Well today is my beautiful wife's birthday. I am so blessed to have such an amazing woman in my life to share everything with. Life is so much more enjoyable when you have someone to come home to, to talk with, to laugh and cry with, to have arguments with that you know will still love you in the end.
It will be a year on April 10th and I can't believe so much time has gone by already and it excites me because I have already learned so much about her and we have the rest of our lives to figure out the rest. It can only get better from here. I always say marriage is what you make so I plan on having a long, happy, loving marriage.
I love my wife with all I have in me and I can never say it enough. Sometimes we as guys think we say it enough but I have never heard a women say that "he tells me he loves me to much".
My challenge to you is to tell someone you love them today. Make sure its a person you know pretty well or else you will have a very awkward moment. Actually if you come across one of those post back and let me know!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Quality Time
Spent a good day with my father-in-law. We always have fun hanging out and just being guys!! BW3's and Home Depot. That's how we role! It know it's nice for him to get away and have some quality guy time. He has a lot of estrogen around him and doesn't get much guy time. Poor fella!
I am so glad that I have a father-in-law that I get along with. So many things that involve the typical "in-laws" are usually a bad thing. Not in this this case. I married into a great family.
A day and a half left with the in-laws so I am going to enjoy every minute I can. I hope you all are having a great weekend so far and that it continues in that pattern!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I am so glad that I have a father-in-law that I get along with. So many things that involve the typical "in-laws" are usually a bad thing. Not in this this case. I married into a great family.
A day and a half left with the in-laws so I am going to enjoy every minute I can. I hope you all are having a great weekend so far and that it continues in that pattern!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday
Well I kinda ran out of time today to do a decent blog so I will just wish everyone a wonderful holiday weekend. For those who didn't know, Presidents Day is Monday. I would hate for you show up to work on Monday and realize you didn't have to wake up that early!! I don't like it when that happens!! I work for a local government so they make me observe the holiday. OK if I have to!(deep sigh) LOL
I am sure I will have time this weekend to get a few more thoughts down on here. There are a lot of things that go through my head. Its getting the time to get them down before they disappear to wherever random thoughts go. Be safe and keep on the Kingdom journey.
Grace and Peace
Ben
I am sure I will have time this weekend to get a few more thoughts down on here. There are a lot of things that go through my head. Its getting the time to get them down before they disappear to wherever random thoughts go. Be safe and keep on the Kingdom journey.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Approaching the Weekend
As the weekend approaches, I am reminded that we serve an loving God. He is so gracious to us and gives us what we don't deserve. We deserve death but He gives us life. We deserve to walk through life alone for what we did to Him but He wants to walk with us in everything we do. He forgives when we mess up, loves us enough to run after us when we stray away and longs to guide us in our journey towards His Kingdom.
Does this sound familiar? .
"I ____________ so I deserve__________".(FILL IN YOUR SITUATION.)
"I WORK HARD so I deserve TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE"
You are privaledged to have a job that God has placed you in to shine a light for Him.
You get a paycheck, from the job God placed you in, to first of all give back to Him, then to use as you feel necessary. Also God never promised life would be easy. He did promise not to give you anything you can't handle and He is always there beside you!!!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
"I GIVE MORE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP so I deserve MORE ATTENTION"
A relationship isn't about who gives what, it's about caring enough about the other person to give unconditionally. There is no rating system in a relationship. It's 100% to 100%. I hear a lot of guys that say "Man I give and give and my wife doesn't respect anything I do. I ask them "are you just doing it to get something you want?" Women can see that. If you are genuine in what you do, a woman will recognize it and respond accordingly. They are very wise with that. I have always tried to have a mindset of "never do anything to get something in return" You always set yourself up for failure.
Our fill in the blank should be "I SINNED so I deserve DEATH"
Luckily we serve a God who took our place on that one.
If we could ALL get the "I deserve" mentality out of our heads, this world would be drastically changed. We thing we deserve a lot of things in our lives so we push some people aside and pass by situations to get what we think we deserve when God could have placed them or that situation in your life for Him to work through you.
We don't deserve anything
We get focused to much on earthly possessions that rank us in our status as a person. Why not focus on a God that died for our sins so we wouldn't have to face that punishment. With the access to a Heavenly Father, what can out rank that!
I challenge you to think of yourself as Privaledged not Deserving.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Does this sound familiar? .
"I ____________ so I deserve__________".(FILL IN YOUR SITUATION.)
