Author Archives: Andy

THE GHOST of CHRISTMAS

The story of Christmas appears to get camouflaged by all the fanfare and the trappings such as Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gifts and commercialism. Oh, but, there are so many good movies just to name a few such as ‘The Miracle on 34th Street’. The Ghost of Christmas is not Ebenezer Scrooge or some fairyContinue reading “THE GHOST of CHRISTMAS”

The Mystery of Christmas 🎄

The Mystery of Christmas 🎄 The Christmas season is a time of year where love is more evident, people become more generous and help the less fortunate in need. A season where people are in a giving spirit and respond not necessarily with just money or gifts. Most of us wish this attitude could spreadContinue reading “The Mystery of Christmas 🎄”

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

Its that time of year when people will start to get frantic looking for that perfect gift for that special someone. This usually takes a lot of thought and creativity, a lot of work, and much patience. Its just so easy to buy a gift card isn’t it? A gift is not supposed to beContinue reading “Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!”

It is more blessed to give than receive!

It’s that time of year when the pressure of guilt draws near with unrealistic or high expectations when it comes to giving gifts or who is on the list and who is not. Commercialism seems to sap the joy of the season right out of us as we are inundated with “the most wonderful timeContinue reading “It is more blessed to give than receive!”

Life is Fragile handle with Prayer

Have you ever dropped something very fragile or expensive such as a piece of glass, china, or a mirror? The sudden gasp of the crash landing only to see the thing shattered in a thousand or more pieces! Desperation sets in trying to gather every tiny piece to make the precious piece whole again. TheContinue reading “Life is Fragile handle with Prayer”

When Losses Come

This is a time of year where we are reminded to be thankful for all the blessings we have from God which may include health, prosperity, friendships, family, etc. But what about the loss or losses you may have experienced this past year? Perhaps you recently lost a job or experienced a divorce. Some ofContinue reading “When Losses Come”

What Keeps Us from Making Wise Decisions

We continue to live in a culture that screams to us for instant gratification or we get tempted to be impulsive. There are ‘no magic formulas’! Too often when a major crisis hits us we get tempted or tested to do something stupid or irrational.For example, the last auto payment is paid and we thinkContinue reading “What Keeps Us from Making Wise Decisions”

Be Everything God has Called You To Be

God wants you to be and to use you and your personality just as you are. He wants to use your talents and giftings for His purposes and for His glory not yours nor a church. God is to be glorified. Subtle pride and arrogance creeps in when we boast about how great “our ChurchContinue reading “Be Everything God has Called You To Be”

FALLOUT SHELTER

Growing up as a kid we had a lot of fun times and good times. Playing in the streets, the parks, going bowling, shooting pool, attending the movies. We didn’t grow up with fear or grow up in fear. I remember the school buildings would have these signs on the exterior of the brick wall,Continue reading “FALLOUT SHELTER”

Make The Effort It Will Be Worth It

Now that your career or job is winding down you may be saying to yourself, “I deserve this!” Your plans are to take it easy and relax.To go golfing, fishing, beaches, or to adventure on some dream vacation like Hawaii or Europe. What if God has other plans for your life now that your inContinue reading “Make The Effort It Will Be Worth It”

Be Rooted and Grounded on the Right Foundation

“You shall be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields it’s fruit in its season. And its leaf does not wither, and whatever you do it shall prosper” Psalm 1:3 The leaves are falling throughout the region and the colors are beautiful but have you ever stop to look at someContinue reading “Be Rooted and Grounded on the Right Foundation”

People are Different People are Unique People need to Care

The cities in America are booming with such diversity, ethnicity, and culture. I was in Boston, Jamaica Plain this week consulting for work. In my travel I saw such a long line of people including families for a couple of blocks waiting to get immigration family services. I am not sure where they were fromContinue reading “People are Different People are Unique People need to Care”

He was Wounded for You!

Trials in everyday life are inevitable, learning to cope with the challenges of sickness, pain, suffering, even a sudden loss can be heartbreaking and emotionally draining. Perhaps You or a family member, or friend may be facing cancer, a heart attack, stroke, or some ailment that may change the way you, a friend, or aContinue reading “He was Wounded for You!”

Will You Be Ready?

There have been many books written, sermons preached, even movies made about the last days and the return of Christ. Some even claim to have been Christ or knew the day or the time when it would occur. Some have used the endctomes to decieve and manipulate people instilling great guilt and fear. Jesus spokeContinue reading “Will You Be Ready?”

Standing In The Gap

Standing In The Gap When I think of a gap I see holes, cracks, crevices or a large space in the outfield where the batter hits the ball in the gap. Whenever there are gaps on walls or foundations they are vulnerable to weaken and eventually break down. God’s heart to Ezekiel was to searchContinue reading “Standing In The Gap”

It comes down to choices and personal convictions.

Have you ever been confronted or faced with a decision that was going to make or break you? There are times in our lives that we are placed in a position to compromise, stretch the truth (which is lying), or not giving in to the status quo. How about lying for your boss or managerContinue reading “It comes down to choices and personal convictions.”

Absent from His Presence

Absent from His Presence Have you noticed that people we associate with who could be from work, school, home, friends, a neighbor, or a family member we can take for granted and not realize the influence or blessing they have been until they are absent. All of a sudden your routine goes haywire. How amContinue reading “Absent from His Presence”

It’s OK to Ask for Help!

We can become vulnerable to injuries when it comes to sports, work, construction, play, recreation like riding a bike or even climbing a mountain. I find that in our world of independence and individualism we tend take pride in trying to figure things out ourselves, or we try to get healed on our own.For someContinue reading “It’s OK to Ask for Help!”

Prayer is the Oxygen to Sustain You

Like the air we breathe is oxygen to our lungs, effective prayer is the oxygen to our spiritual life with God. Have you ever ran out of gas when driving your car and had to be at a must meeting only to realize you didn’t have AAA auto and were stuck in the middle ofContinue reading “Prayer is the Oxygen to Sustain You”

An Inside Job!

Change Comes When We Decide we are Powerless The great experience about living in New England or the Northeast is the changing of the seasons. Just when we get tired of winter or summer, spring and fall seem to bring relief from both extremes of the heat and freezing temperatures. If we want change inContinue reading “An Inside Job!”

My Help Comes From The Lord

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watchesContinue reading “My Help Comes From The Lord”

Listen to Constructive Criticism

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 NLT Have you ever met somebody that seems to know it all and always has an answer for everything? They have an “I’m right you’re wrong attitude” or just like to plain argue about anything and everything. That’s rightContinue reading “Listen to Constructive Criticism”

Watch your Life and your Doctrine Closely!

I was away a few years ago down Cape Cod by Nauset Light/Coast Guard Beach. What struck me was the erosion of the beach and sand due to the ocean storms. I thought erosion of beaches only happened in California! This stairwell deck was 65 stairs. I know because I walked them to the parkingContinue reading “Watch your Life and your Doctrine Closely!”

Running on Empty

If you are traveling this weekend remember to check your gas gauge so you have enough gas to get where you are going. Perhaps you’re a daredevil and try to see how far you can get when that little orange gas tank lights up before you fill up. Have you been living off of liquidsContinue reading “Running on Empty”

BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED

This license plate says it all, “HEALED”.Only God knows the suffering they may have endured in the past but excited to tell the world. Jesus became our wounded healer who suffered and died on the cross. Isaiah prophesied 700 years prior that Christ would be crucified for the sins of the whole world. Jesus notContinue reading “BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED”

Loneliness or Aloneness

The most loneliest people are not necessarily hermits or the ones who live by themselves. Some of the lonliest people are in large crowds such as concerts, sporting events, parties, school, church, etc. Even famous people like actors, entertainers, sports figures, pastors, CEO’s can become lonely. The Beatles sang a song to large crowds, ”Continue reading “Loneliness or Aloneness”

When God Frustrates The Plans

Sometimes our journey in this life brings us a bump in the road, a curve ball, bad lemons, or just some rotten eggs. You know it’s a bad day when the light at the end of the tunnel are the lights of a locomotive train! Too often we can be quick to blame others orContinue reading “When God Frustrates The Plans”

