LiveFreeLoveHard

Let me tell you what I see: I see a beautiful woman, fierce and tender-hearted. Focused and executing beautifully her dynamic position.  I see her refined from head to toe, though she'll always say, "this could be a little better."  Her husband is proud and her children are impressed, and they always have everything they need.  She is thinking a few steps ahead and is usually always prepared. There is no slack or waste around her.  Her speech is clean and short.  She is always classy because it exudes from the inside out.  Her boss and her clients can rely on her.  She makes her own way and she is not afraid to take risks, because her future is secured in Christ.  She takes on challenges, and grows from every one because she relies on Christs' strength. She is full of compassion and patience - yet she always gets it done on time.  She enjoys her life, however short, with gratitude for what God has done through Jesus Christ, making time fo...

There is no way to avoid being hurt, betrayed, lied to, mistreated, abused, accused, etc.  Jesus experienced it. Paul experienced it.  Many others were overlooked, taken for granted, cheated and wronged. So, because there is no way to avoid life's unfavorable situations, what do you do when you experience them? As long as we keep our eyes on the prize, we can endure it.  We go through the muck and grime of life, and know that at those times we are being watched and called upon to endure it accordingly: "Rejoice always. Pray continually.  Give thanks, in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Always? Continually? In all circumstances?  That's a tall order, but an order nonetheless.  Here is where the maturity of Job kicks in, "shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 As he was being tested, mistreated, abused, broken and robbed (because Satan thought it was appropriate - not becaus...

Today, most of us will rise and we will have a plethora of choices.  We can choose what to eat, what to wear, how to start our day, where to go, what to do.  There are so many options available to us.  We have the freedom to choose. We can choose our attitude for the day.  We can choose what we're going to focus on.  We can choose what we want to accomplish today.  So, what are you going to do with your freedom?  This is not a question that everyone gets to ask.  Oh, no.  This is a question of privilege.  This is a first-world question; this is an American question; this is a THIS generation question. Will you be like David? "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."  Will you spend your freedom with the One who set you free? Let's set some time aside today to say Thank you Daddy, to ou...

A strong family is the backbone to a thriving society.   And I was shaped by a strong family.   My mother and father have been married for 38 years and counting and I grew up in the same home all of my life.   I consider my upbringing to have been very sheltered compared to many, but I never felt like I missed out on anything.    I have numerous happy memories and some sad ones too.   I've made my fair share of really bad decisions in life, but I ultimately feel equipped to be able to get through this thing called life.   Why is this important?   Well, the fabric and culture of our society is moving farther away from traditional family households.  We are less and less concerned about who is raising our children.   We are increasingly concerned about how we look physically, and not even on the health of our bodies (which might be okay) but just the shape of them.   We are increasingly sexifying our generation and the ones to c...