Grandma Aaycock and the Rapture

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Andy and Ice Cream Jesus

Andy and Ice Cream Jesus

After I heard a popular Christian radio personality rail against being “legalistic”, I realized he was talking about me and my beliefs and the beliefs of many of my Christian brothers and sisters. No one wants to be put down with what the world considers an ugly word like “legalistic”. Am I deceived, am I wrong, are others deceived? Satan certainly is the father of lies and deception. It bothered me that this radio personality, supposedly full of grace, attacked obedient minded people. But something happened that made me feel better, almost immediately. The Holy Spirit moved in me, bringing to my remembrance verse after verse, teaching after teaching, and I realized that the true Jesus obeyed and taught obedience with even love being a command, not just worldly affection, but true love that works in unfavorable conditions. The world and many in the church today would call Jesus “legalistic”. Many fans of Jesus just memorize the “sweet” teachings, the ice cream dessert, and ignore the difficult “legalistic” teachings that Jesus gave as requirements to be a true follower and not just a fan of Jesus.

          Can we separate Jesus from His Father’s commandments or “law”, as some refer to God’s will? Did Jesus separate Himself from having to be obedient or is it now that we no longer have to obey the commandments given to us through Moses? Does His sacrifice at the Cross give us an automatic pass into the eternal life with our Holy Father?

          Can we separate Jesus from His Father’s law? Did He? In Jesus’ great ‘Sermon on the Mount’, He teaches us that not only does He expect us to keep the commandments, but Jesus’ presence now demands a higher standard than the original law. Jesus said that not only can we not be sexually immoral in the physical, but we must now also control our thoughts along with our flesh! He teaches about the other commands in the same manner. This teaching is in Matthew 5:27-30, His sermon on the Mount . Jesus demands a higher standard because He is with us and in us. How could one who claims to be saved, with the Holy Spirit in them, live in unrepentant, continual sin? I am not speaking of temporal sin, repented of, but choosing daily to satisfy your flesh and starve your spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin so that we can repent of it, which means to turn away from sin and back to God. If we continue in sin we remove ourselves from God. God never moves away from us, but when we choose worldly sin, we reject Him, turning our back to him.

 Hebrews 10:26 27

26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 

27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 

               ‘There no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins’(26b). Grace to cover our sins is a result of Jesus’ sacrifice at the Cross. Just as God is eternal, so is salvation and grace. So how is it that our sins can cause us to lose our salvation? If we continually sin, we choose world over God. The sin does not have power over salvation but shows our true heart and Spirit, which does affect our eternal salvation. Continual sin is the result of a broken relationship with Jesus. Salvation itself was eternal before we received it. We were not yet saved, because we had not accepted or embraced the salvation available to us. Salvation was there in front of us, eternally available, but it was not until we renounced our sin and made Jesus our Lord and Savior, that we received the salvation that had always been available to us. When we receive Jesus as our Savior we do not lose our freewill. We are free to choose sin or God. We are not forced to serve God. We have to choose daily to be a servant and child of God. This is a constant theme throughout God’s Word. Peter said that we would have been better to have never known the love of Jesus than to have known and turned away from Him to sin again (2Peter 2:20-22). Jesus sternly warns that He will not allow anyone into heaven that does not DO the will of God  (Matthew 7:21-23). Obedience is paramount to a positive relationship with our Father and front and center in God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus made it clear that His life was devoted to obeying God the Father. Jesus never changed God’s will for us, but He became our advocate to be able to come to God with repentant heart and be forgiven. Jesus announced that He only says and does what His Father says and does (John 5:19). Obviously Jesus obeyed God, upheld His commandments and did our Father’s Will. Every time Jesus was asked how one could receive eternal life, His initial response always was, “Have you kept the commandments?” So the answer is “no”, Jesus did not separate himself from His Father’s commandments and neither does he allow us too.

