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)

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.