Cut me loose……..

After a pretty rough early week, the weekend blossomed into a great two days!   Saturday night Sherelene and I went to a Chris Tomlin concert in our hometown.  I’m a big fan of his music and his strong stance for Christ.  It was more than an enjoyable concert, it was a deep worship experience.  As often happens when you spend several hour in worship, it really started to focus me on the task at hand.  The second thing that happened was a sweet email I received from my dear brother, and shooting buddy, Jim Haverstock.  Jim expressed his thoughts on my postponed retirement plans, and said he thought that maybe God was not finished with my ministry opportunities through my service to Nikon. Finally this morning Sherelene and I went to church and a guest speaker delivered a wonderful, thoughtful, and very timely message for me.

He spoke of our need to reach out to the Least, the Last, and the Lost, he called it,  looking for people that no one else wants.   All of these things came together to create something of a perfect spiritual storm in me!  I’ve made it clear what my hearts desire is, but tonight sitting in another Courtyard by Marriott in Nashville, it’s more clear than ever.  My ministry has always been about trying to live in a way that points others to my Heavenly Father, and while I have been involved in personal evangelism, it has not been on the front burner.  It is now!  I will start to pray that God will send me those people that are seeking Him.  Some time ago I prayed the Jabez prayer for several months and He sent me countless people that were seeking someone to share Christ with them.  I’m ready for another round.  I’m not talking about handing out tracks or approaching total strangers in the mall!  I am talking about asking God to make me keenly aware of those that I meet that are searching, or lost, or in need of an extra large helping of His love.  I’ve kicked plenty of doors down for Jesus, and it never works, but when He opens a door, that’s when the fun starts.  I’m pumped about a renewed commitment to serve Him more deeply, more completely, and more faithfully.

I want to thank, the speaker at church, Jim Haverstock, and Chris Tomlin for helping me to re-focus on my intended purpose in life.  I never lost complete sight of that purpose, but the point of my focus was beginning to get, forgive me, “blurred”.  Couldn’t resist a photography term.   Now I have a very big favor to ask to all of you that frequent this blog.  I would ask that you pray for me.  I want Him to prepare me, strengthen me, and show me through the Holy Spirit, how to be a witness for Him.  I also want to be more aware of what is happening spiritually around me, and lastly, I ask that He will send me those that He knows I can share His love with.  I’ll make a deal with you, when He starts to answer our prayers, I will share the stories of victories with you.  I will call them, Unrestrained Stories!

I’m excited and filled with hope about what God is about to do!

Thank you,

the pilgrim

The Song:     From the Inside Out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.