Hopefully, I Am In South America

25 Thursday Aug 2011

I’m writing this on Tuesday night because I expect I’ll be a zombie by the time you are reading it and somewhere between Decatur, TX, Sau Paulo, Brazil and Aracaju, Brazil. I might be locked down in Miami because of a hurricane or so I hear. I might be lost in Sau Paulo because GOL! Airlines keeps changing the times of our flight but the new times are the same as the old times. Very confusing. I just hope my clean underwear and I wind up in the same place.

I solicit your prayers for my time in Aracaju. I’m speaking at a meeting Saturday night on a topic I’m qualified to speak about and one that scares me to death to talk about. I’m praying that God fills me up with wisdom and the words I speak are the words he is wanting to lay on people’s hearts.

The closer I am to leaving the more excited I am about seeing Gilvan and his little boy, Giovanni, my good friend Romeo who is always smiling, Victor and Bela, two of the strongest young Christians I know, Albert and Carol, another young couple with a desire to serve and Bruno and Ricardo, two young men who may have more fire and passion for sharing the Good News than anyone I’ve ever met. The joy of the Lord bleeds through there pores, through their smiles and actions and words. Their eyes are alive when they speak about God and they draw people to them.

Oh, the high is supposed to be in the low-80’s the first few days we are there. Yea! It stays in the low 70’s at night and it might even rain one day.

The weather will be nice but it’s the joy in knowing God exhibited in the lives of the people I will be spending time with that really excites me about what I’m doing. I’m ready to be infected again by their contagious zeal for the Lord.

Grace and peace to you.

Fly Like An Eagle

24 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by Seeking Peace in Brazil, relentless

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I’m headed to Aracaju, Brazil today. It’s a trip I never really enjoy as I start the travel process at 3:00p and will arrive in Aracaju around 3:00 tomorrow but I look forward to being with the people there so much. I’ve learned the concept of joy from my friends in Aracaju and the concept of living with much less and enjoying more freedom.

My baby started her senior year of high school this week. How did it get here so fast? Just yesterday, I was walking her into kindergarten holding her hand. Now she’s driving herself and doesn’t need Dad so much. I’m so very proud of her and the young woman she is becoming.

I stretch some analogies to fit my needs. To that end, while fishing last week I thought about how hard we were working to catch fish. Relentless is the word I would use when we were in an area with large redfish. I thought about how diligent we were about catching fish and tried to imagine how relentless God is in his desire to catch us. God is good and he is faithful and he never stops in his desire or effort to help his sheep remain safe and in the shepherd’s care.

Grace and peace to you.
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