It's Never That Bad

Hello my name is Jasper, and I greet you in the blessed name of Jesus, who is the head of my life. I love to go to the movies, I went to a movie last night and it started me to thinking the next day. The whole story started with this beautiful young woman with the world at her feet, everything to live for, but yet she tried to commit suicide. Her life to her had become so horrible, so painful, so hopeless, that she no longer wanted to live. You have teenagers committing suicide at a rapid rate today. You have people committing suicide for all sorts of reasons. But my brothers and sisters, I remind you the Lord said, "There is no situation that you can get yourself into that I have not provided a way out for you." Life should never reach a point for you where you want to end your own life. I'm sure it might feel that way at the moment because that's what the enemy wants you to feel. He wants you to feel hopeless, degraded, that there is no need to go on. BUT I say to you, the Lord your God created you for a purpose, and he will not let anything take you away from this world until you have fulfilled this purpose. So I say stop, stand still, and when you don't know what to do, don't do anything, but stop and listen. You will hear that voice come to you inside, the spirit that lives inside of you, is greater than the spirit that lives in the world. He will guide you and lead you to where you want to be. You have to have the strength and faith to hold on. My story is short and quick to the point today. Don't listen to the enemy. Don't be deceived, he is the author of the lie. Don't listen to him, instead, read your bible and find out what the true word of God is. Once you learn that, you have no need to fear the enemy. He has already been defeated when Jesus went to the cross for us. My name is Jasper. Love you.

Thanksgiving Love

Hello my name is Jasper,

I greet you in the name of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It looks as though the Thanksgiving holiday is here once again. What do you think of when you think of Thanksgiving? A lot of people think of how beautiful the fall season is with all of the bright colored leaves. God paints a beautiful picture for us in the fall season. Some people think of Christmas being just around the corner. Their minds are filled with how much am I going to do this year? Who do I have to buy for? They seem to be rushing around already from store to store. But me, when I think of Thanksgiving, I think of a warm, cozy home filled with wonderful smells of food and family fun. It's a time when family has time to come together and break bread and give thanks to the lord for the life he has given you. Even the word, "Thanks-giving," means give thanks for what you already have. Give thanks to the Lord for what he has done already or will do for you. Take time to pray together with your family and give thanks. It's a time to teach the little children about giving thanks and the joy of giving period. Giving of yourself, giving someone a gift when you don't have to. Thanksgiving should be a time when family comes together and loves on one another. Just eating your fill, having fun with your loved ones, and your family and being joyous. Looking forward to the new year and knowing that the almighty is on your side. That's what Thanksgiving means to me.

Walking along with Jesus

Hello my name is Jasper,

All praises to the Lord. Sometimes in life we are put in the position that may seem overwhelming. We may not know how to handle it or which way to turn. It seems as though we can't get any help that we need, but something in our spirit causes us to press on and persevere. We seem to be driven towards this goal no matter how much opposition we may encounter. I'd like to speak about one such young lady, Malala, she is from Pakistan and is only seventeen years old. In Pakistan, the woman have very few rights if any. She was not allowed to attend school, although it was in her heart to do so anyway. They went to great lengths to stop her, they even shot her in the head. After she recovered, she went right back to her goal of going to school. So a lot of things transpired for her, and she ended up winning the Nobel Piece Prize for her efforts. She is the youngest to ever win the coveted prize. I just know that the Lord was with her, and God's spirit she has inside of her pushed her towards her goal. I'd like to speak about another incident, or should I say another miracle that the Lord has shown us. I believe that the Lord sends us messages through miracles, if we have eyes to see. There was a young man who was a racecar driver. Needless to say, this is a dangerous sport, and on a certain day, it seemed the worst happened to him. He lost control of his car and had a terrible crash. It seemed that looking at the car and crash, no one could possibly survive the outcome. They pulled this young man from the wreckage, he did his time in the hospital, he was broken up from head to toe (his collarbone, legs, neck). He was a broken mess. His parents prayed for him day and night, of course, that was their son. Sometimes God puts you a position where no one can seem to help you, and all you can think of to do, is to pray to the creator. The one who started it all, the creator of heaven and earth, and all that dwells within. Well, I'm not sure how long it took, but the Lord must have heard their cries, because I was watching a TV show where I got this story, and that man walked on this show and he looked like he had never been in a car crash in his whole life. In my opinion, that can only be the grace of God. I've been a quadriplegic for a little over five years, physically I can do nothing for myself, I'm not rich by any means, I don't have any degrees, I don't come from a wealthy family, I'm just an average man. But, I believe in the Lord and what he says. I believe in his word, his word is true. He is taking care of me, better than I could take care of myself. Whatever I have asked for, I've gotten it. I have a nice apartment to live in, when transportation was not available to me anymore, someone I've never met stepped up and donated their van so I could make my appointments. I did not ask for any of that. That is called God's grace! He gave me things that he knows I need without even asking. Because he is a God that can not lie, and he said "If you obey me, if you worship me, I will supply all of your needs. Look first, to the kingdom of Christ, and be steadfast, and all these things should be added to you." Don't worry about anything, just serve the Lord, and he will provide and take care of you. My name is Jasper, and I am a believer! Be blessed and be a blessing to someone.

