3 Startling Graces of God

Provision
Psalms 37:25 - I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging [their] bread.
Thanking God for my streams of income and that they are all ministry



Posterity
Psalm 127:3-5 
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one's youth.5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;They shall not be ashamed,But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Peace

Philippians 4:6 -  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Joy Dare day 10

A Gift Sour:
Dill Pickles...love em.  Especially Anna's home made DP's


A Gift Sweet:

There's no place like home.  It's the people that make up the place that makes it sweet...warts and all

A Gift Just Right:
A hot cup of Joe on a Raw n Rainy day...

Joy Dare Day 9

Dusky Light:  

Opening Day of Bow Season hunting Rum Creek WMA.  

Surprising Reflection:

Years ago while living in Florida I was getting ready for bed and caught a glance of my reflection in the mirror.  I was shocked because I saw my Dad with his 5 o'clock shadow and broad shoulders bearing the weight of the world.  I think that was the first time I thought of my self as a Man.

Lovely Shadow:

My parents at the Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Emma's little light

Joy Dare Day 7

Three Graces from people you Love:

Elizabeth:  The Grace of Belief in me.  Sometimes I think that she must be crazy to trust me so implicitly.  It's not like she's ignorant of my numerous weaknesses.  She has the Spiritual Gift of Faith.  It's become clear that it's not me she trusts...it's God.  I can't adequately express the transforming effect that her gift of trust has had on me over the past 25 years


Jim Williams:  The Grace of...well, Grace.  This man has embodied grace to me as his Pastor.  I've experienced his 'wounds of a friend' and also his wise & unflinching support.  I cannot imagine being in Ministry without him.

My Parents: The Grace of Investment.   I don't know how you call your son Pastor.  Dad has other names for me but behind them I see his pride in my calling.  Mom and I are so much alike that we tend to butt heads every now and then but her support of my calling has never been in question.  They have invested so much in me that numbers fall short to quantify their giving.  It goes so far past money and time and even support.  They have raised the bar high for me in my calling as a Father.

Joy Dare day 8

A Gift Held:
My younger children's hands at the end of every worship service during the singing of the Doxology.  I don't remember how it started but I know that Sam was the genesis for this tradition.  Somehow he began toddling down the aisle to me when the doxology was played at the benediction of our services at Lake Wildwood Baptist Church.  This tradition passed to Ben & now Emma.  Emma still insists on being carried.  It's so apprpriate...Praise God from whom all blessings flow - and my hands are literally full of those blessings.

A Gift Passed By:
Farm Land.  My Dad rode with me yesterday on my Help Link route.  We were out in the country & in some rural areas of Georgia that he had never seen before.  We both LOVED the farm land & rolling hills.  I realized yesterday where I got my love of land from and I was blessed to spend the whole day enjoying it with my Dad.

A Gift Sat With:
I sat with one of my best friends last night as a doctor explained to him that his wife was with Jesus.  Grief is a gift from God & we shared it together starkly last night.  Real men do cry - loud, long and like a man.  The gift is being allowed & invited to walk the valley of the shadow of death together.

Joy Dare Day 6

Something in your Bag:  No man purse here but I do carry a backpack full of my hunting supplies.  My wife bought me a baclavia years ago.  Like an tube of cloth that you wear around your neck and can even stretch over your ears.  It's amazing how warm that can keep you on a cold hunt

Something in your fridge:  Green Olives!  Jesus surely ate them and I love them!


Something in your Heat:  Joy.  Having all the kids home for Christmas, seeing God move in people's hearts yesterday, the manifold blessings I enjoy but do not deserve.

Something You're Reading:  The Richest Man in Babylon


Something You're Making:  A commitment to eat healthier & to exercise 3x a week

Something You're Seeing:  God moving in People's hearts today in Church.