Harry Houdini is considered one of the great escape artists of all time. For example, he escaped from milk cans, jails, straightjackets (while suspended upside down), and of course his most famous the Chinese Water Torture Cell. Obviously these were tricks, but great skill with physical and mental stamina were needed in escaping these various devices.

Paul lets us know that we have the opportunity to perform escapes greater than any Houdini ever accomplished! What an incredible promise God has given!!

Temptations are real. Even Jesus Himself was tempted (Hebrews 4:10.) We all struggle with that “sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:2.) Yet God’s promise remains and is true. When temptation knocks and wants in our mind, we are promised that we can handle it and will be given an escape opportunity from it.

When we realize that each time a temptation attacks our mind and we find that escape route from it, a battle is won toward the ultimate goal of honoring our Savior and heaven. So, surrender your mind to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5.)

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

Do you complain about thorns on the stem of roses or can you look past the thorns and be thankful for the beauty of the rose?

The current atmosphere in the United States is quite draining. Regardless of where you look or what you hear it seems that everything is coming up thorns instead of roses. When the country’s mood is so politically and socially toxic it can appear as if there is nothing to be thankful for. Yet, can we stop just for a moment and consider Psalm 9?

King David wrote this psalm knowing he had personal enemies that would love to destroy him and his country but took the time to still be thankful. How? Because of the relationship David had with God. He looked past the thorns and saw the rose. David saw God!

David could be thankful because God will judge the wicked.

David could be thankful because God could be trusted in times of oppression.

David could be thankful because God showed mercy to His people.

Does the same not hold true for us IF our relationship with God is not one sided?

We can be thankful that a relationship is even possible with God because of Jesus.

We can be thankful that God is righteous in His judgments, assuring us that He will never leave us alone in a dark cruel world.

We can be thankful that His mercy will always be available to us because of what Jesus of Nazareth accomplished.

So may we also learn to look past the thorns and see the beauty of the rose. Thank God for this “Rose” too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

Memorial Day is a day set aside for citizens to remember those men and women of our armed forces that never came home alive. An estimated 1.3 million Americans have died protecting our freedoms. Our nation’s capital has memorials dedicated to those who fought and died. The Vietnam Wall vividly comes to mind as one I have visited many times. All for a clear purpose – to Remember and Not Forget. I am so thankful I was born in this country.

We that follow Jesus should know what it is like to remember and memorialize. We are to remember how God loved us and offered grace. We are to remember Jesus gave Himself so we could have forgiveness of sins and a new covenant. We are to remember and never forget what was done for us eternally.

To all that lost a loved one in combat, may you find the peace that passes all understanding from God in Jesus Christ.

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

The peace that we can have with and in God should swell us with thanksgiving. Even when life is not as we would desire, we can maintain a thankful disposition all because we can be saved and added to the body (church) of Jesus Christ.

What are you thankful for?

Maybe you have a loving and supportive family…Be Thankful.

Maybe your finances are under control…Be Thankful.

Maybe your health is good…Be Thankful.

Maybe your relationships are the best they’ve ever been…Be Thankful.

Maybe your life is nothing like this but you are a Christian…Be Thankful!

And even if you are not saved (yet)…Be Thankful! Because you still can be.

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

I am prone for lifting my heroes up for all to see, whether it’s a sports legend like Walter Payton or one of my musical inspirations, such as Neil Peart. Probably all of you do this with individuals that have made a strong impact in your life. We esteem those that inspire us to reach beyond our means and that’s okay within reason.

I make application of this so that we do not forget to place our ultimate adoration on the One deserving of His rightful glory. For what our Father accomplished in Jesus that our sins could be forgiven aligns Him with receiving all “glory and honor and power…” Paul wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17) Precisely!

God created all things with us in mind. Everything we need He has provided therefore God is certainly worthy of praise and honor.

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

For some of us, planning for the future is a muddied picture. We struggle with what happened yesterday, so how can we envision looking ahead! So, the best we can do is live for the present day.

Yet, that does not mean we should not think about our soul and eternity. When Paul told the church in Colosse to “Set you minds on things above..” he was illustrating how they (and we) should live in anticipation of eternity.

How can we live with eternity on our mind, while enduring the daily grind of everyday life? By reminding ourselves where God is and that we can be there too! Our eternity is worth enduring for, because we will see Jesus some day! Consider ways that heaven is described:

No Tears, No Death, No Mourning, No Crying, No Pain, An immortal body – And the best of all is we will be allowed to see the face of God! (Revelation 22:4.)

Just this glimpse of eternity should be enough to suffice us to endure in the faith! God will provide all things once we are reunited with Him. Resolve to live with eternity on our mind.

Love & peace my friends…Stevo