Amazed and Thankful

This week in staff meeting we were thanking God for the good offerings in the month of December. We had exceeded our projections for income and had held the line in spending. And yet it was apparent that we would end the year in the red. The Finance Committee and Deacons were aware of this situation. Still, in staff meeting on Tuesday, December 29, I led in prayer to ask God to miraculously provide some unexpected offerings that would put us in the black.

The next day I ran into people who had brought in some offerings and most of the time I never even know the details. On Wednesday the 30th I was interrupted and was shown something that took my breath away. It was an offering for $100,000.

God does not always do what we ask. In those times we trust His goodness and remain grateful. But when God steps in like this it is amazing. I am glad to report we will end the year in the black with all reserve funds intact.

Conversations around the office have been amazing. Things like, “Why are we surprised when God answers our prayers?” I think the feeling of being surprised is the same feeling that comes when we are amazed and grateful altogether. God is good and we are overflowing with thanksgiving at the close of 2009.

One Vision.Two Services.One High Street

I don't think we all know just yet what God is going to do with our plan to expand our services at High Street. I do know that when I invited someone to come to church today they asked me what time the service started. I answered, 10:30. They expressed some disappointment when they answered that they worked on Sunday. After loosing their job, they work whatever hours they can get at their new job. They said that they would not be able to go to church and make it to work on time. And then it dawned on me, we are going to have an early service in just a few weeks. I told her that on April 19 we would be adding an 8:30 service. They mentioned that an early service might allow them to come.

We will need to go back to some of our friends who have not been able to accept an invitation because of the the time of our service. With both an 8:30 and 11:00 service there will be a greater chance that something could work for them.

A NEW SERVICE - NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVITATIONS. We have a message we need to make it easy to hear. This new schedule will do that.

One Vision.Two Services.One High Street

I am glad to announce the latest breaking news regarding our plan to expand our Worship Services.

After some very good and gracious feedback regarding our plan we have made some changes.

Some were glad for the additional time options for their families.

Others were concerned about being able to stay in their Sunday School classes. I was so blessed to receive emails and letters where people expressed how much how much they loved their Sunday School class. They talked about how blessed they were by their teachers and the people in the class. They talked about how much these relationships meant to them. It became very clear that with the new options to choose between the "Blended Classsic" and the "Blended Contemporary" people were disappointed when the option of their choice meant they could no longer be a part of their current Sunday School class. In response to this feedback we are glad to announce the following revised schedule that will begin the Sunday after Easter, April 19.

8:30 - Worship Service: Blended Classic
9:45 - Sunday School
11:00 - Worship Service: Blended Contemporary

The vision is to provide meaningful worship opportunities for everyone. Our goal is to have two well done, energetic services. There are many details yet to work out. I am looking forward to these changes.

The Family John Experiment

Tonight we began the John Experiment as a family. All the kids were home and so after dinner we sat around the table and read through the first chapter of John. There are a couple of truths that drive this experiment for me:

1. The Word of God is alive.
2. The Holy Spirit is at work.

With that in mind we began and I shot up one of those prayers kind of like, "Lord please show up here tonight". A couple of the kids shared the reading of the 54 verses. I then asked the question, "What stuck out to you tonight?" Each kid shared the verse that stuck out to them and why. Here are a couple of their responses.

* John in one chapter summarizes the most important truths needed to understand salvation.
* The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world was a favorite theme.

We ended our discussion commenting on how John predicted that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. I asked if anyone could share an instance when they felt the Holy Spirit speaking to them. One kid described how they left their group of friends watching a DVD movie because they just did not feel like it was something they should watch. A simple nudging was what they felt and so they left. Another one followed with a comment about having watched something with so much profanity and vulgar words that they walked away feeling "grieved" by it. They determined that the Holy Spirit within them had been grieved. We all shared how that caring for James sometimes pushes all of us to our servant limits. And yet somehow we concluded that caring for him fell within the serving of the "least of these" that Jesus describes in Matthew 25.

My prayer had been answered. The Holy Spirit's presence was evident. The level of sharing penetrated deep within our souls and we shared a special moment not often found. I am even more convinced now.

1. The Word of God is alive.
2. The Holy Spirit is at work.

If you have not given the John Experiment a try in your family yet, try it. There is something about reading the Bible out loud together.

