Monday, April 30

Yesterday was a bitter sweet day for me. I will explain.
Diane is attending a small group class at church called "Run for God." They are learning that God wants us to take care of our bodies. They also get together for a 30 minute walk / run exercise. Yesterday evening I went with Diane and participated in the walk /run. It was the first time that I have tried to run since I have been sick. I am excited with the results of my efforts. I made it through the entire 30 minutes. That helps to remind me that I really am getting physically better. God is so good!

Within minutes after we finished the run, I received a phone call that a dear church member had suffered a massive stroke and that the prognosis was not good. Diane and I immediately went to Wake Med in Raleigh to be with the family. My heart really goes out to Miss Jean and the family. They have some tough decisions to make over the next few days.

After preaching two morning worship services, participating with the outreach to an assisted living facility, running, and then going to Raleigh, it made for a long day and night. But I am thankful that I am healthy enough to go to be with the people that God has given me to care for. That is the bitter sweet part.

I am thankful that I am here and healthy enough to remind folks that no matter what we go through, God is with us.

Sunday, April 29

I did not post on my blog on Friday. That is because I was out enjoying God's creation with my friends, Billy M, John L, and Steve D. We went to Bayboro to do some trout fishing. It was a great day. I caught a dozen beautiful speckled trout. Not all of them were "legal keepers" so I did not keep them.
It would not have mattered however, if I had not caught a single one. As Billy and I discussed while we were on the boat, God's creation is absolutely breathtaking. The joy was in the fellowship and in the time spent with God's beauty.
So, Friday I enjoyed God's creation. Today I am going to worship the Creator. I am going to church with anticipation that my Lord will accept my thanksgiving, my praise and my worship during the services.

I have heard folks say that they can worship God on the golf course or at the beach or in the yard. While I agree that these are all beautiful examples of His creation, my question would be:

Do you worship the creation - or do you worship the Creator?
See you in church.

Wednesday, April 25

One of my favorite Scriptures in the New Testament is in Luke, chapter 24. Two followers of Jesus are leaving Jerusalem on what we now call Easter Sunday. Of course, these two travelers did not consider that day a happy Easter day. For all they knew, the person whom they had been following was dead and gone. They did not understand who Jesus really was. They only knew the Jesus that they wanted him to be. This is a big deal. Verse 21 of that chapter records these travelers as saying,"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel." In other words, Jesus was not the Jesus that they had hoped that He would be, that THEY wanted Him to be. Of course they were followers of Jesus and understood that he was "mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." (vs19) That was the Jesus they wanted Him to be. Then they wanted Him to redeem Israel.

Some days Jesus is exactly what we want Him to be. We are blessed with abundant life, just as He promised. We have a good job, a good family, a few good friends, and a good lifestyle. But what about the days that Jesus is not what we want Him to be? What about those days when we just cannot understand what Jesus is up to in our lives? What about cancer, divorce, financial, career, or family issues? Are we like those first century followers? Are we disapppointed?

Or is that the time when we really trust Jesus, not to be who we want Him to be, but to be who He really is? That is when we truly say "It's all about HIM!"

Monday, April 23

Since this is a personal blog, I will get personal. I have the most awesome church family anywhere! Don't get me wrong. There are many good churches. But there is something extra special about the Garris Chapel family. I am overwhelmed by the love that and support that they give to me in so many different ways. "Jerry's Journey" is a team that ran 100 miles this weekend for Cures for Colors, an event sponsored by SMOC to assist cancer victims. The GC Relay for Life team is working hard getting ready for the May event.
Yesterday, our worship team, media team, Mr. Steve, our ushers, our greeters and our ladies hosted a district celebration. It was not supposed to be at GC event, but the GC family came through with flying colors. After leading the music at the celebration, our worship team packed up and led music at Daniels UMC for their first night of revival.

I am sure that there are many tired folks within the GC family. All I did was attend these events and I was absolutely beat by the end of the day yesterday. Which brings me to my last thought for today. Please pray for my continued gaining of strength and stamina. It is coming way to slow for me. But then again, it is not about me.

It's all about Him!

Friday, April 20

Today is my oldest granddaughter Maia's 12th birthday. It is hard to believe that she will be a teenager in one year. (On the other hand, she has been going on 21 for several years now).

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking to the leadership team for the Wayne County Relay For Life. It gave me a chance to tell some of my story again. It gave me a chance to say out loud, "I am a cancer survivor." It allowed me to share once again that God is good! I am sure that many folks have heard it from me unti lthey are a bit weary of hearing it. So it was good to be able to share it again.

I have a story to tell! Maia is a very important part of my story. And so are the rest of my family. And so are my church family and my friends. And so are you. But my story is really all about Him.

You also have a story to tell. When is the last time that you shared it with someone?