Gifted

What are you gifted to do? Do you sew? Are you a good cook? Can you paint or draw? Do you sing? Are you a gifted actor/actress? Can you decorate? Are you a great money manager? An effective organizer? A great teacher? An expert mechanic?

I want to draw your attention to a gifted and obscure Bible character. Bezalel. Ever heard of him? God certainly gifted him. Read about him.

Exodus 31:1-5 (NKJV)
1  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
2  "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3  And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
4  to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
5  in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

Bezalel was a gifted craftsman. He could build and design. His gifts and talents were used to build the Tabernacle. He had help but Bezalel was the leader on the project. God called him to the task. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit to build. 

Some are empowered by God to sing, dance, organize, manage, lead, design, build, write, teach, repair, create, craft and many other things. God creates people with purpose. They are to use their gifts to glorify Him and to help others. Sometimes I come across people who seem gifted in multiple areas. 

You may be gifted in some areas and not gifted in others. I am not a gifted mechanic nor carpenter. Both things frustrate me to no end. The standing joke among Brenda and the boys is when I reach for a tool they start praying. I do not have a mechanical mind. I never have. I actually tried to rotate the tires on my bicycle. It did not dawn on me until I had secured both tires again that my new back wheel did not have a sprocket for the chain. I am not even sure if sprocket is the right word. 

I once tried to change the spark plugs on my mower. A mechanic friend caught my error where I cross threaded them, whatever that means. He made a deal that he would maintain the mower if I promised to leave it alone. A deal I gladly made. 

While we may not be gifted in some areas there are others that come easily. Things God designed us to do. I have long held a faint flicker of a dram to learn to play the piano. I hear gifted musicians and stand in awe. I spent one year in the band back in seventh grade. Nobody ever accused me of being a gifted musician. I once tried to learn to play the guitar. I worked hard on a song. I played it for Brenda asking for feedback. She was not impressed and I never played again. I have short stubby fingers. Not exactly piano playing or guitar strumming material.

Some people love technology. They love computers, programs, apps, gadgets and gizmos. I am adverse to all the above. I would not even know how to make these posts if a friend did not write me out step by step instructions years ago how to do it. I still hand write my sermons and Bible studies. I prefer an old fashioned calendar. I have a smart phone but am not smart enough to use a fraction of the features on it. People from time to time try to show me how to do things like maintain a website. They say, "All you have to do is push this button." Problem is I cannot even find that button to push when trying on my own. That is not my area of giftedness.

So I can rule out carpentry, mechanical, comtuters and music off my gifted list. You have your lists too. Instead of focusing on what we are not gifted to do let's focus on what we were designed to do. There is something God hardwired into you. It is that thing that makes you feel most alive when you are doing it. For some it is working in the kitchen to prepare an elaborate meal. For others it is decorating homes with furniture and accessories. Some are gifted salesmen and saleswomen. They can sell anything and have never met a stranger. Others are gifted baking. They create phenomenal deserts and pastries. Some are gifted in areas of leadership. You give them a project and a team and they will get the job done. Some are gifted with numbers. They are at home with calculators and punching those numbers to balance budgets, do income tax returns, and manage people's money in banks and investment companies. 

I don't know your gifting but I know God gave you something. I hope by this time you have discovered that something and you put it into use. I hope you use your gift to bless others and glorify God. Just a little reminder to use your gift. 

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) 

10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

$115,000 Mountain

Some weeks ago I received a clear burden to believe God to move a $115,000 mountain of debt. It is not for Brenda and I. It is for a special group of people known as Heritage Baptist Church. That is what they owe on their building.

The burden did not just stop there. The burden included believing God to move this mountain by Dec 30, 2018. What makes it even more challenging is Heritage Baptist Church is comprised of about 50 people on a good day. Most of them are retired and on fixed incomes. I started praying. I challenged the people to pray as well. This has been in the last month or month and a half. Look what God did.

This is the text I received today from our treasurer. "After I get off work today I will go by the bank and pay off $3,400 on the building loan amount."

How do you explain that? GOD! God is hearing our prayers. God is answering those prayers. God is moving the mountain. One dollar at a time. My prayers have been for God to bless the people and to increase their wealth so they can give more. I know this is humanly impossible. The total is too much for so few. Not for God. God can bless someone to be able to give more. God can bless many so they can give more than they ever have before. I trust Jehovah to do this for Brenda and I as well. God can call anyone, anywhere to come to the aid of Heritage. He owns the whole world and all the money in it. He can call anyone anywhere to be a part of this miracle. I am honored He called me to do so. This is just another test of faith in what has been a whole ministry of faith tests. I BELIEVE! I celebrate the $3,400. That is not what I have asked and what I believe for. It may not all come at once but I believe for all of it. The whole mountain to move. All the debt to be removed by the end of this year. That is what I feel compelled to pray for and believe for.  This is not a big mountain for God.

In the name of Jesus, mountain of debt I believe you to be removed. I do not doubt you Jesus to do this. I believe You to remove it all and be glorified by doing so. I stand on the principles you laid out in Mark 11:23-24. I ask You to increase those amounts donated on the building by ten fold even up to forty fold until the whole thing is gone. Thank you for those who are obeying You in giving. May their number increase. I ask You to move this mountain so other churches can be inspired and encouraged by what You can do for Heritage Baptist Church. In Your name Jesus I ask this, amen.

Parched

On my way in yesterday morning before the sun rose I could the sky lighting up indicating an approaching storm. The forecasters predicted the storm. They expected it during the evening hours but it drew near right about the time people commute to work.

By the time I reached my destination the sprinkles turned into a full fledge rain. I checked the weather radar and saw major rain heading our way. Before long thunder shook the building. Then the rain started falling. So loudly I could hear it falling on the metal roof of the building. The rain grew in intensity. Though well past sunrise by this time, the skies remained dark.  Outside a window I could see puddles forming on the parking lot. It rained hard. A welcome sight for those of us who have not seen much rain the past several months.

Later that night I had scheduled a football camp. I planned to spend the better part of two hours teaching football drills with my three youngest boys to children ages first grade through sixth grade and then planned to share the gospel in a devotional at the end. Looking out that window at the cascading rain and knowing more moved in our direction I thought we might have to cancel the event.

I did not look at the field for the football camp until well after lunch. By that time the sun had come out and the storm moved on just as fast as it came. I could not believe my eyes. The parched ground gulped all the water. I did not even see a puddle. No mud. Only dry ground. That parched ground thirsted for rain. It has been a hot dry summer in Texas. Just over a week ago we had temperatures climb up as high as 109 F. Along with the storm came cooler temperatures. The wind shifted out of the north and the temperature dropped to 88 F. That is a 21 degree drop. 88 never felt so cool. Very refreshing relief.

The camp went on as scheduled. All last evening I could not get over how the ground sucked up all the rain and remained dry.

It got me to thinking about something else. This old world is spiritually parched. It has been a long time since the United States experienced a great awakening. A long time since many countries experienced one either. During that time the drought of sin and the dryness of religion have increased. At a doctor's office this morning I watched a DIY show on flipping a house. The main guy flipping the house said it is a project he wanted to get done for his fiancé. In the next scene the fiancé turned out to be a man.

Homosexuality is increasing. So is drug abuse. Drugs are a seductive mistress tempting and tantalizing but in the end trapping and destroying. Profanity is common. Even among so called professional people. Vulgarity abounds. Immorality is common even among the so called people of God. All the while the church turns a blind eye and a deaf ear pretending not to notice. I guess the leaders are scared the offerings and attendance might drop if sin got exposed and people called to accountability. The clergy are not immune. I learned of two cases of ministers involved in affairs in a town far away. In the end, the church is often anemic, water downed and impotent to impact this parched world.

This is not the only time a civilization has been so far from God. There have been equally wicked times in the past. Sodom Gomorrah. Babylon. Rome.  Periodically in response to importunate prayer God has graced this old planet with seasons of refreshing in the form of revivals and awakenings. I believe this old planet cries out for such and outpouring of spiritual rain again. People are starving for such an outpouring even if they are not aware of their need.

If God would come once again and sweep across the Pine thickets, the swamp marshes, the crystal sand beaches, the mountain hills, the coastal plains, the urban inner cities, the country hamlets and all in between drawing people to repentance and salvation we would see something marvelous. There is a thirsting and starving for a move of God around this world.

