From a sinner saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. I hope you find my adventures amusing, thought provoking, and always pointing you to the source of love - Jesus Christ
Editor's Note: I hope you enjoy this look back at 2011 and see God's blessing, goodness, and faithfulness. God Bless.
The year 2011 started off as Will, Victoria, Peter, and I
celebrated New Year’s Eve at my mom’s house. For New Year’s Day Will, Victoria,
and I went to the not so ‘2011 Winter Classic’. A few days latter on January
5th, we attended a game at Consol Energy Center where the Penguins thumped the
Bolts.We didn’t know
thata brutal hit from Steckel during
the Winter Classic and a heavy hit from Hedman from Tampa causeda concussion to Sidney Crosby – so 2011 was
not a one of Sid’s or the Penguins favorite years to be sure.
The Steelers were in the Super Bowl again against the
upstart Packers. And much to everyone’s surprise, the Packers won due to a
inept secondary and predictable play calling on offense. So 2011 did not start off on a high note for the
Steelers either.
But on a personal note, 2011 was a year that was ‘All About God, Valerie, and Bill’
Back on Christmas Eve 2010, I cried out to the Lord on my
living room carpet as I was facing waking up alone for the first Christmas in
my life. I wasn’t praying for a Christmas miracle – just the miracle of a
lifetime in finding that special someone.
God answered. I was led to get off eHarmony and several
other dating sites that I was on and to sign up for Christian Mingle – a site
that I was on back when I started dating. I pulled the best from each profile,
put my best pictures on, and then prayed.
It wasn’t long until
I got a number of responses, several close by and a few that were out of state. One that came up on my match
was from ‘Virtous247365’ from Tampa, FL. We had quite a few similarities but I
wasn’t sure that she would be interested in someone not only out of state but
still in search of a job. It was clear in her profile that she was looking for
‘friends first’. I put together a great short email and waited for her reply. I got a very warm response from her and we arranged a time when
we could chat using the site’s IM during the evening. That went extremely
well. One thing led to another and
Valerie gave me her number.
We spent on the average of four hours a evening on the phone
for the next couple of weeks and made arrangements for me to fly down on
January 27th. At . 7:08 PM that evening we met – Valerie was perfect in every
way for me as she told me I was perfect for her in every way.
Our Wedding Day
Then on February 11th, a little after 11 AM, Valerie Geis
became Valerie Horosz. We spent a honeymoon weekend that was truly magical and
time stood still.
In March I moved down from Ohio. We had fun taking a couple
of days to drive down from Columbus.
God had told me all along that a job and relationship would
go hand in hand. God was right! I received a phone call from a recruiter who
literally spent a hour with me on the phone. She said a small software company
in Clearwater was looking for Quality Analysts.
A few days later I had an interview (right before my birthday). I called
Valerie to tell her it went extremely well. So well that three hours later I
received an offer and I gladly accepted.
Married life has been a blessing beyond belief. My simple prayer every day is for Christ to
help me love Valerie as He loved the church and gave His life for the church.
We have had a few disagreements but we air them out quickly and not let the
enemy creep in. And of course Valerie is always right lol !
Valerie’s family is awesome. I so enjoy Jessica – she has a heart like her mother and I am blessed to call her a friend. Val's parents love for her is incredible – her mom is so precious and her dad always makes me smile
Val’s siblings are so much fun to be around at family
functions – there is a lot of love to go around. I’m so blessed that Valerie
has had time to be with Will, Victoria, Peter and mom. We are so looking
forward to getting the kids down here in 2012.
Christmas Dinner 2011 View
We enjoy doing everything together – from chores to shopping
to cooking. On weekends we enjoy going out to dinner and then seeing a good
movie. It’s a blessing to relax in the evening and watch some favorite shows
together. Valerie has really enjoyed watching and attending Penguins games. And
I have enjoyed watching some shows on the Food Network and Bravo.
We are blessed to worship at ‘The Crossing’. Pastor Greg and
the associate pastors all have a heart for God and the worship music is
incredible. We almost always seem to say that “I though last week’s message was
one of the best ever” but the current weeks message was even better than that.
My words to you who are still looking for that relationship,
job, or both :
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the
one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if
your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good
gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7: 7-11 NIV
We are looking forward to 2012 together seeking God’s face
and asking his blessing, love, favor and protection over us and our families.
Wishing all my friends a safe, healthy, and blessed New
Years 2022 !
Use and practice these words more often in 2022: love, joy,
peace, encouragement, gentleness, patience, kindness.
Pray often.
Worship wherever you are.
Read God's word.
Be a friend.
Enjoy family.
Encourage, support, and love your children.
Take care of the temple that God has given you.
Tell your spouse, children, and family that you love them.
Directly as in 'I love you and thank God for you being in my life'.
