Messengers of good news!

Romans 10:13-15 NLT

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

1. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved!

2.You have to believe!

3.If they never hear about him, how will they know?

4.Someone had to say something, someone has to tell!

5.You must be sent to tell them.

   We are messengers of Jesus Christ!
We have the gospel in our hands! We are a "royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." So little time and so many people yet to come  to Jesus.

   It's time to live for Christ, time to wake up! We MUST love people like Jesus does, we can't be timid, Jesus was not timid about his love for us!

  A battle rages on for lost souls as we entertain ourselves with over indulgences of tv, technology, games, fun, sports. Nothing is wrong with these things in and of themselves, but how much time do we minister to God, to people?

Ephesians 6:12

King James Version (KJV)

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

   What is most important to you? What do you treasure? Because that's where your heart is at. If Satan can keep us busy doing our own thing or wrapped up in sin and guilt, then we are of no effect. Time is running out.

                 ~Scripture of the day~                           Isaiah 52:6
O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.

Bless the Lord, life is so sweet!

Tomorrow is Testimony Tuesday with Danielle Sharp! 

Got a green thumb?

           ~ Scripture of the day~

               Hebrews 12:1 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Time to run the race, time to throw off that weight. It's time to live for the Lord!

So, our crew at work was sent home Wednesday because of a small fire at the chemical plant. No one got hurt. I decided I would utilize my "extra" day off. I went to the feed store and bought: broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, turnips, spinach, lettuce, and mustard greens. To digging, fertilizing, and planting I went.

After a day's worth of aches, pain, sun burn, I feel accomplished. I love fresh veggies out of the garden! I'll post pics as the garden grows. I love gardening, it's another one of my favorite things to do!

Life is so sweet! Have a great Friday!

Getting back up

           ~ Scripture of the day~
              
               Psalms 113:3 KJV
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.

Last night we had a special youth service for SYATP. It seemed as though we were going to be hard pressed for everything to work out right. My co youth pastor, + Buddy Buckner and his family, have been battling strep throat and sickness, so he wasn't able to be there. After our IMPACT PRAYER started, I had to tell some of youth to "chat" outside. So, it felt like a struggle already.

At that moment, I told the Lord, "I can't do this, please touch us and change us!"

So the Lord really moved last night in a powerful way! A couple of guys came to me and I knew, by the holy spirit, that they were struggling with not only sin, but guilt and condemnation. My heart was broken, as these guys cried on my shoulder. The devil wants us to feel guilty and beat down.

John 8:10-11 KJV

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus does not condemn us! Please remember this when you feel beat up and you "messed up" yet again. Just like I told these young guys, GET BACK UP. They were dealing with feeling unworthy of even talking to God! Jesus wants you to come to him, all the time.

Proverbs 24:16 ESV
For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Yes, "a righteous person falls", that means fail, sins, whatever you want to call it. He fails many times, but he gets back up! Get up! Remember,

Life is so sweet!

Picture perfect Wednesday

It's already warming up again from our nice cool down here in southeast
Texas. This a
picture of the beautiful day
we had on Sunday.

Great weather, beautiful sky!
My wife, Josie Ann, she loves fall probably even more than
I do. She was so excited about it that she had all of the fall decorations up
last thursday!
Come on fall!

~Scripture of the day~

Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?

The word of God,
"sharper than any two-edged sword",
always paints us a picture.
It "cuts ascunder" and pierces through the darkness.

God's word exposes to us the
"ugly", the side of us that we would prefer not to see.
Such a good feeling to get right with the
Lord and
we deal with something he is showing us that is wrong in our lives.

Sometimes we hit a rough spot in our walk with the Lord.
Everything seems to go wrong, truck breaks down, washing machine quits working, bills pile up.
Anyone been there before?

That rough spot may be sin or things we don't want to let go of. It could be hard times, tough choices, sickness or death in the family.

