Our Calling in Ministry

Our Calling in Ministry

 St. Francis said it this way:

"You have been called to heal wounds. to unite what has fallen apart. and to bring home those who have lost their way."

Jesus said what his ministry was about this way in Luke 4:18-19:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

I want to be busy doing this kind of ministry in my Savior's name, representing him to a lost and dying world. So many are hurting today. So many are worried and anxious. So many are confused by the many messages of the world.

Today, I want to be a voice that points others to Jesus.

Mom’s Table

 Mom’s Table 

 

My mom was a person who did not really want a lot or need a lot to be happy. In fact, the older she got the harder it was to find her a gift. Years ago, while she was living in Aiken still, we thought of getting an end table to go by her chair. The one she had was overflowing with stuff and we thought it might help her to keep things a little better organized. 

The long and short of it is this, she loved the table, but soon it was filled with anything and everything she wanted right at her fingertips. So, we created a larger space for her to collect and pile things. 

When mom passed away one of the hardest things I had to do is go through her personal things. I am so thankful for Tammy, Phil, Amber, and Bethany who went through all her stuff and organized it and put aside things that they thought I would like. 

I was not prepared for how hard it would be to go to her little house and do that. What made it worse is her little house had been damaged by tornado while she was in assisted living at the end of her life. So, the floors consisted of the beams and a dirt floor. After a little bit of time, I told my precious wife that I could not go back in the house. Stephanie picked out things for me to have, things that would help me to remember mom. 

One of those things is her little end table that we had given her years ago. Stephanie did a little work on it, and it is not beside my chair. It is one of my favorite spots in our home. I sit there and think, pray, enjoy watching the birds on the feeders right outside the window. 

Now I have something to remember mom, that I can touch. I will sometimes put my hand on the table and just smile, sometimes I laugh aloud. This must be the neatest this table has been in a long time. I sure miss you mom and I am so thankful for insignificant things like an end table that can bring a smile to my face, or even a laugh and make me feel closer to you. 

Some Anniversaries you Remember and do no Celebrate

 Some Anniversaries you Remember and do no Celebrate 

 

 

Today marks a painful memory in the life of my wife and myself. Between the birth of Daniel and Nathan we lost a child. I am not trying to compare my loss with anyone or the many who have suffered far more and far greater than me. But for a young couple who wanted to have children it was devastating to us both. We were surrounded by a loving and supportive family, but in my young life I can remember feeling so alone, so heartbroken, so broken for my precious wife. 

So, each year on this day we remember. This morning I did not mention it to Stephanie, but I know it was on her mind.  

I cannot help but think of how God has blessed us and carried us since that day. Stephanie was then and is now a wonderful mom. She is also a wonderful Grandmama. In this season in life as I watch her with our grandchildren, I am reminded of special love and devotion for our family. 

This morning I paused to remember. I paused to pray. I paused to, yes worship. I paused to give thanks for my precious Savior who has walked with me throughout life and for my precious wife who demonstrates for me daily what Jesus’s love really looks like. I love you Stephanie with all my heart and I am praying for you today. 

Our Citizenship is in Heaven

Our Citizenship is in Heaven  

 
 

Today as we begin a new week take a few moments to reflect on these glorious verses from the book of Philippians about heaven. My Sunday School teacher, David Truluck challenged us to take a few minutes each day to think about "What is heaven going to be like?"  I am so grateful that this world, as beautiful as it is, is not my home. Thank you, Lord, that our citizenship is in heaven. 

 
 

In Philippians 3:20-21 the Bible says, our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition to the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself" (CSB). 

Pull in the same direction

 Pull in the same direction 

 

Studying through the book of Philippians in Sunday School this verse really struck me and I have been doing a lot of thinking about it and our current circumstances as a nation and a church. 

The apostle Paul under house arrest says these words to the church at Philippi, “make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit and intent on one purpose (Philippians 2:2, CSB). 

In this one simple verse the Bible gives us the blueprint of what harmony should look like. 

“Think the same way” This does not mean we agree on everything, but we work together for a common goal. 

“Having the same love” The church that is to be known for love for one another. 

“United in Spirit” The church should stand together, united for the gospel. 

“Intent on one purpose” The church must be focused on one purpose. 

Simply put the church must pull in the same direction, rejecting anything that distracts us from our primary mission of the gospel to a lost and dying world. 

In a time where the culture is pulling in different directions, let the church be different. As the church ministering in such a culture may we pull in the same direction. 

A few thoughts from Timothy

 A few thoughts of Timothy on his last visit to SC 

Our recent visit with our grandchildren was incredibly special. They are both at such a fun age. Stephanie and I just absorbed every minute of it. We had a few lines from our oldest, Timothy that I had to write down so I would always remember them. 

 

The first night he came over to our house he was with Stephanie in the spare room, that is filled with toys for when they come to visit. He looks around from his last visit and sees something is missing. He said, "Grandmama where is my little bed?"  She had broken it down and stored it in the closet. He wanted to make sure if he needed it his bed was available. What a memory to remember that. 

Later, another day, he was coming downstairs with Grandmama with some more toys to play with downstairs. He said to Stephanie, "You know Grandmama it is good to hang out."  Oh, how sweet! I do not know what was sweeter him saying that to Stephanie or the look on Nathan's face when he said it. 

Timothy spent one night with us during this trip. We had such a wonderful time that night. To say Grandmama was in her element is an understatement. Stephanie was preparing him for the activities of the day and Sadie coming to get him. He told Stephanie directly, "This sleepover is not over yet."  I know how much that warmed my precious girl's heart to hear him say that.  

On our last family get together of this visit Poppa, Daniel, Nathan, and I were watching the Carolina game. The game started at noon, and it was several hours before it ended. Timothy played and looked at the game on and off. We the game ended he came over to my chair and said, "Grandpa you have been watching tv all day, don't you think you need to cut it off?"  To which Nathan burst into laughter and said, "Timothy you have done something I have never been able to do, get my dad to cut off sports."   

Then finally, it was time to leave, and the boys were helping to clean up the toys. Yes, even little Joshua was working and helping. Stephanie has a little stool that she made when she was a little girl in VBS, and Timothy likes to sit on it and look at our hummingbirds and other birds out the window by my chair. He also sat there when I read him a story on the night of his sleepover at our house. He went quietly, reverently to the little stool and put it under the table by my chair and looked up at me and smiled. He knew he was going home and would not be back for a while. 

Until next time little stool, until next time Grandpa and Grandmama!