He'll Do It For You

Hello, My name is Jasper.  All praises to the Lord.  I came across an interesting story, one of encouragement, love, and the power of our Lord.  He loves us all.  He does things for us that we cannot do for ourselves because he has a purpose for our lives.  This is a testimony about a little boy around the age of 8 who was at a pool party.  At the party, some of his friends were having a lot of fun in the shallow end of the pool.  He decided to join them and he dived into the water, head first, but he struck his head on the bottom of the pool breaking his neck in 4 places.  He broke it from the first column to the fourth column and when the doctors examined him they informed his parents that most people with this type of injury do not recover.  Still, they air lifted the little boy to another hospital where special doctors could attend to him.  His father was very distraught, he didn't know what to do, he was a wreck.  All he could do was just pray, hold his hands up to his head, and pray to the Lord.  The boy's mother began to talk to her relatives.  The relatives, in turn, began to tell their friends about the incident.  The friends began to share this tragedy with their church and before long there was a huge prayer vigil for this young man.  The parents were awaiting news of his condition.  They had to wait a little while because he was in another city.  When they got news of his condition, they were told not only did he live, but he fully recovered.  He actually recovered to the point where he did not need to see any physical therapists or have any physical therapy.  To me, this is a modern day miracle.  What once was, is no more.  God completely turned the situation around.  I want you to be encouraged today, saints.  If God will do it for this little boy, in your times of trouble, he will also do it for you.  He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He said "I will always be with you, even until the end of time.  Just have faith and believe in me and I will take care of you."  He is a God that cannot lie.  Keep this in mind as you go through your life struggles.  God is always there just waiting for you to ask for help.  My name is Jasper.  He is worthy of all praise.

Letting go

Hello brothers and sisters, praise be to the Lord.

My name is Jasper and I'm going to a funeral this week to bury a lady that was like a mother to me. We used to work together for the Detroit school board as custodians. I was in a real low point in my life at that time due to crack addiction. I was surviving any way that I could, even taking lunches out at the garbage cans that kids had thrown away. I didn't know it because she never told me, but she saw me taking those lunches from the garbage and so she began to bring extra food for lunch so I wouldn't do that. We ate lunch and we talked and she helped me in a lot of ways without me even knowing that she was helping me. We became real close and I jokingly told her that she reminded me of my mother. She acted like my mother, she talked like my mother, and she cussed like my mother. And so a friendship and a bond developed. She was like a mother to me and I was like a son to her. She took me in when I had no place to go, she fed me when I was hungry, and she looked out for me in so many ways. You see, I believe God's word is true because in this life of ours He said "I will always give you what you need". Sometimes as we go through our lives He'll give us who we need. Today I have so many friends that walk in the light of the Lord. We talk to each other, we strengthen each other, they have never looked down on me when I was at my lowest. I'm going to bury my second mother this week, but it does not bother me because I know that she obeyed the Lord. She had the spirit of the Lord inside her, and she did His will. So I know that I will see her once again in paradise. The Lord has put many people in my life that I need, for instance I'm transitioning to an apartment of my own. I'm a quadriplegic so physically there's nothing I can do, and being in a wheelchair I'm somewhat limited to where I can go, but the Lord sent the right people to me to get done what I need to have done. I barely opened my mouth and told someone what I wanted, then they got their people online and before I knew it I was making the transition to my apartment. To show you when the Lord has something for you, nothing can stop it. The insurance company said the apartment was too expensive, they did not want to pay for it. But the people working for me negotiated with them, made some deals, and I got the apartment at a reduced rate. Everything in the apartment (all the appliances) is brand new, I will have a 24 hour staff, and also I had to give up the transportation that the complex provided. They will take you anywhere you want to go within a 10 mile radius, but I cannot use that. So what did the Lord do? He got someone to donate a van for me free of charge, and all I have to do is have the aid and a nurse with me and they will drive me anywhere I want to go. When the Lord has something for you, it's going to be just what you need. He will provide. So my message to you is don't worry about anything, be not anxious for anything, but wait on the Lord. Ask for what you want, and I guarantee His word is true. He will give it to you. So be blessed, pray, and don't worry.

My name is Jasper, and these are my thoughts.

Family

Hello my name is Jasper, praise God.