There is nothing more beautiful and fulfilling to receive
God's grace, to feel
Him wrap his arms around you, when it feels like there is no end in sight to a nightmare.
When His presence and peace come over you completely and you begin to feel alive again.
"nothing can separate us from the love of God".

Have you talked with
Jesus this morning?
Does he hear from you?
He can turn your
"mourning into dancing, your sorrow into joy"!
What a awesome feeling to love the
Lord and be Right with him!


Life is so sweet!

Prodigal son

          ~ Scripture of the day~
             Philippians 1:11 NLT
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Amen, enough said, let your life produce good fruit. Live an example all the time, wherever you go. Here is a word from Dale Chance:

           Prodigal:  noun

1.

A person who spends wealth in a recklessly extravagant way.

We’ve all heard the story of the prodigal son.  I always assumed that prodigal meant lost and the story was about a lost soul. It is actually about anyone who squanders their spiritual riches.  I believe, now, that it is more about misdirected Christians than about the lost sinner.

I gave my life to the Lord about 14 years ago.  For the last 6 or 7 years, I would say that I have been a prodigal son.  I squandered the riches that my Father gave me.  I dwelled in his house, but I didn’t do very much to deserve the lavishness that He bestowed on me.

Luke 15:12

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

I slowly started drifting away from church.  I started running with some friends that weren’t in church. At first, I was sure that I could win them over to Christ.  But it didn’t take long before I started slipping towards their life.  

I let satan use my own salvation as a tool against me.  I let him tell me that I knew I was saved, so one beer wouldn’t hurt me.  One weekend away with my friends would be okay.

Luke 15:13

And not many days after the young son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

I slipped slowly and slowly away from the Lord.  I started staying out late with my “friends”.  I would come home and fight with my wife.  I would tell her that my lifestylehad nothing to do with her spiritual walk.  That my sins didn’t affect anyone but me.  ALL LIES!  I was so blinded that I couldn’t see how deadly my actions were to my household. I didn’t have any desire to go to church.  I was convinced that there was nothing there for me.  I had nothing in common with anyone there.

Luke 15:14,15

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his field to feed swine.

Pork is seen as the ultimate “non-kosher” animal.  The Torah considers an animal kosher if it both chews its cud AND has split hooves.  The only animal species that has splithooves and does not chew cud is the swine family.  The pig represented hypocrisy, someone who shows themselves as righteous, but is not-so-kosher on the inside.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the swine represents sin.  Everywhere you see the word swine, replace it with the word “sin” and it will give a much clearer meaning to how low the prodigal son truly sank.

So, I began to feed my sin (swine).  I thought I was still ok because I was saved.  I wasn’t going to church, I wasn’t reading the word.  I wasn’t being fed.  But my sin (swine) was being fed.  I was lost.  I had no direction.  I had no moral compass.  I had slipped completely out of church.

Luke 15:16

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

So, just like the prodigal son, I had went from living lavishly in the house of my Father; a place where I couldn’t even fathom resorting to feeding swine (sin), to feeding my swine (sin), and now I was essentially wallowing with the swine (sin).

Then a good friend asked my wife (Praise God, she stayed grounded in Christ through all of this) to see if I would be willing to go to camp to help out with my son, Jonah, who has CP and needs a little extra help.

I tried my best to find any reason to get out of going (sorry, Michael).  Fortunately, I couldn’t think of any.  When I made it to camp, everyone was worshiping the Lord and I decided that I had sank far enough.  I wanted to return to my Father’s house.  His safety. His comfort.  I asked God to forgive me.  I asked Him to use me.  No matter how small the role.  Whatever He had for me, I wanted it.

Luke 15:17-19

And when he came to himself, he said How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

In that moment, I was restored.  There was no condemnation (that came way earlier when I was doing my best NOT to listen to the Holy Spirit).  There was simply a feeling ofoverwhelming joy.  It was as if Jesus simply said, “Welcome back.  I have been right here waiting to embrace you.”