"I WORK HARD so I deserve TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE"
You are privaledged to have a job that God has placed you in to shine a light for Him.
You get a paycheck, from the job God placed you in, to first of all give back to Him, then to use as you feel necessary. Also God never promised life would be easy. He did promise not to give you anything you can't handle and He is always there beside you!!!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
"I GIVE MORE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP so I deserve MORE ATTENTION"
A relationship isn't about who gives what, it's about caring enough about the other person to give unconditionally. There is no rating system in a relationship. It's 100% to 100%. I hear a lot of guys that say "Man I give and give and my wife doesn't respect anything I do. I ask them "are you just doing it to get something you want?" Women can see that. If you are genuine in what you do, a woman will recognize it and respond accordingly. They are very wise with that. I have always tried to have a mindset of "never do anything to get something in return" You always set yourself up for failure.
Our fill in the blank should be "I SINNED so I deserve DEATH"
Luckily we serve a God who took our place on that one.
If we could ALL get the "I deserve" mentality out of our heads, this world would be drastically changed. We thing we deserve a lot of things in our lives so we push some people aside and pass by situations to get what we think we deserve when God could have placed them or that situation in your life for Him to work through you.
We don't deserve anything
We get focused to much on earthly possessions that rank us in our status as a person. Why not focus on a God that died for our sins so we wouldn't have to face that punishment. With the access to a Heavenly Father, what can out rank that!
I challenge you to think of yourself as Privaledged not Deserving.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Great Weekend and Valentines Day
Well as you can tell I took the weekend off of blogging. Had a good weekend and Valentines Day. To my wife and I it's just another day. She would rather get flowers on days other the days your "Supposed to" get flowers. We have almost been married a year and try and keep the honeymoon going. People keep telling me, "wait till you have been married awhile, things will change." I agree that things do change but marriage is what you make of it. God didn't design something to be wonderful for the first year then fizzle out. It takes hard work and I think those people who make those comments have become lazy and are expecting things but not giving anything in return. We can become selfish in our wants and forget about the other person that is there who needs just as much attention as you do. I am sure things will get tough at times but if we are living a life and imitating God in our lives, it should be easier to think not of ourselves and focus on the other persons needs.
God needs to be involved in everything we do.
My prayer this week is we include God in on everything we do and say. Listen for his Holy Spirit to guide you in all your decisions, then step out in faith. If its of the Holy Spirit, He will not lead you astray.
Grace and Peace
Ben
God needs to be involved in everything we do.
My prayer this week is we include God in on everything we do and say. Listen for his Holy Spirit to guide you in all your decisions, then step out in faith. If its of the Holy Spirit, He will not lead you astray.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Friday, February 11, 2011
FRIDAY
Well the week is finally coming to a close and I can take the time to look back over the week and see how I did. Life was pretty busy this week. A lot of running around and various projects. This week had me occupied. Didn't read as much in my bible as I should have. Didn't sit down and take some quiet time with me and God. Didn't tell my wife I love her as much as I should. Life, even life as a christian, can get a hold of you and take charge. I didn't do anything "bad" this week, just got busy. But I think getting busy to the point that you don't have time for God an issue that I know I need to work on and maybe you do too.
I am so glad that we have a small group to get together with and talk about life and how things are going. As well as dig into the word of God and really try and wrestle with the things that He teaches. Small group for me is another way to gauge how my weekend went. Our group is on Monday so as we sit in small group I think back and see if I read my bible to prepare for group or really thought about what the study was saying.
I am also starting to lead on of the worship teams at church. We had a meeting last night to talk about what we have planned for the worship at LCC and Carrie mentioned that we need to be striving to better ourselves as musicians but also better ourselves with our time in the word. If we are not focus on glorifying God in all that we do, play, and sing, I feel you are robbing congregation of an opportunity to truly glorify God. I know that God can work through all things but we need to be genuine in what we say and do. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we can't help but show it in all we do and say.
Today I a making a pledge to not let life take control of my schedule. I need to allow God to use me as He needs and then I will schedule my life in after that. Life is good for me right now but I know that it can be so much better when I start to give God more of my time and effort. I pray that He forgives me for where I have cheated Him out of my lack of devotion and attention.
I pray that we all make sure we let God do His work in His time and allow our life to fit in with that.
Have a wonderful weekend full of relaxing and fellowship and remember that God, that created the universe, wants to walk with you through it!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
I am so glad that we have a small group to get together with and talk about life and how things are going. As well as dig into the word of God and really try and wrestle with the things that He teaches. Small group for me is another way to gauge how my weekend went. Our group is on Monday so as we sit in small group I think back and see if I read my bible to prepare for group or really thought about what the study was saying.