I live in a very nice rehabilitation center due to an auto accident. The accident changed my life drastically, whereas I could no longer live life as I used to. I literally have to depend on someone else to do even the most simple of tasks. It is a very humbling experience to have to depend on someone for everything. But God is still good, and as He promised He's always provided me with everything that I need. I recently had a very nice visit from two of my daughters and four of my grandchildren. As I talked with them and played with my grandkids I once again began to realize how wonderful life can be. Life is a gift from God and the gift is very fragile and should not be taken lightly. In my opinion enjoy as much as your life as you can, while you can, as often as you can. God, who created both Heaven and Earth, also invented marriage. From that marriage is supposed to spring forth offspring, which produces a family. God created family not only to fill the earth, but also to be able to love and take care of one another. It makes me feel so wonderful when my daughters express so much concern for their father. They are quick to come to my aid, help me with all my decisions, and now that I'm in this condition they literally take care of me. I believe that's one reason God created family. To love and care and support one another. Siblings create by instinct a natural bond with one another. Children usually take care of their parents as they grow old, just as their parents took care of them when they were young. Family is something that you just strive to do your best for, to provide, to protect, to nurture, to understand, be tolerant, and instill in your family all the qualities which make up a decent human being. You will find as you grow older and your understanding broadens, that without family you drift alone. Your family is like an anchor that keeps you centered in this vast world of ours. To watch your family grow before your very eyes, to watch the nurturing blossom, to watch the love become overflowing is such a beautiful thing. It is truly what life is all about. It is a holy thing, given to us by God himself, to take care of just as He took care of us and is still doing so. There is nothing to compare with the love of family. So next time when you're at the family picnic or the family reunion, or just sitting at the kitchen table helping your child with their homework, take notice to the feelings that you get. That good feeling of joy and the feeling of accomplishment, knowing that you're a vital part of the family. Fathers- take care of your family and God will be ever mindful to bless you for it.

Thank you for reading, my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

How to Live a Long Life

Hello my name is Jasper, bless the Lord.

How many of us desire to live a long and fruitful life? Do we dream of days on the front porch with the swing in the summer breeze? Do we see ourselves playing with our grandchildren or our great-grandchildren? Do we see ourselves being thankful for the long and good life that the Lord has blessed us with? Well, if you take a look at Psalm 34:12 you will see what the Lord requires of you that He may bless you with a long and fruitful life. It's nothing really difficult, it's quite simple for the righteous man. He says, what man desires a long and prosperous life? The first thing you must do is watch the things that come out of your mouth. We must be reminded that words are a living thing and they can build you up or they can tear you down. Be aware of every word that you spring forth from your mouth. Is it to do good? Or is it to do evil? The second thing He requires is that you watch your behavior. Remember, you are a minister or representative of the most high God. He expects you to carry yourself in a righteous manner. He expects you to be holy because He is holy. Be aware of where you go and how you act. Be aware of how you conduct yourself with others. When people see you they should see the God spirit that lives in you. And finally, He says be a peace maker. Seek peace and go after it. Peace will not always come to you, you must seek it, go after it, and pursue it. Always be quick to understand and be tolerant of others, and slow to anger. Do these things and you will find that the Lord will bless you with a long and fruitful life. Who wants to live a long life if it's not going to be good and fruitful to you? No one in their right mind would want to live a long life filled with misery. Do these things of the Lord, and He will bless you with your heart's desire.

Goodbye, my name is Jasper.

He's a Provider

Hello my name is Jasper, all praises to the Lord.

First of all I would like to start by saying that life is a precious gift given to us by our Lord and Savior. It's not to be taken lightly, it's not to be taken for granted, but it is to be appreciated and savored like a splendid meal. He wants us to enjoy it and all that He requires of us is to recognize Him for who He is. He's our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and He provides for us everything we need. I was thinking about that as I was meditating and reflecting on my life, thinking about the rehab center where I live, take my therapy sessions, interact with all the wonderful people who work there. I had no idea that I would have an accident on April 28th, 2009 that would change my life completely. But God knew, that's why He provided me with the insurance that I needed to be where I am today. I had only gotten the insurance perhaps a week or so before my accident. He provided care for me when I was in the ICU, He provided care for me in my first rehab, and then He sent me to a place called Special Tree where I began to learn some things, not only about my condition, but about myself as a person. Well I've been here for almost 5 years and in that time He has put many people in my life that have helped carry me to the next level. He also guided me to a new church home where I began to learn different things about Him that I had never been taught before. He has brought to me new challenges, and a new excitement about things that ought to come in my life. So I will be leaving the rehab center and going to my own apartment. He has provided for me a remodeled apartment with all brand new appliances, He has provided for me a full staff that will be with me 24/7, He has provided for me food and money that I can use toward my living expenses. Yes as I look over my life I can see where my Father provides for me everything I need. I see the obvious- I'm in a wheelchair and I'm pretty much physically helpless. I cannot do for myself but He, who is the great provider, gives me everything and everyone that I need. So as it says in the scriptures don't worry about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear, He said the Father takes care of the sparrow, and He cares for you much more than the sparrow. So why should you worry or have concern for your being? He will provide for you because you are His child, and like any good father He only wants what is best for you. So I say to you- learn of Him, learn what He requires of you, be obedient to His word, hear the word, believe the word, and then act upon the word, and you will be blessed.

