What I've been learning from the Lord lately

I got up early and reflected today over my Bible Study's verses this week.  I really felt connection with the Lord and I feel like he's answering my prayer to grow my affection for Him.  This verse came to my mind as I was praying:

Philippians 2:14-18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.¹⁷ Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Strangely enough, I was convicted over verse 17...being willing to be "poured out" without expecting anything in return.  I will have to mull and pray over that verse.  That picture should directly affect how I approach work each day and when we travel. I want my purest motivation for working and pursuing concerts to be that people will be able to hear the good news and lives will be changed.  We've already seen that happening with multiple people surrendering their lives to Christ this year, I'm excited!  

I do thank the Lord that we are getting to experience his literal provision each month.  I know our faith wouldn't be tested in that area or strengthened if we both had traditional jobs.  I can view it as a blessing that God gets to teach us first hand about providing work each month for us to complete.

Lasting compliments and funny pastors

Blake got to sing at a church in OKC recently and the guest speaker was OK Representative James Lankford. After Blake sang James and he got to talk and James thanked Jim and said he sang with excellence. Blake just beamed and beamed that James thought he did well since Blake looks up to him so much.

We just finished another concert this weekend and the pastor was a hoot. He entertained us with stories of his encounters with other groups and other pastors. He definitely was a character. He told us about how he was conducting a funeral and another pastor was helping out that he didn't know. They went into the church to grab coffee before heading to the gravesite. This pastor we met poured out the coffee for the other pastor and asked; how do you like your coffee? Hot and black, like your women? Lol, that caught us so off guard. That line is from the comedy movie "Airplane" so we got it, but this other pastor apparently hadn't seen it. And got pretty offended! But oh that made us laugh picturing that exchange.