Spread His Fame

 I am amazed often reading about the popularity of Jesus when He walked on this earth. In a day without cell phones, cameras, or social media His popularity spread rapidly as people flocked to hear Him teach. People brought their sick and demon possessed family and friends to Him for help. I question how people heard about Him or even where He ministered, as He did not stay in one place very long. He went to villages and cities. People had to talk about Him. News spread through word of mouth. 

He had compassion for the lowest segments of society. He helped lepers, forgave adulterers, healed the lame and blind. News spread far and wide. Crowds surrounded Him seeking help and comfort. They sensed He loved them. He cared for them and was moved by their needs. He extended love and grace when religious leaders only offered judgment and condemnation. 

Jesus still loves. His arms are open to people who have made a trainwreck out of their lives. He is patient with people who struggle to find freedom from addiction. He loves people others look past and shun. He is kind, merciful, and loving. He forgives the immoral. He welcomes the broken and bruised. Sometimes His followers do not reflect that same attitude. Many do. 

Let Jesus start moving in a community and transforming lives. People will talk about it. Let Him reclaim some of the hardest sinners and redeem them. People will talk. Small town gossip is faster than track teams. God's people should give the community something to talk about. Something positive. Spreading the fame of Jesus from family member to family member, friend to friend, and neighbor to neighbor. This is good news. 

 I read today where Jesus is the most famous historical figure in history. The Library of Congress has over 19,000 titles in which Jesus is the subject. That is by far the most of any person in history. His influence goes into artworld, spills over into the movie industry, music industry and spreads all over the world from small remote villages to massive metropolitan areas. 

In 1966 Beatles band member John Lennon made a remark in an interview that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. It is true the Beatles are the best selling band of all time. Their fame cannot compete with the Lord Jesus Christ. His fame goes back thousands of years and will go forward in the future. Let's do our part to spread His fame right where we are planted. 

The Angels Are Rejoicing

 Ten were saved at VBS. One more was saved Sunday morning at the end of our worship service. There is a story behind the one this morning. I'd like to share it with you. 

In my prayers this morning, I sensed that someone who would attend the worship service later was faking it. They knew they were not truly converted even though they went through the perfunctory motions as a child. I prayed asking God to remind me of this during the message if it was really from Him. 

Sure enough I was reminded during an evangelistic point. When I finished the message nobody responded. We wrapped it all up with a closing song. I walked to the back as I customarily do to greet people as they exit, and a nineteen year old girl met me in the back. She told me she did not think she was really saved. We walked to a quieter place across the hall and she said she faked her salvation as a child to please her grandparents who raised her. She wanted to repent and get saved right then. She asked Jesus to make her become a true a child of God. 

I was exuberant as we went back into the sanctuary right and the congregation ended the closing song. I got everyone's attention and told the good news. It was powerful. Lots of shouts. None louder than the angels in heaven. Luke 15:7 records there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous who need no repentance. If the angels rejoice over sinners repenting then we should also. 

Our enthusiasm should be unbridled as we watch God gloriously save lost people. The grace of God is powerful enough to reach the hardest heart and to transform the most untamable person. I think it is easy to lose sight of that in the midst of our religious activity. We run around to keep the program going instead of praying for God to do the work. He is able to do far more than we can. He can do more in days than we can do in decades. 

I rejoice even more because I know other sinners repented and experienced the grace of God through Jesus today as well. All over the world people turned to Jesus for salvation. The angels must be perpetually in a party state as sinners all over the globe get saved through faith in Jesus. Jesus is in the business of snatching people from the gates of hell and transferring them into the kingdom of light. We should rejoice with the angels. 

Firmly Rooted

 Brenda and I just moved into a home in Fritch. A massive tree sits in the front yard. The root system is impressive. They are large and surround the tree. Too large to safely navigate around them with my mower. The circumference of the tree suggests it has stood longer than I have been alive. The canopy of branches provides lots of shade and nesting places for the birds. 

The storms in the Panhandle are unlike anything I have ever seen. A native of deep east Texas, we rarely saw storms as violent as we have witnessed here in the past nine weeks. I thought about that tree and all the storms it has survived. Hurricane force winds. Hale stones that have pummeled it numerous times. Blazing hot summer droughts and blizzards in the winter. That tree has survived a great deal. No matter what weather came it endured.

One of the keys to the tree's longevity is the deep roots. When the winds howl, the roots anchor the tree. In drought the roots find water down deep. If the tree had a more shallow root system, it could be toppled in the storms like so many other shallow rooted ones. This tree is a survivor. 

It makes me think about people. There are people who have firmly rooted themselves in the Bible and God. They have endured different kinds of storms. Like financial crisis, wars, stock market crashes, disease, droughts, wild fires, death of loved ones and divorce. Because those roots were so deep and they built their life on a solid foundation, they were able to persevere through pestilence, pandemics, and physician's diagnosis. They pressed on. The winds and storms of life rushed against them, but they kept standing because they were firmly rooted. They built their lives on a solid foundation. 

Many others who built their  lives on popularity, power, and the endless pursuit of pleasure were toppled by storms. Their mental health crumbled like sandcastles on the beach. Their shallow roots did not hold fast in the tough times. They were storm tossed, battered, and bruised by life. They suffered much from the storms and limp along in life. They do not stand firm because they were not firmly rooted in solid ground. 

I will often look at that grand tree in my front yard and be reminded I must be firmly rooted in solid soil. If I am to survive the storms of life like that old tree, I better set my roots deep in the soil of God and His word. I hope you will do the same. We all need a solid foundation on which to build our lives. [Matthew 7:24-29]

Calm the Chaos

 Brenda and I have spent the last eight weeks in chaos. It really came to fruition last Tuesday night. When we moved to Fritch, we actually stayed in Claude in an efficiency apartment. For eight weeks we have driven back and forth. Our belongings were scattered all over town in different trailers and storage areas. One of the things I missed most was my books. Those books have become like treasured friends. They were locked in a cargo trailer as we waited to find a home. We closed on a house this past Monday.

That behind us it was time to unload my books which were behind other boxes that waited to be unloaded to our house. Tuesday we unloaded close to 60 boxes of books in my office. There were boxes waist high in every available space. We barely had enough room to walk in and out on a narrow path between boxes. It was total chaos. I sat down at my desk on Wednesday morning in the chaos and let out a sigh. I could not function in it. I could not focus in such a chaotic environment. I needed some order. I resolved what had to be done. Books had to be shelved and boxes removed. It was a huge undertaking, but had to be done. 

That chaos cannot compare to those who suffered severe hale storm damage in recent storms. I heard reports in places like Allison where the hales stones went completely through roofs. One person reported a four inch stone went completely through the roof into the garage and through the window of a parked car inside. Broken windows and damaged roofs were everywhere. Cars were totaled. That is chaos on a whole different level. Local areas were also severely impacted. 

There are other people battling severe health problems like our friend from Seminole who was involved in a severe car wreck. His back was nearly snapped into and he barely survived. He spent weeks in ICU and is learning how to do everything again from walking, eating, and trying to return to normalcy. His family has been by his side each day. This is chaos on a whole different level. 

There is also the chaos of death. The grief and strain are suffocating to some. It is hard to move forward. People get stuck in their grief. You can see it in the eyes of widows and widowers who had to learn to live without their spouse for decades. The initial days after someone dies are chaotic with funeral arrangements and getting all the affairs in order. This is hard for survivors. 

In Mark 4:35-41 the disciples found themselves in chaos in the middle of a storm on boat. They were panicked, but Jesus slept soundly in the stern. They asked Jesus if He even cared if they were about to perish. Jesus got up and spoke to the storm, "Peace be still." He brought calm to their chaos. 

Maybe you need Jesus to do that for you too. To bring calm to your chaos. Maybe it's just peace of mind trying to raise young children and keep up with chaotic schedules. Maybe it's trying to endure an especially grueling time at work. Perhaps it is just trying to make it through the next task and the next day. I pray for each of you that Jesus will speak calm to your chaos. To give you a little peace of mind and a lot of hope for better days ahead. He is faithful. I have found Him very trustworthy for the past four decades of my life. I pray He calms your storm and brings peace to your chaos. 

50 in Lake Meredith

 I am quick to ask God for big things. The bigger the ask and answer the more glory He gets. I am well aware of the need to pray in His will according to [I Jn 5:14-15]. What is more in God's will than people getting saved. That is what God wills. [II Pet 3:9] That is why Jesus has not returned yet. God wants more people to get saved. 

Earlier today I recalled a story when I traveled to Cuba for an evangelistic mission trip. On the plane I asked God to save 50 souls. On the last night I was to be in the country God saved several. The sum total for the week was 37. I was both elated and dejected at the same time. I asked God for 50. 37 trusted Christ for salvation. That was tremendous. On the way back to my lodging my interpreter asked if I would come to her English class the next morning and preach one more time. I gladly accepted. 

I preached her in her class and asked those who prayed to receive Jesus for salvation to raise their hands. I started counting. When I counted the last one in the classroom it totaled 49. I could not believe it. We were so close. Of course I rejoiced over the 49. The teacher got my attention and directed me to look out the door. A woman walked by on the sidewalk and heard me preaching. She stopped to listen and was standing there with her hand raised. Hallelujah she made 50. 

Recalling that story I asked God for 50 souls to be saved this summer and baptized in Lake Meredith. We already have the first one, a young girl who was saved a couple of weeks ago. We have VBS and children camp coming up. At the end of the summer we will hold a youth outreach event. Between now and then I am asking for God to save 49 more and that we will get to celebrate their new birth in a large lake baptism. Hence 50 in Lake Meredith. Nothing is impossible with God and it is His will to save lost people. May it happen for His glory. 

