My Sons

Today has been a really good day with my sons.  Mary Lou fixed some banana bread for breakfast and we enjoyed that with a cup of coffee on the porch this morning.  About one o’clock we went to Culver’s for lunch and had a great time being together.  After lunch we ran some errands and then went back home.

Mary Lou went down to the church for piano lessons and the boys and I played some baseball out in the front yard, and then went down to the church to play some basketball outside.  Tonight Matt and Jon and I went to Cheeseburger in Paradise for a sandwich.  I enjoy being with my sons so much!  It is great being able to spend time with them, and hearing what God is doing in their lives and in their ministries.  I am so proud of them!  God is so GOOD!

"Thank you, Lord, for all that you are doing in my sons lives.  Keep them in Your hands."

Little Ducks

We have a pond about 50 yards from our house.  Today was such a beautiful day that I decided to take a walk around the pond just to enjoy the out-of-doors.  As I was walking around the pond, I noticed a mother duck with about seven babies out in the middle of the pond.  It was so cute!  Once they saw me, they began paddling as fast as their little legs would go to swim away from the shallow part of the pond where they had been resting.  As I watched them swimming away, I marveled at the wonderful handiwork of God.  I just love animals!

Spring is here!  The trees are leafing out, the grass is turning greener, the flowers are blooming, and ducks are on the pond!  Doesn’t get any better than this!

"Let everything that has breath PRAISE the Lord."

“I am watching…”

I have taken great courage in God’s words to Jeremiah the prophet, found in Jeremiah 1:12, where God tells Jeremiah, "…I am watching over My word to fulfill all that I have promised."  It is so encouraging to me that God is watching over His word to make sure that it accomplishes all that He sends it forth to do!  Sometimes we do not "see" all the things that God is doing through His word, as it goes forth, but God is still faithful to see that His word will impact lives for eternity.  My role as a preacher, is not to decide what His word will do, but to faithfully communicate it’s truths so that people might come into a relationship with God.  God will take care of His word!

This thought should give me more freedom to boldly declare God’s truth!  God will watch over His word to make sure that it accomplishes all that God wants done in people’s lives.  Praise His Name!  Let’s shout the Good News of Jesus Christ from the housetops!  Let’s reach the lost, and the thirsty, and the searching with the wonderful message of God’s grace!  He still changes lives today!

"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain."      John 15:16

Go Back To Egypt?

I was reading the story again today about God using Moses to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt.  As they are leaving the land, God directs Moses to take them to a certain spot near the Red Sea.  It seems like a safe enough place until they see "a cloud of dust" and Pharaoh’s chariots fast on their heels.  It isn’t long before the people begin to panic and murmur against Moses for bringing them to this place where they will surely be killed.  As the people are hurling insults at Moses for bringing them into this impossible place, they say, "It would have been better for us to return to Egypt then to die here in the wilderness."

LIsten to that phrase again, "…return to Egypt."  Are they out of their mind?   Egypt was where they were in bondage; Egypt was where their backs were whipped; Egypt was where they cried themselves to sleep every night; Egypt was where they had no hope!  Egypt was a place of pain, darkness, and misery.   Why would they want to go back THERE?  Had they so quickly forgotten?

We are so much like the Hebrew people.  Whenever we get in a tough spot…or go for long periods of time with no answers to our prayers…or face adversity and hardship…it is so easy for us to reminesce and think of things in the PAST.  But God doesn’t want us there, He has a new place for us…a place of blessing…a place of grace and provision…a place of HOPE. 

In those difficult times in life, God wants us to trust Him!  Trust Him alone!  Trust Him to open the Red Sea for us, if necessary!   He CAN do that!   Nothing is impossible with Him.  I believe He is calling me to faith, and risk, and trust.   He is calling me to believe that He can meet me at the "dead end" streets of life and make a way!  That is where He seems to work best!

"Lord, help me keep my eyes focused on YOU, not Pharaoh’s chariots…"

The Holy Spirit

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I must continually remind myself how important the work of the Holy Spirit is in my life!   It is the Holy Spirit who reveals Christ to my heart…it is the Holy Spirit who helps me understand the Word of God…it is the Holy Spirit who brings God’s power to my life…it is the Holy Spirit who bears fruit in my life…it is the Holy Spirit who guides me into the will of God…it is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies my heart and leads me to a life of holiness.   Without the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, I can not move forward spiritually!

I realize that I must "die daily" to self, if the Holy Spirit is to have full control in my life.  I praise God for the wonderful person of the Holy Spirit who lives in my life as God’s presence to bring to me all that God has for me.  I pray that I might be fully yielded to Him so that He can have full possession of my life. 

Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?   Are you letting Him bring all of Christ’s blessings to your life?  Are you trusting in His power to see you through each day?   He wants to make His residence in your life!  Open your life to Him TODAY…and let Him have full control!

I believe the BEST days are still ahead!

