Eve of New Opportunities

We are certainly in countdown mode for 2008. In a few hours we will enter 2009 with many emotions; these emotions can be both positive and negative. As I reflect on 2008 I want to thank God for the ways that He has touched our hearts and lives throughout the year. I can remember the times that the Spirit spoke words of direction, guidance, correction, and encouragement to us. I can remember seasons in which the Spirit strengthened us during times of praise, worship, and intercession. As we prepare to see 2008 come to an end we need to thank God for His presence and for His desire to strengthen our relationship with Him. As we look forward to 2009 I anticipate God working in our lives in ways that I can not fully imagine. I desire for my dreams to exceed my memories. Certainly I am grateful but I am also hopeful as I reflect on the greatness of God and all that He has planned for our lives. I am asking God to use us in the work of His Kingdom in a greater manner in 2009. God still uses people to change the world; you can and you will make a difference in the lives of those people that you encounter in 2009. Be prepared to be bold; be prepared to be courageous; be prepared to be challenged; but also be prepared to celebrate victories in the coming year. 2009 will require that many of us step out of our comfort zone and follow Christ with fresh zeal and passion; but as we obey, God will provide what we need to answer the call. Ann and I pray Blessings on you, your family, and your journey with God in 2009!

Looking Forward

We are approaching the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. I was looking at one of my new calendars; the pages are blank waiting on me to place appointments and information on the pages. My future is full of many opportunities in which God is waiting to place His direction, inspiration, and instructions upon the pages of my life. In great anticipation I await what God is going to "write" on the pages of our lives. According to Jeremiah 29, God has good plans for me. Now that does not mean that everything that happens to me will be good (at least from my viewpoint); I believe that it means that God's presence will be with me regardless of what happens in my life. Let us look forward with a healthy spiritual anticipation and awareness of the presence of God. We can rejoice when we look back and realize that God was in our yesterday but we can also look forward with hope as we rejoice in the fact that He will be in our tomorrows. The unction of the Spirit at the Cathedral church last night was very powerful. The Lord released a word of challenge to all of us and reminded us that we will face many opportunities to make the correct decisions regarding our commitment to Christ. Pastor Douglas commented to me that he felt that God had spoken to him regarding restoration. Restoration would encompass the resurrection of our surrender and being willing to yield ourselves to God. 2009 will have its share of challenges I am sure; but I am also sure that 2009 will have its share of the strength of God for those who choose to follow Him with all of their hearts. Do you want to be among the number who follows after God with passion and fervency; ready to surrender all of ourselves to the great cause of Christ and His Kingdom? I sense that many blessings, miracles, and provisions await those who truly commit themselves to Christ and His plan for their lives. We (Ann and myself) are walking with that promise written upon the pages of our hearts!

Weekend Review

We trust that each one of you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with your friends and family. We enjoyed our family's presence in our home and our time of fellowship with them. I was asked to share the eulogy at the funeral service of a wonderful lady on Saturday. Sis. Rosie Hood and her family have been a blessing to us for many years. We were honored to serve as her and her family's Pastor at the Willisburg, KY local church. The Lord encouraged me to remind the attenders of the funeral that we needed to give attention to our relationship with God and to our relationship with our family. As we approach 2009 we need to allow the Spirit to examine our lives regarding these two important aspects of our lives. Sunday morning afforded me the opportunity to attend Ann's Sunday School class. The Lord through her challenged the class to take time and listen for the Voice of the Lord. God does not always appear in the miraculous or supernatural; on many occasions He appears in the stillness of His voice to bring direction to our lives. Each of us are in great need for direction and that direction can only come from God. 2009 needs to be a year in which we commit to do our best to draw near to the Lord. Sunday night found us in Winchester, Ky at the Cathedral Church with Pastor and Sis. Douglas. We had the privilege of being with them in a revival back in early November. We were blessed by the worship time, the fellowship of the people and the freedom to declare the Word of the Lord. The unction of the Lord was powerful and many came forward for a time of prayer and surrender. One young man surrendered his life to Christ and others received various unctions of the ministering power of the Spirit in their lives. 2009 may be full of its challenges and battles but it is also going to be full of the presence and power of the Spirit. Let us continue to prepare our hearts to seek after God with passion and fervency.