My name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Where you need to be

Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

I went recently to view my new apartment. This will be the first apartment of my own since my accident in April of '09. Since that time I've been living from the hospital to the rehab. I've lived in a wonderful rehab for some 5 years. I've had the blessing of good caring people, beautiful and clean surroundings, but I feel that now my spirit has moved me to go in another direction. As I'm thinking about my new apartment and how nice it is, and I believe I'll be cared for by more caring and committed people. As I thought more about this, what's going on in my life right now, I can see that none of this is my doing. I didn't have some great strategy to leave the rehab, but because of the supportive people that the Lord put in my life, all I had to do was point the direction I wanted to go and God has done the rest. Looking back at my past life I can see where He's always put me exactly where I needed to be. He's always given me the support that I've needed to go a step further. A supportive family, a supportive NA family. He guided me to a good solid church home where I could learn more about life, myself, and Him. When I had the accident yes it was a terrible thing, but again the Lord knew what He was doing. I could've died on the expressway that evening, but He allowed me to live. I had to go through a rough time but He changed my life and He brought me closer to Him. Before that I was running around too much, to spend quality time with Him. I believe He was displeased so He chastised me to bring me into submission to Him. But still He's always had me right where I needed to be. I made a decision that I will be willing to accept any challenge that He brings my way. That's why when I'm presented with new ideas, new paths to walk down, I readily accept because He wants me to live a fruitful life. Not to be held down by the cares of the world or bound down by drugs. He wants me to see life clearly and all the wonderful blessings that it has in store. That's why with the support of others I decided to write blogs, write a book, move to a new apartment, perhaps one day do public speaking, and do it all in His blessed name. Yes, I'm sure that if you look over your life you can see where the Lord has always had you right where you needed to be. When we look at our lives sometimes and we think it's falling apart, through God it's actually coming together. So I encourage you to keep reading the word, pray on a daily basis, and examine your life.

My name is Jasper, peace and love.

It's God's World

Hello my name is Jasper, peace and love.

As I go through the hallways of where I live, I hear lots of comments concerning the weather. Only a couple days ago the temperature had turned warm. As a matter of fact one day it hit the 70s. I remember because I went out to the doctor that day and I had taken my cap and jacket, and thinking I wish I had left both of them at home because it was so warm. But the very next day when I arose from my sleep, I realized what the weatherman predicted was true. It snowed the very next day and we actually broke a record. Here it is the middle of April and we broke a record with snowfall. I hear comments both of surprise and what a bummer the snow is, but using my inner spirit and focusing on God and who He is I'm just thankful to be here to see the snow. I'm thankful each day that I am here on earth to see whatever God brings my way. As I looked outside the pine trees and everything covered with snow- it was actually quite beautiful. Everything looked so clean and fresh with the fallen snow. It just confirms to me that God is still in control. He is showing us that this is His world, He alone controls the temperature. He alone controls the elements. He is showing us "it's my world and I do with it whatever I desire". Think about this- how can it be 70 degrees one day, and then it's snowing the very next day? Think about it. Only God can do that. Don't get so miffed about the weather or any other natural disaster, but remember God created this earth, and He is still in control of it. We may not always understand what He does, but He already told us. My thoughts are above yours as high as the heavens. We cannot figure out what God does or why, all we can do is stand still and know that He is God. You don't have to agree, but these are my thoughts.

Again my name is Jasper, peace and love to you.

Expectations

Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Most of us can remember a time when we were expecting something to happen in our lives. When we were young kids at Christmastime we all expected to get the toy that we wanted. As we grew older we may have our first relationship, and we expect the girl or young man to like us. Often times we expect certain things from our job, or we may expect to be rewarded for good deeds that we've done. When we pray to the Lord we pray honestly, and we expect Him to give us what we're asking for. He is our Lord and our father, and like any good father when we do good and we're obedient, we expect our father to be good to us. Father God is no different. He wants to be good to us, He wants us to ask Him for things, He wants us to be obedient to Him so He can be good to us in return. There is absolutely nothing wrong with praying and expecting good results, but it takes strong faith. This is what pleases God. It is written "you cannot please God without faith". That is the one thing that He requires of us more than anything else. When we have strong faith in His word and we pray sincerely to Him, we should expect excellent results because He is a perfect God and He cannot lie. When He makes promises to us and we have faith, those promises will be kept. This should be a very exciting thing to know. This should be something that we can look forward to in our lives, just knowing that when we pray to God He will do what we ask Him to do, as long as we have faith in Him and are obedient to His word. So be of good cheer, for we have the Lord on our side and He will do exactly what He has promised. So I encourage you to take a good look at your faith, keep your spirits strong, and always trust in the Lord.

