Why Try?

You may wonder why I chose why try as my title. It seems fitting for everything that we go through in life. With family and work, marrage and kids. The task is monstrous if not scarry. That by itself is enough to kill ya. Life is just plain hard sometimes, and to be honest. There isn't a lot we can do to change it. But for a select few life isnt all that they have to deal with. Less than 1% of all americans serve in todays armed forces. Of those a great many have deployed to Iraq of afghanistan. They brought with them some extra baggage, things like PTSD, depression, anger, fear, etc. add this to life's already hechtic plate and you have in some cases a recipe for disator. There is no one in the world that will ever know what a soldier goes through not the wife or family just the ones that was there. So why the title? It is a thought that has run through my head everyday. Why do I even try, WHY! I want so much to feel different but I know I will never be the same. I and forever marked. The question is will I let these destroy me or define me?

Prayer:

Lord, I know the mistakes that I have made aren't all related to my deployment, but the why I feel deep down inside is. I want to be free. I need peace. I want peace for my family and my marrage.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Farmer of Relationships

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse has been playing in my head for a few days now. I understand the concept that the author is trying to get across. It is simple humble, pray, and seek, then you get forgiveness and healing for your land. The thing that kinda stumped me was the land part. I am not a farmer, how does this apply? I see the analogy behind reaping and sowing, that part is easy. You sow good things you get good things, you sow bad things you get bad things. I guess the big question is this; if we are not farmers in the agricultural since then what is our crop. What are we growing? If we continue to disobey God and live away from His will. What land will be destroyed. My Friend it is simple, relationships. Relationships are what we are planting, nourishing, wanting to grow and produce fruit.
In my opinion a life void of relationship is meaningless. It holds no significant value. Without the connections that come with being in a relationship, we would be in a sad state of affairs. God wants us to have meaning full relationships here on earth. They are meant to strengthen us and make us who we are. A person's individuality is a result of relationships. Who we form those bonds with help shape who we are as a person. God understood this in the beginning, " it is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him" It was God's intent all along that man be in a relationship with Him, and with other people.
Getting back to the task at hand. Those relationships are delicate and complex. They can take years to build, but seconds to destroy. One word or deed can tear a relationship to pieces. I believe that this scripture is meant for both people in good relationships and for those that have had a relationship destroyed. It is meant as a warning for those in a good relationship to keep God first. For those who have lost a relationship to know that God is here to mend and heal.
Looking back at my own life I have had a lot of great relationships, but I have also destroyed a few along the way. I know that if I will obey the Word of the Lord and humble, pray, and seek. Then I will know God's true forgiveness and power in my life and yours.

Lord,
Help us today to cultivate, wonderful and positive relationships, help us to not let what we think is right to interfere. Help us to humble ourselves, pray and seek. Thank You Lord for all your great gifts and tender mercies
Amen.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here once again. It is my favorite time of the year. The decorations and songs, stories and friends. It is the one day of the year when age does not matter and cheer is spread. Then there is the most important reason Christ. The birth of our savior. Praise be the Lord on High!

Again,

Merry Christmas

What is it with advertising these days? It is ridiculous the amount of pressure that the media places on teens, especially teen girls. In a nut shell this is what a super model has to be. Tall, skinny, near perfect complexion, etc. As a father of three daughters this subject hits home. The world says that if you don't meet their criteria of beauty than you don't matter. The truth is that most (not all) super models suffer from addictions, bulimia, and other terrible things. Models are trained to make everyone think that they have it all together, but the reality of it is that they are lonely and lost. I guess I am speaking to Fathers that have young girls. Let them know that they are beautiful just the way they are. Teach them not to but into the hype. They are God's great creation and that He loves them and you do to.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalms 139:14

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen. 1:1 (NKJV)
This is the most iconic verse in the entire Bible. It has been said by many theologians, that are much smarter than me, that if you don't believe this verse is truth then you might as well close the Bible and continue on with your life. The question is, how do we believe that this God, that we cannot see, here, or even understand exists. When looking at God throughout the Bible, each person that was affected by God had one thing in common, Faith. I know that some people view faith as a crutch that weak people use to get them through each day, but is more than that. Faith in God is what separates individuals from the average person. Grasping hold of God in faith is not a sign of weakness it is an act of strength and courage. When we put our faith in God and believe that He is God Creator and Savior we let go of fear and weakness and become empowered in a way that the world doesn't understand. Faith is the hinge that hold the door to an amazing adventure, and a life full and rich.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11: 3 (NKJV)

Why did I choose the name Brother BIG10? That is a simple answer when I was little I had a football jersey that had a the number 10 on it. I wore it all the time. There was a man at my church that we boys called Papa Mixson. He started calling me big 10. The name stuck through my child hood. I don't use the nick name now, but I still remember how it made me feel that someone took the time to notice me. I had an identity and that to me was important.