Merry Christmas!
As we head into the heart of Christmas, I want to thank all my readers for your consistent support. I’m going to take a week or two hiatus while I enjoy my first holiday season out of the retail world in almost two decades! My son is home from Texas and Karen and I are going to take full advantage of our time together!
The following is the letter that we placed in our Christmas cards this year and I would like to share it with you, my family and friends. Merry Christmas to you all and look for new posts after the first of the year. May it be a blessed one for us all!
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Well, our long overdue Christmas letter is finally before you. 2017 and 2018 were full of many transitions, so much so, that a letter last year just wasn’t forthcoming. There were many struggles and hurdles to overcome but we have had each other and we are so grateful that our heavenly Father has strengthened us and guided us all along the way. 2019 holds much promise of many good things which we are looking forward to with much anticipation!
Karen is in her 17th year teaching at Highland Local Schools. And you might not realize it, but teaching does not get any easier as time goes on. Problems that once plagued upper grades now fill the ranks of younger children. Please keep them and your public educators in your prayers.
In October of 2017, Karen had a much needed surgical procedure on her back, fusing two vertebrae together – bolts included. She was a wonderful patient and though she will never be 100% (arthritis factors in as well) she is so much better! For an entire year she could not bend, twist or lift anything over 25 pounds but this past October she was released by her surgeon to (with caution) return life to normal. We were so blessed to have such a talented surgeon and staff to see to her care.
I don’t think that we could love each other any more than we do (But we’re up to the task)! We celebrated our 32nd Anniversary this year and continue to mesh our talents as we work together in everything that God sets before us.
Massey is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as his work in the doctoral program at Texas A&M should be wrapping up before the end of next year. Prior to Thanksgiving this year he had the privilege to present at the Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics in Atlanta. It was stressful getting to that point but he did well and it was great preparation for his upcoming thesis. We are so proud of his work ethic and the fine young man he continues to be. He does nothing halfway but gives everything to the task at hand. We look forward to our time together here at Christmas!
He still plays Pokémon Go and it continues to be a wonderful social outlet for him. Over the last couple of years, his group has joined with a local restaurant to support local efforts to raise funds for the construction of a special needs playground at a park in the College Station area. To date, they have contributed over $2,200!
And me? My life has taken a total turn! As of December 1st, I will no longer be an employee of Kohl’s! The way things have worked out, my last day I will have served Kohl’s for 18 years and 3 days. I have had many opportunities for ministry in my third “church” – weddings and funerals included. It has been a good run but as November 19th I am a certified school bus driver for Highland Local Schools! It took much longer to get to this point than I thought but I can surely testify to the Lord’s perfect timing! I am excited about the many prospects, my interaction with my kids has been great, I will have 4+ hours in the middle of each day for sermon/service preparation and visitation, and Karen and I will have the same schedule – weekends, holidays, summer vacation and snow days, too! The Lord has just worked out every little detail and I thank Him daily for His abundant blessing!
I continue to love serving the people of Beulah and Liberty Chapel. I pray the Lord will lead me to a new opportunity with them and our impact in our communities. Time has been a little tight with work, church and preparing to take my bus test but I am still blogging and Ephesians 1:4 continues to inspire me. “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” What an awesome statement! We are all so blessed to be “more than useless”!
We pray that you have sought out God in your life –if not He is diligently reaching out to you. We pray that His love and compassion fill you as you strive to fulfill His calling upon you – for nothing is more important. Merry Christmas!
With a never ceasing love! Thom, Karen, and Massey
Dec 20th, 2018, Thurs, 10:02 pm
Topsy-Turvy World
Father, I’ve accomplished a couple of things this morning but I need to stop…and focus on our time together. As I read Your word, show me what You want me to see. Amen.
Matthew 28:1-7 (<<click to read the passage)
When I think of the characters in this passage I see Roman guards – big, burly, battle-hardened, tough as nails, fighting men – and I see two women – determined, dedicated, loyal, and stalwart, yes, but not really falling into the same category as the guards.
As the angel makes his appearance who dropped almost instantly and who stood at least long enough to hear the angel’s command to not be afraid? Those of the world do not see things as we of the Kingdom see them. This world may think they see things as they truly are but in actuality they are topsy-turvy! Those of the Kingdom see things as God intends them to be
Throughout the Bible when angels appeared, fear was often the given response but again on those occasions those who witnessed their appearance knew God, and though fearful, accepted the announcements given.
Lord, so many things in life are difficult and we sometimes are overwhelmed as we attempt to go through them. But I would pray that the beloved children of Your Kingdom would see those things with Your eyes and through Your heart. Help us not to fall apart but to stand strong as we witness Your will unfolding. Amen.
