes that smile
The wonder of a nine-year old
with a heart that holds no guile
Facing a world that is reeling
From the deadly fall
That is drunken on the iniquity
That takes it's toll on us all
Even though its tragic
I still can smile
For rabbit eyes and sunsets
In the eyes of my dear child

Becoming His

The clarion call of Chritiananity, to give ourselves over so fully to Christ that it can be said that we are His.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Government Financing Cracker Barrel?

Not really, follow link to see how Cracker Barrel is providing new jobs. With unemployment pushing the double digits, it is good to see any kind of new jobs coming open.

in reference to: Ask Us: How can federal money be spent to finance a Cracker Barrel | al.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Holiness

This helps to understand the meaning of true holiness before God, and reminds me of how far I am away from it.

in reference to: Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": September 1st. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Useful to God

I guess what Oswald is saying here is that it is not so much about being busy for God, but rather letting God be busy in our lives. God is soveriegn, but when I surrender to Him in faith and obedience, I allow His will to work without the hindrance of my will.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

The Life of Faith

The Chtistian life is a journey of faith, Jesus is building our faith through the trials and difficulties of this life. This is a good analogy of the life of faith by Oswald Chambers. It is in Old English, but the meaning is still quite clear. May we all grow deeper in faith and closer to Christ today, may He take us up on the mountain and show us His glory.

in reference to: Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": August 29th. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Oswald Chambers on Prayer

This devotional is well worth reading, so many times we take our prayers before God as a wish list seeking things instead of seeking more of God Himself in our lives, which is what we desperately need the most.

in reference to: Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": August 28th. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Becoming a Slave and Giving Away Our Lives

Jesus declares His mission, and reminds us of our mission as well. We are called to serve and to give our lives away for others. This may not fit in with pop culture theology, but this is the essance of the Christian life, our King Jesus came as a servant and gave His life away, He calls us to do the same. This what we have been saved for, this is the glory of the Christian life, to follow in the footsteps of our King.

in reference to:

"25(U)But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26"It is not this way among you, (V)but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as (W)the Son of Man (X)did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.""
- Matthew 20 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Been Paid by Demand Studios Twice

I now have been paid by Demand Studios twice, have another article waiting for payment, have one waiting for approval, and two more I have claimed to write. Life is good. I am glad that I have this opportunity to write since I have had my hours cut at Cracker Barrel. However, I know that God will provide all my needs according to His riches in glory.

Non-fiction Writer

Okay, so I have not been altogether honest, I like writing poetry, I want to write a novel and I have composed a song or two, however, I devote most of my writing to writing non-fiction web content through agencies such as textbroker and mose recently demand studios. I am a sellout, but maybe one day I will be able to fulfill my passion for creative writing. Correction! One day if it be God's will I will make it as a creative writer, until then I will write what I have to write.

Oswald Nails it Again

Our walk with Jesus is not about emotional highs or being simply religious, even though the spirit touchs our emotions at times and we can't deny the religious aspect, but our walk with Christ is about moment by moment allowing Him to have his way in my life. It is about me trusting Him to the point that I throw up my arms in sweet surrender to His will. When we lift our hand in praise, may we also raise our hands in surrender, saying " alright, Jesus, you got me. I'm yours."

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

The Story that Burns Within

Outside on the porch at two a.m., family in bed
I am writing instead
Nothing to say to my chagrin, losing my sleep for
the story that burns within
My soul is red hot, my mind a blaze
still I can't erase the haze
This fog can't last forever, soon it shall end
Then I'll share the story that burns within.

Companies increasing their dividends

Investors who are making dividend plays may find this article interesting as in it features companies that are increasing their dividends. In a slow economy, companies that are raising their dividends are well worth investigating further.

in reference to: 9 Important Dividend Increases | InvestorPlace (view on Google Sidewiki)

For investors

For investors who are intersted in dividend investing, this article offers some utlity names that are well worth looking into.

in reference to: 11 High Yield Utility Stocks Beating the Market | InvestorPlace (view on Google Sidewiki)

Working out the details

It is easy to be so busy with life and even busy in spiritual matters that we forget to acknowledge God in all areas of our lives. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says that we shouldtrust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding and to acknowledge God in all our ways, then he will make our paths straight. We need to take the time and effort to let God be involved in all areas of life, so that our lives wil be all that God intends for them to be.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Another Cracker Barrel Location

It is good to see that some companies are still expanding in a slow economy. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has showed amazing resilency in the current economic environment.

in reference to: Cracker Barrel deal is nearly complete - Decaturdaily.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

