A Beautiful Day!

As I look out my window, I see the sun finally shining, birds singing, people out and about enjoying the beautiful weather. It really has been a tough, rain soaked spring, but I think it makes us appreciate the nice weather all the more. It is usually that way, we only really seem to develop a sense of appreciation after having enduring the bad like suffering a loss or enduring the betrayal of a friend.
A great example would have been Job. Here was a man blessed by the LORD, only to have it all taken away. The Donald Trump of his ancient day, he lost everything when God allowed Satan to test his faithfulness. But in it all, despite the accusations of his three friends that he must have sinned against God for him to punish Job so severely, by God's grace, Job perserved. Though Job would question God and His decisions to allow what happened to him, he remained faithful to God. And God would reward Job's faithfulness by blessing him with more than he had before.
We in the 21st century are no different in that we also suffer and sometimes according to the will of God, except in that we have lost the ability to cope, persevere and turn to God in times of need. No one in this day and age can truly claim to have "the patience of Job".We attempt to control our circumstances, holding onto a lie that somehow we are in control of our destiny and if we can manipulate things just right, everything will work out to our benefit. But we need to understand the things God puts us through are for our benefit, and I mean the things He tests and proves us with, not the sin and it's consequences that we bring on ourselves (though He can use those too). He loves us, as He did Job, and uses the difficult to develop our patience, endurance and perseverance. After all I speak from experience, since God used the most difficult time of my life to bring me to a saving faith in His Son.

So as I again look out my window, I find myself really appreciating the sun and it's warm embrace. And I might even enjoy the rain that's forecast for tomorrow. I better get outside while the sun is still shining.....have a blessed week.

Where is Spring?

Well, the Awana year is over. The awards and bbq were alot of fun! There were alot of award winners, with a special mention to Rowena Hobbs, who won the Timothy award for finishing four T&T books. Well done Rowena!
Now that I've had some time to catch my breath from the busy year that was, I had a chance to reflect on some great memories. The first was my own children, one finishing Cubbies, one finishing Trek and Lord willing going onto serve at the club or continuing on in some ministry. Another memory is all the T&Ts that are moving up to Trek next year. I remember meeting most of them when they were just starting Sparks. Man oh man time flies! I'm kind of starting to feel old....And who can forget all the fun times we all had at the club. From the scavenger hunt that kicked off the year, to crazy hat nite, the Christmas concert, the Fenwick Christmas Parade, the Grand Prix....it was a really great and a personally rewarding year.
Don't forget to keep checking my blog, I'll be posting regularly, with updates on what's going on in my life as well as what's coming up for the club. For those of you keeping score at home, I'll be finishing up Biblical Interpretation for Bible college and will be diving into another course. I'll be working on Christian Theology over the summer months as well as some speaking engagements that I have been booked at around the area and beyond. I'm really looking forward to what the Lord has in store for me and my family. As for all of you, feel free to leave comments or give me a call and tell me how the rest of your school year is going. Anyways, keep smiling, because I hear spring will finally be arriving this week. And may the LORD bless you and keep you. May His Face shine upon you. May He give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26