More on faith

Scripture
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NASB)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
Observation
Faith is:..
1. Confidence- full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
2. Assurance- full confidence; freedom from doubt; certainty: to act in the assurance of success.
Of things hoped for.
3. Conviction- a fixed or firm belief: No clever argument, no persuasive fact or theory could make a dent in his conviction in the rightness of his position.
4. Evidence- that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
Of things not seen
Application
To have faith means I have the confident assurance I will receive what I hope for or the confident assurance that what I hope for will actually happen.
To have faith means I have the evidence to make me sure about the things I do not see.
Faith is trust in God that he will make happen what I hope for and I will experience the things I do not see.
Prayer
Build my faith. Produce faith in me me give me the gift of faith,

God is trustworthy

Scripture
All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. (Psalms 111:7 NLT)
The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. (Psalms 111:7 NASB)
Observation
1.  All God does or the works of his hands are:
A. Just- guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness:
B. Good- morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious: 
C. Truth- honesty; integrity
D. Justice- the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
2. All his commandments, precepts are:
A. Trustworthy- deserving of trust or confidence; dependable; reliable: 
B. Sure- free from doubt as to the reliability, character, action, etc., of something: to be sure of one's data. confident, as of something expected: sure of success.
Application
I can trust God. Everything He does is excellent, right, and fair.
I can trust his word. They are dependable, reliable.  I can be confident in them.
Faith is trusting a person do do what they say they will do. Bottom line is God is trustworthy.
Prayer
Increase my faith and confidence in You.

What are you pursuing?

Scripture
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:11 KJV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11 NIV)
Observation
Follow- to go in pursuit of: to follow a person. To pursue 
1. Righteousness- characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
2.Godliness- to live a Godly life.
conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious.
3.Faith- confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
4. Love- a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
5. Patience, endurance, perseverance, steadfastness, 
Perseverance- steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Endurance- the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: He has amazing physical endurance.
Patience- the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
Steadfastness- fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.
firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.
unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.
firmly fixed in place or position.
6. Gentleness, meekness 
Gentleness- kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.
not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.
Meekness- humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.
Application
I am to pursue a morally just life.
I am to pursue to live a Godly life
I am to pursue confidence and trust in Jesus.
I am to pursue a profoundly tender, passionate affection for God and people
I am to pursue a persistence in difficult circumstances
I am to pursue not being rude or harsh when provoked.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, you must form this I'm me because it is beyond what I am capable of.

The key to doing good

Scripture
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NASB)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NLT)
Observation
This is a prayer of Paul for the church:
1. He addressed both Jesus and the Father
2. He tells us what God did for us
A. Loved us
B. By his grace gave us
Eternal comfort
Wonderful good hope 
3. May God Comfort you 
A. Comfort- to aid; support or encourage.
4. May God Strengthen you
Strengthen- to make stronger; give strength to.
especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect: 
5. In every good thing you do and say

The key to doing good is being full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Application
God gives aid and support to everything I do and say.
God gives me the strength to accomplish good things.
God makes me competent, able to do and say good things.

I rely on God for everything.  Every good thing I do is dependent on the Holy Spirit.  Every good thing I say is dependent on the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the divine enabler.  He empowers me to do good.  He empowers me to speak.  I need a daily fresh filling of His Spirit.  Empowering comes through abiding.  The key to doing good is being full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
I rely on you for everything. I ask that you comfort and strengthen me in every good thing I do and say.

Fill me afresh and anew with your Spirit today.

Do good today

Scripture
This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! (Jeremiah 22:3 NLT)
Thus says the Lord, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3 NASB)
Observation
1. Do justice
the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. Do righteousness
characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
3. Deliver those who are robbed by oppressors

Rescue those who are being oppressed.
4. Do not mistreat or do violence to foreigners, widows, or orphans.

Minister to the helpless and hopeless.