The God of Wonders

 Every so often God does something so wonderful that leaves you a little awestruck. Many times those moments come when you least expect it. When God reaches down and heaven kisses the earth just to remind us He is there and that He can do anything He pleases. Those are moments to capture with snapshots in the heart. 

I had one of those moments today. The details are not important. The important thing is that God showed up in a way I did not expect and moved in a way far beyond anything I imagined. I was stunned and humbled at the power of God. Awestruck. I was left with a more profound appreciation for His power. 

I watched Him change something that I did not anticipate. I prepared myself for a totally different outcome. That is when He showed up in a way I will not soon forget. It was a beautiful moment. A moment of glory. A moment deeply imprinted on my mind. 

In our run of the mill lives we do not often see God on full display. We get lost in the mundane day to day affairs like work, paying bills, cleaning house, mowing the yard, and day to day necessary chores. Then God breaks up the routine and does something extraordinary. He flexes His divine muscle to do things we consider improbable if not impossible. He must chuckle when we behold His faithfulness on full display. We may be left speechless until we find someone to testify to about what God did. That is what I did today. I had to tell someone what God did. 

He truly is a God of wonders. Just consider creation. A million little miracles are all around us. Think of the billions of prayers that go up everyday. He listens. He knows how to connect the right answer with the right prayer. Nothing is hard for Him. Our most difficult challenges are not challenging to Him at all. There is more power in His spoken word than all the other powers of the world combined. He can certainly do wonders fore us. I saw it again today. I expect I will see others in the future. I trust you will too. 

Air Cover

 Sometimes in military campaigns arial assaults will bombard enemy targets below to prepare the way for ground forces to advance successfully. Strategic targets are taken out to make a path of least resistance for marching troops. Air cover is critically important to minimize casualties of a nation's own troops while maximizing the effectiveness of taking enemy ground. 

It dawned on me while I drove to the office this morning that prayer is providing air cover for people we care about. We may pray for aging parents, spouses, children, grandchildren, and friends. While those we love are going through various trials, we may be in a different part of town, in another city, or remotely removed in a different state, but we can still prayerfully cover them. 

This thought both comforts and challenges me. I am comforted knowing there are people who pray for me consistently. It is a joyous reminder that I am not in the fight of faith alone. There are people giving spiritual air cover to soften the enemy's hold that prevents me from gaining new ground. My great aunt and great uncle were two of those people. They prayed for me diligently until both died. There have been others. Very close friends and people in different churches we served. They covered the Edwards family in prayer in critical moments. 

I am also challenged that I must provide spiritual air cover for the people I care about. Like my wife. Like our four sons I covered this morning. Like the friend leading a youth camp this week. That also includes the flock I shepherd. Interceding for others is a high and noble calling. It is also a privilege to stand in the gap for people going through various circumstances. 

It might just be possible that somebody somewhere is praying for you today. In all the trials or triumphs that you are going through someone out there may be giving air cover for you. Describe how that makes you feel. Is it consoling, encouraging, or humbling. It reminds me that I am not in the battle of life alone. Nobody prays for me more than my wife Brenda. She is a tremendous woman of prayer for our family. She rises each morning between 3:30 and 4:30 to seek the Lord and pray. I am so thankful for her. 

If you think long enough I am sure somebody will come to mind that could use your prayers. I exhort you to set aside a little time and lift them to the Lord. Maybe go one step further and send them a text, email, or note that lets them know that you are praying for them. It might just inspire them to keep going even though their journey is difficult. You may never know what your air cover accomplishes, but it will not be done in vain. 

Connection

 People connect when they associate with one another or are linked together. Each day we have multiple opportunities to connect with others. Some people choose not to connect. This could be for various reasons. Some have been severely wounded by people they once trusted. Others have been abused physically or psychologically and they simply do not trust people.

We were created to connect with people. This should happen within the context of family. I connect with Brenda and our four sons on a deeper level than I connect with other people. We also connect with extended family, friends, people we worship with, and others in the community. 

Nobody connected with people better than Jesus. He connected with people from all walks of life. Rich and poor, moral and immoral, wounded and broken, shunned and shamed, religious and irreligious. Jesus looked past the external appearance and loved people where they were. He still does. He sees past what others see. Skin color, piercings, tattoos, colored hair, body shapes, and clothing styles. Jesus even connects with people who have checkered pasts they are not proud of and try to hide. Jesus made connecting with people a high priority when He walked this earth. He still connects with people through activities like prayer, Bible reading, and worship. 

Sadly, some churches lose sight of Jesus' example. Christians often judge people outside their holy huddles whom Jesus loves and desires to form connection. Religious people often get hung up on traditions of men and miss out on the main mission of connecting people who are disconnected. Connecting with people starts with caring. Caring leads to compassion. Compassion often leads to connection. This may take time. 

 Jesus walked slowly through the crowds. He was often inconvenienced by the sick, demon possessed, outcasts, and immoral people. He made time for them. He listened. He felt compassion for them. He loved them and helped them. We are mandated to do the same. 

Christians are supposed to do the same things. We are told not to judge. [Matt 7:1-5], to forgive [Matt 18:21-22], and to love [John 13:34-35]. If we did a better job of doing those things I suspect houses of worship would be more crowded. Churches would be filled with people of varied pasts, races, and cultures. Connection would Jesus can bring transformation to individuals, families, and even communities. 

One day I was talking to the janitor of my home church who was also the worship pastor at another church. He did what he called street ministry. He and his church went into the slums to talk to people about Jesus. They encountered gang members, drug addicts, alcoholics, pimps and prostitutes. I can't forget how he started weeping and said, "Those people want to connect with Jesus, but they can't get to Him because they stumble over church people who get in the way." 

O God help us. May that not be true of the Christians in Hutchinson county. May Christians go the extra mile to connect with people. To love the unlovely. To go after the forgotten and neglected. To seek sinners and welcome them rather than shun them. I remind each of us, at one time, we were the sinners Jesus connected with and brought into the fold. We must extend the same kindness to those who need to be connected with the Savior. 

Make It With Love

 Brenda and I ventured out and tried a little off the beaten path cafe where the reviews were favorable. We walked into the small modestly decorated, but clean cafe. We were the only customers. An elderly man with a friendly face greeted us and showed us to our seats. We both ordered breakfast burritos. We chatted over bacon, egg, potato and cheese burritos. They were fantastic. I would tell you the name of the place, but I do not remember it myself. 

I struck up a conversation with the elderly man when we paid. I introduced myself and Brenda and he told us his name was Daniel. Earlier he gave us two options for salsa for our meals. One was definitely hotter than the other. He asked which I used and I told them both. He looked surprised and over my shoulder asking did you drink all your water. We both chuckled because I drank my water and part of Brenda's. He is the owner with this wife of that establishment. 

He said something that stuck with me. He reported how when he first got married his wife asked how he liked his eggs cooked. He told her it did not matter to him as long as she cooked them with love. He told us they cook their food for the customers with love. Those burritos are so good I woke up today thinking about them. It is because they were cooked with love. 

What if we adopted Daniel's attitude about our work? What if we did everything on our jobs with love? The Bible exhorts us to do that in Colossians 3:23. We are to do our work heartily as unto the Lord and not men. We are to sweep floors with love giving our best effort. If we mow the lawn, we should put our whole heart into it with love to please the Lord. If we are students, we should study and do our work with love giving our absolute best. If we wait on customers at a store or wait tables, we should do it with love. If we teach, coach, nurse, wait tables, weld, ranch, or farm we should do our work with love. 

When our four sons were little Brenda assigned me breakfast duties. I came up with some creative concoctions. My favorite was hot dog alaespecial. Chopped up hot dogs in scrambled eggs. We rotated between pancakes, breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, pigs in a blanket, biscuits, sausage, and eggs. They often asked me why it tasted so good. I told them it was because I cooked it with love. Just like Daniel and his wife. 

What if people really put love into their work. No matter if it is a prestigious job or a lowly one. Work would be done more joyfully, energetically, and with more excellence. People act like they should give minimal effort if the pay is minimal. We are challenged to give our best. To treat work like an offering of worship to the Lord. He sees when others do not notice. I noticed Daniel yesterday, even though his cafe is small, and serves few customers. He does his work heartily with love and for that reason we will eat their again soon. May we all follow Daniel's example and do our work with love. 

Trailblazer

 A trailblazer is a pioneer and an innovator. Trailblazers also make new tracks through wild country. I think of those early pioneer trailblazers who settled Hutchinson county, TX where Brenda and I now make our home. They had to be tough to traverse the country to settle here. Traversing wide open spaces and navigating deep canyons they trudged ahead to find the place they would settle. Battling blazing hot summers and blizzard winters they built their homes. They were mostly alone and had to travel great distances just to get basic supplies. It would be a long time before even 100 people settled this area. 

Other trailblazers came later with the vision of starting churches and s school. It started with the dream in someone's heart. The dream spread to others and they collectively worked together sacrificing to see those dreams come true. Many are willing to follow once things are established. It takes a special breed of people to be trailblazers. Not everyone is cut out for such adventure and hardship. Those early primitive church services and school houses must have been something to behold. 

