NUMBERING MY DAYS

Lord,
Thank you for another year of life that you gave me. I recognize that every breath is a special gift from you. My blessings, over my life, and even in this past year, are so many. You blessed me with physical life and I have greatly enjoyed it. You gave me awesome, godly parents, and a brother and sister to grow up with. You have given me the most beautiful, godly woman as my wife, and you have poured on the blessing with my 5 incredible children. You have given me health and the ability to enjoy my family and friends. You have blessed me with the privilege of leading a church and loving your people. I love the people of Grace. You have given us good friends here. We have seen you at work. You are changing people's lives and that is all I ever wanted to be a part of.

Psalm 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

That is my prayer, Lord. I understand that today could be my last day on this earth. I have no guarantee of another year here. That is o.k. with me, since I know that you are in control, and know what is best. I just pray, that I will use my remaining breaths to honor you and bring you glory. May I speak kindly to my wife. May I graciously lead my children in pursuing you. May I lovingly lead your people, in our church, to give themselves to the mission you have called us to.
I need your wisdom Lord. I want to enjoy and appreciate all I have from you; but my greatest desire is to use my days wisely, for your glory. I know that is all that counts when this short life is over, I go home to be with you; and then those that are left remember my life. I want them to remember you through the way I lived.

I love you Lord.

HAD A DOG...NO MORE DOGS

Famous last words...

Her name is Nikki, the kids love her, and I am going for "dad of the year"!

We almost named her Grace, since the family is getting a second chance with a dog.

We will see how it goes with this small, "non-shedding", gift from God (atleast these are the things I keep telling myself)!

FAST AND PRAY

This week, we asked our congregation to consider taking a day, to fast and pray. Prayer is so important to us as individual Christians, and to our church as a whole; but I admit that fasting has been somewhat of a ignored topic. I remember preaching about it a couple of years ago, but beyond that, I have made it just a personal issue for me in my own walk. But, as I prepared for last week's message on God's sovereignty and talked about where we find ourselves as a church, the idea hit me. We need to allow the entire church to participate, asking God to do something incredible, and demonstrating our desire for Him by setting aside, for a time, other desires, such as food.

Fasting is a tricky thing because Jesus warned that we should not be like the Pharisees, who fasted publicly and acted in such a way that everyone knew they were fasting. Jesus said: they have received their reward - public honor for their piety. But instead, we are to fast privately, not letting others know our hunger, so that we can be blessed by God. However, we see in the Bible, that there are times to call an entire group of people, even an entire nation, to fast as a group; and in those circumstances, it is certainly appropriate to let everyone know the plan and to do it at the same time.

Just a few things God has taught me during times of fasting:

• I can go without food or other things longer than I think I can
• I need Him more than anything
• He does satisfy more than food, more then other pleasures I enjoy
• If I pray during the times I would normally enjoy something else, I feel closer to God and feel strengthened in that commitment
• I notice, then, to a greater degree, what God does in response to these times of fasting

May our times of fasting and prayer be humble times, selfless times, times to focus on God and to make Him our satisfaction!