5. Do not shed innocent blood.

Continue the fight for life and bring an end to abortion.
Application
Leaders are to be concerned about social justice. We are to rescue the opporessed. We are to serve immigrants, orphans, and widows. We are to defend the innocent. We are to stand for righteousness.
Prayer
Father may I be a man of righteousness. May I stand for good. May I  defend the innocent,  rescue the oppressed,  minister to immigrants, widows, and orphans.  May I do good today.

What is faith?

Scripture
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 NLT)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 KJV)
Observation
1. Waiting on God is an act of faith. It shows trust.
2. Waiting only upon God demonstrates where I placed my trust. Not in people, organizations, or things but God.
3. He is my salvation and victory.
Salvation- saving from harm, risk, loss, destruction
Victory- success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.
4. I place my hope in him. I expect God to act on my behalf.
Application
I always struggled with the issue of faith.  What is faith?  How do I know if I have enough?  How do you exhibit faith?  This verse makes faith simple.  Faith is choosing to trust God.  It is not a feeling.  It is a choice,  Faith is a quiet trust, resting in him. It doesn't have to be loud or boastful. I can rest in him because I expect him to act. My trust results in rest.  The opposite of faith is worry and doubt.  It is choosing not to trust God.  These result in restlessness.  When I understand that faith is a choice, it empowers me to demonstrate my faith.  I can wait quietly before God because my hope is in Him.  I expect him to act on my behalf.
Prayer
I rest in you. I trust you. I wait quietly before God.  I choose to put my hope in you not in myself, other people, or organizations.  I believe you will act on my behalf.

One Thing

Scripture
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:7, 8, 10, 12-14 NIV)
Observation
1. What I once considered to be valuable I now consider to be worthless. What was once worth pursuing is now a waste of time.
2. I now consider everything to be garbage, dung, and rubbish compared to knowing Christ.
3. I want to know Jesus. I want to experience the power of his resurrection. I want to participate in his suffering. I want to share in his death. I want to become like him.
4. I have not already achieved this or arrived at my goal.
But I focus on this one thing. But one thing I do. 
I forget what lies behind me. I forget the past.
I strain forward to what lies ahead. I reach forth unto those things which are before me. I reach forward to what lies ahead.
I press on toward the goal. I press on to reach the end of the race. I press toward the mark for the prize. 
5. To reach the prize of the upward call of God. To revive the heavenly prize. The prize of the high calling of God. 
Application
My one thing is to know Christ and to become like Him.  This was the one pursuit of Paul's life.    He considered everything else to be a waste of his time.  Power, fame, and wealth had become worthless to him.    The process of knowing Christ and becoming like Him included experiencing God's power, participating in suffering, and dieing to self.  Paul had laser like focus.  He would not be distracted.  Heaven was in his heart.  The finish line was in his sight.  He reached for the prize.  He left everything else behind for the sake of knowing Jesus.
Prayer
May Paul's one thing become my one thing. May you create within me Paul's intensity and determination. May I not get distracted with the things of this world. May I consider everything else to be garbage and not worth my time. May I want to know Christ and become like Him.

Teaching your children faith

Scripture
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (Psalm 78:4-7 ESV)
Observation
1 will not hide these truths from our children.
2. We will teach the next generation (children)
3. What? The glorious deeds of The Lord
His might and wonders he has done.
4. He commanded our fathers to teach to their children.
5. So the next generation might know them.
7. Even the children yet unborn (grandchildren)
8. Why? So that they will set their hope in God and not forget his works, but keep his commandments.
Application
This passage teaches the importance of teaching our children and grandchildren about God. Parents are the primary teachers of spiritual things not the church.  The role of the church is to come alongside of the parents and assist them but the parents are too pass their faith down the generations.  Parents teach  their children the Bible, parents teach their children about faith, and parents teach their children values.  