               Andy Stanley uploaded a video teaching to the popular youtube, announcing to his thousands of followers that homosexuality was ok and adultery was not. He went on to explain that people who were involved in homosexual activity could be leaders in the church, but adulterers could not. This is completely unbiblical in every way. The bible clearly defines and declares any sexual immorality a sin resulting in eternal death and damnation if left unrepentant, which Andy is encouraging. False teaching that feels good and is sweet to taste, is a dangerous trap. Anyone can be forgiven for their sins if they repent, turn away from them, and follow Jesus. But, continual unrepentant sin, results in eternal death says God.  Andy is preaching Ice Cream Jesus. If it feels natural and you don’t hurt anybody else, then it is ok with Andy and Ice Cream Jesus, as long as you wear a smile and are courteous. You see, Ice Cream Jesus is an imaginary Savior. Ice Cream Jesus agrees with popular world ideals and distorts actual truth as it is written God’s Word. Teachers serving up various flavors of this tasty eternal damnation, are always happy and smiling because they are satisfying their customers who are looking for someone to assure them that satisfying their flesh will not set them in hell. Those customers come in droves throwing their money into the buckets because they are thankful that Ice Cream Jesus forgives them of their continual sin that they will not repent, and turn away from. By the way, without repentance, there is no forgiveness. Forgiveness is also eternal, but like salvation, has to be asked for and received. For that to happen, you have to confess and repent…… even Apostle Peter had to repent.

               Disclaimer: I am not picking on believers with homosexual tendencies, I love you. I have my own temptations to overcome as does everyone. It is just a popular sin that is perverted as being acceptable to God in this time. God and His Will have not changed. God loves you, no question, but that is not all that is required for eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Deny yourself, (fleshly wants and desires) take up your Cross and follow me says Jesus.  I am picking on Andy though. Shame on you, Andy, using all the popular keywords like love, forgiveness, and your smooth, polished delivery to do satan’s work of perverting the Word of God. By the way, Andy, why did you think you have the authority to redefine sin? That is putting yourself over God. May the Lord rebuke you.

               Ice Cream Jesus brings the sinners and leaves them in their sin. The poor folks tote a bible but seem to be none the wiser. How do we know whether Ice Cream Jesus or the King Jesus of Nazareth is teaching us? The quick method is one you shouldn’t completely trust, but is a good initial test. Do you feel elated and justified, pumped up as a teenager at a rock concert and everything is pretty much ok, that you are on track with God? That is usually Ice Cream Jesus.

               Jesus of Nazareth assures us that we are loved, but we have sins that we are hiding from ourselves which we haven’t given up to God. We will realize we still have to guard ourselves from temptation and be wary of the world. King Jesus teaching always has a strong element of sin conviction delivered, as promised, by the Holy Spirit. In the presence of the true Jesus we are humbled in Spirit as the Apostles were, not self-justified. Remember that continual sin is the result of a broken relationship with Jesus, who removes sin. Sin has no power to condemn, but shows the true self-serving spirit in a person.

1 John 2:3-6English Standard Version (ESV)

³ And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

               Best test to avoid getting run over by the Ice Cream Jesus truck, is the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation. Don’t trust pulling a single verse or two. Truths run as threads from the old through the new testament. Yes, old testament. Jesus and the Apostles refer to the Old Testament as THE SCRIPTURES. If all of this has you freaking out, then you have been eating ice cream every Sunday Morning. Get your Bible out and google a subject …. Study and learn. God said that we perish from lack of knowledge!

               Calling the Word false and ‘just stories’, is the only way that a person can justify trusting feelings and redefining sin. Andy, unfortunately, has also done this publicly, as have many other ice cream teachers. If the Word of God is not true, then you have NO savior. If you can’t believe that the God who created the universe and you, could put together a book that is true, then you don’t believe in the Sovereign Creator Father. I had a bible study member ask me once if I thought a donkey could really talk! (Numbers 22:28) “Yes, I believe that my Father, who created everything, setting the sun in place, the universe in motion, hung the moon, designed birds feathers to fly, who made the donkey itself, who creates babies from two separate people, would have no problem making a donkey speak!! That would be a simple thing for Him.” It would be funny, if it were not so pitiful, how arrogant we humans are in our ineptness. We uphold science and man’s ‘discoveries’, yet we cannot cure the common cold, much less change the course of the weather or create true life from nothing. So, the question becomes, what do you truly believe?

