I’m sure you are familiar with the passage that says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.” God recently gave me a wake up call that I was not focusing on Him like I should.

I repented. I’ve since turned to the Father who is kind, gentle, creative and merciful. I woke up this morning to today’s Jesus Calling and a cup of coffee. Okay, I had two cups. One of the scriptures Sarah listed was in 2 Corinthians 4. I’ve had it memorized for a long time.

So do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The word of God we call the Bible continues to bless my heart, soul, mind and strength. Passages like this continue to knock my socks off because our God is a consuming fire that will never be quenched.

I’ve been through some very tough stuff, and likely you have too. I’d love to hear about the battles you’ve faced. If you’d rather not have them for public consumption email me. My email address is under the contact link above. Life is hard, but when we have friends or strangers to share the hardships with they are less hard. My friend Amy and I talk frequently about our mental illness, and I thank my God for the source of light she has been in my journey.

We were made for community, and the community Amy and I share at Black Dog Book Co. is priceless. Whether it’s a Dr. Pepper or a latte with almond milk doesn’t matter because our mutual faith gives us each hope that God has indeed united us. God brings together the people He wants together. I’m convinced of that, and I think our friend Terry for teaching us that.

Jesus is oh so good my friends. I know you may have been hurt by organized religion. I have too. I’ve been hurt deeply over many years and many places from here to California. I’m not denying the pain associated with people that follow Jesus, but Jesus has never let us down. Never. His promise to be with us forever is as true now as it was in the first century. We question why bad things happen, why idiots get away with murder, and why bullies seem to persist every day, but God is never done with the work He set out to do since mankind came to this planet.

Each one of us has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but never will He leave or forsake us. It is literally not in His nature to turn His back on His children. I can’t comprehend that. I’d lay down my life for my daughter. Since I held her in my arms almost fourteen years ago I made a tacit vow to protect her. I’ve failed at many things, but that’s one thing I will never let my guard down so long we both have breath in our lungs. You’ll have to put a bullet in my head before you get to my daughter. Hell hath no fury like the scorn of a dad’s love for his daughter. I wish I could be clearer about that.

Take all of that times a trillion, and you’ve got a fraction of the love God has for all 7 billion on the planet. John 3.16 says God loves the world. He doesn’t just love North America. There aren’t just a select group of States here that He prefers over the others. He loves the world. He literally died for it. He took a bullet to the head, but the Father raised the Son from the dead. He’s not still dead in case you were wondering.

Jesus is either a liar or the LORD, and I’ve seen too much to say He is a liar. Satan is continually manipulating emotions and situations as the father of lies to turn us away from God. Satan is powerful, smart and his resources are beyond anything we can imagine, but God’s presence is not phased by his agenda. He tried to defeat Job. He’s trying to defeat you and me, but so long we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains. I believe that with all my heart.

I may fight depression, but so long I keep putting one foot in front of the other Satan will never take my heart or my mind because my God’s love is too great.