From my earliest memories, I can remember going to a church regularly. Raised in a baptist home, my mom modeled the faithful Christian soldier all my life.

The small country church she attended didn’t have Sunday school, so she sent us to the First Baptist Church down the street.

I’m so thankful for her commitment to start us out learning about God. Church is an important part of my life, but it’s more than the building, it’s the people. I love my church family, the committed leaders and our determination to tell others about how to get to Heaven.

The church is everywhere we are, not where we go on Sunday.

This has become to mean so much more to me since I started going on short-term mission trips. It made me realize that there are so many people who don’t have a church to go to; they don’t have the love and support of a church family.

That’s where we come in. Yes, you and me. We are to be the church, the light in this dark world.

Don’t just go to church, be the church.

John 2:19-22 - “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”  But the temple he had spoken of was his body.  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”

I can remember as a kid loving the coloring books that had the pages where there were only dots on the page. To see the picture, you had to connect the dots. Most times, I would connect the correct dots to create the image, but there were times I drew off course, or missed a dot. I could still tell what the image was, but it wasn’t perfect.

As Christians, some think that you have to do everything perfectly. They will drain their energy on religious activities, instead of meeting the needs of others. It’s good to be involved in church activities, just don’t let it distract you from the mission.

I heard a pastor compare this analogy, by watching a congregation spend several hours and days, practicing for a big holiday production. When this pastor asked, “what would happen if you took that same group of people to visit a nursing home or feed the homeless?” He replied, “because I can’t get them to do that.” The take-away is people will spend endless hours to dress up like rudolph, but won’t give a few hours to help those less fortunate.

I’m not bashing on holiday plays, etc. The church I attend does a great job at doing both. We always have a wonderful Christmas play and musical that tells the story of Jesus, and we also have several groups evangelizing, discipling and serving others, throughout the year.

I may not do it right every day, but I do try to put Christ first and He always connects me to the right people and the right places, where I can show His love to others.

Proverbs 16:27-29 - “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin.”

Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Doesn’t everyone wish for a peaceful sleep and wonderful dreams?

Sleep deprivation comes to us all at some point. We long for a good night’s sleep. It makes us feel rested and ready for the day.

Dream has two definitions. It can be defined as, “a series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep.” The other definition is, “a cherished aspiration, ambition, or idea.”

Do you have a dream today, an idea or something that you’d love to do some day? Does God know about this dream? If you haven’t told Him yet, what are you waiting on?

I was reminded yesterday that as a Christian, we have access to the dream maker. God can turn your dream into a reality.

God answers prayers every day. I can remember almost 3 years when I was praying about going on my first mission trip. In the beginning of my journey, I remember thinking, “I can’t do this, I’m not ready; I could never be so bold in my faith.” But, God didn’t give up on me. He put the dream in my heart and I pursued it, regardless of my doubts.

That was one of the most pivotal years of my life. I was pursued by God, challenged in my faith, but also distracted by satan.

Again, I thank God, for my dream coming true. God used the mission trip experience to change me, and now I’m God’s biggest cheerleader for short-term mission trips.

What is your dream? Tell God, and He promises that if it’s in line with His will, it will come true.

Dream big; sweet dreams.

Yesterday was my birthday, another year gone by. Why does it seem that the days, years and decades come faster these days?

I’m thankful God has blessed me with many years, some happy, some sad; many challenging and yet rewarding.

I can look back on my years as a Christian, and see how God has blessed me in so many ways. I have grown closer to God in the last five years. What’s the secret in my mature relationship with Christ? It’s all in learning more about Him, reading His word and talking to Him daily.

Just as any relationship develops and thrives, a relationship with Christ will add years to your life. When God knows your heart, your desires and realizes you are trusting in Him alone, the sky’s the limit.

But, don’t think you’ll be handed a silver spoon. If God gave us everything we asked for, how could we appreciate the blessings?

Trust God as each day passes. Thank Him for the blessings, and yes, the challenges He puts before you.

Each of us has a birthday, every year. But, there’s also a spiritual birthday - a day when you give your life to Christ.

