When The Unplanned Happens

Well I just got back from the hospital. My wife is spending a second night there and since my daughter is spending the night at her Grandma's the house is quiet and empty. So I have the TV on in the background playing Contemporary Christian music. You know Saturday we had our plans for the week. Sunday morning my wife wasn't feeling well, but decided to go to church. She didn't feel up to going to my parents house for lunch and just wanted to sleep. So I left her and Pamela here and went an visited. I had plans to teach at church that evening. But plans were about to change. My wife, Jerri, decided she needed relief from some pain. When she says she needs to go to the emergency room, it is time. They ended up admitting her and doing tests. Tonight she is still there. But my point is, you never know what is going to happen in the next couple of minutes. What will that next phone call bring? What will happen on your next drive? What does that next cough mean coming from your child's room. Is it the start of a nightmare? You know, I grew up in a time, that if the phone rang after 10 o'clock at night, it was an emergency. My wife is a nurse and she had a young nurse come to work after working for 3 weeks she was getting sick. She was about 12 weeks pregnant. And she had some flu like symptoms. She ended up at Willis Knighton and a couple days later her oxygen levels dropped, by that night she was at LSU on a ventilator and sedated. Her husband and family were in shock when we arrived. By the next day she was on a heart lung bypass machine. This has been more that 2 weeks, now she has lost the baby and is off the bypass machine and back on the ventilator. And seems to be slowly improving though it is still up and down and day by day. If she continues to improve it will probably take her the rest of the year to recuperate. Some of you have read some of my reports on Wesley Harty. His family was thrown into turmoil in an instance. You know when these things happen, you seem like you are just along for the ride and you have no control over what is going on. A few years ago my world seem to come crashing down in an instant. I really had no control of what was going on. Oh I tried some things, but I was just along for the ride with the doors locked so I couldn't get out. But you know this was my mindset. A few years before this happened, I fell in love with God. He became my strong tower, my support, my strength. Can I say this, if you are truly saved, learn how to lean on God everyday. Almost like a pitcher practices for the day he can enter the game, one day we will enter the game. On this day, I entered the game. And quickly I found that I didn't know what to do. I was lost. The only thing I could think of was to fall before God and cry. If I had not been walking with God, I would have done something stupid. But this was a long ride. I found I could not see 6 inches ahead of me. Darkness had fallen. I found myself wandering around walmart or home depot, since there was only loneliness at home. God was my main friend. I had a good friend who was pastoring a different church but we had served together and I dare say he is still my best friend. I would confide in him and we would pray. But God was my strength. I determined not to abandon Him, I knew He would not abandon me. Even if things didn't work out the way I prayed. One night as I was praying and telling God just how much it hurt, in my spirit I heard Him say, "I know and I love you. Hang on just a little longer." Wow! you see, God was doing a work in my life and wasn't finished. It is just like baking a cake. you don't take it out halfway through the process or you end up with a half baked cake. Yuk!. If I had abandoned the process before He was done, then I would be a half Baked christian and be more danger than good. So I drew closer to Him. I can't say that my prayers were answered in the way I prayed. But God has truly blessed me from that experience for His good and for the good of others. Look, learn to walk with Him now, the Bible says those times will come. When those times come, draw close to Him. He loves you more that you will ever know. Dark times can be the best of times. If you ever need prayer and it is private email me. I don't need to know specifics, I just need to know you need prayer. If you are not sure of your salvation I would be glad to help you find peace through salvation. Oh, and I believe God is in control with my wife's health. God Bless. email address. mygodsbeengood.blogspot@live.com

The New Year

Well the new year is here. It seems like just yesterday it was last year. Well anyways, as the new year is here, maybe now is a good time for a new year motto.. "Surrender and win". For those who have not accepted Jesus as their LORD and Savior, Surrender your life to Him and you win. For the Christian, Surrender every area of your life to Him and you win. Being the biggest loser for Christ, makes us the biggest winner. May your new year be blessed in losing and surrendering.

