Surviving the Seasonal Frenzy

Are you looking for a gentle ascending path out of the mire of Seasonal exhaustion? 

Love God and love people. 

I often find a corresponding tension between overload of duty and dealings AND lack of one-on-one time with the Father and other people.

 

Be deliberate in your act of depressional defiance. Be with God somewhere different. Dabble in a new book. Visit someone's home. Find them where they are. Make 3 phone calls. Send 2 personal texts. Yes, time consuming, but also time reenergized. Crazy amazing. 

"In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of...our being."

-        C.H. Spurgeon

 

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.” (3 John 2–3)

 

New Orleans mission trip

A few days on the youth mission trip. Work with a team today in the infamous Ninth ward (via the hurricane) where many areas have yet to recover, 7 years later...

Hurricane Memorial. Blue pillars represent water heighth as it progressed...

Texas!

After a 6:00am hotel departure and an all day flight, home never looked so good. After the cool English air, Texas greeted us with 104 degr temps~
Some of our Team actually melted on the spot...
Nonetheless we had an amazing journey which we look forward to sharing in greater detail.
Thank you for your prayers.

London done

A great weekend in London with good weather, Team time, and debriefing.

Headed to London

Our entire team has gathered and boarded the train headed south to London. All are well and have done magnificently at their church locations. A true sense of accomplishment abounds. Weary but well worth it, is the sentiment.  Isaiah 55:11 is our prayer.

The Finale

My last evening I spoke in Hartlepool on the coastline. A wonderfully spirited church in a beautiful location. A concert of praise with various instruments highlighted the evening.

Looking south down the coastline. Our team stayed in the last house in the distance.

(Yes right on the water!)

 The Baptist church in the left foreground

Nice huh?

To change or not to change, that is the question?!

What do these 2 photos have in common?

Besides the pretty English design, they're taken at the same place one day apart.

It was 65 degr and sunny yesterday. It's cold and rainy today. Yesterday morn I was in the back garden with the warm sun on my neck (see the blue sky in the window) today I'm in the great room with fireplace going!

"It's never the same is it...Never!" said my British friend about the weather. I'd have to agree...it's beginning to rival Texas weather!

But oh why our God is so inviting...for He never changes!

"I the Lord do not change."

- Mal. 3:6

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

- Heb 13:8

But maybe the most important:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love."
- Jer 31:3

As we ready for our last full day of ministry in the UK, pray for our ability to share and reinforce the never-changing love of Christ...

A sign from Above?

So I'm strolling down a back street in Durham, high walls and vines everywhere. I'm taking in the scenery, awed by the vintage architecture, when I sudden upon this ancient stone plaque.  Truly a sign from above!  And there was great rejoicing by all...ha!

Durham Day...

Our team all gathered in Durham today. Great for everyone to see each other and catch up!  God is doing much, everywhere.  A tour of the 1000 yr old Durham cathedral and stroll down the cobblestone streets highlighted the afternoon. Then it was off again to everyone's respective places.

I was privileged to speak in the evening at an independent Methodist church in the area. What a warm welcoming crowd! The church organist and I hit a special "chord" when I said my mom had also been an organist for 50+ years...

Seed sowing 101

Our team in the UK has now become "mini" (many) teams, settling into various communities within a 40 mile radius. Reports of good (God) things are happening everywhere!  A child asking, "What is that Book he was reading from?  (the Bible...)   A man on the back row at church, moved by one of our men's testimonies.  Casual conversation turning to dialogue about spiritual things.  Worship services, music, and teaching led by our team members.  Many things, happening at one time, ordained by one Person, for one purpose.  I have spoken at a different church every night. Terri spoke in 2 churches yesterday and more each day. Keep lifting us up, friends!  The Father is orchestrating a great concert of effort into amazing results.

Hmmm...what to caption this?

Icy wind, cold rain, and a happy man with SIX donuts on the Northsea!

Let the Games begin...

 The Sched

Childrens Bible distribution prep 

Need a Librarian to help organize 

Meet and eat

Commissioning Prayer over our Team

Area host churches assembled Sat PM, met their Texas team, worshipped together, then departed with members of our team. What began in one church is now multiplying to six...



The Flame in motion

Team Saturday in the UK

What a day in the UK!  Breakfast in host homes, then watching the Olympic torch pass through the area.  Fish -n- chips for lunch on the dockside, then a tour along the Northsea, St. Mary's lighthouse, et al. 

Olympic rings over Tyne River in Newcastle

Waiting for The Torch

The Torch

Fish n Chips anyone?