I didn’t have to get my life right first.  There was no way that I could.  Not without the Father’s love and guidance.  I simply had to make the decision to return home.  I just hadto turn toward Christ and He ran out to meet me. And even though I had a long way to go, it only took one step on my part.  God did the rest.

Luke 15:20

And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Don’t let the enemy beat you down.  Don’t squander your spiritual wealth.  Use it to advance the kingdom.  There is never a place to just stand still.  You are either moving forward or you are moving back.

Don’t let the enemy tell you that you are too far away from God.  That you can never get your life right.  YOU ARE NEVER MORE THAN ONE STEP AWAY FROM GOD!!

And take it from someone who found out the hard way, it isn’t a very far fall from thinking about swine (sin) until you are feeding the swine (sin) and from there, wallowing with the swine (sin).  We are called to be separate from the world.  We cannotparticipate in the ways of this world and still call ourselves Christians.

Galations 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

From this day forward, until the end of my days, I choose to be the servant of Christ!

Faith

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 

Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?

Stop and think about that one moment, when you knew it was time to accept Jesus, to let him have control.

What a powerful moment!

I was raised in church, raised reading the bible, raised believing in the power of prayer. We were going 
to church, no matter what!


I was nine years old, it had been on my heart about giving my life to Jesus. Now, I'm a shy person (especially when I was little), and the thought of walking up that aisle to the front was daunting to say the least! The Lord was tugging on my heart pretty strong though, I could feel it and I still remember it to this day. One Sunday morning, a gentleman named Clifford Sharp spoke to me about accepting Jesus. Bro. Clifford and his family were and are like family to my family. I knew I needed Jesus, but I waited until the next Sunday. On the important matters I just about always take my time and think about it (just ask my wife, Josie, she knows all too well!).

The day I accepted Jesus was a remarkable day for me! It did not mean any less that I had not done drugs, alcohol, or some other "big" testimony grabber. My Jesus saved me from MY SIN!

Romans 3:23 NIV

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

It does not matter your sin, big or little, Jesus saves, he forgives.
I can still remember that day. My dad had to work, so my Aunt Jo Lois had brought my mom, brother and me to church. When we got home, I had to go see my dad. When dad saw me, he knew what had happened! Of course, he wished he could have been there, but he was so excited for me!

I felt the holy spirit in a way I had not before. Waves of happiness and God's presence flooded over me that day. What a sweet revelation! Life is so sweet.


By the way, what a beautiful, fresh Autumn day! So exciting! 
Tomorrow we will hear from 
Dale Chance, a friend and brother in 
Christ. So re-share this with your friends and we will hear something good from my friend, Dale Chance!

Praise awaits you Lord

I wanted to praise the Lord this morning, it's already been a long week. My wife and I have been at the hospital three evenings in a row with family. My mother in law is doing good, one doctor thinks she had a precursor to a stoke or mini stroke, the other thinks a migraine, go figure. Her sister has been in the hospital and has been having mini strokes, but they couldn't do much because her blood is thin from a heart stint they just placed. She seemed to be doing fairly well last night. The two sisters are very close, y'all be praying for both of them and the rest of the rattled family.

Psalm 65:1-8 NIV

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

I like to praise the Lord, honestly it makes me feel better, makes me happy. Why wouldn't it though? We were made to praise the Lord, the Lord God wanted our companionship. He loves for us to talk to him.

Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace. Thank you for loving me even in the midst of all my failures. "Your love never fails and you make all things work together for my
good."

Have a great day!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Someone special

       Genesis 2:18, 21-23 NLT
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took
out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”

I just want to say that I love my wife, Josie. Next to Jesus Christ, I don't know what I would do without her! She completes who I am. She has "helped" me so much, she takes care of me, listens to me (when I moan and complain and whine and so on, you get the picture!), she blesses me, she supports me (even when she shouldn't), and she does so much more! Thank you for loving me, Josie Ann Mathis!


