From the Home Place

A blog sharing insights, stories, and reflections on life from a Christian perspective.

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  • Amazing replacement!

    April 23, 2026

    Good morning dear friends! Our Lord has painted a great day for us to enjoy. I love watching the sun come up as the promise of a new day. We never know exactly what each day holds, but we always know Who holds each day. We should all be grateful for the ones He decides to share with us.

    Today’s high of 52 will encourage you to cover your hide with a light jacket before you head outside. Sounds like there could be a little snow in the mountains, maybe some of it will even reach the lower elevations. That would be great!

    Here’s one for you. My oldest sister was killed in a trucking accident several years ago. Her birthday was April 22. Well, several years after Lolly’s death, God placed another lady in my life, her name is Beth. When we moved back to Wyoming in 2016, the first lady we met at our new home was Miss Beth. It wasn’t very long before she became very dear to us. Well, in that journey, Beth we were talking about ages and discovered that Beth is four days older than I am, making her my “older sister.”

    So, here’s the twist, Beth’s birthday is the same date as my older sister Lolly’s birthday, April 22. God replaced my much loved sister Lolly with my dear sister Beth, both born on April 22! You see, quite often when God removes something from our lives, He fills that vacancy with something, or in this case someone just as special.

    Sounds like salvation doesn’t it. When God asks us to yield our life to Jesus for salvation, too often we hesitate to surrender all to Him. Yet when we come to the point of allowing Jesus to be truly the Lord of our life, He replaces the bad attitudes and habits with good ones.

    What is it that God asking you to give to Him? May I encourage you to give Him whatever He wants, because He wants to replace it with something way more special. It seems to me that most often the replacement comes in human form. Oh my, the dear people God has brought into my life as a result of me allowing Him to have more access within my life. You see loved ones, we can never out give God, but I do dare you to try! Give it all to Him and watch what He does!

    Giving to the great Giver with you, Neal

  • Right under your nose.

    April 22, 2026

    Another nice day in Wyoming, but moisture would make it a beautiful day! The long-range forecast is that we will have little probability of receiving any rain the rest of April, so much for May flowers???

    I just completed a great visit with our middle son-in-law. He is the administrative pastor for seven different churches in Florida. We both spoke of how difficult it is to find young men who know they have been called to full-time ministry. It seems to both of us we have a real shortage of young men who possess the greatest gift for a pastor: that thing called humility.

    For whatever reason, most of the young men of today want the position, the power and the pleasure of being a pastor, but they have little desire to work their way into a community. It’s almost like they have an attitude that any community would be blessed to have their presence. And teachability, they have a piece of paper that says they have been taught, now it’s their turn to teach, so they think.

    For my son-in-law and I, you just can’t top humility, drive and people skills when looking for a new pastor. The three qualities that appear to be void in most of our bible college and seminary students of today. But every now and then, there is such a young man who possess all three of these qualities. If you have been blessed to find such a man, stop and praise God for His gracious gift to your church and your community!

    Because of the void of humble young men accepting the call to be life-servants of the Most High, it seems to both of us that churches are going to have to start training their own pastors from within. After all, where will you find a pastor who knows your community any better? Where will you find a pastor who has close connections within your community? Where will you find another pastor who is any more teachable than a young man who realizes that his church community is willing to invest in his education and preparation to live among his people, in his community?

    And by the way, we need to start training these young men when they are in grade school, continuing up to the time that they receive a call to serve their home church as full-time pastors! Yes, it’s going to be a long process, so choose wisely, pray fearlessly, and invest heavily.

    Think about it, he may not be the greatest preacher to ever bless your pulpit, but I know many churches that would love to have a pastor who loves their community and the families who call that community their home! After all, if he is humble, called and teachable, he can always learn how to be a better preacher. As I’ve often said, “Give me a man with a heart for God and people, and I will train his hands and head.”

    Looking for the next generation’s pastor with you, Neal

  • Perspective!

    April 20, 2026

    Starting today at 30, headed for 80 as today’s high. Hot, dry and windy makes for an “elevated fire risk.” We are all praying that the Lord will stop any fires.

    Yesterday was an amazing day at the CMA church here in Lusk. We are studying our way through the book of Ephesians and did a quick overview of Chapter 3 as our lesson. Three times within this chapter, the Apostle Paul mentions that he was a “prisoner of the Lord.” For the past five years, Paul had lived in a jail cell..