How should a parent do that?  Keep it simple.  Tell them Bible stories.  Tell them about the times God has answered prayer.  Pass down your personal legacy of faith.  Tell them about your salvation experience.  Teach them through your words and your actions.  Model what a Jesus person looks like. Your life will speak louder than your words.  You destroy your credibility when you teach one thing for years and then act in the opposite way.  It will disillusion your kids.  Consistency not perfection is the key.  Consistently teach and model and your faith and values will be passed down.  

Prayer
Help me to be a Godly influence on my children even though I am far away.  May the legacy of faith in my family be passed down to the generations that follow.  May my actions match my values.  May my passion for Chrsit be passed down.

Overcoming Worry

Scripture

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 NLT)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 ESV)
Observation
1. Do not worry or be anxious about anything.
Worry- to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts. To torment with cares, anxieties, trouble, plague,
Anxious- full of mental distress or uneasiness of fear, of danger of misfortune. Greatly worried
2. But In everything prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

Tell God want you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Replace worry with prayer and thanksgiving.    Pray your worries away.  Be grateful for what God has done for you.
3. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand, surpasses our understanding.

I may not understand my circumstances but I will experience peace in my circumstances.
4. Will guard your mind and hearts 

God will stand guard over my mind & heart and not allow worry, anxiety, or fear in.
Application
This is a great passage. Give gives the prescription to worry.
1. Don't worry
2. Pray about everything.  Pray your worries away.
3. Be grateful

Prayer
May I live this verse. I do not want to be consumed won't worry, fear, and anxiety. I desire to be guarded by the peace of God. I am grateful for all your blessings. I bring my needs to you.

Language

Today we are taking our final in the language class.  I do not know how I will do but I do know that I have done my best and that is all I can do.  Language studying is hard.  I am not a natural learner.  What I am convinced of is that language is key to effectiveness.  You cannot be effective in a foreign country unless you can speak the language.  Why be handicapped?  It is a tool in your arsenal that God can use.  Not knowing language may hinder what God can do through you.  Currently I am unable to have a conversation with my neighbor's children.  I am below a child in understanding.  Thankfully God loves children.

Finish strong

This is the last week of language school before a break.  When I first heard that we would take a month off after 2-3 months, I thought they were being lazy.  Now I know differently.  This is a grind.  It is as much emotional as mental and physical.  I am always ready for the break but I want to finish strong this week.  I want to apply myself to language study and to write one lesson plan.  Those are my two goals for the week.  If I accomplish them, I will be in good shape going into October.

Feelings make a horrible guide

I did not feel well yesterday.  But I went to class and had the best class I have had in a long time.  I learned, the class was fun, and I made progress.  Isn't it interesting that the day I felt the worst was the best day?  There are some lessons here.

1. Don't go by your feelings.

Feelings will lead you astray.  Feelings are horrible guides.  Determine what is important to you ahead of time.  Know your purpose.  Have a vision for your life.  Set goals.  Let those things drive you, not your feelings.

2. Do what is right even when you don't feel like it.

Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't want to do.  There is no gain without pain.  Action will change your feelings.  Feelings will paralyze you from acting.

3. Success in life is performing the right inputs and trusting God for the results.

You will reap what you sow.  Sow good seed when you don't feel like it, when it is hard and inconvenient, when no one is with you.  Do the right thing and trust God.  

Vision

Obtaining vision

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35, 36, 38 NIV)

 1. Jesus went

To obtain vision you must create access.  You leave the bubble you live in and go where the people are.  You do not find vision sitting on the sofa watching television.  You get out of your comfort zone and go.

2. Jesus saw

When you go, you will see.  Your eyes will be opened to needs and opportunities you never knew existed.  You will see what God sees. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes.  Jesus saw the crowds.  He left where He was went to the people and His eyes were opened.

3. Jesus felt

When you see, you will feel.  The Bible says Jesus had compassion on them.  Compassion is feeling a deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. You will never experience compassion until you go and see the need.

