Yesterday was a very interesting day in all of our worship services.  It was one of those days where God’s presence was so obvious.  The Spirit of the Lord was present in a great way.  Yet, distraction after distraction kept going on while I was preaching the Word of God.  Of course, this is even more evidence that God was moving. 

So many in the world today really question the existence of Satan, the devil.  I can assure you as a Christian, spiritual leader and pastor, I do not question his existence one moment.  I believe yesterday he did all he could to distract people from the Word of God and the message of God’s truth.  It is just like him to pull us away from truth, not send us to it. 

In fact, just as a champion runner faces adversity in the race, you will face demonic adversity in your Christian life as you race to the finish.  Let me give you a word of counsel:  this is not always bad.  Why?  Demonic adversity reminds you to embrace truth even as you are tempted to not do so.  Demonic adversity reminds you of the enormous need you have to lean on God 24-7.  His Holy Spirit is the only way that can make you experience the promise of 1 John 4:4:  "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."  Thanks O Lord, for this promise and we call upon Jesus to overcome our enemy through us today.  You can win with Jesus!

Josh, Kate, and Peyton called on Saturday afternoon, wanting to drive north to Pinnacle Hills for me to show them the new campus being built.  They were blessed.  How special it was to hold Peyton while walking through.  It was a reminder of why we do the things we do like build campuses for churches.  It is for the next generation to have a place to worship, to learn, and to grow; BUT mostly it becomes the sending station of that next generation into the marketplace to make a difference for Jesus by reaching others with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Nick begins school again today as he continues in working on his Master’s Degree.  He is taking all of his classes on Mondays, beginning early and ending late.  Beyond these classes, he is doing one on-line class this semester.  He has a long day, so pray for him.

Meredith has been asked to return to Liberty University to teach four classes over one and one-half days that will have several hundred young female students in attendance.  Meredith is an excellent communicator and was the winner of their Women’s Ministry Award at graduation last May.  They asked her to come back during this very special week.  They told her, "we cannot pay your way or pay any honorarium, but we want you to do this, so pray about it."  This is just like Meredith:  she and Nick prayed about it, bought the ticket themselves, and she is taking one and one-half days off of work using vacation time to do this.  She will be going in the middle of February.  Here are newlyweds, with Nick working and going to seminary, and she working full-time, making this kind of sacrifice of limited time away and the financial sacrifice.  I am blessed by that for many reasons and even challenged. 

When I look at Josh, Kate, Peyton, Nick, and Meredith, I feel so very, very, very blessed.  Thanks Lord, you are so good to Jeana and me.