As we close the books on another summer up here in the northeast, I can look back on it and see God’s handiwork throughout it.  While some of it was difficult, much of it was spent growing closer to God through some difficult times and through some great times.

Over the summer I spent a lot of my time doing some of my favorite things!  I played countless rounds of golf.  I was able to spend time with my brother and some friends that I had not seen in quite some time.  I attended concerts by Gold City, Greater Vision, Rejuvenation, Only By Grace, the Kingsmen, the Martins, Randy Simpson, New Harmony, Father’s Voice and Karen Peck and New River.  A lot of great memories were made.  However, I spent a lot of time working through some difficult days and nights in my life as well.  The source of the problems and difficult days is not important.  What is important is what God taught me during these good time and the bad.

Contentment is a great word!  Charles Kelley says, “Christian contentment is the God-given ability to be satisfied with the loving provision of God in any and every situation.”  The Bible puts it this way in Philippians 4:11-13, “… I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: anywhere and in all things I am instructed to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Those who know me well, know that I love to read.  I am almost always reading a book or two.  This past summer, I read several books that are wonderful resources to help you in your Christian walk.  Here is the list of books that I read along with a short synopsis of each book:

“God Loves You” by Dr. David Jeremiah
This book was a re-read for me having read it when it came out a few years ago.  The full title of the book is “God Loves You; He Always Has – He Always Will.” While that statement may seem a bit simple and obvious to you, this book reinforces the truth that God does indeed love you!  He loves you no matter what you have done.  He loves you as much when you do something bad as He does when you do something good.  This book really is an in-depth study of God’s Love and I can promise you that you receive something from it no matter where you are in your Christian walk.

“Emotions” by Charles F. StanleyGod made us with emotions but sometimes we can let those emotions overtake us.  They can control us and they can steal our joy and even drive us to do things that we should not do.  Dr. Stanley, in this book, deals with fear, rejection, bitterness, guilt and despair.  He shares personal stories from his own life and he shows us the biblical principles that we need to overcome these emotions and keep them in check.  The book is a great resource for Christian’s as we deal with our emotions on a day to day basis.

RUN FOR YOU LIFE!!!!!! That phrase will probably conjure up different images for different people.  It sounds like a new health club slogan imploring you to get into shape to extend your life!  It could be the name of a race or marathon that could double as a fundraiser for one of the charities that researches cures for disease.  I am sure we have all heard that phrase uttered in a horror film as the latest monster chases the actors and actresses across the screen!

Well, for me, and my friends Final Harvest, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE is the name of the revival that we are co-hosting in Rochester, NY on June 5-7, 2015.  There will be musical guests including Jason Runnels (formerly of Tony Gore and Majesty and the Down East Boys), Greg Logins and Revival and Jeffrey Branam.  Final Harvest will be appearing each day and Wanda Osborne will be the special speaker each day.  I will be emceeing the event.

In Jeremiah, chapter 18, versus 3 through 6, the Prophet says; “So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as it seemed best to him.  Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand.’”

I love the Old Testament!  While most of what you read in the Old Testament may not directly apply to us today, I believe that you can find many practical, life applications in those great books of the Bible.  The passage above is obviously talking about the national of Israel, however, what makes up a nation?  Individual people make up a nation so it is not s stretch to reason that this passage was speaking of individual people as well as an entire nation and we too are like clay in the hand of the potter when we are in our Heavenly Father’s care.

J. Wilbur Chapman had this to say about the potter and the clay; “The clay is not attractive in itself, but when the hands of the potter touch it, and the thought of the potter is brought to bear upon it, and the plan of the potter is worked out in it and through it, then there is a real transformation.”  Isn’t that the case with us Christians as individuals?  When we allow Christ to touch our life and His Will and His Plan are worked out in us and through us, then there is real transformation!  But, how can we really know that God will do this?