"My Story"

This year we added a new tradition to our Christmas morning. After breakfast we all took the time to write out "My Story". With stories in hand we gathered before we exchanged gifts to each read our story. I will never forget that moment. Nothing in this world matters to me more than the salvation of my children and their walk with the Lord. It was my greatest gift to be able to hear their stories written by them read to all of us. The conversations continued as we asked questions and celebrated our individual and personal journeys and walk with the Lord.

Now the gifts of toys and and clothes and bath gels and on and on were great too. I really loved the simple dollar store basketball game I gave to James. Literally, I had to intercept it from James while he was opening other things to get the hang of it. Christmas is fun.

Special thanks to the photography of tiffanylyonsphotography.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve

I love our Christmas Eve service at church. There is something very nice about starting the Christmas Day with extended Church Family. There is a real sense of community as people come together for a moment of worship with each other. Meeting with people who you love is what makes Christmas special.

After the service we spent a few minutes for some Christmas pictures. Somehow Christmas marks the passage of time for a family. The kids are growing up and every year that change a little bit. There is real love and peace around the table as we laugh and tell stories. I am so grateful for God's Word. It gives us instructions on how to keep the peace at home. It makes loving each other a joy. Peace on earth is great, but peace at home is especially sweet.

"Plastic Baby Jesus"

We had some guests over at the house until late evening Friday night. When we went to the door to thank them for their visit we saw a "plastic baby Jesus" on the porch in front of the door. It was one of those lighted plastic Jesus figures in a manger that belongs with a nativity set. Well, what do you do with a stolen "plastic baby Jesus"? It was the perfect prank, someone stole it from a neighbor and implicated the pastor by putting it on his porch. The next day Cindy and I drove around the neighborhood looking for nativity sets missing baby Jesus. There were quite a few of these plastic nativity sets. All of them had their Jesus and then finally we found it, the Nativity set with the missing baby. I went up and rang the door bell excited to tell our neighbor we had their missing baby. An elderly lady came out to talk to me on that cold winter Saturday. I told her that I had a baby and maybe it was hers. She said, no, her baby Jesus was in the corner of her porch waiting for Christmas Day. She said “you can’t put out the baby until Christmas day. The baby isn’t born yet.” Well we still had a missing baby. So what do you do with a "plastic baby Jesus" that is stolen? You can’t keep it. You dare not throw it away. You would return it but don’t know where it belongs. Keep it and hope that the thief brings you Mary and Joseph the next year?

So what do you do? You work it into an illustration for Sunday's Christmas sermon. The illustration actually worked well with the message theme. After the service a very repentant prankster came up to confess that she (and her accomplice who was not with her) had done the prank. Well the story has a happy ending. I got a good illustration for a sermon. The pranksters made everything right by coming to get "plastic baby Jesus"and returning it to the waiting Joseph and Mary on somebody's yard.

The point is that for all of us Christmas is about some great things like trees and decorations, Stanta Claus and cooking and giving gifts and shopping and getting the most for your money and bargains and time off from school and work. But the truth is, if we forget that it really is about the Baby born to mankind who was God Himself we miss it completely. I want to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Praying for President-elect Obama

This week we had the opportunity to cast our vote. Watching the democratic process is truly an amazing part of our country’s DNA.

One of the important passages for any American young person is the first time they join the ranks of the adult world and cast their vote as a responsible citizen. My son Robert voted for the first time this year. I picked him up from school and took him to the polling place, his former elementary school. As we walked into the school he remarked that it was very familiar and yet so different. He commented that it looked smaller than when he was younger. On that day he was not a student but a citizen casting a vote that would determine the next leaders of our nation. I told him what line to get in and checked to make sure he had his voter identification card and his driver’s license. Then I told him that he was on his own. His vote was his to cast as he saw fit. There was a sacred sense in it all.

Our sophisticated system of vote counting did not leave us wondering who would win for very long. That same night, we watched as the winner was declared and the looser graciously conceded. This seamless process of the transition of power is what makes this such an amazing country.

