Last week I falsely accused Justin of saying something on a video blog post that was not even there. Oh, my ears heard it, but it wasn’t there. I could say it was just an honest mistake that the combination of the dialog and the music sounded like something was there. But why did I feel the need or that it was my responsibility to point it out?
Why do any of us feel the need to comment on others blog posts? Is it for their “edification”? Or that it’s our “duty” as Christians to point out what we think is wrong?
Maybe it’s to make us feel important, to feel like we know what is being talked about.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not at all implying that every comment is negative and meant to demean the poster. I’m saying that for me I realized, a bit to late, that I spoke before I really listened. I commented before I really looked into it. I thought I knew what I was talking about and I thought everyone else should know it to. But at what cost and to what end? What good did it do? The only good it did was to help me realize that I don’t know everything and that it not up to me to make sure everyone else does. It's to late to undo the damage that was done, all I can do is apologize.
I make a mistake.
I judged.
And I was wrong.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Sunday, October 7, 2007
I Commented!
You know it really shouldn’t amaze me that when I choose to put out in public my thoughts, actions, misunderstandings and everything else, via the blog world I act surprised when others disagree through their comments.
I thought I would welcome comments, “educated” constructive criticism, but no matter how ready I think I am, It still hurts and I take offence when it’s obviously misunderstood, not even by the direct person or directly to me but by and through a second party.
Let me explain while trying not to be too specific.
I enjoy reading blogs. Some for fun, some for inspiration and others for growth. I DO NOT read them to “monitor” others thoughts, actions or opinions. And for those who really know me they know that I am far from that.
I looked at a blog the other day and found it to be great, funny and creative. One item caught my attention and I commented on it. I may have been wrong, but I commented. This person explained their feelings I explained mine and I thought that was that. Well I was wrong.
My comment had nothing to do with weather I was “offended”, it caught me off guard and I was not sure what was really there. I did not tell this person what they should and should not put in their blog, I simply brought something up. What I thought was valid, I was told that was not the case and I admitted I could have been wrong and I tried to let it go.
If my comments seemed to communicate harassment, judgment or that I am in any way more righteous than I apologize.
I made a mistake.
I commented!
I thought I would welcome comments, “educated” constructive criticism, but no matter how ready I think I am, It still hurts and I take offence when it’s obviously misunderstood, not even by the direct person or directly to me but by and through a second party.
Let me explain while trying not to be too specific.
I enjoy reading blogs. Some for fun, some for inspiration and others for growth. I DO NOT read them to “monitor” others thoughts, actions or opinions. And for those who really know me they know that I am far from that.
I looked at a blog the other day and found it to be great, funny and creative. One item caught my attention and I commented on it. I may have been wrong, but I commented. This person explained their feelings I explained mine and I thought that was that. Well I was wrong.
My comment had nothing to do with weather I was “offended”, it caught me off guard and I was not sure what was really there. I did not tell this person what they should and should not put in their blog, I simply brought something up. What I thought was valid, I was told that was not the case and I admitted I could have been wrong and I tried to let it go.
If my comments seemed to communicate harassment, judgment or that I am in any way more righteous than I apologize.
I made a mistake.
I commented!
Friday, October 5, 2007
At a loss for words
I’ve never experienced death on a personal level beyond my grandparents. I loved them and have great memories from my childhood. But I can’t begin to understand the depths of loss when you loose a parent, child, brother or sister.
She was a young mother in her 20’s with two beautiful kids. An active, smart and precocious 5 year old and an innocent 3 year old with significant medical needs. She struggled to provide the most basic of needs, seeking God at every turn. She tried to understand the purpose for the difficulties in their lives, abandonment, and feelings of rejection, unsupportive family and self-worth. She was scheduled for gull-bladder surgery next Tuesday to relieve the pain. She never gave in or gave up. She looked to God and the support of her friends.
What do you say to a 5 year old who finds her mommy on the floor not breathing? She called 911, she waited and she wondered.
Her questions still ring out “my mommy’s dead, isn’t she?” “When will I get to see her again?” The only answer, “ Jesus is taking care of her right now”.
I don’t understand. I can’t make any sense of it. I can’t even pretend to understand it. What is God’s plan and purpose? She was young and had a family to rise. Why did he call her home now?
She was a young mother in her 20’s with two beautiful kids. An active, smart and precocious 5 year old and an innocent 3 year old with significant medical needs. She struggled to provide the most basic of needs, seeking God at every turn. She tried to understand the purpose for the difficulties in their lives, abandonment, and feelings of rejection, unsupportive family and self-worth. She was scheduled for gull-bladder surgery next Tuesday to relieve the pain. She never gave in or gave up. She looked to God and the support of her friends.
What do you say to a 5 year old who finds her mommy on the floor not breathing? She called 911, she waited and she wondered.
Her questions still ring out “my mommy’s dead, isn’t she?” “When will I get to see her again?” The only answer, “ Jesus is taking care of her right now”.
I don’t understand. I can’t make any sense of it. I can’t even pretend to understand it. What is God’s plan and purpose? She was young and had a family to rise. Why did he call her home now?
6 months to salvation
To tell you the truth, on the surface I did not expect God to answer my prayer the way he did. . Wait check that. I did not expect Tammy and Anthony to hear wisdom and wait on getting married. They are not getting married on the Oct. 13. They are looking more at May 3, 2008.
