INFLUENCE

It is difficult for me to blog regularly and when I do, I most often feel like the most important thing I can write about is my time alone with God. It is my heart! He does so much through my Quiet Time alone with Him. My study time is wonderful, but my Q. T. and my personal study times are highlights of my days and times of spiritual growth. I also wonder if people read blogs and if my time is well spent writing them. I read very few, but perhaps I am not the average reader of blogs. Oh well, here goes!

I read Psalm 16 this morning and it filled my heart with joy, especially verses 5-11. Here are some of the excerpts from my journal I wrote.

"This Psalm has caused me to reflect on my life and my future! It has caused me to rejoice for what God has and is going to do in my life here on earth. It has reminded me that my future is secure in Heaven and of the joy I will know there which is not understandable at this time.

As I pray some of this back to the Lord, I can't get verse 5 out of my mind. I claim it this morning as God' promise to me for what He has done and what He is going to do!

I think of the people who have influenced me over these 37 years and at the time I didn't realize their influence. I suppose it takes years to realize the impact that people have on my life. I think of pastors and writers who have influenced me greatly."

As I sit here writing this blog, and sharing the above thoughts I recorded, I remember "Charlie" who was the #3 man in the division of the corporation who hired me as a department head when I was 28 years old and the contribution he made in my life. The greatest way that God used Charlie was how he lived his life before me and others at work. Here was a man highly successful with great position in life who lived for the Lord at work and never allowed his job to over shadow his faith. I saw his peers, corporate officials and others tease him, poke fun at him and try to get him to compromise his faith. He remained faithful and never wavered. That taught me that a man should live his faith everyday regardless of pressures, and never compromise. I had just recommitted my life to Christ and God used Charlie to mark my life forever. I could write all day of how others, including some pastors and writers have influenced me in who I am today. I am so thankful for all those God has sent to influence my life!

Because of the influence of many people in my life, my prayer is that I can influence others for the Kingdom of God as long as I live! God grant me this privilege! The legacy we leave when God calls us home is not our position in life, community service, church attendance, wealth or good works, but it is people! It is the people we leave behind!

Taking Things As Normal

Becky & I got back in town and find that there was an inch of water in our rain gauge, so we assume it rained that much. We took time to thank God for what is not normal in Brownwood-RAIN! Praise the Lord. This morning in my Quiet Time I just wanted to thank Him again! I am reminded of how often God answers prayer and we just accept the answers as normal and go on about our business. I thought of how many times each day God answers prayer and I fail to acknowledge unless it is something I have prayed for specifically. I thank about God's protection of which, we never know just how close we came to tragedy. Him healing us when we didn't know we need it and so much more. My desire is to try to always acknowledge God's answers, yes and no and not just take them as normal. God is so good!

Hot As A Stove!

Heat, hot, dry, but God is still on His throne. Great worship experience. My QT is from a book called On Holy Ground and it took me to John 21 and verse 6 jumped out and reminds me of now matter how or hot or cold we need to cash our nets and fish for men.

Golf, Earthquake, Fire & Picnic

Glad to have been back in Brownwood when the earthquake hit California . We would have been about 25 miles from the center. We were where the fire is burning inYosemite National Park so we escaped that by 10 days.

Can't believe I played golf at 6:30 tonight in the heat, but nice breeze keep it fairly cool. Great fellowship! Thanks Jeff, Brad for the invitation. Second time in just over a year, second time in 10 years. Also can't believe I shot a 53. Better than Tiger Woods, hu! ( Oh, forgot it was only 9 holes. He plays 18)

Church picnic was lots of fun. Enjoyed playing softball, even got a hit. It is always a joy to see church family enjoying each other. The fellowship is so good to see. The heat wasn't too bad after my cotton shirt got wet. Kind of like an evaporative cooler, doesn't work well in humidity, but better than a fan. Well as dry as it is in Brownwood, an evaporative cooler would work. We all need to pray for rain-rain-rain!

Last week I talked to an older man, almost 80 years old(who had visited the church) about the Lord. He said he would like to know how to get to Heaven. I explained how and his comment was that he was not ready to make that commitment. Why do people put Jesus off? I am deeply concerned about him. I hope that all who read this will pray for him and that I will be able to follow up. When I encounter people like this man, I am always reminded how urgent it is for all of us as Believers to share Jesus ever chance we get.

I have been encouraged by several people to post some of my Quiet Times on my blog. This morning in my Quiet Time, God was so very present it was almost unreal. The fact that He promises His presence makes me know He is here. I read Psalm 145 and it came alive so real. What a time of private worship! This is copied from my Spiritual Journal as recorded this morning at 6:00AM. Had I not written this down I would not be able to share it with you. That is why I always encourage people to record their Q.T. These thoughts would have been lost.

