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I'm blogging tonight more out of "I feel like I need to" than inspiration. Bummer.
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Christmas was good. Everything went well except the "Christmas Eve Gift" thing. What was I thinking? I only got three people out of eleven and that counts Elijah and he can't even talk. If you don't know what "Christmas Eve Gift" is all about, check out my daughter Tarah's blog at http://www.proclaimingtruth.blogspot.com/
I have had trouble just really "loving" Christmas the way I used to. Having the family all home is great, the traditions are wonderful (we have some really great family traditions), the food is overwhelmingly delicious, and the gift giving and receiving is fun, but there is always a bit of emptiness when it is all said and done. A kind of "there must be more than this" feeling. Is it just me? or do some of you experience this as well.
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I am looking forward to another year. I want to continue to lean in to God's heart. There is nothing as important as knowing Him.
About 30 years ago, I wrote a song. I was completely sincere when I wrote it, only somewhere along the way I lost my "wholeheartedness". I kind of half gave up on a lot of things . . . not a good thing. Here are the words:
What can I do, to show my love for you?
Where can I go? What can I say?
I love you so, and I want you to know . . .
Wherever you send me, I will go.
That is still my prayer. What can I do? Where can I go? What can I say?
One day, when I see Jesus face to face I would like for Him to say to me, "You are one who loved me. You are one who endured and said yes when I called. You are one that I love".
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I'm on my way to the "One Thing" conference is KC tomorrow. I want to come home in a few days being "full of it", having encountered God and having some answers to that song I wrote. Whatever God is doing, I want to be in on it and on the front lines.
If you get God TV, I think they are going to have a live feed of some of the "One Thing" sessions. I know you can watch God TV on the internet at http://www.god.tv/US/
I pray for each of you, "that God would give to you the gift of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus".

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Mom and I were wrapping gifts tonight. She kept saying stuff I have never thought about before. Like: 1. Does this look like the right paper design for this gift? (I always thought the roll with enough paper on it was the right one) 2. Oh, I cut that paper two inches too long, I'll have to trim it. (I didn't think you could have too much. Not enough is a problem, but too much?? Just fold it over and tape it) 3. I don't think this tag looks right (Tag? What's wrong with a majic marker right on the paper?) 4. Here, use some of this gift tissue to make it look pretty. (I like that plastic bubble stuff myself, but I guess tissue paper would work).
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For a minute today I thought it was Wednesday. Oh, NO . . . I'll never make it. Then I realized there was another day in there. Oh, NO . . . I'll never make it.
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The International House Of Prayer (IHOP) has a New Years conference every year called One Thing. http://www.ihop.org/PaymentGroup/Registration.aspx?payment_group_id=1000000117
This will be my fourth year to attend. I know it's a young peoples conference, but I just try to sneak in when no ones watching. Not really. Usually there are at least two guys there older than me and they fit right in. They are expecting over 10,000 this year. It will begin Thursday and finish up Sunday with a 12 hour solemn assembley ending at midnight - Then a New Years celebration for an hour or so ending at about 1:oo.
It is a very encouraging and challenging way to finish up the year and start a new one. Our whole family will be there this year, plus some other old friends and some new ones too. Check out the above link and then just get in the car and drive . . . you'll be there before you know it.
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See you there.

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I hear IHOP had a baptism service last night. Or maybe not. I don't know . . . that's just what I keep hearing.
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I worked all day today and got a whole bunch done, but still have a lot of catching up to do. Thought I might just not take any more pain pills, but then changed my mind and took two.
The good thing is that my gallbladder doesn't hurt. Is anyone headed to LR Tuesday evening? I need to see the doctor on Wednesday and pick up my car and drive it home. I have plenty of places I can stay.
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Intercession takes work. There is so much to pray for and about, and it really matters. It takes time and effort, but prayer really does change things. Just for instance . . . the Bible says that the eyes of unbelievers are blinded from the truth. It is not hard to figure out who or what might be the cause of this blinding. There are many things that keep a person from coming to Christ, like free will, but it certainly doesn't help to be blinded from the truth by satan and/or his demons. Jesus defeated satan on the cross. All authority has been given to Him by the Father. As believers we are sons and daughters and joint heirs with Christ. We have been instructed to cast out demons. We can't do God's part and he won't do ours. I say this Christmas lets enter into warfare for ourselves and our families. It's a little radical to talk to a demon and tell him to get out in Jesus name, but what if there really is a demon, and he really takes a hike! Very Cool!
Try getting away by yourself where no one can hear (alone time in the car is a good place) and use the authority of Jesus to just whack on a few demons. By the way, you don't need to yell, although it's ok if you want to. The power is not in the volume, but in the power of God thru the authority of Jesus. A whisper of faith is all it takes, but if you want to yell . . . ok do that.
Not all problems involve demons, but we know that Satan is busy lying, stealing and attempting to destroy good stuff, because the Bible says so. If you cast a demon out that is not even there, I think God would still be smiling, and if the demon is there, he has to get out because Jesus is your brother and all authority has been given to Him . . . and to us when we declare a thing in His name.
Lets clear the air. We are children of the King.

