For those of us who are doing the 105 Bible reading plan (reading the whole Bible through in 105 days), we have been spending a lot of time reading the Psalms lately. It is certainly easier sledding than making your way through parts of Leviticus and Numbers! It also provides some powerful insight, some vivid background and “color” to the stories we read in the historical books of I Samuel through II Chronicles. It was the wonderful source of discussion in our small group study late night, as we read and discussed the relationship between the repeating human question of “How long?” and the repeated reassurance of his “steadfast love.”

Again this morning in my reading of the Psalms I was reminded of His love, His promises, and the futility of my worry. Strangely, there are times when I feel that I have the right to be worried and disturbed with what God is allowing in my life. Even more strange is the fact that at times I would rather childishly hold on to that worry in self pity than release it to His care. Thankfully, rather than a “slap along side the head” (which would be warranted at times) He just keeps speaking of His steadfast love until I release my worry and once again trust His care. God is good.

Hey…this Sunday…don’t forget…we have our ABF picnics after the Lord’s Supper. The plan for the morning service is fantastic. The temperature for the picnics is supposed to be in the low 80′s (not bad in the middle of our hottest summer ever)…just pray that the “scattered showers” are scattered somewhere else some other time! See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Psalm 16:2, 5 “I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”…”The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.”

Out of a several Psalms I read this morning, these found a “front and center” place in my heart and mind. I’m not exactly sure why, but I suppose that it doesn’t really matter. The blessing or issue on my heart right now is the particular joy in seeing gradual, incremental “answers” or progress in matters of great, ongoing concern. The quick and immediate answers to prayer that come in connection to the many immediate kinds of needs that spring up from day to day are wonderful and refreshing for sure. However, we all have those deep, abiding, foundational, concerns or needs of the highest priority that we think about, worry about, and pray and pray and pray about…for years. These are issues that are fundamental it seems to life making sense, to our lives or ministries having true meaning. The answers to these life long prayers do not seem to be quick or immediate or instant, but gradual, ever so slow, step by step, little by little.

Today I am rejoicing in genuine answers, though little by little, to certain of my life long prayers. These answers are in matters that are deeply personal, so they will go unnamed, but they are deeply gratifying because they are clearly the work of God. They are undeniable testimonies to me of His love and power. Certainly my heart continues to crave, even to ache more answers, more progress in these concerns and certain others, but for now it is clearly time for me to stop and thank Him and praise Him for His powerful and personal kindness.

In Him,

P. Tim

There’s an old saying that goes something like, “A shared burden is half the burden. A shared joy is twice the joy.” Today, I’m going for the twice the joy part! First of all, after many months of spiritual growth and fearful consideration of “taking the plunge” in baptism, Tom and Josie Matty, who are a part of our Thursday night bible study, rather suddenly decided to go for it and get baptized last Sunday evening. It was a bit hurried and chaotic, but it all came together. What a joy to see new believers declare their faith in Christ alone. What a joy to see the undeniable and unmanufactured joy on their faces that came from the true joy in their hearts. It was great.

It has been a great joy this week to watch all that’s going on with VBS. A great number of you are personally involved in a great number of ways. The number of children coming has been a real blessing and watching the interaction between the children and the many volunteer workers, helpers, and teachers has been greatly encouraging. To this point things have gone quite well. The kids are having a great time and being influenced for Christ. Meeting the parents of many of our visitors has also been a great joy. I would like to sincerely thank all of you who are so invested in serving Christ in this way.

Lastly, I want to share an anticipated joy. In August, the Indiana part of our family is coming in for a visit. It’s always great to see them, but the anticipation is even higher since this will be the first opportunity that most of our family will have to see the newest member of our family, Isaiah Tamrat McDaniel. Marilyn and I got to meet him last February shortly after Joe and Sarah brought him home from Ethiopia. We haven’t seen him since, so we are all looking forward to the joy of getting everybody together again, even if it just for a short time and share some more joy.

See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

I was reminded this morning of a quote from an article that I came across almost 20 yrs. ago. I was sharing with a brother a foundational truth that God has been repeatedly teaching me over the years, at various times and at progressively deeper levels. The truth is that in order for me to learn to live more genuinely by faith, to truly grow in my relationship with Him and service to Him, God has to push me beyond my present ability to understand, to respond, or to handle my life. No matter how long I live or how much I grow, I will always need to be personally and powerfully reminded of my absolute weakness if I am going to trust and experience more of God’s amazing power and presence in my life.

This process of being reminded of my absolute powerlessness does not become more pleasant with age. It seems to take more and feel even worse. I mean being reminded that you are in fact powerless without Him is one thing when you 16, or 26, or even 36, but being vividly reminded of this when you’re 56 has been in fact even more disconcerting, more desperate, more humiliating, and ultimately even more glorious.

So, back to that quote…I had read an article in a magazine titled, “We’re in God’s Hand”. It chronicles the personal diary of an older couple, lost in a blizzard in the mountains, as they face their last days on earth. It begins with some measure of hope for a rescue and ends with glorious acceptance, even joy in their home-going 18 days after being trapped in their car in the storm. Two days into their ordeal the woman wrote, “We have no idea what lies ahead…so here we are, completely and utterly in God’s hand!! What better place to be!!!” On March 6^th she wrote, “This will be our seventh night here. The gas is all gone, so no more heat. We have eaten one little packet of jelly between us, Rolaids and Tic-Tacks. Quite a feast!” At the very end she wrote, “I can’t find the dome light—writing by glove compartment light. Dad went to the Lord at 7:30 this evening, March 18. It was so peaceful I didn’t even know he left. The last thing I heard him say was “Thank the Lord” I think I’ll be with him soon…So much to say and so little time. I can’t see. Bye. I love you.”

What a terrifying, humiliating, glorious, wonderful, and transforming place to be…in His hands. I know I always am and always will be, but God knows how often and how intensely I need to be reminded. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim