 September 1, 2007 marks the one year anniversary of Ray’s Blog. In the inaugural issue, I shared about my revelation to write the Blog and the accompanying anxiety that followed. Moreover, one of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 26:3; “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. That along with other scripture from Isaiah provided the impetus I needed to move forward.
As I write this anniversary issue, scripture from Isaiah, (41:10) comes to mind again as the result of a recent daily devotional. It says, “Fear not, for I am with you; for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand”. During the past 12 months, there were times when I had no clue what to write about or to use more familiar parlance, I experienced heavenly blocks, OOOPS, writer’s block. I often pondered, “Why am I doing this”? Or “What do I do now”? The fact is we can’t change our circumstances and we can’t affect what happens to us all the time. We can however change how we respond to the circumstances of life. I chose to trust God and his infinite wisdom. That perspective is what God expects us to work on. I was then reminded that God’s timing is always perfect.
Heed a lesson learned by me and remember when you find yourself in a challenging situation and you don’t know what to do, claim the promises of Isaiah 41:10. Claiming that promise will assure confidence and affirmation knowing that God has got his hand on you. Praise God he is using our circumstances to grow our faith.
There are three projects I’m currently working on this month which bear reminding which I’ve shared before. I covet your prayers in the following:
 • Project Norman - In the August Blog, I mentioned one of our fellow Ambassadors had fallen on hard times. He suffers from a rare form of frontaltemporal (sic) dementail called Pick’s Disease. It is a form of dementia. Two Ambassadors friends, Jim from Coral Springs and Joe from Miami and I will be going to Miami on Saturday to visit Norman and his wife. Promise Keepers has provided a certificate which we will be presenting to Norman and his wife. The certificate is signed by Tom Fortson President/CEO and will be presented to Norman in recognition of sacrificial service and active participation in the Promise Keepers Ambassador Program for 10 years. Norman will be acknowledged with the title of “Ambassador Emeritus”. I have dubbed this labor of love Project Norman. We covet your prayers as we do God’s work.
 • Iron Sharpens Iron Conference – Do you have one area in your life that needs to be sharpened? Is there an area in your life where a unique resource like a men’s conference will give you the encouragement and tools you need to press forward? Then join us on Saturday, September 22 at First Baptist Church of Tequesta. Keynote Speakers will be  Chuck Stecker President and founder of A Chosen Generation. He has recently written a book for parents and leaders about Rites of Passage entitled, Men of Honor & Women of Virtue. (www.achosengeneration.org.)
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 Our second Keynote Speaker is Bob Reccord who had the privilege of presenting the Friday night message at every Promise Keepers Conference in 2006. He and his wife are founders of Total Life Impact, a resource and seminar ministry, and the ELEVATE conference for rising young leaders. He has authored several books including Made to Count and Discovering What to do with Your Life. (www.totallifeimpact.com.) The Conference Host for this event is Florida Men of Integrity (www.floridamenofintegrity.org.) I will be conducting a seminar called How to Build a Sustainable Men’s Ministry, so please drop by.
 • In His Grip Bible Study - As a follow-up to our second annual golf tournament, our small men’s group will begin a new Bible Study on September 10th. The name of the study is In His Grip Foundations for Life & Golf. Please join us for our two favorite passions, getting to know God and playing the great game of golf. These lessons for life explore how these topics can be related. It is hoped that the lessons will broaden your love and appreciation of God and golf. The sessions will also enrich your love of the game of golf, help you play a little better and enjoy it more, regardless of how you play, increase your knowledge about God and develop your relationship with Christ, and enhance fellowship with others around golf and God. To register, go to: (http://www.thevillagebc.com/GenClassRegister.html).
Let me leave you with this closing scripture. These reflections are also from a recent daily devotional. Romans 8:28 tells us “We know that for those who love God all things work for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. God works in all things, not just isolated incidents, for our good. That does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our good. God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill His purpose.
If your dreams have been shattered, remember two things:
• First, don’t demand to understand. You can’t always understand. And just because it doesn’t make sense now doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense. God has a plan and God has a purpose, don’t demand to understand.
• Second, don’t bow to bitterness. Some people, when their dreams are dashed, become bitter people. Then bitterness sets in and they spend the rest of their days in the sorrow of a long distant past. So don’t bow to bitterness.
Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Remember...no matter what you're going through in your life...no matter how much turmoil you're in today or tomorrow...no matter how deep the pit is you may be living in...God is for you. And He's constantly working in your life--constructively and creatively--to bring about His purpose and the divine destiny of your life. (jgraham@powerpoint.org)
Amen.
- Ray Adams
Rayt242611@bellsouth.net
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