At the brink...

As we stand on this side of the end of this year my prayer is that this year will stay where it is–in this year. If God chooses to give us 2011, I hope you'll leave 2010 behind. Any sadness and any disappointments need to be left behind. Yes, even the joy. You can't live on the joys of yesterday or yesteryear. Joy must be something we obtain from the Lord on a daily basis, not something we try to live on from another day in our past. Sure we can enjoy those memories, but we need joy for today. Get it from the Lord. He is there for us. He is there to give us strength for today, hope for today and joy for today. Let's grasp those as He hands them out to us on a daily basis.

I hope your journey to the new year finds you with an empty backpack ready to collect all the Lord has for you in 2011. May He bless you and strengthen you and remind you of His presence daily.

Christmas with the Beemans

Christmas is a special time of gathering for the Beemans. I grew up listening to the Christmas story read out of Luke's gospel, chapter 2, praying and then opening gifts. Each Christmas we did that. I am thankful my father insisted on doing that. Sometimes we'd even read a different translation. Always, it was to help us focus and remember who we were celebrating. What a joy!

My prayer for you is that you will be able to stop, focus and be thankful for what God has done in the sending of His only Son. Thanks be to God for His marvelous gift!

Thankful

I'm thankful today for a church who has sensitive and caring people who love each other and their pastor. What a church!! God has placed me in a place to serve Him where I feel I don't deserve to serve. Wow. Thank you for all that you do, God. You are awesome.

I'm praying for us all during this Christmas season. Don't forget there are some who are hurting over the loss of a loved one. Minister to them. Pray for them. Love on them. They need to know someone remembers.

Family, food, funeral

Well, the family is on their way home from Texas a day early. They should be back this evening. I stayed with Beau. Amazing dog. He was very well behaved not having Jack around. I ate at the White's home for Thanksgiving lunch. I watched a bit of the Saints beating the Cowboys, almost losing and then winning game. That was good. Today I shall do the funeral of Robert Gwin. Great man. Great smile. Great attitude. Loved his wife, grandchildren very much. What a man. Sad to have him leaving us. Every church needs cheerful and supportive people in it.

What a blessing!

It was truly a blessing to be with Presbyterians, Methodists, Nazarenes and other Baptists as we said, "Thank You" to God for all He's done for us. We had a great service at First Church tonight. Glad to be a part of such a community of faith. What a blessing it is.

Thoughts on the LBC

I'm reading this book I got at the LifeWay display at our convention. It's good.

Ok. Does it matter where you sit or was this years Louisiana Baptist Convention just that boring? I was moved by the heart of Rod Mastellar. His heart is in the right place. The others who shared, well...I did enjoy Al Mohler's Bible studies. If you go buy any of the cd's, get his. Hope they were available.

I did not feel as if the Spirit of God was really present. Was it my own cynicism?

Pray for our convention. Missions and evangelism are the heartbeats of Baptists. May they be brought to the front of all we do. Please, help that to be true by being involved in any outreach your church does. Not for the sake of Baptists, but for the sake of people without God. People matter to God–don't forget that.

Gene Robinson, first openly gay Episcopal bishop, announces his retirement

I found this interesting. Please pray for our Anglican brothers and sisters. Gene Robinson, first openly gay Episcopal bishop, announces his retirement

Trip to the city of lights.

Well, we got to Natchitoches Friday through Saturday. Checked on the house and there were no lights. It appears the electricity was out for some reason. Not sure what is going on there. Visited with some friends and had a great time. Thanks for the gumbo McPhersons!!!!! woo hoo.