Welcome to this blog. In today’s superficial and often deceptive world we all need positive, encouraging truth to guide us, train us, and assure us. I find that truth in God and I try to pass it on. As a father and high school teacher I have had the opportunity to listen to, empathize with, advise, and challenge my children and my students. The following notes capture some of those interactions. Hopefully they benefit you also.

In writing I have tried to be genuine, humble, and open to listening and learning from God. I also try to put the advice into practice by God’s grace and power. As a reader I hope you approach these notes the same way. I pray they bless you and inspire you to become all God has designed for you to be and to do for his glory. He believes in you and wants the best for you. So do I. The most valuable gift I can give is to build you and others up and to help you draw near to God through Jesus. In time I hope God becomes your closest friend, your brightest future, and your deepest love.

Your friend and teacher,
Greenelsh

051 Look to God to Make Life Better

051 Look to God to Make Life Better

I appreciate having today off from work. I know most people don't. It's important to remember people who have made a difference in our lives and reflect on what that impact means. I'm glad our country recognizes Martin Luther King, Jr. as one of those people and has...

050 Come in from the Cold

050 Come in from the Cold

I hope you are doing well. Colds and flu have been so widespread this year. Nearly everyone I know has gotten sick or at least someone in their family. I start back to school this week. It has been a refreshing break and a good time to connect with people and with...

049 Be Open to New Beginnings

049 Be Open to New Beginnings

It's hard to realize 2017 is nearly over. Wow, it's been quite a year, hasn't it? As we enter a new year I encourage you to keep growing as a child of Christ. I have written to you much about following Jesus for I am convinced he is your best life and the brightest...

048 Build on the Rock

048 Build on the Rock

 [ A poem I wrote for new parents at Christmas. ] As I walked along the seaThoughts of you drifted to meGentle waves lapped the shoreAdorning the beach in fine decorShells and stones shown in the sunI chose a few to represent one– One image designed to inspire,To...

047 Prepare for the Savior

047 Prepare for the Savior

As I pray for you during this season I can only imagine how Mary felt as she carried her first child, a gift from God who would impact the life of every person ever born. Nothing has changed the world so radically and beneficially as when God the Son, Jesus, became a...

046 Give as God Gives

046 Give as God Gives

Happy belated Thanksgiving. I hope you had a wonderful time with family. We spent a few relaxing days with family and friends in San Diego which went great. Our oldest daughter was able to join us from college also. We have so much to be thankful for in Christ, don't...

045 Don’t Pause

045 Don’t Pause

I hope your day is going well. My daughter and I were talking yesterday about how she is doing managing college, work, and her new life at school. She shared that she just saw a video log from Sadie Robertson which was helpful to her. I thought I would pass it on to...

044 Learn to Love

044 Learn to Love

We should all strive to be lifelong learners. I'm still learning. If we are open to it we can always learn something from others and our circumstances. As we love others with God’s love we are not only a blessing, but we are also blessed. Here are a few things I knew,...

043 Take God’s Hand

043 Take God’s Hand

Last Sunday I resumed teaching Sunday school to 4-6 graders. It's fun to have my son in the group. We've begun looking at various names for God. That morning together we discovered God as El Shaddai which means almighty and all-sufficient in Hebrew. What struck me as...

042 Take Time to Grow

042 Take Time to Grow

My oldest daughter started her first classes this week after transferring as a junior to a university from community college. She's settling in well and is bonding with her roommates. Her class Wednesday morning was a surprise. When she arrived everyone was busy...