    It would probably be good to mention here that jail in Paul’s days was nothing like jails today. For Paul the first two years of jail was in Jerusalem, like our county jail. The next three years he was in a Roman jail, like our federal prison. Paul is in the “big house.” As such, the government provided nothing except a 6 X 6′ cell carved in a rock ledge. Paul’s food, clothing and bedding all had to be provided by a friend, relative of church family member.

    For the last 5 years, at the time of writing Ephesians, Paul has lived in terrible conditions. Yet he writes that he is “a prisoner of the Lord.” Though Paul was originally arrested because a powerful group of Jewish religious leaders didn’t like his message, Paul did not say that he was a prisoner of the Jews. Though Paul was now a prisoner in Rome because he had appealed to Caesar about his case, Paul did not say that he was a prisoner of Caesar. No Paul trusted God to always be in control of every situation, we call that the sovereignty of God. As such, Paul said that he was in prison as a result of God’s plan for his life.

    So how about your circumstances? Will they be the result of someone else’s decisions, or a result of your decisions, or will your life circumstances be the result of a sovereign God? As I mentioned to the folks yesterday, we much never measure God by our circumstances, but that we must always measure our circumstances by God!

    Keeping our eyes upon Jesus with you, Neal

  • At the altar!

    April 19, 2026

    Good morning friends! I pray that this day will be special for you, and for those who gather with you to worship the living God. May I visit with you about that place within your place of worship called the altar. In Genesis 12, God calls Abram, who will later be called Abraham to move his family to a new land, a land which is to be God’s gift to Abraham’s family for generations to come.

    As Abram is traveling south to go to “the promised land,” he stops, pitches his tent and then the Bible tells us that Abram, “built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 12:8) For centuries, the altar has been that place where people offer personal sacrifices and call “upon the name of the Lord.” In the Old Testament people usually offered an animal as a blood sacrifice “to the Lord.”

    On this Sunday, as you go to worship the Lord, may I encourage you to make your “sacrifice to the Lord.” As Christ followers we first made our sacrifice “to the Lord” at the moment we were what the Bible calls “born again.” At that moment, with repentant hearts, we were declared righteous by the Holy God because of faith in the “sacrifice” of Jesus Christ upon the altar of the Cross of Calvary.

    So, if that explains where you are spiritually, today, I encourage to go the altar once again to make your sacrifice “to the Lord” and to “call upon the name of the Lord.” That is, don’t go to church just for your personal pleasure, go there to give your life in service to the Lord for the Lord. Let “the joy of the Lord” flow through your life so that others will be able to see God’s goodness. Stand and sing praises to the Lord, so that others will sense His presence. Pray humbly to the Lord so that others may realize the holiness of the Lord.

    As you prepare to go to church, and while you are at church, please pray for your Pastor as he stands at the altar of your church. His role is to bring you into the presence of the Lord through the proclamation of God’s word, and there you get to bring your sacrifice “to the Lord.” Bring all the Lord has blessed you with to the altar and present it before Him as your sacrifice. Bring your finances, the things God has given you, the people God has given you, the life God has given you, bring it all to the altar and give your “sacrifice to the Lord, for the Lord!”

    Today, as you sing, as you pray, as you listen to the sermon, do all as unto the Lord God Himself, for His glory and for the good of those around you. Be the kind of worshiper that encourages others to live lives “to the Lord, for the Lord.” Allow me to say it this way, “Our worship isn’t about we, it’s about He!” Yet, as we gather at the altar, giving our personal life to Him, for Him, others then find themselves in the presence of the King of kings, the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ! The One who gave His life as a sacrifice for all. Should we sacrifice anything less than our all for Him as well? We sacrifice not to purchase our redemption, Jesus did that; we sacrifice our life as proof of our redemption.

    Joining you at the altar of sacrifice, Neal

  • Appreciating plumbing

    April 18, 2026

    Well as usual, all of the moisture missed us. Yesterday, it snowed for about 30 seconds, but the wind howled all day. For those of you who received rain or snow, praise Him for it, and please drive careful. We are starting today at 18 degrees, headed for 54 for a high, with another round of 50 mph winds. Tomorrow looks like a beautiful day to gather with other believers to worship our Savior!

