Thursday Morning Thoughts

I've been up since 3 this morning. Couldn't sleep. I've had a cup of coffee and a mini doughnut. Stood on my front porch for a while and listened to the sounds of the night. Wondered if the cold front coming in later today will bring us some rain. Thought about what kind of tree I'd like to plant out front.  Tried to find a particular brand of hot sauce on the internet but didn't. Checked my email and read my devotional for the day. I thought about my neighbors and prayed for them. They don't go to church. Thought about my granddaughter who made a decision for Christ this week. Thought about the hearings I watched this week on the new supreme court nominee. I thought about the country and where it might be headed after the election in November. For a moment as I stood outside I looked at my vehicles, the houses on our street, the grass  and felt the wind on my face and thought about the fact that one of these days I would know none of this. I'll die and all these earthly sensations would be gone. Lots of thoughts for so early in the morning. 

These days it's not so strange to wake up early and let my mind roam kind of like a cat or dog looking for trouble. Things are changing in this old world. Some of it I like. A lot of it I don't. Autumn is here and winter is coming.  Not much I can do about it. So I'll just enjoy what I have, the people I know, do what I can and let the Good Lord deal with the rest of it.

Early Morning Thoughts

Howdy,

Its early in the morning as I write. Ive been up since about 4:30. It's not that I'm troubled about anything. I just couldn't go back to sleep so I got up. I've had two cups of coffee and a pop tart, let the dogs out and fed them. The sun isn't up yet and if the weather channel is correct won't be for a while.
  
The big news these days is covid-19. It's constantly on the news and everyone has something to say about it. More cases, more deaths, not enough test kits, no vaccine, not enough ventilators, hospital beds, medical staff, people not allowed to gather in groups, staying home, no toilet paper, old folks forgotten in the panic, empty super markets shelves, the stock market decline, schools, churches, restaurants, airlines, cruise ships, sporting events canceling or closing, weddings postponed, countries closing borders, the economy is shutting down, people are out of work.

Everyone is playing the blame game. America says China is to blame, Democrats say the Trump administration is at fault for not being prepared, China says It's Americas fault. Of course there are religious pundits in abundance with their trust God and you'll be okay ideas as well as those who proclaim it's the beginning of the end.

Who can you believe? I don't know. How long will it last? Who knows. will I get sick? Die? Maybe. Will my retirement fund ever come back up? Time will tell. Is this the beginning of the end? God knows.

In the meantime I hold on to the truth that God is in control working out his will in this world, my life is in his hands, he loves me no matter what and that if I die that is okay because Jesus has prepared a place for me in the Father's house. So I will take precautions to stay healthy, be kind to others, help where I can and hope that it all passes quickly, remembering that God, not the government or covid-19 is ultimately in control. If he wants to wrap things up there is nothing anyone can do about it. If he is just using this crisis to humble us then let us take it to heart.

I pray you and yours stay healthy and sane in this crazy time.

Changes

Howdy. Since my last blog things have changed - a lot. I'm retired now. I've moved from South Texas to East Texas.

It's colder up here and wetter. The people are pretty friendly. We haven't found a church yet. It's hard after 38 years of pastoring the same church to make a move. Things aren't quite the same but I'm sure we will eventually settle in and find one.

My wife Karen and I have been busy connecting with new doctors, unpacking boxes, going back and forth to George West to fix up our house to sell, insulating and paneling our shed in the back yard so we can store our stuff in it. We voted last week but didn't know anyone up here to vote for so it was a short ballot for us.

To make a long story short, life is different now, full of change and it is not always easy. Im glad to know that amid all the change going on around us one thing remains unchanged. Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

So no matter how well or poorly I handle the changes in my life I have one thing I can depend on - Jesus and his eternal love that holds me tight. Like he said "I will never leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.

Y'all have a Great Day