Many have given themselves to incessant prayer for such a move. A move beyond any denomination, beyond the control of men and women, a move that cannot be contained and controlled. A move so powerful it is like a powerful storm approaching impacting everything and everyone caught in its path. O that God would send such a move again across the land. O that the remnant church would yearn for such a move rather than another powerless program.

He did it before. He is certainly powerful enough to do it again. I want this parched planet to see at least one more great awakening world wide before the end comes. I want to see revival rain fall and this dry and weary land to get a spiritual drink. I want to see the blood bought church become spotless again. I want to see preachers empowered to preach in Holy Ghost anointing. I want to see worship become reverent, devout, sincere, uninhibited and offered in unity. I want to see altars covered with broken repentant people and baptistries filled with the ripples of new converts. I want to see houses of worship keeping the doors open all week long to accommodate the great move of Jehovah around the world. I want see sins confessed and shunned. I want to see mass salvations impacting whole communities, cities, and countries.

God did this before. He did it through people like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, John and Charles Wesley, William and Catherine Booth, Evan Roberts, Charles Finney and a host of others whose names have been forgotten. We lived in parched times. The spiritual drought has lasted for a long time. Prayers have been offered. Supplications have been made. Intercessions have gone up fervently.

O Jehovah, Almighty, please hear and help us. Please let your revival rain fall on this planet sweeping up millions. I ask You to choose Your vessels. I ask You to set them apart for the task at hand. I ask You to whisk them away with You in the prayer closet. I ask You to burn revival fire in their souls. Like Elijah prayed for rain after a three year drought I ask You to hear these anointed pray for revival rain after decades of spiritual drought. I ask You to send it for the glory of Your name. I ask this in Your name Jesus for Your glory. Amen.

Face In The Crowd

I've seen many faces in the crowds over the years. Some familiar and loved. Some complete strangers. Some seemingly happy. Some sullen. Others seemingly heavy laden.

When I stepped behind the pulpit I noticed her. She sat in the back all alone. Well dressed. Very classy. Dignified. Many questions went through my mind all at once. What was she doing there? Why was she alone? What first impressions did she have? Would she encounter God?

She had never been there before. I recognized her immediately. A precious dear beloved sister in Christ for our family. When Brenda saw her she went and sat with her so she did not have to sit alone.

Not just any face. A familiar face. A beloved face. A beautiful face in the crowd. We have a lot of history together. Good history. Memories of love, laughter, walking through hardship, heartache, sorrow, victory and God's blessings. A relationship forged in the fires of trials. A love stronger than distance and time. A love that can only be known between a shepherd and one of his flock. A love so powerful it has to be eternal in nature. A love that has survived three moves and three different congregations.

Her presence caught me by surprise. She said she might show up where I preach one day. She warned me I would never know when she might show up walking through the door. I know my heart leapt inside me when I laid eyes on her. I was stunned for a moment.  One glance at her and my mind drifted back to over a decade ago. Not long after getting called to her church as pastor she had surgery. I visited her. Only weeks later a crisis occurred in her family and I got to really know her and her husband then. A bond formed. A bond thickened by the blood of Jesus.

This lady continually went out of her way to tangibly express her love for my family. All of her thoughtfulness and generosity touched me in a way I cannot forget. I have not been her official pastor in a long time. I still feel a pastoral bond to her and her whole family.

For a moment it was just like old times. The location was different and I stood behind a different pulpit preaching to a different group of people but seeing our friend there warmed my heart. It felt like old times.

One of the greatest blessings Brenda and I have enjoyed over the years is the special bond we have shared with many people in the different congregations we served. I think of people all the way back to our youth ministry days. People we loved. People we laughed with and served God along side. I think of those special people in our pastorates who have opened their hearts and homes to us. We have been richly blessed with wonderful people over the years. It is hard to stay in touch with all of them but that does not mean our love has diminished.

It is a supernatural thing when God weds a man's and wife's hearts together. It is also a supernatural thing when God weds the heart of a pastor with his congregation and that congregation to their pastor. We have experienced this. The love is beyond my ability to capture with words. Like I said, it is supernatural. It is something that can only be born in heaven.

There are plenty of pastors who do not love their flocks. Likewise, there are plenty of flocks who do not love their pastor. So when God creates a ministry marriage the pastor is not just looking at faces in the crowd. He is looking at people he has prayed for repeatedly. He is looking at people he has visited with in their homes. He is looking at parishioners he has visited in the hospitals. He gazes at the people he has grown to know and love. They are not just nameless faces. They are people God has entrusted to him to love, nurture, lead, protect, pray for and to feed the word of God. It is a solemn calling and one not to be taken lightly.

Such a relationship cannot be forged when you are a traveling preacher. You go in and out of places and barely get to know any of the people. I am thankful for churches that have invited me to minister to them repeatedly. Wonderful relationships have been developed. Still, this cannot compare to that special bond between a pastor and the sheep in the pews God has entrusted to him. What an awesome calling and blessing.

I don't want to be a preacher who just sees faces in the crowd. Some of the best ministry takes place after the service is over. Over meals and in one on one conversations. I visited with an elderly lady after the service ended yesterday. In our brief conversation I learned more about her than in all the other times I have seen her put together. I always want to be available after the last amen has been said. Divine encounters await on the back side of worship services.

I thank God for the blessing of seeing our friend. A meeting kept us from sharing a meal together but I trust it will not be the last time we cross paths. I anxiously await the next time I see her and her husband's faces in the crowd along with others we have come to know and love over the years.

Company Is Coming

You probably know the excitement when you know company is coming to your home to visit. The house is polished. The ouse gets an extra scrubbing. Things that have long been neglected get addressed. Ceiling fans are dusted. Furniture is polished. Based boards are wiped down. Showers are scrubbed. The lawn is manicured. An elaborate meal is prepared. You wait in anticipation for your guests to arrive. Then the door bell rings or you hear a knock at the door. You welcome your guests into your home excitedly because you have expected them all day.

Now take that same mentality but flip it to our worship gatherings. Do people carry that same mentality into weekly worship? Now I could travel to hundreds, possibly thousands of churches, and ask the question, "Do you want your church to grow? Do you want to reach lost people with the gospel of Jesus?" Over and over again I am confident congregations would overwhelming affirm that is what they want to do.

Look a little closer. Examine beyond the words such churches speak and look at what they do. Many never expect company to come. They do not prepare for them. They do not expect them. If guests actually show up I fear some may even resent their intrusion. Things are done haphazardly. Things that go unnoticed to the home folk get noticed by the newcomers.

Houses of worship fall into disrepair. The home folks grow accustomed to these things. A broken item here. A stain there. An untidy corner or room. The home folk learn to ignore the little problems that accumulate over time. Guests come not knowing what to expect. When they see things in disrepair it makes an impression. When company comes first impressions are made. I am sad to report they are not always positive impressions.

We say we want to evangelize the lost and unchurched. Yet members can be cliquish and unwelcoming of newcomers. These members look at the newcomers as outsiders. They are content to maintain the status quo. They fail to realize their beloved congregations are dying. It is said that when someone visits a church for the first time they often determine within the first few minutes whether they will return.

When you expect company is coming you prepare. You clean. You dress nicer than when you are just lounging around your home. You expect them to come. You are ready to welcome and receive them when they arrive. You go out of your way to make them feel comfortable. You serve them. You do your best.

Why should it be any different when it comes to worship gatherings. We should anticipate company will come. We should invite them to come and want them to come. We should be ready when they do. We should work hard to make a god first impression. We should welcome them with open hearts and open arms. We should include them. We should want them to return. Let's all be ready because company is coming.

Put Your Heart And Soul Into It

I had just finished preaching a week of camp. I stopped at a Burger King for breakfast before heading to the airport. Let's just say the service was less than desirable. The guy at the counter acted like he did not want to be there. He mumbled when he talked and worked in slow motion. The people in the back cooking the food were moving at the same snail's pace. More and more people arrived after I did and they were not happy with the slow service. I dared not say anything for fear of what they might do to my food.

It does not matter what your job is. You can work hard and put forth your best effort. This should be true of everyone but especially Christians. Followers of Jesus should set the example in work ethic and doing quality work no matter the job.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)
23  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Paul writes, "Whatever you do..." It does not matter if you are cleaning house, working in a shop, mowing the lawn, doing homework, volunteering etc. Whatever you do. Cooking a meal. Working at the office and turning in a report. Teaching a class. We are do our work heartily.

