Praying for others.

Yesterday as I was running into Starbucks before work, I saw an elderly gentleman that often sits outside Starbucks in the morning drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette. He and I have exchanged pleasantries in the past. I hollered at him across the parking lot and asked how he was doing. "So, so", he said. I continued in and got my coffee. As I was about to leave, I was in a hurry to get to work, I stopped. It seems as if God was saying: "Go and pray with him." When someone says they are doing "so, so", it usually means something isn't right. I was in a hurry, but knowing that was what God wanted me to do, I walked back across the parking lot and asked him what was going on. Basically, he had an eye problem that was being attended to by physicians, but it would take awhile. He couldn't see well, and it was going to cost him some clients in his job. I told him I was sorry and then asked if I could pray with him. He readily agreed and there in the parking lot I prayed to our loving Father, that God would heal him and give the doctors wisdom to help him. After the prayer, he thanked me, and I went on my way. I got to work in plenty of time to get ready for the day.
People often need prayer and one way that we can share a blessing with them is to stop and ask them if we can pray for them. It usually only takes a minute and what a blessing for them and for us!
So the next time you see someone that seems to be struggling, take a minute and pray with them. It will bring them joy and you as well!

Devote yourselves to prayer... Colossians 4:2

Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

Family

This past week I have come to realize how important family is. One of our coworkers at work lost her only child in a tragic murder. As I and another coworker were discussing this, she mentioned that she had lost both of her parents. She is young and the fact that both of her parents are gone is tragic. It made me realize how important family is. We often focus on sharing our blessings with those outside our family. But sometimes the ones that need our blessing the most is our family. As I often minister to those outside my family, I often have no time left for my family. That is not what I believe God wants for us. Our family needs our time and our ears. They need us to listen to and communicate with. But so often I find that I am in a rush and leave my family only with the time that I have left.
This is sad. And especially with our children. We want to make an impact on their lives, but how can we do that if we do not have a relationship with them. And relationships require time!
So the next time your children or parents or grandparents want your time, set everything aside and dont be in a rush! Listen! Relax! Be comfortable to be around! Enjoy! As you do you will cement those relationships and make a positive impact on your family!

Vacation

This past week we have been on vacation. It has been very relaxing and fun.  God lets us relax at times to refresh us so that minster better to others later. Sometimes He makes us "lay down in green pastures" and "leads us besides still waters".  So when God leads you into those green pastures don't resist! Enjoy! And let Him refresh you so that you can minister later to others with a renewed spirit and body!

Blessings of my Grandparents

March 26th would have been my Grandfathers 104 birthday. He passed away in 2000 but I have not forgotten him. I have many wonderful memories of him and I miss him and my grandmother very much. When I visit their grave, I often am overwhelmed with thanks to them for raising my mom the way they did. They encouraged her to seek a better life and to be a God fearing woman. They raised her in church and introduced her to Christ at an early age. My mom heeded their instructions and married my dad who also was a Christian. They had high standards for my brothers and me and taught us to stay away from drugs and alcohol. They taught us to adhere to Christ's teachings and to be good citizens. As a result I am walking with Christ as best I can and have been blessed to avoid so many of the pitfalls that I have seen so many of my friends and relatives fall into. I have a great job and a great family. 

And now I am trying to pass these lessons on to my children. 

But this all began with my grandparents and maybe their parents who I did not get the chance to know.  What a blessing they were to raise my parents to be such fine people.  And now I hope to pass that blessing onto my children!

Blessings2blessings! Taking our blessings God has given us and sharing them with others. 

Children

Time with our children is on of the greatest blessings that we can have for ourselves and for them. Currently I am on a hog hunt with my son. It's been a wonderful time together and we will have many memories to share. Unfortunately I know of many parents that do not take the time to spend with their kids. What a tragedy! Many may look back with regret that they did not take the time to spend it with their kids. Time spent with them is well worth it and is a blessing to us and them!

Bringing joy to others

Today I had to chance to bring joy to a couple of elderly individuals. One of these is a elderly lady who is celebrating her 96th birthday. Some folks from our church got together and brought her some cake and ice cream. Of course to her it was just the surprise that someone remembered her birthday and was wanting to celebrate it with her. She enjoyed the visit and the chance to talk with others much more than she enjoyed the cake and ice cream.
The other individual was my grandmother who is 95. She lives in the same facility as our birthday girl. Unfortunately I have not seen her in quite some time and this was my fault. I have not taken the time to call her or to go by and visit her. I realize now as I look back on my visit that for many of these individuals what brings them perhaps the most joy is someone who will take the time to come by and visit down and spend time with them. Someone will come by and listen to their stories of long ago. Just listening and spending time with someone can bring such joy to them and it is a blessing to us as well!

Family

I throughly enjoyed our Easter. I am blessed to still have my parents and my family. I'm also blessed to have to have all my children with me today. One thing that was such a blessing to me today is that I got to worship with my family today. As a pastor I am over one of our campuses. This is a different campus than my kids worship at because of the music. It was special and we got to share the Lords supper together as well. Afterwards we got to eat at my in laws and my patents came over as well. Thank you Lord for your blessings!