Its a great day!

Its a great day! It will continue to be a great day, and it will end a great day! I know that my redeemer livery, for as I seek Him, He is found of me. His Spirit testifies to my own that I am His, and if He is not, I can not be His. Oh what incredible joy He has filled me with already today, and for no reason that I can tell. There is no earthly reason that I should have this great joy within my soul right now. I have received no good news, no prayers answered, no unexpected blessings, nothing unusual, no outward circumstance whatsoever. If its not from outside, it mist be from upside, and cometh down from the Father of lights. OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS: BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME!!!!!!

I Stand Amazed in His Presence!

God is so good! I was filled with awe and thankfulness at the sight of twenty young ladies gathered around Mrs. Bloem Sunday morning. I remember when twenty total in the youth group was a great number, this Sunday we had over 30! Praise God for the increase! Please pray that those He has brought in will be firmly planted, grow, and bear much fruit in their season.

I also want to praise God for the abundant harvest He used our Pastor and Bro. Kim Lake to bring in. It was a wonderful lesson in perserverance and consistency in Pastor Bloem's soul winning and baptism commitments. I would like to invite everyone to join with our pastor in prayer that God would pour out His Spirit on all of us in like manner. (Num. 11:25-29)

Lastly, God again gave us three professions of faith in Children's Church. Only one week has passed without the reaping of the harvest that our bus captains faithfully sow every week. In the heat of summer, God gives us cool temperatures and attentive hearts in which to plant His seed. I am afraid of missing all that our Saviour will do this Sunday! Please pray that these professions of faith will result in lives wholly dedicated to Him, that God will use these young vessels to deliver His Gospel to their families, and that the families will be saved. Also pray that God will bless others with the call to serve in this ministry as preachers or helpers.

Whose mind is stayed on Thee.

I find for the second time today that God has stayed my mind from sin. Once I arrived in my hotel room I had lost my direction. I sat down and pondered the ease of watching TV. I knew in my heart that if I did, I would regret the path of sin I would set my feet on. But, what to do? I have a study I am working on saved to my phone, but it was almost dead, and I was charging it. I have some great books of our faith saved on it as well, but I would have to stand to read them. I must have thought through and reasoned away several good ideas when the one that had real purpose and results in it (rather than just being busy work) hit me; study my Sunday School lesson.

At first it seemed useless. I looked it over and saw very little. I wondered how to make a lesson that was written to apply to parents meaningful for teens. As I wondered, the idea to actually read the Scriptures hit me. Sometimes my own stupidity amazes me. How presumptuous it is to think I would be able to give anything to anyone of any lasting value without first laboring in the word of God.

As I did God blessed my soul with great peace and love, which culminated to incredible joy; all resulting in spontaneous praise to Him! The more I read, the greater my fellowship with Him, and of course, the greater my joy. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Now, if He'll just have the people next door shut up, I may get some sleep.

The Closer I Get

I'm working in Vermont and Nancy and the girls came with me. We had a great trip up yesterday, and they had a good time site seeing and swimming in a river today.

After I got off work, we went on a little hike taking us across a cable bridge that had the effect of a trampelene when you walk across it. I got it bouncing pretty good when the girls were crossing.

We tried crossing the river on rocks in a few places, and everyone got wet at one time or another, but no injuries in spite of some rather bold moves. Then it was off to a late dinner and fun fellowship. God is good and bringing us all together. Its been a therapeutic experience for Kayla and is helping her become more comfortable with us.

Interesting, the more time she spends with us really getting to know us, the more she trusts us. The more she trusts us, the greater her joy, comfort, confidence, peace, and security. That reminds me of our growth, or lack of it in our relationship with our Father in heaven.

What an incredible day!

What an incredible day! God has smiled on me today. I don't know if dedicating all my free time completely to studying God's word yesterday has anything to do with it, but the incredible depth of peace and faith in Him bringing forth fruit was a tremendous blessing! When we went out on our Sunday soul winning God allowed me to witness to five teenage and below girls who all prayed to receive Christ as their saviour. One of my teenage girls was amazing in her determination to witness and God gave her two professions of faith as well. I heard great reports from others as to my daughter's desire to give the Gospel as well. Jesse, one of my teen boys went out with Kayla, the girl Nancy and I have taken in and she was used by God to lead another person to Christ and Jesse lead five.

Tonight Kayla took notes during the sermon and did a pretty good job. We bought her a journal last week and she says that she has been writing in it daily. She also prayed with Kali and I for the first time tonight as well.

AWESOME! I know heaven will be better. Its a good thing God is giving us immortal bodies. To much more joy and my earthly body would probably explode!

Exceeding, Abundantly Above

WOW! We had twelve boys in the teen boy's Sunday School class this morning. Far better than it has been in several weeks! The girls class was similarly filled, and many of these were visitors! I just prayed yesterday that God would reverse the downward trend I have had in the youth group - especially in the boy's class and He did far above what I had imagined. Thank You, my Lord and Saviour!!

What's even better is the fact that He's using the teens to build the ministry. Two going men in particular, and a couple of young ladies. God is awesome! I have begun praying that God would raise up replacements for my solid soldiers. It won't be too long before they graduate out of the group.

Suffering and Sacrificing

I let Bobby handle Children's Church on his own today with just a couple of check ups from me. He did a great job. Since putting me in this ministry, God has given us salvations every week, and this week was no exception. Three salvations and three baptisms! My joy is throug the roof! Praise God, I could suffer and sacrifice like this every day!