So am I off the “hook”? I don’t have to walk her down the isle or give her away, right now! There are still many difficult decisions about their relationship and living arrangement that have to be talked about. But now I have six months to show Anthony the never-ending love, grace and mercy of Christ. I have to look for every occasion to share Christ and provide an opportunity for him to make a decision.
My prayers have changed from “don’t let her get married”, to “if you brought this young man into our lives so that we can be used to bring him to salvation and a right relationship with Christ, then use us”.
So what happens if he does not find and accept Christ by May 3? I can’t answer that. I’m choosing to live in today.
So am I off the “hook”? I don’t have to walk her down the isle or give her away, right now! There are still many difficult decisions about their relationship and living arrangement that have to be talked about. But now I have six months to show Anthony the never-ending love, grace and mercy of Christ. I have to look for every occasion to share Christ and provide an opportunity for him to make a decision.
My prayers have changed from “don’t let her get married”, to “if you brought this young man into our lives so that we can be used to bring him to salvation and a right relationship with Christ, then use us”.
So what happens if he does not find and accept Christ by May 3? I can’t answer that. I’m choosing to live in today.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Fighting for our wives
As Natalie and I walk through these difficult times with our children we have become increasingly aware of the evil ones schemes to use these times to disrupt and divide our oneness though marriage.
The conflict we both feel inside had started to move towards conflict toward each other. Because and only because we had determined and set our minds to stay together in prayer and reading the word, God allowed us to see vivid pictures of what Satan was trying to do and what that might look like if we allowed him to succeed.
So instead of focusing on how our children’s choices were affecting each one differently, we choose to commit the other to God in prayer, every day, all day. The following are some of the short prayers that I pray for Natalie that would apply to any man for his own wife. I am not only encouraging you to pray them for your wife, I am imploring you to pray for her.
Even though we, Christ-ones, win, we still have to fight the battles.
· Pray that you will be the kind of person God wants you to be so you can be the best husband possible for your wife. Ask God to show you how to fully love your wife, and how to pray for her in all situations.
· Pray that your wife will walk closely with Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be able to discern God’s will and follow it.
· Pray that God will give you insight into your wife’s emotions, and that she would enjoy stability and peace.
· Pray that God will enable your wife to be the best mother she can be, that her children will respond well to her.
· Pray that you wife will fee comfortable communicating with you, no matter what her mood, and that you will be able to help he stay calm and rely on God’s grace when she doesn’t feel right.
· Pray that God will continually strengthen all aspects of your marriage. Protect if from destruction, and grow love between you.
· Pray that your wife will respect and trust you as a spiritual leader, and that you will be completely submitted to God so you can effectively serve as a spiritual leader.
· Pray that your wife will enjoy close friendships with other Christian women, get along well with family members, and will be able to forgive people who have hurt her.
· Pray that God will give your wife the wisdom she needs to discern how she should set her priorities, and the grace to spend her time accordingly.
· Pray that God will give your wife confidence that she is beautiful in His sight and yours, and that He will help her value herself and take care of her body.
· Pray that you and your wife will enjoy a mutually fulfilling sexual relationship.
· Pray that your wife will recognize God’s purpose for her life, and be able to live it out as she uses her gifts.
· Pray that your wife will completely trust God, trust you as her husband, and be trustworthy herself.
· Pray that God will protect your wife - physically, mentally and spiritually - wherever she goes.
· Pray that your wife will know which dreams God wants her to pursue, and that you will be able to help her pursue them.
· Pray that your wife will bring glory to God through her work, that her work will fulfill her, and that others will respond well to it.
The conflict we both feel inside had started to move towards conflict toward each other. Because and only because we had determined and set our minds to stay together in prayer and reading the word, God allowed us to see vivid pictures of what Satan was trying to do and what that might look like if we allowed him to succeed.
So instead of focusing on how our children’s choices were affecting each one differently, we choose to commit the other to God in prayer, every day, all day. The following are some of the short prayers that I pray for Natalie that would apply to any man for his own wife. I am not only encouraging you to pray them for your wife, I am imploring you to pray for her.
Even though we, Christ-ones, win, we still have to fight the battles.
· Pray that you will be the kind of person God wants you to be so you can be the best husband possible for your wife. Ask God to show you how to fully love your wife, and how to pray for her in all situations.
· Pray that your wife will walk closely with Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be able to discern God’s will and follow it.
· Pray that God will give you insight into your wife’s emotions, and that she would enjoy stability and peace.
· Pray that God will enable your wife to be the best mother she can be, that her children will respond well to her.
· Pray that you wife will fee comfortable communicating with you, no matter what her mood, and that you will be able to help he stay calm and rely on God’s grace when she doesn’t feel right.
· Pray that God will continually strengthen all aspects of your marriage. Protect if from destruction, and grow love between you.
· Pray that your wife will respect and trust you as a spiritual leader, and that you will be completely submitted to God so you can effectively serve as a spiritual leader.
· Pray that your wife will enjoy close friendships with other Christian women, get along well with family members, and will be able to forgive people who have hurt her.
· Pray that God will give your wife the wisdom she needs to discern how she should set her priorities, and the grace to spend her time accordingly.
· Pray that God will give your wife confidence that she is beautiful in His sight and yours, and that He will help her value herself and take care of her body.
· Pray that you and your wife will enjoy a mutually fulfilling sexual relationship.
