2016!

2016. Wow, what a year. As I sit here on this New Years Eve and look back, I know a lot of people are ready for it to be over. To much negativity and issues. So many people being offended by everything and everyone. Yes, this has been a strange year. Take the election for example. A lot of people are upset over who won. All I know is that no matter what, God is still in control. Jesus is still the Lord of Lord's and King of King's, no matter who is in office. There have been a slew of celebrity deaths this year. Yes it is sad that people that we have watched on t.v. or in movies, or listened to their music have passed, but what about all the police officers, firefighters and soldiers that have died as well. They have died doing their job. Protecting us and trying to keep us safe. All everyone wants to focus on is the negative. Well, I want to focus on the positive side of 2016. God blessed me with another trip around the sun to celebrate my 49th birthday. My wife and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. Our daughter graduated high school and started her freshman year of college. She has been able to drive home three times with a car that has well over 230,000 miles on it, with no issues. Each trip is 500 miles one way and 8 hours long. We thank God that she has such a reliable car. Both my wife and I were able to stay gainfully employed. We were able to pay all of our bills and on time. We were able to take a family vacation this summer to the west coast, where I was able to preach at my father in laws church. My credentials were renewed for 2017. I give God all the thanks for that. I give God all the thanks for everything. We have had some health issues in the family this year. Some hospital stays, broken bones and surgeries, but with God's mighty healing hand and the power of prayer, He brought everyone through. We were able to volunteer and give back to our community more than ever this year. Help some people out. God has really blessed us this year, and I am going to focus on that. If you look for the negative, you'll find it. I am looking for the positive's and blessings and focusing on what God has done this year. Looking forward to seeing what He has in store for us in 2017. I am expecting great and mighty things. All praise and glory to my God! AMEN!!

Christmas Present.

I ordered a Christmas gift online the other day that I needed for our family Christmas party on Saturday. I thought that I ordered it in plenty of time to get it before the party. Then I got the email, stating that the estimated time of delivery would be between 12/16 - 12/19. I'm like "what?" I need it at least by the 17th. So if it came on the 16th or 17th, I would be good. I started tracking the package the very next day. The website updated, now saying it would deliver on the 19th. No good. Not cool Robert Frost! It would say things like, in route from here to there. In transit, blah, blah, blah. Still saying the 19th. Then on Friday it says that it is in route to the Sycamore post office. I'm like "sweet, I'll just go pick it up before they deliver it." I go over to the post office and inquire about picking up said package. The clerk proceeds to tell me that they have received in four pallets of packages that they have not gone through yet. If I wanted too, I could call them before 9:00 the next morning and if it was there, they would hold it for me. I woke up around 8:30ish and debated whether or not I should call. I decided not to as I remembered what the clerk said the day before, about how busy they were. I didn't want to bother them, so I didn't. I decided to put into Gods hands. I would trust that if He wanted it to be delivered on Saturday, it would be. I went back to the tracking website and to my surprise it said that it was out for delivery. Delivery on the 16th. Praise God! He came through once again, like always. I went out to our mailbox a little while later that day and viola, it was there. Hallelujah. Brought it in the house, wrapped it, and took it to the party and gave it to the person whom it was supposed to go to. All the time I am thinking, that if I can trust God for something as small as this, waiting for a package to deliver on a specific day, how much more can I trust Him with everything else! God is into details, big or small, and I thank Him for that!

BLESSED ASSURANCE.

Blessed Assurance, the song. I've heard it hundreds of times. The Third Day version is my favorite. Although our church worship group does a fairly decent job as well. This past weekend I happened to hear it twice. Once on the radio and then at a funeral my wife and I attended. When I heard it the second time, I knew that God wanted me to learn something,to tell me something. That's how He operates with me. When He brings the same thing repeatedly two or more times He's trying to get my attention. Doesn't matter if it's a Bible verse. A song. A message I heard on the radio or t.v. If I hear or see the same thing multiple times, that's my que. from God. So the song 'Blessed Assurance', what is He trying to tell me? That I am blessed? I am assured of my salvation and that I am going to heaven? I don't have to doubt any of that. Not that I do. Does He want me to share my story, and my song? To continually praise Him all day long? What? What could it be? I dreamt about this song on Sunday night, while waking up Monday morning singing it out loud. What are You trying to say LORD. What do You want me to get out of this? Give me Your eyes and ears to see and hear with. I want Your blessed assurance. I will continue to praise Him, till I get an answer! And answer He will!