[featured_image]

I turned 43 today. Amazing.

It’s been a good year. It’s also been a challenging year.

A few days ago I was reading in Deuteronomy in my quiet time.

For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.” (Deut 2:7)

As I reflected on my birthday this week, I was so grateful for the Lord’s continued provision for me and my family. He has blessed us. He has been with us–especially in our transition from serving as pastor of Lake Hills to being a missionary with OC International. In the midst of financial challenges, in a wonderful sense, we have not lacked.–even when it feels like we are wandering in the wilderness right now.

The next day I read…

O Lord God, Thou has begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Thine? (Deut 3:24)

Our God is so great! There is no one like Him! He has done great and marvelous things in my life! He is near when I call. I trust Him.

Then I read this great prayer in The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter, III. It’s the most famous prayer, “St Patrick’s Breastplate.” Here’s the part I liked…

I rise today with the power of God to pilot me,
God’s strength to sustain me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look ahead for me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to protect me,
God’s way before me,
God’s shield to defend me:
-from snares of devils
-from evil temptations
-from nature’s failings,
-from all who wish to harm me,
–far or near,
–alone and in a crowd.

One of the best things that happened this past year was writing my doctoral dissertation and graduating from Bakke Graduate University last June…