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It's a Wonderful Life
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Is a "wonderful" movie.
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It has been a long time since I really watched this movie from start to finish.
It's important to watch the very beginning, because it begins with a medley of prayers for George Bailey, who is facing his dark night of the soul. George is known in heaven for his many good deeds and acts of kindness and so, in answer to prayer, an angel, "Clarence" is briefed and sent to help George in his time of need. George has his life all planned out and thinks he knows what is best, but needs to find out that God has a better plan. Clarence shows him this by showing what it would have been like if he had never been born.
On a couple of occasions, the narrative says, "He (George) wept and prayed" - Where did that come from? Anyway . . . this is a story of answered prayer; of good deeds done and a merciful God who knows how to reach down and save one that he loves. It is a story of not growing weary of doing good, and knowing that God is a great rewarder of those who love him and follow after his purposes.
Well I don't know why I am doing a book report on this movie . . . you know it as well as I do, I had just forgotten all the "good stuff" in it.
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"God, let me live again." and "Atta boy Clarence!"
Now let's all cry and sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" while Clarence gets his wings!
Oh my goodness - I'm a gonner.
Merry Christmas!

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Thursday night -Nathan just brought most of me home from LR.
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We left my gallbladder and a gallstone bigger than a golf ball at Baptist in Little Rock.
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My doctors name was Osam pronounced Dr. Awsome. How cool is that.
I am tired of thinking about gall bladders, so this is all of that.

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Anyone ever have a gall bladder attack or known someone who did? Ouch! Very full of pain. Major no fun. Well, I experienced extreme pain Saturday night - all night. It was 10:00 when it started and I kept thinking this will go away soon. At 11:00 I was quoting scripture, "Joy cometh in the morning. " Looked at the clock, it was 11:02. Then I thought, "His mercies are new every morning." I was thinking, if only I can make it till morning, this will pass. Looked at the clock . . . 11:05. Turn over. Turn over again. Walk to the den, sit in the chair. Walk around, lie down on the couch . . . 11:22. Drink soda water, vomit for a couple of hours - 1:22. Took a hot bath - 4:22. That helped a little. 5:22 another hot bath. Finally 8:00 a.m. I got mom up and she took me to ER. Took quite a while to get a shot in the buttocks - YES! Got home at 10:00. wobbled in to my bed, and slept til 5:00 it was getting dark - the pain was gone. Got up and ate a bowl of soup. Went back to bed at 7:00 and slept til 5:00 a.m. - went to work. WOW, what a night. I got some blood work done today and will get an ultra sound tomorrow. We will see.
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I hope that wasn't too graphic. There is always "a little humor" in an episode like that . . . after it is over, and keep in mind only a "little" humor.
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One good thing about pain. It feels soooo good when it is gone. Joy did come in the morning. I have never been so happy to have someone stick a needle in my rear end. Maybe a better prayer would have been for wisdom to get to the ER much sooner. God IS good. His mercies ARE new every morning. He loves me no matter what, and I love Him.
A friend emailed me from Texas today. She said she woke up Sunday morning just thinking about me. She wrote a very encouraging word, not knowing what I was going thru. Like I said . . . God is good.

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. . . is a lazy way of blogging.
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Just redirecting you to a good spot.
The Blanc Spot.
The Fight Spot.
The Fighting To Stay Awake Spot.
Shawn Blanc continually has a worthwhile blog . . . I tune in daily and I was pleased to see that he included some of my thoughts in a recent post.
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Sit here for a while and ponder. I encourage you to set this one as a favorite.
http://thefightspot.com/