We enjoy the comforts of a community because of trailblazers. We are able to attend the worship of our choice because trailblazers went before us. Our children and grandchildren are afforded an education because trailblazers paved the way for public schools. Each generation of teachers invests in the lives of the next generation of trailblazers. Sitting in those little desks are young lives with impressionable minds like sponges. They will make significant contributions in the fields of healthcare, law enforcement, the judiciary, politics, technology, farming and ranching, education, and maybe missionaries. The potential is exciting. The advancements they will make as families on society are unlimited in scope. 

Fathers and mothers just trying to keep their heads above water right now raising kids and paying bills may miss the bigger picture. They are raising future trailblazers. They are weighed down with cleaning up messes, breaking up fights, hounding children to do their homework, and finding time to entertain them. You never know what will spark a child's interests. A book. A story. A movie. Parents are often blinded to those trailblazing moments when God plants His dream in those young hearts. 

It happened for me in a fifth grade creative writing class when we were assigned to write a short story. I fell in love with the craft of writing that day. Students hung on every word as I got to read my assignment to the class. I was hooked that you could move people with the words you write. At 12, I asked for a typewriter at Christmas. I wrote my first book 30 copied on a copy machine and bound with plastic spiraling. I trailblaze through helping others through writing. 

Trailblazers often go unnoticed. History does not always recognize them. Such people just followed their dreams. They worked hard to survive and do what they thought they were created to do. They did not seek applause or fame. They just did the work before them. Day in and day out. They lived and died without fanfare. Their trailblazing ways certainly made a difference. 

Maybe God puts a little trailblazing in all of us. In some way each of us leaves our mark long after we are gone. Maybe we break the cycle of dysfunction in our families. Maybe we spend our days helping others in need. Maybe we love and accept people where they are in life. Maybe we help others discover faith for themselves. Maybe we demonstrate work ethic to the younger generation. Let me challenge all of us to trailblaze and pioneer our God ordained destiny. To make life a little better for the next generation through our labor and sacrifice. I also exhort us to stop and offer up a thank you for those who did the same for us. Hopefully we'll leave the world a little better for future generations when we are gone. 

The Seasons of Life

 It has been an unusual spring with cooler than normal temperatures going into the end of May. The seasons change. We are about to hit the dog days of summer with brutal heat. One lady described the wind blowing in the summer like sitting under a blow drier for an extended time. While we enjoy these cooler temperatures now, we know the temperatures will soon rise. While summer means vacations, the end of school, and water activities summer doesn't last forever. Sometimes it might seem that way if you have to work outside much. 

Eventually the summer will fade into fall. The temperatures will decrease with cool spells that blow into town. Soon the leaves will turn into those beautiful oranges, yellows, deep reds, and shades of burgundy. No matter how hard those leaves try to grip those limbs, the brisk autumn breezes will blow those leaves to the ground. The fall means football, homecoming, harvest, and Thanksgiving. 

Fall eventually fades into winter. Those dark bitter cold days of bone chilling icy cold weather are not fun to endear. Sure we celebrate Christmas and New Years Day, but the winter months are often as difficult to endure as the summer months. Outdoor activities are held to a minimal. Each Groundhogs Day we hope for an early spring.

The prize for enduring winter is spring. Where vegetation comes back to life. Flowers bloom. People go back outside as the weather warms. Spring is a happy time as students enjoy Spring Break and Christians celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Spring also brings strong winds and the danger of wildfires. Even with those spring brings optimism. Wildflowers bloom as if buckets of paints have been poured from the sky onto the canvas of grass below. 

Just like there are different seasons, people endure different seasons of life as well. Spring represents when we are born. We grow as children and learn so much at this time. Summer is the early adult years. People may choose to enter the work force or pursue formal education. During this time of life many people fall in love and get married. People get established in their career. In the summer season children might be added to the family. Fall represents the middle aged years in life. Children grow up and graduate from high school. The body ages a little more. Joints ache, hair thins, greys, and wrinkles may appear. People come to grips that they are no longer young. Finally, people enter the winter season of life. This is the last stage on our earthly journey. During the winter years health may decline and people face their own mortality. This season is characterized between many doctor appointments and attending many funerals of family and friends. Eventually the end will come for all of us during this final season. 

I don't know where you are in the seasons of life. Each season brings its own joys. Brenda and I are definitely well into our fall years. Our four sons are grown and out of the house. The oldest is married and we anticipate the joy of grandchildren in the future. We are empty nesters enjoying time with just the two of us. We celebrate the times we get together as a family. 

Find the joys in the season you are living in. If you are in a tough season of life, know that those seasons do not last forever. Even in the winter of life there is the hope of heaven for those who embrace Jesus as Savior. There are joys to be discovered in each season of life. Look closely and you will find some. Treat each day as a gift rather than a drudgery. Just like each season gives way to the next, so will the circumstances you have to endure. Storms come and go. Better days are ahead, if not in this life, for Christians in the life to come. 

73

 He hobbled over to me in great discomfort leaning heavily on a cane. He was an older gentleman. He wore blue jeans, cowboy boots, a black jacket and donned a black cap. He started the conversation with these words, "I lost my wife in September. We were married 73 years and I am still not over losing her. I have had a hard time."

He married his wife when she was only 17 years old. There are many people who do not live to be 73 much less remain married for 73 years. Do the math. They were married in 1952. 

It was a far different world in 1952. President Dwight Eisenhower was elected President that year. King George the VI died and his princess daughter became Queen Elizabeth II. Notable events included detonation of the first nuclear bomb in Nevada, the invention of the first transistor radio, and the invention of the classic popular toy Mr. Potato Head. It was a far different world. No cell phones. No internet. No streaming services for music or movies. 

Just two young lovers tieing the knot and starting their marital journey together. Could either have dreamed they would make it to 73 years? Over seven decades of meals shared, private conversations, paying bills, raising children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. In that span of time there were mighty triumphs like having children, wage increases, and major purchases such as automobiles and houses. 

The tears in his eyes betrayed his lingering grief. He told me it was hardest when he is alone and he has time to think. So many memories. So much emptiness without the love of his life. I have noticed over the years that when a spouse, child, or anyone else close dies people rally around in the initial days following. Then people get back to their busy lives. They move on while the grieving cannot. They are forced into a world of sorrow that does not subside quickly. They try to go back to a normal life, but what is normal about the person gone whom you spent decades loving. There is no normal. There is going forward and trying to do the best you can. 

My heart hurt for that elderly man. It made me hold Brenda a little tighter and not take even the routine things for granted. A simple meal turned into a snapshot of the heart. A routine conversation into a moment to communicate my unwavering affection. In about four weeks we will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. A far cry from 73 years. What a testimony of love. Not something to be taken for granted. So I tip my cap to that man. I am thankful for his example and reminder to not take my beautiful bride for granted. Not after 34 years or even 50 years. Not sure we can make it to 73, but I want to love her to my last breath no matter how many years it ends up to be. 

Connecting

 Brenda and I have been in Fritch for about six weeks now. In that time God has allowed us to start connecing with people. We have shared more meals with folks from the church than I can count. Someone is constantly asking us if we want to go eat with them. These have been great opportunties to get to know people and get connected. 

In our short time we have had multiple opportunties to go the hospital to visit people. This has given us more opportunties to connect with people. To get to know them. To begin shepherding them. To demonstrate that we truly care about them. People do not trust a pastor merely by what he preaches. They learn to trust when a pastor is there for them in critical moments. 

God gave me the opportunity to connect with one of our senior adult widows who came in for Sunday Schoo a couple of days ago. She was a little late and hobbled down the hall way. I greeted her and she told me she was moving slow because the wind caught her car door and closed it on her foot as she was getting out of the car this past week. I asked if I could pray for her right then. We shared a moment of prayer and a deeper connection than we had previously. 

It is not easy to become the pastor of a new flock. Becoming the preacher can take place in a very short period. Connecting with people as pastor takes time. Lots of time. Lots of visits, phone calls, shared meals, and a great deal of demonstrated love and compassion. There are other pastors in this community who have served their congregations for two decades. They are beloved by their fellowship of believers as well as the community. It is time to earn my way too. To serve and not be served. 

Actions speak louder than words. Acts of service sometimes speak louder than any sermon can ever do. Lazy preaches hide behind closed office doors. They are contented in their ivory towers of scholarship. They seek to impress people with how much knowledge they have gained. Jesus connected with people by loving them and serving them. I must do the same thing if I hope to ever really become the pastor of this flock in Fritch, TX. I must put in the hard work to earn the right to be trusted. To earn the right to be loved and endeared. Connecting with church and community will not happen quickly. They have seen pastors come and go. Talk is cheap. They watch to see what Brenda and I do. It is something that willl take time and I hope to put in the work to develop trust. Each day Brenda and I hope to connect with a few more and on a little deeper level. 

A Sunday to Remember

 Things did not start out well this past Sunday morning. We lost the Memorial Day tribute video we were supposed to start the service with that day. Five minutes before the start we scrambled and found a different one. Then we could not get the video to work as we started. I introduced the video and then we sat in awkward silence for several moments. Our children minister got up to make an announcement followed by more anouncements and then the video finally came up but there was no sound. I was frustrated before we ever sang one note and remained in that frame of mind trying to repent and get my mind right. 

I had 41 verses to cover in the message and hit the platform in high gear. I did not feel anointed. I felt rushed. Then God stepped in. Several people responded to the altar call. Multiple people bent their knees in prayerful submission to God. It was beautiful to behold. We also had a couple join the church. Things had started out rough, but God turned it around in the end. He was just beginning little did I know. 

