Week 12 - A Seat at the Table

Week 12 - A Seat at the Table

I recently had the pleasure of worshipping with the local Korean Baptist Church. It's a small community church, the kind where you don't need the lights turned down while you sing, and you share a meal afterward because that's where life happens and relationships are built. It was a sweet time. As I was sitting there eating all kinds of great food I was reminded of how fortunate I was to have a seat at the table. A few weeks ago I was giving a presentation to a group of people who sat on a county board. When I walked in the general manager said, "let me get you a chair", then they proceeded to pull one of the chairs away from the conference room table. This was to be my chair. This was to be where I was going to sit. All of which was correct and as it should be. I was not on the board. I did not and should not have a voice in the matters being discussed at that table. Yet, as I was sitting there I felt God telling me, "you have a seat at My table, and no one can roll it away."

So there I was sitting at a table of believers. A glimpse of what is to come. All tribes. All tongues. All nations. I had a seat at the table and it meant the world to me.

Week 11 - Spring

Week 11 - Spring

We're officially in Spring and I have mixed feelings about that. I love that the wildflowers are showing themselves and the landscape is greening up. New life seems to be all around us. Feelings of hope and newness. The days are getting longer, and thanks to Daylight Savings Time, the sun sticks around later in the evenings. Even still, I know what this means. The heat is on its way. Soak up every moment you can. This is Texas, the heat of summer is guaranteed.

Week 10 - Sunrises

Week 10 - Sunrises

I have a bit of a ritual at work. Nearly every morning I pour myself a cup of piping hot coffee. I walk out the side door, the side facing the Radar, and I look out toward the east and watch as the sunrise colors the sky and clouds. I'm soaking up these mornings. They are fleeting now, now that we're in March and the days continue to grow longer, and warmer. I take a deep breath; I love the smell of the cold, damp air. What I wouldn't give to have a forest of pine nearby. How fragrant that would make the experience. In a few short months, the weather will turn hot and these crisp mornings with dew on the grass will be just a memory. It's times like these that it's important to be present and enjoy the moment.

Week 9 - Sheppard’s Purse

Week 9 - Sheppard’s Purse

When I was a young boy, I noticed this plant that would appear year around February. It made up of  what I believed were hundreds of little hearts. I thought God made it for me because my Birthday was in February and what's more, it was on Valentine's Day.  Every year I would look for them, as if God were saying Happy Birthday. Even into adulthood, I'd see these plants with hundreds of hearts and feel a fond affection for my Creator and marvel at His attention to detail.  Then I was told by a "well-meaning" friend that those are not hearts, the plant is called Sheppard's Purse, and it also grew in January as well, so it couldn't have been for my Birthday. I lovingly told my "well-meaning" friend where they could stick their "fun fact". I also told them that they are actually hearts, that Jesus loves me, and I think I'm His favorite.

Week 8 - The Passion of God's People

Week 8 - The Passion of God's People

Occasionally, as I walk through this world, I come across people who give of themselves and their time, and their love and their passion so fully that it's staggering. And then they give some more, and you know that it can only be the love of the King and the gifts of the Spirit that could drive someone to do such things so unconditionally.

I was given these kitchen utensils for my Birthday. They were hand made. They were the first ones. They rest on a cutting board made by the same loving and giving hands. The proceeds for all of these wonderful items and more fuel the passion of those who are called to be on mission. Beautiful are the feet that carry the Good News of Jesus Christ, and beautiful are the hands that help them.