An Interesting Perspective

In today's devotion, an interesting perspective is given on the Christian life. A perspective that goes against the grain of the way many view their walk with Jesus. If you have the time, read the entire devotion; it is well worth the reading.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Promises of God

I love reading about the promises of God. They never fail, God is faithful. When you are feeling low, and it seems like all hope has gone, just remember, the promises of God that never fail.

in reference to:

"45(AD)Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."
- Joshua 21 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Nothing New for Cracker Barrel

Offering holiday products early is nothing new for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's gift shop. It seems that they have already been doing this for a few years, maybe longer. I always make a joke about all the Halloween merchandise, I say " It is shame to commercialize a good pagen holiday like Halloween." Occasionally people will get the joke and laugh, and sometimes I get no response. Anyways, Cracker Barrel's gift shop is on top of things getting the holiday merchandise out early.

in reference to: Some stores offering holiday items early » Knoxville News Sentinel (view on Google Sidewiki)

If we only realized all we have in Christ

If we could only realize all that we have in Christ, what has been imparted to us by His divine power. It blows me away to think that the holiness of Jesus has been given to me, that it is in me through the Holy Spirit that live in all believers. Is the holiness of Jesus always what I exhibit? Not hardly, but on the journey of faith I am learning to let it have preeminence in my life, it is a ongoing process. I have not arrived, but praise God I am on my way. How about you?

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

We have great power in the name of Jesus

Even though it seems like there are overwhelming challenges before us and fierce opposition, in the name of Jesus we like the Ephraim and Manasseh have great power. It is true that the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, but the word says that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. There is a promised land of victory, peace, and great joy for the soul of the believer in Jesus, may we rise up with confidence and great courage and take possesion.

in reference to:

"17Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, "You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have (M)chariots of iron and though they are strong.""
- Joshua 17 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Something to Consider

This devotional is something for all believers to consider. We often use the phrase "living for Jesus", yet dying with Jesus can be a foriegn concept to us. Before we can truly live for Jesus, we must choose to die with him. The old man with its sinful desires must be delivered over to death.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Win a free lunch at Cracker Barrel

Winning a free lunch at Cracker Barrel is the real prize here. I will take a free lunch at Cracker Barrel anyday, you can even let the country star stay home, I will take my wife instead. Even though I work for Cracker Barrel Old Country store, I really love the Cracker Barrel Menu, lots to choose from and in my opinion the Cracker Barrel menu prices are some of the best in the casual dining industry.

in reference to: Cracker Barrel & Craig Morgan Say “That’s Why!” You Can Win Lunch With Craig » Got Country? (view on Google Sidewiki)

The latest Cracker Barrel Music Offering

Cracker Barrel's retail side's latest offering in music. Cracker Barrel's retail side is showing once more that as the store side of the business that they can provide current, relevent products to to Cracker Barrel customers who shop in the gift shop prior and after their dining experience.

in reference to: Photo Friday: LBT, TBP, Craig Morgan : MusicRow (view on Google Sidewiki)

The day that the Sun stood still.

This illusrates how far our God will go to give victory to His children. If God will stop the Sun and moon at the request of His servant Joshua, is there anything that He will not do for us to ensure our victory. Fight on weary soldiers, there is victory in Jesus.

in reference to:

"13(L)So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies Is it not written in (M)the book of Jashar? And (N)the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day."
- Joshua 10 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

God is in Control

An excellent devotion by Oswald Chambers today. What a blessed thought, God is in control and there is nothing that I will face that He does not know about, care about or that He is in control of. Why worry, why be in despair, for we have a Heavenly Father that loves us with an inexpessionalble and has soveriegn control over our circumstances. Praise be the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Making God our all in all.

Very good devotional, we were created for this. We were created to choose to belong to Christ. Everybody belongs to Him already, but not everybody has chosen to be His. Make it your goal to be His.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Worth reading

Todays devotional from Oswald Chambers is well worth taking the time to read and contemplelate on our relationship with Christ. The question we should ask is, is my relationship with Jesus all about Him or is it all about me?