 Multiple peopel clamored to talk to me afterward. One family waited behind and made their way to my office for a private consultation. I had no idea what was on their mind. Turns out their oldest child had questions about getting saved. I explained the plan of salvation as best I could and asked if she knew what sin was. She did indeed. She bowed her head as I led her in a prayer asking Jesus to save her. When I said amen, she had tears streaming down her cheeks. She hugged her parents and the tears kept flowing out into the hall way when they left the office. 

We next talked about baptism. She was emphatic informing me she wanted to be baptized in Lake Meredith located only minutes from the church. We are going to wait until after VBS as we anticipate others might join her on that special day. 

What started out so badly turned out wonderfully, but God was not done. The chairman of our finance committee informed me that someone had put a $19,000 offering in the plate from a sister church. We were shocked and humbled by the goodness of God. It truly turned out to be a Sunday to remember. 

Like a Vapor

 Why is it in some instances time seems to crawl? Like a student waiting for the bell to ring to get out of school for the day or weekend. Like a child slowly counting days off the calendar until Christmas. Or the worker waiting for quitting time. It can happen to drivers waiting in a drive through pick up line at a restaurant or at a red light impatiently waiting for the light to turn green. 

There are other instances when time seems time fly by. Like parents sitting at commencement exercises for their child wondering where the time went. How is it possibler that little bundle of joy has grown and already finished high school? It took 18 years but somehow it seems to have passed much faster than that. Or a daddy walking a daugher down the aisle at her wedding. How did his little girl grow up so fast and is now starting a family of her own. Pictures on the wall and a desk capture special moments when those children were young.The credenza behind my desk is littered with pictures of our four sons fron toddlers to adulthood. Brenda andI,I like so many before us, are learning to adjust to lives as empty nesters. This will the first summer in 22 years we have not had at least one or more of our four sons living with us for the summer. They have all graduated college now. One is married. Two are working on their Masters Degree. The other is finishing up to be certified to teach and coach. Our four little boys are now four grown men. Where did the time go?

To the right of my computer screen is a bridal portrait of Brenda just days before we married. That was 34 years ago now. Where did the time go? It has flown by in decades of chasing careers, raising children, sitting in the stands of more ball games from little leauge to collegiate sports than we can count, to multiple moves in ministry. We are more madly in love than ever, but time has taken its toll on both of us. Time has flown by. 

Later this morning I will preach the funeral for an 88 year old lady. I am sure time flew by for her as well. I thoght about her as a little girl toting her younger brother on her hip, and climbing trees. Then she grew up and got married. Life flew by as an adult with moves and major milestones. Sadly, six years ago she got diagnosed with that cruel diseasse Alzheimers. I bet she never planned on that as a little girl perched on a limb in a tree surveying the world beneath. Time stops for no one. 

James 4:14 reminds us that we are only on this earth for a little while and that life is like a vapor that appears for a little while and then it vanishes. Cemeteries are filled with grave markers indicating the date a person was born then a dash followed by the date they died. Here for a little while and then gone. Like bluebonnets in the spring. Only here for a little while. 

We look in the mirror and wonder where the time went. I feel like a young man on the inside, but joints tell me a different story. We must not take life for granted and espcially life with those we love for granted. Let us squeeze every moment out of life we can with those we love. For life is like vapor. We are only here for a little while. 

Mustard Seed Faith

 I had the bright idea one Sunday morning about preaching on the topic of mustard seed faith. I actually bought a bottle of mustard seeds and had my sons, Tucker and Tuner, pass them out among the congregation. Multiple people could be heard across the sanctuary exclaiming when they dropped theirs. The seed was so tiny I could not see it when I held it between my thumb and index finger. 

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus talked about faith the size of a mustard seed moving mountains. Brenda and I have faced a few mountains over the years. I went off to a prayer room earlier today to pray about a couple of current mountains. I asked the Lord to look into my heart to see that I had faith larger than a mustard seed. 

What about you? Do you have faith at least the size of a mustard seed? There is a huge difference in having an intellectual faith and living by and praying with genuine faith. I know what I intellectually believe God can do. I also know when faith has to be put into action and what I believe God experientally to do. 

The size of the moutain is irrelevant. It is the size of our God that really matter. He dwarfs all our mountains. He has never faced a difficult task. Not delivering Israel from Egyptian slavery and drowing Pharaoh. Not providing food and wather for millions of Hebrews in the desert. Not slaying a giant by a shepherd. Not healing the blind, leprous, paralyzed and even raisding the dead. What we face is not hard for God no matter how dauting it seems. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH HIM!

Let that sink in. No thing is too hard for Him. He can revive any church, save any lost person, penetrate any closed country with the gospel, provide any need no matter the amount, reclaim prodigals, and answer any mustard seed prayer. Mustard seed faith is tiny. I think Jesus told us that it does not take much faith to see Him do marvelous things. 

If people heard and knew some of the audacious things I've asked God to do they would think I was out of my mind. Big, bold, and boundless prayers that I believe glorify Him when He answers. Brenda and I love to testify when God answers. People have commented to me they wished God would do similar things for them. He absolutely can. What people do not see is the hours spent alone shut up with God travailing for those answers days, months, and at times years and decades to answer. 

Right now Brenda and I praying about a house. We have signed a contract on one we feel a peace about living in. We have prayed every step of the way. I am not just content to get a house. I ask God repeatedly for such a miraculous work as to pay the house off and to own the home debt free. I have mustard seed faith to believe that God can and will do this for us so we can boast about Him. At the same time, I'm praying for two vehicles debt free. Not because we just want new vehicles. Both of ours, one 21 years old, the other 19 years old, need major repairs that no longer make wise financial sense. For well over a year I've gone to the secret place to pray in these miracles. I am firm in my commitment to God to not go in debt on vehicles. Our money is tied up in getting into a house. So I summon mustard seed faith and ask God to move that mountain. I can see it in my spirit. One day I will see them in my garage. When He does it I will testify about the power of mustard seed faith and a God who chooses to respond to it in marvelous ways. The travailing is hard work. The end result is glorifying God. 

Faith Steps

 Brenda and I moved to the Panhandle of TX on April 18. Today is the first day I have been able to get into my blog since that day. I had to set up a new computer and work through many techonology issues which I am not qualified nor skilled to do. One day I spent seven hours on the phone trying to get the new computer set up. To say that was a frustrating day is an understatement as Brenda will testify. Today is a small victory getting back to be able to blog again. 

So much has happened in the past month. Brenda's mom died the day we loaded the moving truck. We made a couple of trips back to the metroplex to clean out her apartment as well as to have the funeral. Turner graduated from college. We just signed a contract on a house here in Fritch, TX. 

Brenda has not worked since April 18th. God has provided in ways only He can. We have not missed paying a bill. We have not communicated our financial needs to people and God has provided over and over again. He has come through. We actually have more money in our checking account now than we did when she worked. Only God can do that. 

He has provided in some of the most unusual ways. I found money in an envelope inside my Yukon on the day we moved. Brenda's boss paid her extra and gave her money in a card on her last day. During this time we went back to Seminole for a funeral. Once again God provided in unusual ways. I was given a check from a family in Seminole worth $1,000. A former church member and coworker of Brenda came out to the place we stayed to visit. She handed Brenda an envelope. Inside a card was a check for $2,500. The next day at lunch I was getting on to a man from that community who dropped out of church. When I was done he reached in his wallet and handed Brenda $500. We did not communicate a financial need or ask any of those people for money. God moved each of them to provide for us. To the tune of $4,000!

From the beginning of feeling the call to move to Fritch, to the actual move, and to the purcahse of a home on one income at this time we have taken the next steps in faith and God has done wonders. He rewards those who obey by faith according to [Heb 11:6]. We gave up a free house, paid utilities, and  Brenda's salary to relocate to the Panhandle to First Southern Baptist Church of Fritch. He did not abandon us. He has helped us each step of the way. Including the death of Brenda's mom. 

When it became apparent that God was moving us, Brenda prayed that God would allow us to stay in Weatherford until her mother died. Her mother's health was failing, but we had no indication that she would die soon. She fell and was taken to the hospital. She battled cancer, heart problems, and a disease in her legs. In the hospital her health deteriorated. The day before we were to load the moving truck Brenda and I joined her sisters and the rest of the family at the hospital. It was then her mother gathered us around the bed and told us she was ready to go to heaven. They put her on hospice the next day. She  died while Brenda was at work and I loaded the moving truck with some men from Fritch. Many times since then Brenda has thanked God for allowing us to be in Weatherford right up to her mother's last day of her earthly pilgrimage. 

In a couple of weeks we will close on a house trusting God each faith step of the way. We are working and praying feverishly about this and to see God heal and rebuild this church. We are trusting God for a great revitalization of First Southern Fritch. We spend our time trying to connect with people, planning events, attending meetings, and I spend a lot of time in the prayer room. We ask God to develop a culture of prayer here. The real faith steps begin as we watch God transform this church and community one faith step at a time. 

My Last Sunday

 I sit here this morning with a flood of emotions and memories filling my mind. It is my last official Sunday at Spring Creek. In a few moments I will stand behind that pulpit for the last time to deliver the life changing truth of God's word. Tonight we sit in a classroom for a Bible study. My memories do not just span the past five and a half years. They go back 33 years ago when I served this church as youth pastor. We got married just after starting ministry in this church.  

Relationship bonds have been forged. These people have become spiritual family. It was Jonathan Edwards who once commented that the bond between a pastor and flock will endure for eternity. It is a sacred trust to be called someone's pastor. We prepare to walk away from people we love and what has become home for the unknown path ahead. 

