I Am Glad

Today we read 1 Samuel 23, Psalms 31 & 64, and Matthew 7.

I have had a wonderful and blessed week and now I am home and I am glad. 

I am glad I got to spend some time with my parents.  I made a detour during the week and spent the night and a couple of meals with my Mom and Dad.  Always a gift of God and I am glad that it worked out. 

I am glad that there is a place in the Tennessee hills that is a sanctuary for me and a few other pastors.  Sleep experts talk about preparing your place for sleep.  Study experts talk about preparing your place for study.  Well, Whitestone is a place set aside by God and us (the few pastors) to get away, ponder, discuss, pray, fellowship, and grow.  I am glad we have such a place.

I am glad that I have those guys as friends.  We are as different as night and day. We have three things in common: the Lord Jesus, the call into ministry, and a friend named Ken Smith.  However, as iron sharpens iron, we sharpen one another...really the Lord sharpens us through each other.

I am glad that they are all just normal guys.  I come home refreshed that others have 'stuff" that they deal with: heartache, valleys, pressure, great times followed by not-so-great, visions, and hopes- ongoing stuff that God is working on in us and the people we love and serve.  

I come home refreshed by friends, by fellowship, and, now that I am with them again, by family. 

I am glad that I serve a risen Savior who is in the world today!  I am going to follow the advice of the Psalmist.

Psalm 31.23-24-  Love the Lord, all you his saints!

   The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

²⁴ Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

I will give Him praise today... I encourage you to do the same...Have a blessed day!