October!   Can you believe it?   South Carolina in the fall – clear blue skies – warm days into cool nights – football – family and friends together - what wonderful blessings!   This time last year Cindi, Ben, and I were waking up from a nightmare called hurricane Katrina. We had witnessed first hand  one of the most devastating hurricanes in Gulf Coast history.   I cannot begin to tell you just how that one experience has affected our lives -- physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.  We left our house just before the storm hit and literally moved into the minister’s  office at the church building  just north of Mobile, Alabama.   We lived in our facilities with dozens of others for several days.  I try not to relive that time, but my mind simply won’t let me forget; and, maybe I shouldn’t forget.  It is during these times that we find out just how strong we are  and how we must  trust in God for the  answers to such extremely difficult questions. On one of those dark hours when we were so very weary from a day of trying to relieve the victims of the storm, Cindi and I looked up at each other, prayed to our Father, and made a decision.   We put our house in the market,  sold it to the first person who looked at it,  and closed the deal in 7 days. We prayed to God for wisdom and understanding, for guidance and for strength-- for deliverance. Even then if you would have said to me, “Mickey, don’t worry!  Next year you’ll be living in one of the most beautiful states in America,  South Carolina,  where you will be serving as minister and friend to one of the greatest congregations of the Lord’s church, the St. Andrews Road Church of Christ;” I would have said, “Only by the grace of Almighty God!” I cannot begin to tell you how thankful we are to God for His grace and mercy.  We are thankful for His grace during those difficult and confusing times only a year ago and now during these times of such wonderful blessings.  We are so very thankful to every member of the St. Andrews Road congregation for your invitation, for your welcome to us, and especially for your love and support for us as we adjust to our new home. If we could only see the outcome of our faith, the victory we have already in Christ!  “Seeing” that outcome through the eyes of faith makes such a difference in our decisions every day. Faith is just that, “seeing” the victory however distant that victory is in terms of hours, days, or even years.  This is the lesson Jesus taught to Thomas in John 20:29. “Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” A similar lesson is found in John 11 when Lazarus had died and was buried.  Jesus finally came to  Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, after four days.   Lazarus had been in the  tomb four days (39).  Everyone knew that Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus -- Martha (21), Mary (32),  and the people (37).   They failed to  recognize the eternal power of Jesus,  a power without limits.  Jesus said, “Come forth,” and Lazarus did just that. Remember Psalm 23?  The Lord as our Shepherd; Our needs met; Green pastures; Still waters; Our souls restored; The paths of righteousness; Walking through death without fear; The Lord with us; Comfort from His rod and staff; A table prepared even in front of our enemies; Our heads anointed with oil; The overflowing cup; Goodness and mercy following us all the days of our lives; Dwelling in the Lord’s house FOREVER.  What a life!  A Christian life!