· Pray that your wife will recognize God’s purpose for her life, and be able to live it out as she uses her gifts.
· Pray that your wife will completely trust God, trust you as her husband, and be trustworthy herself.
· Pray that God will protect your wife - physically, mentally and spiritually - wherever she goes.
· Pray that your wife will know which dreams God wants her to pursue, and that you will be able to help her pursue them.
· Pray that your wife will bring glory to God through her work, that her work will fulfill her, and that others will respond well to it.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I want to be vitrified!
I want to be vitrified. Not familiar with that word? Neither was I until I talked to my friend Bill the potter. Vitrified is a pottery term meaning “water tight”. When a pot is under fired it is not completely watertight and can leak or seep.
This is how I am feeling right now. As a father I desperately want to give my daughter everything she has dreamed about. Yet as a Christian who has desires to live an uncompromised life of truth, I don’t know if I can give her away to someone who is not a Christian and at this point in his life does not really want anything to do with God. I have some peace about going to the wedding to support my daughter because she’s my daughter not because I approve of what she is doing. But the action of walking her down the isle and giving her away communicates that I’m ok with this and I’m not ok with it. Some may see the conflict and others can’t see the big deal.
The conflict I feel with in me has begun to seep into all other areas of my life. The way I respond to my wife, how I feel about my own failures, my desire to continue to do the next right thing, work, sleep, and on and on. It’s is a constant battle to “take every thought captive” when every thought is fighting back.
So what am I doing about this? The hardest thing I know I can do, asking God to re-fire me. One thing about a pot not being vitrified is that it can be re-fired; it can’t be at a lower temperature, it has to be a higher temperature. But first everything has to be poured out. And this is what I am trying to do, pour everything out.
I don’t pretend to have the answers or even begin to understand. What I do know is this, I cannot do it on my own, and I need God to re-fire me. I don’t know how many re-firings it will take but I’m tired of leaking all over everything.
This is how I am feeling right now. As a father I desperately want to give my daughter everything she has dreamed about. Yet as a Christian who has desires to live an uncompromised life of truth, I don’t know if I can give her away to someone who is not a Christian and at this point in his life does not really want anything to do with God. I have some peace about going to the wedding to support my daughter because she’s my daughter not because I approve of what she is doing. But the action of walking her down the isle and giving her away communicates that I’m ok with this and I’m not ok with it. Some may see the conflict and others can’t see the big deal.
The conflict I feel with in me has begun to seep into all other areas of my life. The way I respond to my wife, how I feel about my own failures, my desire to continue to do the next right thing, work, sleep, and on and on. It’s is a constant battle to “take every thought captive” when every thought is fighting back.
So what am I doing about this? The hardest thing I know I can do, asking God to re-fire me. One thing about a pot not being vitrified is that it can be re-fired; it can’t be at a lower temperature, it has to be a higher temperature. But first everything has to be poured out. And this is what I am trying to do, pour everything out.
I don’t pretend to have the answers or even begin to understand. What I do know is this, I cannot do it on my own, and I need God to re-fire me. I don’t know how many re-firings it will take but I’m tired of leaking all over everything.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Free will - Mine or Theirs?
God gave free will for a purpose and intended it to be used.
So why does it surprise us when others choose to use that free will?
Is it the how and to what purpose?
Or is it because it’s not our will?
And to what end?
So why does it surprise us when others choose to use that free will?
Is it the how and to what purpose?
Or is it because it’s not our will?
And to what end?
Monday, September 17, 2007
Not So Convenient Christianity
It’s not convenient to get up early every day to pray.
It’s not convenient to tithe consistently.
It’s not convenient to join with other Christians every week to worship.
It’s not convenient to watch what is honoring to God.
It’s not convenient to hold my tongue.
It’s not convenient to think the best of others, no matter what.
It’s not convenient to live with integrity when no one is looking.
It’s not convenient to let my “yes be yes and my no be no”.
It’s not convenient to take every thought captive.
It’s not convenient to live in truth when your kids aren’t.
It’s not convenient to love unconditionally when love hurts.
It’s not convenient to praise God when hope seems deferred.
It’s not convenient to live an authentic Christian life.
It’s not convenient to tithe consistently.
It’s not convenient to join with other Christians every week to worship.
It’s not convenient to watch what is honoring to God.
It’s not convenient to hold my tongue.
It’s not convenient to think the best of others, no matter what.
It’s not convenient to live with integrity when no one is looking.
It’s not convenient to let my “yes be yes and my no be no”.
It’s not convenient to take every thought captive.
It’s not convenient to live in truth when your kids aren’t.
It’s not convenient to love unconditionally when love hurts.
It’s not convenient to praise God when hope seems deferred.
It’s not convenient to live an authentic Christian life.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Convenient Christianity - Part II
What if the conversation between God and Jesus went something like this?
~ “Jesus when you have some free time on your hands I would like you to go down to earth and die for everyone, but only when you have time and it’s convenient for you. There’s no rush and I wouldn’t want you to inconvenience yourself. You can do it whenever you feel most comfortable and it doesn’t matter what my plan is you can do what makes you feel good.” ~
Why have we allowed the world to tells us that living our life for Christ is about us, what we feel comfortable with, what is convenient for us and what we think is truth more than what God’s word clearly says?
Eph. 4:29 - Do not let ANY unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but ONLY what is helpful for building others up according to THEIR needs that it may benefit those who listen.