My name is Jasper, and He is worthy of all praise.

Feed Your Inner Spirit

Hello my name is Jasper, praise Him He's worthy.

I was speaking with a young lady this morning and she was telling me that she had missed a lot of church lately. She had always been an active member in the church, but I suppose because of her work schedule she hasn't been able to go for quite a while. She said that she was kind of annoyed with herself because she got up and left the service. She felt that she just didn't want to be there. I thought about that and I told her that "if you believe in Jesus, then you have to believe in Satan because the scriptures speak of both". I said that Satan does not want us to go to church period. He does not want us to hear the word of God preached to us by the man of God. She said that if she doesn't go to church then the children don't go. I replied that's exactly what Satan wants. If he can stop you from going, then he also stops the children from going. He doesn't want them to be raised up in the word of God. It's just this simple- if you're not serving Jesus, then you're serving Satan. So you have to ask yourself, who is Lord over your life? Lord Jesus has a certain plan all mapped out for our lives. It is our duty to find out what that plan is and then carry it out. The only way that you can find out these things is to get as close to Him as you can. God said "I will give you pastors, and preachers, and teachers, and the like". It is not the man that you're actually listening to, but if he is a man of God it is God's word that is being spoken through him. The Bible states that "how can the people hear without a preacher?" Meaning He speaks to us all through the spirit, but He has commissioned preachers, and pastors, to feed his people, His word. It is actually the word of God that you are listening to through the man of God. So I encourage you to put aside all these little petty things, like "I'm too tired", "I'll go next Sunday", "I don't feel like getting dressed", and all the excuses we make not to go. Remember, it is the enemy's job to keep you from the word of God. When you get active in the church and you're there on a regular basis, when you stop going you should feel something is wrong. You may feel like something is missing, and you're out of place. The word of God draws you closer to Him. He said in His word "I will reveal myself to those who diligently seek me". The more Jesus that you get inside you, the more of Him you will see. He will reveal himself to you. We need to be around people who believe the same things that you believe. We go to the church house to fellowship with believers like ourselves so that we can be on one accord. That is why the church is so divided today. Everybody wants to do something different. We have so many different denominations and different views on God's word, when actually it's all very plain and straight to the point if you search your Bible. This is what the enemy wants- the church to be divided. One against the other in the name of the Lord. What a mess. So read the scriptures for yourself. Read them over and over, for the more you read the better you'll understand. Find a good church home where they believe in practicing the scriptures, where they believe in rejoicing and honoring God for who He is. This is just my suggestion to you.

Thank you, my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Count it all joy

Hello my name is Jasper, all praises to the Lord.

I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and I've gotten used to the Michigan weather. Michigan weather can be very strange at times. Growing up in Detroit I've heard it said "if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it'll change". With all the storms we've been having lately across the country, Michigan has been suffering a lot of snow. I hear people complain about the frigid temperatures, about how tired they are of the snow, they're ready for the weather to break and can't wait till spring comes. All their feelings about the weather are valid, but I feel that God's people learn to take every day and everything that comes with that day in stride. I don't complain about the weather, how much snow falls, or how much rain comes down, because I'm just glad to still be here to see it. I remind myself that the Lord makes no mistakes. Whatever He decides to give us is good for us and He gives it to us for a reason. God controls the weather and this is His earth, not ours. He knows exactly what it means. Actually when the snow falls it's very beautiful. Just think, after a fresh summer rain does the earth smell good? It has a clean feeling about it as if God just pours down the rain and washes everything clean. The snow falls and covers the ground, and when it melts it saturates the earth with moisture to prepare the trees, and the flowers, and everything to flourish. God does not like for us to complain or be upset when He does something in the Earth. He said "count it all joy" because everything that He does He does it for our best interest. We may not understand the harsh weather, the earthquakes, the tidal waves, fires, etc. But remember; He also said "my thoughts are far above your thoughts, and my ways you cannot understand". We don't try to figure out why or how God does what he does, we just accept it, deal with it, and accept Him for who He is. Don't be so quick to complain about life's situations and conditions. God always does what is best for us.

My name is Jasper, praise Him.

What About Todd?

Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Many people have said that God works in mysterious ways, well I don't think so. If we read the scriptures He is very definite in what He wants us to do and what He does NOT want us to do. He is not wishy-washy but He is rather straightforward. I would like to dedicate this blog to a friend of mine named Todd. Like most of us I imagine Todd had goals and desires for his life. He probably envisioned his life going a certain way. But Todd ended up in a wheelchair for some 20 or more years. In those 20 years in his wheelchair he faced many obstacles. He quickly learned that the world makes it very difficult for people in wheelchairs. So he began to learn how to get around these obstacles, he learned a lot about insurance companies, people that are in the medical field only for the money. But Todd truly cares about people who have met with unfortunate circumstances and he makes it his business to help people who cannot help themselves. He lets us know when new devices come on the market, he introduces us to people who have learned to live a fruitful life being a quad. Being a quad does not mean that your life is over. It does not mean that you have to stop doing what you love, but rather find ways to do it differently. Sometimes we feel our lives should go the way we planned them, but then fate steps in and everything is turned upside down. It may be an auto accident, it could be the death of a loved one, it could be a divorce, or perhaps a financial disaster. But whatever it is it turns our world completely around. We don't understand it at the beginning but later on when we look back we can see how God put us on a different course. If Todd had not been a quad in a wheelchair he would not be as passionate about helping the wheelchair community. But God changed his life (and also his heart) and made helping seemingly helpless people live a better life. I thank Todd for the wonderful work that he does in helping us have hope, reach goals, and just know that life is not over. Perhaps it has just begun for some of us. Again, thank you Todd. I have another friend who I met because of my injury. I too am a quad in a wheelchair and I have a friend named Ken who is a respiratory therapist. When he was younger he had hopes of joining the military and becoming a ranger, but fate stepped in in the form of a motorcycle accident. He busted his knee and could not be accepted in the military. He had no thoughts of getting into the medical field or becoming a respiratory therapist, but God led him that way because God knew that his services would be needed to help people who are injured. I told him that God did not intend for him to be a ranger, but to be right where he is, in a rehabilitation center where he helps people who can't help themselves. Ken is very good at it and enjoys the reward, the feeling, and the love of helping other people. Above all this is what God wants us to do in our lives- helping one another, caring for one another. The strong should reach down and help the weak. So think about this- if your life is going in the direction that you think it should go but suddenly it takes a sharp turn, it may be God's way of redirecting you to do His will and not yours. It is very satisfying when you see a person recovering from an injury or is in distress and you are able to help them. Helping those who are weaker than you. This is a satisfaction and a feeling that no amount of money can buy. It strengthens your spirit, it gives you a desire to want to do more, it makes you stand just a little taller being able to help someone who needs it. So in closing I want to say again, God bless my two friends Todd and Ken for the wonderful work they do in the Lord's name to help other people.

Again my name is Jasper, all praise to the Lord.

Where do you Stand?

Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

I pray that my words today don't offend anyone, but I feel that the church is so divided because a lot of Christians refuse to stand up for the Lord's word. I was in a group session recently as someone was reading the current news of the day. There was an article in the news about homosexuality being widely accepted by the younger generation. I presented a comment to the reader and her reply was "that's a very sensitive and touchy subject" and I replied "well that's the kind I prefer to talk about". The point I'm trying to make is whenever we hear or see something that we know is contrary to God's word, we should be about the business of standing up for God. We do not have to argue about His word, but merely correct what we know is wrong and stand on His word no matter what. It should come as no surprise to the Christian when we hear or see certain things happening in the world today. We know that the Lord predicted all of these things many years ago. He said that before He comes back men will turn their backs against God. They won't heed God's word, but they will choose to go their own way, use their own devices, be lovers of themselves, their hearts will be waxed cold without regard for their brother. That's why it seems that anything goes in the world today. Kids killing parents, sexuality, and vile behavior is actually glorified. As I watch the television there are many new shows about zombies, "Walking Dead", eating people, new shows about vampires, new shows about witchcraft. And these things are being piped into our minds. These are not shows that our children and young people should be watching- they do have an effect on certain people believe it or not. I recently was talking to a young lady who watched one of these shows and she said afterwards she couldn't sleep for a few days. Make no mistake about it, we are always in a spiritual warfare and the only weapon we have is the word of God. As we look around at the world today things have drastically changed from the way they used to be- and it's not for the better. The world seems to be moving further and further away from God. They're trying to erase God from everything- the schools, the courtrooms, even the very government is trying to erase God out of the system. We need to be willing to stand up for God at every turn. It has to start at the family level and extend to every facet of our lives. Remember Paul said "we war not against flesh and blood, but the principalities of darkness". We war against things that we cannot see. Some people- even Christians- don't believe, but if you read God's word it will open your eyes and you will see. So I encourage you to be steadfast in the word, keep the faith, and press forward.