To work heartily means to work with heart, soul and mind. I like the way the Phillips translation puts that verse. "put your whole heart and soul into it."

Look around you. Do you see this in America always? Do people always put their whole heart and soul into what they do? Do athletes at school always give maximum effort? Do students always turn in their best work? Do employees always work hard for their employer?

I get it. Not everybody can have a glamorous high paying job. That does not excuse doing a poor job. I have preached in large churches and small. Many years ago, when Brenda and I started a church in our house, I actually taught one lady. Everyone else had to be out of town that day. Brenda stayed in our bedroom and taught our four boys and that lady's two boys. In the living room sat just the two of us. I still gave her my best. I did it to honor God. There have been occasions when I have preached to over 1,000 people. Most Sundays I preach to less than 50. It is my desire to give the same diligence in prayer, study and passion no matter the size of the crowd.

I recall seeing an interview by former NFL coach and analyst Herm Edwards. He talked about his father insisting he do a good job at whatever he did. That included sweeping the floor. When he swept the floor his father would always remind him to make sure he swept the corners. To this day I never sweep the floor that I am not reminded of that and make sure I sweep the corners. We are to do our best even in the little things.

It is easy to take shortcuts. To cut corners in our work around the house and in our profession. It is especially easy to do this in our service for Jesus. How few it seems give Jesus their best. It appears to me, after many years of watching, that a lot of people give Jesus the leftovers. Leftovers of their time and talents. Leftovers of their money. Leftovers of their passion.

I just finished working at VBS. I witnessed several senior adults giving Jesus their best efforts. In the kitchen preparing the meals. In the classroom. In cleaning up afterwards. I saw a senior adult man wiping down tables. I saw his wife give her life to three and four years old that week. I saw a senior adult man on his knees scraping up tape off the floor holding down streamers. I saw senior adult women on ladders putting up and taking down decorations. They worked hard and served right along side younger adults. Their age did not keep them from working heartily.

They did this not just for the kids. They did it for Jesus. They worked heartily as unto the Lord. No matter what we do we are to do it for the Lord. I wish I had been taught this in my high school and college years. I did not understand that biology and geology classes were just as important in the eyes of God as my Bible classes. God wants our best efforts.

In a world of half hearted work ethic, where people do the minimum expected just to earn a paycheck, quality is often thrown out the window. You may be a cook, a garbage man/woman, in the military, on a construction crew, a janitor, coach, mechanic, rancher, farmer, nurse or jailer. The title of the job does not excuse a poor effort. God wants our best. If we are not faithful in the little assignments how can we ever be trusted with larger assignments.

Work heartily at whatever you do. This glorifies God. [Matt 5:16] This is another expression of worship. What we do as work can be done as worship. I don't know what you have on your plate for today. I hope you will give your best for the Lord in whatever you are doing.

The Angels Are Rejoicing

I shared the gospel on our last night with the children and their parents at VBS. It was a simple presentation of how Jesus forgives us and takes away our sins. I also talked about commitment and Jesus taking over the driver's seat of our lives. No high pressure. No manipulation. I made myself available afterwards to talk to anyone. I am always nervous about children really understanding what they are doing when it comes to salvation. We can be so eager for them to get saved that we just want them to say "the prayer."

Over the years I have encountered a lot of people who "prayed the prayer" but did not understand repentance and salvation but they "prayed the prayer." Many of them have confessed to me they did not know what they did when they were younger when they prayed 'the prayer." So I told the children and parents that I would be the last one to leave if anyone wanted to talk to me afterward. Nobody responded as the evening came to an end.

I busied myself with helping take down decorations in preparation for our next worship gathering. In the middle of that a little boy approached me. He is from out of state and spent the week visiting his grandparents and attending our VBS. He is a sweet little boy. He came to help me. Brenda told me he really wanted to talk to me.

He nad I went back to my office. He told me he wanted to commit his life to Jesus. I explained the gospel a little more. I asked if knew what sin was and if he had ever committed any. He did not hesitate to give me several examples.

He prayed his own prayer. He bowed his little head and prayed a long time to himself.  Right there he made his peace with God and got gloriously saved. At that moment the angels rejoiced. So did I. So did his grandmother and Brenda and others he told moments later.

Come to find out he and his grandmother had already left to go home for the night when he told her what he wanted to do. She turned around and brought him back to talk to me. She could have just as easily more fully explained the gospel and led him to faith in Jesus. For some reasons she opted to let me be a part of that miraculous moment. I thank God for it. It made all the work, late nights, trying to corral children, all the hugs and little ones clamoring for attention worth it. Little Parker got saved and now he and I are brother in Jesus. The angels are rejoicing and so am I.

Luke 15:7 (NKJV)
7  I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

More Revelation And Elevation

Exodus 19:17-18 (NKJV)
17  And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18  Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

None of us can fully grasp how holy and glorious God is. I read this passage this morning. It got me to thinking about how casually we come into God's presence. Have we lost the fear of the Lord? Do we revere Jehovah? Do we really know Him or press in to know Him?

He is greater than we know. He does not fit into our box. He is grander than we have ever thought. We are ever going to truly discover Him we need His help. We need Him to reveal Himself to us. We also need Him to elevate our minds to be able to think about how grand He is.

Who can fathom His greatness. God came down to meet Moses. God warned the people not to step on the mountain. He invited Moses to meet Him on Mount Sinai. There was thunder, lightening and a thick cloud on the mountain as God made His entrance. The people were frightened witnessing all t this.

Mount Sinai was enveloped in smoke because Yahweh descended in fire on it. The whole mountain shook and quaked violently in the presence of the Almighty. A sense of holy awe settles over me even writing about it.

Several years ago I preached a youth camp where we worshipped outdoors. One night I preached on this very passage. Suddenly a thunderstorm whipped out of nowhere. The sky lit up with lightening and the ground shook from the thunder. Soon the rain pounded that little tabernacle. The noise of it all grew so loud I had to stop preaching for awhile. I was powerless to speak over the thunder and the rain on the tin roof.

The scene on Mount Sinai dwarfed what happened at that youth camp. Yet think of how causally people enter into devotions and public worship. We do not act like a holy, majestic, righteous and glorious God is in the midst. What if just once God manifested His presence like He did on Sinai or at the dedication of the temple after King Solomon's prayer? We shake in our boots.

It is hard to eve write this. The words fail me. I am awed but my vocabulary cannot capture the intensity of that thought adequately. It impacted the way I prayed this morning. I had to repent. I spent more time in private worship than in petitioning Jehovah for anything.

He is so much more than we know and have ever experienced. Do we really want to know Him? Do we dare to keep drawing nearer? He is greater than my imagination can conceive. We cannot think thoughts that lofty without His revelation and elevation of our minds. That is what I am asking for all of us. More revelation of Him. More elevation of minds to think about Him.

36 Straight

I recently posted about John Hyde better knows as "Praying Hyde" or the "Apostle of Prayer." The stories about him are legendary. While in Seminary people credit God answering his prayers for more people going out as missionaries. God heard and sent dozens of people in answer.

I wrote about how he would get so caught up in God that he often missed sleep and meals. I am just settling into the biography about him. One story I read grabbed my attention. On one occasion God so gripped this man of faith that he prayed on his knees for 36 straight hours. That is a day and a half without sleep or food lost in the wonder of worship through prayer and intercession.

I am confident there are many people who do not pray that long in a month. Maybe not even several months. God so gripped this man that nothing else distracted him from communion with his Father. We are so easily distracted. An email, phone call or text arrest our attention away from supplicating. We find various things to keep us busy and away from the prayer closet. Prayer is hard work. 36 straight hours is humanly impossible.

To pray that long with such devoted attention requires surrender of the flesh. Only God can keep a man solely shut up to Himself for 36 straight hours. Only God can grant a person that kind of endurance physically and that kind of faith spiritually to pray that long. I am both awed and humbled that God can get so much of a man.

What in the world could he have prayed about for that long? How about these things. The millions of lost souls in India. Strength for the pastors and missionaries to carry on the good work. Revival of the churches in India. Prayers for God to call more workers into the harvest. Prayers for holiness to characterize the lives of the church. Prayers for people to be drawn into deeper and more effective praying. Prayers for more opportunities to share Jesus with lost people. Prayers for a deeper love for God and people. These are only a few possibilities. On top of that you could add all the time he spent listening to God instead of doing all the talking.

