Good morning forever family,

Have you ever been in the presence of someone who is down?  I mean REALLY down.  Borderline suicidal.  I see such people at times in the ministry we do.  It is amazing how some of these people react to simple acts of kindness.  An understanding and kind gesture.  A good word.  A hug.  Sometimes such a thing is all it takes to get them to open up and share, and start the healing process.  In Celebrate Recovery it is said that God never wastes a hurt.  When I wandered from active Men's Ministry into recovery ministry I must say I had no concept of what this "never wasting a hurt" could mean.  Now I do.  It means that God will use whatever He will to open a person's heart to Him.  Many times a life not lived for God results in hurt, even major hurt as is caused by addiction etc.  When that hurt reaches a point when they are ready to give up their, will our ministry is there to help point them to God.  No God never wastes a hurt.  When such a wayward heart finds God it is a sight to behold and the result can be a very strong and committed Christ follower.  Much like the concept of he how is forgiven much loves much. 

When Jackie first started asking me to consider such a recovery ministry to those with hurts, hang-ups, and habits God used these verses to guide and direct me...

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 NASB  

I have since then realized that these verses are a necessary ingredient to the mix as well.  People, especially the hurting, don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

¹ Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.   Philippians 2:1-4 NASB 

God never wastes a hurt.  He replaces it with love. 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

Good morning forever family,

Western Colorado recently lost a very good man.  Dr. Ion Spor passed away March 19th, 2025.  I had met Dr. Spor (his friends all called Him Ion) when I moved to Montrose Colorado in 2005.  He was an Elder/Pastor at my church.  A highly recognized licensed secular counselor who melded the best of secular counseling with biblical counseling with an emphasis on the biblical truths.  He simply was the best of what he did.  He helped save many marriages and helped many, including me, to achieve a better life.  After my 1st wife left after 42 years of marriage Ion helped me tremendously.  Though my wife would not do counseling, Ion helped me recover.  I was doing men's ministry at Mountaintop Retreat at the time and Dr. Spor was the chair of the governing board there.  He even taught at one of my Men's Retreats.  After the divorce I felt ashamed, and inadequate to carry on there. Ion encouraged me to carry on and that God would use my hurts to encourage other men in their own troubles.  God did exactly what Ion expected.

Dr. Ion Dan Spor, "Ion", will be sorely missed.  I know of few men who will leave such a godly legacy.  Such a lover of God endowed with wisdom from Him, and gifted to love and encourage all. 

⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.  Proverbs 20:5 NLT

⁷ The lips of the wise give good advice;
    the heart of a fool has none to give.  Proverbs 15:7 NLT 

I know this devotion today reads more like an obituary.  Its purpose is to give honor where honor is due but also to point out that there are those among us that we should strive to emulate.  Ion set such a high bar!

Check out these words of Paul.  Since we have been using the New Living Translation this morning, this is also in the NLT.

¹² Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  Philippians 2:12 NLT

Let's so encourage one another today... just as Ion did every day.

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

Good Morning Friends,

One verse in the book of Jonah recently struck me.  As the sea was raging and the ship was floundering Jonah admitted that he had gotten on the ship in rebellion against “Yahweh, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land” (1:9).  The pagan sailors tried to save both Jonah and the ship, but finally determined to follow Jonah's instructions and cast him overboard.

So they called out to the Lord: “Please, Yahweh, don't let us perish because of this man's life, and don't charge us with innocent blood!  For You, Yahweh, have done just as You pleased.”  Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging  (Jonah 1:14-15 HCSB). 

As I read this chapter, the word “life” struck me.  They, I am sure, were referring to casting him into the sea and causing his death.  What spoke to me is his way of life—rebellion--which had very negatively impacted them and the ship.  Once they cast the one who rebelled against the Lord into the sea, the storm was over and they offered sacrifices to the Lord and made vows (17).  As a result of seeing God's power they turned their lives over to Him. 

A question Christ followers should ask ourselves:  Is my life an example of God's love and grace or is my bad example causing others to perish? 

Be blessed. Be a blessing. 

--Jackie

Good morning forever family,
I was reading Matthew 6 recently.  You know, the Lord's prayer.  What I want to post today comes immediately after the Lord's prayer and it is another tough subject.
I haven't shied away from tough subjects.
Folks, we need to study ALL of God's word to grow and keep a proper perspective or Christian world view.  I'm also convinced no one has done a great job (other than Jesus) in living these verses out 100%.  I certainly haven’t.
With desire for growth in mind let's look at the two verses right after the Lord's prayer. 

14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.  Matthew 6:14-15 NASB 

I hate to admit how many times I've been a bonehead and said something (or done something) I shouldn't have and needed to be forgiven.  What if that person didn't forgive me?  It starts with ME.  It starts with YOU.  We need to be free with our forgiveness towards others to... 
1. Help that person to see how real Christ followers emulate Jesus.
2. To continue growing ourselves.
3. To be forgiven by the Father and to keep our relationship with Him close. 

I remember a time when a guy really did me wrong.  I finally was convinced I NEEDED to forgive that man and when I forgave him he literally looked like a bag of cement had just been lifted off his shoulders.  And I FELT like the whole cement truck had been lifted off from mine!  I went home that day feeling God's pleasure on what I had just done.  It was His will.  Tough to do but well worth it! 
Consider what you need to do to fulfill Matthew 6:14-15 today.
Be blessed, Be a blessing,
Randy

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