Sitting alone in my soon to be old office surrounded by dozens of boxes filled with books and looking at bare walls where pictures of my family used to hang is sobering. It is not easy to say goodbye for an unknown future. Sure we have met the people we will soon serve. We trust God for a special and enduring ministry there. The love of Jesus and His call for Brenda and I to follow overshadow all the discomfort. We must obey God. 

We shared breakfast together this morning, took a few pictures, and gave out many hugs. I still have this morning and the Bible study tonight before my role as pastor officially ends. I want to make the most of the day and to enjoy these precious people. I also want to fearlessly proclaim the truth of God's word. That is why we gather. He is the focus. He is the main attraction. Brenda and I are just support actors in His greater drama. 

We will never forget the people at Spring Creek. Their love, sacrificial support for our family, their service, hard work, and wonderful ministry memories. Memories so rich and deep they cannot be put into words. We love this flock. We have known some here for over three decades. Some attended our wedding. 

There is a new flock awaiting our arrival by next Resurrection Sunday. Several will come load us on Thursday and our great adventure in Fritch, TX at First Southern Baptist Church begins. We have no permanent home there yet. Brenda does not have a job yet. The state is set for God to do something great. It is a step of faith or I should say more like a giant leap of faith off a cliff. God knows and God sees. The Fritch flock does not know us and we do not know them as yet. It will take time for the deep bonds to be forged there like we have enjoyed here. I trust God it will happen. We will never forget Spring Creek. At the same time, we are ready to embrace the new work of loving people, preaching and teaching God's word, and earning the right to become the pastor in Fritch. 

As The Deer Pants

 I got up this morning at the prayer cabin and strolled onto the back porch. I looked across the lake on the far shore and saw something stirring out of the pine trees. Upon closer examination I discovered five white tail deer strolling down to the lake for a drink. Like deer are prone to do they were on alert. After a few moments something spooked them, and they scampered back into the woods. 

I immediately thought of Ps 42:1-2 about as the deer pants for water so the Psalmist's soul panted after God. That has been my heart over these two days. I have no idea how many hours have been spent in prayer. I'm not keeping track. That is the main reason I came. To seek God. To long for Him as intensely as the deer thirst for a drink of water. 

Other than lunch with my friend who manages this place and a few phone calls to Brenda and others, I have been isolated shut up with God. Removed from the outside world but near to the heart of God. There are no schedules to keep here. The pace is slower. Prayer times can be extended. There are no distractions. A few chirping birds, but even as I write this the birds are silent. The only sound is the tapping of these keys on this computer. 

My only agenda in being here is to drink deeply from the well of God. To satisfy my soul soaking in Him. The time here is always short. In less than twenty-four hours I will be back on the road toward home and our Wednesday night Bible study. I want to make the most of the remaining time. There is more of God to experience. More of Him to fill my thirsty soul. I thirst after Him like those deer this morning thirsted for water. May He satisfy me in ways nothing else in this world can ever do. 

But God

 Travailing in prayer is much more than throwing up a few wishes. It is carrying a burden inside the soul much like a pregnant woman carries a baby in her womb. To give birth to either requires travailing labor. The mother must endure to give birth to her child. The prayer warrior must travail to give birth to unseen realities. Both produce miracles. 

It is early in the morning. I have not slept for the last hour even though I remained in bed. Travailing over a mountain that Brenda and I need God to move. It is a pushing into existence that which does not exist except in the spirit. It means denying all doubt and clinging to hope that only comes with faith. It is being reminded but when God intervenes everything can change. But God. Look at God and what He has done in the past and what He is capable of doing in the present. It is refusing to accept impossibilities in light of a God for whom nothing is impossible. 

Travailing prayer is hard work. It is time consuming. It means carrying the unseen answer like a baby in the womb during the gestation period. Each day is a day closer to the miracle birth. Each prayer one step closer to the mountain moving. [Mark 11:23-24] Travailing means forsaking sleep and even food for the sake of pleading with God night and day for His intervention. God can change any circumstance. Prayer is asking God. Through prayer God can do anything. So, we ask, seek, and knock. [Matt 7:7-8] We pray with active faith believing for the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. [Heb 11:1] We pray without losing heart. [Luke 18:1] We trust that nothing is impossible with God. [Luke 1:37]. 

It does not matter how the odds might be stacked against us. But God. They were also stacked against Moses and Israel at the Red Sea. They were stacked against Joshua and Israel at the Jordan River before going into the promise land. They were stacked against Elijah 850:1 on Mount Carmel. They were stacked against David fighting Goliath. They were stacked Lazarus dead in the tomb for four days. They were also stacked against Jesus in the tomb for three days. But God. What did God do in each of those situations. He parted the sea, divided the waters of the Jordan, sent down fire on Mount Carmel in answer to prayer, defeated Goliath through a shepherd boy and a sling, raised Lazarus from the dead, and Jesus arose from the grave and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. O, but God. 

That is not just a God who worked powerfully in the past. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did in the past He is more than capable of doing in our day. It might require travailing prayer to see the desired outcome. But God.  It might require some fasting and a few sleepless nights. But God.  It will require more faith. It will also necessitate perseverance in travailing. We have to keep on pushing in prayer until the answer is birthed. People rejoice when the answer comes. Few rejoice in the days, weeks, months, and even years of travailing. This is done in secret where nobody sees. This is hard work. It is painful labor to keep asking and not lose faith when the answer is delayed. 

In ten days, Brenda and I are leaving the home we have enjoyed for the past five years. God graciously provided a free home for us through the loving flock of Spring Creek Baptist Church. God put a new call on our lives to follow Him to Fritch, TX to serve the First Southern Baptist Church as pastor. Our first Sunday there is April 20. We have no home there as of yet. O, but God. This is our pregnant prayer travail. Brenda is leaving the job she has worked at for the past 14 years and does not have a job in the Panhandle of Texas yet. But God. This requires travail. It is not a step of faith. It is a leap of faith. It is our crisis of belief moment. We will technically be classified as homeless, though some friends have offered us their one room efficiency apartment to stay in until we get settled in a home in Fritch. From the outside world it looks impossible. But God says nothing is impossible. I am taking a significant cut in salary. The Spring Creek church paid our utilities for the past five years. But God assures His children that He is our provider. [Phil 4:19] Everything about this situation screams IMPOSSIBLE! BUT GOD! 

When God steps in and does what only He can do everything changes. What looks like a mountain turns out to be a mole hill. What looked like an impossibility melt into possibilities. What naysayers prognosticate can't be done God does. What doubters dismiss faith attends and brings to pass. By faith Brenda and I believe our great God has a home for us in Fritch, TX. A home to build memories, to do ministry, and glorify Him. Yes, I see the obstacles. BUT GOD. Sure, I am aware of our limitations. BUT GOD. I certainly ascertain the absurdity of what I'm asking. BUT GOD. When He steps into a situation, flexes His muscles, speaks His word, moves in miraculous fashion watch out. Something grand will happen. Something that will astound people. Another testimony will be built. Another prayer will be answered. For now, we travail in the waiting period. Any day, any moment, and any time now God will do His God stuff. So, I am reminded of all those who faced difficult challenges in the past, but God showed up. So, I'm hanging my hope on nothing else but God. 

The Prayer Cabin

 It has been over two years since I last visited the prayer cabin. I am here now, and it is long overdue. Nestled among the pines and a 90-acre private lake in east Texas, this place has been my sacred get away for the past three decades. I come here to pray extensively and on occasion to write new books. It is hard to believe it has been two years. 

This is not even the same place. A flood damaged the cabin and the whole place was renovated on the inside. Where paneling used to be now is painted sheetrock.  It does have the old outdated rustic furniture, nor the several mounted trophy bass caught from the lake. Two new recliners and a sofa have replaced them with a beautiful coffee table. The dining table where I write is brand new with four chairs around them. It is all brand new on the inside. We will see if it still is the place where I am able to meet with God in profound ways. 

The house sits nearly a mile down a dirt driveway from the Farm to Market Road 287. It is located about three hours southeast of Weatherford, and more like nine hours from a soon to be new home in Fritch, TX. This is my chance to come pray extensively as I enter into my last week as the pastor of Spring Creek Baptist Church. We spent over five years there and have made many memories. We have begun the long painful goodbye to our son and daughter in law, close friends, the church family, while also packing boxes and getting ready to transition to a new ministry and new community. 

It is hard to put into words what this place means to me. It was formerly owned by evangelist James Robison and then was sold to a Dallas businessman who graciously allowed me to use it until he died and now his son owns it. All allowed me access to this place periodically to meet with God. None of those people have any idea how God has used this little two-bedroom cabin to restore my soul, revive my body and spirit, reveal vision, and to meet me in profound ways. 

I will be here for the next 48 hours. Not long, but I hope to make the most of my time here. I was not in the cabin for ten minutes before I opened the lap top and went to work. Gladly devoting myself to the wonderful work of writing. Here I can get lost in my praying and writing for hours on end. There is no television to distract. Just a small home and breathtaking scenery all around. 

The cabin is surrounded by giant oak trees providing shade. From the back porch the lake is less than fifty yards away waters shimmery in the sun. A pine thicket is down a dirt road to my right trees waving in the winds. A creek runs through the middle of that thicket that feeds this lake. On the far side of the lake are rolling hills of lush pasture bordered by more pine trees. 

The owner comes here to fish. I come here to soak God like a sponge. For the next two days I get locked in on Him. Locked in hearing from Him. Reading His word. Seeking His counsel and direction. Basking in His presence. I fully expect multiple significant God encounters. Let them begin even now. To be continued. 

What Shall I Say?