I am also starting to lead on of the worship teams at church. We had a meeting last night to talk about what we have planned for the worship at LCC and Carrie mentioned that we need to be striving to better ourselves as musicians but also better ourselves with our time in the word. If we are not focus on glorifying God in all that we do, play, and sing, I feel you are robbing congregation of an opportunity to truly glorify God. I know that God can work through all things but we need to be genuine in what we say and do. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we can't help but show it in all we do and say.
Today I a making a pledge to not let life take control of my schedule. I need to allow God to use me as He needs and then I will schedule my life in after that. Life is good for me right now but I know that it can be so much better when I start to give God more of my time and effort. I pray that He forgives me for where I have cheated Him out of my lack of devotion and attention.
I pray that we all make sure we let God do His work in His time and allow our life to fit in with that.
Have a wonderful weekend full of relaxing and fellowship and remember that God, that created the universe, wants to walk with you through it!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Interesting Evening
Wednesday night is our game night with the guys!! I always have a good time hanging out and ratting on each other while we play Xbox. Midway through the night I heard a knock on my door. I yelled "COME IN". No one came in. Another knock, "COME IN". Normally if it's someone I know they will just come in. Finally I heard a "Hello". I walked down stairs and saw a kid about 12 years old covered in snow. I asked him what he needed. He said he needed to call his dad to come and pick him up. He said they got in a fight and he ran out of the house. I let him use my phone to call his dad. He told his dad where he was and left.
Ok, back to game night...............
5 minutes later............ Knock, Knock.
Same kid. "I need to call my dad again because he drove right past me". He called his dad again and as he walked away he said thanks and God Bless.
I thought to myself, I hope his dad finds him.
So we went back to playing Xbox. 8:30 came and we wrapped things up. The guys left and I relaxed on the couch until I got my normal text from Stacey that she is on her way home from youth. That always makes me happy. About 5 minutes before she got home my friend Brent, who was at my house for game night, called me and said that his wife was at their Wednesday night activities at church (Antioch Alliance just down the road from me) and a kid was dropped off by his foster parents. When everyone went downstairs, he decided to take off because he was mad that he doesn't get to see his dad. He said that I should probably call the sheriff because they are out looking for him.
So I called the sheriff and they stopped by. I gave them the cell phone number of the kids dad and talked with the officer for a few minutes. He left and I headed to bed.
Needless to say it was a very interesting evening.
I hope that things got worked out and they finally found the kid and got him back with his foster parents.
Have a good end of the week and keep striving towards living for the kingdom.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Ok, back to game night...............
5 minutes later............ Knock, Knock.
Same kid. "I need to call my dad again because he drove right past me". He called his dad again and as he walked away he said thanks and God Bless.
I thought to myself, I hope his dad finds him.
So we went back to playing Xbox. 8:30 came and we wrapped things up. The guys left and I relaxed on the couch until I got my normal text from Stacey that she is on her way home from youth. That always makes me happy. About 5 minutes before she got home my friend Brent, who was at my house for game night, called me and said that his wife was at their Wednesday night activities at church (Antioch Alliance just down the road from me) and a kid was dropped off by his foster parents. When everyone went downstairs, he decided to take off because he was mad that he doesn't get to see his dad. He said that I should probably call the sheriff because they are out looking for him.
So I called the sheriff and they stopped by. I gave them the cell phone number of the kids dad and talked with the officer for a few minutes. He left and I headed to bed.
Needless to say it was a very interesting evening.
I hope that things got worked out and they finally found the kid and got him back with his foster parents.
Have a good end of the week and keep striving towards living for the kingdom.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Mid Week
Here we are again. Mid Week! We have pushed through the rough part of the week and now it's all down hill from here. I'm kinda without words today. It's one of those mornings that you are just thankful to have a job, a house, a wife and most of all a loving heavenly father who is ALWAYS there for me. I find a lot of comfort in that. For me it's easy to grasp and loving heavenly father because I have a loving earthly father who has always been there for me as well. You may not realize it now, but loving someone unconditionally can really have a large impact on their future views of a heavenly father so THANKS DAD!!
I pray that we love unconditionally or at least make an attempt to show people love. If we are to be living a life that reflects God, God is Love. Please don't claim one thing with your mouth and void that with your actions!
Have a Holy Spirit filled rest of the week!