"And do not get drunk with wine for that is bebauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."  Ephesians 5:18

A Friend of God

I’ve been thinking of Abraham the last couple of days and am amazed that scripture calls him "a friend of God."   What a designation!  Wouldn’t you like that epitath put on your tombstone?  As I have been studying the life of Abraham, I have come to realize again that this friendship grew over time.  Abraham went through many trials, temptations, and difficulties–but God was always there loving him, providing for him, protecting him, and guiding him.  This friendship with God grew as Abraham had to learn in every situation how to trust God completely, and walk in His will.

I have been encouraged to think about my own walk with God and how He considers me His "friend", too.  My personal walk with God is growing just like Abraham’s.  Sometimes I do better than at other times.  Sometimes my faith is strong, and at other times it’s weak.  Sometimes I have a strong grip on God, and at other times it seems I’m groping to take hold of Him.  What I am learning, as Abraham also learned, is that God loves me supremely and continues to work with me, and love me, and show me mercy even when I blow it.  God’s desire is that I grow in my relationship with Him and come to lean the whole weight of my confidence in Him!

What a wonderful Savior I have!  Do you know Him?  He wants to be your friend, too!

"I have loved you with an everlasting love…"     Jeremiah 31:3

Mourning at Virginia Tech

Our hearts have been broken again by the senseless shooting and death at VT University.  We grieve with the parents who have had to travel to the campus to identify their sons and daughters.  Our prayers go out to the remaining students and faculty who will be putting their best foot forward to make it through the semester and leave for the summer.  There is a lot of pain in this campus community this evening, and I urge believers everywhere to lift up these folks in prayer.

When tragedies like this happen, we are confronted once again with the presence of evil in our world.  Many people will try to understand what took place and come up with some answer to try and make sense of this tragedy.  Sometimes things like this just cannot be understood.  As a person of faith, who believes in Jesus, this situation clearly shows why Jesus came to this earth.  Jesus taught us that men are lost and need a Savior…a Savior who can give them a new heart, a new beginning, and a new purpose and meaning in life.  We forget how much people need hope for life.

Without a changed heart [which can only come through spiritual birth], we will not have the proper understanding about life, about self, or about the forces of darkness that are constantly pressing in upon our lives seeking to demoralize us and take away our hope for living.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly."    Jesus came to give men life!   Hope!  Forgiveness!   Grace!   Joy!   Have you trusted Him to make you new?   To meet your needs?  To be your burden-bearer?  To give you meaning and purpose in life?

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock.  If any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will have fellowship with him."   Revelation 3:20

Why not invite Jesus into your heart right now!

Beautiful Spring Day!

Today has been a nice day.  I finished my taxes and got them mailed in today.  PTL!  Mom and Jon and I had burritos for lunch and then ran some errands.  When we got home Jon and I went out in the front yard and threw some baseball together.  Mom went down to the church at 3:00 for piano lessons and Jon and I just hung out at home.  (even got in a little nap)

Tonight Mom had here Bible study at the house and Jon and I went to Starbucks with our laptops to talk about the upcoming sermon series and Mother’s Day.  It was a great time to be together and talk about the things of the Lord.

"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men…"   Matthew 4:19

Feeling Better!

It’s been a tough ten days with my leg.  However, I’m on "the mend" now and feeling much better.  Thank you everyone who has been lifting me in prayer.  I definitely have felt your prayers working for me! 

It is so good having our son, Jon, on staff with us at Mt. Pleasant Church.  He will bring so many new and creative ideas to our team.  Jon is a wonderful worship leader who depends on the Spirit to guide him in his preparation and choice for worship music.  We are very excited about the what the future holds for our congregation.  I’ll check in again, soon!

"He sent His Word and healed them…."

Infected Leg

I’ve been laid up since Thursday evening with a badly infected leg and have been taking strong antibiotics to try and knock it out!  Thursday evening I went to bed with a 102.4 temperature and the chills.  I thought I was coming down with the flu until I woke up Friday with my right leg hurting.  I went to the doctor and he said that I had an infection and immediately gave me a shot and told me that we needed to keep a close watch on it.  He wanted to make sure the infection didn’t spread. 

Pretty much Friday and Saturday I was off my feet and kept my leg lifted.  Sunday morning I felt strong enough to be at church and speak, but sat down to deliver my message.  At the end of the service, a number of people from the congregation gathered around me, anointed me with oil, and prayed for my healing.  It was a special moment!  I was humbled by the love of God’s people.  Mary Lou and I came home right after church where I spent all of yesterday. 

Even though my leg is still swollen and red, it is feeling some better today for which I’m very thankful.  I am still trusting in God’s healing power to completely heal my leg of this disease.  I am praying that I will be much improved by Sunday so that I can deliver the Easter message at our church.  We have challenged our people to bring in as many visitors and unchurched people that they can to our service.  I so much want so see people come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way, and find new life in Him!

Remember our son, Jon and his wife Michelle, who will be traveling Tuesday and Wednesday from Arizona to Indiana.  Jon will be starting as our new Lead Worship pastor on Easter Sunday.  What a blessing Jon and Michelle will be to our church.  They are both extremely gifted spiritual leaders who are very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  We believe some very, very good things are going to happen as they let the Lord work through them.

"Lord, thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to conquer death and open the gates of life everlasting for all who would believe in His name…"