Phil. 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Col. 3:5 & 8– Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
But now you must rid yourselves of ALL such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from you lips.
As I read these verses I could not find anything in them or their context that indicates convenience or how we feel about it. They read very clear to me, yet we and I really mean me, continue to live convenient Christian lives. And we use our reasoning called “GRACE”.
There is a line in the song “Never Give Up On Me” by Josh Bates that says,
“Time after time I’ve used your grace as a way to do what I please”.
Ro 6:1 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
1Jo 3:9 - No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
To be continued………
~ “Jesus when you have some free time on your hands I would like you to go down to earth and die for everyone, but only when you have time and it’s convenient for you. There’s no rush and I wouldn’t want you to inconvenience yourself. You can do it whenever you feel most comfortable and it doesn’t matter what my plan is you can do what makes you feel good.” ~
Why have we allowed the world to tells us that living our life for Christ is about us, what we feel comfortable with, what is convenient for us and what we think is truth more than what God’s word clearly says?
Eph. 4:29 - Do not let ANY unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but ONLY what is helpful for building others up according to THEIR needs that it may benefit those who listen.
Phil. 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Col. 3:5 & 8– Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
But now you must rid yourselves of ALL such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from you lips.
As I read these verses I could not find anything in them or their context that indicates convenience or how we feel about it. They read very clear to me, yet we and I really mean me, continue to live convenient Christian lives. And we use our reasoning called “GRACE”.
There is a line in the song “Never Give Up On Me” by Josh Bates that says,
“Time after time I’ve used your grace as a way to do what I please”.
Ro 6:1 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
1Jo 3:9 - No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
To be continued………
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Convenient Christianity - Part I
When did living a life for Christ become more about convenience than sacrifice? And when did our selfish need for convenience take on the form of compromise? Now the threatening appearance of compromise has grown into a lifestyle. A lifestyle of what I will call Convenient Christianity.
I’m not sure when it all started, but I believe it was sometime around the “fall”. And so the mindset of “I know better than God” and “You know God these commandments are really not convenient for me” began.
Many of us read the word of God the way we want to rear it. It may sound something like this:
Matthew 19:16-22
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." ( but only if it’s convenient for you) 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, (only the convenient ones) "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery (unless it only in your mind), do not steal (unless it’s online music or movies), do not give false testimony (unless it makes you look better),
19 honor your father and mother (unless you don’t agree with them)' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' (unless it’s takes to much time)"
20 "All these I have kept (mostly, ok sometines, well when it was convenient)," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions (that you aren’t using) and give to the poor (but only if you can write it off taxes), and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (when it's convenient for you)."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth (and it really wasn’t a convenient time).
I’m not sure when it all started, but I believe it was sometime around the “fall”. And so the mindset of “I know better than God” and “You know God these commandments are really not convenient for me” began.
Many of us read the word of God the way we want to rear it. It may sound something like this:
Matthew 19:16-22
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." ( but only if it’s convenient for you) 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, (only the convenient ones) "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery (unless it only in your mind), do not steal (unless it’s online music or movies), do not give false testimony (unless it makes you look better),
19 honor your father and mother (unless you don’t agree with them)' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' (unless it’s takes to much time)"
20 "All these I have kept (mostly, ok sometines, well when it was convenient)," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions (that you aren’t using) and give to the poor (but only if you can write it off taxes), and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (when it's convenient for you)."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth (and it really wasn’t a convenient time).
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Truth -vs- Love
“Anthony and I are getting married next month”.
I sat stunned; a hurt blank stare was my only communication. This is not the way I dreamed it would be. The words racing through my mind would be hurtful and damaging, but I wanted to yell them out. “Lord guard my tongue” was my only prayer. All I knew was this was the same guy that three years ago we forbid our daughter from seeing, the same guy that was extradited back to California for robbery. And the same guy that spent two years for the crime and still has seven months on his parole. Before I could gain my composure I heard
“It’s just going to be a small out side wedding and we have a friend who said she would marry us.”
SHE? Wait, What? This goes against everything I believe and hold true. “Lord what’s next”? I asked. I had to turn every thought to a prayer in order to keep form lashing out.
“Is he a Christian?”
“He went to church as a kid”
“But is he a Christian?”
“I don’t know, he doesn’t like going to church”.
“ How can I give you away to someone who doesn’t love God?”
Tears started to flow and the “dad your just don’t get it” look came flying across the room.
Minutes seemed like hours. Time could not move fast enough for me. “I don’t want to talk about this” keep filling my mind. “Take me know Lord” actually flashed through once or twice. By the grace of God I held my tongue and listened. We shared our hearts and truth. She shared her feelings and uncertainty. Yet at the end of it all nothing had changed. They still plan on getting married and expect us to be onboard with it.
I can’t do it! I can’t give my daughter away to someone who does not love God.
Can I?
I sat stunned; a hurt blank stare was my only communication. This is not the way I dreamed it would be. The words racing through my mind would be hurtful and damaging, but I wanted to yell them out. “Lord guard my tongue” was my only prayer. All I knew was this was the same guy that three years ago we forbid our daughter from seeing, the same guy that was extradited back to California for robbery. And the same guy that spent two years for the crime and still has seven months on his parole. Before I could gain my composure I heard
“It’s just going to be a small out side wedding and we have a friend who said she would marry us.”
