You give me hope!

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases. Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and death.

Not that it hasn’t affected my life in the past, but this week cancer has been a major pain in my butt. In the early part of the week I spent time with my family in Illinois at an uncle’s funeral. He was taken from his wife and son at a young age and that stinks. On Wednesday I found out that another uncle, my father’s brother also has cancer, a rare aggressive form that is currently in his neck, groin, and bones.  Needless to say cancer makes me mad, and anger is one of those feelings that God allows us to have but only as a lesson to how we should respond to it in love. Yet another statement that makes me mad, I have to respond to my anger at this terrible killer with love.

How is this accomplished? Well through offering prayer support to my family in their times of need, to my uncle who starts chemotherapy next week that he finds healing, strength, courage, and a deeper faith. People often ask the question, if God is so loving why does he let good people die from such horrible things? Well I don’t have an answer for that other than our trials and the trials of others give us a change to shun God or move closer to Him. To find peace in times of trouble is often difficult but there is peace, but we must work for it. Through prayer, and faith, and showing love we find a deeper connection with God and each other. Sadly nothing makes us pray more, have more faith, or be more loving than when there is a need. This can be seen in examples like my uncles having cancer, and on a bigger scale when a community comes together after a child gets hurt or a major disaster, or even on a date like 9/11 when the world stopped, a country fell to her knees and prayed to a savior for peace, for understanding, and for love.

So even though I am really pissed off at cancer it has shown me the importance family, spending time with them while they are here because each life is so fragile. It has shown me love, how those in the family come together to support each other and put aside differences because some things are more important. Finally I am reminded of my favorite verses in Proverbs, 3:3-6; “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Basically cancer sucks and we don’t understand it but if we lean on Daddy, He will guide us where we need to go, how we should act, what we should do, and to who is in need. 

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.