Be Alert and Watchful

Spritual battles and the power of temptation are real in our lives. One of the big differences of increased warfare is when we pursue God for truth with passion. Why is that? The enemy is a deceiver and the father of lies. “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you loveContinue reading “Be Alert and Watchful”

Gentleness

Too often we can get caught up in winning the argument, but losing the war. We see this more now in the political realm, religion, work, and in personal relationships. We have grown accustomed to lack patience in just about anything we disagree with these days. The “I’m right you’re wrong attitude”! “A gentle answerContinue reading “Gentleness”

Exceedingly Abundantly

Scenes like this will lower anybody’s blood pressure. This picture was taken on Martha’s Vineyard a few years ago. Im amazed how the Lord desires to bless us beyond what we could ever think or imagine, especially in the small things in life. Life is about taking risks, but you will never know what yourContinue reading “Exceedingly Abundantly”

Your Best Investment

The most powerful, intimate force on earth is to invest (not spend) time with God. God has one desire and that is to fellowship with you and I.I find this heat wave here lately makes me want to do nothing and justify my own laziness. It takes self discipline to do things that are necessaryContinue reading “Your Best Investment”

Being Grateful Can Change Our Perspective and Attitude in Life

It is so easy to focus on all the things that do not go right, because this is human nature. How about the small things that we are tempted to take for granted in this life?A blazing colorful sunset, an eye popping sunrise, or a glorious full moon. Some of the best of these comeContinue reading “Being Grateful Can Change Our Perspective and Attitude in Life”

G.P.S.

GPSThe GPS is one of the best inventions of modern man. Just ask any woman and she will agree with you because most guys “know where they are going” when it comes to directions! I literally got lost last night driving with my wife because I thought I knew the road. We ended up onContinue reading “G.P.S.”

Be Refreshed Today!

We have been finally experiencing an extended summer heat wave here in New England. As the heat continues to rise above into degrees and higher. We come to experience a drought when it comes to water supply. We see signs from towns that state, “water ban” no watering of the grass, etc. The grass isContinue reading “Be Refreshed Today!”

Are you a Reservoir or a River

Now that we are entering a heat wave this week which is 3 consecutive days of 90 degrees or more. It will be sweltering hot and humid in Boston- Cape region. All we want to do is think about water and a cool place with cold air conditioning and ice cold drinks. The excessive heatContinue reading “Are you a Reservoir or a River”

Think Outside the Box

Thinking outside the box is usually unacceptable in our ‘cookie cutter society’! We build up walls and have become less patient and intolerant because they don’t agree with me or ‘with us’. Let’s take a break from religion and politics aside as we are constantly bombarded from the media and the internet. Change or toContinue reading “Think Outside the Box”

Where is Your Anchor?

Life can get chaotic and stressful even when your on vacation! The thought of just sitting, relaxing, enjoying a week of doing nothing but exploring, adventure, hike, fish, beach, go bike riding, climb a mountain, or read a book you’ve been trying to tackle for months. The inevitable happens the auto gets a flat tire,Continue reading “Where is Your Anchor?”

Sunken Ship

The little red boat says, “Sunken Ship”. “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation”.Proverbs 10:25 When the storms of life arise in your life how do you respond? Do you fly off the handle? Maybe the drama so sensationalized that the people around youContinue reading “Sunken Ship”

Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work

Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work 🍒🍋🍓🍉🍊🍇🍍🍎🍌 Fruit is delicious when it is ripe, but surely awful when it is not ripe or rotten. It even smells of a dank odor when it is bad. Some of the best diet food is eating fruit and drinking natural juices to stay healthy and to help loseContinue reading “Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work”

DAD-Dedicated-Available-Determined

D-DedicatedA-AvailableD-Determined The moment a man becomes a dad (father) when that first child is born, you adopted a child, or became a step dad, etc. life will never be the same! The emotions of love, joy, overflows, yet fear and doubt rises up because of the great responsibility in this life journey to raise thatContinue reading “DAD-Dedicated-Available-Determined”