The Future

This morning I drove to church through a thick fog.  The first Sunday of the new year, reflecting on the Sermon, and I could not see 50 yards in front of me.  It was not a fun drive (only about 8 minutes), I had to stay focused, I had to be ready for whatever was in the road in front of me.  

As I neared my destination, the thought of the spiritual comparison came clearly to my mind.  I realized that as we start a new year there are many things in front of us, some familiar landmarks that will not change, and some things that will dart across our path without warning.  I may not be able to see what is going to happen tomorrow, or next month, but I have not been called to deal with those days right now; just the day that I am in.  The days will pass like the yellow stripes in the middle of the road this morning; quickly and with only a few in view.  

For us to stay on the path of righteousness as we move into the future, we must remain focused - every day.  We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us, who wants to harm us, so he distracts us in every way possible.  But, our God loves us and seeks ways to keep us focused on Him and His chosen path for our lives.  We are not told to seek the path, for we are to walk by faith and not by sight.  We are not told to seek the removal of the fog, for the uncertainty of life creates the deep need for faith.  We are not told to seek the removal of the obstacles, for they teach us the value of our relationship with the Father.  We are simply told to seek His face, and in the fog, He is always right beside us holding our hands, guiding us through the future.

The road behind me was not important as I drove through the fog, likewise, my past may be relevant, but it is not near as important as how I will handle the next day.  

Let us release the past to the Lord, praise Him for what He has carried us through, and let us take Him by the hand to lead us through the thick fog of the future.  We will arrive safe, in spite of the obstacles that come our way, as long as we hold the hand of the one who can see clearly through the fog.

Walking by faith,

Bro. Wade

Life Changes in 2009

The end of the year can bring a sense of regret and possibly failure as we look back at the events of 2008.  Often there are things left undone from our lists formed 12 months earlier, and if we allow their completion or lack thereof to dictate how we evaluate the year, or ourselves for that matter, we can experience guilt.  Guilt arises when we have made the plans for life change and have selected the goals ourselves.  When this is the case, we then operate in our own strength, which always leads to failure.  

Please be freed from the guilt that burdens us when we judge ourselves according to human expectations (which most resolutions are), and know that God evaluates you by His expectations, not your own.  When God calls you to do something, He has committed to provide all you will need to see it through to completion.  

Do not allow any unmet goals to make you feel less victorious than you are in Christ.  Do not allow your expectations to suppress God's potential in your life.  Do not allow your discouragement to keep you from following God passionately in every thing He calls you to do.

Remember Life Change is only possible through the power of God in your life.  He alone can change us, He alone who saved us.

Move beyond '08, and know that we who are in Christ have been forgiven completely of every sin.

forgiven and freed,

Bro. Wade

Thankful - and I hope it shows

Looking back over the past year, there is so much in my life for which I am thankful.  Yes, there are many things that could have caused me to look back with a sense of agony, but God has taken that which was meant for evil and turned it all into something good (the testimony of Joseph in Genesis).  He has worked all things together for good (Romans 8:28).  I cannot help but praise the name of JESUS no matter what my circumstances are or will be; God is worthy of my praise.

As I prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I look forward to the splenda pumpkin pie, the world's best dressing and dumplings (my mouth is watering, how about yours); but the focus of my mind and heart right now is "what am I most thankful for this year?"  This question stumps me every year, for my list is so long.

I have learned to take one day at a time and to never take any day for granted.  I celebrate the year that God has given me with my family and friends.  Following a life change experience like I had last January, I now desire for my life to have maximum impact every day, every month, every year.  I cannot and will not take any time I have left for granted, but will treasure it all with the joy the Lord brings to my life.

I am thankful for my loving wife, my amazing children, and for the greatest church family in the whole world; but this year, I am most thankful for this moment of time, for this breath, for this thought, for . . . now!  

And I give all my "nows" to the Lord for HIS glory.  This is how I express my thankfulness, not just praying over a meal once a year, but all year long.

What are you doing with your "nows?"

Thankful for all the "nows" God gives me each day.

Bro. Wade

One Nation Under God

Now we know WHO to pray for as our national leaders.

Following an historical vote, our nation once again expressed a division that runs through every community and state.  However, once the vote is over, it is time for the people of our nation, especially the people of God, to come together and pray passionately for our leaders.  We may or may not agree with who was elected, we may or may not agree with the direction they have declared for our nation, but we must unite in order to pray for our leaders.

