Excuses, Excuses, you hear them every day.  The dictionary defines excuse as a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise. I am amazed at the excuses we come up with to justify our behavior or lack of action.  As a Mom, Department Manager and Pastor’s wife, I think I have heard every excuse in the book, but a new one pops up every now and then.  One of my favorite excuses for not being at church is, “I had to stay home and put the groceries away.”  Of course, my kids would have cleaned their room, made their bed, etc. but they were going to mess it up again anyway.  As Phil used to say, “Mom, I really want to want to!”  If you think about that one for a minute, the meaning will become crystal clear.  My granddaughter, Mackenzie is at least honest with her excuse, “But Dad I don’t want to.”

Yesterday was the first Monday after New Year’s Day.  Is it a significant day?  Not really, but I call it “No Excuses Monday.”  All of the excuses for why we cannot start making changes in our lives expire on this day.  It is a new year, a new month, a new week; mentally it is the perfect day of the year to begin your makeover.  Want to lose weight?  NO EXCUSES!  Want to rid yourself of a bad habit?  NO EXCUSES!  Want to read your Bible more?  NO EXCUSES!  Want to show more love and compassion?  NO EXCUSES!

The Bible is clear about TODAY.  It tells us today is the day of salvation, NO EXCUSES!  We are not promised tomorrow, NO EXCUSES!  We are to work while it is day, NO EXCUSES! For knowing the time, it is high time to wake from our sleep, Romans 13:11, NO EXCUSES! 

If you’ve been dreaming about a new body and a healthier lifestyle, START TODAY.  That neighbor you need to witness to, needs God TODAY.  The problem that has been nagging at you over the last few months, give it to God TODAY.  That nasty habit that has you bound, stop TODAY.  It may be Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, but make this your NO EXCUSE DAY.  Move into your new life of freedom from wanting to want, you will wonder what took so long.

This is a new video blog that I would like to send out to lots of people and also ask them to send them out. We are getting some good response from people checking out the advertising on these video blogs, and the more we send out the church will be blessed. I will be adding new video to this blog and it will automatically join the play list. I will also be recording some fresh video announcements to place in between the segments so if people will keep this blog where they can check it once in awhile they will be able to keep up with our latest announcements and new video updates for the next few weeks.

When you click the link below the video should appear and start playing automatically. If you want to stop it you can simply click on the player or on pause and it will stop.

http://inspirationtv.blogspot.com/
Thanks
Ren Rutledge

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I love this book.
Please check the link below and watch my video.
Ren Rutledge
http://www.anawesomebook.blogspot.com

Well, as usual, we ended the year with a bang, and obviously have started the new one with a sonic boom. Such is life in the Boulet home.

I have known people that always seem to have some terrible calamity going on in their lives and I have thought, "Man, what is the deal?"

Then one day I was looking over all of the happenings in my own life and realized some where someone was thinking of me and wondering what in the world was going on!

We seem to have our share of adventures, not always fun ones. We seem to be hitting some turbulence again on our flight into 2009.

I have tried to be upbeat, because I know that God is in control and He is working ALL things for our good. He truly is.

But once in a while, only once in a while, I think, "OK, I'm ready for the GOOD!"

I have recently found myself in a situation that is uncomfortable, and heartbreaking, and I would that it would just disappear, but that does not seem to be happening.

I have never been a fan of conflict and with the recent goings on I know for sure that I hate it. I just want a little peace in my corner of the world...

I'm tired of the devil. Just plain sick to death of him. He is rotten and he is dirty and he is out to destroy everything good in our lives. I'd like to punch him in the nose until it bleeds.

When he comes around again I'm totally disrespecting him. I'm not going to listen to his garbage, not falling for his tricks.

And just to spite him I'm going to worship like never before, praise like never before, pray like never before, and delve into the Word like never before...That'll show that no account what I think of him!

When I’m feeling just a little envious of others, a little prideful of my experience with God or a little sorry for myself, the 73^rd Psalm usually comes to my mind.   I especially like to dwell on the 17^th verse; “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”  I find that meditating on that verse vindicates every unhappy circumstance of my life.  Yes, I may have to suffer more than others, but understand their end.  I may have to struggle to put food on the table, while others travel in jets, but understand their end.  I may have to say no to some types of “fun”, but understand their end.

 

This morning, Psalms 73:17 popped into my head in reference to a posting on a social network.  My first thoughts were of shock and disgust and a desire to banish them from my “friends.”  After all, I want to keep my page pure and holy.  I definitely don’t want to advertise websites that lead to destruction.  As I began to think how far sin will take an individual, God began to speak to me using the last part of the verse; but understand their end.   I realized that shock and disgust is not useful to God, but love and compassion can soften the hardest heart.

 

When Jesus hung on the cross, he suffered shame because He understood our end.  Sin was disgusting to the holiness of God, but He understood our end.  He said Father; forgive them, because He understood our end.  Then He died for your sins and mine when He understood our end.  When God understood our end, He went into action, for He was not willing that any should perish.  It wasn’t vengeance that sent Him to Calvary, it was love and compassion. 