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

The Everlasting Arms

What a blessed thought as we face this life, that underneath us, upholding us, is the everlasting arms of Jesus. No wonder the songwriter who wrote 'Leaning n the Everlasting Arms' wrote " What a fellowship, what a joy is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms"

in reference to:

"27"(AX)The eternal God is a dwelling place, (AY)And underneath are the everlasting arms;"
- Deuteronomy 33 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

It is a shame

Either our Commander in chief is totally out of touch with mainstream America or he really does not care. Anyways, there is no excuse for rewarding bad behaviour and punishing good behavior.

in reference to: Opinion: President Obama's Policies Reward the Bad, Punish the Good (view on Google Sidewiki)

Google Sidewiki entry by paul

Faith is embracing the reality of God in the deepest part of my soul, having that reality as a hope and an anchor for my soul.

in reference to:

"1Now faith is the (A)assurance of things (B)hoped for, the conviction of (C)things not seen."
- Hebrews 11 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Summer Night

Have you ever felt the dark of a summer night as it kissed your skin with its balmy, sticky heat?

As you walk under a canopy of stars have you ever felt the night wrap itself around you with its thick, heavy arms that pulls you in to its chest only to let you go so you can run away though the night air only to be caught again.

Have you ever felt the summer moon staring down at you, and when you look up to return the stare he hurries behind a cloud leaving you looking at a silver outlined cloud concealing the king of the nightime world.

Excuse me, have you ever felt the dark of a summer night?

What is a father?

What is a father?

A father is that man that a son looks up to.
The man that the son someday wants to be as he looks on with young eyes full of admiration and wonder at this amazing man that can do anything and seems to fear nothing in this world. Yes, this is what a father is to the young boy growing up who sees his father as invincible and unshakable, and capable of doing any task put before him.

A father is who a son looks to for protection.
As a child realizes the dangers of life, he looks for a place of refuge, a safe place. A father’s arms is that place where the child feels safe and protected from the perils of life.

A father is a source of unconditional love.
In a world that can be cold and indifferent, a fathers unconditional love is a constant that a child can depend upon. Though others may fail us, though friends walk away, though all the world be against us, a father’s love still remains.

A father represents our Heavenly Father
As we have been created in His image, and are His offspring, I believe that our earthly father’s love bears the image of our Heavenly Father’s love.

Judging others

This is someyhing I need to wok on. My harsh criticism of others.

in reference to: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

Poem of a Poem

I set out to write a poem

A verse from the depths of my soul

Something that would touch hearts

That would not be too droll

But I realized, empty I was

Dry as a drought

Empty with nothing to say

Robbed of my poems by the trifles of life

So I decided to write a poem about a poem

Not a rhyming poem, an obscure poem that reeks of nonsensical words

Nonsensical words and poor poetry and grammar

A poem about a poem that was, that is, but really is not

A poem from a person who should be sleeping, but is not

A poem for all of my fellow struggling poets, who are lacking inspiration for poems

Yet, within them still burns the fire to write

So I say, write anyways, forget inspiration, just write and let the words fall where they may

Poems and such

On this blog, you will find poems,inspirational tidbits, and works of fiction that I am working on. Come back and visit often, I will try to keep adding poems and adding to my stories. Feel free to comment on the poems and books in process.

Faith

Our faith in God is not just a mental or emotional ascent of a belief in God, but is a supernatural occurance that is birthed by the living word of God. Faith is the reality of God stamped on our spirit and spreading through our soul, creating conviction and confidence in our God.

in reference to:

"1Now faith is the (A)assurance of things (B)hoped for, the conviction of (C)things not seen. 2For by it the (D)men of old (E)gained approval. 3By faith we understand that the (F)worlds were prepared (G)by the word of God, so that what is seen (H)was not made out of things which are visible."
- Hebrews 11 - Passage Lookup - New American Standard Bible - BibleGateway.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Being faithful in a world that is unfaithful

It does seem like we are faced with many challenges that tempt and pressure us to act contrary to our faith, and I think this is the rub, to go against those inclinations and submit to Christ anyways. I must admit I often fail in that, but I am learning, and leaning on the mercy of our Lord. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saves a wretch like me.

in reference to:

"“Now you work it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.”"
- My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (view on Google Sidewiki)

The Adventures of Fuzzy, Travis , and the Cat, Georgia

Fuzzy Kills a Groundhog

On a sunny morning, late in May, Fuzzy and his nephew Travis decided to explore the regions off to the side of the driveway, known to all as the ditch. After making it halfway down the steep driveway, off into the ditch they went.

The ditch was a new experience for the pair, with trees blocking out the sunlight, save for a few rays that filtered through breaks in the foliage, the ditch was a dark, mysterious place that begged for exploration, and our two little hounds were eager for the task.

The woods

It was in the ancient woods at the head of the spring where the dark accord was struck. A frightened, desperate lot made a deal with an angel of darkness, a deal that carried them deep into the heart of evil and opened up a portal to another world where evil reigned.

