Catching Up

Left to right- Johnny (my father-in-law), Pat (my mother-in-law), Ryan (my brother-in-law), Jordyn (my daughter), Becky (my wife) and me.

It has been a while since I blogged. I missed the whole month of August and as I sit here with Jordyn watching the US Open, it is a reminder to me that Summer is almost over.

The Summer just flew by as always but it was good. We have been very busy in the ministry but I did get to the beach for a week with the whole family at the end of July. It was a great week (see above picture) and another one of those times that compelled me to consider how time is flying by.

We have had many vacations at the beach and I thought of the years when Jordyn would spend hours building sandcastles, Ryan would play "Mario Kart" and Amanda would be incessant in her attempts to persuade "Nanny" to take her to "Wings" to go shopping.

This year, Jordyn spent hours reading Solzhenitsyn, Ryan checked stocks and Amanda didn't even make the trip...she is married now and lives in Colorado Springs!

What? When did all this happen? Guess I am just either getting old, nostalgic or both but those years went by like a flash.

It was a reminder to me, in real time, that our lives are literally vapor. Try as we may to hold on to such blessings, they are all temporary, which makes me cling even closer to what will last...my Lord Jesus.

He is so awesome and as the old song goes, "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."

I thank Him for the wonderful blessings of family...my beautiful wife, Becky and my amazing daughter Jordyn. I thank Him that Amanda is married and happy and I thank Him that He has blessed our family with a strong bond of love and faith in Him. But most of all I thank Him that He has revealed Himself to me. His grace is truly amazing.

I thank Him that while this earth and all that we see will pass away, His word will never pass away.

Reminds me of one of the many great songs that my nephew Jason wrote, "You Will Be"

Some of the lyrics:

"When the song is sung and the day is done, when the final battle's won, You will be, You will be.

When the dust is cleared and there's no more tears, when there's nothing left to fear, You will be, You will be.

You will be exalted to the highest place. There will be no other to steal your praise. Even after losing count of days, You will be!" - Jason Burton

What are you depending on? What are you hoping in? Anything other than Jesus, simply will not last.

The Risen Christ says:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”