Although I don’t remember the exact date I was saved, I remember every day after, when Christ came into my heart to stay.

Proverbs 9:11 - “For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.”

Mark 11:24 - “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday when we give thanks for all we have.

I wonder how many people only give thanks, on this one day of the year. And those that are thankful, how much are they giving?

I’m thankful for each day, every breath, and another opportunity to show God’s love and to serve others.

I’ve also practiced a daily routine of thanking God for what’s to come. I think God loves it when we thank Him ahead of time. This shows our trust that God will do what He says - answer prayer.

Be careful what you ask for. Be ready to accept the responsibility of your answered request.

Most importantly, thank God every day for the life He gives you. And, remember the opportunity He gives each of us to accept Him as your savior; thank Him for dying for your sins, and give to others, while you still can.

Those reading this may be dealing with death, rejection, anger, neglect or depression. This message is for you too. Thank God for His grace; His presence with you; His strength to overcome this and His love that covers all sins.

Thanks-giving to all my friends and family.

On a recent hike in the northeast, I found myself in a forest of stepping stones and also enormous boulders that filled the trail.

Thus far this was the most difficult hike I’ve ever accomplished. Challenged and weary, I finished the hike within 12 hours; a hike that should have only taken 8 hours.

I give God the credit of pushing me and helping me move my feet when I wanted to give up and turn around.

Even though I had read about the boulders and challenging trails, I felt confident enough to try anyway. Had I really known the boulders would be that large, and the mountain wall of boulders stretched for a mile, I may not have even tried the hike.

This made me think of my Christian walk. Am I a stepping stone to others, or am I a stumbling block, hindering others from their walk with God?

I pray that I am that stepping stone. I hope that my friends are encouraged by me, and strangers are intrigued and curious about the God I serve.

Are you serving others, encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you telling the lost about Jesus and how He fills your life with hope?

Aim to be a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.

Matthew 3:8 - “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

I hadn’t had my driver’s license for more than a year, but was comfortable driving on my own. I had a 5-speed truck and was finally confident to drive. My niece, Teresa was with me one day while we were cruising around our little town of Kermit.

Kermit was laid out with a train track splitting the town in the middle from end to end.

This particular day, I drove toward the railroad crossing to get to the other side of town. I had drove the course several times, although this was the first with the 5-speed.

I heard the train, but the gate arm hadn’t came down yet, so I thought I would have enough time to cross the track.

Just as I pulled onto the track, the truck died. I panicked. I kept trying to start it, but it was not in neutral so I kept killing the engine. I was just about ready to have me and my niece bolt from the truck, when the engine started. Hallelujah!

God spared our lives that day and I learned a valuable lesson. Pay attention to warning signs (sound of the train). Obey the law and wait for the train to pass.

As a Christian, we have warning signs all the time. It may be a new diagnosis, a wayward child, or a failing relationship.

My advice is to seek God in everything.

Commit to your relationship with God, so when danger approaches, you’re ready to take action and get out of harm’s way.

Don’t ignore the oncoming trains of life.

Hebrews 2:1-3 - “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.”

Matthew 5:13 - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

I’m a fairly good cook, and baking is one of my favorite hobbies. Any baker knows that in baking if you put the wrong ingredients into the mix, you’ll usually end up with results that can’t be eaten.

Once when I was baking, I wasn’t paying attention to what I was putting in my banana bread recipe and put in salt, instead of sugar. Well, you can imagine what that tasted like.

Salt has its purpose. It is typically used to season savory foods or to balance out baked goods.

But, what happens when salt loses its flavor? Well, it’s not really good for anything.

As a Christian, we are to be that one ingredient in every day life that makes a difference. We should be visible and mixed in with society, so that others can see a difference, and wonder why we’re so different than most.

If salt loses its taste, it can’t be restored. It has to be thrown out.

Don’t let your light burn out; don’t let your testimony go stale.

Be a witness to everyone in your path today.

Spice up the journey; show others the love of Christ today.