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.

Live Nativity

Night one of live nativity complete. Foggy cool very Christmas. Crowd came in waves. Great job everyone!

Back...

After a blogging break, I'm back.

Back.  It’s such a simple little word (a good 4 letter word)!  Yet in the package of God’s Word, it's also a word that says so much to us:

 

“And the angel said, “Hagar, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away…” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back…and submit...”” (Genesis 16:8–9)

“The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” (Isaiah 50:5

 

“My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.” (Jeremiah 24:6–7)

 

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:30)

 

“But I have prayed for you…that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

 

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you” (2 Thessalonians 1:5–6)

 

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:39)

Did you know that your weakness doesn’t frustrate God? On the contrary, He wants you back…

Eventhough...

Day in day out we deal with a lot in life, don't we?  Wrestling with goals and presumptions, expectations and achievements, haggard health and questionable finances, on and on it goes.
Still, the Bible encourages us to let "the joy of the Lord be our strength."

Habakkuk sure had that perspective...(no that's not a Marboro brand, yes it was really a Bible prophet's name)

Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NIV84)

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.


Here's a poignant piece...

"Remember that joy is not dependent on your circumstances. Some of the world’s most miserable people are those whose circumstances seem the most enviable. People who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness awaiting them. True joy is a by-product of living in God's Presence... Do not judge a day as devoid of Joy just because it contains difficulties...If you make problem-solving secondary to the goal of living close to God, you can find Joy even in your most difficult days."
     - Sarah Young

Then why do we experience difficult days? Trying circumstances? Frustrating people?  Perhaps to keep us dependent on Him. Self navigation leads to self confidence. And self confidence, not balanced with God confidence = drifting away from dependence on Him.  And if we drift away, we'll likely develop a “rich young ruler” syndrome…

New Reign...

Last night a huge thunderstorm blew through, the first significant rainfall we’ve gotten in months, perhaps a year? It’s been so long that when the rain began, I saw people stepping outside gawking at it. Staring at something they knew, but hadn’t seen in so long.

Oh that a new Reign might fall on us...

That the Spirit might come down on us so much, that we too might stand and look in amazement. Something we know, but haven’t seen in so long.

It's okay to let the Lord have complete control. I'm reminded of the words to the old hymn "No, Not One."

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one! no, not one!

None else could heal all your soul’s diseases, no, not one! no, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done.

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one! no, not one!

¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.   Psalm 27:13–14

 

Liquid clouds

Strange substance falling from sky onto windshield?
Hard to identify...rarely seen...
Someone said it was called "rain."

9/11 Remembered...

Today FBC Salado paused to remember the Anniversary of 9/11, and to honor the thousands of people who lost their lives. Some going through their daily routine, others through service and sacrifice.

“9/11 representatives” stood in line across the stage behind me.  Each person representing an area of lives lost. From left to right:  Firemen, Paramedics, Police, Military, Children, Businesswomen, and Businessmen.

With heads bowed we observed a moment of silence, then heard "Taps" played by a trumpeteer.  We concluded the moment with a prayer of remembrance and call to renewal.


"And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."  2 Corinthians 1:7

HELP BASTROP FIRE VICTIMS

One year ago Salado experienced the worst flood in our history. Now a year later, our neighbors down in Bastrop are dealing with the worst wildfire in their history. 34,000 acres, 20 neighborhoods, 785 homes. In our time of need, thousands of dollars of support came in. Now is our time to respond.

In a coordinated effort with the Austin Baptist Association, First Baptist Salado is now receiving donations to send to the Bastrop fire victims. The A.B.A is making daily runs from Austin over to Bastrop.

2 ways you can help:

1.      Purchase a $20.00 Walmart or Visa gift card.  Mail it or drop it by the church office, and
we will deliver to the A.B.A. for distribution.

2.      Give a financial gift which we will collectively forward to the A.B.A.   Make checks payable to FBC Salado and designate the gift:  BASTROP

First Baptist Church
210 S Main Street
Salado, Texas 76571

“Provide for those who grieve…bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
     (Isaiah 61:3)

Random visitor...

A curious moment this morning as I stepped out to enjoy the crisp Fall-like temperature.

There was a small branch, a twig sitting on the patio-couch next to where I sit. It lay beside me as if my momentary companion. I picked it up (said hello) then tossed it aside. “Isn’t that something?” I thought, "It must've fallen from the tree justso and landed right here perfectly..."

Then I read this…

““I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Talk about a prop dropped by Heaven right beside me so I could see it. I picked the branch back up and turned back towards the huge liveoak behind me. The Spirit said, “That’s me…you’re that twig. Understand?”

“Yes Lord, I understand.”

Said missionary writer Sarah Young, "Self-sufficiency is subtle, insinuating its way into your thoughts and actions without your realizing it. But 'apart from Him you can do nothing.'"       

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through
Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”  (1 Peter 4:11)

How’s your in-all-things-ometer reading?  Are you depending on God "in all things?"

“He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30–31)