I want to get back to my thoughts on God's heart for the family in 2009. Normally this would be the right time - up early and alone, the automatic brew on the coffeemaker hasn't even gone off yet.
But I have a lot of work to complete in a short amount of time at work so a few sentences here & I"m out the door.
Last night was the first Bible study meeting at Ed & Nancy's for the Highland Creek Open House Group of Branch Family Church. It was very encouraging as a group of Christians gathered in a home to study the Bible and pray together. It did something strong and deep inside me and I am really enthusiastic about getting together regularly.
We are studying the life of Joseph and how he moved from having a dream to fulfilling his destiny. Several other groups in our church have been through the same study, but I believe this is the right time for the folks in our group. It is no coincidence we are beginning the study at the start of 2009.
There were several friends I have known for years, and a few new friends, and someone I met last night for the first time. But our hearts were open to the Holy Spirit and to one another. We committed to pray for each other and to be trustworthy friends, keeping in confidence those things that should be and "being there" when needed.
As we move forward I am confident we will better understand God's dream for us. He will help us grow and pass the tests, moving us from dream to destiny.
Well, the coffeemaker just started & I'm out the door to work. If I'm going to fulfill my destiny, I've got to be faithful with where I am today.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Year of the Family
I don't profess to know all, or most, or even a significant amount of what God wants or what His plans are. But I do know what He has told me - that 2009 is the year of the family.
More on that when I'm able...
More on that when I'm able...
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Prayers of the People
This morning I am praying for people. People on my heart, people that the Holy Spirit brings to my mind.
I pray for a very special child who is shy in public. Lord, give her the skills to interact with others and be comfortable with herself and them. Thank you that your hand is upon her.
I pray for my close friend who is searching the way forward with his work. Lord, open the right door for him, show him the way to go, encourage his heart, provide for the needs of his family.
I pray for another very close friend in another state. He has encouraged so many, send encouragement to him. Heal the wounds of the past year and lead him and his family forth in your goodness.
I pray for the different people I have crossed paths with in the last few weeks who have lost a loved one at Christmas. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Help them to look to you in faith, guard their hearts from the questions and accusations the enemy brings against You when suffering comes. I especially pray for the two I know who lost their son.
Christmas is when God drew near at Bethlehem. Lord, you still want to draw near to us. How your heart longs that we draw near to you. We draw near with humble hearts. You are a good God. In love, in gratitude, in need, we draw near to you.
I pray for a very special child who is shy in public. Lord, give her the skills to interact with others and be comfortable with herself and them. Thank you that your hand is upon her.
I pray for my close friend who is searching the way forward with his work. Lord, open the right door for him, show him the way to go, encourage his heart, provide for the needs of his family.
I pray for another very close friend in another state. He has encouraged so many, send encouragement to him. Heal the wounds of the past year and lead him and his family forth in your goodness.
I pray for the different people I have crossed paths with in the last few weeks who have lost a loved one at Christmas. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Help them to look to you in faith, guard their hearts from the questions and accusations the enemy brings against You when suffering comes. I especially pray for the two I know who lost their son.
Christmas is when God drew near at Bethlehem. Lord, you still want to draw near to us. How your heart longs that we draw near to you. We draw near with humble hearts. You are a good God. In love, in gratitude, in need, we draw near to you.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Sparkliest Christmas Tree Ever, or Let's Switch Eyes
Jack is my favorite boy. My only son is three years old, has red hair, and is one of the best things that ever happend to me.
This morning we were looking at the Christmas tree. It was still dark outside. The house was quiet, the only lights the soft glow of the tree. The girls still asleep upstairs, Jack unusually peaceful in his mom's lap. I showed Jack how to squint his eyes so the lights would look sparkly. We played and laughed and our tree became the sparkliest tree ever! It's beautiful!
After a minute Jack put his palms on his mother's cheeks, got his face right up to hers and said "Let's take out your eyes and take out my eyes and switch!"
At first it was just another in the stream of constant silly suggestions that come from a 3 year old boy, but all of a sudden it seemed like a good idea. "What would the tree look like if I was looking at it through my son's eyes?" It seemed exciting to think about how I would feel if I was looking at the sparkliest Christmas tree ever through the eyes of a child, a tree covered with diamonds and stars, a tree already guarding a host of presents. Some of those presents had my name on them! What could they be?