4. Vision is a solution to a problem.

God will reveal the problem and solution. The problem in this case was that the sheep were without a shepherd.  The people were harrassed and helpless.

Harassed- disturbed persistently with troubles and cares. Experience repeated attacks

Helpless- unable to help oneself, weak, dependent, disabled, unprotected

When the Holy Spirit creates compassion in you, you will see the problem clearly.  The first step in obtaining a vision is seeing the problem.

The second step is knowing the solution.  Jesus said to pray that God will send workers.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  

When you give yourself access to people.  God will enalbe you to see and feel.  Then God reveals the problem and the solution.  Vision is a solution to a problem.  

So get off your couch.  Get out of your bubble and go where the people are.  Ask yourself "what is the problem?" and "what is the solution?"

What a difference a day makes

It amazes how much difference a day makes.  Yesterday I woke up in dread.  I just wanted to get through the day and go back to sleep.   This morning was totally different.  I woke up with expectation.  I am ready to face this day.  What is the difference?  Can I learn any lessons?

1. Don't go by my emotions.  They are fickle at best.  They are inconsistent and untrustworthy.

2. When you have had a bad day go to sleep knowing that things may be better in the morning.  Work a full day, go home, and rest.

3. Take my medicine.  It probably took a couple of days to kick in.  It matters.

4. Be disciplined.  Get up when you don't want to get up.  Go to school when you don't want to go to school. Work when you don't want to work.  Do the right things believing they will produce the right results.

Darkness

Is it bad to want the day to end before it starts?  I woke up this morning with a dread.  Don't want to go to prayer,  don't want to go to school, just want the day to end.  I dread the day.  It is time like these I go to the Bible.  My daily reading has been the one steady discipline of my life.  Today I read that everything else will pass away but God's word will stand and endure forever.  The Word of God is my rock.  It is my anchor in hethe midst of storms.  It is my fortress and hiding place.  I find safety and security there.  I go to the rock.  Friday morning the pastor preached out of Psalm 43.  The Psalmist ask why God cast him off.  Why is he oppressed.  Then he ask God to send his light and truth to lead him to 

1. The mountain of God.

2. His tabernacle

3. The Altar

There God will become his exceeding joy.

I desire for Jesus to become my joy and delight not other people, things, or circumstances.

Father do that in me.  Send your light and truth.  Bring me to your mountain, your tabernacle, and your altar.  May I experience you there.

The cure to frustration

One of the things I struggle with here the most is frustration.  Frustration is to disappointed, embittered, resentful, or disheartened.  I don't want to be this way.  The root of frustration is self.  I get frustrated because self does not get what it wants.  The cure to frustration is to crucify self.  It is to take Kevin off the throne of his heart and to put Jesus on.  A dead man cannot get frustrated.  A servant serves and does not care for self.  Father I ask you to enable me to crucify self.  I ask the Holy Spirit to kill my sinful nature, the flesh.  I ask you to develop the fruit of the Spirit in me.  May I be long suffering.  I need your help.  May I live/dead.

Parenting

Parenting is a stewardship

I had the unique experience of raising another man's children.  It has been the greatest honor of my life.  I think it gave me an unique perspective on parenting.  Parenting is a stewardship.  This means:

1. Your children belong to God.

I always understood that another man gave life to my kids. He was a good man who loved his family and God.  He was their father but I had the privilege of raising them.  We use phrases like "my children" or "our children".  But the truth is that they are God's children.  

Your children belong to God and it is your privilege to raise them.

2. You are to parent your children in an God-pleasing, God-honoring way.

My desire was that when I met the children's biological father in heaven that he would be pleased with the way I raised his kids.  That should be your goal as well.  One day when you face God, may He be pleased with the way you parented the children, He gave you.

3. You will give an account.

 I will meet their biological father one day and the truth is you will face God one day.  You will give an account.  There will be a day when God will hold you accountable for every word you say and everything you do with your kids.  That is a sobering thought.  It is not meant to frighten you but to motivate you.  

