Obedience Brings Rest

Hello, everyone. Hope you are surviving in these winter days. I'm ready for Spring! In the mean time, I've been studying about the kings of Israel and Judah in Chronicles and Kings. What an interesting study! One of the good kings was King Asa in Judah. This was during the time of the divided kingdom. King Asa reigned, and for the most part, was a righteous king.

"Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places...He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers...he said to Judah, 'we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side...' "

Here we have a recipe for revival! Remove sin in our lives, seek the Lord, experience rest. How well it would be if America would see this as the way to life. Instead, we see our country approaching chaos. We have a president, so called, who seems to either have no idea how to govern properly, or sees it and doesn't care as he drags our nation farther down a pathway to hell. Perhaps, we are beginning to experience some of God's judgment on our country with the economic turmoil we have been seeing. And realistically, how much longer can we go without God's judgment? We have murdered 45 million unborn babies in this country. We are ripe for judgment.

Not to end on a dismal note, however...perhaps we should pray that our nation would began using this recipe for revival instead of relying on the failed promises of worldly men. Removing sin(eliminating abortion), seeking God(asking Him to once again be a part of our schools and other aspects of public life) and then experiencing rest.

On a personal level, we can experience this sort of revival and rest any time! We can rid our lives of any known sin, we can seek God first, and then we can experience rest in our hearts though the world is raging all around.

God's blessings upon you...

"Fret Not Thyself..."

Greetings one and all...I hope somebody actually reads my posts...anyway, last evening, I was feeling a bit down about the situation with BO being president. This morning, I was drawn to Psalm 37. Have you read it lately? It has to be one of my favorite Psalms. Grab your Bible and take a peek...
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass
and wither as the green herb...
Wow! It seems like evil is winning in so many ways! It's like everybody is having a hay day, just reveling in sin and trying to think of ways to be more evil.
But, the Bible is clear...their day is very short!
In the meantime, we are to do what is says a bit farther into this chapter...
Trust in the Lord...
Dwell in the land...
Feed on His faithfulness...
Rest in the Lord...
Commit your way unto the Lord...
Delight yourself in the Lord...
We are to be like tiny children. The world may be raging all around, but they are content being held in their father's arms. They don't need to worry, for all of their needs will be taken care of. God is still in control. He is working out His purpose...the day is coming when the wicked will be no more! We don't need to fret, God is keeping track of everything...His love is unending.
HE WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY!

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, it's that beautiful time of year, again! I love Christmas! I love the music, the decorations, the time with family, etc. I am grateful that I get an extra day off of work tomorrow! God has been so very good to me. This past year has brought difficult and trying things into my life. I have struggled in my job and yet God has helped me tremendously. Today at work, I had two opportunities to witness for Him! I was discussing holidays, etc with a young man from Africa. I was able in my conversation to tell him what Christmas was all about, Christ came to earth save sinners! I don't know what he thought, but I hope that what I said will be lodged in his mind for further use by the Lord. The second instance had to do with the lottery tickets that were handed out to each of the staff. I don't play the lottery, so I offered mine to him. I told him what the Bible says in Proverbs, "He who would get rich quick, will fall into many a snare." I told him that it wasn't right for me to get rich from someone else's demise. He agreed with me. He asked me if I celebrated Christmas and I said I did. My hope is that God will use my words for His glory.
I would love to hear from many of you! Have a wonderful Christmas wherever you will be spending it!

Wright Family Gathering

On the 20th, was our annual Wright Family breakfast. My Uncle Nathan organizes this each year. Here I am at the gathering with three of my piano students who just happen to be my little cousins. He had a special Christmas tree made with places to hang stockings for all of the kids 12 and under. It was fun to watch the kids open their gifts from different family members. Here are some pics from the gathering.

Wright Trio

This month has been a busy one for the Wright Trio! We did some songs at my church dinner on the 5th. Then, we went to Salina, KS for a service at Todd and Marla Hurst's church. This evening we are singing at a church in Olathe. Next Sunday on the 28th, we'll be at a church in Marshfield, MO. We actually turned down one other invitation. Here are some pics from the event at the church dinner.

What is Christmas?

What is Christmas? This question was recently asked at church. Is it giving and receiving presents? Is it parties, fun or lavish decorations? I believe the Apostle Paul had it right when he said, "Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners..." (I Timothy 1:15) Yes, I love the baby in the manger...it's a beautiful story! But, as I tried to convey in Kids Church this morning, it's more than that. After showing them the manger scene, I showed them the cross and then the tomb. They really listened well! Oh, that we could remember how very important it is that Jesus did not stay a baby in the manger. But, as Bill and Gloria Gaither's beautiful song says, "He came to love, heal and forgive. He bled and died to buy my pardon..." I wish you a wonderful holiday, and a very Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for...so very, very much. Has everything gone as I would've liked for it to? No, there have been many disappointments in my life, but I am so blessed even still.
I have lived all of my life in the greatest country that has ever been on this earth. I love America and am grateful to be free.
I am grateful for Christian parents and for most of my education being in a Christian environment. My parents sacrificed a lot to make that possible.
I am grateful for good health, family, friends, a car, a job and clothes to wear, food to eat...and I could go on.
The greatest blessings however, are that Christ came into this world to save sinners, and that included me. I am grateful that as a child I began to sense that I needed Christ in my life. In spite of my many failures, He has been more than faithful to me. For His precious Word, The Bible, I am grateful.
"Come ye thankful people come.
Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in. Ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide. For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple come. Raise the song of harvest home."


--- Henry Alford