Stories and other stuff

I got to be part of a story on Thursday. Only part of it, though.  And so did other people, who just happened to be available to help.  The whole thing came together and as the man I was helping out said:  "God gives me what I need." He's good that way.  Especially when we're available and willing to have our plans de-railed.  I had to throw in a railroad term because I was on my way down to see the train ceremony on Thursday when my plans were changed. There was a fair bit of spiritual warfare going on yesterday at my joint.  From a friend being late, to a malfunctioning ATM, to a glass that decided to spring a leak when I put milk in it after using it all day as a water glass, and not to forget a malfunctioning printer, a lot of stuff seemed to be going bad wrong yesterday.  It happens frequently when it's my turn to give the message at church or at the Mission.  It's just stuff you get through, though. I love my little church family....

From time to time, I start wondering if I'm on the right path.  I think that with things the way they are in my life, from time to time it's not a bad idea to check and see.  The hard part about checking is that when I want to do it, it often starts with an idea of entertaining getting off the path to see what happens. I've done that a couple of times and when I have, it always turns out bad and I always wind up right back here.  Usually, worse for the wear. I stay on the path by faith.  I'm believing God for something that seems unlikely.  I know there's nothing I can do to change the situation I find myself in.  I've tried to get out of it.  I've prayed, I've cried, and I even tried letting it go.  All those things have brought me here. By faith. Faith doesn't always look pretty.  It's not a platitude or a Bible verse that looks good hanging on your bedroom wall.  Sometimes faith is believing in what you can't see despite what ...

When I made such a mess of my life so many years ago, one of the primary things that pointed me down the path to being found by Jesus (I was the lost one, not Him!) was my therapist.  I got fired by her as a patient after she yelled at me.  That was one of the best things that ever happened to me, by the way.  The other best thing was when she told me that I should pray for the people that hurt me. I started doing that before I actually became a Christian.  If I had to think of one of the pivotal links in the chain that led me to my knees nine years ago now, that was one of them.  We are Facebook friends after all these years, and she said something nice about me today.  The thing is, though, is that it's not about me, and while I appreciated the comment, I replied in truth that I'm not all that neat.  What I am, though, is an example among millions of what Christ can do with a life. I'm a changed person, but I didn't change me.  I know th...