Don't Forget to Remember...!

“They forgot God had done, the wonders He had shown them.” (Psalm 78:11)



So I heard from a Christian woman who tearfully told of God's financial provision in sending her daughter on mission overseas. How what the parents owed for the trip, arrived in the form of a back payment for services her husband performed years ago...the exact amount needed!

Coincidence? Hardly.  How about the Hand of Almighty God!

I've been reminded of God's faithful provision in my own life, in the form of compensation that showed up at my office...the exact amount I had needed for an insurance deductible coming up! And on and on similar stories are retold.

Why do I, why do we forget these things of His character? I don't know, seems like a design flaw in our making, because we as God's people have been forgetting His faithfulness for thousands of years.  So Psalm 78 reminds us.

But another Psalm prods us to remember...

“Remember the wonders God has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced, O descendants of Abraham His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is the Lord our God...” (Psalm 105:5–7)

Remembering that God was way faithful in my past, encourages me that He'll do so in my present.  How can I remember? I'm human after all, without permanent recall. Maybe share His faithful moments with others. Maybe set them as a recurring event on my digital calendar. I remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other major events of my life? Is not God showing up, in the same monumental category?

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples! For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117)
{**PS:  I did it...I decided to start setting "God moments" as forever recurring events on my computer calendar.  Try it...}

Truth mined deep Within

"Ezra had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."   (Ezra 7:9–10)

Random, I know. But God speaks even from the deep rarely traversed pages of His Word.

So too here. See that: 

• Ezra began a journey
• It took a while (and what happened in 5 months we can only imagine, for we know traveling's not easy.)
• And he arrived
• For the gracious (keyword) hand of God
• Was with him(why?)
• Because Ezra had devoted himself
• To studying, living out, and sharing the truths of God

Call it the blessed trifecta:  into me, out of me, onto others. 

Can I say that God's Word is doing that in my life...?

If so, the promises gleaned here tell us that we will arrive, and God will be with us.

So from now on...

"So from now on...we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a  new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  2 Cor 5:16-17

Happy New Year!
This time though the same, is different.
Our God who never changes through the seasons, is always new and inviting.
Life with Him is full of..."so from now on's."

Day 1 starts today.
Do it. Make the change. Turn the corner. Try again.
I can, you can, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Trust is a good thing

"Your anticipation of good outcomes in the midst of hard times is a profound form of trust."
- S.J. Young

Man, that's a good quote. Sometimes we make turning towards The Lord so much harder or grandiose than it need be.  Just believing when others don't or inspite of circumstances - that's counts in Heaven's eyes. Thanks for the reminder, Lord.

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.