Our story: the short version:
Josie and I have known each other since we were around eleven and fourteen, but didn't really become friends until I was about eighteen. People always said that something was there. We didn't see it and denied it, we were "just friends". We grew close, went through some hard times together as her dad passed away. My family didn't really accept her at first, my brother was the worst (he was loosing his brother, he very much loves my wife now.) We went out together (officially anyway) for about six months, before we got married. We were blessed and still are, neither of us had dated anyone else, kissed anyone else, and God was gracious in that we stayed pure for our marriage. It is a blessing  to live for The Lord, and then God blesses you with a wonderful, godly wife, with a friend who shares in your triumphs and defeats. She is there with you no matter what.


I know, I know, enough mushy stuff, but here is the point:

       Ephesians 5:28-29 (KJV)

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:


Men, we need to love our wives as ourselves! What a wonderful treasure God has given us. He loves us so much. The way he loves us is the way we should love and cherish our wives.
If you have a good marriage and your wife loves you, don't take it for granted! Remember yesterday's blog? Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.


I know I take my wife for granted sometimes...and vice versa
(I probably more! Gotta be careful how I put that, yikes!). Men have a direct responsibility and expectation from The Lord to admonish our wives. 

          Ephesians 5:25 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Christ loves us so much, he endured the pain and shame of the cross. We have an example to go by. Jesus loves people, he took time for people. Take time for your wife and your family, then take time for people and love them like Jesus does.

          Proverbs 31:10 

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

Passion and defeat

Have you ever felt passionate about something? What about quitting, I'm not the only one that has felt like quitting or has quit on something, am I? I know the answer....we all feel passion and defeat. We all have highs and lows, that's why we must patiently run the race!

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

So here is a passion I have, my teenagers! I love them, obviously, I mean who in their right mind will be right in the middle of 55 teenagers, Lol?! Joking, kidding, rough housing, praying, ministering, comforting; all apart of the joy of being a youth pastor (oh! Almost forgot, DRAMA!). One of the young adults recently told Josie and I, how much we had made a difference in his life and how much he appreciated us. I was overwhelmed! It overwhelms me now as I write. It humbles me and makes me realize the tremendous responsibility and influence that any of us have on kids and young people. I love young people, and it's the times like these that help me wade through the defeat.

So, here is the defeat side. I was talking to my brother in Christ and co-youth pastor (over senior high) about the times when I felt like throwing in the towel and there are times, believe me. Things happen, sometimes nothing goes right or you feel like you aren't making an impact on anyone. I know this to be not true though.

You see, these are the tools and tactics of satan: the lies, the deceit, the way he tries to slip in and cause friction between the leadership of a church, works to destroy marriages, tempts young people with the lusts and desires of the world. He works day and night to "steal, kill, and destroy." He is a thief and we must recognize what he is trying to steal! We must not give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

It's a rough road at times, and I don't feel like pressing in all the time, but God has called me and you to a certain place. We are where we are for a reason: right time, right place, doing the right thing. So when I feel like quitting, God reminds me about the things that matter! There are young people that need to be loved on, cherished and cared for. I love to see them worship God and it makes my heart dance when they seek the Lord's face! I am reminded of where God has placed me.

What I really want you to get out of this, is to remember what you are doing and why you are doing it. The ministry God has placed you in, remember God's blessings and rejoice in the good things that God has done and is doing in your life. It's only time to move when the Lord says move, otherwise take joy in what you do for the Lord today and don't forget that "we have overcome (defeat) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony!"

Bee pollen and the health benefits

Bee pollen and the major health benefits of it. Here is a link:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=benefits%20of%20raw%20pollen%20&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffoodmatters.tv%2Farticles-1%2F&ei=3PE0Uq27NKqWjALj2IHYCg&usg=AFQjCNFA60IbZzbW_WSZT6cyv6VQQ-5H7g&bvm=bv.52164340,d.cGE

"Be still"

       It's so hard to "be still" for very long in this busy life we have made for ourselves and yes, we make it busy.

