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Wow! It's been nearly two weeks since I blogged. My faithful reader, reminded me that I needed to blog, so...

God is awesome! Robin and I just had an awesome weekend that we spent with 30 other couples . Robin and I had the privilege of speaking and facilitating at Grace Fellowship's marriage conference. It was amazing to watch God touch hearts, mend marriages and restore families. We had prayed that God would do these things, but the way he did, surpassed anything we could have ever imagined.

Divorces cancelled, a divorce that is turning into a marriage again, tears, laughter, hugs, kisses and smiles! God is able to take nothing and turn it into something beautiful. There is nothing he cannot do when people yield their hearts to him.

I'm still smiling.

Being Ahead While Thinking You're Behind

A friend of mine said something today that really stuck with me. I guess it struck me as it did because I had just been thinking along the same line earlier this morning. I was remembering reading about the Apostle Paul and how he was a tent-maker. His livelihood did not come from the ministry. He even went on to say that he (paraphrased) earned his way and was not a burden to the churches.

With that still fresh in my mind, my friend (a fellow minister) was expressing his congratulations, as my wife had a job interview today and will begin working at a local Christian bookstore on Monday. This is a tremendous blessing because it takes two secular incomes to keep the Kidd family afloat and in the ministry. But what struck me, specifically, was when my friend expressed his belief that there will be an increasing number of tent-maker ministers in the days to come. At first, I thought, that doesn't sound like faith, but as I pondered his statement, I came to realize that while God has promised to take care of us, he has never said how he will take care of us. Perhaps, that provision will come, increasingly, disguised as a job outside of vocational ministry.

If that will be the case, and I do not know if it will be, I guess already having a job is just another one of God's many blessings.

You know something? I really believe God has this whole thing called life under control. I'll be chewing on this one for a while...

Got Faith?

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear . Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:22-31 NIV (See Also Matthew 6:33)

Have you ever been tempted to question God and ask him if you are where he wants you to be? You know, those times when you are in a battle and doubts and fears arise.

With our employer cutbacks, money has been tight and Robin and I were concerned about our bills this month. This morning, the telephone rang. Robin answered it and talked with someone who said that God had told them to pay our van payment this month! I do not think this person even knew we had a van payment. Thank You God!

God's provision never ceases to amaze me. Even though I still get concerned, I think that concern gets less and less severe each time God provides. That's how we grow in faith. We look back and can say that, "God met me there!" Then we can look at the obstacle in front of us and declare that, "God will meet me here!"

If we continue to put God and his Kingdom first in our lives, God will do the rest. How do I know? He says so in his Word and I have faith to believe it! Got Faith?

Short Accounts - Keeping It Open

Today, in the wake of yet another winter storm, I dug through the snow on my way to our shed. Once there, I got out the snow-blower that my father had given me last year. As I worked my way down the drive, blowing the snow off of a sheet of soft ice, I watched the snow continue to fall.

"Why am I doing this while it is still snowing?" The thought lingered in my mind for a few seconds before the answer hit me. You see, if I keep up with the task, I will not get buried in it. There is a lesson in that moment that can apply to many aspects of our lives.

For me, it was a reminder that if I keep up with my schoolwork, I will not get behind. If I spend the time with my wife and kids, they will never grow distant from me. The ultimate lesson, I believe, came from the Holy Spirit. If I keep my accounts - my heart, mind and soul, clean before God, I will never get buried so far in sin that I will loose out on all he has for me.

Daily prayer. Daily confession. Daily GRACE. That is keeping it open!

Thought of the Day

Without Christ, the only love that we can offer someone is counterfeit. 1 John 4:7-8

And Then It Happens

Have you ever been seeking God, perhaps in prayer and fasting - really wanting to connect at a deeper level with him? I've been doing that as of late and I've been reminded that one can never be quite sure of what God's going to do or how he's going to do it.

This past 3 weeks has been fraught with difficulties, yet while I was seeking God for what he wanted to do through me, he did something in me.

I can't go into details as of yet, but God has given me something that is far greater than what I was asking for. That's really cool! But, again, that's our God!

An Act of Kindness or I'm Really Dense

OK. So today I'm in the supermarket, at the check-out line and this guy starts bagging my groceries. I'm thinking, "Cool, I didn't know they did that here." As I finish loading the bags into the van I notice the same guy pushing a shopping cart with the lady, who was standing in line behind me at the check-out, following him to a car. Then I see him reach in his pocket, pull out his keys and open the trunk. This guy didn't have a uniform or vest, yet I still figured him to be a store employee. He wasn't.

He either wanted to do something kind for a stranger or was in a hurry and wanted me and my stuff out of his way.

Either way, it was a blessing!

Bless Him Lord!