2 AM...

Thought I would try this for this week. If you like it, let me know, I may do it again.

E-mail jon: jon@crossroadsnewport.com

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God is always at work in our lives.

I am always looking for God's hand at work in my life and in others. I believe God gives us signs that He is actively working in our lives, but many times we are so busy with "stuff" that we miss God telling us something very subtle.

Last night, my family and I went to a youth night revival at a nearby church. It was great. The band did an awesome job of bringing everyone into the right mind of worship, the pastor had a great message and delivered it right on a teenager's level, and the fellowship after the service was relaxed and meaningful. I hadn't seen this pastor speaking in over two years, but something amazing to me happened during his message. He spoke particularly about staying away from sexual immorality, something that is running rampant in teens lives today and has for sometime. It is a difficult topic to speak on. I have done it myself before and know the resistance that it can be met with. The awesome thing? It was our topic at youth group on Wednesday night, the night before we went to this service.

After his message, I told the pastor "Good job" and smiling told him that I had talked about it with my youth group the night before. He hugged me and said, 'Thank you so much!" He expressed to me how nervous he was preparing for it. How nervous he got as he taught this Biblical truth while looking in the eyes of those listening. People who were telling him with their faces "Back off." I smiled and told him, "Take it as a confirmation that this is a topic God wants to convey to this generation."

God is always at work in our lives. He sees our worries, our fears, what makes us nervous, and what tears us down. He knows when we need encouragement and when to send someone to give it. God promised that He would never leave nor forsake us. I'm glad God is faithful to His promises.

In Christ,

jon walton

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Are You Saying You're Tired of Waiting for God?

A few days ago, I got very irritated about something very unimportant. I have no access to highspeed internet, but I really want to have it. Why? It would make things simpler for me being able to look up things online when I want. It would make things easier for my wife, going to school for her master's degree online. However, the main reason I want it is to play video games online. For me, gaming is a social experience. I love gaming, but playing online with friends is 10 times better than playing alone. If I had high speed, it would be another way to stay connected with friends.

Now, to get a full picture, I have been looking for a highspeed option for about 5 years. FIVE. YEARS. I have checked with satellite companies but they have expensive set up and equipment costs, expensive monthly charges, and online gaming won't work with satellite due to latency in the line. I have checked with cable companies, but none of them are even planing offering service for still yet years to come. I have checked on DSL, but we are way too far from the central office for it. I have even checked with cell phone companies, but none of them offer fast enough speeds in my area and they limit the usage each month. I had checked with local wireless companies to no avail as well. In short, there are no feasible options. I have been looking for 5 years, and nothing is available.

I came home a few days ago, frustrated, angry, and feeling defeated over this. My loving wife could tell I was just not in a good mood. I am so blessed to have her, I really "married up." After we put Isaiah to bed, she began to ask me what was wrong. I told her how frustrated I was with the situation. See, along with looking for 5 years, I have been praying about this for 5 years. Being honest, part of my frustration was with God. Why wasn't God answering this prayer? I knew it wasn't the most important thing, but it was something important to me and I felt like God was just ignoring me on this. Or worse, telling me to just wait. During our discussion (more accurately, my whining and Missy putting up with it for a bit) I said I was ready to settle and try an expensive option. Missy looked at me and called me out. "Are You Saying You're Tired of Waiting for God? That you don't think He can do this?" She asked me.

I was speechless. I was mad. I was fuming inside. She was right. I turned to her and grunted out, "I love you, good night." That was all I could get out. She hugged me, kissed me and told me goodnight as she went to bed. I prayed that night, "God, this still sucks. I still am not getting what I have been waiting for, but I will trust You. I will wait for Your timing." The next morning I felt revealed. I knew God had not left me, nor was He ignoring me. He knows what He is doing, even if I don't.

Hard lessons are never fun, but I know that I grow the most from hard lessons. Thank you God, for the wonderful wife you have given me who speaks truth, even when it is not what I want to hear, into my life. Thank you God, for the hard lessons.

In Christ,

jon walton

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That's why I don't let you lick me...

I was walking to my neighbor's house to get something and was accompanied by my dog, Daisy. She is a 9 year old Jack Russel and is probably the best dog I have ever had. She is always great with Isaiah, never showing any signs of aggression to him or anyone in the family for that matter. Her tail is constantly wagging, constantly reminding me that she is happy to see me. She keeps the rodent population around the house down and gladly finishes off any scraps we have left over. She takes walks with me when I choose, plays with Isaiah when he wants to, and listens when I give her commands. She is a great dog.

About halfway on our trip, Daisy starts coughing and hacking. Then, suddenly she throws up right beside where I am walking. "You ok?" I asked looking down at her. She looked up at me, tail wagging so hard the body is shaking as if to say, "I feel better now!" We continued on to the neighbor's house, dismissing the incident as something bad she ate. On the way back, Daisy did something that I have seen many dogs do before and to this day it confuses me. As we approached the place where she had threw up, she slowed down and began to sniff her puke, followed by her licking it, then eating some. "Daisy!" I said in a rather disgusted voice. She simply looked up at me with the same brown eyes, tail still wagging as hard as it could. "That's why I don't let you lick me." I told her convincingly.

The incident reminded me of a Bible verse I had memorized as a child because I thought it was funny.