My Church Family

I have been so busy lately, I just don't have time to do much of anything. But one thing I get to do is a lot of driving back and forth to jobs. I spend a lot of time with God while I drive and this past week was no different. One day as I was driving I began to "Count my many blessings" as the old hymn goes and I came to my church family. I realized just how important they are to me and my family and how they have been there with me through good times and bad. They are always and encouragement to us. And hopefully we are the same to them. Heartaches and trouble abound but so does the joy. I am always amazed at how when they talk to my 12 year old daughter who thinks she should be 18 sometimes, their advice is always the same as our has been and so reinforces what we have said and that we are not wrong just because we are parents. So I want to say thanks to my church family and we love you. God Bless.

God in our Storms

I took this picture as we were driving through storms. The sun was shining through a hole in the clouds. It reminded me that God is in our storms.

Some Monday Thoughts

Well here it is Monday again. I plan to make the best of it. We had a good weekend, got to spend all day with my wife Saturday. I took her on a service call with me then to visit a friend in the hospital then to eat. Sunday was a wonderful day at church. I didn't know Eric had surrendered to preach, and so we got to hear him. He did a good job. He allowed God to speak through him. I have not heard any updates on Wesley since my last post. I assume, no news is good news, but continue in prayer. Last week was a great week in Cotton Valley. 42 souls save and their lives will be changed forever. Also something many of us don't consider on Mondays. For many pastors and preachers, Mondays are hard. They have built up to Sunday and given their all on Sunday, so they are emotionally and sometimes spiritually drained on Monday. Oswald Chambers likes to use a phrase, "We are to be poured out wine and broken bread." just like Jesus. This is the case in so many of these men's lives. Now they go back to God to be refilled and put back together so they can be broken bread and poured out wine again. We are all to be broken bread and poured out wine in the service of God for others. Today, call your pastor and tell him you appreciate him and pray for him over the phone. If you don't have a pastor, I am sure their is someone you know that preaches that you could call. Have a blessed week.

Prayer

As I read my Sunday School lesson this morning before church, I was surprised to see that it was on praying for those in need of healing. James 5:1-25. This week has been one of "Much" prayer. My wife and I found ourselves not just praying for one person, but several. Monday night we started with one and as the week progressed our prayer list grew exponentialy. Some needs were more immediate than others, but all were important to God and those involved. Little Wesley wasn't given much of a chance of making it after having a 4 wheeler accident and having a pipe imbedded 3 inches into his head. We see God doing mightily in that. Another person had emergency cancer surgery, and yet while he may be just starting a journey with this the news in my estimation was much better than it had started out to be. In fact he was singing in the choir with us this morning. In both situations, God has shown what he can do. Prayer is the answer. I heard a story one time of a woman in the hospital and the Doctor came to her and said, well we have done all we can do, now it is up to God. She looked horrified and said, "Oh no, has it come to that?" Although I believe God has given us doctors and we should use them, God is the Great physician. I would trust Him with my life. I have trusted Him with my eternal life. Have you? "MyGod'sBeenGood"

Wesley Harty Update 1

The last report I received, the pressure in his brain was back down and his heartrate was back down. Keep praying, he is heavily sedated. God does answer prayers. My facebook page has been all abuzz, if there is such a word. We also are able to keep track almost instantly of anything going on.

Psalm 120:1, NIV. I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

John 3:16 and Maggie Lee Henson

I started to post this today and almost changed my mind for something else then I read an artice at http://www.ktbs.com/news/maggie-lee-hensons-final-gift . So now here it is. It is part of a sermon I preached one time.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1. "For God" The Greatest

2. "So loved the world" The greatest truth

3. "That He gave" The greatest act

4. "His only begotten Son" The Greatest Gift. Note Jesus is speaking these words about himself.

5. "That whosoever" The greatest invitation that leaves out "Noone".

6. "Believeth in Him" The greatest plan. No man could come up with such a great and perfect plan.

7. "Should not perish". The greatest promise.

8. "But have" The greatest certainty.

