Higher Ground

SCRIPTURE

Hear my cry, O God;  listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

~Psalms 61:1-3, NRSV

QUOTE

Surround yourself with people who are only going to lift you higher.

~Anonymous

MY THOUGHTS

We sang the old hymn Higher Ground yesterday morning and I enjoyed every verse. I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day; still praying as I onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” Is this your prayer? Do you have the desire to be planted on higher ground? What was Johnson Oatman thinking about when he wrote this hymn.

There are levels in life. I suppose the lowest level is the criminal; the person who disregards the law and has no respect for the rights of others. Then there would be the law-abiding; those who meet the laws demands but there is a higher plain. This higher plain is loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself. The higher plain is selfless living. It is putting the needs of others first. A life devoted to Christ in service of others.

The kids who went to Guatemala came back on a high: not for drugs but from serving others. I heard one of them say it was the best week of their life.

EXTRA

• Bro. Tim wished us a good Sunday [by text] and I am going to get him to do it again next week. It looked like Easter. It did my heart good to see a crowd and we had another good service. Last night was really special. DBC sending a Mission Team of 19 to Guatemala; can you believe it!
• BLOCK PARTY WEEK begins today. We will be taking stuff out of storage. Wednesday we go to SAMs. Thursday night we begin work at 5:00. We need you to bring stuff for the GRACE BARN beginning Thursday at 5:00.
• Good fellowship last night: people were hanging out and in no rush to get home.
• Good turnout for the FIRST PRIORITY prayer meetings.
• I do feel that I have sufficiently thanked you for the trip to Alaska so I want to do it one more time. I do thank everyone who made it possible. It was a wonderful trip. I don’t think a pastor could ask for more. I feel like I am in your debt. Your kindness overwhelms me.