I struggled in preparing for the message for Awana tonight. The theme is courage, Joshua 1:9. I didn’t want to teach the usual that the children have heard many times. Praise God He gave me a message about Paul’s courage. After thinking about it since last week, I made the final revision this afternoon and gave the message tonight. The children were all engaged, it went well. A leader told me that the message spoke to her, she needs courage in serving more. That was a big blessing.
Author: Joyful
Since my daughter is in Orlando for the Ligonier Conference, I decided to listen to some of it on FB Live. The theme is Holiness. This stood out:
God does not bless great talent so much as Christlikeness.
A holy believer is an awesome weapon in the hand of God. Regardless of your IQ.
(Posted on March 12)
I’ve got another wreath under my belt. This is my third. It all started at Christmas when my DIL asked if I wanted to make a Christmas wreath with her. She bought all the material. We got cuttings from our Christmas tree, watched a few youtube tutorials, and made our first fresh wreath.
Sometimes weekend doesn’t seem like “weekend” to me. My “weekend” day off is Monday.
But yesterday, Saturday, finally felt like a weekend. I made some paleo nut bars that I’ve been wanting to make. I took a walk to relax. Then my family met up for dinner. We don’t eat out much so going out to eat always feels like a “weekend”, it’s something special. Even though I did a bit of “work” to prepare for Sunday, it didn’t feel demanding.
I love to listen to podcasts. I can multi-task: listen to a sermon while cleaning the bathroom, learn about apologetics while stretching.
Today PT and I recorded a podcast. It’s harder than it sounds. Found so many ways to improve when we listen to ourselves. But I wanted to do this, and got PT into…
We had internet issues at home last night. Posting this from yesterday.
I am reminded once again that God is in control. He is good and he answers prayers.
Prayers are not about getting them answered the way we want, but answers that bring glory to God, and accomplishes His purposes.
I listened to a coaching podcast advising people to take small steps towards a goal. The feeling of a small win would encourage us to keep moving forward. The example of the host was to exercise. Instead of getting discouraged and mad at herself that she’s not exercising, she started with just setting her running shoes out every morning. That was doable and it felt good. Then she got up half an hour earlier every morning. Another pat on the back. Pretty soon, since she was up anyway, she started putting the shoes on and going outside.. Six months later she ran a half-marathon!
In Children’s Worship today:
Me: Jesus knew he would one day go back to heaven. He needed to choose disciples who would continue to do his work. What kind of person should he choose?
3rd grade boy: Me!
Perspectives class was great. The speaker did a first person of Hudson Taylor, my hero. Went out to dinner…
A well-meaning young lady at church asked me with all sincerity, “Do you work everyday? What do you do all day?”
Before I started working full time in ministry, I had the same thought about what pastors do. Yes, I know it takes a long time to prepare a sermon, and then what?
An ultrasound did not detect the heartbeat of the baby.
This is the second time this year I accompanied a mom to an ultrasound. The first one was joyous with results we hoped for. This one was not what we hoped for. We cried, yet, there’s hope. I sensed the parent’s peace. We know our babies are in heaven with Jesus, right now, praising God.