    Last evening Miss Deb and I watched a great movie, “The Forge.” One of the lines that I really appreciated in this movie was this, “Be a fountain, not a drain.” Let’s chew on that statement for a bit as we begin another day, and as we begin preparing ourselves to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father for worship tomorrow.

    “Be a fountain, not a drain.” A fountain gives fresh water, while the purpose of a drain is to take away tainted water. As Christians, we are to be givers, more often than we are takers. Upon the occasion that my Heavenly Father allows me to harvest meat for our freezer, it sure is nice to be able to run hot soapy water into our kitchen sink as I clean my hands and knives. Yet, it is also especially nice when the drain takes away all of that nasty water.

    So, it doesn’t matter if we are washing dinner dishes, or nasty knives, it is always a blessing when the fountain provides clean hot water! Yet it is also a blessing when the drain works correctly, without any clogs. Two points: 1) Being a fountain is to be a blessing to those around us. When we give of our time, encouragement, hugs, help fulfill needs and a friendly smile we are being a fountain.

    Maybe think of it this way. A main water line provides fresh water into your house. Then that freshwater line is tapped into with smaller lines that run to all of the sinks in your home, to your showers, bathtubs and washing machine. There is a water line that goes to the hot water heater within your home to provide you with hot water at all of these locations as well. Another line feeds your water conditioner, so that the hot water is cleared of minerals in the water, making it “soft.” There is most likely even a water line that goes to your refrigerator so that you can have ice and cold water on demand. Cold water lines run to all of the toilets within your home, to your outside faucets and to a sprinkler system, if you have one, to keep your lawn nice and green. All of those “fountains” keep your life happy and healthy.

    Yes, being a fountain is that avenue of being a clean, healthy, blessing to those around you! Being a fountain would also make a pretty good hymn, wouldn’t it?

    2) And then there is the drain. A drain is great when it works but is a real pain when it doesn’t. If you have ever had to remove the drain from under your kitchen sink, or bathroom vanity, you know how nasty those drains can be! Of course, our Heavenly Father greatly prefers we be a clean supply of blessings rather than a nasty place of germs.

    When I heard that phrase last evening, I immediately thought of being a fountain as being heavenly minded, while being a drain as being earthly minded. A heavenly minded person is one who worships, praises and blesses, while earthly minded folks tend to be all about self. Even when drain-type folks go to church, they go for what they get out of it, not for what they can give to it. Yes, such people are a real drain!

    If by chance, you disagree with any of my illustrations, may I suggest that you grab a couple of pipe wrenches and remove any of the drains within your home. With that drain firmly in your hands, look at all of the gunk that has formed on the inside of the drain. Now, stick your beak in one end and take a big whiff, smells great right? Next, get yourself a glass of fresh water, pour that water through said drainpipe and catch that water in another glass at the other end, now have a drink out of the second glass. To which, you had better be shouting NO! to all of the above.

    Drains are just plain nasty, just like our sin! Now read 1 John 1:9 and rejoice that your loving Heavenly Father has provided you a way to run all of the sin-tainted, nasty water in your life through the person of Jesus Christ, making that water drinkable once again! In a real sense, Jesus is the water filtration system for our lives!

    In Jeremiah 17:13 we find these words, “Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.” So, once again I remind each of us, “be a fountain, not a drain.”

    Drink from the Fountain with you, Neal

  • It’s Dry Out There

    April 17, 2026

    Starting at 27 degrees, moving up to 41 with 47 mph wind gusts. The talk of getting some wet snow has gone away.

    Yesterday Coffee and I traveled to Wheatland after we dropped Miss Deb off to teach in Guernsey. All of this area is in an extreme drought, but the Wheatland area is the worst I have seen so far. They have actual sand dunes where there is usually green grass. The ground is so dry that it is literally blowing away. The problem is that once that sand gets to blowing, it acts like sandpaper and cuts off all of the grass in front of it, thus increasing the amount of blowing sand. Yesterday I saw sand drifts four feet deep! It will take lots of moisture before that grassland will ever recover. “Heavenly Father” please send measurable moisture to that area and the rest of Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and South Dakota. Thank You, Amen.”

    Between fires, wind and drought, much ground that produced grass and hay is no longer usable. That will mean that many cattle who should remain in production will be going to the sale barn. Loss of sustainable income means that many farms and ranches in the areas mentioned above will be forced to sell. If the ground is no longer usable for agriculture, what will it be used for?