 1757 was a very difficult year for the Edwards household. I am of course not referring to my family. I am talking about Jonathan and Sarah Edwards. It started with the unexpected death of their son in law Aaron Burr. Burr served as the president of Princeton College. Not long after his death those looking for the next president of the college turned their attention to Jonathan Edwards. He accepted the position which meant a separation from his wife of 30 years. 

Edwards had not been on the job very long when he took a small pox vaccination. He got a fever from the vaccine from which he did not recover. He died prematurely and unexpectedly. There were no telephones or internet service. News traveled slowly back to Sarah about his death. 

Ten days after Jonatan died, Sarah wrote a letter to their daughter, Esther, which has now become famous. She wrote, "What shall I say? A holy and good God have covered us with a dark cloud. O that we may kiss the rod and lay our hands over our mouths. The Lord has done it. He has made me adore His goodness, the we had him so long. But my God lives and He has my heart."

Esther never received that letter. She died from a fever two weeks after the letter was written. Sarah now had three deaths to grieve in a short period. Sadly, Sarah also died in the year on 1757. Very tough blows for the Edwards family. 

Jonathan is considered one of the most brilliant theologians who has ever lived. He wrote numerous books that are considered classics and still read today. He also was dismissed from his beloved flock he served faithfully for 30 years. They did not like a theological stand he took and voted to fire him. He spent some time working in obscurity in a little country mission before taking the presidency of Princeton College. He did so much in his relatively short life. You cannot help but wonder how much more he could have accomplished if he had lived longer. I am sure these are thoughts Sarah wrestled with in the days after her husband's premature death. 

The depth of her love for God and trust in Him shines through her letter. A holy and good God she called Him. She wrote about kissing the rod of affliction and laying her hands over her mouth that she would not sin against God in blaming Him. She recognized that God took her husband. It was not an accident. Still she had faith to adore the goodness of God. 

The way we deal with adversity speaks a lot about our relationship with God. Hudson Taylor lost two wives and several children while serving in China. He faced enormous pressure in providing for over a hundred missionaries by prayer and never asking for financial help. He said something that cuts me deeply today. "It is not so much the greatness of our troubles, as the littleness of our spirit, which makes us complain." I complain with ease at the slightest inconvenience. It reveals how shallow my faith really is. 

What shall we say? Each of us faces adversity. How we face it is the issue. Do we maintain faith, joy, and hope in the dark days of distress? Do we cling to God and His goodness and trust Him even when we do not understand? May we also learn to kiss the rod and lay our hands over our mouths. What shall we say. Like Sarah Edwards may we say God is holy and good and He has our hearts. 

The Cost of Following

 There has always been a cost to following God. To listen and obey Him may require sacrifice and discomfort. God's ultimate purpose is not to make us comfortable. We easily forget that in our comfort driven culture. To live in compliance with God will most assuredly put you at odds with culture. This is nothing new. It will cost. you personally and those around you. 

One of the questions I ask people to initiate a gospel conversation is, "Are you a follower of Jesus?" This is so much deeper than asking if a person is a Christian or if they believe in God. Jesus followers live with a different set of priorities. They have different standards. They live like soldiers waiting to hear marching orders from their Commander and Chief Jesus. He dictates the plans. He issues the orders. Our job is to listen, trust, and obey. 

Think of soldiers and sailors being deployed on some mission. They are required to leave parents, spouses, children, and friends behind to carry out the mission. I am thinking of those brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy. They knew they were headed for dangerous trouble. Some barely made it off the landing the crafts before being gunned down. Those who survived still courageously pressed onto the beachhead under heavy enemy fire. 

Christ followers must live with the same mentality. We must listen to the Master and execute the plans He charges to His people. All the while we must calculate the cost of following. Make no mistake. There is a cost if a person takes following Jesus seriously. Such people may be required to sacrifice and suffer for the sake of the Savior. Some shrink back at such a high price refusing to surrender. 

Are you a surrendered soldier yielded to the wishes of the Savior? Are there places where you intentionally hold back and rebel against the Lord? It is comfortable to sit in the pews week after week, month after month, and year after year always hearing but never doing. To live surrendered laid on God's altar is the biblical mandate. [Rom 12:1] We offer our entire lives as a living sacrifice. Jesus has the right and authority to help Himself to our lives anytime He wants. He can interrupt our lives, redirect our plans, reroute our future and not one time does He ever have to ask our permission. This is way too much for some church members. It is a cost they are unwilling to pay. 

The ultimate cost for following Jesus may mean martyrdom. Many gallons of blood have been spilled over the centuries for following Jesus to the hard places to do hard things. For most people the cost of following may simply be inconveniences, time sensitive commitments, and sharing of resources. Those are still costs some are unwilling to pay. 

To follow Jesus may mean you are misunderstood. Some may question unorthodox decisions, risky leaps of faith, and throwing caution to the wind to obey the call of the Master. Many are hated for doing these things. Families have been fractured in the cost of following. Hardships have been endured. Here is the truth. Jesus paid the highest price to redeem us. He suffered. He was abandoned by His followers. He endured excruciating pain of the cross for the sake of reconciling lost people to His holy Father. What cost is too great for us to pay in light of what He suffered for us? Nothing. We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. [Matt 16:24] We are to count our lives not dear to ourselves so that we might follow His calling and finish the ministry to testify of His salvation. [Acts 20:24] We are to live crucified to the old life and live yielded to Him living in  and through us. [Gal 2:20] The reward of such following will outweigh the costs and sacrifices in eternity. 

Transition

 The word transition can be defined as the process of changing from one state or period to another. That is exactly where Brenda and I find ourselves. After five and a half years serving the flock of Spring Creek Baptist Church we are in transition to the Panhandle of Texas to start a new ministry at First Southern Baptist Church of Fritch, TX. This is not a position we sought. The church came after us after a friend sent my resume there without my knowledge about a year ago. 

It is tough saying goodbye to people you love and have served for over half a decade. We battled COVID together, saw many come and go, watched God provide to renovate our education facility, and provide a playground for children. We saw God add Pinnacle Christian School to our facilities and have mutually benefited from each other. We saw God start a thriving skatepark ministry outreach as well as one to a local substance abuse detox center we have showed up for the past few years each Sunday afternoon to proclaim Jesus to people from all over the United States. God has saved many. So many wonderful memories. 

Now we begin the last two weeks of our ministry at Spring Creek and in Weatherford, TX. Fritch and Weatherford could not be anymore different. Weatherford is a booming town with exploding population growth nestled up close to Fort Worth. Fritch is a small town of 1,800 people located about 40 miles north of Amarillo. It is closer to Colorado from Fritch than to Dallas/Fort Worth. Fritch was one of the towns scorched by the wild fires in the Panhandle over a year ago. 

It is never easy to say goodbye to people you love. The call of God on my life is to follow where He leads. It is evident that He is leading Brenda and I to the top of Texas. It is one big step of faith after another. We have no house to move to as of yet. Brenda has no job. We may actually start our ministry in Fritch living in a one room efficiency apartment in a town about half an hour from Fritch. There are more unknowns than knowns at this point. My salary from the church will be less than the salary generously provided from Spring Creek. The call of God trumps all of that. We go where God calls and never even discuss salary with churches we have served up front. That has never mattered. The call of God is the only thing that matters. 

So our days are busy with transitioning from life here to the unknown life ahead. We are leaving a son and daughter in law behind, Brenda's mother, two sisters, and their families all because we believe God heard the people of Fritch like He heard the man from Macedonia pleading for help to be sent. We are the answer to that prayer for Fritch. I hurt for Spring Creek. We love these people. It is not easy to leave them, but we believe God loves them more and will show His faithfulness to them. 

I know how Abraham must have felt when God called him to leave his country and family and yet he did not know exactly where he is going. [Gen 12:1-2] The transition would be easier if we had a home to move to instead of a temporary dwelling. God knows. We trust Him and are thankful for His provision of the efficiency apartment until we are able to secure permanent housing in Fritch. We trust God will do something amazing because He rewards those who live by faith. [Heb 11:6]. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. [Heb 11:1] By faith we believe He has a home for us in the Panhandle. We wait and watch to see what God does next in our transition. 

Obeying the Call

 God's call on Abraham's life was unusual. He was called to follow God to an unknown destination. We learn in [Heb 11:8] that he went out not knowing where he was going. He was called to leave family and everything familiar even though he did not know the intended destination. He would have to follow God every single day in order to get to God's mysteriously unknown final destination. 

It was a step of faith. Abraham obeyed God's call by belief in the call. God called him to go and he packed up and went. I can relate. Abraham obeyed even though he did not have all the details spelled out. That did not keep him from responding in faith. God's call trumped all the questions. 

Can you imagine Abraham trying to explain to his family what he sensed God wanted him to do. I am sure there were raised eyebrows. I am certain well meaning loved ones tried to talk him out of such a foolish venture. Abraham heard God. The call was clear. He resolved to follow through no matter what the outcome would be. He was abandoned to the will and call of God. 

Not everyone who sits in a church pew is abandoned to the will and call of God. Some have their heels dug in singing, "We shall not be moved." That is not my approach. I lived the past twenty-five years surrendered to God and His call. I confess there were some times I got it totally wrong. There were other times it did not make sense. Even a few times when people tried to talk me out of obedience by faith. They thought it foolish. God came through each time. 

To live surrendered to God's call means living with no will of your own. It means following God even when you do not understand. It means doing things that do not make sense to the casual observer. When God puts a call on your life it would be foolish not to obey. Can anyone say Jonah? 