The good news is God is a God of grace and He will enable you to be the father He desires you to be.  He is not up in heaven counting demerits againts you.  He is for you not against you.  I have not been close to a perfect parent but fortunately I did not mess them up too much.  I believe the same for you.

advice on marriage from the Arab World

Four habits for a marriage in the Arab World

First of all you are the head of your home.  Be a spiritual leader.  Being a provider is more than providing food and shelter, it is providing what your family needs.  I see four needs for wife's and mom's here.

1. Abiding time. 

That is tough with with language school, team meetings, and children (especially new borns) but you need to help your wife carve out time to spend with Jesus.

2. Adult conversation with someone other than you.

Women are relationally based.  They need and crave conversation.  She needs to talk regularly and consistently with other women.  She needs relational outlets other than you.

You need that as well.  You cannot be everything to your wife.  It will deplete and frustrate you.

This can be on the phone, Skype, or in person meetings.  It can be a teammate, national friend, anyone.  Just make sure your wife's relational tank is on full.

3.  Make sure she gets out of the flat and gets some sunshine.

Our flats are like living in a box.  No one can stay inside all day and not experience discouragement and depression.  God made our bodies for the sun.  We need light. 

I know that can be difficult in this culture but I encourage you to figure it out. 

It can be done.

4.  Have fun.

My favorite Bible verse on marriage is: "Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil."  (Ecclesiastes 9:9 NLT)

Have fun.  Go on dates.  Spend time by yourselves.  Don't become too busy leading a ministry that you don't have fun with your wife.  Remember taking a children on a date is baby sitting someplace else.  Use team members to babysit.  We love it!  Ask. 

At the end of your life the people who will be with you is your family.  Don't make time for everyone and everything else at their expense.  A date with your  wife will make you a better leader.

What is most important to me?

I'm trying to maintain the discipline of writing but what do you write when you have nothing to write?  Feels like one of those days.  Maybe it is a time to remind myself of what is important.  What is most important to me?  My God, Cathy, children &grandchildren, making a difference, living a God-pleasing life, doing right things the right way, caring for people, being a friend, being a mentor, staying focused and disciplined, teaching the Bible, reaching a world, inputs, faithfulness & loyalty, being me, self off the throne & Christ on the throne, loving my family, staying connected, finishing strong, staying power.  This is what is important to me.

Self control

One of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control.  The King James version describes it as temperance.  It is the ability to control your appetites and passions.  Gentleness or meekness is the ability to control your emotions.  These terms of control means the Holy Spirit is in control of you empowering you to control your passions and emotions.  A Spirit-filled believer should be temperate, self-controlled, not harsh or out of control but in control of his passions and emotions.

Some of the ways I am seeking God to fulfill this in my life is in setting goals in the key areas of my life.  They are spiritual, relational, mental, physical, financial, and ministry.  I believe the key to life is a balance in these areas.  If you are not in "full-time" ministry then also add career to the list.  I have set goals in these six key areas of my life.  I am asking the Holy Spirit to enable me to meet these goals.  This is not self help or relying on my will power.  I am inadequate and weak.  I need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to enable me.  I need the fruit of gentleness and self-control to be evident in me.  The fruit comes from abiding.  I abide in Him and He abides in me I will bear much fruit but apart from him I can do nothing.  I believe in the next two months to make strides in these areas.  I desire for the glory of God and to become the man of God He desires for me to be.

My desire

There is a desire within me to grow workers.  I believe for the day that there will hundreds of more workers in the area.  I believe for the day when workers are performing cutting edge ministry in healthy and effective ways.  I see the day when the area retreat is full of people with 10 years plus experience.  Hundreds of more workers with 10 years plus experience.  That would change the equation.  That would make a difference.  I will never learn language to be effective in certain areas but I can pour my life into those who can.  There is a desire within me to grow workers.

learning lessons

I am reading "A Larger Life" by A.B. Simpson.  It has been challenging and encouraging.  I want to live a larger life.  I want to have a larger faith, a larger love, a larger vision, a larger infilling.  It comes from God.  For me to live a larger life, I need more of Him.  I pray that there be less of me and more of Him.