SHE? Wait, What? This goes against everything I believe and hold true. “Lord what’s next”? I asked. I had to turn every thought to a prayer in order to keep form lashing out.
“Is he a Christian?”
“He went to church as a kid”
“But is he a Christian?”
“I don’t know, he doesn’t like going to church”.
“ How can I give you away to someone who doesn’t love God?”
Tears started to flow and the “dad your just don’t get it” look came flying across the room.
Minutes seemed like hours. Time could not move fast enough for me. “I don’t want to talk about this” keep filling my mind. “Take me know Lord” actually flashed through once or twice. By the grace of God I held my tongue and listened. We shared our hearts and truth. She shared her feelings and uncertainty. Yet at the end of it all nothing had changed. They still plan on getting married and expect us to be onboard with it.
I can’t do it! I can’t give my daughter away to someone who does not love God.
Can I?
Monday, September 10, 2007
Another Rock in the Box
I’ve always liked rocks; the vast assortment continues to fascinate me. I’ve been collecting and studying them for almost 40 years now. I am in NO way even close to being and expert on them. One thing I do know, without any uncertainty, is that they really hurt when they hit you or when you stumble over one. If you pick up one that is too large for you to carry by yourself, you will most likely injure yourself.
So stretch with me for a minute and compare rocks to events in our lives. Some things happen that are a little like pebbles, they can really sting when they hit, not a lot of lasting damage but they can smart.
Then there are times when money is tight and you’re not sure how to make ends meet. A lot like a small stone, it hurts a lot more than the pebbles but you still heal well over time.
The rocks can get bigger and hurt a lot more. They do serious damage; leaving open wounds, deep bruises and long-healing scars.
Many times those we hold dear are the ones throwing the rocks. And yet other times they come from the unknown. Even now there are times when we pick up rocks and carry them when we don’t need to.
So what do we do with rocks? Well as Dee Duke says, “Put another rock in the box!”
You see he compares rocks to our prayers. Picture your life as board, like a teeter-totter. On one end is our box of “life” and on the other is our box of “prayers”. When we have the rocks of life filling up one box we need to put another rock in the box on the other side. If you don’t see your life moving, “PUT ANOTHER ROCK IN THE BOX”.
“But nothing is happening”. Put in a bigger rock. Still nothing. Put in another rock.
Get the picture? Only prayer can lift the rocks of life.
So stretch with me for a minute and compare rocks to events in our lives. Some things happen that are a little like pebbles, they can really sting when they hit, not a lot of lasting damage but they can smart.
Then there are times when money is tight and you’re not sure how to make ends meet. A lot like a small stone, it hurts a lot more than the pebbles but you still heal well over time.
The rocks can get bigger and hurt a lot more. They do serious damage; leaving open wounds, deep bruises and long-healing scars.
Many times those we hold dear are the ones throwing the rocks. And yet other times they come from the unknown. Even now there are times when we pick up rocks and carry them when we don’t need to.
So what do we do with rocks? Well as Dee Duke says, “Put another rock in the box!”
You see he compares rocks to our prayers. Picture your life as board, like a teeter-totter. On one end is our box of “life” and on the other is our box of “prayers”. When we have the rocks of life filling up one box we need to put another rock in the box on the other side. If you don’t see your life moving, “PUT ANOTHER ROCK IN THE BOX”.
“But nothing is happening”. Put in a bigger rock. Still nothing. Put in another rock.
Get the picture? Only prayer can lift the rocks of life.
Wholeness
Wholeness
Hope for the future, for wholeness complete.
Hope in our Father to heal the deep.
To trust in our Lord with all not in part,
With surety of truth and pureness of heart.
For into our dark our Father will send,
His Spirit, a counselor, redeemer and friend.
We’re never alone, His truth is so real.
It’s not based on our life or how we may feel.
Full life He has promised, written words from the past.
They dwell in our hearts, His true light they do cast.
When all is reveled our transgressions we see.
Confession, forgiveness, acceptance, we’re free.
Wholeness, full life, our future is clear.
We were never alone our Savior was here.
He has healed my heart and restored my soul.
The pain in not gone but now I am whole.
Dave
Hope for the future, for wholeness complete.
Hope in our Father to heal the deep.
To trust in our Lord with all not in part,
With surety of truth and pureness of heart.
For into our dark our Father will send,
His Spirit, a counselor, redeemer and friend.
We’re never alone, His truth is so real.
It’s not based on our life or how we may feel.
Full life He has promised, written words from the past.
They dwell in our hearts, His true light they do cast.
When all is reveled our transgressions we see.
Confession, forgiveness, acceptance, we’re free.
Wholeness, full life, our future is clear.
We were never alone our Savior was here.
He has healed my heart and restored my soul.
The pain in not gone but now I am whole.
Dave
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Rocks Hurt!
Today I felt as though I had rocks hurled at me, metaphorically speaking.
Although, now that I think about it real rocks may have hurt less.
The first one was not to big, more like a small pebble, the next one was bigger and had some sharp edges. The last one however was big, real big. Not the biggest I've ever been hit with, but big none the less and I did not see it coming. Smash! Crunch! right in the heart.
It hurts real bad and I know it's going to leave a bruise.
Although, now that I think about it real rocks may have hurt less.
The first one was not to big, more like a small pebble, the next one was bigger and had some sharp edges. The last one however was big, real big. Not the biggest I've ever been hit with, but big none the less and I did not see it coming. Smash! Crunch! right in the heart.