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness." - Proverbs 26:11

The fact is we are all going to be foolish at one point or another. We are all going to make mistakes. We are all going to do something stupid. We are all going to throw up at some point. It happens. The key is, once you do it, don't go back to it. Don't be a fool. Repeating your foolishness is disgusting. Learn from your mistakes, don't go try to eat them again!

In Christ,

jon walton

Calling the Cows...

I live on a small farm next door to my Mother & Father in law on one side and my Brother and Sister in law on the other. We all get along well and help each other often. Having family like that is great. My Father in law is gone on vacation and he asked me to feed the cows while he is away. I agreed and every evening this week I have been putting out grain for them.

Now, the cows need to be there when I put out the grain. There is no feeding trough, so the grain is dumped straight on the ground. If the cows aren't there when you put the grain out, it will ruin overnight on the ground and the cows won't eat it when they come check. Why is this a problem? Well, my father in law works nights. I work days. These cows are accustomed to eating in the morning. I am feeding them in the evening. Cows, being creatures of habit, don't naturally come up to the feeding area in the evening. So, you have to "call" them.

I am sure there are several "calls" for cows, but as I grew up I learned one from my grandmother. I don't know that I can type out the sound I make, but if you ask me sometime I'll say it for you. At any rate, when I got ready to feed the cows, I would call them. The first night, no cows came at the initial call. In fact, I am sure these cows were all together somewhere wondering what this crazy person making an odd sound was. So I walked to the edge of the field with the feeding bucket in hand, still making the call. As the cows noticed me, more importantly the feeding bucket, they began to run to me. I walked them to the feeding area, still making the call.

The second night, three of the nine cows came when I called. As they came, they "moo'ed" telling the others "DINNER TIME!" By the third night, these cows had learned when they hear my call food was on its way. They had learned my voice and what it meant.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."(John 10:27) When the cows didn't know my voice, they didn't know I was wanting them to come and eat. They didn't understand what I was saying. As I taught them, they understood and followed. Are we really so different? For those of us who know our Shepherd, do we know His voice? He calls us. He warns us when we are going into danger. He has given us His Word(the Bible) to learn His voice and His calls. Have we taken advantage of that? Don't ignore His calls. He may just be wanting to feed us.

In Christ,

jon walton

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It Gets Better Every Year...

There are few things that get better with age. I mean really think about it. Your tires on your car wear out with age. You need to buy new shoes when the ones you have on begin to wear holes in them. Bread will mold as time passes. Milk will turn bad with age, even turn solid given enough time! Technology gets outdated almost before it comes out now and the longer you wait to upgrade the bigger the leap is. Time causes most things to get worse, even our bodies. As we age we get hurt more easily, we need more sleep, and eventually we just wear out. Time works against most things.

There are a few things that get better with age though. Cheese, for example, when aged properly gains flavor, texture, and a richness that can only come with time. Reputation can improve with time, if the right actions are taken during that time. Wisdom comes with experience, and you must be around long enough to have experiences. There are a few things that time improves.

Tomorrow, January 9th, 2010 something wonderful happens in my life. I have the opportunity to celebrate 11 years of marriage with my wife. I can say without any reservation that my life with Missy gets better every year. God has blessed me with an incredible woman. She is an amazing helpmate, incredible mother, gifted teacher, God fearing Christian, and loving wife. One of the most amazing things I ever discovered about her is that she reads the Bible specifically in search of how to be a Godly wife. I am blessed beyond what I deserve to have her in my life. I look forward to another year with her. Heck, I look forward to our life together! If there were anyway to truly describe her, it would be this:

Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.

She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.

She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servants.

She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.

She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.

She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.

She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.

Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.

She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.

Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:

"Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

-Proverbs 31:10-31

Thank you for the last 11 plus years Missy. Thank you for all you have done for me, our family, and the Lord. May you, my wife, be abundantly blessed each and every day.

In Christ,

jon walton

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Its Tradition...

Have you ever stopped and wondered why we do some of the things we do? There are many things we do just because we have always done them. Like black eyed peas and hog jaw on New Year's Day. I don't know why, but I can remember growing up we always had that for supper on New Year's day. I still don't know why, maybe someone can educate me as to why that is the meal to eat on that day.

In our society we have lots of things like that. Think about it, Turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving, singing carols at Christmas, giving candy and flowers on Valentine's Day, and watching fireworks at the Independence Day just to name a few. Those are all pretty well known traditions, but we all have tons of our own. For example, Missy, Isaiah and I always celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve, and with her side of the family on Christmas day. At my family reunion each year in June, we will play guitar and sing old hymns. Every year at midnight on New Years Eve for the past 11 years I have kissed my wife. But have you ever wondered, "Why?" All these traditions are actually quite special. They are there usually to help us remember certain things. Like how the pilgrims and Native Americans made peace, how Jesus came from Heaven to become God with us, how a bishop helped two lovers by exchanging gifts between them, or how we celebrated becoming a nation. For our personal traditions, they hold a special meaning, too. Like how we would celebrate Christmas with my grandparents on Christmas Eve, how my Uncle and grandmother would always want to sing hymns at the family reunion, and how I promised my wife that I would only kiss her on New Years Eve till death do us part.

Jesus understood this. He knew at the last supper, the last meal He would share with His closest friends, that He wanted not only them, but everyone to remember who He is and what He was doing.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: on the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."

In the same way He also took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

May God bless you in this new year. May you seek Him more each day, and may you find what you seek.

In Christ,

jon walton