Bountiful Blessings
The jumbled mess on my desk reflects the varied interests in my life. Underneath the glass cover are pictures of children, youth and families from my twenty-four years as pastor of this great church. I currently have two calendars on my desk. One is from my friend, Pastor Joseph Shin, and the Cordova Korean Baptist Church. The other is a “2017 Prayer Calendar” from the North American Mission Board. On one far corner of my desk is a portfolio that stays full of papers that I need to file. On the right far corner, since I am right handed, is the telephone.
The stack of books to my immediate left includes my Greek New Testament and whatever books and/or magazines that I am currently reading. At my right, always close at hand, is my “New King James Version” of the Bible. This is the copy of God’s Word that I preach from and use for most of my study. It is my guidebook for life and provides daily answers to many questions. Without a doubt, the Bible and the phone are the most frequently used items on my desk.
I also have some interesting adornments on my desk. There is a wooden bowl and a nameplate that were made for me by former church members. The praying hands were a gift from “the Holy Lands” from my pastor friend, Jim Meredith. I bought the wooden pen holder many years ago, but the pen is usually out of ink. There are two paperweights: one from my friend, Don Minshew, who was a missionary to Namibia; and the other is a rock given to me by a young boy named C. J. Warren, in appreciation for a gift that I gave to him.
As insignificant as they might seem to everyone else, all of these items serve to remind me of God’s special blessings in my life. There is a new addition to my desktop collection. It is a souvenir from our Spring Break trip last week. While in Gulfport, MS, we visited the “Busted Wrench Garage Museum.” After looking at this amazing collection of cars, I purchased from their gift shop a red, toy, classic Mustang. God does not merely supply us with what we need, but He also grants us some bountiful blessings!
Serving in love,
Bro. Jim