B-A-Light Productions

Real forgiveness can hurt, yet be freeing. Check this out.

This video could have easily had the son behind the glass in stead of the father. What a griping picture of forgiveness none the less.

Is this the way it looks to the Father when we ask for forgiveness? Probably, thankfully there is grace. Grace keeps it from being so emotionally ugly and makes the action beautiful. I think that is why it’s so hard for us to forgive each other, the emotional ugliness. We have to rise above that ugliness and learn to forgive each other. We will never see recovery from the wrong that has been done until forgiveness is given. The past stays the same, but it’s the past. The only people who live in the past are those who are afraid of the future. Don’t allow your past or unforgiveness to be an anchor on your life. If you need to forgive someone DO IT! Don’t forget that includes you; do you need to forgive yourself? Jesus has given you forgiveness grant it to others.

God’s Love and Peace Out!

For a number of years, and now recently, I have worked a full-time secular job and led ministry. Those of you who do this know how difficult it is. I can’t imagine being in this situation with kids of your own. I want to take a moment and offer some encouragement to you. YOU ARE GREAT!! I LOVE YOU!! KEEP IT UP!! YOU SMELL NICE!! OK that last one was just for me (I smell like Krispy Kreme doughnuts.) Seriously thank you for your work. I know it is very tiresome work, but believe me it is definitely worth it.

I do want to offer some suggestions for when you have had it up to here.

• Worship – take time to retreat to a peaceful place and commune with the Father. Psalms 23 tells us about resting and renew our strength. Isaiah 40:31 trust in the Lord, you will not grow weary. By worshiping you are placing God as the center, focusing your attention on Him and not your to do list. His strength will come as you lean on Him.
• Prayer – spend time in the closet in prayer. 1 Corinthians 14:4 says personal prayer is personal strength.
• Give it to Christ – Philippians 4:13 Christ is your strength.
• Mind your priorities – Luke 16:10 Jesus teaches be faithful in little things. Keep God first, your spouse and family second & third and your ministry last. It sounds weird but the pay off is fantastic!
• Use your gifts – Do only what you are called to do and what God has gifted you to do. Don’t say yes to something just because “If I don’t no one will.” The reason no one else will is because there is no need for them to.
• Delegate – Be organized and delegate responsibilities to others. You maybe surprised what some one can do if you ask and instruct them.
• Have fun – take time to laugh and have fun. Find ways to relive stress and foster joy & happiness.

I know these are common sense, but sometime we need to be reminded of the simplest of things. What you think? Do you have any suggestions to help? Comment below.

I want to send out a challenge to all my full-time children’s pastor friends drop some lines of encouragement to those who pull double duty.

God’s Love and Peace Out!

I know when you hear that phrase you think of tree hugging’ hippie liberals. ‘I don’t fit that demographic’, you say. What is a Christan’s response to “Being Green?” In Genesis 1:28 it says God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God has given us christians the earth to take care of. What have we done about it? Do we go the extra mile to conserve, reuse and recycle? I’m guessing like me many of you will say NO. Well its time we start. The earth has underwent drastic changes since the beginning of the  industrial revolution. Man has made more progress in the last 150 years, then in all of history. With the progress has come much carelessness. It has only been with in the last 30 to 40 years have industries been concuss for the negative impact they were making. It has only been with in the last 5 to 10 years have they realised they can make money at being environmentally concerned. Yes going green is the hip thing to do right now, however that does not take away any of it’s importance.  As christians we need to take steps to be environmentally aware of what we do.

I love the outdoors, living here in paradise on earth (Alabama Gulf Coast) we have the most beautiful beaches in all the world and a short car ride will take you to peaceful pine forest. Fishing and hunting we have it all right here in my back yard. I believe you can have all of these things and still be “Green.” Taking care of what God has given us means enjoying it. Being conservative with our resources and energy is not only “Green,” but saves us green too. Recycleing help keep unwant trash out of the ground and money in our pocket, so try to recycle. Reuse, it seems that buying from the thrift store is trendy as well. Go for it while your at it check out my friend Keith Glines at Restore and their “pull tab to save  lives” campain. A misson trip to Nicaragua changed his life and gave him a life misson and passion to reuse and save lives. I encourage you to read about Restore’s misson and buy a bracelet from our store. So join Restore and go green!

God’s Love and PEACE OUT!