From the Home Place

May 11, 2026

Good morning all. Hopefully some of you were blessed to receive the gift of rain over the weekend. Our area, not so much, but this is a new week with new possibilities. As far as today’s temps go, we are starting at 35 and headed for 87! Yep, that’s way too hot for this early in the year, but you should be able to get some yard word done if you wish – remember to wear your sombrero, we don’t need any heat strokes, o.k.?

As we start the second full week in May, we are praying for those who make their living in the agricultural world. With the extreme drought and no forecast of measurable rain in the near future, these folks are facing several hard decisions.

“Do I plant any crops or not? But if I don’t plant, what will we live on this year? Should I sell some or all of our livestock, but if we do, what will we live on next year? What if this is the beginning of several years of drought? Should we just sell the whole outfit and move to town? But, I’ve always dreamt of leaving this place to one of my grandkids, and I’m not sure I can survive in town?”

This kind of weather and the unrest and unsettledness in our nation and world has plenty of folks concerned. If you want to trust the mass media and the national news, things have never been worse for all generations living today. If you talk with elderly folks, they remember other times when things were plenty tough in the good ‘ol US of A. Yet, they will usually also mention something like “folks are different today than they were when I was younger. It’s a different world.”

I have to say, I agree with the eldest generation of our country when they make such statements. Just yesterday Miss Deb and I were visiting with some folks our same age. We too mentioned our concern for the general public of this nation if things go from bad to worse. Yet, we know that God is in control and God always has a plan. Yesterday in Sunday School one of the ladies mentioned that God will once again work circumstances to fit His plan.

I remember back in the 80’s, interest rates hit an all-time high, leaving many folks broke. As pastors we were concerned about how all of that would affect the local church? You know what? There were more people in church at that time than any other time in the years before. You see, pastors have watched it happen several times, when things get tough, more people turn to the church. I wonder if God is up to the same thing with all that is going on in our world today? And if He is, will folks come to the church for assurance that God has got this?

Only time will tell the truth about all of these questions, but one thing for sure is that God is still in control. For generations upon generations, He has allowed the circumstances of life to facilitate His plan and purpose. From a survey of the Bible, God always has one plan when He is working with His people, to draw them ever closer to Himself.

Yes, there is a severe drought in many states right now. Yes, there is way too much division among the people of our nation. Yes, we live in world of unrest. Yes, things could get much worse. But the answer to all of these concerns is found within ourselves. Will we step further away from God, or will we step toward God? It would seem, that the answer to that question lies within the people who presently have a personal relationship with God.

You see my friends, if the people around us don’t see and hear us trusting fully in God through these difficult times, why would they ever come to church to learn about Him? As I have said before, “the light of the people of Jesus Christ shines the brightest when things are the darkest”. Remember Jesus stated, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Could it be that our Heavenly Father is giving us the opportunity to live the old song we used to sing, “Shine Jesus Shine!” For it was Jesus who told all Christians of all times, “You are the light of the world.” Loved ones, please do not allow Satan and “the world forces of this darkness” to dim your light. If anything, draw ever closer to Jesus so that your light will shine brighter than ever before! If all of us who proclaim faith in Jesus will draw ever closer to Him, He will heal our land. His promise, not mine.

Also, when groups of church folks draw ever closer to the Savior, others will call that a revival! And you know how a revival starts don’t you? With one person, that how a revival starts. So, will you be that one person? That person who shouts “shine Jesus shine, in my life and through my life” will be the start of revival within your community!

Yep, it’s dark out there, what are we going to do about it? Will we join the grumblers, or will we join the revival? The latter will cost us, but then what did our salvation cost Jesus? More questions waiting to see how we will answer them.

Declaring, “Light me up Jesus” with you, Neal