Diet Plans...

Over the last week or so, I have been transitioning into a Low Carb High Fat diet.  Our oldest daughter and her husband have been living proof to the validity of the LCHF lifestyle for a few years now and the results are amazing.  They both look great, have lots of energy, run/walk the occasional 5K race, are in good health and tend to be great sources of information for anything one might need to know concerning the LCHF/Ketogenic or Paleo diets.

I dabbled with the diet a few years back but got distracted and reverted back to my old eating habits.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas though, I began to realize that I needed to make a few changes around here!  I had gained a few extra pounds, and for months I had been waking up tired, sore and lethargic.  And by the time I got Piper to bed at night I felt like I was ready to collapse!  Now, I am sure that the constant stress, concern, and physical care for my wife, or the getting up numerous times a night to check on her doesn’t help, but I felt like I needed a change and this seemed to be the right way to go!

As far as the LCHF diet/lifestyle goes though, one of the enemies to the Ketogenic process is carbs in the form of starch and therefore BREAD in its various forms… and I really have enjoyed my muffins or bagels in the morning, a sandwich at lunch and a delicious potato with dinner… and don’t get me started on my love for Pasta!  I think I could literally eat it every night.

On the positive side, I have been getting pretty bored with my cooking and the menus I have been preparing over the last few years.  What I REALLY miss is my wife’s cooking!  But either way… I was ready for a change… for something new!  And you know… after less than a week I have actually lost a couple of pounds and more importantly (to me) I feel a lot better already!  I am more alert and energetic in the morning, I don’t feel bloated and haven’t experienced any more lightheadedness. 

So… even though it has only been a short while and I still have a lot to learn and understand concerning this new lifestyle, I am a happy camper and enthused about experiencing the long term results!

But… what about the BREAD?  Well… I’m learning that there are many non-grain, minimal carb substitutes that are actually quite good.  Jamie has made some of these and brought them over and I must admit that I was surprised that it wasn’t a normal grain/flour based food.

But as we have been talking about in this blog lately… There is another kind of BREAD where there are NO available substitutes.  Jesus talked about Himself saying: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty.”  I’ve found that His kind of BREAD has a two-fold purpose.  First of all it is the nourishment that our spirit-man not only longs for but also requires in order for us to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who empowers us.

Secondly, the greatest side effect of a well-fed spirit man is a mentally and physically stronger, wiser, more alert, and increasingly spiritually sensitive individual who is filled with the joy, expectation and AMAZEMENT of a life excited about seeing the things of God happening in, through and for their daily activities.  I have come to the place in my life where I can tell fairly rapidly when I need to stop what I am doing and spend some time in the Word of God. 

This is a trait that I definitely picked up from my wife!  You could ask any of our kids and they will tell you how their mother would suddenly stop their schooling activities when personalities began to clash or when things seemed to slow down or become confused and begin to praise the Lord, read some scripture aloud, or gather them around the piano to sing a worship song or two.

I am very happy to say that this kind of BREAD is one that can only do good things for you and me!  To me, this “BREAD of life” is the very foundation of a Christian’s life in both the physical and spiritual realms.  When things tend to go south in the daily care of my wife, I find the most efficient pick-me-up to be a few moments in God’s Word.  It is the best and most long-lasting tonic that I can suggest… from personal experience!

But… just how often should we get some Word?  Well… that’s a good question that we’ll talk about in our next post later this week.  But in the meantime… Enjoy an experience in the Word today… and as you do, ask yourself… What am I expecting from my personal time studying God’s Word today?”

Going Beyond...

I realized early on in my relationship with my wife that she tended to see things a little differently than most people.  Well… maybe not necessarily differently, but beyond the obvious point of the subject being discussed.  I’ve mentioned before and still stand firmly entrenched in the validity of my comments that Piper, hands down, is the most spiritually sensitive individual that I have ever known.  She has always had the ability to see both the physical and spiritual sides of just about any conversation or event happening around her.

In the early days of our marriage she would always sort of stun my family at family gatherings when she would interject a spiritual aspect to whatever was being discussed around my parent’s large dining table.  Let’s face it, they really weren’t sure how to take Piper.  She fit in well with my gregarious family because of her great sense of humor, constant sweet smile and effervescent personality.  But then again, she stood out because of the way she naturally combined her faith with her daily life.  I was raised as a strong Catholic with the idea that one’s faith is a private matter and not shared in public.