It was a time of terror and of darkness, as something sinister lurked in the woods and it seemed that a curse hung over the land. Crops were dying, wells were drying up, men in the prime of life were dropping dead and children were coming up missing- something had to be done.

Chapter 1-A Covenant Of Blood
George woke with a strange feeling of dread, yet with a glimmer of hope, be it a dark hope. Tonight George was going to meet with Arad, a mysterious man dressed in buckskin who George had encounterd at the place where his garden met the woods, the woods that had inspired fear in some but had a strange, drawing affect on George.

The bucskin clad stranger stepped out of the woods at dusky dark one evening as George wa making his evening inspection of his strugging garden. George was startled at first by the stranger, but wa soon put at ease by the smooth, soothing words of the man, who spoke more as an old friend than a new acqaintence.

Georges new friend, called George by name as if he had know him all of his life. "How long George, how long?"

George was taken back by the fact that the stranger called him by name, but soon was calmed by the smooth tone of the man from the woods.

" How long you going to take it George, how long you going to sit back and watch your well run dry and your crops dry up and shrival away. If it was me, I would be taking some action, sitting back and hoping it is going to get better don't seem to be getting you any results."

" God will provide in due time, we just have to trust Him." George assured the dark skined stranger dressed in buckskin at their first meeting.

At this, a slight, twisted grin crossed the dark man's face showing a mouth full of gleaming white teeth that were perfectly aligned except for a slight gap between the upper two teeth with the tooth to the right of the gap being gold. Through his twisted grin the stranger said, " George, sometimes situations call for action, maybe your God is waiting on you to do something, is it not true that your God helps those that help themselves?"

Tired

At the close of day, my labor done
I settled back to enjoy some fun
But to my dismay, no fun could be found
For my I was wasted by tired,my body worn down
So it was off to the bed, so I could retire
For the day was gone, and I was tired.

The Stage of Day

As the day fades into night, extinguishing the light
In a brilliant show of glory and splendor
There is a final display of reddish, pinkish array on clouds
Touched by a golden censor
"I won't go easy, the colours scream out, but go with a shout,
a dazzling show of glory to render.
So keep looking eastward, where I soon shall return
As upon the stage of 'the day' I re-enter.

Mothers Day poem

The Stage of Day

As the day fades into night, extinguishing the light
In a brilliant show of glory and splendor
A final display of reddish, pinkish array on clouds
Touched by a golden censor
"I won't go easy, the colours scream out, but go with a shout,
a dazzling show of glory to render.
So keep looking eastward, where I soon shall return
As upon the stage of 'the day' I re-enter.

Cold

From 2010-02-14

Cold, deep piercing cold.
Freezing me to the bone, here I sit all alone
Frozen from the cold
No emotion, no devotion, only the cold
Frozen to my chair, not going anywhere
Only cold, soul freezing cold

Looking Back, Looking Ahead, Living Now

Walking back down through the years of my life, down dark corridors of broken dreams and shattered hopes
Tasting the bittersweet taste of unfulfilled aspirations that never broke free from the gravity of reality that came crashing down like a falling star that has lost her way and falls headlong into the atmosphere of my own little sphere of existence, resistance, place of persistence.
Not knowing what lies on up ahead, where I will be led, will I be dead, only knowing that I must push along.
No turning back, nothing behind, just haunting ghosts of the past to harass my mind.
So I embrace this night of my life, savoring every fleeting emotion that passes through my soul like a sword of light that cuts through the darkness until all that remains is light .

Empty

There once was a man
He was full of life, full of hope, he had dreams
One day he awoke, the hopes, the dreams, they had fled
All he had left was his life, emptied of all of the aspirations and dreams
that had made his heart beat with excitement, emptied of the hopes that kept him
pressing forward and kept a smile on his face
All gone, only the emptiness remains
A life empty slipping into abyss of disillusionment, robbed of those things
that make the blue sky seem to be a brighter shade of blue, those things that make
the early morning bright and crisp, those things that elevate life
from mere existence to living.

Winter

From 2010-02-14

Hills laced in white snow

Melting, leaving me, abandoning me

Standing in the aftermath of the beauty that was

and soon will not be.

The Darkness

Into the darkness, I feel I've been thrown

Blue skies and bright sunshine are to me unknown

The weight of the night bearing on my soul

As dark clouds around me roll

So I wait for the morning, when will it come

How long will my heart rot in this slum

Till I have wasted away and my brain is numb

Oh may I not to this darkness succumb