I am so thankful that I serve a God who reigns over all of us; democrats, republican, independents, texans, americans, all of us.  Now let us show it by our willingness to pray for our leaders as ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

Proverbs 29:25-26

²⁵      Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

      but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

²⁶      Many seek an audience with a ruler,

      but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

Revelation 1:4 -6 

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, 

and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before 

his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful 

witness the firstborn from the dead, 

and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

To him who loves us and has freed us from 

our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom 

and priests to serve his God and Father

—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

May we all pray for God to Bless America,

Bro. Wade

Fall Festival - Fun and Exciting

Halloween may have been celebrated by many in our nation, but at First Baptist Church Harlingen, we were celebrating the love of God.  On the night when many focus on evil, we were blessed to be a part of something great that focused on the love and grace of God as it is expressed in this world through the church.

It was so good to see several churches hosting special events to minister to our community.  Every year the family at First Baptist Harlingen uses the evening of Halloween to host our Fall Festival for the families of our community.  Our driving passion is to love the people of our community, and the Fall Festival was one of the many opportunities we have to show it.  

I was so thankful to hear from so many who shared that they truly felt loved by God and the FBC family.  So many were thankful for the event, for the church to offer something of such great quality for their children.  From all that I heard, there is no doubt that the community saw and felt the real love of God through the family of First Baptist Church Harlingen.

Thank you - to all the leaders and servants who gave up so much time and who worked so hard to be sure Harlingen was loved.

a witness of God's love,

Bro. Wade

Safari - in the front yard

One afternoon this week continued the "post-hurricane Dolly" saga around the house.  I was attempting to remove some of the brush around my fence (that was finally being replaced), so the men working on it could get to it easier.  I was trimming some of the large limbs that had broken during the high winds and I was cutting back the bushes that had grown tall, since I had not cut them early in the year due to my heart attack.  All was going well . . .

I had finished with the shorter limbs and had moved on to the final large limbs and high limbs.  So, I took my long pole gas powered chain saw and went to work.  As I began to cut the largest limb, that I had just been shaking very hard to loosen with my bare hands, and which was only about three feet right above my head, I noticed a large brown snake going up the tree (from the spot that I had just been holding).  Needless to say, I was spooked pretty good, so I began to do what any red (let's say blooded) man from the south would do; I chased the snake with my pole chain saw.  Yes, he got away, but not for a short effort on my part, just look at the tree when you drive by and you can tell.

Following my failed attempt to chase down the snake that has been spooking all my neighbors by leaving his skin right outside each of our backdoors, I began to look over my new fence to see if he was in my neighbors yard.  As I was leaning over the fence, a spider decided to bite me on the neck.  Yes, a spider bite right at the base of my skull.

As my head was pounding and the pain was growing, a good friend who is a doctor, gave me great advice - which I followed passionately.  The next morning when I awoke I was just fine.

However, I still believe that snake and that spider were in cahoots with each other.  One to distract while the other struck.  I am just thankful I got the bite from the spider and not the snake.  Anyway, I have already had my snake bite for the year - children's camp - remember.

Life is fun each and every day, be sure to enjoy every step.

Bro. Wade

Midnight Run

I had the privilege of spending most of the night cruising town with the lead officer of the "gang unit" of the Harlingen Police Department.  These men risk their lives every day for the safety of the people in Harlingen.  Their job is difficult, filled with long hours, and one that most would rather avoid thinking about.  They are diligent in their efforts to make Harlingen a safe place for all.

One of the tasks that we have as believers in this city is to pray for the safety and protection of our many servants on the fire and police departments.  The policemen who are on the front lines of the battles for the city need prayer warriors joining them; for we know that the battles we face in our cities is not against flesh and blood, but it is truly a spiritual war.  

The young men and women caught up in these gangs need our prayer - - - they are not our enemy; rather, they have been captured by the enemy and we are to seek their rescue and release.  Once again, these chains cannot be broken simply by warfare in the flesh, they must be broken through spiritual warfare.  As believers, we need to passionately pray for these young people, for those that are being recruited, and for the many families affected.  

Let us take back the city of Harlingen - by getting on our knees.  Let us then seek out these young people who are at risk and who are being recruited by the gangs, and let us rescue them from the traps set before them. 

Let us love and let us pray,

Bro. Wade