I have friends that hone my edge. They aren’t afraid to tell me the truth, even when it hurts. I need them to keep me sharp. The harder they are on me, the more effective I become. Sparks fly, from time to time, but they are necessary.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another.” Proverbs 27.17

Honest evaluation is hard to take but extremely useful. An honest friend is going to create some sparks. The trick is keeping the sparks from starting a fire and merely letting them spur us on to greater heights. I’m thankful for friends that create sparks. Without them I would become dull and ineffective.

Here is the question; is there anything worth more than time? I believe there is. I believe that there is something that existed before time, it is the only thing that matters during our time on earth, and it is the only thing that will exist when time is no more. Relationship.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed from eternity past. They have existed in perfect, harmonious relationship. They have chosen to call us into that relationship. When my time on earth is ended, the only thing that will matter, the only thing that I will care about, the thing that will secure my happiness for all eternity is my relationship with Jesus Christ, The Father, and the Holy Spirit. And the relationships that I have formed with others will be a source of joy and rejoicing forever.

So, if relationship with God and with others is the thing of most value on this planet, why is it that I spend most of my time trying to earn money which I spend on myself? I think I’ve missplaced my values.

“Father, help me to see the value in spending my time to create relationships that will last forever. Amen.”

A pipe in our kitchen wall had been leaking for years. Our house is built on two separate slabs. There is a small crack in between the two. The water from the leak had been seeping through the walls of our house and running under the baseboards and then disappearing through the crack. Our entire kitchen had rotted from the inside out.

I wanted to give Carla new floors for Christmas. When we started to replace the carpet, we discovered the leak. We knew better than to put new material on a rotten foundation. That’s just common sense.

I have to do the same thing with my life. I have areas that I want Christ to renew. I want Him to take control of me, completely. I want to be rebuilt. The beginning of that process is to evaluate what is rotten in me and tear it out. I have to discover myself before I can begin reconstruction.

Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he asked them to roll away the stone. I am daily trying to do just that. I’ll pray that you have the courage to do the same.

I watched “Blindside” tonight. I watched it with Emily and Carla and Justin. They made me watch it. I wanted to stay home and rest. They forced me to go. They said I’d enjoy it. They said I needed it. They were right.

Something happened at the end of that movie that I haven’t seen since “The Passion”, no one moved when it was over. The entire audience remained in their seats until the final credits rolled. They loved a good story that was well told. They knew there was something right about the Michael Or story. I wanted to see more.

I want to see more. Let this day be the first day that I determine not to turn my head. Let this be the first day that I refuse to ignore the pain that others endure. May this day go down as the first day that I decided to really give all I have to rescue every single soul that I can reach. If this day is the first day then I will see more. I will be a party to more. And so will you.

Let it be the first day. May 364 more follow.

Cody has been to my dad’s house for Christmas Eve dinner. The whole family met him. He loved my niece and her husband. He nearly “noogied” all the hair off Josh’s, my nephew’s, head. The family hasn’t seen that much energy around the supper table in a long time.

We visited my mom’s after dinner. Cody played checkers with mom and boxed with Franklin, my step-dad. I had to step in on that one, too. It was a mismatch. Mom gave Cody a present to open on Christmas day. She’s got a stocking for him.

Then we went to Carla’s folks to spend the night. He played on the computer with my niece, Audrey, and played dominoes with my mother-in-law and I. He ate his weight in doritoes and pretzels and drank all the Pepsi I would let him.

He settled down about nine to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It’s all about friends and family and the difference they make in the lives of those who love them. Jimmy Stewart’s character helped his friends and family with their struggles and, in the end, they came to his rescue when he was in the midst of a struggle of his own. I watched it with Cody.

Jesus came to give us a chance to become part of His family. He came to give us the opportunity to become his friends. He loved us while we were still enemies. Christ offers all humanity the chance to come and celebrate around His Father’s table. He came to rescue us when noone else could.

My friend is asleep in the other room. We’ve still got some celebrating to do. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Remember to keep it well.

Paul wasn’t like Moses but I may be. I put up Christmas lights all over my house and the MBSF center. I spend a great amount of money on gifts. We attend all sorts of parties and eat at every variety of restaraunt known to man. I’m very into the “Celebration of Lights” but I expend precious little energy talking to anyone about the “One True Light”.

