March 9, 2025 – CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday March 09TH 2025, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

Exactly 10 years ago today – actually on Sunday March 08TH 2015 – I made my first appearance at Living Waters Full Gospel Church in Homestead Florida. I met everyone there for the very first time – aside from a longtime friend and former coworker who attended the small church. It was a much different atmosphere and change-of-pace than my existing church at the time, and I liked it a lot. I went back to my longtime (8-year) church a mile down the road the next Sunday to pretty much say good-bye to everyone who I cared about. The Sunday after that – I was back at Living Waters, and it became my new home church. I began leading Communion every month starting in August 2016, and I began preaching 2 months later. I didn’t go to Living Waters to lead Communion or preach sermons. The Pastor asked me to do so. He started asking later in 2015, but I turned him down. He asked me again the following year, and I accepted and followed the call to do so.

I thought I would be at my first church forever, but God had other plans for me. I knew I would not be at my second church forever, as I was already thinking ahead to retirement and moving away. I ended up moving away a year before I retired – working mostly from my new home during that final year. But I was at my second church longer than my first church.

Today I look back at 10 Glorious years at Living Waters. It started a rejuvenation process in my fantastic journey after a couple of years of burning out and stalling. I’ll continue to visit whenever I’m in town, and preach whenever I’m invited to do so.

I also look ahead to my fourth church – Highlands Community Church in Sebring Florida. I’ve been part of my new church family for 18 months now, and I believe that I’ll be with this church family forever. But God has the final say:

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster – to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, a testimony, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord – and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know – then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.