II Timothy 1:7 KJV  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I was driving home from Tulsa last week and I couldn’t see my son in the rearview mirror because the child safety mirror in the back seat had moved. He sleeps great in the car, but every time this happens I start to get anxious that his head is drooping and what if he can’t breath and what if he’s moved to the wrong position and what if I should pull over and check and what if…? So I had to stop my anxious mind and quote II Timothy 1:7 to myself.

The devil wants us to dwell on the “what ifs.” He wants us to fear the unknown and to doubt that our God is in control. The truth is that we will face pain and trouble in this life, in spite of our faith and sometimes because of our faith (in the very next verse Paul says “be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel” II Timothy 1:7b). But God wants us to trust Him with our future, and that means not dwelling on fear, but continuing on in faith.

-Kevi

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Proverbs 27:2 NASB Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

Today I attended my uncle, Reverend Connie Cariker’s, funeral. It was a wonderful tribute: filled with both laughter and tears as those who knew him best spoke about his life, his character, his work for God’s kingdom and above all his love for people. He didn’t speak his own praises, but there were plenty of people with a good word to say about him.

Instead of speaking his own praises, my uncle Connie tried to point everyone he met toward Jesus. He was known for saying: “Nobody will ever love you more than Jesus loves you.” He didn’t worry about his reputation, his legacy, his standing; he just worried about loving Jesus. And as a result his reputation, his legacy and his standing in the faith community took care of themselves.

-Kevi

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I Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV  Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I was absentmindedly unloading the dishwasher, and after about the third dish I put away I realized my hand was sticky…these were dirty dishes, not clean ones. Sitting in the dishwasher for hours doesn’t make them clean dishes; the dishwasher has to actually run for the dishes to become clean!

Sitting in church doesn’t transform sinners into Christians. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit that makes us clean. If you want to be clean, let the dishwasher do its work, let the Holy Spirit transform your life!

-Kevi

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Galatians 6:9-10 KJV  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

When I got married, it was important to me to have my two uncles that had been my pastors at different times in my life to be a part of the ceremony. My mom and I asked Bro. Connie if he would be there to help officiate and he said of course he would arrange to be there. It wasn’t until we were taking the formal pictures after the ceremony (and he was nowhere to be seen) that I found out he had a revival scheduled out of state the next day. He had to leave right after the wedding and travel late so he could make it in time to preach God’s Word.

That was Uncle Connie: he may have been tired the next day, but he was never weary of doing God’s work. He made the Gospel his life’s work and he is now reaping the rewards of it. “he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8b KJV   

Thank you Uncle Connie for the example you have been my whole life long, I love and miss you!

-Kevi Joy

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1 John 3:11   KJV For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

John 13:35 (NLT) Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Imagine that you are standing with hose in hand ready to water your favorite outdoor plants. You turn on the water and only a little bit comes out. You know there should be more water pressure, so you look and notice several kinks in the hose. As you untangle them, the water gushes forth in a full stream. You are able to give your precious plants a full supply of water. Now imagine that the water is the flow of God's love that can come through you. You are the hose, the vehicle through which that love can flow.

It is a beautiful and powerful feeling to allow God's love, the waters of life, to flow through us.

-Author unknown

Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.   And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Lord Jesus, this is Dennis, I know everybody needs someone to love them. Fill me up with Your love, Holy Spirit, You’d be “a knowin’” who needs it.

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1 John 3:11   KJV For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

John 13:35 (NLT) Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

“In these things he proposes himself to them for an example (Philippians 4:9):  Those things which you have learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, do. Observe, Paul’s doctrine and life were of a piece. What they saw in him was the same thing with what they heard from him. He could propose himself as well as his doctrine to their imitation. It gives a great force to what we say to others when we can appeal to what they have seen in us.”—Matthew Henry

Boy Howdy! I am blessed! Had the privilege of spending the day with my lovely wife, 3 brothers, 2 brother-n-laws, 1 sister-n-law, and 5 of my sisters. Momma and Daddy would be proud of the way they turned out!

