Ups and Downs

Sunday's message was about following Christ through life's up's & down's. Sunday was a day that fit the message for me!

Day started off great, I was rested and ready to go. Early to church to pray and read scripture.

Wife calls, I left the key on in her car Saturday night while using a portable vacuum and caused the battery to die. I sent a friend to go get them :-o

Service starts out great, music is incredible, meaningful prayer time.....

I slip out of my seat to adjust the thermostat and when I prayerfully slip back to my seat beside Christie, I put my hand on hers. After the prayer I find I am now standing in the wrong place holding the wrong woman's hand! All I could say to her was "your not my wife". It turned out to be a hysterical start to a heartfelt message.

Got a phone call right after the service and my dad was having seizures and had stopped breathing for a short period of time. Got him to the hospital and he snapped back very quickly from a scary moment. He's still there having some tests done and getting some medicines regulated, but doing much better.

How can we serve the Lord well in the down's of life? Here are some things I try to practice:

-Keep your eyes focused on Him and draw near to Him regularly.
-Be prepared to do good, "in and out of season". That means all the time, during hard times and when you least expect it.
-Rely on Him for strength and guidance.

A mark of a mature believer is living based on who Jesus is and what He has done, versus by the feeling and circumstance of the day. The real you comes out when you are squeezed. What's coming out these days? It indicates what is inside. Draw near to God and let him work on the inside!