Receiving “that” call from my mother after gatherings where she would tell me how other family member’s complained that Piper spoke about “religion” too much were common during the first few years of our marriage.  But you know, in the last few years of my Mom’s life when Piper was going through some of her most difficult times as the effects of Alzheimer’s was taking its toll on her, my Mom became her greatest champion, in concern, prayer and with daily inquires asking how Piper was that day and seeking to know how they could help us.

I fondly and emotionally remember us visiting my folks one day at the assisted living center they had recently moved to (to which she was not real happy about!), and my Mom immediately put aside her own cares, sat down on the couch, tapped the spot next to her and said, “Come and sit next to me Piper.”

Piper would also surprise her own family with similar interjections of her spiritual insight during conversations around their kitchen table or while sitting on the couches near the fireplace.  They would tend to pause in the midst of the discussion, consider what Piper said and then take on her thoughts and continue down that lane of conversation.

Piper’s life was always a smooth and finely intertwined interaction of the physical and spiritual realms.  She seems to really exemplify a saying our Pastor in Oklahoma always used as he declared something like: “When the natural and supernatural come together there is a mighty explosion for God.”  To tell her to stop interjecting her “religion” into a conversation would be like telling a fish to get out of the lake and live on dry land!

I never really cared for the W.W.J.D. movement in the 1990’s.  It just seemed a little too cliché or commercialized to accomplish the intended goal.  But on the other hand, although I can’t recall a time that she actually said those four words, it was a life style that was deeply imbedded in the internal and external make-up of Piper K. Berruto.

Last week as I was studying the Word one morning, I suddenly began to realize that Piper had some good company in the way she tended to respond to the situations and conversations in her life.  I had been following a rabbit trail in my pursuit of being “Amazed” through the Word when I came upon Matthew 4:4 when Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by the devil.  After the first temptation I was intrigued by Jesus’ immediate response to the tempter when He declared without much thought, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (KJV) 

My focus of this verse has always been on the teaching that Jesus answered every temptation from the evil one with the words: “It is written” and then went on to quote an appropriate verse from His Word.  And while that is still true, I began to see a few additional points that Jesus was making.  My interest grew as I thought about how Jesus referred to life and bread.  The word “live” in the Greek means “to enjoy real life, to have true life, active and blessed in the kingdom of God.” (Thayer’s)

It began to look to me that Jesus was going beyond the natural idea of bread and was bringing the conversation into the realm of the supernatural.  I got the idea that Jesus was taking the conversation beyond the physical realm that the devil was talking about and seemed to be connecting it with The Father’s kingdom.  The idea of “bread,” and living the “true life, active and blessed in the kingdom of God” caused me to think of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus told us to pray in Matthew chapter six.

My thoughts singled out one verse.  In verse eleven Jesus tells us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (KJV)  A little study of this verse informed me that most scholars believe that the uniqueness the phrase “our daily bread” brings the idea of bread beyond a physical loaf of flour mixed with eggs, water, yeast and oil.  Albert Barnes’ “Notes on the Bible” states that “The word ‘bread,’ here, denotes doubtless everything necessary to sustain life. This petition implies our dependence on God for the supply of our wants.”

So what am I trying to convey here?  Simply that Jesus, like my wife (or maybe that should be turned around to say: Piper like Jesus…) immediately saw beyond what the devil was saying and quickly added the unseen power and truth of the supernatural into their discussion… which caused the deceiver to rapidly back-pedal and move on to his next temptation. 

That truth is then cemented in Matthew 6:10-11 when Jesus tells us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread” where He makes the need to see beyond the natural by adding the supernatural to our daily lives.  That was pretty clear to me as He talks about our need to pray His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven and connects it with the idea of bread from both the physical and spiritual sides! 

In I Thessalonians 5:23 Paul describes us as three part beings having a spirit, soul and body.  Therefore I would think it to be natural for us to look for and include the spirit realm, as discovered in the pages of the Word of God, in everything in our lives… Wouldn’t you? 

Some (like my wife) just seem to be more adapt at (or maybe have more practice at) it than others… but I’m working on it!  How about you?