I would look at our manger scene, the one that graced my grandmother's front porch every Christmas of my childhood, and try again to imagine myself hidden in the shadows, imagining myself being there as I have done so many times as a child. Smelling the hay, listening to the slow, deep breathing of the cow and the sheep, watching the wonder on the shepherds' faces as they found Him. I would reverently walk forward, Joseph would smile. Now Mary holds out her hand to me, an invitation to come and touch the baby Jesus. Suddenly I am sharing in the wonder and the excitement that sometimes gets lost when you've had more than 10 or 12 Christmas mornings. I thought it would be a fantastic idea to switch eyes!
Then I began to wonder what Jack would see through my eyes. The tree is beautiful, he would note. But he would also see the unused wrapping paper - unused because I still have a number of presents to wrap. But actually I need to buy them first. Before that I need to decide exactly what I'm looking for, or maybe I could just wander around the mall like the other men. Plus we have another Christmas party. Plus a few things undone around the house because of so much else going on. Oh yeah, get the oil changed and begin packing for our holiday trip out of town...
What would my son see if we traded eyes? Would he see the wonder, or would he wonder what had happened to me? Switching eyes would be a good deal for me, but I love him too much to switch. I will let him keep the sparkly, starry eyes of a child and pray they always show him the wonder of Christmas.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
This morning we were looking at the Christmas tree. It was still dark outside. The house was quiet, the only lights the soft glow of the tree. The girls still asleep upstairs, Jack unusually peaceful in his mom's lap. I showed Jack how to squint his eyes so the lights would look sparkly. We played and laughed and our tree became the sparkliest tree ever! It's beautiful!
After a minute Jack put his palms on his mother's cheeks, got his face right up to hers and said "Let's take out your eyes and take out my eyes and switch!"
At first it was just another in the stream of constant silly suggestions that come from a 3 year old boy, but all of a sudden it seemed like a good idea. "What would the tree look like if I was looking at it through my son's eyes?" It seemed exciting to think about how I would feel if I was looking at the sparkliest Christmas tree ever through the eyes of a child, a tree covered with diamonds and stars, a tree already guarding a host of presents. Some of those presents had my name on them! What could they be?
I would look at our manger scene, the one that graced my grandmother's front porch every Christmas of my childhood, and try again to imagine myself hidden in the shadows, imagining myself being there as I have done so many times as a child. Smelling the hay, listening to the slow, deep breathing of the cow and the sheep, watching the wonder on the shepherds' faces as they found Him. I would reverently walk forward, Joseph would smile. Now Mary holds out her hand to me, an invitation to come and touch the baby Jesus. Suddenly I am sharing in the wonder and the excitement that sometimes gets lost when you've had more than 10 or 12 Christmas mornings. I thought it would be a fantastic idea to switch eyes!
Then I began to wonder what Jack would see through my eyes. The tree is beautiful, he would note. But he would also see the unused wrapping paper - unused because I still have a number of presents to wrap. But actually I need to buy them first. Before that I need to decide exactly what I'm looking for, or maybe I could just wander around the mall like the other men. Plus we have another Christmas party. Plus a few things undone around the house because of so much else going on. Oh yeah, get the oil changed and begin packing for our holiday trip out of town...
What would my son see if we traded eyes? Would he see the wonder, or would he wonder what had happened to me? Switching eyes would be a good deal for me, but I love him too much to switch. I will let him keep the sparkly, starry eyes of a child and pray they always show him the wonder of Christmas.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
Monday, November 24, 2008
To Don't List
It's cold outside, and cool inside too. Woke up much too early to get out of bed, so I snuggled up to my wife, breathed a contented sigh, closed my eyes, and... just laid there. In that moment of awakeness, my brain started booting up. Then I remembered a couple of things I need to do at work today and it was over. So I kissed my love on the cheek (she didn't budge), bundled up in my sweats, and came downstairs to turn on the coffeemaker. The automatic brew still has about 45 minutes before it starts, but I'm excited about the Caribou Reindeer brew that my friend Richard (www.richardisrael.com) highly recommends. Smells real good.
One of the first thoughts that ran through my brain this morning (as it was still booting up) was from Joshua 1. The Lord told Joshua "Be careful to do everything I told Moses to tell ya'll." (Yes, that is a Southern paraphrase. No, it is not less grammatically correct, it is more. In Latin, and most other languages, there is a difference between the singular and the plural forms of "you", so you can tell if you are speaking to one person or a group of people. Somehow in English it's the same word for both so you're never quite sure, you just have to figure it out. But Southerns have corrected that problem with the language - "you" is singular, "ya'll" (or you all) is plural. Or if you came from the mountains like me, "you uns" can be substituted for "ya'll", but I will admit that is less grammatically correct, even though I didn't suspect that until I was in high school and finally confirmed it at Chapel Hill.)