Still 36 straight hours is beyond impressive. It is inspiring. Don't get me wrong. I am not about to set out and try to pray for 36 straight hours. I do want to pray so devotedly that I am not enticed away from God and distracted from giving Him my full and undivided attention. O that God would get more of me. O that He would get more of all of us. So much so that everyone and everything else takes second place to Him.

History records the powerful answers to "Praying Hyde's" prayers. It is also true that history is recording the lack of answers to our prayer less generation. Woe is us.

Out Of My Comfort Zone

I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I am the preacher. The one preaching salvation and repentance. No nonsense. Intense. Hard nosed. I like the hard messages. I do not shy away from the hard truth. Yet these past few days I have been way out of my comfort zone. No. WAY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!

They needed help. A need was publicized. I felt like I should volunteer though I knew it would mean stepping way outside of my comfort zone. I am most at home writing, studying, preaching, making pastoral visits, teaching, praying and leading. Those things are in my wheelhouse. Not this week. This week I have not done those things. My assignment called for patience. It called for tenderness, compassion, love and a willingness to get up close to people. Way closer than I ever dreamed.

I like my personal space. I don't like people crowding me. The people I've ministered to this week have not honored personal space. They do not care. They do not have filters on expressing their emotions both positive and negative. They have never been taught about personal space. They just say what they think. They press in close and closer. No matter how I tried to hold them at bay they refused my personal boundaries.

I did not know most of these people before this week. They were complete strangers. Even now I barely know them on a first name basis. They are pushy. Needy. At times they are moody. They can be unruly. Who am I referring to? The children who have attended our Vacation Bible School.

I volunteered to work with the first and second graders. Those little ones have wormed their way into my heart. Last night while they eat popsicles and I sat near them they began inching forward. First a little boy. Next a little girl. Not to be outdone two other little girls left their side of the table to come to mine. Before I knew what happened I had one trying to sit in my lap, two hugging me from the side and another holding my hand.

A little later I sat on the first step of the stage talking to all the children. Two little girls got up and came to sit next to me. Another girl not to be outdone wanted to know why those girls sat next to me and she had to be on the floor. She sat next to me on my left side when I invited her.

It has been some time since I have been hugged so much, had people wanting to sit so close to me who were not related to me and had so many wanting my attention all at the same time. I have a new appreciation for professional teachers. They have love and energy levels to equal the task before them. I am only dealing with a few children. Teachers deal with whole classrooms filled with those beautiful, loud, squirmy, excitable and wonderful children.

I am no minister to children. I get nervous teaching them. If they get bored they do not even pretend to pay attention out of courtesy. Thursday night I will present the gospel to all the children as well as their parents. I would appreciate your prayers for help. I get more nervous talking to children than a crowd of 1,000 people.

Jesus loves children. When He walked the earth He welcomed them. He embraced and affirmed them. How can we as adults do any different? Even though it is out of my comfort zone how can I not give my time and attention to those little ones valued so much by our Savior.

I see these children and wonder what kind of lives they have outside the church. Do they have both parents in their lives? Do those parents make time for them and treasure them? Are they loved? Are they mistreated and even abused? Are they taught about Jesus outside events like VBS? Are they taught to obey authority?  Jesus welcomed and embraced children. We are called to do the same. I am not sure from night to night what all that will mean.

It might mean having multiple children draped around my neck and clutching at my hands. It might mean some sitting in my lap instead of in their chair. It might mean just listening to them while looking into their eyes. One little girl pretended like she read a card to me last night. She rambled on and on about God and Jesus and how much they love us. I listened and smiled. Another boy accidentally fell into some decorations while I watched from the side. When he made eye contact with me I saw the fear in his eyes  and his shoulders slumped. I called him to me and told him I knew it was just an accident and asked him to be careful. I am sure he expected to get into trouble. Grace was what he needed in that moment and for salvation of his little soul.

As a pastor I love getting to know children. I want to be approachable. I never want to get so busy or big time that I do not have or make time for children. I love seeing them up and down the halls when we gather for worship.

O Jesus, if You need a pastor and a church to welcome children, even the difficult ones, and You are looking for a flock who will love them and teach them about Jesus please send some to us. I know You already have many churches and pastors doing that already. If there are children falling through the cracks let them to fall to us. May we be your heart, your hands, and your voice to them. Maybe You could entrust some of them to us. With your help I will love them, let them violate my personal space, get down on their level and get way out of my comfort zone.

Nickname

If someone were to give you a nickname what would you want it to be? I know two student pastors known better as "Bro." I know a worship pastor we just call "Rocket." In college we called a student who grew up cowboying "Tex." We called another guy "Big Bird."

Some nicknames characterize a person. Brenda was called "Smiley" growing up. Her smile can light up a room. Some put descriptions in the nickname. "Big E." "Tiny T" "Sweet T." "Sweet Lou." "Tiny Tim". "Big John".

What would you want your nickname to be? What would you want it to characterize about you? A guy named John got a nickname. I am not referring to John the Baptist. This John lived much later. Most people may not even know him by his first name. They probably just know him by his nickname. "Praying Hyde." He long ago departed to heaven but he lived a mighty life.

"Praying" John Hyde served as a missionary. He devoted himself to prayer like few others who have ever lived. Especially the intercession for lost souls. At one point he prayed for and believed God to use him to lead several souls to salvation in Jesus every single day. God not only heard but He also answered those prayers.

Praying Hyde forsook sleep and meals in his prayers often. Many times he prayed right through meetings refusing to break fellowship with God to keep the company of men when God would not release him from the prayer closet.

Sitting on my desk is a well worn hardback book written by Basil Miller. The title of that book is Praying Hyde: A Man Of Prayer. I have read it before but am about to start it again. There is still so much to learn on the subject of prayer.

If I could choose my nickname I would not choose"Revivalist", "Evangelist", "Pastor", "Author" or anything else I can imagine. I would choose to be known for prayer. Not one single day of my life have I ever given myself to the exercise of prayer like Praying Hyde. Not once. I have prayed. Only God knows how much and how long. I have never received the powerful results Hyde received in answer to his prayers. I have preached on prayer. I have written on prayer repeatedly. Have I ever prayed so fervently and consistently that it characterized my whole life? Sadly I would have to say no.

Prayer is multifaceted. Through prayer we get to know God. Not get to know about Him. We fellowship with Him. We encounter Him. We walk with Him. We worship Him. We discover Him. We hear from Him.

Through the exercise of prayer and Scripture study our faith increases. We can trust God to move mountains of various shapes and sizes. We can grow in confidence and conviction that nothing is impossible with God.

In prayer we become instruments of revival. To see the morale climate of churches, communities and even whole countries changed.

Praying Hyde prayed mightily, preached mightily, won souls mightily and walked mightily with God in the mission field.

I don't know what you want to be remembered for. Being a great cook, host or hostess, great money manager, a successful business person, an inspiring leader, a loving and compassionate person? If God would let me choose and, if one nickname could truthfully characterize my life, I would choose prayer. I am not such a person. At least not yet. May God grow me into that kind of person. May He make me willing to pay the price to intercede alone for those desperate with need from family, to friends and flock.

Isaiah 62:6-7 (NKJV)
6  I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,
7  And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Leaning More

Have you ever felt under the gun? Bowed low under tremendous pressure at home and at work? Have you felt exhausted on Monday morning like you did not even have a weekend? Do you feel the time crunch from projects demanding time and attention?

What do you do when you start a new work week just as exhausted and you felt when you finished last week? The good news is we do not have try and work in our own strength. God is our help. He is strength to the weary. He is endurance to the exhausted. He is creativity to the one who cannot think straight. He is patience with one so tired the nerves are frayed and wearing thin with co-workers and family. All of us must lean harder into Him.

If we give Him the best part of our day in private worship it is amazing how efficient He can make us. With Him working through us we can accomplish much more than if we tried to work in our own strength. Our strength is limited. His enables us to be more efficient and effective.

All sorts of verses are popping around in my head like popcorn. Is 41:10. Ps 27:13-14. Phil 4:13. Heb 12:1. Gal 6:9.

Many times over the years I've confessed my weakness and need for God's strength during busy seasons of ministry. Time and time again He has helped me come through. He has empowered me to stay the course. How I bless Him for it.

I am in another one of those busy stretches. Yet His peace and strength are helping me daily. I am pressing through. With Christ I can do all things because He strengthens me. He helps me to keep preaching and teaching. He opens His word with fresh insight. He helps me keep writing. He helps me to keep loving people and sharing the gospel. He helps me shepherd the flock. He is faithful even when I am tired and worn out.