9. "Everlasting life" The greatest destiny.

There’s a Whole Lot of Ministering Going On

It has been 2 weeks today since the tragic bus accident that took the life of one teenager and injured several others of the First Baptist Church Shreveport youth group. Earlier today at church something stirred a thought in me about ministry. I thought about Maggie Lee Henson and her family after we had our prayer. I thought about how so many people have ministered to her and her family in so many ways, even without knowing it. First, who are the ones who are ministering?
Everyone from around the world are ministering to them. Christian and non Christian alike can minister to people. Everyone who has visited the CaringBridge site (approaching 120,000 as I type) website to check on her are ministering to them because they know people care. Our preacher tonight talked about the 3 friends of Job who showed up to minister to Job and for the first few days just sat with him in the ashes without words. He pointed out that sometimes it is best just to hug them or put an arm around them to let them know you care. I have experienced that in my life. Secondly those who have left messages on the site have ministered to them. The parents have posted that they do read and are encouraged by the posts.
Thirdly those helping them out back home and looking after the house and dogs are ministering to them.
Fourthly, those who sent cards and gifts are ministering to them.
Fifthly, those who have provided their homes and the churches who provided places for them to sleep are ministering to them.
Sixthly, those prayers going up all over the world minister to them.
Lastly, I have been blessed and ministered to by the Hensons in their posts and their standing strong in the faith. Have you been ministered to or have you been ministered to?
I notice KTBS did a really nice story on them tonight. Thanks KTBS.
While I am typing this let me say that my prayers still go out to Brandon Ugarte and his family and all those still recovering physically as well as spiritually.

I know I listed some of these sites before, but here are some to check on them also.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson
http://wonderingthoughts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/its-been-a-week-now.html
http://www.fbcshreveport.org/
http://www.ktbs.com/news/praying-for-a-miracle1

He Comforts

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles... 2 Cor 1:3-4, NIV

God is the Father of compassion. When we're hurting, He's right there for us. He speaks to us through His Word, He listens as we lay out our pain to Him and He uses other people as a conduit for His compassion. He never leaves us alone to figure things out by ourselves. And then, He turns around and uses us to funnel His love to others in pain. We can look back at what we learned and share it with someone else.

One Person Touching So Many Lives, Maggie Lee Henson

How can one life touch so many people. God. I checked http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson this morning. Over 52,000 visitors to check on her and her family. How will our lives impact others? As I read her father's post, I am encouraged at the families reliance on God. This just reminds me that their trust in God didn't just come at this last minute. It has be developed over the years. We need to learn to walk, love and trust God now, and not wait until tragedy strikes to learn to walk with God then. Because of their previous walk with God, now they are able to bless and encourage others during these trying times.

He Heals

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalms 147:3, NIV

Spilling Jesus

A cup of water that is overflowing spills on those around it.
A Christian overflowing with Jesus spills onto those around.
Be an overflowing cup of water today and spill the love of Jesus on someone.

Has someone spilt Jesus on you this week?

God's Providence

KTBS 3 reported that a busload of National Guardsmen returning from training exercises that taught them how to respond to roll overs with a number of them having been trained in triage were following the bus from First Baptist Shreveport when it had a blowout and rolled over. As tragic as it was, God's hand of providence was there by having them in the right place at the right time. And how about the churches who responded to help those in need there. And let's not forget the emergency responders. There are still good people in this world and God is still in control. Let's continue to pray for all involved.

Monday Morning Praise!!

Monday morning. Need I say more? For many Monday is a depressing day. The beginning of another work week or school week. For many pastors Monday seems to be a downer of a day. How can we lift each others spirits? I have some thoughts on that. Start your day, or at any time by praising and thanking God for everything. Be specific, name those blessings one by one. (Sounds like a song) Sing those old, and news songs "to the Lord". Take your eyes off self and place them on Jesus. Be attentive to others and call to encourage them. Especially call your pastor and offer kind words of encouragement and it will brighten your day. May each of you have a blessed Monday.