(1) I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. (2) Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

As I read this, several things flood my mind like the hurricane waters hitting the Texas coast line 2 days ago. First of all the song, "I Exalt Thee" flashes bright as light through my mind. It has got to be one of my all time "favorite few words song" that always causes me to EXALT HIM. I just pause and lift my hands up and sing and then sing these 3 verses back to the Lord. I pray them back to you Lord in honor of YOU in WORSHIP OF YOU. I worship YOU LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

I think about the words in another song, "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise...: and I exalt YOU! My mind flashes to the song, "I Exalt Thee", and I sing "For thou O'Lord art high above all the earth. Thou are exalted far above all the gods. Thou above all gods. I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O'Lord, I exalt Thee!! I think about Psalm 57, Psalm 97 and the words there. Then I think about the greatness of God again and my mind just goes on and on and I rejoice in YOU! I worship YOU LORD!
Then I think about the statement in verse 3, "his greatness no one can fathom", and I know that I have had just a taste of His greatness. Last night a long time friend called us from Nashville that we have know in for 42 years. We were talking of how far God has brought us from the 60's,when we were all as wild as could be and far from God and how He saved us from a life bent toward hell, a life of self destruction and where he has us today! I reminded her of a day in 1979 when she called and said, "Jim & I met a close friend of yours & His name is JESUS. Phyllis & Jim had just gotten saved and knew we had been praying for them for years. WOW!!! We just rejoiced together and this morning I know that I have "fathomed only a tiny portion for which I am thankful for. I EXALT HIM WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THIS IS! (another song)
Because of where God has brought me, I can do as verse 4 -7 says, "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. (5) They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. (6) They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. (7) They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." Because of what I have experienced,I have, I am, and I will pass on the generations behind me. I made this commitment years ago and want to continue it all the days of my life!

I read through the promises God gives me in this Psalm. I realize there is so much more in this Psalm that I have, can and will experience, I could write all day. I am grateful LORD for the opportunity to read and record these thoughts. If I don't write them down, I lose them. WOW, HOW AWESOME IS MY GOD!!

Apology

I thought about beginning with a title that would get every one's attention, but after a second I don't want to do that (not today anyway). I have been on vacation and haven't written anything since before I went on vacation so here goes! Well honestly, it has been longer than that. Someone asked Eric yesterday if I was ever going to write again so I suppose there is at least one person who reads my blog. So I apologize for the lack of attention to it.

While on vacation, Becky & I spent time alone with the Lord and some time together with Him and in doing so we were not only refreshed physically and mentally, but spiritually renewed. ( We actually know for sure now that God is in California, although some of the things that take place it makes me wonder). On Tuesday after we got there, we slept in ate breakfast and went to lay by the pool to have our Quiet Time read and rest. This Quiet Time that was so awesome that I want to share some notes from it. If you have had one like this I would like to hear from you in the comment section. I was reading Psalm 135 when tears began to roll down my face as I heard the Lord speak to me (almost audibly).

"Hallelujah! Praise the name of the Lord. Give praise, you servants of the Lord 2 who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to His name, for it is delightful".

I kept reading it over and over again and crying and crying. The thought of being God's servant is so wonderful, and made me feel special. I felt that when the words, "Hallelujah! Praise the name of the Lord. Give praise, you servants of the Lord who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God" was for me because I have the privilege of standing in church each week and not only praising the Lord, but proclaiming His Word.

As the tears flowed, I thought, "why am I crying"? Then it was as if God said, you can praise me with tears of joy as well as with smiles or shouts of joy! I then remember other special times that tears of joy streamed down my face. I was reminded that I can praise God in many different ways and any where anytime, even in Newport Beach by the pool.

It is good to have a vacation, but it is great to be home! Hallelujah! Praise the name of the Lord.

Unsure Future Makes the Gospel Urgent

This last week I was asked to visit a man in the hospital who was new to Brownwood, scheduled to have surgery at 7:00 the next morning. He has stage 4 cancer which means unless God intervens, he is terminal. At 51 years old, he wanted to know for sure he would go to Heaven if he died. He prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior. I suppose that stage 4 cancer will get most people to the point they think about their future off this earth.

The next morning before his surgery, he told Dr. Dan Locker that he received Jesus into his life. Dan had talked to him about the Lord and asked if he wanted a pastoral visit. That is how I came to visit the man. Thank God for Christian doctors who are concerned about where people will spend eternity! We are blessed to have three physicians who are strong Believers at
Southside.

As I left the hospital at 10:45 that night the thought came to my mind that if the Lord takes him home soon he will have missed so much not to be able to grow in Christ. I just took time to thank God for saving me as a young adult and all the years He has given me to learn about and walk with Him. My thoughts continued as I drove home about those who know Him already but don't take time to allow God to grow them. As I closed my eyes to go to sleep, my thoughts were on those in the hospital just like this man who future will not be in Heaven. What a task all of us as believers have!

I suppose I say all this to make sure that evangelism and discipleship are always on my heart.