I’m making a new committment this year. I’m going to talk about Jesus every time I give a present. I’m going to tip waiters and waitresses and tell them that I’m giving a gift because I’ve received the ultimate gift. I’m going to shop and visit with the people who wait on me. I’m going to talk to them about the Christ who came to save His people from their sins.

I’ve been wearing a veil for far too long. The glory that lives in me does not fade away. It’s time for me to shine. How about you?

The Father who holds her is the one who knew her from the beginning. He’s known her all her life. He’s watched over her, drawn her into his “forever family”, shaped her, loved her, protected her. She has always been in His keeping. She was and is and always shall be in His hands.

Please lift her name up in prayer. Ask the Father to give the family strength and peace as they wait on His will. Pray that God will touch her and heal her. The Montgomery’s need our help. Stop whatever you are doing and pray for them.

“O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.” Psalm 88.1,2

“Father, I come again on behalf of Mrs. Montgomery. Please, Father, intervene for her. Lift her up. Heal her, if it is your will. I know that you are able to do “more than we can ask or imagine”. I believe that you have the power to heal her and raise her up. The family waits for you. I wait for you. I would pray as Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify your name”. Amen

Brian’s mom went in the hospital just a couple of days ago with what they thought might be the flu. It was discovered that she has double pneumonia. She has not responded to treatment. The doctors are doing all they can. She needs our help.

I know that the “fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. I know that the Father is in control of any and every situation. I know that He hears us when we cry out. I am sure the prayer changes things. I am asking you to enter into a time of prayer for Brian’s mom. It is vitally important.

“Father, you know all things. I am coming to you on behalf of Mrs. Montgomery. Please, Father, if it is within your will, please help her. Lord, please grant the family some peace as they wait on your healing. God, give us perseverance in prayer. We trust you and we love. Father, we will give you all the glory for the restoration that we know only you can bring. Lord, help the family not to be afraid but to rest in your strength and your love and your grace. Our hope is You. Amen”

I didn’t wake up this morning and thank God that my wife and children are well. I would have if they had been sick. I didn’t thank Him for the health of my two granddaughters. They are just a few months old and full of life. They are well fed and well cared for. They are safe and loved by their parents but I voiced no praise to the Father on their behalf. Why not.

I didn’t because I expect that my family will all be well. I have not sat by the bedside of my dying wife. I have never held my daugther as she mourned over her lost child. I have not lost a son or daughter to a drunken driver or violent crime or a fatal disease. Life would seem a greater gift if I had.

But life is a greater gift. I walked into the bedroom of my twin granddaughters just a few minutes ago. They were supposed to be asleep but Bliss was moving around. When she saw me she smiled. She looked up at me and made sounds that let me know she was aware of me and wanted me to pay attention to her. Lilah woke up and joined the conversation. It was wonderful. I was having a great time until Carla ran me out of the room. They were supposed to be napping.

O God, I’m so sorry that I have been so ungrateful for the blessings you have bestowed on my family. I’m sorry I’ve been so insensitive to those who have to struggle for life and health. Help me to open my eyes to your blessings and open my arms wider to those who are in pain. I’m sorry, Father.

Eph. 5.19,20 “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Stephanie and Ashley are seniors and Chanler is a sophomore. They have caught a vision of how the world is. They’ve seen pictures of children dying from the lack of clean drinking water in Ethiopia and Kenya. They have read statistics about how little it takes to make a difference in the lives of these children. They realize that they have the resources, the energy, and the time needed to make a change. Stephanie, Ashley, and Chanler are willing and ready to try.

I am inspired. I’ve talked to the student that I have in charge of raising funds for our Pure Water project and we are going to partner with these young ladies to make this the most succesful senior project in Drew Central history. We’re going to dig wells in Africa to help change lives. We need your help.

I’m asking everyone on this list to get involved. We need your prayers and your financial support. We can make a difference. Please get involved. Lives depend on it. I’m going to keep you posted on the progress of the project and I’ll be asking the girls to make guest appearances on the blog so that you can get to know them better.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2.3,4

All of you can donate by sending your gifts to Pure Water Project in care of UAMMBSF, P.O. Box 3540, Monticello, AR 71655. One dollar can make a world of difference. Let’s step out and let God step in. I’ll keep you posted.