I have learned that when I change the way I look at things, the things that I look at seem to change me. There is a question that I have struggled with since coming to Christ, “Why did God choose me?” I would’ve never chosen me for anything, especially ministry. I am not overly handsome, not eloquent in speech, and my intelligence is average at best. I am not athletically inclined, I am musically inept, I am not cultured or refined. There are days when I wake up in the morning with my head full of regret, my heart broken over my failures, and I have tears running down my face because I know the man in the mirror is just a broken little child doing whatever he can just to get a hug. I get tired, I get weary, I am torn between what my flesh desires and what I feel my heart needs. I feel storm tossed regularly. Then as I read the scriptures I am encouraged to endure when I reflect upon verses like what is written in *1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”* As I read and re-read that verse, it causes me to wait expectantly for what God has prepared for me because I do love Him, I love Him more today than I ever have and I trust in His promises. Recently I have seen God accomplish many things for the kingdom through me that I would’ve never expected. We have a potluck at church on the First Friday of the Month, which is tomorrow by the way, and a little while back we had some people show up who were drawn closer to God by what went on at the potluck and desired something more. A few of them showed up to our Sunday night group entitled Iron Sharpens Iron, a spiritual support group and got plugged in. I have come to understand that in ministry, “Healthy sheep help produce healthy sheep.” I love what I get to do but there are many challenges that I face because I do what I do. I believe that the more a person does for the kingdom, the more the enemy will attack and sometimes the attacks come from the people you would least expect, those in the body of Christ. Recently the attacks seem to be ferocious and the one thing that keeps coming to mind is that the safest sheep are the ones who stay close to the Shepherd, so that is my goal in life, stay close to the Lord Jesus. There are many days that I preach the word of God to myself because I feel that I need it more than just about anyone else. Recently I have been drawn to the Letters in Red. I need to hear the words of my Lord to guide, direct, strengthen, and encourage me. The Point, the End of the Matter is this: I don’t have to be a famous preacher, a missionary in a foreign land, or die a martyr to be loved by God. I am loved by God because He is God, and my beloved, you are loved by God for the same reason! My prayer today is a simple one: Heavenly Father, I’m overwhelmed by Your powerful never-ending love for me as well as Your grace and mercy. I offer my life as a sacrifice of love back to You. Use me Lord, continue to show me how to take who I am, what You have equipped me to do, and use it wholeheartedly for the furtherance of the kingdom to glorify Your name and not my own in any way. Help me to be more and more kingdom minded every day for the time is short and Your return is imminent. I do love You, help me to love You more. Use me to love others to the kingdom, the way You loved me to the kingdom. I pray this in Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blogTo any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.