Have a great second week of 2018, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “How AMAZING am I expecting to live as I look beyond the natural into the super-natural in the events of my daily life?”

What Are You Hearing?

Congratulations everyone!  You’ve just about made it through the first week of 2018.  How did that go for you?  I can’t complain about our week.  I actually got a jump on organizing our bill paying system, filed last year’s financial and medical receipts and records away, changed all the calendars to the current year… oophs… just remembered the one hanging over my work bench in the garage… re-reviewed Piper’s and my medical insurance for the new year and put the new medical cards in my wallet!

Because of Piper’s health issues I have had to be very diligent in making sure that her medical insurance is current and that I have a good understanding of the policy with its deductions, limits and coverages.  The same goes for the information coming out of every doctor’s appointment, nurse’s visit, nurse’s aide activities, weekly trips to the pharmacy and the monthly visits with the Hospice social worker.  All of this therefore, entails that I be a good listener and understand exactly what is being communicated.  Therefore, I have learned to ask MANY questions to ensure that I am perceiving the correct sense and details of what I am hearing!

Luke 2:18 tells us that “Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was AMAZED.” (God’s Word ©)  I followed a hunch this morning and ran a word study on the Greek meaning of the word translated “heard.”  Following this activity I quickly came to understand that not everyone who was within the sound of the shepherd’s voices on that cold evening in the barn behind the inn in the town of Bethlehem may have actually grasped the reality of the words being spoken.  According to Thayer’s Greek Definitions the word “heard” is defined as being able “to understand, (and/or) perceive the sense of what is said.”

Over the years in secular management positions as well as in Christian ministry, I have had conversations with other well-meaning individuals who you could tell did not really understand or perceive the point that I was trying to make.  The look on their faces or the comments they made in response to my words made it pretty obvious.

When interacting with the various health professionals we have come into contact with over the last ten years, I have learned to make it a point that I fully understand what is being discussed concerning the details of my wife’s health needs.  We have been blessed that most of the healthcare individuals that we have worked with have been very forth-coming, open and clear about their thoughts and/or diagnosis.

I can’t always say the same thing when it came to sharing Piper’s situation, needs or personal concerns with others outside of the medical profession.  It reminds me of a news program that we were watching a few nights ago when the commentator brought in a panel of “experts” to discuss the current news subject that he was reporting on.  It became pretty obvious early on that one of the panelists either completely missed the intent or sense of the conversation or simply kept ignoring it in order to espouse his own agenda.

The frustration on the other panelists faces and the host was quite evident.  But I have to give kudos to the host as he gently and calmly attempted to bring the one panelist back on track… although he never did attain it and finally with a laugh, broke off on a commercial break!  Believe me when I say that I know that feeling! 

If I get the jest of what Luke was trying to communicate in our scripture, I would have to say that there were probably some on-lookers in that stable that night that listened to the words being spoken by the excited shepherd’s, but failed to understand the great significance of the story being told.  Of the ancient long-held Jewish prophecies that were being fulfilled or of the world shaking, life changing meaning behind what they were witnesses to that night! 

Some people like Mary, Joseph and the shepherd’s went home that night filled with awe, excitement and great expectation of what Jehovah was doing within their lifetime!  Others, I’m pretty sure, simply left and shook their heads in confusion and maybe even laughed a bit at the funny way that the shepherd’s reacted to the birth of the baby boy that was laid in that dumb little feeding trough.  These same folks most likely went on living their mundane lives without ever experiencing the changes and miraculous events that followed the birth of that one special baby on that cold night in the little, seemingly insignificant out-of-the-way town of Bethlehem.

While those who actually “heard” what was being said and happening before them lived their lives in vibrant and excited expectation, looking for and experiencing the miraculous that followed the ministry of that little baby when he grew into manhood and began His ministry at the age of thirty, many years later.

Like I said at the beginning of this new study in my post on Monday, this is the same type of excitement and expectation that I desire to continue to have EVERY time I read my Bible.  Romans 10:17 teaches us that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (KJV), so I want and expect my faith to grow and blossom into new frontiers were I haven’t walked before.  I fully expect to be as excited, expectant and joy-filled as those shepherds were that night!  When I open my Bible I definitely want to “HEAR” and clearly perceive the sense of what the writer is saying to me.

