The day after the Thanksgiving Holiday we still ponder with grateful hearts the wonderful blessings we enjoyed yesterday and still recall so much of what we are thankful for. In my life I have never found two snowflakes alike. Nor have two mountains nor sunrises nor any of the myriad of blessed experiences I am privileged to have enjoyed duplicated another. No two days in the hospital, of pain and sorrows, no not two anythings have been the same. Variety, we are told is the spice of life. Mine has been blessed to have been lively and seasoned with much grace.
So many influences have immersed my sorrows in joy, my weaknesses in strength, my surrenders in victory and my doubt in faith. For my salvation, I forget many who were part of the beginnings but I recall Bob Minkus, Sam Phillips and Jesus. My journey was impacted by teachers, pastors, mentors and examples. Some for the good they did, some for less admirable traits; yet all for being part. I continue to be thankful for Eddie, Jamie, James and most deeply for Sue. I appreciate those encouragers who have read my writings, and suggested adjustments and even disagreed. My single greatest driving desire in the last decade has been fueled by these.
My ambition is to bring as much influence as it is humanly possible to as many people as I possibly can for good for the cause of Christ Jesus my Lord. I wake every day and rest at the end of each with this one caveat to my life. What can I do today to be the Jesus someone needs to see in order to draw closer to Him? Have I left anything undone which I may have opportunity to yet do in my remaining time? Some nights I have got back up to complete an unfinished task which was not highlighted in my mind until I sought rest on my pillows. Some times I have realized my reticence or disobedience to the heavenly calling means there is no more opportunity. My ambition, the deepest longing and desire of my heart, is to do all I can, for all whom I can, while I still can.
With that I give thanks for all I have been allowed to be part of in my journey toward that end. I am amazed at the grace which has somehow turned my blunders and rebellion into worthy challenges by the direction of the Holy Spirit within the lives of those who seek Him. How it is that my arrogance and self-exaltation could be for good is beyond my feeble understanding. Within me is no good thing except it be that which has been ignited by His presence and flamed by His power. I am thankful for violence which sought to overcome me and became instead victory over sin. I am blessed to have been persecuted for my faith and seen the floodgates of grace abound from it. I have known pride and the evils of my own heart to be molded in adversity and drive me to my knees where I am at my highest.
His pleasure is my continual aim and the mark my arrows of effort stray from so often. His praise seeks to escape from my lips harnessed by a heart bent on selfishness. It is His air I breathe and the beating of my heart is at His continual command. He must increase and I decrease. His glory must burn hotter and brighter while mine simmers and smolders as a reminder that my puny efforts do no attain to one tiny finger twitch from His loving hand. To affirm that I am nothing without Him is to overstate the obvious. My single greatest accomplishment is in acknowledging I have nothing aside from His grace.
I think and write and speak from the fertile abundance of mercy He has poured into my life through so many of His chosen vessels. Roy Grigsby, Randy Jenkins, Dave Lewis, these were great men of renown, giants in the land of faith. To be fair, many unsung heroes defined my path as well. Among whom were Vivian Bryant, Mamie Seay, Bridgette, Joshua and Kim. They will never know this side of heaven, how they were used to move me. My experiences have shown me no one is greater than one who knows they are least. No one is worthy of following who leads without serving. Even the weakest and most pitiful lay up treasures in heaven when they obey.
So from this flood of joy I squeak out a feeble thank you to each and to the One whom I serve until He allows me to cease from wandering astray. Remembrance is the power to recount your treasure while still swimming in the sea of forgetfulness for sin and failure. I remember love and despise hate. I embrace every nuance of my good life and disdain the crooked paths presented by the evil within me. On Rattlesnake Road, near Tampa Florida at the ninety degree turn past the garbage dump, I met the Savior of my soul and surrendered to His kingship. I am His for He allows me to call Him mine. Jesus made a difference in me when He saved me by His grace and I don’t ever want to get over it.
In nineteen twenty two, Robert Frost wrote a line in His poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” which reads “And mile to go before I sleep”. His meaning was simply that while we may pause to enjoy the blessing of life for a moment, there is yet much to be lived and known. So it is with each of us. We have not yet arrived. We are not home yet. Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday and yet, it still got here. And look, Jesus was already here too. So we shall endeavor by the grace of God to bring as much influence as it is humanly possible to as many people as I possibly can for good for the cause of Christ Jesus my Lord. I will serve Him until my miles are at an end and my sleep from this life’s toils has begun.
ThanksJoyfulGratitude should be an old word in our experience. I wish to be in heaven in the presence of the Lord of the universe. Yet for the time He appoints I remain here for the good He allows me to do. Still I am in His presence. He never leaves me. Perhaps someday, in some small way, some words I write will encourage someone to come to know Him a little better. It is for their benefit and His glory. As you read this, I acknowledge with a very grateful heart your part in my joy and am thankful.