 Thank You God for helping us in our weakness. I do not have to pretend to be strong. I just lean on You more and more. You help me. You help all of us finish projects when quitting would be easier. Thank You God for helping all of us. May we lean on You more and more.

I Just Want To Serve The Lord

He told me repeatedly, "I just want to serve the Lord," during the course our conversation. He is well past retirement years but he and his wife are not content to be pushed to the side with other senior adults and just be entertained from time to time. They both want to work for God. They still have much to give.

They have inspired me to do more. Age is not an excuse. Many people work just so they can get to the point when they can retire. They retire to play or sit with no purpose and no passion for living. Senior adults have much more to offer than many people are willing to give them credit for. They just need to be asked.

I had a recent conversation with a lady who suffered a debilitating accident. With tears in her eyes she  lamented the fact that she is unable to help with VBS. Others who are younger and have better health lament the fact that they are asked to do things for God and their church. She wishes she could do the things others regret having to do.

I know a senior adult man who gathered cattle on horseback on his eightieth birthday. He still faithfully teaches a Sunday class. He's not looking for a rocking chair to retire. He is looking for his ministry. I wish I served a church filled with people like that man. I am thinking about two pastors. One just turned 70 and is still growing strong. The other is 73 and has served his flock for nearly two and a half decades. Both faithful stalwarts of the faith.

We are missing out on a gold mine of wealth in talent, creativity and all sorts of skill sets that could be leveraged for the Kingdom of God if senior adults were just asked and made to feel useful. I am thankful for senior adults. I see many of them still serving and active in ministry. I still see them looking for opportunities to serve. I still see them singing joyfully and doing what they can for the King of Kings.

To all senior adults who still serve and do not use their age as an excuse I salute you. I say thank you for what you do for Jesus and have done for our King and for His kingdom.

More Than Enough

In my ministry I run into all kinds of people. Some of those people live on very little. They have huge hearts filled with love, joy and a desire to serve Jesus. They are also very generous. They just do not have a lot of extra to give. They give what they can. They know the meaning of sacrifice. They scrape by each week and every month. There is never extra and when things break like washing machines, cars or house repairs they lean on God a little more for help. Just last night a lady testified about God providing her with a washing machine after hers broke.

While reading Exodus I was encouraged by what a great provider Jehovah is. God led Israel in the wilderness. They went through a series of tests. First, it was the Red Sea. Then it was thirsting for water in the wilderness. Not long after that test came a new one. Israel hungered. There was no Taco Beuno or Chic Fil A. They found no grocery stores. The people were hungry and hungry people without food get grumpy. They grumbled, murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron.

God saw it and heard it. What He did next proved to be a miracle that lasted for forty years. God rained down bread from heaven.. The manna came everyday except for the Sabbath. All those people had more than enough. Their need was food. God provided in a way they could have never predicted. He still does that. He provided that miracle bread for 40 years. Do the math. That is 14,600 days. That manna came down without fail everyday except on the Sabbath. They ate to their content. They could not store up any of it for the next day. God supplied what they needed for each day.

He is still doing that? Do you have a home or shelter to sleep in? Do you have a bed to rest on at night or even a cot? Do you have water to drink? Do you have food to eat even it is only beans and cornbread? Do you have some clothing to wear no matter if it is fashionable or not? Do you have access to a Bible and a church to worship? Do you have a place to bathe or shower? Do you have feet to walk on, a bicycle or a vehicle for transportation or access to public transportation? If you have those things would not agree God has given us more than enough.

I don't know what your needs are. I know they are not greater than Jehovah God's resources. He has more than enough for you, not just today but, all the days of your life. He may not send it the first time you ask. This is not because He does not love you. He wants to build a strong trust in you. He wants you to believe Him and His promises. He wants you to know He is faithful. [I Thess 5:24]

Brenda and I have experienced God's faithful provision in more ways than I can recount. I have tried to give Him the glory and  brag on Him through preaching and writing for His faithfulness to us. There is a story I have been reluctant to share. Mainly out of embarrassment.

A few months ago things were bad financially in our household. We have known seasons of plenty and seasons of lack. This was one of the worst seasons of lack we had ever had. We did not tell anyone. We suffered through it. I was traveling each weekend preaching. It was costing me as much to travel with gas and food  than I was being compensated. We kept falling further and further behind on our bills. Doors for secular employment shut as well. I applied at many places and everyone was a shut door. I tried applying at grocery stores, a funeral home, a newspaper, a fitness center, several positions at a hospital and fitness center, library and  a hotel. I was turned down by each. Even a Christian school as a Bible teachers and coach position went to someone else.

We had lack and only God to turn to for help. We made our needs known to God alone. In one day God showed His power and bountiful provision. On a preaching trip without our ever saying one word about our need we were blessed repeatedly. God showered us with provision just like He did with Israel and the mana. We had more than enough to pay our bills. He tested our faith and we leaned harder into Him and found Him steadfast and true just like we have experienced numerous times before in over 27 years of marriage.

I don't care how great your need is, God's resources are more than enough. [Phil 4:19] [Exodus 16] [I Kings 17] He has all you need today and everyday of your life. Do you believe that? $100 is nothing to Him. Neither is $1,000, $10,000, $100,000, or even $1,000,000. He owns everything. [Ps 24:1] He owns the cattle on a thousands hills. When we have needs He is willing to sell off a few cows to meet a need in our lives.

This journey with Him is a walk of faith. A journey Brenda and I have embraced. It has not been easy. But I can say He still has more than enough to share with us and more than enough for you and your need too. Trust that today. He has more than enough.

Marah

Everybody goes through Marah. The word means bitter. People have to travel through Marah from time to time.

I talked to a rancher this week. He had to get rid of much of his herd because of the drought. That is part of his Marah. I recently met a lady facing severe health problems. They do not slow her down. She is still active in serving the Lord but she also faces Marah. I am thinking of another lady who battles arthritis. It is in her back and legs. She has a hard time getting around and cannot stand for long durations. This is her Marah. I visited with a mother concerned for her children and their walks with the Lord. This is her Marah. I know a pastor who lost his wife a little over a year ago and now he has lost his ability to live on his own. He is now in a retirement home. This is his Marah. There are Marah's all around us.

Life is filled with bitterness. I'm not suggesting there are not sweet seasons too. Most assuredly there are but that does not lessen the fact that there are also Marahs.

Israel arrived at Marah right after their deliverance at the Red Sea. When they left the Red Sea about a three days journey in the wilderness they got thirsty. With no water to drink the people began to grumble and complain. That is when they arrived at Marah. They found water but the water was bitter. They could not drink it. That appears to be a cruel joke. Why would God lead thirsty people to bitter water they were unable to drink? On the surface that appears sinister and evil.

Exodus 15:22-24 (NASB)
22  Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23  When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah.
24  So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"

How quickly people can turn on others and Jehovah when they encounter Marah? Jehovah not only had a plan but He also had a purpose for Marah. Marah was to test Israel. To see if they would trust and obey Jehovah.  His plan, though illogical, when revealed to Moses and obeyed, produced sweet water. One revelation from God and act of faith turned Marah into sweet water. 

Over and over again we are tested by God in this life. We are tested in Marah. We are not alone. Joseph was tested [Gen 37-41]. So was Elijah at Cherith [I Kings 17:1-7] David was tested by both Goliath and King Saul. Job faced Marah. Read the entire book that bears his name.  [I Sam 17-27] John the Baptist was tested in prison and then martyrdom. [Mark 6:14-31] Paul and Silas were also tested in prison [Acts 16:22-25].

Charles Spurgeon faced Mrah with poor health. He died before reaching the age of 60. David Brainerd suffered from Tuberculosis and died as a young man. He suffered in his Marah but remained faithful in his ministry. John Bunyan faced the Marah of prison because of his faithful ministry and his family suffered poverty as a result.  Fanny Crosby wrote hymns we still sing today though she battled the Marah of blindness. Hudson Taylor, a missionary in China, suffered the Marah of the death of children and two wives but, He did not give up on God nor his mission to evangelize the Chinese people. 

All of us are tested from time to time at Marah. How do we react to Marah? Do we grumble and complain? Do we give into to fear and doubt in what we see or do we embrace faith and courage to fight through Marah. Do we pass the test? 

