Emily and Trust


This past Thursday Emily had her 6 month derm checkup. I have to admit, I am always just a little on edge when she gets her check ups. I know she is ok, but something inside of me does not want to relive a season of her life as she was fighting a disease that was warring to take her life. Cancer.

As we were driving home from the hospital, the song by Matt Redman came on the radio, "Never let go." I told Emily this song gave me so much strength while she was going thru her cancer treatments. So then, the whole van erupted in.... "Oh no you'll never let go, thru the calm and thru the storm..." Emily had a smile on her face that was filled with so much peace... It was beautiful!!!

This morning during worship... I could not believe it!!! The worship team began to play that song.... I seem to always tear up when I hear that song.... I watched my 6 1/2 year old girl get up out of her seat and walk down to the altar. She laid her head on the platform step and just prayed. I am not sure what was going on in her little 6-year old mind, but I do know something touched her heart. It was precious.

I am the pastor... the spiritual leader..... I began to tear up and I was so moved by her obedience... For that moment... I was just daddy (my favorite title) I went down to the altar to be with my little princess... It was just me and Emily at the altar... I squatted next to her and she grabbed my finger and just squeezed... I saw a tear rolling down her face, but she looked up and smiled at me... I told her I loved her and I was proud of her.... I priceless moment.

You may be going thru a tough time, so I will leave you with the words from Matt Redman:

Even though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love is casting out fear. And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life, I won't turn back I know you are near.

And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me. Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, you'll never let go, thru the calm and thru the storm. Oh no you'll never let go with every high and every low, Oh no you'll never let go of me.

I can see a light that is coming, for the heart that holds on. A glorious light beyond all compare. And there will be an end to these troubles, But until that day comes, We'll live to know you are here on earth.

Hang on...

Scammed


This past week I received this unusual letter in the mail. It was postmarked from Quebec, Canada with very little info on the return address. I opened this odd letter and a check for $2,561.40 fell out of the folded letter. This check was from Stanek Windows addressed to me; Stanek Windows has 3 locations, one in Milwaukee, one in Cleveland and the other in Clearwater, FL.

For a moment, I gloried over the possibilities... I would be debt free.... It did not take long for reality to take center stage... As I researched this scam on Google and other sites.... Sure enough on the Stanek Window's web page a Scam Notice was present. It said to contact your local police department or return the contents of the letter to them.

I knew this was too good to be true, but all the same... I had spent in my $49,550.60. in my mind. The letter said I had won a online lottery contest and my winnings would be coming to me shortly.... A partial payment was sent to me, but I must contact Andrea at a phone number in Canada for my full amount.

Have you ever been scammed?

We all have... In the garden of Eden Eve and Adam were both scammed by the serpent who said "Look at my tree, look at my fruit, my fruit is better than any other fruit...."

When we hear that story, we think, how did the serpent ever convince Eve that life could be any better than it was... Eve had everything... but she wanted more... Lust of the flesh, Lust of the eyes, and the Pride of life have been present since the beginning of time...

You have a tree!!! BEWARE!!! You might be getting Scammed!!!! All of the blessings of God is present around you, but you keep thinking.... "If I only had her/him/money/power/new spouse/better job/better car/better house......" the list goes on and on and on...

You have a tree!!! Everyone has a tree!!! That tree will scam you out of all God has for you!

On Saturday afternoon, I did my civic duty, I called the police and asked them, "what I should do...?" They sent a squad car to my house and picked up the fraudulent lottery-winning letter.... It was over, out of my hands... The authorities took the letter and processed it, accessed and I am guessing, they shredded it.

Today maybe you need to call the Authority in your life.... What is your tree? Are you being Scammed like Eve? Do you long for more power, praise, money or stuff....? or do you say, "I surrender all I have to the supreme authority?"

Don't be scammed any longer!!! Let go and let God!! Be content with the blessings God has given you! You don't need to be scammed any longer!!!