Merry Go Round

While walking around the Union County Fair this past Friday night...I just watched kids riding the Carousel or as some call it the "Merry Go Round". It is so fascinating to watch children climb aboard their favorite horse and around they go! Smiling, laughing...some clinging on to a parent because they are not sure when this creature will come unhooked and take off! I'm sure some wonder "when can I get off this thing?"

Got me to thinking about life. If we are not careful we can all begin to just go round and round again and wonder "when can I get off this thing?" Life can get a little blah from time to time and we keep moving but we don't seem to get anywhere. We wonder if God will allow us to come unhooked from the ride and take off? Let me suggest a few things that might help you unplug from the Life Merry Go Round:

* Wake up and have a daily devotion. God wants to give you a new direction each day...a new set of instructions. We need to be in God's Word (the Bible) and we need to pray and listen.

* Get the focus off yourself and look at helping others.

* Become obedient in Godly living (i.e. tithing, faith, serving, forgiving...among others)

* Check your attitude at the gate - be an encourager!

* Smile, laugh & enjoy the ride - don't look at life as a burden but rather an opportunity!

Practice just a few of these things and then get ready for a brand new adventure.

Sin = Yuk

No body likes seeing this...how sad to know that this massive oil spill in the Gulf is endangering wildlife, plant life and sea life. Just makes you sick all over.

Did you know that sin is like that? It covers our lives and our hearts like tar. The Bible clearly teaches that sin separates us from God! "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23). Sin is just as dangerous to our lives as spilled oil is to animals...yet we rarely here if at all the damages of sin. I believe it is Satan's greatest tool to keep us from being alarmed about our sin. We should be outraged about the yuk in our lives, but we tend to pay very little attention to it.

Veterinarians, oceanographers, and specialists are working around the clock to capture, clean up and save these animals from death. God has been working since the beginning of time to do the same for us. He sent His Son to the cross to die that we might live. I believe that grace covers a multitude of sins and we can all be washed like new...we just simply have to ask Him to come and live in our lives. Thank you Jesus for washing me like new each day!

Lessons from Children

All week long our church has been involved in VBS or Vacation Bible School. There is something unique about watching kids. We can all learn a lot in life as adults by observing kids. Here are some things I've learned:

1. They are gut-honest about everything. They can see through people better than Superman using X-Ray vision. They know reality when they see it.

2. Their faith in God is pure. Their love for the most part is unconditional. Their joy is limitless.

3. I wish I had only 20% of their energy level! :)

4. When hanging with friends, they don't look at external things (i.e. what your wearing, how others view life, how much money you have, how many possessions do you own, etc...they just love their buddies.

5. They trust their leaders. They expect adults to lead them and guide them. It is our responsibility to lead them in the direction of Christ. While we can't live their lives...we can coach them in the things in life that really matter.

Take more notice of kids in your life and try to live more like they do and you'll find life to be a little fuller, more joyful. Don't forget to play a little everyday and lighten up!