The call of God can be so strong and irresistible that caution is thrown to the wind as people submit and obey. Remember this. God's call seldom leads to comfort. He leads us out of our comfort zones and pushes us to risky ventures. Remember David and Goliath [I Samuel 17] or Jonathan and his armor bearer attacking enemy troops just the two of them [I Samuel 14] or even Paul taking the gospel to hostile territories [Acts 14]. 

How do we know when God is calling? I heard the following in a sermon the other day. I thought it worth repeating here. 

G- Glory - if you obey the call of God will He get glory from your obedience?

O - Others - what are others counseling and affirming about your perceived call?

S - Scripture - can your call be backed up with scripture?

P - Prayer - have you bathed the call in prayer and have God's peace?

E - Evangelism - if you obey God's call will it lead to other people getting saved?

L - Lifestyle - will your lifestyle be in keeping with Christian character and conduct if you obey the call?

The Rabbit Foot

 People all over the world believe in good luck charms. One of those is a rabbit foot. I do not know how that originated. Good luck charms are certainly not what is on my mind this morning. I have a far different tale to share with you. One that in all my years of walking with God I have never seen before. His creativity and ability do not cease to amaze me. Let me tell you what happened to me yesterday. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty busy up here at Spring Creek when Pinnacle Christian School is in session. They use our facility. About 125 students and dozens of teachers descend on this place. A couple of years ago we relocated my office right across from the Pinnacle office. It is grand central station. When I need to study on those days I often use my old office we turned into the church library. That is what I did yesterday morning. 

Around mid morning I left to go make a pastoral visit. When I approached the glass doors I noticed a rabbit outside sitting right next to the door. On closer examination the rabbit sat on a white envelope. I was a little surprised at first. When I opened the door the heavy weight of the stone rabbit impeded the door opening as easily as it should have. My curiosity arose. I picked up the sone rabbit to see the envelope on the ground. I was again surprised when I noticed my first name handwritten on it. I placed the rabbit in the flower bed and placed and picked up the envelope. I had to next go to my house to get the car keys. It was only then that I opened the envelope. I thought it might have bee a letter of some type. 

I have no idea who went through all that effort to leave an envelope underneath a stone rabbit. Especially when I was only a few week away from those doors in the old office. Somebody drove up there, got out of their vehicle, laid the envelope on the ground, found and placed the stone rabbit on top because it was a breezy day. All of this make my curiosity arise. Somebody went through a lot of effort. 

I don't believe in good luck charms. Why should I when I walk with God. My hope and faith are in Him in each season of life. He is there in times of adversity. He is there in times of prosperity. He is dependable all times in between the two. He is trustworthy. He has demonstrated His faithfulness in my life over and over again. If you are a frequent reader of these posts you know that. You have read about the many ways God has come through for my family in astounding ways. I love to tell those stories. I digress. 

You may be wondering what was inside the envelope. It turned out not to be a letter to my surprise. There were five one hundred dollar bills in that envelope. Shocking. It is true that Brenda and I are praying for His provision in a couple of areas. I never suspected God would deliver His provision under a rabbit foot. It makes me smile and chuckle on the inside. He prompted someone somewhere to be His vessel of provision to us again. It is simply amazing. I glorify God because of this. I praise Him for helping us again. I exalt Him for hearing prayer and answering in a most unusual way. It was not good luck. It was good God. 

Send Me

One of the ways God speaks most clearly to me is through His word. I make my habit of reading through the Bible yearly and each year God uses different scriptures to communicate to me. Over the years some scriptures have become standing prayers. One of those is [Isaiah 6:8]. Isaiah responds to God's desire to send someone by asking God to send him. 

I was at a camp ground in deep east Texas the first time I saw it. He spoke to me again through that passage at a different camp ground outside Amarillo, TX on a prayer retreat years later. Over the years it has resurfaced many different times and and in many different places. Sometime in devotionals, books, and even in music. One morning a few weeks ago that verse showed up three different times in three different devotions I used for that day. That has never happened to me before. It definitely got my attention. 

This morning David Jeremiah referenced that verse in his message on television. I was busy getting dressed and almost didn't notice it. When he spoke those familiar words from that verse I immediately paid attention. I thought to myself God is up to something. Someone gave me a picture of that verse that sits on the wall opposite my desk. I see it everyday. It is fastened right below the C.T. Study quote, " 'Tis only one life and 'twill soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last." 

That verse  and quote go along with the theme of my life to live surrendered to God and to His will. To go anywhere to do anything at anytime. Life is a grand adventure when you choose to live that way. I gladly surrender to Him. He knows far better than I do what is best. 

We should live as sent people. People who go and do what God leads. I am thinking of a young man from the Borden family. You may recognize that name from the Milk company. The young man was in line to inherit abundant wealth in the family business. Only, God had other plans. God called that young man to go on the mission field. His father told him if he followed through with becoming a missionary that he would not inherit any of the family fortune. 

The young man followed through and went on the mission field anyway. He was sent by God. Tragically he died only a few months into his service. Most thought it was a waste of life. It serves as a powerful example to how God calls people to live. Totally surrendered. Available to be sent. Following God where He sends does not always lead to prosperity and success. It does not always lead to accolades. God sends people down risky roads and painful paths in the fulfillment of His mission at times. 

Here is the real issue. Is what Jesus did for us on the cross enough motivation for us to give Him our yes no matter what He calls us to do? It most certainly is. Each of us should wake up daily wanting God to send us. It most likely will not be on the other side of the world. It might be for some. Most people being sent might mean a trip to visit a neighbor, a shut in, or to a hospital to visit someone. It might mean taking on the assignment of teaching a class or volunteering in some organization. For a select few, being sent might require uprooting and going to a new location like Abraham was called to do in [Gen 12:1-2]. 

None of that should matter. We are called to live on mission for Him. Called to do whatever He requires of us. He has the right to interrupt our lives and to call us to do anything He desires. We are required to obey by faith. He is constantly sending people to do His work. Are we willing to be sent?

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

 In [Luke 11:1] the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. I find that same desire in me this morning. I've devoted the past four decades of my life learning about prayer. I have shelves in my office lined with multiple volumes on the subject. I have written two books on prayer. Prayer has been a common theme of these posts for years. I've devoted hundreds of thousands of hours to private prayer. 

I still find myself needing to ask the Lord to teach me to pray. Prayer is much more complex than most realize. It is also so simple a child can grasp it. Complex and simple. A recent survey I discovered reported most people pray an average of five minutes a day. I can believe it. There are problems much bigger than five minute prayers. 

I am fighting for a sick woman I used to pastor who has been in the hospital for nearly a month. Her body is wracked with pain and the doctors have not been able to diagnose the root cause. Tests have been run. Scans and MRIs. Even an exploratory surgery. None of those things have brought relief. So we pray. Deep intercessions. 

I am also burdened for a beautiful young woman I knew as a child. Her parents are dear friends to Brenda and me. I pray for that young lady to return to the Lord after years of rebellion. I've prayed for her years now. At times the burden has left. It returned heavily yesterday morning and today. Both of these issues take more than five minutes. It took up the bulk of my praying this morning. 

I find myself needing to learn how to pray more effectively. How to discern the voice of God. [I Sam 3:10] How to intercede. How to stand in the gap. How to believe for the impossible. How to pray with perseverance when the answer does not come immediately. [Luke 18:1] How to grow in faith. These are not lessons people can teach me. I can listen to sermons, read books, and listen to testimonies. I have done all of those things for decades. To really learn how to pray more effectively I must learn from the Master. He must instruct me. 

I can imagine if the people of God really had the same heart for the Lord to teach all of us to pray. What a tremendous difference that would make in our communities. I think I am safe in saying that for the most part we are a prayer less people. I know. There is that five minute praying. How many really want to dive deeper in prayer. To learn to intercede for other people in their grief, misery, misfortunes, and mountain sized problems. This is necessary. There are problems in people's lives and society that will not be solved by our programs and expertise. Only God's miraculous intervention will make a difference. 

People could be Christians for decades and still be in kindergarten in prayer. God desires that we advance and grow in prayer and faith. He longs for us to long to meet with Him. He wants to reveal great and mighty things we do not know. [Jer 33:3] He is the God who can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can think or ask. [Eph 3:20] He is the God who can do anything. [Matt 19:26] He is the God that shows up in the day of our troubles. [Ps 50:15] 

We all need the Lord to teach us how to pray. Like an eager student on the first day of school, I want to take my seat in the front row and soak up all He has to say. I want to enroll in the school of prayer and intercession graduating from kindergarten to advanced level courses. I want pray big prayers, pray with big faith, and see big answers to give God big glory. Lord teach me to pray. Lord, teach all us how to pray. 

Do It Again

 I am asking the Lord to do it again. Do again what He has done for me multiple times over the past forty years. What you might ask? I am asking the Lord incessantly to provide vehicles for my family. We got a call last night from Turner about his truck not running right. A generous man in the church did the equivalent of thousands of dollars worth of work on his truck this past summer donating his time. He told us that if he had not done those repairs he did not even think the truck would make it back to Lubbock. Now additional issues have surfaced. The engine is well worn past 200,000 miles. Most of the vehicles we drive are approaching 200,000 miles or are past them. Mine is fast approaching 300,000. It is time to replace rather than repair. 

Both Tanner and Tucker's cars are in bad shape. Taylor's truck has been broken down for months. Brenda and I both drive 21 year old vehicles. I'm asking God to replace them. He has done that for us repeatedly over the years. If I had the financial resources to buy vehicles, I would not even ask God. I have a deep conviction to not go in debt on vehicles. So, we have no other choice but to trust God to help us. 

