Never too late

We all know about best laid plans.  Well, I certainly experienced major upsets in my well planned schedule during my trip.  The first upset was a call the day before I was to leave from the daughter of the folks I was scheduled to stay with, reporting that the wife had been taken to the hospital ER and they were still unaware what the problem was.  The husband has some sort of dementia so cannot safely stay alone.  I quickly called to see if there was room available in the guesthouse and was pleased to find a vacancy.  The retirement party was great.  I had the opportunity to catch up with several that I would not have seen and enjoyed numerous lengthy conversations.  My days at the office stretched out much longer than planned so I was not able to head for Raleigh/Durham until late in the day.  Friend Keith experienced too much “on his plate” that day and his plans to prepare dinner did not work out, so he took me out to eat.  After talking late into the night, we were too tired Sunday to go to the planned earlier church service but made it to the last one.  I encountered some nasty cold, windy and rainy weather coming home with a chest congestion that is now improving with the help of antibiotics.  Even with the cold front that has come into Florida, I am glad to be back in my own bed, seeing sunshine.

During my morning reading I am getting well into the book of Exodus.  I always enjoy reading about Moses and how God ultimately used him.  At 40 years old, he looked like the man that had a chance to bring relief to his people.  He had position, training, natural ability and the desire, BUT one foolish act (killing a man) forfeited those advantages and he was dejected and just plain miserable.  Then he encountered God in a most unusual way when he was now around 80.  Seeing a bush on fire which did not become consumed by the fire, got his attention.  God speaks to him saying that He wants to use him but Moses gives excuses why someone else should be selected.  He knew what Pharaoh was like, was now an old man and even had a speech impediment.  God gave his rebuttal and assured him “I will be with you” sharing with him some of the means the He would use to convince Pharaoh.  The end of chapter 4 says; “Moses and Aaron brought together all of the elders of the Israelites, and told them everything the Lord had said to Moses.  He also performed the signs before the people, and THEY BELIEVED.” (4: 29-31)

The story of Moses is a great encouragement to me.  Whatever our background or past may have contained, regardless of age, God still has a plan for us to be serving for His glory.  I look forward to traveling with Moses through Exodus again and seeing God use another unlikely individual for His glory.  That challenges me not to get discouraged or give up regardless of difficulties, health issues, age or any circumstances as long as he gives me breath.

I trust that your week is going well and that each of us will live above the circumstances.

Love to all,

Chuck

Abundant Blessings

I trust that each of you is enjoying this new week.  It has been a special time for me.  We currently are being blessed and challenged by our Prophecy Conference at church with speaker Jimmy DeYoung.  Living in Jerusalem for over twenty years has given him a lot of insight into the prophetic scriptures’.  Yesterday I enjoyed having dear long-time friends from Michigan arrive to spend a bit of time with me.  As seems to be a frequent happening these days, they were delayed in their flight, but arrived in time to share dinner together and enjoy some wonderful fellowship prior our rather late bed time.

On Wednesday, I will be leaving to spend a bit of time time at our SIM office, celebrating a retirement of friends, a birthday, and visiting others in Charlotte, Concord, Durham and Wake Forest.  Several are experiencing some rather difficult health issues which reminds me to thank the Lord for the strength and health that He provides daily.  There is no doubt that I cannot keep up quite the pace that I once did, but am thankful that after eight decades, I am still able to be up and about.

At the beginning of the year I started a reading program through the Bible and have been studying the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis recently.  What an amazing life and example of God using a rather obscure young man who by faith trusted Him as he experienced amazing challenges in his life moving from the depths of the royal prison to become second in command of an entire nation.  Several statements stuck in my mind as he focused on God’s will rather than his fleshly desires.  When confronted by Potiphar’s wife, he responded; “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”  He would not allow her to tempt him and he not only rebuffed her advances but “…refused to even be with her.” (39:9-10) As a result we read that; “…the Lord was with Joseph and gave his success in whatever he did.”  (39:23)  Thinking about the prior and the following events in his life, I wondered how many times I have missed the Lords best blessing and guidance because I did not, by faith, believe and follow him as His Holy Spirit prompted me.  At this age it is both a joy and a disappointment to review my “obedience” over a life-time and at the same time be so very grateful for the grace and mercy the He continually extends to me and his own people!

I trust that each of us will have sensitivity and exercise complete obedience to the Lord’s guidance as Joseph did, enjoying success in everything that we set our mind to.  Have a blessed week!

Love,

Chuck

Faith, Hope and Love

This morning during a sound sleep at 3:00 am I heard my phone ringing.  I answered it and heard; “Hi Chuck, it’s so good to hear your voice.”  Then I awoke!  Immediately I recognized it to be the voice of a dear friend that is dealing with more challenges than I can imagine.  I was able to be together briefly with this young man who lives several states away, a few weeks ago.  He had five major issues before him!  When my brain finally was functioning at that early hour, I earnestly prayed for him recalling his email yesterday, but not knowing what was going on with him at the moment, then drifted back to sleep.  This morning I awoke to find two emails from him.  Never have I been so thrilled to hear from someone!

As I was drifting into reality later this morning the word faith sprung into my mind, and after I finished reading the two emails, I turned on the coffee and opened to Hebrews chapter 11.  I quickly read through chapters 11-13 then returned to more carefully attempt to hear what God wanted me say to me through them and to understand what He sees going on in my actions and emotions.  Yes, tears of regret as well as thankfulness fell freely as I realized the power of faith, hope and love expressed there.  Previously in 10:32 we read; “Think back on those early days…”  And I did, recalling many challenges similar to this young man that I faced, and how I handled them.  I recalled numerous ones that were poorly handled, when I “hit the bottom” but now see how God, through His Holy Spirit and some of his faithful encouragers, brought me through.  My greatest desire is to be obedient to Him and be available and usable by him in the lives of those around me!

The benediction in Hebrews 13:20-21 is my desire for you as well as myself today!  May God give you a blessed weekend.

Love to all,

Chuck

Fantastic Christmas

I trust that each of you had a wonderful Christmas.  Your prayers were answered as all went well on my trip.  The flights were full but comfortable and everyone stayed healthy so there was no sharing of any “bugs”.  Several asked about how we managed with 20 staying at the house.  It went remarkably well but we did bring the pop-up camper into the heated garage providing beds for five of the group.  The smaller children were thrilled to sleep in “beds” made up on the floor of their parent’s rooms, and Karin and Keith’s dog Haley was eager to be invited to snuggle up with some of the kids.  One night the bedroom doors all were left closed so she awoke me at 3:00 AM not pleased to be sleeping alone. 

We had a fun time with gifts for the kids.  I was “Boppi Clause” with a pillow stuffed in my shirt with my elf helper Joshua assisting in the distribution of the gifts.  The weather there has been unusual.  In October when the cold front came through, the lake had several inches of Ice on it.  Christmas day it was around 50 with no ice on the lake.  The morning of my departure the thermometer registered 14 and as I took off from the airport in the evening, snow was falling and a sharp wind was blowing.  I’ll admit that I was happy to land back in Florida to mild evening temperatures.  The two-hour drive back home was without heavy traffic and I was in bed shortly after 11 PM.  Thanks so much for praying.  I was a bit concerned if it was wise for me to travel into the cold that time of year.  It is so easy for me to get pneumonia when exposed to the cold.  Thank you Lord for a wonderful time with the family!

A blessed and Happy New Year to all of you!

Love,

Chuck