Apparently my brain is still booting up, but the coffee is done and as good as Richard promised. I see a new holiday tradition in the making.
So anyway the Lord was speaking to the group of people, saying he had given them instructions that, when followed, would result in success. Then immediately I could hear Jesus saying "My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me."
I've been focused a lot lately on my to do list. Or lists I should say. For work, for home, etc. This morning the Holy Spirit was reminding me of a couple of things:
First, that God's will is something do be DONE. Obedience is action. It is not meditation or intention. God told Joshua that the thing that resulted in success was DOING the Words He had spoken. Jesus said that his most basic need was to DO the will of God.
Secondly, that my focus should simply be on pleasing Him. Jesus told his friends, "When I do the will of my Father, it satisfies my basic needs in ways that you don't know anything about yet."
It's easy, for me at least, to get caught up in the day and the to do list. Sometimes religious people get caught up in the to don't list, which in my experience is much worse for all concerned. But this morning I'm taking a minute to think about what Jesus said - I have meat that you know not of. What are the opportunities that my heavenly Father has for me? What is His work for today. I pray that I DO that, and in the process get the most important items on the written to do list checked off too.
One of the first thoughts that ran through my brain this morning (as it was still booting up) was from Joshua 1. The Lord told Joshua "Be careful to do everything I told Moses to tell ya'll." (Yes, that is a Southern paraphrase. No, it is not less grammatically correct, it is more. In Latin, and most other languages, there is a difference between the singular and the plural forms of "you", so you can tell if you are speaking to one person or a group of people. Somehow in English it's the same word for both so you're never quite sure, you just have to figure it out. But Southerns have corrected that problem with the language - "you" is singular, "ya'll" (or you all) is plural. Or if you came from the mountains like me, "you uns" can be substituted for "ya'll", but I will admit that is less grammatically correct, even though I didn't suspect that until I was in high school and finally confirmed it at Chapel Hill.)
Apparently my brain is still booting up, but the coffee is done and as good as Richard promised. I see a new holiday tradition in the making.
So anyway the Lord was speaking to the group of people, saying he had given them instructions that, when followed, would result in success. Then immediately I could hear Jesus saying "My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me."
I've been focused a lot lately on my to do list. Or lists I should say. For work, for home, etc. This morning the Holy Spirit was reminding me of a couple of things:
First, that God's will is something do be DONE. Obedience is action. It is not meditation or intention. God told Joshua that the thing that resulted in success was DOING the Words He had spoken. Jesus said that his most basic need was to DO the will of God.
Secondly, that my focus should simply be on pleasing Him. Jesus told his friends, "When I do the will of my Father, it satisfies my basic needs in ways that you don't know anything about yet."
It's easy, for me at least, to get caught up in the day and the to do list. Sometimes religious people get caught up in the to don't list, which in my experience is much worse for all concerned. But this morning I'm taking a minute to think about what Jesus said - I have meat that you know not of. What are the opportunities that my heavenly Father has for me? What is His work for today. I pray that I DO that, and in the process get the most important items on the written to do list checked off too.
Monday, October 13, 2008
I Dare You
There is something almost irresistible about a dare. Deep down, each of us stands ready to rise to the challenge. We want and sometimes even need to show that we are more than ready, that we do indeed have what it takes to pass the test.
Last weekend my wife and I had an evening planned together. A friend of ours was scheduled to exhibit a number of his paintings in an uptown gallery as part of an art crawl. I enjoyed meeting several artists and hearing about their work and learning how their life is different than mine. To be honest I felt a little out of place looking at artwork that cost as much as my truck, but Sunnie was enjoying herself and she was laughing a lot. The lights meant to illuminate the works of art highlighted a sparkle in her eyes that every diamond in the world must envy. We enjoyed being together.
Afterwards we went to see the movie Fireproof (www.fireproofthemovie.com/). I had not heard much about it, but we had planned an evening together and that's what she wanted to do. So we bought our tickets and a bag of M&Ms & found our seats. After 3 hours and 14 minutes of introductions and previews, the movie started.
Without re-telling the story (you should see it yourself) let me say we are invited into the lives of a successful young firefighter and his wife. He's very good at his work, but not very good in this relationship. His father "dares" him to make it work.
