Summer Time Fun

Every year Summer brings many changes. For many our schedules change; with students and teachers taking a break from school, the daylight hours growing longer creating more time in the evenings for outdoor work and activities, and three-day weekends and vacations offering some respite from the normal schedules. Summer changes often bring much good to our lives, a refreshing time for our families.

Summer brings other changes too, lots of busyness for many. Yes some are the same, with vacation and three-day weekends comes the need to work longer hours to get all our responsibilities finished in order to get the time off. And with others taking off for their vacations, it often increases our work loads. Thus, Summer often increases the workload and stress level for many.

Summer also brings changes to our finances. The price of gas, the cost of vacations and short trips, the increase in electric bills, and the many activities our children are involved in during the Summer, all put added stress on the finances of many people.

With all that Summer brings - I have been reminded this year to . . .

1. Spend as much time with my family as possible as these years in my children's lives are not lasting long.

2. Set priorities and operate according to values, thus not allowing the things that go undone to stress me more than they should. Do what I can, and trust the Lord to show me what to do, and then trust Him to do the work He calls us to.

3. Take opportunities to minister to those around me, as they too need time away with their families.

4. Make good financial plans, stay focused in my stewardship, trust the Lord to provide all that he leads us to do.

Summer brings many good things - as long as I stay focused on Christ through it all.

Changed Lives

Changed Lives is more than just a phrase or logo that we use at First Baptist Church Harlingen. It is the purpose of our existence, the goal of everything we do, and the joy of God's heart. I have the special privilege of serving a great church that experiences the testimony of changed lives each week. I love to hear the stories from so many of how God has intervened in their lives and changed them through his grace.

I love to hear our children laugh and share "high-fives" and hugs as they move through the halls of our church buildings. I love to see our youth pray together in their small groups and worship the Lord with a new song during their group times. I love to see our adults encourage each other through prayer and fellowship. I grow excited when I hear of how God has used the Sunday School lesson, or a 5:14 Home Group session, or a sermon, or song to change someone's life.

This week we have heard of marriages that have been healed, adults who have been saved, children who have shared their faith, and others who have found a new "family" at FBC Harlingen. There have been so many testimonies lately and with great joy I know there will be many more to come. So join me in praying for God to continue to use us to change the lives of those around us.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

From one whose life has been changed,
Wade