       What makes your life busy?

              Psalms 46:10 (NLT)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
      
I'm sitting here at modica bros, writing and waiting (no offense Adam@modica bros, part of life), for our expedition to be worked on. I decided it was a good time to read my bible. I read some verses in psalms and proverbs (I could camp out there). It is refreshing to take in the word of God, don't you agree? Powerful, like breathing fresh clean air from the first cool front of the fall season (I can't wait!), enjoyable as watching the sunset, peaceful when you know where you are at is where God wants you to be. That is apart of being still.

You ever have a moment when all of sudden, the holy spirit speaks to you or shows you something just out of the blue? Then you have the "wow" and awe of God, you feel the presence of God wrap all around you! Then....there it is, that "be still" moment, when you understand and realize a little bit more just who your God really is!

He is:
Alpha and omega, beginning and the end, the Lord almighty, the great I am(one of my favorites). He is the lion of tribe of Judah, the lamb of God, he is the light of the world, the air I breathe and the song I sing!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (This is part of the lesson Josie, my wife, taught at church for youth service.)

Give thanks in all circumstances! This is how we are joyful always and this is God's will for us, he wants us to be happy.

Be still and know that I am God
These are the powerful "moments" that God moves and changes us down deep. The really special times that only you  and God share.

What really keeps us so busy that we don't make time for the Lord?

How often do we thank God for what he has done in our lives?

Kind words go a long way

                   Proverbs 16:24

       24 Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

      There is power in the tongue, in words we speak. "For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."      James 3:2

      This is a couple of days late, but do you remember when President Bush spoke to the nation after 9/11 about American resolve and  a nation that's not divided, that would stand together. We had a leader that spoke the words necessary to lead and move the nation. He spoke with passion and sincerity.

      Many times we are moved by what people say. Words and emotions speak to the heart and move us to act. Sometimes, more often than not, people say things that are hateful and not uplifting, this includes us as Christians. We can be ugly or sharp with someone, but this is not right! "Fresh water and salt water do not flow out of the same fountain." Neither should blessings and cursings. It might be that we are having a bad day and woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but the consequences we will regret.
    
                   James 3:7-11
   
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?

     What kind of damage do we cause when we are snappy with someone? How does it makes us feel when someone treats us ugly?
     
     1 Thessalonians 5:11-12 NLT

     So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
There is power in your tongue to build up or tear down. "Life and death is in the tongue."
1 Thessalonians 5:12, the very next verse after "building up" is your leaders in the Lord's work. This is not a coincidence. We build each other up and we honor our leaders.

Now, back to
Proverbs 16:24

    24 Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for    the body.
"Sweet" to the soul and "healthy" to the body. Say a kind word and eat some honey!

Slow to anger and rich in love

Psalms 145:8-9

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The 
Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Yes He is gracious and compassionate, and we all know it very well. His mercy never ceases to  
amaze me. 

"As far as the east is from the west, that's how far he has removed
our transgressions from us."


I just want to say that 
I'm thankful for 
God's love and mercy! 
"God is great and greatly to 
Be praised!" 
So let's praise him today, people, for our God deserves It. 

"He is an all consuming fire!"
"He is the light of the world"
and
" The father of light and life."

Blessed Be the name of the Lord!
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

The
King of kings
and the
Lord of lords

Do you feel like praising him today?


Sometimes we are up and sometimes down, but the
Lord is "worthy of It all".
Praising God brings strength and endurance in
Christ to run that race that
Paul describes to us.
It is a joy to run the race and draw strength from  the one who
saved us!


So start singing and lift up your voice! 
It's a beautiful day and
God is still His throne!

Have a great day!

What's all the buzz about?