               I am not judging or condemning anyone. That is God’s job, thankfully not mine! There is going to be a judgement. My desire is that through the Truth in God’s Word, we will all pass into the arms of Jesus and not be rejected because we lived a life led by the false teachings of an Ice Cream Jesus. We want our God to be what we want Him to be, unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Thankfully God is steadfast, loving, unchanging and Holy. God told Moses, “I am who I am.” Because of man’s sins, Jesus had to be sacrificed so that we MAY be able to approach our Holy Father. Ice Cream Jesus says we can be nice, smile and stay positive, your sins are forgiven with no changes or repentance from sin. My King Jesus warns us sternly to be obedient or He will not grant us passage into the Kingdom of God. Jesus warns us sternly at the end of one of His greatest teachings …..

Matthew 7:21-23English Standard Version (ESV)

I Never Knew You

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

        ‘Lawlessness’, yes, it is translated from the original greek writings correctly. Ice Cream Jesus and his false teachers tell you that God’s law doesn’t matter anymore. That is a lie, a deception. We need to learn to pray for God to show us our sins, so that we may repent of them. I have been amazed at the pride and self-serving heart I fight. I have been amazed at the anger and unforgiveness in me, much of it from my far past. I am not a stiff neck legalist. I just love God and His powerful Word. I ride a motorcycle, drink the occasional beer, and laugh with friends as much as possible. I won’t beat you over the head with the Bible, you are free to believe or not believe. I simply do not want us to be deceived and fall into satan’s many traps. Jesus requires all of our being, for we are bought with a price, a very high price. Jesus sets us free in Him to love and be forgiven.

          May God bless you, Kenton

PS.     The Church is not a civic club or community fun group. The Church is the Body of Christ dedicated to bringing glory to our Father and the good news of the Gospel to the many nations. He does not obey us, we obey Him.

I Was There

I Was There

       I beat Him with everything that I had. I whipped Him. I cursed Him as He bled. I mocked Him. I spat on him. I laughed at His torment. I reveled in His pain.

       You see, I was there two thousand years ago when they crucified Jesus of Nazareth, and you also were there in Jerusalem. As difficult as it is to imagine, it was for our sins that Jesus was crucified. He was crucified for the sins of all men; past, present, and future. King David, Elijah, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther, you, me; we were all there. Our sins put Him on that Cross and on that Cross my sins were washed away by His Blood. Everyone who has repented and turned to follow Jesus has left their sins on that bloody old rugged cross. Jesus made the final sacrifice that day that was so powerful, so pure, that nothing more needs now be done. He makes all things new. He made clean what was unclean. He made a way to the Father for the prostitute and the Leper, the adulterer and the thief. He made a way for us all.

      I will never be ashamed of Jesus because he was not ashamed of me. I will not look around a restaurant to see who is looking and then pray so quietly my children can't hear me. I will keep my Bible near me always. I will keep His Word on my heart and my lips always. I will pray at school. I will not tolerate things that my Father says are evil.

      Jesus died on the Cross and then rose from the grave, and because He lives, I can face tomorrow with hope in Him. I know He has conquered the grave, satan, and holds the keys to hell. He is King of kings, the Lord of Lords and every knee will bow to Him. But the greatest of them all is to know that He is mine!

Revised: Grandaddy Doss' teaching on love

Granddaddy Doss’ teaching on Love

By Kenton Jenkins

revised

          The greatest sermons are the ones that we "see" lived out by someone important in our life. I am grateful that God blessed me with great parents and grandparents that ‘walked out’ their faith daily. As a teenage boy, I was spending the summer at my mother's parents home in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