 

Spend a few minutes today thinking about your lost loved ones, friends, neighbors and acquaintances.  Understand their end without God and let love and compassion spur you to action.  Take the time to plead the blood of Jesus over their lives and pray that their end will be changed.

January 1, the dawn of a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start; sure it is all a mental exercise, but half of the battle is getting ourselves into the right frame of mind.  Many people say they don’t believe in setting a New Year’s Resolution, but I think it is because of their fear of failure.  Every year I resolve to or as I prefer to say, set goals regarding personal improvement.  They always include eating and weight reduction after the decadent indulgences during the holidays, but I also like to include economic and spiritual disciplines.

This morning during my morning devotions, I asked God to help me with what I consider my most important resolution for the year, allowing God to work through me every day.  After praying and reading a biblical passage for the day, I was off to purchase the necessary props to help me with another resolution.  Then it happened at the Wal-Mart deli counter.

I walked up to the deli counter with an absent-minded smile on my face.  The smile was because there was no one else at the deli counter, the absent-mindedness because I was thinking about taking down all the Christmas decorations and what a relief it would be to finish that chore.  I told the clerk I wanted a pound of smoked turkey and promptly receded into my swirling thoughts.  Without missing a beat, the clerk said she couldn’t wait until 2:00 so she could go to the hospital to see her mother.  For a moment, my mind couldn’t connect deli turkey, 2:00, and a complete stranger’s mother.  Thank God at those times the Holy Spirit takes over.  I asked why her mother was in the hospital.  After she told me her mother was suffering with lung cancer and was having a very hard time breathing and I told her how sorry I was that she had to start the New Year in this way.  She continued to tell me how scared and worried she was.  I had enough presence of mind to ask her mother’s name and tell her I would pray for her.  I took my packaged turkey from the counter, turned to move on to the cottage cheese, noticing the tears in her eyes and feeling pretty good about offering to pray for her and her mother.

As I moved down the produce aisle, I realized the Holy Spirit wasn’t done.  I was reminded of my sincere prayer this morning to be a willing vessel.  But, I was busy, I had decorations waiting to be put away, the store was so busy and I didn’t want to embarrass her.  I continued to the dairy section, but the Holy Ghost wouldn’t leave me alone.  This could be an opportunity, one moment in time to help a hurting soul.  I frantically searched my purse for a church business card and hurried across the store to the deli counter.  My new friend was nowhere to be seen.  Kicking myself, I finished shopping, all the while praying for Joyce and her daughter, hoping that would soothe my stinging conscience. 

Finished shopping, I approached the checkout lane. I could see my new friend assisting another customer at the deli counter.  With card in hand, I passed up the check out, approached the deli counter and waited and waited.  Finally, I gently told her I would not only pray for her, but offered Steve’s services as a minister and invited her to our Sunday service.  I’m not sure if it will impact her in the way it did me, but I do know that if I had failed to be obedient, I would have missed an opportunity.

Opportunities have limited lives. Once the moment has passed, the opportunity may never present itself again.  You may never get the chance to be in that situation, with that person and be the one God has appointed to speak words of hope.  I will pray for Joyce and make it a point to frequent the deli counter as a follow up to a God-ordained opportunity that was almost lost. 

Have you ever wondered how “the other half” lives, wished your home, car or other possession was like a friend’s or desired any life but your own?  We have all allowed our minds to explore the world of, “What if?”  I have discovered in the last few months that the best life is the one I am living because as I submit to God, it is the one He created just for me.  I have also found that the best church is the one God has placed me in and the greatest people in the world are those in my sphere of influence.

God has placed Steve and me in Saginaw, MI.  It may not be the “armpit” of the nation, but it is far from the most desirable city in the Michigan, let alone the United States.  Jobs are disappearing, homes stand vacant, awaiting foreclosure, and at least once a week the news reports another shooting victim.  Poverty and hopelessness is on the rise, yet I see a beautiful city of great opportunity full of people with a great need for the revelation of Jesus Christ.  He has called us to pastor a small church.  Let me define small; 3 people beside Steve and I.  Small; yes, but, he has placed the 3 Greatest People In the World in our congregation.

These are the people we have shed tears for, prayed over, rejoiced with, shared our heart and together celebrated each victory.  Watching the spiritual growth in each one over the past year has been one of our greatest joys.  God has used them at a moment of discouragement to call or email a testimony of encouragement.  God has caused His love for them to be transplanted into our hearts; they have become part of our family. 

As you travel down the darkened streets and peer into the warm light of a neighbor’s window, don’t forget that behind the light are trials and challenges that you cannot even imagine.  The best home in the world is the cheery little house down the road that you call home.  The church across town may have a great choir and thousands of members, but the best church in the world is the church where the pastor feeds you the Word of God and you can experience the Presence of God every week.  Since time began and in the entire universe, God chose to place you in this place, on this date, with these people to live with, love and influence for Him. Remember, you are surrounded by the Greatest People in the World.