“A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God” (Brennan Manning).

Has it really been 14 years? It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, but this is my 5101st blog post.

I understand more as I get older how time really does fly by. These days, I turn around and it’s 2 months away from fall. The next time I turn around, it will be Christmas (hopefully without the bugs and humidity).

I am humbled and in awe that God has allowed me to write these for all these years. I honestly can’t think of too many other things that I’ve done for that long (with the obvious examples of living and breathing). I hope to communicate this in the right way, but there is a kind of pride in being disciplined to write something down every day for 14 years.

But without people to read it, these words don’t mean much. Well, for me they are a kind of therapy, so I guess in that way even if it’s just me reading my own words it’s worth it. But I can’t get over how other people still want to read what I write. That blows my mind and makes me want to keep going.

Here’s to another 14 years (and beyond hopefully). I only know they will continue to get better the more I see and understand the goodness of God on display in my life and in the lives of those around me. God is good.

I was not expecting to not have a job at this point. I honestly wasn’t thinking that far ahead. I loved where I worked. I didn’t always love everything about my job, but I was grateful to be employed (even if it felt like I was driving halfway around the world sometimes).

But here we are. This is one of those seasons that I won’t be able to fully appreciate until it has passed. It reminds me of those disciples who never fully grasped who Jesus was and what He was about until after He departed from them back into heaven.

I’m not one of those people who believe that God’s main goal is to make me wealthy and happy with no struggles or issues in my life. I do think that suffering and hardships are a part of God’s plan that He uses to refine me and conform me into the image of Jesus.

I do believe that in this case my job ended so that something better could begin. Something where I get to utilizes my gifts and passions. Something where I leave work every day feeling I’ve made a difference for the Kingdom. Somewhere where I don’t have to drive as far to get to.

I’m also reminded of the verse about how God’s ways are not mine, nor are God’s thoughts like mine. My mind is very finite (and sometimes more closed than I would like to admit), but God’s is infinite and omniscient. I read today that God chooses for me what I would choose if I knew what He knew and saw the big picture the way He does.

Right now, I want that next thing to be tomorrow. I want it right now. In my own finite humanness, I am sensing my own anxiety and impatience. But I never want to get ahead of God or presume to receive His gifts before I’m ready to receive them or mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with them.

My prayer is still that of Jehoshaphat of ancient times: “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”

God, I trust You with my life, my hopes, my career, and my future. I am still in good Hands.

As I heard Sunday, sometimes it’s best to let the Word do the work. With that said, I have very little to add to this Scriptural admonition other than I’d be wise myself to follow it and not just post it. Don’t worry about anything but pray about anything. As I heard it said, be a prayer worrier not a panicked worrier.

As many of you know, I bought a 2018 Jeep Wrangler earlier this year. That means I finally moved up into the world of 4-wheel drive.

I was excited about having that as an option, especially on those rare snowy days we get in Tennessee. Since I bought my new (to me) Jeep, I doubt it will even snow this year, but you never know.

The problem was that I couldn’t figure out how to maneuver the gear that shifts the car into 4-wheel drive. I figured that it must be broken. I also figured that the people before me who owned the Jeep never used it so it probably locked up or something.

So I took it to the Carmax where I bought it and hoped my car would still be in the 90-day warranty period. I crossed my fingers and toes and prayed that it wouldn’t be a big issue.

It turns out it was user error.

Apparently, I didn’t pull hard enough on the lever.

I’ve always been taught that when it comes to switches or gears that if it doesn’t move, it’s probably best not to force it. That’s typically when I’ve broken stuff in the past.

But this time, it was me not forcing it enough. So I finally got it to work and test out the 4-wheel drive feature and everybody lived happily ever after. The end.

Actually, I’m thankful that it was me and not something expensive or unfixable on the car. Aside from any cost issue, I really didn’t want to have to drop my car off and wait for it to be fixed and then turn around and pick it back up.

I like to think it was a God-wink.

This week, The Church at Avenue South hosted its inaugural Vacation Bible School. Previously, due to the limits of our previous property (and us not owning but leasing it), we’d held multiple backyard Bible gatherings. But this year, we had all the kids in one place for the first time ever.

I was privileged to be a part of the very first service of the very first day, volunteering to do graphics. Plus, I ran the video for the songs the kids were learning that day. I now get why VBS volunteers end up with the songs stuck in their heads for a while.

I got a kick out of watching the various ages trying to learn the choreography for the songs. The younger they got, the less inclined they were to actually follow the teacher but do their own moves (which mainly involved a lot of random jumping around and waving of arms).

I love that this is an outlet for these kids to hear the gospel. My own salvation story began at a Backyard Bible Club, so these are near and dear to my heart. Even if these kids don’t pray to receive Christ, at least the seed was planted that will hopefully grow into faith one day.

I just hope they avoid serving the kids any red kool-aid. I have memories from a VBS I served at during a mission trip in college where someone thought it was a grand idea to give the kids kool-aid with that particular red dye in it. They went from mostly calm in the morning to berserk in the afternoon. I think the rest of the day was like trying to herd cats.

God willing, this is the first of many more to come. I think we can do nothing better than point our children to Jesus. Many parents are determined to have their children get into the right schools or to have them excel in sports or music, but far fewer are as concerned about their eternal destinies. If we as American families teach our kids everything but the way of Jesus, we have failed.

So I’m praying for this 2024 VBS. I hope the next two days will be just as fun and exciting and the first three. Above all, I hope God does a mighty work in the lives of these kids (and their parents). I can’t wait to see what happens next.

That’s one of my favorite promises. I mean I get that all God’s promises are great, but this one seems to be one I need more these days.

God’s mercies are new every single morning.

I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I think of those delicatessens that bake their bread fresh each day. Every morning when you walk in, there’s that wonderful aroma of whole grain baked bread hitting your olfactory senses. To me, that’s heaven.

God never recycles His mercies. Each one is new. Brand new. Each one is meant specifically for you like a tailored glove is meant to fit exactly your hand and no one else’s.

I’m thankful for new mercies and old promises that are still coming true every day.