Put On the Shelf

Today, I discovered that putting my heater on the ground instead of on a shelf. The room quickly heated up. It got me thinking what else have I put on the shelf. Others things I have been putting on the shelf at times were gifts given to me by my Mom and Grandma. They were giving me food stuff like hot sauce, pineapple salsa, micro beers, and wines. They wanted me to experience the local flavors because they knew I like to try different foods from areas . Couldn’t figure out why they were giving these things to me.I thought I would put it on display shelf. I truly thought they were shelf items. It was like when you collect Coke bottles and souvenir type stuff. I guess that’s why I thought to put it on self for decorating because they were coming back from various vacations. I was really appreciative of it. My intentions were to save it for a later day. It just sat there and I didn’t get to enjoy either. I let them down. In the past we have all been guilty of putting things on the shelf, aren’t we?

At times we put God on a shelf to enjoy on another day. He doesn’t want that he wants a fruitful relationship with you. As with any relationship you have to communicate with that person. Communicating with God is through prayer. That means literally talking to Him like you talk to your Mom. Asking questions, concerns, things you would want. Then allowing him talk to you. That means being silent and free from dilly dally. Like picking your nose, yeah I know you do? Or just squirming around. Concentrate he will answer your questions.

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24

I guarantee if you ask in Jesus name and believe in it. He will answer you. So, please my friends stop storing your relationship with Jesus on shelf. Start talking and things that go bump in the night will not have you terrified. You will have a joyous, adventurous and rewarding life.

Am I Nuts?

Life is scary if we make it out to be. When I was a truck driver I continually find people and tell me you were there, that’s a bad neighborhood to get out and walk are you nuts. Am I nuts,well I-suppose I am. It seems to me it’s only what you make of it that’s bad. You got to act like you belong there that’s the key. The other major factor is God has your back in any situation. He is not going to send you some where you are not equipped to handle.

Recently I got divorced, not because of what I did but things she had planned to do before we were married. Any how I was so depressed with grief and empty loss of trust. I could hardly move or want to move. I had panic attacks and crazy feelings that I never want to deal with again. But then one day talking to the Lord,” He said wake up you silly boy. I love you and you got things to do for me.” So I woke up and here I go down another road in life. A road of uncertainty. It’s scary, yeah, only if you make it out to be.

See I know-without a shadow of doubt that I will be with the Lord someday. Maybe today or tomorrow it’s really up to him. In the mean time I will live life for him and recruit as many people as I can through the life I lead. Life is scary only if I make it out to be?

I choose because in the end I will be in front of the most Glorious King, with the most compassionate hand. At one tenth of second chance at touching His enchanted robe it will be the most glorious thing I will endure. No pain on earth will or overcome that glorious moment in time. No way no how!

My Relationship with God

You know I have had a word that keeps popping up in my head. That word is consistency how am I consistent with the things I do? More importantly how am I consistent in my relationship with God. Well my first thought during thought process is that I am. Now I’m not sure .I do have some consistent things I do like driving to work, work, eat and just play around and not get things done. These things are not pleasing to God on the surface. If you’re mentioning and talking about Him then you are. Do you mention Him everytime? Well not me, so I’m guilty. Am I slow to anger, fast to help out, cheerful on a consistent basis. No I’m not. Unfortunately I have passed up many opportunities. I can’t even be consistent in this blog. I go for days without communicating to you. And because of that I feel guilty that I’m not sharing what God does for me. Let me tell you now that I am bless by him every day because of him.

God is always consistent. He’s there every day, every hour and every minute for you. That’s right only you. He loves you constantly. He never leaves you. He always forgives you when you come to him for forgiveness. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to know that he will never leave me or stop loving me. Its such a comfort to know I have a true BEST FRIEND.

