Perishing & Renewal

2 Corinthians 4:16 -- "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

This past weekend, as we have done for the past 10 years, the wife and I, along with the children, met up with dear friends for a Christmas shopping trip in Concord, NC.

Four adults and four small children spent all day Friday traipsing around Concord Mills. When i say all day, I mean all day.

At about 8:00 PM we were "cooked", "done", "bushed" "had had it" "beat", "worn out", "tired".

We ate, we went to our room, crashed on our beds, and slept.

Saturday morning, Rachael and I decided to go to the Billy Graham Library, just down the road. I had heard about this place, but had never been.

We pulled up, were greeted by a warm smile at the gate. We went towards the building itself, and saw that the entire front was designed like a cross. The grounds were decorated for Christmas. There was a sign pointing to a prayer garden. I was already feeling better.

Inside this vast building was warmth. One could feel something different -- I had not felt it at Concord Mills the previous day.

On the beams above us were written verses of Scripture -- "For God so loved the world . . ." "Come unto Me . . ."

We took a little tour and we heard over and over about the love of God. We heard over and over how God had sent His only Son into the world to save sinners. We heard how God had used one man and his family to impact the world with that simple message. God can do anything.
At the end, we (and everybody else that passes through those doors) were confronted with the Good News, and what we would do with it.

I left that place Saturday afternoon with the inward man renewed.
By Billy Graham? Oh no.
But by the Holy Spirit of God.

Thank You, Father.