A refreshing return home!

"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" Romans 10:11. I am not really sure why we leave this verse "off" when we witness (most people usually use Rom. 10:9-10, 13). This has an amazing promise, yet challenging!

Anyway, what an eventful week we have had. As most of you know we were blessed enough to be able to visit home. I am not sure what Thursday and Friday were like, because I think I was so focused on returning home. We were able to go to some friends house Friday night, and we had supper with them and another couple who joined us. It was a lot of fun as we hung out with friends, eat and played some Wii. Then on Saturday, we made the trek to Fort Smith, but before we left the area, we made a visit to some of the elders of the church. A "couple of the great God" (Dr. Allison special, ok he says man of the great God). That was a very enjoyable time, and I believe I could have spent most of the day there in fellowship with them. However, we did depart about 30 minutes later than anticipated. We also had a few unexpected errands to run before we made it over to one of our friends home to pick her up so we could have lunch together with her and my mother in-law. After having lunch we made the trip back home, and just in time for the annual Men's Wild Game Supper! This was a great time of fellowship and eating! I truly enjoyed everything that I put on my plate. Bro. Tim gave a great word and others shared something that was on their heart!

Sunday came, and we enjoyed seeing all the familiar faces greeted by smiles and hugs! What a feeling it is to return to the home church, even after only being gone about 3 weeks! Sunday school was good, as was the worship and preaching. I had the opportunity to share with a young man that morning who is really in need of prayer. Sunday afternoon was special as well. We enjoyed a meal at D's grandparents, then back to church for the shower and youth leadership class fellowship ( I didn't make the show unfortunately, because I was way behind in reading! LOL surprise!). Hanging out with many of the youth and leaders was refreshing for me. Something that I really needed. Thanks guys! Then came the inevitable departure. I was able to give the church an update, and I really want to thank all of you again for your prayers.

We arrived home Sunday night at about 11:30. Which was not bad at all, because I only had to go to ICOC. Thankfully it was not until 10:30am on Monday. About 10 guys went out to share the greatest news ever, and I believe there were 5 professions of faith! God is amazing. Tuesday was back to the grindstone, as they say. We had a really great day of class. We began each class really focusing on revival, which is coming next week. I am excited to see how God is going to show up. Unfortunately Tuesday afternoon after finding out that D did not get either job that was on the "table", I allowed the devil to work me over. Wednesday after a good quiet time, and a great day of class, especially chapel, God gave me strength, grace, and mercy to overcome. Wednesday night was a good prayer service at Bellevue. Today's classes followed the them as well, and this evening D and I have enjoyed some good time of dinner and fellowship together!

Oh before I sign off, Tuesday night we went to our first EE meeting (Evangelism Explosion), and I believe it is going to be a great time for D and I both to become more comfortable sharing the gospel door to door. I don't agree with everything according to the way they do things, but God can still use it. Amen?

Well as always thank you for your prayers. "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, FERVENT prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16. I heard this prayed in one of our prayer session before class, and I thought that does me no good because "As it is written, there are none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:10. However, I was reminded of 2 Cor. 5:21 "For He mad Him who ken no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him". Wow, we can know that our prayers avails much. Not because we are righteous in ourselves, but if we have accepted Jesus to put our faith in HIM, we become righteous. AMEN! Ok sorry I haven't got to preach in like a decade, ok nearly 4 weeks, but there it is. Please pray for D's collarbone. She goes to the doctor on this coming Wed. Pray for D a job, where God wants us to serve (I submitted my resume yesterday through the school), school, Scripture memory, and please pray for my passion for the lost. Thank you all very much. We love in all in the name of Jesus. Tell someone what He has done for you this week!