What about you?  How well do you “HEAR” what is being said in the various conversations that you are involved with each day… or when you open the pages of God’s Word and receive what is being spoken to you?

Have a great first weekend of 2018, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “What perception and sense am I expecting to have when I read my Bible today?”

Fact or Fiction

Well… it looks like the thermometer is beginning to swing the other way!  When I opened up the drapes to the sliding window that looks out on our deck and backyard this morning, I was amazed to see that the temperature on the thermometer on our deck was about four degrees higher than when we went to bed last night.  It had risen from 2 degrees to a balmy 6 degrees by 7:30 AM!

Now, that may not seem like much, but when you’re out there you can actually feel the difference!  I even put on my jeans this morning… can you believe that!  (Well, I actually started with my shorts but quickly made the change as the house was quite chilly when I first got up!)

This is the first time in the three winters that we have been in our home here in North Carolina that I have been looking forward to the cold weather.  I think that my change of attitude has actually helped me to enjoy the dramatic drops in temperature this season.  I can tell you without a doubt that this is definitely different from the northern California weather patterns that we luxuriated in for 50 some years previous to our relocating… But you know?  The longer we’re out here, the more I am enjoying the four distinct seasons.

I’m finding that once you’ve experienced the changes a few times that you learn to live with them, expect them and then enjoy them!  Now I know what’s coming every three or four months, what to expect and like I said, enjoy each season to the fullest with all the unique pleasures they bring, while playing down the potentially negative sides of each weather change.

It is kind of like my relationship with Papa God and His Word that I find within the pages of my Bible(s).  My personal relationship and associated experiences with God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit have solidified the fact that I believe God’s Word to be THE truth on any subject as well as His infallible will for my life.  In my heart and mind there is NO QUESTION about it.  To me, God and His Word are FACT.

But I read a very disturbing article in the news last week.  In it the author was making a pointed attack on the beliefs of what he (or she – not sure if it was written by a male or female) called “Evangelical White Christians in America today.”  Once again, I am not sure where this reporter did their research, but he/she claimed that we (and I would proudly include myself as an Evangelical White Christian) wrongly believe the Word of God to be the inspired Word of God and that the writings within the pages of our Bibles are the truth.

The article went on to declare the writer’s perspective that most Christians don’t really believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God nor true, and that most biblical scholars would agree.  Now, I realize that there are some liberal Christian Colleges in our country that espouse these ideas and personally know some Christians that would agree with this synopsis, but to say that this is the prevailing thought in Christianity today is quite the OVERSTATEMENT… wouldn’t you agree?

Having lived in three different states and been very active in the Christian scene where we lived, I can say without a doubt, that the vast majority of Christian Churches state in their “Tenets of Faith” that they believe the Word to be the Holy Ghost inspired, infallible and true Word of God.  Without that basic understanding and foundation for one’s faith, you could never trust in the Lord or be able to be in faith for any the promises in God’s Word from salvation, to healing to physical and financial needs being met!

Remember, Faith begins where the will of God is known!  If you doubt its truth and reliability then faith can have no beginning.  We would always find ourselves in hope and not in positive and strong faith in Papa God and His loving and caring promises to us His children.

To me it is becoming very evident that “That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…” (Revelation 12:9 – God’s Word©) is becoming more and more open at casting his deception upon the world today.  And what this and other forms of his deception do is to attempt to put doubt in the heart and mind of anyone who reads such deceptive articles… and believe me, the main target (I think) is to the faith-filled believers in the church… to you and me!

But you know… IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK!  Because you and I are PREPARING TO BE AMAZED “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 – KJV)  By EVERY Word that we read, study and meditate on, EVERY time we sit down and open up our Bibles!

Just like I know that winter here in North Carolina brings some (very) cold weather and I have the clothes and equipment to handle and enjoy it, I know that EVERY time I open the Word of God that I am going to be AMAZED at the truth that I take into my brain, allow to soak into my heart and then express through the things I say and do in my daily life!

What about you? 

Articles like the one I read might get me a little upset, but they also tend to fire up my determination to be continually AMAZED by the love, peace, excitement and power that I receive when I study His Word.  It also makes me more determined to be a continually better LIGHT and power-source in my world for Him!  Our AMAZEMENT in Him makes us to be a stronger and more efficient witness for Him.