As I watched President-elect Obama and his family take the stage there was this great sense of history. It was in a profound way a triumph of our value that “all men are created equal”. One of the ugliest parts of our nation’s history is the story of racism. There is no way I can as a white man I can ever fully understand the wounds inflicted on those who were the victims of this kind of prejudice. Watching the tears of those who do understand moved me. President-elect Obama summed up this amazing passage when he told of the black woman over 100 years old who had cast her vote for him. She has lived through times when not all people were treated with the equality and respect that all human beings deserve. There were times when a black man could not sit anywhere he wanted on a bus, use any bathroom or be served in any restaurant he might choose. She marveled that she had lived to see the day that she could vote for a black man to be the President of the United States. I pray that the election of President Obama will serve to heal wounds in this nation that have for too long marked us.

It is now my responsibility as a Christ follower and an American citizen to pray for our new President. We are commanded to pray for those in authority. Our leaders succeed better with our prayers. There is this attitude of honor and respectful support that is both cultivated and expressed when we pray for our leaders. One of the great mysteries of being both a Christian and a citizen is this idea that we choose, but that God sovereignly directs that choosing. It is God who puts a man up. It is my privilege to be part of President-elect Obama’s prayer team.

My prayer has been specifically that as the mantle of leadership falls on him that he would in that very lonely place realize that he needs Divine wisdom and guidance. While the President is constantly surrounded with people he is also very much alone. I pray that he will early on look to God for direction and be strengthened supernaturally as he leads. I also pray that God will bless his precious family as they transition into the unique setting of the White House. May God bless President-elect Obama and his family. And may God bless America.

Bruce Wilkinson

LUNCH WITH BRUCE WILKINSON

Last week God set up an unexpected lunch with Bruce Wilkinson. He is the author of the best selling book, THE PRAYER OF JABEZ. This book sold 9 million copies and is estimated to have been read by 30 million people.

I first heard of Bruce Wilkinson while a student attending High Street. He was a guest speaker on Sunday and preached the sermon THE THREE CHAIRS. I can still remember the point of that message many years later. I also remember going through the Bible program, WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE. So you can see that for me it was quite an unexpected gift to be able to spend some 3 hours over lunch with this man.

It all started when he was the guest speaker at the radio stations Pastors Appreciation Lunch at Bass Pro Shop. His message was both thought provoking and compelling and focused on the need for the church to return to and emphasis on small groups and away from the once a week service focus. During his talk he stopped and said that he felt like God wanted him to come back to Springfield to talk further with pastors if there was any interest. He pulled out his calendar and said, I have one date left this month, October 23. If there are any pastors interested let me know. Many pastors indicated that they wanted him to return. When he sat down I felt led to offer to pay for his room if he came back. I took out a business card and quietly approached his table just before we were dismissed. I handed it to him and said that if he would come back, High Street would pay for his room. He whispered to me, "High Street. I remember being there with David Cavin."

We exchanged a few emails mostly with his assistant to arrange accommodations when he decided he was in fact coming. On the 23rd about 90 pastors got together at the Holiday Inn North for what was a 10-11 hour day with him. It was a very interesting and thought provoking day. At the end of the day he graciously handed out copies of his books. The group crowded around him waiting for his to sign a book. I only decided to approach him because Cindy was talking and the room had pretty much emptied. When I asked for the signature his assistant mentioned that High Street had taken care of their rooms. He thanked me, continued to sign and then looked at me and said, "I think we are suppose to talk. Can you talk tomorrow. I feel like we are suppose to spend time together." And so that is how it happened. We met at 11 and for 3 hours it was like having a special time with a mentor. He asked penetrating questions about myself, my family and ministry. At one point he asked if he could go to the church. We did go and he looked around and he prayed for me and the church standing in front of the auditorium. it was a special time.

I left the experience having received some personal instruction and some powerful encouragement. It was a great day. He is a man of faith. He asked God for some very difficult things and is not afraid to move in faith and try to do the impossible. He told me that he felt like God was going to bless High Street and said we would be one of those TURNAROUND CHURCHES. His faith was catching. It was a great and unexpected gift.

Great Missionary Stories

This is mission conference week. One of my favorite weeks of the year. We have missionaries from; India, Costa Rica, Mexico, Sweden, France, and Wales. Today we took them fishing on the lake near the Branson Landing. Some of our group caught some small fish. Others (like me) caught nothing. We did however have a great time getting to know our missionaries.