Cathy and I did the final presentation of level 2 in our language class.  Cathy did really well.  I got nervous and began to talk too fast but did OK.  Language is difficult but the challenge has been stimulating.  I try to keep a good attitude and have the ability to laugh at myself.  Humility is a good thing.

August 31, 2013

I love Saturdays.  I sleep until I wake up.  I pray until I finished.  It is kind of a lazy day which you do whatever you want.  It is my Sabbath.  It is a day of rest, refreshing, and renewal.  God created the Sabbath.  After creating the earth for six days, God rested on the seventh.  God did not rest because He was tired or depleted in anyway.  God is God.  It is impossible for Him to be tired or depleted.  He was setting an example for man.  I am not God.  I am not indestructible.  I need rest.  I need a Sabbath.  So today I will do a little preparation for my presentation of Tuesday but I will rest.  I will relax.

lessons learned

I didn't think I was nervous about moving but my stomach is telling me different.  It has been churning!  I guess this is part of the process.  I don't let my mind go there.  This week has been so many "last for a long time."  Last time to see my nieces.  Last time to speak at the church.  Last time to see the kids.  Last time...  You can only go there so many times.  I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but if I let my emotions go I am afraid it will open the floodgates.  Most of the time I am on guard. I know when someone is going to cry and I put up my defenses.  It is when I am caught off guard that gets me.  Wednesday I went to my doctor who I have been seeing for years.  When she said good bye to me, she teared up.  I did not expect that.  I was like please don't do that to me.  I have learned that I was not a rich man materially. I was middle class.  Relationally I am wealthy.  God has given me some incredible family and friends.  The lesson learned is that life is made up of relationships not things.  We are currently repacking.  Taking more stuff out.  I don't want my life to defined by things.  I want it to be defined by those I love and those who love me.

Kevin's new adventure

The hardest part of beginning the new adventure is leaving family.  This Sunday I will attend Tyler's instillation service at New Life A/G in Bedford, Ky.  It is a privilege to get to go.  We were suppose to leave the country in January but was delayed.  All three of our children have gone through major life transitions in the last three months.  Cathy and I got to be a part of it.  It renews my trust in the sovereignty of God.  He is in control.  He knows what is best.  He is good and only does good.  It my belief in his sovereignty that gives me the courage to go.  God only has one will, a good, pleasing, and perfect will.  That is not only true for me but my family as well.  God calls us to sacrifice, to carry our cross.  It is part and sometimes central to the will of God but it is good.  It is for our eternal good. He does not have a good plan for me and a bad plan for my family.  And he does not have a bad plan for me and a good plan for others.  I will declare it again, He is good and only does good.  I must believe that to the core of my being.  I act on faith in the character of God.  God's character is the foundation of my new adventure.

lessons from my new adventure

We are just a few days away.  People ask how I am feeling.  My emotions are all over the place.  There is great excitement, sadness, apprehension, and numbness.  I don't think it has really set in yet.  Today I feel old.  I have always done things the old fashioned way.  I am learning to go paperless.  This is a stretch for me.  I like my notepad, checkbook, and paper calendar.  I am now learning to do everything electronically.  I must be the last class that never took a computer class.  I went to college for four years and never had a lesson on computers.  Everything I know is self learned and really limited.  I am been told that I need to become a computer person.  This is not natural to me but it is necessary.  To go on a new adventure you have to change, stretch, leave your comfort zone.  It is not easy, natural, or comfortable.  I am tired. My brain is on overload but I more forward.  I do not quit.  I laugh.  If computers are hard what about learning a second language?  New adventures require learning new things.  Putting away old wineskins, a willingness to change.