"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).

My family and friends went camping this week during the spring break holiday.  It was a little cold.  Also, a little chilly but fun.  I took my dogs with me.  They are golden retrievers.  They love the water, running, and a little bit of horse play.

There is a time in the week for Christians to rest and regain their energy.  There is a time in every day that Christians need to love their family while spending time with them.  There is a time in our lives when we need to reach people around us and tell them about Jesus.  There are always moments to be family with all people in Christ.

Enjoy the blessing that God gives you.  And don't forget to thank Him.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war" (Revelation 19:11).

I have been reading the book called "The Pacific".  It comes out this month on HBO as a miniseries.  It will be similar to the miniseries called "Band of Brothers".

"The Pacific" recalls actual events by certain people that experienced war with the Japanese during WWII.  War is horrible.  Their are visuals I'm sure every person would not like to have seen or been a part of.

Spiritual warfare is no-less different.  It has a distructive power that can affect a person's eternity.  That is much more impacting than a person's physical loss of life.  Christians are in a war of truth.  We need to know the message of Christ, believe the message of Christ, and live the message of Christ.  We need to be ready to speak against falsehood and remain in truth.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

'And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.  Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:17-24). 

I was paid today.  I like getting paid for the work I do.  There is a sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and value in a paycheck.  No, it doesn't make me who I am but it allows me to provide for my family and enjoy some blessings in life.

Unfortunately, there were times in my life that I felt unappreciated by my paycheck.  I felt like "I was going nowhere financially".  I felt like, "I was in a dead-end job".  I even entertained the thought that, "My wife makes more than me - I must be a looser".

Yet, in Christ, no one is a looser.  Jesus gave us eternal life!  Let's be responsible in our Christian "job" and enjoy the blessings that come from a relationship with Christ.  Yes, sometimes it is hard work.  Sometimes, you may feel like you're not "paid" enough.  Don't forget, a Christian's reward is truly in Heaven with God and Christ.  There are and will continue to be many struggles in our physical "job".  Remember to work as for Christ.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!  For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, 'They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.'  Therefore I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest'" (Psalm 95). 

"They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing.  They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD"  (Jeremiah 12:13).

Being tired is good as long as it is for the right reason.  Unfortunately, some people are tired because they choose a wicked lifestyle.  Others are tired because of a godly lifestyle.  Which lifestyle is God pleased with?

"For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such a person we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature" (1 Corinthians 14:20).

I love my kids because they challenge me.  I love my kids because they honor me.  I love my kids for their laughter and tears.  I even love my kids when they present problems that force me to be very, very patient.

I love my kids because they are infants in evil and because they have so much to learn.

Adult Christians need to recognize that there are things that God doesn't want us to be experts in - evil ways that are ungodly.  God loves His children and He wants them to be experts in godly understanding and brotherly hearts.

God loves His kids.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

The apostle Paul knows the importance of a good reputation.

"Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work" (1 Timothy 5:9-10).

"Your reputation preceedes you".  I have used the phrase with people who don't understand why others don't or can't trust them.  People tend not to trust those who focus everything around their own passions and desires.

Is a gossip someone with a good reputation?  How about a person who speaks evil of others - do they have a good reputation?  What about someone who does not do good and godly deeds because of their lack of love and respect for God - do they have a good reputation?

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8b)