Well here we are it is almost Thanksgiving. Wow how time flies. I wanted to come and post  because I have so much to be thankful for this year. This has been a huge year of transition. First Mary Beth and I both turned 50. Second, we became grandparents for the first time. Addisyn Faith born August 10th. Third, we celebrated 25 years of marriage. I am a blessed man with an incredible wife. Thanks Hun. Last, I just had knee surgery for a torn medial meniscus. That went great. I am so thankful for the grace of God I do not deserve but desperately need. Thank you Jesus for your love and grace.

One of the greatest joys is working with a great staff. I feel extremely blessed by the team of leaders at our church. They are some of the finest men and women I know. I am very grateful for their service and faith.

As I said before what a difference a year makes.  It has been a year since I wrote something on my blog. My son John Williams turned 21 on Saturday. I am very proud of him since he has crossed a big hurdle in life.

Alright I am trying this again. Since my last post almost a year ago we have had our first grandchild Addisyn Faith Feyer. She is a lot of fun. James is in college and Patricia is now a freshman at Greenville Christian Academy. Life is still good and we are very thankful for the Grace of GOd.

Well we are beginning the turn towards the holiday season. I love this time of year. I enjoy time with my family, a little change of pace, football, and the opportunity to reflect. It is amazing to me how many times I have found myself say “What a difference a year makes.” I have used that phrase many times over the years. It has usually reflected the time that has passed from a trial or change in life etc. This year we are in a totally different place than we were last year at this time. In that light I will say thank you Lord for your amazing grace and mercy that is always beyond my comprehension. Thank you Lord for all the times you covered me and I was unaware of your hedge of protection. Thank you Lord for my health and that I have the ability to work out. (Last year at this time I had just finished a marathon, this year I am fighting to get in running three days a week) Thank you Lord for all of the friends that you have placed in my life who have stood by me this year through some challenging times you know who you are. Thank you Lord for the gift of my wife she is a treasure beyond compare. Thank you Lord for my kids they are loved more than they will ever know. Lastly and I could go on Thank you Lord for your love not that I loved you first but you first loved me. Happy Thanksgiving

Andrew Murray once wrote that “prayer is the slender nerve that moves the hand of God”. There is no greater time than now to pray for our nation. While we know that God is in control there is a stewardship for the well-being of our land that falls to His people. 1 Tim 2:1-2

CHAPTER 2

1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties {and} prayers, petitions {and} thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

If you are like me you might feel like you do not pray enough and you feel guilty. Well I am not sure if you will ever feel like you have done enough when it comes to prayer. I do believe however we can at least be alert and sober given the times in which we are living, and ask God to help us in our nation. This benefits not only our lives but the lives of future generations. ”Our times are in His hands”

We just had our dear friend Eddie Evans from Ethiopia at church on Sunday. Eddie is the Pastor of Bethel International Church in Addis-Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. It is amazing the divine connections that God brings in our lives. I met Eddie years ago when he lived in Wilmington, NC. He had led an ECU student to Christ and she started attending our church so he wanted to meet us. Since that time our friendship and partnership in the Kingdom has grown significantly. Eddie ended up moving to Ethiopia to serve some churches and eventually planted a church a year ago. We have worked together to build an orphanage that houses 250 kindergarten students, plant a church, and worked with the Apostolic leader Dr. Bezalem Feesha of Emmanuel churches of Ethiopia to see the gospel go forth in that nation. It is amazing to me how God brings people in our lives. Eddie and I on Sunday marveled about the divine connection that took place years ago and where our journey in life has brought us. We also look forward with great expectation to the future and where we will go.

Mike

Have you ever wanted to say something  and knew that no matter how hard you tried or how right you were it would come out wrong because you were not at peace? I have found sometimes it is better left unsaid, at least for a time until you are at a place where you can quite your spirit or soul down. Words that are spoken from frustration rarely accomplish what you intended them to but instead usually create a whole new problem. 
Eph 4:29
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such {a word} as is good for edification according to the need {of the moment,} that it may give grace to those who hear.
(NAS)

When i am at a place I feel a need to say something I try and wait until I know that what I am going to say will be beneficial even if it might be corrective in nature. To do life well we must know how and when to speak.  Life can be full of frustration and many times we take them out on the people that we care about the most. Take some time and find that place of rest and peace so that you speak from a redemptive  and productive standpoint rather than frustration.