God has plans for our Marahs. He has His purposes too. Do we trust Him in it. Do we trust that He can take what is bitter and with one act of obedience He can make the bitter become sweet?

Brenda and I have been in Marah for six years. I praise His name we are coming out of it now. The bitterness is passing. Life is sweet again. He used Marah to strengthen us. Marah makes us lean on Him more. Marah reveals the truth in our hearts. I praise His name there is sweetness on the other side of Marah. 

A Guiding Light

There have been many seasons in my life when I did not know the right decision to make. I did not know which way to turn or what direction to go. I weighted the options. At times I even made lists of pros and cons about what decision to make. Of course I prayed and asked the opinions of those closest to me. None of those things really helped in the end. I would ponder and make my lists, pray and still sit unsure and unclear about what to do.

I faced this when trying to decide where to go to college. God guided me to Howard Payne University. I thought just to play football. I would not have even heard of HPU except for a friend who grew up on my home church who recommended I check it out. I never even visited another college campus even though I had three other colleges express interest in my playing football for them. One visit to HPU and I just knew that was where I was to go. God's guiding light directed me to go to that small Christian university. It proved strategic. God knew He would call me to ministry only a few months later and there I met my wife and several close friends to this day.

At other times I've needed to make decisions about such things as where we ministered, where we lived and where our sons would go to to college. God's guiding light has always been there to point the right path to take. You may ask what guiding light?

God has guided me in two ways. One,I talk about all the time. It is the light of His word.
Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Over the years I've learned some things about how God communicates. When He wants to direct my path in a certain way without fail He uses His word. Each time God has wanted a major change in my life and ministry He has used certain scriptures over and over again to get my attention. Before I went to Paradise, TX he used Deut 1:8. Before going to Seminole He used Rom 12:1 and Matt 9:35-38. In the past several years it has been Is 6:8. Earlier this summer He used Heb 11:1,6. He has used Matt 16:24 for years in our lives. Those same verses will continually show up in my Bible reading, in other books I read, in songs, in listening to other people teach or preach. You may not believe this but a year ago I preached a youth camp and two of those verses showed up on the campus of that college. One verse was on a large brick sign. The other verse was written in the concrete on a sidewalk. At the time I did not have clarity of direction but I knew God was guiding me with the light of His word. Looking back today it has all come together. His word gave light to my path.

Lamps and lighst are not like what we have today. We have powerful flashlights and spotlights or headlights on a vehicle to illumine our path. God's word is seldom like that. It is more like a lantern or a torch which gives us enough light for the next few steps in front of us. God guides us with His light often just a few steps at a time. Why? I believe one reason for this is it causes us to stay in communion with Him and to trust Him. If He showed us the whole path we might try to get ahead of Him and find shortcuts to get to the end destination. God is more interested in our relationship than just us getting to the end destination.

I can think back over the years to certain times I had with God in devotions and how His word illumined my path. He gave me a glimpse of His plans for me beside a lake at a picnic table in east Texas early one morning. He met me in my living room one morning when I was about to pull back from a step of faith He wanted me to take. Another time I met Him early in the pages of Scripture when He wanted me to relocate our ministry and I doubted. I was about to pull back when I read the story of Jonah trying to run from the will of God. I recall meeting with Him as a guest in a home on a preaching assignment and then again later that night at the altar of that church when I finished preaching. Those two encounters with His word changed where we lived and served. I met Him recently on the front row on the far right side in a blue padded chair in a small sanctuary after another message. On that night I prayed this prayer, "God if nobody was really listening tonight I was. I lay my life before You. I surrender my will and dreams in favor of Yours. Whatever You want me to do I give you my yes." Within one week of that encounter God showed me exactly what He wanted me to do.

When I look back on all the times God has guided me with His word I am amazed. At critical junctions He sent the right verse at the right time. Timely words to guide my steps. HIs guiding light has not failed me. It has been as certain as a roadmap.

His guiding light has come in other forms. One of the most consistent has been His peace or lack of peace in certain situations. One time Brenda and I stepped out in faith in a ministry venture with eagerness. As the weeks passed I began to doubt we were on the right path. The lack of peace persisted. Brenda commented that she had never seen me like that before. As time passed I became more and more restless.

In desperation I contacted 12 people I trust for spiritual counsel.. I explained the situation. The consensus of that counsel was that I had made a mistake. As painful and embarrassing as it was I had to retract from our ministry commitment. God confirmed we made the right decision in a dramatic fashion neither Brenda and I could miss the very next day after we stepped away. We now know we made the right decision because of the guiding light of His peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The light of His word and the light of His peace guide the Edwards' steps. I am content He has done that even to this day. We believe we are right where He wants us to be for now. I would not trade for the times I've had with Him in the pages of His word seeking His guiding light. It is a light that never fades. There were many days when I closed my Bible with no more light than I had the day before. I kept reading and seeking. When He was ready, at the appointed time, He gave more light to show Brenda and I the way. When He did this we were always on the same page.

There have been numerous times when His peace or lack of peace overwhelmed. At times we have turned away from many opportunities because of lack of peace. We have also planted our lives and roots in places because of His peace.

Recently we were extended a new ministry opportunity. It would have required relocating. On the surface it looked appealing. The word did not give us guidance nor did either of us have peace. In the end we backed away believing God had something else in mind. In a matter of days He revealed a lighted path to what He wanted. His word confirmed it. His peace sealed it.

If you are facing tough decisions I exhort you to trust the guiding light of God's word and His peace. If you do not have either I would counsel you to wait. Wait on God give you light. It will save you a lot of headaches and heartaches if you wait for His guiding light.

Receiving The Word In Affliction

Everywhere I go it seems people are battling afflictions. Some are health related. Some are financial in nature. Many endure grief as widows or widowers. The list is long of people enduring chronic pain and the pain of sin in loved ones. It seems each week I hear new stories.

I also see these brave people continue to show up week after week to receive God's word. They hunger for it. They long for the meat of it. God's word feeds their souls and gives them the strength, courage and faith to keep battling the suffering and pain in their lives.

God takes His word and applies it to our hearts. Sometimes that comes in the form of a stern rebuke. Sometimes it comes in the form of exhortation to give us hope for better days. Sometimes His word inspires us to keep trusting Him. At other times His word reminds us of all Jehovah has done for us in salvation resulting in our loving Him more.

I am continually inspired by people who are suffering horribly. They still come to receive the word. They still love and trust Jesus to help them through. They still have joy. One person commented to me just yesterday that her pain made her tough as she trusted God through it all. Decades of painful sorrow and yet looking on the outside I would have never known what she has been through. Her receiving the word and joy hide decades of pain she has carried.

My job is to feed people the word and to help them. What happens over and over again is I am inspired by people who endure much affliction and yet they don't give up on God. They still love Him. They still seek Him. They still serve Him. They still yearn for His truth.

I am thinking about a lady that lost her husband yers ago. That has not stopped her from serving Jesus. She still teaches a Sunday school class. She is the church treasurer. She has coordinated meals for her church and community for years. She does it all with joy.

I'm thinking about several farmers who have farmed through years of bounty and years of drought and loss. They and their families are people of deep faith seeking God with all their hearts. Even in the learn years They receive God's word with joy.

I am thinking of a lady who has suffered pain in her life. I was shown a picture of her while on vacation digging into God's word sitting on a beach looking out at the ocean. I know for a fact it is her habit to dig into the scriptures daily. She inspires me to keep doing the same.

I think of a pastor named who lost his wife to a brain tumor. All the while he kept reminding me that God is good. He did not waver in his faith. Now he lives in another state near his children still ministering where God lets him.

I think of a pastoral couple in west Texas who have faithfully served their church for 23 years. They have done so through health set backs and the pain of losing a son and seeing another son battle a life threatening illness. Through it all they not only receive the word joyfully but deliver it joyfully as well. They inspire me.

There are others. More than I can include here. Men, women and students ministering the word with joy and receiving the word with joy even in the middle of their pain. Too all of you I say, you have my respect and admiration. You inspire me to do more for Jesus. I love you and thank God you are examples for the rest of us.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (ESV)
6  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
7  so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Majority Rule

Each person made their voice known. When all was said and done the vote was unanimous. It is a beautiful thing when people all get on the same page and make their decisions with like minds. Such was the case on this historic day. With so much harmony and unity it looked to be a great day. Only one thing. THESE PEOPLE CHOSE UNANIMOUSLY NOT TO DO THE WILL OF GOD!

