The Faithfulness of God

Grace decided she would go through some old totes filled with papers from our days at The Black Hills School of Evangelism. Wow, so many memories. She came to me with a notebook full of written out prayers that I’d written back in 99. So, I proceeded to read through some of them to see what I was dealing with at the time. It’s truly amazing to think how many things we’ve experienced since that time, all of our kids, two bouts with cancer, and so many other memories both good and bad.


Anyway, what stood out to me after reading those prayers is God’s faithfulness in answering those prayers in my life even though I’d completely forgot that I’d ever prayed them. Many of the answers have come as a result of terrible and difficult trials while others have come to pass through the daily process of sanctification. I don’t say that proudly, but only to say that God is faithful. Many of the prayers were focused on Christian character and spiritual growth and were quite specific in some cases. When looking back I can see that God through His mercy and patience has taught me many of those things. However, I have no doubt how much further He wants and needs to take me in all of those same areas.


I have to ask myself the question, why does it surprise me? After all, it is simply a matter of the Lord fulfilling His promises. One in particular comes to mind. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”. (Phil. 1:6)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Even as a little boy I remember loving it. It may be partially because every seven years it falls on my birthday and I remember feeling special as a kid that a holiday would sometimes fall on “my” birthday.

However, the main reason it’s special to me is because it’s always been a time for family and fellowship. I’ve always loved the fact that family cone together and just spend time together while enjoying a bountiful meal. No other distractions, simply food and family.


It’s a holiday that seems a little more genuine. Maybe that’s because it’s not as commercialized as other holidays. The focus isn’t on getting gifts or candy, but instead just being thankful for what you already have and taking pleasure in those around you. I believe, in some ways, that this is a lot like how heaven is going to be. Psalms 100 is an excellent psalm to remind us of how much we have to be thankful for.


I hope you all have a wonderful and safe thanksgiving!!!

His Strength

This week I was texting with one of my family members who is going through a rough period in her life.  She's been leaving her family every week to go three hours away to college only to return on the weekends.  As you can imagine, she's having a hard time.  I know it would be difficult for me to leave my family each and every week.  As we were texting I let her know that she is a strong woman and that she will be even stronger by going through this.  Her response was, "I hope so..."  That got me to thinking, how do we as humans measure strength?  Do we measure it by the way we feel in the moment?  I know that's how I used to measure my strength and fortitude. But this was my response back to her, "We don't measure strength by how strong we feel. We measure strength when despite how weak we feel we keep moving and pushing onward and upward."  This is something I've been learning in my life.  Sometimes when we are at our weakest is when we are our strongest, because that's when it truly takes the most faith to keep going. 

 

Then I got to thinking, how does God measure strength?  This verse came to mind, "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.   We truly have no strength on our own.  Even when we feel incredibly strong, we're not.  God is the one who works within us to give us the strength for the day.  That is why we must lean on Him daily.  He says in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

My prayer is that for those of you who feel weak today you will remember that you have all the strength you need from our most gracious Savior who is willing to give to you liberally.  He holds nothing back.  With His help, you can make it through this day.

 

Grace Logan (The Pastor's Wife)

Walk Worthy of God

Walk Worthy of God 

1 Thes. 2:10, 12 “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe…that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”


I came across some statements the other day that the enemies of the Waldenses stated about them as a people. Please understand, these are people who hated them and sought them at all costs to kill, torture, and destroy them.


Francis 1. King of France wanted to know about the people that had such heavy accusations against them and his informers returned with this message. “they were a laborious race of people…they found they were a very peaceable people, beloved by their neighbors—men of good behavior of godly conversation, faithful to their promises, and punctual in paying their debts. That they were charitable people, not permitting any among them to fall in to want. That they were moreover, liberal to strangers and the traveling poor, as far as their ability extended. And that the inhabitants of Provence affirmed, they were a people who could not endure to blaspheme, or name the devil, or swear at all, unless in making some solemn contracts, or in judgment. Finally, that they were well known by this, that if they happened to be cast into any company, where the conversation was lascivious or blasphemous, to the dishonor of God, they instantly withdrew.”


During a time of great persecution, a certain monk was sent to show them their errors so there wouldn’t be shedding of blood. “But the monk returned in confusion, owning that in his whole life he had never known so much the Scriptures, as he had learned during those few days that he had been conversing with the heretics.” Another group of doctors of theology were sent and one of them said something along the lines that he had understood more of the doctrine of salvation from the answers of the little children in their catechisms (spiritual books), then by all the disputations, which he had ever heard.


There are many more I could share, but room doesn’t permit. It’s my prayer that we today could have the same public witness to those around us. That there would be nothing negative they could say about our behavior, daily life and character