Sitting Before God WIthout Getting Lazy

On 5th Sundays, our church has a potluck lunch, a short devotional led by our young men, and then we are done for the day. Beverly and I always try to make that Sunday a "date time."

Yesterday we went to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It is probably about a week or two early, as many of the flowers are just getting ready to blossom. But we enjoyed it. Our intention had been to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the park, but there were so many people that it was difficult. So, we found a secluded bench and sat together for over an hour. We talked and watched the squirrels and talked and watched the butterflies and talked and watched the humanoids. I commented to her how sad it is that we humans too rarely do that any more. Just sit and take in all God has given us to watch.

Then we left there and went to Joe T. Garcia's for supper. It was a good day.
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I was convicted by Tozer's prayer for preachers this morning:

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
--2 Timothy 2:3-4

Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering. Help me to remember
that I am a prophet--not a promoter, not a religious manager, but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ....

And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and I would not influence it if I could. I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven.
God Tells the Man Who Cares, 105-106.

Don't be alarmed at him referring to preachers as prophets. The primary idea of a prophet is not to foretell the future, but to speak for God.
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Happy Birthday yesterday to my little brother John. He ministers to a church just outside of Tampa, Florida. I am SO proud of him and his family. I hope you had a wonderful BD.