Where Your Treasure Is

"Wow...a shooting star!"

I hadn't seen one of those in a very long time.  And somehow, I don't believe my seeing that shooting star was any ol' garden variety 'coincidence.' 

As I lay there, wide awake at 2:30 in the morning, worrying about finances and the minutiae of work-related stuff, I was getting more ticked-off by the minute that I couldn't sleep because I was allowing myself to get so worried over these superficial things.

When that bright shooting star caught my full attention, I instantly forgot all about those burdensome things.  And then the Still Small Voice impressed upon my heart that I had taken my focus off of the bigger picture because I was so wrapped up in needlessly worrying about temporary things that will not matter in eternity.

It's all about perspective.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." —Jesus

In that stark, quiet moment when the still small whisper calmed my heart, I was reminded that this planet we inhabit is merely a microscopic speck of dust in a vast universe, and the temporary things of this earth are soon passing away.  I have a greater purpose in this short life than worrying about superficial minutiae that I have little, to no control over anyway. 

What's really going to matter in eternity?

I can tell you truly, that anything that can be burned up in a fire, will not matter to us one whit, when we step into our eternal destination.

The purpose of this life is to point people to the Way, the Truth and the Life—the Great Light who shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.  To love and comfort people with the same love and comfort that I have been comforted with.  To give praise, thanks and glory to the One who saved that which was unworthy to be saved.

I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now, I see.

So many times in the throes of the suffering of this life, I have been comforted by these God-breathed words from a wise old sage:

"For I suppose that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." —Paul

A stunning, beautiful, glorious moment awaits all those who have surrendered their hearts and souls to the One who is Mighty to Save.  When we finally see Christ face-to-face, all darkness, pain, suffering, loneliness, sorrow, sickness and death will fade away, once-and-for-all, forever.

In the meantime, set your heart on the eternal things, and on the Eternal One. And then love like you have never loved.  Forgive like you have never forgiven.  Show mercy like you have never shown mercy.  Give like you have never given.

And trust like you have never trusted.

If Christ is your Treasure, there your heart will be also.

It's all about a relationship with Jesus.

     —Blessings to you today, in Christ.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

Give Thanks To The Lord

What an incredible year this has been for us.

As some of you know, I lost my job in September of 2010, and was unemployed for fourteen months. It was an emotionally and financially challenging time for us. But my wife has the gift of administration and can stretch money where there is none. So, after all those months, with God’s abundant grace, help and provision, we didn’t lack any good thing! We’ve been well cared for and thankful for all God has done for us.

Thank You Lord for always faithfully taking care of us.


This November, I got a great job as a Territorial Manager for the largest sporting goods distributor in the USA, My territory goes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Burns, Oregon, and everything in between. I get to talk to people every day about fishing gear—something I love. My wife told me she wants to accompany me on my trips to Jackson Hole this summer.

My wife has had a very busy year at her job, which is intensifying this month for the crazy Christmas season. It will all be over soon and she can take a week off soon and get some much needed rest. She has been truly blessed this year in teaching Sunday school at church. She works with the 4 year olds and absolutely loves those little people. She glows after spending time with those wonderful kids. My wife truly has a heart for children and they are attracted to her loving, kind spirit like a magnet.

She’s such a wonderful, loving wife and friend to me! I will be eternally grateful to God for allowing me to love her and serve her as my wife and my best friend.

I am continuously amazed when I look back and remember all the years we went through of separation, marital struggle and chaos. And now, after 29 amazing years together, we’re more like newlyweds today than ever! For those who know our story, this is truly a testament to the power of God’s love and forgiveness.

Thus, we gratefully celebrate the birth of our dear Savior Jesus Christ and we praise Him!

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." -(1 Peter 5:6-7)

May this season be a time for you of experiencing God’s amazing love and grace!


Merry Christmas and Blessings to you and yours, in Christ's love.



—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

An Attitude Of Gratitude

It sure feels great to be home.

After a week out of town, training for my new job, I was so ready to get back home.  It's funny though, because the week leading up to the time I left, I was getting selfish and grumpy, and was focusing on a couple of the things in my life that I was not totally happy with. 

It's uncanny how you really appreciate what you have after you have been away from it for awhile. 

This has been a year more than any other I can recall, where I have needed to constantly remind myself of just how much I have to be thankful for.  My life is far from perfect, but I have been so blessed. 

My wife is the most amazing woman in this world.  She has been through so much with me, and has put up with so much from me.  I definitely don't deserve to have a wife like her.  As I write this I'm thinking back over all the years of our decade of separations and divorce proceedings.  It was an emotional tsunami for sure.  Truly, it's a miracle that we made it through that dark period of our life together.  Thank You Lord!

And I have so much more to thankful for as well.  I have a wonderful daugther and son, both of whom I love dearly. 

I have true friends who stick close to me no matter what, and who encourage me along the way—friends and brothers who are with me in the foxhole of life—who I know always have my back.  I am very thankful for my new job. And even though it was fairly difficult at the time, I am thankful for the 14 months of unemployment I endured, which taught me patience and humility, and it will also help me appreciate my new job when times may get tough along the road to come.

So I have so much more to be thankful for than I could possibly ever have to complain about.

It's all about having an attitude of gratitude.

The reason I was getting grumpy before I left for my week of training, is that I was focusing on myself and my wants, instead of focusing on my wife's needs and the the needs of others.  Self focus is a joy killer, because when I focus on 'me' I tend to look at the few minor things that are wrong with my life, instead of counting my many blessings and demonstrating my love and thankfulness to God, and to others.

I've been separated, I've been divorced, and I've lost both my parents.  I've suffered through extended periods of loneliness and joblessness and I've had some health issues that were difficult to endure.  So I have compassion on those going through painfully difficult times.  But if you have received Jesus Christ as the Savior of your soul—you have everything to be thankful for—no matter how difficult your circumstances my currently be.

True J.O.Y. is focusing on Jesus first—Others next—and Yourself last.   It's the secret to a happy life.

If you've been a follower of Christ for any length of time, you know that suffering is a part of our temporary life on this fallen planet.  But, as the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18, the difficulty of our present suffering cannot compare with the glorious life that awaits us when we finally meet Jesus Christ our Lord face-to-face.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble—but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."  We have been set free from the law of sin and death, to love God, and serve Him, and serve other people. 

Jesus also said "It is far better to give than to receive."

So reach out today and really love and encourage someone.  By taking your focus off of yourself and by being thankful to God for all He has done for you, your grumpiness and depression should turn into joy—if you truly have an attitude of gratitude.

No matter what else—if you have Jesus Christ as the Savior of your soul—it truly is a wonderful life.

And it is this life in Christ, because of His amazing sacrifice, love and grace, that I am most thankful for.

Blessings to you.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.