You can read about this incident in the nation of Israel in [I Samuel 8:1-22]. Samuel had aged. He appointed his two sons to serve as judges over Israel. Both boys were in it for the money. They accepted bribes to pervert justice. They chased after filthy lucre. Samuel knew it. All the people knew it. Something had to be done.

That is why the elders of Israel came to Samuel with a proposition. They wanted a king just like all the other nations. God was their King. Yet He was not enough. They rejected Him in favor of an earthly king. The elders were all in agreement on this matter. Let me say every good idea is not always a God idea. That bears repeating. EVERY GOOD IDEA IS NOT ALWAYS A GOD IDEA.

This displeased Samuel greatly. It grieved and angered him. He did the wise thing. He prayed. He sought God on how to handle the matter. God's answer must have been surprising. God counseled Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people." In other words, give them what they wanted. God told Samuel to warn the people what would happen if they chose an earthy king.

God warned Israel an earthly king would take their sons and daughters as soldiers and servants in the palace. He warned they would have to give up their livestock, crops, and servants also to the king.

Predictably, Israel refused to obey Samuel. They rejected his prophetic words. In one accord they chose not to obey God. The majority ruled. The unanimous vote was not do the will of God. The majority were wrong.

This is seen around the country. The majority rules the elections and makes the decisions from the Supreme Court all the way down to the municipal courts. The majority in the jury rule. The majority of the Supreme Court Justices win. The majority of the senatorial and congressional votes win the issue. How many times does the majority vote not to do what God wants. Legalized abortion. Homosexual marriage. Legalized marijuana. This is just to name a few.

If you want to stand with God you had best be prepared to stand in the minority. Just ask Joshua and Caleb. Ask David about facing Goliath alone. Talk to Jonathan about attacking hostile troops with just his armor bearer. What about Elijah on Mount Carmel. Or Paul and Silas in prison.

The majority are not always right. Many in the majority do not even seek the counsel of God about important decisions. This includes the church. People use logic, common sense and business techniques to make decisions. I have never seen a sadder day for churches seeking new pastors. It has become a very unspiritual process. They choose pastors like Wall Street companies choose a new CEO. Is their choice always God's choice.

There are consequences for our choices. When we choose to rebel against God there will be a reckoning. [Gal 6:7] The Bible is filled with stories of people making wrong decisions. Abraham having a child through Sarah's servant Hagar. Fast forward a few thousand years and the consequences are the instability of the Middle East among Muslim countries. The Israelites voted 10-2 not to go into the promised land and paid for it early for the next 40 years. Jonah chose not to go to Nineveh until God intervened. Jeremiah preached repentance but Israel turned a stiff neck and rejected his message. God judged the nation as a result.

I want to concern myself with what God wants and wills. What the majority thinks contrary to that is irrelevant to me. Whether it comes to electing a President, Governor, or leadership team at church what God wills and wants is most important.

Over and over again the majority in America make the wrong decisions. They choose to go against God repeatedly. One day we will reap what we've sown. In many cases we already are. The majority think they rule. They may for awhile. In the end, there will only be one vote. A sovereign, just, holy God. His voice and vote will be all that matters. Millions will perish into eternal damnation. Some will be redeemed through the blood of Jesus. His minority rule will trump every other majority vote in the cosmos. I hope you are siding with God.

The Blessing Of People

I just received a phone call from one of my childhood friends named Kevin. I met him when I moved to the neighborhood back in Lufkin, TX. He rode up on his big wheel while I rode mine. I am not sure who asked the question, "You wanna race?" A friendship formed that lasted through high school and beyond.

We laughed about some old times. We got into all sorts of mischief together. We built forts, played whatever ball was in season, chased girls, and all that before we were teenagers. He was there when I wrecked and totaled my mom's car.  He was with me when I drove my grandpa's fast enough to airborne over a bridge. I was with him when he got a new wench on his truck and intentionally got stuck so he could use it. Only problem, the cable ran about ten foot short of the nearest tree. We hunted together. We rode our bikes all over Lufkin, TX a sprawling Pine Tree laden town of 20,000 plus back in our childhood. The only time I got suspended from school for fighting was with, you guessed it, Kevin in seventh grade. We like the same girls from time to time. We spend our Friday and Saturday night "cruising Timberland". He introduced me to my first pizza buffet. I could not believe I could eat all the pizza I wanted.

Kevin was into cars and motorcycles. I was into football. We remained friends but drifted apart when I got saved and went off to college. We reconnected and played golf together a few times when I served a church in east Texas. When he called today it had been years since we last talked. We laughed. We reminisced just like old times. Things turned serious when he told me about some of his trials. I was saddened to learn in the past three years both his mom and dad died. He also lost a sister to a heart attack and a nephew. A lot of pain. We talked about God and church.

It got me to thinking about the value of relationships. Brenda and I have been blessed with so many. Every Sunday we go eat with dear friends of ours named Joe and Jan. We fight over  paying the bill. Truth is they insist on paying most of the time. They are a true blessing to us and have been for many years. They drive a long way each Sunday to hear me preach. We treasure those two immensely.

I think of the people at Heritage Baptist Church we are just getting to know. They have expressed love to us in many ways. We are blessed to get to worship with them. Just this past Sunday someone secretly gave Brenda two gifts. This has happened to her frequently. They as a church and individually blessed Tucker when he graduated. Many times we have been blessed with cookies or some other treat after a service. They are a loving bunch.

I think of what I like to call my inner circle of friends. They know who they are. These are men I trust and seek their counsel. These are the men who are not afraid to confront me when I am wrong or about to make a mistake. These are the ones who have remained loyal over many years. I trust them. I love them. They love me and have earned the right into the innermost affections of my heart.

There are many people who have loved, prayed, and supported Brenda and I over the years. Wonderful people who have loved us with more than words but also with deeds. We are humbled by their continued support. They are the ones who make up so many of the faith stories I have shared over the years. We have been the recipients of so many gifts and blessings over the years. We have received a washing machine, vehicles, a refrigerator that still works and is in my garage today, a television and more financial blessings than I can recount. Most of these people are not rich. They are just generous and willing to sacrifice. They want to bless others. We are continually humbled by their gifts.

We thank God for the people we have served in different churches over the years. Some we got to know better than others. We are thankful for shared memories and times of experiencing the powerful moving of God together. People we grew to love and still love even though our paths have parted.

We are thankful for new people we meet along the way. I am thankful for another pastor I met in Florida this summer as well as several adults I grew to know and love last week in south Texas.

There are people to know, to love and to share life together. People are some of God's greatest blessings. Brenda and I are rich with the love of many wonderful people. I am thankful for them.

Nobody blesses me more than Brenda and the four T's, as she likes to call them. Brenda, Taylor, Tanner, Tucker and Turner are God's greatest gift to me second only to my salvation. Praise God for  each of them. Times I get to share with them is a treat.

God, I thank you for people. So many I can't count them all by name. So many wonderful and blessed people. Family. Friends. Flocks. They are a blessing. I thank you for them. J. E. J. J. J. M. M. M. S. S. L. J. C. L. D. C. M. L. G. K. K. T. H. R. G.K. C. R. L. J. J. L. R. D. T. P. B. So many.  You know who each of those are. You know how much they mean to me. They are gifts from You. Thank You for them. I bless Your name for each of them. Please continue to shower my life with the blessing of people. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Little Blessings

I woke up this morning with a grateful heart. Grateful for the little blessings. The blessings that are easy to take for granted as if they are rights and not blessings. Things that often go unnoticed. Small things many people in America take for granted.

On the way home from south Texas one of the buses had a blowout. It took professionals doing roadside service to fix the problem. What we learned left us all grateful. A pair of pliers were run over in the road causing the blow out. Turns out nearly every tire on that bus was 50 pounds low of air pressure. What was only an inconvenience could have been a tragedy in the making. Another little blessing.

Last night I slept in my bed. After a week of sleeping on a Red Cross cot it was a blessing to be able to spread out a little. I appreciated the softness of the mattress, sleeping with my pillows and getting to sleep next to Brenda instead of a room of men and teenaged boys. I enjoyed my covers and the familiar surroundings of my room.

I thanked God this morning for my ceiling fan. I have grown accustomed to sleeping with a ceiling fan on all year long. I like moving air blowing on me. It is a luxury honestly. Another one of life's little blessings I learned to live without this past week.