Richie from Wales told me how he was 24 years old when he really heard the gospel and got saved. It took 24 years and he lived in the United States. He described how he felt like life was going no where, with no purpose and was not sure what was wrong. He and his wife went to church and they were so impressed with the hospitality of the other young couples. They soon became regular attenders and even got involved by going on visitation. One night he was visiting with his pastor, Dennis Jennings (now Pastor of Cherry St. Baptist in Springfield) and listened to him share the gospel with the person they were visiting. They left and Richie told Dennis that he did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and was saved that night.

Paul Dedeyan from France described how as a Frenchman in the US Air Force he ended up in Texas. His friends asked him if was interested in going on a blind date. Being from France, he was not familiar with that term. He thought that meant going out with a blind girl. He said that he agreed and was told he would have to go meet her parents first. When he went to her house and met her parents she came out and he was thinking that she got around so well for a blind girl. She really wasn't blind. She later became his wife.

Sam Thomas from India told us tonight that he and his evangelistic team went to a new area to hold an open air meeting. They got all set up and since rainy season begins in June and it was only April they did not worry about rain. Just before their meeting as everyone was assembled, without a cloud in the sky it rained and did so for an hour and a half. By the time the rain quit every one had gone. Disappointed they went home that night. The next day they learned that they were in the area where there were some militant religious groups that had planned an attack on them during the meeting. The rain stopped not only their meeting but also this attack. God's protection is real and so necessary.

We exchanged funny stories about cross cultural moments and had a great time at the Schaffitzels for Tony's amazing ribs and Gaye's spectacular home made rolls. It was a good time. I look forward to more stories as the conference continues.

Cindy and I sat and watched the news today. The stock market has dropped and money has evaporated like the wind. Cindy mentioned how glad she was that we choose to give to missions even sacrificing investment opportunities to do so. She pointed out that money in the stock market had gone away but our investment in missions is something that endures throughout eternity.

The "Non-Athlete Athlete"

My son Robert recently put together, what is now one of my favorite videos. He is actually a much better athlete than he gives himself credit for. Hope you enjoy it. I actually make a cameo appearance towards the end. The truth is I was reading his script. I truly LOVE going to his games. Go Hornets! 

iTrain30

Reading for Day 30
September 30

Col. 4:16-18
Psalm 25:1-15
Prov. 6:6-11

Psalm 25:4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.

I think this is a great summary prayer. My desire truly is for God to show me the right path. This would be true for me personally including, shat I think, who I am and what I do. This would be true as I live out the different roles of my life; husband, father, son, brother, friend, pastor. To see a prayer like this in scripture assures me that God does show the right path and the right road to those who are seeking.

I pray that this 30 days of devotion will not end here. The reason for this exercise was to establish the personal discipline of a daily quiet time. Thank you for coming along this journey with me.

iTrain30

Reading for Day 29
September 29

Col. 4:7-15
Psalm 24:1-10
Prov. 6:1-5

Paul closes out the book of Colossians by mentioning 9 fellow workers by name. Paul is not shy about the love he has for these people. He sends Tychicus to find out about them. He describes Tychicus as a beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant. He then goes on to mention Onesimus and describes him as a faithful and beloved brother. He goes on to talk about the others and how there is this interconnected concern that is expressed not only in letters but through constant prayers for each other. Paul values people and relationships.

This passage reminds me that the people God has put around me are important and I should not take this blessing for granted. The greatest fellowship we have is with those who join us in serving the Lord. God is so good to surround me with great people. I truly love them and thank God for the great fellowship we enjoy.

God often brings people to my mind for prayer. Emails are a great way for me to pray for special requests. Our prayers for each other really do make a difference.

Well we have almost made to the end of our iTrain exercise. I have very much enjoyed this. I hope this has helped to establish your more firmly in your discipline of daily personal devotion. It has helped me stay on track personally. Your comments have been great to read. I don’t know that I have ever been a part of a personal devotion group like this before. I loved it. Thanks for coming along on this journey. I will miss this when we are done.

