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I was walking around a town square the other day and looked down just below my feet and saw a plaque, it said: Time Capsule buried 1986 do not open until 2036. I had heard of many towns doing this but had never seen one.

A great deal of thoughts came to my mind as I stood there. First of all I thought hey these people have made it half way to 2036, not long now. Then I got to thinking gosh I remember 1986 and Lord willing I have an outside chance of making it to 2036. As a matter of fact 1986 was a pretty good year.

I began to think of what has changed in just those 25 years. Laptops were not something every person had in 86, Regan was president, we were some 22 years from the first African American president, not everyone had a cell phone and they were not considered must have gadgets. No one really paid much attention to a place called Iraq and Russia was stuck in Afghanistan not the United States. Few had email and Facebook and Twitter were probably not in the dictionary. I could go on for some time with all the changes in just 25 years and I can only imagine the changes that will take place in the coming 25 years.

If the Lord does not return there is no telling where technology and society will take us. Times change and there is not stopping it. Here is one more thought about our time capsule; nothing in it is changing, what is in it will be the same as it was the day it was buried in the ground. That is fine for a time capsule but not for us as people of God. Yet many embrace the thought.

When we come to faith it is a time of new birth; just like a new birth that is only a place to start. God desires for us to begin to grow from that moment forward not get stuck in that current moment. The basics of our faith should never change; that is what makes us who we are. But on the other hand as we mature as a person and seek God’s guidance we grow to be more like our Savior. Experience is a great teacher, I can relate to life far differently than when I was 24 years old in 1986.

If we are allowing God to direct our thoughts and use those experiences to help us mature that is very positive. On the other hand experience is good only if God is doing the directing not the world. That only leads to confusion and many times cripples our faith. Also ponder this; that capsule can help no one until 2036 when it is removed from the ground. With that thought in mind God uses Godly people who have experienced life, love and soaked up the wisdom of God to guide those of us who are younger. Yet if they choose to bury their faith in the ground and stay as they are what can be gained from that?

Everyone loses; the person stuck as an infant in their faith and those who come after them who need guidance in their faith. That town seemed pretty firm about not digging up that capsule; unfortunately some people are just as firm about not accepting the change that God uses to bring about spiritual maturity.

Consider where you are at with your faith; is your faith buried in the ground or actively growing.

To determine that ask these questions:

1) Are you taking the steps that help your faith grow; worship, study, prayer, and service.

2) Where is your faith on your priority list? Where was it two years ago? Where do you want it to be in two years?

3) Is your faith all over the map, believing one thing from this teacher and this from another?

Be very careful with who you listen to. To be sure this one is okay see question number one. Perhaps we will be around when they dig up the time capsule that would be interesting. But if we are, prayerfully our faith will be 25 years richer from living and loving the Lord with all our heart for those many years. If it is going to be perhaps now would be the time to dig our faith up and give it new life.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide us to growth and help to lead us away from the temptation to get stuck in a rut with our faith. Guide us to learn the lessons you have for it and thus be able to lead others to grow in their love for you. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

Last night I stood on a dark and lonely hill with the rattlesnakes, coyotes, and deer of south Texas. From our position my friends and I could see the lights of a shining city just a few miles away. Had we wanted to we could have easily gotten in our car and drove no more than three minutes and left the country. The lights were of a big city just across the border, in Mexico.

There is one thing I have learned as I have spent time on the border and this is it: I have lots of friends. They fly helicopters, they drive cars, and they work at an Air Force base and fly planes, my friend’s name; Homeland Security.

Within miles there is well documented evil and danger. Yet the American towns on the border are small, friendly and most of all safe. With all of my friends my thought is I am probably as safe here as I am when I walk certain streets in Dallas.

Early in the morning I began a drive back to where I was staying and in the midst of my journey I saw in the distance a cluster of lights. The closer I got the more I realized what was happening. It was my friends with the Border Patrol doing a little check on those of us driving late night in the middle of nowhere.

I had to come to a complete stop and when I did there were two Border Patrol officers and one dog waiting for me. When it comes to police I always get a little nervous, even when I am not guilty. I can’t say why I am that way it is just how it is.

While one officer questions me about what I am doing and what I am transporting the officer with the dog starts walking around the car. The dog obviously is sniffing for drugs or people I am not sure which, but just so you know I had neither.

