The road to un-Shur...

(Genesis 16:6–13)
     ⁶ “...so Hagar fled from her. ⁷ The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. ⁸ And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. ⁹ Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her…” ¹³ She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Things in Hagar's life got crazy and abusive and fouled up. So Hagar fled…but was found by the Lord…beside the road to Shur…

Shur = “wall” in the Hebrew language. So perhaps we could say she was found on the road to “un-Shur.”  Ever been there? 

You hit "the wall."  Sick. Frantic. Worn down. Worn out. Questions before you. Challenges around you.

Like Hagar, turn to “Elroi” – the God who sees.

(Psalm 139:8–10)
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. ⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there Your hand will
guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

"Even there" His hand is reaching out to you and me.  Take hold of it...!

A (really) Small World!

Alright, you’re not going to believe this one...

I go across the street today to our local coffee/retail shop, and while I’m there these two ladies walk in.  One has a distinct British accent, and I’m thinking, man that sounds familiar.  So I motion to the shop-owner (who is a churchmember) to ask where the lady is from.   Ready…?

“Excuse me, ma’am…where are you from?”

           “Oh I’m from a little town in northern England…”

“Really, where?”             
           “Oh this little spot called Newcastle…”

At which point I almost fell over. I went running around the store aisle and said, “NEWCASTLE!?!  I WAS JUST THERE 2 WEEKS AGO!”  Then the British lady almost fell over.    “No really,” I said, “Here I’ve got pictures!”  And I began showing her pictures on my I-phone of our trip there.  She is in the States visiting her American friend, whose husbands used to work together in the oil drilling industry.  I gave her my business card and told her which church I had been working with.  What an absolutely crazy time we had, standing there in Texas, visiting about common themes a world away!

I don’t believe in coincidence, and have already prayed for this woman.  Would you do the same? God is at work, and much bigger than all of us.  I think He wanted to remind us of that…

Tail feathers!

Have you ever seen a bald eagle? I did…about 4 inches from my head! While we were in England we visited a “working” castle, a real place where you could step back into medieval times. My daughter and I decided to watch the falconry display. You know, where have “small” birds fly high in the
air and land on their master’s arm?  Uhh, WRONG. (See picture). 

This huge bald eagle got let loose and off he went soaring high in the sky. But upon return, he decided that he’d buzz the control tower and swoop over the crowd. I’m telling you, if I hadn’t ducked he would’ve flown right into me! As I was falling backwards I snapped this up-close-and-personal
pic. 

I had always thought of eagles simply as majestic and graceful (which they are). Can I tell you from my close-encounter that they are also swift, powerful, and agile?! Gives me new perspective for Isaiah 40:31…

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ”

So maybe God doesn’t just give us the ability to rise above our circumstances, but also to power through them...

Back in the USA!
Just had a cheeseburger and chocolate shake...oh God bless America!!
Thank you for all your prayers and support. See you soon!

Prayer Guide - Last Day

Pray for an easy adjustment back to time, place, and weather.

Prayer Guide - Day 31

Travel day – Pray for flight safety back to Texas.

England travel update

Several of you have asked...so yes London is quite volatile at present, but we are not there now.
Our return flight has been changed to out of Birmingham UK.
See you soon!

Prayer Guide - Day 30

Pray for “the seeds of ministry” which have been planted, to grow and prosper.

Final day in Gateshead

We finished our weeklong renewal in northeast England.
Wonderful "Texas night" last night including some Texas dishes that Terri prepared.
Good final Sunday service. Full house. Great week, great people, cool temps. Pray that the seeds planted and relationships established will grow under the Spirit's leadership.

We journey home this week. Pray us in...
(Enough said, above...)

Prayer Guide - Day 29

Pray for the final Renewal Week worship service.