       The Grandfather clock chimed its time for us as I turned down the hallway toward the bathroom.  I saw the bathroom door swing open and was about to turn my eyes away when I realized that both of them were in their pajamas. Bath time, I would soon realize, was an ordeal, as my Grandmother Doss was stricken with osteoporosis and the disease had nearly immobilized her. I saw my grandfather lean his seventy plus year old body over and scoop the little lady up in his arms before I could offer to help. He had her night gown on her, and Frances, although small in stature, was now delivering her bedtime orders as usual. She was chattering away, “now Bonnie, you make sure those apple fritters get covered up and set in the oven and wipe that table good and see to it that ……” He winked at me as they came through the doorway. He laughed his funny sideways laugh, “Yes, yes, yes, Frances, I will take care of it.” He had a way of picking at her and she would just shake her finger and out would come his sideways laugh again. That laugh of his would really ‘stir her soup’ and they would go back and forth talking until he got the covers pulled up just like she wanted. Afterward, she would send him to tidy her kitchen. Then, regular as the sun setting, he would sit at the table in the middle of the little kitchen and have a glass of buttermilk and cornbread stirred to just the right consistency. Grandma would call him to come to bed and he would only stop to brush his teeth on the way. I can still hear his prayers drifting through the house. I pictured him in my mind, on his knees, beside his bed as I had witnessed many times.  

          To this day, seeing my elderly Grandfather carry his bride out of that bathroom was and is the greatest act of love I had ever witnessed. It spoke volumes about the commitment and unwavering dedication that he demonstrated daily. He labored with a smile because he was glad to serve as his Lord and his circumstances required. I never heard him complain about anything, save possibly the crooked politician or a weak preacher who wouldn’t stand up for God's Word. He studied his bible daily. Pastors and Sunday school teachers could be found occasionally in their living room testing the soundness of their doctrine with Brother Doss. He planted a bigger garden than we thought he should, every spring, with a push plow. Grapevines, chickens, cows and horse apple trees made their homes there too. On the back porch there were mason jars and old cans full of all kinds of things from leather shoe laces to straightened nails. Nothing was wasted and everything had its place. Be careful, because there is not a rail around the back porch. If you make your way down to the root cellar you would find lots of sweet potatoes laid on the cool red clay steps that were hand cut out of the earth and mason jars filled with wonderfully tasty fruits and vegetables.

          As a teenager, I thought he was crazy for not selling his little 9 acre farm in the middle of bustling Lawrenceville, Georgia. The fancily attired real estate agents would dramatically set the grand figures in front of him and I would dream about all the boats and lake houses and toys that I could buy. Grandma would refill the tea glasses as he politely said, “no thank you”, for the umpteenth time. What I realize now, that I was blind to at the time, is that you can’t buy that kind of life with money. The kind of life they had has to be sweated out, prayed for and worked through to the finish, in love.

          It took many years to sink in, but in watching their life I have come to realize a few things about love. Love does not sell itself short to the world nor can it be exchanged for currency. Love does not allow you to put your own wants in front of another's needs. Love does not flatter with empty compliments that make you think too much of yourself. Love never accepts disobedience, but disciplines in kindness and truth to circumcise the uncircumcised heart. Love finishes the job no matter how hot it is. Love will carry you through to the end. Love of Jesus is the most important thing that there is. I saw my grandparents walk out all of these principles and many more. I did not appreciate the fullness of their faith and love at the time, but now I see what a privilege it was to have such Godly people guiding my heart through the way they lived.

      I surely do miss standing on Granddaddy’s back porch listening to the chickens fuss and the cow’s lowing. I can smell the fresh cut grass and see the red clay patches here and there in the drive that swung around the house. I’d give anything to draw a bucket of that cool clear water from the old well. I look forward to seeing my grandparents again when the Lord calls me home. I now appreciate who they were and would love to sit down with them and just talk a while at that little kitchen table. Maybe Grandma would make us a batch of apple fritters to give our hands something to hold while we talked. I will call my cousins in from all around and just listen to the funny things my Grandparents generation did to get through the "depression" or watch again as Grandaddy dares my poor cousin to taste one of his home grow hot peppers, as he himself chews on one, then laughs that sideways laugh of his, as my cousin runs for the sink squealing. Yes David, I still laugh at that.

Bob the Builder will fix it. Yes he can!

