A Follower's Thoughts - God's Creation

/

Job 12:7-10 says, "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, they will tell you; or the bushes of the Earth, and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Have you ever looked into the night sky, looking at all the stars or the moon shining so bright that it illuminated the ground around you? Have you ever watched a sunrise or sunset as the light kissed the clouds and turned them into red, yellow, purple, and other colors that even the greatest artistic painters cannot create? My most intimate moments with God are when I'm outside, taking in the wonders of God.

I've had the privilege of traveling to other parts of the country and Canada to go on hunting and fishing excursions. I've sat in a boat on a lake, 100 miles from civilization, listening to a loon make its haunting call, echoing down the lake. I watched the northern lights dance across the sky. I lay in my sleeping bag and listened to wolves howl in the distance. I walked through an Aspen tree forest as the sun shone through the leaves, engulfed in yellow. And yes, I have had the privilege of trekking through knee-deep snow, snowing so hard I could barely see 10 ft in front of me. That right there was not a pleasant memory! Of all my favorite memories of being in God's Creation, my favorite would be trekking up a mountain on a beautiful clear morning, at around 11,000 ft elevation, trying to breathe in oxygen like you would not believe. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Anyway, I found this huge rock ledge overlooking this vast range of mountains in Colorado. It was breathtaking! I took my Bible out of my pack, sat there on that ledge, and started reading God's Word. The closeness I had to God in those moments was overwhelming! There is an unspeakable peace and joy when you experience things as I have mentioned. Whether you realize it or not, we are all, in some way, connected to our Earth. This has been given to us as our temporary home to enjoy. Sometimes I think society, as a whole, has gotten away from the connection we need with God's Creation. We spend too much time on our phones and TVs and not enough time watching a sunrise or sunset, hiking a trail, fishing or hunting, walking outside looking at the spring flowers blooming, listening to the birds sing, getting our hands dirty planting flowers or a garden. All these outdoor experiences teach us that God is with us. God speaks to us through everything he has made. We need to take the time to look and listen. It's one of the best ways to find God. So, as we approach Holy Week, may we all take the time to experience God's Creation in some way. Never forget to thank God every day for breathing life into you, and most of all, thank his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ for dying on a cross so that we can have eternal life with our Creator.

God Bless!

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Hold On Tight

/

Isaiah 41:13 says, “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” I will never forget the birth of our children. I can remember watching as my wife gave birth to our son, and three years later, the birth of our daughter. These were the most amazing events I have ever witnessed and probably ever will! What a joy it was to hold them and reach down and grab their tiny hand and fingers. Feeling them grip my hand brought tears of joy; seeing their little chest move in and out as they breathed in the air that God provided for them left me in awe and wonder! Words can’t describe the love I felt for my wife and them at those moments.

Our children are all grown up now. My son graduated college and is following his dreams. Our daughter is in college pursuing her dreams. Every time we see them, we hug them and let them know how much we love them. Most of all, we pray for them. When I read Isaiah 41:13, I’m reminded of how much we loved our children and still do love our children. You see, God does the same things for us that we did and still do for our children. Isaiah said that God takes hold of our hands and says, do not fear. When trials come our way, God takes us up into his arms and holds our hand, just as I had done those many years ago with my children—just knowing that brings peace of mind to me. What about you? Jesus wants us to come to him in times of fear. When we reach up and grab Jesus’s hand, I can only think that he will shed tears of joy, knowing that we trust in him to get us through difficult times in our lives. Are you going through a difficult season in your life? Take heart, reach out and grab the hand of Jesus, and trust in him. Just as little children trust in their parents to provide, we must trust in our Heavenly Father to provide because when we do, a wave of peace will come upon us and assure us that everything is going to be alright.

God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Let's Go Fishing

/

John 21: 1-3 says, "After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathering there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him. 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing."

When I read my bible, I love to imagine myself right there in the middle of what's going on. I love this scene in the last chapter of John. Here are some of Jesus's disciples standing by the sea. I wonder what they were talking about? Do you think the conversation might have centered around the events they just had been through? After all, they had seen Jesus bound in chains and taken from them. They had seen Jesus being crucified on a cross, his body laid in a tomb, then finding out that his body was no longer in the tomb. To top that off, Jesus appears to them, talking and sharing meals with them! What a whirlwind of emotions the disciples must have been going through. Fear, sadness, anger, shock, disbelief, you name it. I would imagine great joy when Jesus appears to them and has fellowship with them. What an emotional ride that must have been!