I would recommend the movie Fireproof to every adult I know - but let me tell you this: Don't expect to be entertained. Yes I laughed. Yes I cried (yes, I got misty-eyed too, but at one point near the end actually had tears on my face, which is not a common occurrence for me. And I was thinking, they BETTER NOT end this movie right now when I'm sitting here with tears on my face. But they proved themselves trustworthy and allowed me a few minutes to get it together before the lights came up). Parts of the movie are very entertaining, but it's not entertainment. This is something more. This is something better.
Don't make up your mind during the first five minutes - I started out hoping this wasn't a dud. But during the course of the movie I came to care about the characters and what happened to them. At times, it hurt to watch. Not because of what was happening on screen, but because I knew that hundreds and thousands of people who will be watching this movie had experienced some form of it in their own living rooms.
My wife and I have been married 18 years. Our relationship is strong and healthy and we are very thankful to be together. The most common year for divorces is the seventh year. After seven years, a couple has worked through some problems that many others were divorced over. So my wife and I have worked through some problems. It is painful at the time and it is painful to remember. (I remember one late night discussion, I impulsively told her: "You know what your problem is? You married a man! That's your problem!" Fortunately we both started laughing and that was the end of that.)
In my thinking, this movie represents the highest and best that movie-making can be: it builds you up. It offers hope. It creates the desire to aspire. Most importantly, it points the way to permanent solutions to all the challenges we face. The Bible says that love builds up, it makes stonger. So much of what passes for entertainment does nothing of the sort.
So go see it. I dare you.
Last weekend my wife and I had an evening planned together. A friend of ours was scheduled to exhibit a number of his paintings in an uptown gallery as part of an art crawl. I enjoyed meeting several artists and hearing about their work and learning how their life is different than mine. To be honest I felt a little out of place looking at artwork that cost as much as my truck, but Sunnie was enjoying herself and she was laughing a lot. The lights meant to illuminate the works of art highlighted a sparkle in her eyes that every diamond in the world must envy. We enjoyed being together.
Afterwards we went to see the movie Fireproof (www.fireproofthemovie.com/). I had not heard much about it, but we had planned an evening together and that's what she wanted to do. So we bought our tickets and a bag of M&Ms & found our seats. After 3 hours and 14 minutes of introductions and previews, the movie started.
Without re-telling the story (you should see it yourself) let me say we are invited into the lives of a successful young firefighter and his wife. He's very good at his work, but not very good in this relationship. His father "dares" him to make it work.
I would recommend the movie Fireproof to every adult I know - but let me tell you this: Don't expect to be entertained. Yes I laughed. Yes I cried (yes, I got misty-eyed too, but at one point near the end actually had tears on my face, which is not a common occurrence for me. And I was thinking, they BETTER NOT end this movie right now when I'm sitting here with tears on my face. But they proved themselves trustworthy and allowed me a few minutes to get it together before the lights came up). Parts of the movie are very entertaining, but it's not entertainment. This is something more. This is something better.
Don't make up your mind during the first five minutes - I started out hoping this wasn't a dud. But during the course of the movie I came to care about the characters and what happened to them. At times, it hurt to watch. Not because of what was happening on screen, but because I knew that hundreds and thousands of people who will be watching this movie had experienced some form of it in their own living rooms.
My wife and I have been married 18 years. Our relationship is strong and healthy and we are very thankful to be together. The most common year for divorces is the seventh year. After seven years, a couple has worked through some problems that many others were divorced over. So my wife and I have worked through some problems. It is painful at the time and it is painful to remember. (I remember one late night discussion, I impulsively told her: "You know what your problem is? You married a man! That's your problem!" Fortunately we both started laughing and that was the end of that.)
In my thinking, this movie represents the highest and best that movie-making can be: it builds you up. It offers hope. It creates the desire to aspire. Most importantly, it points the way to permanent solutions to all the challenges we face. The Bible says that love builds up, it makes stonger. So much of what passes for entertainment does nothing of the sort.
So go see it. I dare you.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
22 Thoughts for the Day
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Today I am reading and thinking upon and praying through Psalm 34. For this selection from the New King James Version I am grateful to my favorite online Bible site http://www.biblegateway.com/ ,where you can freely view and search multiple versions of the entire Bible.
Thank you Lord for your good promises to your people. Our hearts are steady when we trust in You.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Today I am reading and thinking upon and praying through Psalm 34. For this selection from the New King James Version I am grateful to my favorite online Bible site http://www.biblegateway.com/ ,where you can freely view and search multiple versions of the entire Bible.
Thank you Lord for your good promises to your people. Our hearts are steady when we trust in You.
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