Good evening to all my FMCOG PEPpers, family and far-flung friends!
It’s been a good day. Sonja and I are in “Campmeeting Mode” this week. For those of you that do not recognize that term, “Campmeeting” is a once-a-year denominational event where the churches of our denomination in the state of South Carolina get together for daily morning and evening services.
“Going to Campmeeting” has been an annual event for me all my life. My earliest memories include Campmeeting. (In the early days people actually camped out for a week.)
My parents tell me of one occasion when I was very little that dad had taken me out twice for a spanking because I had been “acting up” in service (no children’s church in those day!). Well, being stubborn, I was soon at it again, so dad picked me up and took me outside for the third time. When we stepped outside the Tabernacle dad said I kissed him on the cheek. After that he didn’t have the heart spank me so he took me back inside.
That was the probably the first time I experienced grace at church! I didn’t let it go to waste; my parents tell me that I was a perfect gentleman for the rest of the evening. I may have been a rambunctious kid, but I was not a dumb kid!
But anyway, as far as tonight’s service, it was excellent. The worship was great and the sermon was about Heaven and very inspiring. Lee sat with Sonja and me and he and I went to the altar together and had a good prayer together (what a joyful privilege!)
Please keep Sonja and me in your prayers; we will be heading back to Fort Mill for the day tomorrow to officiate the Memorial service for Victor Bell. Pray for traveling mercy and wisdom to say the “just right words.”
In our continued reflections on affirmations for facing each day I’ve added #3…
FIRST: How I will face each day: I will live a life of thanksgiving by remembering and enumerating the many blessings from God upon my life.
SECOND: How I will face each day: I will remember that the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Therefore, I will form good habits and become their slave.
THIRD: How I will face each day: Today I will act on those things that are most important (Mission critical). I shall not get bogged down with triviality or things that others can do at least adequately.
- If you would do this day after day for a period of weeks and then months and then years, the accumulative benefit would be overwhelming.
- I encourage you to daily prioritize your day and stick to those things that really, really matter.
- Also, let me reminder to add at the top of that list this reminder: “Is there anything on this list that someone else can do at least in place of me?” If so, I should turn it over to them! This will free you up to do only those things that only you can do.
Well, I guess that’s enough rambling and pontificating for one evening!
Blessings and best wishes to you, dear one!
dlk
Quotations of the day:
“He was so low that he could sit on a sheet of paper and dangle his legs.”
- Now that’s low!
“It is the nature of all greatness to be exact.”
- A reminder to make that daily list!
“We must establish priorities. The ‘rent-paying’ activities are of first importance. The congregation expects certain things of us, and unless we do them faithfully, outside revivals, community and denominational work, and golf will get us into difficulty, and rightly so.” _James W. Cox, Preaching, page 265
- This quote was written to people in the ministry but it applies to whatever profession you are in.
The ONE THING 