Category Archives: Uplift

Blogging Blah’s

06 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by in Colorado, Harding, Uplift, vacation

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I’ve got the blogging blah’s.  I’m not feeling very cohesive in my thoughts of late, busy with travel, with school, with some cool stuff that God has led me to in a nearby city, with managing kid time and personal time, guest blogging for a friend’s site and something else…oh yeah, work. 

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Last week I was in Searcy, Arkansas at Harding University as a sponsor for our youth group and a teacher and it was an incredible and uplifting experience.  They brought in some great speakers each night and kept the kids busy and active in both learning and burning energy.  I taught 3 classes on Tuesday and 3 classes on Wednesday and had a blast doing it.  I love talking to young people who are getting ready to embark on so many new adventures of life.  It’s an honor and a challenge to try and share some life lessons in a way that meets them where they are.  I know I am ineffective on my own and pray always that God speaks through me so they will hear his message for their lives and not mine. 

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I leave for Colorado on Thursday and will reach my destination on Friday where the high temperature is predicted to be 77.  Sweet!  I can’t wait to be there, relaxing, fishing and spending some time with my son.  It’s a little bittersweet in that my daughter is still in Arkansas attending a two-week college program and won’t be with us but I know it’s a great opportunity for her and I’m glad she’s able to do that too.  I still miss her though.

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Here’s the lesson that has stuck with me from last week through my own preparation.  I cannot let God down because I never held him up.  He holds me up in his victorious hand.  It’s a lesson I’m still learning, slowly but surely.  I love God.

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Grace and peace to you.
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A Final Plea

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in epic, hearts, hope, Uplift

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TODAY is the last day of Camp Coldwater’s effort to raise $5,000 to drill a well.  I know I have a lot of people who can read this blog and I’m asking you to help.  I won’t do it often.  I don’t expect it.  But, I am hopeful.  We need $995 as of 2:15 pm on Wednesday. 

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I have been at Uplift since Saturday with our church youth group and taught classes Tuesday and Wednesday to 150 or so kids both days.  We are driving back today and I can’t wait to sleep in my bed again.  It’s not that I mind a twin bed, I’ve just had enough of it!

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What an incredible experience with incredible young people.  I’m encouraged about what the future will hold with these kids I get to be around.  Some may talk about their tattoos and piercings and crazy hair-do’s and whatever else but when you are around them long enough to peer into what God is looking at, their hearts, I believe you will find hope. 

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Grace and peace to you.
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God’s Provision

24 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in God's chisel, God's provision, Uplift

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We will return to our regular programming, God’s Provision, in just a moment.  First, please listen to this announcement from our sponsor, Camp Coldwater.  “Bad water = bad health, even death.  Please help.  Donate to Charity:Water through the Camp Coldwater link to the right and help give the gift of health and help save lives.  Thank you.”

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One of the chapters in my book (it’s still in my head) comparing my walk with that of the Israelites is my take on God’s provision.  He gives me everything I need.  When I need it.  Pretty simple, huh?  Of course, I want what he gives me plus a few other things and when he gives me some of those things I want a few more things.  Pretty goofy, huh?

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A year ago at this time, I was going through some of the darkest days of my life.  I was questioning God and not sure I really trusted him.  My prayers had not been answered and my fears had become reality.  I felt alone and empty and felt like all the bad stuff I had done had finally caused God to give up on me.

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I was wrong, of course.  What I have learned is that God went to the shed to get his hammer and chisel knowing I was ready for some work to be done on me.  That might not make sense until you watch this video: God’s Chisel  by the Skit Guys (see more of their great work at www.skitguys.com).

It’s a year later and a time that could be filled with sadness but God has provided again.  I’m traveling to Searcy, Arkansas with our church youth group for Uplift and will be presenting lessons on two days about faith and salvation.  It hit me a day or two ago that God has taken a time I could choose to run a myriad of negative emotions and fill those days with thoughts and ideas about faith and salvation.

Tell me he isn’t giving me my daily bread.

I look forward to posting some things from Uplift in the coming weeks but in my absence next week, I plan to have links to several songs that spoke to me in dark days and helped me lift up my eyes to see Jesus at work and helped me open my heart to what God has in store for me.  I hope they may speak to someone else as loudly and forcefully as God spoke to me through them.

I believe that God is sovereign and he does and will always provide all that I need.  All I need to do is be still and be content in his provision.

Grace and peace to you.