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.