Reading for Day 30
September 30

Col. 4:16-18
Psalm 25:1-15
Prov. 6:6-11

iTrain30

Reading for Day 28
September 28

Col. 4:1-6
Psalm 23:1-6
Prov. 5:22-23

There is something amazing about Psalm 23. The idea of having God shepherd us is very securing. His promise is to provide all we need, green pastures and calm waters. He renews strength and leads us down right paths. The darkest valleys of life may scare us but He promises to walk with us. He will tap us with his staff to correct and guide us. There is great comfort from the rod’s constant nudging because it means my Shepherd is still with me. I can deal with the conflict of enemies and find peace in the middle of it all to sit down to a banquet. He blesses me to the point that my cup runs over. And surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now that brings me a great sense of security when I face the uncertainty of the future. How great is it to have a God who is this involved in my life. A God who cares enough to do all this for me. This Psalm is surely one that deserves to be memorized. That way it can go with me everywhere.

Reading for Day 29
September 29

Col. 4:7-15
Psalm 24:1-10
Prov. 6:1-5

iTrain30

Reading for Day 27

September 27

Col. 3:18-25
Psalm 22:19-31
Prov. 5:15-21

Reading through Colossians 3 we discover a new life and a new focus.

When we come to Christ some radical things take place. All of a sudden we are not helpless to navigate life with our power alone. In fact, the entrance of this new power is described as putting off the old man and his ways and putting on the new man.

This new man thinks differently and is like the one who created us. This is no simple revision of who we are. The difference is described like this, we died and are now hidden in Christ. This is new life.

We are also given a new focus. Ordinary things we do and say are to be done in the name of Jesus. These ordinary things if done with this new focus can be done not only for the people around us but for the Lord Christ. So when I love my wife and parent my kids I do it for them but I should also know that doing a good job in these areas also pleases the Lord. He wants me to be a great husband and father. When I do the ordinary jobs that go with my weekly tasks I do them for the Lord. The mundane, ordinary and sometimes tedious and routine things can take on greater meaning when I remember that I do them for the Lord. So how do I serve the Lord? I serve the Lord in everything I do. God wants me to get it right and to be the best I can be and when I do this, I am serving the Lord.

God leads me to be all I can be everywhere I am. This is something to think about.

Reading for Day 28
September 28

Col. 4:1-6
Psalm 23:1-6
Prov. 5:22-23

iTrain30

Reading for Day 26
September 26

Col. 3:1-17
Psalm 22:1-18
Prov. 5:7-14

Written hundreds of years before Christ Psalm 22 weaves together amazing details that later appear as part of the story of Jesus.

“My God, My God why have you forsaken me.” These words of Jesus on the cross are in fact a quote from this passage. There are details that fulfill the prophecies in this passage. He was despised, mocked, his heart melted, bones were out of joint. One of the amazing attention getters of the Bible are the details of the life of Christ clearly recorded hundreds of years before they were acted out in His life. The plan had been clearly laid. The fulfillment of the details proves that there was a divine plan. Jesus was who he said he was.

Within this Psalm are so many common human experiences. There is the question that goes up to God, “Why have you forsaken me.” The silence of God is something we all have experienced in our lives. When we get to those times, Jesus understands. Jesus understood what it was like to be despised and mocked. He understands physical pain and hurt. He is an intercessor who can understand us.

The amazing thing about Jesus is that while He was God He chose to endure these tough experiences in order to save mankind. This is why we love Jesus. He paid for us. He understands us. We can look to Him as our Savior. That is why I love Him so much.

Reading for Day 27
September 27

Col. 3:18-25
Psalm 22:19-31
Prov. 5:15-21

iTrain30

Reading for Day 25
September 25

Col. 2:16-23
Psalm 21:1-13
Prov. 5:1-6

NOT RULE KEEPING BUT LOVING THE ONE WHO RULES

Colossians speaks to the tendency within us to shift our focus from the living Christ to rules and regulations. We are very prone to develop and impose rules and from there we judge who is spiritual and who is not. We also grow to believe that our source of spiritual strength and growth comes from our ability to keep the rules. The truth is that we grow when we are nourished by Christ.

“For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.”

Getting our nourishment from Christ is about a living relationship.

One area that illustrates this truth for me has been this idea of daily Bible reading and devotion. I can so easily move from an attitude where I am seeking God and wanting to know Him better into a kind of “get the reading done so I can feel good about myself”. Now the discipline of personal devotion is a great thing, but it can loose its power when we shift the focus from seeking God to fulfilling our duty. I guess it all comes down to the heart issue of why we are doing what we do. Now this is not to say that we can violate the clearly established boundaries of righteousness if we don’t feel like doing what is right. We just need to remember that we grow not from rule keeping but from learning to love the one who rules.