It hurts real bad and I know it's going to leave a bruise.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Stuck in the middle
It’s the middle that I seem to spend most of my time fighting for. You know the highs and the lows, the mountaintops and the valleys, the ups and the downs. What about the middle? Are you raising up out or are you on your way down? Can you choose the way? Think about it for a minute.
The first poem I remember learning was “The Grand Old Duke of York”.
“The Grand old Duke of York, he has ten thousand men. He marched them up a very high hill and he marched them down again. And when they were up they were up. And when they were down they were down. And when they were only half way up, they were neither up nor down.”
But is it really the middle? How high do you have to be to be out of the middle? Or how low do you have to fall to be below it? And if so how wide is the middle for the other ends?
At the distant beginning you have a piece of coal, oddly shaped, uncreative and beyond unclean. When handled it will leave behind a visible and most often an unseen presence. All the time making its self-useful if exposed to flame.
Knowing that far away along the line of time you have a diamond that having been exposed to outwardly unbearable pressure and then after being touched by the master’s hand is exquisite and priceless. And being exposed to true sunlight is beauty as it was designed to be.
And then there in the middle over looked and often set-aside, you find a rock. To most it’s not of much use. It won’t burn, has little, if any value and not much to look at.
This is where I seem to find myself much of the time. Not even close to being a diamond and to far along to give off heat, a rock!
Yet wasn’t it a simple rock that brought Goliath down? Didn’t God bring fresh water out of a rock for the children of Israel?
I’m still doing a lot of thinking about this, so I don’t have many answerable thoughts. But I would love to hear yours.
Peace and Blessings, Dave
The first poem I remember learning was “The Grand Old Duke of York”.
“The Grand old Duke of York, he has ten thousand men. He marched them up a very high hill and he marched them down again. And when they were up they were up. And when they were down they were down. And when they were only half way up, they were neither up nor down.”
But is it really the middle? How high do you have to be to be out of the middle? Or how low do you have to fall to be below it? And if so how wide is the middle for the other ends?
At the distant beginning you have a piece of coal, oddly shaped, uncreative and beyond unclean. When handled it will leave behind a visible and most often an unseen presence. All the time making its self-useful if exposed to flame.
Knowing that far away along the line of time you have a diamond that having been exposed to outwardly unbearable pressure and then after being touched by the master’s hand is exquisite and priceless. And being exposed to true sunlight is beauty as it was designed to be.
And then there in the middle over looked and often set-aside, you find a rock. To most it’s not of much use. It won’t burn, has little, if any value and not much to look at.
This is where I seem to find myself much of the time. Not even close to being a diamond and to far along to give off heat, a rock!
Yet wasn’t it a simple rock that brought Goliath down? Didn’t God bring fresh water out of a rock for the children of Israel?
I’m still doing a lot of thinking about this, so I don’t have many answerable thoughts. But I would love to hear yours.
Peace and Blessings, Dave
Monday, August 13, 2007
Discipline vs. Punishment
I’m learning to separate the words discipline and punishment. And I am coming to understand more and more how God disciplines me and also what he allows.
To me discipline is often thought of in very negative concept. I cannot hear the word "discipline" without hearing something negative, so I have learned to use the words "training" or "correction. I know, however, that discipline, in the true sense of the word is positive, encouraging, and even proof of love (…because the Lord disciplines those He loves - Hebrews 12:6).
The root word of discipline is disciple (= a student, a learner). When God disciplines us, He is making disciples of us. When we discipline our children, we are making disciples. Discipline is defined as training that develops self-control.
In most cases in the Bible there is a difference in the meaning of the words discipline and punishment. As parents we are instructed to discipline our children, but they are not often instructed to punish their children (and when we are, such as in Hebrews 12, what is being described is actually discipline rather than punishment). Likewise, as a Christian, then God disciplines us for our own good. He does not punish us
What's the difference? As stated earlier, the root word of discipline is disciple and means learner. The definition of discipline in both the Old Testament and New Testament included instruction and training, as well as correcting. Discipline is to be motivated by love and concern, according to Hebrews 12. In contrast, punishment can imply getting even, retaliation, vengeance, and exacting a penalty.
After a lot of “examination” and some confession, I know that losing part of my finger was not discipline from God. However, God allowed it to happen, for what purpose, maturity, reliance, witness, empathy or maybe all of the above, that I d’not know. I do know this, God is not finished with me yet. Stay tuned, my story has just begun.
Shalom, Dave
To me discipline is often thought of in very negative concept. I cannot hear the word "discipline" without hearing something negative, so I have learned to use the words "training" or "correction. I know, however, that discipline, in the true sense of the word is positive, encouraging, and even proof of love (…because the Lord disciplines those He loves - Hebrews 12:6).
The root word of discipline is disciple (= a student, a learner). When God disciplines us, He is making disciples of us. When we discipline our children, we are making disciples. Discipline is defined as training that develops self-control.
In most cases in the Bible there is a difference in the meaning of the words discipline and punishment. As parents we are instructed to discipline our children, but they are not often instructed to punish their children (and when we are, such as in Hebrews 12, what is being described is actually discipline rather than punishment). Likewise, as a Christian, then God disciplines us for our own good. He does not punish us
What's the difference? As stated earlier, the root word of discipline is disciple and means learner. The definition of discipline in both the Old Testament and New Testament included instruction and training, as well as correcting. Discipline is to be motivated by love and concern, according to Hebrews 12. In contrast, punishment can imply getting even, retaliation, vengeance, and exacting a penalty.
