Little Moments

Have you ever had one of those moments where time stood still and all was right in the world?

 I imagine this is how the father felt when his estranged son returned after leaving with his inheritance. I think one of the biggest obstacles in today’s world is that we have so many worries about stuff that we forget to stop and see those moments as the gifts from God that they truly are. This is less of a devotional today and more of a challenge. I want to challenge you to find a little notebook, tuck it and a pen somewhere on your person, be it purse or pocket and start recording the moments. As a society we get so caught up in what we have, what we want, and what we think we need that we miss what is already there.

As I look back on the past 5 months of this year a lot has happened, many changes occurred, some reducing stress and some adding to exponentially. I can see those moments though and I wish I would have appreciated them more when they happened. Moments like bringing in the New Year with family and friends from church, and singing like a rock star on Rock band that night. Moments like celebrating Holly’s birthday at my mom’s home with a knitting cake and making faces with my favorite little Kenley, I believe that night Kenley literally poked the bear, too cute. Moments like walking around our Nation’s capital with Jordan placing a gnome in places he probably shouldn’t have been for picture opts. Holding my wife’s hand as we watched the soldier at the tomb of the unknown do his march, sitting next to the drunk guy in Imax and watching a surfing movie, and seeing my boys excited about every exhibit and museum we went to because their thirst for knowledge is amazing. High school dances and fancy dresses and suits were also a highlight. Moments when I realize my children are growing into young adults and I have to like the father mentioned above start letting them take some responsibility for their own actions. All the little moments in April that just jump out such as painting for a large group of young people as we discussed the importance of rest, our friend Mary scaring another friend at Tracy’s birthday party, becoming a member of the American Association of Christian counselors, and a great night with my friends at a Scallywag event. Moments like when our oldest boy took first, by a lot, in his heat of hurdles, when Jordan beat Nick in the mile because that was his goal, and Sayje landing on her head catching a high fly ball in softball. Watching Joey play with his friend Peter and not getting any calls about them being in trouble, and one of my favorite moments is when Maddy comes home from long weekends at her dad’s and we cuddle up on the couch, her, Holly, and I and catch up on River Monsters.

So your challenge is to simply keep track of your moments, thank those who were part of them, thank God for allowing them to happen, and appreciate what you have instead of what you think you need. 

Stepping Stones

Image walking across a stream, stepping from rock to rock as you firmly plant your foot to ensure you are on solid ground. Even when you have a precisely planned out root there are times when you hit a rock that is not as secure as the others or it is just slippery. When you step to this rock you fall, become wet, embarrassed, and maybe even mad. Is it the rocks fault you fell?

As my children get older I am finding more slippery and loose stones. I did not grow up with a strong father in my early life. I was not a strong father in my children’s early life either. Now I have a stronger faith in my Daddy, God, but at times I still step onto the rocks that are not firmly planted. When I do, I stubble and it can be an ugly site. Other times I attempt to move the rocks myself so I can get across and lead my family across, even though I may make it one of them may slip. This was not God’s intent but my self-will run riot. Sometimes God allows our loved ones to fall so we can help them up. Again, at this I sometimes fail. It is God’s intent that we follow His path no matter how difficult because He knows the destination is worth it.

I left my home today feeling like I had failed as a father. Through careful prayer and a conversation, probably long overdue with God, I see that I only fail if I don’t help my struggling child up off the rocks. I know that I did not handle the fall well but I can finish the day with a bigger Daddy in charge. Cleaning up the wounds won’t be easy and will take time to heal for everyone but it will happen because our God is a great healer, listener, captive audience, and best of all, the solid stone for us to stand upon, our Daddy.

And One is God The Father of all, and over all, and with all and in us all. Ephesians 4:6

Wasting time!?!

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

A time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

A time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

So maybe the three readers I have noticed that last month was a slow month for this blog. I typically try to get in at least three posts and I had set a goal to introduce one man of the bible every month. This did not happen last month and I wish I had a good excuse. I will however try and introduce two men this month so I am caught up. That being stated I wanted to just briefly talk about using time wisely.

Last year in December many believed the world would end based on the end of the Mayan calendar. In 1999 many believed we would be devastated by Y2K. Also there is that one guy, Nostradamus who had several predictions of the end day. Matthew 24:34-36 tells us; ^“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

So only God knows? Yep! What does that mean for us? It means that we should use our time in this irreplaceable, at times incomprehensible, and certainly wondrous gift called life a lot more wisely. God desires us to do things that bring Him glory. I used to struggle with this a little because I felt like God just wanted all the credit all the time, which He does, and He deserves, but I also realized that in doing things that bring Him glory and honor we are also living a glorious and honorable life.

I certainly could have used my time more wisely last month and not just in doing these little blog posts but in many aspects. I am sure if we take an honest look at our day we can all weed out some of the worldly garbage and find more time for God. In doing so I believe people with have less anxiety and depression issues, your mind will become programmed to be more loving and patient, and best of all you get to share a constant and amazing relationship that even in death cannot end with a Father that loves you so much that He laid down the life of His Son for you.    

Diamond in the rough

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:10

Have you ever seen a real piece of coal? Its dark ashen color? Its rough edges? Its dirty and not so appealing smell? Coal or a mineral of fossilized carbon can be used for many amazing and extraordinary things. It has been used to propel trains across the lands far and wide; it can be used to heat homes, and even villages. Last evening at youth group we discussed what it is like being adopted by God. No longer being orphaned to the world but now being part of a royal family. As the teens went around the room and explained how this changed their view of themselves after being adopted into God’s family I thought about what it felt like, what I saw happen, and how I view my own adoption. Hence the coal.

My life much like the coal was dark, it was rough inside and out, certainly dirty, and on occasion even smelled bad. As I began to mentally process this I realized that there is more to the coal than meets the eye.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Coal when put under pressure, extreme pressure, begins to change. Its already hard self becomes even harder and eventually something new is born. When I was adopted by my Daddy and given a new life I was certainly under some extreme pressure. I did not know that when I accepted Him because He loved me no matter what, that I would be transformed. That pressure created a new me, a treasure. This treasure is sought after and one of the most precious stones on the planet today, a diamond.
So as the coal goes through this extreme change and becomes new so do we in our new family lead by Christ. But have you even seen a raw diamond? Needs work, right? Well so do we. Sometimes we feel like we are not part of that family; that we are to dirty or miss shaped to belong. This is a lie that the enemy tells us so that we will not become the beautiful polished treasure that God sees and desires us to become. To take a raw diamond and make it shine takes time, patients, the right tools, and lots of hard work. As Christians this is what we are to do as well. God desires us to see ourselves as he see us a valuable treasure.

Through seeking Him, praying for guidance, wisdom, knowledge, and perseverance, reading the Bible, the live word of Him and his glory, and giving our lives over to Him so he can use us for His will, the benefit of others, and the greatness we were designed for, we become those multifaceted, clear, flawless treasures that we were molded from. I guess all this is to say that whether you are still orphaned, a lump of coal, or if you have been adopted and are still an uncut diamond, or maybe even you have begun the work to polish that treasure; God already views you as His prize, His treasure, and His love. You are designed to go through great pressure in life to become a valuable stone that shines the true light of Christ. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16