On a personal note, not relating to this consistency stuff. See I told you I’m not consistent. A few days prior to Sunday I ran across this Daraja Children Choir of Africa. I really want to see it. I seem to always have my head in the sand. My church is sponsoring it dah! I had no idea so tonight I’m going to it before work. It’s going to be along day as I serve at the food bank in the morning. So I am going to put my trucker’s attitude on and put it in 13th gear.

I talk to you later friends. May God bless you! Penguin

God’s plan for you

Remember when you were getting ready to go on vacation how excited you were? Or even when as a child you were anticipating Christmas? God’s plan for you should be that exciting! What is God’s plan for you? Living your life as a Christian is his plan for you. Your daily lives are witnesses for Him. Here are five key evidences that you’re living His plan Joy, Love, Prayer, Optimism, and above all Everlasting Lasting Life.

The first is joy. Do you ever notice that Christians are always smiling and joyful? Even in the midst of a crisis. Yes, I know we show sadness too! But we bounce back. We know God is in control of everything. He is not going to let us suffer, hunger, or be without the company of others. Paul says in Philippians 4:4-5 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again Rejoice in the Lord. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” If you’re not joyous read Philippians it’s a manual on how to be Joyful in all.

Love, we never cease to love all things. The two greatest commandments are in Matthew 22:37-39 Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is loving your neighbor as yourself.”I don’t know about you the first is easy the second is a test of my will every day. When you’re a Christian it easier to love things because we know Christ is in all things. Even in your poo. Can you imagine the gas fumes if we didn’t have poo. Thank you Lord!

Prayer is one of my favorite things in life because I get to talk to my truly best friend. He knows what I am feeling and calms me down when I’m angry. Cheers me up when I’m sad. It also answers questions to my thoughts. This is your telephone line to God and all his wisdom. Make use of it daily. Did you know we are called to pray without ceasing?

Being an optimist is a byproduct of a Christian life. You can’t help it. Because you know the real truth in life. If you are sad then you know one day you will be glad. If you are hungry he will feed you. If you are without shelter he will provide it for you. Whatever bad is in your life God is going to make it better in the future. There is no doubt on this matter.

Last but not least God is going to give you Everlasting Life with him in heaven. Paradise, cool waters, mounds of meat, cheese, chocolate, and friends. All you have to do is believe in him. Wow it’s so easy! All I have to do is say “Lord Jesus I am a sinner and I want to believe in you with all my heart and soul. Please come in to my heart and forgive me of my trespasses against you.” But here is the Two Dollar catch the minute you say this. You Die! You will never be the same dreary person again. You are a child of God and like your own Father he will protect you and love you. Even better than that, He will never cease in caring for you.

Now you know you’re on God’s plan. Are you excited! Tell somebody about it. Tell them there is happiness that will not go away. Spread his Word so that all come to know his Him as their personal savoir.

God Bless Penguin.

Idle time

It seems like I have a lot idle time and I don’t know what to do. I know I work a full time job and thank God for that but its only forty hours. People look at me weird sort of way when I say that. Maybe you do too! If you don’t know I’m so used to working truck driving hours. Working a normal work week is boring. You see as a truck driver you are require to work 70 hours that’s just what the books say. He or she drives for 11 hours plus 4 hours on duty non-driving. Now that’s just on the books. Let’s look at a typical day for a driver.