While I nervously answer the questions of my friendly but very serious Border Patrol Officer for a split second my mind starts to play tricks on me. I start thinking what if someone put something in my car while I was not looking. What if my very serious and not so friendly dog sniffs something out; what am I to do!

I came back to my senses about the time I was given the go ahead to travel on. It appeared on this occasion that the sniffing dog caused me more anxiety than the conversations. There was just something about someone that could sniff out anything I was doing wrong.
I have a serious respect for a dog that can sniff things out; in reality I need to give the same respect to God.

You see the dog was trained by people to use his gifts to find the bad guys who are doing things wrong and to bring them to justice. The dog does it to please man and in return he helps to make our country a safer place.

God on the other hand is always sniffing around in our life as well. He seeks out where we have turned from Him. He is looking for our weak places. He does this not to please man or to throw people in jail or worse. No, he does it to make His world a better place by making us better people and more like Him. God is in the business of revealing to us our shortcomings not to punish us but to redeem us. See Him as I see the Border Patrol; as friend not enemy.
For some people the thought of God sniffing around our lives makes them very nervous.

Many people see God as a heavy handed God trying to catch us doing wrong then putting the hammer down on us. Reality is very different. God wants our own good; He knows when we are trying to hide stuff from Him, this ‘stuff’ is normally very bad for us. God knows the destruction caused by our addictions, our greed, our lust, our gossiping tongue, our lazy habits and our selfishness. His desire is to sniff these things out and help us rid our lives of them.

Foolish people daily try to hide things from my Border Patrol buddy’s, most are caught but some get away, for a period of time anyway.

Foolish people likewise try to hide things from God; their success rate is not so good. God knows what is going on; He sees what you are trying to hide.

My advice for you is much the same as what it would be on the border; come clean and be honest.

A confrontation with God about your sin might make some of you very nervous. Trust me though you have a very serious God that is very serious about His love for you.
Border Patrol dogs, thank you for your service. Keep your nose to the grindstone.
Heavenly Father, we praise you for always sniffing around helping to keep our lives on the right path.

Scripture: Matthew 10:26, “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”
Psalm 51:6, “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be truthful with you. Guide is to seek your help and to acknowledge your presence in our life. We thank you because you care enough for us to desire our best. We ask these things in Christ name, Amen.

Traveling is something I rarely do, but within the last month I have found myself on the road a bit more than usual. With travel comes the question of where to stay and of course unless you have family the only logical place is a hotel.

Hotels can be nice places. The people at the front desk are very friendly and seem to be very happy you are there. They tell you where you are staying, direct you to the room and even tell you all the little extras they have for you. For instance the place I am in right now is in a small town and it has homemade cookies in the afternoon for all its guest. Now how is that for making the lonely traveler feel at home?

By the way I like the way they refer to you as a ‘guest’. As if you are a long lost friend or family member coming for a visit. They make the bed, get you some extra towels out and get the room all ready for you just like you are Uncle Richard in for a visit. After all I am a guest and that is how you treat guest. Not only do they get your room ready but while you are gone they sneak in and clean it and leave you some extra towels. Goodness these hotels know how to make a guy feel at home. Never mind that they make you pay for your visit, you are still their guest.

You would think a guy would want to live in a hotel all the time; you would be wrong.
No matter how many homemade cookies they make for you or the fact you can keep the temperature at whatever you want in the room, there is one thing a hotel will never be and that is the one thing we want the most; home. A hotel is not home.

No matter how nice they are to you up at the front desk if you got in trouble they would care little. But at home if you find yourself in trouble there are people who surround you with love and care when things go badly. That is home.

What if on the other hand things went good and something exciting happened while on a trip? What if you got a new job or made a big sale? Is your first call to the people up at the front desk, no of course not, you call home and tell those who love you and will share in your joy.

People in hotels are short term members of your life. You might be in one hotel one day and another the next. Home is all about long term. We need and desire long term relationships, we like stability, we are eager for people to share our life with. Those people live at home and unless you are on a family trip that is where you long to be.

A home is not brick, mortar or glass. I have seen and even stayed in some wonderful hotels. They have everything a person thinks they need. From beautiful high rise structures to cozy resorts by the beach; they look and are nice places to visit. But still are not home.
From the smallest dwelling to the largest mansion home is the people who live in it. Homes are built by the love, care and concern that are shared with the people who live inside the walls not the walls themselves.