I thanked God for my own shower today. Instead of a locker room shower shared my dozens of other guys it was nice to use my own private shower. It was nice to have my toothbrush set out in the same old place instead of using my travel shaving kit everyday.

It was nice to walk into my spacious closet this morning to pick out something to wear instead of dragging my suitcase out from under the cot to select clothing. I have more than enough clothes to last me every season of the year no matter the temperature or the weather outside.

I was thankful to sit with my family for breakfast at our table. Everyone was there this morning except Tucker, who spent the night with a friend, and Tanner who is still working and doing summer workouts back at college. We ate amazing food on our mission trip cooked by two volunteer ladies. They did a superb job. It was a nice blessing to eat at my house which I had not done for a solid week.

It was an added blessing to get to talk to Brenda face to face. I told her I have grown accustomed to her traveling with me so much of the time that I missed her more than normal on this trip.

Now I sit at my home office desk typing this. This past week I sat at a cafe table to have my times with God and to write. There is something special about this room. Surrounded by all my shelves of books, stacks of books and boxes of books I feel at home. This is a sacred place. My secret place where I meet with God. I have missed this place. Just another little blessing I do not take for granted.

I also got to spend time with three of my boys today. Just the four of us. I missed Tanner being with us. Brenda and her mother had plans. The boys and I enjoyed some time together. Each time we get to spend time with our fast growing boys is a blessing. I treasure those times and do not take them for granted.

I am thankful that Brenda's car still runs after all these years. I am thankful that we have transportation. Another little blessing I do not take for granted.

I have it better than so many. I saw the cruel hand of a hurricane this past week. I saw homeless people, people on drugs and people just trying to make it through another day. I saw on the other hand, people of privilege and wealth. I saw people with nothing so thankful for any help they received this week no matter how little and other wealthy people unwilling to lift a finger to move a table or brew a pot of coffee. They expected those things to be done for them as they enjoyed their life of leisure.

So many people in this world do not know the luxury of a ceiling fan. All they have for moving air is the hot or cold wind blowing outside through open windows. Some people have no transportation. Not even a bicycle. They walk or ride a bus. Some have no home. They live in shelters or on the streets underneath bridges. Some have no food today. Their stomachs ache and bellies swell from malnutrition. I enjoyed two wonderful meals today already. Some have no family. They are all alone. Nobody calls or seem to care about their wellbeing. Some have no place to worship. They have no spiritual family to enjoy fellowship with nor to receive spiritual nourishment and instruction.  Tomorrow I will enjoy the people fo Heritage Baptist Church.

So many little blessings we take for granted. Stop. Look around you. Instead of finding things to complain about I challenge you to find things to thank God for. You too are surrounded by many little blessings.

Grace

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Today I am contemplating grace. Not just the grace I have received through the blood of Jesus but also the grace I am to extend to others because of His shed blood. 

It is easy to get angry with people who sin, fail, make poor choices and blow it. It is easy to get angry with myself for those same things. When I contemplate the grace given by Jesus, that is not even the best way to put it. The grace lavished on us by Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:8 (ESV) 

8  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 

Grace lavished on us is underserved. It is also unmerited. Grace is God's mercy bestowed. It is God's forgiveness and pardon. It is wiping the slate clean and giving us a fresh start over and over again. God has done that for me. Why would not I not extend grace to others. Especially those closest to me. 

Recently a man shared some disturbing news with me about someone I love very much. The more I heard the more upset I became initially. Then the gentleman challenged me to deal with this individual in grace. The same kind of grace Jesus extended to me. That was wise advice. I've heeded that counsel. 

I have received grace. I must also extend grace. To my family. To my friends. To those entrusted to my pastoral care. To problematic people. To the lost. 

Grace is a beautiful thing. When the church extends grace a loving environment is created. A loving, caring and merciful attitude permeates the people. It is wonderful. It's what our world could use a lot more of in our dealing with people. I certainly need it. I also need to extend the same grace I received to others whether they deserve it or not. 

True Religion

James 1:27 (ESV)
27  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

We finished up our help in south Texas today. I don't know how many widows we met. Some of them have called for help for months and no help came until this week. They were grateful. They were not demanding and appreciative of any help we were able to give.

Often our equipment was inadequate for the needs. Many needs. Helping those who fell between the cracks. In many parts of town we saw minimal to no damage at all. In other places we saw massive damage.

At one house today we saw a carport completely blown down as well as a travel trailer demolished. It looked the wind just peeled the roof off the trailer and then blew the entire shell off the trailer base.

One man was on his roof trying to get some tarps down before rain comes back in tonight. His roof is leaking badly. He has a bad back and got stuck up on that roof. He got down but could not stand back to his feet. He was in his late seventies and was stuck up there for two hours with no-one to help him down until we arrived.

I had the honor of praying with him and his wife before we left. We worked hard but felt like we did so little. There is still debris piled up on the side of the roads and the city is no longer picking it up anymore. You could build an entire ministry of just hauling off that debris.

I think about those widows. Some elderly. Physically limited in what they could do. Many of them impoverished and unable to pay for someone to come and help. I cannot imagine how hopeless they must have felt.

It dawned on me after we finished working last night that we do not have to get on vans and buses and travel all the way to South Texas to help widows and people falling through the cracks. There are plenty of people like that back at home.

I challenged the students last night to prayerfully ask God to show them someone they can help back home. I did not limit it to just students. I challenged the adults to do the same thing. I pulled a chair up isolated from the group and sat down to ask God who I could help. It did not even take 15 seconds before I received the answer. I felt a deep impression not only for the widow but also for how I was supposed to serve her.

I am thankful to provide a little relief for people down here especially for the widows. I am ready to get back home. That is where God has planted me and there is plenty of work to do right there too.

There Has To Be More

There has to be more to the Christian life than attending endless Christian services and studies. There has to be more than planning or attending the next event. Yet many believers never progress past that point. They faithfully attend worship services and Bible studies. They support events. They seldom live on mission.

Living life on mission for Jesus is a daily choice. Not a once or twice a year event. You choose daily to live on mission for Him. It might look like mowing a neighbor's yard. It might look like visiting the hospital. It might mean scheduling a lunch to reach out to someone. I It might also mean a phone call, a text or an old fashioned letter. Sometimes it could mean actually going somewhere to serve someone out of your comfort zone.

How many more things do people have to attend before they actually live out all the truth they fill up in their notebooks?

I am contemplating what could happen if a group of students and adults really prayed and received a burden from the Lord. If they received that burden and and God planted an idea in their minds on how they could live on mission. That would be so much more adventurous and fulfilling than just learning more information. We are called not to only be hearers abut also to be doers. Doers of God's word. Doing is fulfilling. Serving isn't always easy but it is living with a kingdom mindset. It is what we are called to do.

Of course there is more to learn. There is also more to live. So let's constantly live out what God reveals to us. Let's constantly be on mission for Him. To the glory of His name.

On Mission

Imagine going to sleep and awaking to four feet of water in your home. Imagine swells coming in to your neighborhood as high as ten feet. Imagine being displaced for nine months and counting. A house still standing but unlivable. Having a home but not able to get it repaired because of all the damage. Imagine calling for help for months and that describes the first home we served today. We met the wife. She told us at one time in her vacant lot their were five trees and a shed. All blown down and overgrown with three to four feet tall grass. Enter a bunch of eager teenagers and adults and you have the making of an answered prayer to clean up her lot so they can keep it mowed. Chain saws buzzed. Limbs were carried out. Tree trunks were lugged out. The house is another story for another group on another day.

Picture a different home with massive trees. Trees that have taken a century to grow but blown over by the the winds of Hurricane Harvey. Again picture a bunch of eager teenagers and adults and you have massive trees cut and wood neatly stacked. Four chainsaws buzzed into action as girls and guys jumped in to clear up the downed trees as best as possible. Sometimes it took two and three people to carry the trunks out.

There was sweat. Mosquitos. Dirt. Hard work , more sweat nd great attitudes.

Last night, in preparation of our work this week, we consecrated ourselves with two acts. We allowed students to wash each other's feet as well as the adults. In this we not only followed the example of Jesus but we symbolized servant hearts for the week. We also celebrated communion remembering the service and sacrifice of Jesus for us. We enjoyed a reverent holy time in the Lord.

Day one is nearly in the books. Soon we will eat supper and then have our time of worship and the ministry of the word. I thank God for letting me be here. I am exhausted but proud of these people and the hard work they did today. I am more pleased that two of the Edwards boys were right in the thick of all of it.