I Then Shall Live

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven. 
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid. 
I know my name is clear before my Father; 
I am His child and I am not afraid. 
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother; 
The law of love I gladly will obey. 

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion. 
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too. 
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges; 
I'll dare to see another's point of view. 
And when relationships demand commitment, 
Then I'll be there to care and follow through. 

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me; 
Your power and glory, let them shine through me. 
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor, 
And may Your living Kingdom come in me. 
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor, 
And may You feed a hungry world through me. 

Amen, Amen, Amen

-Gloria Gaither

Wright Night

Last night my Mom, my husband and I drove to Alexandria, Indiana to Gaither family Resources for a Wright Night Concert. Woody & Vonnie Wright have been hosting these events monthly and every event has a different theme. In the back of the building where the shop and cafe are is a banquet room that is perfect for these intimate gatherings and are set up dinner theater style.

Last night they featured The Gaither Trio and all of the music and the stories they brought were so beautifully and lovingly presented. It was a very special evening and I do believe everyone there laughed and cried, the hallmark of a Woody Wright presentation. Woody, who obviously knows what he's doing, had his friend Mike Owens play the piano while everyone sang along to a medley of the most beloved Gaither choruses which are without compare. And I thought we all sounded pretty good, it was obvious everyone knew all of the words and there was a sweet spirit in the room.

And, to make it all the more wonderful, Mary Ann Gaither Addison was there and was invited to the stage to tell some stories and she even sang of a couple of songs with Woody and Vonnie, which was so special. Woody lovingly prepared a touching video presentation which he shared throughout the evening as well. I picked up a copy of Woody's cd Bluegrass Gospel Favorites which is a cd of bluegrass renditions of Gaither songs, so good!

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time and will remember it always. I have to say, the pot roast they served last night was seriously delicious, the room was full of happy people, God's love and sweet music, like the sign says, Welcome to Alexandria!

But sweet will be the flow'r

Sojourn

God Moves in Mysterious Ways

“As long as we live, our self-absorption and our insecurity will walk together, holding hands and swinging them back and forth like two little girls on their way to a pretend playground they can never find. Human nature dictates that most often we will be as insecure as we are self-absorbed. The best possible way to keep from getting sucked into the superficial narcissistic mentality that money, possessions, and sensuality can satisfy and secure us is to deliberately give ourselves to something much greater...[Christ] showed us that giving, rather than getting, is the means to receiving...to find yourself, your true self, you must lose yourself in something larger.” 
― Beth Moore

“How often we expect big things from God without preparing for big things from him” 
― Beth Moore

“True intimacy with God always brings humility.” 
― Beth Moore

“If Jesus gives us a task or assigns us to a difficult season, every ounce of our experience is meant for our instruction and completion if only we'll let Him finish the work. I fear, however, that we are so attention-deficit that we settle for bearable when beauty is just around the corner.” 
― Beth Moore

A Boulder on Your Shoulder

You know you have a chip, or boulder, on your shoulder if you are easily angered or have a hard time connecting with people. That chip you're carrying around can color every encounter you have and it's hard to walk through new doorways, if the boulder won't fit through the door. And, it's hard to grab onto something new, if you're carrying the boulder around with you. It's exhausting and frustrating because you feel stuck.

And you might have a big chip on your shoulder if you can't seem to achieve your goals and you can't figure out why. You can't get close, or achieve intimacy because of the boulder. And you can't even see the boulder! You are blind to it! It's heavy and invisible and burdensome yet you keep it close and protect it.

Matthew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?


But, for some reason you can spot someone else with a chip on their shoulder a mile away and that person will usually be very unsettling to you. It's like they are a mirror into your own soul and it's very irritating! The path to freedom is letting go of the rock, or, more like, trying to chip away at it. But sometimes you set it down only to turn around and pick it back up. It can be physically, mentally and spiritually exhausting. Especially because you don't even really know it's there.

I prayed a prayer asking God to reveal to me the things in my heart that keep me from connecting with him.

Psalm 26:2 Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;


I found bitterness, pride and resentment there. It was a horrible process, very difficult and often quite depressing. Those were all of my long held reactions to this boulder and they turned into strongholds. The boulder is most usually an event that happened when you were innocent that you couldn't figure out. All you know is one minute you felt safe and the next you were scared and confused. And it seems like you put a lot of time and energy into trying to unravel that scenario. But you can't. In my case it took years and years and years.

But, the best thing I ever did was talk to God about it. He's helping me forgive, forget and move on!

Collosians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving
each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ... 

“We’re far worse than we ever imagined, and far more loved than we could ever dream.”

-Tim Keller

Country Pastor

Our Pastor

He drives his baby blue pick up truck to church each day. He always parks it in the same spot, right behind the sign that says Hinkle Creek Friends and close to the mailbox. He has his cell phone on his hip and he is always on call. He is our Pastor.

 He attended this church when he was a child and now he is the Pastor. He lives just down the road, but the road that’s led him back to this place has been long and winding. He is our Brother.

 He is quick to smile and loves to joke around. Laughter is the best medicine for a man that will hold your hand when your heart is broken or fix your car when it won’t start. Or let you interrupt his meal because you need to tell him something, need his help or his advice. He is always ready with a sympathetic ear and a pat on the back. A heartfelt “I’m so proud of you.” Or a, “I sure do love you guys.” He simply does not like it when you can’t come to church. If you will just come to church on Sunday then he won’t have to worry about you, why you weren’t there, if you’re okay. He is our Friend.

 He is always reminding us to look to God for the answers and for the comfort we seek. Learn to be patient when waiting upon the Lord, to help those less fortunate, to love one another, to love ourselves, to rejoice in the Lord and be glad. He is our Mentor.

We know he loves us because of his dedication and his sincerity and his consistent attention over his flock. He’s both easy going and highly principled, silly and insightful. He loves his garden, his dessert and his coffee. He loves the old time Hymns. But even more than these things, he loves it when he sees one of his flock show signs of the spiritual maturity that he’s been watching for. He’s nurtures us. He tenderly and patiently nudges us. He encourages us and reminds us to say our prayers, hold fast, apologize, reconsider or to just simply wait. He’s our Teacher.

 His life is a testimony to his love and his trust in the Lord. He is always telling us not to follow him, but to follow Jesus. He’s just showing us the good old way, the path to salvation, the path to peace and love, happiness and strength. He can’t do it for us but he will guide us. But we have to do the work, read that Bible, step out in faith, show kindness.

 Friend, Pastor, Mentor, Teacher, Brother. We are thankful to God for sending us a Pastor who is so humble, sincere and real. Thankful to him for being obedient to the call that brought him back home.

 We love seeing that truck parked in its spot when we turn into the gravel parking lot of our meeting house. Where we come to wait upon the Lord. Thank you Bob, for your patience as we learn and grow, try and fail and try again. May God richly bless thee. May Jesus forever walk beside thee and the light of God continue to shine though thee.

Good News Music Radio

                                                                           Russ Taff

                                                                        Woody Wright

Reggie & Ladye Love Smith

           
                                                                    Woody Wright

                                                                         Jeff Taylor

                                                                    Buddy Greene

                           
                                                                  Rachel West Kramer

                 
                                                               Rachel West Kramer

                                                                 
                                                                        Reggie Smith

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Greek Key + Pastor's Pulpit = Precious Memories

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?