The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember…
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate locusts.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene was, well you know.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small. Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer…
Lazarus was dead!

And God isn’t finished with you yet.

I told you I would be telling you what I think.  What I think is that I have a wonderful wife who has continued to stand by me through thick and thin.  She has learned what true forgiveness is.  She has a desire to know what God wants for her.  I’m very thankful for her and I look forward to spending the rest of my days here on this earth with her.  I have not idea what God has planned for us but I know that Satan is fighting hard to not see it come to pass.

Allow me to brag on her just a little bit more.  She is an AWESOME teacher.  She has a very gifted way of communicating to her students bringing out the best in them.  I’m very PROUD of her.

My focus is on pleasing the Lord and living each day focused on being the best husband that she could have. That is what I’m thinking today.

I recently cancelled by facebook account.  Why?  Well I had some personal reasons but probably one of the largest is that facebook had become an obsession to me.  I wanted to be on it whenever I had an opportunity.  Instead of doing somethings that are important I found myself sitting down at the computer wasting away precious time.  

I plan to start blogging again.  This is where you will find me.  If you want to know what I’m thinking well then you will have to come and see.

I want this blog to be a blessing and not a curse.  I want it to be a place of encouragement to you and I place of accountability for myself.

So this is where you will find me.

The last several weeks have been awesome to say the least.  I got offered a job working for AAA in their insurance department.  I love it because it is salary and not commission.  I will never be rich at this job but I will provide for my family and it is a steady flow of income.  One of the best parts is my manager is a Christian.  He is a good man and I’m very impressed with him.  I have to drive one hour one way to get to my job but it has allowed me to do a lot of thinking.  God has blessed me and my family so very much.  It is unbelievable what he has done.  Thanks to all that prayed for me.  I’m including a video to a song that has spoke to me over these past few weeks.  It is my testimony.

It won’t let me embed it so here is the link.  Please go take a look:

Merle waiting to catch an airplane with me.

Today a very dear friend of mine is being laid to rest.  For over three years I was her pastor down in Pascagoula.  She was on the pulpit committee that led the call for me to become the pastor of that church.  She gave me great support while I was there.  Merle taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as Treasurer, served as Women on Mission leader, served on the Budget and Finance committee, and chaired the Daycare Committee while I was there.  She did all very faithfully.

I’ve been thinking of words to describe Merle and there are many that come to mind.  The problem comes with actually putting them on here in a meaningful way. 

Merle at a McDonalds in Odessa Ukraine

Merle had a big heart.  HUGE!  Even this past year though I was not the pastor at Calvary she sent my son and daughter a Christmas/Birthday happy.  She was one of the most giving people that I know.  Even in the last couple years she helped mentor and teach literacy.  Merle was faithful.  You could always count on her if she agreed to serve.  Merle had spunk.  She was a go getter.  Nothing slowed her down.  Merle was a woman of prayer.  Merle continuously grew in her relationship with the Lord.  Merle would also tell you if she disagreed with you but she would always do it with tears in her eyes.

Probably the greatest experience that I had with Merle is

Merle felt a great deal of love when this poor lady gave her such a beautiful scarf.

when she and I went with some others on a mission trip to the Ukraine.  Even though Merle had been a leader in missions at our church she had never went on such a trip.  I was so surprised when she told me that she wanted to go.  Then I was just excited.  While in the Ukraine I believe that she touched more lives than any because they knew that she had gone through great effort to get there.  She would walk the streets of those villages until she just literally gave out and had to sit in the van.  I will never forget the testimonies that she shared while there.  I also will never forget having to help her with her luggage on that trip.  I laugh because Merle was the Queen of the souviners.  She bought something everywhere she went and I had to carry it through all of the airports for her.  Even in our last stop

Merle sharing her testimony with an interpreter.

before home she was STILL BUYING.  She wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.

I love Merle Ivy.  I have missed her so much since we moved to Tennessee.  I would include her into a list of the top five people that I have met in my life.  See you in Heaven Merle!  I’m not carrying your luggage up there!

This is Merle and Robyn Dupree with the wife of the host family where they stayed while in Ukraine.

This is the whole mission team in front of the Black Sea.

This is us in Vienna on our way home.

I took this picture of the view from the rear of my house.  I love the single tree with the tire swing.  I just wanted to share it with all of you.

As most of you know I have entered this year into the wonderful world of Insurance.  Yesterday I was out visiting businesses in a nearby town when I came across a huge commercial deal in the making.  I’ve been gathering all the information needed all day in preperation of putting together a quote for this gentleman.  Did I tell you it is huge?  Anyway please be praying for me over the next couple of days while I do this.  Pray that my quote comes in under these guys.  Pray that I don’t make any mistakes that may harm his business in the future.  Just pray!

Last night I had an interesting appointment.  I went to this home with the intention of giving the husband a quote on some life insurance.  As I entered I felt a little tension in the room and the husband gave me the impression tha he was not very happy about me being there.  Half way through my questions I was not feeling very good about the appointment.  This guy had to reveal to me that he had his driver’s license revoked, had served time on a felony, and was currently on probation.  I’m immediately thinking that the underwriters are going to decline this application.  This particular policy requires you to be on a bank draft.  Well you guessed it he didn’t have a checking account and he immediately told me that he didn’t want the policy.  Oh well, waisted trip I thought.

Before I left the 71 year old mother in law asked me if i could write a policy on her.  I told her that I would try and immediately started asking her all of the medical questions.  The husband in the mean time when back to where his wife was and turned up his music.   When he did that the battle was on.  She accused him of cheating on her.  He accused her of smoking crack.  The 71 year old mother just dropped her head.  I prayed for my life.  All I can think of is he fact that this guy has done time and I’m a witness to it all.  I just kept asking my questions.  I may die tonight but I would die doing my duty.

Well after about 20 minutes and realizing I was still there they hushed and I could hear her crying.  She told him that she was cold.  “Do you want a blanket?” was his reply.  “No, I want you to warm me up.”  Gross I thought. Mom sign here.  She signed and I was out of there…thankfully…alive.

My Mom, Dad, and Sister were in this past weekend and we took a few pictures.  Here are a few of my daughter Sydney.  My sister is in one picture.  I got the looks in the family.  Just kidding.

For those who check my blog from time to time I thought I would share the latest picture of my beautiful family…dogs and all.