My name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Friendship

Hello my name is Jasper, I praise the Lord.

I would like to speak on the subject of friendship. Friendship is something that's very important to me. It's important how I relate to people, especially my friends. I have been blessed through the grace of God to have friends that have been with me for some 30 to over 50 years. Some of my friends we've had the pleasure of sharing our lives together from elementary school to being in our sixties. We partied together, we grew up together, we ran the streets together, we watched as our first babies were born, we watched as our families grew, and now our babies are having babies. This is something that I don't take lightly and I praise God for the people that He put in my life. I don't believe it was anything that I did that was so special or that I was so great that I attracted these people, but I know today that everything that has happened in my life is by God's grace and glory. I know this because I have met people who don't have any friends. I have met people who can't seem to keep a friend for more than a few months. I've also met people that have been betrayed by friends or had friends who turned their backs on them. So I think about this sometimes and I thank God for the people that He put in my life who stuck by me when I was at my lowest point. Who is always there to lend a hand to me when I needed help. Jesus said the Father will always give you what you need and I know that He will also give you the people that you need. I consider my longtime friends to be gifts from God, to help me through the hard times in life, to share in my joy, and also to help comfort me in my pain. I recall once I was in a rehab and I was at a low point in my thinking, and I mentioned to one of my friends that I felt like giving up. The very next day two of my friends came to talk to me, to help pull me up, and told me that giving up on myself was not an option. I thank God again for the people He put in my life. I've had my friends take me into their homes when I had nowhere to lay my head. God knew what He was doing when He put these people in my life. So if you have a friend that has stuck by you, tell that friend how much you love them and appreciate them for being in your life. Remember, it's not you who attracts these kind of people, but it is God giving you more of what you need.

Goodbye, my name is Jasper. Praise God.

Empowerment

Empowerment- to give power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal or official means. To enable or permit.


Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

The dictionary gives this definition of empowerment. It is to give one authority and power to complete a task or to go further in one's life. Empowerment also means to elevate yourself to a higher level, always pressing forward to a higher goal. This is why the Lord left us with the Holy Spirit- to give us power, strength, and encouragement. He left this portion of himself in each of us so that we may be able to complete any task that He calls us to do. Some people may become afraid or fearful of what lies ahead for them, but the Lord did not give us spirit of fear, but one of encouragement. And through faith in Him we are always empowered to move forward. Empowerment means authority- always remember we have authority over our lives. Authority also means something of great importance. When you are empowered you have no such thing as "low self-esteem" or a "self-defeating attitude". Empowerment means holding your head up high, chest out, taking long strides towards your goal with confidence. Empowerment gives you capable means of doing whatever it is you desire to do in life. You have complete permission by the Lord, through his empowerment to you, to have anything you desire. Empowerment permits you to be anything, do anything, complete any task which lies before you. There is a scripture that says "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me". That scripture speaks of empowerment through Christ Jesus to accomplish any goal you may desire. Any time you feel weak or feel that your life is somewhat in a rut, remember that scripture and remember that you are empowered by the most high authority. You have divine empowerment given to you through grace of our divine Lord. So with that in mind, why would one even consider the thought that you cannot do or complete whatever you want? It's just not so. Check your faith and remember- all things are possible to him who believes because we are empowered through Christ.

Hello again, my name is Jasper, and I am empowered.

What Will They Think?

Hello my name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

Some people often make the statement "I don't care what the next person thinks of me". They may say "it doesn't matter what people think of me when I'm dead and gone". But I feel that it does matter what people think of you. I was one who used to boldly say "I don't care what people think, I'm going to do what I want to do regardless", but as I've gotten older I began to realize it matters a great deal what people think of you. It's a good feeling when you can enter into a room and everyone is glad to see you, or when people go out of their way to do something special for you. It should make you feel good when a friend, or even a stranger, does something for you that they don't have to do but they do it out of love and concern for you. You cannot get people to feel that way about you unless you carry yourself in a certain way. We all have moments where we are short tempered or we get irritated about something. We all have moments where we may say or do something we later on regret. But we all are just human and we make mistakes, but we learn from them. We learn to apologize for our shortcomings and we move on. When I leave this world I would like to think that when people think of me they will think of good times- they will think of things I did to try to help them or someone have a better day. Having the word of God within me helps to keep me calm, gives me peace, and causes me to express love and concern for others. No I'm not perfect, no one is. But when you give your life to the Lord, when people see you they should also see Him. I'm often concerned about what people think of me because they should see first the spirit of Christ that lives within me. When you live a Christ-like lifestyle things change for you. People feel good when they're around you, the Christ in you spills over onto them. Sometimes you ask yourself "what will people think of me when I leave this world?" Will some be glad that you're gone? Will some reflect on the fond memories of you? When I leave this world I hope that I leave a happy impression on people. When they think of me they will smile and remember that I tried to help them along the way. I tried to be a positive element in their life. I would like to think that they often saw the Christ in me, and not the real Jasper. So I urge you to take time and reflect on this. When I'm dead and gone, what will they think?