I can see Peter walking away from the group, looking out over the sea, breathing in the salty air, watching the sea birds glide over the waves, and saying, "I'm going fishing." Really, Peter? After all you and the other disciples have been through? I got to thinking about what Peter said, and it dawned on me that maybe Peter wanted to go fishing to take his mind off the trials and tribulations he and his friends were going through. I'm sure Peter loved to fish. After all, he was a fisherman by trade. I think Peter just wanted to get away from the troubles and problems life was throwing at him. We need to apply this scripture into our lives in that sometimes when life deals us trials and tribulation, fears and anxieties; we also need to get away. Take a deep breath and step back. Take a hike, ride a bike, call and talk to a friend, visit a loved one, start a hobby, read God's Word, and yes, go fishing.

We know how this scene ends. The disciples caught nothing that night. But guess who shows up on the beach at daybreak? Jesus. Jesus knew the frustrations they were going through, just as he knows every frustration we have. So, Jesus shouts from the shoreline where the disciples should cast the net. They did as he said, and they filled the net full of fish. Jesus calls us daily to cast our net, even when it seems hopeless. We must cast our net and cast it with faith. The disciples did and looked at what happened—a net full of fish. Good things happen when we cast our nets for Jesus. Lives are saved, brokenness is healed, sorrow is turned to joy, love destroys hate, and light is brought into darkness. Are you ready to cast your net? Are you prepared for a peace that surpasses all understanding? Only Jesus can bring that into our lives. Peace of mind is a rare commodity these days. When trials and troubles come our way, and they will, may we all look out over the oceans of our lives and say, "I'm going fishing."

God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Scars In Our Lives

/

John 20: 27-29 says, "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your fingers here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'"

Most, if not all, of us have scars. Whether it be emotional or physical, scars are there. They are a reminder of just how fragile we are. We tend to carry our emotional scars within our souls, locking them up and throwing away the key. Hurtful words, degrading comments, wrongful acts against us can create emotional scars. Our physical scars are visible on the outside. Physical scars remind us of the stupid mistakes we make. They remind us sometimes that we tend to do things before we think. And yes, physical scars make us ponder this question. Isn't this a disaster waiting to happen?

So, through all our emotional and physical scars that we may carry around in our lives, there is someone whose scars trump our scars. That someone is Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to put our fingers in his hands and put our hand in his side, and do not doubt but believe. For it is by his wounds that we are healed. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thought

/

1 Kings 19: 11-13 says, "The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"
When I read this scripture in 1 Kings, I imagine myself in Elijah's shoes. God had called him out to be in his presence. Does God call you out to be in his presence? He calls me out daily to read his word. He calls me out to take walks with him, whether it be in the woods, on a hiking trail, in my own yard, or walking around doing my daily work. The point is that God calls. We must hear that call and respond. I will admit, there are times when I don't respond. I've come to know that usually, when I don't respond is when the noises of life drown out the quiet whisper of God, saying, "come be in my presence." Just like the scripture is describing. Elijah could not hear God in the wind, in the earthquake, nor in the fire. He heard him in the whisper. I find myself more and more seeking God's gentle whisper, especially when life's winds, earthquakes, and fires are drowning out God's voice. I hope each one of you will find the time this Holy Week to come into God's presence and hear His gentle whisper. Read your Bible, take that walk, find a quiet place to be in God's presence. You will be glad you did. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts on Generosity

/

A Followers Thought - Correll Pritchard

Almsgiving and Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, "The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." Doesn't it make you feel good to help someone in need? It does me good. And guess what? It makes God feel good too. After all, didn't he say so himself in 2 Corinthians 9:7? Almsgiving and generosity are about giving of ourselves to help others. Whether it's giving our money to the church, charities, or the homeless person down the street, or whether it's giving our time and talents on missions trips, community projects, or as simple as saying a kind word to a stranger.