Just a spot of tea

Durham Arrival!

Weary, worn, and otherwise wiped out...the Team has arrived at the train station still with smiles!

UK update

Our 2nd full team has landed safely in London...gone through Customs...and are on the Tube (subway) to Train Station.

Madam box-a-lot

...And 5 of her 15 Bible boxes shipped from the US! Stacked to the ceiling in a small British "flat".
(only 5 showing in picture!)

UK Update

Hello All!  After a full travel of plane, train, and automobile (literally), we have settled safely into our host home in the Newcastle area.  What joy to see our old friends and pick up where we left off. A brisk 50 degrees the first morning we awoke (that was nice too!)
There is a buzz in the area in part from the Olympic torch due to arrive here Friday...AND our team from Texas coming about the same time. We have been working through last minute details for our ministry week to come, and I was reminded that our location does not restrict the Spirit. The Father wants to move in and through us here, because He has a plan for those He loves here.
Thank you to our faithful friends back home who are daily lifting us up!

UK update

The airplane picture says it all...the advance team has arrived in the UK safely.

That's all good!

Turn Bush's into bucks!

First Words...2nd Thoughts

First Words of my day…

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8, NIV84)

He knows when we are weary. Does not grow impatient at our flesh. Ready to renew us every day.

Okay, yep I got that, Lord.

BUT THEN these Words…

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV84)

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13, NIV84)

Here’s the problem…in the above 2 verses we often put the emphasis on the wrong place. The fact that WE have problems or trouble…and that WE have fears and need help.

Really THAT’S NOT THE POINT AT ALL…for when WE put the emphasis there, WE never really let go, or allow our worries to flee, or put our hope anywhere else other than ourselves. 

So perhaps the Master intended His words this way…

““I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” (John 16:33, NIV84)

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13, NIV84)

Peace in Him?

Help from Him?
What could be better?!

Cool is...

                                                                                                                                         (orig posted March 27, 2012)
...Watching your mom receive her 50^th college celebration diploma.  I did and loved every moment of it.  Baylor’s golden diploma event honoring the Class of '62. Wow. Nostalgic and humbling. To be a child, watching your parent's acheivement, pretty amazing!

Made me ponder whether the children of Israel ever felt the same. Watching their "Daddy" achieve miraculous signs and wonders. Knowing they were related to Him. Remembering that they were grafted into that Vine.

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds.” (Psalm 145:3–6, NIV84)

"Growth in grace is measured not by the fact that you have not gone back, but that you have an insight into where you are spiritually; you have heard God say ‘Come up higher,’ not to you personally, but to the insight of your character."   (Oswald Chambers)

+1

February 29 is leap (year) day. What are you going to do to make it worthwhile? I mean, we always talk about not having "enough time." So here we are, handed an extra day on a platter.

February 29 only occurs every four years, and is called leap day. The day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days. By occasionally inserting an additional day or month into the year, that drift can be corrected. A year that is not a leap year is called a "common year."

Have mercy...that means this is an un-common year!!  What are you going to do in order to make it so in your life?  Put that task off no longer. Listen to the Lord now. Go where you've never gone before.

The Bible says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12

That makes a lot more sense in an uncommon year like this one!

Couples Retreat

FBC Couples hang out during our Couples Retreat wknd in Austin. Date night, followed by a great time of laughter, lounging, and learning together!  

"Do we have to go home??" was the common sentiment.

Joy comes...on the driveway~

After an evening of rain, a dreary morning. Cool, grey, damp, soggy, not much to motivate one’s spirit. Then I raised the garage door and I was met with a colorful surprise...

Rainbow chalk-work on the driveway greeted my morning and suddenly turned it vivid!  I chuckled and of course, smiled. (Have you today?)

“…joy comes in the morning!” (Psalm 30:5)

"I plan out each day and have it ready for you long before you arise from bed…Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what’s on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with Me."  - Jesus    [Jesus is Calling]

“Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14)

Kitchen Chicks

What a great time I had presenting hot pink aprons to our lovely "kitchen chicks!".  
Doris, Virginia, Brenda, and Suzanne do such a wonderful job hosting meals and serving in our church kitchen.
Thanks again, Ladies!

A Thai treat

What a privilege for me to join Thailand's National Christian Leadership Summit here in Texas!
22 of Thailand's top spiritual leaders all in one place, thanks to the efforts of our International Pastor in Residence, Young Wiraponsawan.

The best...

Does it get any better than a father baptizing his child, on Christmas Sunday...?
Not in this lifetime.