My name is Jasper, love and peace be with you.

Remembering MLK

Hello my name is Jasper, Jesus is Lord.

A few days ago we celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King. I'm old enough and blessed enough to have lived during the last years of Dr. King's life. During Dr. King's birthday celebration across the nation, my mind drifted back to things I remember about him. I could remember my family taking me along to downtown Detroit (Cobo Hall) to hear Dr. King deliver a speech. There were lots of people there and I remember it because it was the first time I saw The Temptations in person. They were entertaining the crowd, and like many others I suppose also lending their support. I remember being in Junior High School when Dr. King was shot. There was a lot of social unrest, and the older kids from High School came by our school and they were angry and throwing rocks through the windows. We were scared in our classrooms and were confused about what to do. I'm not sure I remember the trip home, but I believe my mother probably picked me up like she often did. I can remember the National Guard and the policemen walking patrols down our street, I can remember seeing tanks and armored vehicles going down our streets. The news on TV was just filled with violence all over the nation. They spoke of killings, brutal beatings, snipers, and it was a scary time. I can remember seeing troops camped at Central High School, which was one of the headquarters. They had so many tanks and trucks and soldiers on the school grounds, but think of the irony.  There was so much violence and social unrest, but Dr. King stood and died for his belief in non-violence. I'm sure that if he had anything to say about it he would not have wanted people to act this way. I'm sure he did not want his death to be a reason to go out and commit violence. I remember Dr. King in my mind and in my heart as a true man of God. He kept God's commandments and no matter how rough the times got he did not defer from God's word. He remained peaceful, kind, forgiving, and loving til the very end. He is a true example for all of us, just as Jesus was in His day.

My name is Jasper, praise the Lord.

It's Still a Beautiful World

Hello my name is Jasper, all praise to the Lord!

I live in a rehabilitation center. I live my life in a wheelchair, and so do many other people here. Everyday I see wheelchairs, crushed bodies, people who can't talk, can't move, some with severe head injuries. But I've learned not to look at a person's circumstances, not even my own, and I focus on the love of God. As I look out of my window everything is covered with snow, yet somehow it's all very beautiful. The snow covered trees, all the ground is white, rooftops are white with snow- it's as if the Lord has painted a beautiful picture for us to see. There's nothing more beautiful than to look out your window or as you're driving along- the scenery is like a postcard. Some people complain about the snow and the cold weather but think about this- just as the Lord gives us beauty and nature in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, He also gives us beauty in the Winter. Also at the same time the cold air kills germs. It's good for us to breathe in the crisp, cold air. It cleanses our lungs, tightens our pores, the overall Winter climate is good for us. God knows exactly what He's doing, after all He's the one who created Earth just for us. Don't complain about the snow and cold weather but rather embrace it, think positive, and enjoy it. The Lord has us in His care and if the cold weather was not good for us He would not have it here.

Again my name is Jasper, all praise to the Lord.

Finding your way

Hello my name is Jasper, glory to the Lord.

This blog is dedicated to the sons of a dear friend of mine. Her name is Jerri Lynn and her two sons are Zach and Jeremy, and like most of us they have problems. Some problems that we have in our life are easily seen with our natural eyes, some problems we cannot see. Some problems we have in our life are caused by unclean spirits. These unclean spirits are strong, powerful, and they're good at what they set out to do. They cloud our good judgement and make us do wrong things, and we may believe we're doing something right. The Lord who loves us is aware of these unclean spirits, and He sends us messages through people who love us. Like I said these unclean spirits cloud our judgement, so often times we don't take the advice of our loved ones. You may be having conflict with your relationships, you may have stress on your job, you may have struggles with substance abuse, you wonder why you keep going over your limits. These are all the results of an unclean spirit keeping you away from the good spirit of Jesus that lives inside us. You may not believe that what I'm saying is true, but the Bible speaks of these things and I believe everything in the Bible is true. The Bible is our guideline and our basis on which we should live our lives. Make a positive effort to live a relationship with the Lord, even if you don't believe just take a look at it. Learn what the Lord wants of you and cling to it and you will see your life will change. The closer you get to the Lord the more He will reveal things to you and you will begin to see life clearly. I pray for Jerri Lynn and her entire family whether they know it or not. They are a close and loving family- beautiful sons and daughter. Don't let the enemy creep into your family circle and keep you divided. The Lord said "First seek the Kingdom of God and He will direct your path".

My name is Jasper, I love you all and praise God.