Praise God For the Bible

No, I mean the series "The Bible" on the History channel. I haven't seen it, and don't plan to, but God did use it to give me a door to give two people the Gospel. One of the people I was working with asked me to verify that I am a Christian. When I said yes, he asked me about the series. I told him I haven't seen it. After he got over the shock of that statement, he began telling me how great it is. I asked God to let me use this as He intended it. I knew it was a door, but couldn't figure out what to say. When he finished speaking, the words came. "The whole purpose of the Bible is to let you know that in eternity you will be judged..."

I gave the shortest Gospel presentation I have ever given. While I was doing so, I heard someone on the speakerphone. Two for the price of one. God is awesome!

Success

Another graduation out of the youth group and into life: living for God.  Another reason to rejoice.

Kicking Off Summer

What a great day!  I am beat, but so content.  We hosted a picnic and invited several people from church, and a few we just know.  All total thirty two people came to our small apartment.  God gave us a heat wave (someone said it got to 95) and lots of sun.  The food tasted fantastic, and the fellowship was excellent.  Some new friendships were made and others greatly strengthened.  One of my favorite young mothers was incredibly impressive and her kids were a charm.  My son and his fiancée came out and we had a great time with them. 

The volley ball games were a lot of fun and were instrumental in building relationships.  The last three games were the remaining teens against the adults.  After the adults had soundly thrashed the teens, Nancy suggested that we do that for teen night.  The adults got excited and said they would attend.  Wow!  This might be a summer of strengthening families. 

I am beat, but am unsure if I am going to be able to sleep.  God is incredibly good to us!

Blessing Two

I had the most wonderful time speaking with a lovely young lady who was here visiting her parents.  I've observed her for several years and have noticed God's grace in her life even in difficult times.  As she spoke, the grace and peace of God seemed to flow with her words.  What a blessing.  I found myself excitedly saying amen more than once through our brief conversation.  Do you know how exciting it is to speak with someone who who loves God and has learned that godliness with contentment is great gain? 

Congratulations Pastor and Kathy.  I know you have no greater joy than to see your children walking in truth.  How joyful your weekend must be!

Counting Blessings

So many positives today, but there are two I really want to share and I will share them one at a time.  Here's the first of two.

Wonder Church was great.  I have the most amazing team and today two of them really shone.  Miss Patty was challenged to come up with some illustrations for some of the points in the message to really help drive it into the hearts of the kids and she excelled.  I also asked her to cone up with a few quick games to help keep the kids from losing focus without us being in control of it, and what a blessing that was.  One word: applesauce!

Miss Kali was put in charge of designing and implementing the craft for the message and I am super impressed with the ability God has given her.  She had one of the best crafts we ever did and it was planned out far better than we have ever planned.  It was a hit. 

God blessed the whole service.  The Old Folks service ran over and things downstairs were so smooth the bus captains had come beg for the kids to get on the bus.  Five kids made professions of faith, one of which is a church kid who had made a profession years earlier.  I could see the conviction on his face when he came forward.

God Played Kick Ball

I played kick ball with our Christian school kids and we had to quickly end the game so everyone could get back in time to get what they needed to do, done.  I had work, they had, well school.  I was up to kick, my team was down four to one, we had two people on base, and one out.  I had a great opportunity to tie the game, and since we were last at bat, we could win.  I booted the ball and it went sailing!  Just as the ball was clearing the infield and continued to rise, the wind picked up and started blowing it back, right into the hands of the kid who caught it.  One of the kids who was on base had started running, and was thrown out.  It was a double play and the game was over.

I hate losing, but I love seeing God do amazing things.  You should have been there.  It wasn't the wind, it was God who caught the ball and put it in the boy's hand who "caught" it.  I wonder if it was the same wind He used to part the Red Sea.

What Is Impossible With Man

I pray with my daughter every night I am home.  Last night she prayed for today's school picnic to be held in a different location than it had been scheduled for.  I knew one of the reasons for the selecting of the location, and I knew the chance of that being altered was about 0.1%.  I almost told her there was no chance of that happening, but the Holy Spirit reminded me of some of the crazy things I had asked for and received in the past.  So I left it alone and told God I hoped He did it.

This morning, my wife (who teaches at our Christian school and was unaware of my daughter's prayer request) called to ask me if I would like to attend the school picnic since it had been changed to the exact location my daughter had prayed for. 

Well, shut my mouth!  Praise God!  What an awesome God!  There is none other who cares for us like my Father on heaven!