The point is it's about giving. You see, it's not about us. It's about others, thinking of others before ourselves. Jesus was the greatest example of giving. He gave his life for us on a cross so that we may have eternal life! Now that's the ultimate definition of almsgiving and generosity! As we go through these 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, may we reflect on what Christ did for us and give our money, time, and talents to others in need. And remember, do it with a cheerful heart because God loves a cheerful giver. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts on Prayer - Correll Pritchard

/

Philippians 4: 6-7 says, "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Wow, I love those verses! Let's face it, we all worry from time to time and get anxious about matters in our lives. This fast-paced world we live in today can be a challenge. Juggling our jobs with decision-making with family time and whatever else our lives bring can be overwhelming. In my walk with Jesus, I have learned to prioritize my life in this order. "God First," then my lovely wife, then my children, then my job. In my opinion, the key is God First. Prayer is me turning that key to open the door to a one-on-one relationship with Christ. When I get stressed, I withdraw to a quiet place and pray. It may be in my office at work, it may be while I'm outside working around our campuses, or it may be going to my favorite spot on my personal property. The point is this, take the time to talk to God. To me, a one-on-one conversation with God is prayer. It's my favorite way to pray to God. I feel Jesus right there with me when I have these conversations. Guess what? My worries and anxieties fade away. Then I feel a peace that overcomes me. Just as the scripture says, a peace that surpasses all understanding. What is your favorite place to retreat to or your favorite way to pray? Wherever or whatever it is, please take the time, not only this Lenten Season, but every day to have that relationship with Christ. It all starts with a conversation.

God Bless,

Correll

Adoration & Worship - Correll Pritchard

/

A Followers Thought

Adoration and Worship

Adoration is the showing of respect and devotion to God. Worship is the showing of Adoration to God in many ways, such as going to church to worship him, praying daily, giving God thanks for all your blessings, putting others first before your needs, giving your time and money to further God's Kingdom. Those are just a few things that symbolize our Adoration to God. I want my brothers and sisters in Christ to think about this. Adoration and Worship can only come when you have Jesus in your heart and soul. You might say, where is this statement going?

Well, let me give you guys a little background of my life growing up. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. I didn't go to church; I didn't pray daily; I didn't put others first; nor did I do any other thing to show Adoration and Worship for God. Yet, I always believed there was a God. You might ask, how could that be? It could be because I did grow up in a loving home. My parents loved my brother and me very much. They taught us right from wrong, a good work ethic, respect our elders. Could it be that I grew up loving the outdoors, God's Creations? My dad would carry my brother and me hunting and fishing often. The best part about those excursions was being out there in the woods, the lake, or the rivers and creeks we explored, seeing and experiencing God's Creations! Oh yea, one more thing. My mom would prepare the fish and wild game we harvested. That was some great eating! I guess experiencing these events in my life made me realize that there is more to this creation than the Big Bang Theory. I just knew there was a higher power at work here. It was God!

Thinking back on these events in my life, it wasn't until I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior that Adoration and Worship became the focus of my life. I started looking at God as not only the creator of all things but as the creator of me. And in doing so, I must do everything that I can to follow the example of his son Jesus. In John 14;6, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I believe if we want to fully experience Adoration and Worship to the Father, we have to surrender to the son. It is through Jesus that our Adoration and Worship of God can be complete. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Correll Pritchard

/

Fasting and Self-Denial

Fasting and Self-Denial sometimes go hand and hand. Think about that for a moment. When you fast, you deny your body of nutrition, right? In Matthew 4, starting in verse one, it says, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterward, he was famished." Imagine not eating nor drinking anything for that long! That had to be an ordeal! On top of that, guess what happened next? Here comes Satan trying to tempt him. Verse three says, "the tempter came and said to him, if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Just let that sink into your thought process for a moment. Imagine not eating for that long and then being tempted with food! Just think about it. Isn't that the way Satan works anyway? He catches us at our most vulnerable moments then he tries to leap on us. Guess what? The best answer to Satan's temptations comes in verse four. Jesus answers him by saying, "It is written, one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." There is the answer and the only answer that will fight off the temptations of the devil. The word of God!

There are times when fasting and self-denial do not go hand in hand. After all, self-denial does not always center around what's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It could be a lust for more money, more power, more worldly possessions; the lists can go on and on. The choice is ours to make. Listen to God or listen to the devil. Understanding God's truth or being led by the devil's lies.

As I go through this Lenten Season, I will be practicing fasting and self-denial. But most of all, I will be digging into the word of God. James 4:7 says it clearly, "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." My Lenten plans are to submit myself to God. So that when Satan's temptations come my way, I will be able to deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow Jesus, not only in these 40 days of Lent but 365 days every year.