    Bob the Builder

       I can still hear the theme song ringing in my mind. "Bob the builder, can we build it? YES, WE, CAN!" In the cartoon they played it every time Bob was needed. Bob is a cute little generic construction worker with blue overalls, a yellow hard hat, and a tool belt. Bob along with his buddies, who are living tools and machines, can fix anything. Bob, being told about a problem, will whip out his toolbox and the theme song plays. Then Bob, with a smile, begins fixing the problem with the ease and positive attitude that only a cartoon character can muster. 
      In Bob's cartoon world, the animator, who created he and his story, is his God. How often do we try to fix the problems in our life without our true God? "Move over God, I got this." We say to ourselves. While we can do all things through Christ, we can do nothing good without God. Nothing that we do in our own power will stand for long, but what God builds will stand forever! Only prayer to the Lord moves Heaven and hell and can bring the eternal fix or change that we need. It is only when we remove ourselves and turn everything over to God, that we can begin to see problems in our life get fixes that truly change for the good and last. We have to choose to remove our self pride, self confidence and trust God, not ourselves. That is hard to do. The world preaches self reliance and self confidence. Jesus teaches us that we can do nothing without God!
      The greatest fixit men live their lives on their knees in prayer, because they know that only God brings good and lasting change. God can soften and change the hearts, minds and thinking of our enemies or business associates to our good. God can destroy our enemies and lay them at our feet. All the gold, silver and everything in this world belongs to God. God can move money or anything else from one place to another to make provision for a saint of His at anytime. Our Father works in ways that we wouldn't think of or can even comprehend.
      To be truly successful, we must turn our lives over completely to the Lordship of Jesus and trust Him to make a way for us. We should fight our battles on our knees, in prayer about all things in our life. We have to take everything, in humility, to God. This is not what the world teaches us, but Jesus taught us that we can ask anything in His name and it will be done.
      I know how impatient I can be. One of the most difficult things for me to do is to wait on God, in prayer and thanksgiving. Often God holds us still while he prepares a blessing or miracle to come to pass. He goes ahead of us softening hearts, preparing the way for us and in His time He opens a door for us. When that door opens, we have to choose to step through the door and receive what He has prepared for us, in thanksgiving.
      I don't know about you, but in that time of waiting, I am like a race horse in the starting gate. I fram around in the gate, fussing and complaining, while I wait on God to pull the trigger on the starter pistol and the gate to fly open releasing me into His blessings. But God waits on me to calm down and he teaches me to be thankful and content where I am. I need to learn contentment, humility, thankfulness in the midst of my trials. The apostle Paul never prayed for our situation to change, but that we endure with thanksgiving. Jesus was beaten, humiliated in many ways and even betrayed by those closest to Him. He NEVER complained because he knew our Father despises murmuring and complaining. God sent His chosen people of Israel around the mountain in the wilderness for forty years during a journey that should have only taken a couple of weeks, because they would not stop murmuring and just be thankful for their freedom! They were even receiving Manna from heaven every day and yet, they still complained. Complain and you will remain. We have to learn to live on our knees praying with a thankful and contrite heart that we are being led by God. 
     Let us give thanks where we are and pray out our life to God, all of our life, things great and small. Let us renew our minds to the mind of Christ and hold all thoughts accountable to His word. Let us be lights in this world. While our salvation is personal, Jesus makes it clear that it should never be private. We should always be prepared to give our testimony. We should always be looking to guide the souls to God, that he chooses and calls to Him. It is ok to be anxious to fix things like Bob the builder, but always fix the 'things" in your life in the strength and mind of Christ. Then our 'things' will truly be 'fixed'.
      Peace and joy be yours in Christ.      Kenton

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine

      “Over there, is Cumberland Island,” The elderly man said as he pointed Northwest of us across the marsh and the intracoastal rivers. I stood there on the boat ramp shielding my eyes from the sun, soaking in the primal smells, and the salty aroma of the coast. I was almost there. I love the Coast and the wildlife sanctuary at Cumberland, it has always been at the top of my list of places to make a part of me. Camping only, with no hot water, no malls, no stuff. I was feeling sick of the ‘stuff’ world I live in. We give away stuff to make room for more stuff. We go in debt for more and more stuff that has little or no value soon after it is purchased. For a few days I was going to leave all the bills and the stuff behind and walk around with God and my camera.