    Here’s another “drought” related fact for you. Enrollment in most seminaries and bible colleges is down twenty to forty percent, creating a drought of qualified pastors and church planters. As such, we continue to close around six-thousand churches in America every year, leaving a deficit in those areas. Even though we are planting around twelve to fifteen hundred churches each year, many parts of America are left without a spiritual influence. Thus, I would suggest that this is a major factor in the present declining condition of America. We have a spiritual drought as well!

    It would appear that there is one more drought in America – it is reported that most Americans have lost their “hope.” One author writes, “America has become hopeless.” So, with a physical drought, a spiritual drought and an emotional drought, can this land sustain life? Yes!

    God tells us in 1 Chronicles 7:14, “When my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Once again, we find that the condition of a nation rests upon the shoulders for God’s children – those who have a personal relationship with Him, not just know about Him.

    It seems that God will heal our “land” – “area, nation, territory” – when Christians “humble themselves,” “pray” and “seek” God’s presence and turn from “wicked ways.” When we do our part then He will bring an end to the spiritual, emotional and physical droughts we are dealing with today. It would also seem reasonable to assume that until all of God’s conditions mentioned here are met, He will most likely not change our conditions.

    Few things will humble a person more than to lose their home, faith and hope. Perhaps it is time for each of us to pay attention to God’s ways and not mans?

    Humbly approaching God with you, Neal

  • It was kind of true

    April 16, 2026

    We will start warm and end with a hot day, starting at 45 and ending at 65 with wind gust close to 40 mph. There is the “possibility” of afternoon “thundershowers,” hopefully with no fires. Tomorrow is still calling for some snow!

    Yesterday I went in for my annual “wellness check” according to Medicare. My blood pressure and heart rate are lower than that of most folks, I suppose it’s getting ready to quit all together one of these days. While visiting our eldest daughter and her husband last week, we had a good laugh about a message Mandi had received from her Mom. As you know Miss Deb and I were in Baggs, Wyoming helping with the grand opening of a new church there on Easter Sunday.

    We spent the weekend helping the planter family in getting ready for the grand day on Sunday. A grand day it was indeed! The town of Baggs has a population of 409 people, on Easter Sunday 92 of those folks attended Battle Mountain Community Church! We were all so blessed to see such a large number of folks come to Easter Sunday service.

    During the service, Miss Deb and I worked in the nursery with the little ones. There was one little girl, 8 months old, who immediately captured my ‘ol ticker. May I say, her momma is feeding her quite well, making this little gal quite snuggly. During the service, she and I rocked in a office chair that was in the room. It didn’t take too long before she was sound asleep in my arms! Deb snapped a picture and sent it to Mandi, with the title “Your father is in heaven!” Unfortunately, the picture took a while to join the note!

    So, when our daughter Mandi opened the text, all she saw was “Your father is in heaven!” at which time her heart skipped a beat. For a few moments, she thought that my ‘ol ticker had finally quit. We all had a good laugh when we were together a few days later, but I suppose there wasn’t much laughter in her heart for a few minutes.

    Unfortunately, we live in a time when we often receive partial information from our news agencies, and other folks as well. As such there are also those times within our lives that our “‘ol ticker” skips a beat after hearing a partial truth.

    Yet so many live with just part of the truth from the Bible. Two major cults of our day often appear at your door with such a partial truth. Oh, they claim to read the same Bible that you read and to love the same Jesus as you love, yet in their doctrine they deny the truthfulness of the full Bible and believe Jesus to be less than God. They sow partial truth, about the greatest truth ever revealed to humanity. Theirs tends to be a salvation by works instead of by faith. (Rom. 5:1)

    The Apostle Peter was writing of such folks when he penned these words in 2 Peter 3:17, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness.” Peter then gives us verse 18 as the means of not falling for spiritual half-truths, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

    Yes, loved ones, there are folks who sure would love to convince you that they are the only ones who have the “true faith,” while they deny the deity of Jesus Christ and the absolute truth of the Scriptures as inspired by God.

    Stand firm in your faith, know what the Bible really reveals and live it each day of your life. If you are not sure of what you believe and why you believe it, find a Bible-believing church near you and ask the pastor to connect you with someone who will help you “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Grow and glow!

