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On my way down to Sun n’Fun
I stopped in a Cracker Barrel to pickup a book on tape, I saw that Kenny Rogers had a new album of faith related songs, so I looked at the jacket and saw that my dear friends the Whites, (Ricky Skagg’s wife is Sharon, one of the White sisters, and I love her, she’s such a great lady ). I thought the album would be worth having just to hear them sing together so I bought it. In the car heading on down the road I slipped it in the CD player and was stunned and the power of the songs. Kenny Rogers has always been able to sell a song, but I have to believe that something powerful has happened in his life, at least I pray that the feeling with which he sang these songs means that he has given his heart to the Lord.

The entire album is great but but one song really grabbed me.

Shepherd Boy

One by one Jesse’s sons
Stood before the prophet
Their father knew a king
Would soon be found
And each one passed
Except the last
No one thought to call him
Surely he would never
Wear a crown

CHORUS:
But when others see a shepherd boy
God may see a king
Even though your life seems filled
With ordinary things
In just a moment He can touch you
And everything will change
When others see a shepherd boy
God may see a king

One by one problems come
And dreams get shattered
And sometimes it’s hard
To understand
But things like chance
And circumstance
They don’t really matter
Our Father holds tomorrow
In His hands

CHORUS

Well it wasn’t the oldest
It wasn’t the strongest
Chosen on that day
And yet the giants fell
And nations trembled
When they stood in his way

CHORUS

This is one of my favorite songs, because it highlights a wonderful characteristic of God. God doesn’t see what we see, He sees a great deal more. God also has a plan, and He is fully aware of the timing of His plans. I watched a loved one struggle for months as one opportunity after another passed them by, at times I wondered how much more disappointment they could take. Then just when it seemed the tide would never turn, God poured out an incredible blessing that helped heal all the former hurts. Why did God wait so long? What is time to God? God uses just the right amount of time, every time, after all, He is God……. Sometimes, it takes time for His plans to be worked out.

The next time you wonder if God is really there, thank Him for what He is doing that you may not understand. You can rest in the knowledge that though it may be tough today, and maybe even tomorrow, your Heavenly Father will not wait forever to bring the blessings. You can trust that His timing is perfect.

Faith is knowing that God is in control, so when you think you have been sentenced to being a shepherd boy, God may see a king……..

the pilgrim

* Shepherd Boy by Ray Boltz can be downloaded form iTunes.

*Photo Note: Nikon F100, 80-200 AF f 2.8 lens, Velvia film, scanned and run through Topaz filters.

* Health Note: Wednesday weight in up one pound. Back to work, keep praying! 30 pounds to go, down 24 now.

On my way back home yesterday from Lynchburg, I got into some really heavy traffic and at one point I was in a row of cars crawling along behind someone going abut 50 mph in the passing lane. I was pretty calm about it, I was just looking forward to them pulling over, and letting us all resume normal interstate speeds. While I was cruising along, too slow, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a car barreling down on us. He roared up to right behind me then dangerously cut across between two cars in the other lane and then cut back in a very small space a couple of cars in front of me. Then he set there like all the rest of us until the front car finally came out of their coma and pulled over.

It got me to thinking, where did that guy think he was going, and how did he think all his dangerous maneuvers would help him get there? Beats me, but then I have been guilty of the same kind of maneuvers in trying to live my own life. How many times have I rushed up to a difficult situation and then impatiently changed my plans trying to get a resolution to my liking. That is not how God wants us to live our lives. He wants us to trust Him, and approach our lives with a measured approach that allows for Him to work things out in His time not ours. I’m just as impatient as the next guy, but I’ve learned through many tough lessons that waiting on God is never a waste of time. Here are some principles that will help you slow down and wait on God;

(1) God loves you and will never forsake you.
(2) God knows what is best for you and if you wait for Him will lead you to His best.
(3) God understands you’re human, but He rewards your obedience with His greatest blessings.
(4) God knows what the enemy is trying to do to you, and He has already defeated Him!
(5) If you ask God for His guidance, He will never fail to give it to you.
(6) He loves you so much that He gave His only Son so that you might have life everlasting.
(7) There is a God, and we’re not Him………….

Slow down, listen for His voice, and live the life He wants for you. Trust me it’s better than anything you could ever think to ask for…….

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: Barn Doors, Virginia countryside, D7000, 24-120 AFS VR. 120mm – f8 @ 1/125th ISO 400.
Handheld, VR active.

Well it’s another successful trip to Lynchburg. I got to address over a hundred students in three classes and met some great folks from the community. I even got to meet the elusive Eldon Yoder….. Eldon had commented several times on the blog and he came to my program open to the community last night. I always enjoy visiting Tim Isaacson and his group at Liberty University,
they are a great group of folks. I also love to visit the historic town of Lynchburg. Tim and I took our dinner break and did a little shooting downtown, what a target rich environment. I will share some of the images with you, hope you like them. In the coming days lots of fun traveling so I expect to show you a lot more images. God is good, and then some…..

the pilgrim

*Photo Notes: All images D7000, 24-120 AFS VR f4 and 70-300 AFS VR f4.5-5.6 – ISO 100
tripod, wireless release and polarizers.

Health notes: Last week I forgot to give my weigh in 2 more lbs, down to 214.