Dec 19th, 2018, Wed, 10:23 am
Not a Mindset but a Heartset
What a beautiful way to end the day, Father! Reuniting a couple in marriage! Father, it is a privilege and an honor to be used by You to touch so many lives – and not just from a pulpit! It is a blessing to be Your child!
Matthew 28:1-7 (<<click to read the passage)
I love things that help me to see things that I don’t see! My Life Application Study Bible made this statement in regards to verse 2:
The stone was not rolled aside so Jesus could get out, but so others could get in and see that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, just as he had promised.
How many times in life do we have problems that just seem insurmountable? How many Goliaths stand defiantly before us? How many “great stones” block our way? At points in our lives, we all have wondered how we were ever going to get passed the unpassable.
Yes, in our own strength, with our own mental prowess (LOL), many hurdles are just impossible. But when God gets involved! Oh, boy, just you wait and see!
David, a mere youth, caused the giant Goliath to fall with a single stone (not a boulder, mind you!) sent flying from his sling in the strength of the Lord!
We may feel like “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome” as they headed to the tomb as soon as they were able to and worriedly asked, “Who will roll away the stone for us…?” (Mark 16:1-4) But when they arrived God had taken of everything!
Not in our strength…but God’s! Not in our wisdom…but God’s!
As God has encouraged my growth and development over the last few years, I have come to believe more and more that we must live our lives, not with the mindset of “I can do this!” but with a heartset of “God and I can do – not just this – but anything!”
I have overcome so many things that had tripped me up for most of my life – and would do so over and over and over again! But yielding myself to God, not just verbally, but mentally, physically, spiritually yielding myself to Him, granted me an overabundant harvest of victory!
Give yourself over and see what God can do through you!
Dec 18th, 2018, Tues, 10:02 pm
A Jumbled Mess!
Thank you, Father, for a good beginning to my day – the safety afforded me and my passengers, the chance to get a good walk in, time to work on Sunday’s sermon, opportunity to grab a bite with my beautiful wife and now the privilege to sit down with You! Bless our time together.
Matthew 27:62-66 (<<click to read the passage)
In reading Scripture, and for that matter looking at my own life, I am amazed over and over again, Lord, at Your patience – Your long-suffering – with humanity! We are all just a jumbled mess!
Looking at this passage, things are topsy-turvy. Those who adamantly refused to believe anything You said, those who vehemently opposed Your every word and action, actually took very seriously one of Your statements, “After three days I will rise from the dead.”
Now granted, they leaned more to the thought that Your disciples would attempt to steal Your body from the tomb, trying to prove that what You said came to be. Though in the back of their minds, I’m sure that some of them at least, knew that You were who You said You were, and they were legitimately worried about the ramifications of their actions.
So the “leading priests and Pharisees”, Your greatest opposition, took action on Your words but those closest to You were bewildered and lost and seemed to have no clue whatsoever about the words You had spoken! As I said, we are all just a jumbled mess! Unbelievers believing and believers no believing!
Well, at least You knew all along what was happening and knew, too, what our responses would be, so as to bring us back into proper alignment with Your will. Lord, Jesus, I implore You to help me to un-jumble! You know me through and through, nothing is hidden from Your sight. Help me to listen – not just to hear but to L I S T E N! Your way is the most excellent way. Enable me to abide in it. Amen!
Dec 17th, 2018, Mon, 12:21 pm
Fearless
Father, what a weekend! This time of year is always full but even at this hour, I feel I need to come and, as we used to say in my growing up years, sit a spell with You. Fill my heart and mind with You.
Matthew 27:57-61 (<<click to read the passage)
Thinking through this passage this evening, Lord, reminds me of this morning’s Advent Candlelighting Liturgy. We remembered Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some of the words jumped out at me then and now as well – innocent and powerful, sacred and scared, worried and waiting… She sings boldly when she might be meek; she bears her role in history with the confidence of a warrior…
Then we gave thanks for the Marys among us, who step out of the roles society has planned; unintended pioneers determined to do as God asks; fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith, and beckoning us to do the same.
She was surely a courageous young lady. And in many ways, the main character of today’s passage put forth the same actions being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.
Joseph of Arimathea had become a follower of Jesus. A parallel passage found in Mark 15:43 states,
[He] took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)
In doing what he did, he laid his reputation on the line. The high council, composed of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, were not all corrupt. Some like Nicodemus (John 3:1-20) and Joseph of Arimathea are two good examples of those who were waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.
They may have been behind the scenes believers but neither of them hesitated when it came to being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.
John 19:38-42 tells us that both Joseph and Nicodemus came together to perform this righteous act in giving Jesus a proper burial.
Lord, I am very much out front when it comes to living out my faith but I would also pray that I would be one who would be fearless but though fearful I would step out in faith for You. Amen.
Dec 16th, 2018, Sun, 9:09 pm