Turns out the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.

Maybe that’s what Paul, Matthew Henry and God were getting at.

I heard it this way growing up: the proof is in the pudding!

Lord Jesus, this is Dennis, I sure did enjoy being around some of your disciples today. Thanks for giving me a Momma and Daddy that loved You enough to model it so that us youngins got to see it firsthand.

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1 John 3:11   KJV For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

John 13:35 (NLT) Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John Starnes sings—I Saw Love

I saw the crowd laughing and mocking as he slowly walked down the street. I saw the man carrying the cross on His back as it fell many times at His feet . They beat Him and they pierced Him till the blood flowed from His side. As He slowly turned His face towards me for the first time I saw in His eyes.

I saw the nails tear His flesh as the hammer struck down. I saw the cross being lifted into the air. I saw it fall heavily into the ground, and the man in the middle, with tears in His eyes, was taking my place. As He slowly turned His face towards me, I forgive you, I heard Him say.

And I saw love like I’ve never seen love before from anyone and I saw love where hatred could have been for all things that were done and the people that stood round me Lord, oh, they were so blind and could not see the love that I saw in His eyes looking back at me.

And I saw love like I’ve never seen love before from anyone and I saw love where hatred could have been for all things that were done and the people that stood round me Lord, oh, they were so blind and would not see the love that I saw in His eyes looking back at me.

And I saw love

       I saw love

       I saw love

Lord Jesus, this is Dennis. Thanks for dying on the cross for my sins. Thanks for giving me a pastor and his wife (Connie and Glo Cariker) that modeled your love in front of me for my entire life!

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I John 3:11 KJV  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 

At the Hoyt Public School the students were challenged to stand and quote, from memory, a Bible verse. Janet B. would always jump to her feet and blurt out, JESUS WEPT!

I'm not sure exactly why Jesus wept (recorded in John 11:35) but I do know that it had something to do with his friend Lazarus and his sisters. The Bible records these words, "Lord the one you love is sick." John 11:3

I was privileged to go see my pastor and his wife Glo, yesterday. While several people came by and visited, one lady in particular just sat on her knees and held Brother Connie's hand (he was laying in a hospital bed in their living room).  I just sat there thinking how nice it was to have family and friends who love you, and because they love you they want to be there for you in your time of need.

I have to say that I'm no theologian but I wonder if the tears Jesus cried were because he saw the pain in the hearts of Mary and Martha and He knew they thought that because He wasn't physically present to prevent sickness and death, that He didn't love them, you know, enough.

Is it possible that you think that?

Anyway, back to Brother Connie's living room: I sat there thinking how pleased my Jesus was that His love was front and center, on display, right there in Jenks, Oklahoma. "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." I John 3:11 KJV

Jesus, this is Dennis, Your message came through---loud and clear! Thanks for using people to shout it out, by their actions!

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Colossians 3:12 NASB  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

While my husband and I do have a lot in common, our personalities are very different. He has strengths where I have weaknesses, and vice versa. I believe that’s part of God’s plan for me, to have my husband as an example in all the areas in which I struggle!

I see him living out the characteristics listed in Colossians 3:12 every day; especially when I see him interact with our son. He is gentle and kind and patient, just like our Heavenly Father is with me.

Happy Birthday Taylor, and thank you for living out your faith for our family to see.

-Kevi

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John 18:3-4 NKJV  Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

I am a planner: I like to look up directions before I leave, plan out possible activities for vacations before I get there and make lists before I go to the store. So I always think, “If God would just let me know what His will for me is, then I would get to work accomplishing it!”

But the truth is, while Jesus was ready to accept God’s will, knowing full well that the outcome would be his death, the rest of us would be a little hesitant if we saw the torches coming for us. If God revealed His plan for the rest of my life right now, I would probably say “No way God! I can’t do that!

I’m grateful that God doesn’t need me to know it all, and that He doesn’t need me to plan it all: He just needs me to be ready to follow His lead.

-Kevi

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