A usual day I wake up at 4:30 am do the paperwork the Dot wants to see. By 4:45am on the road to finish last part of my run where there is no traffic and easier to find the destination. I get to final at around 7:00am check in with guard and warehouse personnel. Back into spot if there is one usually got to wait a couple hours. Mean while take a nap, if you can because now people are bouncing you all over there place going in and out of the trailer. Also your boss/dispatcher is messaging you when are you going to be done, go find out. You never do that but you play the game because you don’t want the customer mad at you and keep you there longer. About 10:00-11:00 you’re released and now you’re waiting for the next load. You try to find a spot to park in the mean time. Just as you get settled your boss gives you a load but it 70 miles down the road. It’s about 1:00pm now and by the time you get to next destination its 3:00pm. You get out talk to the guard check in to ware house people and get loaded now its 4:30-5:00pm and guess what you have to be at your destination by 7:30am the next morning. Are you tired yet? Hope not because you have 550 miles to drive by then. Most trucks are now govern and set 68-70 mph. So that means 8 hours of driving. You got to get fuel and something to eat that’s an hour and since its rush hour traffic time because all you 4 wheeler clogged up the highways going home from your measly 8 hour day we will add one hour. (A jab)That’s 10 hours I get a 2 hour nap in a rest area. Thank God. Can’t wait till the weekend when I get full nights rest because the warehouses aren’t usually open Saturday or Sunday. Thank you forty hour people for not working my hours because sure do need a little nap. If you refuse the load or are late you will sit where ever you are for a couple days that means no pay. That means staying out even longer, away from your family and friends if you have any left when you get there. The truth is you will not have any friends because you are not in their lives.When you come home you’re dead tired and the last thing you want is to drive even if it’s around the corner.

So I’m trying to figure out what to do. I volunteer at the food bank its only 3 hours on Tuesdays. I am taking classes on line. I am learning to play the guitar. Don’t laugh if you know me because you will understand this is a God thing. I’m not musically inclined at all. And I’m laughing myself because its so funny to see God use me in ways that I never thought of. I still feel like there is so much time I have. I don’t know what to do.

What road are you on?

What road are you on? I got a saying,” God's road should not be different than your road.” What is God’s road? Well lets look at the two greatest commandments in Matthew.

Jesus replied: “‘LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'LOVE your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

Now in both commandments there is a word LOVE. What is God’s love? The love word comes from a Greek word called agape.

Agape (pronounced/ˈæɡəpiː/AG-ə-pee; after the Classical Greek agápē; Modern Greek: αγάπη [aˈɣapi]) is one of several Greek words translated into English as love. Many have thought that this words represents divine,unconditional,self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.

So now are you getting the picture God loves you unconditionally. In order to follow the road of God you should Love yourself and your neighbor unconditionally. He made you. He loves you. He made your neighbor. He loves your neighbor. Let’s go through the day and concentrate on how we love yourself and our neighbor. Did we simply put on a smile, open the door, and pick up something on the ground to keep someone from tripping on it. Did we make that phone call to your family and friends just to make sure they are having a good day? Maybe just picking up the newspaper in the rain and putting on the porch so they don’t have to walk in the rain. Small things matter to God and that’s what love is, small.

Knock Knock Anybody Home

God’s the greatest don’t you know.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

This verse has been in my head for a few weeks or months. You see here in America I think churches are too closed to people. See I think we see God as one day maybe two day experience. We got it wrong. We are so scared people are going to take things, burn and destroy.Knock Knock anybody Home.

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

I like to put word “Trust” instead of Love in this verse. It’s easier to “Love” someone than to “Trust” them. It's harder because you’re stepping out on faith. And faith is what its all about-Christianity. We close our churches. Our Churches should be open and I mean wide open to our community. I shouldn’t have to track down someone to unlock the doors or make special arrangements to visit the chapel. You should be able to walk in 24 hours a day 7 days a week into the house of the Lord. It’s His house. He sets the rules. I have never seen an hour’s poster, sign or verse in the Bible. That tells me I can come to him, please make an appointment and I will meet you there. No… No… No… No!!! He will meet you right now, this minute and answer your call. NOW!! He wants a relationship so bad with you that he is calling your name. Every hour… every minute… and every day. I want to see our Churches form a committee. That one person of that committee is going to be at the church 24 hours in time slots. Not to minister to, necessarily but just have the church open and be there. There is one rule for this person. He will not say anything to anybody when they come in. If the people feel they need somebody God will lead them to you. The person coming is coming to be with Lord not with you. God has called them there to talk and listen to their hearts without interference from man. Leave them in peace.

Love you guys Penguin