Home is even a place where you can disagree with each other and still sit down for a meal together. Home is a place where forgiveness is provided when needed. Home is a place where those who have failed can go and rest their soul and prepare for the next stage of life. Hotels are nice but you get none of that in one.

How is your home? Not the walls, but the spirit within those walls? Is your home in need of repair? Call on God; He is the foundation of any good home. And if yours needs some repairs, no one can do home improvement like he can!

Godly homes are not perfect but in them you will find what you need more than a soft pillow or 200 cable channels. You find His love, that’s home.

By the way; at home all cookies are homemade and the people who bake them know your favorite ones!

Scripture: Psalm 127:1a, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…”

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to take care of our homes by being lead by your spirit in how we act in it. Help us to make it a priority in our daily lives. Help us to treat those within it as precious gifts from above. We ask all these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

This post was first featured on Insight For Livnig Website. By by Colleen Swindoll-Thompson

Most pastors have demanding schedules. Most churches have more needs than people to help. Most people are hurting and need a place of healing and hope. I understand.

I have a special-needs child, a blended family, and many other challenges most people will never know about. I bet you could be writing this too, discussing your own daily challenges. You may have struggles that are deeper and darker than I can imagine. If so, I am so very sorry.

But I want all of us to consider something: I have never, ever met a pastor who desired to hurt those in his congregation. I have never met a family with a disabled child who wished to offend others. I have never met a person who wanted to be misunderstood or judged or hurt or betrayed. We are all fellow travelers on this journey of life . . . a journey that is marred with difficulties, littered with mistakes, split with dreams shattered and dreams forgotten.

Let’s remember together the passage from Romans 12:9–19. The passage calls for believers in Christ to be in harmony with one another . . . not in judgment or critical or neglecting or passive or dismissive . . . NO! Paul calls us to love and care for one another.

Really commit to practicing the selections from Romans 12:9–19 (and praying for God’s help to do it!):

1) Love must be sincere.
(Lord, show me when my love is more about “being nice” than about sincerity, coming from my heart . . . as You love me.)

2) Cling to what is good.
(Lord, when I think about retaliation, when I speak heartless words, when I judge another person, I ask You to create in me a clean, good heart.)

3) Be devoted . . . honoring . . . joyful . . . eager to engage with others.
(Lord, just as You treat me with grace and mercy, remind me I am to respect, admire, and humble myself to care for other people’s needs.)

4) Be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, hospitable to others, comforting to others.
(Lord, remove from me my focus on what I think others should do or how they should behave or how they should be “better”; remind me of Your patience with me so I may lavish that onto others.)

5) Live in harmony; be empathic, humble, and willing to care for anyone, even the socially rejected or disabled.
(Lord, show me my pride, the disgusting conceit in me; draw my heart to wash the feet of another, to disregard social status, and to reach out to the disabled, just as You humbly reach to me.)

In the week ahead, you may have some mending to do, forgiveness to seek, bitterness to release, judgment to silence, arms to embrace, tears to dry, or something surprising God is moving within you to address.

Take heart, my friend; God is for us and desires we be for one another.

For more encouragement from Insight For Living visit their website.

Make no doubt about it I grew up with a very superstitious mother. Her superstitions live with me to this day. She is a great mom and of course was only looking out for the good of her family.
Let me give you some examples of the superstitions I grew up with. Friday the 13th was a day not to be reckoned with and black cats had best not ever cross our paths. Not to mention the fact that you should never put your shoes on a table for this can bring nothing but bad luck. Of course each New Years we would eat black eyed peas that had been cooked in the old year and eaten in the new. My lack of love for the black eyed pea as a youngster surely caused many years of misfortune.

Here are some I found out on the not so trustworthy internet:

• It is bad luck to cut your finger nails on Friday or Sunday.

If the bottom of your foot itches you are going to take a trip.

• A bed changed on Friday will bring bad dreams. • To drop a fork means a man is coming to visit.

• A frog brings good luck to the house he enters. (I have five boys so this is a reasonable explanation for why life has been good in our houses!)

• If you spill pepper you are going to have a serious argument with your best friend.

• If you bite your tongue while eating it is because you have recently told a lie.

