A Camo Band Aid

Yesterday was the first morning that I preached in a few weeks and I showed up sporting a camo band aid on my finger. The band aid had nothing to do with what I've gone through the last month, I had it on simply because I cut my finger. But, it spoke to me of the healing power of Christ and how He often chooses not to work instantaneously (though He certainly can and at times does). He often uses technology, medicine, doctors, nurses, counselors, and the wonderful age old healing balm of time. When I'm sick or down in a trial, I want to be healed and delivered instantly. The last thing I want to do is wait, but I've learned that God uses time like a band aid. It holds us as God continues to bring healing in our lives. It's not the way I choose, but God's ways are perfect and higher than mine, even using a camo band aid.

The price of health

There are few things, if any, except for salvation, is more priceless that good health. I try to be a healthy person for the most part; I exercise and work out six days a week, I try to eat a decent diet of food, and take the vitamins and supplements that I think I need. But even after all that, sometimes, sickness comes. I have been sick or at least struggling with sickness for almost a month now. It has reminded me of a few things. First, it's made me more sympathetic toward those who are sick, especially those who suffer long term with illness. Secondly, it has reminded me of how precious and valuable physical health is, it's worth any amount of money and everyday that we are granted a day of health is a precious day. Thirdly, it has reminded me that there is spiritual sickness that is worse than physical sickness. When someone's soul is sick, everything in there life is touched by it, thank God for Jesus and the hope and assurance we have in him for spiritual and physical healing.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT at Excel A/G!!!!!

Man, Mark Sasser and team are tearing it up this week. They are putting on a wonderful kids crusade at Excel A/G. I love to be involved with ministry to kids, they have such a pure and simple faith that is strong! The puppets, skits, media, and messages are touching these little lives. It's awesome to see small hands raised in praise to the Lord and small heads bowed in prayer and the presence of God in the room is addictive. I can almost see Jesus dancing and singing with the children. I know they make His heart smile. Anyway, it's Wednesday and the last night of the kid's crusade as well as a cookout and volleyball for our teens. I'm looking forward to hanging out with the students tonight. I've been in the crusade the last two nights, but I'm gonna play volleyball and EAT with the students tonight. Bro. Cofield will be bringing the word to the adults in the sanctuary as well. I'm looking forward to the night...

Inspiration

So, I'm at the beach in Destin, FL, emerald green waters, white sandy beaches, blue, red, yellow, orange, white, green and many other color umbrellas dotting the shoreline, and something I wasn't really expecting to find - new inspiration. It's amazing how our routine surroundings and schedule can lead us into tunnel vision without us even realizing it. I came to the beach to rest, spend time with the family and take a break from 'ministry', a break from sermon preparation and creative thinking and planning, in other words, to just chill out. I'm doing that and loving the time with Angela and the kids, but I found something unexpected yet really awesome - fresh inspiration. I've sensed more personal renewing and fresh creative juices flowing than I have in...well...a long time. I'm wondering if I am on to something really spiritual, like, maybe I need some beachfront property! lol

Enjoy The Day

Eccl. 5:18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live. (The Message)
I discovered these verses in my devotion and journal time today. It says that we should enjoy the day, this day, TODAY. If we are not careful, we will allow the regret of the past and the anxiety of the future to rob us of the joy of our 'today'. We must commit all things to God, serve Him, and be faithful to work hard in ministry and occupation. Take care of ourselves and those we are responsible for and enjoy life. That's God's will for us. Yesterday is gone and if we plan to the best of our abilities and trust God, tomorrow will take care of it self, so enjoy the day, today!

The Wonder of God

A couple of Sundays ago, I preached a message from Francis Chan's book 'Crazy Love' about our God being so great that we can't exaggerate Him. I thought I was done with that particular vein of thought, but I have been constantly considering the majesty and wonder of God since that message. I plan to build on that thought this Sunday with an illustration for Mark Batterson's book, 'Primal' about the wonder of God. It's a great read and has some great info about the wonder of God. I don't won't to walk around "wonder-blind"... explanation Sunday 6-6-10 at 10:30 am.

Crossroads

There are very few destinations that can be reached without passing through an intersection or 'crossroads'. There may be the very unusual straight shot to a place without crossroads or turns but it's rare. Most of our journeys are full of crossroads. Some don't require a change of direction, just a pause for safety or no pause at all. Others require a turn to get where we are going. Sometimes, if we are not completely sure of the directions, we sit at intersections and wonder which way to turn. This is life. I've met a few people in my life that thought they were so super spiritual that God audibly spoke every single minute detail of direction to them ahead of time (although by their path I would argue that), anyway, for most of us, sometimes the specific details are sometimes very clear by the Holy Spirit and at other times, a little gray; do I take this job or that one, move to be near family or stay here, buy this house or rent, invest in this stock or that stock, place my kids in this school or a different one, change career paths when the job market folds or stay the course in this profession, etc. The list goes on and on, crossroads of life. I use to think that these crossroads came at certain points, ages, places, or specific intervals in life, and they do, but I'm learning that many daily decisions and challenges are crossroads as well. We must listen closely to the voice of the Spirit, stay true to the Word of God, and do our best to make the best decisions at these crossroads and trust God when we sit there scratching our head wondering which way. So, here I sit, at a crossroad, wondering, do I eat these turkey tacos filled with salsa and sour cream or not? lol