Reading for Day 26
September 26

Col. 3:1-17
Psalm 22:1-18
Prov. 5:7-14

iTrain30

Reading for Day 24
September 24

Col. 2:6-15
Psalm 20:1-9
Prov. 4:20-27

I love bleach. Cleaning the kitchen I love to take out the cleanser with bleach and sprinkle it out over the dirty, stained sink. And then like magic before my eyes, the ugly stains fade away and the sink is beautifully clean again.

So what is the solution for the dirty stains in our lives that come as a result of sin? Colossians puts it so well.

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

And the place of cleansing is clearly stated. All of the ugliness of our sin was nailed to the cross and we are forgiven.

God paid so much for us. Sin is that ugly and He loves us that much.

Reading for Day 25
September 25

Col. 2:16-23
Psalm 21:1-13
Prov. 5:1-6

iTrain30

Reading for Day 23
September 23

Col. 1:24 - Col. 2:5
Psalm 19:1-14
Prov. 4:14-19

Psalm 19 is so fascinating. It starts with the general revelation of God through the creation, verses 1-7. It then goes to the special revelation of God through the Bible, verses 8-11. Lastly it goes on to talk about the personal revelation that comes to us through the work of the Holy Spirit, verses 12-14.

So to apply this Psalm, I will look up into the blue sky and take notice of the beautiful green trees whose leaves are starting to turn color. The more I read about the intricate design of creation the more I marvel at the handiwork of God.

Then I will take time to read the Bible. I want to have my soul converted, to become wise, to rejoice deep within and to have my eyes enlightened. It is truly more valuable than gold.

Lastly, I will meditate on what I read and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of personal application within me. I know that it takes God’s work to help hidden things get rooted out and dealt with.

Lastly, I come to one of my most prayed prayers. A prayer in times of weakness, of temptation, or to start the day off right.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

God reaches out to me in the big picture of creation. He speaks very clearly through His Word. He also speaks so personally to me as I meditate on scripture in His presence. Thank God for these truths.

Reading for Day 24
September 24

Col. 2:6-15
Psalm 20:1-9
Prov. 4:20-27

iTrain30

Reading for Day 22
September 22

Col. 1:15-23
Psalm 18:37-50
Prov. 4:11-13

Col. 1:3-6 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Last night in our small group we did as we usually do, divide the men and women for a time of prayer. We shared what our weeks had been like and then naturally went into what concerns we needed others to pray with us about. Sometimes the requests are very specific. Other times they are general conerns; family, finances, health or relationships. There are even those very personal needs that are represented by something like “an unspoken prayer need”. The great thing is that while people share according to their level of comfort, everyone declares they need the prayers of others. There is a unity, a compassion, a concern, a bearing of each others burdens that feels a lot live loving each other.

Paul in the first few verses of Colossians kind of declares the starting point of their fellowship.

We all begin by thanking our Lord Jesus Christ who is the reason we are even together. No one has touched us so deeply, given so much, changed our lives so profoundly and given us hope like Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Christ is the starting point. Someone who loves me, loves you. Someone I love, you love and so that makes us love each other.

I look up to Jesus and across the table at you and can’t help but want to pray for you.

When I hear of your faith – I am inspired. Some of the greatest expressions of faith I hear come from people who are still in the middle of some trial or difficulty. They may still be confused and struggling to understand what God and is doing and why He is allowing something, but they are still holding on in faith. When they begin to share what they are learning I gain new perspectives and in some way, learn right along with them. When they give thanks for what troubles them, I see a peace that passes understanding demonstrated before my eyes. We pray for things to change and the trouble to pass, but we are not discouraged because their faith in God and trust in Him somehow gets showcased more profoundly in the middle of it all.

And then the hope of heaven shows up in our prayers as well. It hurts to see people loose a love one to death. Our hearts hurt and we grieve right with them. But we also experience a fresh and powerful grace because of the hope of heaven.

What Paul writes about many years ago still shows us in my small group. We must be on a good path.

Reading for Day 23
September 23

Col. 1:24 - Col. 2:5
Psalm 19:1-14
Prov. 4:14-19