Scripture
It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.
~Galatians 6:15, NLT
Quote
Those who truly believe, surrender all to Christ, who forgives our sins and grants us the faith to believe in His power to transform our lives.
~Billy Graham {Peace for the Day, p.380}
Six times the Bible tells us to “Wait Patiently,” {Psalm 27:14, 37:7, Hab. 2:3, Rom.8:25, 15:4, James5:7} and yet I struggle mightily with the patient part. Oh, I can wait, I don’t have a choice. Senior adults need doctors and doctors make you wait. So I wait, but I do not wait patiently. Cell phone games are a huge help but I still struggle with the patience when it comes to waiting. I want a QUICK FIX. I do not want to talk about the problem, I want the problem fixed. Because I am a Southern Baptist minister, I get three free sessions with a counselor so last year I used all three. I told the counselor what I wanted to achieve on my first visit and I think he ignored me. I think his goal all along was to get me to the fourth session because for three weeks in a row, he evaded my question. I kept pressing him for an answer and he didn’t give one. Then he starts talking about continuing the sessions and I said, “No dice.”
Now who is right and who is wrong? I will venture to guess that he is right. He needed more time. I have no idea what he thought of me but I can imagine him thinking, “this dude is messed up and yet he demands a quick fix.” I can’t lie, I am broken and I want fixed and I want fixed today, but it does not work that way. Transformation is a process. An acorn does not become a giant oak over night nor an egg laying helplessly in a nest become an soaring eagle. Transformation comes in increments. Sometimes the changes are so slight that they are barely recognizable. I do see the grace of God at work in me, but I am ashamed of my lack of progress. The words of the old hymn HIGHER GROUND came to mind this morning as I meditated on this subject. “My heart has no desire to stay were doubts arise and fears dismay. Though some may be content to dwell where these abound, MY PRAYER, MY AIM is higher ground.” My aim for 2026 is higher ground. I want to scale the utmost heights and catch a gleam of glory bright. My prayer is LORD lift me up and let me stand by faith on Canaan’s table land. A higher plain than I have found, LORD plant my feet on higher ground. Canaan is the land of conquest: it is where we eliminate the Amorites, Hittites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites and Parasites.
What or who are the Parasites? They are anything that sucks the life out of us and keep us from living for Jesus. It is anything that is more important to you than Jesus and devours your time and energy.
Extra
We never know what a day will bring. Just a week ago I was thinking but I didn’t share it with anyone and today, Charles and I are framing our bedroom in our new home which is located in a metal building in back of Holly and Jeremy’s new place on James Road. To be honest, I intended to make this a 2026 project and do it slowly but once I told Big Mama, she was not happy about the one year plan. Charles showed up yesterday and we got a lot more done than I intended, which of course is fine. LORD willing we will frame the bed room today and order what we need to finish the walls. I consider this an answer to prayer. We have no steps and will have a walk-in shower. Our utility bill will be cut 85% and June will have a gas stove which she loves. If things continue to go well, I can see us moving in a month or two. Once we are settled in there, I will begin moving the office building and my tractor shed which Buddy and I worked so hard on.
Since we are working on our new living quarters today, Joe David rescheduled my meeting with the computer tech to Friday. This is when hopefully, we will transfer the blog back to DBC. We have a lot going on to begin the new year. We have a car load of Grands going to Pigeon Forge today. I had rather they not go but they are young and excited. After seeing the pics of the crowds up there, I have no desire to go. I do want them to get there and back safely.
Well folks, today is it for 2025, and I am sitting here is stunned amazement. My whole life seems like a blur, like the smoke behind a jet. Only the LORD knows the future and I may not even see 2026 but my plans are to give Grace Point another year and to do a better job. The LORD has really convicted me this week. Some things have got to change. June read this morning that AMERICA need CPR…CHRIST, Prayer, and Repentance. I am beginning 2026 with repentance.
God bless you. I hope you enjoy New Year’s Eve 2025.