Grace and Peace
Ben
I pray that we love unconditionally or at least make an attempt to show people love. If we are to be living a life that reflects God, God is Love. Please don't claim one thing with your mouth and void that with your actions!
Have a Holy Spirit filled rest of the week!
Grace and Peace
Ben
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Small Group
I love every other Monday night. That is when our small group meets. We are going through a book called Forgotten God by Francis Chan.
Francis Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. It’s time for the beloved church of Jesus Christ to reverse the trend of neglect. Let’s pursue the Spirit-filled life of effectiveness God desires and we desire.
We have had some of the best conversations in our small group so far over this book. I have seen some lives already starting to change as the Holy Spirit is working through them. We previously went through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and said last night that we think it's better to go through this book first before Crazy Love. Just some thoughts if your looking at the two books.
I hope you are all having a wonderful spirit filled week so far.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Francis Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. It’s time for the beloved church of Jesus Christ to reverse the trend of neglect. Let’s pursue the Spirit-filled life of effectiveness God desires and we desire.
We have had some of the best conversations in our small group so far over this book. I have seen some lives already starting to change as the Holy Spirit is working through them. We previously went through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and said last night that we think it's better to go through this book first before Crazy Love. Just some thoughts if your looking at the two books.
I hope you are all having a wonderful spirit filled week so far.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Monday, February 7, 2011
It's a new day, It's a new day.
I hope everyone had a good weekend and a festive time with friends for the super bowl. I know my wife and I did. There is something about having good quality friends to hang out and fellowship with. I am looking forward to this week. Taking it one day at a time and really trying to focus on God and what he has in store for me. Trying not to get taken in by the world and all the negativity that is around.
We started a series on the Holy Spirit at church and I am know that it will be life changing even to a person who has been a christian most of their life. At times you can almost get in a mundane type of living and worshiping and miss out on everything that the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish through you. I am so grateful to have a pastor that teaches from the bible and is lead by the Holy Spirit to deliver a relevant message that we can apply to our life practically and then in turn take to the world.
-I hope that if you have not accepted Christ and your personal Savior that you take a step in that direction and give your life to a God who loves you more that anything, who died on a cross to give you an eternal life with Him and who wants only the best for you life and who will walk beside you through it all. You just have to let Him in!
-If you are a christian, I pray that you will not get set on cruise control and miss out of what God has planned for you. Dig into his word and challenge yourself to be a better person. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The world needs to see that everyday.
I know I am going to try harder!!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
We started a series on the Holy Spirit at church and I am know that it will be life changing even to a person who has been a christian most of their life. At times you can almost get in a mundane type of living and worshiping and miss out on everything that the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish through you. I am so grateful to have a pastor that teaches from the bible and is lead by the Holy Spirit to deliver a relevant message that we can apply to our life practically and then in turn take to the world.
-I hope that if you have not accepted Christ and your personal Savior that you take a step in that direction and give your life to a God who loves you more that anything, who died on a cross to give you an eternal life with Him and who wants only the best for you life and who will walk beside you through it all. You just have to let Him in!
-If you are a christian, I pray that you will not get set on cruise control and miss out of what God has planned for you. Dig into his word and challenge yourself to be a better person. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The world needs to see that everyday.
I know I am going to try harder!!!
Grace and Peace
Ben
Friday, February 4, 2011
At Peace
There is nothing like being at peace with everything. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that whatever happens, happens for a reason. God has my life, current and future, in His hands. I can't imagine a person trying to have peace without God. You have to rely on your own confidence and abilities to try and figure out how things will turn out. I know that whatever happens, I don't have to worry about my future. I know that whatever happens, God has allowed it so I can grow in my faith and/or rejoice in who He is. When my time comes to leave my earthly dwelling, I know I will be living an eternity with the one who created me! I have said it's not good to focus on tomorrow and miss out on what God has for you today but when you are talking about the future in the Kingdom it's a healthy "looking forward to" when it keeps your current perspective in check.
It's a good feeling having on a Friday. Its makes the weekend feel brighter and gives you hope for the future.
End the week on a good note and thank God for walking beside you this week.
Grace and Peace
Ben
It's a good feeling having on a Friday. Its makes the weekend feel brighter and gives you hope for the future.
End the week on a good note and thank God for walking beside you this week.
Grace and Peace
Ben
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day Off
Well I took a day off work to spend it with my wife. Time with her is so precious so I just wanted to drop in and say that God cherishes every minute you spend with Him. He loves to hear how your day is going and wants to work through your struggles with you!
