10. Teamwork – Judy is driving and I am studying for the first part of this trip. What a blessing!
9. Unshaven – Going unshaven today for a change. Told Judy it was the “year of jubilee” principle. Feels pretty good! She doesn’t think so. Guess I’m shaving tomorrow.
8. Clutter – Passing through a tiny southern Indiana town, we saw a furniture shop with its front porch covered with furniture; the chairs, hutches, headboards, chest of drawers, and dressers looked like sardines in a can. Major clutter! I’m going to write more on this topic when my life is less cluttered.
7. Sharing/Math – I open the Zip-lock bag and quickly popped three dried apricots into my mouth. “There are 16 apricots in there. That is 8 apiece, and I expect them to be there.” Rats, she counted!
6. Family Matters! – Grateful to have time with those we love.
5. Shining Stars – Jupiter and Venus dominated the southern sky tonight. Their lights were bright, just like followers of Jesus (Philippians 2:14-15).
4. Gluttony – Judy read an article stating that the average American consumes 7,100 calories at the Thanksgiving meal. Wow! We ate too much, but it sure tasted good!
3. Blue Sky – A blue sky is behind the dark clouds today. There is something profound in that statement.
2. Prayer is Powerful – So grateful for the privilege of praying together; have seen God do some incredible things.
1. Faith & Family – It doesn’t get any stronger than that!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Devotional Nuggets
What an incredible blessing it is to have the Bible. From time to time I hope to share some of the insights and inspirational nuggets I find in reading through God’s Word. Here are a few thoughts from my recent reading:
Acts 27-28 – Just like He did with the storm, shipwreck, and snakebite in Paul’s life, God can take the worst of circumstances in our lives and work them for our good and His glory. He can take the worst to accomplish the best, fulfilling His will in our lives!
Romans 1-3 (3:23) - Everybody needs a Savior – Everyone needs Jesus; Everybody.
Romans 5:1-10 – God loves you not because of you, but in spite of you!
Romans 8 – No condemnation, more than conquerors, the incredible love of God. I need to write a book to cover it all!
Romans 9-11 –God is faithful. God is merciful. He can be trusted with the future.
Acts 27-28 – Just like He did with the storm, shipwreck, and snakebite in Paul’s life, God can take the worst of circumstances in our lives and work them for our good and His glory. He can take the worst to accomplish the best, fulfilling His will in our lives!
Romans 1-3 (3:23) - Everybody needs a Savior – Everyone needs Jesus; Everybody.
Romans 5:1-10 – God loves you not because of you, but in spite of you!
Romans 8 – No condemnation, more than conquerors, the incredible love of God. I need to write a book to cover it all!
Romans 9-11 –God is faithful. God is merciful. He can be trusted with the future.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A Tribute of Thanks
Thanksgiving is almost here and I’m looking forward to spending the day with my parents. Family matters! They really do. Judy and I have very few opportunities to be with parents so we make the most of every opportunity. How grateful I am to God for my parents’ example and Godly influence. Just thought I’d say “Thanks” today.
Mom and Dad, you loved me and lived your faith before me. By your words and your “walk” you encouraged me to have openness toward the things of God. He gave me a very precious gift in the two of you. Of all the families I could have been born into, homes of kings, presidents, pastors, sports stars, TV preachers, rich or poor, mighty or obscure, God in His sovereignty saw fit to make you my parents. I know He made the best choice for me. I would not change a thing even if I could. I am profoundly grateful to God for allowing me to be your son.
All my memories are sweet. Whether fishing trips and picnics to Cowan Lake or sitting under the shade tree in Poppie and Ma’s backyard and drinking iced tea, they are precious to me. Those early years with both of you praying with me, tucking me into bed and Dad telling me the story of ‘Little Toot” all over again. Those family rides in the car, and Mom getting on me when Poppie and I were picking at one another in the back seat. On and on this list could go.
Both of you were always there for me and believed in me. I am looking at a small piece of petrified wood sitting on my bookshelf. I cannot remember how old I was Dad when you went on that business trip or exactly where you went, but that little gift you brought back for me continues to remind me of my father’s love.
Mom, I remember one time when you had gone to the neighbor’s house and had not told me. You ended up being there a little longer than you planned, so I found myself looking around the house and not finding you. You were always there, so I began to think that maybe the rapture had taken place, that is, until I saw you walking back across their yard. Was I glad to see you!
You both were there for me whether athletic events, choir or band concerts, Teen Tempo practices and more. You put up with all my practicing and you paid for my lessons. Who knows how many hours of trumpet playing you had to listen to and endure, sour notes and all.
Most of all I am grateful for the spiritual legacy you have poured into my life. It continues to percolate strong in every fiber of my being. I remember prayer meetings with friends after evenings together. I remember Mom praying about needs. I remember Dad leading worship services at church with sensitivity and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I remember the two of you working side by side to reach out and minister to youth. On and on this list could go. How I now enjoy the times we get together or just sharing with one another over the phone, even on those evenings when I am weary and brain dead.
Your encouragement, support, love, faith, and prayers have been enormous blessings in my life. My words seem weak and totally inadequate to fully express the sentiment of my heart. Certainly much more could be written. However, to try and sum it all up, I do hope this simple expression will let you know once again, in a fresh way, just how much I really do love, appreciate, and care about you.
Mom and Dad, you loved me and lived your faith before me. By your words and your “walk” you encouraged me to have openness toward the things of God. He gave me a very precious gift in the two of you. Of all the families I could have been born into, homes of kings, presidents, pastors, sports stars, TV preachers, rich or poor, mighty or obscure, God in His sovereignty saw fit to make you my parents. I know He made the best choice for me. I would not change a thing even if I could. I am profoundly grateful to God for allowing me to be your son.