After a lot of “examination” and some confession, I know that losing part of my finger was not discipline from God. However, God allowed it to happen, for what purpose, maturity, reliance, witness, empathy or maybe all of the above, that I d’not know. I do know this, God is not finished with me yet. Stay tuned, my story has just begun.
Shalom, Dave
Can you see in the dark?
Can you see in the dark?
We don't always choose the darkness that comes into our lives. Sometimes the events of our life and those around us seem to extinguish what light we are desperately trying to hang onto. This kind of darkness is not only heavy but constructing and unknown. So how do we move through it? What is our hope? I have found that in seasons of darkness some things can become clearer than they were before. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? That's what I thought at first, however the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I have noticed that the little bit of light that shines in my life during these times can become more focused on the things that need to be seen. And the shadow of the cross covers all the things that would otherwise take my focus away from what really matters. I read a small book sometime back called "The Way of a Worshiper" by Buddy Owens. There is a section in the book that communicates so clearly that a season of darkness is not something to be feared. It's worth reading so don't stop here!
Peace and Blessing, Dave
Here is that section:
I found myself in a dark, confined space. And I feared it. Even in broad daylight, there seemed to be a pall over my life. I felt small and unnecessary.
The Prophet Nahum wrote: His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are
the dust of his feet. (Nahum1:3) There definitely were clouds looming overhead. But I
believed that God was in them, leading the way through the storm. Day after day I surrendered to God's sovereignty, and followed him deeper into it all. I cried out to him in prayer and worship. I didn't want to ask God, "Why are you doing this to me?" Instead, I asked, "What lesson do you want me to learn?" I searched the Scriptures. I searched my heart. I watched. I listened. Heaver was silent. But you kept myself at the foot of the throne. I was determined to get in God's way. Sometimes praise defines reason. But someone once said, "The heart knows reason that reason never knows." Even when it didn't make sense, I knew in my heart that I needed to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. So I set my heart in a posture of praise. Weeks passed. The darkness persisted. The anxiety deepened. The heaviness intensified. I didn't know how long I could go on. I prayed. And prayed. "Father, if I stand, may I stand in your strength. If I fall, may I fall into your grace. Do whatever it takes for as long as it takes, Lord. Just don't let me miss the lesson, because I don't want to have to go through this again." What was this darkness? What was this pressure? Why did I feel trapped? Everything seemed so – I don't know how else to describe it – thick.
I was awakened at 4:00 am on morning with this question in my mind: "When did you learn to fear a hiding place?" I sat straight up in bed and listened to the question again: "When did you learn to fear a hiding place?" I got out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen table. As I waited in listening prayer, I remembered the joy of my childhood game of hide and seek and my love for hiding places. Then I heard these words whispered deep within my heart:
"The darkness is a fold in my cloak. The pressure is my hand holding you close to my side. I am hiding you."
As I sat at the table thanking God for his kindness, my fears began to abate. The heaviness lifted. I was so keenly aware of the presence of God in my life, watching over me, protecting me, hiding me. God knew. He really knew. And he was intimately involved in the struggle.I can't say there was nothing to fear – oh, there was still plenty to fear. My troubled didn't go away right then and there. The darkness didn't suddenly turn to light. But I was no longer afraid. I felt safe. I realized that my sacrifices of praise had met with God's pleasure. He was enthroned on my praises. I had tapped into the untold riches of worship: peace that surpasses understanding, strength to face another day, confidence that My family would be provided for, hope for a future, joy in spite of the crisis – grace upon grace upon grace. Like a hen covering her chicks with her wing, my Father was hiding me in the fold of his cloak. The darkness was no longer a place of fear. It was now a place of rest. I went back to bed and slept in peace.
We don't always choose the darkness that comes into our lives. Sometimes the events of our life and those around us seem to extinguish what light we are desperately trying to hang onto. This kind of darkness is not only heavy but constructing and unknown. So how do we move through it? What is our hope? I have found that in seasons of darkness some things can become clearer than they were before. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? That's what I thought at first, however the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I have noticed that the little bit of light that shines in my life during these times can become more focused on the things that need to be seen. And the shadow of the cross covers all the things that would otherwise take my focus away from what really matters. I read a small book sometime back called "The Way of a Worshiper" by Buddy Owens. There is a section in the book that communicates so clearly that a season of darkness is not something to be feared. It's worth reading so don't stop here!
Peace and Blessing, Dave
Here is that section:
I found myself in a dark, confined space. And I feared it. Even in broad daylight, there seemed to be a pall over my life. I felt small and unnecessary.
