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For the last few weeks, I've been in a spiritual funk. I woke up today and decided that I needed to break my routine. Every day when I wake up, it's the same old thing over and over again. I start with prayer. Then my daily devotional. Then I go over the scripture that I've memorized. Then I do my small group study homework. Then I do my personal study (currently studying Acts). It's gotten so monotonous that I'm completely bored with it. I've even cut my study time short lately because I wasn't feeling like I was getting anything out of it.
Today I decided to take a drive to Mt. Charleston to have some quality one on one time with God. I walked on the trails and enjoyed the scenery. I took a few pictures. It was very relaxing. It helped that it was about 25 degrees cooler than it was in Vegas.
I found a tree stump in the shade and sat on it. I had a great devotional and prayer time. This change of routine was exactly what I needed. I felt God's presence and I reconnected with Him. I feel a sense of peace now that I haven't felt in a while.
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I have been a life long sports fan. Since I'm from Pittsburgh, I like all the teams from that city. I often joke that I have black and gold blood ( for those who don't know, all 3 pro teams from Pittsburgh wear black and gold uniforms). My love for these teams ran deep for many years. When they won, I was thrilled to death. And when they lost, I was bummed. I remember when the Steelers lost super bowl 30 after the 1995 season. I was depressed for weeks.
I'm not sure why, but in the last year or 2, I haven't placed as much importance on sports. I still watch and cheer for my favorite teams, but it's not like it used to be. I now treat sports like it is, just a game.
The reason I'm writing about this is because my favorite hockey team, the Penguins, just lost the Stanley Cup Finals. A few years ago, this would have devastated me. Yes, I'm disappointed. And for the first couple hours after the game ended wednesday night, I was feeling kinda low (it didn't help that I wasn't feeling well with flu like symptoms). But instead of letting it bring me down, I find myself looking at the bright side of this. I had a great time watching them win 3 rounds of the playoffs getting to the finals. They were the worst team in their conference just 2 years ago, and this year were only 2 wins away from hoisting the cup. They have amazing young talent and will be a huge force in the NHL for many years to come. What's to be upset about?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Why have my priorities changed recently? I think it's the Lord working in my life. He's showing me what's really important in my life. I have a great family life. I have a secure job that pays well. Over the last year, I have made the best friends I've ever had through the Vegas singles group. My most recent medical tests show that I'm cancer free (I had a cancer scare 3 years ago). I could go on and on about all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. The last thing I need to dwell on is the result of a hockey game.
Thank you Lord for showing me what's really important!
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I have a question about the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 describes what is commonly referred to as "the rapture".
For then the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so we shall always be with the Lord.
Some believe that the rapture will take place before the tribulation, some at the halfway point, and others at the end of the tribulation. I want to know if there is any scripture that ties the rapture in with the tribulation. How do we know if the two events have anything to do with each other?
I plan to study this myself in the near future, but it would be nice if someone pointed me in the right direction.
Take care and God Bless!!!!!!!!
Jeff Hutch
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Last week I had a rare monday night off from work and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I had just gotten home from spending 2 days in southern California for Fishfest, and I was pretty tired. About 6:30 p.m., I got a call from my friend Jeff (aka Starsky) inviting me to Sacred Revolution at the church, where his roommate Dave was doing the speaking.
My first reaction was not to go because I'm 40 years old and this was a college crowd. I didn't want to feel out of place. Then I decided to get over myself and go hear the message. I'm glad I did. Dave gave me the slap in the face I needed (not literally) that night.
The whole message was great, but he made one point that really stuck with me. He asked all the guys to think back to all the times we've ever been rejected or dumped by women in the past. Remember the feeling that left with you. That's the same feeling we're giving God every time we don't put Him first in our lives! Ouch!
I thought back to 2 particular women from my past, Beth and Susan. I was deeply in love with them ( at different times), and they both dumped me in favor of other men. Those were the lowest points in my life. I remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that wouldn't go away. I felt worthless. When I think of leaving God with that feeling, it crushes me.
In recent weeks, I've been making a conscious effort to make sure God is first in all areas of my life. But when I think of all the times in the past when He wasn't first in my life, I feel terrible remorse.
Every time I skipped church to watch the Steelers......
Every time I cut my bible and prayer time short to call that certain girl I liked.....
Every time I chose to read that Stephen King book instead of the bible.....
Every time I made a bad decision without praying about it first......
Every time I have bad thoughts about other Christians.....
etc. etc.
I'm hurting God's feelings every time I do these things. In the future, I'm going to try to remember this every time I have a decision to make. I have to put God first.
Thanks Dave for the slap in the face I needed!
Take care and God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff H aka Hutch
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Yesterday, Tish was sent to the hospital by ambulance with severe abdominal pain. She spent the whole day at UMC getting test after test trying to find out what was causing the pain. An ultrasound and ct scan didn't reveal anything, so they sent her home with meds around 11:00 p.m.
She woke up with the same symptoms and is on her way back to the hospital as I write this. Please pray for her. I visited with her in the hospital yesterday and it was heartbreaking. She was in so much pain. Please pray that the doctors will figure out what's wrong with her this time and heal her. Please pray that her pain will be relieved.
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