Messages of Faith

I get lost in my own neighborhood. You laugh; I laugh…but it is true. I recall a time just 5 years ago when my family and I were heading back home from a short trip to grab lunch in one of our favorite restaurants. (You get to eat in a train car!)

“At least I am not as bad as he is!” This is a statement that I have heard countless times over the years. I can even say, admittedly, this statement has left my own lips before…in one way or another.

When I was a child, one of my favorite things to play with was Lego Sets. Whenever I was gifted a new set for my birthday or Christmas, I would instantly get filled with excitement and anticipation.

As I sit down writing this today, I am a man changed. God has instilled a new reality upon me. One that has overwhelmed me with His pure and unbridled goodness.

Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, “Man, I’m seriously unlovable.” Thinking to yourself that there is NO way anyone could ever love you.

Walk through everything in your life that you can think of. Good or bad. Take the heartbreaking and the heart filling. Take it all, every single item, and then turn it, and your focus back on the name of Jesus.

My childhood was less than stellar. Abuse of multiple kinds was not uncommon. As a result, this left me with struggles with People Pleasing. In my case, as I call it, Reverse People Pleasing.

I love going on walks when there is a gentle but comforting wind. The type that isn’t just a simple breeze but isn’t a gust either.

Psalm 139:7-12 (ESV) 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is brig

I remember so fully of my “past life.” The life I lived prior to God changing me and regenerating my heart. I at times look upon the old Jesse and go through a great deal of feeling and spiritual battle.

I can safely say, that each and every single person reading this right this moment has a “person” or “persons” that, as believers, we have looked at with distaste.

Typically, we all think of the Holy Spirit as our BFF. He is the one who resides in us! He helps us to experience the love of God! He guides us and walks with us and nurtures us further and further towards godly living!

My Grandmother was one of my closest prayer allies. From the time I was born until the time she went to be with Christ in eternity. She was always petitioning God on my behalf.

I love God. I LOVE God. I love all of His attributes. I love all of His characteristics. I love that He exists in three persons. I love the sound of His voice. I love His church. I love His creation. I love what He loves.

I have struggled at times with feelings of self-doubt and putting people up on pedestals.

Most husbands will make jokes regarding their wives having more shoes than they have socks. I have an admission to make…I have more pairs of shoes than my wife. Blame thrifting.

I have a close friend who is atheistic, who considers himself a “good man.” This friend truly is a downright good dude. He is generous, kind, gentle, hardworking, and compassionate.

When you think of Eternity…what do you think of? Your first thoughts typically would be about “endless periods of time.” It is a natural thought to arrive to. We often have these sayings, typically at red lights or in the self-checkout,

We have all been in that scenario where we look upon someone “utterly horrible”, who has knowingly done atrocities, and we say to ourselves, “I’m so glad I’m not like THAT guy.”

I am a nerd. A giant, big ole, sometimes cringy…nerd. I grew up loving superheroes and comic books and the movies and cartoons and video games they were featured in.