I hope you are having a GREAT first week of 2018 and as you take each step that you keep asking yourself… “How AMAZED am I expecting to be each day for Him in my world?”

Prepare to be AMAZED!

Happy New Year everyone!  Yes, another year has passed into the history books and a fresh new start awaits each of us as we enter into 2018.  But, before we move on, let’s take a step back… 2017 started out a little precariously for my wife and I.  We ended the previous year with Piper spending two days in the hospital and on January 1st my mind was awash with concerns for her and a bit anxious about the Hospice folks that I was scheduled to meet with later that week.

The following months were a time of transition for me.  Since 2009 I had basically taken care of Piper all by myself.  Sure I had help from family and friends, but the day to day care was all mine.  You have to understand that I am very protective of my wife and am quite careful of whom I allow to physically assist her.  So, to suddenly have a team of individuals available to help was a little overwhelming on many fronts!  I gradually came to the place where I felt that I could implicitly trust the Hospice team, and as of today, it almost feels like they are an extended part of our family!

My biggest concern for Piper was (and to be honest, still is…) the reduction in her food intake.  For a while there, I wasn’t sure if my best friend was going to make it to her next birthday.  But God continues to show Himself strong on our behalf and August 14^th has come and gone while Piper continues to demonstrate a strong will to live and all her vitals have regularly stayed consistent and strong.

As you can tell, Piper consumes the majority of my activities, thoughts and prayers.  But throughout 2017 I also had opportunities to complete many other goals around our property, for me personally and enjoyed my family near and the others spread around the country.

One of the most difficult things for me in 2017 and now as we enter into 2018, is to keep my eyes upon the truth of God’s Word, no matter what's happening in front of me.  People I meet will often times ask me how I can keep such an upbeat attitude in the midst of the situation we find ourselves living right now, and without thought, I always answer the same… Piper and I keep ourselves flooded with the Word of God.  From it we draw our strength, our expectations and the vision for our lives.

Do I ever get down, YES!  (This Christmas season was extremely difficult) But it doesn’t usually last long as something inside of me always seems to kick in and NOT ALLOW me to feed the doubt, unbelief and to be honest… the self-pity!  And you know?  Every time I have gotten on my on my knees over the last year and implored the Lord for added direction on what more I can be doing for my sweetheart… He has always told me the same thing… “Keep saturating her with the Word!”

While praying over the direction for the blog, for 2018 and for life in general during the month of December, I found myself continually returning to an early part of the Christmas story in Luke 2 after the heavenly messenger spoke to the shepherds tending to their flocks on the hills outside of Bethlehem.  Luke 2:15 in The Voice translation paints a picture of excitement and expectation in the shepherd’s reaction to the unusual event.  It declares: “As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.”

From the fields they immediately rushed into Bethlehem to see what was happening and find the child the angel spoke of.  Once they found Mary, Joseph and the baby they couldn’t help but spill the beans on what they were told!  Then in Luke 2:18 the reaction to their story is described saying; “Everyone who heard the shepherd’s story was AMAZED!” (God’s Word ©)

In the God’s Word New Testament the term “AMAZED” is used 43 times, with the vast majority of those uses describing the people’s reactions to the Word that Jesus taught and/or the miracles that were wrought through the use of His name!

As I read that verse over and over again for the last 31 days, I found myself coming back to the same conclusion and turned to my wife each morning at the dining room table and stated: “That’s the way I want us to continue to experience and respond EVERY TIME we read and/or hear God’s Word!”  What do YOU think about that? 

I began to sense a few weeks back that God was giving me a special word for 2018… and yes… you’ve probably figured out what that word is…

“PREPARE TO BE AMAZED IN 2018!”

I’ll be sharing a lot more on this subject over the coming weeks and months, but in the meantime, pray over that word for yourselves as well.  Allow the wonder, excitement and expectation of God AMAZING YOU in this New Year to light a fire in YOU!  Whew!

Have a GREAT New Year’s Day and dwell on the AMAZING things that He just might have in store for YOU and yours in 2018… and as you do… keep asking yourself… “What AMAZING things am I expecting God to do for me in this New Year?”