All my memories are sweet. Whether fishing trips and picnics to Cowan Lake or sitting under the shade tree in Poppie and Ma’s backyard and drinking iced tea, they are precious to me. Those early years with both of you praying with me, tucking me into bed and Dad telling me the story of ‘Little Toot” all over again. Those family rides in the car, and Mom getting on me when Poppie and I were picking at one another in the back seat. On and on this list could go.
Both of you were always there for me and believed in me. I am looking at a small piece of petrified wood sitting on my bookshelf. I cannot remember how old I was Dad when you went on that business trip or exactly where you went, but that little gift you brought back for me continues to remind me of my father’s love.
Mom, I remember one time when you had gone to the neighbor’s house and had not told me. You ended up being there a little longer than you planned, so I found myself looking around the house and not finding you. You were always there, so I began to think that maybe the rapture had taken place, that is, until I saw you walking back across their yard. Was I glad to see you!
You both were there for me whether athletic events, choir or band concerts, Teen Tempo practices and more. You put up with all my practicing and you paid for my lessons. Who knows how many hours of trumpet playing you had to listen to and endure, sour notes and all.
Most of all I am grateful for the spiritual legacy you have poured into my life. It continues to percolate strong in every fiber of my being. I remember prayer meetings with friends after evenings together. I remember Mom praying about needs. I remember Dad leading worship services at church with sensitivity and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I remember the two of you working side by side to reach out and minister to youth. On and on this list could go. How I now enjoy the times we get together or just sharing with one another over the phone, even on those evenings when I am weary and brain dead.
Your encouragement, support, love, faith, and prayers have been enormous blessings in my life. My words seem weak and totally inadequate to fully express the sentiment of my heart. Certainly much more could be written. However, to try and sum it all up, I do hope this simple expression will let you know once again, in a fresh way, just how much I really do love, appreciate, and care about you.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Bare Trees & Facebook
I can’t believe it is fall, already! It finally dawned on me the other day while out driving. Brown leaves, bare trees, barren fields all made it crystal clear; another fall has arrived. Seems they come faster each year.
The other day I heard from a friend on Facebook who I had not seen or spoken to in over 33 years. Amazing! I didn’t even know I was that old! How time flies.
Another fall and an old friend; both remind me of the words of a radio preacher from my childhood: “Only one life will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” What are you doing today that is “lasting”?
The other day I heard from a friend on Facebook who I had not seen or spoken to in over 33 years. Amazing! I didn’t even know I was that old! How time flies.
Another fall and an old friend; both remind me of the words of a radio preacher from my childhood: “Only one life will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” What are you doing today that is “lasting”?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Gratitude
Let’s talk about gratitude for a minute; it is the season.
One day, ten men who were lepers met Jesus. It is recorded in Luke 17. As I understand it, being a leper was a slow moving death sentence; a person’s flesh would gradually deteriorate until they finally died. If that’s not bad enough, they had to live the remainder of their lives as outcasts from society.
These ten “terminal” men met Jesus and he healed all of them. Their lives dramatically changed forever. You would think that all ten of them would be overflowing with gratitude, right? Actually nine went on their way and never thanked Jesus. Only one returned to say thanks. At this point I have to ask myself, am I like the nine or the one?
God has blessed my life again and again by the people He has put in my life. It is true for all of us; we are where we are because of people God has placed in our lives. Have I expressed thanks to God and to them?
During this season of thanksgiving, why not do more than just think about it. List some of the people God has used to bless your life and write them a note of gratitude. It might include a parent, teacher, former youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, friend or neighbor. Whoever it is, take a moment and just say thanks.
One day, ten men who were lepers met Jesus. It is recorded in Luke 17. As I understand it, being a leper was a slow moving death sentence; a person’s flesh would gradually deteriorate until they finally died. If that’s not bad enough, they had to live the remainder of their lives as outcasts from society.
These ten “terminal” men met Jesus and he healed all of them. Their lives dramatically changed forever. You would think that all ten of them would be overflowing with gratitude, right? Actually nine went on their way and never thanked Jesus. Only one returned to say thanks. At this point I have to ask myself, am I like the nine or the one?
God has blessed my life again and again by the people He has put in my life. It is true for all of us; we are where we are because of people God has placed in our lives. Have I expressed thanks to God and to them?
During this season of thanksgiving, why not do more than just think about it. List some of the people God has used to bless your life and write them a note of gratitude. It might include a parent, teacher, former youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, friend or neighbor. Whoever it is, take a moment and just say thanks.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
BEGINNING THE JOURNEY
Wow! Here it is; the first entry of this new blog. New beginnings are exciting – they are also scary. I am now writing stuff, plain and profound, for the entire world to see! Well maybe not, but at least for my wife and a couple other friends who agreed to read it. Maybe that’s not so scary after all.What do you think of the blog name? It serves as a reminder for me of a couple things:
First, in the Bible the word most used to describe pastor is “shepherd”. In today’s language that means relationship, contact and care. That is a pretty big goal. This blog is just one of a number of tools to help me accomplish that.
Second, it is a reminder that I am also a sheep. As I write and share thoughts from life and devotion here, I do it simply as a fellow traveler on the journey of life, as a follower of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. If there is anything of significance conveyed through this blog it will be because of the grace and assistance He provides.
It is going to be an interesting journey; I hope you will come along.
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