The Prophet Nahum wrote: His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are
the dust of his feet. (Nahum1:3) There definitely were clouds looming overhead. But I
believed that God was in them, leading the way through the storm. Day after day I surrendered to God's sovereignty, and followed him deeper into it all. I cried out to him in prayer and worship. I didn't want to ask God, "Why are you doing this to me?" Instead, I asked, "What lesson do you want me to learn?" I searched the Scriptures. I searched my heart. I watched. I listened. Heaver was silent. But you kept myself at the foot of the throne. I was determined to get in God's way. Sometimes praise defines reason. But someone once said, "The heart knows reason that reason never knows." Even when it didn't make sense, I knew in my heart that I needed to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. So I set my heart in a posture of praise. Weeks passed. The darkness persisted. The anxiety deepened. The heaviness intensified. I didn't know how long I could go on. I prayed. And prayed. "Father, if I stand, may I stand in your strength. If I fall, may I fall into your grace. Do whatever it takes for as long as it takes, Lord. Just don't let me miss the lesson, because I don't want to have to go through this again." What was this darkness? What was this pressure? Why did I feel trapped? Everything seemed so – I don't know how else to describe it – thick.
I was awakened at 4:00 am on morning with this question in my mind: "When did you learn to fear a hiding place?" I sat straight up in bed and listened to the question again: "When did you learn to fear a hiding place?" I got out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen table. As I waited in listening prayer, I remembered the joy of my childhood game of hide and seek and my love for hiding places. Then I heard these words whispered deep within my heart:
"The darkness is a fold in my cloak. The pressure is my hand holding you close to my side. I am hiding you."
As I sat at the table thanking God for his kindness, my fears began to abate. The heaviness lifted. I was so keenly aware of the presence of God in my life, watching over me, protecting me, hiding me. God knew. He really knew. And he was intimately involved in the struggle.I can't say there was nothing to fear – oh, there was still plenty to fear. My troubled didn't go away right then and there. The darkness didn't suddenly turn to light. But I was no longer afraid. I felt safe. I realized that my sacrifices of praise had met with God's pleasure. He was enthroned on my praises. I had tapped into the untold riches of worship: peace that surpasses understanding, strength to face another day, confidence that My family would be provided for, hope for a future, joy in spite of the crisis – grace upon grace upon grace. Like a hen covering her chicks with her wing, my Father was hiding me in the fold of his cloak. The darkness was no longer a place of fear. It was now a place of rest. I went back to bed and slept in peace.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
When too much is just enough
When too much is just enough:
I meet with a couple of men this week who are going thorough some very difficult times right not and I
heard it said, “God is not going to give me more than I can handle, right?”. And then out comes
“ But, this is more than I can stand, I can’t take any more”.
So which is it? Does God allow more into our lives than we can handle? I believe the answer is most definitely yes. Look at what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 1:8-10 – We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
Think for a minute about a time when you felt so overwhelmed that you cried out and begged God to remove you from it or at least help you through it, got it? Now try to imagine how things might have been different if God said, “oh you can handle it, you don’t need me”.
Many times in my own life I have faced trials and consequences far beyond what I was able to handle. If God had said that he would not give us more, troubles, trials or difficulties than we can handle, then why would we need him? If we are so self-sufficient and can handle anything then why do we fail so often? We need God and he wants us to need him. When I started to BELIEVE God and not just “believe in” God, then things really started to make sense.
God wants to use our hurts, mistakes and failures, transforming them into alters of worship. We must believe that God is not only bigger than our hurts but that He is also bigger than our mistakes and unbelief – even those things we have brought on ourselves.
In spite of what we feel or what our circumstances say, we choose to believe the truth of God’s word and what He says about us. We allow it to transform our situation and heal us. This isn’t denying the reality of our circumstance but, rather, denying their right to remain in control of our lives.
Look again at what Paul says, this time in 1 Corinthians 4:8-9 – We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Paul got it (most of the time) but he, like us, was just a man, or woman. But he believed God and what God told him in 1 Corinthians 12:9 – My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Temptations, not trials, but that is for a different time.
For me, I have found that “too much” is just enough. So what about you? Are you ready to go from just believing in God to BELIEVE God? Just a thought!
Peace to you, Dave
I meet with a couple of men this week who are going thorough some very difficult times right not and I
heard it said, “God is not going to give me more than I can handle, right?”. And then out comes
“ But, this is more than I can stand, I can’t take any more”.
So which is it? Does God allow more into our lives than we can handle? I believe the answer is most definitely yes. Look at what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 1:8-10 – We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
Think for a minute about a time when you felt so overwhelmed that you cried out and begged God to remove you from it or at least help you through it, got it? Now try to imagine how things might have been different if God said, “oh you can handle it, you don’t need me”.
Many times in my own life I have faced trials and consequences far beyond what I was able to handle. If God had said that he would not give us more, troubles, trials or difficulties than we can handle, then why would we need him? If we are so self-sufficient and can handle anything then why do we fail so often? We need God and he wants us to need him. When I started to BELIEVE God and not just “believe in” God, then things really started to make sense.
God wants to use our hurts, mistakes and failures, transforming them into alters of worship. We must believe that God is not only bigger than our hurts but that He is also bigger than our mistakes and unbelief – even those things we have brought on ourselves.
In spite of what we feel or what our circumstances say, we choose to believe the truth of God’s word and what He says about us. We allow it to transform our situation and heal us. This isn’t denying the reality of our circumstance but, rather, denying their right to remain in control of our lives.
Look again at what Paul says, this time in 1 Corinthians 4:8-9 – We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Paul got it (most of the time) but he, like us, was just a man, or woman. But he believed God and what God told him in 1 Corinthians 12:9 – My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Temptations, not trials, but that is for a different time.
For me, I have found that “too much” is just enough. So what about you? Are you ready to go from just believing in God to BELIEVE God? Just a thought!
Peace to you, Dave
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