Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.

Thanks to circumstances beyond my control, I am the early bird this morning. I have one more day this week that I get this wonderful honor. If for no other reason, this reminds me of what it is like to be the opener, so that I can keep a good perspective of their operations and difficulties. A good grounding tool as it were.

Why not have a 4 am pop quiz? It is an easy one, I promise.

How would you evaluate your ability and obedience to sharing the gospel?

I do not have a supernatural testimony for when I found Christ. I do not have a down and out testimony for why I found Christ. For me, my testimony to follow is almost matter of fact like. I was not raised in the church. Went to church on an invite. Not quite a year in, I wanted to be baptized. Just a desire to be baptized, nothing more – nothing less. I did not do much more than that right off the bat except defend my decision a lot. Let’s fast forward a few years, my following was not very stellar. Like most young people, it was about me and having fun. So I did. But He left the ugly taste of too much fun many times. Still no witnessing. Fast forward a few years, I found my rock bottom and sought Him again. Then fizzled out again. This has been my journey my entire life. Though the years, until I was about twenty some years ago, I did not do much in the Jesus circle. Then I caught fire and took off like bullet leaving a gun. My targets were like tunnel vision and approach was just as quick and damaging. Yes, damaging in many ways. I just wanted to impart on others the Love I felt and my approach was not very loving or inviting. The enemy had me convinced that I was right and they were not. Off and on for the last twenty years I have been hot and then cold, then … dare I say it … lukewarm. One foot on each side of the fencerow.

Today I believe that the reason my start was so … uneventful was like He was building my foundation. I was not ready for this assignment that I am doing now when I was sixteen. My focus was not Him; it was me. He used me to find Him in me. Through the rough patches and the dumb mistakes and choices that I made, He has built a foundation in me that I can relate to many people and offer His love in a more confident and receiving manner. Through writing primarily, but in some very special circumstances, personally.

I still tend to come across too hard or quick. I have to back track my thoughts to better examples. I have to be educated in where and how my words strike. Smacking someone with the bible is not a very efficient way to get them to see the Light. Chasing them down t he hall for a hug … well that is more my style.

I encourage you today to sit in reflection and see how you are being used by Him or how you are resisting Him. I bet both are correct. I know that they are in me. Ask him for the strength and direction to overcome those battles and barriers that are holding you back and to release the Kraken of his Spirit in you. Hold on to your socks, when you finally release you and accept Him … the ride is wild.

Be blessed today my friends.

***Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; -- Proverbs 3:5