    Daily growing in faith with you, Neal

  • Tax Season!

    April 15, 2026

    Good morning! Today is starting at 30 degrees, moving up to 69 with 20-38 mph winds. The weather forecast has upgraded Friday’s snow fall to possibly 4″ for our area. That will make travel difficult and the pastures green!

    Well, here it is, the dreaded “Tax Day.” This is the day that most state and Federal income tax payments are due. Around our outfit we also have to pay one other tax, “The Sit Tax.” Any time that Miss Deb or I sit down, Coffee is quickly there to charge us a tax for sitting down. With her head in our lap, and her backside wiggling, she becomes our own IRS agent, collecting the tax every time either of us try to take five.

    We gladly pay the tax, scratching her from nose to tail, or at least a quick pat on the head, and then Coffee curls up underneath Miss Deb’s reclined chair. Silly dog! When Coffee was just a few months old, she figured out that her evening meal happens at 4 p.m. each day. So, one day last week, we were both in our recliners studying for upcoming lessons. Miss Deb looked up at the clock and said, “Oh no, it 4 o’clock!”

    Coffee flew out from under Miss Deb’s chair and looked straight at Deb, who then asked, “What happens at 4 o’clock?” To which Coffee trotted out into the entryway and stepped on her “Eat!” button. Miss Deb lowered her chair and went and fed the dog.

    Monday, Miss Deb was gone to her ladies Bible study, and I was working in the shop. When Deb returned, we both came into the house, where we were quickly greeted by Coffee and as we all walked into the living room, we noticed that Coffee had been busy herding her stuffed toys (see picture). This is what happens when your Border Collie doesn’t have cattle or sheep to work.

    The same can be said for Christians. When we are not busy doing the work that we were made for, we quickly find other things to entertain ourselves. In 2 Thessalonians 3:11 we read, “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” Here an “undisciplined life” is referring to one who’s life is “untrained.”

    Such a person, much like our Border Collie Coffee, has an inward drive to do something, but because of their lack of training or discipline, they end up just being busy doing something instead of doing the things they were called to salvation for. Such a people are called “busybodies” according to the Bible.

    You see, a “busybody” is a person who isn’t busy about the Lord’s work as they should be, usually because they are too busy examining the lives of others. A true definition of the word “busybody” is, “one who is a meddler.” It would appear that this is the person Jesus was speaking of when He said, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

    Yes, I realize that by writing this article, I could easily be classified as such a person, but I hope not. Rather, my heart’s desire is to “spur one another on to good works,” or to say, “come follow me as I follow Christ.” The simple truth is that we all have “good works” to do that do not involve being busybodies.

    You see my friends, our salvation in Christ Jesus is not the end of the story. No, in fact, salvation is just the beginning of the story. The Bible makes it very clear that when a person is “born again,” that person is given spiritual gifts to use for the advancement of God’s kingdom. When a Christian uses their spiritual gifts, the people around them are blessed.

    So, how about today we all do the “good works” our Heavenly Father has for us to do? Otherwise, we each run the risk of being busybodies and just rearranging our toys.

    “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.”

    Working with you to fulfill our salvation, Neal

    Some of her creations

  • Saddle up!

    April 14, 2026

    We will start this one at 38 degrees, expecting 50 for a high, with the chance of some rain. We’ll take it.

    Yesterday, we gave $5 per gallon for diesel fuel here in Lusk. I remember back in 1971, my dad went bonkers because gas cost 36 cents per gallon. He declared that if I wanted to go anywhere with the pickup, I had to buy the gas to get there and back, otherwise I could ride a horse.

    Well, the $8 for a round trip to Guernsey and back was close to a day’s wages on most ranch jobs back then, so I rode a horse. Thirty miles each way, to see a certain young lady who lived in Guernsey. Though I made this trip only a couple of times during the summer, it was a big trip to see the beautiful little brunette who had captured my ticker.

    As I rode south, I rode through pastures as much as possible, yet there I had to watch for badger holes, cactus and rattlesnakes. However, riding through pastures kept me out of the sight of most folks. I say most folks because after one of my journeys there would always be someone say something like, “I saw you riding south the other day, there must be a pretty strong magnetic pull in that direction.” And there was a really strong pull to the south, but it sure was a long ride when I had to head back north.

