Family Reunion

Now, don't let your jaw drop when I tell you this, but I only have one picture to share from our family reunion today. I thought it wasn't over until 4:00, but people were leaving at 2:30 and I knew I had better get at least a group pic. So about 40 people are in this one, but several had already left and some hadn't even gotten there yet. You know who you are!


It's always good to see family and fellowship for a while. We missed Aunt Bertha, of course. And we missed Aunt Marcel and Uncle Tommy. Uncle Tommy is in the hospital right now. Lord willing, Bruce and I will be going up to see him in the morning sometime with my mother-in-law.

We started our prayer revival with Brother Benny Beckum today. He'll be here through Thursday. We're looking forward to hearing more from him in the coming days.

This morning he preached on leaving our first love, which of course, is Jesus Christ, and what we lose in our prayer life when we leave our first love.

Revelation 2:1-4
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdest the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."

When we leave our first love,
I. We lose our prayer life
Having standards does not mean you love God. It's a good testimony, but it's what is on the inside that God sees to be truth. Just because you have good standards doesn't mean you are in love with God. When you leave your first love, your prayer life will suffer and more than likely become nonexistent.

II. We lose our Christian Joy.
When you leave your first love, you lose the joy in serving the Lord. Service becomes a chore instead of a pleasure. Is it a pleasure to serve the Lord?

III. We lose our interest in the work of God.
You may be busy in the bus ministry, the rest home ministry, regular visitation, teaching Sunday school, etc. But if you don't have a regular prayer life, praying for those ministries and for those involved in those ministries, you don't have an interest in those works of God.

IV. We lose our burden for souls.
How long has it been since you've prayed for lost souls. Family, friends, people you don't know, people you haven't even met yet? When was the last time you touched the throne of God for someone who is dangling over Hell?

And when we leave our first love, the world will creep in and destroy you. You can not have sweet fellowship with God if you don't have a consistent prayer life.