          After the long ride, I tied my little Ogeechee river boat to the pier, letting out a sigh of relief. My little skiff was not designed for the open coast and brackish water had been licking over the sides at times when the water was choppy. From the dock at St. Mary’s, the island seemed so close, but it took me forty five minutes on the winding waterways and then across the open waters of the Sound. I looped my rope around one of the thick wooden posts at the dock. I decided to leave my gear for later and walked the long pier and path to the ranger station. I had not made a mistake in coming here, the twisted oaks and saw palmettos, though familiar to me, were different here. Each tree painfully shaped by relentless sun and ocean winds, told its own story. They were each joined at the canopy to provide almost complete cover. From the canopy down to the top of the saw palmettos were masses of twisted limbs so distorted that they could have been their own abstract art piece, seeming to have no rhyme or reason in their lines. Indeed, this was a very special place; very old, very worn, very strong, very independent.

          The next morning I awoke long before daylight, which is unusual for me. I had a sense that God was saying, “Get up, I have something to show you.” I was wide awake immediately, no coffee. I stepped out of the tent. It was very dark, still too dark to see the fog, but I could feel it as it embraced me like a blanket. I looked around, but could not make out any shapes. God didn’t say a word, but there was an overwhelming desire to get ready for something that was about to happen. I felt around for my camera gear. I found my tripod and my large format camera. In a moment I had my Hasselblad, which any photographer knows is one of the greatest cameras of all time. They took it to the moon for a reason, with the right photographer, it can make iconic images, clear and brilliant, but with feeling. I decided to leave the large format camera and just take the ‘Hass’ and tripod. It was a good decision.

          By memory, I headed toward the beach. If I ran into palmettos, I was off the path, it was simple. I was thinking, as I fumbled along with my gear in tow, about how early it was and how out of character this predawn jaunt was for me. After about fifty yards or so, God showed up. I looked up from following the path and there they were. Angels seemed to be breaking through the thick tree canopy and the fog in beams of light. It was indescribably beautiful as they tickled the tips of the palmettos and spilled onto the ground. I could now begin to realize just how thick the fog was.

          I headed towards the tall dune that defined the island interior, to go out towards the beach. As I came closer to leaving the interior, I sensed I should stop, but I wanted to catch the sunrise. “Turn around.” I heard the words, very soft, very distinct. I sat my gear down and turned around. Beautiful beams of light were cascading through the canopy and dancing on the twisted limbs and palmettos of the island’s interior. It was a symphony of light, shadows and shapes. It was breathtaking and magnificent. Only God could paint something that was so beautiful it seemed as if you could see, hear, and taste its intensity. I must have shot a dozen rolls of medium format through the Hasselblad in the few moments that I had. I realized that I was losing the moment, the fog, the angel lightshow. I was alone in a stand of palmettos looking around and soaking up the beauty and the sea air rolling in. A lone twisted old oak with long low branches, stood near the path leading to the ocean. The dune was high behind it and was nearly as tall as the tree.  The fog seemed to be holding there next to the back of that dune and the beams of light were still there dancing to some heavenly tune. I got into position and worked around the tree as a breeze rustled the leaves and the birds were beginning to sing.

      At some point I just stopped tripping the shudder and I stood there taking in all the smells and sounds and the glorious sunshine filling the earth as it pushed out the darkness. There were no words, just peace. I knew that my Lord had taken me, His son, for a walk. It was unbelievable. I later told God that He was just showing off that morning on Cumberland Island, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

{This was a trip in 2006, a much needed break. I used to enjoy photography in the days when black and white photography was still dominated by film. I still haven't been able to get the same results from digital technology so I rarely carry a camera these days ....miss my film rolls!}

Kissin' and Cupcakes

Kissin’ and Cupcakes

          I remember the first time that I kissed a girl. I liked it …. a lot! When I think about the kiss, it was actually kind of odd, but in a good way. We had been playing hide and seek in my backyard when there was an overwhelming chemical reaction that even my ten year old brain realized was about to result in a kiss. Being a young lady and resident brownie scout, she decided that this kiss shouldn’t occur in this location. The giant tree we were behind shielded us from prying eyes, which I thought to be quite an adequate place for a kiss. But I am a male, so my opinion was politely dismissed. This wouldn’t be the last time I had to wait on a woman.