Take some time with God today. He made something unique when He made you and wants to hear how your life is going!
Grace and Peace
Ben
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Take some time with God today. He made something unique when He made you and wants to hear how your life is going!
Grace and Peace
Ben
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Tuesday (3 days till the weekend!!)
I'm unfortunately falling into the early week drone. It's me being human and just trying to get through another day to get to the weekend. Why do we get in these moods? We serve a God that has amazing plans for our lives and has given us a life with Him to look forward to. He has given us minds and mouths to speak His word into peoples lives so that they can experience the same peace we have in knowing that this is not all there is. I wish we were all passionate the minute we wake up to the moment we lay our heads down to put an end to another day.
Humanness!!! That's our problem. That's my problem.
I so want to have the passion outside of church or after a time of a spiritual enlightenment to worship with an unstoppable force. I have those moments, but life seeps back in and makes me take on my humanness again.
Am I making excuses and just calling it humanness?
Maybe satan is using our humanness to keep us in this lukewarm type of attitude.
Why do we say maybe?
I know all scripture is truth, so I should not have any doubt that it's not the way God wants me to live therefore it is satan working against me. We try and make things sound as if they are not that big of a deal. We say:
"Well that's just my humanness coming out again. God made me that way so I guess I'll just keep pressing on....... blah blah blah...........
I don't believe God made you that way. If you read in scripture, which I believe is ALL truth it is very clear on this issue. God doesn't want lukewarm worshipers so why would He make you lukewarm. He even says that because you are lukewarm, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. I don't know about you but I don't want to be any part of God's spit. Talk about an insult that will stick with you forever.
Have you ever been around someone with a bad attitude? Makes you kinda feel grumpy right?
Isn't it a breath of fresh air to be around a person with a positive attitude on things? Makes you relaxed and at ease with whatever the situation is.
Why would we then, not want to walk as close as we can to the God who knows all and made all and has our best interest in mind. To have that peace that everything will work out that way it's supposed to.
I think a constant state of prayer and thanksgiving is the way to begin to break our humanness and live a life of praise and worship to the God of the universe.
I don't know about you but I feel better after putting things down on paper or a blog this time to see what is really going on in my life. I am thankful that I serve a God who forgives us of our humanness and still wants to walk with us every day and lead us in the life He has laid out for us.
So today don't make excuses anymore for your attitude or blame it on something or someone else. Man up and be truthful to yourself and know that only you, with the help of God, can change the way you live.
I hope this has helped you or at least put some reminders or indicators out there for you!
Grace and Peace
Ben
Humanness!!! That's our problem. That's my problem.
I so want to have the passion outside of church or after a time of a spiritual enlightenment to worship with an unstoppable force. I have those moments, but life seeps back in and makes me take on my humanness again.
Am I making excuses and just calling it humanness?
Maybe satan is using our humanness to keep us in this lukewarm type of attitude.
Why do we say maybe?
I know all scripture is truth, so I should not have any doubt that it's not the way God wants me to live therefore it is satan working against me. We try and make things sound as if they are not that big of a deal. We say:
"Well that's just my humanness coming out again. God made me that way so I guess I'll just keep pressing on....... blah blah blah...........
I don't believe God made you that way. If you read in scripture, which I believe is ALL truth it is very clear on this issue. God doesn't want lukewarm worshipers so why would He make you lukewarm. He even says that because you are lukewarm, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. I don't know about you but I don't want to be any part of God's spit. Talk about an insult that will stick with you forever.
Have you ever been around someone with a bad attitude? Makes you kinda feel grumpy right?
Isn't it a breath of fresh air to be around a person with a positive attitude on things? Makes you relaxed and at ease with whatever the situation is.
Why would we then, not want to walk as close as we can to the God who knows all and made all and has our best interest in mind. To have that peace that everything will work out that way it's supposed to.
I think a constant state of prayer and thanksgiving is the way to begin to break our humanness and live a life of praise and worship to the God of the universe.
I don't know about you but I feel better after putting things down on paper or a blog this time to see what is really going on in my life. I am thankful that I serve a God who forgives us of our humanness and still wants to walk with us every day and lead us in the life He has laid out for us.
So today don't make excuses anymore for your attitude or blame it on something or someone else. Man up and be truthful to yourself and know that only you, with the help of God, can change the way you live.
I hope this has helped you or at least put some reminders or indicators out there for you!
Grace and Peace
Ben
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