Wonderful Day!

Ann and I enjoyed having our children and grandchildren in our home on Christmas Day! Christmas is a time to reflect on the importance of family; we need to appreciate those family members that God has placed in our lives. Of course we enjoyed a wonderful meal that Ann had prepared and also the time of exchanging gifts with one another. As I was praying one morning the Lord had impressed my spirit for us to take some time and allow the family to exchange some thoughts concerning the true meaning of Christmas as well as sharing some of our Christmas memories. We took that time before we exchanged our gifts. It was a little awkward at the beginning (our grandchildren range in age from eight to two); but as they begin to talk they seemed to enjoy the opportunity to talk about Christmas. I just felt that we needed to remember and discuss the true meaning of the Christmas celebration. We do not need to push Christ out of Christmas. All of us have our "family traditions" but the greatest blessing of Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice and be glad, our Savior came to this world to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Oh what a Savior!

Christmas Blessings!

Ann and I send Christmas blessings to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is such a great blessing to be a part of the family of God. God has rewarded our lives in so many ways through the years and we are grateful for all of the wonderful friends that He has given to us as we have made our journey through life. We pray that God will bless you and meet the needs of your lives as you continue your pursuit of a deeper relationship with God. Gifts will be opened today and meals will be prepared but let us keep in perspective the true meaning of this day of celebration. Jesus Christ came to this earth to provide the greatest opportunity for mankind; the opportunity of relationship. His birth, death, and resurrection provided humanity the freedom from our sins and the blessing of a fresh start in Christ. As we spend time with our family and friends today let us pause for a few moments and offer God praise for the birth of our Savior. Let us express to each other our sincere gratefulness for all that God has provided. It is so easy to remember all of the battles, struggles, challenges and daily heart aches of life and fail to remember the victories and strength that God has provided. It is true that many of us have faced some trying circumstances this year but it is also true that we have sensed the presence of God's Grace during those moments. It is certain that 2009 will bring its share of those moments but once again we will be able to come to the throne of Grace and obtain help in time of need. Let us REJOICE our Savior and Redeemer is alive! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hope!

Christmas Eve allows us to meditate and reflect on the great promises that we find in the story of the birth of Christ. One of these promises is hope. We are presently facing some very trying circumstances in our nation and around the world. We are confronting the war on terrorism, the continuing economic struggles, and the stress that these and other challenges are bringing to our families. But I ask you to take another look in the manger this year and realize that we can have our hope renewed and strengthened. God has not forsaken you and neither has His Word lost any of its power. God is prepared to come along side of you in your moments of challenge. Allow your hope to be revived as you face the storms and challenges of life. Let us pray one for another that God's mercy and grace will be present in the lives of those who need Him the most. Ann and I are looking forward to the Christmas Eve service at Eastside Praise. It is always a blessing to be able to worship God on this special day of Christian celebration. Although I do not need a "holiday" to worship God; I am blessed by the unique opportunity of Christmas to be able to focus my attention on the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas Week

I am enjoying a few days at home with my family. This time of the year allows us to reflect on the rich and wonderful blessings of God; the encouragement and love of our family is one of the many blessings that God daily provides for us. I was able to teach Ann's Sunday School class yesterday; I was blessed by the exchange and interaction with the students. Today we are privileged to spend time with two of our grandsons, Cade and Luke. They are enjoying the first day of the their Christmas break from school. We were able to see them participate in the children's program at Highland Park church last night; certainly we thought they done an awesome job in presenting the story of the birth of Christ. Let us remember our military and their families at this time of the year. We are blessed to live in a country of freedom but we need to remember that freedom comes with a price. We are thankful for our military force who is willing to defend our nation at whatever cost is necessary. May God bless them and their families this Christmas season.