    My, how times have changed. Today, I don’t even own a horse, fuel is $5 per gallon, and that cute little brunette now has gray hair and I have none. Oh, the things a young feller will do for love! You see, back in 1971, I was in love, as I understood it then. But today, that love is so much deeper and richer. Back then, my love for Deb was pretty much one-sided, my side. I loved her for what she brought into my life. Today, I love Miss Deb for that same reason yet watching her shine as the woman of God she has become is what makes me love her more each day. I suppose my love is pretty much still one sided, but now, it greatly favors what I can do for Miss Deb.

    Isn’t that the way love for God works as well? We start loving Jesus because of what He has done for us, and then as we mature, we begin to love Him because of what He lets us do for Him. No, I am not implying that Jesus “needs” any of us to do anything for Him, I’m simply stating that because of a deep love for Jesus Christ, I love doing things that will bless Him. and the people He brings into my life

    Sometimes serving my Savior is a long, hard journey; much like riding 30 miles on a horse. Yet in the same way, it is love that draws me upon those journeys. Each day I live another part of the journey with Jesus, on my ride home! You see, one of these days, I will reach that final destination, and when I do I expect to be just as excited to see the face of Jesus Christ as I was excited to see the face of Debby Foy over fifty years ago! For on that day, love will be perfected.

    But for today, I’ll saddle a colt and ride another part of that journey. I’ll love on my girlfriend, and I’ll also go over and help a sweet little neighbor lady fix her front door lock. After that job is complete, I will most like return home to spend some more time studying for Sunday’s lesson and sermon. Oh yah, I will most like take a few minutes to work on our recent jigsaw puzzle as well. Other than that, what takes place this day is in His hands, it’s all part of the journey.

    So, my friend, will you ride with Jesus today? For you too are riding down a road that has an end to it. Are you ready to stand before your Maker? “Heavenly Father, I ask of You that today You will use this little note to remind each of us that just as You chose our beginning date, You also have planned our end date. Please help each of us to be ready for the day that we arrive in Your presence, may it be a day of rejoicing because today, we walk with Jesus! Thank You Father God!” Amen

    Riding south with you, Neal

  • Living by Giving!

    April 13, 2026

    Starting at 44 degrees, headed for 65 with 24 mph wind gusting to 47 mph. For now, Friday looks like 30 degrees for a high with 1/2″ of snow! Moisture!

    I love Sundays! That’s the day that we get to go to church and be involved in the lives of others, how much fun is that! Yesterday, I was blessed to get harassed by some folks, encouraged by some folks and to get to pray with other folks. I was exceedingly blessed to watch the baptism of several people making their public statement as Christ-followers!

    I taught Sunday School, preached a sermon, sang some great music, prayed and totally enjoyed a day of giving more than I received. You see loved ones, that’s what Sunday is supposed to be. I think that our loving Heavenly Father desires us to follow His leading and to be generous givers. Giving of our time, our resources, our talents and giving of our spiritual gifts for the “building up” of the body, the local church.

    I have experienced too many years of watching consumers attend church for what they get. Sure, we all go there to receive, but how often do we go to church looking for an opportunity to give? Yesterday I was blessed to get to hold the door for a person who was encouraged by a smile and a friendly voice. I was blessed to get to lead a Sunday School class where the “students” do most of the teaching. I was blessed to get to see people connect with their Heavenly Father while we studied the final verses of Ephesians 2 during our sermon time. I was blessed to get to see the large smile upon my dear wife’s face as she left church, having enjoyed a morning of being a blessing to others.

    It semes to me that when we go to church to give instead of just receive, it is a much more enjoyable experience. Most of us love the old hymn “I Surrender All.” Yet, how often do we actually live it? Isn’t to “surrender” fulfilled when we give? It doesn’t matter what you have, be willing to give it for the blessing of someone else and watch your joy meter jump upward!

    Now wait right there, the one thing that few care for you to give is your opinion. That’s right, few of us care about your opinion about politics. Try speaking words of joy. As the old saying goes, a nice smile is the one thing you can give that will be returned to you. Remember Jesus said that He came to give us His joy, how are we doing at passing that same joy along to others?

    May I suggest we go to church next Sunday to actually “surrender all to Jesus.” That includes surrendering both attitude and action. When it comes to church, go to give and just watch what you receive back “pressed down and multiplied.”

    Realizing that giving is real living, with you, Neal