Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Share Jesus Everywhere

 


Many of you know I love to ride horses.  I have been taking lessons at a local stable for about twenty years.  Over the years I have had many horses and many trainers.  I have had the joy of showing the love of Jesus to many of the trainers.  One man began working there just before I came.  He worked there for about 16 of the years I have been there.  I worked with Mom and we shared Jesus with him.  He was not always my trainer, but he was always there, being sure I was safe and learning.  Four years ago, he was transferred back to his home town.  I had him his last day there.  He told me he still had the Christmas CD I had given him years before.  He walked us out to the entrance that day.  We turned back to wave at him one last time.  He waved back, but he was crying.  I pray he remembers not me, but that God loves him.  I pray he trusts Jesus. I choose to trust Jesus to show him other believers who will show him the love of Jesus, the way to faith. I pray others at that stable see Jesus in me!

Friday, June 13, 2025

Thank You, Dad!

 




Ah, Father’s Day!  It is a day to say “Thank you, Dad, for being my dad.  For me it is a day to say, “Thank you, Dad, for choosing to adopt me in all my imperfections.  Thank you for leading me to Jesus!  Thank you for loving me!  Thank you for teaching me to obey you and God.  Thank you for loving me enough to discipline me.  Thank you for challenging me to rise to my potential. Thank you for reading me stories, even now that I am an adult.  Thank you for showing me how to be a faithful man of God!  I really love you, Dad!  I admire you!”

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Wednesday, May 14, 2025

I Love You, Mom!

 

Here we are at Mother’s Day again.  I am so thankful for a mom who loves me.  She loves the Lord and my dad and my sister, too.  She reaches out to love so many needy people. Why does she do that?  Because she believes God called her to reflect the love of Jesus wherever she is.  She believes what Scripture says about telling about God’s works of grace toward her.  She works hard to help those who need love.  She runs to help people.  She cooks fabulous meals for many, and even delivers food to the sick and needy.  She lives out her faith.  I amazed that I get to call her “Mom”!  I am thankful God gave her to me!

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Lessons in the Night

 




Recently I have had nightmares more frequently.  It is always a similar scenario.  I am abandoned, alone.  I end up crying in reality which brings one of my parents into the room.  They give me physical touch, and pray with me.  My mom makes me call on Jesus myself.  I am comforted, but sleep from that time forward becomes difficult.

I know this is the enemy using my fears to assail me.  I know that being adopted is part of the problem, but it is hard to logically sort it all out in the middle of the night.  I am trying to memorize scripture to use at that time.  I know I am not alone.  God is with me.  He holds me in His hand.  My name is inscribed on His hand.  So I am working on trusting God to hold me. I will not give in to this fear, for I know the truth!  I resolve to be strong and courageous!  I will not tremble!  I will not be dismayed.  I will remember the Lord my God is with me where ever I go! 

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Is This Spring?

 


Today is a day that feels like spring.  I think of it as a “tease day”.  A day that makes you think spring is here. But I am not fooled.  Spring does not come this early.  At the park I see plum blossoms bravely blooming in anticipation of spring.  But I am not fooled.  In the store I see spring clothing displayed in anticipation of spring.  But I am not fooled.  Tomorrow will come and it will be wintery and cold.  There are still many days for winter to play its final act.  So, I keep my winter clothes out and ready.  For you see I am not fooled.  Instead, I will choose to enjoy winter to the end.  In His time, God will usher out winter and bring in the spring.  I will wait for that with anticipation, for I like spring.  But as I wait, I will enjoy winter’s last hurrah.  For I am learning to rejoice always.  To give thanks in everything!

Monday, December 30, 2024

Jesus Loves Me!

 


For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)

 

I am amazed at what God would do to be in relationship with me!  Most people look at me and then move away because they are scared of encountering me.  They are unsure about me. They do not think I am interesting or worth the time.  But God knows me beyond the outside appearance.  He made me and did not reject me as a defective product.  He values me so much that He wanted to be in relationship with me.  To do that He had to make a way for sinful Jeffrey to be able to approach Holy God.  Soooo…. He made a way.  He sent Jesus to this world to wash my heart clean from sin.  God gave His best to bring me into relationship with Him.  That is the message of Christmas!

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Heaven to the Stable

 



In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. I John 4:9

 

When I went to my weekly equestrian lesson at a local stable, I noticed a man sweeping and cleaning the walk ways.  They have to clean up all kinds of messy dirt.  Even after they clean the stalls, they are just cleaner, not CLEAN!  I was reminded that Jesus was born in a stable.  It was probably not too clean.  Maybe smelled bad.  What a shock for the senses of the King.  Heaven to the stable.  Talk about culture shock!  Jesus did that for me.  He came to clean up the stable of my heart which was dirty and smelly with sin.  And when He came in it became really clean.  That is the Christmas gift I received from God.  The best ever!