      Bees sense fear, I'm not kidding you! Have you ever seen a red wasp watch you? They will guard their nest very defensively! Every move you make, they will follow you. It's kinda intimidating as this tiny insect abruptly changes directions with you as you move around it and the kind of fear it causes in you is crazy (such a tiny insect)! Bees in the same way sense when you are scared of them. 

      I like to compare bees to horses (of all things), because if you don't know how to work with horses, you are gonna get hurt! Bees, much like wasps, are defensive of their territory. They will guard their entrance and protect their colony. You don't want to block their entrance. Fast movements, such as flailing your hands or arms around them, is going to get you stung! It's a natural instinct for us to try to bat them out of the way, big mistake. You must be calm around them, treat them with respect, make no fast movements, and they do not like loud noises such as lawn mowers.
   
     Bees are actually fairly gentle, when handled right. How they act and their behaviors is a result of their breed, most of the time. Did you know that there are over 50,000 types of bees (that's what the scientific community says anyway)!
When we breed our bees (grafting), we select traits of gentle, honey producing, strength, amount of brood laid and how it is laid, and many other factors. We want our bees to be gentle!

     There are times when I get into a colony, and maybe it's a bad time or the bees are a little cranky....well let's just say they can get pretty testy! "Do I get stung" is the question people ask me all the time! Of course I get stung (lol)! I don't mind most of the time and it's not real often, besides science is showing and proving it is a cancer fighter and is good in general for your health(but it hurts, some might say).Bee stings hurt, but bee venom is good for arthritis. People use bee stings to relieve arthritis pain and it works!

     Well, that's all for now! Thanks for reading, hope you are enjoying the blog so far.

     

A lesson learned

    I thought about having a couple of blogs, but who has time for that?! Anyway, this blog is about more than bees or my family farm. It's about my family, my church family, my life, my teenagers, and many other things.

    I was thinking about the Jr.high kids, they were so inquisitive last Sunday night. They asked a lot of questions (some of which were really big questions!). The lesson was about Adam and eve, temptation and desire. They really wanted to learn! It makes it worth working with young people. It's not always easy for sure and many times it crosses my mind to throw in the towel! When a young adult comes to you and says, "you made a difference in my life", it humbles me, it makes it with it all.

        James 1:14-15 NLT says:

    Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

    Adam and eve desired to be like God, to know good and evil. The fruit looked good. They were not told that they couldn't eat from the tree of life!  They chose the tree of knowledge of good and evil instead, the only tree God said not to eat of. They made a choice...just like we do everyday.

    I hate sin, because sin keeps me from being close to the maker of my soul. These teenagers know, just like we all do, that sin separates us from God.
   
    Hebrews 12:1  (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

   We do have a tree of life and his name is Jesus! God made a way for us, so that we could have life forever.

Beekeeping, a longtime passion

       I grew up working hard, learning responsibility, building integrity with a God fearing father and mother. We had and still have a family owned honey farm that we truly cherish. As a kid, I didn't realize what I had. 

   Working with bees is enjoyable (for me, some might not think so!), watching them move about, pulling up frames of honey and brood. It's truly amazing how much honey they bring in, the way they are so intricate with creating perfect patterns of honeycomb. The best part is harvesting fresh honey, taking it out of the comb (extracting as we call it) and tasting the sweet honey! 

   At this point in our business, we are running my dad's bees with the intention of buying bees this fall or spring. Dreams and ideas float through my head...I think about what I want to do. We have ideas of selling honeycomb, spun honey, wax, candles, lip balm, pollen, etc. There are many faucets of our business, many things we could do with this family farm. Pray for us, ask us  questions , and enjoy reading about us. Let me know if there are certain topics you are interested in. Cancer, aids, and rheumatoid arthritis research; health benifits of honey, pollen, propolis: there are so many amazing things that God has placed into the small honeybee!https://m.facebook.com/Mathisfamilyfarmsllc?id=183215948527921&_rdr