Sundays...

God is up to something! Sunday was an awesome day, God showed up and did His thing. We've all done it and been there, read the book and saw the movie. What do I mean? Doing church... Basically we just show up and go through the motions and then pray that God will bless our thing. Well, not around here...

Our prayer should not be 'God show and bless our mess...', but "God show up and do what You want to do!" yesterday was another one of those times when it was evident that we are His and that He wants to do something in our midst! I surrender all the Glory and praise to Him for His work and I'm SO THANKFUL for all He does in our church and our cry is: MORE LORD!!!

2Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him..."

One version states to "...show Himself mighty..." WOW, Lord God, show Yourself mighty today.


BE RICHLY BLESSED TODAY!
MT

Mornings...

When I was younger, I didn't appreciate the beauty of mornings. But in my adult life, I have grown to love the morning time. At a leadership conference in the 80's, I first heard the teachings about 'morning' people and 'evening' people. When I heard that, I would have definitely labeled myself as a evening person. However, as with most of us, I've changed and I would definitely call myself a 'morning' person. Not that I don't enjoy sleeping in from time to time, but that it has become my 'drive' time - perhaps my most productive time of the day.

The Bible says,

"They that seek Me early will find Me"

I remember enjoying my time in the deer stand during hunting season. It was in the morning, sitting there in the dark and waiting for the sunrise. Hearing the woods wake up and animals scurrying around for their morning food. It helps us to understand the beauty of the Lord. David said, "the heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork" amen to that.

This year, I'm committing to become more faithful in my personal devotional time. Spending the first minutes of my day unto the Lord, rather than getting in the office and right to work. These times have been great this year and have given my day a better direction and sense of purpose. It's so easy to get distracted away from what is truly important in our lives. That being our personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have a JESUS-FILLED day!


BLESSINGS!
MT

Monday, Catching the Train...

We've all seen in the movies the picture of a person getting to the train station a little late and running to catch up. Well, yesterday was just one of those days for me. For example:

• I didn't sleep very well the night before, the grandkids came at about 6:15am (which was a bright spot in the day), things were waiting at the office for when I got there at 7:00am, I intended to clear off my desk and get everything from Sunday filed away, a couple of drop bys came in, I left for 3 hospitals (6 visits), and 3 nursing homes in Evansville, made phone calls all the way in and back, held a Bible Study at Cloverleaf for a dozen people (which went well)...

I felt like the whole day I was trying to catch that crazy train! I was, at times, frustrated and questioning my reason for doing what I was doing. Well, after all was said and done, it turned out to be a very fruitful day:

• Well, I got to hug and be hugged by my grandkids, I got the desk cleared, the things filed away, Sunday was a great day, the drop bys had testimonies to share, the hospital visits were God-times (you know what I mean), I really was blessed at the nursing home visits, the phone calls were needed and very timely, and the Bible Study went amazing...

You know some trains just aren't worth catching! Yet it is in the chasing that we accomplish more than we could ever imagine. We can run with purpose or without purpose. I believe that we all need to be running!

• So the question is: "Are we running for something, away from something or too something"?

The apostle Paul said, that "...we are all running in a race... only one gets the prize... so run that you may be the one who wins it". It was also Paul that told Timothy late in his life, "I have run the race and finished my course".

My encouragement for you today is: RUN FOR THAT TRAIN!! Because you never know what you'll stumble upon on the way. It could be the greatest moment of your day!


BLESSINGS!
MT

A New Year!!

"It's a new season. It's a new day. A fresh anointing is coming my way. It's a season of Power and prosperity. It's a new season. And its coming to me"

Praise God for a brand new year. God is aware of each and every season of our lives. He has declared that throughout His Word. We have all heard and read that great promise in Jeremiah 29:11, The Message, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for"

I truly believe that God is going to reveal Himself in a powerful way in this New Year of 2009. This past year of 2008 held some victories, but also some great battles. Some victories that are not full as yet, and some battles that are not totally won as yet. However, we have great and precious promises in God's Word that remind us of WHO OUR GOD IS! He will give us the victory in every battle that you and I face.

The Psalmist declared, "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it", for truly He has been good to me! I am so excited about this New Year for I know with it will come new opportunities, both spiritually and physically and I am ready to embrace it with Jesus by my side.

No more will I weep for the past for old things are past away and all things has become new. So today, I am challenging you embrace the new for with it brings new surprises and great joy. We Love You!!

BLESSINGS!
Mark & Tonya

Let's Take This Year For God!