• If your nose itches someone is coming to see you. Right nostril means female and left means it will be a male. ( I am not making this stuff up, trust me)

Superstitions can be fun and can add some interesting conversations when taken in the right context. Most people know, my mother included, that superstitions are just that superstitions and are not facts.
Unfortunately a lot of religions and denominations have turned faith into superstition. We trust in our man made rituals, our programs and our traditions instead of trusting in God. When that happens we turn our trust to man made things instead of God himself. This is exactly what God has commanded us not to do. When this is done people are often exploited, used or hurt. Not to mention confused by a faith that says to put your trust in God but puts an emphasis on things men create.

The examples of this throughout the years are endless so let’s close with this final thought: If you are concerned about if a female or male is going to visit you pay attention to which nostril itches but if you need a savior and forgiveness for your sins look no further than an old wooden cross.

Scripture:
1 Timothy 4:7 “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tale; rather, train yourself to be godly.”

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide us to study your word to be able to sift out the truth so that we might apply to our life, our actions and how we deal with others. Help us to trust you more and more each day, we ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

Simple/truths 163 written by Richard Harris for more simple/truths go to simple-truths.net. If you live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I for a suggested donation of 20 dollars to Our Hands, His Heart. For further purchase information reply back to richardgrl@aol.com. If you do not live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I at simple-truths.net.

Birthday’s are really anniversary’s; days you celebrate your birth. This day is for me is both an anniversary and a birthday celebration. Five years ago on this very day God chose to gift me with Gracie Muriel Harris and just as importantly He used the opportunity to make a new man of me; I needed both.

Just after Gracie’s birth we learned that she was born with Down syndrome; this was a major shock to the system since we had been told that all was fine with Kim and the baby. Five years ago I walked through one of if not the longest days of my life; this is the anniversary of that day.

Shortly after her birth I wrote a devotional titled “A Busy God”. I spoke of all the ways God intervened in my life to walk with me through one of those ‘punch to the gut’ type of days. Looking back on things now this is what I am positive of; God is always a busy God!

Instead of being busy walking me through a crisis moment He has since been busy making me a different person using the life of a special needs child to do it.

I love Gracie with all my heart but with her comes the lesson of patience. We prayed for the day she would walk and rejoiced with that day. Since that time though we have said this phrase every day ten times a day; ‘where is Gracie’. She like her father cannot be trusted and we have to know where she is at all times. There is no break with this either, let up for a second and you will find yourself dealing with a mess you would have never dreamed of. Gracie is a 24 hour a day job, that is not a complaint just a fact of life. A busy God gave us a busy girl!

He has taught me patience to deal with the stares of people who don’t understand or don’t care to try. Oh we get stares everywhere; some are good ones of people making contact with Gracie for a smile or wave. While others are of those who see her as something to be examined or pitied, in our world of tolerance a special needs child that looks different of acts different still draws a lot of attention. God reminded me who I was before January 27th, 2006 and has given me patience to understand.

My busy God has taken the last five years to make me understand true compassion as opposed to just having me preach on it. It is one thing to preach or teach about a loving God it is another thing to have to learn to rely on it daily. It is one thing to say you love everyone, the misguided, the poor, the disabled and it is another to learn how to love that way in your own home. Yes, He is a busy God.

God has taken the last five years to show me I wasn’t the best at being a friend in the past or even the best family member. He has taught me how change and crisis can reveal those who truly love and how to truly love back. He showed me how especially in the difficult moments people can shine their best, show mercy, love and kindness. Then he turned the light on me and showed me how I had some work to do.

He has reminded me that talk is cheap and actions show the true desire of the heart.

Perhaps the toughest lesson but best has been his education on how to be a real husband. I realize now what a pretender I was. He taught me how to love a wife in the ways that count, not just the ways that benefit me. Taught me how to sacrifice some of my needs and how much sacrifice goes into meeting mine. God has taught me to ‘man up’ and be responsible for my family and not leave a heavy burden on Kim. A busy God indeed, unfortunately he has much work to do.

This is the anniversary of God beginning a real transformation in my life; not one of words and theology but one of action and reality. Had I been given the choice I would have never chosen this form of transformation. But He is not only a busy God but a wise one and I have learned His presence is a gift.

Today Gracie is five; she will be busy, her eyes will get as big as saucers as she looks at presents and enjoys the love of her family. She will boss me around which is her favorite sport, she will answer the phone before we get there and in general be herself. She will make us laugh and remind us that her repaired heart has a capacity to love that all of us normal people could use a heavy dose of. She will never know the lives she has affected and how her birth began a transformation of her dad’s heart. But no doubt I will thank God for her and the opportunity for change.

I will praise God for all of the family and friends that have walked with us through these first five years of Gracie’s life and how God used them to teach me so many things. I will thank God for her good health and happy attitude when I know things could have been far more difficult.

Today I say Happy Birthday Gracie, I love you! I also say thank you Lord for giving me an anniversary to celebrate, an anniversary of a changed heart, I love you too!

Dear Lord, thank you for not just being busy on the tough days but in each day.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,”

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you that you are busy in our lives; giving comfort, love, support and most of all showing us where we need to adjust our ways to be more like yours. We ask that you never let us go and we have confidence that you will not. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.


Simple/truths 161 written by Richard Harris for more simple/truths go to simple-truths.net.
If you live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I for a suggested donation of 20 dollars to Our Hands, His Heart. For further purchase information reply back to richardgrl@aol.com. If you do not live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I at simple-truths.net.

In case you have lived under a rock for all of 2010 in North Texas I need to let you know the Super Bowl is coming to Dallas, well actually Arlington but close enough. In case you don’t live in Texas I also want to let you know this is a very big deal to many people in the Dallas area.

Each and every mover and shaker in Dallas has been a big player in this event. Even the local newspaper has a clock that is counting down every second before the big game. Party’s are planned, hotels are booked and this all with the countdown standing at 25 days 7 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds. They have been planning this for years; the big day is almost here.

They are expecting people from all over the country and world to be here; upward of 250,000 visitors. With that expectation comes the fact that Dallas wants to put its best foot forward; I have no problem with that; we all like to put our best foot forward for guest. I am from Dallas, love the area and even with its faults think it is a great place to live; of course I want others to think the same. With this in mind……

I saw a headline the other day where the city was clearing up the graffiti on the walls, sidewalks and building all throughout the city. I thought this was a great idea; then I read the reason of the clean up was for the Super Bowl. Seems to me we have a Super Bowl Cover Up going on.

The city is seeking to cover up its ugly side for a period of time. What works for the city, works for people as well, as I look around we as people, normally have a super cover up going on ourselves, we just don’t put it on the front page of the newspaper. Here is how it works.

We like the city are concerned with what others will think of us so we cover up our ugly side as best we can. We dress up, smile and tell everyone life is great while on the inside our heart is breaking, we are depressed or we are struggling with our failures.

This is one of the great wastes of times in life for several reasons. One is when we do this we assume that everyone else is doing so great when in reality they have their own cover up going on. We all hurt, we all sin, and we all have things we are not proud of. The sooner we realize that the sooner we stop wasting our time on our great cover up.

Another reason this is a waste of time is that it keeps us from seeking the help and support available to us. As soon as we drop our guard and are real then healing begins. In this area the first stop should be God; here is the most useless place to attempt to cover things up. God already knows, take it to Him first, admit you hurt, admit you’re frustrated, and admit you’ve blown it. Then ask for the help that is always available, always understanding and always deals with us in a redemptive manner when we cease the big cover up.

No matter how much we seek to hide some aspect of our life trust me people will always find it. Many are actually looking for it, which is a waste of their life but we will talk about that another day. We waste our lives trying to keep some kind of ‘perfect life’ reputation going; let’s be real. Actually when people see you have overcome the ‘graffiti’ in your life they can be inspired and given hope that they can do it to.

Let’s face it no city how great it is will be able to get rid of all the ugly aspects of city living but there is nothing wrong with trying. We as individual’s need to face it as well, we will never be able to completely rid ourselves completely of our ugly side.

The city is using a lot of tricky formulas to rid itself of the unwanted writing on the wall, it seems to be working but even they know it will only be for a period of time. For us and the ‘unwanted’ aspects of our life we have a formula that will last forever; the forgiving blood of Christ.

Cover yourself with that.

Scripture: Hebrews 9:14, “Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to avoid the trap of worrying about what others think instead of what you think of our lives. Guide us to lean on you and more than anything thank you for helping to clean us up. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

Simple/truths 160 written by Richard Harris for more simple/truths go to simple-truths.net.

If you live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I for a suggested donation of 20 dollars to Our Hands, His Heart. For further purchase information reply back to richardgrl@aol.com. If you do not live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I at simple-truths.net.