He gave me my first miracle car in college. He provided the second miracle car not long after I began a full time traveling preaching ministry. Neither car was brand new. That did not matter to me. I did not ask God for brand new vehicles. Our third miracle vehicle came while in Paradise, TX through the generous provision of three different people. We were blessed with another vehicle in 2016 from a lady in the church we pastored. She drove it to church and gave it to us. A low mileage Lincoln Continental. 

I have testified about these numerous times. I do so again. God took faith and answers to prayer to a new level. In 2017 between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, we watched God provide 5 vehicles for our family in thirty days. The vehicles were a Toyota truck, a Hyundai Sonota, a Kia Optima, a Chevrolet truck, and a GMC Yukon. All those vehicles had high mileage on them when we got them. We have driven them for the past several years. Now it is time to trust God to do it again. Several vehicles with no debt. 

I know it sounds impossible. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! People have thought asking God for that back in 2017n was impossible the last time I prayed for such abundant provision. God did it before. I trust He will do it again. I labor in prayer like a woman in labor to give birth. Only I am giving birth to 5 miracle vehicles again. These are the mountains I believe God to move. He has done it before and in His time I trust He will do it again. 

HELP MY UNBELIEF

 Why are we as the people of God prone to doubt Him? We are not the first. Israel doubted God repeatedly no matter what they witnessed God do for them. Delivery from Egyptian slavery. Parting of the Red Sea. Providing water in the desert. The constant supply of manna. Sending quail when they complained of not having meat to eat. Driving out enemy nations in the promise land. They doubted again and again no matter how many times God demonstrated His faithfulness to them. 

Are we really any different from them? Each of us has seen God come through for us in challenging situations. Why are we prone to doubt when we encounter the next set of trials? Why do so many of us struggle with unbelief?  There may not be an easy answer to that question, but there is an easy solution to the problem. 

Read what Jesus said to a doubting man in Mark 9:23. "...all things are possible to him who believes." The guy's response in verse 24 should be our prayer as well. "I do believe; help my unbelief." 

That is the solution. A simple three word prayer. HELP MY UNBELIEF! How many need to pray that today as we awake to mammoth challenges. Instead of fretting in fear over things we have not control of, why not pray for God to help our unbelief. To strengthen a weakening faith. To undergird sagging trust. Is the current level of our faith large or little? No matter the answer we can all pray for God to help our unbelief. 

Life hits hard. It will knock you to your knees. The assaults of the enemy in spiritual warfare are constant and intense in nature. The financial demands are unceasing. Seems like we spend more but buy less in this economy. The money runs out faster by the end of the month, especially for those living on fixed incomes. What should we pray? Help our unbelief. 

Perhaps repentance is in order after reading [Mark 9:23-24]. Children trust their parents to meet their needs and help them through challenges. Why should the people of God not trust their Heavenly Father to do the same for them? No challenge we face is too difficult for Him. [Jer 32:17]

Lord, Make Me a Sailboat

 In the world of ministry, churches can be powered by personalities, programs, and profit margins more than the power of God. Just like a power boat with an engine. You put fuel in the engine and the motor ;can power through the waters wherever you please. This is not the case for a sailboat. A sailboat is completely dependent on the wind to move. 

My prayers is to be more like a sailboat. To hoist the sails of my pastoral and preaching ministry waiting on the wind of God to blow with power. Without the Holy Spirit I am absolutely and completely powerless. With the Holy Spirit blowing through the sails He can accomplish great things. I can do nothing without Him. [Jn 6:63] [Jn 15:5] 

Waiting on the wind of the Spirit to blow is both exhilarating and frustrating. Exhilarating in the fact that when He moves great things happen. People get saved. Lives are changed. Disciples are made. Churches and communities are transformed. The frustrating part comes when you wait for extended periods and that power is not displayed. Even though patience is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, many get impatient and want to make something happen. They implement a new program. They employ a new strategy and focus. This does not ensure the wind of the Spirit will blow and move powerfully. 

At this stage of life and ministry, I can see the futility in programs. I prayerfully hoist the sails and wait on the Lord to blow to propel me forward. To blow life and power into the preaching. To blow conviction into the lost who hear the message of salvation. To blow fire on the cold hearts of believers who have lost their first love. To blow peace on the anguished souls. 

All fleshly efforts will not profit spiritually. Talent, expertise, and creativity will not produce lasting fruit without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will. He is the source of power. [Acts 1:8] I want to tap into that power so God gets the glory. He alone empowers to produce abundant fruit that will last. His work endures. My sails are hoisted. I wait for His wind to blow. 

One other note, we do not know what direction the wind will blow. We may predetermine a course and He blows in a different direction. It is up to us to readjust the sails and go in the direction He propels us. That may mean charting a whole new course we had not planned on taking. God knows best. We can trust His leadership. So we hoist the sails and stay in His flow. Blow O wind of God and propel further than we can every take ourselves. 

Connecting the Dots

Last Sunday morning I preached from Colossians 4:3 about praying for God to open doors to speak about Jesus. I actually stopped in the middle of the message and prayed that for all in attendance. When the service ended a man approached me who is DPS Sergeant. He asked if I would preach the funeral for one of his trooper's dad who recently died. 

I have to confess my first reaction was not joyous acceptance. It is never easy to preach funerals for people you do not know. God has given me that opportunity numerous times. In fact, the last two funerals I preached I did not know the person. I dreaded it but accepted. I gathered some information on the deceased man and was relieved to discover the man was saved back in 2002. The whole week I dreaded the service though. I determined right from the start I would confess that I never met the deceased. I spoke very little of him based on the limited information I had about his life. 

Yesterday morning everything changed. The funeral was at 2:00 yesterday afternoon. While praying in the morning, I remembered my prayer from the pulpit about God opening the door to speak for Jesus. It suddenly dawned on me this was exactly what I asked God for. It also dawned on me several DPS troopers would be in attendance. I had the opportunity to preach the gospel message to people who needed to hear it. 

It changed my perspective and my attitude. Not only were there multiple DPS troopers in attendance dressed in uniform, but there were also several Texas Rangers law enforcement officers in attendance as well. I have never had such an opportunity before. God gave me the chance to clearly explain the gospel, sin, the reason we need a Savior and even to touch on themes of heaven, hell, and the second coming. All of that in about 20 minutes. Admittedly, some in attendance tuned me out by their body language. Some listened intently. I prayerfully sowed the gospel seed. I trust God to do the rest drawing people to salvation through Jesus Christ. 

I failed to connect the dots between what I prayed and what God did in response. Has that ever happened to you? Did that happen because I really did not believe what I prayed last Sunday morning? Was it because the answer came in the form that was not comfortable or expected? Or, was it because I got so busy doing other things it distracted me from making the connection? I do not have a clear answer to those questions other than I believe I sincerely had faith to believe when I prayed in the pulpit for God to open doors. I am thankful He did. 

I will long treasure that privilege of getting to preach before so many honored law enforcement officers. I am thankful for the opportunity. When you ask God for something, I encourage you to pay attention to what happens in the following days. God may answer your prayer in ways you did not expect. You might miss it if you do not connect the dots. 

Grateful in the Midst of It All

 There is a lady named Joan we met back in Seminole. That lady loves Jesus. She is serious about her walk with the Savior and prayer. When I would ask how she was doing no matter what she was going through, she always responded, "Grateful in the midst of it all." She radiated the joy of the Lord. Even though she faced numerous trials as a single parent. 

Paul writes in [Phil 4:4] to rejoice in the Lord always. He also wrote in [I These 5:18] in everything to give thanks for this is God's will in Christ Jesus. I have to confess that I read those verses for decades, but I could not say that I lived them. I rejoiced in my circumstances when they were great, and whined when things were not going the way I hoped. I gave thanks in the good times and complained in the trying times. I knew little of rejoicing and giving thanks when life was hard. 

Paul had a hard life. He suffered more than most. How could he endure all of it with joy? How could he still find reasons to give thanks when he lost his freedom and ultimately his life? Paul lived differently than most of us. His entire life after salvation was Jesus. I am not suggesting Paul did not sin. He wrote about his own struggle with sin in Romans 7. I am saying that Jesus made all the difference for Paul on a daily basis. 

While most of us find joy and thanksgiving in external things, Paul found joy internally in his relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter what happened to him on the outside the inside reality of Jesus Christ did not change. It did not matter when they beat him. Nor when they stoned him and left him for dead. It did not matter when he went hungry. When he was cold at night with not enough clothing to keep him warm. It did not matter that he was always on the move. He faced danger in every city. None of that not mattered. Jesus mattered most to Him. 

The difference Jesus made to Paul more than compensated for all the hardships. Paul wrote that he found knowing Christ of surpassing value compared to any losses he suffered. [Phil 3:8] He devoted his life to knowing Christ and making Him known to others. He also wrote in [Phil 4:10-12] that he learned to be content in all circumstances. 

Joy, thanksgiving, and contentment are choices. We choose to find joy in the Lord. Sure life is hard and things are not always pleasant. That is why people are not happy because that is directly tied to the happenings around them. Jesus is the source of joy and He does not change. There are always things to be thankful for as a Christian. Our salvation for one. We can never give enough thanks for that. There are other things as well like having access to His word to comfort and strengthen us. 

Joan learned the secret to joy and thanksgiving and that is why she could say she was grateful in the midst of all of it. May we follow her example. May Jesus continually be the source of our joy and the reason we are most thankful.