Blessed

It was only five years ago Brenda and I were pretty much destitute. We served a small band of less than a dozen people as a church. No matter what we tried, prayed or preached the church would not grow. We had only one car between us. We survived on the provision of God’s people and outside preaching engagements. In many ways those were some of the toughest times of our lives. God remained faithful in the midst of it all.

The Lord led us from east Texas to Paradise, TX. We enjoyed four of the happiest years of ministry in that small but blessed little town. God took a church that had seen rough times and brought healing. The Lord set a massive vision before that church they still continue to believe God for today. God blessed the church with growth and many new families. Our family was blessed with rich and meaningful relationships. Even as I write this, a flood of memories comes passing through my mind. Those Paradise days were blessed days.

None of us thought they would come to an end. The call on our lives to come to Seminole came unexpectedly. We thought we would always serve in Paradise but God had other plans. Many tears were shed as we sought the will of God. In the end God made it abundantly clear that we had to leave our beloved flock and follow Him west. More tears were shed as we said our goodbyes.

I will not forget those Paradise people who accepted and loved us. We were blessed over and over again during those four years and leaving them for an uncertain future in Seminole was a step of faith indeed. Uprooting Brenda and the boys wrenched all of our hearts. I knew if I disobeyed God our family would no longer be blessed and the Paradise church would no longer be blessed either.

We have been in Seminole a year and nearly two months. In that time the church has grown dramatically. We have seen many saved and follow in baptism. God has blessed the finances of the church. And who will ever forget the Shake the City Revival that lasted for twenty-three days. God has blessed over and over again.

We were blessed to own our own house again. The boys have been blessed with new friendships and involvement with sports, choir, and the church. They love Jase and we are blessed with a great staff with the addition of Sean Decker. God has opened doors for missions work. I will be headed north to Canada again in a few weeks. FBC now has a pastor after five grueling years of praying. Our partnership in Washington State is just beginning and our work in Honduras continues.

Recently I made a trip back to my hometown of Lufkin, TX and got to visit with several people whom we love deeply. I was reminded of this trip while reading the scriptures this morning. Jacob had left his home because his brother Esau wanted to kill him. Jacob’s mother sent him away under the pretense of wanting him to go and find a wife from her home country. Jacob leaves with little but over the course of twenty years that he was gone God blessed him with a family and a large flock of sheep.

The word of the Lord came to Jacob that it was time to go back home. He starts the long journey home but gets word Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men. Jacob divides his caravan into two companies and prayerfully prepares for what will happen next.

The part of this story that grabbed my attention this morning is found in [Gen 32:9-10] “Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, “Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you.” I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.’”

That is how I feel. For twelve long tumultuous years Brenda and I struggled in life and ministry. There were good times but there were more hard times. Many stood with us in those days for which we will be eternally grateful. They know who they are. Many interceded for us and showered us with God’s provision when we did not know where our next tank of gas or trip to the grocery store would come from. When we drove out of east Texas with our belongings in a U-haul moving truck we had little going for us. Paradise took a big gamble on us. That is part of why I love those people so much. My track record did not boast of past successes. I had God and His promises accompanied with faith that better days were ahead. God ensured there were.

When I returned to my hometown a few weeks ago I felt like Jacob crossing the Jordan to go back home. He left with little but returned with much. Since I left Lufkin over five years ago, God has blessed our family and ministry. Taylor was going into fourth grade and now is a freshman and working hard as linebacker and right tackle. Tanner who was a second grader is now enjoying Junior High as a seventh grader and playing left guard for his football team. Tucker had not even started school back then but now is in fifth grade and the quarterback for his little football team. Turner was just two years old when we moved to Paradise and is already in second grade getting ready for his role as a coach in his school play. Jennifer has been married and now has her first child in little Owen.

God has blessed with two great churches over the course of the last five years. FBC Seminole has been a blessing. They have loved us and showered us with affection and blessings of all sorts. They pray for me and encourage me. They, like FBC Paradise, have been willing to follow God and take steps of faith in response to His leading. They have hungered for God’s Word and we have already completed studies on the lives of Noah, Abraham and Joseph. We have completed studies through the book of Philippians and I John.

I am a blessed man. Brenda, Jennifer, and the boys are God’s great blessing on my life. FBC Paradise was and still is a great blessing for us. FBC Seminole has become home and weekly blesses us with more love and more desire to follow God into a glorious future. God is just now beginning to make that future clearer.

Here is the morale of this story. You might be reading this and be like Jacob or the Edwards household crossing Jordan with nothing the first time. Do not underestimate the desire and power of God to bless His children who follow Him faithfully. Your whole life can change in the short span of five years like with us or longer with Jacob who was blessed over the course of twenty years. God turn your circumstances around in less time than that. When God gives you the chance to return home and you recall how God has blessed be sure to give Him both thanks and the glory for all of it.