Showin Up!

You ever have one of those days when it takes all you have to concentrate? Maybe you are tired, or preoccupied, or...you fill in the blank. Whatever the case, life can be tough to deal with on a good day. I did not play many sports in school when younger, but I tried football for awhile. One of the last times I took the field, was in the 7th grade. I do not have great stories of sacrifice and glory from my days as an athlete, but one day I hold especially dear. Our team went to play for the District Championship. It was an evening game, and we went into the old Cobb Stadium in Dallas, Texas. I still remember what it felt like taking the field!
We were dressed out in our White uniforms with Purple Numbers. We were the Leila P. Cowart Panthers. Wow, that was a long time ago! It's tough to imagine Leila P. Cowart being a powerhouse. More than what we were or did that day, I remember coach Morrison. He was one of my heroes! I remember him telling us before the game, "We have to show up! We have to think on our feet! We have to do what we've learned! Most of all we have to SHOW UP and Beat these guys!"
Show up! We knew exactly what he meant! Not just show up in physical form, but mentally be there and think on our feet! He used to say in his kind mannerism, "PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It must have tough for him to get ideas across to us. We were not the sharpest group of guys. Coach Morrison was a great coach and teacher. To be honest, I can't remember who won that game. But I know we were all on our toes, paying attention to what we were doing while we were on the field. And the most amazing thing of all, was I got to go into the game for a couple of downs! What a feeling! To get to step out on the field during such a game!
God wants us to live life the same way our coach wanted us to play on the field. God wants us to be alert! He wants us to show up! To be there for people in times of pain and trouble. God wants us to show up each day! The first person I try to show up for is God! And then of course, my lovely wife! Then, others I meet through the day. God has people in our path all through the week that He wants us to be there with and be there for. Who are you showing up for? What is God placing in your path?
Have a blessed week!

Hy

A Big World!

Isn't it amazing how our viewpoint can change? I grew up in South Dallas, and as a child was called by the name Junior. My father of course, was Herman and I was his son... Jr. I soon began to feel a little like "A Boy Named Sue," to say it as Johnny Cash spoke of. Anyway, living in Dallas was great growing up. There was lots to do, lots of friends, activities, and the like. When I went into High School, I still went by that name, though I was trying to overcome it. Then after finishing High School, I took a trip overseas to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Holy Land. It was a two week trip with lots of stops, and of course, everyone called me Jr. I began asking folks to call me J. R. instead, and someone noticed that name in Germany, and in broken English asked, "J. R.? Are you from Dallas?"
Well, of course I was, and I showed them my driver's license as proof! At that time, the whole world was tuned into the T V Show "Dallas!" And it was during the season when J. R. was going to be shot! I actually had a person or two ask for my autograph, though I looked nothing like the star of the show... I was just 17! I began to realize though, with the world as your stage, anything can happen!
It was on this trip that I learned what a big place the world really is! We flew from Dallas, to Frankfurt, and seemed like an eternity in the air! Then we rode by bus for a week traveling Europe, and flew to Israel, where we again rode around the world in a bus. It was a great trip, but the thing I learned was simply that my perspective as a boy growing up, was way to small! The world really is a big place!
Do you ever get stuck in your "own little world?" I think we all tend to do that. I know right now, I may not get to know everyone who reads this. But I do have a few followers, that are interested. I pray for everyone who reads this daily. In the wake of recent occurrences in our world, I am reminded that I can still get lost in my own little world. There are many things going on, and I would like to ask you to pray for your world. The world where you live needs prayer, and also the bigger, busy world around! We remember the Ft. Hood Soldiers this week, and I pray for them and their families especially! They were going to a huge world to fight on our behalf, and now have a completely different set of problems to deal with. I pray also for the offender in this situation. I pray that most of all, God will turn it out for their good, as Romans 8:28 says. Let me encourage you to pray for our world!

Blessings,
Hy

Making Headway!

Well, it won't be long now! Therisa and I are getting ready to launch our www.thbdesigns.com This has been in the works for some time now, but has never been ready for actual shopping traffic. I hope that in the next day or two, we can get it moving and let you see it work! I hope that you will consider sharing the Cross of Jesus Christ with friends and relatives during the holidays! Therisa came up with this manufacturing business in October 2005! We have been so blessed through it. But now, we are getting ready to launch the website to the entire world! We are ready to go wherever God may lead, so please pray for us as we take this huge step of faith.
It is our prayer that through THB Designs and HY-Road Ministries, that we can help change the world! It is our mission to share Christ everywhere we go! We plan to move into other areas soon aslo, as I will be releasing various songs I've written and recorded. I have also written some short stories which will be released as E-Books and soon to be published! God has richly blessed us, but now more than ever we need your prayers!
I hope to build a network online of Compassionate Christians that will pray for us and work with us on special projects. Please do pray for us, for God is bringing amazing people into our network online currently. We want most of all to follow God's leadership! So please pray for us daily!

Blessings,
Hy