Scripture

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

~Romans 12:2, NIV

Quote

Even the most faithful believers, can from time to time, find themselves running on empty.

~Criswell Freeman

As we grow older we begin realizing how valuable time is and so we make every effort to maximize our time so that we don’t waste precious moments but there is a pitfall hidden in the to-do list or the agenda. I usually think about the next day before I retire at night and I wake up with an agenda. Whereas, God does not want us carelessly waste time, neither does He want us in a rush. As a spiritual discipline, I make myself change routines in an effort to prevent the anxious spirit. Sometimes we need to start the day without an agenda. I came to the office this morning without an agenda. I usually think about the devotion for the pastors, the blog and countless other things but today, I made it a point not to focus on anything other than my communion with Christ. Automobiles are wonderful gifts; without them, we would be walking or in a carriage behind a horse but cars and trucks have to be serviced. There is a limit to what they can do if this service is neglected. I filled the truck with gas last night and the car will need gas in a couple of days. These service needs are basically daily but there are others such as changing the oil and the filters.

No believer can go and go, give and give without giving out. We need to be serviced. The biblical word for this is “renewal,” and we need it daily. Folks, I do not know how people function apart from daily renewal in God’s precious word. Each morning in my QT I find a verse that stands out: today it was Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” That one verse cranked my tractor. I love the word of God. Another verse I read this morning was Psalm 139:17, “How precious are YOUR thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered.” Wow, Yahweh, the eternal One is thinking about you and me. He has us in mind! As the gospel song goes, “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”

My biggest worry today is to remember to pick up the kids from school: Holly is at Vandy with Big Mama and she is not having a good day. She can’t come home until her bladder works and it is still asleep. She is depressed. I told her, “We need to be thankful, not depressed.” Of course, I am not the one in the hospital. Terry Cowart’s condition has not changed. He is basically in a coma. Please pray for Becky. She is such a sweet lady and this is grieving her heart. She is really hurting. Lift Becky up today. The good news for us is that BM is not going to have to do rehab. If her bladder wakes up, she will be coming home.