Set attainable and realistic goals for yourself.
2021 Highlights.
We moved into our new house in March and can't thank God
enough for blessing us with this opportunity.
We enjoyed spending a lot of time with Ellie (and her
parents) this year and look forward to much more in 2022 !
We said goodbye to our four legged daughter Diogy in May and
miss her greatly.
We enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve brunch at our house and had
a excellent time with Val's family.
I can't thank God enough for my Valerie. Day in and day out
her love for me blows me away. God tells me the way I can thank Him is to be a
blessing to her everyday - on the good days when it's easy and especially on
the bad days when it's not so easy. Val tells me that 'we make a good team'. So
very true ! We truly compliment one another. Can't wait to celebrate our fourth
wedding anniversary!
I leave you with these scriptures for 2022. Pray they will
help you praise God, give you God's peace, and be a blessing to you !
“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face
shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give
you peace.” ’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:8 NIV)
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love.(1st Corinthians 13:13)
This comes from a post dated December 6, 2015 and has a powerful message to share. God Bless.
Thank you all for your prayers last week ! God reminded me Saturday during worship that he took care of me in darkest hour:
During my unemployment that lasted three years, God blessed me with all my bills being paid and having food on the table.
When I lost my dad during that time he blessed me with growing closer to my mother that I ever was before.
When I was lonely he waited till the perfect time to bless me with the most beautiful woman in the world who was perfect for my Valerie.
God opened up the employment door shortly after that as well.
God has blessed me with restoring my credit and buying a new house.
I know that God is already working this week for me. Ask for your continued prayers that I can go into this week knowing that no weapon formed against me will prosper and that I will be on guard for attacks from the enemy. All I have to do is call upon the name of Jesus Christ - when I say that the enemy will flee !
Praying God's blessings all of you as well as you get ready to start this work week !
Isaiah 54:17 New International Version (NIV):no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:4 New International Version (NIV) :"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"
This was originally posted in October, 2009 but it has such a great message so I am sharing this again. I pray that it blesses you.
"I am free"
A couple of weeks ago, Senior Pastor Rich Nathan’s message was called ‘Greater Forgiveness’. The central theme of the message was that God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ is full and complete. One thing that God has laid on my heart the past several days is the problem of what Rich referred to as ‘moralism’ that is ‘when we try to straighten other people out’.
Rich stated that this has two aspects to it: ‘those who try to do this are usually caught up in the same sin’ and ‘people don’t like other people condemning them’. The passage that brings this to light is John 8:4-7
“4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." “
I have lost many who I considered to be my friends over the past two years. It hurts me that a number of them have chosen to not see the miracle of what God has done in me – taking this completely broken vessel, restoring it, and watching it blossom. And yes I can say blossom in spite of being without a job the past 10 months and other unanswered prayer. But the core of friends that I do have remained strong (including my children) and as God has added the ‘yeast’ I have seen friendships multiply. Many of them know what has transpired and many could care less. They love me and pray for me simply because of who I am – a sinner saved by Jesus Christ.
Some verses God laid on my heart this morning to share:
Psalm 62:7-8
7
7My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 63: 1-8
1
"1You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
2I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
3Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
Colossians 2:13-15 “13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
John 5:17 “Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." ‘
God has placed a calling on me to be reconciled with those who have chosen not to see what God has done through me. And this is solely because of what is in my heart towards them – seeking their forgiveness for anything I am harboring against them. I am going to be persistent simply because Christ demands that we be reconciled:
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Let me close with a line from a song:
“Are you free ? I am free !”
"I Am Free" by the Newsboys
Through you the blind will see Through you the mute will sing Through you the dead will rise Through you all hearts will praise Through you the darkness flees Through you my heart screams I am free Yes, I am free
I am free to run (I am free to run) I am free to dance (I am free to dance) I am free to live for you (I am free to live for you) I am free (I am free) Yes I am free (I am free)
Through you the kingdom comes Through you the battle's won Through you I'm not afraid Through you the price is paid Through you there's victory Because of you my heart sings I am free Yes, I am free
I am free to run (I am free to run) I am free to dance (I am free to dance) I am free to live for you (I am free to live for you) I am free (I am free) Yes I am free (I am free)
Who the son sets free-is free indeed (Who the son sets free) Who the son sets free-is free indeed (Who the son sets free)
I am free to run (I am free to run) I am free to dance (I am free to dance) I am free to live for you (I am free to live for you) I am free (I am free) Yes I am free (I am free)
This is a recap of a series of messages from Pastor James McDonald that I did in October, 2009. I pray that it blesses you.