          I don’t recall how, but we ended up on the couch in the living room and she was giving instructions. On the count of “three” we were to kiss. Man, when “three” got there, I think my left shoe popped off. Wow! You never forget your first kiss. I thought for sure this would result in marriage and some kids. But alas, it was a short romance, mom’s footsteps were coming down the hall. Mom came in the living room with some cupcakes and milk and I was pretty sure that it wasn’t going to get any better than this, right here and now, kissin’ and cupcakes.

          Fast forward a few decades and I have had a lot of ‘firsts’. First date, first drive, first homerun, first touchdown, first truck, first girl wrecking truck, first daughter, first job, it’s a long list. With each first came a thrill and a sense of accomplishment or guilt, according to the nature of the “first”. Most of us have a tendency to chase that thrill or reminisce longingly for the thrill of a “first’ or of youth. I have chased that rabbit and I bet most of you have too. If we aren’t careful, chasing that ‘first’ rabbit can lead us down into some deep dark holes where things get ugly. When we allow ourselves to become bored or discontent in our life, you can bet that the devil will send a rabbit, i.e. temptation, our way. How do we find ‘lasting’ contentment which is the opposite of chasing the rabbit, the momentary thrill? Philosophers, psychiatrists, and ten cent self-help gurus have written volumes on the subject of contentment or happiness.

          It is a basic human need to be loved and accepted. Without this basic need being satisfied, we will never receive lasting contentment and joy {what a wonderful word}. Where does one find such love and acceptance? God, who created us in His image, is Love. 1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In order to be content, we must know that we are valuable enough to be loved. God made us to have a relationship with Him. God doesn’t make mistakes; He made you exactly as He wants you to be. God even sent His son, Jesus, to become a sinless sacrifice covering our sins with His grace to make us righteous and able to have a relationship with Him! When we give our self to Jesus, we become a child of God, and in that relationship we find the ultimate love and joy.

          Why are there so many sour faced Christians then? We have trouble receiving Gods love. His love is tremendous and wonderful, but we don’t fully trust God. We block our own blessings. It is our nature to take care of problems, to make plans, to do it on our own. We lack faith in God to handle our “little” problems. We are supposed to leave our cares and burdens at the Cross where Jesus died for us. We take our bag of burdens to the Lord and we get on our knees and pray about our burdens. The problem comes when we finish praying. We pick our bag of burdens up and get back to our routine. We pull our burdens back out and speak negatively about them and cry with our friends about them. We make plans to solve our problems and even create a mental wheelbarrow to carry our burdens, all because we never trusted God to take care of them! Peter walked on water in the midst of a storm as long as his eyes were on Jesus. He got into trouble when he saw the waves and doubt crept in. His faith was compromised when his thoughts became negative. He sank because he doubted. I certainly am not looking down on Peter. He walked on water with Jesus. How awesome is that?!

          To be happy, to have joy, to know love, we must learn to trust God in His promise to take care of His children. Seek the Kingdom of God first and all these things will be added unto you, says the Lord. Pray, obey God’s commands, bless others and put God first. If we can do these things then we will avoid most joy destroying, self - destructive behavior that the devil has taught us! In this world, the prince of darkness will find a way to hurt us through a loved one or a boss or some other means. But, we know, that God will work ALL things to the good of those who love Him! We can be content if we choose or we can chase rabbits. Being content doesn’t mean that we don’t strive for better for ourselves and others. We just have to make sure that we don’t put ourselves first, but God and neighbors. To know true joy, we have to learn how to truly be thankful for Christ’s love and what we already are blessed with.

Keep walking,

Kenton