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!  In case you're wondering where all the current blog posts are... well... they are not here!  I am taking a month off to pray over the directions for the blog for the new year!  So, Piper and I pray that you all have the BEST Christmas ever and that 2018 brings you the abundant blessing of Papa God! 

We look forward to seeing all of you again in the New Year!  - Pastor Jim

BBQ Chicken...

We have a very nice Weber gas BBQ that my parents gave to us quite a few years ago.  The only problem is that we haven’t used it in three years!  Let me explain… Over the years that BBQ has been at the center of countless family dinners, holiday gatherings and a good source to cook on when the power went out!  And since one of our all-time family favorites was barbequed chicken… that BBQ had not seen much down time… until we moved out here!

When we first moved here to North Carolina we rented an apartment until we got a little familiar with the area so as to be able to make a good choice as to where we would buy our house.  One of the downsides of the apartment was that barbequing was not allowed on the apartment patios due to fire regulations.  So for a year and a half we did not BBQ anything.  By the time we moved into our new home it would seem that the years of use finally caught up with the flavor rods and grates inside the unit.  They basically fell apart in my hands when I opened the lid and tried to move them.

It is not like it came as a surprise to me as I had been nursing those parts for a couple of years back in California and knew that I would have to get some replacements.  But you know… for some reason it just hasn’t happened yet!  I know they have the needed parts at Home Depot but I tend to forget about them whenever I go there… only remembering when I want to BBQ something!

I’m sure that I am the only one that this ever happens too… right?  But it is not like we never BBQ as I also have a small Weber charcoal BBQ that I’ve been using since we moved in.  To be perfectly honest, I like the way the charcoal BBQ cooks the meat much better than the gas unit! The only problem though, is that it takes longer and entails a bit more effort than just turning on the gas, igniting the jets and tossing something on the grill!

Charcoal cooking takes a little more planning, some experiential knowledge of cooking with your particular BBQ, and the understanding that the coals don’t always heat up evenly or  completely as they should.  There have been many times when I find myself with a folded newspaper fanning the white hot areas of the coals in order to stir up and then spread the fire.  But again, just about every time I take that delicious looking – perfectly cooked - chicken or steak off the grill, the extra work and effort seems well worth it!

The process of stirring up the fire within the coals of the BBQ reminds me of the Psalmist’s words as he encourages us to “Erupt with thanks to the Eternal, for He is good…” (Psalm 107:1 The Voice)  Whenever I read this verse I always tend to believe that our eruption of thanksgiving and praise unto the Lord should automatically come from the fire that we need to keep stirred up inside of us.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:13 and again in 2 Peter 3:1 that he believed it to be of utmost importance that we stir ourselves up by putting ourselves into continual remembrance of God’s Word.  In 2 Peter 1:12 he says that we should stir up the truths that we already know and live by.

An even layer of white coals at the bottom of the BBQ cooks the meat a lot faster and more evenly with delicious results that make one’s mouth water much better than a bed of spotty white and black coals can ever attain!  But like I say previously… to reach the peak of perfection with the coals takes some knowledge, patience, effort and maybe even a bit of sweat!

Keeping the fire white hot inside of us also takes that same kind of patience combined with regular effort and at times, some hard-pressed and diligent work.  Once the coals of our spirit-man are white hot though… it doesn’t take much stimuli to “Erupt with thanks” unto the Lord. 

The results of all that diligence and effort shines through like nothing I can explain when we enter into the presence of the Lord!  It is an experience like none other… and according to the Word of God, it is something we can all experience more often than we would think!  It just takes some priority setting, some diligent and consistent effort and maybe a tad bit of self-discipline.

Now… a perfectly cooked piece of juicy barbequed chicken with a crispy skin marinated throughout the cooking time with delicious home-made BBQ sauce that fills your mouth with a sensation of flavor and tender goodness can’t really be compared to a time in God’s presence as you “Erupt” with thanksgiving and praise to Him… but I think it gives you an idea of what I am talking about! (Might make you hungry too!)

Have a great weekend!  Get to the store, buy some chicken and BBQ it for some tasty sensation and a wonderful meal… and then as you sit back in your favorite chair after dinner and pat your satisfied tummy… ask yourself… “Am I expecting to have that same kind of sensational experience in the presence of God today?”