I recently listened to a sermon series by Pastor James McDonald and he stated that these are the five marks of an authentic Christian:
1. Love deeply
2.Obeying faithfully
3. Living authentically
4. Knowing completely
5. Believing confidently
The following verses sum it up so well:
" 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." 2 Peter 1:5-9
Many thought that I would never get here - that I was too broken, that I simply could not put be back together. But God had other plans and through lots of prayer, love, and true brothers in the Lord I am not only back together but can say with confidence in my Lord Jesus that I am an 'Authentic Christian" as witnessed by family & friends.
The song ‘Complete’ by Kutless really speaks to that end – it came to help change my prayer life among other things and ties in the words from James McDonald and 2 Peter 1:5-9 so well. Below are the lyrics
What are you waiting for ? Get “Complete” in Jesus !
“Complete” by Kutless
"Incomplete it all began
The broken state that I was in
I wished that I was someone else
Cause' I was lost inside myself
I started seeing who I am
The day my life with you began
You clearly solved the mystery
That finding you meant finding me.
God, I've fallen to my knees
I'm bowing at your feet
I give you all of me
In you I am complete
It's all because of love
I'm not who I was
I'm who I meant to be
In you I am complete
God who doesn't need at all
I heard your voice I felt your call
It's echoing I cannot shake you off.
The stars that shine they bear your name
They sing the song that gives you praise
You've captured me
My heart is lifting off
God, I've fallen to my knees
I'm bowing at your feet
I give you all of me
In you I am complete
It's all because of love
I'm not who I was
I'm who I meant to be
In you I am complete
I've got to tell the world about the things you've done
I want to shout it out, I'm gonna live it now
Amazing grace is why I'm singing
God, I've fallen to my knees
I'm bowing at your feet
I give you all of me
In you I am complete
It's all because of love
I'm not who I was
I'm who I meant to be
In you I am complete"
This post was originally from October, 2011 but I wanted to share it in thanks to God for my beautiful, precious Valerie. I pray it blesses you.
Psalm 37:4
I first heard the words to this song as I left church this past Saturday and God laid them on my heart to share with my friends.
Jesus completed the process he began of turning my life around on January 27, 2011 @ 7:08 PM when I first laid eyes on Valerie Geis now Valerie Horosz
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I pray that God's word from Jeremiah and the lyrics from this song will give you the encouragement that you need to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
Oh where, where have I gone?
I woke to reality losing its grip on meOh where, where have I gone?
'Cause I can see the light before I see the sunrise
You called and You shouted
Broke through my deafness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
You shattered my darkness
Washed away my blindness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
Late have I loved You
You waited for me
I searched for You
What took me so long?
I was looking outside
As if love would ever want to hide
I'm finding I was wrong
'Cause I could feel the wind before it hits my skin
You called and You shouted
Broke through my deafness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
You shattered my darkness
Washed away my blindness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again, I'm alive again
'Cause I want You, yes, I want You, I need You
And I'll do whatever I have to just to get through
'Cause I love You, yeah, I love You
You called and You shouted
Broke through my deafness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
You shattered my darkness
Washed away my blindness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
This was from a sermon by Senior Pastor Rich Nathan of Vineyard Columbus in 2010. This message came at a time in my life where I really needed to hear it. It is so powerful I wanted to share it again.
Senior Pastor Rich Nathan's message this weekend was called 'Greater Forgiveness'.
In it he outlined that 'we need to receive the fullness of Jesus forgiveness. Nowhere in the Bible does it say "All your sins are forgiven except________" ' Rich also mentioned that 'there are so many excuses DNA, genes, parents, environment, etc. but I am still a sinner.' He gave the example of an interview with Bill Clinton about Monica Lewinsky and that Bill Clinton said he could have used the 'excuses' reason but he said he did it for the the worst reason of all - "I wanted to'. We have all been there but a God has laid this on my heart and I have assumed full responsibility for my sin that has caused so much anguish - and I have already received many blessings in return.
Rich also pointed out that 'Our worst sin is the failure to believe the word of God when it comes to forgiveness'.
"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." Isaiah 38:17
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25
"as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12
"You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19
He stated the the evidence of forgiveness is twofold" 'Your focus is on Jesus', and 'You devote everything to Jesus'.
I close with this.
""Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."" Luke 10:36-37 NIV
Go and do likewise.
"Ocean Floor" by Audio Adrenaline
"The Mistakes I've made That cause pain
I could have done without
All my selfish thought
All my pride
The things I hide
You have forgot about
Chorus
They’re all behind you
They’ll never find you
There on the ocean floor
You sins are forgotten
They’re on the bottom
Of the ocean floor
My misdeeds
All my greed
All the things that haunt me now
They’re not a pretty sight to see
But they're wiped away
By a mighty, mighty wave
A mighty, mighty wave
Your sins are erased
And they are no more
They’re out on the ocean floor
Take them away
To return no more
Take them away
To the ocean floor
To the ocean floor
To the ocean floor|
Your sins are erased
They are no more
They’re out on the ocean floor
