My soul finds rest in God alone

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭62‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Hopefully everyone had a blessed time with family, feasting, football and rest. For us it was the first time we had all 5 of our kids together at home. My heart was full but this passage reminds me even with those blessings we must remember where our soul finds true rest, hope and satisfaction. The Lord is the one provides all of it and those are far better with Him than without. Everything and everyone else will fall short and fail us at some point but not the Lord. May we make him and keep him our first love during this holiday season. For He is the reason for the season and empowers us to be a light and blessing in a time that can be overwhelming for others.

Play the Christmas Music, But Remember the Reason

John 1:9
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Pastors, Christmas season is upon us. You might have some new people coming in the doors. What a great opportunity.

We’re officially in the Christmas season. I’m kind of ready for an overload of Christmas music. Others might not be, but it’s OK either way.

Let’s keep in mind that the true reason for the season is the birth of our Savior … the One who’s love for us was so vast that He took the beating of all beatings and made the sacrifice of all sacrifices for our salvation. And remember, He did all of that and, while in what could have only been EXCRUCIATING pain, asked God to forgive the people mistreating Him down below the cross.

Be a giver, extend love and grace, all in all, be Christlike in this Christmas season.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Generations

Genesis 17:7
New International Version
7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Today’s message is coming a little later than normal. However, the events of today are the basis of today’s message. This morning, we had our alumni scrimmage for the girls basketball team. I personally only had one alumni there, because one of our former seniors is playing collegiately at MSU Denver so she was not available.

It was great to see young ladies, who still care about our program, even though I was not their coach. Next, my wife and I worked with some of the younger horses that we raised in order to get them ready to either have a career or sell, possibly both.

The point to all of this is the following question; what are we doing to make the next generation better? Are we enhancing the young people that we come in contact with whether they are our family by blood or just by some connection?

Sometimes our descendants are our children, but in many cases, our descendants are young people that we are around on a daily basis, who see our actions and emulate them, good, bad, or indifferent. I’ve asked this before, but are we doing things that make us worth following?

I hope you made it a great day in the trenches. I hope you were exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 11/25: Tree Day

Good afternoon, men!

As I have mentioned here before, the day after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. We drive about 40 minutes south and pick out a Leyland Cypress for our Christmas tree. This year, our middle son was so proud that he was old enough to finish sawing it down.

Sarah and I have kids that are soon to be 13, 10, and one that is 3 going on 19. The trip this morning came with bickering, brothers being annoying, Pippa talking non-stop and wanting everything she put her eyes on…..it was far from a perfect day.

However, days like these are the ones that I am most glad that The Father tasked me with being a dad. I screw it up regularly, but watching these 3 grow up is a blessing.

Dads out there, give thanks today for those that we have been put in charge of. They are difficult at times, but worth it in the long run!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Footprints in the Sand

I have always loved this poem, and just wanted to share today. Hope you are all having a blessed day.

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”

with love,

dlp

M.I.T.T.

So thankful

One of our pastors preached on John 6 and it was such a good reminder of who and what we have to be thankful for in Christ. I’m often just like the Jewish people in John in that I want to be able to figure out what is required to be loved and blessed by God. To gain God’s favor. But that is the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel: Christ has done all of the heavy lifting because only He could. The work and will of God is to believe in His son Jesus Christ. We want to be able to figure it out, take credit for it, do it our way when God has made it clear in His Word that we can’t. Jesus Christ is the only way and we just need to believe.

“Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As I focused on how much Jesus loves me and just wants me to believe and trust in Him, I got to enjoy so much fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ at church, a wonderful lunch with my family and then an amazing Chiefs win. Thank you Lord for who you are, that you love us despite our brokenness, that you dwell in our hearts through faith and that you are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine to your glory and our good. May we enjoy the ride as we live out our days until you return.

Only One Way

Isaiah 64:6
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Pastors, we have reached another Sunday, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, in fact. If it fits, make sure your congregation knows they have a lot to be thankful for.

I would be willing to bet that many, if not everyone on this message are “good” guys. There are probably a lot of good deeds and kinda actions performed regularly.

That’s great … keep that going.

We must still keep in mind that being a good person isn’t the way to heaven. Only through accepting Jesus as our Savior will we make it to heaven.

Make it a great Thanksgiving week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Humbleness Is the Key

Proverbs 22:4
4 Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.

I’m reading a book now called Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday. This book talks about the greatness of humble leaders in history from Marcus Aurelius to Queen Elizabeth. The Bible is also full of humble leaders.

Joseph had great power and forgave the brothers who sold him.

Daniel humbly interpreted dreams of kings.

Job had terrible things happen to him and would say one negative thing about God.

Jesus was born in a manger.

There are others, but the point is that humbleness is a biblical quality to have as a follower of Christ.

Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 1/18: Hills and Valleys

Good afternoon, men!

Today was my last day at my agency, as Monday I am starting a position as a cyber insurance specialist. I spent the day connecting with my clients and telling them bye, and how much I appreciated their business.

One of my favorite clients stayed on the phone for a while and we commiserated about our time together. He is in a rough stretch of business right now, but he told me: “It’s just hills and valleys, man. It will come back around. Just have to keep God and family first, and trust that he will take care of me.”

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be an independent business owner and have the pressure of high interest rates and inflation killing your sales. It has to be hard.

However, that perspective… “hills and valleys, and trust God’s plan”…that is the way to go! I was so encouraged by his resolve and outlook.

I hope you all have a great weekend and a blessed Thanksgiving!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan